file which includes the original lovely illustrations4 ,see #aifje-;h4htm or #aifje-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/dirs_/#a_/ i_/f_/j_/aifje_/aifje-;h_/#aifje-;h4htm7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/dirs_/#a_/ i_/f_/j_/aifje_/aifje-;h4zip7 ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,transcriber's ,note3 ,inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have been preserved4 ,three obvious typographical errors were corrected in this text4 ,for a complete list1 please see the end of the book4 ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,a ,,book ,,of ,,quaker ,,saints ---------------------------------------- -------- ,,by ,,the ,,same ,,author4 ,,pilgrims ,,in ,,palestine4 ,out of print4 ,,the ,,happy ,,world4 ,,contributions ,,to ',,the ,,fellowship ,,of ,,silence4' ,,silent ,,worship3 ,,the ,,way ,,of ,,wonder4 7,swarthmore ,lecture1 #aiai47 ---------------------------------------- -------- ,illustration3 ,,lois ,,and ,,her ,,nurse ,a ,,book ,,of ,,quaker ,,saints by ,l4 ,v4 ,,hodgkin 7,mrs4 ,john ,holdsworth7 ,illustrated ,by ,f4 ,cayley-,robinson1 ,a4,r4,a4 ,mac,millan and ,co41 ,limited ,st4 ,martin's ,street1 ,london #aibb ,copyright ,first ,edition #aiag ,reprinted #aiah ,transferred to ,macmillan ,co4 and reprinted #aibb ,printed in ,great ,britain ,,dedicated ,,to ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,the ,,society ,,of ,,friends ,,and ,,to ,,the ,,grandchildren ,,of ,,thomas ,,hodgkin ,,preface ,the following stories are intended for children of various ages4 ,the introductory chapter1 ',a ,talk about ,saints1' and the stories marked with an asterisk in the ,table of ,contents1 were written first for an eager listener of nine years old4 ,but as the book has grown longer the age of its readers has grown older for two reasons3 ,first3 because it was necessary to take for granted some knowledge of the course of ,english ,history at the period of the ,civil ,wars4 ,to have re-told the story of the contest between ,king and ,parliament1 leading up to the execution of ,charles the ,first and the ,protectorate of ,oliver ,cromwell1 would have taken up much of the fresh1 undivided attention that ,i was anxious to focus upon the lives and doings of these ',quaker ,saints4' ,i have therefore presupposed a certain familiarity with the chief actors and parties1 and an understanding of such names as ,cavalier1 ,roundhead1 ,presbyterian1 ,independent1 etc42 but ,i have tried to explain any obsolete words1 or those of which the meaning has altered in the two and a half centuries that have elapsed since the great struggle4 ,secondly3 because the stories of the persecutions of the ,early ,friends are too harrowing for younger children4 ,even a very much softened and milder version was met with the repeated request3 ',do1 please1 skip this part and make it come happy quickly4' ,i have preferred1 therefore1 to write for older boys and girls who will wish for a true account of suffering bravely borne2 though without undue insistence on the physical side4 ,for to tell the stories of these lives without the terrible1 glorious account of the cruel beatings1 imprisonments1 and even martyrdom in which they often ended here1 is not truly to tell them at all4 ,the tragic darkness in the picture is necessary to enhance its high lights4 ,my youngest critic observes that 'it does not matter so much what happens to grown-up people1 because ,i can always skip that bit2 but if anything bad is going to happen to children1 you had better leave it out of your book altogether4' ,i have therefore obediently omitted the actual sufferings of children as far as possible1 except in one or two stories where they are an essential part of the narrative4 ,it must be remembered that this is not a ,history of the ,early ,quaker ,movement1 but a book of stories of some ,early ,quaker ,saints4 ,i have based my account on contemporary authorities2 but ,i have not scrupled to supply unrecorded details or explanatory speeches in order to make the scene more vivid to my listeners4 ,in two stories of ,george ,fox's youth1 as authentic records are scanty1 ,i have even ventured to look through the eyes of imaginary spectators at ',the ,shepherd of ,pendle ,hill' and ',the ,angel of ,beverley4' ,but the deeper ,i have dug down into the past1 the less need there has been to fill in outlines2 and the more possible it has been to keep closely to the actual words of ,george ,fox's ,journal1 and other contemporary documents4 ,the historical notes at the end of the book will indicate where the original authorities for each story are to be found1 and they will show what liberties have been taken4 ,the quotations that precede the different chapters are intended mainly for older readers1 and to illustrate either the central thought or the history of the times4 ,many stories of other ,quaker ,saints that should have been included in this book have had to be omitted for want of room4 ,the records of ,william ,penn and his companions and friends on both sides of the ,atlantic will1 it is hoped1 eventually find a place in a later volume4 ,the stories in the present book have been selected to show how the ,truth of the ,inward ,light first dawned gradually on one soul1 and then spread rapidly1 in ever-widening circles1 through a neighbourhood1 a kingdom1 and1 finally1 all over the world4 ,i have to thank many kind friends who have helped me in this delightful task4 ,the ,book of ,quaker ,saints owes its existence to my friend ,ernest ,e4 ,taylor1 who first suggested the title and plan1 and then1 gently but inexorably1 persuaded me to write it4 ,several of the stories and many of the descriptions are due to his intimate knowledge of the lives and homes of the ,early ,friends2 he has1 moreover1 been my unfailing adviser and helper at every stage of the work4 ,no one can study this period of ,quaker history without being constantly indebted to ,william ,charles ,braithwaite1 the author of ,beginnings of ,quakerism1 and to ,norman ,penney1 the ,librarian at ,devonshire ,house1 and ,editor of the ,cambridge ,edition of ,george ,fox's ,journal with its invaluable notes4 ,but beyond this ,i owe a personal debt of gratitude to these two ,friends1 for much wise counsel as to sources1 for their kindness in reading my ,,ms4 and my proofs1 and for the many errors that their accurate scholarship has helped me to avoid1 or enabled me to detect4 ,to ,ethel ,crawshaw1 ,assistant at the same ,library2 to my sister1 ,ellen ,s4 ,bosanquet2 and to several other friends who have helped me in various ways1 my grateful thanks are also due4 ,the stories are intended in the first place for ,quaker children1 and are written throughout from a ,quaker standpoint1 though with the wish to be as fair as possible not only to our staunch forefathers1 but also to their doughty antagonists4 ,even when describing the fiercest encounters between them1 ,i have tried to write nothing that might perplex or pain other than ,quaker listeners2 above all1 to be ever mindful of what ,george ,fox himself calls 'the hidden unity in the ,eternal ,being4' ,l4 ,v4 ,,hodgkin4 #bith ,july #aiag4 ,,contents ,,preface page vii 99 ,a ,,talk ,,about ,,saints #a 99 ,i4 ',,stiff ,,as ,a ,,tree1 ,,pure ,,as ,a ,,bell' #ai 99 ,,ii4 ',,pure ,,foy1 ,,ma ,,joye' #cc 99 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,angel ,,of ,,beverley #eg 99 ,,iv4 ,,taming ,,the ,,tiger #gi 99 ,v4 ',,the ,,man ,,in ,,leather ,,breeches' #ig ,,vi4 ,,the ,,shepherd ,,of ,,pendle ,,hill #aaa ,,vii4 ,,the ,,people ,,in ,,white ,,raiment #aba ,,viii4 ,a ,,wonderful ,,fortnight #aca ,,ix4 ,,under ,,the ,,yew-,,trees #adi ,x4 ',,bewitched6' #afc ,,xi4 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,return #age 99 ,,xii4 ',,strike ,,again6' #ahe 99 ,,xiii4 ,,magnanimity #aig 99 ,,xiv4 ,,miles ,,halhead ,,and ,,the ,,haughty ,,lady #bji ,,xv4 ,,scattering ,,the ,,seed #bbc ,,xvi4 ,,wrestling ,,for ,,god #bci ,,xvii4 ,,little ,,james ,,and ,,his ,,journeys #bee ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,first ,,quaker ,,martyr #bga 99 ,,xix4 ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,reading ,,meeting #bhe 99 ,,xx4 ,,the ,,saddest ,,story ,,of ,,all #cja 99 ,,xxi4 ,,pale ,,windflowers #cba ,,xxii4 ,,an ,,undisturbed ,,meeting #cdc ,,xxiii4 ,,butterflies ,,in ,,the ,,fells #cec ,,xxiv4 ,,the ,,victory ,,of ,,amor ,,stoddart #cfg 99 ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,marvellous ,,voyage ,,of ,,the ,,good ,,ship ',,woodhouse' #cgi 99 ,,xxvi4 ,,richard ,,sellar ,,and ,,the ',,merciful ,,man' #djc 99 ,,xxvii4 ,,two ,,robber ,,stories--,,west ,,and ,,east #dbg ,,xxviii4 ,,silver ,,slippers3 ,,or ,a ,,quakeress ,,among ,,the ,,turks #dda 99 ,,xxix4 ,,fierce ,,feathers #dfe 99 ,,xxx4 ,,the ,,thief ,,in ,,the ,,tanyard #dgi ,,xxxi4 ,,how ,a ,,french ,,noble ,,became ,a ,,friend #dhi ,,xxxii4 ,,preaching ,,to ,,nobody #eji ,,come-,,to-,,good #ebc ,,historical ,,notes #eci ,note4--,an ,asterisk denotes stories suitable for younger children4 ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations reproduced from water-colour drawings by ,f4 ,,cayley-,,robinson ,i4 ,,lois ,,and ,,her ,,nurse ,frontispiece ,,ii4 ,,the ,,boyhood ,,of ,,george ,,fox page #cf ,,iii4 ',,dreaming ,,of ,,the ,,cot ,,in ,,the ,,vale' #aad ,,iv4 ',,the ,,voice ,,of ,,the ,,silence' #cjf ,v4 ,,pale ,,windflowers #cbd ,,vi4 ,,fierce ,,feathers #dgd ,,vii4 ,a ,,friends' ,,meeting #ecd ,a ,,talk ,,about ,,saints ',what are these that glow from afar1 ,these that lean over the golden bar1 ,strong as the lion1 pure as the dove1 ,with open arms and hearts of love8 ,they the blessed ones gone before1 ,they the blessed for evermore4 ,out of great tribulation they went ,home to their home of ,heaven-content2 ,through flood or blood or furnace-fire1 ,to the rest that fulfils desire4' ,,christina ,,rossetti4 ,st4 ,patrick's three orders of ,saints3 'a glory on the mountain tops3 a gleam on the sides of the hills3 a few faint lights in the valleys4' ',the ,lord is ,king in ,his ,saints1 ,he guards them1 and guides them with ,his mighty power1 into ,his kingdom of glory and eternal rest1 where they find joy1 and peace1 and rest eternal4'--,,george ,,fox4 ,a ,,talk ,,about ,,saints ',what is a ,saint8 ,how ,i do wish ,i knew6' ,a little girl asked herself this question a great many years ago1 as she sat looking up at a patch of sunset cloud that went sailing past the bars of her nursery window late one ,sunday afternoon2 but the window was small and high up1 and the cloud sailed by quickly4 ,as she watched it go1 little ,lois wished that she was back in her own nursery at home1 where the windows were large and low down1 and so near the floor that even a small girl could see out of them easily4 ,moreover1 her own windows had wide window-sills that she could sit on1 with toy-cupboards underneath4 ,there were no toy-cupboards in this old-fashioned nursery1 where ,lois was visiting1 and not many toys either4 ,there was a doll's house1 that her mother used to play with when she was a little girl2 but the dolls in it were all made of wood and looked stiff and stern1 and one hundred years older than the dolls of to-day1 or than the children either1 for that matter4 ,besides1 the doll's house might not be opened on ,sundays4 ,so ,lois turned again to the window1 and looking up at it1 she wished1 as she had wished many times before on this visit1 that it was rather lower down and much larger1 and that the window ledge was a little wider1 so that she could lean upon it and see where that rosy cloud had gone4 ,she ran for a chair1 and climbed up1 hoping to be able to see out better4 ,alas6 the window was a long way from the ground outside4 ,she still could not look out and see what was happening in the garden below4 ,even the sun had sunk too far down for her to say good-night to it before it set4 ,but that did not matter1 for the rosy cloud had apparently gone to fetch innumerable other rosy cloudlets1 and they were all holding hands and dancing across the sky in a wide band1 with pale1 clear pools of green and blue behind them4 ',what lovely rainbow colours6' thought the little girl4 ,and then the rainbow colours reminded her of the question that had been puzzling her when she began to watch the rosy cloud4 ,so she repeated1 out loud this time and in rather a weary voice1 ',whatever is a ,saint8 ,how ,i do wish ,i knew6 ,and why are there no ,saints on the windows in ,meeting8' ,no answer came to her questions4 ,lois and her nurse were paying a visit all by themselves4 ,they spent most of their days up in this old nursery at the top of the big house4 ,nurse had gone downstairs a long time ago1 saying that she would bring up tea for them both on a tea-tray1 before it was time to light the lamps4 ,for there was no gas or electric light in children's nurseries in those days4 ,if ,lois had been at home she would herself have been having tea downstairs in the dining-room at this time with her father and mother4 ,then she could have asked them what a ,saint was1 and have found out all about it at once4 ,father and mother always seemed to know the answers to her questions4 ,at least1 very nearly always4 ,for ,lois was so fond of asking questions1 that sometimes she asked some that had no answer2 but those were silly questions1 not like this one4 ,lois felt certain that either her father or her mother would have explained to her quite clearly all about ,saints1 and would have wanted her to understand about them4 ,away here there was nobody to ask4 ,nurse would only say1 ',if you ask me no questions1 ,i'll tell you no lies4' ,somehow whenever she said that1 ,lois fancied it meant that nurse was not very sure of the answer herself4 ,she had already asked ,aunt ,isabel in church that same morning1 when the puzzle began2 and ,aunt ,isabel's answer about 'a halo' had left the little girl more perplexed than ever4 ,lois had heard of people 'going to church' before1 but she had never understood what it meant until to-day4 ,at home on ,sundays she went to ,meeting with father and mother4 ,she liked walking there1 in between them1 holding a hand of each1 skipping and jumping in order not to step on the black lines of the pavement4 ,she liked to see the shops with their eyes all shut tight for ,sunday1 and to watch for the naughty shops1 here and there1 who kept a corner of their blinds up1 just to show a few toys or goodies underneath4 ,lois always thought that those shops looked as if they were winking up at her2 and she smiled back at them a rather reproving little smile4 ,she enjoyed the walk and was sorry when it came to an end4 ,for1 to tell the truth1 she did not enjoy the ,meeting that followed it at all4 ,long before the hour was over she used to grow very tired of the silence and of the quiet room1 tired of kicking her blue footstool 7gently of course1 but still kicking it7 and of counting her boot buttons up and down1 or else watching the hands of the clock move slowly round its big calm face4 ',church' was a more interesting place than ,meeting1 certainly2 but then ',church' had disadvantages of its own4 ,everything there was strange to ,lois4 ,it had almost frightened her1 this first time4 ,she did not know when she ought to stand up1 or when she ought to kneel1 and when she might sit down4 ,then1 when the organ played and everybody stood up and sang a hymn1 ,lois found to her surprise that her throat was beginning to feel tight and choky4 ,for some reason she began to wonder if father and mother were sitting in ,meeting alone1 and if they had quite forgotten their little girl4 ,two small tears gathered4 ,in another minute they might have slipped out of the corners of her eyes1 and have run down her cheeks4 ,they might even have fallen upon the page of the hymn-book she was carefully holding upside down4 ,and that would have been dreadful6 ,happily1 just in time1 she looked up and saw something so beautiful above her that the two tears ran back to wherever it was they came from1 in less time than it takes to tell4 ,for there1 above her head1 was a tall1 pointed1 glass window1 high up on the wall4 ,the glass in the window was of wonderful colours1 like a rainbow3--deep purple and blue1 shining gold1 rich1 soft red1 and glowing crimson1 with here and there a green that twinkled like young beech-leaves in the woods in spring4 ,best of all1 there was one bit of purest white1 with sunlight streaming through it1 that shone like dazzling snow4 ,at first ,lois only noticed the colours1 and the ugly black lines that separated them4 ,she wondered why the beautiful glass was divided up into such queer shapes4 ,there are no black lines between the colours in a real rainbow4 ,gradually1 however1 she discovered that all the different colours meant something1 that they were all part of a picture on the window1 that a tall figure was standing there1 looking down upon her--upon her1 fidgety little ,lois1 kicking her scarlet hassock in the pew4 ,but ,lois was not kicking her hassock any longer4 ,she was looking up into the grave1 kind face above her on the window4 ',whoever was it8 ,who could it be8 ,was it a man or a woman8 ,a man1' ,lois thought at first1 until she saw that he was wearing a robe that fell into glowing folds at his feet4 ',men never wear robes1 do they8 unless they are dressing-gowns4 ,this certainly was not a dressing-gown4 ,and what was the flat thing like a plate behind his head8' ,lois had never seen either a man or a woman wear anything like that before4 ',if it was a plate1 how could it be fastened on8 ,it would be sure to fall off and break4444' ,the busy little mind had so much to wonder about1 that ,lois found it easy to sit still1 until the sermon was over1 as she watched the sunlight pour through the different colours in turn1 making each one more beautiful and full of light as it passed4 ,at length the organ stopped1 and the last long ',,ah-,,men' had been sung4 ',church sings ,,ah-,,men out loud1 and ,meeting says ,amen quite gently2 p'raps that's what makes the difference between them1' ,lois thought to herself wisely4 ,as soon as the last notes of music had died away1 she nestled close to ,aunt ,isabel's side and said in an eager voice1 ',what is that lovely window up there8 ,who is that beautiful person8 ,i do like his face4 ,and is it a ,he or a ,she8' ',hush1 darling6' her aunt whispered4 ',speak lower4 ,that is a ,saint1 of course4' ',but what is a ,saint and how do you know it is one8' the little girl whispered earnestly1 pointing upwards to the tall figure through which the sunshine streamed4 ,aunt ,isabel was busy collecting her books and she only whispered back1 ',don't you see the halo8' ',i don't know what a halo can be1 but a ,saint is a kind of glass window1 ,i suppose1' thought ,lois1 as she followed her aunt down the aisle4 ,afterwards on her way home1 and at dinner1 and all the afternoon1 there had been so many other things to see and to think about1 that it was not until the rosy patch of cloud sailed past the nursery window-pane at sunset that she was reminded of the beautiful colours in church1 and of the puzzle about ,saints and haloes that till then she had forgotten4 ',at least1 no1 ,i didn't exactly forget'1 she said to herself1 'but ,i think p'raps ,i sort of disremembered--till the sunset colours reminded me4 ,only ,i haven't found out what a ,saint is yet1 or a halo4 ,and why don't we have them on our ,sunday windows in ,meeting8' ,just at that moment the door opened1 and nurse1 who had been enjoying a long talk downstairs in the kitchen1 came in with the tea-tray4 ',how dark you are up here6' nurse exclaimed in her cheerful voice4 ',we shall have to light the lamp after all1 or you will never find the way to your mouth4' ,so the lamp was lighted4 ,the curtains were drawn4 ,the sunset sky1 fast fading now1 was hidden4 ,and ,lois' questions remained unanswered4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a few days later1 the visit came to an end4 ,the next ,sunday1 ,lois was at home again1 'chattering like a little magpie1' as her mother said1 about everything she had seen and done4 ,she had so much to think about1 that even ,meeting did not seem as long as usual1 though she thought the walls looked plainer than ever1 and the glass windows very empty1 till the sight of them reminded her that she could find out more about ,saints now4 ,at home in the afternoon she began4 ,drawing her footstool close to the big arm-chair1 she put her elbows on her father's knee and looked up searchingly into his face4 ',father1 please tell me1 if you possibly can1' pleaded an earnest little voice1 'for ,i do very badly want to find out4 ,do you know what a ,saint is8' ,her father laughed4 ',know what a ,saint is8 ,i should think ,i did6 ,no man better6' he answered4 ,lois wondered why he glanced across to the other side of the fire where her mother was sitting2 and why she glanced back at him and shook her head1 meeting his eyes with a happy smile4 ,then her father jumped up1 and from the lowest shelf of one of his book-cases he fetched a fat1 square volume1 bound in brown leather and gold4 ,this he put carefully on a table1 and drawing ,lois on to his knee and putting his arm round her1 he showed her a number of photographs4 ,lambs were there1 and running fountains1 and spangly stars1 and peacocks1 and doves4 ,but those pages he turned over quickly1 until he came to others3 photographs of men and women dressed in white1 carrying palms and holding crowns in their hands4 ,he told ,lois that these people were ',saints1' that they formed a long procession on the walls of a big church at ,ravenna1 far away in ,italy2 and that they were made of little pieces of a sort of shining glass called 'mosaic4' ',saints have something to do with glass then4 ,but these photographs are not a bit like my beautiful window1' ,lois thought to herself1 rather sadly4 ',there are no colours here4' ,she turned over the photographs without much interest1 until her father1 exclaiming1 ',there1 that is the one ,i want6' showed her one portrait of a little girl standing among all the grown-up people1 carrying just as big a palm and crown as any of the others4 ,he told ,lois that these crowns and palms were to show that the people who carried them had all been put to death or 'martyred1' because they would not worship heathen gods4 ,he made ,lois spell out the letters ',,sca4 ,,eulalia' written on the halo around the little girl's head1 ',that is ,saint ,eulalia1' her father explained4 ',she was offered her freedom and her life if she would sacrifice to idols just one tiny grain of corn1 to show that she renounced her allegiance to ,jesus ,christ2 but when the corn was put into her hands she threw it all back into the ,judge's face4 ,after that1 there was no escape for her4 ,she was condemned to die1 and she did die1 ,lois1 very bravely1 though she was only a little girl1 not much older than you4' ,here ,lois hid her face against her father's coat and shivered4 ',but after that cruel death1 when her little body was lying unburied1 a white dove hovered over it1 until a fall of snowflakes came and hid it from people's sight4 ,so you see1 ,lois1 though ,eulalia was only twelve years old when she was put to death1 she has been called ,saint ,eulalia ever since1 though it all happened hundreds of years ago4 ,children can be ,saints as well as grown-up people1 if they are brave enough and faithful enough4' ',saints must be brave1 and ,saints must be faithful1' ,lois repeated1 as she shut up the big book and helped to carry it back to its shelf4 ',but lots of other children have died since ,sancta ,eulalia was killed and her body was covered by the snow4 ,surely some of those children must have been brave and faithful too1 even though they are not called ,saints8 ,they don't stand on glass windows1 or wear those things that father calls haloes1 and that ,i call plates1 round their heads1 with their names written on them4 ,so ,saints really are rather puzzling sort of people still4 ,i do hope ,i shall find out more about them some day4' ,thus ,lois went on wondering1 till1 gradually1 she came to find out more of the things that make a ,saint--not purple robes1 or shining garments1 or haloes2 not even crowns and palms2 but other things1 quite different1 and much more difficult to get4 99 99 99 99 99 ',it is enough to vex a ,saint6' her kind nurse exclaimed when ,lois spilled her jam at tea1 all down her clean white frock4 ,or1 on other days1 ',oh dear6 my patiences is not so good as they once were6' and1 ',these rheumatics would try the patience of a ,saint6' nurse would say1 with a weary sigh4 ',then the reason my ,nanny isn't a ,saint is because she gets vexed when ,i'm naughty1 and because she isn't patient when she has a pain1' reasoned ,lois4 ',what a number of things it does seem to take to make a ,saint6 ,but then it takes eggs and milk and butter and sugar and flour and currants and raisins too to make a cake4 ,saints must be brave and faithful2 never get vexed2 have patience always4 ,mother said patience was the beginning of everything1 when ,i stamped my foot because ,i broke my cotton4 ,do ,saints have to begin with patience too8 ,if only ,i could see a real live one with my own eyes and find out6' ,yet1 strange to say1 when ,lois was told that she was looking at a 'real live ,saint' at last1 the little girl did not even wish to believe it4 ,this happened one ,saturday afternoon4 ,she was walking with her governess to a beautiful wooded ,dene1 through which a clear stream hurried to join the big black river that flowed past the windows of ,lois' home4 ,on the way to the ,dene they passed near a broad marsh with stepping-stones across it4 ,close to the river ,lois saw1 in the distance1 the roofs of some wretched-looking cottages4 ,evidently on her way to these cottages1 balancing herself on the slippery stepping-stones1 was a little old lady in a hideous black bonnet with jet ornaments that waggled as she moved1 and shiny black gloves screwed up into tight corkscrews at the finger ends4 ,she carried a large basket in one hand1 and held up her skirts with the other1 showing that she wore boots with elastic sides1 which ,lois particularly disliked4 ',look there6' her governess said to ,lois1 'actually crossing the marsh to visit that den of fever6 ,old ,miss ,s 444 may not be a beauty1 but she certainly is a perfect ,saint6' ',oh no1 she's not6' cried ,lois with much vehemence4 ',at least1 ,i mean ,i hope she isn't1' she added the next minute4 ',you see1' she went on apologetically1 ',i have a very special reason for being interested in ,saints2 ,i don't at all want any of my ,saints to look ugly like that4 ,and1 what is more1 ,i don't believe they do6' 99 99 99 99 99 ,many months passed before the time came1 when she was least expecting it1 that ,lois saw1 she actually did see1 a 'real live ,saint' for herself4 ,how did she know it was a ,saint8 ,lois could not tell how she knew2 but from the very first moment that she found herself looking up into one of the kindest1 most loving faces that she had ever seen1 she was perfectly sure that she had found a ,saint at last4 ,she saw no halo--at least no golden halo2 but the white hair that tenderly framed the white face looked almost like a halo of silver1 the little girl thought4 ,it was not a beautiful face2 at any rate not what ,lois would have called beautiful beforehand4 ,it had many wrinkles though the skin was fresh and clear4 ,the eyes looked1 somehow1 as if they had shed so many tears long ago1 that now there were no tears left to shed2 nothing remained but smiles4 ,perhaps that was the reason they were nearly always smiling4 ,as ,lois looked up and saw that gentle old face bending over her1 it gave her the same sort of mysterious feeling that she had when she gazed up into the cloudless blue sky at noonday1 or into a night sky full of stars4 ,she seemed to be looking up1 as high as ever she could1 into something infinitely far above her2 and yet to be looking down into something as well1 deep down into an endless depth4 ,or rather1 she felt that she was neither looking up nor down1 but that she was looking through4444 ',why1 ,saints are a sort of window after all1' ,lois said to herself1 as she gave a jump of joy1--'real windows6 ,only not the glass kind6 ,i have found out at last what makes a ,saint1 and what real live ,saints look like4 ,it is not being killed only2 though ,i suppose they must always be ready to be killed4 ,it is not being made of all the difficult things inside only2 though1 of course1 they must always be full of them4 ,it certainly isn't wearing ugly clothes or anything horrid4 ,i know now what really and truly1 and most especially1 makes a ,saint1 and that is ,,letting ,,the ,,sunlight ,,through6' ,so ,lois had found out something for herself at last1 had she not8 ,those are always the best sort of discoveries2 but there are a great many more things to find out about ,saints that ,lois never thought of1 in those days long ago4 ,most interesting things they are6 ,that is one comfort about ,saints--they are always interesting1 never dull4 ,dull is the one thing that real ,saints can never be1 or they would stop being ,saints that very minute4 ,even when ,saints are doing the dullest1 dreariest1 most difficult tasks1 they themselves are always packed full of sunshine inside that cannot help streaming out over the dull part and making it interesting4 ,this is one thing to remember about ,saints2 but there are many other things to discover4 ,see if you can find out some of them in the stories that follow4 ,only a few ,saint stories are written here4 ,you will read for yourself1 by and by1 many others3 stories of older ,saints1 and perhaps of brighter ,saints1 or it may be even of saintlier ,saints than these4 ,but in this book are written the stories of some of the ,saints who did not know that they were ,saints at all3 they thought that they were just quite ordinary men and women and little children1 and that makes them rather specially comforting to us1 who are just quite ordinary people too4 ,moreover1 these ,quaker ,saints never have been1 never will be put on glass windows1 or given birthdays or haloes or emblems of their own1 like most of the other ,saints4 ,they have never even had their stories told before in a way that it is easy for children to understand4 ,that is why these particular stories have been written now1 in this particular book ,,for ,,you4 ,i4 ',,stiff ,,as ,a ,,tree1 ,,pure ,,as ,a ,,bell' ',i am plenteuous in ioie in all oure tribulacione4'--,,st4 ,,paul 7,wiclif's ,translation74 ',stand firm like a smitten anvil under the blows of a hammer2 be strong as an athlete of ,god1 it is part of a great athlete to receive blows and to conquer4'--,,ignatius4 ',he was valiant for the truth1 bold in asserting it1 patient in suffering for it1 unwearied in labouring in it1 steady in his testimony to it1 immoveable as a rock4'--,t4 ,,ellwood about ,g4 ,,fox4 ',george ,fox never lost his temper--he left that to his opponents3 and he had the most exasperating way of getting the best of an argument4 ,his ,journal 444 is like a little rusty gate which opens right into the heart of the #agth ,century1 so that when we go in by it--hey presto6 we find ourselves pilgrims with the old ,quaker in the strangest kind of ,england4'--,l4,m4 ,,mackay4 ',and there was never any persecution that came but we saw it was for good1 and we looked upon it to be good as from ,,god4 ,and there was never any prisons or sufferings that ,i was in1 but still it was for bringing multitudes more out of prison4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ,i4 ',,stiff ,,as ,a ,,tree1 ,,pure ,,as ,a ,,bell' ,when the days are lengthening in the spring1 even though the worst of the winter may be over1 there is often a sharp tooth in the ,march wind as it sweeps over the angry sea and bites into the north-eastern coast of ,england4 ,children1 warm and snug in cosy rooms1 like to watch the gale and the damage it does as it hurries past4 ,it amuses them to see the wind at its tricks1 ruffling up the manes of the white horses far out at sea1 blowing the ships away from their moorings in the harbour1 and playing tricks upon the passers-by1 when it comes ashore4 ,off fly stout old gentlemen's hats1 round like windmills go the smart ladies' skirts and ribbons2 even the milkman's fingers turn blue with cold4 ,it is all very well for children1 safe indoors1 to laugh at the antics of the mischievous wind1 even on the bleak north-eastern coast nowadays2 but in times long ago1 that same wind could be a more cruel playfellow still4 ,come back with me for two hundred and fifty years4 ,let us watch the tricks the wind is playing on the prisoners in the castle high up on ,scarborough cliff in the year of our ,lord #afff4 ,though the keen1 cutting blast is the same1 a very different ,scarborough lies around us from the ,scarborough modern children know4 ,there is a much smaller town close down by the water's edge1 and a much larger castle covering nearly the whole of the cliff4 ,nowadays1 when children go to ,scarborough for their holidays in the summer1 as they run down the steep paths with their spades and buckets to dig on the beach1 they are too busy to pay much attention to the high cliff that juts out against the sky above the steep red roofs of the old town4 ,but if they do look up for a moment they notice a pile of grey stones at the very top of the hill4 ',oh1 that is the old ruined castle1' they say to themselves2 and then they forget all about it and devote themselves to the important task of digging a new castle of their own that shall not crumble into ruins in its turn1 as even sand castles have an uncomfortable way of doing1 if they are unskilfully made4 ,those children are only modern children4 ,they have not gone back1 as you and ,i are trying to do1 two hundred and fifty long years up the stream of time4 ,if we are really to find out what ,scarborough looked like then1 we must put on our thinking caps and flap our fancy wings1 and1 shutting our eyes very tight1 not open them again until that long-ago ,scarborough is really clear before us4 ,then1 looking up at the castle1 what shall we see8 ,the same hill of course1 but so covered with stately buildings that we can barely make out its outline4 ,instead of one old pile of crumbling stones1 roofless1 doorless1 windowless1 there is a massive fortress towering over us1 ringed round with walls and guarded with battlements and turrets4 ,high above all stands the frowning ,norman ,keep1 of which only some of the thick outer stones remain to-day4 ,scarborough ,castle was a grand place1 and a strong place too1 in the seventeenth century4 ,in order to reach it1 then as now1 it was necessary to climb the long flights of stone steps that stretch up from the lower town near the water's edge to the high1 arched gateway upon the ,castle ,hill4 ,we will climb those steps1 only of course the stones were newer and cleaner then1 and less worn by generations of climbing feet4 ,up them we mount till we reach the gateway with its threatening portcullis1 where the soldiers of ,king ,charles the ,second1 in their jackboots1 are walking up and down on guard1 determined to keep out all intruders4 ,intruders we certainly are1 seeing that we belong to another generation and another century4 ,there is no entrance at that gateway for us4 ,yet except through that gateway there is no way into the castle1 and all the windows on this side are high up in the walls1 and barred and filled with strong thick glass4 ,now let us go round to the far side of the cliff where the castle overlooks the sea4 ,here the fortress still frowns above us2 but lower down1 nearer our level1 we can see some holes and caves scooped out of the solid rock1 through which the wind blows and shrieks eerily4 ,as these caves can only be reached by going through the castle1 some of the prisoners are kept here for safety4 ,the windows have no glass4 ,they are merely holes in the rock1 open to fog and snow and bitter wind4 ,another hole in the cliff does duty for a chimney after a fashion1 but even if the prisoners are allowed to light a fire they are scarcely any warmer1 for the whole cave becomes filled with smoke4 ,and now we must flap our fancy wings still more vigorously1 until somehow we stand outside one of those prison holes1 scooped out of the cliff1 and can look down and see what is to be seen inside it4 ,there is only one man in this particular prison cave1 and what is he doing8 ,is he moving about to keep himself warm8 ,at first he seems to be1 for he walks from side to side without a moment's rest4 ,every now and then he stretches his arm out of the window1 apparently throwing something away4 ,he is certainly ill4 ,his body and legs are badly swollen1 and there are great lumps in the places where his joints and knuckles ought to be4 ,well then1 if he is ill1 why does he not lie still in bed and rest and get well8 ,for even in this wretched cave-room there is something that looks like a bed in one corner4 ,it has no white sheets or soft blankets1 but still it has four legs and a sort of coverlet1 and at least the prisoner could rest upon it1 which would be better for him than dancing about4 ,look again6 ,the bed stands under a gaping hole in the roof1 and a stream of water is dripping steadily down upon it4 ,the coarse coverings must be soaked through already1 and the hard mattress too4 ,it is really less like a bed than a damp and nasty little pond4 ,no wonder the prisoner does not choose to lie there4 ,but then1 why not move the bed somewhere else8 ,and what is that round thing like a platter in his hand1 and what is he doing with it8 ,is he playing ',turn the ,trencher' to keep himself warm8 ,look again6 ,how could he move the bed8 ,he is in a tiny cave1 and all its walls are leaky4 ,the bed must stand in that particular corner because there is nowhere else that it could be placed4 ,now look down at the floor4 ,notice how uneven it is1 and the big pools of water standing on it1 and then you will understand what the prisoner is doing4 ,indeed he is not playing ',turn the ,trencher'2 he is trying to scoop up some of the water in that shallow platter1 because he has nothing else in the room that will hold it4 ,if he can do this fast enough1 and can manage to pour enough of the water away out of one of the holes in the walls1 he may be able to keep himself from being flooded out1 and thus he may preserve one little dry patch of floor1 dry enough for his swollen feet to stand on1 till the storm is over4 ,but it is like trying to bale water out of a very leaky boat2 for always faster than he can scoop it up and pour it away1 more rain comes pouring in steadily1 dripping and drenching4 ,the wind shrieks and whistles and the prisoner is numb with cold4 ,what a wicked man he must be1 to be punished by being put in this dreadful place6 ,certainly1 if he has committed some dreadful crime1 he has found a terrible punishment4 ,but does he look wicked8 ,see1 at last he is too stiff and weary to move about any longer4 ,in spite of the rain and the wind he sinks down exhausted upon a rickety chair and draws it to the spot where there is the best chance of a little shelter4 ,there he sits in silence for some time4 ,he is soaked to the skin1 as well as tired and stiff and hungry4 ,there is a small mug by the door1 but it is empty and there is not a sign of food4 ,some bitter water to drink and a small piece of bread are all the food he has had to-day1 and that is all gone now1 for it was so very little4 ,in this place a small threepenny loaf of bread has sometimes to last for three weeks4 ,this poor man must be utterly miserable and wretched4 ,but is he8 ,let us watch him4 ,do you think he can be a wicked man after all8 ,is not the prisoner being punished through some dreadful mistake8 ,he looks kind and good1 and1 stranger still1 he looks happy1 even through all his sufferings in this horrible prison4 ,his face has a sort of brightness in it1 like the mysterious light there is sometimes to be seen in a dark sky1 behind a thunderstorm4 ,a radiance is about him too as if1 in spite of all he is enduring1 he has some big joy that shines through everything and makes it seem worth while4 ,he is actually 'letting the sunlight through1' even in this dismal place4 ,any one who can do that must be a very real and a very big saint indeed4 ,we must just find out all that we can about him4 ,let us take a good look at him now1 while we have the chance4 ,then we shall know him another time1 when we meet him again1 having all sorts of adventures in all sorts of places4 ,it is impossible to see his eyes1 as he sits by the bed1 for they are downcast1 but we can see that he has a long1 nearly straight nose1 and lips tightly pressed together4 ,his hair is parted and hangs down on each side of his head1 stiff and lank now1 owing to the wet1 but in happier days it must have hung in little curls round his neck1 just below his ears4 ,he is a tall man1 with a big strong-looking body4 ,in spite of the coarse clothes he wears1 there is a strange dignity about him4 ,you feel something drawing you to him1 making you want to know more about him4 ,you feel somehow as if you were in the presence of some one who is very big1 and that you yourself are very small1 smaller perhaps than you ever felt in your life4 ,yet you feel ready to do anything for him1 and1 at the same time1 you believe that1 if only you could make him know that you are there1 he would be ready to do anything for you4 ,even in this wretched den he carries himself with an air of authority1 as if he were accustomed to command4 ,now1 at last he is looking up2 and we can see his eyes4 ,most wonderful eyes they are6 ,eyes that look as if they could pierce through all sorts of disguises1 and read the deepest secrets of a man's heart4 ,they are kind eyes too2 and look as if they could be extraordinarily tender at times4 ,they are something like a shepherd's eyes1 as if they were accustomed to gazing out far and wide in search of strayed sheep and lost lambs4 ,yet they are also like the eyes of a ,judge2 thoroughly well able to distinguish right from wrong4 ,it would be terrible to meet those eyes after doing anything the least bit crooked or shabby or untrue4 ,they look as if they would know at the first glance just how much excuses were worth2 and what was the truth4 ,no wonder that once1 when those eyes fell on a man who was arguing on the wrong side1 he felt ashamed all of a sudden and cried out in terror3 ',do not pierce me so with thine eyes6 ,keep thine eyes off me6' ,another time when this same prisoner was reasoning with a crowd of people1 who did not agree with him1 they all cried out with one accord3 ',look at his eyes1 look at his eyes6' ,and yet another time when he was riding through an angry mob1 in a city where men were ready to take his life1 they dared not touch him4 ',oh1 oh1' they cried1 'see1 he shines6 he glisters6' ,then what happened next8 ,we do not want to look at the prisoner in fancy any longer4 ,we want really to know about him3 to hear the beginnings and endings of those stories and of many others4 ,and that is exactly what we are going to do4 ,the prisoner is going to tell us his own true story in his own real words4 ,there is no need for our fancy wings any longer4 ,they may shrivel up and drop off unheeded4 ,for that prisoner is ,,george ,,fox1 and he belongs to ,english history4 ,he has left the whole story of his life and adventures written in two large folio volumes that may still be seen in ,london4 ,the pages are so old and the edges have worn so thin in the two hundred and fifty years since they were written1 that each page has had to be most carefully framed in strong paper to keep it from getting torn4 ,the ink is faded and brown1 and the writing is often crabbed and difficult to read4 ,but it can be read1 and it is full of stories4 ,in olden times1 probably1 the book was bound in a brown leather cover1 but now1 because it is very old and valuable1 it has been clothed with beautiful red leather1 on which is stamped in gold letters1 the title3 ,,george ,,fox',s ,,journal4 ,now let us open it at the right place1 and1 before any of the other stories1 let us hear what the writer says about that dismal prison in ,scarborough ,castle3 how long he stayed there1 and how he was at last set free4 ',one day the governor of ,scarborough castle1 ,sir ,jordan ,crosland1 came to see me4 ,i desired the governor to go into my room and see what a place ,i had4 ,i had got a little fire made in it1 and it was so filled with smoke that when they were in it they could hardly find their way out again4444 ,i told him ,i was forced to lay out about fifty shillings to stop out the rain1 and keep the room from smoking so much4 ,when ,i had been at that charge and had made it somewhat tolerable1 they removed me into a worse room1 where ,i had neither chimney nor fire hearth4' 7,this last is the room in the castle cliff that is still called ',george ,fox's prison1' where we have been standing in imagination and looking in upon him4 ,we will listen while he describes it again1 so as to get accustomed to his rather old-fashioned ,english47 ',this being to the sea-side and lying much open1 the wind drove in the rain forcibly1 so that the water came over my bed1 and ran about the room1 that ,i was fain to skim it up with a platter4 ,and when my clothes were wet1 ,i had no fire to dry them2 so that my body was benumbed with cold1 and my fingers swelled1 that one was grown as big as two4 ,though ,i was at some charge in this room also1 yet ,i could not keep out the wind and rain4444 ,afterwards ,i hired a soldier to fetch me water and bread1 and something to make a fire of1 when ,i was in a room where a fire could be made4 ,commonly a threepenny loaf served me three weeks1 and sometimes longer1 and most of my drink was water1 with wormwood steeped or bruised in it4444 ,as to friends ,i was as a man buried alive1 for though many came far to see me1 yet few were suffered to come to me4444 ,the officers often threatened that ,i should be hanged over the wall4 ,nay1 the deputy governor told me once1 that the ,king1 knowing that ,i had a great interest in the people1 had sent me thither1 that if there should be any stirring in the nation1 they should hang me over the wall to keep the people down4 ,a while after they talked much of hanging me4 ,but ,i told them that if that was what they desired and it was permitted them1 ,i was ready2 for ,i never feared death nor sufferings in my life1 but ,i was known to be an innocent1 peaceable man1 free from all stirrings and plottings1 and one that sought the good of all men4 ,afterwards1 the ,governor growing kinder1 ,i spoke to him when he was going to ,london1 and desired him to speak to ,esquire ,marsh1 ,sir ,francis ,cobb1 and some others1 and let them know how long ,i had lain in prison1 and for what1 and he did so4 ,when he came down again1 he told me that ,esquire ,marsh said he would go a hundred miles barefoot for my liberty1 he knew me so well2 and several others1 he said1 spoke well of me4 ,from which time the ,governor was very loving to me4 ',there were among the prisoners two very bad men1 who often sat drinking with the officers and soldiers2 and because ,i would not sit and drink with them1 it made them the worse against me4 ,one time when these two prisoners were drunk1 one of them 7whose name was ,william ,wilkinson1 who had been a captain71 came in and challenged me to fight with him4 ,i seeing what condition he was in1 got out of his way2 and next morning1 when he was more sober1 showed him how unmanly a thing it was in him to challenge a man to fight1 whose principle he knew it was not to strike2 but if he was stricken on one ear to turn the other4 ,i told him that if he had a mind to fight1 he should have challenged some of the soldiers1 that could have answered him in his own way4 ,but1 however1 seeing he had challenged me1 ,i was now come to answer him1 with my hands in my pockets3 and1 reaching my head towards him1 ,here1 said ,i1 here is my hair1 here are my cheeks1 here is my back4 ,with that1 he skipped away from me and went into another room1 at which the soldiers fell a-laughing2 and one of the officers said1 ,you are a happy man that can bear such things4 ,thus he was conquered without a blow4 '444 ,after ,i had lain a prisoner above a year in ,scarborough ,castle1 ,i sent a letter to the ,king1 in which ,i gave him an account of my imprisonment1 and the bad usage ,i had received in prison2 and also ,i was informed no man could deliver me but he4 ,after this1 ,john ,whitehead being at ,london1 and being acquainted with ,esquire ,marsh1 went to visit him1 and spoke to him about me2 and he undertook1 if ,john ,whitehead would get the state of my case drawn up1 to deliver it to the master of requests1 ,sir ,john ,birkenhead1 and endeavour to get a release for me4 ,so ,john ,whitehead 444 drew up an account of my imprisonment and sufferings and carried it to ,marsh2 and he went with it to the master of requests1 who procured an order from the ,king for my release4 ,the substance of this order was that the ,king1 being certainly informed1 that ,i was a man principled against plotting and fighting1 and had been ready at all times to discover plots1 rather than to make any1 therefore his royal pleasure was1 that ,i should be discharged from my imprisonment4 ,as soon as this order was obtained1 ,john ,whitehead came to ,scarborough with it and delivered it to the ,governor2 who1 upon receipt thereof1 gathered the officers together1 444 and being satisfied that ,i was a man of peaceable life1 he discharged me freely1 and gave me the following passport3-- ',permit the bearer hereof1 ,,george ,,fox1 late a prisoner here1 and now discharged by his majesty's order1 quietly to pass about his lawful occasions1 without any molestation4 ,given under my hand at ,scarborough ,castle1 this first day of ,september #afff4--;,,jordan ,,crosland1 ,governor of ,scarborough ,castle4 ',after ,i was released1 ,i would have made the ,governor a present for his civility and kindness he had of late showed me2 but he would not receive anything2 saying ,whatever good he could for me and my friends1 he would do it1 and never do them any hurt4 444 ,he continued loving unto me unto his dying day4 ,the officers also and the soldiers were mightily changed1 and became very respectful to me2 when they had occasion to speak of me they would say1 ,,he ,,is ,,as ,,stiff ,,as ,a ,,tree1 ,,and ,,as ,,pure ,,as ,a ,,bell2 ,,for ,,we ,,could ,,never ,,bow ,,him4' ,,ii4 ',,pure ,,foy1 ,,ma ,,joye' ',outwardly there was little resemblance between ,george ,fox and ,francis of ,assisi1 between the young ,leicestershire ,shepherd of the ,x,v,i,ith ,century and the young ,italian merchant of the ,x,i,i,ith1 but they both felt the power of ,,god and yielded themselves wholly to it3 both left father and mother and home3 both defied the opinions of their time3 both won their way through bitter opposition to solid success3 both cast themselves upon the infinite love of ,,god3 both were most truly surrendered souls2 but ,francis submitted himself to established authority1 ,fox only to the spirit of ,,god speaking in the single soul4' ',in solitude and silence ,fox found ,,god and heard ,him4 ,he proclaimed that the ,kingdom of ,,god is the ,kingdom of a living ,spirit ,who holds converse with ,his people4'--,,bishop ,,westcott4 ',some place their religion in books1 some in images1 some in the pomp and splendour of external worship1 but some with illuminated understandings hear what the ,holy ,spirit speaketh in their hearts'--,,thomas ,a ,,kempis4 ',lord1 when ,i look upon mine own life it seems ,thou hast led me so carefully1 so tenderly1 ,thou canst have attended to none else2 but when ,i see how wonderfully ,thou hast led the world and art leading it1 ,i am amazed that ,thou hast had time to attend to such as ,i4'--,,augustine4 ,,ii4 ',,pure ,,foy1 ,,ma ,,joye' ',he is stiff as a tree and pure as a bell1 and we could never bow him4' ,so spoke the rough soldiers of ,scarborough ,castle of their prisoner1 ,george ,fox1 after he had been set at liberty4 ,a splendid thing it was for soldiers to say of a prisoner whom they had held absolutely in their power4 ,but a tree does not grow stiff all at once4 ,it takes many years for a tiny seedling to grow into a sturdy oak4 ,a bell has to undergo many processes before it gains its perfect form and pure ringing note4 ,and a whole lifetime of joys and sorrows had been needed to develop the 'stiffness' 7or steadfastness1 as we should call it now7 and purity of character that astonished the soldiers in their prisoner4 ,there will not be much story in this history of ,george ,fox's early days1 but it is the foundation-stone on which most of the later stories will be built4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was in ,july #afbd1 the last year in which ,james the ,first1 ,king of ,england1 ruled in his palace at ,whitehall1 that far away in a quiet ,leicestershire village their first baby was born to a weaver and his wife4 ,they lived in a small cottage with a thatched roof and wooden shutters1 in a village then known as ',drayton-in-the-,clay1' because of the desolate waters of the marshlands that lay in winter time close round the walls of the little hamlet4 ,even though the fens and marshes have now long ago been drained and turned into fertile country1 the village is still called ',fenny ,drayton4' ,the weaver's name was ,christopher ,fox4 ,his wife's maiden name had been ,mary ,lago2 and the name they gave to their first little son was ,george4 ,mary ,lago came 'of the stock of the martyrs'3 that is to say1 either her parents or her grand-parents had been put to death for their faith4 ,they had been burnt at the stake1 probably1 in one of the persecutions in the reign of ,queen ,mary4 ,from her 'martyr stock' ,mary ,lago must have learned1 when she was quite a little girl1 to worship ,god in purity of faith4 ,later on1 after she had become the mother of little ,george1 it was no wonder that her baby son sitting on her knee1 looking up into her face1 or listening to her stories1 learned from the very beginning to try to be ',pure as a ,bell4' ,mary ,lago's husband1 ,christopher ,fox1 did not come 'of the stock of the martyrs1' but evidently he had inherited from his ancestors plenty of tough courage and sturdy sense4 ,almost the only story remembered about him is that one day he stuck his cane into the ground after listening to a long dispute and exclaimed3 ',now ,i see that if a man will but stick to the truth it will bear him out4' ,when little ,george grew old enough to scramble down from his mother's knee and to walk with unsteady steps across the stone-flagged floor of the cottage1 there was his weaver father sitting at his loom1 making a pleasant rhythmic sound that filled the small house with music4 ,as the boy watched the skilful hands sending the flying shuttle in and out among the threads1 he learned from his father1 not only the right way to weave good reliable stuff1 but also how to weave the many coloured threads of everyday life into a strong character4 ,the village people called his father ',righteous ,christer1' which shows that he too must have been 'stiff as a tree' in following what he knew to be right2 for a name like that is not very easily earned where village eyes are sharp and village tongues are shrewd4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,boyhood ,,of ,,george ,,fox ,less than a mile from the weaver's cottage stood the ,church and the ,manor ,house side by side4 ,the churchyard had a wall of solid red bricks1 overshadowed by a border of solemn old yew-trees4 ,the ,manor ,house was encircled by a moat on which graceful white swans swam to and fro4 ,for centuries the ,purefoy family had been ,squires of ,drayton village4 ,they had inhabited the ,manor ,house while they were alive1 and had been buried in the churchyard close by after they were dead4 ,the present ,squire was a certain ,,colonel ,,george ,,purefoy4 ,it may have been after him that ',righteous ,christer' called his eldest son ,george1 or it may have been after that other ,george1 ',saint ,george for ,merrie ,england1' whose image killing the ,dragon was to be seen engraved on each rare golden 'noble' that found its way to the weaver's home4 ,christopher and ,mary ,fox were both of them possessed of more education than was usual among country people at that time1 when reading and writing were still rare accomplishments4 ',righteous ,christer' was an important man in the small village4 ,besides being a weaver1 he was also a churchwarden1 and was able to sign his own name in bold characters1 as may still be seen to-day in the parish registers1 where his fellow-churchwarden1 being unable to read or write1 was only able to sign his name with a cross4 ,unfortunately this same register1 which ought to record the exact day of ,july #afbd on which little ,george was baptized here in the old church1 no longer mentions him1 since1 more than a hundred years after his time1 the wife of the ,sexton of ,fenny ,drayton1 running short of paper to cover her jam-pots1 must needs lay hands on the valuable ,church records and tear out a few priceless pages just here4 ,so1 although several other brothers and sisters followed ,george and came to live in the weaver's cottage during the next few years1 we know none of their ages or birthdays1 until we come to the record of the baptism of the youngest sister ,sarah4 ,happily her page came last of all1 after the ,sexton's jam was finished1 and thus ,sarah's name escaped being made into the lid of a jam-pot4 ,but we will hope that the weaver and his wife remembered and kept all their children's birthdays on the right days1 even though they are forgotten now4 ,however that may have been1 ,george's parents 'endeavoured to train him up1 as they did their other children1 in the common way of worship--his mother especially being eminent for piety3 but even from a child he was seen to be of another frame of mind from his brethren1 for he was more religious1 retired1 still and solid1 and was also observing beyond his age4 ,his mother1 seeing this extraordinary temper and godliness1 which so early did shine through him1 so that he would not meddle with childish games1 carried herself indulgent towards him4444 ,meanwhile he learned to read pretty well1 and to write as much as would serve to signify his meaning to others4' ,when he saw older people behaving in a rowdy1 frivolous way1 it distressed him1 and the little boy used to say to himself3 ',if ever ,i come to be a man1 surely ,i will not be so wanton4' ',when ,i came to eleven years of age1' he says himself in his ,journal1 ',i knew pureness and righteousness2 for while ,i was a child ,i was taught how to walk so as to be kept pure1 and to be faithful in two ways1 both inwardly to ,god1 and outwardly to man1 and to keep to ,yea and ,nay in all things4' ,at that time there was a law obliging everybody to attend ,church on ,sundays1 and as the services lasted for several hours at a time1 the weaver's children doubtless had time to look about them1 and learned to know the stones of the old church well4 ,when the ,squire and his family were at home they sat in the ,purefoy ,chapel in the ,north ,aisle4 ,from this ,chapel a door in the wall opened on to a path that led straight over the drawbridge across the moat to the ,manor ,house4 ,it must have been interesting for all the village children to watch for the opening and shutting of that door4 ,but up in the chancel there was1 and still is1 something even more interesting3 the big tomb that a certain ,mistress ,jocosa or ,joyce ,purefoy had put up to the memory of her husband1 who had died in the days of good ,queen ,bess4 ',,pure ,,foy1 ,,ma ,,joye1' the black letters of the family motto1 can still be read on a marble scroll4 ,if ,george in his boyhood ever asked his mother what the ,french words meant1 ,mary ,fox1 who was1 we are told1 'accomplished above her degree in the place where she lived1' may have been able to tell him that they mean1 in ,english1 ',pure faith is my ,joy'2 or that1 keeping the rhyme1 they might be translated as follows3-- ',,my ,,faith ,,pure1 ,,my ,,joy ,,sure4' ,then remembering what had happened in her own family1 surely she would add1 ',and ,i1 who come of martyr stock1 know that that is true4 ,even if you have to suffer for it1 my son1 even if you have to die for it1 keep your ,faith pure1 and your ,joy will be sure in the end4' ,then ,righteous ,christer would take the little lad up on his shoulder and show him the broken spear above the tomb1 the crest of the ,purefoys1 and tell him its story4 ,hundreds of years before1 one of the ,squires of this family had defended his liege lord on the battle-field at the risk of his own life1 and even after his weapon1 a spear1 had been broken in his hand4 ,his lord1 out of gratitude for this1 had given his faithful follower1 not only the right to wear the broken spear in token of his valour ever after as a crest1 but also by his name and by his motto to proclaim to all men the ,,pure ,,faith 7,,purefoy7 that had given him this sure and lasting joy4 ,ever since1 for hundreds of years1 the ,purefoy family had handed down1 by their name1 by their motto1 and by the broken spear on their crest1 this noble tradition of loyalty and allegiance--enshrined like a shining jewel in the centre of the muddy village of ,drayton-in-the-,clay4 ,this was not the only battle story the boy must have known well4 ,a few miles from ,fenny ,drayton is 'the rising ground of ,market ,bosworth1' better known as ,bosworth ,field4 ,as he grew older ,george loved to wander over the fields that surrounded his birthplace4 ,he 'must have often passed the site of ,henry's camp1 perhaps may have drunk sometimes at the well at which ,richard is said to have quenched his thirst4' ,but although his home was near this old battlefield1 the boy grew up in a peaceful ,england4 ,probably no one in ,fenny ,drayton imagined that in a very few years the smiling ,english meadows would once more be drenched in blood4 ,george ,fox in his country home was brought up to follow country pursuits1 and was especially skilful in the management of sheep4 ,he says in his ,journal3 ',as ,i grew up1 my relations thought to have made me a priest1 but others persuaded to the contrary4 ,whereupon ,i was put to a man who was a shoemaker by trade1 and dealt in wool4 ,he also used grazing and sold cattle2 and a great deal went through my hands4 ,while ,i was with him he was blest1 but after ,i left him1 he broke and came to nothing4 ,i never wronged man or woman in all that time4444 ,while ,i was in that service1 ,i used in my dealings the word ,verily1 and it was a common saying among those that knew me1 if ,george says ,verily1 there is no altering him4 ,when boys and rude persons would laugh at me1 ,i let them alone1 but people generally had a love to me for my innocence and honesty4 ',when ,i came towards #ai years of age1 being upon business at a ,fair1 one of my cousins1 whose name was ,bradford1 a professor1 having another professor with him1 asked me to drink part of a jug of beer with them4 ,i1 being thirsty1 went with them1 for ,i loved any that had a sense of good4 ,when we had drunk a glass apiece1 they began to drink healths and called for more drink1 agreeing together that he that would not drink should pay for all4 ,i was grieved that they should do so1 and putting my hand into my pocket took out a groat and laid it on the table before them1 saying1 ,if it be so1 ,i will leave you4 ,so ,i went away1 and when ,i had done my business ,i returned home1 but did not go to bed that night1 nor could ,i sleep1 but sometimes walked up and down and prayed and cried unto the ,lord1 who said to me3 ,thou must forsake all1 young and old1 keep out of all and be a stranger to all4 ',then at the command of ,god1 the #ith of the #gth month1#a #afdc1 ,i left my relations1 and broke off all familiarity or fellowship with young or old4' ,the old-fashioned ,english of the ',journal' makes this story rather puzzling at the first reading1 because several words have changed in meaning since it was written4 ,the name 'professors1' did not then mean learned men who teach or lecture in a ,university1 but any men who 'professed' to be particularly religious and good4 ,these 'professionally religious people' are generally known as 'the ,puritans1' and it was meeting with these bad specimens among them who 'professed' a religion they did not attempt to practise1 that so dismayed ,george ,fox4 ,here at any rate ',pure ,faith' was not being kept either to ,god or men4 ,he must find a more solid foundation on which to rest his own soul's loyalty and allegiance4 ,over the porch of the ,church at ,fenny ,drayton is painted now1 not the ,purefoy motto1 but the words3 ',i will go forth in the strength of the ,lord ,god4' ,it was from this place that ,george ,fox set forth on the long search for a ',pure ,faith' that1 when he found it1 was to bring both to him and to many thousands of his countrymen a ',sure ,joy4' ,why ,righteous ,christer and his wife did not help ,george more at this time remains a puzzle4 ,they may have been afraid lest he was making a terrible mistake in leaving the worship they knew and followed1 or they may have guessed that ,god was really calling him to do some work for ,him bigger than they could understand1 and may have felt that they could help their boy best by leaving him free to follow the ,voice that spoke to him in the depths of his own heart1 even if he had to fight his own battles unaided4 ,or possibly their thoughts were too full of all the actual battles that were filling the air just then to think any other troubles important4 ,for our ,quaker ,saints are not legendary people2 they are a real part of ,english ,history4 ,all through the years of ,george's boyhood the struggle between ,king ,charles the ,first and his ,parliament had been getting more tense and embittered4 ,the abolition of the ,star ,chamber 7,may #afdj71 the attempted arrest of the five ,members 7,october #afdb71 the trial and death1 first of ,strafford 7,may #afda7 and then of ,laud 7,january #afde7--;all these events had been convulsing the great heart of the ,english nation during the long years while young ,george had been quietly keeping his master's sheep and cattle in his secluded ,leicestershire village4 ,a year before he left home the long-dreaded ,civil ,war had at last broken out4 ,but the ,civil ,war that broke out in the soul of the young shepherd lad1 the struggle between good and evil when he saw his ,puritan cousin tempting other people to drink and carouse1 was to him a more momentous event than all the outward battles that were raging4 ,his ,journal hardly mentions the rival armies of ,king and ,parliament that were marching through the land4 ,yet in reading of his early struggles in his own spirit1 we must always keep in the background of our minds the thought of the great national struggle that was raging at the same time4 ,it was not in the orderly1 peaceful1 settled ,england of his earliest years that the boy grew to manhood1 but in an ,england that was being torn asunder by the rival faiths and passions of her sons4 ,men's minds were filled with the perplexities of great national problems of ,church and ,state1 of tyranny and freedom4 ,no wonder that at such a time everyone was too busy to spare much sympathy or many thoughts for the spiritual perplexities of one obscure country lad4 ,right into the very middle1 then1 of this troubled1 seething ,england1 ,george ,fox plunged when he left his home at ,fenny ,drayton4 ,the battle of ,marston ,moor was fought the following year1 ,july #afdd1 and ,naseby the summer after that4 ,but ,george was not heeding outward battles4 ,up and down the country he walked1 seeking for help in his spiritual difficulties from all the different kinds of people he came across2 and there were a great many different kinds4 ,the ,england of that day was not only torn by ,civil ,war1 it was also split up into innumerable different sects1 now that the attempt to force everyone to worship according to one prescribed fashion was at length being abandoned4 ,in one small ,yorkshire town it is recorded that there were no less than forty of these sects worshipping in different ways about this time1 while new sects were continually arising4 ,perhaps it was a generous wish to give the professors another chance and not to judge the whole party from the bad specimens he had met1 that made ,george go back to the ,puritans for help4 ,at first they made much of the young enquirer2 but1 alas6 they all had the same defect as those he had met already4 ,their spoken profession sounded very fine1 but they did not carry it out in their lives4 ',they sought to be acquainted with me1 but ,i was afraid of them1 for ,i was sensible they did not possess what they professed4' ,in other words1 their faith did not ring true4 ,the professors were certainly not ',pure as a ,bell4' ,george ,fox's test was always the same1 both for his own religion and other people's3 ',is this faith real8 ,is it true8 ,can you actually live out what you profess to believe8 ,and do you8 ,is your faith pure8 ,is your joy sure8' ,finding that1 in the case of the professors1 a sorrowful ',no' was the only answer that their lives gave to these questions1 ,george says3 ',a strong temptation to despair came over me4 ,i then saw how ,christ was tempted1 and mighty troubles ,i was in4 ,sometimes ,i kept myself retired in my chamber1 and often walked solitary in the ,chace to wait upon the ,lord4' ,it must not be forgotten that part of the ,puritan worship consisted in making enormously long prayers in spoken words1 and preaching sermons that lasted several hours at a time4 ,george ,fox became more and more sure that this was not the worship ,god wanted from him1 as he thought over these matters in solitude under the trees of ,barnet ,chace4 ,after a time he went back to his relations in ,leicestershire4 ,they saw the youth was unhappy1 and very naturally thought it would be far better for him to settle down and have a happy home of his own than to go wandering about the country in distress about the state of his soul4 ',being returned into ,leicestershire1 my relations would have had me married2 but ,i told them ,i was but a lad and must get wisdom4' ,other people said3 ',no1 don't marry him yet4 ,put him into the auxiliary band among the soldiery4 ,once he gets fighting1 that will soon knock the notions out of his head4' ,young ,george would not consent to this plan either4 ,he had his own battle to fight1 his own victory to win1 unaided and alone4 ,he did not yet know that it was useless for him to seek for outward help4 ,being still only a lad of nineteen he thought that surely there must be someone among his elders who could help him1 if only he could find out the right person4 ,having failed with the professors1 he determined next to consult the priests and see if they could advise him in his perplexities4 ',priests' is another word that has changed its meaning almost as much as 'professors' has done4 ,by 'priests' ,george ,fox does not mean ,anglican or ,roman ,catholic clergy1 but simply men of any denomination who were paid for preaching4 ,at this particular time the ,english ,rectories and ,vicarages were mostly occupied by ,presbyterians and ,independents4 ,it was they who preached and who were paid for preaching in the village churches1 which is what he means by calling them 'priests' in his ,journal4 ,in these stories there is no need to think of ,george ,fox as arguing or fighting against real ,christianity in any of the churches4 ,he was fighting1 rather1 against sham religion1 formality and hypocrisy wherever he found them4 ,in that great fight all who truly love ,truth and ,god are on the same side1 even though they are called by different names4 ,so remember that these old labels that he uses for his opponents have changed their meaning very considerably in the three hundred years that have passed since his birth4 ,remember too that the world had had at that time nearly three hundred years less in which to learn good manners than it has now4 ,the manners and customs of the day were much rougher than those of modern times4 ,however much we may disagree with people1 there is no need for us to tell them so in the same sort of harsh language that was too often used by ,george ,fox and his contemporaries4 ,to these ,presbyterian priests1 therefore1 ,george went next to ask for counsel and help4 ,the first he tried was the ,reverend ,nathaniel ,stephens1 the priest of his own village of ,fenny ,drayton4 ,at first ,priest ,stephens and young ,george seemed to get on very well together4 ,another priest was often with ,stephens1 and the two learned men would often talk and argue with the boy1 and be astonished at the wise answers he gave4 ',it is a very good1 full answer1' ,stephens once said to ,george1 'and such an one as ,i have not heard4' ,he applauded the boy and spoke highly of him1 and even used the answers he gave in his own sermons on ,sundays4 ,this was a compliment1 but it cost him ,george's friendship and respect1 because he felt it was a deceitful practice4 ,the ,journal says3 ',what ,i said in discourse to him on week-days1 he would preach of on first days1 which gave me a dislike to him4 ,this priest afterwards became my great persecutor4' ,priest ,stephens' wife was also very much opposed to ,fox1 and it is said that on one occasion she 'very unseemly plucked and haled him up and down1 and scoffed and laughed4' ,fox always felt that this priest and his wife were his bitter foes2 but other people described ,priest ,stephens as 'a good scholar and a useful preacher1 in his younger days a very hard student1 in his old age pleasant and cheerful4' ,so1 as generally happens1 there may have been a friendly side to this couple for those who took them the right way4 ,after this1 ,fox continues1 ',i went to another ancient priest at ,mancetter in ,warwickshire1 and reasoned with him about the ground of despair and temptations2 but he was ignorant of my condition2 he bade me take tobacco and sing psalms4 ,tobacco was a thing ,i did not love1 and psalms ,i was not in a state to sing2 ,i could not sing4 ,then he bid me come again and he would tell me many things2 but when ,i came he was angry and pettish2 for my former words had displeased him4 ,he told my troubles1 sorrows and griefs to his servants so that it got among the milk-lasses4 ,it grieved me that ,i should have opened my mind to such a one4 ,i saw they were all miserable comforters1 and this brought my troubles more upon me4 ,then ,i heard of a priest living about ,tamworth1 which was accounted an experienced man1 and ,i went seven miles to him2 but ,i found him like an empty hollow cask4 ,i heard also of one called ,dr4 ,craddock of ,coventry1 and went to him4 ,i asked him the ground of temptations and despair1 and how troubles came to be wrought in man8 ,he asked me1 ,who was ,christ's ,father and ,mother8 ,i told him ,mary was ,his ,mother1 and that ,he was supposed to be the son of ,joseph1 but ,he was the ,son of ,god4 ,now1 as we were walking together in his garden1 the alley being narrow1 ,i chanced1 in turning1 to set my foot on the side of a bed1 at which the man was in a rage1 as if his house had been on fire4 ,thus all our discourse was lost1 and ,i went away in sorrow1 worse than ,i was when ,i came4 ,i thought them miserable comforters1 and saw they were all as nothing to me2 for they could not reach my condition4 ,after this ,i went to another1 one ,macham1 a priest in high account4 ,he would needs give me some physic1 and ,i was to have been let blood2 but they could not get one drop of blood from me1 either in arms or head 7though they endeavoured to do so71 my body being1 as it were1 dried up with sorrows1 grief and troubles1 which were so great upon me that ,i could have wished ,i had never been born1 or that ,i had been born blind1 that ,i might never have seen wickedness or vanity2 and deaf1 that ,i might never have heard vain and wicked words1 or the ,lord's name blasphemed4 ,when the time called ,christmas came1 while others were feasting and sporting themselves1 ,i looked out poor widows from house to house1 and gave them some money4 ,when ,i was invited to marriages 7as ,i sometimes was7 ,i went to none at all1 but the next day1 or soon after1 ,i would go to visit them2 and if they were poor1 ,i gave them some money2 for ,i had wherewith both to keep myself from being chargeable to others1 and to administer something to the necessities of those who were in need4' ,three years passed in this way1 and then at last the first streaks of light began to dawn in the darkness4 ,they came1 not in any sudden or startling way1 but little by little his soul was filled with the hope of dawn3 ,silently as the morning ,comes on when night is done1 ,or the crimson streak1 on ocean's cheek1 ,grows into the great sun4 ,he says1 ',about the beginning of the year #afdf1 as ,i was going into ,coventry1 a consideration arose in me how it was said1 ,all ,christians are believers1 both ,protestants and ,papists1 and the ,lord opened to me1 that if all were believers1 then they were all born of ,god1 and were passed from death unto life1 and that none were true believers but such1 and though others said they were believers1 yet they were not4' ,possibly ,george ,fox was looking up at the ',three ,tall ,spires' of ,coventry when this thought came to him1 and remembering in how many different ways ,christians had worshipped under their shadow3 first the ,latin ,mass1 then the order of ,common ,prayer1 and now the ,puritan service4 ',at another time1' he says1 'as ,i was walking in a field on a first day morning1 the ,lord opened to me ,that being bred at ,oxford or ,cambridge was not enough to fit and qualify men to be ministers of ,christ3 and ,i wondered at it because it was the common belief of people4 ,but ,i saw it clearly as the ,lord had opened it to me1 and was satisfied and admired the goodness of the ,lord1 who had opened the thing to me this morning4444 ,so that which opened in me struck ,i saw at the priests' ministry4 ,but my relations were much troubled that ,i would not go with them to hear the priest2 for ,i would go into the orchard or the fields with my ,bible by myself4444 ,i saw that to be a true believer was another thing than they looked upon it to be 444 so neither them nor any of the dissenting people could ,i join with4 ',at another time it was opened in me1 ,that ,god who made the world did not dwell in temples made with hands4 ,this at the first seemed strange1 because both priests and people used to call their temples or churches dreadful places1 holy ground and the temples of ,god4 ,but the ,lord showed me clearly that ,he did not dwell in these temples which men had made1 but in people's hearts4' ,in this way ,george ,fox had found out for himself three of the foundation truths of a pure faith3-- #ast4 ,that all ,christians are believers1 ,protestants and ,papists alike4 #bnd4 ,that ,christ was come to teach ,his people ,himself4 #crd4 ,that the ,temple in which ,god wishes to dwell is in the hearts of ,his children4 ,now that ,george ,fox was sure of these three things1 it troubled him less if he was with people whose beliefs he could not share4 ,the first set of people he came among believed that women had no souls1 'no more than a goose has a soul' added one of them in a light1 jesting tone4 ,george ,fox reproved them and told them it was a wrong thing to say1 and added that ,mary in her song said1 ',my soul doth magnify the ,lord1 ,my spirit hath rejoiced in ,god my ,saviour1' so she must have had a soul4 ,george by this time had learned to know his ,bible so well in the long quiet hours out of doors1 when it had been his only companion1 that it was easy to him to find the exact quotation he wanted in an argument4 ,it was said of him1 later on1 by wise and learned men1 that if the ,bible itself were ever to be lost it might almost be found again in the mouth of ,george ,fox1 so well did he know it4 ,the next set of people he came to were great dreamers4 ,they guided their lives in the daytime according to the dreams they had happened to dream during the night4 ,and ,i should think a fine mess they must have made of things6 ,george helped these dreamers to know more of realities1 till1 later on1 many of them came out of their dream-world and became ,friends4 ,after this at last he came upon a set of people who really did seem to understand him and to care for the same things that he did4 ,they were called ',shattered ,baptists1' because they had broken off from the other ,baptists in the neighbourhood who 'did the ,lord's work negligently' and did not act up to what they professed4 ,this was the very same fault that had driven ,george forth from among the professors at the beginning of his long quest4 ,it is easy to imagine that he and these people were happy together4 ',with these1' he says1 ',i had some meetings and discourses1 but my troubles continued and ,i was often under great temptations4 ,i fasted much1 walked abroad in solitary places many days1 and often took my ,bible and sat in hollow trees and lonesome places till night came on1 and frequently in the night walked about by myself4444 ,o the everlasting love of ,god to my soul1 when ,i was in great distress6 when my troubles and torments were great1 then was ,his love exceeding great4444 ,when all my hopes in all men were gone so that ,i had nothing outwardly to help me1 nor could ,i tell what to do1 then1 ,o then1 ,i heard a ,voice which said1 ,there is one1 even ,christ ,jesus1 that can speak to thy condition4 ,when ,i heard it1 my heart did leap for joy4' ,this message was like the rising of the sun to ,george ,fox4 ,the long night of darkness was over now1 the sun had risen1 and though there might be clouds and storms ahead of him still he had come out into the full clear light of day4 ',my desires after the ,lord grew stronger1' he writes1 'and zeal in the pure knowledge of ,god and of ,christ alone1 without the help of any man1 book1 or writing4444 ,then the ,lord gently led me along and let me see ,his love which was endless and eternal1 surpassing all the knowledge that men have in the natural state or can get by history and books4 ,that love let me see myself as ,i was without him4444 ,at another time ,i saw the great love of ,god1 and was filled with admiration at the infiniteness of it4' ,the truths that ,george ,fox is trying to express are difficult to put into words4 ,it is the more difficult for us to understand what he means because his language is not quite the same as ours4 ,other words besides 'priest' and 'professor' have altered their meanings4 ,when he speaks of having had things 'opened' to him1 we should be more likely to say he had had them revealed to him1 or had had a revelation4 ,perhaps these 'openings' and 'seeings' that he describes1 though they meant much to him1 do not sound to us now like very great discoveries4 ,they are only what we have been accustomed to hear all our lives4 ,but then1 whom have we to thank for that8 ,in large measure ,george ,fox himself4 ,in the immense bush forests that cover an unexplored country or continent the first man who attempts to make a track through them has the hardest task4 ,he has to guess the right direction1 to cut down the first trees1 to 'blaze a trail1' to help every one who follows him to find the way a little more easily4 ,that man is called a ,pioneer4 ,george ,fox was a pioneer in the spiritual world4 ,he discovered a true path for himself1 a path leading right through the thick forest of human selfishness and sin and out into the bright sunshine beyond4 ,in his lonely ,quest through those years of struggle he was indeed 'blazing a trail' for us4 ,if the track we tread nowadays is smooth and easy to tread1 that is because of the pioneers who have gone before us4 ,our ease has been gained through their labours and sufferings and steadfastness4 ,the track was not fully clear even yet to ,george ,fox4 ,he had more to learn before he could make the right path plain to others2 more to learn1 but chiefly more to suffer4 ,to strengthen him beforehand for those sufferings1 he was given an assurance that never afterwards entirely left him4 ',i saw the ,infinite ,love of ,god4 ,i saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death2 but an infinite ocean of light and love which flowed over the ocean of darkness4 ,in that also ,i saw the infinite love of ,god1 and ,i had great openings4' ,the ,quest was ended4 ,faith was pure1 and ,joy was sure at last4 ',now was ,i come up in spirit1 through the flaming sword1 into the ,paradise of ,god4 ,all things were made new1 and all the creation gave another smell to me beyond what words can utter4 ,i knew nothing but pureness1 innocency1 and righteousness1 being renewed up to the image of ,god by ,christ ,jesus4444 ,great things did the ,lord lead me into1 and wonderful depths were opened to me1 beyond what can by words be declared2 but as people come into subjection by the ,spirit of ,god1 and grow up in the ,image and ,power of the ,almighty they may receive the word of wisdom that opens all things1 and come to know the hidden unity in the ,eternal ,being4' ',thus travelled ,i in the ,lord's service1 as ,he led me4' ,,footnotes3 #a ,the #gth month would be ,september1 because the years then began with ,march4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,angel ,,of ,,beverley ',to instruct young lasses and maidens in whatever things was useful in the creation4'--,r4 ,,abraham4 ',it was the age of long discourses and ecstatic exercises4'--,,morley',s ,,cromwell4 ',george ,fox's preaching1 in those early years1 chiefly consisted of some few1 but powerful and piercing words1 to those whose hearts were already in some measure prepared to be capable of receiving this doctrine4'--,,sewel',s ,,history4 ',but at the first convincement when friends could not put off their hats to people1 nor say you to a particular but thee and thou2 and could not bowe nor use the world's fashions nor customs 444 people would not trade with them nor trust them 444 but afterwards people came to see friends honesty and truthfulness4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',the light which shows us our sins is that which heals us4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',,god works slowly4'--,,bishop ,,westcott4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,angel ,,of ,,beverley ,among all the children of ,drayton village who watched eagerly for the door to open into the ,purefoy ,chapel on ,sundays1 when the ,squire's family were at home1 none watched for it more intently than blue-eyed ,cecily1 the old huntsman's granddaughter4 ,cecily's parents were both dead1 and she lived with her grandfather in one of the twin lodges that guarded the ,manor gates4 ,old ,thomas had fought at the ,squire's side abroad in years gone by4 ,now1 aged and bent1 he1 too1 watched for that door to open1 as he sat in his accustomed place in the church with ,cecily by his side4 ,old ,thomas's eyes followed his master lovingly1 when ,colonel ,purefoy entered1 heading the little procession1--a tall1 erect1 soldierly-looking man1 though his hair was decidedly grey1 and grey too was the pointed beard that he still wore over a small ruff1 in the fashion of the preceding reign4 ,close behind him came his wife4 ,the village people spoke of her as ',madam1' since1 although ,english born1 and1 indeed1 possessed of considerable property in her own native county of ,yorkshire1 she was attached to the ,court of ,queen ,henrietta ,maria1 and had caught something of the foreign grace of her ,french mistress4 ,but it was the two children for whose coming ,cecily waited most eagerly1 as they followed their parents4 ,edward ,purefoy1 the heir1 a tall1 handsome boy1 came in first1 leading by the hand his dainty little sister ,jocosa1 who seemed too fairy-like to support the stately family name1 and who was generally known by its shorter form of ,joyce4 ,last of all came a portly waiting-maid1 carrying a silky-haired spaniel on a cushion under each arm4 ,these petted darlings1 ,king ,charles' own special favourites1 were all the rage at ,court at this time1 and accompanied their masters and mistresses everywhere1 even to church1 where--fortunate beings--they were allowed to slumber peacefully on cushions at their owners' feet throughout the long services1 when mere human creatures were obliged at any rate to endeavour to keep awake4 ,cecily had no eyes to spare1 even for the pet-dogs1 on the eventful ,sunday when the ,squire and his family first appeared again at church after an unusually long absence4 ,for there was little ,mistress ,jocosa1 all clad in white satin1 like a princess in a fairy tale1 and as pretty as a picture4 ,and so the great ,court painter1 ,sir ,anthony ,vandyck1 must have thought1 seeing he had chosen to paint her portrait and make a picture of her himself in this same costume1 with its stiff1 straight1 shining skirt1 tight bodice1 pointed lace collar1 and close-fitting transparent cap that covered1 but could not hide1 the waves of dark crisp hair4 ,when ,cecily discovered that a string of pearls was clasped round the other little girl's neck1 she gave a long gasp of delight1 a gasp that ended in an irrepressible sigh4 ,for1 a moment later1 this dazzling vision1 with its dancing eyes1 delicate features1 and glowing cheeks1 was lost to sight4 ,all through the remainder of the service it stayed hidden in the depths of the high old family pew1 whence nothing could be seen save the top of the ,squire's silver head1 rising occasionally1 like an erratic half moon1 over the edge of the dark oak wood4 ,not another glimpse was to be had of the white satin princess2 there was no one to look at but the ordinary village folk whom ,cecily could see every day of her life3 young ,george ,fox1 for instance1 the ,weaver's son1 who was staring straight before him as usual1 paying not the smallest heed to the entrance of all these marvellous beings4 ,fancy staring at the marble tomb erected by a long dead ,lady ,jocosa1 and never even noticing her living namesake of to-day1 with all her sparkles and flushes6 ,truly the ,weaver's son was a strange lad1 as the whole village knew4 ,a strange boy indeed1 ,joyce ,purefoy thought in her turn1 as1 passing close by him on her way out of church1 she happened to look up and to meet the steady gaze of the young eyes that were at the same time so piercing and yet so far away4 ,she could not see his features clearly1 since the sun1 pouring in through a tall lancet window behind him1 dazzled her eyes4 ,yet1 even through the blurr of light1 she felt the clear look that went straight through and found the real ,joyce lying deep down somewhere1 though hidden beneath all the finery with which she had hoped to dazzle the village children4 ,late that same evening it was no fairy princess but a contrite little girl who approached her mother's side at bed-time4 ',forgive me1 mother mine1 ,i did pick just a few cherries from the tree above the moat1' she whispered hesitatingly ',i was hot and they were juicy4 ,then1 when you and my father crossed the bridge on our way to church and asked me had ,i taken any1 ,i1--no--,i did not exactly forget1 but ,i suppose ,i disremembered1 and ,i said ,i had not had one4' ',jocosa6' exclaimed her mother sternly3 ',what6 ,you a ,purefoy and my daughter1 yet not to be trusted to tell the truth6 ,for the cherries1 they are a small matter1 ,i gave you plenty myself later1 but to lie about even a trifle1 it is that1 that ,i mind4' ,the little girl hung her head still lower4 ',i know1' she said1 'it was shameful4 ,yet1 in truth1 ,i did confess at length4' ',true1' answered her mother1 'and therefore thou art forgiven1 and without a punishment2 only remember thy name and take better heed of thy ,pure ,faith another time4 ,what made thee come and tell me even now8' ',the sight of the broken spear in church1' stammered the little girl4 ',that began it1 and then ,i partly remembered4444' ,she got no further4 ,even to her indulgent mother 7and ,madam ,purefoy was accounted an unwontedly tender parent in those days71 ,joyce could not explain how it was1 that1 as the glance from those grave boyish eyes fell upon her1 out of the sunlit window1 her 'disremembering' became suddenly a weight too heavy to be borne4 ,jocosa ,purefoy never forgot that ,sunday1 or her childish fault4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the visits of the ,squire and his family to the old ,manor ,house were few and far between4 ,the estates in ,yorkshire that ,madam ,purefoy had brought to her husband on her marriage were the children's real home4 ,it was several years after this before ,cecily saw her fairy princess again4 ,the next glimpse was even more fleeting than their appearance in church1 just a mere flash at the lodge gates as ,jocosa and her brother cantered past on their way out for a day's hunting4 ,old ,thomas1 sitting in his arm-chair in the sun1 looked critically and enviously at the man-servant who accompanied them4 ',too young--too young1' he muttered4 ,his own hunting days were long past1 but he could not bear1 even crippled with rheumatism as he was1 that any one but he1 who had taught their father to sit a horse1 should ride to hounds with his children4 ,cecily had some envious thoughts too4 ',i should like very well to wear a scarlet riding-dress and fur tippet1 and a long red feather in my hat1 and go a-hunting on old ,snowball1 instead of having to stop at home and take care of grandfather and mind the house4' ,after she had closed the heavy iron gates with a clang1 she pressed her nose between the bars and looked wistfully along the straight road1 carried on its high causeway above the fens1 down which the gay riders were swiftly disappearing4 ,but1 in spite of envious looks1 the gaiety of the day was short-lived4 ,during the very first run1 ,snowball put her foot into a rabbit-hole1 and almost came down4 ',lamed herself1 sure enough1' said the man-servant grimly4 ,no more hunting for ,snowball that day4 ,the best that could be hoped was that she might be able to carry her little mistress's light weight safely home1 at a walking pace1 over the few miles that separated them from ,drayton4 ,joyce could not return alone1 and ,edward would not desert his sister1 though he could not repress a few gloomy remarks on the homeward way4 ',to lose such a splendid dry day at this season6 ,once the weather breaks and the floods are out1 there will be no leaving the ,manor ,house again for weeks1 save by the causeway over the fens6' ,thus it was a rather melancholy trio that returned slowly by the same road over which the ponies' feet had scampered gaily an hour or two before4 ,when the chimneys of ,drayton were coming in sight1 a loud ',halloo' made the riders look round4 ,a second fox must have led the hunt back in their direction after all4 ,sure enough1 a speck of ruddy brown was to be seen slinking along beneath a haystack in the distance4 ,already the hounds were scrambling across the road after him1 while1 except for the huntsman1 not a solitary rider was as yet to be seen anywhere4 ,the temptation was too strong for ,edward4 ,the brush might still be his1 if he were quick4 ',we are close at home4 ,you will come to no harm now1 sister1' he called4 ,then1 raising his whip1 he was off at a gallop1 beckoning peremptorily to the groom to follow him4 ,not without a shade of remorse for deserting his little mistress1 the man-servant obediently gave ,snowball's bridle to ,joyce1 and set spurs to his horse4 ,then1 as he galloped away1 he salved his conscience with the reflection that 'after all1 young ,master's neck is in more danger than young ,missie's1 now home is in sight4' ,joyce1 left alone1 dismounted1 in order to lead ,snowball herself on the uneven road across the fens4 ,it was difficult to do this satisfactorily1 owing to the pony's lameness1 and her long1 clinging skirt1 over which she was perpetually tripping4 ,therefore1 looking down over the hedgeless country for someone to help her1 it was with real relief that she caught sight of a tall youth close at hand1 in a pasture where sheep and cattle were grazing4 ,all her life ,joyce was accustomed to treat the people she met with the airs of a queen4 ,therefore1 ',hey6 boy1' she called imperiously1 'come and help me6 quick6' ,she had to call more than once before the youth looked up1 and when he did1 at first he made no motion in response4 ,then1 seeing that the pony really was limping badly1 and that the little lady was obviously in difficulty1 and was1 moreover1 a very little lady still1 in spite of her peremptory tones1 he changed his mind4 ,striding slowly towards her1 he rather reluctantly closed the book he had been reading1 and placed it in his pocket4 ,then1 without saying a single word1 he put out his hand and taking ,snowball's bridle from ,joyce he proceeded to lead the pony carefully and cleverly over the stones4 ,the silence remained unbroken for a few minutes3 the lad buried in his own thoughts1 grave1 earnest and preoccupied2 the dainty damsel1 her skirt held up now1 satisfactorily1 on both sides1 skipping along1 with glancing footsteps1 as she tried to keep up with her companion's longer paces1 and at the same time to remember why this tall1 silent boy seemed to her vaguely familiar4 ,she could not see his face1 for it was turned towards ,snowball1 and ,joyce herself scarcely came up to her companion's elbow4 ,they passed a cottage1 set back at some distance from the road and half hidden by a cherry-tree with a few late leaves upon it1 crimsoned by the first touch of ,november frost4 ,a cherry-tree6 ,the old memory flashed back in a moment4 ',i know who you are1' exclaimed ,joyce1 'even though you don't speak a word4 ,and ,i know your name4 ,you are ,righteous ,christer the ,weaver's son1 and you are called ,george1 like my father4 ,you have grown so big and tall ,i did not know you at first1 but now ,i do4 ,where do you live8' ,the boy pointed in the direction of the cottage under the cherry-tree4 ,the gentle whirr of the loom stole through the window as they approached4 ',and ,i have seen you before1' ,joyce went on1 'a long time ago1 the last time we were here1 on ,sunday4 ,it was in church1' she concluded triumphantly4 ',aye1 in yon steeple-house1' answered her companion moodily1 and with no show of interest4 ',very like4' ,his eyes wandered from the thatched roof of the cottage to where1 high above the tall old yew-trees1 a slender spire pointed heavenward4 ,joyce laughed at the unfamiliar word4 ',that is a church1 not a steeple-house1' she corrected4 ',of course it has a steeple1 but wherefore give it such a clumsy name8' ,her companion made no reply4 ,he seemed absorbed in a world of his own1 though still leading the pony carefully4 ,joyce1 piqued at having her presence ignored even by a village lad1 determined to arouse him4 ',moreover1 ,i have heard ,priest ,stephens speak of you to my father1' she went on1 with a little pin-prick of emphasis on each word1 though addressing her remarks apparently to no one in particular1 and with her dainty head tilted in the air4 ,her companion turned to her at once4 ',what said the ,priest8' he enquired quickly4 ',the ,priest said1 ,never was such a plant bred in ,england before6 ,what his words meant ,i know not--unless he was thinking of the proverb of certain plants that grow apace1' she added maliciously1 looking up with a gleam of fun at the tall figure beside her4 ',and my father said4444' ,colonel ,purefoy's remark was not destined to be revealed1 for they had reached the tall gateway by this time4 ,old ,thomas1 seeing his little mistress approaching1 accompanied only by the ,weaver's son1 and with ,snowball obviously damaged1 had hobbled to meet them in spite of his rheumatics4 ,close at hand was ,cecily1 brimful of excitement at the sight of her fairy princess actually stopping at their own cottage door4 ,the tall youth handed the pony's bridle to the old man1 and was departing with evident relief1 when a clear1 imperious voice stopped him-- ',good-bye and good-day to you1 ,weaver's son1 and thanks for your aid1' said ,jocosa1 like a queen dismissing a subject4 ,the tall figure looked down upon the patronizing little lady1 as if from a remote height4 ',mayest thou verily fare well1' he said1 almost with solemnity1 and then1 without removing his hat or making any gesture of respect1 he turned abruptly and was gone4 ',a strange boy1' ,joyce said to herself a few minutes later as she stood on the stone bridge that crossed the moat in front of the ,manor ,house4 ',i did not like him2 in fact ,i rather disliked him--but ,i should like to see him again and find out what he meant by his steeple-house and verily4' ,cecily1 left behind at the ,lodge1 very happy because her fairy princess had actually thrown her a smile as she passed1 was still following the distant figure on the bridge with wistful eyes1 as ,joyce busily searched her pockets for a few stray crumbs with which to feed the swans in the moat4 ,the scarlet riding-dress1 glossy tippet1 and scarlet feather in the big brown hat were all faithfully reflected in the clear water below1 except where the swans interrupted the vivid picture with dazzling snowy curves and orange webbed feet4 ,more critical eyes than ,cecily's were also watching ,joyce4 ,high up on the terrace1 where a few late roses and asters were still in bloom1 two figures were leaning over the stone parapet1 looking down over the moat4 ',a fair maiden1 indeed1' a voice was saying1 in low1 polished tones4 ,the next moment the sound of her own name made the girl look up4 ,there1 coming towards her1 at the very top of the flight of shallow stone steps that led from the terrace to the low stone bridge1 she saw her father1 and with him a stranger1 dressed1 not like ,colonel ,purefoy1 in a slightly archaic costume1 but in the very latest fashion of ,king ,charles's ,court at ,whitehall4 ',my father come home already6 and a stranger with him6 ,what an unlucky chance after the misadventure of the morning6' ,throwing her remaining crumbs over the swans in a swift shower1 ,joyce made haste up the stone steps1 to greet the two gentlemen with the reverence always paid by children to their elders in those days4 ,somewhat to her surprise1 her father bent down and kissed her cheek4 ,then1 taking her hand1 he led her towards the stranger1 and presented her very gravely4 ',my daughter1 ,jocosa3 my good friend1 ,sir ,everard ,danvers4' ',exactly as if ,i had been a grown-up lady at ,court1' thought ,joyce1 delighted1 with the delight of thirteen1 at her own unexpected importance4 ,her father had never paid her so much attention before4 ,well1 at least he should see that she was worthy of it now4 ,and ,joyce dropped her lowest1 most formal1 curtsey1 as the stranger bowed low over her hand4 ,to curtsey at the edge of a flight of steps1 and in a clinging riding skirt1 was an accomplishment of which anyone might be proud4 ,was the stranger properly impressed8 ,he appeared grave enough1 anyhow1 and a very splendid figure in his suit of sky-blue satin1 short shoulder cape1 and pointed lace collar4 ,he was a strikingly handsome man1 of a dark-olive complexion1 with good features1 and jet-black hair2 but strangely enough1 the sight of him made ,joyce turn back to her father1 feeling as if she had never understood before the comfort of his quiet1 familiar face4 ,even the old-fashioned ruff gave her a sense of home and security4 ,she would tell him about the morning's disasters now after all4 ,but ,colonel ,purefoy's questions came first4 ',how now1 ,jocosa1 and wherefore alone8 ,my daughter rides with her brother in my absence1' he added1 turning to his companion4 ',father1--,snowball1444' began ,joyce bravely1 her colour rising as she spoke4 ',talk not of snowballs1' interrupted ,sir ,everard gallantly1 'it may be ,november by the calendar1 but here it is high summer yet1 with roses all abloom4' ,he pointed to her crimsoning cheeks4 ,they quickly flushed a deeper crimson1 evidently to the stranger's amusement4 ',why here comes ,maiden's ,blush1 ,queen of all the ,roses' he went on1 in a teasing voice4 ,then1 turning to ,colonel ,purefoy1 ',by my faith1 ,purefoy1' he said1 'my scamp of a nephew is a lucky dog4' ,joyce's bewilderment increased4 ,what did it all mean8 ,was he play-acting8 ,why did they both treat her so8 ,the stranger's punctilious politeness had flattered her at first1 but1 since the mocking tone stole into his voice she felt that she hated him1 and looked round hoping to escape4 ,sir ,everard was too quick for her4 ,in that instant he had managed to possess himself of her hand1 and now he was kissing it with exaggerated homage and deference1 yet still with that mocking smile that seemed to say--',like it1 or like it not1 little ,i care4' ,joyce had often seen people kiss her mother's hand1 and had thought1 as she watched the delightful process1 how much she should enjoy it1 when her own turn came4 ,she knew better now3 it was not a delightful process at all1 it was simply hateful4 ,a new ,joyce suddenly woke up within her1 a frightened1 angry ,joyce1 who wanted to run away and hide4 ,all her new-born dignity vanished in a moment4 ,scarcely waiting for her father's amused permission3 ',there then1 maiden1 haste to thy mother3 she has news for thee'--she flew along the terrace and in at the hall door4 ,as she fled up the oak staircase that led to her mother's withdrawing-room1 she vainly tried to shut her ears to the sounds of laughter that floated after her from the terrace below4 ,madam ,purefoy was seated1 half hidden behind her big1 upright embroidery frame1 in one of the recesses formed by the high1 deeply mullioned windows4 ,thin rays of autumn sunshine filled the tapestried room with pale1 clear light4 ,there was no possibility of mistaking the colours of the silks that lay in their varied hues close under her hand4 ,why1 then1 had this skilful embroideress deliberately threaded her needle with a shade of brilliant blue silk8 ,why was she carefully using it to fill in a lady's cheek without noticing1 apparently1 that anything was wrong8 ,yet1 at the first sound of ,joyce's light footfall on the stairs she laid down her needle and listened1 and held out her arms1 directly her daughter appeared1 flushed and agitated1 in the doorway1 waiting for permission to enter4 ,mothers were mothers1 it seems1 even in the seventeenth century4 ,in another minute ,joyce was in her arms1 pouring out the whole history of the morning4 ,by this time ,snowball's lameness had faded behind the remembrance of the encounter on the terrace4 ',who is that man1 mother8 ,a courtier1 ,i know1 since he wears such beautiful clothes4 ,but wherefore comes he here8 ,i thought ,i liked him1 until he kissed my hand and laughed at me1 and then ,i detested him4 ,i hope ,i shall never see him again4' ,and she hid her face4 ,before speaking1 ,mistress ,purefoy left her seat and carefully closed the casement1 in order that their voices might not reach the ears of anyone on the terrace below4 ,then1 taking ,joyce on her knee as if she had been still a child1 she explained to her that the stranger1 ,sir ,everard ,danvers1 was a well-known and favourite attendant of the ,queen's4 ',and it is by her wish that he comes hither for thee1 ,mignonne4' ',for me8' ,joyce grew rosier than ever2 ',i am too young yet to be a ,maid of ,honour as thou wert in thy girlhood4 ,what does her ,majesty know about me8' she questioned4 ',only that thou art my daughter1 and that she is my very good friend4 ,her ,majesty knows also that1 in time1 thou wilt inherit some of my ,yorkshire estates2 and therefore she hath sent ,sir ,everard to demand thy hand in marriage for his nephew and ward1 the young ,viscount ,danvers1 whose property marches with ours4 ,moreover1 seeing that the times are unsettled1 her ,majesty hath signified her pleasure that not a mere betrothal1 but the marriage ceremony itself1 shall take place as soon as possible in the ,chapel ,royal at ,st4 ,james's1 since the young ,viscount1 thy husband to be1 is attached to her suite as a page4' ',but ,i am not fourteen yet1' faltered ,joyce1 ''tis full soon to be wed4' ,a vista of endless court curtseys and endless mocking strangers swam before her eyes1 and prevented her being elated with the prospect that would otherwise have appeared so dazzling4 ,her mother stifled a sigh4 ',aye truly1' she replied1 'thy father and ,i have both urged that4 ,but her ,majesty hath never forgotten the ,french fashion of youthful marriages1 and is bent on the scheme4 ,she says1 with truth1 that thou must needs have a year or two's education after thy marriage for the position thou wilt have in future to fill at ,court1 and 'tis better to have the contract settled first4' ,education6 ,to be married at thirteen might be a glorious thing1 but to be sent back1 a bride1 for a year or two of education thereafter was a dismal prospect4 ,that night there were tears of excitement and dismay on the pillow of the ,viscountess-to-be as she thought of the alarming future4 ,yet she woke up1 laughing1 in the morning sunlight1 for she had dreamt that she was fastening a coronet over her brown hair4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the wedding festivities a few weeks later left nothing to be desired4 ,day after day ,joyce found herself the caressed centre of a brilliant throng that held but one disappointing figure--her boy bridegroom4 ',he has eyes like a weasel1 and a nose like a ferret1' was the bride's secret criticism1 when the introduction took place4 ,but1 after all1 the bridegroom was one of the least important parts of the wedding3 far less important than the ,prince of ,wales1 who led her out to dance1 and whom she much preferred3 far less important also than the bridegroom's cousin1 ,abigail1 a bold1 black-eyed girl who took country-bred ,joyce under her protection at once1 and saved her from many a mistake4 ,abigail was already at the school to which ,joyce was to be sent4 ,she herself was betrothed1 though not as yet married1 to my ,lord ,darcy1 and was therefore able to instruct ,joyce herself in many of the needful accomplishments of her new position4 ,the school days that followed were not unhappy ones1 since1 far better than their books1 both girls loved their embroidery work and other 'curious and ingenious manufactures1' especially the new and fashionable employment of making samplers1 which had just been introduced4 ,but when1 in a short time1 the ,civil ,wars broke out1 their peaceful world collapsed like a house of cards4 ,the 'position' of the young ,viscountess and her husband vanished into thin air4 ,one winter at ,court the young couple spent together1 it is true1 when the ,king and ,queen were in ,oxford1 keeping state that was like a faint echo of ,whitehall4 ,all too soon the fighting began again4 ,in one of the earliest battles young ,lord ,danvers was severely wounded and sent home maimed for life4 ,his days at ,court and camp were over4 ,summoning his wife to nurse him1 he returned to his estate near ,beverley in ,yorkshire1 where the next few years of ,joyce's life were spent1 to her ill-concealed displeasure4 ,her husband's days were evidently numbered1 and as he grew weaker1 he grew more exacting4 ,patience had never been one of ,joyce's strong points1 and1 though she did her best1 time often dragged1 and she mourned the cruel fate that had cast her lot in such an unquiet age4 ,instead of wearing her coronet at ,court1 here she was moping and mewed up in a stiff1 puritanical countryside4 ,after the triumph of the ,parliamentarians1 things grew worse4 ,it would have gone hard with the young couple had not a neighbour of theirs1 of much influence with the ,protector1 one ,justice ,hotham1 made representations as to the young lord's dying state and so ensured their being left unmolested4 ,justice ,hotham was a fatherly old man with a genius for understanding his neighbours1 especially young people4 ,he was a good friend to ,joyce1 and perpetually urged her to cherish her husband while he remained with her4 ,judge then of the good ,justice's distress1 when1 one fine day1 a note was brought to him from his wilful neighbour to say that she could bear her lot no longer1 that her dear friend ,abigail1 ,lady ,darcy1 was now on her way to join the ,queen in ,france1 and had persuaded ,joyce to leave her husband and accompany her thither4 ,the ,justice looked up in dismay3 a dismay reflected on the face of the waiting-woman to whom ,joyce had entrusted her confidential letter4 ,this was a certain blue-eyed ,cecily1 now a tall and comely maiden1 who had followed her mistress from her old home at ,drayton-in-the-,clay4 ',she must be stopped1' said the good ,judge4 ',spending the night with ,lady ,darcy at the ,inn at ,beverley is she1 sayest thou8 ,and thou art to join her there8 ,hie thee after her then1 and delay her at all costs4 ,plague on this gouty foot that ties me here6 ,maiden1 ,i trust in thee to bring her home4' ,cecily needed no second bidding4 ',she will not heed me4 ,no mortal man or woman can hinder my lady1 once her mind is made up4 ,still ,i will do my best1' was her only answer to the ,judge2 while ',it would take an angel to stop her6 ,may ,heaven find one to do the work and send her home1 or ever my lord finds out that she has forsaken him1' she prayed in the depths of her faithful heart4 ,was it in answer to her prayer that the rain came down in such torrents that for two days the roads were impassable8 ,cecily was inclined to think so4 ,anyhow1 ,joyce and ,abigail1 growing tired of the stuffy inn parlour while the torrents descended1 and having nothing to do1 seeing that the day was the ,sabbath1 and therefore scrupulously observed without doors in ,puritan ,beverley1 strolled through the ,minster1 meaning to make sport of the congregation and its ways thereafter4 ,the sermon was long and tedious1 but it was nearing its end as they entered4 ,at the close a stranger rose to speak in the body of the ,church1 a tall stranger1 who stood in the rays of the sun that streamed through a lancet window behind him4 ,his first words arrested careless ,joyce1 though she paid small heed to preaching as a rule4 ,more than the words1 something vaguely familiar in the tones of the voice and the piercing gaze that fell upon her out of the flood of sunlight1 awoke in her the memory of that long ago ,sunday of her childhood1 of her theft of the cherries1 of her 'disremembering1' and then of her mother's words1 ',you1 a ,purefoy1 to forget to be worthy of your name4' ,alas6 where was her ,pure ,faith now8 ,the preacher seemed to be speaking to her1 to her alone3 yet1 strangely enough1 to almost every heart in that vast congregation the message went home4 ,did the building itself rock and shake as if filled with power8 ,the real ,joyce was reached again3 the real ,joyce1 though hidden now under the weight of years of self-pleasing1 a heavier burden than any childish finery4 ,certainly reached she was1 though ,lady ,darcy preserved through it all her cynical smile1 and made sport of her friend's earnestness4 ,nevertheless ,lady ,darcy went to ,france alone4 ,lady ,danvers returned to her husband--too much accustomed to be left alone1 poor man1 to have been seriously disquieted by her absence4 ,for the remainder of his short life his wife did her best to tend him dutifully4 ,but she did leave him for an hour or two the day after her return1 in order to go and throw herself on her knees beside kind old ,justice ,hotham1 and confess to him how nearly she had deserted her post4 ',and then what saved you8' enquired the wise old man1 smoothing back the wavy hair from the wilful1 lovely face that looked up to him1 pleading for forgiveness4 ',i think it was an angel1' said ,joyce simply--'an angel or a spirit4 ,it rose up in ,beverley ,minster3 it preached to us of the wonderful things of ,god3 words that burned4 ,the whole building shook4 ,afterwards it passed away4' ,little she guessed that ,george ,fox1 the ,weaver's son1 the ,judge's guest1 seated in a deep recess of the long1 panelled library1 was obliged to listen to every word she spoke4 ,joyce never knew that the angel who had again enabled her to keep her ',faith pure' was no stranger to her4 ,neither did it occur to him1 whose thoughts were ever full of weightier matters than wilful woman's ways1 that he had met this 'great woman of ,beverley1' as he calls her1 long before4 ,only waiting-maid ,cecily1 who had prayed for an angel2 ,cecily1 who had recognised the ,weaver's son the first moment she saw him at the inn door2 ,cecily who had found in him1 also1 the messenger sent by ,god in answer to her prayer--wise ,cecily kept silence until the day of her death4 99 99 99 99 99 ,george ,fox says in his ,journal3 ',i was moved of the ,lord to go to ,beverley steeple-house1 which was a place of high profession4 ,being very wet with rain1 ,i went first to an inn4 ,as soon as ,i came to the door1 a young woman of the house said1 ,what1 is it you8 ,come in1 as if she had known me before1 for the ,lord's power bowed their hearts4 ,so ,i refreshed myself and went to bed4 ,in the morning1 my clothes being still wet1 ,i got ready1 and1 having paid for what ,i had1 went up to the steeple-house where was a man preaching4 ,when he had done1 ,i was moved to speak to him and to the people in the mighty power of ,god1 and turned them to their teacher1 ,christ ,jesus4 ,the power of the ,lord was so strong that it struck a mighty dread among the people4 ,the ,mayor came and spoke a few words to me1 but none had power to meddle with me1 so ,i passed out of the town1 and the next day went to ,justice ,hotham's4 ,he was a pretty tender man and had some experience of ,god's workings in his heart4 ,after some discourse with him of the things of ,god he took me into his closet1 where1 sitting together1 he told me he had known that principle these ten years1 and was glad that the ,lord did now send his servants to publish it abroad among the people4 ,while ,i was there a great woman of ,beverley came to ,justice ,hotham about some business4 ,in discourse she told him that ,the last ,sabbath day1 as she called it1 an ,angel or ,spirit came into the church at ,beverley and spoke the wonderful things of ,god1 to the astonishment of all that were there3 and when it had done1 it passed away1 and they did not know whence it came or whither it went2 but it astonished all1 priests1 professors and magistrates4 ,this relation ,justice ,hotham gave me afterwards1 and then ,i gave him an account that ,i had been that day at ,beverley steeple-house and had declared truth to the priest and people there4' ,,iv4 ,,taming ,,the ,,tiger ',the state of the ,english law in the #agth century with regard to prisons was worthy of ,looking ,glass ,land4 ,the magistrates' responsibility was defined by 444 the justice4 ,they were to commit them to prison but not to provide prisons for them4 ,this duty devolved upon the gaoler1 who was an autocrat and responsible to no authority4 ,it frequently happened that he was a convicted branded felon1 chosen for the position by reason of his strength brutality4 ,prisoners were 444 required to pay for this enforced hospitality1 their first act must be to make the most favourable terms possible with their gaoler landlord or his wife1 for food lodging4'--,m4,r4 ,,brailsford4 ',you are bidden to fight with your own selves1 with your own desires1 with your own affections1 with your own reason1 and with your own will2 and therefore if you will find your enemies1 never look without4444 ,you must expect to fight a great battle4'--,,john ,,everard4 #afej4 ',the real essential battlefield is always in the heart itself4 ,it is the victory over ourselves1 over the evil within1 which alone enables us to gain any real victory over the evil without4'--,e4,r4 ,,charles4 ',they who defend war1 must defend the dispositions that lead to war1 and these are clean against the gospel4'--,,erasmus4 ,,iv4 ,,taming ,,the ,,tiger ,perhaps some boys and girls have said many times since the ,war began3 ',i wish ,friends did not think it wrong to fight for their ,king and ,country4 ,why did ,george ,fox forbid ,quakers to fight for the ,right like other brave men8 ,is it not right to fight for our own dear ,england8' ,but did ,george ,fox ever forbid other people to fight8 ,he was not in the habit of laying down rules for other people1 even his own followers4 ,let us see what he himself did when1 as a young man1 he was faced with this very same difficulty1 or an even more perplexing one1 since it was our own dear ,england itself in those days that was tossed and torn with ,civil ,war4 ,first of all1 listen to the story of a man who tamed a ,tiger3-- ,far away in ,india1 a savage1 hungry ,tiger1 with stealthy steps and a yellow1 striped skin1 came padding into a defenceless native village1 to seek for prey4 ,in the early morning he had slunk out of the ,jungle1 with soft1 cushioned paws that showed no signs of the fierce nails they concealed4 ,all through the long1 hot day he had lain hidden in the thick reeds by the riverside2 but at sunset he grew hungry1 and sprang1 with a great bound1 up from his hiding-place4 ,right into the village itself he came1 trampling down the patches of young1 green corn that the villagers had sown1 and that were just beginning to spring up1 fresh and green1 around the mud walls of their homes4 ,all the villagers fled away in terror at the first glimpse of the yellow1 striped skin4 ,the fathers and mothers snatched up their brown babies1 the older children ran in front screaming1 ',tiger6 ,tiger6' ,young and old they all fled away1 as fast as ever they could1 into the safest hiding-places near at hand4 ,one man alone1 a ,stranger1 did not fly4 ,he remained standing right in the middle of the ,tiger's path1 and fearlessly faced the savage beast4 ,with a howl of rage1 the ,tiger prepared for a spring4 ,the man showed no sign of fear4 ,he never moved a muscle4 ,not an eyelash quivered4 ,such unusual behaviour puzzled the ,tiger4 ,what could this strange thing be1 that stood quite still in the middle of the path8 ,it could hardly be a man4 ,men were always terrified of tigers1 and fled screaming when they approached4 ,the ,tiger actually stopped short in its spring1 to gaze upon this perplexing1 motionless ,being who knew no fear4 ,there he stood1 perfectly silent1 perfectly calm1 gazing back at the ,tiger with the look of a conqueror4 ,several long1 heavy minutes passed4 ,at length the villagers1 peeping out from their hiding-places1 looking between the broad plantain leaves or through the chinks of their wooden huts1 beheld a miracle4 ,they saw1 to their amazement1 the ,tiger slink off1 sullen and baffled1 to the jungle1 while the ,stranger remained alone and unharmed in possession of the path4 ,at first they scarcely dared to believe their eyes4 ,it was only gradually1 as they saw that the ,tiger had really departed not to return1 that they ventured to creep back1 by twos and threes first of all1 and then in little timid groups1 to where the ,stranger stood4 ,then they fell at his feet and embraced his knees and worshipped him1 almost as if he had been a god4 ',tell us your ,magic1 ,sahib1' they cried1 'this mighty magic1 whereby you have managed to overcome the ,monarch of the ,jungle and tame him to your will4' ',i know no magic1' answered the ,stranger1 ',i used no spells4 ,i was able to overcome this savage ,tiger only because ,i have already learned how to overcome and tame ,,the ,,tiger ,,in ,,my ,,own ,,heart4' ,that was his secret4 ,that is the story4 ,and now let us return to ,george ,fox4 ,think of the ,england he lived in when he was a young man1 the distracted ,england of the ,civil ,wars4 ,think of all the tiger spirits of hatred that had been unloosed and that were trampling the land4 ,the whole country lay torn and bleeding4 ,some bad men there were on both sides certainly2 but the real misery was that many good men on each side were trying to kill and maim one another1 in order that the cause they believed to be 'the ,right' might triumph4 ',have at you for the ,king6' cried the ,cavaliers1 and rushed into the fiercest battle with a smile4 ',god with us6' shouted back the deep-voiced ,puritans4 ',for ,god and the ,liberties of ,england6' and they too laid down their lives gladly4 ,far away from all the hurly-burly1 though in the very middle of the clash of arms1 ,george ,fox1 the unknown ,leicestershire shepherd lad1 went on his way1 unheeded and unheeding4 ,he1 too1 had to fight2 but his was a lonely battle1 in the silence of his own heart4 ,it was there that he fought and conquered first of all1 there that he tamed his own ,tiger at last--more than that1 he learned to find ,god4 ',one day1' he says in his ,journal1 'when ,i had been walking solitarily abroad and was come home1 ,i was taken up into the love of ,god1 and it was opened to me by the eternal light and power1 and ,i therein clearly saw that all was to be done in and by ,christ1 and how ,he conquers and destroys the ,devil and all his works and is atop of him4' ,he means that he saw that all the outward fighting was really part of one great battle1 and that to be on the right side in that fight is the thing that matters eternally to every man4 ,another time he writes3 ',i saw into that which was without end1 things which cannot be uttered and of the greatness and infiniteness of the love of ,god1 which cannot be expressed by words1 for ,i had been brought through the very ocean of darkness and death1 and through and over the power of ,satan by the eternal glorious power of ,christ2 even through that darkness was ,i brought which covered over all the world and shut up all in the death4444 ,and ,i saw the harvest white and the seed of ,god lying thick in the ground1 as ever did wheat that was sown outwardly1 and ,i mourned that there was none to gather it4' ,when ,george ,fox speaks of the 'seed1' he means the tender spot that there must always be in the hearts of all men1 however wicked1 since they are made in the likeness of ,god4 ,a tiny1 tiny something1 the first stirring of life1 that ,god's ,spirit can find and work on1 however deeply it may be buried 7like a seed under heavy clods of earth71 if men will only yield to ,it4 ,in another place he calls this seed ',,that ,,of ,,god ,,within ,,you4' ,and it is this tender growing 'seed' that gets trampled down when fierce angry passions are unloosed in people's hearts1 just as the tender springing corn in the ,indian village was trampled down by the hungry ,tiger4 ,george ,fox believed that that seed lay hidden in the hearts of all men1 because he had found it in his own4 ,everywhere he longed to set that seed free to grow1 and to tame the ,tiger spirits that would trample it down and destroy it4 ,let us watch and see how he did this4 ,one day when he was about twenty-five years old1 he heard that some people had been put in prison at ,coventry for the sake of their religion4 ,he thought that there must be a good crop of seed in the hearts of those people1 since they were willing to suffer for their faith1 so he determined to go and see them4 ,as he was on his way to the gaol a message came to him from ,god4 ,he seemed to hear ,god's own ,voice saying to him1 ',,my ,,love ,,was ,,always ,,to ,,thee1 ,,and ,,thou ,,art ,,in ,,my ,,love4' ',always to thee4' ,then that love had always been round him1 even in his loneliest struggles1 and now that he knew that he was in it1 nothing could really hurt him4 ,no wonder that he walked on towards the gaol with a feeling of new joy and strength4 ,but when he came to the dark1 frowning prison where numbers of men and women were lying in sin and misery1 this joyfulness left him4 ,he says1 ',a great power of darkness struck at me4' ,the prisoners were not the sort of people he had hoped to find them4 ,they were a set of what were then called ',ranters4' ,they began to swear and to say wicked things against ,god4 ,george ,fox sat silent among them1 still fastening his mind on the thought of ,god's conquering love2 but as they went on to say yet wilder and more wicked things1 at last that very love forced him to reprove them4 ,they paid no attention1 and at length ,fox was obliged to leave them4 ,he says he was 'greatly grieved1 yet ,i admired the goodness of the ,lord in appearing so to me1 before ,i went among them4' ,for the time it did seem as if the ,tiger spirits had won1 and were able to trample down the living seed4 ,but wait6 ,a little while after1 one of these same prisoners1 named ,joseph ,salmon1 wrote a paper confessing that he was sorry for what he had said and done1 whereupon they were all set at liberty4 ,meanwhile1 ,george ,fox went on his way1 and travelled through 'markets1 fairs1 and divers places1 and saw death and darkness everywhere1 where the ,lord had not shaken them4' ,in one place he heard that a great man lay dying and that his recovery was despaired of by all the doctors4 ,some of his friends in the town desired ,george ,fox to visit the sufferer4 ',i went up to him in his chamber1' says ,fox in his ,journal1 'and spake the word of life to him1 and was moved to pray by him1 and the ,lord was entreated and restored him to health4 ,when ,i was come down the stairs into a lower room and was speaking to the servants1 a serving-man of his came raving out of another room1 with a naked rapier in his hand1 and set it just to my side4 ,i looked steadfastly on him and said ,alack for thee1 poor creature6 what wilt thou do with thy carnal weapon1 it is no more to me than a straw4 ,the standers-by were much troubled1 and he went away in a rage2 but when news came of it to his master1 he turned him out of his service4' ,although that particular man's ,tiger spirit had been foiled in its spring1 the man himself had not been really tamed4 ,perhaps ,george ,fox needed to learn more1 and to suffer more himself1 before he could really change other men's hearts4 ,if so1 he had not long to wait4 ,shortly after this1 it was his own turn to be imprisoned4 ,he was shut up in ,derby ,gaol1 and given into the charge of a very cruel ,gaoler4 ,this man was a strict ,puritan1 and he hated ,fox1 and spoke wickedly against him4 ,he even refused him permission to go and preach to the people of the town1 which1 strangely enough1 the prisoners in those days were allowed to do4 ,one morning1 however1 ,fox was walking up and down in his cell1 when he heard a doleful noise4 ,he stopped his walk to listen4 ,through the wall he could hear the voice of the ,gaoler speaking to his wife--',wife1' he said1 ',i have had a dream4 ,i saw the ,day of ,judgment1 and ,i saw ,george there6' ,how the listener must have wondered what was coming6 ',i saw ,george there1' the ,gaoler continued1 'and ,i was afraid of him1 because ,i had done him so much wrong1 and spoken so much against him to the ministers and professors1 and to the ,justices and in taverns and alehouses4' ,but there the voice stopped1 and the prisoner heard no more4 ,when evening came1 however1 the ,gaoler visited the cell1 no longer raging and storming at his prisoner1 but humbled and still4 ',i have been as a lion against you1' he said to ,fox1 'but now ,i come like a lamb1 or like the ,gaoler that came to ,paul and ,silas1 trembling4' ,he came to ask as a favour that he might spend the night in the same prison chamber where ,fox lay4 ,fox answered that he was in the ,gaoler's power3 the keeper of the prison of course could sleep in any place he chose4 ',no1' answered the ,gaoler1 ',i wish to have your permission4 ,i should like to have you always with me1 but not as my prisoner4' ,so the two strange companions spent that night together lying side by side4 ,in the quiet hours of darkness the ,gaoler told ,fox all that was in his heart4 ',i have found that what you said of the true faith and hope is really true1 and ,i want you to know that even before ,i had that terrible vision1 whenever ,i refused to let you go and preach1 ,i was sorry afterwards when ,i had treated you roughly1 and ,i had great trouble of mind4' ,there had been a little seed of kindness even in this rough ,gaoler's heart4 ,deeply buried though it was1 it had been growing in the darkness all the time1 though no one guessed it--the ,gaoler himself perhaps least of all until his dream showed him the truth about himself4 ,when the night was over and morning light had come1 the ,gaoler was determined to do all he could to help his new friend4 ,he went straight to the ,justices and told them that he and all his household had been plagued because of what they had done to ,george ,fox the prisoner4 ',well1 we have been plagued too for having him put in prison1' answered one of the ,justices1 whose name was ,justice ,bennett4 ,and here we must wait a minute1 for it is interesting to know that it was this same ,justice ,bennett who first gave the name of ,quakers to ,george ,fox and his followers as a nickname1 to make fun of them4 ,fox declared in his preaching that 'all men should tremble at the word of the ,lord1' whereupon the ,justice laughingly said that ',quakers and ,tremblers was the name for such people4' ,the ,justice might have been much surprised if he could have known that centuries after1 thousands of people all over the world would still be proud to call themselves by the name he had given in a moment of mockery4 ,neither ,justice ,bennett nor his prisoner could guess this1 however2 and therefore1 although his ,gaoler's heart had been changed1 ,george ,fox still lay in ,derby ,prison4 ,there was more work waiting for him to do there4 ,one day he heard that a soldier wanted to see him1 and in there came a rough trooper1 with a story that he was very anxious to tell4 ',i was sitting in ,church1' he began4 ',thou meanest in the steeple-house1' corrected ,fox1 who was always very sure that a ',church' meant a ',company of ,christ's faithful people1' and that the mere outward building where they were gathered should only be called a steeple-house if it had a steeple1 or a meeting-house if it had none4 ',sitting in ,church1 listening to the ,priest1' continued the trooper1 paying no attention to the interruption1 ',i was in an exceeding great trouble1 thinking over my sins and wondering what ,i should do1 when a ,voice came to me--,i believe it was ,god's own ,voice and it said--,dost thou not know that my servant is in prison8 ,go thou to him for direction4 ,so ,i obeyed the ,voice1' the man continued1 'and here ,i have come to you1 and now ,i want you to tell me what ,i must do to get rid of the burden of these sins of mine4' ,he was like ,christian in ,pilgrim's ,progress1 with a load of sins on his back1 was he not8 ,and just as ,christian's burden rolled away when he came to the ,cross1 so the trooper's distress vanished when ,fox spoke to him1 and told him that the same power that had shown him his sins and troubled him for them1 would also show him his salvation1 for ',that which shows a man his sin is the ,same that takes it away6' ,fox did not speak in vain4 ,the trooper 'began to have great understanding of the ,lord's truth and mercyes4' ,he became a bold man too1 and took his new-found happiness straight back to the other soldiers in his quarters1 and told them of the truths he had learnt in the prison4 ,he even said that their ,colonel--,colonel ,barton--was 'as blind as ,nebuchadnezzar1 to cast such a true servant of ,god as ,fox was1 into ,gaol4' ,before long this saying came to ,colonel ,barton's ears1 and then there was a fine to do4 ,naturally he did not like being compared with ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,who would8 ,but it would have been undignified for a ,colonel to take any notice then of the soldiers' tittle-tattle2 so he said nothing1 only bided his time and waited until he could pay back his grudge against the sergeant4 ,a whole year he waited--then his chance came4 ,it was at the ,battle of ,worcester1 when the two armies were lying close together1 but before the actual fighting had begun1 that two soldiers of the ,king's ,army came out and challenged any two soldiers of the ,parliamentary ,army to single combat1 whereupon ,colonel ,barton ordered the soldier who had likened him to ,nebuchadnezzar to go with one other companion on this dangerous errand4 ,they went2 they fought with the two ,royalists1 and one of the two ,parliamentarians was killed2 but it was the other one1 not ,fox's friend4 ,he1 left alone1 with his comrade lying dead by his side1 suddenly found that not even to save his own life could he kill his enemies4 ,so he drove them both before him back to the town1 but he did not fire off his pistol at them4 ,then1 as soon as ,worcester fight was over1 he himself returned and told the whole tale to ,fox4 ,he told him 'how the ,lord had miraculously preserved him1' and said also that now he had 'seen the deceit and hypocrisy of the officers he had seen also to the end of ,fighting4' ,whereupon he straightway laid down his arms4 ,the trooper left the army4 ,meanwhile his friend and teacher had suffered for refusing to join it4 ,we must go back a little to the time1 some months before the ,battle of ,worcester1 when the original term of ,fox's imprisonment in the ,house of ,correction in ,derby was drawing to a close4 ,at this time many new soldiers were being raised for the ,parliamentary ,army1 and among them the authorities were anxious to include their stalwart prisoner1 ,george ,fox4 ,accordingly the ,gaoler was asked to bring his charge out to the market-place1 and there1 before the assembled ,commissioners and soldiers1 ,fox was offered a good position in the army if he would take up arms for the ,commonwealth against ,charles ,stuart4 ,the officers could not understand why ,george ,fox should refuse to regain his liberty on what seemed to them to be such easy terms4 ',surely1' they said1 'a strong1 big-boned man like you will be not only willing but eager to take up arms against the oppressor and abuser of the liberties of the people of ,england6' ,fox persisted in his refusal4 ',i told them1' he writes in his ,journal1 'that ,i knew whence all wars arose1 even from men's lusts 444 and that ,i lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars4 ,yet they courted me to accept their offer1 and thought ,i did but compliment them4 ,but ,i told them ,i was come into that covenant of peace which was before wars and strifes were4 ,they said they offered it in love and kindness to me1 because for my virtue1 and such like flattering words they used4 ,but ,i told them if that was their love and kindness1 ,i trampled it under my feet4 ,then their rage got up1 and they said1 ,take him away1 ,gaoler1 and put him into the prison among the rogues and thieves4' ,this prison was a much worse place than the ,house of ,correction where ,fox had been confined hitherto4 ,in it he was obliged to remain for a weary half-year longer1 knowing all the time that he might have been at liberty1 could he have consented to become an officer in the army4 ,his relations1 distressed at his imprisonment1 had already offered ,l#ajj for his release1 but ,fox would not accept the pardon this sum might have obtained for him as he said he had done nothing wrong4 ,he was occasionally allowed to leave the horrible1 dirty gaol1 with its loathsome insects and wicked companions1 and walk for a short time in the garden by himself1 because his keepers knew that when he had given his word he would not try to escape from their custody4 ,as time went on1 many dismal people 7looking on the gloomy side of things1 as dismal people always do7 began to shake their heads and say1 ',poor young man1 he will spend all his life in gaol4 ,you will see he will never be set free or get his liberty again4' ,but ,fox refused to be cast down4 ,narrow though his prison was1 ,hope shared it with him4 ',i had faith in ,god1' his ,journal says1 'that ,i should be delivered from that place in the ,lord's time1 but not yet1 being set there for a work ,he had for me to do6' ,work there was for him in prison truly4 ,a young woman prisoner who had robbed her master was sentenced to be hanged1 according to the barbarous law then in force4 ,this shocked ,fox so much that he wrote letters to her judges and to the men who were to have been her executioners1 expressing his horror at what was going to happen in such strong language that he actually softened their hearts4 ,although the girl had actually reached the foot of the gallows1 and her grave had already been dug1 she was reprieved4 ,then1 when she was brought back into prison again after this wonderful escape ,fox was able to pour light and life into her soul1 which was an even greater thing than saving her body from death4 ,many other prisoners did ,fox help and comfort in ,derby ,gaol2#b but though he could soften the sufferings of others he could not shorten his own4 ,once again ,justice ,bennett sent his men to the prison1 this time with orders to take the ,quaker by force and compel him to join the army1 since he would not fight of his own free will4 ',but ,i told him1' said ,fox1 'that ,i was brought off from outward wars4 ,they came again to give me press money1 but ,i would take none4 ,afterwards the ,constables brought me a second time before the ,commissioners1 who said ,i should go for a soldier1 but ,i said ,i was dead to it4 ,they said ,i was alive4 ,i told them where envy and hatred is1 there is confusion4 ,they offered me money twice1 but ,i refused it4 ,being disappointed1 they were angry1 and committed me a close prisoner1 till at length they were made to turn me out of ,gaol about the beginning of winter #afea1 after ,i had been a prisoner in ,derby almost a year2 six months in the ,house of ,correction1 and six months in the common gaol4' ,thus at length ,derby prison was left behind2 but the seeds that the prisoner had planted in that dark place sprang up and flourished and bore fruit long after he had left4 ,eleven years later1 the very same ,gaoler1 who had been cruel to ,fox at the first1 and had then had the vision and repented1 wrote this letter to his former prisoner4 ,it is a real ,gaoler's love-letter1 and quite fresh to-day1 though it was written nearly #cjj years ago4 ',,dear ,,friend1' the letter begins1 ',having such a convenient messenger ,i could do no less than give thee an account of my present condition2 remembering that to the first awakening of me to a sense of life1 ,god was pleased to make use of thee as an instrument4 ,so that sometimes ,i am taken with admiration that it should come by such means as it did2 that is to say that ,providence should order thee to be my prisoner to give me my first sight of the truth4 ,it makes me think of the gaoler's conversion by the apostles4 ,oh6 happy ,george ,fox6 that first breathed the breath of life within the walls of my habitation6 ,notwithstanding that my outward losses are since that time such that ,i am become nothing in the world1 yet ,i hope ,i shall find that these light afflictions1 which are but for a moment1 will work for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory4 ,they have taken all from me2 and now instead of keeping a prison1 ,i am waiting rather when ,i shall become a prisoner myself4 ,pray for me that my faith fail not1 and that ,i may hold out to the death1 that ,i may receive a crown of life4 ,i earnestly desire to hear from thee and of thy condition1 which would very much rejoice me4 ,not having else at present1 but my kind love to thee and all friends1 in haste1 ,i rest thine in ,christ ,jesus4 ',,thomas ,,sharman4 ',derby1 the #bbnd of the fourth month1 #affb4' ,this ,gaoler was one of the first people whose ,tiger spirits were tamed by ,george ,fox4 ,but he certainly was not the last4 ,fox himself had told the soldiers in ,derby market-place that he could not fight1 because he 'lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars4' ,as a friend of his wrote1 after his death many years later3 ',george ,fox was a discerner of other men's spirits1 ,,and ,,very ,,much ,a ,,master ,,of ,,his ,,own4' ,,footnotes3 #b ,two men who were executed for small offences he could not save1 but 'a little time after they had suffered their spirits appeared to me as ,i was walking1 and ,i saw the men was well4' ,v4 ',,the ,,man ,,in ,,leather ,,breeches' ',as ,i was walking ,i heard old people and work people to say3 he is such a man as never was1 he knows people's thoughts for ,i turned them to the divine light of ,christ and ,his spirit let them see 444 that there was the first step to peace to stand still in the light that showed them their sin and transgression4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',do not look at but keep over all unnaturalness1 if any such thing should appear1 but keep in that which was and is and will be4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',wait patiently upon the ,lord2 let every man that loves ,god1 endeavour by the spirit of wisdom1 meekness1 and love to dry up ,euphrates1 even this spirit of bitterness that like a great river hath overflowed the earth of mankind4'--,,gerrard ,,winstanley4 #afdh4 ',blessed is he who loves ,thee1 and his friend in ,thee1 and his enemy for ,thy sake4'--,,augustine4 ',eternity is just the real world for which we were made1 and which we enter through the door of love4'--,,rufus ,m4 ,,jones4 ,v4 ',,the ,,man ,,in ,,leather ,,breeches' #bbnd ,dec4 #afea4 ',rough ,moll1 the worst-tempered woman in all ,yorkshire4' ,it was thus her neighbours were wont to speak behind her back of ,mistress ,moll1 the keeper of the ',george and ,dragon' ,inn at ,hutton ,cranswick near ,driffield in the ,east ,riding4 ,never a good word or a kind deed had she for anyone1 since her husband had been called away to serve in ,king ,charles's army4 ,in former days1 when mine host was at home1 the neighbours had been encouraged to come early and stay late at night gossipping over the home-brewed ale he fetched for them so cheerily2 for ,moll's husband was an open-hearted1 pleasant-mannered man1 the very opposite of his shrewish wife4 ,but now1 since his departure for the wars1 the neighbours got to the bottom of their mugs with as little delay as possible1 vowing to themselves in whispers that they would seek refuge elsewhere another night1 since ,moll's sour looks went near to give a flavour of vinegar even to the ale she brewed4 ,thus1 as speedily as might be1 they escaped from the reach of their hostess's sharp tongue4 ,but the lasses of the inn1 who were kept to do the rough work of the house1 found it harder to escape from the harsh rule of their mistress4 ,and for little ,jan1 ,moll's four-year-old son1 there was still less possibility of escape from the tyrant whom he called by the name of ,mother4 ,nothing of true mother-love had ever yet been kindled in ,rough ,moll's heart4 ,from the very beginning she had fiercely resented being burdened with what she called 'the plague of a brat4' ,still1 so long as his father remained at home1 the child's life had not been an unhappy one4 ,as soon as ever he could stand alone he drew himself up by his father's trousers1 with an outstretched hand to be grasped in the big fist4 ,as soon as he could toddle1 he spent his days wandering round the ,inn after his daddy1 knowing that directly he grew tired daddy would be ready to stop whatever he might be doing1 in order to lift the small boy up in his arms or to give him a ride on his knee4 ',wasting your time over the brat and leaving the ,tavern to go to rack and ruin'--,moll would say1 with a sneer1 as she passed them4 ,but she never interfered2 for the husband who had courted her when she was a young girl was the only person for whom she still kept a soft spot in the heart that of late years seemed to have grown so hard4 ,truth to tell1 tavern-keeping was no easy business in those unsettled times1 and ,moll had ever been a famous body for worrying over trifles4 ',the worry cow ,would have lived till now1 ,if she had not lost her breath1 ,but she thought her hay ,would not last the day1 ,so she mooed herself to death4 ',and all the time she had three sacks full6 ,remember that1 ,moll1 my lass6' ,jan's father would say to his wife1 when she began to pour out to him her dismal forebodings about the future4 ,but since this easy-going1 jolly daddy had left the ,inn and had gone away with the other men and lads of the village to fight with ,my ,lord for the ,king1 little ,jan's lot was a hard one1 and seemed likely to grow harder day by day4 ,rough ,moll's own life was not too easy either1 at this time1 though few folks troubled themselves to speculate upon the reason for her added gruffness4 ,so she concealed her anxieties under an extra harshness of tongue and did her best to make life a burden to everyone she came across4 ,for1 naturally1 now that the ,inn was no longer a pleasant place in mine host's absence1 it was no longer a profitable place either4 ,custom was falling off and quarter day was fast approaching4 ,moll was at her wits' end to know where she should find money to pay her rent1 when1 one day1 to her unspeakable relief1 ,my ,lady in her coach stopped at the door of the ,inn4 ,now ,moll had been dairymaid up at the ,hall years ago1 before her marriage1 and ,my ,lady knew of old that ,moll's butter was as sweet as her looks were sour4 ,perhaps she guessed1 also1 at some of the other woman's anxieties2 for was not her own husband1 ,my ,lord1 away at the wars too8 ,anyway1 when the fine yellow coach stopped at the door of the ,inn1 it was ,my ,lady's own head with the golden ringlets that leaned out of the window1 and ,my ,lady's own soft voice that asked if her old dairymaid could possibly oblige her with no less than thirty pounds of butter for her ,yuletide feast to the villagers the following week4 ,the ,moll who came out1 smiling and flattered1 to the ,inn door and stood there curtseying very low to her ,ladyship1 was a different being from the ,rough ,moll of every day4 ,she promised1 with her very smoothest tongue1 she would not fail4 ,she knew where to get the milk1 and her ,ladyship should have the butter1 full weight and the very best1 by the following evening1 which would leave two full days before ,christmas4 ',that is settled then1 for ,i have never known you to fail me1' said ,my ,lady1 as the coach drove away1 leaving ,moll curtseying behind her1 and vowing again that 'let come what would come1' she would not fail4 ,it was small wonder1 therefore1 after this unaccustomed graciousness1 that she was shorter-tempered than ever with her unfortunate guests that evening4 ,was not their presence hindering her from getting on with her task8 ,at length she left the lasses to serve the ale1 which1 truth to tell1 they were nothing loath to do1 while ,moll herself1 in her wooden shoes and with her skirts tucked up all round her1 clattered in and out of the dairy where already a goodly row of large basins stood full to the brim with rich yellow milk on which1 even now1 the cream was fast rising4 ,thirty pounds of butter could never all be made in one day2 she must begin her task overnight4 ,true1 little ,jan was whining to go to bed as he tried vainly to keep awake on his small hard stool by the fire4 ,the brat must wait2 she could not attend to him now4 ,he could sleep well enough leaning against the bricks of the chimney-corner4 ,or1 no6 the butter-making would take a long time1 and ,moll was never a methodical woman4 ,jan should lie down1 just as he was1 and have a nap in the kitchen until she was ready to attend to him4 ,roughly1 but not unkindly1 she pulled him off the stool and laid him down on a rug in a dark corner of the kitchen and told him to be off to sleep as fast as he could1 stooping to cover him with an old coat of her husband's that was hanging on the door1 as she spoke4 ,nothing loath1 ,jan shut his sleepy eyes1 and1 burying his little nose in the folds of the old coat1 he went happily off into dreamland1 soothed by the well-remembered out-door smell that always clung around his father's belongings4 ,it did not take ,moll long to fill the churn and to set it in its place4 ,just as she was busy shutting down the lid1 there came a knock at the door4 ',plague take you1 ,stranger1' she grumbled1 as she opened it1 and a gust of snow and wind blew in upon her and the assembled guests in the tavern kitchen4 ',you bring in more of the storm than you are likely to pay for your ale4' ',my desire is not for ale1' said the ,stranger1 speaking slowly1 and looking at the woman keenly from underneath his shaggy eyebrows4 ',i came but to ask thee for shelter from the storm2 and for a little meat1 if thou hast any to set before me4' ',to ask thee for shelter4' ',if thou hast any meat4' ,the unusual form of address caught ,moll's ear4 ,she looked more closely at her visitor4 ,yes1 his lower limbs were not covered with homely ,yorkshire frieze2 they were encased in odd garments that must surely be made of leather1 since the snowflakes lay upon them in crisp wreaths and wrinkles before they melted4 ,she had heard of the strange being who was visiting those parts and she had no desire to make his acquaintance4 ',hey1 lasses6' she called to her maids at the far end of the tavern parlour1 'here is the man in leather breeches himself1 come to pay us a visit this wild night6' ,a shout of laughter went up from the men at their tankards4 ',the man in leather breeches6' ',send him out again into the storm6 ,we'll have none of his company here1 the spoil sport6' ,moll nodded assent1 and returning to her unwelcome guest1 said shortly1 ',meat there is none for you here1' and moved towards the door1 where the ,stranger still stood1 as if to close it upon him4 ,but the man was not to be so easily dismissed4 ',hast thou then milk8' he asked4 ,moll laughed aloud4 ,a man who did not want ale should not have milk2 no money to be made out of that2 especially this night of all nights1 when every drop would be wanted for her ,ladyship's butter4 ,lies were part of ,moll's regular stock-in-trade4 ,she lied now1 with the ease of long habit4 ',you will get no shelter here1' she said roughly1 'and as for milk1 there is not a drop in the house4' ,the ,stranger looked at her4 ,he spoke no words for a full minute1 but as his eyes pierced her through and through1 she knew that he knew that she had lied4 ,the knowledge made her angry4 ,she repeated her words with an oath4 ,the ,stranger made as if to turn away2 then1 almost reluctantly but very tenderly1 as if he were being drawn back in spite of himself3 ',hast thou then cream8' he asked4 ,yet1 though his tone was persuasive1 his brows were knitted as he stood looking down upon the angry woman4 ',not as if he cared about the cream1 but as if he cared about me1' ,moll said herself1 long after4 ,but at the time3 ',no1 nor cream either4 ,on my soul1 there is not a drop in the house1' she repeated1 more fiercely than before4 ,but1 even as she spoke1 she saw that the ,stranger's eyes were fastened on the churn that stood behind her1 the churn evidently full and drawn out for use1 with drops of rich yellow cream still standing upon the lid and trickling down the sides4 ,moll turned her square shoulders upon the churn as if to shut out its witness to her falsehood4 ,her lies came thick and fast2 ',i tell you there is not a single drop of cream in the house4' ,the next moment1 a loud crash made her look round4 ,she had forgotten ,jan6 ,the loud angry voice and the cold blast from the open door had awakened him before he had had time to get sound asleep4 ,hearing his mother vow that she had not a drop of cream in the house1 he left his rug and began playing about again4 ,then1 being ever a restless little mortal1 he had crept round to the churn to see if it had really become empty in such a short time4 ,he had tried to pull himself up by one of the legs in order to stand on the rim and see if there was really no cream inside2 and in attempting this feat1 naturally1 he had pulled the whole churn over upon him4 ,and not only the churn1--its contents too6 ,eighteen quarts of ,moll's richest yellow cream were streaming all over the kitchen floor4 ,pools1 lakes1 rivers1 seas of cream were running over the flagstones and dripping through the crevices into the ground4 ,with a cry of rage ,moll turned1 and1 seeing the damage1 she sprang upon little ,jan and beat him soundly2 and a beating from ,moll's heavy hand was no small matter3 then with a curse she flung the child away from her towards the hearth4 ',woman6' ,the ,stranger's voice recalled her4 ',woman6 ,beware6 ,thou art full of lies and fury and deceit1 yet in the name of the ,lord ,i warn thee4 ,ere three days have gone by1 thou shalt know what is in thine heart2 and thou shalt learn the power of that which was1 and is1 and will be6' ,so saying1 the unwelcome guest opened the outer door and walked away into the raging storm and darkness1--a less bitter storm it seemed to him now than that created by the violent woman within doors4 ,some way further on he espied a haystack1 under which he lay down1 as he had done on many another night before this1 and there he slept in the wind and the snow until morning4 ,moll1 meanwhile1 enraged beyond words at the loss of her cream1 stalked off for a pail and cloth1 and set herself to wash the floor1 muttering curses as she did so4 ,never a glance did she cast at the corner by the fire where little ,jan still lay by the hearth-stone1 motionless and strangely quiet2 he1 the restless imp1 who was usually so full of life4 ,never a glance1 until1 the centre of the floor being at last clean again1 ,moll1 on her knees1 came with her pail of soap-suds to the white river that surrounded the corner of the kitchen where ,jan lay4 ,a white river8 ,nay1 there was a crimson river that mingled with it2 a stream of crimson drops that flowed from the stone under the child's head4 ,moll leapt to her feet on the instant4 ,what ailed the boy8 ,she had beaten him1 it is true1 but then she had beaten him often before this in his father's absence4 ,a beating was nothing new to little ,jan4 ,why had he fallen8 ,what made him lie so still8 ,she turned him over4 ,ah6 it was easy to see the reason4 ,as she flung him from her in her rage1 the child in his fall had struck his head against the sharp edge of the hearth-stone1 and there he lay now1 with the life-blood steadily flowing from his temple4 ,a feeling that ,rough ,moll had never been conscious of before gripped her heart at the sight4 ,was her boy dead8 ,had she killed him8 ,what would his father say8 ,what would her husband call her8 ,a murderer8 ,was she that8 ,was that what the ,stranger had meant when he had looked at her with those piercing eyes8 ,he might have called her a liar1 at the sight of the churn full of cream1 but he had not done so2 and little she would have cared if he had4 ,but a murderer6 ,was murder in her heart8 ,lifting ,jan as carefully as she could1 she carried him upstairs to the small bedroom under the roof1 where he usually lay on a tiny pallet by her side4 ,but this night the child's small figure lay in the wide bed1 and big ,moll1 with all her clothes on1 hung over him2 or if she lay down for a moment or two1 it was only on the hard little pallet by his side4 ,all that night ,moll watched4 ,but all that night ,jan never moved4 ,all the next day he lay unconscious1 while ,moll did her clumsy utmost to staunch the wound in his forehead4 ,long before it was light1 she tried to send one of her maids for the doctor2 but the storm was now so violent that none could leave or enter the house4 ,her ,ladyship's order went unheeded4 ,the thirty pounds of butter were never made4 ,but ,my ,lady1 who was a mother herself1 not only forgave ,moll for spoiling her ,yuletide festivities1 but even told her1 when she heard of the disaster1 that she need not trouble about the rent until her boy was better4 ,until he was better6 ,but would ,jan ever be better8 ,moll had no thought now for either the butter or the rent4 ,the yellow cream might turn sour in every single one of her pans for all she cared1 if only she could get rid of this new unbearable pain4 ,at length1 on the evening of the second day1 faint with the want of sleep1 she fell into an uneasy doze3 and still ,jan had neither moved nor stirred4 ,presently a faint sound woke her4 ,was he calling8 ,no2 it was but the ,christmas bells ringing across the snow4 ,what were those bells saying8 ',,mur-,,der-,,er' ',,mur-,,derer'--was that it8 ,over and over again4 ,did even the bells know what she had done and what she had in her heart8 ,for a moment black despair seized her4 ,the next moment there followed the shuffling sound of many feet padding through the snow4 ,the storm had ceased by this time1 and all the world was wrapped in a white silence1 broken only by the sound of the distant bells4 ,and now the ,christmas waits had followed the bells' music1 and were singing carols outside the ale-house door4 ,fiercely1 ,moll stuck her fingers in her ears4 ,she would not listen1 lest even the waits should sing of her sin1 and shew her the blackness of her heart4 ,but the song stole up into the room1 and1 in spite of herself1 something forced ,moll to attend to the words3 ',babe ,jesus lay in ,mary's lap1 ,the sun shone on his hair-- ,and that was how she saw1 mayhap1 ,the crown already there4' ,that was how good mothers sang to their children4 ,they saw crowns upon their hair4 ,what sort of a crown had ,moll given to her child8 ,she looked across and saw the chaplet of white bandages lying on the white pillow4 ,no2 she1 ,moll1 had never been a good mother1 would never be one now1 unless her boy came back to life again4 ,she was a murderer1 and her husband when he returned from the wars would tell her so1 and little ,jan would never know that his mother had a heart after all4 ,at that moment the carol died away1 and the waits' feet1 heavy with clinging snow1 shuffled off into the darkness2 but looking down again at the head with its crown of white bandages upon the white pillow1 ,moll saw that this time ,jan's eyes were open and shining up at her4 ',mother1' he said1 in his little weak voice1 as he opened his arms and smiled4 ,moll had seen him smile like that at his father2 she had never known before that she wanted to share that smile4 ,she knew it now4 ,only three short days had passed since she turned the ,stranger from her doors1 but little ,jan and his mother entered a new world of love and tenderness together that ,christmas morning4 ,as ,rough ,moll gathered her little son up into her arms and held him closely to her breast1 she knew for the first time the power of 'that which was1 and is1 and will be4' ,,vi4 ,,the ,,shepherd ,,of ,,pendle ,,hill ',on ,pendle ,g4,f4 saw people as thick as motes in the sun1 that should in time be brought home to the ,lord1 that there might be but one ,shepherd and one ,sheepfold in all the earth4 ,there his eye was directed ,northward beholding a great people that should receive him and his message in those parts4'--,w4 ,,penn',s ,testimony to ,george ,fox4 ',in ,adam1 in the fall are all the inward foul weather1 storms1 tempests1 winds1 strifes1 the whole family of it is in confusion1 being all gone from the spirit and witness of ,god in themselves1 and the power and the light1 in which power and light and spirit1 is the fellowship with ,god and with one another1 through which they come 444 into the quickener1 who awakens 7them7 and brings 7them7 up unto ,himself1 the way1 ,christ2 and out of and off from the teachers and priests1 and shepherds that change and fall1 to the ,,priest1 ,,shepherd and ,,prophet1 that never fell or changed1 nor ever will fail or change1 nor leave the flock in the cold weather nor in the winter1 nor in storms or tempests2 nor doth the voice of the wolf frighten him from his flock4 ,for the ,light1 the ,power1 the ,truth1 the ,righteousness1 did it ever leave you in any weather1 or in any storms or tempests8 ,and so his sheep know his voice and follow ,him1 who gives them life eternal abundantly4'--,,george ,,fox4 ,,vi4 ,,the ,,shepherd ,,of ,,pendle ,,hill ',ingleborough1 ,pendle and ,pen-y-,ghent ,are the highest hills 'twixt ,scotland and ,trent4' ,so sing ,i1 the ,shepherd of ,pendle1 to myself1 and so have ,i sung1 on summer days1 these many years1 lying out atop of old ,pendle ,hill1 keeping watch over my flock4 ,in good sooth1 a shepherd's life is a hard one1 on our ,lancashire fells1 for nine months out of the twelve4 ,the nights begin to be sharp with frost towards the back-end of the year1 for all the days are sunny and warm at times4 ,bitter cold it is in winter and worse in spring1 albeit the daylight is longer4 ',as the day lengthens1 so the cold strengthens1' runs the rhyme1 and well do men know the truth of it in these parts4 ,many a time a man must be ready to give his own life for his sheep1 aye and do it too1 to save them in a snow-drift or from the biting frost4 ,it is an anxious season for the shepherd1 until he sees the lambs safely at play and able to stand upon their weak legs and run after their mothers4 ,but it is not until the dams are clipped that a shepherd has an easy mind and can let his thoughts dwell on other things4 ,then1 at last1 in the summer1 his time runs gently for a while2 and ,i1 for one1 was always ready to enjoy myself1 when once the bitter weather was over4 ,so there ,i was1 one day many years ago1 nigh upon ,midsummer1 lying out on the grassy slopes atop of old ,pendle ,hill1 and singing to myself-- ',ingleborough1 ,pendle and ,pen-y-,ghent ,are the highest hills 'twixt ,scotland and ,trent4' ,but for all ,i sang of the hills1 my thoughts were in the valleys4 ,i lay there1 watching till the sun should catch the steep roof of a certain cot ,i know4 ,it stands by the side of a stream1 so hidden among the bushes that even my eye cannot find it1 unless the sunlight finds it first1 and flashes back at me from roof and window-pane4 ,that was the cot ,i had never lived in then1 but ,i hoped to live in it before the summer was over1 and to bring the bonniest lass in all yon broad ,yorkshire there with me as my bride4 ,that was to be if things went well with me and with the sheep2 for my master had promised to give me a full wage 7seeing ,i had now reached man's estate71 if so be ,i came through the spring and early summer without losing a single lamb4 ,thinking of these things1 and dreaming dreams as a lad will1 the hours trod swiftly over ,pendle ,hill that day2 for all the sun was going down the sky but slowly1 seeing it was ,midsummer-tide4 ,suddenly1 as ,i lay there looking down over the slope1 ,i saw a strange sight1 for travellers are scarce on ,pendle ,hill even at ,midsummer4 ,but it was a traveller surely1 or was it a shepherd8 ,at first ,i could not be sure2 for he carried a lamb in his arms and trod warily with it1 in the way that shepherds do4 ,yet ,i never met a shepherd clad in clothes like his2 nor with a face like his either1 as ,i saw it1 when he came nearer4 ,weary he looked1 and with a pale countenance1 as if he had much ado to come up the hill1 and in good sooth 'tis full steep just there2 or else1 may be1 he was fasting and faint for lack of food4 ,but all this ,i only thought of later4 ,at the time1 ,i looked not much at him1 but only at the lamb he carried in his arms4 ,how came such a man to be carrying a lamb1 and carrying it full gently and carefully too1 supporting one leg with both hands1 although he was encumbered with a staff8 ,then1 when he had come yet nearer1 ,i saw that it was not only a lamb--it was one of my master's lambs1 my own lambs that ,i was set to watch2 for there on its wool was the brand carried by our flocks and by none others on all those fells4 ,one of my lambs1 lying in a stranger's arms6 ,a careless shepherd ,i6 ,i must have been asleep or dreaming 444 dreaming foolish dreams about that cottage1 on which the sun might shine unheeded now1 ,i cared not for it1 being full of other thoughts4 ,no sooner did ,i espy the brand on the lamb than ,i rose to my feet1 and1 even as ,i ran nimbly down the slope towards the stranger1 my eyes roamed over the hillside to discover which of my lambs had strayed3--,rosamond1 ,cowslip1 ,eglantine and ,gillyflower--,i could see them all safe with their dams1 and many more besides4 ,all the lambs that springtime ,i had named after the flowers that ,i hoped to plant another year in the garden of that cot beside the stream4 ,and all the flowers ,i could see and name were safe beside their dams1 as ,i leapt down the hillside4 ,nay1 ,periwinkle was missing6 ,periwinkle was ever a strayer1 and ,periwinkle's dam was bleating at the edge of the steep cliff up which the stranger toiled4 ,it was ,periwinkle and none other that he was carrying in his arms6 ,seeing it was ,periwinkle1 ,i halloed to him to halt4 ,hearing my cry1 he stopped1 and waited till ,i reached him1 all the time holding the lamb carefully1 tending it and speaking to it in the tone a shepherd is wont to use4 ,illustration3 ',,dreaming ,,of ,,the ,,cot ,,in ,,the ,,vale' ',thanks to you1 ,good ,stranger1' ,i said1 as ,i came nearer1 ',periwinkle is ever a strayer4 ,did you see her fall8' ',nay1' said the ,stranger1 giving the lamb tenderly into my arms1 and halting upon his staff2 speaking warily and weightily as ,i never heard a man speak before or since4 ',nay2 the lambkin must have fallen before ,i came by4 ,but ,i heard the mother bleat1 and ,i knew1 by the sound1 that she was in distress4 ,therefore ,i turned towards the crag upon which she stood1 and1 looking down1 ,i perceived the lamb fallen among the brambles beneath a high ledge4' ',and went down over for her yourself and brought her up again6 ',twas bravely done1 ,good ,stranger1' ,i answered1 and then1 thinking to encourage him1 ,i said1 ',better you could not have done it1 had you been a shepherd yourself1 for ,i see your hands are torn4' ',it is nothing1' he answered4 ',a shepherd expects that4' ',then are you a shepherd too1 ,master ,stranger8' ,i asked1 but he gave no answer2 only fastened his eyes upon me as we climbed together up the hill4 ,wonderful eyes he had1 not like to other men's2 with a depth and yet a light in them1 as when the ,june sun shines back reflected from the blackness of a mountain tarn4 ,i saw them then1 and still ,i seem to see them1 for when he looked at me1 although he said no word1 it was as if he knew me apart from everyone else in the world1 even as ,i know every one of my master's sheep4 ,i felt that he knew too how ,i had been looking at that cot in the vale and dreaming idly1 forgetful of my lambs4 ,therefore1 though he said no word of rebuke to me1 ,i felt my cheeks grow hot1 and ,i hung my head and spake not4 ,only1 when we reached the top of the hill1 he turned and answered me at last4 ',thou judgest right1 friend1' he said1 ',i was indeed a shepherd in my young years4 ,i am a shepherd even now1 though as yet with full few sheep4 ,but1 hereafter1 it may be4444' ,i did not wait for the end of his sentence4 ,now that we were come to level ground ,i was fain to show that ,i was not a careless1 idle shepherd in truth4 ,my mind was set on ,periwinkle's leg2 broken1 ,i feared1 for it hung down limply4 ,i took her1--laid her on the grass beside her dam while ,i fashioned a rough splint1 shepherd-fashion1 to keep the leg steady till we reached the fold4 ,then1 seeing the sun was low by this time and nigh to setting over beyond the sea towards ,morecambe1 ,i called my sheep and gathered them from all the fells1 near and far2 and a fairer flock of sheep ye shall never see 'twixt ,scotland and ,trent1 as the song says1 though ,i trow ye may1 an ye look carefully1 find steeper hills than old ,pendle4 ,when my work was done1 ,i took up ,periwinkle in my arms once more1 anxious to descend with her ere night fell4 ,already ,i was climbing carefully down the slope1 when1 bless me1 ,i remembered the ,stranger1 and that ,i had left him without a word1 he having gone clean out of my mind1 and ,i not having given him so much as a 'thank ye' at parting1 for all he had saved ,periwinkle4 ,but ,i think ,i must have gone clean out of his mind too4 ,when ,i came back to him once more1 there he was1 still standing on the very top of the hill1 where ,i had left him4 ,but now his head was raised1 the breeze lifted his hair4 ,a kind of glory was on him4 ,it was light from the sunset sky1 ,i thought at first2 but it was brighter far than that2 for the sunset sky looked dull and dim beside it4 ,his eyes were roaming far and wide over the valleys and hills1 even as my eyes had wandered1 when ,i was gathering my sheep4 ,but his eyes wandered further1 and further far1 till they reached the utmost line of the ,irish ,sea to westward and covered all the country that lay between4 ,then he turned himself around to the east again4 ,a strong man he was and a tall1 and the glory was still on his face1 though now he had the sunset sky at his back4 ,and he opened his mouth and spake4 ,strange were his words3 ',if but one man1' said he1 'but one man or woman1 were raised by the ,lord's ,power to stand and live in the same ,spirit that the ,apostles and ,prophets were in1 he or she should shake all this country for miles round4' ,shake all the country6 ,he had uttered a fearsome thing4 ',nay1 ,master ,stranger1 bethink ye1' ,i said1 going up to him1 'how may that be8 ,what would happen to me and the sheep were these fells to shake8 ,even now1 though they stand steady1 you have seen that wayward lambs like ,periwinkle will fall over and do themselves a mischief4' ,so ,i spake1 being but a witless lad4 ,but my words might have been the wind passing by him1 so little he heeded them4 ,i doubt if he even heard or knew that ,i was there although ,i stood close at his side4 ,for again his eyes were resting on the ,irish ,sea1 and on the country that lay shining in the sun towards ,furness1 and on the wide1 glistening sands round ,morecambe ,bay4 ,and then he turned himself round to the north where lie the high mountains that can at times be seen1 or guessed1 in the glow of the setting sun4 ,thus1 as he gazed on all that fair land1 the ,stranger spoke4 ,again he uttered strange words4 ,at first his voice was low and what he said reached me not1 save only the words3 ',a great people1 a great people to be gathered4' ,whereat ,i1 being1 as ,i say1 but a lad then1 full of my own notions and mighty sure of myself as young lads are1 plucked at his sleeve1 having heard but the last words1 and supposing that he had watched me gathering my flock for the fold4 ',not people1 ,master ,stranger1' ,i interrupted4 '',tis my business to gather sheep4 ,sheep and silly1 heedless lambs like ,periwinkle1 'tis them ,i must gather for my master's fold4' ,he saw and heard me then1 full surely4 ',aye1' he said1 and his voice1 though deep1 had music in it1 while his eyes pierced me yet again1 but more gently this time1 so that ,i made sure he had seen me tending ,periwinkle and knew that ,i had done the best ,i could4 ',aye1 verily thou dost well4 ,shepherd of ,pendle1 to gather lambs and silly sheep for their master's fold4 ,i1 too4444' ,but there again he broke off and fell once more into silence4 ,thus ,i left him1 still standing atop of the hill2 but as ,i turned to go ,i heard his voice yet again1 and though ,i looked not round1 the sound of it was as if a man were speaking to his friend1 for all ,i knew that he stood there1 atop of the hill1 alone3 ',i thank thee1 ,lord1 that ,thou hast let me see this day in what places ,thou hast a great people1 a great people to be gathered4' ,thereat ,i partly understood1 yet turned not back again1 nor sought to enquire further of his meaning2 for the daylight was fast fading and ,i had need of all my skill in getting home my sheep4 ,,vii4 ,,the ,,people ,,in ,,white ,,raiment ',after a while he 7,g4,f47 travelled up further towards the dales in ,yorkshire1 as ,wensdale1 and ,sedburgh1 and amongst the hills1 dales1 and mountains he came on and convinced many of the eternal ,truth4'--,m4 ,,fox',s ,testimony to ,g4 ,,fox4 ',in the mighty power of ,god1 go on1 preaching the ,gospel to every creature1 and discipling them in the name of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,spirit4 ,in the name of ,christ preach the mighty day of the ,lord to all the consciences of them who have long lain in darkness4444 ,in the name of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ go on1 that that of ,god in all consciences may witness that ye are sent of ,god and are of ,god and so according to that speak4 ,sound1 sound the trumpet abroad1 ye valiant soldiers of ,christ's ,kingdom1 of which there is no end4444 ,be famous in his ,light and bold in his strength4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',let us in our message offer that which is beyond all creeds1--the evidence in our lives of communion with the ,spirit of ,god4'--,j4 ,w4 ,,rowntree4 ,,vii4 ,,the ,,people ,,in ,,white ,,raiment ,the summer twilight was fading into night4 ,the moon1 hidden at her rising by a bank of clouds1 had now climbed high above them1 and shone down1 a golden lamp from the clear evening sky4 ,it was already dusk when the ,shepherd of ,pendle disappeared with his flock into the dewy valley4 ,it was already light again1 with the pallid light of the moon1 when at length ,george ,fox descended old ,pendle ,hill4 ,heavily he trod and slowly4 ,wrapped in thought was he1 as a man who has seen things greater and more mysterious than he can express or comprehend4 ,only as he descended the slope of the hill did he remember that he was bodily weary1 having eaten and drunk little for several days4 ,a short distance from the summit1 his ear caught the tinkle of falling water2 and guided by its gentle music he came to where a tiny spring gushed out of the hillside1 and went leaping on its way1 gleaming like a thread of silver4 ,fox knelt down upon the soft turf1 and dipping his hand1 cup-wise1 into the water1 he carried with difficulty a few shining drops to his parched lips4 ,the cool freshness of even this scanty draught revived him4 ,he looked round1 his glance roaming over the wide landscape that lay1 mist-filled and moon-filled1 beneath him1 but as yet scarce seeing what he saw4 ,then1 rising and quickening his steps1 he hastened down the hill to the place where1 hours before1 his companion1 ,richard ,farnsworth1 had promised to await his return4 ,even faithful ,richard had grown weary1 as time passed and the night drew on apace4 ,he had been minded to chide his friend for his forgetfulness and long delay1 but as the two men met1 something stopped him1 or ever he began to speak4 ,maybe it was the moonlight that fell full upon ,george ,fox's countenance1 or maybe there was in truth visible there some faint reflection of the radiance that transfigured the face of ,moses1 when he too1 coming down from a far mightier revelation on a far loftier mountain1 'wist not that the skin of his face shone4' ,at any rate ,richard1 loyal soul1 checked the impatient words of remonstrance that had risen to his lips4 ,silently putting his hand through his friend's arm1 he led him a mile or two further along the road1 until they came to the small wayside inn where they intended to spend the night4 ,no sooner were they within doors than ,richard was startled afresh by the pallor of his companion's countenance4 ,the glory had departed now4 ,nothing but utter weariness remained4 ,in all haste ,richard called for food and drink1 and placing them before ,fox he almost forced him to partake4 ,fox swallowed a few mouthfuls of bread1 and drank a little clear red wine in a glass4 ,then as he set the glass down1 he noticed the inn-keeper who was standing by1 watching his guest's every movement with curious eyes4 ,a rough1 plain countryman1 he seemed1 mine host of the ale-house1 to most of those who had dealings with him4 ,but ,fox1 in spite of his own bodily hunger and physical weariness1 discerned that the spirit of the man before him knew the cravings of a yet keener need3 was fainting under the weight of a yet heavier load4 ,instantly he recognised the seeking soul within1 even as the ,shepherd of ,pendle a few hours previously1 out on the hillside1 had recognised his master's mark on the straying sheep4 ,forgetting his own weariness1 even for the time putting aside the remembrance of the visions he had seen1 he set himself to win and satisfy this humble soul at his side4 ',i declared ,truth to the man of the house1' so runs his ,journal1 'and wrote a paper to the priests and professors declaring the day of the ,lord and that ,christ was come to teach ,his people ,himself1 by ,his power and spirit in their hearts1 and to bring people off from all the world's ways and teaching1 to ,his own free teaching who had bought them1 and was the ,saviour of all them that believed in ,him4 ,and the man of the house did spread the paper up and down and was mightily affected with ,truth6' ,the inn-keeper went out full of gladness to 'publish ,truth' in his turn4 ,henceforth he was a new man in the power of the new message that had been entrusted to him4 ,a new life lay before him4 ,but when the two friends were once more alone together1 and the immediate task was done1 ,richard ,farnsworth perceived the strange look that had silenced him at the foot of the mountain returning to his companion's face4 ,only now the weariness was fading1 it was the glory that returned4 ,pushing away the table1 ,george ,fox rose to his feet1 and stretched both his arms out wide4 ,he and ,farnsworth were alone in the narrow inn parlour1 lighted only by one flickering rushlight4 ,so small was the room that the whitewashed walls pressed close on every side4 ,so low was the ceiling that when ,fox arose and drew himself up to his full height the black oak beams were scarce a hand's breadth above his head4 ,yet ,richard1 as he looked up1 awed and silent1 from his stool by the table1 felt as if his friend were still standing far above him on the summit of a high hill1 with nothing but the heights of sky beyond his head and with the hills and valleys of the whole world stretching away below his feet4 ',i see1' said ,fox1 and1 as he spoke1 to ,richard too the narrow walls seemed to open and melt away into infinite space on every side3 ',i see a people in white raiment1 by a riverside--a great people--in white raiment1 coming to the ,lord4' ,the flickering rushlight spluttered and went out4 ,through the low casement window the white mists could be seen1 still rising from every bend and fold of the widespread valleys that lay around them1 rising up1 up1 like an innumerable company of spirit-filled souls1 while the moon shone down serenely over all4 ,,ii ,it was a few days later1 and ,whitsun ,eve4 ,the same traveller who had climbed to the top of old ,pendle ,hill 'with much ado1 it was so steep1' was coming down now on the far side of the ,yorkshire dales4 ',a lusty strong man of body' but 'of a grave look or countenance1' he 'travelled much on foot through rough and untrodden paths4' ',as he passed through ,wensleydale he advised the people as he met or passed through them' 'to fear ,god1' 'which 444 did much alarm the people1 it being a time that many people were filled with zeal4'#c ,at sunset he passed through a village of flax-weavers whose settlements lay in the low flatts that bordered the rushing river ,rawthey a mile or two outside of ,sedbergh ,town4 ',i came through the ,dales1' says ,george ,fox in his ,journal1 'and as ,i was passing along the way1 ,i asked a man which was ,richard ,robinson's1 and he asked me from whence ,i came1 and ,i told him ,from the ,lord4' ,this must have been a rather unexpected answer from a traveller on the high road4 ,can you not see the countryman's surprised face as he turns round and stares at the speaker1 and wonders whatever he means8 ',so when ,i came to ,richard ,robinson's ,i declared the ,everlasting ,truth to him1 and yet a dark jealousy rose up in him after ,i had gone to bed1 that ,i might be somebody that was come to rob his house1 and he locked all his doors fast4 ,and the next day ,i went to a separate meeting at ,justice ,benson's where the people generally was convinced1 and this was the place that ,i had seen a people coming forth in white raiment2 and a mighty meeting there was and is to this day near ,sedbarr which ,i gathered in the name of ,jesus4' ,these flax-weavers of ,brigflatts were a company of ',seekers1' unsatisfied souls who had strayed away like lost sheep from all the sects and ,churches1 and were longing for a spiritual ,shepherd to come and find them again and bring them home to the fold4 ,george ,fox was a weaver's son himself4 ,directly he heard it1 the whirr of the looms beside the rushing ,rawthey must have been a homelike sound in his ears4 ,but more than that1 his spirit was immediately at home among the little colony of weavers of snowy linen2 for he recognised at once that these were the riverside people 'in white raiment1' whom he had seen in his vision1 and to whom he had been sent4 ,not only the flax-weavers1 but also some of the 'considerable people' of the neighbourhood accepted the message of the wandering preacher1 who came to them over the dales that memorable ,whitsuntide4 ,the master of the house where the meeting was held1 ,colonel ,gervase ,benson himself1 and his good wife ,dorothy also1 were 'convinced of ,truth1' and faithfully did they adhere thereafter to their new faith1 through fair weather and foul4 ,in later years1 men noted that this same ,colonel ,benson1 following his teacher's love of simplicity1 and hatred of high-sounding titles1 generally styled himself merely a 'husbandman1' notwithstanding 'the height and glory of the world that he had a great share of1'#d seeing that 'he had been a ,colonel1 a ,justice of the ,peace1 ,mayor of ,kendal1 and ,commissary in the ,archdeaconry of ,richmond before the late domestic wars4 ,yet1 as an humble servant of ,christ1 he downed those things4'#e ,his wife1 ,mistress ,dorothy1 also1 was to prove herself a faithful friend to her teacher in after years1 when his turn1 and her turn too1 came to suffer for ',truth's sake4' ,but in these opening summer days of #afeb1 no shadows fell on the sunrise of enthusiasm and of hope1 as1 in the good ,justice's house beside the rushing ,rawthey1 the gathering of the 'great people' began4 ,the day was ,whitsunday1 the anniversary of that other gathering in the upper room at ,jerusalem1 when the ,apostles being all 'in one place1 with one accord1 of one mind1' the rushing mighty ,wind came and shook all the place where they were sitting1 followed by the cloven tongues 'like as of fire1 that sat upon each of them4' ,the gift given at ,pentecost has never been recalled4 ,throughout the ages the ,spirit waits to take possession of human hearts1 ready to fill even the humblest lives with ,its ,own ,power of breath and flame4 ,this was the ,truth that had grown dusty and neglected in ,england in this seventeenth century4 ,the 'still1 small ,voice' had been drowned in the clash of arms and in the almost worse clamour of a thousand different sects4 ,now that1 after his own long search in loneliness and darkness1 ,george ,fox had at length found the ,voice speaking to him unmistakably in the depths of his own heart1 the whole object of his life was to persuade others to listen also to 'the true ,teacher that is within1' and to convince them that ,he was always waiting to speak not only in their hearts1 but also through their lives4 ',my message unto them from the ,lord was1' he says1 'that they should all come together again and wait to feel the ,lord's power and spirit in themselves1 to gather them together to ,christ1 that they might be taught of ,him who says ,learn of ,me4' ,this was the ,truth--an actual1 living ,truth--that not only the flax-weavers of ,brigflatts1 but many other companies of ',seekers' scattered through the dales of ,yorkshire and ,westmorland1 as well as in many other places1 had been longing to hear proclaimed4 ',thirsty ,souls that hunger' was one of the names by which they called themselves4 ,it was to these thirsty1 hungering ,souls that ,george ,fox had been led at the very moment when he was burning to share with others the vision of the 'wide horizons of the future' that had been unfolded to him on the top of old ,pendle ,hill4 ,no wonder that the ,seekers welcomed him and flocked round him1 drinking in his words as if their thirsty souls could never have enough4 ,no wonder that he welcomed them with equal gladness1 rejoicing not only in their joy1 but yet more in that he saw his vision's fulfilment beginning4 ,here in these secluded villages he had been led unmistakably to the ',great ,people1' whom he had seen afar off1 waiting to be gathered4 ,within a fortnight from that assembly on ,whit-,sunday at ,justice ,benson's house ,george ,fox was no longer a solitary1 wandering teacher1 trying to convince scattered people here and there of the ,truths he had discovered4 ,within a fortnight--a wonderful fortnight truly--he had become the leader of a mighty movement that gathered adherents and grew of itself1 spreading with an irresistible impulse until1 only a few years later1 one ,englishman out of every ninety was a member of the ,,society ,,of ,,friends4 ,,footnotes3 #c ,first ,publishers of ,truth4 #d ,first ,publishers of ,truth4 #e ,first ,publishers of ,truth4 ,,viii4 ,a ,,wonderful ,,fortnight ',i look upon ,cumberland and ,westmorland as the ,galilee of ,quakerism4'--,t4 ,,hodgkin4 ',they may have failed in their intellectual formulation1 but at least they succeeded in finding a living ,god1 warm and tender and near at hand1 the ,life of their lives1 the ,day ,star in their hearts2 and their travail of ,soul1 their brave endurance1 and their loyal obedience to vision have helped to make our modern world4'--,,rufus ,m4 ,,jones4 ',we ceased from the teachings of all men1 and their words and their worships1 and their temples and all their baptisms and churches1 and we ceased from our own words and professions and practices in religion4444 ,we met together often1 and waited upon the ,lord in pure silence from our own words1 and hearkened to the voice of the ,lord and felt ,his word in our hearts4'--,e4 ,,burrough4 ',john ,camm1 he was my father according to the flesh1 so was he also a spiritual father and instructor of me in the way of ,truth and ,righteousness 444 for his tender care was great for the education of me and the rest of his children and family in the ,nurture and ,fear of the ,lord4'--,,thomas ,,camm4 ',death cannot separate us1 for in the never-failing love of ,god there is union for evermore4'--,j4 ,,camm4 ,,viii4 ,a ,,wonderful ,,fortnight ,i ,the annual ,fair on ,whitsun ,wednesday is the gayest time of the whole year at ,sedbergh4 ,for a few hours the solid grey town under the green fells gives itself up to gaiety and merriment4 ,the gentry of the neighbourhood as well as the country folk for miles around come flocking to the annual hiring of farm lads and lasses1 which is the main business of the ,fair4 ,thoughts of profit and the chance of making a good bargain fill the heads of the older generation4 ,but the youths and maidens come1 eager-eyed1 looking for romance4 ,at the ,fair they seek to guess what ,fate may hold in store for them during the long months of labour that will follow hard on their few hours of jollification4 ',all manner of finery was to be had' at the ,fair2 'there were morris and rapier dances1 wrestling and love-making going on1' and plenty of hard drinking too4 ',the ,fair at ,sedbergh' was the emphatic destination of many a prosperous farmer and labourer on a ,whitsun ,wednesday morning2 but it was ',sebba ,fair' he cursed thickly under his breath as he reeled home at night4 ,in truth seventeenth-century ,sedbergh was a busy place1 not only in ,fair week1 but at other times too1 with its stately old church and its grammar school2 to say nothing of the fact that1 in these days of ,oliver's ,protectorate1 it boasted no less than forty-eight different religious sects among its few hundred inhabitants4 ,only the sad-eyed ,seekers1 coming down in little groups from their scattered hamlets1 exchanged sorrowful greetings as they met one another amid all the riot and hubbub of the ,fair2 for they had tried the forty-eight sects in turn for the nourishment their souls needed1 and had tried them all in vain4 ,until this miraculous ,whitsuntide of ,june #afeb1 when1 suddenly1 in a moment1 everything was changed4 ,the little groups of ,seekers stood still and looked at one another in astonishment as they came out from the shadow of the narrow street of grey stone houses into the open square in the centre of the town4 ,for there1 opposite the market cross and under the spreading boughs of a gigantic yew-tree1 they saw a young man standing on a bench1 and preaching as they had never heard anyone preach before4 ,behind him rose the massive square tower1 and the long row of clerestory windows that were1 then as now1 the glory of ,sedbergh ,church4 ,the tall green grass of the churchyard was already trampled down by the feet of hundreds of spell-bound listeners4 ,who was this unexpected ,stranger who dared to interrupt even the noisy business of the ,fair with the earnestness and insistence of his appeal8 ,he was a young and handsome man1 with regular features and hair that hung in short curls under his hat-brim1 contrary to the ,puritan fashion2 big-boned in body1 and of a commanding presence4 ,the boys of the grammar school1 determined to make the most of their holiday1 thought it good sport at first to mock at the ,stranger's garb4 ,as he stood there1 lifted up above them on the rough bench1 they could see every detail of the queer leather breeches that he wore underneath his long coat4 ,his girdle with its alchemy buttons showed off grandly too1 while the fine linen bands he wore at his neck gleamed out with dazzling whiteness against the dark branches of ,sedbergh's majestic old yew-tree4 ,the preacher's words and tones and his piercing eyes quickly overawed his audience1 and made them forget his outlandish appearance4 ,even the boys could understand what he was saying1 for he seemed to be speaking to each one of them1 as much as to any of the grown-up people4 ,and what was this he was telling them8 ,with outstretched hand he pointed upwards1 insisting that that church1 the beautiful building1 the pride of ,sedbergh1 was not a church at all4 ,it was only a steeple-house2 they themselves were the true church1 their own souls and bodies were the temples chosen by the ,spirit of ,god for ,his habitation4 ,no wonder the schoolboys1 and many older people too1 became awed and silent at the bare idea of such a ,guest4 ,none of the eight-and-forty sects of ,sedbergh town had ever heard doctrine like this before4 ,possibly there might not have been eight-and-forty of them if they had4 ,once during the discourse a ,captain got up and interrupted the ,stranger3 ',why do you preach out here under the yew-tree8 ,why do you not go inside the church and preach there8' ',but1' says ,george ,fox1 ',i said unto him that ,i denied their church4 ',then stood up ,francis ,howgill1 a separate preacher1 that had not seen me before1 and so he began to dispute with the ,captain1 but he held his peace4 ,then said ,francis ,howgill1 ,this man speaks with authority1 and not as the ,scribes4 ',and so1' continues ,george ,fox1 ',i opened to the people that that ground and house was no holier than another place1 and that house was not the ,church1 but the people which ,christ is head of4 ,and so1 after a while that ,i had made a stand among the people1 the priests came up to me and ,i warned them to repent4 ,and one of them said ,i was mad1 and so they turned away4 ,but many people were glad at the hearing of the ,truth declared unto them that day1 which they received gladly4 ',and there came one ,edward ,ward1 and he said my very eyes pierced through him1 and he was convinced of ,god's everlasting truth and lived and died in it1 and many more was convinced there at that time4' ,convinced they were indeed1 as they had never been convinced in all their former lives2 and now that they had found the teacher they wanted1 the hungry1 thirsty ,seekers were not going to let him go again4 ,almost overturning the booths of the ,fair1 these solemn1 sad-eyed men jostled each other like children in their endeavours to reach their new friend4 ,there at the back of the crowd solid ,john ,camm1 the prosperous 'statesman' farmer of ,cammsgill1 near ,preston ,patrick1 could be seen waving his staff like a schoolboy to attract the preacher's attention as soon as the sermon stopped4 ',come home1 young ,sir6 ,come home with me1' ,john ,camm called out lustily4 ,but ruddy-cheeked ,john ,audland1 the linen-draper of ,crosslands1 had been quicker than the elderly farmer4 ,he was a happy bridegroom that summer1 and bringing his wife with him for the first time to ,sedbergh ,fair4 ,she--a ,seeker like himself--had been known in her maiden days as gentle ,anne ,newby of ,kendal town3 yet the ways of the dalesmen and of the country people were in a measure strange to her1 seeing all her girlhood had been spent at her aunt's house in ,london town1 where she had received her education4 ,possibly she had looked forward not without dread to the rough merry-making of the ,fair2 but she too had kindled at the ,stranger's message4 ,her shyness fled from her as1 with her hand locked fast in her husband's1 the two pressed forward4 ,the crowd seemed to melt away at sight of their radiant faces1 and almost before the sermon was ended the young couple found themselves face to face with the preacher4 ,the same longing was in both their hearts3 the same words rose unbidden to their lips3 ',come back with us to ,crosslands1 ,sir6 ,come back and be the first guest to bless our home4' ,george ,fox smiled as he met the eager gaze of the young folk1 and stretched out a friendly hand4 ,but an old slow man with a long white beard had forestalled even the impetuous rush of the youthful bride and bridegroom4 ',nay2 now1 good friends1' said ,farmer ,thomas ,blaykling of ,drawwell1 'my home is nigh at hand4 ,for the next three days the ,stranger is mine4 ,he must stay with me and ,i will bring him to ,firbank ,chapel on ,sunday4 ,come ye also thither and hear him again1 and bring every seeking man and woman and child in all these dales to hear him too2 and thereafter ye shall have him in your turn and entertain him where ye will4' ,,ii ,the first three peaceful days after the ,fair were spent by the young preacher at ,drawwell ,farm1 knitting up a friendship with its inmates that neither time nor suffering was able thereafter to unravel4 ',the house inhabited by the ,blayklings may still be seen4 ,its thick walls1 small windows and rooms1 with the clear well behind1 must be almost in the same condition as in the week we are remembering4'#f ,in later days many a 'mighty ,meeting' was to be held in the big barn that adjoins the small whitewashed house with its grey flagged roof4 ,drawwell is situated about two miles away from ,sedbergh1 on the sunny slope of a hill overlooking the ,river ,lune1 that here forms the boundary between the two counties of ,westmorland and ,yorkshire4 ,there1 under the shadow of the great fells1 ,george ,fox had time for many a quiet talk with his hosts1 in the days that followed the ,whitsuntide ,fair4 ,john ,blaykling1 the farmer's son1 was a man of strong character4 ,he was afterwards to become himself a powerful preacher of the ,truth and to suffer for it when persecution came4 ,moreover1 'he was a great supporter of them that were in low circumstances in the world1 often assisting them in difficult cases to the exposing of himself to great hazards of loss4' ,he had also an especial care for the feelings of others4 ,on the ,sunday after the ,fair he was anxious to take his guest to ,firbank ,chapel1 where the ,seekers' service was to be held1 high up on the hill opposite ,drawwell4 ,yet he seems to have had some misgivings that his guest might be too full of his own powerful message to remember to behave courteously to others1 who1 although in a humbler way1 were still trying to declare the ,truth as far as they had a knowledge of it4 ,fox writes in his ,journal3 ',and the next ,first day ,i came to ,firbank ,chapel1 where ,francis ,howgill and ,john ,audland were preaching in the morning1 and ,john ,blaykling and others came to me and desired me not to reprove them publicly1 for they was not parish teachers but pretty sober men1 but ,i would not tell them whether ,i would or no1 though ,i had little in me to declare publicly against them1 but told them they must leave me to the ,lord's movings4 ,the chapel was full of people and many could not get in4 ,francis ,howgill 7who was preaching7 said he thought ,i looked into the ,chapel1 but ,i did not4 ,and he said that ,i might have killed him with a crab-apple1 the ,lord's power had so surprised him4 ',so they had quickly done with their preaching to the people at that time1 and they and the people went to their dinners1 but abundance stayed till they came again4 ,and ,i went to a brook and got me a little water1 and so ,i came and sat me down atop of a rock1 7for the word of the ,lord came to me that ,i must go and sit upon the rock in the mountain1 even as ,christ had done before74 ',and in the afternoon the people gathered about me with several separate teachers1 where it was judged there was above a thousand people4 ,and all those several separate teachers were convinced of ,god's everlasting truth that day1 amongst whom ,i declared freely and largely ,god's everlasting truth and word of life about three hours4 ,and there was many old people went into the chapel and looked out of the windows and thought it a strange thing to see a man to preach on a hill or mountain1 and not in their church as they called it4 ,so ,i was made to open to the people that the steeple-house and the ground whereon it stood was no more holier than that mountain 444 but ,christ was come who ended the temple and the priests and the tithes1 and ,christ said1 ,learn of me1 and ,god said1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 hear ye ,him4 ',for the ,lord had sent me with ,his everlasting gospel to preach1 and ,his word of life so that they all might come to know ,christ their ,teacher1 their ,counsellor1 their ,shepherd to feed them1 and their ,bishop to oversee them1 and their ,prophet to open to them1 and to know their bodies to be temples of ,god and ,christ for them to dwell in4444 ,and so1 turning the people to the ,spirit of ,god1 and from the darkness to the light1 that they might believe in it and become children of light4' ,,iii ',now1 it is our turn1' insisted ruddy-faced ,john ,audland1 ',george ,fox must come home with me4 ,my house at ,crosslands will be the most convenient resting-place for him1 seeing it lies mid-way between here and ,preston ,patrick2 and to ,preston ,patrick and the ,general ,meeting of our ,seeking ,people he must certainly come1 since it is to be held in three days' time4 ,there are many folk1 still seeking1 on the other side of the dales1 who have not yet heard the good news1 but who will rejoice mightily when they find him there4 ,besides1 he has promised my wife that he will be the first guest to come and bless our home4' ',yes in truth1 he shall return with thee1' echoed ,audland's friend1 ,john ,camm of ,cammsgill1 'since ,preston ,patrick is too far a step for him to-day4 ,he shall lodge with thee and thy good wife ,anne1 and bless your home4 ,but on ,wednesday1 betimes1 thou must bring him to me at ,cammsgill right early in the day--and ,i will take him as my guest to ,preston ,patrick and our ,seekers' ,meeting4' ,john ,audland readily assented to this proposal4 ,he and his wife would have the wonderful ,stranger all to themselves until ,wednesday4 ,as the two men wandered back over the hills in a satisfied silence1 his mind was full of all the questions he meant to ask4 ,for had not he himself1 though only a youth of twenty-two1 been one of the appointed preachers at ,firbank ,chapel8 ,truly he had done his best there1 as at other times1 to feed the people2 yet in spite of his words they had seemed ever hungry1 until the ,stranger came among them1 breaking the ,true ,bread of ,life for all to share4 ,john ,audland was 'a young man of a comely countenance1 and very lovely qualities4'#g ,never a thought of jealousy or envy crossed his mind2 only he was filled with a longing to know more1 to learn1 to be fed himself1 that he1 in his turn1 might feed others4 ,still1 being but human1 it was with slight irritation that he heard himself hailed with a loud 'halloo6' from behind4 ,looking round1 he beheld a long-legged figure ambling after them along the dusty road1 and recognised a certain tactless youth1 ,john ,story by name1 famous throughout the district for his knack of thrusting himself in where he was least wanted4 ,without so much as a 'by your leave' ,john ,story caught up the other two men and began a lively conversation as they walked along4 ,self-invited1 he followed them into ,john ,audland's home2 where the young bride1 ,anne1 was too well bred to betray her disappointment at this unexpected visitor4 ,elbowing his way rudely past the master of the house and the invited guest1 ,john ,story stalked ahead into the bridal parlour and sat himself down deliberately in the best chair4 ',i'm your first guest now1 ,mistress ,anne1' he said with a chuckle4 ,then lighting his pipe he threw his head back and made himself comfortable--evidently intending to stay the evening4 ,but his chief care and intention was to patronise ,george ,fox4 ,he had been at ,firbank also1 and he had remembered enough of the sermon there to repeat some of the preacher's words jestingly to his face4 ,he handed his lighted pipe to ,george ,fox1 saying1 ',come1 will you take a pipe of tobacco8'--and added1 mockingly1 seeing his hesitation1 ',come1 all is ours6' ',but1' says ,george ,fox1 ',i looked upon him to be a forward bold lad2 and tobacco ,i did not take4 ,but it came into my mind that the lad might think ,i had not unity with the creation3 for ,i saw he had a flashy1 empty notion of religion4 ,so ,i took his pipe and put it to my mouth1 and gave it to him again to stop him lest his rude tongue should say ,i had not unity with the creation4' ,and soon after this1 let us hope1 ,john ,story1 with his tobacco and his rude tongue1 saw fit to take his leave1 and remove his unwelcome presence4 ,,iv ,two more days of the 'wonderful fortnight' were passed in the linen-draper's home at ,crosslands before1 on the ,wednesday forenoon1 ,john ,audland and his guest descended the dales of ,westmorland and climbed the steep1 wooded glen that leads to ,cammsgill ,farm4 ,there1 at the door1 with hands outstretched in welcome1 stood good ,john ,camm and his loving wife ,mabel4 ,peeping behind them curiously at the ,stranger was their twelve-year-old son1 ,tom4 ,at the windows of the farm were to be seen the faces of the men-servants and maid-servants1 for great was the curiosity to see the ,stranger of whom such great tidings had been told4 ,among the serving-maids were two sisters1 ,jane and ,dorothy ,waugh4 ,little did the eager girls imagine that the ,stranger whom they eyed so keenly was to alter the whole course of their lives by his words that day2 that1 for both of them1 the pleasant1 easy1 farm life at ,cammsgill was over1 and that they were hereafter to go forth to preach in their turn1 to suffer beatings and cruel imprisonments1 and even to cross the seas1 in order to publish the same ,truth that he had come to proclaim4 ,tom ,camm also1 boy as he was1 was never to forget that eventful morning4 ,long years afterwards he remembered every detail of it4 ',on the #dth day morning1' he writes1 ',john ,audland came with ,george ,fox to the house of ,john ,camm at ,cammsgill in ,preston ,patrick1 who with his wife and familie gladly received ,g4,f4' ,and now1 while they are 'gladly receiving' their guest and waiting till it is time to go down the steep hill to ,preston ,patrick1 let us look back at the farm-house of ,cammsgill where they are sitting1 and learn something of its history and that of its owners4 ,it was to ,cammsgill that ,farmer ,john ,camm had brought home his bride on a late day of summer1 thirteen years before the eventful year #afeb of which these stories tell4 ,a wise1 prosperous man was good ,john ,camm1 one of the most successful 'statesmen' in all the fertile dales round about4 ,so busy had he been developing his farm1 and attending to the numerous flocks and herds1 that were ever increasing under his skilful management1 that time for love-making seemed to have been left out of his life4 ,but at last1 when he was well over forty1 he found the one woman he had been unconsciously needing through all his prosperous years to make his life round and complete4 ,it was a mellow day of ,indian summer when ,john and ,mabel ,camm walked up the winding road to ,cammsgill for the first time as man and wife4 ,but the golden sunshine that lay on all the burnished riches of the well-filled farm-yard was dim compared with the inward sunshine that gladdened the farmer's heart4 ,farmer ,john had made a wise choice1 and he knew it4 ,in his eyes nothing was good enough for his wife1 not even the home where he had been born1 and where his ancestors for generations had lived and died2 so ,cammsgill had been entirely rebuilt before that golden ,september day when ,john and ,mabel ,camm came home to begin their new life together4 ,the re-building had been done in such solid fashion that part of the farm-house still stands1 well-proportioned and serviceable1 after nearly three centuries have passed to test it1 showing that he who builds for love builds truly and well4 ,mabel ,camm was a proud woman as she stood at the door of her hillside home and watched the autumn sunlight lighting up her husband's face as he walked across his fields in the valley1 or strode1 almost with the energetic step of a young man1 up the crab-apple bordered track to the farm4 ,close at his heels followed his collie1 looking up into his master's face with adoring affection4 ,not only every animal on the farm loved the master1 the men-servants and maid-servants also would do anything to please him1 for was he not ever mindful of their interests as if they had been his own8 ,in those days each labourer had three or four acres of land as of right4 ,this fostered an independent spirit and made their affection a tribute worth the winning4#h ,later on that same year1 when winter came1 earlier than its wont1 the fells were knee-deep in snow and all the beasts were brought for shelter round the farm to protect them from the snow-drifts and bitter weather on the upland pastures4 ,then it was that at nights in the snug farm-house kitchen1 after the day's work was done1 ,john ,camm and his young wife together carved their initials on the 'brideswain1' a tall oak chest that held the goodly stock of homespun linen and flax brought by ,mabel ,camm to her new home4 ,john ,camm was something of an artist4 ,his was the design of the interlaced initials4 ,all his life he had been a skilful carver with his tools on the winter evenings1 and now he took pleasure in showing his bride the right way to use them and how to fashion her strokes aright4 ,night after night the two heads bent over their task1 but to this day it may still be seen at ,cammsgill that one of the two artists was less skilful than the other1 for ,mabel's curves are more angular and without the careless ease of her husband's4 ,what1 however1 did unskilful fingers matter when the firelight shone upon two happy faces bending over the work close together1 aglow with the inner radiance of two thankful hearts8 ,there were other uses for the brideswain the following summer4 ,the fair white sheets and pillow-cases were moved to an under-shelf4 ,the upper half of the chest was filled to overflowing with tiny garments fashioned by ,mabel's own fingers1 skilful indeed at this dainty work4 ,no more woodcarving now1 but endless rows of stitchery1 tiny tucks and delicate dotting1 all ready to welcome the little son who arrived before the summer's close1 and completed his parents' joy4 ,since that day1 a dozen years had slipped away4 ,now young ,thomas ,camm was leaving childhood1 as he had long left babyhood1 behind him4 ,he was a big boy1 quick1 strong for his age1 and bidding fair to be as good a farmer as his father some day4 ',cammsgill was a favourite house with both men and women servants1 for ,mistress ,camm took care that all had their fill of bread1 butter1 milk1 eggs or bacon1 and each their three meals4 ,of the maid-servants1 ,jane and ,dorothy ,waugh especially looked on their master as a father1 he was so kind and thoughtful of their needs4 ,indeed no one could walk up the winding gill without meeting with a warm welcome from the owners of the farm-house1 and on winter evenings there was many a large sitting1 by aid of the rushlights1 in which the neighbours joined1 all hands being busy the while with the knitting of caps and jerseys for the ,kendal trade4444 ,he and his wife greatly loved to entertain visitors from a distance1 especially those who were like-minded with themselves1 also looking for the coming of the day of the ,lord1'#i for all the household at ,cammsgill were of the company of the ,seekers who met every month at the ,chapel of ,preston ,patrick in the valley below4 ,now at last it is time for the ,meeting4 ,thomas ,camm's account continues3 ',and it having been then a common practice among the said seeking and religiously inclined people to raise a ,general ,meeting at ,preston ,patrick ,chapel once a month1 upon the fourth day of the week1 thither ,george ,fox went1 being accompanied with ,john ,audland and ,john ,camm4 ,john ,audland would have had ,george ,fox go into the place or pew where usually he and the preacher did sit1 but he refused and took a back seat near the door1 and ,john ,camm sat down by him1 where he sat silent1 waiting upon ,god for about half an hour1 in which time of silence ,francis ,howgill seemed uneasy1 and pulled out his ,bible and opened it1 and stood up several times1 sitting down again and closing his book1 and dread and fear being on him that he durst not begin to preach4 ,after the said silence and waiting ,george ,fox stood up in the mighty power of ,god1 and in the demonstration thereof was his mouth opened to preach ,christ ,jesus1 the ,light of ,life1 and the way to ,god1 and ,saviour of all that believe and obey ,him1 which was delivered in that power and that authority that most of the auditory1 which were several hundreds1 were effectually reached to the heart1 and convinced of the truth that very day1 for it was the day of ,god's power4 ,a notable day indeed1 never to be forgotten by me ,thomas ,camm4444 ,i1 being then present at that ,meeting1 a school-boy but about twelve years of age1 yet1 ,i bless the ,lord for ,his mercy1 then religiously inclined1 do still remember that blessed and glorious day1 in which my soul1 by that living testimony then borne in the demonstration of ,god's power1 was effectually opened1 reached and convinced1 with many more who are seals of that powerful ministry that attended this faithful minister of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by which we were convinced1 and turned from darkness to light and from ,satan's power to the power of ,god4 ,after which ,meeting at ,preston ,chapel1 ,g4,f4 came to the house of ,john ,camm at ,cammsgill4 ,next day travelled to ,kendal where he had a meeting1 where many were convinced and received his testimony with joy4' ,the 'wonderful fortnight' was drawing to a close4 ,the vision on ,pendle ,hill1 when ,george ,fox beheld a people 'as thick as motes in the sun that should in time be brought home to the ,lord1' had already begun to form around it a ,society of ,friends who were pledged to carry it out4 ,remember always1 it was not the ,society that beheld the vision2 it was the vision that created and creates the ,society4 ,the vision is the important thing2 for it is still unfulfilled4 ,,footnotes3 #f ,ernest ,e4 ,taylor1 ,a ,great ,people to be gathered4 #g ,sewel's ,history of the ,quakers4 #h ,e4,e4 ,taylor1 ,faithful ,servants of ,god4 #i ,e4,e4 ,taylor1 ,faithful ,servants of ,god4 ,,ix4 ,,under ,,the ,,yew-,,trees ',george ,fox was a born leader of souls4 ,the flame of religious ardour which burned in him1 and the intense conviction and spiritual power with which he spoke1 would in any age have made him great4 ,he was born in a generation of revolutions and upheavals1 both political and spiritual4 ,confusion and unrest1 war and reformations1 give to great spirits a power which1 when life is calmer1 they might not attain4 ,fox drew to himself a multitude of noble souls1 attracted to him by that which they shared with him1 the sense of spiritual realities1 and the consciousness of the guiding ,spirit4 ,the age of ,george ,fox thirsted for spiritual reality4 ,he had found it4 ,men on all sides were ready to find it as he had4 ,the dales of ,yorkshire1 and the hills of lakeland1 not less than the towns of the ,midlands1 had men in them ready to rejoice in the touch of the spiritual1 ready to respond to the movement of the ,spirit4 ,see him then arriving at some farm-yard in the hills1 or may be at a country squire's hall4444'--,,cyril ,,hepher1 ',fellowship of ,silence4' ',the house was no doubt full of music1 as were indeed many others1 in that most musical of ,english centuries4'--,j4 ,,bailey1 ',milton4' ,motto on ,seal of a letter to ,m4 ,fell3 #affj ',,god ,,above ,,keep ,,us ,,in ,,his ,,light ,,and ,,love4' ,,ix4 ,,under ,,the ,,yew-,,trees ,six gay girls sat together1 laughing and talking1 under the shadow of the ancient yew-trees that guard the eastern corner of ,swarthmoor ,hall4 ,the interlaced boughs of the gloomy old trees made a cool canopy of shadow above the merry maidens4 ,it was a breathless day of late ,june1 #afeb1 at the very end of the 'wonderful fortnight4' ,there they were1 ,judge ,fell's six fair daughters3 ,margaret1 ,bridget1 ,isabel1 ,sarah1 ,mary and little ,susanna1 who was but three years old1 on that hot summer afternoon4 '',tis a pity that there are only six of us1' ,sarah was saying with mock melancholy4 ',now1 suppose my brother ,george instead of being a boy had been a girl1 then there would have been seven4 ,the ,seven ,sisters of ,swarthmoor ,hall6 ,in truth it has a gallant sound like unto a play4 ,seven ,young ,sisters and ,seven ,ancient ,yew ,trees6 ,each of us might have a yew-tree then for her very own4' ,so saying1 ,sarah leant back against the huge gnarled trunk behind her1 her golden curls rippling like sunshine over the wrinkled wood1 while her blue eyes peered into the dark-green depths overhead4 ',moreover1 in that case1' continued ,isabel1 with a touch of sarcasm in her voice1 'and supposing the ,seventh ,sister1 who doth not exist1 were to have seven more daughters in her turn1--then it might be expected that the ,seventh ,daughter of that ,seventh ,daughter would have keener than mortal hearing1 and sharper than mortal sight4 ,she would be able to hear the grass growing1 and know when the fairies were making their rings1 and be able to catch the ,brownies at their tasks1 so the country people say4 ,heigh ho6 ,i wish she were here6 ,or ,i would that ,i myself were the ,seventh ,daughter of a ,seventh ,daughter1 or still better the ,seventh ,son of a ,seventh ,son1 for they have real true second sight1 and can look in magic crystals and foresee things to come4' ',now it is my turn1' chimed in ,bridget1 ',i am the eldest but one1 and it is time ,i talked a little4 ,then when the ,seventh ,daughter of the ,seventh ,daughter walks hand in hand with the ,seventh ,son of a ,seventh ,son 7neither of whom1 allow me to remind you in passing1 ever have existed1 or1 it is to be hoped1 ever will exist in a well-connected family like ours71 when they walk hand in hand under the shade of the ,seven ,ancient ,yew-trees which1 we all know1 have guarded ,swarthmoor for centuries 444 the ,seven ,ancient ,trees will be sure to overhear them whispering honeyed nothings to each other4 ,then the oldest and wisest of all the ,trees 7by the bye1 it is that one behind you1 ,isabel67 will say1 ,dearly beloved ,children1 although the words you say are incredibly foolish1 yet to me they sound almost wise compared with the still more incredibly foolish conversation carried on beneath my old boughs in the ,year of our ,lord one thousand six hundred and fifty-two by your ever venerable ,great ,aunt ,isabel and your still more venerable ,great ,aunt ,sarah6' ',o ,bridget1' came in aggrieved tones from the two younger girls as they flung themselves upon her and put laughing hands over her mouth1 'that is too bad1 that is unkind4' ,the eldest sister1 ,margaret1 looked up from the low bench where she was sitting with ,mary and ,susanna1 the two youngest children beside her4 ,seeing the struggling heap of muslin and ribbons on the grass she resolutely turned the talk into less personal channels4 ',i do not at all agree with ,sarah1' she said calmly1 'besides it is much too hot to argue4 ,for my part1 ,i think ,six ,sisters are fully enough for any household4 ,if ,i had more than five younger ones to look after1 ,i don't know what ,i should do4 ,even for the yew-trees it is better4 ,there is one now for each of us to sit under1 and one to spare for my mother when at last she comes home4 ,i wonder what makes her so late8 ,when will she be here8' ,a ripple of expectation stirred the maidens4 ,moved by the same impulse1 they all looked out under the dark yew branches and over the sunlit orchard1 beyond which lay the high road leading up the hill from ,ulverston4 ,nothing as yet was to be seen and no faintest rumble of approaching wheels reached any of the listeners4 ,everywhere the hot air quivered in the sunshine4 ,even the stately ,elizabethan ,hall with its high stone chimneys and mullioned bay windows looked drowsy and half asleep4 ,a pale wisp of smoke was ascending listlessly in a straight line above the gabled roofs high up into the far still air4 ,scarcely a sound came from the outbuildings that lay beyond the ,hall4 ,even the pigeons on the roof were too hot to coo4 ,in the herb garden beneath1 the flowers drooped in the scorching light4 ,glare everywhere4 ,only under the yew-trees was there to be found a pool of grateful shadow4 ,and even that pool had a sunshine of its own radiating from the group of merry maidens1 with their bright faces and gay voices raised in perpetual talk1 or laughter1 or song4 ,for a little while they seemed to be busy practising a madrigal4 ,then the irrepressible chatter burst out afresh4 ,cool and fragrant all the maidens looked1 in their dresses of clear sprigged muslin1 each tied at waist1 wrists1 and throat with ribbons of a different colour3 lilac1 lavender1 primrose1 cherry1 emerald1 and blue4 ,the garden roses might droop in the hot garden outside1 but the roses on the girls' cheeks1 instead of fading1 flushed and deepened with growing excitement4 ,they all seemed full of suppressed eagerness1 evidently waiting for something much desired to happen4 ,at length tall ,bridget1 exclaiming1 ',it must be time now6' sprang to her feet1 and1 stooping under the clinging boughs of the yew-tree temple1 drew herself up to her full height outside its shade4 ,her gaze roamed over the long grass of the orchard and down the broad path1 to the high stone arch of the entrance gate through which she could just catch sight of a glimpse of dusty road4 ',nothing yet6' she reported1 'not even a sign of the black horses' ears or heads above the hedge and not a sound upon the road4' ,margaret raised her head to listen4 ,she inherited her mother's placid1 ,madonna-like beauty1 and was at this time the fairest of the whole sisterhood4 ,sarah1 who was hereafter to be considered not only the wit but also the beauty of the family1 was at this time a child of ten1 and not yet grown into her full inheritance of comeliness4 ,in after years it was said of ,sarah that she was 'not only beautiful and lovely to a high degree1 but was wonderfully happy in ingeny and memory4' ,but even at her loveliest it was never said of her1 as it was of ,margaret1 that she was 'glorious1 comely1 and beautiful in that which never fades away1' 'lovely in the truth1 an example of holiness and wisdom4' ,this comely ,margaret1 seeing and hearing nothing of what she sought1 bent her fair face down once more to the little sisters seated on each side of her4 ,to beguile the waiting time she was making for them a chain of the daisies they had gathered as they flitted about1 like gay white butterflies1 over the grass4 ,mary was eight years old1 and therefore able to pick daisies with discretion2 but the stalks of the flowers gathered by little ,susanna were all sadly too short and the flowers themselves suffered in her tight hot hand4 ,at this moment ,isabel ran to join ,bridget and1 standing on tiptoe beside her1 tried hard to see as much as her taller sister4 ',nothing yet1' she reported1 'not a sign of the black horses nor even the top of the coach4' ,sarah1 not to be outdone1 swung herself up1 with a laugh1 on to one of the lower boughs of the oldest yew-tree1 and standing on it thrust her golden head through the thick canopy overhead4 ,she peered out in her turn looking across the orchard and over the hedge to the road1 then1 bending down with a laughing face to ,margaret and the little ones1 ',i'm tallest now1' she exclaimed1 'and ,i shall be the first to spy the coach when it reaches the top of the hill6' ,but agile ,isabel1 ever ready to follow a sister's lead1 had already left ,bridget's side and swung herself up1 past ,sarah1 on to a yet higher bough4 ',methinks not1 ,mistress ,sarah1' she called over her head1 slowly and demurely1 'for now ,i can see yet farther1 and there are the horses' ears and heads2 yea and the chariot also1 and now1 at last6 our mother's face6' ,but the group below had not waited for her tidings4 ,they had heard the rumble of the wheels and the horses' feet on the road4 ,with cries of joy1 off they all sped down the path and across the orchard2 to see who should be first at the gate to welcome their mother4 ,only ,margaret stayed behind on her bench among the scattered daisies1 with a slightly pensive expression on her lovely face4 ',all of them flying to greet her6' ,margaret thought to herself4 ',see1 ,bridget has caught up even ,susanna in her arms1 that she shall not be left too far behind2 while ,i1 the eldest1 whom my mother doth ever call her right hand1 am forced to stay here4 ,but my mother knows that my knee prevents me4 ,she will not forget her ,margaret4 ,already she sees me1 and is beckoning the others to come this way4' ,in truth ,mistress ,fell had already alighted and was now passing swiftly under the high stone arch of the gateway4 ,never did she come through that gate without a flash of remembrance of the first time she entered there1 leaning on her husband's arm1 a bride of seventeen summers1 younger than her own fair ,margaret now4 ,she entered1 this time1 leaning on the arm of tall ,bridget1 walking as if she were a trifle weary1 yet stooping to pick up little ,susanna and to cover her with kisses as she moved up the path surrounded by her cloud of girls4 ',not the house1 maids1' she cried1 'the yew-trees first6 ,i see my ,margaret waiting there4 ,your news1 how marvellous soever1 must wait until ,i have greeted my right-hand daughter and learned how she fares4' ',how art thou1 dear ,heart8' she enquired1 as she stooped down and kissed her eldest daughter1 and sat down beside her4 ',hath thy knee pained thee a little less this afternoon8' ',much less1' answered ,margaret gaily1 'in fact ,i had almost forgotten it1 and was about to rise and welcome you with the rest1 when a sudden ache reminded me that ,i must not run yet awhile4' ,mistress ,fell shook her head4 ',i fear that ,i shall have to take thee to ,london and to ,wapping for the waters some day4 ,i cannot have my bird unable to fly like the rest of the brood1 and obliged to wait behind with a clipped wing4' ',young ,margrett1' as she was called1 to distinguish her from her mother1 laughed aloud4 ',nay now1 sweet mother1 'tis nothing1' she replied4 ',let us think of more cheerful things4 ,in truth we have much to tell you1 for we have had an afternoon of visitors and many happenings in thy absence4' ',visitors8' ,a slight furrow showed itself in the elder ,margaret's smooth forehead4 ',well1 that is not strange1 since the door of ,swarthmoor stands ever open to welcome guests1 as all the country knows4 ,still ,i would that ,i had been at home1 or thy father4 ,who were the visitors1 daughter8' ,it was ,bridget who answered4 ',my father hath often said that there has been scarce a day without a visitor at ,swarthmoor since he first brought you here as its mistress1' she began primly1 'but in all these years1 mother1 ,i doubt you have never set eyes on such an one as our guest of to-day4 ,priest ,lampitt said the same4' ',priest ,lampitt8 ,hath he been here8 ,and ,i not at home4 ,truly1 it grieves me1 children1 to have missed our good neighbour4 ,did he then bring a stranger with him8' ',no1 ,no1 ,no1' a chorus of dissent broke from the girls1 all now seated round their mother on the grass1 each eager to be the first to tell the tale1 yet at a loss for words4 ,bridget1 as usual1 stepped into the gap4 ,she explained that 'the ,priest had been amazed to find the ,stranger here4 ,they had had much discourse4 ,till at last1 ,priest ,lampitt1 waxing hot and fiery ere he departed1 strode down the flagged path slashing all the flowers with his cane and never seemed to know what he was doing1 though you know1 mother1 that he loves our garden4' ,a shade of real annoyance crossed ,mistress ,fell's face4 ',the good ,priest angered in my house1' she said1 with real concern in her voice1 'and ,i not there1 but only a pack of giddy maids1 who had not wit enough between them to keep a discourteous stranger in his place and prevent his being rude to an old friend6 ,nay1 now1 maidens1 speak not all together4 ,ye are too young and do but babble4 ,let ,bridget continue1 or my ,margaret4 ,either of them ,i can trust4' ,but 'young ,margrett' was bending her head still lower1 seemingly over her daisy chain4 ',truly1 mother1' she said in a low voice close to her mother's ear1 'there are no words for him4 ,he is so--different2 ,i knew not that earth held a man like him4 ,and he will be coming back shortly to the house--maybe he is already awaiting you6' ,mistress ,fell looked up now in undisguised alarm4 ,who was this nameless ,stranger who had invaded her house during her absence1 and had apparently stolen the heart of her discreet and dignified ,margaret1 in one interview1 by the mere sight of his charms8 ,young1 handsome1 quarrelsome2 who could he be8 ,what had brought him to ,swarthmoor to destroy its peace8 ,she turned to capable ,bridget for information4 ,bridget1 never at a loss1 understood her mother's fears1 or some of them1 and immediately answered reassuringly1 ',be not disquieted1 sweet mother4 ,nothing really untoward has happened4 ,it is true the ,stranger disputed hotly with ,lampitt1 but it was the ,priest's blame as much as the ,stranger's at first1 though afterwards1 when ,lampitt held out his hand and wished to be friendly1 the ,stranger turned from him and shook him off4 ,yet1 though his actions were harsh there was gentleness in his face and bearing4 ,he is a man of goodly presence1 this ,stranger1 but quite1 quite old1 thirty or thereabouts by my guessing4' ,the elder ,margaret smiled4 ,bridget continued hastily3 ',or may be more4 ,any way he seemed older from his gravity1 and from his outlandish dress4 ,under his coat could be seen a leather doublet and breeches1 and on his head he wore a large1 soft1 white hat4' ,at these words the concern in ,mistress ,fell's face disappeared in a moment4 ,a quick look of welcome sprang into her eyes4 ',a man in a white hat6' she exclaimed4 ',perhaps1 then1 his coming forbodes good to us after all4 ,it was only the other night that1 as ,i lay a-dreaming1 ,i saw a man in a large white hat coming towards me4 ,i had been seeking for guidance on my knees1 for often ,i fear we are not wholly in the right way1 with all our seeking and religious exercises4 ,in answer to my prayer there came towards me1 in my dream1 a man1 and ,i knew that he was to be the messenger of ,god to me and to all my household4 ,tell me more1 maidens1 of this ,stranger1 how he came and whence1 and why he left and when he will return4' ,this time it was 'young ,margrett' who answered4 ,seeing the sympathy in her ,mother's eyes1 she found her voice at last1 and rejoined quickly3 ',he resembleth a ,priest somewhat1 yet not altogether4 ,he speaketh with more authority than anyone ,i ever heard4 ,grave he is too4 ,grave as my father when he is executing justice4 ,yet1 for all his gravity1 as ,bridget says1 he is wondrous gentle4 ,none of us were affrighted at him1 and the little maids ran to him as they do to my father4 ,moreover1 he showed them a curious seal he carried in his pocket with letters intertwined among roses1 a ,g ,i saw1 and an ,f4 ,afterwards he took them on his knees and blessed them and they were wholly at ease4 ,priest ,lampitt1 who had been watching through a window1 his countenance strangely altered by his rage1 now took his departure4 ,seeing him go1 the ,stranger put down the children gently1 setting ,susanna with both her feet squarely on the polished floor1 as ,i have seen a shepherd set down a lamb1 as if afeared that it might slip4 ,then he turned in sorrow and spoke a few words to his companion4 ,this was the man who brought him hither1 one of the ,seekers from ,wensleydale or thereabouts1 ,i should judge from his language2 but truly none of us paid much heed to him4 ,the two of them left the ,hall together1 and passed down through the herb-garden1 and over the stream4 ,once ,i noticed the ,stranger turn and gaze back at the house1 searching each window1 as if looking for something he found not there4 ,also he smiled at sight of the yew-trees1 with a greeting as if they were old friends4 ,bridget declares that she heard the ,stranger1 our ,stranger1 say that he would return hither shortly1 when he had set his companion a short distance on his homeward way4 ,but that is now more than two hours agone1 and as yet he hath not reappeared4' ',well then1 maids1' replied ,mistress ,fell briskly1 'let us not linger here4 ,it is high time we went back to the house to welcome our guest1 on his return4' ,so saying1 she rose to her feet1 and aiding 'young ,margrett' with one hand1 she drew aside with the other the thick screen of the branches4 ,a ray of sunshine fell upon ,margaret ,fell1 standing there1 in the velvety gloom of the old yew-trees1 with her six young daughters round her4 ,sunshine was in her heart too1 as she looked down fondly at them for a moment4 ,then1 lifting up her eyes1 she recognised the unknown man she had seen in her dream4 ,in the full blaze of sunlight1 coming straight up the flagged path towards her was a ,stranger1 wearing a white hat4 ,and thus did ,mistress ,margaret ,fell behold for the first time ,,george ,,fox4 ,illustration ,x4 ',,bewitched6' ',when ye do judge of matters1 or when ye do judge of words1 or when ye do judge of persons1 all these are distinct things4 ,a wise man will not give both his ears to one party but reserve one for the other party1 and will hear both1 and then judge4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',and after ,i came to one ,captain ,sands1 which he and his wife if they could have had the world and truth they would have received it4 ,but they was hypocrites and he a very light chaffy man1 and the way was too strait for him4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',james the ,first was crazed beyond his ,english subjects with the witch mania of ,scotland and the ,continent4 ,no sooner had his first parliament enacted new death laws than the judges and the magistrates1 the constable and the mob began to hunt up the oldest and ugliest spinster who lived with her geese on the common1 or tottered about the village street4 ,many pleaded guilty1 and described the covenants they had formed with black dogs and goblins called ,tibb2 others were beaten or terrified into fictitious confessions1 or perished1 denying their guilt to the last4 ,the black business culminated during the ,civil ,wars when scores of women were put to death4'--,g4,m4 ,,trevelyan4 ,x4 ',,bewitched6' ,saint ,swithin's feast was passed4 ,it was a sultry1 thundery afternoon of mid ,july1 when three horsemen were to be seen carefully picking their way across the wide wet estuary of the ,river ,leven that goes by the name of 'the ,sands4' ,the foremost rider was evidently the most important person of the three4 ,he was an oldish man with a careworn face1 and deepset eyes occasionally lighted by a smile1 as he urged his weary horse across the sand4 ,this was no less a person than ,judge ,fell himself1 the master of ,swarthmoor ,hall1 attended by his clerk and his groom1 and returning to his home after a lengthy absence on circuit4 ,a man of wide learning1 of sound knowledge of affairs1 and gifted with an excellent judgment was ,thomas ,fell4 ,he was as popular now1 in the autumn of his days among his country neighbours1 as he had been in former times in ,parliament1 and among the ,puritan leaders4 ,thrice had he represented his native county in the ,house of ,commons1 and had been a trusted friend of ,oliver ,cromwell himself4 ,it was only latterly1 men said1 since ,oliver showed a disposition to grasp more and ever more power for himself that the good ,judge1 unable to prevent that of which he disapproved1 had retired from the intricate problems and difficulties of the ,capital4 ,he now filled the office of ,judge on the ,welsh ,circuit and later on that of ,vice-,chancellor of the ,duchy of ,lancaster4 ,but whether he dwelt in the country or in ,london town it was all one4 ,wherever he came1 men thought highly of him4#aj ,the good thirsted for his approval4 ,the bad trembled to meet his eye4 ,yet1 it was noted1 that even when he was obliged to sentence some poor wretch1 he seemed to commiserate him1 and he ever sought to throw the weight of his influence on the side of mercy1 although no man could be sterner at times1 especially when he dealt with a case of treachery or cold-blooded cruelty4 ,the lines of his countenance were rugged1 yet underneath there was always an expression of goodwill1 and a kindly light in his eyes that seemed to come from some still quiet fount of happiness within4 ,it was said of the ,judge1 and truly1 that he had the happiest home1 the fairest and wisest wife1 and the goodliest young family1 of any man in the county4 ,that had been a joyful day1 indeed1 for him1 twenty years before1 when he brought the golden-haired ,margaret ,askew1 the heiress of ,marsh ,grange1 as his bride to the old grey ,hall of ,swarthmoor4 ,sixteen full years younger than her husband was she1 yet a wondrous wise-hearted woman1 and his companion in all things4 ,now that a son and six fair daughters filled the old ,hall with music and gay laughter all day long1 the ,judge might well be no less proud of his 'great family' than even of having been ,oliver ,cromwell's friend4 ,he was ever loath to leave that cherished home for his long absences on the ,chester and ,north ,welsh ,circuit1 and ever joyful when the day came that he might return thither4 ,even the heavy sand that clogged his horse's feet could hardly make him check his pace4 ,the sands of ,morecambe ,bay are perilous at times1 especially to strangers1 for the tide flows in with such swiftness that even a galloping horse may not escape it4 ,but the ,judge and his companions knew the dangers well enough to avoid them4 ,their trained eyes instinctively marked the slight depressions in the sand and the line of brogs1 or half-hidden trees1 that guide travellers across by what is really the safest route1 although it may seem to take unnecessary loops and curves4#aa ,at a little distance lay the lonely ,chapel ,island1 surrounded by the sea even at low tide1 where in olden days lived a community of monks1 who tolled a bell to guide pilgrims across the shifting sands1 or said masses for the souls of those who perished4 ,as his horse picked its way carefully1 the ,judge raised his eyes often towards the high plateau on the horizon to which he was steadily drawing nearer with every tedious step4 ,beloved ,swarthmoor6 ,the house itself was hidden1 but he could plainly discern the belt of trees in which it stood4 ,he thought of each of the inmates of that hidden home4 ,george1 his only son1 how straight and tall he was growing1 how gallant a rider1 and how skilful a sportsman even now1 though hasty in temper and over apt to take offence4 ,his gay maidens1 were they at this moment singing over some new madrigal prepared to greet him on his return8 ,in an hour or two he should see them all running down the garden path to welcome him1 from stately 'young ,margrett' to little toddling ,susanna4 ,his wife1 his own ,margaret1 well he knew where she would be6 watching for him from the lattice of their chamber1 where she was ever the first to catch sight of him on his return1 as she had been the last to bid him farewell on his departure4 ,at this point the good ,judge's meditations were suddenly interrupted by his groom1 who1 spurring his horse on a level with his ,master's1 pointed respectfully1 with upraised whip1 towards several moving specks that were hastening across the estuary4 ,the softest bit of sand was over now1 the travellers were reaching firmer ground1 where it was possible to go at a quicker pace4 ,setting spurs to his horse the ,judge hastened forward1 his face flushing with an anxiety he took no pains to conceal4 ,in those days1 when posts were rare and letters difficult to get or to send1 an absence of many weeks always meant the possibility of finding bad news at home on the return from a journey4 ',heaven send they bring me no ill tidings6' ,judge ,fell said to himself as he cantered anxiously forward4 ,before long1 it was possible to make out that the moving specks were a little company of horsemen galloping towards them over the sands4 ,a few minutes later the ,judge was surrounded by a group of breathless riders and panting horses1 with bits and bridles flecked with foam4 ,the ,judge's fears increased as he recognised all his most important neighbours4 ,their excited faces also struck him with dread4 ',you bring me bad news8' he had called out1 as soon as the cavalcade came within earshot4 ,at the answering shout1 ',aye1 the worst1' his heart had sunk like lead4 ,and now here he was actually in their midst1 and not one of them could speak4 ',out with it1 friends1' he commanded1 'let me know the worst4 ,to whom hath evil happened8 ,to my wife8 ,my son8 ,my daughters8' ,but even he was hardly prepared for the answer1 low-breathed and muttering like a roll of thunder3 ',to all4' ',to all6' cried the agonised father4 ',impossible6 ,they cannot all be dead6' ,again came the ominous rejoinder1 ',worse1 far worse1' and then1 in a shout from half-a-dozen throats at once1 ',far1 far worse4 ,they are all bewitched6' ,bewitched6 that was indeed a word of ill-omen in those days1 a word at which no man1 be his position ever so exalted1 could afford to smile4 ,ever since the days of the first ,parliament of the first ,stuart king1 the penalties for the sin of witchcraft had been made increasingly severe4 ,although the country was now settling down into an uneasy peace1 after the turmoil of the ,civil ,wars1 still its witch hunts were even yet too recent a memory for a devoted husband and father to hear the fatal accusation breathed against his family without dismay4 ,not all a woman's youth and beauty might always save her1 if the hunt were keen4 ,the ,judge's lips were tightly pressed together1 but his unmoved countenance showed little of his inward alarm as he gazed on the faces round him4 ,his courteous neighbours1 who had ridden in such haste with the 'ill news' that 'travels fast1' which of them all should enlighten him8 ,his neighbour ,captain ,sands8 a jovial good-humoured man truly2--no1 not he1 he could not enter into a husband and father's deep anxiety1 seeing that he was ever of a mocking disposition inwardly for all that he looked sober and scared enough now4 ,his brother ,justice1 ,john ,sawrey8 ,instinctively ,judge ,fell recoiled from the thought4 ,sawrey's countenance might be sober enough in good sooth1 seeing he was a leader among professing ,puritans1 but somehow ,judge ,fell had always mistrusted the pompous little man4 ,even bad news would be worsened if he had to hear it from those lips4 ,therefore it was with considerable relief that the good ,judge caught sight of a well-known figure riding up more slowly than the others1 and now hovering on the outskirts of the group4 ',the very man6 ,my honoured neighbour ,priest ,lampitt6 ,you1 the ,priest of ,ulverston1 will surely tell me what has befallen the members of my household1 who are likewise members of your flock8' ,but the ,priest's face was even gloomier than that of the other gentlemen4 ,in the fewest possible words1 but with stinging emphasis1 he told the ,judge that the news was indeed too true2 his wife and young family1 yea1 and even the household servants had1 one and all1 been bewitched4 ,at this the ,judge thought his wisest course was to laugh4 ',nay1 nay1 good friends1' he said1 'that is too much6 ,i know my wife4 ,i trust her good sense utterly4 ,still it is possible for even the wisest of women to lose her judgment at times4 ,but as for my trusty steward ,thomas ,salthouse1 the steadiest man ,i have ever had in my employ1 if even old ,nick himself has managed to bewitch him1 he must be a cleverer devil than ,i thought4' ,then drawing himself up proudly he added1 ',so now1 ,gentlemen1 ,i will thank you to submit to me your evidence for these incredible and baseless allegations4' ,priest ,lampitt hastened to explain4 ,he spoke with due respect of ,mistress ,fell1 his 'honoured neighbour1' as he called her4 '',tis her well-known kindness of heart that hath led her astray4 ,she hath warmed a snake in her bosom1 a wandering ,quaker ,preacher1 who hath beguiled and corrupted both herself and her household4' ',a wandering1 ,ranting ,quaker entertained in my house1 during my absence6' ,judge ,fell had an even temper1 but the rising flush on his forehead betokened the effort with which he kept his anger under control4 ',i thank ye1 gentles1 for your news4 ,my wife and ,i have ever right gladly given food and lodging to all true servants of the ,lord1 but ,i will not have any ,quakers or ,ranters creeping into my house during my absence and nesting there1 to set abroad such tales as ye have hastened to spread before me this day4 ,even the wisest woman is but a woman still1 and the sooner ,i reach home the better4' ,so saying he raised his hat1 and set spurs to his horse4 ,but little ,mr4 ,justice ,sawrey1 edging out of the group officiously1 set spurs to his own horse and trotted after him4 ,laying a restraining hand on his fellow ,justice's bridle1 ',one moment more6' he entreated4 '',tis best you should know all ere you return4 ,not only at ,swarthmoor1 at ,ulverston church also1 hath this pestilential fellow caused a disturbance4 ,it was on the ,saturday that he arrived at ,swarthmoor ,hall1 and violently brawled with our good ,friend ,lampitt during ,mistress ,fell's absence from home4' ,a shade of relief crossed the ,judge's face1 ',my wife absent6 ,i might have sworn to it4 ,the maidens are too young to have sober judgment4' ',nay1 but listen1' continued ,sawrey1 'the day after he came to the ,hall was not only the ,sabbath but also a day of public humiliation4 ,our good ,priest ,lampitt1 seeing ,mistress ,fell surrounded by her family in the pew at church1 trusted1 as did we all1 that she had sent the fellow packing speedily about his business4 ,alack6 no such thing1 he was but prowling outside4 ,no sooner did the congregation sing a hymn than in he came1 and boldly standing on a form1 asked leave to speak4 ,our worthy ,priest1 the soul of courtesy1 consented4 ,then1 oh6 the tedious discourse that fell on our ears1 how that the hymn we had sung was entirely unsuited to our condition1 with much talk of ,moses and of ,john1 and ,i know not what besides1 ending up in no less a place than the ,paradise of ,god6 ,naturally1 none of us1 gentles1 paid much attention4 ,i crossed my legs and tried to sleep until the wearisome business should be ended4 ,when1 to my dismay1 ,i was aroused by our honoured neighbour ,mistress ,fell standing upright on the seat of her pew1 shrieking with a loud voice3 ,we are all thieves1 we are all thieves6 ,this was after the ,ranter had finished4 ,while he was yet speaking1 she continued to gaze on him1 so says my wife1 as if she were drinking in every word4 ,but afterwards1 having loosed this exclamation about thieves 7and she a ,justice's wife1 forsooth67 she sat down in her pew once more and began to weep bitterly4' ',yes1' interrupted ,lampitt1 who had also come alongside by this time1 'and he continued to pour forth foul speeches1 how that ,god was come to teach ,his people by ,his own spirit1 and to bring them off from all their old ways and religions and churches and worships1 for that they were all out of the life and spirit1 that they was in that gave them forth4444 ,and so on1 until our good friend here1' indicating ,sawrey1 'being a ,justice of the ,peace1 called out to the churchwardens1 ,take him away1 take the fellow away4 ,whereat ,mistress ,fell must needs rise up again and say to the officers1 ,why may he not speak as well as any other8 ,let him alone6 ,and ,i1 willing to humour her----' ',yes1 more fool you1' interrupted ,sawrey rudely1 'you must needs echo her1 and cry1 ,let him alone6 else had ,i safely and securely clapped him into the stocks4' ,judge ,fell1 who had listened with obviously growing impatience1 now broke away from his vociferous companions4 ,crying once more1 ',i thank you1 ,sirs1 for your well-meant courtesy1 but now ,i pray you to excuse me and allow me to hasten to my home1' he broke away from the restraining hands laid upon his bridle and galloped over the sands4 ,his attendants1 who had been waiting at a little distance just out of earshot1 eagerly joined him1 and the three figures gradually grew smaller and then disappeared into the distance4 ,the other group of riders departed on their different ways homewards1 well satisfied with their day's work4 ,not without a parting shot from fat ,captain ,sands as they separated4 ,raising his whip he said mockingly as he pointed at the ,judge's figure riding away in urgent haste3 ',let us hope he may not find the ,fox too ,foxy when he expels him from his earth6' ,,footnotes3 #aj ',being beloved1' the historian says1 'for his justice1 wisdom1 moderation1 and mercy4' #aa ',the sands are left uncovered at low water to a great extent2 and travellers between ,lancaster and ,furness had formerly to cross from ,hest ,bank to ,ulverston by the route brogged out by the guides2 the brogs being branches of trees stuck in the sand to mark where the treacherous way was safest2 a dreary distance of about #ad miles4'--,richardson1 ,furness1 i4 #ad4 ,,xi4 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,return ',the ,cross being minded it makes a separation from all other lovers1 and brings to ,god4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',give up to be crossed2 that is the way to please the ,lord and to follow ,him in ,his own will and way1 whose way is the best4'--,m4 ,,fell4 ',now here was a time of waiting1 here is a time of receiving1 here is a time of speaking2 the ,holy ,ghost fell upon them1 that they spoke the wonderful things of ,god4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',mind and consider well the spirit of ,christ in you1 that's he that's lowly in you1 that's just and lowly in you3 mind this ,spirit in you1 and then whither will you run1 and forsake the ,lord of ,life8 ,will you leave ,christ the fountain which should spring in you and hunt for yourselves8 ,should you not abide within1 and drink of that which springs freely1 and feed on that which is pure1 meek and lowly in spirit1 that so you might grow spiritual men into the same ,spirit1 to be as ,he is1 the sheep of ,his ,pasture8 ,for as is your pasture1 so are you filled4444 ,and you shall say no more1 ,i am weak and can do nothing1 but all things through him who gives you strength4'--,,james ,,nayler4 ,,xi4 ,,the ,,judge',s ,,return ,not one of the six maidens ever remembered a home-coming over-clouded as was ,judge ,fell's on that thundery afternoon of late ,july4 ,sadder1 darker days lay before them in the years to follow1 but none more filled with unacknowledged dread4 ,was this sad1 stern-looking man1 who dismounted wearily from his horse at the high arched gate1 really their indulgent father8 ,he scarcely noticed or spoke to them1 as he tramped heavily towards the house4 ',he did not even raise an eye towards the window where my mother sits1 as she hath ever sat1 to welcome him1' young ,margrett noticed4 ,the thunder rumbled ominously overhead4 ,the first big drops fell from the gloomy clouds that had been gathering for hours2 while upstairs1 in her panelled chamber1 a big tear splashed on the delicate cambric needlework that lay between the elder ,margaret's fingers1 before she laid it aside and descended the shallow1 oaken stairs to greet her husband4 ,margaret ,fell looked older and sadder than on the afternoon under the yew-trees1 only three weeks before4 ,there was a new shade of care on her smooth forehead3 yet there was a soft radiance about her that was also new4 ,even her voice had gentler tones4 ,she looked as if she had reached a haven1 like a stately ship that1 after long tossing in the waves1 now feels itself safely anchored and at rest4 ,happily she has left an account of the ,judge's return in her own words1 words as fresh and vivid as if they had been written but yesterday1 instead of more than two hundred and fifty years ago4 ,we will take up her narrative at the point in ,ulverston church at which ,judge ,fell broke away from ,mr4 ,justice ,sawrey when he was telling him the same tale from his point of view1 on the glistening sands of the estuary of the ,leven4 ',and there was one ,john ,sawrey1' writes ,mistress ,fell1 'a ,justice of ,peace and professor1 that bid the church warden take him ,george ,fox away1 and he laid hands on him several times1 and took them off again1 and let him alone2 and then after awhile he gave over and he ,g4,f4 came to our house again that night4 ,he spoke in the family amongst the servants1 and they were all generally convinced2 as ,william ,caton1 ,thomas ,salthouse1 ,mary ,askew1 ,anne ,clayton1 and several other servants4 ,and ,i was struck into such a sadness1 ,i knew not what to do1 my husband being from home4 ,i saw it was the truth1 and ,i could not deny it2 and ,i did as the ,apostle saith1 ,i received truth in the love of it2 and it was opened to me so clear1 that ,i had never a tittle in my heart against it2 but ,i desired the ,lord that ,i might be kept in it1 and then ,i desired no greater portion4' ',he went on to ,dalton1 ,aldingham1 ,dendron and ,ramside chapels and steeple-houses1 and several places up and down1 and the people followed him mightily2 and abundance were convinced and saw that that which he spoke was the truth1 but the priests were in a rage4 ,and about two weeks after ,james ,nayler and ,richard ,farnsworth followed him and enquired him out1 till they came to ,swarthmoor1 and there stayed awhile with me at our house1 and did me much good2 for ,i was under great heaviness and judgment4 ,but the power of the ,lord entered upon me within about two weeks that he came1 and about three weeks end my husband came home2 and many were in a mighty rage1 and a deal of the captains and great ones of the country went to meet my then husband as he was coming home1 and informed him that a great disaster was befallen amongst his family1 and that they were witches2 and that they had taken us away out of our religion2 and that he must either set them away1 or all the country would be undone4' ',so my husband came home1 greatly offended2 and any may think what a condition ,i was like to be in1 that either ,i must displease my husband or offend ,god2 for he was very much troubled with us all in the house and family1 they had so prepossessed him against us4 ,but ,james ,nayler and ,richard ,farnsworth were both then at our house1 and ,i desired them both to come and speak to him1 and so they did very moderately and wisely2 but he was at first displeased with them until they told him they came in love and goodwill to his house4 ,and after that he had heard them speak awhile1 he was better satisfied1 and they offered as if they would go away2 but ,i desired them to stay and not go away yet1 for ,george ,fox will come this evening4 ,and ,i would have had my husband to have heard them all1 and satisfied himself further about them1 because they i4e4 the neighbours had so prepossessed him against them of such dangerous fearful things in his first coming home4 ,and then he was pretty moderate and quiet1 and his dinner being ready he went to it1 and ,i went in1 and sate me down by him4 ,and whilst ,i was sitting1 the power of the ,lord seized upon me1 and he was struck with amazement1 and knew not what to think2 but was quiet and still4 ,and the children were all quiet and still1 and grown sober1 and could not play on their musick that they were learning2 and all these things made him quiet and still4' ',at night ,george ,fox came3 and after supper my husband was sitting in the parlour1 and ,i asked him1 if ,george ,fox might come in8 ,and he said1 ,yes4 ,so ,george came in without any compliment1 and walked into the room1 and began to speak presently2 and the family1 and ,james ,nayler1 and ,richard ,farnsworth came all in2 and he spoke very excellently as ever ,i heard him1 and opened ,christ's and the apostles' practices1 which they were in1 in their day4 ,and he opened the night of apostacy since the apostles' days1 and laid open the priests and their practices in the apostacy that if all ,england had been there1 ,i thought they could not have denied the truth of these things4 ,and so my husband came to see clearly the truth of what he spoke1 and was very quiet that night1 said no more and went to bed4 ,the next morning came ,lampitt1 priest of ,ulverston1 and got my husband in the garden1 and spoke much to him there1 but my husband had seen so much the night before1 that the priest got little entrance upon him4444 ,after awhile the priest went away2 this was on the sixth day of the week1 about the fifth month 7,july7 #afeb4 ,and at our house divers ,friends were speaking to one another1 how there were several convinced hereaways and we could not tell where to get a meeting3 my husband being also present1 he overheard and said of his own accord1 ,you may meet here1 if you will3 and that was the first meeting that we had that he offered of his own accord4 ,and then notice was given that day and the next to ,friends1 and there was a good large meeting the first day1 which was the first meeting that was at ,swarthmoor1 and so continued there a meeting from #afeb till #afij when the present ,meeting-house1 given by ,george ,fox1 was built4 ,and my husband went that day to the steeple-house1 and none with him but his clerk and his groom that rid with him2 and the priest and the people were all fearfully troubled2 but praised be the ,lord1 they never got their wills upon us to this day4' ,george ,fox in his ,journal also records his first eventful interview with ,judge ,fell as follows3 ',i found that the priests and professors and ,justice ,sawrey had much incensed ,judge ,fell against the truth with their lies2 but when ,i came to speak with him ,i answered all his objections1 and so thoroughly satisfied him by the scriptures that he was convinced in his judgment4 ,he asked me if ,i was that ,george ,fox whom ,justice ,robinson spoke so much in commendation of among many of the parliament men8 ,i told him ,i had been with ,justice ,robinson and ,justice ,hotham1 in ,yorkshire1 who were very civil and loving to me4 ,after we had discoursed a pretty while together1 ,judge ,fell himself was satisfied also1 and came to see1 by the openings of the spirit of ,god in his heart1 over all the priests and teachers of the world1 and did not go to hear them for some years before he died4 ,he sometimes wished ,i was awhile with ,judge ,bradshaw to discourse with him4' ,this was ,judge ,bradshaw the regicide1 and1 coming as it did from such a friend of ,cromwell's as ,judge ,fell1 the remark was probably a high compliment4 ,the following year1 #afec1 ,george ,fox came again to ,swarthmoor1 where he says he had 'great openings from the ,lord1 not only of divine and spiritual matters1 but also of outward things relating to the civil government4 ,being one day in ,swarthmoor ,hall when ,judge ,fell and ,justice ,benson were talking of the news in the newsbook1 and of the ,parliament then sitting1 7called the long ,parliament7 ,i was moved to tell them1 before that day two weeks the ,parliament should be broken up1 and the speaker plucked out of his chair2 and that day two weeks ,justice ,benson told ,judge ,fell that now he saw that ,george was a true prophet1 for ,oliver had broken up the parliament4' ,although ,judge ,fell never actually joined ,friends he was their constant protector and helper1 and1 in the words of ,fox1 ',a wall to the believers4' ,if he did not himself attend the meetings in the great ,hall at ,swarthmoor1 he was wont to leave the door open as he sat in his ,justice's chair in his little oak-panelled study close at hand1 and thus hear all that was said1 himself unseen4 ,how entirely his wife had regained his confidence1 and how entirely ,lampitt and ,sawrey had failed to poison his mind against her or her new teacher1 is shown by the following letter written about this time1 when the ,judge was away on one of his frequent absences4 ,it is the only letter to ,judge ,fell from his wife that has been preserved1 but it is ample assurance that no shadow had dimmed the unclouded love of this devoted husband and wife4 ',dear ,husband1' ,margaret writes1 ',my dear love and tender desires to the ,lord run forth for thee4 ,i have received a letter this day from you1 and am very glad that the ,lord carried you on your journey so prosperously4444 ,dear ,heart1 mind the ,lord above all1 with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning1 and who will overturn all powers that stand before ,him4444 ,we sent to my dear brother ,james ,nayler and he is kept very close and cannot be suffered to have any fire4 ,he is not free to eat of the jailor's meat1 so they eat very little but bread and water4 ,he writ to us that they are plotting again to get more false witnesses to swear against him things that he never spoke4 ,i sent him #b lb41 but he took but #e shillings84 ,they are mighty violent in ,westmorland and all parts everywhere towards us4 ,they bid #e lb4 to any man that will take ,george anywhere that they can find him within ,westmorland4444 ,the children are all in health1 praised be the ,lord4 ,george is not with us now1 but he remembered his dear love to thee4444 ',thy dutiful wife till death1 ,,margaret ,,fell4' ',swarthmoor1 ,feb4 #ah1 #afec4' ,but whether ,margaret ,fell ever entirely forgave ,justice ,sawrey for the part he had played in trying to alienate her husband from her1 is1 to say the least1 doubtful4 ,anyhow1 later on she wrote of him as 'a catterpillar which shall be swept out of the way4' ,and 'swept out of the way' he eventually was1 some years later1 when it is recorded that 'he was drowned in a puddle upon the road coming from ,york4' ,but he was to have time and opportunity to do much harm to ,friends1 and especially to ,george ,fox1 before that happened1 as the next two stories will show4 ,,xii4 ',,strike ,,again6' ',ulverston consisted of thatched one storied houses1 many old shops1 gabled buildings standing out towards the street on pillars beneath which neighbours sheltered and gossipped4 ,on market days these projections were filled with goods to tempt gentry and yeomanry to open their purse-strings4'--,from ',home ,life in ,north ,lonsdale4' ',by the year #afed the man with the leather breeches as he was called1 had become a celebrity throughout ,england1 with scattered converts and adherents everywhere1 but voted a pest and a terror by the public authorities1 the regular steeple-house clergy1 whether ,presbyterian or ,independent1 and the appointed preachers of all the old sects4'--,d4 ,,masson4 ',for in those days the high and proud professors and persecutors were generally bitterly set against the people called ,quakers1 when ,presbytery and ,independency swimmed and floated in possession1 and with their long ,lectures against us cried out1 ,these are the ,antichrists come in the last times'--,g4 ,,whitehead4 ',for in all things he acquitted himself like a man1 yea1 a strong man1 a new and heavenly-minded man4'--,w4 ,,penn of ,george ,fox4 ,,xii4 ',,strike ,,again6' ',love1 ,wisdom1 and ,patience will overcome all that is not of ,god4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ,by the side of even a low mountain the tallest tower looks small4 ,the fells that shelter the old market town of ,ulverston from northerly winds are not lofty compared with the range of giants that lies behind them in the distance1 ,coniston ,old ,man1 ,sca ,fell1 ,skiddaw1 ,helvellyn1 and their brethren4 ,but the fells are high enough to make the tall old ,church tower of ,ulverston look small and toy-like as it rises under their shadow above the thatched roofs of the old town4 ,swarthmoor ,hall stands on a level plateau on the other side of ,ulverston2 and it was from ,swarthmoor ,hall1 through a wooded glen by the side of the stream1 that ,george ,fox came down to ,ulverston ,church1 one ',lecture ,day' at the end of ,september #afeb4 ,on a ',lecture ,day' a sermon lasting for several hours was delivered by an appointed teacher2 and when that was finished1 anyone who had listened to it was free to rise and deliver a message in his turn if he wished to do so4 ,in those days1 as there were no clocks or watches in churches1 the length of the sermon was measured by turning an hour-glass1 until all the sand had run out1 a certain number of times4 ,children1 and perhaps grown-up people too1 must often have watched the sand with longing eyes when a sermon of several hours' length was in process4 ,on this particular day1 ,priest ,lampitt was the appointed preacher4 ,lampitt had never forgiven ,fox for having persuaded so many of his hearers1 and especially the important ladies of ,swarthmoor1 to forsake their ,parish ,church1 and assemble for their own service at home4 ,his feelings may be imagined1 therefore1 when1 his own sermon ended1 he saw ,george ,fox get up and begin to preach in his turn4 ,george ,fox says1 ',on a ,lecture ,day ,i was moved to go to ,ulverston steeple-house1 where there was an abundance of professors and priests1#ab and people4 ,and ,i went up near to ,lampitt who was blustering on in his preaching1 and the ,lord opened my mouth to speak4' ,now among the 'abundance of people' who were present in the ,church was that same ,mr4 ,justice ,sawrey1 'the ,catterpillar1' of whom the last two stories tell4 ,as soon as ,george ,fox opened his mouth and began to preach1 up bustled the ,justice to him1 with a patronising air1 and said1 ',now1 my good fellow1 you may have my permission to speak in this ,church1 so long as you speak according to the ,scriptures4' ,like lightning1 ,george ,fox turned round on the high step where he was standing near to ,priest ,lampitt1 and saw at his elbow the little pompous ,justice1 his face flushed1 full of fussiness about his own dignity and anxious to arrange everything according to his own ideas4 ,george ,fox1 who felt he had a message from ,god to deliver1 had no intention of being interrupted by any man in this way4 ',i stranged at him1' says ,fox1 'for speaking so to me6' ',stranged' is an unfamiliar word1 no longer used in modern ,english4 ,it sounds as if it meant something very fierce1 and calls up a picture of ,george ,fox glaring at his antagonist or trying to shout him down4 ,in reality it only means that ,fox was astonished at his strange behaviour4 ',i stranged at him and told him that ,i would speak according to the ,scriptures1 and bring the ,scriptures to prove what ,i had to say1 for ,i had something to say to ,lampitt and to them4' ',you shall do nothing of the kind1' said ,mr4 ,justice ,sawrey1 contradicting his own words of the moment before1 that ,fox might speak so long as he spoke according to the ,scriptures4 ,fox paid no attention to this injunction1 but went on calmly with his sermon4 ,at first the congregation listened quietly4 ,but ,fox had made a new enemy and a powerful one4 ,the little ,justice would not be ignored in this way4 ,he whispered to one and another in the congregation1 ',don't listen to this fellow4 ,why should he air his notions in our fine ,church8 ,beat him6 ,stop his mouth6 ,duck him in the pond6 ,teach him that the men of ,ulverston are sensible fellows1 and not to be led astray by a ranting ,quaker6' ,these suggestions had their effect4 ,possibly the congregation agreed with the speaker4 ,possibly also1 they knew that the little ,justice1 though short of stature1 was of long memory and an ill man to offend4 ,moreover1 a magistrate's favour is a useful thing to have at all times4 ,perhaps if they hunted ,mr4 ,justice ,sawrey's quarry for him in the daytime1 he would be more likely to turn a blind eye the next moonlight night that they were minded to go out snaring other game1 with fur and feathers1 in the ,justice's own park6 ,anyhow1 faces began to grow threatening as the ,quaker's discourse proceeded4 ,presently loud voices were raised4 ,still the calm tones flowed on unheeding4 ,at length1 clenched fists were raised2 and1 at the sight1 the smile on the ,justice's face visibly broadened4 ,nodding his head emphatically1 he seemed to be saying1 ',on1 men1 on6' till at length1 like sparks fanned by a bellows1 the congregation's ill-humour suddenly burst into a flame of rage4 ,when at length rough hands fell upon the ,quaker's shoulders and set all his alchemy buttons a-jingling1 ,mr4 ,justice ,sawrey leaned against the back of his high wooden pew1 crossed his legs complacently1 and laughed long and loud at the joke4 ,the crowd took this as a sign that they might do as they chose4 ,they fell upon ,fox1 knocked him down1 and finally trampled upon him1 under the ,justice's own eyes4 ,the uproar became so great that the quieter members of the congregation were terrified1 'and the people fell over their seats for fear4' ,at length the ,justice bethought himself that such behaviour as this in a church was quite illegal1 since a man had been sentenced1 before now1 to lose his hand as a punishment for even striking his neighbour within consecrated walls4 ,he began to feel uneasily that even the excellent sport of ,quaker-baiting might be carried too far inside the ,church4 ,he came forward1 therefore1 and without difficulty rescued ,george ,fox from the hands of his tormentors4 ,but he had not finished with the ,quaker yet4 ,leading him outside the ,church1 he there formally handed him over to the constables1 saying1 ',take the fellow4 ,thrash him soundly and turn him out of the town1' adding1 perhaps1 under his breath1 'and teach him to behave with greater respect hereafter to a ,justice of the ,peace6' ,george ,fox describes in his own words what happened next4 ',they led me1' says the ,journal1 'about a quarter of a mile1 some taking hold of my collar1 and some by the arms and shoulders1 and shook and dragged me1 and some got hedge-stakes and holme bushes and other staffs4 ,and many friendly people that was come to the market1 and had come into the steeple-house to hear me1 many of them they knocked down and broke their heads also1 and the blood ran down several people so as ,i never saw the like in my life1 as ,i looked at them when they were dragging me along4 ,and ,judge ,fell's son1 running after me to see what they would do to me1 they threw him into a ditch of water and cried1 ,knock the teeth out of his head6' ,once well away from the town1 apparently1 the constables were content to let their prisoner go1 knowing that they might trust their fellow-townsmen to finish the job with right good will4 ,the mob yelled with joy to find their prey in their hands at last4 ,with one accord they fell upon ,fox1 and endeavoured to pull him down1 much as1 at the huntsman's signal1 a pack of hounds sets upon his four-footed namesake with a bushy tail4 ,the constables and officers1 too1 continued to assist4 ,giving him some final blows with willow-rods they thrust ,fox 'amid the rude multitude1 and they then fell upon me as aforesaid with their stakes and clubs and beat me on the head and arms and shoulders1 until at last1' their victim says1 'they mazed me1 and ,i fell down upon the wet common4' ,the crowd had won6 ,george ,fox was down at last6 ,he lay1 bruised and fainting1 on the wet moss of the common on the far side of the town4 ,yes1 there he lay for a few moments1 stunned1 bruised1 bleeding1 beaten nigh to death4 ,only for a few moments1 no longer4 ,very soon his consciousness returned4 ,finding himself helpless on the watery common with the savage mob glowering over him1 he says1 ',i lay a little still without attempting to rise4 ,then suddenly the power of the ,lord sprang through me1 and the eternal refreshings revived me1 so that ,i stood up again in the eternal power of ,god1 and stretched out my arms among them all and said with a loud voice3 ,strike again6 ,here are my arms1 my head1 my cheeks6' ,whatever would he do next8 ,what sort of a man was this8 ,the rough fellows in the circle around him insensibly drew back a little1 and looked in each other's faces with surprise1 as they tried to read the riddle of this disconcerting behaviour4 ,the ,quaker would not show fight6 ,he was actually giving them leave to set upon him and beat him again6 ,all in a minute1 what had hitherto seemed like rare sport began to be rather poor fun4 ',there's no sense in thrashing a man who doesn't strike back6 ,better leave the fellow alone6' some of the more decent-minded whispered to each other in undertones1 and then slunk away ashamed4 ,only one man1 a mason1 well known as the bully of the town1 knew no shame4 ',strike again1 sayest thou1 ,quaker8' he thundered4 ',hast had none but soft blows hitherto8 ,faith then1 ,i will strike in good earnest this time4' ,so saying1 the mason brought a thick wooden rule that he was carrying down on the outstretched hand before him1 with a savage blow that might have felled an ox4 ,after the first shock of agonising pain ,george ,fox lost all feeling from his finger-tips right up to his shoulder4 ,when he tried to draw the wounded hand back to his side he could not do it4 ,the paralysed nerves refused to carry the message of the brain4 ',the mason hath made a good job of it this time1' jeered a mocking voice from the crowd4 ',the ,quaker hath lost the use of his right hand for ever4' ,for ever6 ,terrible words4 ,george ,fox was but a young man still4 ,was he indeed to go through life maimed1 without the use of his right hand8 ,the bravest man might have shrunk from such a prospect2 but ,george ,fox did not shrink1 because he did not happen to be thinking of himself at all4 ,his hand was not his own4 ,not it alone but his whole body also had been given1 long ago1 to the service of his ,master4 ,they belonged to ,him4 ,therefore if that ,master should need the right hand of ,his servant to be used in ,his service1 ,his ,power could be trusted to make it whole4 ,thus ,fox trusted1 and not in vain2 since all the while1 no thoughts of vengeance or hatred to those who had injured him were able to find even a moment's lodging in his heart4 ',so as the people cried out1 he hath spoiled his hand for ever having any use of it more1 ,i ,,looked ,,at ,,it ,,in ,,the ,,love ,,of ,,god ,,and ,i ,,was ,,in ,,the ,,love ,,of ,,god ,,to ,,all ,,them ,,that ,,had ,,persecuted ,,me4 ,,and ,,after ,a ,,while ,,the ,,lord',s ,,power ,,sprang ,,through ,,my ,,hand ,,and ,,arm ,,and ,,through ,,me1 ,,that ,,in ,a ,,minute ,i ,,recovered ,,my ,,hand ,,and ,,arm ,,and ,,strength ,,in ,,the ,,face ,,and ,,sight ,,of ,,them ,,all4' ,this miracle1 as it seemed to them1 overawed the rough mob for a moment4 ,but some of the greedier spirits saw a chance of making a good thing out of the afternoon's work for themselves4 ,they came to ,fox and said if he would give them some money they would defend him from the others1 and he should go free4 ,but ,fox would not hear of such a thing4 ,he 'was moved of the ,lord to declare unto them the word of life1 and how they were more like ,jews and heathens and not like ,christians4' ,thus1 instead of thankfully slinking away and disappearing up the hill by a by-path to the friendly shelter of ,swarthmoor1 ,fox strode boldly back into the centre of the town of ,ulverston with his persecutors1 like a crowd of whipped dogs1 following him at his heels4 ,yet still they snarled and showed their teeth at times1 as if to say1 they would have him yet if they dared4 ,right into ,ulverston market-place he came1 and a stranger sight the old grey town1 with its thatched roofs and timbered houses1 had surely never seen4 ,in the middle of the market-place the one other courageous man in the town came up to him4 ,this was a soldier1 carrying a sword4 ',sir1' said this gallant gentleman1 as he met the bruised and bleeding ,quaker1 ',i am ashamed that you1 a stranger1 should have been thus ill-treated and abused1 ,,for ,,you ,,are ,a ,,man1 ,,sir1' said he4 ,fox nodded1 and a smile like wintry sunshine stole over his worn face4 ,silently he held out his hand4 ,the soldier grasped it4 ',in truth1 ,i am grieved1' he repeated1 'grieved and ashamed that you should have been treated like this at ,ulverston4 ,gladly will ,i assist you myself as far as ,i can against these cowards1 who are not ashamed to set upon an unarmed man1 forty to one1 and drag him down4' ',no matter for that1 ,friend1' said ,fox1 'they have no power to harm me1 for the ,lord's power is over all4' ,with these words he turned and crossed the crowded market-place again1 on his way to leave the town1 and not one of the people dared to touch him4 ,but1 as everyone prefers both to be defended himself and to defend others with those weapons in which he himself puts most trust1 the soldier very naturally followed ,fox1 in case 'the ,lord's power' might also need the assistance of his trusty sword4 ,the mob1 seeing ,fox well protected1 turned1 like the cowards they were1 and fell upon the other 'friendly people' who were standing defenceless in the market-place and beat them instead4 ,their meanness enraged the soldier4 ,leaving ,fox1 he turned and ran upon the mob in his turn1 his naked rapier shining in his hand4 ',my trusty sword shall teach these cravens a lesson at last1' he thought4 ,quick as he was1 ,fox was quicker4 ,he1 too1 had turned at the noise1 and seeing his defender running at the crowd1 and the sunshine dancing down the steel blade as it gleamed in the air1 he also ran1 and dashed up the soldier's weapon before it had time to descend4 ,then taking firm hold of the man's right hand1 sword and all1 ',thou must put up thy sword1 ,friend1' he commanded1 'if thou wilt come along with me4' ,half sulkily1 and wholly disappointed1 the soldier1 in spite of himself1 obeyed4 ,but he insisted on accompanying ,fox to the outskirts of the town4 ',you will be safe now1 ,sir1' he said1 and sweeping his plumed hat respectfully on the ground1 as he bowed low to his new friend1 the two parted4 ,nevertheless1 not many days thereafter this very gallant gentleman paid for his chivalrous conduct4 ,no less than seven men fell upon him at once1 and beat him cruelly 'for daring to take the ,quaker's part4' ',for it was the custom of this country to run twenty or forty people upon one man1' adds the ,journal1 with quiet scorn4 ',and they fell so upon ,friends in many places1 that they could hardly pass the high ways1 stoning and beating and breaking their heads4' ,but of the punishment in store for his defender1 ,fox was happily ignorant that hot afternoon of the riot1 as he followed the peaceful brook through its sheltered glen1 and so came up again at last1 after his rough handling1 to friendly ,swarthmoor1 where young ,george ,fell1 escaped from his persecutors and the miry ditch1 had arrived before him4 ',and there they were1 dressing the heads and hands of ,friends and friendly people that were broken that day by the professors and hearers of ,priest ,lampitt1' writes ,fox4 ',and my body and arms were yellow1 black and blue with the blows and bruises ,i received among them that day4' ,,footnotes3 #ab ,remember always that by 'priest' ,george ,fox only means a man of any form of religion who was paid for preaching4 ,lampitt was probably an ,independent4 ',professors1' as we have already seen1 are the people usually called ',puritans1 who 'professed' or made a great show of being very religious4' ,,xiii4 ,,magnanimity ',magnanimity 444 includes all that belongs to a great soul4 ,a high and mighty ,courage1 an invincible ,patience1 an immovable ,grandeur2 which is above the reach of ,injuries2 a high and lofty ,spirit allayed with the sweetness of ,courtesy and ,respect3 a deep and stable ,resolution founded on ,humilitie without any ,baseness 444 a generous confidence1 and a great inclination to ,heroical deeds2 all these conspire to compleat it1 with a severe and mighty expectation of ,bliss incomprehensible4444 ',a magnanimous soul is always awake4 ,the whole globe of the ,earth is but a nutshell in comparison with its enjoyments4 ,the ,sun is its ,lamp1 the ,sea its ,fishpond1 the ,stars its ,jewels1 ,men1 ,angels1 its attendance1 and ,god alone its sovereign delight and supreme complacency4444 ,nothing is great if compared with a ,magnanimous soul but the ,sovereign ,lord of all the ,worlds4'--,,rev4 ,,thomas ,,traherne 7,a ,contemporary of ,g4 ,fox74 ',they threw stones upon me that were so great1 that ,i did admire they did not kill us2 but so mighty was the power of the ,lord1 that they were as a nut or a bean to my thinking4'--,,thomas ,,briggs1 #afhe4 ,,xiii4 ,,magnanimity ,beloved ,swarthmoor6 ,dear home1 where kind hearts abode1 where gentle faces and tender hands were ever ready to welcome and bind up the wounds1 both visible and invisible1 of any persecuted guest in those troubled times4 ,surely1 after his terrible experiences on the day of the riot at ,ulverston1 ,george ,fox would yield to the entreaties of his entertainers1 and allow himself to be persuaded to rest in peace under the shadow of the ,swarthmoor yew-trees1 until the bloodthirsty fury against all who bore the name of ,quaker1 and against himself in particular1 should have somewhat lessened in the neighbourhood8 ,far from it4 ,to ',flee from ,storms' was never this strong man's way4#ac ,gentle reeds and delicate grasses may bow as the storm-wind rushes over them4 ,the sturdy oak-tree1 with its tough roots grappling firmly underground1 stubbornly faces the blast4 ,george ,fox1 'ever ,stiff as a ,tree1' by the admission even of his enemies1 barely waited for his 'yellow1 black and blue' bruises to disappear before he came forth again to encounter his foes4 ,certain priests had however taken advantage of this short enforced absence to 'put about a prophecy' that he had disappeared for good1 and 'that within a year all these ,quakers would be utterly put down4' ,great1 therefore1 must have been their chagrin to hear1 only a short fortnight after the ,lecture ,day at ,ulverston1 that the hated ',man in ,leather ,breeches' was off once more on his dangerous career4 ,fox's companion on this journey was that same ,james ,nayler who had followed him on his first visit to ,swarthmoor1 a few weeks previously4 ,nayler was one of the most brilliantly gifted of all those early comrades of ,george ,fox1 who were hereafter to earn the name of 'the ,valiant ,sixty4' ,clouds and sorrows were to separate the two friends in years to come1 but at this time they were united in heart and soul1 both alike given up to the joyful service of ',publishing ,truth4' ,the object of their journey was to visit another recent convert1 ,james ,lancaster by name1 in his home on the ,island of ,walney that lies off the ,furness coast4 ,on the way thither the travellers spent one night at a small town on the mainland called ,cockan4 ,here1 as usual1 they held a meeting with the inhabitants of the place1 in order to proclaim the message that possessed them4 ,their words had already convinced one of their hearers1 and more converts to the ,truth might have followed1 when suddenly1 at a low window of the hall where they were assembled1 a man's figure appeared1 threatening the audience with a loaded pistol which he carried in his hand4 ,as this pistol was pointed1 first at one and then at another of ,george ,fox's listeners1 all the terrified people sprang to their feet and rushed through the doors of the hall as fast as their legs could carry them4 ,their alarm was natural2 probably most1 if not all of them1 had seen fire-arms used in grim earnest before this1 for the period of the ,civil ,wars was too recent to have faded from anyone's memory4 ',i am not after you1 ye timid sheep1' shouted the man with the pistol as the scared people fled past him4 ',it is that ,deceiver who is leading you all astray that ,i have to do with4 ,come out and meet me1 ,george ,fox1' he shouted1 'if you call yourself a ,man4' ,there was no need to ask twice4 ',here ,i am1 ,friend1' answered a quiet voice1 as the well-known figure1 in its wide white hat1 long coat1 leather breeches and doublet1 and girdle with alchemy buttons1 appeared standing in the doorway4 ,then1 passing calmly through it1 ,george ,fox drew up scarce three paces from his assailant--his body making a large target at close range that it would be impossible to miss4 ,the frightened people paused in their flight to watch4 ,were they going to see the ,quaker slain8 ,the stranger raised his pistol2 he aimed carefully4 ,not a muscle of ,fox's countenance quivered4 ,not an eyelash moved4 ,the trigger snapped4444 ,nothing happened6 ,the pistol did not go off4 ,as if by a miracle the ,quaker was saved4 ,seeing this wonderful escape of their leader1 some of the other men's courage returned4 ,they rushed back to assist him4 ,they threw themselves upon his assailant and wrenched the pistol from his hand1 vowing he should do no further mischief4 ,fox1 seeing in his adversary1 not an enemy who had just sought his life1 but a fellow-man with a ',seed of ,god' hidden somewhere within him and therefore a possible soul to be won1 was 'moved in the ,lord's power to speak to him2 and he was struck with the ,lord's power' 7small wonder67 'so that he went and hid himself in a cellar and trembled for fear4 ',and so the ,lord's power came over them all1 though there was a great rage in the country4' ,the ,journal continues 7but it was written many years later1 remember1 when the account of what had happened could not bring anyone into trouble73 ',and ye next morning ,i went over in a boat to ,james ,lancaster's1 and as soon as ,i came to land there rushed out about forty men1 with staffs1 clubs1 and fishing-poles1 and fell upon me with them1 beating1 punching1 and thrust me backwards into the sea4 ,and when they had thrust me almost into the sea1 ,i stood up and went into the middle of them again1 but they all laid on me again and knocked me down and mazed me4 ,and when ,i was down and came to myself1 ,i looked up and saw ,james ,lancaster's wife throwing stones at my face1 and her husband lying over me1 to keep the stones and blows off me4 ,for the people had persuaded ,james's wife that ,i had bewitched her husband1 and had promised her that if she would let them know when ,i came hither they would be my death4 ',so at last ,i got up in the power of ,god over them all1 and they beat me down into the boat4 ,and so ,james ,lancaster came into the boat to me and so he set me over the water4 ',and ,james ,nayler we saw afterwards that they were beating of him4 ,for while they were beating of me1 he walked up into a field1 and they never minded him till ,i was gone1 and then they fell upon him1 and all their cry was ,kill him6 ,kill him6 ,when ,i was come over to the town again1 on the other side of the water1 the townsmen rose up with pitchforks1 flails1 and staves to keep me out of the town1 crying1 ,kill him6 knock him on the head6 bring the cart and carry him to the churchyard4 ,and so they abused me and guarded me with all those weapons a pretty way out of the town1 and there at last1 the ,lord's power being over them all1 they left me4 ,then ,james ,lancaster went back again to look for ,james ,nayler4 ,so ,i was alone and came to a ditch of water and washed me1 for they had all dirted me1 and wet and mired my clothes1 my hands and my face4 ',i walked a matter of three miles to ,thomas ,hutton's1 where ,thomas ,lawson the priest lodged1 who was convinced4 ,and ,i could hardly speak to them when ,i came in ,i was so bruised4 ,and so ,i told them where ,i had left ,james ,nayler1 and they went and took each of them a horse1 and brought him thither that night4 ,and ,i went to bed1 but ,i was so weak with bruises that ,i was not able to turn me4 ,and the next day1 they hearing of it at ,swarthmoor1 they sent a horse for me4 ,and as ,i was riding the horse knocked his foot against a stone and stumbled1 so that it shook me so and pained me1 as it seemed worse to me than all the blows1 my body was so tortured4 ,so ,i came to ,swarthmoor1 and my body was exceedingly bruised4' ,even within the sheltering walls of ,swarthmoor1 this time persecution followed4 ,justice ,sawrey had not yet forgiven the ,quaker for his behaviour on the day of the riot4 ,he must have further punishment4 ,so right up to ,swarthmoor itself came constables with a warrant signed by two ,justices 7,sawrey of course being one of them71 that a certain man named ,george ,fox was to be apprehended as a disturber of the peace4 ,and clapped into gaol ,george ,fox would have been1 wounded and bruised as he was1 in spite of all that his gentle hostesses could do to prevent it1 had it not happened that1 just as the constables arrived to execute this order1 the master of the house1 good ,judge ,fell himself1 must needs return once more1 in the very nick of time1 home to ,swarthmoor4 ,his mere presence was a defence4 ,he had been away again on circuit all this time that ,george ,fox had been so cruelly treated in the neighbourhood1 and had therefore known nothing of the rioting during his absence4 ,now that he was back at home again1 straightway everything went well4 ,the roof seemed to grow all at once more sheltering1 the walls of the old hall to become thicker and more able to protect its inmates1 when once the master of the house was safely at home once more4 ,the six girls ran up and down stairs more lightly1 smiling with relief whenever they met each other in the rooms and passages4 ,long afterwards1 in the troubled years that were to follow1 when there was no indulgent father to protect them and their mother and their friends from the bitter blast of persecution1 many a time did the maidens of ,swarthmoor recall that day4 ,they remembered how1 weeping1 they had run down to the high arched gate of the orchard to meet their father1 and to tell him what was a-doing up at the ,hall4 ,thus they drew near the house1 the ,judge's dark figure half hidden among his muslined maidens1 even as the dark old yews are hidden in spring by the snowy-blossomed apple-trees4 ,when they saw the ,judge himself coming towards them1 the constables drawn up in the courtyard began to look mighty foolish4 ,they approached with gestures of respect1 giving a short account of what had happened at ,walney1 and holding out the warrant1 signed by two justices1 as an apology for their presence at ,judge ,fell's own ,hall during his absence4 ,all their excuses availed them little4 ,judge ,fell could look stern enough when he chose1 and now his eyes flashed at this invasion of his home4 ',what brings you here1 men8 ,a warrant for the apprehension of ,george ,fox1 ,,my ,,guest8 ,are my brother ,justices not aware then that ,i am a ,justice too1 and ,vice-,chancellor of the county to boot8 ,under this roof a man is safe1 were he fifty times a ,quaker4 ,but1 since ye are here' 7this with a nod and a wink1 as the constables followed the ,judge up the flagged path and by a side door into his oak-panelled study71 'since ye are here1 men1 ,i will give you other warrants a-plenty to execute instead4 ,those riotous folk at ,walney ,island are well known to me of old4 ,it is high time they were punished4 ,take this1 and see that the ringleaders who assaulted my guest are themselves clapped into ,lancaster ,gaol forthwith4' ,well pleased to get off with nothing but a reprimand1 the constables departed1 and carried out their new mission with right good will4 ,the rioters were apprehended1 and some of them were forced to flee from the country4 ,in time ,james ,lancaster's wife came to understand better the nature of the 'witchcraft' that ,george ,fox had used upon her husband4 ,she too was 'convinced of ,truth4' ,later on1 after she had herself become a ,friend1 she must often have looked back with remorse to the sad day when her husband had been forced to defend his loved and revered teacher with his own body from her blows and stones4 ,meanwhile at ,swarthmoor there had been great rejoicing over the discomfiture of the constables4 ,no sooner had they departed down the flagged path than back flitted the bevy of girls again into the study1 until the small room was full to overflowing4 ,it was like seeing a company of fat bumble-bees1 their portly bodies resplendent in black and gold1 buzz heavily out of a room1 and a gay flight of pale-blue and lemon butterflies flit back in their places4 ,all the daughters fell upon their father1 ,margaret1 ,bridget1 ,isabel1 ,sarah1 ,mary1 and ,susanna2 there they all were6 tugging off his heavy riding-boots and gaiters1 putting away the whip on the whip-rack1 while little ,mary perched herself proudly on his knee and put up her face for a kiss2 and1 all the time1 such a talk went on as never was about ,friend ,george ,fox and the sufferings he had undergone1 each girl telling the story over and over again4 ',now1 now1 maids6' said the kind father at last1 ',i have heard enough of your chatter4 ,it is time for you to depart and send ,mr4 ,fox hither to me himself4 ',tis a stirring tale1 even told by maidens' lips2 ,i would fain hear it at greater length from the man himself4 ,he shall tell me1 in his own words1 all that he hath suffered1 and the vile usage he hath met with at the hands of his enemies4' ,a few minutes later1 a steady step was heard crossing the hall and ascending the two shallow stairs that led to the ,justice's private sanctum4 ,as ,george ,fox entered the room ,judge ,fell rose from his seat at the writing-table to receive his guest1 and clasped his hand with a hearty greeting4 ,the study at ,swarthmoor is only a small room2 but when those two strong men were both in it together1 facing each other with level brows and glances of unclouded trust1 the small room seemed suddenly to grow larger and more spacious4 ,it was swept through by the wide free airs of heaven1 where full-grown spirits can meet and recognise one another unhindered4 ,they disagreed often1 these two determined1 powerful men4 ,they owned different loyalties and held different opinions2 but from the day they first met to the day they parted they respected and trusted one another wholly1 and for this each man in his heart gave thanks to ,god4 ,george ,fox began by asking his host how his affairs had prospered2 but when1 these enquiries answered1 the ,judge in his turn questioned his guest of the rough usage he had met with both at ,ulverston and in the ,island of ,walney1 to his surprise no details were forthcoming4 ,had the ,judge not had full particulars from his daughters as well as from the constables1 he would have thought that nothing of much moment had occurred4 ,george ,fox apparently took no interest in the subject2 the most he would say1 in answer to his host's repeated enquiries1 was that 'the people could do no other1 in the spirit in which they were4 ,they did but show the fruits of their priest's ministry and their profession and religion to be wrong4' ',i' faith1 ,margaret1 thy friend is a right generous man1' the good ,judge remarked to his wife1 that same night1 a few hours later1 when they were at length alone together in their chamber4 ,the festoons of interlaced roses and lilies1 carved in high relief on the high black oak fireplace1 shone out clearly in the glow of two tall candles above their heads4 ',in truth1 dear ,heart1' he continued1 taking his wife's hand in his1 and drawing her fondly to him1 'in truth1 though ,i said not so to him1 the ,quaker doth manifest the fruits of his religion to be right1 by his behaviour to his foes4 ,all stiff and bruised though he was1 he made nothing of his injuries4 ,when ,i would have enquired after his hurts1 he would only say the ,power of the ,lord had surely healed him4 ,,for ,,the ,,rest1 ,,he ,,made ,,nothing ,,of ,,it1 ,,and ,,spoke ,,as ,a ,,man ,,who ,,had ,,not ,,been ,,concerned4' ,,footnotes3 #ac ',flee from ,storms' is a motto in the note-book of ,leonardo da ,vinci4 ,,xiv4 ,,miles ,,halhead ,,and ,,the ,,haughty ,,lady ',many a notable occurrence ,miles ,halhead had in his life4444 ,but his going thus often from home was a great cross to his wife1 who in the first year of his change1 not being of his persuasion1 was often much troubled in her mind1 and would often say from discontent1 ,would to ,god ,i had married a drunkard1 then ,i might have found him at the alehouse2 but now ,i cannot tell where to find my husband4'--,,sewel4 ,to ,friends--,to take care of such as suffer for owning the ,truth4 ',and that if any friends be oppressed any manner of way1 others may take care to help them3 and that all may be as one family1 building up one another and helping one another4' ',and1 friends1 go not into the aggravating part to strive with it1 lest you do hurt to your souls1 and run into the same nature2 for ,,patience ,,must ,,get ,,the ,,victory1 and it answers to that of ,god in everyone and will bring everyone from the contrary4 ,so let your temperance and moderation and patience be known to all4'--,,george ,,fox4 ',non tristabit justum quidquid si accederit4' ',whatever happens to the righteous man it shall not heavy him4'--,,richard ,,rolle4 #acdi4 ,,xiv4 ,,miles ,,halhead ,,and ,,the ,,haughty ,,lady ,a ,plain1 simple man was ,miles ,halhead1 the husbandman of ,mountjoy4 ,ten years older than ,fox was he1 and wise withal1 so that men wondered to see him forsake his home and leave wife and child at the call of the ,quaker's preaching1 and go forth instead to become a preacher of the ,gospel4 ,yet1 truth to tell1 the change was natural and easily explained4 ,all his life ,miles had had to do with seeds buried in the ground4 ,therefore when he heard ,george ,fox preach at his home near ,underbarrow in ,westmorland1 telling all men to consider 'that as the fallow ground in their fields must be ploughed up before it would bear seed to them1 so must the fallow ground of their hearts be ploughed up before they could bear seed to ,god1' ,miles' own past experience as a husbandman bore witness to the truth of this doctrine4 ,his whole nature sprang forward to receive it2 and thus1 in a short while1 he was mightily convinced4 ,now at that time there were1 as we know1 many companies of ,seekers scattered up and down the pleasant ,westmorland dales4 ,miles himself had been one of such a group1 but now1 having found that which he had aforetime been a-seeking1 nought was of any value to him1 but that his old companions should likewise cease to be ,seekers1 and become also in their turn ,finders4 ,yet ,miles wondered often how such an one as he should be able to convince them4 ,for he was neither skilful nor ready of tongue1 nor of a commanding presence like ,friend ,george ,fox1 but only a simple husbandman4 ,still he was wary in his discourse1 from his long watching of the faces of ,earth and ,sky--full also he was of a most convincing silence2 and1 though as yet he had proved it not1 staunch to suffer for his faith4 ,it was said of him that 'his ,testimony was plaine and powerful1 he being a plain simple man4' ,thus ,miles ,halhead began to preach the ,gospel1 at first only in the hamlets and valleys round his home at ,underbarrow near to ,kendal4 ,but one day when the daffodils were all abloom1 and blowing their golden trumpets silently beside the sheltered streams1 it came to him that he must take a further journey1 and must follow the golden paths of the daffodils over hill and vale1 until at the end of this street of gold he should come to ,swarthmoor ,hall2 that there he might assist his friends at their ,meeting1 and with them be strengthened and have his soul refreshed4 ,a walk of seventeen miles or so lay before him1 and an easy journey it should prove in this gay springtime1 though in winter1 when the snow lay drifted on the uplands1 it would have been another matter4 ,he could have travelled by the sheltered road that runs through the valley4 ,it being springtime1 however1 and a sunny day when ,miles set out from his home1 he chose for pure pleasure to go by the fells4 ,first1 he travelled across the ,westmorland country till he came to the lower end of ,lake ,winandermere1 where the hills lie gently round like giants' children1 being not yet full grown into giants themselves with brows that touch the sky1 as they are at the upper end of that same shining lake4 ,then1 leaving ,winandermere1 across the ,furness fells he came1 keeping ever on his right hand the ,old ,man of ,coniston1 who1 with his head for the most part wrapped in clouds1 standeth yet1 as he hath stood for ages1 the ,guardian of all that region4 ,thus at length1 as ,miles journeyed1 he came within sight of the promontory of ,furness1 that lies encircled by the sea1 even as a babe's head lies in the crook of a woman's elbow4 ,seeing this1 ,miles' heart rejoiced1 for he knew that his journey's end was in sight1 and he tramped along blithely and without fear4 ,suddenly1 on the path at some distance ahead of him1 he saw a patch of brilliant green and purple coming towards him--a gay figure more likely to be met with in the streets of ,london than on those lonely fells4 ,miles thought to himself as it drew nearer1 '',tis a woman6' then1 ',nay1 it is surely a great ,thistle coming towards me2 no woman would wear garments such as those in this lonely place4' ,as he shaded his eyes the better to see what might be approaching1 his mind ran back to the first sermon he had ever heard ,george ,fox preach1 on his first visit to ,underbarrow1 when he said1 ',that all people in the ,fall were gone from the image of ,god1 righteousness and holiness1 and were degenerated into the nature of beasts1 of serpents1 of tall cedars1 of oaks1 of bulls and of heifers4' 444 ',some were in the nature of dogs and swine1 biting and rending2 some in the nature of briars1 thistles and thorns2 some like the owls and dragons in the night2 some like the wild asses and horses snuffing up the wind2 and some like the mountains and rocks1 and crooked and rough ways4' ',i was not certain of his meaning when ,i first heard him utter these words1' simple ,miles thought to himself1 'but now that ,i see this fine ,thistle coming towards me1 ,i begin to understand him4 ,haply it is but a ,thistle in outer seeming1 and carries within the nature of a ,lily or a ,rose4' ,even as he thought of this1 the ,thistle came yet nearer1 and when he could see it more plainly he feared that neither ,lily nor ,rose was there1 but a ,thistle full of prickles in very truth4 ,it was indeed a woman1 but clad in more gorgeous raiment than ,miles had ever seen4 ,green satin was her robe1 slashed with pale yellow silk1 marvellous to behold4 ,but it was the hat that drew ,miles' gaze1 for though newly come to be a ,quaker preacher1 he had been a husbandman long enough to be swift to notice the garb of all growing1 living things1 whether they were flowers or dames4 ,truly the hat was marvellous1 of a bright purple satin1 and crowned with such a tuft of tall feathers that the wearer's face could scarcely be seen beneath its shade4 ,dressed all in gaudy style was this fine ,madam2 and1 as she passed ,miles1 she tilted up her head and drew her skirts disdainfully together1 lest they should be soiled by his approach4 ,although the lady appeared to see him not1 but to be gazing at the sky1 she was in truth well aware of his presence1 and awaited even hungrily a lowly obeisance from him1 that should assure her in her own sight of her own importance4 ,for of no high-born lineage was this flaunting dame1 no earl's or duke's daughter1 else perhaps she had been too well aware of her own dignity and worth to insist upon others acknowledging it4 ,she was but the young wife of the old ,justice1 ,thomas ,preston1 and a plain ,mistress1 like ,miles' own simple wife at home1 in spite of her gay garments and flaunting airs4 ,but the fact that she had newly come to live at ,holker ,hall1 the finest mansion in all that country-side1 had uplifted her in her own sight1 and puffed her out with pride1 sending her forth at all hours into unseasonable places to show off her fine new ,london clothes4 ,therefore she paused a little as she passed ,miles1 waiting for him to doff his hat and bend his knee1 and declare himself in all lowliness her servant4 ,but ,miles had never a thought of doing this4 ,though he was but newly turned ,quaker1 right well he remembered hearing ,george ,fox say-- ',moreover1 when the ,lord sent me forth into the world1 ,he forbade me to put off my hat to any--high or low--and ,i was required to thee and thou all men and women1 without any respect to rich or poor1 great or small4 ,and as ,i travelled up and down1 ,i was not to bid people ,good-morrow1 or ,good-evening1 neither might ,i bow or scrape with the leg to anyone1 and this made the sects and the professors to rage4' ,miles1 too1 having learnt this lesson and made it his own1 passed by the lady in all soberness and quietness1 taking no more notice of her than if she had been one of those dames painted on canvas by the late ,king's painter1 ,sir ,anthony ,van ,dyck1 which1 truth to tell1 she mightily resembled4 ,the haughty fair one seeing this1 as soon as he had fully passed and she could no longer delude herself with the hope that the longed-for salute was coming1 was vastly and mightily incensed4 ,it was not her hat alone that was thistle colour then3 her face1 her forehead1 her neck all blazed and burned in one purple flush of rage4 ,only her cheeks stayed a changeless crimson1 and that for a very excellent reason1 easy to guess4 ,violently she turned herself to a serving-man who was following in her train1 following so humbly1 and being so much hidden by ,madam's fallals and furbelows1 that until that moment ,miles had not even seen that he was there4 ',back1 sirrah6' she said in a loud1 angry voice1 speaking to the man as if he had been a dog or a horse1 'back with thy staff and beat that unmannerly knave till thou hast taught him 'twere well he should learn to salute his betters4' ,the servant was tired of following his lady like a lap-dog1 and attending to all her whims and whimsies4 ,scenting sport more nearly to his liking1 he obeyed1 nothing loath4 ,he fell upon ,miles and beat him lustily and stoutly1 expecting every moment that he would resist or beg for mercy4 ,mistress ,preston meanwhile1 having turned full round1 watched the thwacking blows1 and counted each one as it fell1 with a smile of pleasure4 ,but her smile speedily became an angry frown1 for ,miles1 well knowing to whom his chastisement was due1 paid no heed to the serving-man1 let him lay on never so soundly1 but turned himself round under the blows1 and cried out in a loud voice to her3 ',oh1 thou ,jezebel1 thou proud ,jezebel1 canst thou not permit and suffer the servant of the ,lord to pass by thee quietly8' ,now at that word ',jezebel1' ,mistress ,preston's anger was yet more mightily inflamed against ,miles1 for she knew that he had discovered the reason why her cheeks had remained pink1 and flushed not thistle purple like the rest of her countenance4 ,even the serving-man smiled to himself1 a mocking smile1 and hummed in a low voice1 as he continued to lay the blows thickly on ,miles1 a ditty having this refrain-- ',jezebel1 the proud ,queen1 ,painted her face1' ,he did not suppose that his mistress would recognise the tune2 but recognise it she did1 and it increased her anger yet more1 if that were possible4 ,she flung out both hands in a fury1 as if she would herself have struck at ,miles1 then1 thinking him not fit for her touch1 she changed her mind1 and spat full in his face4 ,oh1 what a savage ,thistle was that woman1 and worse far than any ,thistle in her behaviour6 ,loudly1 too1 she exclaimed1 ',i scorn to fall down at thy words6' ,her meaning in saying this is not fully clear1 but it may be1 as ,miles had called her ,jezebel1 she meant that no one should ever cast her down from her high estate1 as ,jezebel was cast down from the window in the ,palace1 whence she mocked at ,jehu4 ,this made ,miles testify yet once more--',thou proud ,jezebel1' said he1 'thou that hardenest thine heart and brazenest thy face against the ,lord and ,his servant1 the ,lord will plead with thee in ,his own time and set in order before thee the things thou hast this day done to ,his servant4' ,by this time the lady's lackey had at length stopped his beating1 not out of mercy to ,miles1 but simply because his arm was weary4 ,yet he still kept humming under his breath another verse of the same ditty1 ending-- ',jezebel1 the proud ,queen1 ',tired her hair6' ,miles1 therefore1 being loosed from his hands1 parted from both mistress and man1 and left them standing without more words and himself passed on1 bruised and buffeted1 to continue his journey in sore discomfort of body until he came to ,swarthmoor4 ,arrived at that gracious home1 his friends comforted him and bound up his aching limbs1 as indeed they were well accustomed to do in those days1 when the guests who arrived at ,swarthmoor had too often been sorely mishandled4 ,even to this day1 in all the lanes around1 may be seen the walls composed of sharp1 grey1 jagged stones1 over which is creeping a covering of soft golden moss4 ,so in those old days of which ,i write1 men1 aye and women too1 often came to ,swarthmoor torn and bleeding1 perhaps sometimes with anger in their hearts 7though ,miles ,halhead was not of these71 and all alike found their inward and outward wounds staunched and assuaged by the never-failing sympathy of kindly hearts1 and hands more soft than the softest golden moss4 ,thus ,miles ,halhead was comforted of his friends at ,swarthmoor1 and inwardly refreshed4 ,yet the matter of his encounter with the haughty lady1 and of her prickly thistle nature1 rested on his mind1 and he could not be content without giving her yet one more chance to doff her prickles and become a sweet and fragrant flower in the garden of the ,lord4 ,therefore1 three months later1 being continually urged thereunto by 'the true ,teacher which is within1' he determined to take yet another journey and come himself to ,holker ,hall1 and ask to speak with its mistress and endeavour to bring her to a better mind4 ,thither then in due course he came4 ,now a mansion surpassing grand is ,holker ,hall1 the goodliest in all that country-side4 ,and a plain man and a simple1 as has been said1 was ,miles ,halhead the husbandman of ,mountjoy1 even among the ,quakers--who were none of them gay gallants4 ,nevertheless1 being full of a great courage though small in stature1 all weary and travel-stained as he was1 to ,holker ,hall ,miles ,halhead came4 ,he would not go to any back door or side door1 seeing that his errand was to the mistress of the stately building4 ,he walked therefore right up the broad avenue till he came to the front entrance1 with its grand portico1 where a king had been welcomed before now4 ,as luck would have it1 the door stood open as the ,quaker approached1 and the mistress of ,holker ,hall herself happened to be passing through the hall behind4 ,she paused a moment to look through the open door1 intending most likely to mock at the odd figure she saw approaching4 ,but on that instant she recognised ,miles as the man who had called her ,jezebel4 ,now ,miles at first sight did not recognise her1 and was doubtful if this could be the haughty ,thistle lady he sought1 or if it were not a ,lily in very truth4 ,for ,mistress ,preston was clad this hot day in a lily-like frock of white clear muslin1 all open at the neck and short enough to show her ankles and little feet1 and tied with a blue ribbon round the waist1 a garb most innocent to look upon1 and more suited to a girl in her teens than to the ,justice's wife1 the buxom mistress of ,holker ,hall4 ,therefore ,miles1 not recognising her1 did ask her if she were in truth the woman of the house4 ,to which she1 seeing his uncertainty1 answered lyingly3 ',no1 that ,i am not1 but if you would speak with ,mistress ,preston1 ,i will entreat her to come to you4' ,even as the words left her lips1 ,miles was sensible that she was speaking falsely1 seeing how1 even under the paint1 her cheeks took on a deeper hue4 ,and she1 ever mindful that it was that same man who had called her ,jezebel1 went into the house and returning presently with another woman1 declared that here was ,mistress ,preston1 and demanded what was his will with her4 ,no sooner had she spoken a second time than it was manifested to ,miles with perfect clearness that she herself and none other was the woman he sought4 ,wherefore1 in spite of her different dress and girlish mien1 he said to her1 ',woman1 how darest thou lie before the ,lord and ,his servant8' ,and she1 being silent1 not speaking a word1 he proceeded1 ',woman1 hear thou what the ,lord's servant hath to say unto thee1--,o woman1 harden not thy heart against the ,lord1 for if thou dost1 ,he will cut thee off in ,his sore displeasure2 therefore take warning in time1 and fear the ,lord ,god of ,heaven and ,earth1 that thou mayest end thy days in peace4' ,having thus spoken he went his way2 she1 how proud soever1 not seeking to stay him nor doing him any harm1 but standing there silent and dumb under the tall pillars of the door1 being withheld and stilled by something1 she knew not what4 ,yet her thistle nature was not changed1 though1 for that time1 her prickles were blunted4 ,it chanced that several years later1 when ,george ,fox was a prisoner at ,lancaster1 this same gay madam came to him and 'belched out many railing words1' saying among the rest that 'his tongue should be cut off1 and he be hanged4' ,instead of which1 it was she herself that was cut off and died not long after in a miserable condition4 ,thus did ,mistress ,preston of ,holker ,hall refuse to bow her haughty spirit1 yet the matter betwixt her and ,miles ended not altogether there4 ,for it happened that another ,april day1 some three springs after ,miles ,halhead had encountered her the first time1 as he was again riding from ,swarthmoor towards his home near ,underbarrow1 and again being come near to ,holker ,hall1 he met a man unknown to him by sight4 ,this person1 as ,miles was crossing a meadow full of daffodils that grew beside a stream1 would not let him pass1 as he intended1 but stopped and accosted him4 ',friend1' said he to ,miles1 ',i have something to say to you which hath lain upon me this long time4 ,i am the man that about three years ago1 at the command of my mistress1 did beat you very sore2 for which ,i have been very troubled1 more than for anything which ever ,i did in all my life3 for truly night and day it hath been in my heart that ,i did not well in beating an innocent man that never did me any hurt or harm4 ,i pray you forgive me and desire the ,lord to forgive me1 that ,i may be at peace and rest in my mind4' ,to whom ,miles answered1 ',truly1 friend1 from that time to this day ,i have never had anything in my heart towards either thee or thy mistress but love4 ,may ,god forgive you both4 ,as for me1 ,i desire that it may not be laid to your charge1 for you knew not what you did4' ,here ,miles stopped and gave the man his hand and forthwith went on his way2 and the serving-man went on his way2 both of them with a glow of brotherhood and fellowship within their hearts4 ,while the daffodils beside the stream looked up with sunlit faces to the sun1 as they blew on their golden trumpets a blast of silent music1 for joy that ancient injury was ended1 and that in its stead goodwill had come4 ,,xv4 ,,scattering ,,the ,,seed ',as early as #afed sixty-three ministers1 with their headquarters at ,swarthmoor1 and undoubtedly under central control1 were travelling the country upon ,truth's ponies'--,,john ,,wilhelm ,,rowntree4 ',it is interesting to note and profitable to remember1 how large a part these sturdy shepherds and husbandmen1 from under the shade of the great mountains1 had in preaching the doctrines of the ,inward ,light and of ,god's revelation of ,himself to every seeking soul1 in the softer and more settled countries of the ,south4'--,,thomas ,,hodgkin4 ',some speak to the conscience2 some plough and break the clods2 some weed out1 and some sow2 some wait that fowls devour not the seed4 ,but wait all for the gathering of the simple-hearted ones4'444 #afea4 ',friends1 spread yourselves abroad1 that you may be serviceable for the ,lord and ,his ,truth4' #afed4 ',love the ,truth more than all1 and go on in the mighty power of ,god1 as good soldiers of ,christ1 well-fixed in ,his glorious gospel1 and in ,his word and power2 that you may know ,him1 the life and salvation and bring up others into it4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',go6 ,set the whole world on fire and in flames6'--,,ignatius ,,loyola4 7,to one whom he sent on a distant mission47 ,,xv4 ,,scattering ,,the ,,seed ,in ,springtime the ,south of ,england is a ,primrose ,country4 ,gay carpets of primroses are spread in the woods2 shy primroses peep out like stars in sheltered hedgerows2 vain primroses are stooping down to look at their own faces in pools and streams1 there are primroses1 primroses everywhere4 ,but in the ,north of ,england their 'paly gold' used to be a much rarer treasure4 ,true1 there were always a few primroses to be found in fortunate spots1 if you knew exactly where to look for them2 but they were not scattered broadcast over the country as they are further ,south4 ,therefore1 ,north ,country children never took primroses as a matter of course1 they did not tear them up roughly1 just for the fun of gathering them1 drop them heedlessly the next minute and leave them on the road to die4 ,north ,country children used their precious holiday time to seek out their favourite flowers in their rare hiding-places4 ',i've found one6' ',so have ,i6' ',there they are2 two1 three1 four1--lots6' ',i see them6' ,the air would be full of delighted exclamations as the children scampered off1 short legs racing1 rosy cheeks flushing1 bright eyes glowing with eagerness1 to see who could take home the largest bunch4 ,the further north a traveller went1 the rarer did primroses become1 till in ,northumberland1 the most northerly county of all1 primroses used to be very scarce indeed4 ,until1 only a few years ago1 a wonderful thing happened4 ,there were days and weeks and months of warm sunny weather all through the spring and summer in that particular year4 ,old people smiled and nodded to one another as they said3 ',none of us ever remembers a spring like this before6' ,the tender leaves and buds and flowers undid their wrappings in a hurry to be first to catch sight of the sun1 whose warm fingers had awakened them1 long before their usual time1 from their winter sleep4 ,all over ,england the spring flowers had a splendid time of it that year4 ,even the few scattered primroses living in what ,southerners call 'the cold grey ,north' were obviously enjoying themselves4 ,their smooth1 pale-yellow faces opened wider1 and grew larger and more golden1 day by day3 while new1 soft1 pointed buds came poking up through their downy green blankets in unexpected places4 ,moreover1 the warm weather lasted right through the summer4 ,not only did far more primroses flower than usual1 but also1 after they had faded1 there was plenty of warmth to ripen the precious seed packet that each one had carried at its heart4 ,no wonder the children clapped their hands1 that joyous spring1 when their treasures were so plentiful2 but they feared that they would never have such good luck again1 even if they lived to be as old as the old people who had 'never seen such a spring before4' ,it was not until a year later that the delighted children discovered that the long spell of sunshine and the ,enchanter ,wind had worked a lasting magic4 ,the ripened seed had been scattered far and wide4 ,the primroses had come to the ,north to stay2 and new ,paradises were springing up everywhere4 ,now this is a primrose parable of many things1 and worth remembering4 ,among other things it is an illustration of the change that was wrought all over ,england by the preaching of ,george ,fox4 ,think once again of the long bleak years of his youth1 when he was struggling in a dark world into which it seemed as if no ray of light could pierce2 when he and everyone else seemed to be frozen up in a wintry religion1 without life or warmth4 ,then think how at length he felt the sap rising in his own soul1 turning his whole being to the ,light1 as he found 'there is one1 even ,christ ,jesus1 that can speak to thy condition4' ,this discovery taught him that in all other men's hearts too1 if they only knew1 there was 'that of ,god4' ,henceforward1 to proclaim that ,light to others and the seed within their own hearts that responds to the beams of the ,sun of ,righteousness1 was the service to which ,george ,fox devoted his whole life4 ,as his own being blossomed in the spiritual sunshine of his great discovery1 he was able to persuade hundreds and thousands of other frozen hearts to yield themselves and turn to the ,light1 and open and blossom also in that same sunshine4 ,a greater wonder followed4 ,those other lives1 as they yielded themselves1 began to ripen too1 in different ways1 but silently and surely1 until they in their turn were ready to scatter the new seed1 or1 in the language of their day1 to ',publish ,truth' up and down all over the country1 until the whole face of ,england was changed4 ,by the time of ,george ,fox's death1 more than one out of every hundred among all the people of ,england was a ,friend4 ,but the ,friends never regarded themselves as a ,sect1 although ,sects were flourishing at that time4 ,in #afdj it is said that twenty new kinds of ,sects blossomed out in the course of one week4 ,george ,fox and his followers believed that the discovery they had made was meant for everybody1 as much as sunshine is4 ,other people nicknamed them ',quakers1' but they always spoke of themselves by names that the whole world was welcome to share3 ',children of the ,light1' ',friends of the ,truth1' or simply ',friends4' ,there was nothing exclusive about such names as these4 ,there was no such thing as membership in a society then or for more than fifty years afterwards4 ,anyone who was convinced by what he had heard1 and lived in the spirit of what he professed1 became ',truth's ,friend' in his turn4 ,neither was there anything exclusive in ,george ,fox's message4 ',keep yourselves in an universal spirit' was what he both preached and practised4 ,it was in 'an universal spirit' that he and his followers scattered all over the country4 ,no wonder they earned the name of 'the ,valiant ,sixty1' that little band of comrades who in #afed started out from the ,north ,country on their mission of convincing all ,england of 'the ,truth4' ,they were nearly all young men1 their leader ,fox himself still only thirty at this time4 ,francis ,howgill and ,john ,camm were two of the very few elders in the company4 ,they usually travelled in couples1 dear friends naturally going together2 for is not the best work always done with the right companion8 ,george ,fox1 who was leader1 not by any outward signs of authority but by fervour of inward power and zeal1 occasionally travelled alone4 ,more often he took with him a comrade1 such as ,richard ,farnsworth 7of whom we have heard at ,pendle71 or ,james ,nayler1 or ,leonard ,fell1 or many another1 of whom there are other stories yet to tell4 ,never was ,george ,fox happier than when he was sowing the seed in a new place4 ,all over ,england there are memories of him1 even as far away as the ,land's ,end4 ,when1 in #afef1 he reached the rocky peninsula of granite at the extreme south-west of ,england1 he wrote in his journal3 ',at ,land's ,end we had a precious meeting4 ,here was a fisherman1 ,nicholas ,jose1 convinced1 that became a faithful minister4 ,he spoke in meetings and declared truth to the people1 so that ,i told ,friends he was like ,peter4 ,i was glad the ,lord raised up ,his standard in those dark parts of the nation1 where since there is a fine meeting of honest-hearted ,friends1 and a great people the ,lord will have in that country4' ,unluckily1 some of the other ,cornish fisherfolk were not at all 'like ,peter4' ,they were wreckers1 and used to entice ships on to the rocks by means of false lights in order to enrich themselves with the spoils washed up on their coasts4 ,this is why ,george ,fox spoke of them as a 'dark people1' and was moved to put forth a paper 'warning them against such wicked practices4' ,there are memories of him also in the town which was then called ,smethwick1 and is now called ,falmouth1 as well as at grim old ,pendennis ,castle3 one of the twin castles that had been built by ,king ,henry the ,eighth to guard the mouth of ,falmouth harbour4 ,here ,george ,fox was confined4 ,from hence he was carried to ,launceston1 where he lay for many weeks in prison in the awful den of ,doomsdale1 under conditions so dreadful that it is impossible to describe them here4 ,when1 at length1 he was set at liberty he found a refuge at the hospitable farmhouse of ,tregangeeves near ,st4 ,austell--the ,swarthmoor of the ,west of ,england--with its warm-hearted mistress1 ,loveday ,hambley4 ,at ,exeter he stayed at an inn1 at the foot of the bridge1 named 'the ,seven ,stars4' ,in our own day some of his followers have found another ',inn of ,shining ,stars' at ,exeter also1 when their turn has come to be lodged within the grim walls of the ,gaol for conscience sake4 99 99 99 99 99 ,now let us borrow the ,giant's ,seven-,leagued boots1 and fancy ourselves in the far ,north of ,england1 in #afeg1 just leaving ,cumberland and crossing the ,scottish border4 ,again the same square-set figure in the plain1 soft1 wide hat is riding ahead4 ,but on this journey ,george ,fox has several others with him3 one is our old acquaintance1 ,james ,lancaster3 ,alexander ,parker is the name of another of his companions3 the third1 ,robert ,widders1 ,fox himself described as 'a thundering man4' ,with them rides a certain ,colonel ,william ,osborne1 'one of the earliest ,quaker preachers north of the ,tweed1 who came into ,cumberland at this time on purpose to guide the party4'#ad ,colonel ,osborne1 who had been present with the other travellers at a meeting at ,pardshaw ,crag shortly before1 'said that he never saw such a glorious meeting in his life4' ',fox says that as soon as his horse set foot across the ,border1 the infinite sparks of life sparkled about him1 and as he rode along he saw that the seed of the seedsman ,christ was sown1 but abundance of clods of foul and filthy earth was above it4'#ae ,a high-born ,scottish lady1 named ,lady ,margaret ,hamilton1 was convinced on this journey4 ,she afterwards went in her turn to warn ,oliver ,cromwell of the ,day of the ,lord that was coming upon him4 ,various other distinguished people seem also to have been convinced at this time4 ,the names of ,fox's new disciples sound unusually imposing3 ',judge ,swinton of ,swinton2 ,sir ,gideon ,scott of ,highchester2 ,walter ,scott of ,raeburn1 ,sir ,gideon's brother2 ,charles ,ormiston1 merchant1 ,kelso2 ,anthony ,haig of ,bemersyde and ,william his brother'2 but ,quakerism never took firm root in the ,northern ,kingdom1 as it did among the dalesmen and townsfolk farther ,south4 ,fox journeyed on1 right into the ,highlands1 but he got no welcome there4 ',we went among the clans1' he says1 'and they were devilish1 and like to have spoiled us and our horses1 and run with pitchforks at us1 but through the ,lord's power we escaped them4' ,at ,perth1 the ,baptists were very bitter1 and persuaded the ,governor to drive the party from the town1 whereupon ',james ,lancaster was moved to sound and sing in the power of ,god1 and ,i was moved to sound the ,day of the ,lord1 the glorious everlasting ,gospel2 and all the streets were up and filled with people3 and the soldiers were so ashamed that they cried1 and said they had rather have gone to ,jamaica#af than to guard us so1 and then they set us in a boat and set us over the water4' ,at ,leith many officers of the army and their wives came to see ,fox4 ,among these latter was a certain ,mrs4 ,billing1 who lived alone1 having quarrelled with her husband4 ,she brought a handful of coral ornaments with her1 and threw them on the table ostentatiously1 in order to see if ,fox would preach a sermon against such gewgaws1 since the ,quakers were well known to disapprove of jewellery and other vanities4 ',i took no notice of it1' says ,fox1 'but declared ,truth to her1 and she was reached4' ,what a picture it makes6 ,the fine lady1 with her chains and brooches and rings of smooth1 rose-coloured coral heaped up on the table before her1 her eyes cast down as she pretended to let the pretty trifles slip idly through her fingers1 yet glancing up now and then1 under her eyelashes1 to see if she had managed to attract the great preacher's attention2 and ,fox1 noticing the baubles well enough1 but paying no attention to them4 ,fixing his piercing eyes not on the coral but on its owner1 he spoke to ,mrs4 ,billing with such power that her whole life was changed4 ,once more ,fox had found 'that of ,god' within this seemingly frivolous woman4 ,before he left ,scotland he had the happiness of persuading ,mrs4 ,billing to send for her husband1 and of helping to make up the quarrel between them4 ,they agreed eventually to live in unity together once more as man and wife4 ,fox journeyed on1 in this way1 year after year1 always sowing the seed wherever he went1 and sometimes having the joy of seeing it spring up above the clods and bring forth fruit an hundredfold4 ,even during the long weary intervals of captivity this service still continued4 ',indeed1 ,fox and his fellow-sufferers never looked upon prison as an interruption in their life service1 but used the new surroundings in a fresh campaign4'#ag ,thus1 the historian tells us3 ',though ,george ,fox found good entertainment1 yet he did not settle there but kept in a continual motion1 going from one place to another1 to beget souls unto ,god4'#ah ,the rest of the ',valiant ,sixty1' meanwhile1 were likewise busy1 going up and down the country1 working in different places and with different methods1 but all intent on the one enterprise of ',publishing ,truth4' ',and so when the churches were settled in the ,north1' says the ,journal1 'and the ,lord had raised up many and sent forth many into ,his ,vineyard to preach ,his everlasting ,gospel1 as ,francis ,howgill and ,edward ,burrough to ,london1 ,john ,camm and ,john ,audland to ,bristol through the countries1 ,richard ,hubberthorne and ,george ,whitehead towards ,norwich1 and ,thomas ,holme unto ,wales1 that a matter of sixty ministers did the ,lord raise up and send abroad out of the ,north ,countries4' ,there were far fewer big towns in ,england in those days than there are now4 ,probably at least two-thirds of the people lived in the country1 and only the remaining third were townsfolk3 nowadays the proportions are more than reversed4 ,there was then no thickly populated ',black ,country'2 there were then no humming mills in the woollen districts of ,yorkshire1 no iron and steel works soiling the pure rivers of ,tees and ,wear and ,tyne4 ,most of the chief towns and industries at that time were in the ,south4 ',london had a population of half a million4 ,bristol1 the principal seaport1 had about thirty thousand2 ,norwich1 with a similar number of inhabitants1 was still the largest manufacturing city4 ,the publishers of ,truth would now make these three places their chief fields of service1 showing something of the same concentration of effort at strategic centres which marked the extension of ,christianity through the ,roman ,empire1 under the leadership of ,paul4'#ai ,a certain impetuous lad named ,james ,parnell1 already a noted ,minister though still in his teens1 was hard at work in the counties of ,east ,anglia4 ,in the next story we shall hear how ,howgill and ,burrough fared in their mission 'to conquer ,london4' ,splendid tidings came from the two ,johns1 ,john ,audland and ,john ,camm1 of their progress in ,bristol and the ,west3 ',the mighty power of ,god is that way2 that is a precious city and a gallant people3 their net is like to break with fishes1 they have caught so much there and all the coast thereabout4' ,the memory of the enthusiasm of those early days lingered long in the ,west1 in the memory of those who had shared in them4 ',ah6 those great meetings in the ,orchard at ,bristol ,i may not forget1' wrote ,john ,audland many years later1 ',i would so gladly have spread my net over all and have gathered all1 that ,i forgot myself1 never considering the inability of my body1--but it's well1 my reward is with me1 and ,i am content to give up and be with the ,lord1 for that my soul values above all things4' ,women also were among the first ,publishers of ,truth and helped to spread the message4 ,even before ,burrough and ,howgill reached ,london1 two women had been there1 gently scattering the new seed4 ,it is recorded that one of them1 named ,isabella ,buttery1 'sometimes spoke a few words in this small meeting4' ,two ,quaker girls from ,kendal1 ,elizabeth ,leavens and 'little ,elizabeth ,fletcher1' were the first to preach in ,oxford1 and a terrible time they had of it4 ',little ,elizabeth ,fletcher' was then only seventeen1 'a modest1 grave1 young woman4' ,jane ,waugh1 one of the 'convinced' serving-maids at ,cammsgill1 was a friend of hers2 but ,jane ,waugh's turn for suffering had not yet come4 ,she was still in the ,north when the two ,elizabeths reached ,oxford4 ,this is the account of what befell them there3 ',the #bjth day of the #dth month ,june #afed came to this city two maids1 who went through the streets and into the ,colleges1 steeple and tower houses1 preaching repentance and declaring the word of the ,lord to the people4444 ,on the #beth day of the same month they were moved to go to ,martin's ,mass ,house 7alias7 ,carefox1 where one of those maids1 after the priest had done1 spake something in answer to what the priest had before spoken in exhortation to the people1 and presently were by two ,justices sent to prison4' ,the ,mayor of ,oxford seems to have been pleased with the behaviour of the two girls and caused them to be set at liberty again4 ,but the ,vice-,chancellor and the ,justices would not agree to this1 and 'earnestly enquired from whence they came1 and their business to ,oxford4 ,they answered1 they were commanded of the ,lord to come2 and it being demanded what to do1 they answered1 to declare against ,sin and ,ungodliness1 which they lived in4 ,and at this answer the ,vice-,chancellor and the ,justices ordered their punishment1 to be whipped out of town1 and demanding of the ,mayor to agree to the same1 and for refusing1 said they would do it of themselves1 and signing a paper1 the contents whereof was this3 ,to be severely whipped1 and sent out of ,town as ,vagrants4 ,and forthwith1 because of the tumult1 they were put into the ,cage1 a place common for the worst of people2 and accordingly the next morning1 they were whipped1 and sent away1 and on the backside of the ,city1 meeting some scholars1 they were moved to speak to them1 who fell on them very violently1 and drew them into ,john's ,college1 where they tied them back to back and pumped water on them1 until they were almost stifled2 and they being met at another time as they passed through a ,graveyard1 where a corpse was to be buried1 ,elizabeth ,holme spake something to the ,priest and people1 and one ,ann ,andrews thrust her over a grave stone1 which hurt she felt near to her dying day4' ,two other women1 ,elizabeth ,williams and a certain ,mary ,fisher 7who was hereafter to go on a ,mission to no less a person than the ,grand ,turk71 were also cruelly flogged at ,cambridge for daring to 'publish ,truth' there4 ',the ,mayor 444 issued his warrant to the ,constable to whip them at the ,market ,cross till the blood ran down their bodies2 and ordered three of his sergeants to see that sentence1 equally cruel and lawless1 severely executed4 ,the poor women kneeling down1 in ,christian meekness besought the ,lord to forgive him1 for that he knew not what he did3 so they were led to the ,market ,cross1 calling upon ,god to strengthen their ,faith4 ,the ,executioner commanded them to put off their clothes1 which they refused4 ,then he stripped them naked to the waist1 put their arms into the whipping-post1 and executed the ,mayor's warrant far more cruelly than is usually done to the worst of malefactors1 so that their flesh was miserably cut and torn4 ,the constancy and patience which they expressed under this barbarous usage was astonishing to the beholders1 for they endured the cruel torture without the least change of countenance or appearance of uneasiness1 and in the midst of their punishment sang and rejoiced1 saying1 ,the ,lord be blessed1 the ,lord be praised1 who hath thus honoured us and strengthened us to suffer for his ,name's sake4 444 ,as they were led back into the town they exhorted the people to fear ,god1 not man1 telling them this was but the beginning of the sufferings of the people of ,god4'#bj ,these two women were the first ,friends to be publicly whipped in ,england4 ,but their prophecy that 'this was but the beginning' was only too literally fulfilled4 ,not only had bodily sufferings to be undergone by these brave ',first ,publishers4' ,malicious reports were also spread against them1 which must have been almost harder to bear4 ,william ,prynne1 the same ,william ,prynne who had had his own ears cropped in earlier days by order of the ,star ,chamber1 but who had not1 apparently1 learned charity to others through his own sufferings1 published a pamphlet that was spread abroad throughout ,england4 ,it was called ',the ,quakers unmasked1 and clearly detected to be but the ,spawn of ,romish ,frogs1 ,jesuits and ,franciscan ,friars1 sent from ,rome to seduce the intoxicated giddy-headed ,english ,nation4' ,george ,fox called the pamphlet in which he answered this charge by an almost equally uncharitable title3 ',the ,unmasking and ,discovery of ,antichrist1 with all the false ,prophets1 by the true ,light which comes from ,christ ,jesus4' ,the seventeenth century has truly been called 'a very ill-mannered century4' ,certainly these were not pretty names for pamphlets that were so widely read that1 to quote the graphic expression of an earlier writer1 'they walked up and down ,england at deer rates4' ,yet1 still1 in spite of bodily ill-usage and imprisonment1 through good report and through evil report1 through fair weather and foul1 the work of scattering the seed continued steadily1 day after day1 month after month1 year after year4 ,the messengers went on1 undaunted2 the ,message spread and took root throughout the land2 the trials of the work were swallowed up in the triumphant joy of service and of ',publishing ,truth4' ,,footnotes3 #ad ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite1 ,beginnings of ,quakerism4 #ae ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite1 ,beginnings of ,quakerism4 #af ,jamaica1 with its deadly climate1 had lately been taken by ,england from ,spain1 and was at this time proving the grave of hundreds of ,english soldiers4 #ag ,cameos from the ,life of ,george ,fox1 by ,e4,e4 ,taylor4 #ah ,sewel's ,history of the ,quakers4 #ai ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite1 ,beginnings of ,quakerism4 #bj ,besse1 ,sufferings of the ,quakers4 ,,xvi4 ,,wrestling ,,for ,,god ',being but a boy1 ,edward ,burrough had the spirit of a man4 ,reviling1 slandering1 buffetting and caning were oft his lot4 ,nothing could make this hero shrink4'--,,sewel4 ',his natural disposition was bold and manly1 what he took in hand he did with his might2 loving1 courteous1 merciful and easy to be entreated2 he delighted in conference and reading of the holy scriptures4'--',piety ,promoted4' ',dear ,brother1 mind the ,lord and stand in ,his will and counsel4 ,and dwell in the pure measure of ,god in thee1 and there thou wilt see the ,lord ,god present with thee4 ,for the bringing forth many out of prison art thou there set2 behold the word of the ,lord cannot be bound4 ,the ,lord ,god of ,power give thee wisdom1 courage1 manhood1 and boldness1 to thresh down all deceit4 ,dear ,heart1 be valiant1 and mind the pure ,spirit of ,god in thee1 to guide thee up into ,god1 to thunder down all deceit within and without4 ,so farewell1 and ,god ,almighty keep you4'--,,george ,,fox1 to a friend in the ministry4 ',so1 all dear and tender hearts1 abide in the counsel of ,god1 and let not the world overcome your minds but wait for a daily victory over it4'--,e4 ,,burrough4 ',give me the strength to surrender my strength to ,thee in ,love4'--,,rabindranath ,,tagore4 ,,xvi4 ,,wrestling ,,for ,,god ',a brisk young man with a ready tongue' was the verdict passed upon ,edward ,burrough1 the hero of this story1 by a certain ,mr4 ,thomas ,ellwood when he met him first in the year #afei4 ,ellwood himself1 who thus described his new acquaintance1 was a young man too at that time1 of good education and scholarly tastes4 ,he became later the friend of a certain ,mr4 ,john ,milton1 who thought sufficiently well of his judgment to allow him to read his poetry before it was published1 and to ask him what he thought of it2 even1 occasionally1 to act upon his suggestions4 ,ellwood1 therefore1 was clearly the possessor of a sober judgment1 and not a likely person to be carried away by the glib words of a wandering preacher4 ,yet that 'brisk young man1' ,edward ,burrough1 did not only 'reach him' with his 'ready tongue1' he also completely 'convinced' him1 and altered his whole life3 ,ellwood returned to his family ready to suffer hardship if need be on behalf of his newly-found faith4 ,ellwood's own adventures1 however1 do not concern us here1 but those of the young man who convinced him4 ,edward ,burrough was one of the best loved and most valiant of all those ',valiant ,sixty' ministers who went forth throughout the length and breadth of ,england1 in #afed1 on their new1 wonderful enterprise of ',publishing ,truth4' ,if ,edward ,burrough was still 'young and brisk' when ,ellwood first came across him1 he must have been yet younger and brisker on that summer's day1 five years earlier1 when he left his home in ,westmorland in order to 'conquer ,london4' ,this was an ambitious undertaking truly for any man1 however brisk and ready of tongue4 ,it is true that the ,london of those long-ago days of the ,commonwealth1 before the ,great ,fire1 was a much more compact city than the gigantic1 overgrown ,london of to-day4 ,instead of 'sprawling over five or six counties1'#ba and containing six or seven million inhabitants1 ,london was then a comparatively small place1 its population1 though rapidly increasing1 did not yet number one million4 ',an old map of the year #afaj shows us that ,london and ,westminster were then two neighbouring cities surrounded by meadows4 ,totten ,court was an outlying country village4 ,oxford ,street is marked on this map as ,the way to ,uxbridge1 and runs between meadows and pastures4 ,the ,tower1 ,westminster ,abbey1 ,st4 ,paul's ,church1 444 and some other landmarks are indeed there1 but it is curious to read the accounts given by the chronicles of the day of its narrow and dirty streets1 in which carts and coaches jostled one another1 and foot passengers found it difficult to get along at all4444 ,when the ,king went to ,parliament1 faggots were thrown into the ruts in the streets through which he passed1 to make it easier for his state coach to drive over the uneven roads6'#bb ,nevertheless this gay little countrified town of timbered houses1 surrounded by meadows and orchards1 and overlooked by the green heights of ',hamsted' and ,primrose ,hill1 was then as now the ,capital ,city of ,england4 ,and ,england under ,oliver ,cromwell was one of the most powerful of the ,states of ,europe4 ,therefore if a young man barely out of his teens were to succeed in 'conquering ,london1' and bending it to his will1 he would certainly need all his briskness and readiness of tongue4 ,edward ,burrough probably entered ,london alone and on foot1 after a journey extending over several weeks4 ,he had left his native ,westmorland in company with good ,john ,camm1 the 'statesman' farmer of ,cammsgill4 ,the first stages of their journey were made on horseback4 ,many a quiet talk the two men must have had together as they rode through the green lanes of ,england1--that long-ago ,england of the ,commonwealth1 its clear skies unstained by any tall chimneys or factory smoke4 ,there were but few hedgerows then1 'a single hedge is a marked feature in the contemporary maps4'#bc ,the cornfields stretched away in a broad1 unbroken expanse as they do to-day on the ,continent of ,europe and in the lands of the ,new ,world4 ,as they rode1 ,camm would tell ,burrough1 doubtless1 of his first sight of ,george ,fox1 preaching in ,sedbergh ,churchyard1 under the ancient yew-tree opposite the market cross1 on that never-to-be-forgotten day of the ,whitsuntide ,fair4 ,the story of the ',wonderful ,fortnight' would be sure to follow2 of the ',mighty ,meeting' on the ,fell outside ,firbank ,chapel2 of the gathering of the ,seekers at ,preston ,patrick2 and of yet another open-air meeting1 when hundreds of people assembled one memorable ,first ,day near his own hillside farm at ,cammsgill4 ,then it would be the younger man's turn to tell his tale4 ',he was born in the barony of ,kendal 444 of parents who for their honest and virtuous life were in good repute2 he was well educated1 and trained up in such learning as that country did afford4444 ,by his parents he was trained up in the episcopal worship1'#bd but for a long time1 he says that the only religion that he practised was 'going to church one day in seven to hear a man preach1 to read1 and sing1 and rabble over a prayer4' 7,it is easy to smile at the old-fashioned word2 but let us try to remember it when we ourselves are tempted to get up too late in the morning and 'rabble over' our own prayers47 ,gradually the unseen world grew more real4 ,a beautiful and comforting message was given to him in his heart1 ',whom ,god once loves1 he loves for ever4' ,now he grew weary of hearing any of the priests1 for he saw they did not possess what they spoke of to others1 and sometimes he began to question his own experiences4 ,nevertheless he felt it a grievous trial to give up all his prospects of earthly advancement and become a ,quaker4 ,yet from the day he listened to ,george ,fox preaching at ,underbarrow there was no other course open to him2 though his own parents were much incensed with him for daring to join this despised people4 ,they even refused to acknowledge him any longer as a member of their family4 ,being rejected as a son1 therefore1 he begged to be allowed to stay on in his home and work as a servant1 but this1 too1 was refused4 ,thus being1 as he says1 'separated from all the glory of the world1 and from all his acquaintance and kindred1' he betook himself to the company of 'a poor1 despised people called ,quakers4' ,it must have been a comfort to him1 after being cast off by his own family1 to find himself adopted by a still larger family of friends1 and to become one of the ',valiant ,sixty' entrusted with the great adventure of ,publishing ,truth4 ,riding along with good ,john ,camm1 with talk to beguile the way1 was pleasant travelling2 but this happy companionship was not to last very long4 ,for as they journeyed and came near the ',middle ,kingdom1' or ,midlands1 they fell in with another of ',truth's ,publishers4' ,this was none other than their ,westmorland neighbour1 ,john ,audland1 'the ruddy-faced linen-draper of ,crosslands1' ,john ,camm's own especial comrade and pair among the ',sixty4' ,it may have been a prearranged plan that they should meet here2 anyway ,camm turned aside with ,audland and went on with him to ,bristol1 where he had already begun to scatter the seed in the west of ,england1 while ,edward ,burrough pursued his journey in solitude towards ,london4#be ,but his days of loneliness were not to last for long4 ,either just before or just after his arrival in the great city1 two other ,publishers also reached the metropolis1 one of whom1 ,francis ,howgill1 was to be his own especial comrade and pair in the task of 'conquering ,london4' ,this was that same ,francis ,howgill1 a considerably older man than ,burrough1 and formerly a leader among the ,seekers1 who had been preaching that memorable day at ,firbank when he thought ,george ,fox looked into the ,chapel and was so much struck that 'you could have killed him with a crab-apple4' ,now that they had come together1 however1 it would have taken more than many crab-apples to deter him and ,burrough from their ,mission4 ,together the two friends laid their plans for the capture of ,london1 and together they proceeded to carry them out4 ,the success they met with was astonishing4 ',by the arm of the ,lord1' writes ,howgill1 'all falls before us1 according to the word of the ,lord before ,i came to this ,city1 that all should be as a plain4' ,amidst their engrossing labours in the capital the two ,london ',publishers' did not forget to send news of their work to ,friends in the ,north4 ,many letters written at this time remain4 ,those to ,margaret ,fell1 especially1 give a vivid picture of their progress4 ,these letters are signed sometimes by ,howgill1 sometimes by ,burrough1 sometimes by both together4 ,but1 whatever the signature1 the pronouns ',i' and 'we' are used indiscriminately1 as if to show that the writers were not only united in the service of ,truth but were also one in heart4 ',we two1' they say in one letter1 'are constrained to stay in this city2 but we are not alone1 for the power of our ,father is with us1 and it is daily made manifest through weakness1 even to the stopping of the mouths of lions and to the confounding of the serpent's wisdom2 eternal praises to ,him for evermore4 ,in this city1 iniquity is grown to the height4 ,we have three meetings or more every week1 very large1 more than any place will contain1 and which we can conveniently meet in4 ,many of all sorts come to us and many of all sorts are convinced1 yea1 hundreds do believe4444' ,again3 ',we get ,friends together on the ,first ,days to meet together out of the rude multitude2 and we two go to the great meeting place which we have1 which will hold a thousand people1 which is always nearly filled1 there to thresh among the world2 and we stay till twelve or one o'clock and then pass away1 the one to the one place and the other to another place where ,friends are met in private2 and stay till four or five o'clock4' ,only a month later yet another 'great place' had to be taken for a 'threshing-floor1' or hall where public meetings could be held4 ,to these meetings anyone might come and listen to the preachers' message1 which 'threshed them like grain1 and sifted the wheat from the light chaffy minds among the hearers4' ,how 'chaffy' and frivolous this gay world of ,london appeared to these first ,publishers1 consumed with the burning eagerness of their mission1 the following description shows4 ,it occurs in a letter from ,george ,fox himself when he1 too1 came to the metropolis1 a few months later4 ',what a world this is1' he writes 444 'altogether carried with fooleries and vanities both men and women 444 putting on gold1 gay apparel1 plaiting the hair1 men and women they are powdering it1 making their backs as if they were bags of meal1 and they look so strange that they cannot look at one another4 ,pride hath puffed up every one1 they are out of the fear of ,god1 men and women1 young and old1 one puffs up another1 they are not in the fashion of the world else1 they are not in esteem else1 they shall not be respected else1 if they have not gold and silver upon their backs1 or his hair be not powdered4 ,if he have a company of ribbons hung about his waist1 red or white1 or black or yellow1 and about his knees1 and gets a ,company in his hat1 and powders his hair1 then he is a brave man1 then he is accepted1 then he is no ,quaker4444 ,likewise the women having their gold1 their spots on their faces1 noses1 cheeks1 foreheads1 having their rings on their fingers1 wearing gold1 having their cuffs doubled under and about like a butcher with white sleeves' 7how pretty they must have been671 'having their ribbons tied about their hands1 and three or four gold laces about their clothes1 this is no ,quaker1 say they4444 ,now are not all these that have got these ribbons hung about their arms1 backs1 waists1 knees1 hats1 hands1 like unto fiddlers' boys1 and shew that you are gotten into the basest contemptible life as be in the fashion of the fiddlers' boys and stage-players1 and quite out of the paths and steeps of solid men4444 ,and further to get a pair of breeches like a coat and hang them about with points up almost to the middle1 and a pair of double cuffs upon his hands1 and a feather in his cap1 and to say1 ,here's a gentleman1 bow before him1 put off your hats1 bow1 get a company of fiddlers1 a set of music and women to dance1 this is a brave fellow1 up in the chamber without and up in the chamber within1 are these your fine ,christians8 ,yea1 say they4 ,yea but1 say the serious people1 they are not of ,christ's life4 ,and to see such a company as are in the fashions of the world 444 get a couple of bowls in their hands or tables dice or shovel-board1 or a horse with a ,company of ribbons on his head as he hath on his own1 and a ring in his ear2 and so go to horse-racing to spoil the creature4 ,oh these are gentlemen1 these are bred up gentlemen6 these are brave fellows and they must have their recreation1 and pleasures are lawful4 ,these are bad ,christians and shew that they are gluttoned with the creature and then the flesh rejoiceth6' ,no wonder that ,edward ,burrough wrote to ,margaret ,fell that 'in this city iniquity is grown to the height1' and again1 in a later letter3 ',there are hundreds convinced1 but not many great or noble do receive our testimony 444 we are much refreshed1 we receive letters from all quarters1 the work goes on fast everywhere4444 ,richard ,hubberthorne is yet in prison and ,james ,parnell at ,cambridge4444 ,our dear brethren ,john ,audland and ,john ,camm we hear from1 and we write to one another twice in the week4 ,they are near us1 they are precious and the work of the ,lord is great in ,bristol4' ,margaret ,fell writes back in answer1 like a true mother in ,israel1 ',you are all dear unto me1 and all are present with me1 and are all met together in my heart4' ,and now1 having heard what the ',valiant ,sixty' thought of ,london1 what did ,london think of the ',valiant ,sixty'8 ,many years later a certain ,william ,spurry wrote of these early days3 ',i being in ,london at the time of the first ,publication of ,truth1 there was a report spread in the ,city that there was a sort of people come there that went by the name of plain ,north ,country plow men1 who did differ in judgment to all other people in that ,city1 who ,i was very desirous to see and converse with4 ,and upon strict enquiry ,i was informed that they did meet at one ,widow ,matthews in ,white ,cross ,street1 in her garden1 where ,i repaired1 where was our dear friends ,edward ,burrough and ,francis ,howgill1 who declared the ,lord's everlasting ,truth in the demonstration of the ,spirit of ,life1 where myself and many more were convinced4 ,a little time after there was a silent meeting appointed and kept at ,sarah ,sawyer's in ,rainbow ,alley4' ,very rural and unlike ,london these places sound3 but meetings were not only held in secluded spots1 such as the garden in ,white ,cross ,street1 and the house in ,rainbow ,alley1 they were also held in the tumultuous centres of ,vanity ,fair4 ',edward ,burrough1' says ,sewel the historian1 'though he was a very young man when he first came forth1 yet grew in wisdom and valour so that he feared not the face of man4' ',at ,london there is a custom in summer time1 when the evening approaches and tradesmen leave off working1 that many lusty fellows meet in the fields1 to try their skill and strength at wrestling1 where generally a multitude of people stand gazing in a round4 ,now it so fell out1 that ,edward ,burrough passed by the place where they were wrestling1 and standing still among the spectators1 saw how a strong and dexterous fellow had already thrown three others1 and was now waiting for a fourth champion1 if any durst venture to enter the lists4 ,at length none being bold enough to try1 ,e4 ,burrough stepped into the ring 7commonly made up of all sorts of people71 and having looked upon the wrestler with a serious countenance1 the man was not a little surprised1 instead of an airy antagonist1 to meet with a grave and awful young man2 and all stood amazed at this sight1 eagerly expecting what would be the issue of this combat4 ,but it was quite another fight ,edward ,burrough aimed at4 ,for having already fought against spiritual wickedness1 that had once prevailed in him and having overcome it in measure1 by the grace of ,god1 he now endeavoured also to fight against it in others1 and to turn them from the evil of their ways4 ,with this intention he began very seriously to speak to the standers by1 and that with such a heart-piercing power1 that he was heard by this mixed multitude with no less attention than admiration2 for his speech tended to turn them from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan to ,god4 ',thus he preached zealously2 and though many might look upon this as a novelty1 yet it was of such effect that many were convinced of the truth4444 ,and indeed he was one of those valiants1 whose bow never turned back 444 nay he was such an excellent instrument in the hand of ,god that even some mighty and eminent men were touched to the heart by the power of the word of life which he preached' 444 'using few words but preaching after a new fashion so that he was called a son of thunder and also of consolation4' ',now ,i come also to the glorious exit of ,e4 ,burrough1 that valiant hero4 ,for several years he had been very much in ,london1 and had there preached the gospel with piercing and powerful declarations4 ,and that city was so near to him1 that oftentimes1 when persecution grew hot1 he said to ,francis ,howgill1 his bosom friend1 ,i can go freely to the city of ,london1 and lay down my life for a testimony of that truth1 which ,i have declared through the power and spirit of ,god4 ,being in this year #affb at ,bristol1 and thereabouts1 and moved to return to ,london1 he said to many of his friends1 when he took leave of them1 that he did not know he should see their faces any more2 and therefore he exhorted them to faithfulness and steadfastness1 in that wherein they had found rest for their souls4 ,and to some he said1 ,i am now going up to the city of ,london again1 to lay down my life for the gospel1 and suffer among friends in that place4'#bf ,thus it befell that ,edward ,burrough was called to a more deadly wrestling match than any in the pleasant ,london fields4 ,he was thrown into prison1 and there he had to face a mortal foe in the gaol-fever that was then raging in that noisome den4 ,this was to wrestle in grim earnest1 with ,death himself for an adversary2 and in this wrestling match ,death was the conqueror4 ,charles the ,second was now on the throne4 ,he knew and respected ,edward ,burrough1 and did his best to rescue him4 ,knowing the pestilential and overcrowded state of ,newgate at that time1 the ,merry ,monarch1 to his lasting credit1 sent a royal warrant for the release of ,edward ,burrough and some of the other prisoners1 when he heard of the danger they were in from the foul state of the prison4 ,but this order a certain cruel and persecuting ,alderman1 named ,richard ,brown1 and some magistrates of the ,city of ,london contrived to thwart4 ,the prisoners remained in the gaol4 ,edward ,burrough caught the fever1 and grew rapidly worse4 ,on his death-bed he said1 ',lord1 forgive ,richard ,brown1 who imprisoned me1 if he may be forgiven4' ,later on he said1 ',i have served my ,god in my generation1 and that ,spirit1 which has lived and ruled in me shall yet break forth in thousands4' ',the morning before he departed his life 444 he said1 ,now my soul and spirit is centred into its own being with ,god2 and this form of person must return from whence it was taken4444' ,a few moments later1 in crowded ,newgate1 he peacefully fell asleep4 ',this was the exit of ,e4 ,burrough1 who in his flourishing youth1 about the age of eight and twenty1 in an unmarried state1 changed this mortal life for an incorruptible1 and whose youthful summer flower was cut down in the winter season1 after he had very zealously preached the gospel about ten years4'#bg ,francis ,howgill1 now left desolate and alone1 poured forth a touching lament for his vanished 'yoke-fellow4' ',it was my lot1' he writes1 'to be his companion and fellow-labourer in the work of the gospel where-unto we were called1 for many years together4 ,and oh6 when ,i consider1 my heart is broken2 how sweetly we walked together for many months and years in which we had perfect knowledge of one another's hearts and perfect unity of spirit4 ,not so much as one cross word or one hard thought of discontent ever rose 7,i believe7 in either of our hearts for ten years together4' ,george ,fox1 no mean fighter himself1 adds this comment3 ',edward ,burrough never turned his back on the ,truth1 nor his back from any out of the ,truth4 ,a valiant warrior1 more than a conqueror1 who hath got the crown through death and sufferings2 who is dead1 but yet liveth amongst us1 and amongst us is alive4' ,but it is from ,francis ,howgill1 who knew him best and loved him most of all1 that we learn the inmost secret of the life of this mighty wrestler1 when he says3 ',,his ,,very ,,strength ,,was ,,bended ,,after ,,god4' ,illustration ,,footnotes3 #ba ,story of ,quakerism1 ,e4,b4 ,emmott4 #bb ,story of ,quakerism1 ,e4,b4 ,emmott4 #bc ,england under the ,stuarts1 ,g4,m4 ,trevelyan4 #bd ,sewel's ,history of the ,quakers4 #be ,i have followed ,thomas ,camm's account of his father's journey with ,edward ,burrough1 and of their meeting with ,john ,audland in the ,midlands1 as given in his book1 ,the ,memory of the ,righteous ,revived4 ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite1 however1 in his ,beginnings of ,quakerism1 thinks it more probable that ,francis ,howgill was ,e4 ,burrough's companion from the ,north1 and that the two friends reached ,london together4 #bf ,sewel's ,history of the ,quakers4 #bg ,sewel's ,history of the ,quakers4 ,,xvii4 ,,little ,,james ,,and ,,his ,,journeys ,o1 how beautiful is the spring in a barren field1 where barrenness and deadness fly away4 ,as the spring comes on1 the winter casts her coat and the summer is nigh4 ,o1 wait to see and read these things within4 ,you that have been as barren and dead and dry without sap2 unto you the ,sun of ,righteousness is risen with healing in his wings and begins to shine in your coasts4444 ,o1 mind the secret sprigs and tender plants4 ,now you are called to dress the garden4 ,let not the weeds and wild plants remain4 ,peevishness is a weed2 anger is a weed2 self-love and self-will are weeds2 pride is a wild plant2 covetousness is a wild plant2 lightness and vanity are wild plants1 and lust is the root of all4 ,and these things have had a room in your gardens1 and have been tall and strong2 and truth1 innocence1 and equity have been left out1 and could not be found1 until the ,sun of ,righteousness arose and searched out that which was lost4 ,therefore1 stand not idle1 but come into the vineyard and work4 ,your work shall be to watch and keep out the fowls1 unclean beasts1 wild bears and subtle foxes4 ,and he that is the ,husbandman will pluck up the wild plants and weeds1 and make defence about the vines4 ,he will tell you what to do4 ,he who is ,father of the vineyard will be nigh you4 ,and what is not clear to you1 wait for the fulfilling4--,,james ,,parnell4 7,epistle to ,friends from prison47 ,,xvii4 ,,little ,,james ,,and ,,his ,,journeys ',be willing that ,self shall suffer for the ,truth1 and not the ,truth for ,self4' ,,james ,,parnell4 ,tramping6 ,tramping6 ,tramping6 ,an endless journey along the white1 dusty highroad it seemed to little ,james4 ,indeed the one hundred and fifty miles that separate ,retford in ,nottinghamshire from ,carlisle in far-off ,cumberland would have been a long distance even for a full-grown man to travel on foot in those far-off1 railroad-less days of #afeb4 ,whereas little ,james1 who had undertaken this journey right across ,england1 was but a boy of sixteen1 delicate and small for his age4 ',ye will never get there1 ,james1' the neighbours cried when he unfolded his plans4 ',to go afoot to ,carlisle6 ,did any one ever hear the like8 ,it would be a wild-goose chase1 even if a man hoped to come to speak with a ,king in his palace at the end of it2 but for thee to go such a journey in order to speak but for a few moments with a man thou dost not know1 and in prison1 it is nothing but a daft notion6 ,what ails thee1 boy8' ,the only answer ,james gave was to knit his brows more firmly together1 and to mutter resolutely to himself1 as he gathered his few belongings into a bundle1 ',i must and ,i will see ,george ,fox6' ,george ,fox6 ,the secret was out4 ,that was the explanation of this fantastic journey4 ,george ,fox1 after gathering a 'great people' up in the ,north1 was now himself kept a close prisoner in ,carlisle ,gaol3 yet he was the magnet attracting this lad1 frail of body but determined of will1 to travel right across ,england for the hope of speaking with him in his prison cell4 99 99 99 99 99 ,let us look back a little and see how this befell4 ,in the stately old church of ,saint ,swithin at ,east ,retford a record shows that ',james1 son of ,thomas ,parnell and ,sarah his wife1 was baptized there on the sixth day of ,september #afcf4' ,james' parents were pious church people4 ,it must have been a proud and thankful day for them when they took their baby son to be christened in the beautiful old font in that church1 where their elder daughter1 ,sarah1 had received her name a few years before4 ,on the font may still be seen the figure of ,saint ,swithin himself1 the patron ,saint of the church4 ,this gentle saint1 whose dying wish had been that he might be buried in no stately building of stone but 'where his grave might be trod by human feet and watered with the raindrops of heaven1' was the guardian the parents chose for their little lad4 ,all through his short life the boy seems to have shared this love of ,nature and of the open air4 ,james' parents were well-to-do people1 and wisely determined to give their only son a good education4 ,they sent him1 therefore1 as soon as he was old enough1 to the ,retford ,grammar ,school1 to be 'trained up in the ,schools of ,literature4' ,james tells us that he was 'as wild as others during the time he was at school1 and that he was perfect in sin and iniquity as any in the town where he lived1 yea and exceeded many in the wickedness of his life1' until something or other happened to sober the wild boy4 ,he does not say what it was4 ,perhaps it may have been the news that reached ,retford during his school days1 that the ,king of ,england had been executed at ,whitehall1 one cold ,january morning4 ,or it may have been something quite different4 ,anyhow1 before he left school1 he was already anxious and troubled about his soul4 ,school days finished1 he sought for help in his difficulties from 'priests and professors4' ,but1 like ,george ,fox1 a few years earlier1 ,james ,parnell got small help from them4 ,some of the priests told him that he was deluded4 ,others1 whose words sounded better1 did not practise what they preached4 ,he says1 they 'preached down with their tongues what they upheld in their lives4' ,therefore he decided1 out of his scanty experience1 that they all were 'hollow ,professors1' and could be of no use to him4 ,a very hasty judgment6 ,but little ,james was tremendously sure of himself at this time1 quite certain that he knew more than most of the people he met1 feeling entirely able to set his neighbours to rights1 and yet with a real wish to learn1 if only he could find a true teacher4 ,he says1 ',i was the first in all that town of ,retford which the ,lord was pleased to make known ,his power in1 and turn my heart towards ,him and truly to seek ,him1 so that ,i became a wonder to the world and an astonishment to the heathen round about4' ,he adds that1 at this time or a little later1 even 'his own relations became his enemies4' ,this is not surprising4 ,a young man of fifteen who described his neighbours and friends as 'the heathen round about' must have been a distinctly trying companion to the aforesaid 'heathen4' ,possibly there was more than one sigh of relief heaved in ,east ,retford when the first of little ,james's journeys began4 ,it was to be only a short one1 to 'a people with whom ,i found union a few miles out of the town where ,i lived4 ,the ,lord was a-gathering them out of the dark world to sit down together and to wait upon ,his name4' ,these people were either a little group of ,friends already gathered at ,balby1 or they may have been ',seekers' meeting together here in ,nottinghamshire1 as they did in the ,north1 at ,sedbergh and ,preston ,patrick and many another place1 'not celebrating ,baptism or the ,holy ,communion1' but 'waiting together in silence to be instruments in the hand of the ,lord4' ,truly helpful 'instruments' they proved to little ,james1 for they sent him straight on to ,nottingham1 where a company of ',children of ,light' was already gathered1 to worship ,god4 ',children of ,light' is the first1 and the most beautiful1 name given to the ,society of ,friends in ,england4 ,when these ,nottingham ,friends saw the vehement1 impulsive boy1 his thin frame trembling1 his eyes glowing1 as he poured forth his difficulties1 naturally their thoughts went back to the other lad who had also passed through severe soul struggles in this same neighbourhood1 some ten or twelve years earlier4 ,they all said to him1 one after the other1 ',james ,parnell1 thou must see ,george ,fox4' ',george ,fox6' cried little ,james eagerly1 ',i have never even heard his name4 ,who is he8 ,where is he8 ,i will go and find him this very moment1 if he can help me4' ,at these words1 all the ,nottingham ,friends shook their heads very solemnly and sadly and said1 ',that is impossible1 ,james1 for our ,friend languisheth in ,carlisle ,gaol4 ,but we can tell thee of him4' ,then one after another they recounted the well-known story of ,george ,fox's boyhood1 of his difficulties1 of his seeking1 of his finding1 and lastly of his preaching1 when the ,power of ,god shone through him as he spoke1 and melted men's hearts till they became as wax4 ,james1 drinking in every word1 exclaimed breathlessly as soon as the story was finished1 ',that is the man for me4 ,i will set out for ,carlisle this very minute to find him6' ,of course all the ,friends were aghast at the effect of their words4 ,they declared that he really couldn't and really shouldn't1 that it was out of the question1 and that he must do nothing of the kind6 ,they did their very best to stop him4 ,but little ,james 7who1 as we know1 was not in the habit of paying over-much attention to other people's opinions at any time7 treated all these remonstrances as if they had been thistledown4 ,he swung his small bundle at the end of a short stick over his shoulder1 tightened his belt1 tore himself from their restraining hands1 and exclaiming1 ',farewell1 ,friends1 ,i go to find ,george ,fox1' off he set on the long1 long journey to ,carlisle4 ,his spirit was aflame with desire to meet his unknown friend4 ,the miles seemed few and short that separated him from his goal4 ,but doubtless some of the women among the ',children of ,light' wiped their eyes as they watched the fiery little figure disappear along the dusty road1 and said1 ',truly that lad hath a valiant heart6' ,thus1 in a burning fury of desire1 the journey began4 ,after many weary days of travel the flame still burned unquenchably1 although the boy's figure looked yet leaner and more under-sized than when he left his home4 ,tramp1 tramp1 tramp1 on and ever on1 till at last the long-desired day came1 when1 over the crest of a low hill1 he made out for the first time the distant spire and towers of the fair ,border city4 ,the river ,eden in the meadows below lay gleaming in the sunshine like a silver bow4 ,threadbare and very dusty were his clothes1 his feet swollen and sore1 but his chin was pressed well forward1 and the light in his eyes was that of a conqueror1 when at last1 tramp1 tramp1 tramp1 his tired feet came pattering up the stones of the steep old bridge that spans the ,eden and leads to ,carlisle ,town4 ',which is the prison8' ,james asked himself1 as his eyes scanned a bewildering maze of towers and roofs4 ,the tall leaden spire of the ,cathedral was unmistakable1 'no prisoners there4' ,next he made out the big square fortress of sandstone1 red as ,red ,william the ,norman who built it long ago1 on its central mound frowning over the town4 ,his unknown friend might very possibly be within those walls4 ,james quickened his tired steps at the thought1 and then stopped short1 for the gates of the bridge were shut4 ,droves of sheep and oxen on their way to market filled the entry1 and all foot passengers must wait4 ,james threw himself down1 full length1 on one of the broad stone parapets of the bridge to rest his tired limbs until the way should be clear again4 ,two men were seated in a stone recess below him1 also waiting to pass4 ,at first ,james noticed only the dress they wore2 their tall hats and sombre clothes marked them out as ,baptists2 the younger man a deacon probably1 and the elder a pastor4 ,presently ,james began to listen to their conversation4 ',it is well he is safe in the ,castle1' said the younger man1 'most pernicious ,quaker doctrine did he deliver that ,sabbath day in answer to our questions in the ,abbey4' ',pernicious ,quaker doctrine6' ,james pricked up his ears at the words4 ,he settled himself comfortably to listen1 without any scruples1 seeing that the speakers were in a public place1 and besides1 the entrance to the bridge was by this time so packed with people that he could hardly have moved off the parapet had he wished4 ,the older man shook his head4 ',i thought ,i had hewed him in pieces before the ,lord1' he said in a low voice1 'for no sooner was he silent than ,i asked him if he knew what he spake1 and what it was should be damned at the last day4 ,whereat he did but fix his eyes upon me and said that it was that which spoke in me which should be damned4 ,even as he spoke my old notions of religion glittered and fell off me1 for ,i knew that through him whom ,i despised as a wandering ,quaker ,i was listening to the ,voice of ,god4 ,he went on to upbraid me as a flashy notionist and yet1 even so1 ,i was constrained to listen to him in silence4' ,the pastor's voice had sunk very low3 ,james could hardly catch the last words4 ',aye1 no wonder1' rejoined the younger man1 'with those eyes he seemeth to pierce the fleshly veil and to read the secrets of a man's inmost heart4 ,i1 too1 experienced this1 the following market day1 he being then come to the market cross a-publishing of truth as he and his followers term it1 in their quaking jargon4 ,the magistrates1 godly men1 had sent the sergeants commanding them to stop his mouth4 ,moreover1 they had sent their wives as well1 and even the sergeants were less bitter against him than the women4 ,for they declared that if the ,quaker dared to defile the noble market cross of ,carlisle city by preaching there1 they themselves would pluck off the hair from his head1 while the sergeants should clap him into gaol4 ,nevertheless the ,quaker would not be stopped4 ,preach he did1 standing forth boldly on the high step of the cross4' ',and what said he8' enquired the older man4 ',right forcibly he declared judgment on all the market folk for their deceitful ways4 ,he spoke to the merchants as if he were a merchant himself1 beseeching them to lay aside their false weights and measures and deceitful merchandize1 with all cozening and cheating1 and to speak truth only to one another4 ,ever as he spoke1 the people flocked closer around him1 hanging on his words as if he were reading their secret hearts1 so that the sergeants could not come nigh him for the press to lead him away4 ,thus only when he had finished he stepped down from the cross and would have passed gently away1 but ,i and some of the brethren1 thinking that now our turn had come1 followed after him4 ,the contention between us was sharp4 ,yet his words struck into me like knives1 and scarce knowing what ,i did1 ,i cried out aloud1 for a strange power was over me4 ,thereat he fixed his eyes upon me and spake sharply to me1 as if he knew that ,i was resisting the ,spirit of the ,lord4 ,i know not why1 but ,i was forced to cry out again1 ,do not pierce me so with thine eyes4 ,keep thine eyes off me4' ',well1' questioned the elder man1 'and what followed8 ,did his eyes leave thee8' ',they have never left me1' replied the other4 ',wherever ,i go those eyes burn me yet1 although the man himself lies fast in gaol among the thieves and murderers1 in the worst and most loathsome of the dungeons4 ,thither ,i go every day to assure myself that he is fast caged behind thick walls1 and to rejoice my eyes with the sight of the gibbet nailed high over-head upon the castle wall4 ,men say he shall swing there soon1 but of that ,i know not4 ,wilt thou come with me now1 for see1 the bridge is free8' ',not ,i1' returned the pastor1 moodily1 as he shuffled away1 like a man ill at ease with himself4 ,little ,james1 from his perch on the parapet1 had drunk in greedily every word of this conversation4 ,directly the bridge was clear he crept down and followed the deacon like a shadow4 ,they passed over the silver ,eden and up the main street of the city1 paved with rough1 uneven stones1 and with an open sewer flowing through the centre of it4 ,right across the busy market-place they passed1 before the deacon halted beneath the castle walls4 ,full of noise and hubbub was ,carlisle city that day2 yet1 as the two entered the courtyard of the castle1 ,james was aware of another sound1 rising clear above the tumult of the town--strains of music1 surely1 that came from a fiddle4 ,as they stepped under the inner gateway and approached the ,norman ,keep1 the fiddler himself came in sight playing with might and main1 under a barred window about six feet from the ground4 ,by the fiddler's side1 urging him on1 was a huge1 burly man with a red face4 ,whenever the fiddler showed signs of weariness the man beside him raising a large tankard of ale to his lips would force him to drink of it1 saying1 ',play up1 man6 ,play up6' ,the thin1 clear strains of the fiddle rose up steadily towards the barred window1 but1 above them1 ,james caught another sound that floated yet more steadily out through the bars3 the firm1 full tones of a deep bass voice within1 singing loud and strong4 ,though he could not see the singer1 something in the song thrilled ,james through and through4 ,forgetting his weariness he knew that he was near his journey's end at last4 ,as he listened1 he noticed a handful of people1 listening also1 under the barred window4 ,loud jeers arose3 ',play up1 ,fiddler6' ',sing on1 ,quaker6' or even1 ',ply him with more ale1 ,gaoler3 the prisoner is the better musician6' ,at these cries the fat man's countenance grew ever more enraged4 ,he looked savage and huge1 'like a bear-ward1' a man more accustomed to deal with bears than with human beings4 ,finally1 in his wrath1 he turned the now empty tankard upon the crowd and bespattered them with the last drops of the ale1 and then called lustily for more1 with which he plied the fiddler anew4 ,so the contest continued1 but at last1 the ale perhaps taking effect1 the fiddler's head dropped1 his bow swept the strings more wearily1 while the strong notes inside the dungeon grew ever more firm and loud4 ,the gaoler seeing1 or rather hearing1 himself worsted1 caught the bow from the fiddler's hand and cracked it over his skull4 ,the fiddler1 seizing this chance to escape1 leapt to his feet and dashed across the courtyard1 followed by the gaoler and the populace in full chase4 ,even the sombre ,baptist deacon gathered up the skirts of his long coat and bestirred his lean legs4 ,the singing ceased4 ,a face appeared at the window3 only for an instant3 but one glance was enough for ,james4 ,timidly he approached the window1 but he had only taken two steps towards it when he found himself firmly elbowed off the pavement and pushed into the gutter4 ,someone else also had been watching for the crowd to disperse1 in order to have a chance of speaking with the prisoner4 ,the new-comer was a portly lady in a satin gown1 a much grander person than ,james had expected to find in the near neighbourhood of a dungeon4 ,she carried a large1 covered basket1 and1 as soon as the way was clear1 she set it down on the pavement and began to take out the contents carefully3 bread and salt1 beef and elecampane ale4 ,without looking up from her work she called to the unseen figure at the window above her head3 ',so thou hast stopped their vain sounds at length with thy singing8' ',aye1' answered the deep voice from within4 ',thou mayest safely approach the window now1 for the gaoler hath departed4 ,after he had beaten thee and the other ,friends with his great cudgel1 next he was moved to beat me also1 through the window1 did ,i but come near to it to get my meat4 ,and as he struck me ,i was moved to sing in the ,lord's power1 and that made him rage the more1 whereat he fetched the fiddler1 saying he would soon drown my noise if ,i would not cease4' ',eat now1 ,dear ,heart1' the woman interrupted1 'whilst thou hast the chance4' ,so saying1 she handed some of the dishes up to the prisoner1 standing herself on tiptoe beneath the prison window in order to reach his hand stretched out through the bars4 ,here ,james saw his chance4 ',madam1' he cried1 'let me hand the meat up to you4' ,the lady looked down and saw the worn1 thin face4 ,perhaps she thought the boy looked hungry enough to need the food himself1 but something in his eager glance touched her1 and when he added1 ',for ,i have come one hundred and fifty miles to see ,,george ,,fox1' her kind heart was won4 ',nay1 then1 thou hast a better right to help him even than ,i1' she said1 'though ,i am his very good friend and ,colonel ,benson's wife4 ,thou shall hand up the dishes to me1 and when our friend is satisfied1 thou and ,i will finish what remains1 for in the ,lord's power ,i am moved to eat no meat at my own house1 but to share all my sustenance with ,his faithful servant who lies within this noisome gaol4' ',madam1' said the boy1 speaking with the concentrated intensity of weeks of suppressed longing1 'for the food1 it is no matter1 though ,i am much beholden to you4 ,i hunger after but one thing4 ,bring me within the gaol where ,i may speak with him face to face4 ,there is that1 that ,i have come afoot a hundred miles to ask him4 ',bring me to him1 speedily ,i pray you1 for1 though even unseen ,i love him1 ',i ,,must ,,see ,,george ,,fox4' ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,first ,,quaker ,,martyr 7,from another point of view47 ,extracts from the ,diary of the ,rev4 ,ralph ,josselin1 ,vicar of ,earls ,colne1 ,essex4 #afee4--',preacht at ,gaines ,coln1 the ,quakers' nest1 but no disturbance4 ,god hath raised up my heart not to fear but willing to bear and to make opposition to their ways1 in defence of truth4' ,ap4 #aa1 #afef4--';,heard this morning that ,james ,parnell1 the father of the ,quakers in these parts1 having undertaken to fast forty days and forty nights was in the morning found dead4 ,he was by jury found guilty of his own death and buried in the ,castle yard4' ',heard and true that ,turner's daughter was distract in the ,quaking business4' ',sad are the fits at ,coxall1 like the pow-wowing among the ,indians4' #affj4--',the ,quakers1 after a stop and a silence1 seem to be swarming and increased1 and why1 ,lord thou only knowest6' ',so there is no obtaining of ,life but through ,death1 nor no obtaining the ,crown but through the ,cross4'--,,james ,,parnell4 ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,first ,,quaker ,,martyr ,how ,mrs4 ,benson managed it1 there is no record4 ,perhaps she hardly knew herself6 ,but she was not a woman to be easily turned aside from her purpose1 and her husband1 ,colonel ,gervase ,benson1 had been one of the 'considerable people' in the ,county before he had turned ,quaker and 'downed those things4' ,even after the change1 it may be that prison doors were more easily unlocked by certain little golden and silver keys in those days1 than they are in our own4 ,anyway1 somehow or other1 the interview was arranged4 ',little ,james' found his desire fulfilled at last4 ,when he passed into the stifling1 crowded prison den1 where human beings were herded together like beasts1 he never heeded the horrible stench or the crawling vermin that abounded everywhere4 ,rather1 he felt as if he were entering the palace of a king4 ,he paid no attention to the crowd of savage figures all around him4 ,he saw nothing1 knew nothing1 felt nothing1 until at last he found that his hand was lying in the grasp of a stronger1 firmer hand1 that held it1 and would not let it go4 ,then1 indeed1 for the first time he looked up1 and knew that his long journey was ended1 as he met the penetrating gaze of ,george ,fox4 ',keep thine eyes off me1 they pierce me1' the ,baptist ,deacon had cried1 a few weeks before1 in that same city4 ,as ,james looked up1 he too felt for the first time the piercing power of those eyes1 but to him it brought no terror1 only joy1 as he yielded himself wholly to his teacher's scrutiny4 ,in silence the two stood1 reading each the other's soul4 ,james felt1 instinctively1 that his new friend knew and understood everything that had happened to him1 all his life long2 that there was no need to tell him anything1 or to explain anything4 ,of an older friendship between two men it was written1 ',thy love to me was wonderful1 passing the love of women4' ,thus it proved once more in that crowded dungeon4 ,no details remain of the interview2 no record of what ,james said1 or what ,george said4 ,no one else could have reported what passed between them1 and1 though each of them has left a mention of their first meeting1 the silence remains unbroken4 ,the ,journal says merely3 ',while ,i was in ye dungeon at ,carlisle1 a little boy1 one ,james ,parnell1 about fifteen years old1 came to me1 and he was convinced and came to be a very fine minister and turned many to ,christ4' ,the boy's own account is shorter still4 ,he does not even mention ,george ,fox by name4 ',i was called for1' he says1 'to visit some friends in the ,north part of ,england1 with whom ,i had union before ,i saw their faces1 and afterwards ,i returned to my outward dwelling-place4' ,his 'outward dwelling-place'3 the lad's frail body might tramp back along the weary miles to ,retford2 his spirit remained in the ,north1 freely imprisoned with his friend4 ',george' and ',james' were brothers in heart1 ever after that short interview in ,carlisle ,gaol3 united in one inseparable purpose4 ,while ,george was confined1 ,james1 the free brother1 must carry forward ,george's work4 ,triumphantly he did it4 ,by the following year he had earned his place right well among the ',valiant ,sixty' who were then sent forth1 ',east and ,west and ,south and ,north1' to ',publish ,truth4' ,the ,eastern ,counties1 hitherto almost unbroken ground1 fell to ,james's share4 ,assisted by two other ',valiants1' ,richard ,hubberthorne and ,george ,whitehead1 the seed was scattered throughout the length and breadth of ,east ,anglia4 ,within three short years 'gallant ,meetings' were already gathered and settled everywhere4 ,james ,parnell was the first ,quaker preacher to enter the city of ,colchester1 which was soon to rank third among the strongholds of ,quakerism4 ,this boy of eighteen1 still so small and delicate in appearance that his enemies taunted him with the name of 'little ,quaking lad1' has left an account of one of his first crowded days of work in that city4 ,in the morning1 he says1 he received any of the townspeople who were minded to come and ask him questions at his lodgings4 ,he was a guest1 at the time1 of a weaver named ,thomas ,shortland1 who1 with his wife ,ann1 had been convinced shortly before1 by their guest's ministry4 ,in adversity also they were soon to prove themselves tried and faithful friends4 ,later1 that same ,sunday morning 7#dth ,july #afee71 ,james went down the ,high ,street to ,saint ,nicholas' ,church1 and1 when the sermon was ended1 preached to the people in his turn4 ,in the afternoon 'he addressed a very great meeting of about a thousand people1 in ,john ,furly's yard1 he being mounted above the crowd and speaking out of a hay-chamber window4' ,still later1 that same day1 he not only carried on a discussion with 'the town-lecturer and another priest1' he1 the boy of eighteen1 but also 'appeared in the evening at a previously advertised meeting held in the schoolroom for the children of the ,french and ,flemish weaver refugees in ,colchester1 who were being at this time hospitably entertained in ,john ,furly's house4'#bh ,george ,fox says1 'many hundreds of people were convinced by the words and labours of this young minister4' ,but1 far better than preaching to other people1 he had by this time learned to rule his own spirit4 ,once1 as he was coming out of the ',steeple-house of ,colchester1 called ,nicholas1' one person in particular struck him with a great staff and said to him1 ',take that for ,jesus ,christ's sake1' to whom ,james ,parnell meekly replied1 ',friend1 ,i do receive it for ,jesus ,christ's sake4' ,the journey his soul had travelled from the time1 only three short years before1 when he had described his neighbours as 'the heathen round about1' until the day that he could give such an answer was perhaps a longer one really than all the weary miles he had traversed between ,retford and far ,carlisle4 ,the two friends1 ,george and ,james1 had one short happy time of service together1 both of them free4 ,after that they parted4 ,then1 all too soon it was ,george's turn to visit ,james1 now himself in prison at ,colchester ,castle1 an even more terrible prison than ,carlisle1 where only death could open the doors and set the weary prisoner free4 ,george's record of his visit to his friend is short and grim4 ',as ,i went through ,colchester1' he says1 ',i went to visit ,james ,parnell in prison1 but the cruel gaoler would hardly let us come in or stay with him1 and there the gaoler's wife threatened to have his blood1 and there they did destroy him4' ,an account1 written by his ,colchester friends1 expands the terrible1 glorious tale of his sufferings4 ',the first ,messenger of the ,lord that appeared in this town to sound the everlasting ,gospel was that eminent ,minister and ,labourer1 ,james ,parnell1 whose first coming to ye town was in ye fourth month 7,june7 in the year #afee4444 ,great were the sufferings which this faithful minister of the ,lord underwent1 being beat and abused by many4 ',as touching the cause of his sufferings in this his last imprisonment unto death1 which was the fruits of a fast kept at ,great ,coggeshall against error 7as they said71 the #abth day of the fifth month #afee1 where he spoke some words when the priests had done speaking2 and when he was gone out of the high place one followed him1 called ,justice ,wakering1 and clapt him on the back and said he arrested him4 ,and so1 by the means of divers ,independent priests and others1 he was committed to this prison at ,colchester4 ,and in that prison he was kept close up1 and his friends and acquaintance denied to come at him4 ,then at the ,assizes he was carried to ,chelmsford1 about eighteen miles through the country1 as a sport or gazing-stock1 locked on a chain with five accused for felony and murder1 and he with three others remained on the chain day and night4 ,but when he appeared at the ,bar1 he was taken off the chain1 only had irons on his hands1 where he appeared before ,judge ,hill 444 the first time4 ,but seeing some cried out against this cruelty1 and what shame it would be to let the irons be seen on him1 the next day they took them off1 and he appeared without1 where the priests and justices were the accusers4 ,and the judge gathered what he could out of what they said1 to make what he could against the prisoner to the jury1 and urged them to find him guilty1 lest it fall upon their own heads4444 ,and when he would have spoken truth for himself to inform the jury1 the judge would not permit him thereto4 ,so the judge fined him about twice twenty marks1 or forty pounds1 and said the ,lord ,protector had charged him to see to punish such persons as should contemn either ,magistracy or ,ministry4 ,so he committed him close prisoner till payment1 and gave the jailor charge to let no giddy-headed people come at him2 for his friends and those that would have done him good were called giddy-headed people1 and so kept out2 and such as would abuse him by scorning or beating1 those they let in and set them on4 ,and the jailor's wife would set her man to beat him1 who threatened to knock him down and make him shake his heels1 yea1 the jailor's wife did beat him divers times1 and swore she would have his blood1 or he should have hers4 ,to which he answered1 ,woman1 ,i would not have thine4'#bi ,one of ,james' own letters remains written about this time3 ',the day ,i came in from the ,assize1' he says1 'there was a friend or two with me in the jaylor's house1 and the jaylor's wife sent her man to call me from them and to put me into a yard1 and would not suffer my friends to come at me4 ,and one friend brought me water1 and they would not suffer her to come to me1 but made her carry it back again4' ,the name of this woman ,friend is not given in this letter1 but ,i daresay we shall not be far wrong if we fill it in for ourselves here1 and think of her as the same ,anne ,langley1 who would not be kept out of the prison later on4 ,other people mention her by name4 ,it is only in little ,james' own account that her name does not appear4 ,perhaps the tie that bound them was something more than friendship1 and he did not wish her to suffer for her love and faith4 ,james' letter continues3 ',at night they locked me up into a hole with a condemned man 444 and the same day a friend desired the jaylor's wife that she would let her come and speak with me1 and the jaylor's wife answered her and the other friends who were with her1 calling them ,rogues1 witches 444 and the devil's dish washers 444 and other names1 and saying that they had skipped out of hell when the devil was asleep6 and much more of the same unchristian-like speeches which is too tedious to relate4444 ,and thus they make a prey upon the innocent2 and when they do let any come to me they would not let them stay but very little1' 7,poor ,james6 the visits were all too short1 and the lonely hours alone all too long for the prisoner7 'and the jaylor's wife would threaten to pull them down the stairs4444 ,and swore that she would have my blood several times1 and told my friends so1 and that she would mark my face1 calling me witch and rogue1 shake hell 444 and the like2 and because ,i did reprove her for her wickedness1 the jaylor hath given order that none shall come to me at any occasion1 but only one or two that brings my food4' ,even this small mercy was not to be allowed much longer4 ,the account of the ,colchester ,friend continues3 ',and sometimes they would stop any from bringing him victuals1 and set the prisoners to take his victuals from him2 and when he would have had a trundle bed to have kept him off the stones1 they would not suffer friends to bring him one1 but forced him to lie on the stones1 which sometimes would run down with water in a wet season4 ,and when he was in a room for which he paid #d;d4 a night1 he was threatened1 if he did but walk to and fro in it1 by the jaylor's wife4 ,then they put him in a hole in the wall1 very high1 where the ladder was too short by about six foot1 and when friends would have given him a cord and basket to have taken up his victuals1 he was denied thereof and could not be suffered to have it1 though it was much desired1 but he must either come up and down by that rope1 or else famish in the hole1 which he did a long time1 before ,god suffered them to see their desires in which time much means was used about it1 but their wills were unalterably set in cruelty towards him4 ,but after long suffering in this hole1 where there was nought but misery as to the outward man1 being no hole either for air or for smoke1 being much benumbed in the naturals1 as he was climbing up the ladder with his victuals in one hand1 and coming to the top of the ladder1 catching at the rope with the other hand1 missed the rope1 and fell a very great height upon stones1 by which fall he was exceedingly wounded in the head and arms1 and his body much bruised1 and taken up for dead1 but did recover again that time4 ',then they put him in a low hole called the oven1 and much like an oven1 and some have said who have been in it that they have seen a baker's oven much bigger1 except for the height of the roof1 without the least airhole or window for smoke and air1 nor would they suffer him to have a little charcoal brought in by friends to prevent the noisome smoke4 ,nor would they suffer him1 after he was a little recovered1 to take a little air upon the castle wall1 which was but once desired by the prisoner1 feeling himself spent for want of breath4 ,all which he bore with much patience and still kept his suffering much from friends there1 seeing they was much sorrowful to see it4 ,yea1 others who were no friends were wounded at the sight of his usage in many other particulars1 which we forbear here to mention4 ',and divers came to see him1 who heard of his usage from far1 not being friends1 had liberty to see him1 who was astonished at his usage1 and some of them would say ,,if ,,this ,,be ,,the ,,usage ,,of ,,the ,,protector',s ,,prisoners ,,it ,,were ,,better ,,to ,,be ,,anybody',s ,,prisoners ,,than ,,his1 as ,justice ,barrington's daughter said1 who saw their cruelty to him4 ,and many who came to see him were moved with pity to the creature1 for his sufferings were great4' ',and although some did offer of their bond of forty pounds to pay the fine and so set him at liberty and one to lie body for body1 that he might come to their house till he was a little recovered1 yet they would not permit it1 and it being desired that he might but walk in the yard1 it was answered he should not walk so much as to the castle door4 ,and the door being once opened1 he did but take the freedom to walk forth in a close1 stinking yard before the door1 and the gaoler came in a rage and locked up the hole where he lay1 and shut him out in the yard all night in the coldest time of the winter4 ,so1 finding that nothing but his blood would satisfy them1 great application was made to them in a superior authority but to no purpose4 ,thus he having endured about ten months' imprisonment1 and having passed through many trials and exercises1 which the ,lord enabled him to bear with courage and faithfulness1 he laid down his head in peace and died a prisoner and faithful ,martyr for the sake of the ,truth1 under the hands of a persecuting generation in the year #afef4'cj ,it was his former host1 ,thomas ,shortland the weaver1 who had offered to lie 'body for body' in prison1 if only ,james might be allowed to return to his house and be nursed back to health again there4 ,after the boy's death this kind man wrote as follows3 ',dear ,friend--,in answer to thine1 is this1 ,james ,parnell being dead1 the ,coroner sent an officer for me1 and one ,anne ,langley1 a friend1 who both of us watched with him that night that he departed4 ,and coming to him the ,coroner he said1 that it was usual when any died in prison1 to have a jury got on them1 and ,james being dead1 and he hearing we two watched with him1 he sent for us to hear what we could say concerning his death1 whether he died on his fair death i4e4 a natural death or whether he were guilty of his own death4444 ,he asked whether he had his senses and how he behaved himself late-ward toward his departure4 ,i answered that he had his senses and that he spake sensibly1 and to as good understanding as he used to do4 ,he then enquired what words he spoke4 ,to which ,anne ,langley answered that she heard him say1 ,,here ,i ,,die ,,innocently1 and she said that she had been at the departing of many1 but never was where was such sweet departing2 and at his departing his last words were1 ,,now ,i ,,must ,,go1 and turned his head to me and said1 ,,thomas1 ,,this ,,death ,i ,,must ,,die1 and further said1 ,o ,,thomas1 ,i ,,have ,,seen ,,great ,,things1 and bade me that ,i should not hold him1 but let him go1 and said it over again1 ,,will ,,you ,,not ,,hold ,,me8 ,and then said ,anne1 ,dear ,heart1 we will not hold thee4 ,and he said1 ,,now ,i ,,go1 and stretched out himself1 and fell into a sweet sleep and slept about an hour 7as he often said1 that one hour's sleep would cure him of all71 and so drew breath no more4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,little ,james was free at last4 ,he had left his frail1 weary body behind and had departed on the longest1 shortest journey of all4 ,a journey this1 ending in no noisome den in ,carlisle ,castle1 as when he first saw the earthly teacher he had loved so long1 but leading straight and swift to the heavenly abiding-places3 to the welcome of his unseen yet ,everlasting ,friend4 ',how know ,i that it looms lovely1 that land ,i have never seen1 ,with morning-glory and heartsease1 and unexampled green8 ,all souls singing1 seeing1 rejoicing everywhere1 ,yea1 much more than this ,i know1 for ,i know that ,christ is there4'#ca ,,footnotes3 #bh ,james ,parnell1 by ,c4 ,fell ,smith4 #bi ',lamb's ,defence against ,lyes4' #cj ,first ,publishers of ,truth4 #ca ,christina ,rossetti4 ,,xix4 ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,reading ,,meeting ',and all must be meeke1 sober and jentell and quiet and loving1 and not give one another bad word noe time in the skouell1 nor out of it 444 all is to mind their lessons and be digelent in their rightings1 and to lay up their boukes when they go from the skouell and ther pens and inkonerns and to keep them sow1 else they must be louk'd upon as carles and slovenes2 and soe you must keep all things clean1 suet and neat and hanson4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ,advice to ,schoolmasters4 ',dear and tender little ,babes1 as well as strong men1 444 let not anything straiten you1 when ,god moves3 ,and thou1 faithful ,babe1 though thou stutter and stammer forth a few words in the dread of the ,lord1 they are accepted1 and all that are strong1 serve the weak in strengthening them and wait in wisdom to give place to the motion of the ,spirit in them1 that it may have time to bring forth what ,god hath given 444 that 444 you maybe a well spring of ,life to one another in the power of the endless love of ,god4'--,w4 ,,dewsbury4 ',when the ,justices threatened ,friend ,john ,boult and told him that he and other ,reading ,friends should be sent to prison1 he replied3 ,that's the weakest thing thou canst do4 ,if thou canst convince me of anything that is evil1 ,i will hear thee and let the prisons alone4'--,w4,c4 ,,braithwaite4 ,,xix4 ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,reading ,,meeting ,it was a most uncomfortable ,first ,day morning4 ,the children looked at each other and wondered what would happen next1 as they stood in the small bedroom under the thatched roof4 ,dorcas1 the eldest1 already half dressed1 held ,baby ,stephen in her arms2 but the twins1 ,tryphena and ,tryphosa1 were running about the floor with bare feet and only their petticoats on1 strings and tapes all flying loose4 ,baby was crying1 whilst the ,twins shouted with mischievous glee4 ,something must be done4 ,so ,dorcas seated herself in a big chair and tried to dress ,baby4 ,but ,baby was hungry4 ,he wanted his breakfast and he did not at all want to be dressed6 ,oh1 if only ,mother was here6 ,where was ,mother all this long time8 ,had she and ,father really been taken to prison8 ,dorcas felt heart-sick at the thought4 ,happily the ,twins and ,baby were too little to understand4 ,she herself was nearly ten and therefore almost grown up4 ,she understood now all about it quite well4 ,this was what ,mother had meant when she bent down to kiss her little girl in bed last night1 saying that she was going out to a ,meeting at ,friend ,curtis' house1 hoping to be back in an hour or two4 ',but if not'--here ,dorcas remembered that ,mother's eyes had filled with tears4 ,she had left the sentence unfinished1 adding only3 ',anyway1 ,i know ,i can trust thee1 ,dorcas1 to be a little mother to the little ones while ,i am away4' ',but if not4444' ,dorcas had been too sleepy last night to think what the words meant1 or to keep awake until ,mother's return4 ,it seemed as if she had only just closed her eyes for a minute or two2 and yet1 when she opened them again1 the bright morning sunlight was filling the room4 ',but if not4444' ,after all1 there had been no need for ,mother to finish the sentence4 ,now that ,dorcas was wide awake she could complete it for herself only too well4 ,for ,dorcas knew that at any moment a ,meeting of five or more persons who met to practise a form of worship not authorized by law might be rudely interrupted by the constables1 and all the ,friends who were sitting in silence together dragged off to prison for disobeying the ,quaker ,act4 ,since that ,act had been passed in this same month of ,may #affb1 ,quaker children understood that this might happen at any moment1 but of course each child hoped that it would not happen just yet1 or at least not to his own ,father and ,mother4 ,but now apparently it had happened here in peaceful ,reading beside the broad ,thames4 ,last night's ,meeting had been fixed at an unusually late hour4 ,for1 as the late ,spring evenings were lengthening1 the ,reading ,quakers had wished to take advantage of the long ,may twilight to gather together and meet with a ,friend1 one of the ,valiant ,sixty1 who had come in for a few hours unexpectedly on his way to ,london4 ,so the children had fallen asleep as usual1 fully expecting to find their parents beside them when they woke4 ,but now the empty places and the unslept-in beds told their own tale4 ',be a mother to the little ones1 ,dorcas1' ,mother had said4 ,well1 ,dorcas was trying her very best1 but it was not easy4 ,baby had many strings to tie and many buttons to fasten1 and just as she was getting the very last button safely into its button-hole the ,twins came running up to say that they had got into each other's clothes by mistake and could not get out of them again4 ,this was serious2 for though ,phenie's frock was only a little too big for ,phosie1 ,phosie's frock was much too small for ,phenie4 ,dorcas was obliged to put ,baby down to attend to them2 but this reminded ,baby that he had still not been provided with his much-desired breakfast1 whereupon he began to howl1 till ,dorcas took him up in her arms again1 and dandled him as ,mother did4 ,this made him crow for happiness1 just as he did when ,mother took him1 so for a few minutes ,dorcas was happy too1 till she saw that the ,twins were now beginning to squabble again1 and to tear out each other's hair with the comb4 ,at that unlucky moment up came brother ,peter's big voice calling from below1 ',dorcas1 ,dorcas1 what are you all doing up there8 ,why is not breakfast ready8 ,i have milked the cow for you4 ,you must come down this very minute2 ,i am starving6' ,it was an uncomfortable morning2 and the worst of it was that it was ,first ,day morning too4 ,dorcas had not known before that a ,first ,day morning could be uncomfortable4 ,usually ,first ,day was the happiest day in the whole week4 ,mother's hands were so gentle that1 though the children had been taught to help themselves as soon as they were old enough1 still ,mother always seemed to know just when there was an unruly button that needed a little coaxing to help it to find its hole1 or a string that wanted to get into a knot that ought to be persuaded to tie itself into a bow4 ,then breakfast was always a pleasant meal1 with the big blue bowls full of milk1 warm from the cow1 set out on the wooden table1 and ,father sitting at one end raising his hand as he said a silent ,grace4 ,father never said any words at these times4 ,but he bent his head as if he were thanking ,someone he loved very much1 ,someone close beside him1 for giving him the milk and bread to give to the children and for making him very happy4 ,so the children felt happy too4 ,dorcas thought that the brown bread always tasted especially good on ,first ,day morning1 because ,father was at the head of the table to cut it and hand it to them himself4 ,on other1 week-day1 mornings he had to go off much earlier1 ploughing1 or reaping1 or gathering in the ripe corn from the harvest-fields behind the farm4 ,also1 ,peter never teased the little ones when ,father was there4 ,but to-day if there were no breakfast1 7and where was breakfast to come from87 ,peter would be dreadfully cross4 ,yet how could ,dorcas go and get breakfast for ,peter when the three little ones were all wanting her help at once8 ',i'm coming1 ,peter1 as fast as ever ,i can1' she called back1 in answer to a second yet more peremptory summons4 ,but1 oh6 how glad she was to hear a gentle knock at the door of the thatched cottage a minute or two later4 ',come in6 come in6' she heard ,peter saying joyfully as he opened the door1 and then came the sound of light footsteps on the wooden stairs4 ,another minute1 and the bedroom door opened gently1 and a sunshiny face looked into the children's untidy room4 ',why1 it is thee1 ,hester6' ,dorcas exclaimed1 with a cry of joy4 ',oh1 ,i am glad to see thee6 ,and how glad ,mother would be to know thou wert here4' ,the girl who entered was both taller and older than ,dorcas4 ,she was a well-loved playfellow evidently1 for ,tryphena and ,tryphosa toddled towards her across the room at once1 to be caught up in her arms and kissed4 ',of course1 it is ,i1 ,dorcas1' she answered promptly4 ',who else should it be8 ,prudence and ,i determined that we would come over and try to help thee as soon as we could4 ,we brought a basket of provisions too1 in case you were short4 ,prudence is helping ,peter to set out breakfast in the kitchen now1 so we must hasten4' ,life often becomes easy when you are two1 however difficult it may have been when you were only one6 ,with ,hester to help1 the dressing was finished at lightning speed4 ,yet1 when the children came down to the kitchen1 ,prudence and ,peter already had the fire blazing away merrily2 the warm milk was foaming in the bowls4 ,the hungry children thought1 as they drank it up1 that never before had breakfast tasted so good4 ',hester1 what made thee think of coming8' ,dorcas asked a little later1 when1 ,baby's imperious needs being satisfied1 she was able to begin her own breakfast1 while he drummed an accompaniment on the back of her hand with a wooden spoon4 ',how did the news reach thee8 ,or have they taken thy ,father and ,mother away too8 ,have all the ,friends gone to gaol this time8' ,hester nodded4 ,her bright face clouded for a moment or two4 ,then she resolutely brushed the cloud away4 ',yea1 in truth1 ,dorcas1' she answered4 ',i fear much that only we children are left4 ,anyhow1 thy parents and mine are taken1 and the others as well most like4 ,my ,father had warning from a trusty source that he and other ,friends had best not meet in ,thomas ,curtis' house last night4 ,but he is never one to be turned aside from his purpose1 thou knows4 ,so he took me between his knees and said1 ,hester1 dear maid1 thy mother and ,i must go4 ',tis none of our choosing4 ,if we are taken1 fear not for us1 nor for thyself and ,prue4 ,only seek to nourish and care for the tender babes in the other houses1 whence ,friends are likely to be taken also4 ,therefore ,i hastened hither to help thee1 ,dorcas1 bringing ,prudence with me1 partly because ,i love thee1 and thou art mine own dear friend1 but also because it was my ,father's command4 ,if ,i can be of service to thee1 perhaps he will pat my head when he returns out of gaol and say1 as he doth sometimes1 ,i knew ,i could trust thee1 my ,hester4' ',will they be long in prison1 dost thou think8' asked ,dorcas1 with a tremor in her voice4 ,she was always an anxious-minded little girl1 and inclined to look on the gloomy side of things1 whereas ,hester was sunshine itself4 ',who can say8' answered ,hester1 and again even her bright face clouded4 ',the ,justices are sure to tender to them the oath1 but since they follow ,him who commanded1 ,swear not at all1 how can they take it8' ',then1 if they refuse1 they will be said to be out of the ,king's protection1 and the ,justices and the gaolers may do with them as they will1' added ,peter doggedly4 ,at these words ,hester1 seeing that ,dorcas looked very sorrowful and almost ready to cry1 checked ,peter suddenly1 and said1 ',at any rate1 we can but hope for the best4 ,and now we must hasten1 or we shall be late for ,meeting4' ',meeting8' ,dorcas looked up in surprise4 ',i thought thou saidst that all the ,friends had been taken4' ',all the men and women1 yes1' answered ,hester2 'but we children are left4 ,we know what our ,fathers and ,mothers would have us do4' ,here ,peter broke in1 ',yes1 of course1 ,dorcas1 we must go to show them that ,friends are not cowards1 and that we will keep up our ,meetings come what may4 ,dost thou not mind what friend ,thomas ,curtis' wife1 ,mistress ,nan1 has often told us of her father1 the ,sheriff of ,bristol8 ,how he was hung before his own door1 because men said he was endeavouring to betray the city to ,prince ,rupert1 and thus serve his king in banishment4 ,shall we be less loyal than he8' ',loyal to our ,king1 ,dorcas1' added ,hester gently4 ,dorcas hesitated no longer4 ',thou art right1 ,hester1' she answered1 'and ,peter1 thou art right too4 ,we will go all together4 ,i had forgotten4 ,of course children as well as grown-up people can wait upon ,god4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,the children arrived at the ,friends' usual meeting place1 only to find it locked and strongly guarded4 ,they went on1 undismayed1 to ,friend ,lamboll's orchard1 but1 there also1 two heavy padlocks1 sealed with the ,king's seal1 were upon the green gate4 ,an old goody from a cottage hard by waved them away4 ',be off1 children6 ,here is no place for you1' she said2 adding not unkindly1 'your parents were taken near here yester eve1 and the officers of the law are still prowling round4 ,this orchard is sure to be one of the first places they will visit4' ,then seeing the tired look on ,dorcas' face1 as she turned to go1 with heavy ,stephen in her arms3 ',here1 give the babe to me1' she said1 ',i'll care for him this forenoon4 ,thy mother managed to get a word with me last night as the officers dragged her away1 and ,i promised her ,i would do what ,i could to help you1 though you be ,quakers and ,i hold to the ,church4 ,see1 he'll be safe in this cradle while you go and play1 though it is forty years and more since it held a babe of my own4' ,very thankfully ,dorcas laid ,stephen1 now sleeping peacefully1 down in the oaken cradle in the old woman's flagged kitchen4 ,then she ran off to join the others assembled at a little distance from the orchard gate4 ,by this time a few more children had joined them3 two or three girls1 and four or five older boys4 ,where were they to meet8 ,the sight of the closed house1 and the sealed gate1 even the mention of the officers of the law1 far from frightening the children1 had only made them more than ever clear that1 somewhere or other1 the ,meeting must be held4 ,at length one of the elder boys suggested ',my father's granary8' ,the very place6--they all agreed3 so thither the little flock of children trooped4 ,the granary was a large building of grey stone lighted only by two mullioned windows high up in the walls4 ,in ,queen ,elizabeth's days these windows had lighted the small rooms of an upper storey1 but now the dividing floor had been removed to make more room for the grain which lay piled up as high as the roof over more than half the building4 ,but1 at one end1 there was an empty space on the floor1 and here the children seated themselves on scattered bundles of hay4 ,quietly ,meeting began4 ,at first some of the children peeped up at one another anxiously under their eyelids4 ,it felt very strange somehow to be gathering together in silence alone without any grown-up people4 ,were they really doing right8 ,dorcas' heart began to beat rather nervously1 and a hot flush dyed her cheek1 until she looked across at ,hester sitting opposite1 and was calmed by the peaceful expression of the elder girl's face4 ,hester's hood had fallen back upon her shoulders4 ,her fair hair1 slightly ruffled1 shone like a halo of pale gold against the grey stone wall of the granary4 ,her blue eyes were looking up1 up at the blue sky1 far away beyond the high window4 ',hester looks happy1 almost as if she were listening to something1' ,dorcas said to herself1 'something that comforts her although we are all sad4' ,then1 settling herself cosily down into the hay1 ',now ,i will try to listen for comfort too4' ,a few moments later the silence was broken by a half-whispered prayer from a dark corner of the granary1 ',our dear1 dear parents6 help them to be brave and faithful1 and make us all brave and faithful too4' ,none of the boys and girls looked round to see who had spoken1 for the words seemed to come from the deepest place in their own hearts4 ,swiftly and speedily the children's prayer was answered4 ,help was given to them1 but they needed every scrap of their courage and faith during the next half-hour4 ,almost before the last words of the prayer died away1 a loud noise was heard and the tramp of heavy feet coming round the granary wall4 ,the officers of the law were upon them3 ',what1 yet another conventicle of these pestilential heretics to be broken up8' shouted a wrathful voice4 ,the next moment the door was roughly burst open1 and in the doorway appeared a much dreaded figure1 no less a person than ,sir ,william ,armorer himself1 ,justice of the ,peace and ,equerry to the ,king4 ,none of the children had any very clear idea as to the meaning of that word 'equerry'2 therefore it always filled them with a vague terror of unknown possibilities4 ,in after years1 whenever they heard it they saw again an angry man with a florid face1 dressed in a suit of apple-green satin slashed with gold1 standing in a doorway and wrathfully shaking a loaded cane over their heads4 ',yet more of ye itching to be laid by the ears in gaol6' shouted this apparition as he entered and slammed the heavy wooden door behind him4 ,but an expression of amazement followed when he was once inside the room4 ',brats6 ,by my life6 ,quaker brats6 and none beside them6' he exclaimed astonished1 as he looked round the band of children4 ',quaker brats holding a conventicle of their own1 as if they were grown men and women6 ,having stopped the earth and gaoled the fox1 must we now deal with the litter8 ,look you here1 do you want a closer acquaintance with this8' ,with these words1 he pointed his loaded stick at each of the children in turn and drew out a sharp iron point concealed in one end of it1 and began to slash the air4 ,then1 changing his mind again1 he went back to the door and called out to his followers in the passage outside1 ',here1 men1 we will let the maidens go1 but you must teach these lads what it is to disobey the law1 or ,i'm no ,justice of ,his ,majesty's ,peace4' ,even in that moment of terror the children wondered not only at the loud angry voice but at the unfamiliar scent that filled the room4 ,the air1 which had been pure and fragrant with the smell of hay1 was now heavy and loaded with essences and perfumes4 ,well it might be1 for though the children knew it not1 the flowing lovelocks of the curly wig that descended to the ,justice's shoulders had been scented that very morning with odours of ambergris1 musk1 and violet1 orris root1 orange flowers1 and jessamine1 as well as others besides4 ,the stronger scents of kennel and stable1 and even of ale and beer1 that filled the room as the constables trooped into it were almost a relief to the children1 because they at least were familiar1 and unlike the other strange1 sickly fragrance4 ,the constables seized the boys1 turned them out into the road1 and there punched and beat them with their own staffs and the ,justice's loaded stick until they were black in the face4 ,the girls were driven in a frightened bunch down the lane4 ,only ,hester sat on in her place1 still and unmoved1 sheltering the ,twins in her bosom and holding her hands over their eyes4 ,up to her came the angry ,justice in a fine rage1 until it seemed as if the perfumed wig must almost touch her smooth plaits of hair4 ,then1 at last1 ,hester moved1 but not in time to prevent the ,justice seizing her by the shoulder and flinging her down the road after the others4 ,her frightened charges1 torn from her arms1 still clung to her skirts1 while the full-grown men strode along after them1 threatening to duck them all in the pond if they made the slightest resistance1 and did not at once disperse to their homes4 ,it certainly was neither a comfortable thing nor a pleasant thing to be a ,quaker child in those stormy days4 ,nevertheless1 pleasant or unpleasant1 comfortable or uncomfortable1 made no difference4 ,it was thanks to the courage of this handful of boys and girls that1 in spite of the worst that ,mr4 ,justice ,armorer could do1 in spite of the dread of him and his constables1 in spite of his angry face1 of his scented wig and loaded cane1 in spite of all these things1--still1 ,sunday after ,sunday1 through many a long anxious month1 ,god was worshipped in freedom and simplicity in the town by silver ,thames4 ,reading ,meeting was held4 ,meantime1 throughout these same long months1 within the prison walls the fathers and mothers prayed for their absent children4 ,although apart from one another1 the two companies were not really separated2 for both were listening to the same ,shepherd's voice4 ,until1 at last1 the happy day came when the gaol-doors were opened and the prisoners released4 ,then1 oh the kissing and the hugging6 the crying and the blessing6 as the parents heard of all the children had undergone in order to keep faithful and true6 ,that was indeed the most joyful meeting of all6 ,thankfulness and joy last freshly through the centuries1 as an old letter1 written at that time by one of the fathers to ,george ,fox still proves to us to-day3 ',our little children kept the meetings up1 when we were all in prison1 notwithstanding that wicked ,justice when he came and found them there1 with a staff that had a spear in it would pull them out of the ,meeting1 and punch them in the back till some of them were black in the face 444 his fellow is not1 ,i believe1 to be found in all ,england a ,justice of the ,peace4' 99 99 99 99 99 ',for they might as well think to hinder the ,sun from shining1 or the tide from flowing1 as to think to hinder the ,lord's people from meeting to wait upon ,him4' ,,xx4 ,,the ,,saddest ,,story ,,of ,,all ',take heed of forward minds1 and of running out before your guide1 for that leads out into looseness2 and such plead for liberty1 and run out in their wills and bring dishonour to the ,lord4'444 ',and take heed if under a pretence of ,liberty you do not 444 set up that both in yourselves and on others that will be hard to get down again4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',the ,truth in this city spreads and flourisheth2 many large meetings we have1 and great ones of the world come to them1 and are much tendered4 ,james is fitted for this great place1 and a great love is begotten towards him'--,a4 ,,parker to ,m4 ,fell1 #afee 7from ,london1 before ,nayler's fall74 ',his forebearing in due time to testify against the folly of those his followers 7who magnified him7 was his great weakness and loss of judgment1 and brought the greatest suffering upon him1 ,poor ,man6 ,though when he was delivered out of the snare1 he did condemn all their wild and mad actions towards him and judged himself also4 ,howbeit our adversaries and persecutors unjustly took occasion thereupon1 to triumph and insult1 and to reproach and roar against ,quakers1 though as a ,people 7they were7 wholly unconcerned and clear from those offences4'--,g4 ,,whitehead4 ',and so ,his will is my peace4'--,,james ,,nayler4 ,,xx4 ,,the ,,saddest ,,story ,,of ,,all ,,but ,,it ,,has ,a ,,happy ,,end ,children--come close4 ,let us hold hands and gather round the fire4 ,this story must be told in the twilight1 while the room is all dark except for the dim glow of the coals4 ,then1 if a few tears do run down our cheeks--no one will see them4 ,and presently the lamp will come in1 the darkness will vanish1 and the story will end happily--as most stories do if we could only carry them on far enough4 ,what makes the sadness to us1 often1 is that we only see such a little bit of the way4 ,this is the story of a man who made terrible mistakes1 and suffered a terrible punishment4 ,but1 through his sufferings1 and perhaps even through the great mistakes he made1 he learned some lessons that he might never have learned in any other way4 ,his name was ,james ,nayler4 ,he was born in #afaf1 and was the son of a well-to-do farmer in ,yorkshire4 ,he was 'educated in good ,english1' and learned to write and speak well4 ,his early life seems to have been uneventful4 ,at the age of #bb he married1 and settled near ,wakefield with his young wife1 ,anne4 ,after a few years of happy married life1 the long dispute between ,king ,charles and his ,parliament finally broke out into ,civil ,war4 ,the old peaceful life of the countryside was at an end4 ,everywhere men were called upon to take sides and to arm4 ,james ,nayler was one of the first to answer that call4 ,he enlisted in the ,parliamentary ,army under ,lord ,fairfax1 and spent the next nine or ten years as a soldier4 ,under ,general ,lambert he rose to be quartermaster1 and the prospect of attaining still higher military rank was before him when his health broke down and he was obliged to return home4 ,a little later he made a friend4 ,one eventful ,sunday in #afeb 'the ,man in ,leather ,breeches' visited ,wakefield1 and came to the ',steeple-house' where ,nayler had been accustomed to worship with his family4 ,directly the sermon was finished1 all the people in the church pointed at the ,stranger1 and called him to come up to the priest4 ,fox rose1 as his custom was1 and began to 'declare the word of life4' ,he went on to say that he thought the priest who had been preaching had been deceiving his hearers in some parts of his sermon4 ,naturally the priest who had spoken did not like this1 and although some of the congregation agreed with ,fox1 and felt that 'they could have listened to him for ever1' most of the people hated the ,stranger for his words4 ,they rushed at ,fox1 punching and beating him2 then1 crying1 ',let us have him in the stocks6' they thrust him out of the door of the church4 ,once in the cool fresh air1 however1 the crowd became less violent4 ,their mood changed4 ,instead of hustling their unresisting visitor through the town and clapping him into the stocks1 they loosed their hold of him and suffered him to go quietly away4 ,as he departed1 ,george ,fox came upon another group of people assembled at a little distance4 ,these were the men and women who had listened to him gladly in church1 who now wished to hear more of the new truths he had been declaring4 ,among them was ,james ,nayler1 a man older than ,fox1 who had been convinced by him a year earlier4 ,this second visit1 however1 clinched ,nayler's allegiance to his new friend4 ,possibly1 having been a soldier himself1 he began by admiring ,fox's courage4 ,here was a man who refused to strike a single blow in self-defence4 ,he was apparently quite ready to let the angry mob do what they would1 and yet in the end he managed to quell their rage by the force of his own spiritual power4 ,the ,journal simply says that a great many people were convinced that day of the truth of the ,quaker preaching1 and that 'they were directed to the ,lord's teaching in themselves4' ,hereupon the priest of the church became very angry4 ,he spread abroad many untrue stories about ,fox1 saying that he 'carried bottles with him1 and made people drink of them and so made them follow him and become ,quakers4' ,at ,wakefield1 also1 in those days1 as well as farther ,north1 'enchantment' was the first and simplest explanation of anything unusual4 ,this same priest also said that ,fox rode upon a great black horse1 and was seen riding upon it in one county at a certain time1 and was also seen on the same horse and at the very same time in another county sixty miles away4 ',with these lies1' says ,fox1 'he fed his people1 to make them think evil of the truth which ,i had declared amongst them4 ,but by those lies he preached many of his hearers away from him1 for ,i was travelling on foot and had no horse2 which the people generally knew4' ,james ,nayler at any rate decided to become one of ,fox's followers1 and let the priest do his worst4 ,it may have been at his house that ,george ,fox lodged that night1 thankful for its shelter1 having slept under a hedge the night before4 ,when ,fox left1 ,nayler did not go with him1 but remained quietly at home4 ,having been a farmer's son before he became a soldier1 he quietly returned to his farming when he left the army4 ,one day in early spring1 a few months after ,fox's visit1 as ,james ,nayler was driving the plough and thinking of the things of ,god1 he heard a ,voice calling to him through the silence1 telling him to leave his home and his relations1 for ,god would be with him4 ,at first ,james ,nayler rejoiced exceedingly because he had heard the ,voice of ,god1 but when he considered how much he would have to give up if he left home1 he tried to put the command aside4 ,nothing that he undertook prospered with him after this2 he fell ill and nearly died1 till at last he was made willing to surrender his own will utterly and go out1 ready to do ,god's will1 day by day and hour by hour1 as it should be revealed to him4 ',and so he continued1 not knowing one day what he was to do the next2 and the promise of ,god that ,he would be with him1 he found made good to him every day4' ,these are his own words4 ,his inward guidance led him into the west of ,england1 and there he found ,george ,fox4 ,after this ,nayler and ,fox were often together4 ,sometimes ,nayler would take a long journey to see ,fox when he was staying with his dear friends at ,swarthmoor4 ,sometimes they wrote beautiful letters to each other4 ,here is one from ,nayler to ,fox that might have been written to us to-day3 ',dear hearts1 you make your own troubles by being unwilling and disobedient to that which would lead you safe4 ,there is no way but to go hand in hand with ,him in all things1 running after ,him without fear or considering1 leaving the whole work only to ,him4 ,if ,he seem to smile1 follow ,him in fear and love1 and if ,he seem to frown1 follow ,him and fall into ,his will1 and you shall see ,he is yours still1--for ,he will prove ,his own4' ,illustration3 ',,the ,,voice ,,of ,,the ,,silence' ,nayler's adventurous journey with ,fox to ,walney ,island must have drawn their friendship closer than ever4 ,in spite of hardships these were happy days as they went about the country together on ,god's errands4 ,but these days came to an end4 ,you see1 ,nayler had not found his faith after a long struggle as ,george ,fox had done4 ,perhaps he had accepted it a little too easily1 and too confidently1 in his own strength4 ,he was a splendid1 brilliant preacher1 and he loved arguing for his new belief in public4 ,once1 in ,derbyshire1 in an argument with some ministers1 he got so much the best of it that the crowd was delighted and cried out1 ',a ,nailer1 a ,nailer hath confuted them all4' ,another time1 when he was attending a meeting at a ,friend's house1 he says that 'hundreds of vain people continued all the while throwing great stones in at the window1 but we were kept in great peace within4' ,it would be rather difficult to sit quite still and 'think meeting thoughts' with large stones flying through the windows1 would it not8 ,once1 when ,i was at a service on board ship1 a few years ago1 a tremendous wave broke through the port-hole and splashed the kneeling men and women on that side of the saloon4 ,they were so startled that nearly all of them jumped1 and one called out quite loudly1 ',oh1 what's that8' ,but the clergyman went on quietly reading the service1 and very soon everything became still and quiet again4 ,james ,nayler also continued to give his message of stillness and calm1 and the gathered people1 listening to him intently1 forgot to think about the stones4 ,he must have had a great deal of that strange quality that we call magnetism4 ,just as a magnet attracts bits of iron to it1 so some people have the power of attracting others to listen to them and love them4 ,fox was the most powerful magnet of all the ,quaker preachers4 ,he attracted people in thousands all over the country4 ,but ,nayler seems to have had a great deal of magnetism too1 though it was of a different kind4 ,for one thing he was handsomer to look at than ,fox4 ,he is described as 'of ruddy complexion and medium height1 with long1 low hanging brown hair1 oval face1 and nose that rose a little in the middle3 he wore a small band close to his collar1 but no band strings1 and a hat that hung over his brows4' ,but it would have been happier for him if he had not been so good-looking1 as you will see presently4 ,he must have had much charm of manner1 too4 ,a court lady1 ,abigail1 ,lady ,darcy1 invited him to her house to preach1 and there1 beside all the people who had assembled to hear him1 many other much grander listeners were also present although unseen1 'lords1 ladies1 officers1 and ministers4' ,these great people1 not wishing it to be known that they came to listen to the ,quaker preacher1 were hidden away behind a ceiling4 ,nayler himself must have known of their presence1 since he mentions it in a letter1 though he does not explain how a ceiling could be a hiding-place4 ,he spoke to them afterwards of the ,voice that had called him as he was ploughing in the fields at home4 ,these fine lords and ladies could not understand what he meant4 ',a ,voice1 a ,voice8' they asked him1 'but did you really hear it8' ',aye1 verily1 ,i did hear it1' he replied in such solemn tones that they wondered more than ever what he meant2 and perhaps they began to listen too for the ,inner ,voice4 ,the discovery that he1 a humble ,quaker preacher1 could attract all this attention did ,james ,nayler harm4 ,instead of remembering only the thankfulness and joy of being entrusted with his ,master's message1 he allowed small1 lower feelings to creep into his heart3 ',what a good messenger ,i am6 ,don't ,i preach well8 ,far grander people throng to hear me than to any other ,quaker minister's sermons6' ,another temptation came to him through his good looks4 ,he was evidently getting to think altogether too much about himself4 ,it was ,james ,nayler this and ,james ,nayler that1 far too much about ,james ,nayler4 ,also1 some of his friends were foolish1 and did not help him4 ,the interesting thing about ,james ,nayler is that his chief temptations always came to him through his good qualities4 ,if he had been a little duller1 or a little uglier1 or a little stupider1 if he had even made fewer friends1 he might have walked safely all his life4 ,as it was1 instead of listening only to the ,voice of ,god1 he allowed himself to listen to one of the most dangerous suggestions of the ,tempter4 ,nayler began to think that he might imitate ,jesus ,christ not only in inner ways1 not only by trying to be meek and loving and gentle and self-sacrificing1 as ,he was to all the people around ,him4 ,that is the way we may all try to be like ,him4 ,nayler also tried to imitate ,him in outer ways4 ,he found a portrait of the ,saviour and noticed how ,he was supposed to have worn ,his hair and beard2 and then he arranged his own hair and beard in the same way4 ,he even attempted to work miracles like those in the ,gospel story4 ,he tried to fast as ,christ had done1 ',he ate no bread but one little bit for a whole month1 and there was about a fortnight 444 he took no manner of food1 but some days a pint of white wine1 and some days a gill mingled with water4' ,this was when he was imprisoned in ,exeter ,gaol with many other ,quakers4 ,one woman among them fainted and became unconscious1 and she believed she had been brought back to life by ,nayler's laying his hand on her head and saying1 ',dorcas1 arise4' ,some of his friends and the other women in the prison were foolish and silly4 ,instead of helping ,nayler to serve ,god in lowliness and humility1 they flattered his vanity1 and encouraged him to become yet more vain and presumptuous4 ,they even knelt before him in the prison1 bowing and singing1 ',holy1 holy1 holy4' ,some one wrote him a wicked letter saying1 ',thy name shall be no more ,james ,nayler1 but ,jesus'6 ,nayler confessed afterwards that 'a fear struck him' when he received that letter4 ,he put it in his pocket1 meaning that no one should see it4 ,but though ,nayler did not himself encourage his friends in their wicked folly1 still he did not check them as he should have done4 ,he thought that he was meant to be a 'sign of ,christ' for the world4 ,he was weak in health at the time1 and had suffered much from imprisonment and long fasting2 so it can be said in excuse that his mind may have been clouded1 and that perhaps he did not altogether understand what was being done4 ,the real sadness of this story is that we cannot excuse him altogether4 ,some of the blame for the silly and foolish and wicked things that were done around him does1 and must1 belong to him too4 ,he ought to have known and to have forbidden it all from the beginning4 ,george ,fox and the other steady ,friends of course did not approve of these wild doings of ,james ,nayler and his friends4 ,george ,fox came to see ,james ,nayler in prison at ,exeter1 and reproved him for his errors4 ,james ,nayler was proud and would not listen to rebukes1 though he offered to kiss ,george ,fox at parting4 ,but ,fox1 who was 'stiff as a tree and pure as a bell1' would not kiss any man1 however much he loved him1 who persisted in such wrong notions4 ,the two friends parted very sorrowfully1 and with a sad heart ,fox returned to the inn on ,exeter ,bridge4 ,not all the ',seven ,stars' on its signboard could shine through this cloud4 ,after this1 things grew worse4 ,nayler persisted in his idea that he was meant1 in his own life1 and in his own body1 to imitate ,jesus ,christ outwardly1 and the women persisted in their wild acting round him4 ,when ,nayler and his admirers came to ,bristol1 in ,october #afef1 they arranged a sort of play scene1 to make it like the entry of ,jesus into ,jerusalem4 ,one man1 bareheaded1 led ,nayler's horse1 and the women spread scarves and handkerchiefs in the way before him1 as they had no palms4 ,they even shouted ',hosanna6' and other songs and hymns that they had no business to sing except in the worship of ,god4 ,they meant it to be all very brilliant and triumphant4 ,but it was really a miserable sort of affair1 for the rain came down heavily1 and the roads were muddy and dirty1 which made the whole company wet and draggled4 ,still it was not the rain that mattered1--what mattered most was that none of them can have had the sunshine of peace in their hearts1 for they must have known that they were doing wrong4 ,anyhow the magistrates of the city of ,bristol had no manner of doubt about that4 ,as soon as the foolish1 dishevelled1 excited company reached the city they were all clapped into gaol1 which was perhaps the best place to sober their excited spirits4 ,the officers of the law were thoroughly well pleased4 ,they had said from the first that ,george ,fox was a most dangerous man1 and that the ,quakers were a misguided people to follow him4 ,now the folly and wickedness of ,nayler and his company gave them just the excuse they were wanting to prove that they had been right all along4 ,james ,nayler was taken to ,london1 tried1 found guilty1 and sentenced to savage punishments4 ,he was examined at length by a ,committee of ,parliament4 ,just before his sentence was pronounced he said that he 'did not know his offence1' which looks as if his mind really had been clouded over when some of the things he was accused of were done4 ,but this was not allowed to be any excuse4 ',you shall know your offence by your punishment' was the only answer he received4 ,the members of ,oliver ,cromwell's second ,parliament who dealt with ,nayler's case were not likely to be lenient to any man1 who1 like ,nayler1 had done wrong and allowed himself to be led astray4 ,his ,commonwealth judges showed him no mercy indeed4 ,when ,nayler heard his terrible sentence1 he listened calmly1 and said1 ',god has given me a body3 ,god will1 ,i hope1 give me a spirit to endure it4 ,i pray ,god ,he may not lay it to your charge4' ,this shows that he had learned really to share his ,master's ,spirit1 which is the only true way of imitating ,him4 ,the punishments were cruel and vindictive4 ,they lasted through many weeks4 ,half way through1 many 'persons of note' signed a petition to ask that he might be allowed to miss the rest of the penalties1 owing to his enfeebled condition4 ,in spite of this1 the whole barbarous sentence was carried out4 ,james ,nayler bore it unflinchingly4 ,i am only going to tell you one or two of the cruel things that were done to him--and those not the worst4 ,he was sentenced to have the letter ',b' burned on his forehead with a hot iron4 ',b' stands for ',blasphemer1' and it was to show everybody who saw him1 wherever he came1 that he had been found guilty of saying wicked things about ,god4 ,the worst part of this punishment must have been knowing in his heart that the accusation was1 more or less1 true4 ,there he stood before the ,old ,exchange in ,london1 on a bitter ,december day1 in the presence of thousands of spectators4 ,he bore not only the branding with a red-hot iron on the forehead until smoke arose from the burning flesh1 but also other worse tortures with 'a wonderful patience4' ,the crowd1 who always assembled on such occasions1 were touched by his demeanour4 ,instead of jeering and mocking1 as they were accustomed to do to criminals1 all these thousands of people lifted their hats in token of respect1 and remained standing bareheaded as they watched him in his agony4 ,it is said that 'he shrinked a little when the iron came upon his forehead1' yet on being unbound he embraced his executioner4 ,one faithful friend1 ,robert ,rich1 who had done his utmost to save ,nayler from this terrible punishment1 stood with him on the pillory and held his hand all through the burning1 and afterwards licked the wounds with his tongue to allay the pain4 ',i am the dog that licked ,lazarus' sores1' ,robert ,rich used to say1 alluding to that terrible day4 ,long years after1 when he was an old man with a long white beard1 he used to walk up and down in ,meeting in a long velvet gown1 still repeating the story of his friend's sufferings and of his patience4 99 99 99 99 99 ,after this punishment ,nayler was sent down to ,bristol to undergo the rest of his sentence there4 ,he was made to enter the city again in deepest humiliation1 no longer with excited followers shouting ',hosanna6' before him1 but seated on a horse facing to the tail1 with the big ',b' burned on his forehead for all men to see--and then he was publicly whipped4 ,yet in spite of all the pain and shame he must have been happier in one way during that sorrowful return to ,bristol than at his former entrance to the city1 for he must have had more true peace in his heart4 ,now1 at last1 comes the happy end of this sad story4 ,there is no need to sit over the fire in the darkness any longer4 ,we can dry our eyes and light the lamps--for it is not sorrowful really4 ,james ,nayler's mistakes and sufferings had not been wasted4 ,they had made him more really like his ,master1 and his worst troubles were now over4 ,he still lay in prison for two years more1 but he was allowed ink and paper1 and he wrote many beautiful letters acknowledging that he had done wrong1 confessing his sin1 and praising ,god even for the sufferings which had shown him his error4 ,he says in one place1 'the provocation of that time of temptation was exceeding great against the pure love of ,god2 yet ,he left me not2 for after ,i had given myself under that power1 and darkness was above1 my adversary so prevailed1 that all things were turned and so perverted against my right seeing1 hearing1 or understanding2 only a secret hope and faith ,i had in my ,god whom ,i had served1 that ,he would bring me through it1 and to the end of it1 and that ,i should again see the day of my redemption from under it all2 and this quieted my soul in my greatest tribulation4' ,and again1 ',dear brethren--,my heart is broken this day for the offence that ,i have occasioned to ,god's truth and people4444 ',and concerning you1 the tender plants of my ,father1 who have suffered through me1 or with me1 in what the ,lord hath suffered to be done with me1 in this time of great trial and temptation2 the ,almighty ,god of love1 ,who hath numbered every sigh1 and put every tear in ,his bottle1 reward it a thousandfold into your bosoms1 in the day of your need1 when you shall come to be tried and tempted2 and in the meantime fulfil your joy with ,his love1 which you seek after4 ,the ,lord knows1 it was never in my heart to cause you to mourn1 whose suffering is my greatest sorrow that ever yet came upon me1 for you are innocent herein4' ,after this1 at last he was set free4 ,the first thing he did was to try to return home to his wife and children4 ,it is said that 'he was a man of great self-denial1 and very jealous of himself ever after his fall and recovery4 ,at last1 departing from the city of ,london1 about the latter end of ,october #affj1 towards the north1 intending to go home to his wife and children at ,wakefield in ,yorkshire1 he was seen by a ,friend of ,hertford 7sitting by the wayside in a very awful1 weighty frame of mind71 who invited him to his house1 but he refused1 signifying his mind to pass forward1 and so went on foot as far as ,huntingdon1 and was observed by a ,friend as he passed through the town1 in such an awful frame1 as if he had been redeemed from the earth1 and a stranger on it1 seeking a better country and inheritance4 ,but going some miles beyond ,huntingdon1 he was taken ill 7being as 'tis said7 robbed by the way1 and left bound3 whether he received any personal injury is not certainly known1 but being found in a field by a countryman toward evening1 was had1 or went to a ,friend's house at ,holm1 not far from ,king's ,ripton1 where ,thomas ,parnell1 a doctor of physic1 dwelt1 who came to visit him2 and being asked1 if any ,friends at ,london should be sent for to come and see him2 he said1 ,nay1 expressing his care and love to them4 ,being shifted1 he said1 ,you have refreshed my body1 the ,lord refresh your souls2 and not long after departed this life in peace with the ,lord1 about the ninth month1 #affj1 and the forty-fourth year of his age1 and was buried in ,thomas ,parnell's burying-ground at ,king's ,ripton aforesaid4' ',i don't call that a happy ending4 ,i call it a very sad ending indeed6 ,what could be worse8 ,to sit all alone by the roadside1 and then perhaps to be robbed and bound1 or if not that1 at any rate to be taken ill and carried to a stranger's house to die4 ,that is only a sorrowful ending to a most sorrowful life4' ,is this what anyone is thinking8 ,ah1 but listen6 ,that is not the real end4 ,it is said that 'about two hours before his death he spoke in the presence of several witnesses' these words3 ',there is a spirit which ,i feel1 that delights to do no evil1 nor to revenge any wrong1 but delights to endure all things1 in hope to enjoy its own in the end3 its hope is to outlive all wrath and contention1 and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty1 or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself4 ,it sees to the end of all temptations3 as it bears no evil in itself1 so it conceives none in thoughts to any other3 if it be betrayed it bears it1 for its ground and spring is the mercies and forgiveness of ,god3 its crown is meekness1 its life is everlasting love unfeigned1 and takes its kingdom with entreaty1 and not with contention1 and keeps it by lowliness of mind3 in ,god alone it can rejoice1 though none else regard it1 or can own its life3 it is conceived in sorrow1 and brought forth without any to pity it2 nor doth it murmur at grief and oppression3 it can never rejoice but through sufferings2 for with the world's joy it is murdered3 ,i found it alone1 being forsaken2 ,i have fellowship therein with them who lived in dens1 and desolate places in the earth1 who through death obtained this resurrection and eternal holy life4' ,that is why this story has a happy ending4 ,a made-up story might have left ,james ,nayler at home with his wife and children4 ,but1 after all he had suffered1 he may have been too tired to bear much joy on earth4 ,besides1 how could he have borne for those dear ones to see the condemning ',b' burned on his forehead8 and the other scars and signs of his terrible punishments1 how could they have borne to see them8 ,was it not better that the end came as it did by the roadside near ,huntingdon8 ,only remember always1 that what we call the end is itself only the beginning4 ,think how thankful ,james ,nayler must have been to lay down the tired1 scarred body in which he had sinned and suffered1 while his spirit1 strengthened1 purified1 and cleansed by all he had endured1 was set free to serve in the larger1 fuller life beyond4 ,james ,nayler's difficult school-days were over at last on this little earth1 where we are set to learn our lessons4 ,like the other prodigal son he had gone to receive his own welcome from the ,father's heart in the ,father's ,home4 99 99 99 99 99 ,why have ,i told you this story--'the saddest story of all'8 ,a parable will explain it best4 ,imagine that ever since the beginning of ,time there has been a great big looking-glass with the sun shining down upon it4 ,then imagine that that looking-glass has been broken up into innumerable fragments1 and that one bit is given to each human soul1 when it is born on earth1 to keep and to hold at the right angle1 so that it can still reflect the sun's beams4 ,that is something like the truth that ,george ,fox discovered for himself and preached all over ,england4 ,he called it the doctrine of ',the ,inner ,light4' ,to all the hungering1 thirsting1 sinful1 ignorant men and women in ,england he gave the same message3 ',there is that of ,god within you1 that can reflect ,him4 ,you can hear ,his ,voice speaking in your hearts'2 or1 to continue the parable1 ',if you hold your own little bit of looking-glass in the sunlight it will1 it must1 reflect the ,sun4' ,james ,nayler listened to this message1 accepted it1 and rejoiced in it4 ,he did truly turn to the ,light4 ,but he forgot one thing that must never be forgotten4 ,he looked too much at his own tiny bit of looking-glass and too little at the ,sun4 ,in this way the mirror of his soul grew soiled and stained and dim4 ,it could no longer reflect the ,light faithfully4 ,then1 it had to be cleansed by suffering4 ,but all this time1 and always1 the ,sun of ,god's unchanging love was steadily shining1 waiting for him to turn to it again4 ,let us too look up towards that ,sun of ,love4 ,let us open our hearts wide to receive its light4 ,then we shall find that we have not only a mirror in our hearts but also something alive and growing2 what ,george ,fox would call the ',seed4' ,sometimes he calls it the ',seed1' and sometimes the ',light1' because it is too wonderful for any picture or parable to express it wholly4 ,but we each have 'that of ,god within' that can reflect and respond to ,him1 if we will only let it4 ,let us try then to open our hearts wide1 wide1 to receive1 and not to think of ourselves4 ,if we do this1 sooner or later we shall learn to live and grow in the sunshine of ,god's love1 as easily and naturally as the daisies do1 when they spread their white and golden hearts wide open in the earthly sunshine on a summer's day4 99 99 99 99 99 ,james ,nayler did learn that lesson at last1 and therefore even this1 'the saddest story of all1' really and truly has a happy end4 ,,xxi4 ,,pale ,,wind ,,flowers3 ,,or ,,the ,,little ,,prison ,,maid ',let not anything straiten you when ,god moves4'--,w4 ,,dewsbury1 ,epistle from ,york ,tower1 #affj4 ',all friends and brethren everywhere1 that are imprisoned for the ,truth1 give yourselves up in it1 and it will make you free1 and the power of the ,lord will carry you over all the persecutors4 ,be faithful in the life and power of the ,lord ,god and be valiant for the ,truth on the earth2 and look not at your sufferings1 but at the power of ,god2 and that will bring some good out of all your sufferings2 and your imprisonments will reach to the prisoned that the persecutor prisons in himself4444 ,so be faithful in that which overcomes and gives victory4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',bread and ,wine were the ,supper of the ,lord in the dispensation of ,time1 444 a figure of ,his death1 which were fulfilled when ,he had suffered and rose again1 and now ,he is known to stand at the door and knock1 ,if any man hear my ,voice and open the door1 ,i will come in and sup with him and he with me1 saith ,christ4 ,and we being many are one ,bread and one ,body and know the ,wine renewed in our ,father's ,kingdom4 ,christ the ,substance we now witness2 ,shadows and ,figures done away2 he that can receive it1 let him4'--,w4 ,,dewsbury4 ,,xxi4 ,,pale ,,wind ,,flowers3 ,,or ,,the ,,little ,,prison ,,maid ,i ',dear grandfather will be wearying for me6 ,we must not linger4' ,there was a wistful ring in the child's voice as she spoke4 ,little ,mary ,samm looked longingly towards a clump of wood anemones dancing in the sunshine1 as she followed her aunt1 ,joan ,dewsbury1 through a coppice of beech-trees on the outskirts of the city of ,warwick4 ,it was a bright windy day of early spring in the year #afhj4 ,mary was twelve years old1 but so small and slight that she looked and seemed much younger4 ,and now she wanted badly to gather some wood anemones4 ,but would ,aunt ,joan approve8 ,would it be selfish to leave 'dear grandfather' longer alone8 ,happily the older woman1 who preceded little ,mary on the narrow woodland pathway1 possessed a kind heart underneath her severe1 grey1 ,quaker bodice and stiff manner4 ,she caught the wistful tone in the little girl's voice1 and1 turning round1 noticed the wood anemones4 ,indeed1 the wood anemones insisted on being noticed4 ,joan ,dewsbury walked on a few steps further in silence2 then1 setting the heavy basket down on the trunk of a felled tree1 ',no1 ,mary1' she said1 'in truth we must not linger2 but we may rest a few moments4 ,also thou knowest thy grandfather's love of a posy in his prison4 ,if ,i see aright1 there are some pale windflowers blowing yonder1 beside that old tree1 though it is full early for them still4 ,here1 give me thy basket1 and hie thee to gather them4 ,i will sit down and wait for thy return2 and1 if we hasten our steps hereafter1 we shall not be much delayed4' ,little ,mary ,samm glanced up with a joyful smile4 ,she had espied the few1 first1 faint windflowers as soon as she entered the wood2 but1 without her aunt's permission1 it would never have entered her head to suggest that she might gather them4 ,for ,mary was a carefully trained 7not to say primly brought up7 little maiden of the seventeenth century1 when children followed their elders' injunctions in all things1 without daring to dwell on their own wishes4 ,if ,joan ,dewsbury had been an artist she would have enjoyed watching the child's slim little upright figure stepping daintily over the rustling brown beech leaves1 between the rounded trunks of the grey trees4 ,the air was full of the promise of early spring4 ,a cold blue sky showed through the lattice work of twigs and branches2 but1 as yet1 no fluttering leaf had crept out of its sheath to soften1 with a hint of tender green1 the virginal stiffness and straightness of the stems4 ,grey among the grey tree-trunks little ,mary flitted about1 gathering her precious windflowers4 ,she was clad in the demure ,puritan dress worn by young and old alike in the early days of the ,society of ,friends4 ,a frock of grey duffel hung in straight lines around her slight figure2 a cape of the same material was drawn closely round her shoulders1 while a grey bonnet framed the pensive face4 ,a strange unchildlike face it was1 small and pinched1 with a high1 narrow forehead and sharply pointed chin4 ,there were no childish roses in the pale cheeks4 ,a very faint flush of pink1 caused by fresh air and unwonted exercise1 could not disguise the curious yellow tinge of the skin1 like old parchment that has been kept too long from the light of day4 ,only the tips of a few locks of light brown hair1 cut very short and straight round the ears1 were visible under the close1 tightly-fitting bonnet4 ,illustration3 ,,pale ,,windflowers ',an ugly little girl1 in perfectly hideous clothes1' modern children might have said if they had seen ,mary ,samm for the first time1 looking down at her windflowers1 though even then there was a hint of beauty in the long1 curved1 black eyelashes that lay quietly on the pale cheeks1 and a very sweet expression hovered round the corners of the firm1 delicate1 little mouth4 ,but no one who could have seen little ,mary running back to her aunt with her precious flowers in her hand would have called her 'ugly' or even 'plain' any longer4 ,the radiant light in her eyes transfigured the small1 pinched face of the demure little being in its old-fashioned garments4 ,even critical modern children would have forgotten everything else1 and would have exclaimed1 ',she has the most beautiful eyes6' ,what colour were her eyes8 ,they were not blue1 or black1 or grey1 or brown1 or hazel1 or green1 or yellow4 ,perhaps they were in truth more yellow than anything else4 ,they were full not only of sparkling lights but also of deep velvety shadows that made it difficult to tell their exact colour4 ,who can say the colour of a mountain stream that runs over a pebbled bed8 ,every stone can be seen through the clear1 transparent water1 but there are mysterious1 shadowy darknesses in it also1 reflected from the overhanging banks4 ,little ,mary ,samm's eyes were both clear and mysterious as such a mountain stream2 while her voice1--but hush6 she is speaking again1 her rather shrill1 high tones breaking the crisp silence of the ,march afternoon4 ',here is the posy1 ,aunt2 will not dear grandfather love his pale windflowers1 come like stars to visit him in his prison8 ,only these flower stars will not pass away quickly out of sight as do the real stars we watch together through the bars every evening4' ,joan ,dewsbury took the bunch of anemones from her niece's cold fingers1 laid it down carefully in ,mary's rush basket and covered it with a corner of the cloth4 ,had she been a 'nowadays aunt' she might have thought that ,mary was not unlike a windflower herself4 ,the girl's small white face was flushed faintly1 like the ethereal white sepals2 there was a delicate1 fragile fragrance about her as if a breath might blow her away1 yet there was an unconquerable air of determination also in her every movement and gesture4 ,but ,joan ,dewsbury was not a 'nowadays aunt'2 she was a 'thenadays aunt1' and that was an entirely different kind4 ,she never thought of comparing a little girl1 who had come to take care of her grandfather in his prison1 with the white1 starry flowers that came out in the wood so early1 holding on tight to the roots of the old tree1 and blooming gallantly through all the gales of spring4 ,joan ,dewsbury's thoughts were full of different and1 to her1 far more important matters than her niece's appearance4 ,she rose1 and1 after handing ,mary her small rush basket and settling her own larger one comfortably on her arm1 the two started off once more with quickened steps through the wood4 ,neither the older woman nor the girl was much of a talker1 and the winding woodland pathways were too narrow for two people to walk abreast4 ,but when they came out on the broad grassy way that wandered across the meadows by the side of the smooth ,avon towards the city walls1 they did seem to have a few things to say to one another4 ,they spoke of the farm they had visited1 of the milk1 eggs1 and cheese they carried in their baskets4 ,but most often they mentioned 'the prison4' ,little ,mary still seemed to be in a great hurry to get back to be with 'dear grandfather1' while her companion was apparently anxious to detain her long enough to learn something more of her life in the gaol4 ',i could envy thee1 ,mary1 were it not a sin1' she said once4 ',thou art a real comfort to my dear father4 ,since my mother died1 gladly would ,i have been his companion1 and have sought to ease his captivity1 but the ,governor of the gaol would not allow it4' ',ay1 ,i know1' replied ,mary1 in her clear1 high-pitched voice4 ',my mother told me that day at my home in ,bedfordshire1 that no one but a child like me could be allowed to serve him1 and to live in the prison as his little maid4' ',didst thou want to come1 ,mary8' her aunt enquired4 ,mary's face clouded for a moment4 ,then she looked full at her aunt4 ,the candid eyes that had nothing to hide1 reflected shadows as well as light at that moment4 ',no1 ,aunt1' she said1 firmly and clearly1 'at the first ,i did not want to come4 ,there was my home1 thou seest2 ,i love ,hutton ,conquest1 and my mother1 and the maids1 my sisters4 ,also ,i had many friends in our village with whom ,i was wont to have rare frolics and games4 ,when first my mother told me of the ,governor's permission1 ,i did not want to leave the pleasant ,bedfordshire meadows that lie around our dear farm1 and go to live cooped up behind bolts and bars4 ,besides1 ,i had heard that ,warwick ,gaol was a fearsome place4 ,i was affrighted at the thought of being shut up among the thieves and murderers4 ,and--' ,she hesitated4 ',poor maid1' said her aunt1 'still thou didst come in the end8' ',in the end it was made clear to me that my place was with dear grandfather1' said the child in her crisp1 old-fashioned way4 ',my mother said she could not force me2 for she feared the gaol fever for me4 ,i feared it too4 ,and it is worse even than ,i feared4 ,at nights ,i hear the prisoners screaming with it often4 ,nearly every day some of them die4 ,they say it is worse for the young1 and ,i know my grandfather dreads that ,i may take it4 ,he looks at me often very sadly1 or he did when ,i first came4 ,always then at nightfall he grew sad4 ,but1 latterly1 we have been so comfortable together that ,i think he hath forgot his fears4 ,when the evenings darken1 and he can no longer read or write1 we sit and watch the stars4 ,then if ,i can persuade him to tell me stories of what he hath undergone1 that doth turn his thoughts1 and afterwards he will fall asleep1 and sleep well the whole night through4' ',thou art a comfort to him1 sure enough1' her aunt answered4 ',it is wonderful how much brighter he hath been since he had thee1 though he hath never smiled since my mother's death4 ,but thou thyself must surely grow tired of the prison and its bare stone walls8 ,thou must long to be back at play with thy sisters in the ,bedfordshire meadows8' ',that do ,i no longer1' little ,mary ,samm made answer firmly4 ',i love my sisters dearly1 dearly1' she raised her voice unconsciously as she spoke1 and a chaffinch on a branch overhead filled in the pause with an answering chirp1 ',i love my mother too4 ,didst thou really say thou wert expecting her to visit thee right soon8 ,my dear1 dear mother6 ,but ,i love my dear grandfather best of all1 for he hath nobody but me to care for him4 ,at least1 of course1 he hath thee1 ,aunt ,joan1' she added hastily1 noticing a slight shade pass over her aunt's face4 ',and what should we do without thee to bake bread for us1 and go to the farm to fetch him fresh eggs1 and butter1 and cheese1 and sweet1 new milk8 ,he would soon starve on the filthy prison fare4 ,see1 ,i have the milk bottle safe hidden under my flowers4' ',aye1 thou wast ever a careful maid1' answered her aunt2 'but1 tell me1 hath the ,governor indeed grown gentler of late1 and hath he given my father more liberty1 and a better room8' ',that he hath indeed4 ,he patted my head this very morn1 and said ,i might have permission to come out and walk with thee for the first time1' ,mary answered4 ',he saith1 too1 that the gaol is no place for a child like me1 and that thou shalt come and see us in a se'nnight from now2 then haply thou wilt bring my mother with thee6 ,the room my grandfather hath now is small in truth1 but he can lie down at length1 and ,i have a little cupboard within the wall where ,i can also lie and hear if he needs me4 ,doth he but stir or call ,mary at nights1 ever so gently1 in a moment ,i am by his side4' ',and canst thou ease him8' her aunt enquired4 ',that ,i can1' answered ,mary proudly4 ',often ,i can ease him1 or warm his poor cold hands1 or soothe him till he sleeps again1 for he grows weaker after this long imprisonment4' ',small wonder1' replied her aunt4 ',if thou hadst seen the dungeon where they set him first--foul1 beneath the floor1 with no window1 only a grating overhead to give him air4 ,there were a dozen or more felons and murderers packed in it too1 along with him1 so that he had not enough room even to lie down4 ,but there--it is not fit for a child like thee to know the half of all he hath undergone in the cause of ,truth4' ',dear1 dear grandfather1' said ,mary wistfully1 'yet he never complains4 ,he says always that he doth esteem the locks and bolts as jewels1 since he doth endure them for his ,master's sake4' ',ay1 and what was his crime for which he suffered at first in that foul place8 ,nothing but his giving of thanks one night after supper at an inn4 ,his accusers must needs affirm this to be preaching at a conventicle4 ,hist6 we had better be silent now we have reached the town4 ,i must leave thee at the gate of the gaol1 and go on my way1 while thou goest thine4 ,be sure and say to my dear father that ,i and thy mother will visit him as soon as ever the ,governor shall permit4' ,a few minutes later they stopped2 ,joan ,dewsbury took the basket from her arm and gave it to her niece4 ',farewell1 dear child1' she said cheerily1 as the porter opened the tall portal of the prison2 but her eyes grew dim as she watched the small figure disappear behind the heavy bolts and bars4 ',she is a good maid1 and a brave one1' she said to herself as she passed down the street between the timbered houses to her home4 ',yet she is not as other children are4 ,for all the comfort she is to my dear father1 ,i would fain think of her safe once more at home with her sisters4 ,right glad ,i am that her mother hath sent me word by a sure hand to say she cometh speedily to see of her condition for herself4 ,the ,governor is right1 the gaol is no place for a child1 nor is it the life for her either4 ,she liveth too much in her own thoughts4 ,this morn on our walk to the farm when ,i asked her wherefore she seemed sorrowful1 she replied that she was troubled in her conscience1 that she thought she would not live long and wanted satisfaction from the ,lord as to whither her soul would go if she were to die4 ,yet she sprang after those flowers as gaily as her sisters1 and she saith always that she is well4 ,if only she may keep as she is until her mother shall come4' ,shaking her head1 and full of anxious thoughts1 the kind woman pursued her homeward way4 ,over the cobble-stones and between the timbered houses with their steep gables and high-thatched roofs1 she passed through the city until she came to her own small dwelling1 ,william ,dewsbury's home1 where his daughter lived alone1 and awaited his return4 ,,ii ,have you ever seen a ray of golden sunshine steal in through the thick blinds1 heavy shutters and close curtains that try to shut it out8 ,people may pull down the blinds and shut the shutters and draw the curtains1 and do their very best to keep the sunshine away4 ,yet1 sooner or later1 a ray always manages to get in somehow4 ,it dances through a chink here or a hole there1 or steals along the floor1 till at last it arrives1 a radiant messenger1 in the darkened room to say that a whole world of light is waiting outside4 ,in spite of her sombre garments1 ,mary ,samm was like such a ray of sunshine as she stole into ,warwick prison4 ,no doors1 bolts or bars could keep her out2 and the gaoler seemed to know it1 as he preceded her down the damp1 dark1 stone passages3 the walls and floor oozing moisture1 and the ceiling blackened by the smoke of many candles4 ,the prisons of ,england were all foul1 ill-smelling1 fever-haunted places at that time2 and hardly any of them was worse than ,warwick gaol4 ,william ,dewsbury had earned the esteem of his keepers during his successive imprisonments which lasted altogether for nearly nineteen years4 ,he was privileged now to lie away from the other criminals1 who were herded together in the main building4 ,he had been given a small apartment that looked towards the river on the far side of a courtyard1 called the sergeants' ward4 ,there was even a pump in the centre of this courtyard from whence his granddaughter might fetch him water daily1 and the old man and the child were now privileged to take exercise together in the fresh air2--a great solace in the weary monotony of prison life4 ,the gaoler unlocked the door of this sergeants' ward1 and then1 putting into ,mary's hand the key of her grandfather's apartment1 he retraced his steps to the outer gate4 ,mary sped across the cobble-stones of the courtyard with joyful haste1 unlocked the door1 set down her baskets carefully1 the big one first1 the little one after it1 and then1 ',grandfather1 dear ,grandfather1' she exclaimed1 'tell me1 am ,i late8 ,hast thou missed thy little prison maid8' ,the white-haired man1 who was writing at a rough oak table1 lifted his head as she entered4 ,his face was worn and haggard2 his eyes were sunken1 but the smile that overspread his countenance1 as he saw who had entered1 was as bright as little ,mary's own4 ,laying down his pen and pushing the papers from him1 he held out his arms1 and in another minute his granddaughter was clasped in his embrace4 ,it would be hard to say which of the two was the happier as she placed the precious windflowers in his thin1 blue-veined hand and told him all she had seen and done4 ,joan's messages were given2 and then1 ',but what hast thou been doing1 dear ,grandfather8' ,mary asked in her turn4 ',hast thou been writing yet another ,epistle to ,friends to encourage them to stand firm8 ,i see thy name very clear and bold at the foot3 ,william ,dewsbury4 ,i love thy name1 ,grandfather6 ,it reminds me of our summer flowers and berries at home in ,bedfordshire and of the heavy dews that fall on them4 ,thy name is as good as a garden1 ,grandfather1 in itself4' ',it is thou who shouldst be in a garden thyself1 my little ,mary1' ,william ,dewsbury answered sorrowfully4 ',it is sad to bring thee back within these gloomy walls1 a maid like thee4' ',nay1 ,grandfather1 it is not sad6 ,thou promised me that thou wouldst never say that again6 ,my work was shewn me plainly2 that ,i was to come and care for thee1 and fetch thee thy provisions4 ,it is full early yet for supper1 although the light is fading2 canst thou not tell me a little tale while ,i sit on thy knee8 ,afterwards we will eat our meal1 and then thou wilt tell me more stories yet1 more and more1 to shorten the dark hours till the stars are shining brightly and it is time to go to rest4' ',thou hast heard most of my tales so often1 dear ,granddaughter1 as we sit here these dark evenings1 that thou dost almost know them better than ,i myself1' the old man replied4 ',yea1 truly1 ,i know them well1' answered ,mary4 ',yet ,i am never weary of hearing of thy own life long ago4 ,tell me once more how thou wast brought off from being a soldier1 and established in the path of peace4' ',thou must have that tale well nigh by heart already1 dear lamb1' the old man answered4 ',many a time ,i have told thee of my early days among the flocks1 how ,i was a shepherd lad until ,i came to thine own age of twelve years4 ,thereafter1 when ,i was thirteen years old1 ,i was bound an apprentice to a clothmaker in a town called ,holdbeck1 near ,leeds4 ,he was a godly man and strict1 but sharp of tongue4 ,i might have continued in that town to this day4 ,but when ,i was fully come to man's estate the ,civil ,war between ,king and ,parliament broke out all over the land4 ,loath was ,i to take up arms1 having been ever of a peaceable disposition1 but when wise men1 whom ,i revered1 called upon me to fight for the civil and religious freedom of my native land1 it seemed to me1 in my dark ignorance of soul1 that no other course remained honourably open to me4 ,i feared if ,i did not join the ,army of the ,parliament that had sworn to curb the tyranny of ,charles ,stuart1 then upon my head would rest the curse of ,meroz1 who went not to the help of the ,lord against the mighty4 ,thus ,i became a soldier1 thinking that by so doing ,i was fighting for the ,gospel--and forgetting that my ,master was ,one who was called the ,prince of ,peace4 ',small peace1 in truth1 did ,i find in the ranks of the army of the ,parliament--or indeed in any other place1 until in the fulness of time it was made clear to me that ,i was but seeking the living amongst the dead1 and looking without for that which was only to be found within4 ',then my mind was turned within1 by the power of the ,lord1 to wait on ,his counsel1 the ,light in my own conscience1 to hear what the ,lord would say3 and the word of the ,lord came unto me1 and said1 ,put up thy sword into thy scabbard4444 ,knowest thou not that if ,i need ,i could have twelve legions of ,angels from my ,father3 which ,word enlightened my heart1 and discovered the mystery of iniquity1 and that the ,kingdom of ,christ was within1 and was spiritual1 and my weapons against them must be spiritual1 the ,power of ,god4 ',it was on this wise that ,i came to join the ,army of the ,lamb1 and of ,his peaceful servants who follow ,him whithersoever ,he goeth4' ',but1 ,grandfather1 explain to me1 how couldst thou leave the ,parliamentary army thou wert pledged to serve8' ',a hard struggle ,i had truly to get free4 ,yet ,i did leave it1 for ,i was yet more deeply pledged to ,him ,who had said1 ,my kingdom is not of this world3 if my kingdom were of this world1 then would my servants fight4 ,at length my way was made more plain before me4 ,i left the army and resumed my weaving4 ,thus ,i passed through deep baptizings of the ,holy ,ghost and of fire1--baptisms too deep for a child like thee to understand how they affected my soul4' ,mary nodded her head gently and said to herself1 ',perhaps ,i can understand already1 better than my grandfather thinks4 ,have ,i not twice already in my young years been brought nigh to death8 ,even now death seemeth to me often not far away4' ',wouldst thou then fear to die1 ,grandfather8' she added aloud4 ',no more than a bird would fear to leave its cage and fly1 were once the door but open1' the old man answered4 ',but the door is still securely fastened for me1 it seems2 and since ,i had thee1 my little bird1 to share my captivity ,i am no longer anxious to leave my cage4 ,i was younger by four years than thou art now1 my child1 when ,i lost my fear of the grave4 ,it was on this wise4 ,i was but a little lad of eight years old1 mourning and weeping for the loss of my dear father1 who had been taken from us4 ,as the tears streamed down my cheeks1 methought ,i heard a ,voice saying3 ,weep for thyself2 thy father is well4 ,never since that day1 ,mary child1 have ,i doubted for one moment that for those who go hence in peace1 it is well indeed4' ',dear ,grandfather1 there is a sad sound in thy voice1' said little ,mary4 ',it is too dark by this time to see thy face1 but ,i cannot let thee be sad4 ,how shall ,i cheer thee8 ,ah6 ,i know6 how could ,i have forgotten8 ,my aunt charged me to say she hath news by a sure hand that my dear mother may be coming hither to visit thee and me before many days are over4' ',my daughter ,mary is ever welcome1' said the old man dreamily1 'and in the darkness thy voice is so like to hers1 ,i could almost deem she herself was sitting by my side4 ,already the young moon has disappeared behind the battlements of the castle4 ,yet ,i need not her silver light to tell me that thy hair is softer and straighter than thy mother's1 and without the golden lights and twining curls that hers had when she was thy age4' ',the moon truly has left us1 ,grandfather1' ,mary interrupted1 springing from his knee4 ',yet what matters the darkness while we are close together8 ,i can still see to get thy supper ready for thee4 ,thou must eat first1 and then we will talk further1 until it is time to go to rest4' ,deftly the little prison maid moved about the bare cell1 drawing her grandfather's chair to the rough oak table4 ,on this she arranged the loaf of bread and bottle of milk from her basket1 setting them and the earthenware mugs and platters out on the white cloth1 to look as home-like as possible4 ,the anemones in the centre still glimmered faintly as if shining by their own light4 ,the simple meal was a very happy one4 ,when it was finished and the remains had been cleared away and carefully replaced in the basket for to-morrow's needs1 the stars were looking in through the prison bars4 ',now1 one more story1 ,grandfather1' said ,mary firmly1 'just one1 before we go to rest4' ',i love to see thy small white face shining up at me through the gloom1' the old man answered4 ',i will tell thee of my first meeting with ,george ,fox4 ,hast thou ever heard that story8' ,the little prison maid was far too wary to reply directly4 ',tell it to me now1 ,grandfather1' she replied evasively1 and then1 to turn the old man's thoughts in the right direction1 'thou hadst already left the army by that time8' she hazarded4 ',ay1 that ,i had1' answered ,dewsbury4 ',i had left it for several years1 and a measure of ,truth ,i had found for myself4 ,greatly ,i longed to proclaim it and to share my new-found happiness with others4 ,but the inward ,voice spoke to me clearly and said3 ,keep thee silent for six full years1 until the year #afeb shall have come4 ,then shalt thou find more hungering and thirsting among the people than at the present time4 ,so ,i kept silence even from good words1 though it was pain and grief to me4 ,thou knowest1 ,mary1 even while ,i was yet in the army1 many and deep exercisings had ,i had in my spirit1 and such were still my portion at times4 ,about this time1 by the providence of ,god1 ,i chanced to hear of a young woman living in the city of ,york1 who was going through a like season of sorrow and anguish regarding her immortal soul4 ,after due deliberation1 ,i found it in my heart to pay her a visit4 ,i did this and went on foot to ,york4 ,when ,i came into her presence1 at once we were made aware of each other's conditions4 ,no sooner did we begin to converse than we found ourselves joined together in deep unity of spirit4 ,her spiritual exercises answered unto mine own1 as in water face answereth to face4 ,dost thou understand1 child1 of what ,i am speaking8' ',i follow not thy language always with entire comprehension1 dear ,grandfather1' answered ,mary with her usual precise honesty of speech1 'but it appears to me thy meaning is clear4 ,i think that this young woman must likely have been my grandmother8' ,william ,dewsbury smiled4 ',thou art right1' he said1 'it was to be even so1 in the fulness of time2 that1 however1 was long after4 ,almost at once we became man and wife4 ,there seemed no need to settle that between us4 ,it had been settled for us by ,him who brought us together4 ,we knew it from the first moment that we saw each the other's face4 ,thy grandmother had in a measure joined herself unto the ,anabaptists1 therefore 'twas at one of their meetings that we were wed4 ,the power of the ,spirit was an astonishment unto them1 and ,i have heard it said that never hath the ,divine ,presence been more felt in any assembly than it was that day4 ,thy grandmother resembled thee1 my ,mary1 as thou wilt be when thou art a woman grown--when thou shalt be taller and rounder1 and less slim and spare4 ,her eyes were darker than thine1 and she had the same soft brown hair as thine1 but with thy mother's golden threads in it1 my ,ann6 ,before she became my wife1 she had been blessed with a plenty of this world's goods1 but no sooner were we wed than her brother unjustly deprived her of her property4 ,for myself1 ,i cared not4 ,now that she was safely mine own1 he was welcome to the land that should have been hers by right4 ,yet for her sake ,i strove to get it back1 but in vain4 ,then did the enemy of souls reproach me for having brought her1 whom ,i tenderly loved1 into a state of poverty4 ,in humiliation and lowliness of mind before the ,lord1 without yielding to the tempter1 ,i desired ,him to make me content to be what ,he would have me to be2 and1 in a moment1 ,i was so filled with the presence of the ,lord1 that ,i was not able to bear the weight of the glory that was upon me4 ,i desired the ,lord1 if ,he had any service for me to do1 to withdraw1 for ,i could not live2 then ,i heard as it were a ,voice say to me1 ,thou art ,mine1 all in heaven and earth is ,mine1 and it is thine in ,me2 what ,i see good ,i will give unto thee1 and unto thy wife and children4' ',poor ,grandfather1 that was a hard pass for thee1' murmured ,mary1 smoothing the old man's coat sleeve4 ',but did not a great joy follow close upon thy trouble8' she prompted1 'a great joy on a moonshine night1 not a dark one like this8' ,william ,dewsbury's countenance kindled with fresh life and vigour4 ',yea1 my child1' he answered1 'light did indeed illuminate us on that same moonshine night of which thou speakest1 when we went1 my ,ann and ,i1 to ,lieutenant ,roper's house to hear the ,stranger preach4 ,all our lives we had both been seeking1 but now by the ,power of the ,lord1 the time was come for us to find4 ,we went to hear a ,stranger4 ,but no stranger was ,george ,fox4 ,rather did we recognise him1 from the first moment of that meeting1 as the own brother of our souls4 ,up and down the length and breadth of the land ,i had journeyed1 seeking for deliverance and for truth4 ,now1 in my own county of ,yorkshire1 my deliverer was found4 ,it was not alone the words he spake1 though they were forcible and convincing1 much more it was the irresistible ,power of the ,lord breathing through him that brought us to our knees4 ,all men could see as they looked upon his goodly form1 not then marred by cruel imprisonments and sufferings1 that he was a man among ten thousand4 ,but to me he was also a chosen vessel of the ,lord2 for power spoke through him1 yea1 to my very heart4 ,i have told thee1 ,mary1 of my long searchings after truth1 and of those of my dear wife4 ,there was no need to mention one of them to ,george4 ,with the first words he spake it was clear to me that he knew them all1 he could read our necessities like an open book4 ,well hath it been said of him that he was a man of ,god endued with a clear and wonderful depth2 a discerner of other men's spirits1 and very much a master of his own4 ,our hearts clave unto him at once4 ,we could scarcely restrain ourselves until the meeting should be at an end1 to disclose our inmost souls unto him4 ,then at last1 when all the multitude had departed1 we watched ,friend ,george set out on his homeward way4 ,we followed him in all haste1 my ,ann and ,i1 until we came up with him in a lonely field4 ,the moon shone full on his face and on our seeking faces1 revealing us to each other4 ,at first he gazed on us as if we were strangers4 ,for all we had longed ardently to tell him1 we found no words4 ,only a long time we stood together silently1 we three1 with the dumb kine slumbering around us in the dewy meadows2 we three1 revealed to one another in the full light4 ,then at last we confessed to the ,truth before him1 and from him we received ,truth again4 ,there is no ,scripture to warrant the sprinkling of a few drops of water on the face of a child and calling that ,baptism2 but there is a ,scripture for being baptized with the ,holy ,ghost and with fire4 ,that true essential ,baptism did our spirits receive in very deed that night from ,god's own minister of ,his ,everlasting ,gospel4 ',thus1 then and there1 were we three knit together in soul2 and the ,lord's ,power was over all4' ,the old man's voice died away into silence4 ,his thoughts were far off in the past4 ,the loneliness of the prison was forgotten1 little ,mary knew that her evening's task was done4 ,very gently she flitted from his side1 arranged his bed for the night1 and then slipped1 noiselessly as a shadow1 into her little inner cell1 scarcely larger than a cupboard4 ,here she undressed in the darkness and laid herself down on her little straw pallet on the floor4 ,but she had brought the precious windflowers with her4 ',they are so white1 they will be like company through the dark night hours1' she said to herself1 placing the glass close to her bed4 ,presently1 through a tiny slit of window high up in the prison wall1 one sentinel star looked down into the narrow cell4 ,it peeped in upon a small white figure straight and slim amid the surrounding blackness of the cell1 with 'dear1 long1 lean1 little arms lying out on the counterpane'2 but ,mary's eyes were wide open1 her ears were listening intently for her grandfather's softest call4 ,gradually the ray of starlight crept up the prison wall and disappeared2 soon other stars one by one looked in at the narrow window and passed upwards also on their high steep pathways2 gradually the eyelids closed1 and the long dark lashes lay upon the white cheeks4 ,drowsily little ,mary thought to herself1 ',i am glad my mother will soon be here1 but it hath been a very happy evening4 ,truly ,i am glad ,i came to help dear grandfather1 and to be his little prison maid4' ,only one starry white windflower1 clasped tight in her fingers through the long night hours1 gradually drooped and died4 ,,xxii4 ,,an ,,undisturbed ,,meeting ',it was impossible to ignore the ,quaker because he would not be ignored4 ,if you close his meeting-house he holds it in the street2 if you stone him out of the city in the evening1 he is there in the morning with his bleeding wounds still upon him4444 ,you may break the earthen vessel1 but the spirit is invincible and that you cannot kill4'--,,john ,,wilhelm ,,rowntree4 ',interior calmness means interior and exterior strength4'--,j4 ,,rendel ,,harris4 ',be nothing terrified at their threats of banishment1 for they cannot banish you from the coasts and sanctuary of the ,living ,god4'--,,margaret ,,fox4 ',grant us grace to rest from all sinful deeds and thoughts1 to surrender ourselves wholly unto ,thee1 to keep our souls still before ,thee like a still lake2 that so the beams of ,thy love may be mirrored therein1 and may kindle in our hearts the beams of faith1 and love1 and prayer4 ,may we1 through such stillness and hope1 find strength and gladness in ,thee ,o ,god1 now1 and for evermore4'--,,joachim ,,embden1 #aeie4 ',for the soul that is close to ,,god ,in the folded wings of prayer1 ,passion no more can vex1 ,infinite peace is there4' ,,edwin ,,hatch4 ,,xxii4 ,,an ,,undisturbed ,,meeting ,quiet and lonely now stands the small old farmhouse of ,drawwell1 on the sunny slope of a hill1 under the shadow of the great fells4 ,to this day the old draw-well behind the house1 which gives its name to the homestead1 continues to yield its refreshing draught of pure cold water4 ',it is generally full1 even in times of drought1 and never overflows4'#cb ,to this day1 also1 the 'living water1' drawn in many a 'mighty ,meeting' held around that well in the early years of ,quakerism1 continues to refresh thirsty souls4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was to ,drawwell ,farm that ,george ,fox came with his hosts ,thomas and ,john ,blaykling1 on ,whitsun ,wednesday evening in ,june #afeb1 at the end of ,sedbergh ,fair4 ,from ,drawwell he accompanied them to ,firbank ,chapel1 the following ,sunday forenoon4 ,there1 high up on the opposite fell1 he was moved1 as he says in his ,journal1 to 'sit down upon the rock on the mountain' and 'discourse to over a thousand people1 amongst whom ,i declared ,god's everlasting ,truth and word of life freely and largely1 for about the space of three hours1 whereby many were convinced4' ,more than once in after days1 ,george ,fox returned again thankfully to ,drawwell1 seeking and finding rest and refreshment for soul and body under its hospitable1 low1 stone roof1 as he went up and down on those endless journeys of his1 throughout the length and breadth of ,england1 whereby he 'kept himself in a perpetual motion1 begetting souls unto ,god4' ,many hallowed memories cling about ,drawwell ,farm1--as closely as the silvery mist clings to every nook and cranny of its walls in damp weather1--but none more vivid than that of the ,undisturbed ,meeting of #affe4 ,george ,fox was not present that day4 ,his open-air wanderings1 and his visits to the home under the great fells were alike at an end for a time1 while in the narrow prison cells of ,lancaster and ,scarborough he was bearing witness1 after a different fashion1 to the freedom of the ,spirit of the ,lord4 ,george ,fox was not among the guests at ,drawwell4 ,no 'mighty ,meeting1' as often at other times1 was gathered there that day4 ,there was only a company of humble men and women seated on forms and chairs under the black oak rafters of the big barn that adjoins the house1 since the living-room was not spacious enough to hold them all with ease1 although their numbers were not much above a score4 ,the ,master and ,mistress of ,drawwell were present of course4 ,good ,farmer ,blaykling1 with his ever ready courtesy and kindness1 looked older now than on the day1 thirteen years before1 when he and his father had brought the young preacher back with them from the ,fair4 ,he himself had known latterly what it was to suffer 'for ,truth's sake1' as some extra furrows on his brow had testified plainly since the day when ',priest ,john ,burton of ,sedbergh beat ,john ,blaykling and pulled him by the hair off his seat in his high place4' ,happily that outbreak had passed over1 and all seemed quiet this ,sunday morning1 as he took his place in the big barn4 ,his wife sat by his side2 around them were their children 7none of them young71 the farm lads and lasses1 and several families of neighbouring ,friends4 ,but it chanced that the youngest person present1 one of the farm lasses1 was well into her teens4 ',surely it was the loving-kindness of the ,lord' 7motherly ,mistress ,blaykling was wont to testify in after years7 'that brought the ordeal only upon us1 grown men and women1 and not upon any tender babes4' ,the ,meeting began1 much like any other ,meeting in that peaceful country1 where ,friends ever loved to gather under the shadow of the hills and the yet mightier overshadowing of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,the ,dove of ,peace brooded over the company4 ,even as the unseen water bubbled in the dark depths of the old draw-well close by1 so1 in the deep stillness1 already some hearts were becoming conscious of-- ',the bubbling of the hidden springs1 ,that feed the world4' ,soon1 out of the living ,silence would have been born the fresh gift of living speech4444 ,when suddenly1 into all this peace1 there came the clattering of horses' hoofs along the stony road that leads to the farm1 followed by loud voices and a pistol shot1 as a body of troopers trotted right up to the homestead4 ,finding that deserted and receiving no answers to their shouts1 they proceeded to the barn itself in search of the assembled ,friends4 ,the officer in charge was a young ,ensign1 ,lawrence ,hodgson1 a very gay gentleman indeed1 a gentleman of the ,restoration1 when not only courtiers but soldiers too1 knew well what it was to be courtly4 ,he came from ,dent1 'with other officers of the militia and soldiers4' ,now ,dent was a place of importance1 in those days1 and looked down on even ,sedbergh as a mere village4 ,wherefore to be sent off to a small farm in the outskirts of ,sedbergh in search of a nest of ,quakers was a paltry job at best for these fine gentlemen from ,dent4 ,naturally1 they set about it1 cursing and swearing with a will1 to shew what brave fellows they were4 ,for here were all these ,quakers whom they had been sent to harry1 brazening out their crime in the full light of day4 ,by ,act of ,parliament it had been declared1 not so long ago either1 that any ,quakers who 'assembled to the number of five or more persons at any one time1 and in any one place1 under pretence of joining in a religious worship not authorised by law1 were1 on conviction1 to suffer merely fines or imprisonment for their first and second offences1 but for the third1 they were to be liable to be transported to any of ,his ,majesty's plantations beyond seas4' ,a serious penalty this1 in those days second only to death itself1 and a terror to the most hardened of the soldiery2 but here was a handful of humble farmfolk1 deliberately daring such a punishment unafraid4 ',stiff-necked ,quakers--you shall answer for this1' shouted ,ensign ,hodgson as he entered 'cursing and swearing' 7so says the old account7 'and threatening that if ,friends would not depart and disperse he would kill them and slay and what not4' ',you look like hardened offenders1 all of you1 and ,i doubt this is not a first offence4' ,so saying1 the ,ensign set spurs to his horse and rode up and down the barn1 overturning forms and chairs1 slashing at the women ,friends with the flat of his sword1 while some of the roughest of his followers poked the sharp points of their blades through the coats of the men1 'just to remind you1 ,quaker dogs1 of what we could do1 an' we chose4' ,amid all this noise and hurly-burly1 the men and women ,friends sat on in stillness as long as possible4 ,only when their seats were actually overturned1 they rose to their feet and stood upright in their places4 ,they were ready to be beaten or trampled upon1 if necessary2 but they would not1 of their own will1 quit their ground4 ,strangely enough1 the wives did not rush to their husbands or cling to them2 the men did not seek to protect the women-folk4 ,they all remained1 even the lads and lasses1 self-poised as it were1 one company still2 resting1 as long as they could1 quietly1 in the inward citadel of peace4 ,in spite of all the hubbub1 the true spirit of worship was not disturbed4 ,at last the soldiers1 determined not to be baffled1 came to yet closer quarters and drove their unresisting victims1 willy nilly1 before them from under the sheltering rafters of the barn4 ,the ,friends were roughly hustled down the steep hillside and driven hither and thither1 but still the meeting was not interrupted1 for their hearts could not be driven out from the overshadowing presence of ,god4 ,so the great fells looked down upon a strange scene a few minutes later1--a strange scene1 yet one all too common in those days4 ,a cavalcade of glittering horsemen with their flowing perukes1 ruffles1 gay coats1 plumed hats1 and all the extravagances of the costume of even the fighting man of 'good ,king ,charles's golden days4' ,in the centre of this gay throng1 a little company of ,friends in their plain garments of homespun and duffel1 moving along1 with sober faces and downcast eyes1 speaking never a word as their captors prepared to force them to their destination--the ,justice's house at ,ingmire ,hall near ,sedbergh4 ,now from ,drawwell ,farm to ,ingmire is some little distance4 ,the way is hilly1 and the roads are narrow and rough4 ,bad going it is on those roads even to-day1 and far worse in the times of which ,i write4 ,therefore the troopers quickly grew weary of their task1 weary of trying to rein in their mettlesome horses to keep pace with the slow steps of their prisoners1 weary1 too1 of even the sport of pricking at these last with their swords1 to try to make them go faster4 ,they had barely reached the bottom of the slope when ,ensign ,hodgson1 ever a restless youth1 lost patience4 ,as soon as he found his horse on a bit of level road1 he called to his men1 ',halloo6 here's our chance for a canter6--,we'll leave the ,lambs to follow us to the slaughter-house at their own sweet will4' ,then1 seeing mingled relief and consternation on the men's faces1 he slapped his thighs with a loud laugh and said3 ',ye silly fellows1 have no fear6 ,no ,quaker ever yet tried to escape from gaol1 nor ever will4 ,we can trust them to follow us in our absence as well as if we were here to drive them4 ,quakers haven't the wit to seek after their own safety4' ,the audacity of the plan tickled the troopers4 ,following ,hodgson's example1 they1 one and all1 raised their plumed hats and1 rising high in their stirrups1 bowed with mock courtesy1 as they took leave of their prisoners4 ',farewell1 sweet ,lambkins1' called out the ,ensign1 'hasten your ,quaker pace and meet us at the slaughter-house at ,ingmire ,hall as fast as you can1 ,,or' 444 he cocked his pistol at them1 and then1 dashing it up1 fired a shot into the air4 ,with wild shouting and laughter the whole troop disappeared round a turn of the road4 ',to ,sedbergh1' they cried1 'to ,sedbergh first6 ,plenty of time for a carouse1 and yet to arrive at ,ingmire ,hall as soon as the ,lambs6' ,arriving in ,sedbergh at a canter they slackened rein at a tavern and refreshed themselves with a draught of ale and an hour's carouse1 before setting off to meet their prisoners at the ,justice's house4 ,when they arrived at ,ingmire ,hall1 to their dismay1 not a ,quaker was in sight4 ,sending his men off to scour the roads1 ,ensign ,hodgson himself dismounted with an oath on ,justice ,otway's doorstep1 and went within to inquire if the ,quakers from ,drawwell had yet arrived4 ',the ,quakers1 ,,whom ,,you ,,were ,,sent ,,to ,,fetch from ,drawwell and for whose non-appearance you are yourself wholly responsible1 ,,have ,,not ,,arrived1' answered the ,justice tartly1 raising his eyebrows as if to emphasise his words4 ,all men knew that good ,sir ,john ,otway was no friend to persecution2 and gay ,lawrence ,hodgson was no favourite of his4 ,with a louder oath than that with which he had entered the house1 the ,ensign flung out of it again1 and rode off at the head of his men--all of them discomfited by their vain search1 for not a ,quaker was to be seen in the neighbourhood4 ,the ',lambs' were less docile than had been supposed4 ,after all1 they had successfully managed to avoid the 'slaughter-house'2 they must have retreated to ,drawwell1 if they had not even seized the opportunity to escape4 ,back again along the road to ,drawwell1 therefore1 the whole sulky company of horsemen were obliged to return1 much out of humour4 ,cursing their leader's carelessness1 as he doubtless cursed his own folly1 they trotted along1 gloomily enough1 till they came to the bend of the road where the homestead comes in sight1 and where they had taken leave of their prisoners4 ,there1 as they turned the corner1 suddenly they all stopped1 thunderstruck1 pulling their horses back on to their haunches in their amazement4 ,the ,lambs had not escaped6 ,though they had not followed meekly to the slaughter-house1 at least they had made no endeavours to flee1 or even to return to the sheepfold on the hillside above them4 ,all the time that the soldiers had been carousing in the alehouse1 or searching the lanes1 the little company of ,friends had remained in the very same spot where the soldiers had left them nearly two hours before4 ,and there they were still1 every one of them2--sitting on the green1 grassy bank by the wayside4 ,there they were1 quietly going on with their uninterrupted worship4 ,yes2 out there1 under the shadow of the everlasting hills1 untroubled by the shadow of even a passing cloud of fear1 the ,friends calmly continued to wait upon ,god4 ,,footnotes3 #cb ,this paragraph is taken from ,e4,e4 ,taylor's description of ,drawwell4 ,,xxiii4 ,,butterflies ,,in ,,the ,,fells ',my concern for ,god and ,his holy1 eternal truth was then in the ,north1 where ,god had placed and set me4'--,,margaret ,,fox4 ',i should be glad if thou would incline to come home1 that thou might get a little ,rest1 methinks its the most comfortable when one has a home to be there1 but the ,lord give us patience to bear all things'--,m4 ,,fox to ,g4 ,fox1 #afha4 ',i did not stir much abroad during the time ,i now stayed in the ,north2 but when ,friends were not with me spent pretty much time in writing books and papers for ,truth's service4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',all dear ,friends press forward in the straight way4'--,,john ,,audland4 ',is not liberty of conscience in religion a fundamental8444 ,liberty of conscience is a natural right1 and he that would have it1 ought to give it1 having liberty to settle what he likes for the public4444 ,this ,i say is fundamental3 it ought to be so4 ,it is for us and the generations to come4'--,,oliver ,,cromwell4 ,,xxiii4 ,,butterflies ,,in ,,the ,,fells ,above all other ,saints in the ,calendar1 the good people of ,newcastle-upon-,tyne do hold in highest honour ,saint ,nicholas1 since to him is dedicated the stately ,church that is the pride and glory of their town4 ,everyone who dwells in the bonnie ,north ,countrie knows well that shrine of ,saint ,nicholas1 set on high on the steep northern bank of the ,river ,tyne4 ,beautiful for situation1 the joy of the whole ,north1 is ,st4 ,nicholas4 ,therefore1 in olden times1 one ,roger ,thornton1 a wealthy merchant of the town1 saw fit to embellish it yet further with a window at the ,eastern end1 of glass stained with colours marvellous to behold4 ,men said indeed that ,merchant ,roger clearly owed that window to the ,saint1 seeing that when he first entered the town scarce a dozen years before1 he came but as a poor pedlar1 possessed of naught but 'a hap1 a halfpenny1 and a lambskin1' whereas these few years spent under the shadow of the ,saint's protection had made him already a man of great estate4 ,roger ,thornton it was who gave the ,eastern window to the ,church1 but none know now1 for certain1 who first embellished the shrine with its crowning gift1 the tall steeple that gathers to itself not only the affection of all those who dwell beneath its shadow1 but also their glory and their pride4 ,some believe it was built by ,king ,david of ,scotland3 others by one ,robert de ,rede1 since his name may still be seen carven upon the stone by him who has skill to look4 ,but in truth the architect hath carried both his name and his secret with him1 and the craftsmen of many another larger and more famous city have sought in vain to build such another tower4 ,by ,london ,bridge and again at ,edinburgh1 in the capitals of two fair kingdoms1 may indeed be seen a steeple built in like fashion1 but far less fair4 ,one man alone1 he whose very name hath been forgotten1 hath known how to swing with perfect grace a pinnacled ,crown1 formed of stone yet delicate as lacework1 aloft in highest air4 ,therefore to this day doth the ,lantern ,tower of ,st4 ,nicholas remain without a peer4 ,a ,lantern ,tower the learned call it1 and indeed the semblance of an open lantern doth rise1 supported by pinnacles1 in the centre of the ,tower2 but to most men it resembles less a lantern than an ,imperial crown swung high in air1 under a canopy of dazzling blue4 ,it is a golden crown in the daytime1 as it shines on high above the hum of the city streets in the clear mid-day light4 ,it becomes a fiery crown when the sun sets1 for then the golden fleurs-de-lys on each of the eight golden vanes atop of the pinnacles gleam and glow like sparks of flame1 climbing higher and ever higher into the steep and burnished air4 ,but it is a jewelled crown that shines by night over the slumbering town beneath2 for then the turrets and pinnacles are gemmed with glittering stars4 ,that ,tower1 to those who have been born under it1 is one of the dearest things upon this earth4 ,judge then of the dismay that was caused to every man1 woman1 and child1 when ,newcastle was being besieged by the ,scottish army during the ,civil ,wars1 at the message that came from the general of the beleaguering army1 that were the town not surrendered to him without delay1 he would train his guns on the ,tower of ,st4 ,nicholas itself1 and lay that first in ruins4 ,happily ,sir ,john ,marley1 the ,english ,commander1 who was likewise ,mayor of the ,town1 was more than a match for the canny ,scot4 ,and this was the answer that the gallant ,sir ,john sent back from the beleaguered town3 that ,general ,leslie might train his guns on the ,tower and welcome1 if such were his pleasure1 but if he did so1 before he brought down one single stone of it1 he would be obliged to take the lives of his own ,scottish prisoners1 whom the guns would find as their first target there4 ,sir ,john was as good as his word4 ,the ,scottish prisoners were strung out in companies along the ,tower ledges1 and kept there day after day1 till the ,scottish ,army had retreated1 baffled for that time1 and ,st4 ,nicholas was saved4 ,therefore1 thanks to ,sir ,john ,marley and his nimble wit1 the pinnacled ,crown still soars up aloft into the sky1 keeping guard over the city of ,newcastle to-day1 as it hath done throughout the centuries4 99 99 99 99 99 ,little did the ,friends1 who came to ,newcastle a few years after the ,scotsmen had departed1 regard the beauty of ,st4 ,nicholas or its ,tower4 ,they came also desiring to besiege the town1 though with only spiritual weapons4 ,the ,church to them was but a 'steeple-house1' and the ,tower akin to an idol4 ,thus slowly do men learn that 'the ways unto ,god are as the number of the souls of the children of men1' and that wherever a man truly seeketh ,god in whatsoever fashion1 so he do but seek honestly and with his whole heart1 ,god will consent to be found of him4 ,yet though the ,friends who came to ,newcastle came truly to besiege the town for love's sake1 not with love did the town receive them4 ',ruddy-faced ,john ,audland' was the first to come1 he who had been one of the preachers that memorable ,sunday at ,firbank ,chapel1 and who1 having yielded place to ,george ,fox1 had been in his turn mightily convinced of ,truth4 ',a man beloved of ,god1 and of all good men1' was ,john ,audland1 'of an exceedingly sweet disposition1 unspeakably loving and tenderly affectionate1 always ready to lend a helping hand to the weak and needy1 open-hearted1 free and near to his friends1 deep in the understanding of the heavenly mysteries4' ,yet little all this availed him4 ,in ,newcastle as elsewhere he preached the ,truth1 'full of dread and shining brightness on his countenance4' ,certain of the townsfolk gathered themselves unto him and became ,friends1 but the authorities would have none of the new doctrine1 and straightway clapped him into gaol4 ,there he lay for a time1 till at last he was set free and went his way4 ,after him came ,george ,fox1 when some thirteen years had gone by since ,sir ,john ,marley saved the ,tower1 and ,general ,leslie had returned discomfited to ,edinburgh4 ,from ,edinburgh1 too1 ,george ,fox had come on his homeward way after that eventful journey to the ,northern ,kingdom1 when 'the infinite sparks of life sparkled about him as soon as his horse set foot across the ,border4' ,weary he was of riding when he reached the gates of ,newcastle-upon-,tyne4 ,yet 'gladded' in his heart was he1 for as he had passed by ,berwick-upon-,tweed1 the ,governor there had 'shewn himself loving towards ,friends1' and1 though only a little ,meeting had been gathered1 'the ,lord's power had been over all4' ,as ,fox and his companion rode through the woods and beside the yellow brown streams and over the heathery moors of ,northumberland1 they found and visited many scattered ,friends whose welcome had made ,george ,fox's heart rejoice4 ,but no sooner had he entered the town than all his gladness left him1 at the grievous tale the faithful ,friends of ,newcastle had to tell4 ,ever since ,john ,audland's preaching had stirred the souls of the townsfolk1 the priests and professors had done their best to prevent 'this pernicious poison from spreading4' ,five ,newcastle priests had written a book1 entitled 'the ,perfect ,pharisee under ,monkish ,holiness1' in which they blamed ,friends for many things1 but above all for their custom of preaching in the streets and open places4 ',it is a pestilent heresy at best1' they said 7though they used not these very words71 'yet did they keep it to themselves 'twere no great harm1 but we find no place hears so much of ,friends' religion as streets and market-places4' ,yet even so their witness agreed not together4 ,for while the priests accused ,friends of too much preaching in public1 a certain ,alderman of the city1 ,thomas ,ledger by name1 put forth three other books against them4 ,and his main charge was this--',,that ,,the ,,quakers ,,would ,,not ,,come ,,into ,,any ,,great ,,towns1 ,,but ,,lived ,,in ,,the ,,fells ,,like ,,butterflies4' ,george ,fox1 hearing these things from the ,friends assembled to greet him at the entrance to the town1 was tried in his spirit1 and determined that the matter should be dealt with1 without more ado4 ,the ,journal saith3 ',the ,newcastle priests wrote many books against us1 and one ,ledger1 an ,alderman of the town1 was very envious of truth and friends4 ,he and the priests had said1 the ,quakers would not come into great towns1 but lived in the fells like butterflies4 ,i took ,anthony ,pearson with me and went to this ,ledger1 and several others of the ,aldermen1 desiring to have a meeting among them1 seeing they had written so many things against us3 for we were now come1 ,i told them1 into their great town4 ,but they would not yield we should have a meeting1 neither would they be spoke with1 save only this ,ledger and one other4 ,i queried3 ,had they not called ,friends ,butterflies1 and said we would not come into any great towns8 ,and now they would not come at us1 though they had printed books against us2 ,,who ,,are ,,the ,,butterflies ,,now8 ',as we could not have a public meeting amongst them we got a little meeting amongst friends and friendly people at the ,gate-side4 ,as ,i was passing by the market-side1 the power of the ,lord rose in me1 to warn them of the day of the ,lord that was coming upon them4 ,and not long after all the priests were turned out of their profession1 when the ,king came in4' ,thus did those same envious priests1 who had accused ,friends of living like butterflies in the fells1 become themselves as butterflies1 being chased out of the great town1 and forced to flit to and fro in the open country4 ,the ,friends1 meanwhile1 increased on both sides of the river ,tyne4 ,in #afeg ,george ,whitehead visited ,newcastle1 and was kindly received in the house of one ,john ,dove1 who had been a ,lieutenant in the army before he became a ,friend4 ,whitehead1 himself one of the ',valiant ,sixty1' writes3--',the ,mayor of the town 7influenced by the priests71 would not suffer us to keep any meeting within the ,liberty of the ,town1 though in ,gate-side 7being out of the ,mayor's ,liberty71 our ,friends had settled a meeting at our beloved ,friend ,richard ,ubank's house4444 ,the first meeting we then endeavoured to have within the town of ,newcastle was in a large room taken on purpose by some ,friends4444 ,the meeting was not fully gathered when the ,mayor of the ,town and his ,officers came1 and by force turned us out of the meeting2 and not only so1 but out of the ,town also2 for the ,mayor and his ,company commanded us and went along with us as far as the ,bridge over the river ,tine that parts ,newcastle and ,gates-head1 upon which ,bridge there is a ,blew ,stone to which the ,mayor's ,liberty extends2 when we came to the stone1 the ,mayor gave his charge to each of us in these words3 ,i charge and command you in the name of ,his ,highness the ,lord ,protector4 ,that you come no more into ,newcastle to have any more meetings there at your peril4' ,the ,friends1 therefore1 continued to meet at the place that is called ,gateside 7though some say that ,goat's head was the name of it at first71 and there they remained till1 after divers persecutions1 they were at length suffered to assemble within the walls of ,newcastle itself1 upon the north side of the ',blew ,stone' above the ,river ,tyne4 ,here1 in #afih1 they bought a plot of ground1 within a stone's-throw of ,st4 ,nicholas1 facing towards the street that the townsmen call ,pilgrim ,street1 since thither in olden days did many weary pilgrims wend their way1 seeking to come unto the ,mound of ,jesu on the outskirts of the town4 ,and that same ,mound of ,jesu is now called by men1 ,jesu ,mond1 or shorter1 ,jesmond1 and no longer is it the resort of pilgrims1 but rather of merchants and pleasure seekers4 ,yet still beside the ,pilgrim ,street stands the ,meeting-,house built by those other pilgrim souls1 those ,quakers1 whom the men of the town in scorn called 'butterflies4' ,and there1 so far from flitting over the fells1 they have continued to hold their ,meetings and worship ,god after their own fashion within those walls for more than two hundred years4 99 99 99 99 99 ,before ever this had come to pass1 and while the ,quakers of ,newcastle were still without an assembling place on their own side of the river1 it happened that a certain man among them1 named ,robert ,jeckel1 being nigh unto death 7though as yet he knew it not71 was seized with a vehement desire to behold ,george ,fox yet once more in the flesh1 since full sixteen years had gone by since his visit to the town4 ,wherefore this same ,robert ,jeckel1 hearing that his beloved friend was now again to be found at ,swarthmoor1 dwelling there in much seclusion1 seeking to regain the strength that had been sorely wasted in long and terrible imprisonments1--this man1 ,robert ,jeckel1 would no longer be persuaded or gainsaid1 but set out at once with several others1 who were like-minded and desirous to come as speedily as might be to ,swarthmoor4 ,in good heart they set forth1 but that same day1 and before they had come even as far as unto ,hexham1 ,robert ,jeckel was seized with a sore sickness1 whereat his friends entreated him to return the way he came to his own home and tender wife4 ,but he refused to be dissuaded and would still press forward4 ,at many other places by the way he was ill and suffering1 yet he would not be satisfied to turn back or to stop until he should arrive at ,swarthmoor4 ,and thither after many days of sore travel he came4 ,the ,mistress of ,swarthmoor was now no longer ,margaret ,fell but ,margaret ,fox4 ,eight full years after the death of her honoured husband1 ,judge ,fell1 and after long waiting to be sure that the thing was from the ,lord1 she had been united in marriage with her beloved friend1 ,george ,fox1 unto whom she was ever a most loving and dutiful wife4 ,therefore1 when ,robert ,jeckel arrived with his friends before the high arched stone gateway that led into the avenue that approacheth ,swarthmoor ,hall1 it was ,mistress ,fox1 who1 with her husband1 came to meet their guests4 ,close behind followed her youngest daughter1 ,rachel ,fell1 the ,seventh ,sister of ,swarthmoor ,hall4 ,she1 the ,judge's pet and plaything in her childhood1 was now a woman grown4 ,seeing by ,robert ,jeckel's countenance that he was sorely stricken1 ,mistress ,fox led him straight to the fair guest chamber of ,swarthmoor1 where she and her daughter nursed him with their wonted tenderness and skill1 hoping thus1 if it might be1 to restore him to his home in peace4 ,but it had been otherwise ordained1 for ,robert ,jeckel1 arriving at ,swarthmoor on the second day of the fifth month that men call ,july1 lay sick there but for nine days and then he died4 ,during his illness many and good words did he say1 among others these3 ',though ,i was persuaded to stay by the way 7being indisposed71 before ,i came to this place1 yet this was the place where ,i would have been1 and the place where ,i should be1 whether ,i live or die4' ,george ,fox1 being himself1 as ,i say1 weakened by his long suffering in ,worcester ,gaol1 was yet able to visit ,robert ,jeckel as he lay a-dying1 and exhorted him to offer up his soul and spirit to the ,lord1 who gives life and breath to all and takes it again4 ,whereupon ,robert ,jeckel lifted up his hands and said1 ',the ,lord is worthy of it1 and ,i have done it4' ,george ,fox then asked him if he could say1 ',thy will1 oh ,god1 be done on earth as it is in heaven1' and he1 lifting up his hands again1 and looking upwards with his eyes1 answered cheerfully1 'he did it4' ,then1 he in his turn1 exhorting those about him1 said3 ',dear ,friends1 dwell in love and unity together1 and keep out of jars1 strife1 and contentions1 and be sure to continue faithful to the end4' ,and speaking of his wife1 he said1 ',as to my wife1 ,i give her up freely to the ,lord2 for she loveth the ,lord and ,he will love her4 ,i have often told my dear wife1 as to what we have of outward things1 it was the ,lord's first before it was ours2 and in that ,i desire she may serve the truth to the end of her days4' ',in much patience the ,lord did keep him1 and he was in perfect sense and memory all the time of his weakness1 often saying1 ,dear ,friends1 give me up and weep not for me1 for ,i am content with the ,lord's doings4 ,and often said that he had no pain1 but gradually declined1 often lifting up his hands while he had strength1 praising the ,lord1 and made a comfortable end on the #aath day of the fifth month1 #afgf4' ,thus did the joyful spirit of this dear friend at last take flight for the ,heavenly ,country1 when1 as he said himself in his sickness1 ',soul separated from body1 the ,spirit returning to ,god that gave it1 and the body to the earth from whence it came4' ,yea1 verily2 his soul took flight for the ,heavenly ,country1 happier in its escape from the worn chrysalis of his weak and weary body than any glad-winged butterfly that flitteth over the fells of his own beloved ,northumberland4 ,,xxiv4 ,,the ,,victory ,,of ,,amor ,,stoddart ',from the heart of the ,puritan sects sprang the religion of the ,quakers1 in which many a war-worn soldier of the ,commonwealth closed his visionary eyes4'--,g4,m4 ,,trevelyan4 ',to be a man of war means to live no longer than the life of the world1 which is perishing2 but to be a man of the ,holy ,spirit1 a man born of ,god1 a man that wars not after the flesh1 a man of the ,kingdom of ,god1 as well as of ,england--that means to live beyond time and age and men and the world1 to be gathered into that life which is ,eternal4'--,,john ,,saltmarsh1 #afdg4 ',keep out of all jangling1 for all that are in the transgression are out from the law of love2 but all that are in the law of love come to the ,lamb's power4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',he changed his weapons1 warfare1 and ,captain 444 when he 'listed himself under the banner of ,christ4'--,w4 ,,penn1 about ,j4 ,whitehead4 ,a prayer for the soldier spirit4 ',teach us1 good ,lord1 to serve ,thee as ,thou deservest3 to give and not to count the cost2 to fight and not to heed the wounds2 to toil and not to seek for rest2 to labour and not to ask for any reward1 save that of knowing that we do ,thy will3 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4'--,,ignatius ,,loyola4 ,,xxiv4 ,,the ,,victory ,,of ,,amor ,,stoddart ',christ disarmed ,peter1 and in so doing ,he unbuckled the sword of every soldier4' ,,tertullian4 ,a dauntless fighter in his day was ,captain ,amor ,stoddart1 seeing he had served in the ,parliamentary ,army throughout the ,civil ,wars4 ,in truth1 it was no child's play to command a body of men as tough as ,oliver's famous ,ironsides4 ,therefore ,captain ,stoddart had doubtless come through many a bloody struggle1 and fought in many a hardly fought contest during those long wars1 before the final victory was won4 ,but now1 not a single memory remains of his small individual share in those ',old unhappy1 far-off things1 ,and battles long ago4' ,his story has come down to us as a staunch comrade and a valiant fighter1 in a different kind of warfare4 ,his victory was won in a struggle in which all the visible weapons were on the other side2 when1 through long years1 he had only the armour of meekness and of love wherewith to oppose hardship and violence and wrong4 ,wherefore1 of this fight and of this victory1 his own name remains as a symbol and a sign4 ,not in vain was he called at his birth ',amor1' which1 in the ,latin tongue signifies ',love1' as all men know4 ,the first meeting between ,captain ,amor ,stoddart and him who was to be thereafter his spirit's earthly captain in the new strange warfare that lay before him1 happened on this wise4 ,in the year #afdh1 when the long ,civil ,wars were at last nearing their close1 ,george ,fox visited ,mansfield in ,nottinghamshire and held a meeting with the professors 7that is to say the ,puritans7 there4 ,it was in that same year of #afdh1 when every day the shadow was drawing nearer of the fatal scaffold that should be erected within the ,palace at ,whitehall the following ,january4 ,but although that shadow crept daily nearer1 men1 for the most part1 as yet perceived it not4 ,fox himself was at this time still young1 as years are counted1 being only twenty-four years of age4 ,four other summers were yet to pass before that memorable day when he should climb to the summit of old ,pendle ,hill1 and1 after seeing there the vision of a 'great people to be gathered1' should begin himself to gather them at ,firbank and ,swarthmoor and many another place4 ,george1 though still young in years1 was already possessed not only of a strange and wonderful presence1 but also of a gift to perceive and to draw the souls of other men1 and to knit them to his own4 ',i went again to ,mansfield1' he says in his ,journal1 'where was a ,great ,meeting of professors and people1 where ,i was moved to pray2 and the ,lord's power was so great that the house seemed to be shaken4 ,when ,i had done1 one of the professors said1 ,it was now as in the days of the ,apostles1 when the house was shaken where they were4' ,after ,fox had finished praying1 with this vehemence that seemed to shake the house1 one of the professors began to pray in his turn1 but in such a dead and formal way that even the other professors were grieved thereat and rebuked him4 ,whereupon this praying professor came in all humility to ,fox1 beseeching him that he would pray again4 ',but1' says ,fox1 ',i could not pray in any man's will4' ,still1 though he could not make a prayer to order1 he agreed to meet with these same professors another day4 ,this second meeting was another ',great ,meeting4' ,from far and wide the professors and people gathered to see the man who had learnt to pray4 ,but the professors did not truly seem to care to learn the secret4 ,they went on talking and arguing together4 ,they were 'jangling1' as ,fox calls it 7that is to say1 using endless strings of words to talk about sacred things1 without really feeling the truth of them in their hearts71 jangling all together1 when suddenly the door opened and a grave young officer walked in4 '',tis ,captain ,amor ,stoddart1 of ,noll's ,army1' the professors said one to another1 as1 hardly stopping for a moment at the stranger's entrance1 they continued to 'jangle' among themselves4 ,they went on1 speaking of the most holy things1 talking even about the blood of ,christ1 without any feeling of solemnity1 till ,fox could bear it no longer4 ',as they were discoursing of it1' he says1 ',i saw through the immediate opening of the invisible ,spirit1 the blood of ,christ2 and cried out among them saying1 ,do you not see the blood of ,christ8 ,see it in your hearts1 to sprinkle your hearts and consciences from dead works to serve the living ,god8 ,for ,i saw the blood of the ,new ,covenant how it came into the heart4 ,this startled the professors who would have the blood only without them1 and not in them4 ,but ,captain ,stoddart was reached1 and said1 ,let the youth speak1 hear the youth speak1 when he saw that they endeavoured to bear me down with many words4' ',captain ,stoddart was reached4' ,he1 the soldier1 accustomed to the terrible realities of a battlefield1 knew the sight of blood for himself only too well4 ,george ,fox's words may seem perhaps mysterious to us now1 but they came home to ,amor and made him able to see something of the same vision that ,fox saw4 ,we may not be able to see that vision ourselves1 but at least we can feel the difference between having the ,blood of ,christ1 that is the ,life of ,christ1 within our hearts1 and only talking and 'jangling' about it1 as the professors were doing4 ',captain ,stoddart was reached4' ,having been 'reached1' having seen1 if only for one moment1 something of what the ,cross had meant to ,christ1 and having felt ,his ,life within1 ,amor became a different man4 ,to take the lives of his fellowmen1 to shed their blood for whom that ,blood had been shed1 was henceforth for him impossible4 ,he unbuckled his sword1 and resigning his captaincy in ,oliver's conquering army1 just when victory was at hand after the stern struggle1 he followed his despised ,quaker teacher into obscurity4 ,for seven long years we hear nothing more of him4 ,then he appears again at ,george ,fox's side1 no longer ,captain ,stoddart the ,officer1 but plain ,amor ,stoddart1 a comrade and helper of the first ,publishers of ,truth4 ,in the year #afee1 ,fox's ,journal records3 ',on the sixth day ,i had a large meeting near ,colchester#cc to which many professors and the ,independent teachers came4 ,after ,i had done speaking and was stepped down from the place on which ,i stood1 one of the ,independent teachers began to make a jangling it seems they still went on jangling1 even after seven long years61 which ,amor ,stoddart perceiving said1 ,stand up again1 ,george6 for ,i was going away and did not at the first hear them4' ,if ,amor ,stoddart had unbuckled his sword1 evidently he had not lost the power of grappling with difficulties1 of swiftly seeing the right thing to do1 and of giving his orders with soldier-like precision4 ',stand up again1 ,george6'--a quick1 military command1 in the fewest possible words4 ,george ,fox was more in the habit of commanding other people than of being commanded himself2 but he knew his comrade and obeyed without a word4 ',i stood up again1' he says1 'when ,i heard the ,independent the man who had been jangling1 and after a while the ,lord's power came over him and all his company1 who were confounded1 and the ,lord's truth was over all4 ,a great flock of sheep hath the ,lord in that country that feed in ,his pastures of life4' ,nevertheless1 without ,amor ,stoddart the sheep would have gone away hungry1 and would not have been fed at that meeting4 ,again we hear of ,amor a little later in the same year1 still at ,george ,fox's side1 but this time not as a passive spectator1 nor even merely as a resourceful comrade4 ,he was now himself to be a sufferer for the ,truth4 ,he still lives for us through his share in a strange but wonderful scene of ,george ,fox's life4 ,a few months after the meeting at ,colchester1 the two friends visited ,cambridge1 and 'there1' says ,fox in his ,journal1 'the scholars1 hearing of me1 were up and were exceeding rude4 ,i kept on my horse's back and rode through them in the ,lord's power4 ,oh1 said they1 ,,he ,,shines1 ,,he ,,glisters1 but they unhorsed ,amor ,stoddart before we could get to the inn4 ,when we were in the inn they were so rude in the courts and the streets1 so that the miners1 colliers1 and carters could never be ruder4 ,and the people of the inn asked us 'what we would have for supper' as is the way of inns4 ,supper1 said ,i1 were it not that the ,lord's power is over them1 these rude scholars look as if they would pluck us in pieces and make a supper of us6' ,after this treatment1 the two friends might have been expected to keep away from ,cambridge in the future2 but that was not their way4 ,where the fight was hottest1 there these two faithful soldiers of the ,cross were sure to be found4 ,the very next year saw ,fox back in ,cambridgeshire once more2 and again ,amor ,stoddart was with him1 standing by his side and sharing all dangers like a valiant and faithful friend4 ',i passed into ,cambridgeshire1' the ,journal continues1 'and into the fen country1 where ,i had many meetings1 and the ,lord's truth spread4 ,robert ,craven1 who had been ,sheriff of ,lincoln1 was with me it would be interesting to know more about ,robert ,craven1 and where and how he was reached1 and ,amor ,stoddart and ,alexander ,parker4 ,we went to ,crowland1 a very rude place2 for the townspeople were got together at the inn we went to1 and were half drunk1 both priest and people4 ,i reproved them for their drunkenness and warned them of the day of the ,lord that was coming upon all the wicked2 exhorting them to leave their wickedness and to turn to the ,lord in time4 ,while ,i was thus speaking to them the priest and the clerk broke out into a rage1 and got up the tongs and fire-shovel at us1 so that had not the ,lord's power preserved us we might have been murdered amongst them4 ,yet1 for all their rudeness and violence1 some received the truth then1 and have stood in it ever since4' ,george ,fox was not the only man to find a faithful and staunch supporter in ,amor ,stoddart4 ,there is another glimpse of him1 again standing at a comrade's side in time of danger1 but the comrade in this case is not ,fox but 'dear ,william ,dewsbury1' one of the best loved of all the early ,friends4 ,amor ,stoddart was ,dewsbury's companion that sore day at ,bristol when the tidings came from ,new ,england overseas1 that the first two ,quaker ,martyrs1 ,william ,robinson and ,marmaduke ,stevenson1 had been hanged for their faith on ,boston ,common4 ,heavy at heart were the ,bristol ,friends at the news1 and not they only1 for assembled with them were some ,new ,england ,friends who had been banished from their families and from their homes1 under pain of the same death that the martyrs had suffered4 ',we were bowed down unto our ,god1' ,dewsbury writes1 'and prayer was made unto ,him when there came a knocking at the door4 ,it came upon my spirit that it was the rude people1 and the life of ,god did mightily arise1 and they had no power to come in until we were clear before our ,god4 ,then they came in1 setting the house about with muskets and lighted matches4 ,so after a season of this they came into the room1 where ,i was and ,amor ,stoddart with me4 ,i looked upon them when they came into the room1 and they cried as fast as they could well speak1 ,we will be civil6 ,we will be civil6 ',i spoke these words1 ,see that you be so4 ,they ran forth out of the room and came no more into it1 but ran up and down in the house with their weapons in their hands1 and the ,lord ,god caused their hearts to fail and they passed away1 and not any harm done to any of us4' ,eleven years after this pass in almost complete silence1 as far as ,amor is concerned4 ,occasionally we hear the bare mention of his name among the ,london ,friends4 ,one short entry in ,fox's ,journal speaks of him as having 'buried his wife4' ,then the veil lifts again and shows one more glimpse of him4 ,it is the last4 ,in #afgj1 twenty-two years after that first meeting at ,mansfield1 when ,captain ,stoddart came into the room1 and said1 ',let the youth speak1' ,george ,fox1 now a man worn with his sufferings and service1 came into another room to bid farewell to his old comrade as he lay a-dying4 ,fox himself had been brought near to death not long before1 but he knew that his work was not yet wholly finished1 he was not yet 'fully clear' in his ,master's sight4 ',under great sufferings1 sorrows1 and oppressions ,i lay several weeks1' he writes in his ,journal1 'whereby ,i was brought so low that few thought ,i could live4 ,when those about me had given me up to die1 ,i spoke to them to get me a coach to carry me to ,gerard ,roberts1 about twelve miles off1 for ,i found it was my place to go thither4 ,so ,i went down a pair of stairs to the coach1 and when ,i came to the coach ,i was like to have fallen down1 ,i was so weak and feeble1 but ,i got up into the coach1 and some friends with me4 ,when ,i came to ,gerard's1 after ,i had stayed about three weeks there1 it was with me to go to ,enfield4 ,friends were afraid of my removing1 but ,i told them that ,i might safely go4 ,when ,i had taken my leave of ,gerard and had come to ,enfield1 ,i went first to visit ,amor ,stoddart1 who lay very weak and almost speechless4 ,i was moved to tell him that he had been faithful as a man and faithful to ,god1 and the immortal ,seed of ,life was his crown4 ,many more words ,i was moved to speak to him1 though ,i was then so weak1 ,i could scarcely stand1 and within a few days after1 ,amor died4' ,that is all4 ,very simply he passes out of sight1 having heard his comrade's 'well done'3--this valiant soldier who renounced his sword4 ,his name1 ,,amor1 still holds the secret of his power1 his silent patience1 and of his victory1 for ',,omnia ,,vincit ,,amor4' ,,footnotes3 #cc ,it was on this visit to ,colchester that ,george ,fox had his farewell interview with ,james ,parnell1 imprisoned in the ,castle4 ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,marvellous ,,voyage ,,of ,,the ,,good ,,ship ',,woodhouse' ',in the #agth ,century ,england was peculiarly rich1 if not in great mystics1 at any rate in mystically minded men4 ,mysticism1 it seems1 was in the air2 broke out under many disguises and affected many forms of life4'--,e4 ,,underhill1 ',mysticism4' ',he who says ,yes1 responds1 obeys1 co-operates1 and allows this resident seed of ,god1 or ,christ ,light1 to have full sway in him1 becomes transformed thereby and recreated into likeness to ,christ by whom the inner seed was planted1 and of whose nature it is4'--,,rufus ,m4 ,,jones4 ',through winds and tides1 one compass guides4'--,a4,h4 ,,clough4 ',have mercy upon me1 ,o ,god1 for ,thine ocean is so great1 and my little bark is so small4'--,breton ,fisherman's ,prayer4 ',be faithful and still1 till the winds cease and the storm be over4' 444 ',friends' fellowship must be in the ,spirit1 and all ,friends must know one another in the ,spirit and power of ,god4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',christopher ,holder and ,i are going 444 in obedience to the will of our ,god1 whose will is our joy4'--,,john ,,copeland4 #afeg4 ',the log of the little ,woodhouse has become a sacred classic4'--,,william ,,littleboy1 ,swarthmoor ,lecture1 #aiag4 ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,marvellous ,,voyage ,,of ,,the ,,good ,,ship ',,woodhouse' ,master ,robert ,fowler of ,burlington was a well-known figure in all the fishing towns and villages along the ,yorkshire coast in the year of grace #afeg4 ,a man of substance was he1 a master mariner1 well skilled in his craft2 building his own ships and sailing them withal1 and never to be turned back from an adventurous voyage4 ,many fine vessels he had1 sailing over the broad waters1 taking the ,yorkshire cargoes of wool and hides to distant lands1 and bringing back foreign goods in exchange1 to be sold again at a profit on his return to old ,england's shores4 ,thus up and down the ,yorkshire coast men spoke and thought highly of ,master ,robert ,fowler's judgment in all matters pertaining to the sea4 ,on land1 too1 he seemed prudent and skilful1 though some folks looked at him askance of late years1 since he had joined himself to that strange and perverse people known as the ,quakers4 ,yet1 in spite of what his neighbours considered his new-fangled religion1 ,master ,robert ,fowler was prospering in all his worldly affairs4 ,even now on the sunny day when our story opens1 he was hard at work putting the last touches to a new boat of graceful proportions and gallant curves1 that bade fair to be a yet more notable seafarer than any of her distant sisters4 ,why then did ,master ,robert ,fowler pause more than once in his work to heave a deep sigh1 and throw down his tools almost pettishly8 ,why did he suddenly put his fingers in his ears as if to shut out an unwelcome sound1 resuming his work thereafter with double speed8 ,no one was speaking to him4 ,the mid-day air was very still4 ,the haze that often broods over the north-east coast veiled the horizon4 ,sea and sky melted into one another till it was impossible to say where earth ended and heaven began4 ,an unwonted silence reigned even on ,burlington ,quay4 ,no sound was to be heard save for the tap1 tap1 tap of ,master ,robert ,fowler's hammer4 ,again he dropped his tools4 ,again he looked up to the sky1 as if he were listening to an unseen voice4 ,someone was truly speaking to him1 though no faintest sound vibrated on the air4 ,his inward ear heard clearly these words-- ',,thou ,,hast ,,her ,,not ,,for ,,nothing4' ,his eyes travelled proudly over the nearly completed vessel4 ,every one of her swelling curves he knew by heart2 had learned to know and love through long months of toil4 ,how still she lay1 the beauty1 still as a bird1 poising on the sea4 ,ah6 but the day was coming when she would spread her wings and skim over the ocean1 buoyant and dainty as one of the terns1 those sea-swallows that with their sharp white wings even now were hovering round her4 ,built for use she was too1 not merely to take the eye4 ,although small of size more bales of goods could be stowed away under her shapely decks than in many another larger clumsier vessel4 ,who should know this better than ,robert1 her maker1 who had planned it all8 ,for what had he planned her8 ,was it for the voyage to the ,eastern ,mediterranean that had been the desire of his heart for many years8 ,how well he knew it1 that voyage he had never made6 ,down the ,channel he would go1 past ,ushant and safely across the ,bay4 ,then1 when ,finisterre had dropped to leeward1 it would be but a few days' sail along the pleasant coasts of ,portugal till ,gibraltar was reached4 ,and then1 heigh ho6 for a fair voyage in the summer season1 week after week over a calm blue sea to the land-locked harbour where flat-roofed1 white-walled houses1 stately palm-trees1 rosy domes and minarets1 mirrored in the still water1 gazed down at their own reflections4 ,was the ,woodhouse for this8 ,he had planned her for this dream voyage4 ,why then came that other ,voice in his heart directly he began to build3 ',,fashion ,,thee ,a ,,ship ,,for ,,the ,,service ,,of ,,truth6' ,and now that she was nearly completed1 why did the ,voice grow daily more insistent1 giving ever clearer directions8 ,what a bird she was6 ,his own bird of the sea1 his beautiful ,woodhouse6 ,so thought ,master ,robert ,fowler4 ,but then again came the insistent ,voice within1 speaking yet more clearly and distinctly than ever before3 ',,thou ,,hast ,,her ,,not ,,for ,,nothing4' ,the vision of his sea-swallow1 her white wings gleaming in the sun as she dropped anchor in that still harbour2 the vision of the white and rose-coloured city stretched like an encircling arm around the turquoise waters1 these dreams faded relentlessly from his sight4 ,instead he saw the ,woodhouse beating up wearily against a bleak and rugged shore on which grey waves were breaking4 ,angry1 white teeth those giant breakers showed2 teeth that would grind a dainty boat to pieces with no more compunction than a dog who snaps at a fly4 ,must he take her there8 ,a vision of that inhospitable shore was constantly with him as he worked4 ',new ,england was presented before him4' ,day after day he drove the thought from him4 ,night after night it returned4 ',thou hast her not for nothing4 ,she is needed for the service of ,truth4' ,master ,robert ,fowler grew lean and wan with inward struggle1 but yield his will he could not1 yet disobey the ,voice he did not dare4 ,when his wife and children asked what ailed him he answered not1 or gave a surly reply4 ,truth to tell1 he avoided their company all he could1--and yet a look was in his eyes when they did not notice as if he had never before felt them half so dear4 ,at length the long-expected day arrived when the completed vessel sailed graciously out to sea4 ,but there was no gaiety on board1 as there had been when her sister ships had departed4 ,no cargo had she4 ,no farewells were said4 ,master ,robert ,fowler stole aboard when all beside were sleeping4 ,the ,woodhouse slipped from the grey harbour into the grey sea1 noiselessly as a bird4 ,none of the crew knew what ailed the master1 nor why his door was locked for long hours thereafter1 until the ,yorkshire coast first drew dim1 and then faded from the horizon4 ,he would not even tell them whither the vessel was bound4 ',keep a straight course2 come back at four bells1 and then ,i will direct you1' was all his answer1 when the mate knocked at his door for orders4 ,but within the cabin a man was wrestling with himself upon his knees2 till at last in agony he cried3 ',e'en take the boat1 ,lord1 an so ,thou wilt1 for ,i have no power to give her ,thee4 ,yet truly she is ,thine4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,at that same hour in ,london an anxious little company was gathered in a house at the back side of ,thomas ,apostles ,church1 over the door of which swung the well-known sign of the ,fleur-de-luce4 ,the master of the house1 ,friend ,gerard ,roberts1 a merchant of ,watling ,street1 sat at the top of the table in a small upper room4 ,the anxiety on his countenance was reflected in the faces round his board4 ,seven men and four women were there1 all soberly clad as befitted ministering ,friends4 ,they were not eating or drinking1 but solemnly seeking for guidance4 ',can no ship then be found to carry us to the other side8 ,for truly the ,lord's word is as a fire and hammer in me1 though in the outward appearance there is no likelihood of getting passage1' one ,friend was saying4 ',ships in plenty there are bound for ,new ,england1 but ne'er a one that is willing to carry even one ,quaker1 let alone eleven1' ,friend ,roberts answered4 ',the colonists' new laws are strict1 and their punishments are savage4 ,i know1 ,friends1 ye are all ready1 aye and willing1 to suffer in the service of ,truth4 ,it is not merely the threatened cropping of the ears of every ,quaker who sets foot ashore that is the difficulty4 ,it is the one hundred pounds fine for every ,quaker landed1 not levied on the ,friends themselves1 mind you--that were simple--but on the owner of the boat in which they shall have voyaged4 ,this it is that hinders your departure4 ,it were not fair to ask a man to run such risk4 ,it is not fair4 ,yet already ,i have asked many in vain4 ,way doth not open4 ,we must needs leave it1 and see if the concern abides4' ,clear as a bell rose the silvery tones of a young woman ,friend1 one who had been formerly a serving-maid at ,cammsgill ,farm3 ',commit thy way unto the ,lord1 trust also in ,him1 and ,he shall bring it to pass4 ,shall not ,he who setteth a bound to the sea that it shall not pass over1 and taketh up the isles as a very little thing--shall not ,he be trusted to find a ship for ,his servants who trust in ,him1 to enable them to perform ,his will8' ,as the clear bell-like tones died away the little company1 impelled by a united instinct1 sank into a silence in which time passed unnoticed4 ,suddenly1 at the same moment1 a weight seemed to be removed from the hearts of all4 ,they clasped hands and separated4 ,and at that very moment1 although they knew it not1 far away on the broad seas1 a man1 wrestling on his knees in the cabin of his vessel1 was saying with bitter tears1 ',e'en take1 ,lord1 an so ,thou wilt1 though ,i have no power to give her to ,thee4 ,yet truly she is ,thine4' ,when four bells were sounded on the good ship ,woodhouse1 and a knock came to the door of the cabin as the mate asked for directions1 it was in a steady voice that ,master ,robert ,fowler replied from within1 ',mark a straight course for ,london2 and after--whithersoever the ,lord may direct4' ,blithely and gaily henceforward the ,woodhouse skimmed her way to the mouth of the ,thames and dropped anchor at the port of ,london4 ,but as yet ,master ,robert ,fowler knew nothing of the anxious group of ,friends waiting to be taken to ,new ,england on the service of ,truth 7five of them having already been deported thence for the offence of being ,quakers1 yet anxious to return and take six others with them74 ,neither did these ,friends know anything of ,master ,robert ,fowler1 nor of his good ship ,woodhouse4 ,yet1 though unknown to each other1 he and they alike were well known to ,one ,heart1 were guided by ,one ,hand1 were listening to the directions of ,one ,voice4 ,therefore1 though it may seem a strange chance1 it was not wonderful really that within a few hours of the arrival of the ,woodhouse in the ,thames ,master ,robert ,fowler and ,friend ,gerard ,roberts met each other face to face in ,london ,city4 ,nor was it strange that the ship's captain should be moved to tell the merchant of the exercise of his spirit about his ship4 ,in truth all ,friends who visited ,london in those days were wont to unburden themselves of their perplexities to the master of that hospitable house over whose doorway swung the sign of the ,fleur-de-luce4 ,lightly he told it--almost as a jest--the folly of the notion that a vessel of such small tonnage could be needed to face the terrors of the terrible ,atlantic4 ,surely a prudent merchant like ,friend ,roberts would tell him to pay no heed to visions and inner voices1 and such like idle notions8 ,but ,gerard ,roberts did not scoff4 ,he listened silently4 ,a look almost of awe stole over his face4 ,the first words he uttered were1 ',it is the ,lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes4' ,and at these words ,master ,robert ,fowler's heart sank down1 down like lead4 ,long afterwards1 describing the scene1 he says3 ',also when 7the vessel7 was finished and freighted1 and made to sea1 contrary to my will1 was brought to ,london1 where1 speaking touching this matter to ,gerard ,roberts and others1 they confirmed the matter in behalf of the ,lord1 that it must be so4' ',it must be so4' ,this is the secret of ,guidance from that day to this4 ,the ,inner ,voice alone is not always enough for action2 the outer need or claim of service alone is not necessarily a call4 ,but when the ,inner ,voice and the outer need come together1 then truly the will of the ,lord is plain1 and ',it must be so4' ,master ,robert ,fowler was not yet willing or ready to sacrifice his own wishes4 ,a decisive victory is not to be won in one battle1 however severe1 but only throughout the stress of a long campaign4 ,the struggle in his cabin1 when he allowed the ship's head to be turned towards ,london1 must needs be fought out again4 ,the unreasonableness of such a voyage in such a vessel1 the risk1 the thought of the dangers and misery it would bring1 took possession of his mind once more1 as he himself confesses3 ',yet entering into reasoning and letting in temptation and hardships1 and the loss of my life1 wife1 and children1 with the enjoyment of all earthly things1 it brought me as low as the grave1 and laid me as one dead to the things of ,god4' ',let the sacrifice be made1 if it must be made1' he said to himself1 'but it is too much to expect any man to make it willingly4' ,for days he went about1 in his own words1 'as one dead4' ,the eagerness of the ,friends to depart1 their plans for the voyage1 their happy cares1 only loaded his spirit the more4 ,it was a dark1 sad1 miserable time2 and a dark1 sad1 miserable man was the owner of the ,woodhouse4 ,till on a certain day1 the ,friends coming as usual to visit his ship brought another with them1 a ,stranger2 taller1 stronger1 sturdier than them all2 a man with a long drooping nose and piercing eyes--yes1 and leather breeches6 ,it was1 it could be no other than ,george ,fox6 ,what did he say to ,robert ,fowler8 ,what words did he use8 ,did he argue or command8 ,that was unnecessary4 ,the mere presence of the strong faithful servant of the ,lord drew out a like faithfulness in the other more timid soul4 ,robert ,fowler's narrative continues3 ',but by ,his instrument1 ,george ,fox1 was ,i refreshed and raised up again1 which before was much contrary to myself that ,i could have as willingly have died as gone2 but by the strength of ,god ,i was now made willing to do ,his will2 yea even the customs and fashions of the customs house could not stop me4' ',made willing to do ,his will4' ,there is the secret of this 'wonderful voyage4' ,for it was absurdly dangerous to think of sailing across the ,atlantic in such a vessel as the ,woodhouse3 or it would have been1 had it been a mere human plan4 ,but if the all-powerful1 almighty ,will of ,god really commanded them to go1 then it was no longer dangerous but the only safe thing they could do4 ',our trembling hands held in ,thy strong and loving grasp1 what shall even the weakest of us fear8' ,perhaps ,master ,robert expected when once he was ready to obey cheerfully1 that all his difficulties would vanish4 ,instead1 fresh difficulties arose2 and the next difficulty was truly a great one4 ,the press-gang came by1 and took ,robert ,fowler's servants off by force to help to man the ,british fleet that was being fitted out to fight in the ,baltic2 took them1 whether they would or no1 as ,richard ,sellar was to be captured in the same way1 seven years later4 ,so now the long voyage to ,america must be undertaken not only in too small a boat1 but with too few sailors to work her4 ,besides ,robert ,fowler1 only two men and three boys were left on board to sail the ship on this long1 difficult voyage4 ,presently the ,friends began to come on board2 and if the captain's heart sank anew as he saw the long string of passengers making for his tiny boat--who shall wonder or blame him8 ,it was a very solemn procession of weighty ,friends4 ,in front came the five1 who had been in ,america before1 and who were going back to face persecution1 knowing what it meant4 ,their names were3 first that 'ancient and venerable man' ,william ,brend2 then young ,christopher ,holder of ,winterbourne in ,gloucestershire1 a well-educated man of good estate2 ,john ,copeland of ,holderness in ,yorkshire2 ,mary ,weatherhead of ,bristol2 and ,dorothy#cd ,waugh1 the serving-maid of ,preston ,patrick1 who had been 'convinced and called to the ministry' as she went about her daily work in the family of ,friend ,john ,camm1 at ,cammsgill4 ,after them followed the other five who had not crossed the ,atlantic before1 but who were no less eager to face unknown difficulties and dangers4 ,their names were3 ,william ,robinson the ,london merchant2 ,robert ,hodgson2 ,humphrey ,norton 7remember ,humphrey ,norton1 he will be heard of again72 ,richard ,doudney1 'an innocent man who served the ,lord in sincerity'2 and ,mary ,clark1 the wife of ,john ,clark1 a ,london ,friend1 who1 like most of the others1 had already undergone much suffering for her faith4 ,on board the ,woodhouse they all came1 stepping on deck one after the other solemnly and sedately1 while the anxious captain watched them and wondered how many more were to come1 and where they were all to be lodged4 ,once they were on board1 however1 things changed and felt quite different4 ,it was as if an ,unseen ,passenger had come with them4 ,this is ,robert ,fowler's own account3 ',upon the #ast day of ,fourth ,month called ,june received ,i the ,lord's servants aboard1 ,who came with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm with them2 so that with courage we set sail and came to the ,downs the second day1 where our dearly beloved ,william ,dewsbury with ,michael ,thompson came aboard1 and in them we were much refreshed2 and1 recommending us to the grace of ,god1 we launched forth4' ,after this his narrative has a different ring3 ,master ,fowler was no longer going about his ship with eyes cast down and hanging head and a heart full of fear4 ,he had straightened his back and was a stalwart mariner again4 ,perhaps this was partly owing to the great pleasure that came to him before they actually set sail1 when1 as he tells1 ,william ,dewsbury came on board to visit the travellers4 ',dear ,william ,dewsbury' was the one ,friend of all others ,robert ,fowler must have wished to see once more before leaving ,england1 for it was ,william ,dewsbury's preaching that had 'convinced' ,robert ,fowler and made him become a ,friend a few years before4 ,it was ,william ,dewsbury's teaching about the blessedness of following the inner ,voice1 the inner guidance1 that had led him to offer himself and the ,woodhouse for the service of ,truth4 ,perhaps he said1 half in joke1 half in earnest1 ',o ,william ,dewsbury6 ,o ,william ,dewsbury6 thou hast much to answer for6 ,if ,i had never met thee ,i should never have undertaken this voyage in my little boat6' ,if he said this1 ,i think a very tender1 thankful light came into ,william ,dewsbury's face1 as he answered1 ',let us give thanks then together1 brother1 that the message did reach thee through me2 since without this voyage thou could'st not fully have known the power and the wonder of the ,lord4' ,quakers do not have priests to baptize them1 or bishops to confirm or ordain them1 as ,church people do4 ,yet ,god's actual presence in the heart is often revealed first through the message of one of ,his messengers4 ,therefore there is a special bond of tender fellowship and friendship between those who are truly fathers and children in ,god1 even in a ,society where all are friends4 ,in this relation ,william ,dewsbury stood to ,robert ,fowler4 ,reason and fear raised their heads once again1 even after ,william ,dewsbury's visit4 ,robert ,fowler thought of going to the ,admiral in the ,downs to complain of the loss of his servants1 and to ask that a convoy might be sent with them4 ,but he did not go1 because1 as he says1 ',from which thing ,i was withholden by that ,hand which was my ,helper4' ,the south wind began to blow1 and they were obliged to put in at ,portsmouth1 and there there were plenty of men waiting to be engaged1 but when they heard that this tiny vessel was actually venturing to cross the ,atlantic1 not one would sail in her1 and this happened again at ,south ,yarmouth1 where they put in a few days later4 ,at ,portsmouth1 however1 the ,friends were not idle4 ,they went ashore and held a meeting1 or1 as ,robert ,fowler puts it1 ',they went forth and gathered sticks and kindled a fire1 and left it burning4' ,not real sticks for a real fire1 of course1 but a fire of love and service in people's hearts1 that would help to keep the cold world warm in after days4 ,this was their last task in ,england4 ,a few hours later they had quitted her shores4 ,the coast-line that followed them faithfully at first1 dropped behind gradually1 growing fainter and paler1 then resting like a thought upon the sea1 till it finally disappeared4 ,only a vast expanse of heaving waters surrounded the travellers4 ,at first it seemed as if their courage was not to be too severely tested4 ',three pretty large ships which were for the ,newfoundland' appeared1 and bore the ,woodhouse company for some fifty leagues4 ,in their vicinity the smaller vessel might have made the voyage1 perilous at best1 with a certain amount of confidence4 ,but the ,dutch warships were known to be not far distant1 and in order to escape them the three 'pretty large ships made off to the northward1 and left us without hope or help as to the outward4' ,the manner of the departure of the ships was on this wise4 ,early in the morning it was shown to ,humphrey ,norton--who seems to have been especially sensitive to messages from the invisible world--'that those were nigh unto us who sought our lives4' ,he called ,robert ,fowler1 and gave him this warning1 and added1 ',thus saith the ,lord1 ye shall be carried away as in a mist4' ',presently1' says ,robert ,fowler1 'we espied a great ship making up to us1 and the three great ships were much afraid1 and tacked about with what speed they could2 in the very interim the ,lord fulfilled ,his promise1 and struck our enemies in the face with a contrary wind1 wonderfully to our refreshment4 ,then upon our parting from these three ships we were brought to ask counsel of the ,lord1 and the word was from ,him1 ,cut through and steer your straight course and mind nothing but ,me4' ',cut through and steer your straight course1 and mind nothing but ,me6' ,alone upon the broad ,atlantic in this cockle-shell of a boat6 ,only a cockle-shell truly1 yet it held a bit of heaven within it--the heaven of obedience4 ,every day the little company of ,friends met in that ship's hold together1 and ',he ,himself met with us and manifested himself largely unto us1' words that have been proved true by many another company of the ,master's servants afloat upon the broad waters from that day to this4 ,there they sat on the wooden benches1 with spray breaking over them1 the faithful men and women who were daring all for the ,truth4 ,only three times in the whole voyage was the weather so bad that storms prevented their assembling together4 ,much of the actual navigation of the vessel seems to have been left to the strange passengers to determine4 ,the ,captain's narrative continues3 ',thus it was all the voyage with the faithful1 who were carried far above storms and tempests1 that when the ship went either to the right hand or to the left1 their hands joined all as one1 and did direct her way2 so that we have seen and said1 ,we see the ,lord leading our vessel even as it were a man leading a horse by the head2 we regarding neither latitude nor longitude1 but kept to our line1 which was and is our ,leader1 ,guide1 and ,rule4' ,besides the guidance vouchsafed to the ,friends as a group1 some of them had special intimations given to them4 ',the sea was my figure1' says ,robert ,fowler1 'for if anything got up within1 the sea without rose up against me1 and then the floods clapped their hands1 of which in time ,i took notice and told ,humphrey ,norton4'#ce ,in this account ,humphrey ,norton always seems to hear voices directing their course1 while ,robert ,fowler generally 'sees figures'--sights that teach him what to do4 ,guidance may come in different ways to different people1 but it does come surely to those who seek for it4 ,the inward ,voice spoke to ,robert ,fowler also when they were in mid ,atlantic after they had been at sea some two weeks3 ',we saw another great ship making up to us which did appear far off to be a frigate1 and made her sign for us to come to them1 which was to me a great cross1 we being to windward of them2 and it was said ,,go ,,speak ,,to ,,him1 ,,the ,,cross ,,is ,,sure2 ,,did ,i ,,ever ,,fail ,,thee ,,therein8 ,and unto others there appeared no danger in it1 so that we did1 and it proved a tradesman of ,london1 by whom we writ back4' ,the hardest test of their faith came some three weeks later1 when after five weeks at sea they had still accomplished only #cjj leagues1 scarcely a third part of their voyage1 and their destination still seemed hopelessly distant4 ,the strong faith of ,humphrey ,norton carried them all over this trial4 ',he 7,humphrey ,norton7 falling into communion with ,god1 told me that he had received a comfortable answer1 and also that about such a day we should land in ,america1 which was even so fulfilled4 ,upon the last day of the fifth month 7,july7 #afeg1 we made land4' ,this land turned out to be the very part to which the ,friends had most desired to come4 ,the pilot#cf had expected to reach quite a different point1 but the invisible guidance of his strange passengers was clear and unwavering4 ',our drawing had been all the passage to keep to the southward1 until the evening before we made land1 and then the word was1 ,there is a lion in the way2 unto which we gave obedience1 and said1 ,let them steer northwards until the day following4'#cg ,that must have been an anxious day on board the ,woodhouse4 ,think of the two different clues that were being followed within that one small boat3 the ,friends with their clasped hands1 seeking and finding guidance2 up on deck the pilot1 with his nautical knowledge1 scoffing very likely at any other method of progress than the reckoning to which he was accustomed4 ,as the slow hours passed1 and no land appeared to break the changeless circle of the sea1 the ,friends felt a 'drawing' to meet together long before their usual time4 ',and it was said that we may look abroad in the evening2 and as we sat waiting upon the ,lord1 we discovered the land1 and our mouths were opened in prayer and thanksgiving4' ,the words are simple as any words could be4 ,but in spite of the #bfj years that separate that day from this1 its gladness is still fresh4 ,all voyagers know the thrill caused by the first sight of land1 even in these days of steamships1 when all arrangements can be made and carried out with almost clock-like precision4 ,but in the old time of sailing ships1 when a contrary wind or a sudden calm might upset the reckoning for days together1 and when there was the added danger that food or water might give out1 to see the longed-for land in sight at last must have been even more of an event4 ,to all the ,friends on board the ,woodhouse this first sight of ,america meant a yet deeper blessedness4 ,it was the outer assurance that the invisible guidance they were following was reliable4 ,the ,friends rejoiced and were wholly at rest and thankful4 ,but the pilot1 instead of being1 as might have been expected1 convinced at last that there was a wisdom wiser than his own1 still resisted4 ,where some people see life with a thread of guidance running through it unmistakably1 others are always to be found who will say these things are nothing but chance and what is called 'coincidence4' ,such an one was the pilot of the ,woodhouse4 ,as the land drew nearer1 a creek was seen to open out in it4 ,the ,friends were sure that their vessel was meant to enter there1 but again the pilot resisted4 ,by this time the ,friends had learned to expect objections from him1 and had learned1 too1 that it was best not to argue with him1 but to leave him to find out for himself that their guidance was right4 ,so they told him to do as he chose1 that 'both sides were safe1 but going that way would be more trouble to him4' ,when morning dawned 'he saw1 after he had laid by all the night1 the thing fulfilled4' ,into the creek1 therefore1 in the bright morning sunlight the ,woodhouse came gaily sailing2 not knowing where she was1 nor whither the creek would lead4 ',now to lay before you the largeness of the wisdom1 will1 and power of ,god1 this creek led us in between the ,dutch ,plantation and ,long ,island3'--the very place that some of the ,friends had felt that they ought to visit1 but which it would have been most difficult to reach had they landed in any other spot4 ,thus 'the ,lord ,god that moved them brought them to the place appointed1 and led us into our way according to the word which came unto ,christopher ,holder3 ,you are in the road to ,rhode ,island4 ,in that creek came a shallop to guide us1 taking us to be strangers1 we making our way with our boat1 and they spoke ,english1 and informed us1 and guided us along4 ,the power of the ,lord fell much upon us1 and an irresistible word came unto us1 that the seed in ,america shall be as the sand of the sea2 it was published in the ears of the brethren1 which caused tears to break forth with fulness of joy2 so that presently for these places some prepared themselves1 who were ,robert ,hodgson1 ,richard ,doudney1 ,sarah ,gibbons1 ,mary ,weatherhead1 and ,dorothy ,waugh1 who the next day were put safely ashore into the ,dutch plantation1 called ,new ,amsterdam4' ',new ,amsterdam1 on an unnamed creek in the ,dutch ,plantation1' sounds an unfamiliar place to modern ears4 ,yet when that same ,dutch ,plantation changed hands and became ,english territory its new masters altered the name of its chief town4 ,new ,amsterdam was re-christened in honour of the king's brother1 ,james1 ,duke of ,york1 and became known as ,new ,york1 the largest city of the future ,united ,states of ,america4 ,as to the unnamed 'creek' into which the ,woodhouse was led1 that was probably the estuary of the mighty river ,hudson4 ',here1' continues ,robert ,fowler1 'we came1 and it being the ,first ,day of the week several came aboard to us and we began our work4 ,i was caused to go to the ,governor1 and ,robert ,hodgson with me--he 7the ,governor7 was moderate both in words and actions4' ,this moderation on the ,governor's part must have been no small comfort to the new arrivals4 ,also the laws of the ,new ,netherland ,colonies1 where they had unexpectedly landed1 were much more tolerant than those of ,new ,england1 whither they were bound4 ,even yet the perils of the gallant ,woodhouse were not over4 ,the remaining ,friends had now to be taken on to hospitable ,rhode ,island1 the home of religious liberty1 from whence they could pursue their mission to the persecuting ,colonists on the mainland4 ,a few days before their arrival at ,new ,amsterdam1 the two ,roberts 7,robert ,hodgson and ,robert ,fowler7 had both had a vision in which they had seen the ,woodhouse in great danger4 ,the day following their interview with the ,governor1 when they were once more on the sea1 'it was fulfilled1 there being a passage between the two lands which is called by the name of ,hell-,gate2 we lay very conveniently for a pilot1 and into that place we came1 and into it were forced1 and over it were carried1 which ,i never heard of any before that were2 there were rocks many on both sides of us1 so that ,i believe one yard's length would have endangered both vessel and goods4' ,here for the last time the little group of ,friends gathered to give thanks for their safe arrival after their most wonderful voyage4 ,if any of them were tempted to think they owed any of their protection and guidance to their own merits and faithfulness1 a last vision that came to ,robert ,fowler must have chased this thought out of their minds once for all4 ',there was a shoal of fish1' he says1 'which pursued our vessel and followed her strangely1 and along close by our rudder4' ,the master mariner's eye had evidently been following the movements of the fish throughout the day1 as he asked himself3 ',what are those fish8 ,i never saw fish act in that way before4 ,why do they follow the vessel so steadily8' ,then1 in the time of silent waiting upon ,god1 light streamed upon this puzzle in his mind4 ',in our meeting it was shewn to me1 these fish are to thee a figure4 ,thus doth the prayers of the churches proceed to the ,lord for thee and the rest4' ,that was the explanation of the wonderful voyage4 ,the ,woodhouse and her little company had not been solitary and unprotected1 even when the three 'pretty great ships' drew off for fear of the ,dutch men of war and left them alone4 ,the prayers of their friends in ,england were following them across the vast ,atlantic1 though unseen by human eyes1 even as those hosts of shining fish1 which surrounded the vessel as she drove her prow through the clear water1 would be unseen to a spectator above its surface4 ,george ,fox was praying for the travellers4 ,william ,dewsbury was sure to be praying for them4 ,friend ,gerard ,roberts would be also much in prayer1 since the responsibility of the voyage was largely on his shoulders4 ,besides these1 there were the husbands1 wives1 and little children of some of the ,friends1 the brothers and sisters of others1 all longing for them to arrive safely and do their ,master's work4 ,now here came the fish to assure ,robert ,fowler that the faith he believed was true4 ,real as the things we can see or touch or feel seem to us to be1 the unseen things are more real still4 ,ever after1 to those who had crossed the ,atlantic in the good ship ,woodhouse1 the assurance of ,god's clear guidance and the answered prayers of ,his people must have been the most real of all4 ,robert ,fowler's story of the marvellous voyage ends with these words3 ',surely in our meeting did the thing run through me as oil and bid me much rejoice4' ,,footnotes3 #cd ,she sometimes spelled her name ,dorithy1 which is not the way to spell ,dorothy now1 but spelling was much less fixed in those days4 #ce ,the meaning seems to be that whenever fear or misgiving came to ,fowler's heart1 the sea also became stormy2 while his spirit remained trustful1 the sea was likewise calm4 #cf ,as the navigating officer of the ship was then called4 #cg ,it is not quite easy at this distance of time to understand why 'a lion in the way' should mean 'go north1' unless it was because the 'drawing' had been strongly south hitherto1 and now that path was blocked4 ,,xxvi4 ,,richard ,,sellar ,,and ,,the ',,merciful ,,man' ',to resort to force is to lose faith in the inner light4 ,war only results from men taking counsel with their passions instead of waiting upon ,god4 ,if one believes1 as ,fox did1 that the most powerful element in human nature is that something of ,god which speaks in the conscience1 then to coerce men is clearly wrong4 ,the only true line of approach is by patience to reach down to that divine seed1 to appeal to what is best1 because it is what is strongest in man4 ,the ,quaker testimony against war is no isolated outwork of their position3 it forms part of their citadel4'--,h4,g4 ,,wood4 ',the following narrative we have thought proper to insert in the very words of the sufferer1 as taken from his own mouth4 ,the candid ,reader will easily excuse the simplicity of its style1 and the ,plainness of its ,expressions4 ,it is the more like the man1 and carries the greater evidence of the ,honesty and ,integrity of the ,relator1 viz4 ,an ,account of the ,sufferings of ,richard ,seller of ,keinsey1 a ,fisherman1 who was prest in ,scarborough-,piers1 in the time of the two last engagements between the ,dutch and ,english1 in the year #affe4 ,these are 7says the writer7 the very words that proceeded from him1 who sat before me weeping4'--,,besse1 ',sufferings of the ,quakers4' ,,xxvi4 ,,richard ,,sellar ,,and ,,the ',,merciful ,,man' ,away to the ,yorkshire coast we must go1 and once more find ourselves looking up at the bold headland of ,scarborough ,cliff1 as it juts out into the ,north ,sea4 ,away again in time1 too1 to the year #affe1 when ,george ,fox still lay in prison up at the ,castle1 with his room full of smoke on stormy days when the wind 'drove in the rain forcibly1' while 'the water came all over his bed and ran about the room till he was forced to skim it up with a platter4' ,happily there is no storm raging this time4 ,our story begins on a still1 warm afternoon late in the summer1 when even the prisoner up at the ,castle can hardly help taking some pleasure in the cloudless blue sky and shining sea spread out above and around him4 ,but it is not to the ,castle we are bound to-day4 ,we need not climb again the steep1 worn steps that lead to the top of the hill4 ,instead1 we must descend an equally narrow flight that leads down1 down1 down with queer twists and turns1 till we find ourselves close to the water's edge4 ,even in the fiercest gales there is shelter here for the red-roofed fishing village that surrounds the harbour1 while on a warm afternoon the air is almost oppressively hot4 ,the brown sails of the fishing smacks and the red roofs of the houses are faithfully reflected in the clear water beneath them as in a looking-glass4 ,outside the door of one of the houses a rough fisherman is seated on a bench1 his back against the house wall1 mending his nets4 ,at first sight he looks almost like an old man1 for his hair is grey1 though his body is still strong and active4 ,his hands are twisted and bear the marks of cruel scars upon them1 but his face is peaceful1 though worn and rugged4 ,he handles the nets lovingly1 as if he were glad to feel them slipping through his fingers again4 ,evidently the nets have not been used for some time1 for there are many holes in them1 and the mending is a slow business4 ,as he works the fisherman sings in a low voice1 not loud enough for the neighbours to hear but just humming to himself4 ,every now and then the door of the house half opens1 and a little girl looks out and asks1 ',thou art really there1 ,father8 truly safe back again8' ,the man looks up1 smiling1 as he calls back1 ',ay1 ay1 my maid4 ,get on with thy work1 ,margery1 and ,i'll get on with mine4' ',art thou sure thou art safe1 ,father8' ,he does not answer this question in words1 but he raises his voice and sings the next verse of his song a little more loudly and clearly-- ',because on ,me his love is set1 ,deliver him ,i will1 ,and safely bring him higher yet ,upon ,my holy hil4' ,later on1 when the nets are mended and the sun is sinking above the ,castle ,cliff in a fiery glow1 ,margery comes out and sits on her father's knee2 the lads1 home from school1 gather round and say1 ',now then1 ,master ,sellar1 tell us once more the story of thy absence from us1 and about how thou wast pressed and taken on board the ,royal ,prince4 ,tell us about the capstan and the lashings2 about how they beat thee2 what the carpenter and the boatswain's mate did1 and how the gunner went down three times on his bare knees on the deck to beg thy life4 ,let us hear it all again4' ',yes1 please do1 ,father dear1' chimes in ,margery1 'only leave out some of the beatings and the dreadful part1 and hurry on very quickly to the end of the story about all the sailors throwing up their caps and huzzaing for ,sir ,edward1 the merciful man4' ,the fisherman smiles and nods4 ,he puts his arm more tenderly than ever round his small daughter as he says1 ',ay1 ay1 dear heart1 never thou fear4' ,then1 drawing ,margery closer to him1 he begins his tale4 ,it is a long story4 ,the sun has set2 the crescent moon has disappeared2 and the stars are stealing out1 one by one1 before he has finished4 ,i wish you and ,i could listen to that story1 don't you8 ,well1 we can6 ,someone who heard it from the fisherman's own lips has written it all down for us4 ,he is telling it to us in his own words to-day1 as he told it to those children in ,scarborough village long ago4 ,now and then we must interrupt him to explain some of the words he uses1 or even alter the form of the sentences slightly1 in order fully to understand what it is he is talking about4 ,but he is telling his own story4 ',my name1' begins the fisherman1 'is ,richard ,sellar4 ,it was during the war between the ,dutch and ,english that ,i was pressed at ,scarborough in #affe4' ',pressed' means that he was forced to go and fight against his will4 ,when the country is in danger men are obliged to leave their peaceful employments and learn to be soldiers and sailors1 in order1 as they think1 to defend their own nation by trying to kill their enemies4 ,it is something like what people now call 'conscription' that ,richard ,sellar is talking of when he speaks of 'being pressed4' ,he means that a number of men1 called a 'press-crew1' forced him to go with them to fight in the king's navy1 for1 as the proverb said1 ',a king's ship and the gallows refuse nobody4' ',i was pressed1' ,richard continues1 'within ,scarborough ,piers1 and refusing to go on board the ketch or boat they beat me very sore1 and ,i still refusing1 they hoisted me in with a tackle on board1 and they bunched me with their feet1 that ,i fell backward into a tub1 and was so maimed that they were forced to swaddle me up with clothes4' ,richard ,sellar could not help himself4 ,bound1 bruised1 and beaten he was carried off in the boat to be taken to a big fighting ship called the ,royal ,prince1 that was waiting for them off the mouth of the ,thames and needing more sailors to man her for the war4 ,the press-crew however had not captured enough men at ,scarborough1 so they put in at another ,yorkshire port1 spelled ,burlington then but ,bridlington now4 ,it was that same ,burlington or ,bridlington from which ,master ,robert ,fowler had sailed years before4 ,was he at home again now1 ,i wonder1 working in his shipyard and remembering the wonderful experiences of the good ship ,woodhouse8 ,surely he must have been away on a voyage at this time or he would if possible have visited ,richard ,sellar in his confinement on the ketch4 ,happily at ,bridlington there also lived two kind women1 who1 hearing that the ketch had a 'pressed ,quaker' on board1 sent ,richard ,sellar a present of food--green stuff and eatables that would keep well on a voyage3 these provisions saved his life later on4 ,after this stay in port the ketch sailed on again to the ,nore1 a big sand-bank lying near the mouth of the ,thames4 ',and there1' ,richard goes on to say1 'they haled me in at a gunport1 on board of the ship called the ,royal ,prince4 ,the first day of the third month1 they commanded me to go to work at the capstan4 ,i refused2 then they commanded me to call of the steward for my victuals2 which ,i refused1 and told them that as ,i was not free to do the king's work1 ,i would not live at his charge for victuals4 ,then the boatswain's mate beat me sore1 and thrust me about with the capstan until he was weary2 then the ,captain sent for me on the quarter-deck1 and asked me why ,i refused to fight for the king1 and why ,i refused to eat of his victuals8 ,i told him ,i was afraid to offend ,god1 for my warfare was spiritual1 and therefore ,i durst not fight with carnal weapons4 ,then the ,captain fell upon me1 and beat me first with his small cane1 then called for his great cane1 and beat me sore1 and felled me down to the deck three or four times1 and beat me as long as his strength continued4 ,then came one1 ,thomas ,horner 7which was brought up at ,easington71 and said1 ,i pray you1 noble ,captain1 be merciful1 for ,i know him to be an honest and a good man4 ,then said the captain1 ,he is a ,quaker2 ,i will beat his brains out4 ,then falling on me again1 he beat me until he was weary1 and then called some to help him2 for said he1 ,i am not able to beat him enough to make him willing to do the king's service4' ,there ,richard lay1 bruised and beaten1 on the deck4 ,neither the sailors nor the ,captain knew what to do with him4 ,presently up came the ,commander's jester or clown1 a man whose business it was to make the officers laugh4 ',what1' said he1 'can't you make that ,quaker work8 ,do you want him to draw ropes for you and he won't8 ,why you are going the wrong way to work1 you fool6' ,no one else in the whole ship would have dared to call the ,captain ',you fool6' ,no one else could have done so without being put in chains4 ,but the jester might do as he liked4 ,his business was to make the ,captain laugh2 and at these words he did laugh4 ',show me the right way to make him work1 then1' said he4 ',that ,i will gladly1' answered the jester1 'we will have a bet4 ,i will give you one golden guinea if ,i cannot make him draw ropes1 if you will give me another if ,i do compel him to do so4' ',marry that ,i will1' answered the ,captain1 and forthwith the two guineas were thrown down on the deck1 rattling gaily1 while all the ship's company stood around to watch what should befall4 ',then the jester called for two seamen and made them make two ropes fast to the wrists of my arms1 and reeved the ropes through two blocks in the mizen shrouds on the starboard side1 and hoisted me up aloft1 and made the ropes fast to the gunwale of the ship1 and ,i hung some time4 ,then the jester called the ship's company to behold1 and bear him witness1 that he made the ,quaker hale the king's ropes2 so veering the ropes they lowered me half-way down1 then made me fast again4 ,now1 said the jester1 noble ,captain1 you and the company see that the ,quaker haleth the king's ropes2 and with that he commanded them to let fly the ropes loose1 when ,i fell on the deck4 ,now1 said the jester1 noble ,captain1 the wager is won4 ,he haled the ropes to the deck1 and you can hale them no further1 nor any man else4' ,not a very good joke1 was it8 ,it seems to have pleased the rough sailors since it set them a-laughing4 ,but it was no laughing matter for ,richard ,sellar to be set swinging in the air strung up by the wrists1 and then to be bumped down upon deck again1 fast bound and unable to move4 ,the ,captain did not laugh either4 ,the thought of his lost money made him feel savage4 ,in a loud1 angry voice he called to the boatswain's mate and bade him1 ',take the quakerly dog away1 and put him to the capstan and make him work4' ,only the jester laughed1 and chuckled to himself1 as he gathered up the golden guineas from the deck1 and slapped his thighs for pleasure as he slipped them into his pockets4 ,meantime the boatswain's mate was having fine sport with the ',quaker dog1' as he carried out the ,captain's orders4 ,calling the roughest members of the crew to help him1 they beat poor ,richard cruelly1 and abused him as they dragged him down into the darkness below deck4 ',then he went1' says ,richard1 'and sat him down upon a chest lid1 and ,i went and sat down upon another beside him2 then he fell upon me and beat me again2 then called his boy to bring him two lashings and he lashed my arms to the capstan's bars and caused the men to heave the capstan about2 and in three or four times passing about the lashings were loosed1 no man knew how1 nor when1 nor could they ever be found1 although they sought them with lighted candles4' ,the sailors had tied their prisoner with ropes to the heavy iron wheel in the stern of the boat called a capstan2 so that as he moved he would be obliged to drag it round and thus help to work the ship4 ,they had made their prisoner as fast as ever they could4 ,yet1 somehow1 here he was free again1 and his bonds had disappeared6 ,the boatswain's mate couldn't understand it1 but he was determined to solve the mystery4 ,he sent for a ,bible and made the sailors swear upon it in turn1 in that dark1 ill-smelling den1 that not one of them had loosed ,richard4 ,they all swore willingly1 but even that did not content the mate4 ,he thought they were lying1 and would not let them go till he had turned out all their pockets1 and found that not one of them contained the missing lashings that had mysteriously disappeared4 ,then1 at last1 even the rough mate felt afraid4 ,richard seemed to be in his power and defenceless3 was he really protected by ,something or ,someone stronger than any cruel men1 the mate wondered8 ,so he called the sailors round him again1 and spoke to them as follows3 ',hear what ,i shall say unto you2 you see this is a wonderful thing1 which is done by an invisible hand1 which loosed him1 for none of you could see his hands loosed1 that were so near him4 ,i suppose this man' 7said he7 'is called a ,quaker1 and for conscience' sake refuseth to act1 therefore ,i am afflicted1 and do promise before ,god and man that ,i will never beat1 nor cause to be beaten1 either ,quaker or any other man that doth refuse1 for conscience' sake1 to fight for the king4 ,and if ,i do1 ,i wish ,i may lose my right hand4' ,that was the promise of the boatswain's mate4 99 99 99 99 99 ,three days later the ,admiral of the whole fleet1 ,sir ,edward ,spragg1 came on board the ,royal ,prince4 ,he was a very fine gentleman indeed4 ,at once every one began to tell him the same story3 how they had pressed a ,quaker up at ,scarborough in the ,north2 how the ,quaker had refused to work1 and had been given over to the boatswain's mate to be flogged2 how the boatswain's mate had fallen upon him and had beaten him furiously1 but now refused to lay a finger upon him1 saying that he would no longer beat a ,quaker or any other man for conscience' sake4 ',send that boatswain's mate to me that he may answer for himself1' said the ,admiral4 ',why would you not beat the ,quaker8' he demanded in a terrible voice1 when the boatswain's mate was brought before him4 ',i have beat him very sore1' the mate answered1 ',i seized his arms to the capstan bars1 and forced them to heave him about1 and beat him1 and then sat down2 and in three or four times of the capstan's going about1 the lashings were loosed1 and he came and sat down by me2 then ,i called the men from the capstan1 and took them sworn1 but they all denied that they had loosed him1 or knew how he was loosed2 neither could the lashings ever be found2 therefore ,i did and do believe that it was an invisible power which set him at liberty1 and ,i did promise before ,god and the company1 that ,i would never beat a ,quaker again1 nor any man else for conscience' sake4' ,the ,admiral told the mate that he must lose both his cane of office and his place4 ,he willingly yielded them both4 ,he was also threatened with the loss of his right hand4 ,he held it out and said1 ',take it from me if you please4' ,his cane was taken from him and he was displaced2 but mercifully his right hand was not cut off3 that was only a threat4 ,the ,commander had now to find some one else to beat ,richard ,sellar4 ,so he gave orders to seven strong sailors 7called yeomen7 to beat ,richard whenever they met him1 and to make him work4 ,beat him they did1 till they were tired2 but they could not make him work or go against his conscience1 which forbade him in any way to help in fighting4 ,then an eighth yeoman was called1 the strongest of all4 ,the same order was given to him3 ',beat that ,quaker as much as you like whenever you meet him1 only see that you make him work4' ,the eighth yeoman promised gladly in his turn1 and said1 ',i'll make him6' ,he too beat ,richard for a whole day and a night1 till he too grew weary and asked to be excused4 ,then another wonderful thing happened1 stranger even than the disappearance of the lashings4 ,after all these cruel beatings the ,commander ordered ,richard's clothes to be taken off that he might see the marks of the blows on his body4 ',he caused my clothes to be stript off1' ,richard says1 'shirt and all1 from my head to my waist downward2 then he took a view of my body to see what wounds and bruises ,i had1 but he could find none1--no1 not so much as a blue spot on my skin4 ,then the ,commander was angry with them1 for not beating me enough4 ,then the ,captain answered him and said1 ,i have beat him myself as much as would kill an ox4 ,the jester said he had hung me a great while by the arms aloft in the shrouds4 ,the men said they also had beaten me very sore1 but they might as well have beaten the main mast4 ,then said the ,commander1 ,i will cause irons to be laid upon him during the king's pleasure and mine4' ,a marvellous story6 ,after all these beatings1 not a bruise or a mark to be seen6 ,probably it is not possible now to explain how it happened4 ,of course we might believe that ,richard was telling lies all the time1 and that either the sailors did not beat him or that the bruises did show4 ,but why invent anything so unlikely8 ,it is easier to believe that he was trying to tell the truth as far as he could1 even though we cannot understand it4 ,perhaps his heart was so happy at being allowed to suffer for what he thought right1 that his body really did not feel the cruel beatings1 as it would have done if he had been doing wrong and had deserved them4 ,or perhaps there are wonderful ways1 unknown to us until we experience them for ourselves1 in which ,god will1 and can1 and does protect ,his own true servants who are trying to obey ,him4 ,that is the most comforting explanation4 ,if ever some one much bigger and stronger than we are tries to bully us into doing wrong1 let us remember that ,god does not save us from pain and suffering always2 but ,he can save us through the very worst pain1 if only we are true to ,him4 ,anyhow1 though ,richard's beatings were over for the time1 other troubles began4 ,he was 'put in irons1' heavily loaded with chains1 a punishment usually kept for the worst criminals1 such as thieves and murderers4 ,all the crew were forbidden to bring him food and drink even though he was beginning to be ill with a fever--the result of all the sufferings he had undergone4 ,happily there was one kind1 brave man among the crew1 the carpenter's mate4 ,although ,sir ,edward ,spragg had said that any one giving food to ,richard would have to share his punishment1 this good man was not afraid1 and did give the prisoner both food and drink4 ,all this time1 ,richard had been living on the provisions that the two kind ,friends1 ,thomasin ,smales and ,mary ,stringer1 had sent him at ,bridlington1 having refused to eat the king's food1 as he could not do the king's work4 ,thankful indeed he must have felt when this kind carpenter's mate came and squeezed up against him among a crowd of sailors1 and managed to pass some meat and drink out of his own pocket and into ,richard's4 ,his new friend did this so cleverly that nobody noticed4 ,pleased with his success1 he whispered to ,richard1 ',i'll bring you some more every day while you need food4 ,you needn't mind taking things from me1 for they are all bought out of my own money1 not the king's4' ',what makes thee so good to me8' whispered back ,richard4 ,he was weakened by fever and all unused to kindness on board the ,royal ,prince4 ,very likely the tears came into his eyes and his voice trembled as he spoke1 though he had borne all his beatings unmoved4 ,the carpenter's mate told him in reply that before he came on board1 both his wife and his mother had made him promise that if any ,quakers should be on the ship he would be kind to them4 ,also1 that quite lately he had had a letter from them asking him 'to remember his promise1 and be kind to ,quakers1 if any were on board4' ,how much we should like to know what put it into the two women's hearts to think of such a thing6 ,were they ,quakers themselves1 or had they ,quaker friends8 ,once more there is no answer but3 ',god will1 and can1 and does protect ,his own4' ,unfortunately this kind man was sent away from the ship to do work elsewhere1 and for three days and nights ,richard lay in his heavy irons1 with nothing either to eat or drink4 ,some sailors who had been quarrelling in a drunken brawl on deck were thrown into prison and chained up beside ,richard4 ,they were sorry for him and did their best to help him4 ,they even gave him something to drink when they were alone1 though for his sake they had to pretend that they were trying to hurt and kill him when any of the officers were present4 ,these rough sailors pretended so well that one lieutenant1 who had been specially cruel to ,richard before1 now grew alarmed1 and thought the other prisoners really would kill the ,quaker4 ,he went up to ,sir ,edward's cabin and knocked at the door4 ',who is there8' asked the cabin-boy4 ',i1' said the lieutenant1 ',i want to speak to ,sir ,edward4' ,when he was admitted he said1 ',if it please your highness to remember that there is a poor ,quaker in irons yet1 that was laid in two weeks since1 and the other prisoners will kill him for us4' ',we will have a ,court ,martial1' thought ,sir ,edward1 'and settle this ,quaker's job once for all4' ,he told the lieutenant to go for the keys and let ,richard out1 and to put a flag at the mizen-mast's head1 and call a council of war1 and make all the captains come from all the other ships to try the ,quaker4 ,it was not yet eight o'clock on a ,sunday morning4 ,at the signal1 all the captains of all the other ships came hurrying on board the ,royal ,prince1 the ,admiral's flag-ship4 ,richard was fetched up from his prison and brought before this council of war--or ,court ,martial as it would be called now4 ,the ,admiral sat in the middle1 very grand indeed2 beside him sat the judge of the ,court ,martial1 'who1' says ,richard1 'was a papist1 being ,governor of ,dover ,castle1 who went to sea on pleasure4' ,he probably looked grander still4 ,around these two sat the other naval captains from the other ships4 ,opposite all these great people was ,quaker ,richard1 so weakened by fever and lame from his heavy fetters that he could not stand1 and had to be allowed to sit4 ,the ,commander1 to give ,richard one more chance1 asked him if he would go aboard another ship1 a tender with six guns4 ,richard's conscience was still clear that he could have nothing to do with guns or fighting4 ,he said he would rather stay where he was and abide his punishment4 ,what punishment do you think the judge thought would be suitable for a man who had committed only the crime of refusing to fight1 or to work to help those who were fighting8 ',the judge said ,i should be put into a barrel or cask driven full of nails with their points inward and so rolled to death2 but the council of war taking it into consideration1 thought it too terrible a death and too much unchristianlike2 so they agreed to hang me4' ',too much unchristianlike' indeed6 ,the mere thought of such a punishment makes us shiver4 ,the ,governor of ,dover ,castle1 who suggested it1 was himself a ,roman ,catholic4 ,history tells how fiercely the ,roman ,catholics persecuted the ,protestants in ,queen ,mary's reign1 when ,cranmer1 ,ridley1 ,latimer1 ,hooper1 and many others were burnt at the stake for their religion4 ,since then times had changed1 and when the ,protestants were in power they too had often persecuted the ,roman ,catholics in their turn4 ,perhaps someone whom this 'papist' judge had loved very much had been cruelly put to death1 and perhaps that was the reason he suggested this savage punishment for ,quaker ,richard4 ,we do not know how that may be4 ,but we do know that cruelty makes cruelty1 on and on without end4 ,the only real way to stop it1 is to turn right round and follow the other law1 the blessed law1 whereby love makes love4 ,richard ,sellar was only a rough1 ignorant fisherman1 but he had begun to learn this lesson out of ,christ's lesson book3 and how difficult a lesson it is1 nobody knows who has not tried to carry it out4 ,richard heard his sentence pronounced1 that he was to be hanged4 ,when he heard that he was being wrongfully accused of various crimes that he had not committed1 he longed to rise and justify himself1 but he could only sit or kneel because he was too weak to stand4 ,in vain he tried to rise1 and tried to speak4 ,he could neither move nor say a word4 ,he could not even say3 ',i am innocent4' ,he could not even pray to ,god to help him in his difficulty4 ,again he tried to rise1 and then suddenly in his utter weakness he felt ,god's power holding him1 and a ,voice said quite distinctly1 three times over1 in his heart3 ',,be ,,still--,,be ,,still--,,be ,,still4' ',which ,voice1' says ,richard1 ',i obeyed and was comforted4 ,then ,i believed ,god would arise4 ,and when they had done speaking1 then ,god did arise1 and ,i was filled with the power of ,god2 and my spirit lifted up above all earthly things2 and wonderful strength was given me to my limbs1 and my heart was full of the power and wisdom of ,god2 and with glad tidings my mouth was opened1 to declare to the people the things ,god had made manifest to me4 ,with sweat running down1 and tears trickling from my eyes1 ,i told them1 ,the hearts of kings were in the hand of the ,lord2 and so are both yours and mine2 and ,i do not value what you can do to this body1 for ,i am at peace with ,god and all men1 and with you my adversaries4 ,for if ,i might live an hundred and thirty years longer1 ,i can never die in a better condition3 for the ,lord hath satisfied me1 that ,he hath forgiven me all things in this world2 and ,i am glad through ,his mercy1 that ,he hath made me willing to suffer for ,his name's sake1 and not only so1 but ,i am heartily glad1 and do really rejoice1 and with a seal in my heart to the same4 ,then there came a man and laid his hand upon my shoulder1 and said1 ,where are all thy accusers8 ,then my eyes were opened1 and ,i looked about me1 and they were all gone4' ,the ,court ,martial was over4 ,every one of the captains had disappeared4 ,his accusers were gone2 but ,richard's sentence remained1 and was still to be carried out on the following morning4 ,one officer1 the same lieutenant who had been cruel to him before1 was still unkind to him and called him 'a hypocrite ,quaker1' but many others on board ship did their best to save him4 ,first of all there came up an ancient soldier to the ,admiral on the quarter-deck4 ,he 'loosed down his knee-strings1 and put down his stockings1 and put his cap under his knees1 and begged ,sir ,edward's pardon three times' 7this seems to have been the correct behaviour when addressing the ,admiral71 and the ancient soldier said1 ',noble ,sir ,edward1 you know that ,i have served ,his ,majesty under you many years1 both in this nation and other nations1 by the sea1 and you were always a merciful man2 therefore ,i do entreat you1 in all kindness1 to be merciful to this poor man1 who is condemned to die to-morrow2 and only for denying your order for fear of offending ,god1 and for conscience' sake2 and we have but one man on board1 out of nine hundred and fifty--only one which doth refuse for conscience' sake2 and shall we take his life away8 ,nay1 ,god forbid6 ,for he hath already declared that1 if we take his life away there shall a judgment appear upon some on board1 within eight and forty hours2 and to me it hath appeared2 therefore ,i am forced to come upon quarter-deck before you2 and my spirit is one with his2 therefore ,i desire you1 in all kindness1 to give me the liberty1 when you take his life away1 to go off on board1 for ,i shall not be willing to serve ,his ,majesty any longer on board of ship2 so ,i do entreat you once more to be merciful to this poor man--so ,god bless you1 ,sir ,edward4 ,i have no more to say to you4' ,next came up the chief gunner--a more important man1 for he had been himself a captain--but he too 'loosed down his knee-strings1 and did beg the ,admiral's pardon three times1 being on his bare knees before ,sir ,edward4' ,then ,sir ,edward said1 ',arise up1 gunner1 and speak4' ,whereupon the chief gunner answered1 ',if it please your worship1 ,sir ,edward1 we know you are a merciful man1 and therefore ,i entreat you1 in all kindness1 to be merciful to this poor man1 in whom there remains something more than flesh and blood2 therefore ,i entreat you1 let us not destroy that which is alive2 neither endeavour to do it2 and so ,god bless you1 ,sir ,edward4 ,i have no more to say to you4' ,then he too went away4 ,it was all of no use4 ,richard had been sentenced by the ,court ,martial to be hanged next morning1 and hanged he must be4 ,only ,sir ,edward--pleased perhaps at being told so often that he was a merciful man1 and willing to show that he had some small idea of what mercy meant--'gave orders that any that had a mind to give me victuals might2 and that ,i might eat and drink with whom ,i pleased2 and that none should molest me that day4 ,then came the lieutenant and sat down by me1 whilst they were at their worship2 and he would have given me brandy1 but ,i refused4 ,then the dinner came up to be served1 and several gave me victuals to eat1 and ,i did eat freely1 and was kindly entertained that day4 ,night being come1 a man kindly proffered me his hammock to lie in that night1 because ,i had lain long in irons2 and ,i accepted of his kindness1 and laid me down1 and ,i slept well that night4' ',the next morning being come1 it being the second day of the week1 on which ,i was to be executed1 about eight o'clock in the morning1 the rope being reeved on the mizen-yard's arm2 and the boy ready to turn me off2 and boats being come on board with captains from other ships1 that were of the council of war1 who came on purpose to see me executed2 ,i was therefore called to come to be executed4 ,then1 ,i coming to the execution place1 the ,commander asked the council how their judgment did stand now8 ,so most of them did consent2 and some were silent4 ,then he desired me freely to speak my mind1 if ,i had anything to say1 before ,i was executed4 ,i told him ,i had little at present to speak4 ,so there came a man1 and bid me to go forward to be executed4 ,so ,i stepped upon the gunwale1 to go towards the rope4 ,the ,commander bid me stop there1 if ,i had anything to say4 ,then spake the judge and said1 ,sir ,edward is a merciful man1 that puts that heretic to no worse death than hanging4' ,the judge1 the ,governor of ,dover ,castle1 was1 as we have heard1 a ,roman ,catholic4 ,to him ,sir ,edward and ,richard ,sellar were both alike heretics1 one not much worse than the other1 since both were outside what he believed to be the only true ,church4#ch ,sir ,edward knew this4 ,therefore on hearing the word 'heretic' he turned sharp round to the judge1 ',what sayest thou8' ,apparently the judge felt that he had been unwise to speak his candid thoughts1 for he repeated the sentence1 leaving out the irritating word 'heretic'3 ',i say you are a merciful man that puts him to no worse death than hanging4' ,sir ,edward knew that he had not been mistaken in the word his sharp ears had caught4 ',but1' said he1 'what is the other word that thou saidst8' ',that heretic1' repeated the judge4 ',i say1' said the ,commander1 'he is more like a ,christian than thyself2 for ,i do believe thou wouldst hang me if it were in thy power4' ',then said the ,commander to me1' continues ,richard1 ',come down again1 for ,i will not hurt an hair of thy head2 for ,i cannot make one hair grow4 ,then he cried1 ,silence all men1 and proclaimed it three times over1 that if any man or men on board of the ship would come and give evidence that ,i had done anything that ,i deserved death for1 ,i should have it1 provided they were credible persons4 ,but no man came1 neither a mouth opened against me then4 ,so he cried again1 ,silence all men1 and hear me speak4 ,then he proclaimed that the ,quaker was as free a man as any on board of the ship was4 ,so the men heaved up their hats1 and with a loud voice cried1 ,god bless ,sir ,edward1 he is a merciful man6 ,the shrouds and tops and decks being full of men1 several of their hats flew overboard and were lost4' ,we will say good-bye to ,richard there1 with all the sailors huzzaing round him1 throwing up their caps1 and ,sir ,edward standing by with a pleased smile1 more pleased than ever now1 since it was impossible for any one to deny that he was a merciful1 a most merciful man4 ,the change for ,richard himself1 from being a condemned criminal loaded with chains to being a universal favourite1 must have been startling indeed1 though his troubles were not over yet4 ,difficulties surrounded him again when the actual battles with the ,dutch began4 ,but1 though he could not fight1 and was therefore in perpetual danger1 he could and did help and heal4 ,his story tells us how he was able to save the whole ship's company from destruction more than once1 and had more marvellous adventures than there is time here to relate4 ,he tells also how the persecuting lieutenant became his fast friend1 and eventually helped him to get his freedom4 ,for he did regain his liberty in the end1 and was given a written permission to go home and earn his living as a fisherman4 ,with this writing in his hand no press-crew would dare to kidnap him again4 ,so back he came to ,scarborough1 to the red-roofed cottage by the water's edge1 to his unmended nets1 and to the little daughter with whom we saw him first4 ,most likely at this time ,george ,fox was still a prisoner in the ,castle4 ,if so1 one of the very first things ,richard did1 we may be sure1 was to climb the many stone steps up to the ,castle and seek his friend in his cheerless prison4 ,the fire smoke and the rain would be forgotten by both men as they talked together1 and ,george ,fox's face would light up as he heard the story of the lashings that disappeared and the beatings that left no bruise4 ,he was not a man who laughed easily1 but doubtless he laughed once1 at any rate1 as he listened to ,richard's story1 when he heard of the huzzaing sailors whose hats fell off into the water because they were so energetically sure that ',sir ,edward was a very merciful man4' ,,footnotes3 #ch ,the ,roman ,catholic gentry used sometimes to alarm their ,protestant neighbours with blood-curdling announcements that the good times of ,queen ,mary were coming back1 and 'faggotts should be deere yet' 7,g4,m4 ,trevelyan1 ,england under the ,stuarts1 p4 #hg74 ,,xxvii4 ,,two ,,robber ,,stories4 ,,west ,,and ,,east ',they were changed men themselves1 before they went out to change others'--,w4 ,,penn1 ,testimony to ,george ,fox4 ',but when ,he comes to reign1 whose right it is1 then peace and goodwill is unto all men1 and no hurt in all the holy mountain of the ,lord is seen4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',wouldst thou love one who never died for thee1 ,or ever die for one who had not died for thee8 ,and if ,god dieth not for ,man and giveth not ,himself ,eternally for ,man1 ,man could not exist1 for ,man is ,love ,as ,god is ,love4 ,every kindness to another is a little death ,in the ,divine ,image1 nor can man exist but by brotherhood4' ,w4 ,,blake1 ',jerusalem4' ',england is as a family of prophets which must spread over all nations1 as a garden of plants1 and the place where the pearl is found which must enrich all nations with the heavenly treasure1 out of which shall the waters of life flow1 and water all the thirsty ground1 and out of which nation and dominion must go the spiritually weaponed and armed men1 to fight and conquer all nations and bring them to the nation of ,god4'--,epistle of ,skipton ,general ,meeting1 #affj4 ,,xxvii4 ,,two ,,robber ,,stories4 ,,west ,,and ,,east ,i ,,leonard ,,fell ,,and ,,the ,,highwayman ,in that same memorable summer of #afeb when ,george ,fox first visited ,swarthmoor ,hall and 'bewitched' the household there1 he also met and 'bewitched' another member of the ,fell family4 ,this was one ,leonard ,fell1 a connection of the ,judge1 whose home was at ,baycliff in the same county of ,lancashire4 ,thither ,george ,fox came on his travels shortly after his first visit to ,swarthmoor1 when only ,margaret ,fell and her children were at home1 and before his later visit after ,judge ,fell's return4 ',i went to ,becliff1' says the ,journal1 'where ,leonard ,fell was convinced1 and became a minister of the everlasting ,gospel4 ,several others were convinced there and came into obedience to truth4 ,here the people said they could not dispute1 and would fain have put some others to hold talk with me1 but ,i bid them1 ,fear the ,lord and not in a light way hold a talk of the ,lord's words1 but put the things in practice4' ,leonard ,fell did indeed put his new faith 'in practice4' ,he left his home and followed his teacher1 sharing with him many of the perils and dangers of his journeys in the ,service of ,truth4 ,up and down and across the length and breadth of ,england the two men travelled side by side along the hedgeless ,english roads4 ,at first as they went along1 ,leonard ,fell watched ,george ,fox with sharp eyes1 in his dealings with the different people they met on their journeys1 in order to discover how his teacher would 'put into practice' the central truth he proclaimed3 that in every man1 however degraded1 there remains some hidden spark of the ,divine4 ,but put it in practice ,george ,fox did1 till at length ,leonard ,fell1 too1 learned to look for 'that of ,god within' every one he met1 learned to depend upon finding it1 and to be able to draw it out in his turn4 ,one day1 ,leonard was travelling in the ',service of ,truth1' not in ,george ,fox's company but alone1 when1 as he crossed a desolate moor on horseback1 he heard the thunderous sound of horses' hoofs coming after him down the road4 ,looking round1 he beheld a masked and bearded highwayman1 his figure enveloped in a long flowing cloak1 rapidly approaching on a far swifter horse than his own ',truth's pony4' ,a moment later1 a pistol was drawn from the newcomer's belt and pointed full at ,leonard's head4 ',another step and you are a dead man6 ,your money or your life1 and be quick about it6' said the highwayman1 as he suddenly pulled the curb and checked his foam-covered horse4 ,at this challenge1 ,leonard obediently pulled up his own steed with his left hand1 while1 with his right1 he drew out his purse and handed it over to the robber without a word4 ,the pistol still remained at full cock1 pointed straight at his head4 ',your horse next1' demanded the stranger4 ',it is a good beast4 ,though not as swift as mine ,i can find a use for it in my profession4 ,dismount2 or ,i fire4' ,in perfect silence ,leonard dismounted1 making no objection1 and gave his horse's bridle into the highwayman's outstretched hand4 ,then at last1 the threatened pistol was lowered1 and replaced in the robber's belt4 ,throwing the folds of his long cloak over one shoulder1 and carefully adjusting his mask1 that not a glimpse of either face or figure should betray his identity1 he prepared to depart1 leaving his victim penniless and afoot on the wide1 desolate moor4 ,but1 though the highwayman had now finished with the ,quaker1 the ,quaker had by no means finished with the highwayman4 ,it was now ,leonard's turn to be aggressive4 ,standing there on the bleak road1 alone and unarmed1 ,leonard ,fell raised a warning hand1 and solemnly rebuked his assailant for his evil deeds4 ,at the same time he admonished him that it was not yet too late for him to repent and lead a righteous life1 before his hour for repentance should be forever passed4 ,this was a most surprising turn of events for the highwayman4 ,at first he listened silently1 too much astonished to speak4 ,leonard however did not mince matters1 and before he had finished his exhortation the other man was in a furious rage4 ,never before had any of his victims treated him in this fashion4 ,curses1 tears1 despair1 those were all to be expected in his 'profession'2 but this extraordinary man was neither beseeching him for money nor swearing at him in anger4 ,his victim was merely giving a solemn1 yet almost friendly warning to the robber of his horse and of his gold4 ',you1 you cowardly dog6' blustered ,leonard's assailant4 ',you let me rob you of your purse and of your steed like a craven6 ,you could not even pluck up courage to defend yourself4 ,yet now1 you actually dare to stand and preach at ,,me1 in the middle of the ,king's highway8' ,the pistol was out again with a flourish4 ,this time ,leonard faced it calmly1 making no movement to defend himself4 ',i would not risk my life to defend either my money or my horse1' he answered1 looking up straight at the muzzle with a steady eye1 'but ,i will lay it down gladly1 if by so doing ,i can save thy soul4' ,this unexpected answer was altogether too much for the highwayman4 ,though his finger was already on the trigger of the pistol1 that trigger was never pulled4 ,he sat motionless on his horse1 staring through the holes in his mask1 down into the eyes of his intended victim1 as if he would read his inmost soul4 ,this astonishing man1 whom he had taken for a coward1 was calmly ready and was apparently quite willing to give his life--his life6--in order to save his enemy's soul4 ,the robber had almost forgotten that he had a soul4 ,his manhood was black and stained now by numberless deeds of violence1 by crimes1 too many remembered and far more forgotten4 ,yet he had once known what it was to feel tender and white and innocent4 ,he had certainly possessed a soul long ago4 ,did it still exist8 ,apparently the stranger was convinced that it must1 since he was actually prepared to stake his own life upon its eternal welfare4 ,surprising man6 ,he really cared what became of a robber's soul4 ,it was impossible to wish to murder or even to steal from such an one4 ,there could not be another like him1 the wide world over4 ,he had best be allowed to continue on his unique adventure of discovering souls1 a much more dangerous career it seemed to be than any mere everyday highwayman's 'profession4' ,as these thoughts passed through the robber's mind1 his hand sought the folds of his cloak1 and then drawing ,leonard's purse forth from a deep convenient pocket1 he returned it to its owner1 stooping over him1 as he did so1 with a low and courtly bow4 ,next1 putting the horse's bridle also back into ,leonard's hand1 ',if you are such a man as that1' the highwayman said1 ',i will take neither your money nor your horse6' ,a moment later1 as if already ashamed of his impulsive generosity1 he set spurs to his horse and disappeared as swiftly as he had come4 ,leonard1 meanwhile1 remounting1 pursued his way in safety1 with both his horse and his money once more restored to him4 ,but more precious1 by far1 than either1 was the knowledge that his friend's teaching had again been proved to be true4 ,in his own experience he had discovered that there really and truly is an ,inward ,light that does shine still1 even in the hearts of wicked men4 ,thus was ,leonard ,fell in his turn enabled to 'put these things in practice4' ,,ii ,,on ,,the ,,road ,,to ,,jerusalem ,a few years later1 on another desolate road1 crossing another lonely plain1 another traveller met with a very similar adventure thousands of miles away from ,england4 ,only this traveller's experiences were much worse than ,leonard ,fell's4 ,he was not only attacked by three robbers instead of one alone1 but this happened amid many other far worse dangers and narrower escapes4 ,possibly he even looked back1 in after days1 to his encounter with the robbers as one of the pleasanter parts of his journey6 ,this traveller's name was ,george ,robinson1 and he was an ,english ,quaker and a ,london youth4 ,he has left the record of his experiences in a few closely printed pages at the end of a very small book4 ',in the year #afeg1' he writes1 'about the beginning of the seventh month ,september1 as ,i was waiting upon the ,lord in singleness of heart1 ,his blessed presence filled me and by the power of ,his ,spirit did command me to go unto ,jerusalem1 and further said to me1 ,thy sufferings shall be great1 but ,i will bear thee over them all4' ,this was no easy journey for anyone in those days1 least of all for a poor man such as ,george ,robinson4 ,however1 he set out obediently1 and went by ship to ,leghorn in ,italy4 ,there he waited a fortnight until he could get a passage in another ship bound for ,st4 ,jean d',acre1 on the coast of ,palestine1 where centuries before ,richard ,coeur de ,lion had disembarked with his ,crusaders4 ,innumerable other pilgrims had landed there1 since ,richard's time1 on their way to see the ,holy ,places at ,jerusalem4 ,george ,robinson refused to call himself a pilgrim1 but he had a true pilgrim's heart that no difficulties could turn back or dismay4 ,after staying for eight days in the house of a ,french merchant at ,acre1 he set sail in yet a third ship that was bound for ,joppa 7or ,jaffa1 as it is called now74 ',but the wind rising against us1' ,robinson says in his narrative1 'we came to an anchor and the next morning divers ,turks came aboard1 and demanded tribute of those called ,christians in the vessel1 which they paid for fear of sufferings but very unwillingly1 their demands being very unreasonable1 and in like manner demanded of me1 but ,i refusing to pay as according to their demands1 they threatened to beat the soles of my feet with a stick1 and one of them would have put his hand into my pocket1 but the chiefest of them rebuked him4 ,soon after they began to take me out of the vessel to effect their work1 but one of the ,turks belonging to the vessel speaking to them as they were taking me ashore1 they let me alone1 wherein ,i saw the good ,hand of ,god preserving me4444 ,after this1 about three or four days we came to ,joppa4' ,and there at ,joppa 7or ,jaffa71 where ,jonah long ago had embarked for ,tarshish1 and where ,peter on the house-top had had his vision of the great white sheet1 our traveller landed4 ,he proceeded straightway on what he hoped would have been the last stage of his long journey to ,jerusalem4 ,alas6 he was mistaken4 ,a few pleasant hours of travel he had1 as he passed through the palm-groves that encircle the city of ,jaffa1 and over the first few miles of dusty road that cross the famous ,plain of ,sharon4 ,ever as he journeyed he could see the tall tower of ,ramleh1 built by the ,crusaders hundreds of years before1 growing taller as he approached1 rising in the sunset like a rosy finger to beckon him across the ,plains4 ,when he reached it1 in the shadow of the tall ,tower enemies were lurking4 ,certain friars up at ,jerusalem1 in the hilly country that borders the plain1 had heard from their brethren at ,acre that a heretic stranger from ,england was coming on foot to visit the ,holy ,city4 ,now these friars1 although they called themselves ,franciscans1 were no true followers of ,st4 ,francis1 the 'little poor man of ,god1' that gentlest saint and truest lover of holy poverty and holy peace4 ,these ,jerusalem friars had forgotten his teaching1 and lived on the gains they made off pilgrims2 therefore1 hearing that the heretic stranger from heretic ,england was travelling independently and not on a pilgrimage1 they feared that he might spoil their business at the ,holy ,shrines4 ,accordingly they sent word to their brethren1 the friars of ,ramleh in the plain1 to waylay him and turn him back as soon as he had reached the first stage of his journey from ,jaffa on the coast4 ',the friars of ,jerusalem1' says ,robinson1 'hearing of my coming1 gave orders unto some there at ,ramleh to stay me1 which accordingly was done2 for ,i was taken and locked up in a room for one night and part of the day following1 and then had liberty to go into the yard1 but as a prisoner2 in which time the ,turks showed friendship unto me1 one ancient man especially1 of great repute1 who desired that ,i might come to his house1 which thing being granted1 he courteously entertained me4' ,four or five days later there came down an ,irish friar from ,jerusalem to see the prisoner4 ,at first he spoke kindly to him1 and greeted him as a fellow-countryman1 seeing that they both came from the distant ,isles of ,britain1 set in their silver seas4 ,presently it appeared1 however1 that he had not come out of friendship1 but as a messenger from the friars at ,jerusalem1 to insist that the ,englishman must make five solemn promises before he could be allowed to proceed on his journey4 ,he must promise3 '#a4 ,that he would visit the ,holy ,places so the friar called them as other pilgrims did4 #b4 ,and give such sums of money as is the usual manner of pilgrims4 #c4 ,wear such a sort of habit as is the manner of pilgrims4 #d4 ,speak nothing against the ,turks' laws4 #e4 ,and when he came to ,jerusalem not to speak anything about religion4' ,george ,robinson had no intention of promising any one of these things--much less all five4 ',i stand in the will of ,god1 and shall do as ,he bids me1' was the only answer he would make1 which did not satisfy the ,irish friar4 ,determined that his journey should not have been in vain1 and persuasion having proved useless1 he sought to accomplish his object by force4 ,taking his prisoner1 therefore1 he set him on horseback1 and surrounding him with a number of armed guards1 both horsemen and footmen1 whom he had brought down from ,jerusalem for the purpose1 he himself escorted ,george ,robinson back for the second time to ,jaffa4 ,there1 that very day1 he put him aboard a vessel on the point of sailing for ,acre4 ,then1 clattering back with his guards across the plain of ,sharon1 the ,irish friar probably assured the ,ramleh friars that they had nothing more to fear from that heretic4 ,nothing could turn ,george ,robinson from his purpose4 ,he was still quite sure that his ,master had work for ,his servant to do in ,his ,own ,city of ,jerusalem2 and1 therefore1 to ,jerusalem that servant must go4 ,he was obliged to stay for three weeks at ,acre before he could find a ship to carry him southwards again4 ,he lodged at this time at the house of a kind ,french merchant called by the curious name of ,surrubi4 ',a man1' ,robinson says1 'that ,i had never seen before 7that ,i knew of71 who friendly took me into his house as ,i was passing along1 where ,i remained about twenty days4' ,surrubi was a most courteous host to his ,quaker visitor4 ,he used to say that he was sure ,god had sent him to his house as an honoured guest4 ',for1' he continued1 'when my own countrymen come to me1 they are little to me1 but thee ,i can willingly receive4' ',the old man would admire the ,lord's doing in this thing1 and he did love me exceedingly much1' his visitor records gratefully4 ',but the friars had so far prevailed with the ,consul that in twenty days ,i could not be received into a vessel for to go to ,jerusalem1 so that ,i knew not but to have gone by land2 yet it was several days' journey1 and ,i knew not the way1 not so much as out of the city1 besides the great difficulty there is in going through the country beyond my expression2 yet ,i1 not looking at the hardships but at the heavenly will of our ,lord1 ,i was made to cry in my heart1 ,lord1 ,thy will be done and not mine4 ,and so being prepared to go1 and taking leave of the tender old man1 he cried1 ,i should be destroyed if ,i went by land1 and would not let me go4' ,the friars had told the ,consul that ,robinson had refused to accept their conditions1 ',he will turn ,turk1' they said1 'and be a devil4' ,but1 thanks to ,surrubi's kindness and help1 after much trouble ,robinson was at length set aboard another ship bound for the south4 ,and thus after bidding a grateful farewell to his host1 he made a quick passage and came for the second time to ,jaffa4 ,again he set forth on his last perilous journey4 ,only a few miles of fertile plain to cross1 only a few hours of climbing up the dim blue hills that were already in view on the horizon1 and then at last he should reach his goal1 the ,holy ,city4 ,even yet it was not to be6 ,this time his troubles began before ever he came within sight of the tall ,tower of ,ramleh1 under whose shadow his enemies1 the friars1 were still lying in wait for him4 ,he says that having 'left the ship and paid his passage1 and having met with many people on the way1 they peacefully passed him by until he had gone about six miles out of ,jaffa4' ,but on the long straight road that runs like a dusty white ribbon across the wide parched ,plain of ,sharon1 he beheld three other figures coming towards him4 ,two of them rode on the stately white asses used by travellers of the ,east4 ,the third1 a person of less consequence1 followed on foot4 ,as they came nearer1 our traveller noticed that they all carried guns as well as fierce-looking daggers stuck in their swathed girdles4 ,however1 arms are no unusual accompaniments for a journey in that country1 so ,robinson still hoped to be allowed to pass with a peaceable salutation4 ,instead of bowing themselves in return1 according to the beautiful ,oriental custom1 with the threefold gesture that signifies ',my head1 my lips1 and my heart are all at your service1' and the spoken wish that his day might be blessed1 the three men rushed at the ,english wayfarer and threw themselves upon him1 demanding money4 ,one man held a gun with its muzzle touching ,robinson's breast1 another searched his pockets and took out everything that he could find1 while the third held the asses4 ',i1 not resisting them1' is their victim's simple account1 'stood in the fear of the ,lord1 who preserved me1 for they passed away1 and he that took my things forth of my pockets put them up again1 taking nothing from me1 nor did me the least harm4 ,but one of them took me by the hand and led me on my way in a friendly manner1 and so left me4444 ,so ,i1 passing through like dangers through the great love of ,god1 which caused me to magnify ,his holy name1 came1 though in much weakness of body1 to ,ramleh4' ,at ,ramleh worse dangers even than he had met with on his former visit were awaiting him4 ,many more perils and hairbreadth escapes had yet to be surmounted before he could say that his feet--his tired feet--had stood 'within thy gates1 ,o ,jerusalem4' ,throughout these later hardships his faith must have been strengthened by the memory of his encounter with the robbers1 and the victory won by the everlasting power of meekness4 ,east or ,west1 the ,master's command can always be followed3 the command not to fight evil with evil1 but to overcome evil with good4 ,leonard ,fell was given his opportunity of 'putting in practice the things he had learned' as he travelled in ,england4 ,our later pilgrim had the honour of being tested in the ,holy ,land itself3 ',in those holy fields1 ,over whose acres walked those blessed feet1 ,which nineteen hundred years ago were nailed ,for our advantage on the bitter cross4' ,,xxviii4 ,,silver ,,slippers3 ,,or ,a ,,quakeress ,,among ,,the ,,turks ',if romance1 like laughter1 is the child of sudden glory1 the figure of ,mary ,fisher is the most romantic in the early ,quaker annals4'--,,mabel ,,brailsford4 ',truly ,mary ,fisher is a precious heart1 and hath been very serviceable here4'--,,henry ,,fell to ,margt4 ,fell4 7,barbadoes1 #afef47 ',my dear ,father 444 ,let me not be forgotten of thee1 but let thy prayers be for me that ,i may continue faithful to the end4 ,if any of your ,friends be free to come over1 they may be serviceable2 here are many convinced1 and many desire to know the way1 so ,i rest4'--,,mary ,,fisher to ,george ,fox4 7,barbadoes1 #afee47 ',this ,english maiden would not be at rest before she went in purpose to the great ,emperor of the ,turks1 and informed him concerning the errors of his religion and the truth of hers4'--,,gerard ,,croese4 ',henceforth1 my daughter1 do manfully and without hesitation those things which by the ordering of providence will be put into thy hands2 for being now armed with the fortitude of the faith1 thou wilt happily overcome all thy adversaries4'--,,catherine ,,of ,,siena4 ,,xxviii4 ,,silver ,,slippers3 ,,or ,a ,,quakeress ,,among ,,the ,,turks ,i ,the ,grand ,turk had removed his ,court from ,constantinople4 ,his beautiful capital city by the ,golden ,horn was in disgrace1 on account of the growing disaffection of its populace and the frequent mutinies of its garrison4 ,for the wars of ,sultan ,mahomet against the ,republic of ,venice were increasingly unpopular in his capital1 whose treasuries were being drained to furnish constant relays of fresh troops for further campaigns4 ,therefore1 before its citizens became even more bankrupt in their allegiance than they already were in their purses1 the ancient ,grand ,vizier advised his young master to withdraw1 for a while1 the radiance of his imperial countenance from the now sullen city beside the ,golden ,horn4 ,thus it came about that in the late autumn of #afeg1 ,sultan ,mahomet1 accompanied by his aged minister1 suddenly departed with his whole ,court1 and took up his residence close outside the still loyal city of ,adrianople4 ,his state entry into that town was of surpassing splendour1 since both the ,sultan and his ,minister were desirous to impress the citizens1 in order to persuade them to open their purse-strings and reveal their hidden hoards4 ,moreover1 they were ever more wishful to dazzle and overawe the ,venetian ,ambassador1 ,ballerino1 who was still kept by them1 unrighteously1 a prisoner in the said town4 ,a full hour or more was the long cavalcade in passing over the narrow stone bridge that spans the turbid ,maritza outside the walls of ,adrianople4 ,in at the great gate1 and down the one1 long1 meandering street of the city1 the imperial procession wound1 moving steadily and easily along1 since1 an hour or two previously1 hundreds of slaves had filled up the cavernous holes in the roadway with innumerable barrel loads of sawdust1 in honour of the ,sultan's arrival4 ,surrounded by multitudes of welcoming citizens1 the procession wound its way at length out on the far side of the city4 ,there1 amid a semicircle of low hills1 clothed with chestnut woods1 the imperial encampment of hundreds and thousands of silken tents shone glistening in the sun4#ci ,in one of the most splendid apartments of the ,sultan's own most magnificent pavilion1 the two chief personages who presided over this marvellous silken city might have been seen1 deep in conversation1 one sultry evening in ,june #afeh1 a few months after the ,court had taken up its residence outside the walls of ,adrianople4 ,they formed a strange contrast3 the boy ,sultan and his aged ,grand ,vizier1 ,kuprueli the ,albanian4 ,sultan ,mahomet1 the ',grand ,seignior' of the whole ,turkish ,empire1 was no strong1 powerful man1 but a mere stripling who had been scarred and branded for life1 some say even deformed1 by an attack made upon him in earliest infancy by his own unnatural father1 the ,sultan ,ibrahim4 ,this cruel maniac 7whose only excuse was that he was not in possession of more than half his wits at the time7 had been seized with a fit of ungovernable rage against the ladies of his harem1 and in his fury had done his best to slay his own son and heir4 ,happily he had not succeeded in doing more than maim the child1 and1 before long1 imprisonment and the bow-string put an end to his dangerous career4 ,but though the boy ,sultan had escaped with his life1 and had now reached the age of sixteen years1 he never attained to an imposing presence4 ,he has been described as 'a monster of a man1 deformed in body and mind1 stupid1 logger-headed1 cruel1 fierce as to his visage1' though this would seem to be an exaggeration1 since another account speaks of him as 'young and active1 addicted wholly to the delight of hunting and to follow the chase of fearful and flying beasts4' ,in order to have more leisure for these sports he was wont to depute all the business of government to his ,grand ,vizier1 the aged ,albanian chieftain ,kuprueli1 who now1 bending low before his young master1 so that the hairs of his white beard almost swept the ground1 was having one of his farewell audiences before departing for the battlefield4 ,kuprueli1 though over eighty years of age1 was about to face danger for the sake of the boy ruler1 who lounged luxuriously on his cushions1 glittering with jewels1 scented and effeminate1 with sidelong1 cunning glances and cruel lips4 ,yet even ,sultan ,mahomet1 touched by his aged ,minister's devotion1 had been fired with unwonted generosity3 ',ask what you will and you shall have it1 even unto the half of my kingdom1' he was exclaiming with true ,oriental fervour4 ,the ,grand ,vizier again swept the ground with his long white beard1 protesting that he was but a humble dead dog in his master's sight1 and that one beam from the imperial eyes was a far more precious reward than the gold and jewels of the whole universe4 ,nevertheless1 the ,sultan detected a shade of hesitation in spite of the magniloquence of this refusal4 ,there was something the ,grand ,vizier wished to ask4 ,he must be yet further encouraged4 ',thou hast a boon at heart2 ,i read it in thy countenance1' the ,sultan continued1 'ask and fear not4 ,be it my fairest province for thy revenues1 my fleetest ,arab for thy stable1 my whitest ,circassian beauty for thine own1 thou canst demand it at this moment without fear4' ,so saying1 as if to prove his words1 he waved away with one hand the ,court ,executioner who stood ever at his side when he gave audience1 ready to avenge the smallest slip in etiquette4 ,the ,grand ,vizier looked on the ground1 still hesitating and troubled1 ',the ,joy of the flourishing tree and the ,lord of all ,magnificence is my ,lord1' he answered slowly1 'the gift ,i crave is unworthy of his bountiful goodness4 ,how shall one small speck of dust be noticed in the full blaze of the noonday sun8 ,yet1 in truth1 ,i have promised this mere speck of dust1 this white stranger woman1 by the mouth of my interpreter1 that ,i would mention to my lord's sublimity her desire to bask in the sunshine of his rays and----' ',a white1 stranger woman1' interrupted the ,sultan eagerly1 'desiring to see me8 ,nay1 then1 the boon is of thy giving1 not of mine4 ,tell me more6 ,yet it matters not4 ,were she beauteous as the crescent at even1 or ill-favoured as a bird of prey1 she shall yet be welcome for thy sake1 ,o faithful ,servant1 be she a slave or a queen4 ,tell me only her name and whence she comes4' ,again the ,grand ,vizier made obeisance4 ',neither foul nor fair1 neither young nor old1 neither slave nor queen1' he replied4 ',she is in truth a marvel1 like to none other these eyes have seen in all their fourscore years and more4 ,tender as the dewdrop is her glance2 yet cold as snow is her behaviour4 ,weak as water in her outward seeming2 yet firm and strong as ice is she in strength of inward purpose4' ',of what nation is this ,wonder8' enquired the ,sultan4 ',she can scarcely be a follower of the ,prophet1 on whom be peace1 since thou appearest to have gazed upon her unveiled countenance8' ',nay1 herein is the greatest marvel1' returned the ,minister1 'it is an ,englishwoman1 come hither in unheard fashion over untrodden ways1 with a tale to tickle the ears4 ,she tells my interpreter 7who alone1 as yet1 hath spoken with her7 that her home is in the cold grey isle of ,britain4 ,that there she dwelt many years in lowly estate1 being indeed but a serving-maid in a town called ,yorkshire2 or so my interpreter understands4 ,she saith that there she heard the voice of ,allah ,himself1 calling her to be ,his ,minister and ,messenger1 heard and straightway obeyed4 ,sayeth1 moreover1 that she hath already travelled in ,his service beyond the utmost western sea1 even to the new land discovered by that same ,cristofero of ,genoa1 whose fellow citizens are at this hour dwelling in our city yonder4 ,sayeth that in that far western land she hath been beaten and imprisoned4 ,yet1 nevertheless1 she was forbidden to rest at home until she had carried her message as far to the ,east as to the ,west1 or some such words4 ,that having thus already visited the land where sleeps the setting sun of western skies1 she craveth now an audience with the splendid morning ,sun1 the light of the whole ,east2 even the ,grand ,seignior1 who is as the ,shade of ,god ,himself4' ',for what purpose doth she desire an audience8' enquired the ,sultan moodily4 ',being a mere woman and therefore without skill1 she can use only simple words1' answered the ,grand ,vizier4 ',tell the ,sultan ,i have something to declare unto him from the ,most ,high ,god1 such is her message2 but who heedeth what a woman saith8 ,never give ear to the counsels and advices of woman is the chiefest word inscribed upon the heart of a wise king1 as ,i have counselled ever4 ,yet1 this once1 seeing that this maiden is wholly unlike all other women1 it might be well to let her bask in the rays of glory rather than turn her unsatisfied away----4' ,the ,vizier paused expectantly4 ,the ,sultan remained looking down1 toying with the pearl and turquoise sheath of the dagger stuck in his girdle4 ',a strange tale1' he said at last1 'it interests me not1 although ,i feel an unknown ,power that forces me to listen to thy words4 ,her name8' he suddenly demanded1 lifting his eyes once more to his ,minister's face4 ',she gives it not1' returned the other1 'speaketh of herself as but a ,messenger1 repeating ever1 ,not ,i1 but ,his ,word4 ,yet my interpreter1 having caused enquiries to be made1 findeth that those with whom she lodgeth in the city do speak of her as ,maree4 ,also1 some peasants who found her wandering on the mountains when the moon was full1 and brought her hither1 speak of her by the name of ,miriam4 ,marvelling at the whiteness of her skin1 they deem she is a witch or ,moon ,maiden come hither by enchantment4 ,yet must she on no account be hurt or disregarded1 they say1 since she is wholly guileless of evil spells1 and under the special protection of ,issa ,ben ,miriam1 seeing that she beareth his mother's name4' ,the ,sultan was growing impatient4 ',a fit tale for ignorant peasants1' he declared4 ',me it doth not deceive4 ,this is but another ,english vagabond sent hither by that old jackal ,sir ,thomas ,bendish1 their ,ambassador at ,constantinople1 to dog my footsteps even here1 and report my doings to him4 ,i will not see her1 were she ten times a witch1 since she is of his nation and surely comes at his behest4' ',let my lord slay his servant with his own hands rather than with his distrust1' returned the ,grand ,vizier4 ',had she come from ,sir ,thomas ,bendish1 or by his orders1 straightway to him she should have returned4 ,she hath never even seen him1 nor so much as set eyes on our sacred city beside the ,golden ,horn4 ,had she gazed even from a distance upon the most holy ,mosque of the ,sacred ,wisdom at ,constantinople1 she had surely been less utterly astonished at the sight of even our noble ,sultan ,selim in this city4' ,so saying1 the ,grand ,vizier turned to the entrance of the pavilion1 and gazed towards the town of ,adrianople lying in the plain beneath1 beyond the poplar-bordered stream of the ,maritza4 ,high above all other buildings rose the great ,mosque of ,sultan ,selim1 with its majestic dome surrounded by slender sky-piercing minarets4 ,its #iii windows shone glorious in the rays of the setting sun3--,sultan ,selim1 the glory of ,adrianople1 the ruin of the architect who schemed its wondrous beauty2 since he1 poor wretch1 was executed on the completion of the marvel1 for this crime only1 that he had placed #iii windows within its walls1 and had missed1 though but by one1 the miracle of a full thousand4 ,the ,vizier continued3 ',the woman declares she hath come hither on foot1 alone and unattended4 ,her tale is that she came by the sea from the ,isles of ,britain with several companions 7filled all of them with the same desire to behold the face of the ,sublime ,magnificence7 so far as ,smyrna2 where1 declaring their wish unto the ,english ,consul there1 he1 like a wise-hearted man1 advised her and her companions by all means to forbear4 ',they not heeding and still urgently beseeching him to bring them further on their journey1 the ,consul dissembled and used guile4 ,therefore1 the while he pretended all friendliness and promised to help forward their enterprise1 he in truth set them instead on board a ship bound for ,venice and no wise for ,constantinople1 hoping thereby to thwart their purpose1 and to force them to return to their native land4 ,some of the company1 discovering this after the ship had set sail1 though lamenting1 did resign themselves to their fate4 ,only this maid1 strong in soul1 would not be turned from her purpose1 but declared constantly that ,allah1 who had commanded her to come1 would surely bring her there where ,he would have her1 even to the presence of the ,grand ,seignior himself4 ,and lo6 even as she spoke1 a violent storm arose1 the ship was driven out of her course and cast upon the ,island of ,zante with its rugged peaks2 and there1 speaking to the ship-master1 she persuaded him to put her ashore on the opposite coast of the mainland1 even at the place known as the ,black ,mountain2 and thence she hath made her way hither on foot1 alone1 and hath met with nothing but lovingkindness from young and old1 so she saith1 as the ,messenger of the ,great ,king4' ,the ,sultan's interest was aroused at last3 ',afoot--from the ,black ,mountain6--incredible6 ,a woman1 and alone6 ,it is a journey of many hundreds of miles1 and through wild1 mountainous country4 ,what proof hast thou that she speaketh truly8' ',my interpreter hath questioned her closely as to her travels4 ,his home is in that region1 and he is convinced that she has indeed seen the places she describes4 ,also1 she carries ever in her breast a small sprig of fadeless sea-lavender that groweth only on the ,black ,mountain slopes1 and sayeth that the sea captain plucked it as he set her ashore1 telling her that it was even as her courage1 seeing that it would never fade4' ,but the ,sultan's patience was exhausted3 ',i must see this woman and judge for myself1 not merely hear of her from aged lips1' he exclaimed4 ',witch or woman--moonbeam or maiden--she shall declare herself in my presence4 ,only1 since she doth dare to call herself the messenger of the ,most ,high ,god1 let her be accorded the honours of an ,ambassador1 that all men may know that the ,sultan duly regardeth the message of ,allah4' ,,ii ,on a divan of silken cushions in the guest chamber of a house in the city of ,adrianople1 a woman lay1 still and straight4 ,midnight was long past4 ,outside1 the hot wind could be heard every now and then1 listlessly flapping the carved wooden lattice-work shutters of an overhanging balcony built out on timber props over the river ,maritza1 whose turbid waters surged beneath with steady plash4 ,inside1 the striped silken curtains were closely drawn4 ,the atmosphere was stuffy and airless1 filled with languorous aromatic spices4 ,mary ,fisher could not sleep3 she lay motionless as the slow hours passed2 gazing into the darkness with wide1 unseeing eyes1 while she thought of all that the coming day would bring4 ,the end of her incredible journey was at hand4 ,the ,grand ,vizier's word was pledged4 ,the ,grand ,turk himself would grant her an audience before the hour of noon1 to receive her ,message from the ,great ,king4 ,her ,message4 ,through all the difficulties and dangers of her journey1 that ,message had sustained her4 ,as she had tramped over steep mountain ranges1 or won a perilous footing in the water-courses of dry hillside torrents1 more like staircases than roads1 thoughts and words had often rushed unbidden to her mind and even to her lips4 ,no difficulties could daunt her with that ,message still undelivered4 ,many an evening as she lay down beneath the gnarled trees of an olive grove1 or cooled her aching feet in the waters of some clear stream1 far beyond any bodily refreshment the intense peace of the ,message she was sent to deliver had quieted the heart of the weary messenger4 ,only now that her goal was almost reached1 all power of speech or thought seemed to be taken from her4 ,but1 though a candle may burn low1 may even for a time be extinguished1 it still carries securely within it the possibility of flame4 ,even so the ,messenger of the ,great ,king lay1 hour after hour1 in the hot night silence2 not sleeping1 yet smiling3 physically exhausted1 yet spiritually unafraid4 ,the heat within the chamber became at length unbearably oppressive to one accustomed1 as ,mary ,fisher had been for weeks past1 to sleeping under the open sky4 ,stretching up a thin white arm through the scented darkness1 she managed to unfasten the silken cords and buttons of the curtain above her1 and to let in a rush of warm night air4 ,it was still too early for the reviving breeze to spring up that would herald the approach of dawn3 too early for even the earliest of the orange hawks1 that haunted the city in the daytime1 to be awake4 ,cuddled close in cosy nests under the wide eaves1 their slumbers were disturbed for a moment as ,mary1 half sitting up1 shook the pierced lattice-work of the shutters that formed the sides of her apartment4 ,peering through the interstices of fragrant wood1 she caught sight of a wan crescent moon1 just appearing behind a group of chestnut-trees on the opposite hill above the river4 ,the crescent moon6 ,her guide over sea and land6 ,had she not come half round the world to proclaim to the followers of that same ,crescent1 a people truly sitting in gross darkness1 the message of the ,one true ,light8 ,however long the midnight hours1 dawn surely must be nigh at hand4 ,before long1 that waning ,crescent must set and disappear1 and the ,sun of ,righteousness arise with healing in ,his wings4 ,there lay the slumbering flame of her wondrous ,message4 ,the right words wherewith to kindle that flame in the hearts of others would surely be given when the right hour came1 however unworthy the ,messenger4 ',as far as the ,east is from the ,west1' the weary woman thought to herself1 while the scenes of her wondrous journey across two hemispheres rushed back unbidden to her mind--'even so far hath ,he removed our transgressions from us4' ,at that moment1 the eagerly awaited breeze of dawn passed over her hot temples1 soothing her like a friend4 ,refreshed and strengthened1 she lay down once more1 still and straight2 her smooth hair braided round her head2 her hands crossed calmly on her breast2 in a repose as quiet and austere1 even upon those yielding ,oriental cushions1 as when she lay upon her hard1 narrow pallet bed at home4 ,before the first apricot flush of dawn crept up the eastern sky1 ,mary ,fisher had sunk into a tranquil sleep4 ,,iii ,it was broad daylight1 though still early1 when she awoke4 ,outside1 the garden behind the house was now a rippling sea of rose and scarlet poppies1 above which the orange hawks swooped or dived like copper anchors1 in the crisp morning air4 ,within doors1 a slave girl stood beside the divan in the guest chamber1 clapping her hands gently together to cause the white stranger to awake4 ,but the chamber seemed full of moonlight1 although it was broad day4 ,had the waning crescent retraced her footsteps1 or left behind some of her chill beams8 ,mary ,fisher rubbed her eyes4 ,she must surely be dreaming still6 ,then1 waking fully1 she saw that the moon-like radiance came from a heap of silvery gauze draperies1 reflected in the emerald green tiles of the floor and in the tall narrow mirrors that separated the lattice-work shutters4 ,a flowing robe of silver tissue was spread out over an ottoman in the centre of the floor4 ,the slave girl at her side was holding up a long veil of shimmering silver1 drawing it through her henna-stained finger-tips1 with low1 gurgling cries of delight2 then1 stretching out her arms wide1 she spread the veil easily to their fullest extent4 ,a moment later1 drawing a tiny ring from her finger1 she had pressed the veil as easily through the small golden circlet1 so fine were the silken folds4 ,then with significant gestures she explained that all these treasures were for the stranger to wear instead of her own apparel4 ,with scornful glances from her dark almond-shaped eyes she pointed disdainfully to ,mary ,fisher's own simple garments1 which1 at her entrance1 she had tossed contemptuously into a heap on the floor4 ,the plain1 grey1 ,quakeress's dress did indeed look simpler than ever amid all the shining ,oriental splendour4 ,worn too it was1 and travel-stained in places1 though newly washed1 carefully mended and all ready for use4 ,mary ,fisher had been a woman for many years before she became a ,quakeress4 ,nay more1 she was a woman still4 ,it is possible that1 for about the space of half a minute1 she may have looked almost regretfully at the silver tissue draperies and the gauze veil4 ,half a minute4 ,not longer6 ,for her1 a ,messenger of the ,great ,king1 to clothe herself in garments worn by ,turkish women1 unbelievers1 followers of the ,false ,prophet1 was impossible1 not to be contemplated for an instant4 ,with the gentleness of complete decision she dismissed the slave girl1 who departed reluctantly towards the women's apartments4 ,in spite of the froth of shining1 billowy folds with which her arms were full1 she turned round as she parted the striped1 silken hangings of the doorway and drew her dusky orange finger-tips in a significant gesture across her slender brown throat4 ,it was obvious that the slave girl considered this refusal a very serious breach of etiquette indeed6 ,left alone1 ,mary ,fisher clothed herself1 proudly and yet humbly1 in her own simple garments4 ,her body bore even yet the marks where cruel scourgings in her youth had furrowed deep scars from head to waist4 ,years ago thus had ,english ,christians received her1 when she and her companion had been whipped until the blood ran down their backs beneath the market cross at ,cambridge4 ,the two young girls were the first of any of the ,friends to be thus publicly scourged4 ',this is but the beginning of the sufferings of the people of ,god1' ,mary had exclaimed prophetically1 as the first stroke of the lash fell on her shoulders1 while the assembled multitudes listened in amazement as the two suffering women went on to pray for mercy on their persecutors4 ,while here1 in ,adrianople1 under the ,crescent1 the ,infidel ,turk1 to whom she had come in the power of the very same ,message for which she had suffered in ,christian countries1 was receiving her with kindness and respect1 offering to clothe her body in sumptuous apparel1 instead of with bloody scars4444 ,mary ,fisher sighed with irrepressible pain at the thought4 ,looking down1 the marks left by the stocks were also plainly visible under the sunburn round her ankles1 as she stood1 bare-footed1 on the crimson rug4 ,she gladly covered up those tell-tale tokens under her white stockings4 ,but where were her shoes8 ,they seemed to have disappeared4 ,although the few strips of worn leather that she had put off the night before had been scarcely worthy of the name of shoes1 their disappearance might be a grave difficulty4 ,had they been taken away in order to force her to appear bare-footed before the ,sultan8 ,ah6--here the slave girl was reappearing4 ,kneeling down1 with a triumphant smile she forced the ,englishwoman's small1 delicate feet--hardened1 it is true1 by many hundreds of miles of rough travelling1 but shapely still--into a little pair of embroidered silver slippers4 ,turkish slippers6 glistening with silver thread and crystal beads1 turned up at the pointed toes1 and finished by two silver tufted tassels1 that peeped out incongruously from under the straight folds of the simple grey frock4 ,this time ,mary ,fisher yielded submissively and made not the slightest resistance4 ,it did not matter to her in the least how her feet were shod1 so long as they were shod in some way1 and she was saved from having to pay a mark of homage to the ,infidel4 ,as she sat with folded hands on the divan1 awaiting the summons of the ,grand ,vizier1 her deep eyes showed that her thoughts were far1 far away from any ,silver ,slippers4 ,,iv ',mahomet1 sone of the ,emperour1 sone of ,god1 thrice heavenly and thrice known as the renowned ,emperour of the ,turks1 ,king of ,greece1 ,macedonia and ,moldavia1 ,king of ,samaria and ,hungary1 ,king of ,greater and ,lesser ,egypt1 ,king of all the inhabitants of the ,earth and the ,earthly ,paradise1 ,guardian of the ,sepulchre of thy ,god1 ,lord of the ,tree of ,life1 ,lord of all the ,emperours of the ,world from the ,east even to the ,west1 ,grand ,persecutor of the ,christians and of all the wicked1 the ,joy of the flourishing ,tree' 444 and so forth and so on4 ,the owner of all these high-sounding titles was hunched up on his cushions in the ,state ,pavilion4 ',on ,state occasions1 among which it is evident that he included this ,quaker audience1 he delighted to deck his unpleasing person in a vest of cloth of gold1 lined with sable of the richest contrasting blackness4 ,around him were ranged the servants of the ,seraglio--the highest rank of lacqueys standing nearest the royal person1 the ,paicks in their embroidered coats and caps of beaten gold1 and the ,solacks1 adorned with feathers1 and armed with bows and arrows4 ,behind them were grouped great numbers of eunuchs and the ,court pages1 carrying lances4 ,these wore the peculiar coiffure permitted only to those of the royal chamber1 and above their tresses hung long caps embroidered with gold4 ',mary ,fisher was ushered into this brilliant scene with all the honours usually accorded to an ,ambassador3 the ,sultan's dragomans accompanied her and stood waiting to interpret at the interview4 ,she was at this time about thirty-five years of age1 a maid 444 whose intellectual faculties were greatly adorned by the gravity of her deportment4 444 ,she must have stood in her simple grey frock1 amidst that riot of gold and scarlet1 like a lily in a garden of tulips1 her quiet face shining in that cruel and lustful place with the joy of a task accomplished1 and the sense of the presence of ,god4'#dj ,thus she stood1 at the goal of her journey at last1 in the presence of the ,grand ,turk1 she the ,messenger of the ,great ,king4 ,there was the ,grand ,turk1 resplendent in his sable and cloth of gold4 ,opposite to him stood the gentle ,quakeress1 in her plain garment of grey ,yorkshire frieze with its spotless deep collar and close-fitting cap of snowy lawn4 ,only the ,message was wanting now4 ,at first no ,message came4 ,the ,sultan1 thinking that the woman before him was naturally alarmed by such unwonted magnificence1 spoke to her graciously4 ',he asked by his interpreters 7whereof there were three with him7 whether it was true what had been told him that she had something to say to him from the ,lord ,god4 ,she answered1 ,yea4 ,then he bade her speak on3 and she not being forward1 weightily pondering what she might say4 ,should he dismiss his attendants and let her speak with him in the presence of fewer listeners8 the ,grand ,turk asked her kindly4' ,again came an uncourtly monosyllabic ',no1' followed by another baffling silence4 ,the executioner1 a hook-nosed ,kurd with eyes like a bird of prey1 stationed1 as always1 at the ,sultan's right hand1 began to look at the slight woman in grey with a professional interest4 ,he felt the edge of his blade with a skilful thumb and fore-finger1 and turned keen eyes from the slender throat of the ,quakeress1 rising above the folds of snowy lawn1 to the aged neck of the ,grand ,vizier half hidden by his long white beard4 ,there might be a double failure in etiquette to avenge1 should the ,sultan's pleasure change and this unprecedented interview prove a failure6 ,the executioner smacked his cruel lips with pleasure at the thought1 looking1 in his azalea-coloured garment1 like an orange hawk himself1 all ready to pounce on his victims4 ,still ,silence reigned3--a keen silence more piercing than the sharpest ,damascene blade4 ,it was piercing its way into one heart already4 ,not into the heart of the aged ,grand ,vizier4 ,the ,grand ,vizier was frankly bored1 and was1 moreover1 beginning to be strangely uneasy at his protegee's unaccountable behaviour4 ,he turned to his interpreter with an enquiring frown4 ,the interpreter looked yet more uncomfortable--even terrified4 ,approaching his master1 he began to whisper profound apologies into his ear1 how that he ought to have warned him that this might happen2 the woman had in truth confessed that she could not tell when the ,message would be sent1 nor could she give it a moment before it came3 ',sayeth indeed that her ,teacher in this strange faith hath been known to keep an assembly of over #ajjj people waiting for a matter of three hours1 in order to famish them from words1 not daring to open his lips without command4' ',thou shouldest indeed have mentioned this before6 ,allah grant that this maiden keepeth us not here so long1' retorted the ,grand ,vizier1 with a scowl of natural impatience1 seeing that he was to set forth on his journey to the battle-field that very day1 and that moments were growing precious1 even in the timeless ,east4 ,then1 turning to the ,sultan1 he in his turn began to pour out profuse explanations and apologies4 ,the uncouth1 misshapen figure on the central divan1 however1 paid scant heed to his ,minister4 ,right into the fierce1 cruel1 passionate heart of ,sultan ,mahomet that strange silence was piercing3 piercing as no words could have done1 through the crust formed by years of self-seeking and sin1 piercing1 until it found1 until it quickened1 ',that of ,god within4' ,what happened next must be told in the historian ,sewel's own words1 since he doubtless heard the tale from the only person who could tell it1 ,mary ,fisher herself4 ',the ,grand ,turk then bade her speak the word of the ,lord to them and not to fear1 for they had good hearts and could hear it4 ,he also charged her to speak the word she had to say from the ,lord1 neither more nor less1 for they were willing to hear it1 be it what it would4 ,then she spoke what was upon her mind4' ,she never says what it was4 ,the ,message1 once delivered1 could never be repeated4 ',the ,turks hearkened to her with much attention and gravity until she had done2 and then1 the ,sultan asking her whether she had anything more to say8 she asked him whether he understood what she had said8 ,he answered1 ,yes1 every word1 and further said that what she had spoken was truth4 ,then he desired her to stay in that country1 saying that they could not but respect such an one1 as should take so much pains to come to them so far as from ,england with a message from the ,lord ,god4 ,he also proffered her a guard to bring her into ,constantinople1 whither she intended4 ,but she1 not accepting this offer1 he told her it was dangerous travelling1 especially for such an one as she3 and wondered that she had passed safe so far as she had1 saying also that it was in respect for her1 and kindness1 that he proffered it1 and that he would not for anything she should come to the least hurt in his dominions4 ,she having no more to say1 the ,turks asked her what she thought of their prophet ,mahomet8 ,she answered warily that she knew him not1 but ,christ the true prophet1 the ,son of ,god1 who was the ,light of the ,world1 and enlightened every man coming into the world1 ,him she knew4 ,and concerning ,mahomet1 she said that they might judge of him to be true or false according to the words and prophecies he spoke2 saying further1 ,if the word of a prophet shall come to pass1 then shall ye know that the ,lord hath sent that prophet3 but if it come not to pass1 then shall ye know that the ,lord never sent him4 ,the ,turks confessed this to be true1 and ,mary1 having performed her message1 departed from the camp to ,constantinople without a guard1 whither she came without the least hurt or scoff4444' ,v ,thus ,mary returned safe to ,england1 where1 if not romance1 at any rate solid happiness awaited her in the shape of a certain ,william ,bayly4 ,he1 a ,quaker preacher and master mariner1 having been himself a great traveller and having endured repeated imprisonments in distant countries1 could appreciate the courage and success of her unprecedented journey4 ,at any rate1 as the historian quaintly tells us1 he 'thought her worthy to make him a second wife4' ,a few months after her return to ,england1 but while she was still unmarried1 ,mary ,fisher wrote the following account of her travels to some of the friends in whose company she had suffered imprisonment in former days before her great journey4 ',my dear love salutes you all in one1 you have been often in my remembrance since ,i departed from you1 and being now returned into ,england and many trials1 such as ,i was never tried with before1 yet have borne my testimony for the ,lord before the ,king unto whom ,i was sent1 and he was very noble unto me1 and so were all they that were about him3 he and all that were about him received the word of truth without contradiction4 ,they do dread the name of ,god1 many of them1 and eyes ,his messengers4 ,there is a royal seed amongst them which in time ,god will raise4 ,they are more near truth than many ,nations1 there is a love begot in me towards them which is endless1 but this is my hope concerning them1 that ,he who hath raised me to love them more than many others will also raise ,his seed in them unto which my love is4 ,nevertheless1 though they be called ,turks1 the seed of them is near unto ,god1 and their kindness hath in some measure been shewn towards ,his servants4 ,after the word of the ,lord was declared unto them1 they would willingly have me to stay in the country1 and when they could not prevail with me1 they proffered me a man and a horse to go five days' journey that was to ,constantinople1 but ,i refused and came safe from them4 ,the ,english are more bad1 most of them1 yet hath a good word gone through them1 and some have received it1 but they are few3 so ,i rest with my dear love to you all--,your dear sister1 ,,mary ,,fisher4' ,,vi ,forty years later1 in #afig1 an aged woman was yet alive at ,charlestown in ,america1 who was still remembered as the heroine of the famous journey so many years before4 ,although twice widowed since then1 and now with children and grandchildren around her1 she was spoken of to the end by her maiden name4 ,a shipwrecked visitor from the other side of the ,atlantic describes her in his letters home as 'one whose name you have heard of1 ,mary ,fisher1 she that spoke to the ,grand ,turk4' ,in the dwelling of that ancient widow1 however old she grew1 however many other relics she kept--remembrances of her two husbands1 of children and grandchildren--between the pages of her well-worn ,bible was there not always one pressed sprig of the fadeless sea-lavender that grows on the rocky shores of the ,black ,mountain8 ,and1 somewhere or other1 in the drawer of an inlaid cabinet or work-table there must have been also one precious packet1 carefully tied up with ribbon and silver paper1 in which some favourite grandchild1 allowed for a treat to open it1 would find1 to her indescribable delight1 a little tasselled pair of ,turkish ,,silver ,,slippers4 ,,footnotes3 #ci ,a certain ,englishman1 ,paul ,rycaut by name1 has left a description of this encampment as he saw it on his visit a short time afterwards4 ',the tents were raised on a small hill1 and about #bjjj in number1 ranged at that time without order1 only the ,grand ,signior's seemed to be in the midst to overtop all the rest1 well worthy observation1 costing 7as was reported7 #ahj1jjj dollars1 richly embroidered in the inside with gold4 ,within the walls of this tent 7as ,i may so call them7 were all sorts of offices belonging to the ,seraglio1 apartments for the pages1 chiosks or summer-houses for pleasure1 and though ,i could not get admittance to view the innermost rooms and chambers1 yet by the outward and more common places of resort ,i could make a guess at the richness of the rest1 being sumptuous beyond comparison of any in use among ,christian princes4 ,on the right hereof was pitched the ,grand ,vizier's tent1 exceeding rich and lofty1 and had ,i not seen that of the ,sultan before it1 ,i should have judged it the best that mine eyes had seen4 ,the ostentation and richness of this empire being evidenced in nothing more than the richness of their pavilions1 sumptuous beyond the fixed palaces of princes1 erected with marble and mortar4' #dj ,quaker ,women1 by ,mabel ,r4 ,brailsford4 ,,xxix4 ,,fierce ,,feathers ',we who were once slayers of one another do not now fight against our enemies4'--,,justin ,,martyr4 ,a4,d4 #adj4 ',victory that is gotten by the sword is a victory slaves get one over the other2 but victory contained by love is a victory for a king4'--,,gerrard ,,winstanley4 #afdi4 ',here you will come to love ,god above all1 and your neighbours as yourselves4 ,nothing hurts1 nothing harms1 nothing makes afraid on this holy mountain4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',my friends that are gone or are going over to plant and make outward plantations in ,america1 keep your own plantations in your hearts with the spirit and power of ,god1 that your own vines and lilies be not hurt4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',take heed of many words1 what reaches to the life settles in the life4 ,that which cometh from the life and is received from ,god1 reaches to the life and settles others in the life4'--,g4 ,,fox4 ',an old ,indian named ,papunehang appreciated the spirit and atmosphere of a ,friends' meeting1 even if he did not comprehend the words1 telling the interpreter afterwards1 ,i love to feel where words come from4'--,a4,m4 ,,gummere 7from ,john ,woolman's ,journal74 ,,xxix4 ,,fierce ,,feathers ,the sunlight lay in patches on the steep roof of the ,meeting-house of ,easton ,township1 in the ,county of ,saratoga1 in the ,state of ,new ,york4 ,it was a bright summer morning in the year #agge4 ,the children of ,easton ,township liked their wooden house1 although it was made only of rough-hewn logs1 nailed hastily together in order to provide some sort of shelter for the worshipping ,friends4 ,they would not1 if they could1 have exchanged it for one of the more stately ,meeting-houses at home in ,england1 on the other side of the ,atlantic4 ,there1 the windows were generally high up in the walls4 ,english children could see nothing through the panes but a peep of sky1 or the topmost branches of a tall tree4 ,when they grew tired of looking in the branches of the tree for an invisible nest that was not there1 there was nothing more to be hoped for1 out of those windows4 ,the children's eyes came back inside the room again1 as they watched the slow shadows creep along the white-washed walls1 or tried to count the flies upon the ceiling4 ,but out here in ,america there was no need for that4 ,the new ,meeting-house of ,easton had nearly as many possibilities as the new world outside4 ,to begin with1 its logs did not fit quite close together4 ,if a boy or girl happened to be sitting in the corner seat1 he or she could often see1 through a chink1 right out into the woods4 ,for the untamed wilderness still stretched away on all sides round the newly-cleared settlement of ,easton4 ,moreover1 there were no glass windows in the log house as yet1 only open spaces provided with wooden shutters that could be closed1 if necessary1 during a summer storm4 ,another larger1 open space at one end of the building would be closed by a door when the next cold weather came4 ,at present the summer air met no hindrance as it blew in softly1 laden with the fragrant scents of the flowers and pine-trees1 stirring the children's hair as it lightly passed4 ,every now and then a drowsy bee would come blundering in by mistake1 and after buzzing about for some time among the assembled ,friends1 he would make his perilous way out again through one of the chinks between the logs4 ,the children1 as they sat in ,meeting1 always hoped that a butterfly might also find its way in1 some fine day--before the winter came1 and before the window spaces of the new ,meeting-house had to be filled with glass1 and a door fastened at the end of the room to keep out the cold4 ,especially on a mid-week ,meeting like to-day1 they often found it difficult to 'think ,meeting thoughts' in the silence1 or even to attend to what was being said1 so busy were they1 watching for the entrance of that long desired butterfly4 ,for children thought about very much the same kind of things1 and had very much the same kind of difficulties in ,meeting1 then as now2 even though the place was far away1 and it is more than a hundred years since that sunny morning in ,easton ,township1 when the sunlight lay in patches on the roof4 ,it was not only the children who found silent worship difficult that still summer morning4 ,there were traces of anxiety on the faces of many ,friends and even on the placid countenances of the ,elders in their raised seats in the gallery4 ,there1 at the head of the ,meeting1 sat ,friend ,zebulon ,hoxie1 the grandfather of most of the children who were present4 ,below him sat his two sons4 ,opposite them1 their wives and families1 and a sprinkling of other ,friends4 ,the children had never seen before one of the stranger ,friends who sat in the gallery that day1 by their grandfather's side4 ,they had heard that his name was ,robert ,nisbet1 and that he had just arrived1 after having walked for two days1 thirty miles through the wilderness country to sit with ,friends at ,new ,easton at their mid-week ,meeting4 ,the children had no idea why he had come1 so they fixed their eyes intently on the stranger and stirred gently in their seats with relief when at last he rose to speak4 ,they had liked his kind1 open face as soon as they saw it4 ,they liked still better the sound of the rich1 clear voice that made it easy for even children to listen4 ,but they liked the words of his text best of all3 ',the ,beloved of the ,lord shall dwell in safety by ,him4 ,he shall cover them all the day long4' ,robert ,nisbet lingered over the first words of his message as if they were dear to him4 ,his voice was full and mellow1 and the words seemed as if they were part of the rich tide of summer life that flowed around4 ,he paused a moment1 and then went on1 ',and now1 how shall the ,beloved of the ,lord be thus in safety covered8 ,even as saith the ,psalmist1 ,he shall cover thee with ,his feathers and under ,his wings shalt thou trust4' ,then1 changing his tones a little and speaking more lightly1 though gravely still1 he continued3 ',you have done well1 dear ,friends1 to stay on valiantly in your homes1 when all your neighbours have fled2 and therefore are these messages sent to you by me4 ,these promises of covering and of shelter are truly meant for you4 ,make them your own and you shall not be afraid for the terror by night1 nor for the arrow that flieth by day4' ,here the boys and girls on the low benches under the gallery looked at one another4 ,now they knew what had brought the stranger6 ,he had come because he had heard of the danger that threatened the little clearing of settlers in the woods4 ,for though ,new ,easton and ,east ,hoosack lay thirty miles apart they were both links in the long chain of ,quaker ,settlements that had been formed to separate the territory belonging to the ,dutch ,traders 7who dwelt near the ,hudson ,river7 from the ,english ,settlements along the valley of the ,connecticut4 ,in former days disputes between the ,dutch and ,english ,colonists had been both frequent and fierce1 until at length the ,government had conceived the brilliant idea of establishing a belt of neutral ground between the disputants1 and peopling it with unwarlike ,quakers4 ,the plan worked well4 ,the ,friends1 in their settlements strung out over a long1 narrow strip of territory1 were on friendly terms with their ,dutch and ,english neighbours on either side4 ,raids went out of fashion4 ,peace reigned1 and for a time the authorities were well content4 ,a fiercer contest was now brewing1 no longer between two handfuls of ,colonists but between the inhabitants of two great ,continents4 ,for it was just before the outbreak of the ,revolutionary ,war of #agge4 ,the part of the country in which ,easton ,township was situated was already distressed by visits of scouting parties from both ,british and ,american armies1 and the ,american ,government1 unable to protect the inhabitants1 had issued a proclamation directing them to leave the country4 ,this was the reason that all the scattered houses in the neighbourhood were deserted1 save only the few tenanted by the handful of ,friends4 ',you did well1 ,friends1' the speaker continued1 'well to ask to be permitted to exercise your own judgment without blame to the authorities1 well to say to them in all courtesy and charity1 ,you are clear of us in that you have warned us--and to stay on in your dwellings and to carry out your accustomed work4 ,the report of this your courage and faith hath reached us in our abiding place at ,east ,hoosack1 and the ,lord hath charged me to come on foot through the wilderness country these thirty miles1 to meet with you to-day1 and to bear to you these two messages from ,him1 ,the ,beloved of the ,lord shall dwell in safety by ,him1 and ,he shall cover thee with ,his feathers all the day long4' ,the visitor sat down again in his seat4 ,the furrowed line of anxiety in old ,zebulon ,hoxie's high forehead smoothed itself away2 the eyes of one or two of the younger women ,friends filled with tears4 ,as the speaker's voice ceased1 little ,susannah ,hoxie's head1 which had been drooping lower and lower1 finally found a resting-place1 and was encircled by her mother's arm4 ,young ,mrs4 ,hoxie drew off her small daughter's shady hat1 and put it on the seat beside her1 while she very gently stroked back the golden curls from the child's high forehead4 ,in doing this she caught a rebuking glance from her elder daughter1 ,dinah4 ',naughty1 naughty ,susie1 to go to sleep in ,meeting1' ,dinah was thinking2 'it is very hot1 and ,i am sleepy too1 but ,i don't go to sleep4 ,i do wish a butterfly would come in at the window just for once--or a bird1 a little bird with blue1 and red1 and pink1 and yellow feathers4 ,i liked what that stranger ,friend said about being 'covered with feathers all the day long4' ,i wish ,i was all covered with feathers like a little bird4 ,i wish there were feathers in ,meeting1 or anywhere close outside4' ,she turned in her corner seat and looked through the slit in the wall--why there were feathers close outside the wall of the house1 red1 and yellow1 and blue1 and pink6 ,what could they be8 ,very gently ,dinah moved her head1 so that her eye came closer to the slit4 ,but1 when she looked again1 the feathers had mysteriously disappeared--nothing was to be seen now but a slight trembling of the tree branches in the wilderness woods at a little distance4 ,in the mean while her brother1 ,benjamin ,hoxie1 on the other low seat opposite the window1 was also thinking of the stranger's sermon4 ',he said it was a valiant thing to do1 to stop on here when all the neighbours have left4 ,i didn't know ,friends could do valiant things4 ,i thought only soldiers were valiant4 ,but if a scouting party really did come--if those ,english scouts suddenly appeared1 then even a ,quaker boy might have a chance to show that he is not necessarily a coward because he does not fight4' ,benjamin's eyes strayed also out of the open window4 ,it was very hot and still in the ,meeting-house4 ,yet the bushes certainly were trembling4 ,how strange that there should be a breeze there and not here6 ',thou shall not be afraid for the arrow that flieth by day1' he thought to himself4 ',well1 there are no arrows in this part of the country any longer1 now that they say all the ,indians have left4 ,i wonder1 if ,i saw an ,english gun pointing at me out of those bushes1 should ,i be afraid8' ,but it was gentle ,mrs4 ,hoxie1 with her arm still round her baby daughter1 who kept the stranger's words longest in her heart4 ',shall dwell in safety by ,him1--the ,beloved of the ,lord1' she repeated to herself over and over again1 'yet my husband hath feared for me1 and we have both been very fearful for the children4 ,truly1 we have known the terror by night these last weeks in these unsettled times1 even though our duty was plainly to stay here4 ,why were we so fearful8 we of little faith4 ,the ,beloved of the ,lord shall dwell in safety by ,him4 ,he shall cover him with ,his feathers all the day long4' ,and then1 in her turn1 ,mrs4 ,hoxie looked up1 as her little daughter had done1 and saw the same three tall feathers creeping above the sill of the open ,meeting-house window frame4 ,for just one moment her heart1 that usually beat so calmly under her grey ,quaker robe1 seemed to stand absolutely still4 ,she went white to the lips4 ,then 'shall dwell in safety by ,him1' the words flashed back to her mind4 ,she looked across to where her husband sat--an urgent look4 ,he met her eyes1 read them1 and followed the direction in which she gazed4 ,then he1 too1 saw the feathers--three1 five1 seven1 nine1 sticking up in a row4 ,another instant1 and a dark-skinned face1 an evil face1 appeared beneath them1 looking over the sill4 ,the moment most to be dreaded in the lives of all ,american settlers--more terrible than any visit from civilised soldiers--had come suddenly upon the little company of ,friends alone here in the wilderness4 ,an ,indian ,chief was staring in at their ,meeting-house window1 showing his teeth in a cruel grin4 ,in his hand he held a sheaf of arrows1 poisoned arrows1 only too ready to fly1 and kill1 by day4 ,all the assembled ,friends were aware of his presence by this time1 and were watching the window now1 though not one of them moved4 ,mrs4 ,hoxie glanced towards her other little daughter1 and saw to her great relief that ,dinah too had fallen asleep1 her head against the wooden wall4 ,dinah and ,susie were the two youngest children in ,meeting that morning4 ,the others were mostly older even than ,benjamin1 who was twelve4 ,they were1 therefore1 far too well-trained in ,quaker stillness to move1 for any ,indians1 until the ,friends at the head of the ,meeting should have shaken hands and given the signal to disperse4 ,nevertheless1 the hearts of even the elder girls were beating very fast4 ,benjamin's lips were tightly shut1 and with eyes that were unusually bright he followed every movement of the ,indian ,chief1 who1 as it seemed in one bound and without making the slightest noise1 had moved round to the open doorway4 ,there he stood1 the naked brown figure1 in full war-paint and feathers1 looking with piercing eyes at each man ,friend in turn1 as if one of them must have the weapons that he sought4 ,but the ,friends were entirely unarmed4 ,there was not a gun1 or a rifle1 or a sword to be found in any of their dwelling-houses1 so there could not be any in their peaceful ,meeting4 ,a minute later1 a dozen other ,redskins1 equally terrible1 stood beside the ,chief1 and the bushes in the distance were quite still4 ,the bushes trembled no longer4 ,it was ,benjamin who found it hard not to tremble now1 as he saw thirteen sharp arrows taken from their quivers by thirteen skinny brown hands1 and their notches held taut to thirteen bow-strings1 all ready to shoot4 ,yet still the ,friends sat on1 without stirring1 in complete silence4 ,illustration3 ,,fierce ,,feathers ,only ,benjamin1 turning his head to look at his grandfather1 saw ,zebulon ,hoxie1 the patriarch of the ,meeting1 gazing full at the ,chief1 who had first approached4 ,the ,indian's flashing eyes1 under the matted black eyebrows1 gazed back fiercely beneath his narrow red forehead into the ,quaker's calm blue eyes beneath the high white brow and snowy hair4 ,no word was spoken1 but in silence two powers were measured against one another--the power of hate1 and the power of love4 ,for steady friendliness to his strange visitors was written in every line of ,zebulon ,hoxie's face4 ,the children never knew how long that steadfast gaze lasted4 ,but at length1 to ,benjamin's utter astonishment1 for some unknown reason the ,indian's eyes fell4 ,his head1 that he had carried high and haughtily1 sank towards his breast4 ,he glanced round the ,meeting-house three times with a scrutiny that nothing could escape4 ,then1 signing to his followers1 the thirteen arrows were noiselessly replaced in thirteen quivers1 the thirteen bows were laid down and rested against the wall2 many footsteps1 lighter than falling snow1 crossed the floor2 the ,indian ,chief1 unarmed1 sat himself down in the nearest seat1 with his followers in all their war-paint1 but also unarmed1 close round him4 ,the ,meeting did not stop4 ,the ,meeting continued--one of the strangest ,friends' ,meetings1 surely1 that ever was held4 ,the ,meeting not only continued1 it increased in solemnity and in power4 ,never1 while they lived1 did any of those present that day forget that silent ,meeting1 or the brooding ,presence1 that1 closer1 clearer than the sunlight1 filled the bright room4 ',cover thee with ,his feathers all the day long4' ,the ,friends sat in their accustomed stillness4 ,but the ,indians sat more still than any of them4 ,they seemed strangely at home in the silence1 these wild men of the woods4 ,motionless they sat1 as a group of trees on a windless day1 or as a tranquil pool unstirred by the smallest breeze2 silent1 as if they were themselves a part of ,nature's own silence rather than of the family of her unquiet1 human children4 ,the slow minutes slipped past4 ,the peace brooded1 and grew1 and deepened4 ',am ,i dreaming8' ,mrs4 ,hoxie thought to herself more than once1 and then1 raising her eyes1 she saw the ,indians still in the same place1 and knew it was no dream4 ,she saw1 too1 that ,benjamin's eyes were riveted to some objects hanging from the strangers' waists1 that none of the other ,friends appeared to see4 ,at last1 when the accustomed hour of worship was ended1 the two ,friends at the head of the ,meeting shook hands solemnly4 ,then1 and not till then1 did old ,zebulon ,hoxie advance to the ,indian ,chief1 and with signs he invited him and his followers to come to his house close at hand4 ,with signs they accepted4 ,the strange procession crossed the sunlit path4 ,susie and ,dinah1 wide awake now1 but kept silent in obedience to their mother's whispers1 were watching the feathers with clear1 untroubled eyes that knew no fear4 ,only ,benjamin shivered as if he were cold4 ,when the company had arrived at the house1 ,zebulon put bread and cheese on the table1 and invited his unwonted guests to help themselves4 ,they did so1 thanking him with signs1 as they knew little or no ,english4 ,robert ,nisbet1 the visiting ,friend1 who could speak and understand ,french1 had a conversation with one of the ,indians in that language1 and this was what he said3 ',we surrounded your house1 meaning to destroy every living person within it4 ,but when we saw you sitting with your door open1 and without weapons of defence1 we had no wish any longer to hurt you4 ,now1 we would fight for you1 and defend you ourselves from all who wish you ill4' ,meanwhile the ,chief who had entered first was speaking in broken ,english to old ,zebulon ,hoxie1 gesticulating to make his meaning clear4 ',indian come ,white ,man ,house1' he said1 pointing with his finger towards the ,settlement1 ',indian want kill white man1 one1 two1 three1 six1 all6' and he clutched the tomahawk at his belt with a gruesome gesture4 ',indian come1 see ,white ,man sit in house2 no gun1 no arrow1 no knife2 all quiet1 all still1 worshipping ,great ,spirit4 ,great ,spirit inside ,indian too2' he pointed to his breast2 'then ,great ,spirit say3 ,indian6 ,no kill them6' ,with these words1 the ,chief took a white feather from one of his arrows1 and stuck it firmly over the centre of the roof in a peculiar way4 ',with that white feather above your house1' the ,french-speaking ,indian said to ,robert ,nisbet1 'your settlement is safe4 ,we ,indians are your friends henceforward1 and you are ours4' ,a moment later and the strange guests had all disappeared as noiselessly as they had come4 ,but1 when the bushes had ceased to tremble1 ,benjamin stole to his mother's side4 ',mother1 did you see1 did you see8' he whispered4 ',they were not friendly ,indians4 ,they were the very most savage kind4 ,did you1' he shuddered1 'did you1 and father1 and grandfather1 and the others not notice what those things were1 hanging from their waists8 ,they were scalps--scalps of men and women that those ,indians had killed1' and again he shuddered4 ,his mother stooped and kissed him4 ',yea1 my son1' she answered1 ',i did see4 ,in truth we all saw1 too well1 save only the tender maids1 thy sisters1 who know naught of terror or wrong4 ,but thou1 my son1 when thou dost remember those human scalps1 pray for the slayers and for the slain4 ,only for thyself and for us1 have no fear4 ,remember1 rather1 the blessing of that other ,benjamin1 for whom ,i named thee4 ,the ,beloved of the ,lord shall dwell in safety by ,him4 ,he shall cover him all the day long4' ,,xxx4 ,,the ,,thief ,,in ,,the ,,tanyard ',in the ,house of ,love men do not curse nor swear2 they do not destroy nor kill any4 ,they use no outward swords or spears4 ,they seek to to destroy no flesh of man2 but it is a fight of the cross and patience to the subduing of sin4'--,,henry ,,nicholas 7circa #aedj74 ',we have to keep in mind the thought of ,christ4 ,to us it seems most important to stop the evil act1 hold it down by force1 or push off its consequences on to someone else3 anything1 so long as we get rid of them from ourselves4 ,christ's thought was to change the evil mind1 whatever physical consequences action1 directed to this end1 might involve4444 ,this is the essence of turning the other cheek1 it is the attitude most likely to convert the sinner who injures us1 whether it actually does so or not1--we cannot force him to be converted4' 444 ',those who try this method of love for the sake of the evildoer must be prepared to go down1 if necessary1 as the front ranks storming a strong position go down1 paying the price of victory for those who come after them4 ,this method is not certain to conquer the evil mind3 it is the most likely way to do it1 and it is that that matters most4'--,a4 ,,neave ,,brayshaw4 ,,xxx4 ,,the ,,thief ,,in ,,the ,,tanyard ,knock6 knock6 knock6 ,the tremulous sound1 three times repeated1 disturbed the stillness of an empty street of small wooden houses4 ,the night was very dark1 but the square mass of the tanner's house could just be discerned1 black and solid against the sky4 ,the rays of a solitary oil lamp straggled faintly across the roadway1 and showed a man with a large bundle on his back standing on the doorstep of that house1 knocking as if he were afraid of the noise he made4 ,knock6 knock6 knock6 ,he tried once more1 but with growing timidity and hesitation4 ,evidently the inmates of the house were busy1 or too far off to hear the feeble summons4 ,no one answered4 ,the man's small stock of courage seemed exhausted4 ,giving his heavy bundle a hitch back on to his shoulder1 he slunk off down the road1 to where at a little distance the small oil lamp high up on the wall beckoned faintly in the darkness4 ,the all-pervading smell of a tannery close by filled the air4 ,when he came directly under the lamp1 the man stopped4 ,the light1 falling directly upon the package he carried1 showed it to be a bundle of hides all ready for tanning4 ,here he stopped1 and drew out a piece of crumpled newspaper from his pocket4 ,smoothing out the creases as carefully as he could1 he held it up towards the lamp1 and read once more the strange words that he already knew almost by heart4 ,this notice was printed in large letters in the advertisement column3 ',,whoever stole a lot of hides on the fifth day of the present month is ,,hereby informed that their owner has a sincere wish to be his friend4 ,if poverty tempted him to this false step the owner will keep the whole transaction secret1 and will gladly put him in the way of obtaining money by means more likely to bring him peace of mind4' ',if poverty tempted him to this false step1' the man repeated to himself half aloud4 ',tanner ,savery wraps up his meaning in fine words1 but their sense is plain enough4 ,if it was being poor that drove a man to become a thief and to steal these hides from the shadow of that dark archway down by the river last ,sunday night1--suppose it was poverty1 well what then8 ,friend ,savery will gladly put him in the way of obtaining money by means more likely to bring him peace of mind4 ,will he indeed8 ,can ,i trust him8 ,is it a hoax8 ,i would rather do without the money now1 if only ,i could get rid of these hides1 and of their smell1 that sticks to a man's nostrils even as sin does to his memory4 ,but the tanner promises to give me back peace of mind1 does he8 ,well1 that's a fair offer and worth some risk4 ,i'll knock once more at his door and see what happens4' ,stuffing the newspaper into his pocket he walked quickly up the road again1 back to the square house1 and up the sanded steps4 ,again he lifted the brass knocker1 and again 'knock6 knock6 knock6' rang out on the night air4 ,but this time the knocking was less tremulous1 and as it happened the inmates of the house were crossing the hall on their way to bed and heard the sound at once4 ,in less than a minute the door opened1 and a square brass candlestick1 held high up1 threw its light out into the street4 ,the candlestick was held by a tall man with greyish white hair1 whom all the town knew as ,tanner ,savery4 ,peeping behind his shoulder appeared his wife's gentle face1 surmounted by the clear muslin of a ,quakeress's cap4 ,the man on the doorstep never lifted up his eyes to the couple4 ',i've brought them back1 ,mr4 ,savery1' he mumbled1 too much ashamed even to explain what he meant by 'them4' ,but ,william ,savery needed no explanation4 ,ever since the hides had mysteriously disappeared from his tanyard a few days before1 he had felt sure that this quarrelsome neighbour of his must have taken them4 ,what was that neighbour's real name8 ,that1 nobody knows1 or ever will know now4 ,we only know that whatever it may have been it certainly was not ,john ,smith1 because when1 in after years1 ,tanner ,savery occasionally told this story he always called the stealer of his hides ',john ,smith' in order to disguise his identity2 so we will speak of ,john ,smith too4 ',a ne'er-do-well' was the character people gave him4 ,they spoke of him as a man who was his own worst enemy1 sadly too fond of his glass1 and always quarrelling with his neighbours4 ,only ,william ,savery refused to believe that any man could be altogether evil1 and he kept a ray of hope in his heart for ,john ,smith1 even when his valuable bundle of hides mysteriously disappeared4 ,it was that ray of hope that had made him put the advertisement in the paper1 though he knew it would set the town laughing over 'those ,quakers and their queer soft ways4' ,this evening the ray of hope was shining more brightly than ever4 ,more brightly even than the candlelight shone in the darkness of the night1 the hope in his heart shone through the brightness of the ,tanner's eyes and smile4 ,yet he only answered cheerily1 ',all right1 friend1 wait till ,i can light a lantern and go to the barn to take them back with thee4' ,there was no trace of surprise in his voice4 ,those matter-of-fact tones sounded as if it were the most natural thing in the world to go out to the tanyard at #aj o'clock at night instead of going upstairs to bed4 ',after we have done that1' he continued1 'perhaps thou wilt come in and tell me how this happened2 we will see what can be done for thee4' ,a lantern1 hanging on its hook in the hall1 was soon lighted4 ,the two men picked their way down the sanded steps again1 then passing under a high creeper-covered gateway they followed a narrow1 flagged path to the tanyard4 ,all this time ,william ,savery had not said one word to his wife--but the ring of happiness in his voice had made her happy too1 and had told her what he would like her to do during his absence from the house4 ,lifting up the bedroom candlestick from the oak chest on which her husband had set it down1 she hastened to the larder1 then to the kitchen1 where she poked up the fire into a bright glow1 put a kettle on1 and then went back again through the hall to the parlour1 to and fro several times4 ,when the two men returned to the house a quarter of an hour later1 the fragrance of hot coffee greeted them4 ,solid pies and meat were spread out on the dark oak table4 ,mrs4 ,savery's pies were famous throughout the town4 ,but besides pies there were cakes1 buns1 bread1 and fruit1--a meal1 indeed1 to tempt any hungry man4 ',i thought some hot supper would be good for thee1 neighbour ,smith1' said ,mrs4 ,savery in her gentle voice1 as she handed him some coffee in one of her favourite blue willow-pattern cups4 ,but ,john ,smith did not take the cup from her4 ,instead1 he turned his back abruptly1 went over to the high carved fireplace1 and leaning down looking into the glowing coals1 said in a choked voice1 ',it is the first time ,i ever stole anything1 and ,i can tell you ,i have felt very bad about it ever since4 ,i don't know how it is4 ,i am sure ,i didn't think once that ,i should ever come to be a thief4 ,first ,i took to drinking and then to quarrelling4 ,since ,i began to go downhill everybody gives me a kick2 you are the first people who have offered me a helping hand4 ,my wife is sickly and my children are starving4 ,you have sent them many a meal1 ,god bless you6 ,yet ,i stole the hides from you1 meaning to sell them the first chance ,i could get4 ,but ,i tell you the truth when ,i say1 drunkard as ,i am1 it is the first time ,i was ever a thief4' ',let it be the last time1 my friend1' replied ,william ,savery1 'and the secret shall remain between ourselves4 ,thou art still young1 and it is within thy power to make up for lost time4 ,promise me that thou wilt not take any strong drink for a year1 and ,i will employ thee myself in the tanyard at good wages4 ,perhaps we may find some employment for thy family also4 ,the little boy can1 at least1 pick up stones4 ,but eat a bit now1 and drink some hot coffee2 perhaps it will keep thee from craving anything stronger tonight4' ,so saying1 ,william ,savery advanced1 and taking his guest by the arm1 gently forced him into a chair4 ,mrs4 ,savery pushed the cup towards him1 and heaped his plate with her excellent meat-pies4 ,the stranger took up the cup to drink1 but his hand trembled so much that he could not put it to his lips4 ,he tried to swallow a small mouthful of bread1 but the effort nearly choked him4 ,william ,savery1 seeing his guest's excited state1 went on talking in his grave kind voice1 to give him time1 and help him to grow calm4 ',doubtless thou wilt find it hard to abstain from drink at first1' he continued1 'but keep up a brave heart for the sake of thy wife and children1 and it will soon become easy4 ,whenever thou hast need of coffee tell my wife1 ,mary1 and she will give it thee4' ,mary ,savery's blue eyes shone as she nodded her head2 she did not say a word1 for she saw that her guest was nearly at an end of his composure4 ,gently she laid her hand on his rough sleeve as if to try to calm and reassure him4 ,but even her light touch was more than he could bear at that moment4 ,pushing the food and drink away from him untasted1 he laid both his arms on the table1 and burying his head1 he wept like a child4 ,the husband and wife looked at each other4 ',can ,i do anything to help him8' ,mary's eyes asked her husband in silence4 ',leave him alone for a little2 he will be better when this fit of tears is over1' his wise glance answered back4 ,william ,savery was right4 ,the burst of weeping relieved ,john ,smith's over-wrought feelings4 ,besides1 he really was almost faint with hunger4 ,in a few moments1 when the coffee was actually held to his lips1 he found he could drink it--right down to the bottom of the cup4 ,as if by magic1 the cup was filled up again1 and then1 very quickly1 the meatpies too began to disappear4 ,at each mouthful the man grew calmer4 ,it was an entirely different ,john ,smith who took leave of his kind friends an hour later4 ,again they followed him to the door4 ',try to do well1 ,john1 and thou wilt always find a friend in me1' ,william ,savery said1 as they parted4 ,mary ,savery added no words--she was never a woman given to much talk4 ,only she slipped her fingers into her guest's hand with a touch that said silently1 ',fare thee well1 friend4' ,the next day ,john ,smith entered the tanyard1 not this time slinking in as a thief in the darkness1 but introduced by the master himself as an engaged workman4 ,for many years he remained with his employer1 a sober1 honest1 and faithful servant1 respected by others and respecting himself4 ,the secret of the first visit was kept4 ,william and ,mary ,savery never alluded to it1 and ,john ,smith certainly did not1 though the memory of it never left him and altered all the rest of his life4 ,long years after ,john ,smith was dead1 ,william ,savery1 in telling the story1 always omitted the man's name4 ,that is why he has to be called ,john ,smith1 because no one knows now1 no one ever will know1 what his real name may have been4 ',but1' as ,william ,savery used to say when he was prevailed on to tell the story1 'the thing to know and remember is that it is possible to overcome ,evil with ,good4' ,,xxxi4 ,,how ,a ,,french ,,noble ,,became ,a ,,friend ,sentences from ',no ,cross1 ,no ,crown1' by ,,william ,,penn4 ',come1 ,reader1 hearken to me awhile2 ,i seek thy salvation2 that is my plot2 thou wilt forgive me4' ',thou1 like the inn of old1 hast been full of guests2 thy affections have entertained other lovers2 there has been no room for thy ,saviour in thy soul 444 but his love is after thee still1 his holy invitation continues to save thee4' ',receive his leaven1 it will change thee2 his medicine and it will cure thee2 he is as infallible as free2 without money and with certainty4444 ,yield up the body1 soul spirit to ,him that maketh all things new3 new heavens new earth1 new love1 new joy1 new peace1 new works1 a new life conversation4444' ',the inward1 steady righteousness of ,jesus is another thing than all the contrived devotion of poor superstitious man4444 ,true worship is an inward work2 the soul must be touched and raised in its heavenly desires by the heavenly ,spirit4444 ,so that souls of true worshippers see ,god3 and this they wait1 they pant1 they thirst for4' ',worship is the supreme act of man's life4' ,,xxxi4 ,,how ,a ,,french ,,noble ,,became ,a ,,friend ,now we come to a ,saint who had a life so full of adventures that a book twice as big as this one would be needed to contain the stories that might be told about him alone4 ,unlike any of the other ',quaker ,saints' in this book1 he was by birth a ,frenchman and came of noble family4 ,his name was ,etienne de ,grellet4 ,he was born nearly a century after the death of ,george ,fox2 but he probably did not know that such a person had ever existed1 never even heard ,fox's name1 until long after he was grown up4 ,if ,etienne de ,grellet1 the gay young nobleman of the ,french court1 had been told that his story would ever be written in a book of ',quaker ,saints' he would1 most likely1 have raised his dark eyebrows and have looked extremely surprised4 ',quakere8 ,qu'est-ce que c'est alors1 ,quakere8 ,quel drole de mot6 ,je ne suis pas ,quakere1 moi6' he might have answered1 with a disdainful shrug of his high1 narrow1 aristocratic ,french shoulders4 ,yet here he is after all6 99 99 99 99 99 ,etienne de ,grellet was born at ,limoges in ,france1 in the year #aggc4 ,his childhood was passed in the stormy years when the cloud was gathering that was to burst a little later in the full fury of the ,french ,revolution4 ,his father1 ,gabriel de ,grellet1 a wealthy merchant of ,limoges1 was a great friend and counsellor of ,louis ,,xvi4 and ,marie ,antoinette4 ,as a reward for having introduced into the country the manufacture of finer porcelain than had ever before been made in ,france he was ennobled by the king1 whom he often used to attend in his private chapel4 ,limoges china is still celebrated all over the world2 and at that time the most celebrated of its china-makers was ,m4 de ,grellet1 the king's friend4 ,naturally the sons of this successful merchant and nobleman were brought up in great luxury4 ,etienne and his brothers were not sent to a school1 but had expensive tutors to teach them at home4 ,their parents wanted their children to be well educated1 honourable1 straightforward1 generous1 and kind2 to possess not only accomplishments but good qualities4 ,yet ,etienne felt1 when he looked back in later days1 that something had been left out in their education that was1 perhaps1 the most important thing of all4 ,when he was quite a little boy he was taken to visit one of his aunts who was a nun in a convent near ,limoges4 ,the rules of this convent were so strict that the nuns might not even see their relations who came to visit them4 ,they might only speak to them from the other side of two iron gratings1 between the bars of which a thick curtain was hung4 ,the little boy thought it very strange to be taken from his beautiful home1 full of costly furniture1 pictures1 and hangings1 and to be brought into the bare convent cell4 ,then he looked up and saw an iron grating1 and heard a voice coming through the folds of a thick curtain that hung behind it4 ,he could hear the voice1 but he might never see the face of the aunt who spoke to him4 ,at night at home1 as he lay in his comfortable bed1 he used to think of his aunt and the other nuns 'rising three times in the night for prayer in the church1 from the hard boards which formed their couch1 even the luxury of a straw pallet being denied them4' ',which is the real life1' he used to ask himself1 'the easy comfortable life that goes on round me every day1 or that other1 difficult life hidden behind the folds of the thick curtain8' ,child though he was1 ,etienne felt that his aunt loved him1 although he had never seen her4 ,this helped him to feel that1 although unseen1 ,god was loving him too4 ,as he grew older he wondered3 ',perhaps everything we see here is like the bars of a grating1 or a thick curtain4 ,perhaps there is some one on the other side who is speaking to us too4' ,etienne was only about five or six years old when he made the great discovery that ,,god ,,is ,,there1 hidden behind the screen of visible things all round us4 ,after this1 he longed to be able to speak to ,god and to listen to ,god's voice1 as he was able to listen to his unseen aunt's voice speaking to him from behind the curtain in the convent4 ,no one ever taught him to pray2 but presently he discovered that too for himself4 ,one day1 when he was only six years old1 his tutor gave him a ,latin lesson to learn that was much too difficult for him4 ,etienne took the book up to his bedroom1 and there1 all alone1 he read it over and over and did his very best to learn it4 ,but the unfamiliar ,latin words would not stay in his memory4 ,at last he closed the book in despair and went to his bedroom window and looked out4 ,he gazed over the high roofs of the city1 away over the wide plain in which ,limoges lay1 to the distant mountain1 blue against the sky4 ,everything looked fair and peaceful4 ,as he gazed1 the thought came to him1 ',god made the plain and the river and the mountains4 ,god made this whole beautiful world in which ,i live4 ,if ,god can create all these things1 surely ,he can give me memory also4' ,he knelt down at the foot of his bed and prayed1 for the first time in his life1 that his ,unseen ,friend would help him to master the difficult lesson4 ,taking up the book again1 he read the hard ,latin words once more1 very attentively4 ,this time the words stayed in his memory and did not fade away4 ,often afterwards1 he found that if he prayed all his lessons became easier4 ,he could not1 of course1 learn them without effort1 but after he had really prayed earnestly1 he found he could remember things better4 ,then one day he learned the ,lord's prayer4 ,long years after1 when he was an old man1 he could still recall the exact spot in his beautiful home where1 as a little boy1 he had first learned to say1 ',our ,father4' ,etienne and his family belonged to the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 ,on ,sundays they went to the great cathedral of ,limoges2 but the service there always seemed strange and far away to ,etienne4#da ,the music1 the chanting1 the ,latin words that were said and sung by bishops and priests in their gorgeous robes1 did not seem to him to have anything to do with the quiet ,voice that spoke to the boy in the silence of his own heart4 ,when ,etienne and his brothers were old enough they were sent to several different colleges and schools4 ,their last place of instruction was the celebrated ,college of the ,oratorians at ,lyons4 ,among other things1 the students of this ,college were taught to move so quietly that fifty or a hundred boys went up or down the stone steps of the ,college all together1 without their feet making the least noise4 ,etienne tells us in his diary3 'as we were educated by ,roman ,catholics and in their principles we were required to confess once a month1' that is1 to tell a priest whatever they had done that was wrong1 and receive the assurance of ,god's forgiveness from him4 ,the priest to whom ,etienne regularly made his confession was 'a pious1 conscientious man1' who treated him with fatherly care4 ,when the boy told him of his puzzles1 and asked how it could be necessary to confess to any man1 since ,god alone could forgive sins1 he received a kind1 helpful answer4 ',yet1' he says1 'my reasoning faculties brought me to the root of the matter2 from created objects to the ,creator--from time to eternity4' ,after he was confirmed at ,college he hoped that his heart would be changed and made different2 but he found that he was still much the same as before4 ,before leaving the ,college he and the other students who were also departing received the ,sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper at ,mass4 ,this was to ,etienne a very solemn time4 ,but1 he says1 as soon as he was out in the world again1 the remembrance of it faded away4 ,he settled that he had no use for religion in his life1 and determined to live for pleasure and happiness alone4 ',i sought after happiness1' his diary says1 'in the world's delights4 ,i went in pursuit of it from one party of pleasure to another2 but ,i did not find it1 and ,i wondered that the name of pleasure could be given to anything of that kind4' ,in his dissipated life after leaving ,college1 he gave up saying his prayers1 and gradually he lost his belief that ,,god ,,was ,,there4 ,he read unbelieving books1 which said that ,god did not exist1 and that the ,unseen world was only a delusion and a dream4 ,for a time ,etienne gave himself up to doubt and denial as well as to dissipation4 ,he was in this restless state when the ,french ,revolution broke out and caught him1 like a butterfly in a thunderstorm4 ,new questions surged over him4 ',if there is a ,god after all1 why should ,he allow these horrors to happen8' ,but no answer came4 ,or perhaps he had forgotten how to listen4 ',towards the close of #agia1' he writes1 ',i left my dear ,father's house1 and bade him1 as it proved1 a lasting farewell1 having never seen him since4' ,at this time1 ,etienne accompanied his brothers and many other nobles into ,germany1 to join the ,french ,princes who were endeavouring to bring about a counter-revolution and restore the king1 ,louis ,,xvi4 ,on this dangerous journey the young men met with many narrow escapes4 ,courage came naturally to ,etienne4 ',i was not the least moved1' he writes in his diary1 'when surrounded by people and soldiers1 who lavished their abuses upon us1 and threatened to hang me to the lamp-post4 ,i coolly stood by1 my hands in my pockets1 being provided with three pairs of pistols1 two of which were double-barrelled4 ,i concluded to wait to see what they would do1 and resolved1 after destroying as many of them as ,i could1 to take my own life with the last4' ,happily the necessity for extreme courses did not arise4 ,he was1 he says1 'mercifully preserved1' and no violent hands were laid upon him1 though he and his companions suffered a short detention1 after which they succeeded in safely joining the ,french ,princes and their adherents at the city of ,coblentz on the ,rhine4 ,here ,etienne spent the following winter and spring surrounded1 he tells us1 by many temptations4 ',i was fond of solitude1' continues the diary1 'and had many retired walks through the woods and over the hills4 ,i delighted to visit the deserted hermitages1 which formerly abounded on the ,rhine4 ,i envied the situation of such hermits1 retired from the world1 and sheltered from its many temptations2 for ,i thought it impossible for me to live a life of purity while continuing among my associates4 ,i looked forward wishfully to the time when ,i could thus retire2 but ,i saw also that1 unless ,i could leave behind me my earthly-mindedness1 my pride1 vanity1 and every carnal propensity1 an outward solitude could afford me no shelter4 ',our army entered into ,france the forepart of the summer of #agib1 accompanied by the ,austrians and ,prussians4 ,i was in the ,king's ,horse ,guards1 which consisted mostly of the nobility4 ,we endured great hardships1 for many weeks sleeping on the bare ground1 in the open air1 and were sometimes in want of provisions4 ,but that word honour so inflamed us1 that ,i marvel how contentedly we bore our privations4' ,towards the approach of winter1 owing to various political changes1 the ,princes' army was obliged to retire from ,france1 and soon after was disbanded4 ',etienne had been present at several engagements2 he had seen many falling about him1 stricken by the shafts of death2 he had stood in battle array1 facing the enemy ready for the conflict2 but1 being in a reserve corps1 he was preserved from actually shedding blood1 having never fought with the sword1 or fired a gun4' ,in after years1 he was thankful to remember that although he had been perfectly willing to take life1 he had never actually done so in his soldier days4 ,after the retreat of the ,french army1 he and his brothers set out for ,amsterdam4 ,on the way1 however1 they were made prisoners of war1 and condemned to be shot4 ',the execution of the sentence was each moment expected1 when some sudden commotion in the hostile army gave them an opportunity to make their escape4' ,their lives thus having been spared a second time they reached ,holland in safety4 ,the young men were puzzled what to do next4 ,they could not bear to leave their beloved parents at distant ,limoges1 and yet it was impossible to reach them or to help them in any way4 ,france was a dangerous place for people with a 'de' in their names in those days1 and for young men of military age most dangerous of all4 ,finally1 ,etienne and his brother ,joseph settled to go to ,south ,america4 ',through the kind assistance of a republican ,general1 a friend of the family1 they obtained a passage on board a ship bound for ,demerara1 where they arrived in the ,first month of #agic1 after a voyage of about forty days4' ,unfortunately this long voyage had not taken them away from scenes of violence4 ,the ,revolution in ,france was terrible1 but the horrors of slavery in ,south ,america were1 if possible1 even worse4 ,the ,new ,world seemed no less full of tragedy than the ,old4 ,etienne saw there husbands and wives1 parents and children1 brothers and sisters torn apart1 most cruelly beaten1 often sold like cattle to tyrannical masters1 never to see each other's faces again4 ,amid such scenes ,etienne grew more than ever full of despairing thoughts1 more than ever inclined to believe that there could not be a ,god ruling a world where these evils were allowed to go unpunished4 ',such was the impression made upon ,etienne by the scenes of cruelty and anguish he witnessed1 that1 many years after1 the sound of a whip in the street would chill his blood1 in the remembrance of the agony of the poor slaves2 and he felt convinced that there was no excess of wickedness and malice which a slave-holder1 or driver1 might not be guilty of4' ,etienne and ,joseph stayed in ,demerara for more than two years4 ,in the spring of #agie they left ,south ,america and settled in ,long ,island near ,new ,york4 ,there1 they made friends with a certain ,colonel ,corsa1 a man who had served in the ,british army1 and who had a daughter who spoke ,french4 ,as the two brothers at this time knew no ,english it was a great cheer to them in their loneliness to be able to visit at this hospitable house4 ,one day ,colonel ,corsa happened to speak of ,william ,penn4 ,etienne had already heard of the ,quaker statesman1 ,george ,fox's friend1 and when the young girl said she possessed ,penn's writings ,etienne asked to borrow them4 ,he took back to his lodgings with him a large folio book1 intending1 with the help of a dictionary1 to translate it in order to improve his ,english4 ,great was his disappointment when he found that the book contained nothing about politics or statesmanship4 ,it was about religion2 and at this time ,etienne thought that religion was all a humbug and delusion4 ,therefore he shut up the book and put it away1 though he did not return it to its owner4 ,one evening1 about this time1 as he was walking in the fields alone1 suddenly the ,voice he had heard in his childhood spoke to him once more1 close by and terribly clear3 ',,eternity1 ,,eternity1 ,,eternity4' ,these three words1 he says1 'reached my very soul1--my whole man shook1--it brought me1 like ,saul1 to the ground4' ,the sinfulness and carelessness of his last few years passed before him4 ,he cried out1 ',if there is no ,god1 doubtless there is a hell4' ,his soul was almost in hell already1 for hell is despair1 and ,etienne was very nearly despairing at that moment4 ,only one way out remained1 the way of prayer1 the little mossy pathway that he used to tread when he was a child1 but that he had not trodden1 now1 for many years4 ,tangled1 mossy1 and overgrown that path was now1 but it still led out from the dark wood of life where ,etienne had almost lost his way and his hope4 ,etienne took that way4 ,with his whole heart he prayed for mercy and for deliverance from the sin and horror that oppressed him4 ,when no answer came at once he did not stop praying1 but continued day and night1 praying1 praying for mercy4 ,perhaps he scarcely knew to whom his prayer was addressed2 but it was none the less a real prayer4 ,he expected that the answer to it would come in some startling form that he could recognise the first minute and say3 ',there6 ,now ,god is answering my prayer6' ,instead1 the answer came far more simply than he had expected4 ,god often seems to choose to answer prayers in such a gentle1 natural fashion1 that ,his children need to watch very carefully lest they take ,his most radiant messengers1 ,his most wonderful messages1 almost as a matter of course4 ,only if they recognise ,god's ,love in all that comes1 planning how things shall happen1 they can see ,his hand arranging even the tiniest details of their lives1 fitting them all in1 and making things work out right4 ,then they understand how truly wonderful ,his answers are4 ,the answer to ,etienne's prayer came through nothing more extraordinary than that same old folio book which he had borrowed from his friend ,miss ,corsa1 and had put away1 thinking it too dull to translate4 ,he took it out again1 and opened upon a part called ',no ,cross1 ,no ,crown4' ',i proceeded1' he says1 'to read it with the help of my dictionary1 having to look for the meaning of nearly every word4' ,when he had finished1 he read it straight through again4 ',i had never met with anything of the kind before1' and all the time he was reading the ,voice inside his heart kept on saying1 ',yes1 ,yes1 ,yes1 that is true6' ',i now withdrew from company1 and spent most of my time in retirement1 and in silent waiting upon ,god4 ,i began to read the ,bible1 with the aid of my dictionary1 for ,i had none then in ,french4 ,i was much of a stranger to the inspired records4 ,i had not even seen them before that ,i remember2 what ,i had heard of any part of their contents1 was only detached portions in ,prayer ,books4 ',whilst the fallow ground of my heart was thus preparing1 my brother and myself1 being one day at ,colonel ,corsa's1 heard that a ,meeting was appointed to be held next day in the ,friends' ,meeting-house1 by two ,englishwomen1 to which we were invited4 ,the ,friends were ,deborah ,darby and ,rebecca ,young4 ,the sight of them brought solemn feelings over me2 but ,i soon forgot all things around me2 for1 in an inward silent frame of mind1 seeking for the ,divine presence1 ,i was favoured to find in me1 what ,i had so long1 and with so many tears1 sought for without me4 ,my brother1 who sat beside me1 and to whom the silence1 in which the forepart of the meeting was held1 was irksome1 repeatedly whispered to me1 ,let us go away4 ,but ,i felt the ,lord's power in such a manner1 that a secret joy filled me1 in that ,i had found ,him after whom my soul had longed4 ,i was as one nailed to my seat4 ,shortly after1 one or two men ,friends in the ministry spoke1 but ,i could understand very little of what they said4 ,after them ,deborah ,darby and ,rebecca ,young spoke also2 but ,i was so gathered in the temple of my heart before ,god1 that ,i was wholly absorbed with what was passing there4 ,thus had the ,lord opened my heart to seek ,him where ,he is to be found4 ',my brother and myself were invited to dine in the company of these ,friends1 at ,colonel ,corsa's4 ,there was a religious opportunity after dinner1 in which several communications were made4 ,i could hardly understand a word of what was said1 but1 as ,deborah ,darby began to address my brother and myself1 it seemed as if the ,lord opened my outward ear1 and my heart4 ,she seemed like one reading the pages of my heart1 with clearness describing how it had been1 and how it was with me4 ,o what sweetness did ,i then feel6 ,it was indeed a memorable day4 ,i was like one introduced into a new world2 the creation1 and all things around me1 bore a different aspect1 my heart glowed with love to all4444 ,o how can the extent of the ,lord's love1 mercy1 pity1 and tender compassion be fathomed6' ,after the visit of the two ,friends had made this change in his life ,etienne decided to give up his ,french name and title1 and to be no longer ,etienne de ,grellet1 the ,french nobleman1 but plain ,stephen ,grellet1 the teacher of languages4 ,later on1 he was to become ,stephen ,grellet the ,quaker preacher2 but the time for that had not yet come4 ,after ,deborah ,darby's visit he went regularly to the ,friends' ,meetings in ,long ,island1 but they were held for the most part in complete silence1 and sad to say not one of the ,friends ever spoke to him afterwards4 ,he missed their friendliness all the more because the people he was lodging with could not bear his attending ,quaker ,meetings1 and tried to make him give up going to such unfashionable assemblies4 ,his brother1 ,joseph1 also could not understand what had come to him1 and both ,joseph and the lodging-house people teased poor ,stephen about his ,quaker leanings1 till he1 who had been brave enough when his life was in danger1 was a coward before their mockery4 ,he did not want to give up going to his dear ,meeting1 but he hated to be ridiculed4 ,at first he tried to give up ,meeting1 but this disobedience gave him1 he says1 'a feeling of misery4' ,when the next ,sunday came he tried another plan4 ,he went to the ,meeting-house by roundabout ways 'through fields and over fences1 ashamed to be seen by any one on the road4' ,when he reached the ,meeting-house by these by-lanes1 the door was closed4 ,no ,meeting was to be held there that day4 ,the ,friends happened to have gone to another place4 ,stephen1 therefore1 sat down1 'in a retired place and in a very tried state1' to think the whole question over again1 with much humility4 ,he decided that henceforth1 come what might1 he would not be a coward2 and he kept his resolution4 ,the next ,sunday he went to ,meeting 'though it rained hard and ,i had about three miles to walk4' ,henceforward he attended ,meeting regularly1 and at last his brother ceased reproaching him for his ,quakerism1 and one ,sunday he actually came to ,meeting too4 ,this time ,joseph also enjoyed the silence and followed the worship4 ',from that time he attended meetings diligently1 and was a great comfort to me4 ,but1 during all that period1' ,stephen continues1 'we had no intercourse with any of the members of the religious ,society of ,friends4' ,these ,friends still took no notice of the two strangers4 ,they seem to have been ,friends only in name4 ,about this time bad news came from ,france4 ',my dear mother wrote to me that the granaries we had at our country seat had been secured by the revolutionary party1 as well as every article of food in our town house4 ,my mother and my younger brother were only allowed the scanty pittance of a peck of mouldy horse-beans per week4 ,my dear father was shut up in prison1 with an equally scanty allowance4 ,but it was before ,i was acquainted with the sufferings of my beloved parents1 that the consideration of the general scarcity prevailing in the country led me to think how wrong it was for me to wear powder on my head1 the ground of which ,i knew to be pride4' ,he gave up powder from this time4 ,it would not be much of a sacrifice nowadays1 but it was a very real one then1 when powder was supposed to be the distinguishing mark of a gentleman4 ,the two brothers were now obliged to learn to support themselves4 ,all their estates in ,france had been seized4 ',our means began to be low1 and yet our feelings for the sufferings in which our beloved parents might be involved1 caused us to forget ourselves1 strangers in a strange country1 and to forward them a few hundred dollars we had yet left4' ,it was no easy matter to find employment4 ,the brothers went on to ,new ,york1 and there at last the ,friends were kind3 ,friends in deed and not in name only4 ,they found a situation for ,joseph in ,new ,york itself1 and arranged for ,stephen to go to ,philadelphia1 where he was more likely to find work4 ,and at ,philadelphia the ,friends were1 if possible1 even kinder to him than the ,friends at ,new ,york4 ,they were spiritual fathers and mothers to him1 he says1 and seemed to know exactly what he was feeling4 ',they had but little to say in words1 but ,i often felt that my spirit was refreshed and strengthened in their company4' ,at ,philadelphia1 he had many offers of tempting employment1 but he decided to continue as a teacher of languages in a school4 ,he gave his whole mind to his school work while he was at it1 and out of school hours wandered about entirely care free4 ,but although he was a teacher of languages and although the ,english of his ,journals is scrupulously careful1 it has often a slight foreign stiffness and formality4 ,he was often afraid in his early years of making mistakes and not speaking quite correctly4 ,there is a story that long afterwards1 when he was in ,england and was taking his leave of some schoolgirls1 he wished to say to them that he hoped they might be preserved safely4 ,but in the agitation of his departure he chose the wrong words4 ,his parting injunction1 therefore1 never faded from the girls' memory3 ',my dear young ,friends1 may the ,lord pickle you1 ,his dear little muttons4' ,if1 even as an old man1 ,stephen was liable to fall into such pitfalls as this1 it is easy to understand that in his earlier years the fear of making mistakes must have been a real terror to him1 especially when he thought of speaking in ,meeting4 ,very soon after he became a ,friend he felt1 with great dread1 that the beautiful1 comforting messages that refreshed his own soul were meant to be shared with others4 ,months1 if not years1 of struggle followed1 before he could rise in his place in ,meeting and obey this inward prompting4 ,but directly he did so1 his fears of making a mistake1 or being laughed at1 vanished utterly away4 ,after agony1 came joy4 ',the ,lord shewed me how ,he is mouth1 wisdom and utterance to ,his true and faithful ministers2 that it is from ,him alone that they are to communicate to the people1 and also the when and the how4' ,at that first ,meeting1 after ,stephen had given his message and sat down again1 several ,friends1 whose blessing he specially valued1 also spoke and said how thankful they were for his words4 ,among those present that day was that same ,william ,savery1 who1 in the last story1 had a bundle of valuable hides stolen from his tanyard1 and punished the thief1 when he came to return the hides1 by loading him with kindness and giving him a good situation4 ,certainly ,william ,savery would not tell the story of 'the man who was not ,john ,smith' to ,stephen ,grellet on that particular day2 for ,stephen was so filled with the thankful wonder that follows obedience1 that he had no thought for outside things4 ',for some days after this act of dedication1' he says1 'my peace flowed as a river4' ,in the autumn of this year 7#agif71 ,stephen ,grellet1 the ,french nobleman1 became a ,friend4 ,about two years later1 he was acknowledged as a ,minister by the ,society4 ',in those days1' he writes1 'my mind dwelt much on the nature of the hope of redemption through ,jesus ,christ4444 ,i felt that the best testimony ,i could bear was to evince by my life what ,he had actually done for me4' ,henceforth ,stephen's life was spent in trying to make known to others the joy that had overflowed his own soul4 ,he did indeed 'put the things that he had learned in practice1' as he journeyed over both ,europe and ,america1 time after time1 visiting high and low4 ,his life is one long record of adventures1 of perils surmounted1 of hairbreadth escapes1 of constant toil and of much plodding1 humdrum service too4 ,his message brought him into the strangest situations1 as he gave it fearlessly4 ,he sought an interview with the ,pope at ,rome in order to remonstrate with him about the state of the prisons in the ,papal ,states4 ,stephen gave his message with perfect candour1 and afterwards entered into conversation with the ,pope4 ,finally1 he says1 ',as ,i felt the love of ,christ flowing in my heart towards him1 ,i particularly addressed him4444 ,the ,pope 444 kept his head inclined and appeared tender1 while ,i thus addressed him2 then rising from his seat1 in a kind and respectful manner1 he expressed his desire that the ,lord would bless and protect me wherever ,i went1 on which ,i left him4' ,not satisfied with that1 though it seems wonderful enough1 ,stephen another time induced the ,czar of all the ,russias1 ,alexander ,i41 to attend ,westminster ,meeting4 ,both these stories are well worth telling4 ,but there is one story about ,stephen1 better worth telling still1 and that is how the ,voice that guided him all over the world sent him one day 'preaching to nobody' in a lonely forest clearing in the far backwoods of ,america4 ,,footnotes3 #da ',from my earliest days1' he writes1 'there was that in me that would not allow me implicitly to believe the various doctrines ,i was taught4' ,,xxxii4 ,,preaching ,,to ,,nobody ',all the artillery in the world1 were they all discharged together at one clap1 could not more deaf the ears of our bodies than the clamourings of desires in the soul deaf its ears1 so you see a man must go into silence or else he cannot hear ,god speak4'--,,john ,,everard4 #afej4 ',god forces none1 for love cannot compel1 and ,god's service is therefore a thing of complete freedom4444 ,the thing which hinders and has always hindered is that our wills are different from ,god's will4 ,god never seeks ,himself1 in ,his willing--we do4 ,there is no other way to blessedness than to lose one's self will'--,,hans ,,denck4 #aebf4 ',the inward command is never wanting in the due season to any duty4'--,r4 ,,barclay4 #afgh4 ',i think ,i can reverently say that ,i very much doubt whether1 since the ,lord by ,his grace brought me into the faith of ,his dear ,son1 ,i have ever broken bread or drunk wine1 even in the ordinary course of life1 without the remembrance of1 and some devout feeling regarding the broken body and the blood-shedding of my dear ,lord and ,saviour4'--,,stephen ,,grellet4 ',one loving spirit sets another on fire4'--,,augustine4 ,,xxxii4 ,,preaching ,,to ,,nobody ,stephen ,grellet1 after much waiting on the ,lord to shew him ,his will1 was directed by the ,spirit to take a long journey into the backwoods of ,america1 and preach the ,gospel to some woodcutters who were felling forest timber4'#db ,at first ,stephen did not know which was the wood he was meant to visit1 having travelled through hundreds of miles of forests on his journey4 ,so he waited very quietly1 his heart as still as a clear lake1 ready to reflect anything ,god might show him4 ,suddenly a picture came4 ,he remembered a lonely forest clearing1 far away4 ,workmen's huts were dotted about here and there1 and a big wooden building rose in the midst of the clearing4 ,all around were woodcutters1 some busy sawing timber1 some marking the tall forest trees1 others carting huge logs and piling them at a little distance4 ,stephen now remembered the place well4 ,he remembered1 too1 the workmen's rough faces1 and the wild shouts that filled the air as he had passed by on horseback4 ,he had noticed a faint film of blue smoke curling up from the large building1 and he had supposed that that must be the dining-shanty where the workmen's food was prepared and where they had their meals4 ,he remembered having thought to himself1 ',a lonely life and a wild one6' ,but the place had not made a deep impression on his mind1 and he had forgotten it as he journeyed1 in the joy of getting nearer home4 ,now1 suddenly1 that forest clearing1 with the huts and the dining-shanty and the busy woodmen all round1 came back to him as vividly as a picture in a magic-lantern view1 while a ,voice said1 distinctly but very gently in his own heart1 so that only he could hear1 ',,go ,,back ,,there ,,and ,,preach ,,to ,,those ,,lonely ,,men4' ,stephen knew quite well ,whose ,voice it was that was speaking to him1 for he had loved and followed that ,voice for many years4 ,obedience was easy now4 ,he said at once1 ',yes1 ,i will go2' and saying good-bye to his wife1 he left his home1 and set forth again into the forest4 ,as he journeyed1 a flood of happiness came over his soul4 ,the long ride through the lonely woods1 day after day1 no longer seemed tedious4 ,he was absolutely alone1 but he never felt the least bit lonely4 ,it was as if ,someone were journeying with him all the way1 the invisible ,friend whose ,voice he knew and loved and obeyed4 ,when at length he drew near the clearing in the forest1 he both trembled and rejoiced1 at the thought of soon being able to deliver his message to the woodmen4 ,coming yet nearer1 however1 he no longer saw any blue smoke curling up in a thin spiral between the straight stems of the forest trees4 ,neither did he hear any sound of saws sawing timber1 or the men shouting to their horses4 ,the whole place was silent and deserted4 ,when he reached the clearing1 nobody was there4 ,even the huts had gone4 ,he would have thought he had mistaken the place if the dining-shanty had not been there1 by the edge of a little trickling stream1 just as he remembered it4 ,nowhere was there a living soul to be seen4 ,evidently all the woodmen had gone away deeper into the forest to find fresh timber1 for the clearing was much larger and many more trees had been cut down than on ,stephen's first visit4 ,the neglected look of the one big wooden hut that remained showed that the men had not used it for many days4 ,weeks might pass before any of the woodcutters returned4 ,what was ,stephen to do8 ,he had no idea in which direction the woodmen had departed4 ,it was hopeless to think of tracking them further through the lonely forest glades4 ,had the ,voice made a mistake8 ,could he have misunderstood the command8 ,was the whole expedition a failure8 ,must he return home with his message still undelivered8 ,his heart burned within him at the thought1 and he said1 half aloud1 ',no1 no1 no6' ,there was only one way out of the difficulty1 the same way that had helped him to learn his ,latin lesson years ago when he was a little boy4 ,but it was no tiny mossy track now1 it was a broad1 well-marked road travelled daily1 hourly1 through long years1--this ,prayer way that led his soul to ,god4 ,tying up his horse to the nearest tree1 ,stephen knelt down on the carpet of red-brown pine-needles1 and put up a wordless prayer for guidance and help4 ,then he began to listen4 ,through the windless silence of the forest spaces the ,voice came again more clearly than ever1 saying3 ',,give ,,your ,,message4 ,,it ,,is ,,not ,,yours ,,but ,,mine4' ,stephen hesitated no longer4 ,he went straight into the dining-shanty4 ,he strode past the bare empty tables1 under which the long grass and flowers were already growing thick and tall4 ,he went straight up to the end of the room1 and there1 standing on a form1 as if the place had been filled with one or two hundred eager listeners1 although no single human being was to be seen1 he ,,preached1 as he had never yet preached in his life4 ,the ,love of ,god1 the ',love that will not let us go1' seemed to him the most real thing in the whole world4 ,all his life he had longed to find an anchor for his soul4 ,now that he had found it1 he must help others to find it too4 ,why doesn't everyone find it8 ,ah6 there he began to speak of sin2 how sin builds up a wall between our hearts and ,god2 how1 in ,jesus ,christ1 that wall has been thrown down once for all1 and now there is nothing to keep us apart except our own blindness and pride2 and how if we will only turn round and open our hearts to ,him1 ,he is longing to come in and dwell with us4 ,as ,stephen went on1 he pleaded yet more earnestly4 ,he thought of the absent woodcutters4 ,he felt that he loved every single one of those wild1 rough men2 and if he loved them1 he1 a stranger1 how much more dear must they be to their heavenly ,father4 ',grant me to win each single soul for ,thee1 ,o ,lord1' he pleaded1 'each single soul for ,thee4' ,where were they all now1 these men to whom he had come to speak8 ,he could not find them4 ,but ,god could4 ,god was their shepherd4 ,even if ,his messenger failed1 the ,good ,shepherd would seek on until ,he found each single wandering soul that ,he loved4 ',and when the shepherd findeth the lost sheep1 after leaving the ninety and nine in the wilderness1 how does he bring it home8 ,does he whip it8 ,does he threaten it8 ,no such thing6 he carries it on his shoulder and deals most tenderly with the poor1 weary1 wandering one4' ,while he was speaking he thought of the absent woodcutters with an evergrowing desire to help them4 ,he thought of the hard lives they were forced to lead1 of the temptations they must meet with daily1 and of the lack of all outward help towards a better life4 ,as he repeated the words again1 ',grant me1 ,o ,lord1 to win these lost sheep of ,thine back to ,thee and to ,thy service2 help me to win each single soul for ,thee1' he felt as if1 somehow1 his voice1 his prayer1 must reach the men he sought1 even though hundreds of miles of desolate forest lay between4 ,towards the end of his sermon1 the tears ran down his cheeks4 ,at last1 utterly exhausted by the strength of his desire he sat down once more1 and1 throwing his arms on the rough board before him1 he hid his face in his hands4 ,a long time passed2 the silence grew ever more intense4 ,at last ,stephen lifted his head4 ,he felt as tired as if he had gone a long journey since he entered the wooden building4 ,yet it was all exactly the same as when he had come in an hour before1--the rows of empty forms and the bare tables1 with grass and flowers growing up between them4 ,stephen's eyes wandered out through the open door4 ,he noticed a thick mug of earthenware lying beside the path outside1 evidently left behind by the woodcutters as not worth taking with them4 ,a common earthenware mug it was1 of coarse material and ugly shape2 and cracked4 ,as ,stephen's eyes fell upon it1 he felt as if he hated that mug more than he had ever before hated anything in his life4 ,it seemed to have been left behind there1 on purpose to mock him4 ,here he was with only an earthenware mug in sight1 he who might have been surrounded by the exquisite and delicate porcelain that he remembered in his father's factory at ,limoges4 ,all that beauty and luxury belonged to him by right2 they might still have been his1 if only he had not listened for years to the ,voice4 ,and now the ,voice had led him on this fool's errand4 ,here he was1 preaching to nobody1 and looking at a cracked mug4 ,was his whole life a mistake8 a delusion8 ',am ,i a fool after all8' he asked himself bitterly4 ,he was in the sad1 bitter mood that is called ',reaction4' ,strangely enough1 it often seizes people just when they have done some particularly difficult piece of work for their ,master4 ,perhaps it comes to keep them from thinking that they can finish anything in their own strength alone4 ,stephen was in the grip of this mood now4 ,happily he had wrestled with the same sort of temptation many times before4 ,he knew it of old2 he knew1 too1 that the best way to meet it is to face this giant ,reaction boldly1 as ,christian faced ,apollyon1 to wrestle with it and so to overcome4 ,he went straight out of the door to where the mug was lying1 and took up that mug1 that cracked mug1 in his hands1 more reverently than if it had been a vase of the most precious and fragile porcelain4 ,he took it up1 and accepted it1 this thing he hated worst of all4 ,if life had led him only to a cracked mug1 at least he would accept that mug and use it as best he could4 ,carrying it in his hands1 he walked to the little stream whose gentle murmur came through the tall grasses close at hand4 ,there he knelt down1 cleansed the mug carefully1 filled it with water1 and putting it to his lips1 he drank a long refreshing draught4 ,in his pocket he found a crust of bread4 ,he took it out1 broke it in two pieces1 and then drank again4 ,only a piece of dry bread6 ,only a drink of cold water in a cracked cup6 ,no meal could be simpler4 ,yet ,stephen ate and drank with a kind of awe1 enfolded in a sustaining1 life-giving ,presence4 ,he knew that he was not alone2 he knew that ,another was with him1 feeding and refreshing his inmost soul1 as he drank of the clear1 cold water and ate the broken bread4 ,a wonderful peace and gladness fell upon his spirit as he knelt in the sunny air4 ,the silence of the great forest was itself a song of praise4 ,he rode homewards like a man in a dream4 ,day after day as he journeyed1 the brooding peace grew and deepened4 ,even the forest pathways looked different as he travelled through them on his homeward way4 ,they had been full of trustful obedience before4 ,they were filled with thankfulness now4 ,but the deepest thankfulness was in ,stephen's own heart4 99 99 99 99 99 ,is that the end of the story8 ,for many years that was the end4 ,stephen never forgot his mysterious journey into the backwoods4 ,he often wondered why the ,voice had sent him there4 ,nevertheless he knew1 for certain and past all doubting1 that he had done right to go4 ,perhaps gradually the memory faded a little and became dim4444 99 99 99 99 99 ,anyway nothing was further from his thoughts than the lonely backwoods of ,america one afternoon1 years after1 when on one of his journeys in ,europe his business led him across ,london ,bridge4 ,the ,bridge was crowded with traffic4 ,everyone was bustling to and fro1 intent on his own business or pleasure4 ,not many people had leisure to notice one slight figure distinguished by a foreign air of courtliness and grace1 in spite of the stiff1 severe lines of its ,quaker hat and coat4 ,not many people1 even if they had noticed the earnest face under the broad-brimmed hat1 would have stopped to gaze a second time upon it that busy afternoon4 ,not many people4 ,but one man did4 ,as ,stephen was hastening across the crowded ,bridge1 suddenly he felt himself seized roughly by the shoulders1 and he heard a gruff voice exclaiming3 ',there you are6 ,i have found you at last1 have ,i8' ,deep down inside ,stephen ,grellet1 the ,quaker preacher1 there still remained a few traces of the fastidious ,french noble1 ,etienne de ,grellet4 ,the traces had been buried deep down by this time1 but there they still were4 ,they leapt suddenly to light1 that busy afternoon on ,london ,bridge4 ,neither ,french nobleman nor ,quaker preacher liked to be seized in such unceremonious fashion4 ',friend1' he remonstrated1 drawing himself gently away1 ',i think that thou art mistaken4' ',no1 ,i am not1' rejoined the other1 his grip tighter than ever4 ',when you have sought a man over the face of the globe year after year1 you don't make a mistake when you find him at last4 ,not you6 ,not me either6 ,i'm not mistaken1 and ,i don't let you go now ,i've found you after all these years1 with your same little dapper1 black1 cut-away coat1 that ,i thought so queer2 and your broad-brimmed hat that ,i well remember4 ,never heard a man preach with his hat on before6' ',hast thou heard me preach1 ,friend8 ,why then didst thou not speak to me afterwards if thou wished8' ',but ,i didn't wish6' answered the stranger1 'nothing ,i wished for less6' ',where was it8' enquired ,stephen4 ',why1 ,i heard you preaching to nobody1 years and years ago1' the man returned4 ',at least you supposed you were preaching to nobody4 ,really1 you were preaching to me4 ,cut me to the heart you did too1 ,i can tell you4' ,a dawning light of comprehension came into ,stephen's face as the other went on3 ',didn't you preach in a deserted dining-shanty in the backwoods of ,america near----' 7and he named the place71 'on such a day and in such a year8' ,he asked these questions in a loud voice1 regardless of the astonished looks of the passers-by1 still holding tight to the edge of ,stephen's coat with one hand1 and shaking the forefinger of the other in ,stephen's face as he spoke1 to emphasize each word4 ,by this time all traces of ,etienne1 the fastidious ,french nobleman1 had utterly disappeared4 ,stephen ,grellet1 the minister of ,christ1 was alive now to the tips of his fingers4 ,his whole soul was in his eyes as he gazed at his questioner4 ,was that old1 old riddle going to find its answer at last8 ',wast thou there8' he enquired breathlessly4 ',impossible6 ,i must have seen thee6' ',i was there1 right enough1' answered the man4 ',but you did not see me1 because ,i took very good care that you should not4 ,at first ,i thought you were a lunatic1 preaching to a lot of forms and tables like that1 and better left alone4 ,then1 afterwards1 ,i wouldn't let you see me1 for fear you should see also that your words had gone in deeper than ,i cared to show4 ,i was the ganger of the woodmen1' he continued1 taking ,stephen's arm in his and compelling the little ,quaker to walk beside him as he talked4 ',it all happened in this way4 ,we had moved forth into the forest1 and were putting up more shanties to live in1 when ,i discovered that ,i had left my lever at the old settlement4 ,so1 after setting my men to work1 ,i came back alone for my instrument4 ,as ,i approached the old place1 ,i heard a voice4 ,trembling and agitated1 ,i drew near1 ,i saw you through the chinks of the timber walls of our dining-shanty1 ,i listened to you2 and as ,i listened1 your words went through a chink in my heart too1 though its walls were thicker than those of any dining-shanty4 ,i was determined you should not see me4 ,i crept away and went back to my men4 ,the arrow stuck fast4 ,i was miserable for many weeks4 ,i had no ,bible1 no book of any kind1 not a creature to ask about better things4' ',poor sheep6 ,poor lost sheep6' ,stephen murmured gently2 ',i knew it2 ,i knew it6 ,the ,good ,shepherd knew it too6' ',we were a rough lot in those days1' continued the other1 'worse than rough1 bad2 worse than bad1 wicked4 ,there wasn't much about sin that we didn't know among us1 didn't enjoy too1 after a fashion4 ,that was why your sermon made me so miserable4 ,seemed to know just all about the lot of us1 you did4 ,after it1 for weeks ,i went on getting more and more wretched4 ,there seemed nothing to do1 me not being able to find you1 but to try and get hold of the book that had put you up to it4 ,none of us had such a thing1 of course4 ,it was a long time before ,i could lay hands on one4 ,me and a ,bible6 ,how the men laughed6 ,but they stopped laughing before ,i had done with them4 ,i read and read till ,i found what you had said about the ,good ,shepherd and the lost sheep--'and ,god so loved the world1' and at last--eternal life4 ,and then ,i wasn't going to keep that to myself4 ,it's share and share alike out in the backwoods1 ,i can tell you4 ,i told my men all about it1 just like you4 ,i never let 'em alone1 ,i gave them no peace till they were one and all brought home to ,god--every single one6 ,i heard you asking ,him3 ,every single soul for ,thy service1 every single soul for ,thee1 ,o ,lord4 ,that was what you asked ,him for1--that1 and more than that1 ,he gave4 ,it's always the way6 ,when the ,lord begins to answer1 ,he does answer6 ,every single one of those men was brought home to ,him4 ,but it didn't stop there4 ,three of them became missionaries1 to go and bring others back to the fold in their turn4 ,i tell you the solemn truth4 ,already one thousand lost sheep1 if not more1 have been brought home to the ,good ,shepherd through that sermon of yours1 that day in the backwoods1 when you thought you were ,,preaching ,,to ,,nobody6' ,,footnotes3 #db ,the ,american ,friend1 #bhth ,november #ahie4 ,,come-,,to-,,good ',flowers are the little faces of ,god4'--7,a saying of some little children47 ',to the soul that feeds on the bread of life the outward conventions of religion are no longer needful4 ,hid with ,christ in ,god there is for him small place for outward rites1 for all experience is a holy baptism1 a perpetual supper with the ,lord1 and all life a sacrifice holy and acceptable unto ,god4 ',this hidden life1 this inward vision1 this immediate and intimate union between the soul and ,god1 this1 as revealed in ,jesus ,christ1 is the basis of the ,quaker faith4'--,j4,w4 ,,rowntree4 ',here the pure mind is known1 and the pure ,god is waited upon for wisdom from above2 and the peace1 which hath no end1 is enjoyed4444 ,and the ,light of ,god that calls your minds out of the creatures1 turns them to ,god1 to an endless being1 joy and peace3 here is a seeing ,god always present4444 ,so fare you well6 ,and ,god ,almighty bless1 guide and keep you all in ,his wisdom4'--,,george ,,fox4 ,,come-,,to-,,good ,one more ,meeting-house to visit2 the last and the smallest of all4 ,a ,meeting-house with no story1 except the story in its name4 ',come-to-,good6' boys and girls from other counties will exclaim perhaps1 'whoever heard of such a place8 ,why did people not call it ,come-to-,harm1 or ,ne'er-do-,weel1 while they were about it8' ,cornish boys and girls know better4 ,they will explain that in their far ,western corner of ,england there has always been an idea1 and a very good idea it is1 that a name should really describe the place to which it belongs1 and should tell the hearer something about its character4 ,thus it comes to pass that on one tidal river a certain creek1 covered with salt sea-water at high tide1 but showing only an expanse of muddy flats at low water1 is called ',cockles' ,peep ,out4' ,another creek1 near by1 is known as ',frenchman's ,pill1' because some ,french prisoners were sent there for safety during the ,napoleonic ,wars4 ,then1 too1 a busy sea-port was once called ',penny ,come ,quick1' with good reason2 and another out-of-the-way place ',hard to ,come ,by1' which explains itself4 ,most romantic of all1 the valley where ,king ,charles's army lost a battle long ago is still known as ',fine and ,brave4' ,there1 the country people say1 headless ghosts of defeated ,cavaliers may still be seen on moonlight nights riding up and down1 carrying their own plumed-hatted heads under their arms4 ,all over the county these story places are to be found4 ,the more odd a ,cornish name sounds at the first hearing1 the more apt it will often prove1 when the reason for it is understood4 ,thus it is not strange that a lonely1 shut-in valley1 folded away between two steep hills1 should be known as ',come-to-,good1' since1 for more than two centuries1 men and women1 and little children also1 have ',come to ,good' in that remote and hidden place4 ,there1 surrounded by sheltering trees1 stands the little old ,meeting-house4 ,its high thatched roof projects1 like a bushy eyebrow1 over the low white walls and thick white buttresses1 shading the three narrow casement windows of pale-green glass with their diamond lattice panes4 ,the windows are almost hidden by the roof2 the roof is almost hidden by the trees2 and the trees are almost hidden by the hills that rise above them4 ,therefore the pilgrim always comes upon the ,meeting-house with a certain sense of surprise1 so carefully is it concealed2--like a most secret and precious thought4 ,the bare ,cornish uplands and wide moors have a trick of hiding away these rich1 fertile valleys1 that have given rise to the proverb3 ',cornwall is a lady1 whose beauty is seen in her wrinkles4' ,yet1 hidden away as it is1 ',come-to-,good' has drawn people to it for centuries4 ,in all the country round1 for generations past1 one ,sunday in ,august has been known as ',come-to-,good ,sunday1' because1 on that day1 the ,friends assemble from three or four distant towns to hold their meeting there4 ,and not the ,friends only4 ,no bell has ever broken the stillness of that peaceful valley1 yet for miles round1 on a ',meeting ,sunday1' the lanes are full of small groups of people3 parents and children2 farm lads and lasses2 thoughtful-faced men1 who admit that 'they never go anywhere else'2 shy lovers lingering behind1 or whole families walking together4 ,all are to be seen on their way to refresh their souls with the hour of quiet worship in the snowy white ,meeting-house under its thatched roof4 99 99 99 99 99 ,many years ago1 little ,lois 7whom you read about at the beginning of this book7 was taken to ,come-to-,good for the first time on such a ,sunday1 by her ,grandmother4 ,even now1 whenever she goes there1 she still seems to see that dear ,grandmother's tall1 erect figure1 in its flowing black silk mantle and ,quaker bonnet1 walking with stately steps up the path in front2 or stooping for once--she who never stooped6--to enter the little low door4 ,people who did not know her well1 and even some who did1 occasionally felt ,lois' 'dear ,grandmamma' rather a formidable old lady4 ,they said she was 'severe' and 'alarmingly dignified1' and 'she says straight out just exactly what she thinks4' ,certainly1 she was not one of the spoiling1 indulgent1 eiderdown-silk-cushion kind of ,grannies that some children have now2 but ,lois loved her with all her heart and was never really afraid of her4 ,what stories she could tell6 ,what wonderful stockings full of treasures ,santa ,claus brought down her chimneys on ,christmas ,eve to the happy grandchild staying with her6 ,lois loved to sit beside her 'dear ,grandmamma1' and to watch her in her corner by the fire1 upright as ever1 knitting4 ,even on the long drive to ,come-to-,good1 the feeling of her smooth1 calm hand had soothed the restless little fingers held in it so firmly and gently4 ,the drive over1 ,lois wondered what would happen to her in the strange ,meeting-house when she might not sit by that dear ,grandmother's side any longer1 since she1 of course1 would have to be up in the ,ministers' gallery1 with all the other ',weighty ,friends4' ,but1 at ,come-to-,good1 things always turn out right4 ,lois found1 to her delight1 that she and the other boys and girls were to be allowed to creep1 very quietly1 up the twisty wooden stairs at the far end of the ,meeting-house1 and to make their way up into the 'loft' where four or five low forms had been specially placed for them4 ,lois loved to find herself sitting there4 ,she felt like a little white pigeon1 high up on a perch1 able to see over the heads of all the people below1 and able even to look down on the grave faces of the ,ministers opposite4 ,the row of broad-brimmed hats and coal-scuttle bonnets looked entirely different and much more attractive1 seen from above1 than when she looked up at them in ,meeting at home4 ,then1 when some one rose to speak1 ,lois liked to watch the ripple that passed over the heads beneath her1 as all the faces turned towards the speaker4 ,or when everybody1 moved by the same impulse1 stood up during a prayer or sat down at its close1 it was as fascinating to watch them gently rise and gently sit down again as it was to watch the wind sweep over the sea1 curling it up into waves or wavelets1 or the breeze rippling over a broad field of blue-green ,june barley4 ,lois never remembered the time when she was too small to enjoy those two sights4 ',i do like watching something ,i can't see1 moving something ,i can6' she used to think4 ,to watch a ,meeting1 from the loft at ,come-to-,good1 was rather like that1 she felt2 though years had to pass before she found out the reason why4 ,out of doors1 when the quiet hour of worship was over1 other delights were waiting4 ,the small old white ,meeting-house is surrounded by a yet older1 small green burial-ground1 where long grasses1 and flowers innumerable1 cover the gentle slopes4 ,the soft mounds cluster closely around the walls2 as if those who were laid there had wished that their bodies might rest as near as possible to the house of peace where their spirits had rested while on earth4 ,further off the mounds are fewer2 the grassy spaces between them grow wider2 till it becomes difficult to tell which are graves and which are just grassy hillocks4 ,further still1 the old burial-ground dips down1 and loses itself entirely1 and becomes first a wood1 then frankly an orchard that fills up the bottom of the valley1 through which a clear brown stream goes wandering4 ,yet1 midway on the hilly slope above1 half hidden gravestones can still be discerned1 among the grass and flowers2 shining through them1 like a smile that was once a sorrow4 ,small1 grey1 perfectly plain stones they are1 all exactly alike1 as is the custom in ,friends' graveyards1 where to be allowed a headstone at all1 was1 at one time1 considered 'rather gay'6 ,each stone bears nothing but a name upon it and sometimes a date4 ',honor ,magor' is the name carved on one of the oldest stooping stones1 and under it a date nearly #ajj years old4 ,that is all4 ,lois used to wonder who ,honor ,magor was1--an old woman8 a young one8 or possibly even a little girl8 ,where did she live when she was alive8 how did she come to be buried there8 ,but there are no answers to any of these questions2 and there is no need to know more than that the tired body of ,honor ,magor has been resting peacefully for nearly a century1 hidden under the tangle of waving grasses and ever-changing flowers at ,come-to-,good4 ,ever-changing flowers8 ,yes2 because the changing of the seasons is more marked there than at other places4 ,for ,come-to-,good lies so many miles from any town1 the tide of life has ebbed away so far from this quiet pool1 that1 for a long time past1 ,meetings have only been held here four times in the year4 ,summer1 ,autumn1 ,winter1 and ,spring1--each season brings its own ,sunday4 ,then1 and for a week or two beforehand1 the topmost bar of every wooden gate in the neighbourhood bears a modest piece of white paper announcing that 'a ,friends' ,meeting will be held at ,come-to-,good on the following ,first ,day morning1 at eleven o'clock1 when the company of any who are inclined to attend will be acceptable4' ,august ,sunday brings deep1 red roses tossing themselves up1 like a crimson fountain1 against the grey thatched roof4 ,november ,sunday has its own treasures3 sweet1 late blackberries1 crimson and golden leaves1 perhaps even a few late hazel nuts and acorns still hiding down in the wood4 ,in ,february1 the first gummy stars of the celandine are to be seen peeping out from under the hedge1 while a demure little procession of white and green snowdrops walks primly up the narrow path to ,meeting4 ,the ',fair ,maids of ,february' seem to have an especial love for this quiet spot4 ,but in ,may--ah6 ,may is the best ,sunday of all4 ,in ,may not only is the whole valley knee-deep in grass and ferns and flowers and bluebells4 ,there is something still better6 ,in ,may the burial-ground is all singing and tinkling silently with fairy spires of columbines4 ,garden flowers in most other places1 they are quite wild here4 ,purple and deep-blue and pale-pink columbines are growing up everywhere2 each flower with its own little pairs of twin turtle-doves hidden away inside4 ,even white columbine1 rarest of all1 has been found in that magic valley4 ,i am afraid ,lois thought longingly1 all through the silence on a ,may ,sunday1 of the nosegay of columbines she meant to gather afterwards4 ,directly ,meeting was over1 the children pelted down very fast from the loft4 ,numbers of little feet flew across the sunlit grass1 while the elder ,friends were walking sedately down the path to the gate4 ',o ,columbine1 open your folded wrapper1 ,where two twin turtle-doves dwell1' chanted the children as they frolicked about1 forgetting that they had been stiff with sitting so long in ,meeting1 as they gathered handfuls of their treasures4 ,all too soon they would hear the call3 ',come1 children6 it is time to be going4' ,and then they would scamper back1 their hands full of their dear dove flowers4 ,no wonder they felt that in leaving this sunny spot they were leaving one of the happiest places on earth4 ,if only they could stay there6 ,if only some one could be enjoying it always6 ,what a pity that on the forty-eight other ,sundays of the year it should all be deserted1 shut up and forsaken6 ,there might be numbers of other wonderful flowers that nobody ever saw4 ,there the old ,meeting-house stays all by itself the whole year round1 except on those four ,sundays1 even as a lonely pool of clear water remains high up on the rocks1 showing that the great sea itself did come there once1 long ago1 flowing in mightily1 filling up all the bare chinks and crannies4 ,will such a high tide ever come back again to ,come-to-,good8 ,is that tide perhaps beginning to flow in1 noiselessly and steadily1 even now8 ,some things look rather as if it might be2 for new ,friends' ,meeting-houses are being built in crowded cities to-day where even the high tide of long ago never came4 ,but then1 in lonely country places like ,come-to-,good1 scattered up and down all over ,england1 there are many of these deserted ,meeting-houses1 where hardly anybody comes now or only comes out of curiosity4 ,yet the high tide did fill them all once long ago1 full to overflowing1 when people met within their walls constantly1 seeking and finding ,god4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the stories in this book about our ',quaker ,saints' show at what a cost these deserted places were won for us by our brave forefathers4 ,they1 with their health and their lives gladly given in those terrible prisons of long ago1 gained for us our liberty to meet together 'in numbers five or more1' to practise a 'form of worship not authorised by law'2 that is to say1 without any prayer-book or set form of service being used4 ,is our simple ,quaker way of worship really worth the price they paid for it8 ,or is it merely a quaint and interesting relic of a by-gone age1 something like the ',friend's bonnet' that ,lois' ,grandmother wore as a matter of course1 which now is never used1 but lies in a drawer1 carefully covered with tissue paper and fragrant with lavender8 ,is our ,quaker faith like that8 ,is it something antiquated and interesting1 but of no real use to us or to anybody to-day8 ,or did these ',quaker ,saints' of whom we have heard1 did they1 and many other brave men and women1 whose stories are not written here1 really and truly make a big discovery8 ,did they1 by their living and by their dying1 remind the world of a truth that it had been in danger of forgetting8 a truth that may still be in danger of being forgotten if quite ordinary1 everyday people are not faithful now in their turn8 ,illustration3 ,a ,,friends' ,,meeting ,is it really and truly true1 that where two or three humble human souls are gathered together in ,his ,name1 in the simplest possible fashion1 without any priest1 or altar1 or visible signs to help them1 yet our ,lord is there8 ,can ,he be indeed among them still to-day8 and will ,he be forever1 as ,he promised8 feeding them ,himself with the true ,bread of ,life1 satisfying their thirst with ,living ,water1 baptizing their souls with ,power and with ,peace8-- ,children dear1 you must answer these questions for yourselves1 fearlessly and honestly4 ,no one else can answer them for you4 ,the answers may seem long in coming1 but do not be in a hurry4 ,they will come in time1 if you seek steadfastly and humbly4 ,only remember one thing1 as you think over these questions4 ,even if this is our way1 the right way for us1 this very simple ,quaker way that our forefathers won for us at such a cost1 still that does not necessarily make it the right way for all other people too4 ,god's world and ,god's plans are much bigger than that4 ,he brings ,his children home by numbers of different paths1 but for each child of ,his1 ,god's straight way for that child is the very best4 ,the wise old ,persians had a proverb1 ',the ways unto ,god are as the number of the souls of the children of men4' ,let us remember this1 if we ever want to try to force other people to think about things exactly as we do4 ,let us remember1 too1 that rivalry and pride1 that saying1 or even thinking1 ',my way is the only right way1 and a much better way than your way1' is the only really antiquated kind of worship4 ,the sooner we all learn to lay that aside1 not in lavender and tissue paper1 but to cast it away utterly and forget that it ever existed1--the better4 ,it is not a bit of an excuse for us when we are inclined to judge other people critically1 to read in these stories that some of the early ,friends did and said harsh and intolerant things4 ,they lived in a much harsher1 more intolerant age than ours4 ,the seventeenth century1 as we know1 has been called 'a dreadfully ill-mannered century4' ,let us do our very best not to give any one an excuse for saying the same of this twentieth century in which we live4 ,thus1 in reading of these ,quaker ,saints1 let us try to copy1 not their harshness or their intolerance1 but their unflinching courage1 their firm steadfastness1 their burning hope for every man2 above all1 their unconquerable love4 ,remember the old lesson of the daisies4 ,each flower must open itself as wide as ever it can1 in order to receive all that the ,sun wants to give to it4 ,but1 while each daisy receives its own ray of sunshine thankfully and gladly1 it must rejoice that other very different rays1 at very different angles1 can reach other flowers4 ,yet the ,sun ,heart from which they all come is ,one and the ,same4 ,all the different ways of worship are ,one too1 when they meet in the ,centre4 ,therefore it is not strange that at little secluded ,come-to-,good1 where the blue doves of the columbines keep watch over the quiet graves1 ,i should remember a message that came to me in another1 very different1 ,house of ,god--a magnificent ,cathedral far away in ,south ,italy4 ,there1 high up1 above the lights and pictures and flowers and ornaments of the altar1 half hidden at times by the clouds of ascending incense1 ,i caught the shining of great golden letters4 ,gradually1 as ,i watched1 they formed themselves into these three words of old ,latin3 ,,deus ,,absconditus ,,heic4 ,and the golden message meant3 ',,god ,,is ,,hidden ,,here4' ,that is the secret all these different ways of worship are meant to teach us1 if we will only learn4 ,let us not judge one another1 not ever dream of judging one another any more4 ,only1 wherever our own way of worship leads us1 let us seek to follow it diligently1 dutifully1 humbly1 and to the end4 ,then1 not only when we are worshipping with our brothers and sisters around us1 in church1 chapel1 great cathedral1 or quiet meeting-house1 but also 7perhaps nearest and closest of all7 in the silence of our own hearts1 we shall surely find in truth and with thankfulness that ,,god ,,is ,,hidden ,,here4 ,,historical ,,notes ,,historical ,,notes ,,note4--,the ,references throughout are to the ,cambridge ,edition of ,george ,fox's ,journal1 except where otherwise stated4 ,the spelling has been modernised and the extracts occasionally abridged4 ',,stiff ,,as ,a ,,tree1 ,,pure ,,as ,a ,,bell4' ,historical2 described as closely as possible from ,george ,fox's own words in his ,journal1 vol4 ii4 pp4 #id1 #ajj-ajd4 ',,pure ,,foy1 ,,ma ,,joye4' ,historical4 ,see ,george ,fox's ,journal 7,ellwood ,edition71 pp4 #a-ag4 ,see also ,sewel's ',history of the ,quakers1' and ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' by ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite4 ,see ',george ,fox1' by ,thomas ,hodgkin 7,leaders of ,religion ,series71 for description of ,fenny ,drayton village1 manor house1 church1 and neighbourhood4 ,see also ,w4 ,penn's ,preface to ,george ,fox's ,journal 7,ellwood ,edition71 pp4 xxiv and xxv1 for details of parentage1 childhood1 and youth4 ',,the ,,angel ,,of ,,beverley4' ,this is a purely imaginary story1 written for a ten-year-old listener who begged for 'more of a story about him when he was young4' ,the connection of a member of the ,purefoy family with the ',great ,lady of ,beverley' has no foundation in fact4 ,on visiting ,fenny ,drayton1 since writing the story1 ,i find1 however1 that there were a brother and sister ,edward and ,joyce ,purefoy1 who lived a few years earlier than the date of this tale4 ,they may still be seen in marble on a tomb in the ,north ,aisle with their father1 the ,colonel ,purefoy of that day1 who does wear a ruff as described in the story4 ,it is not impossible that the ,colonel ,purefoy of ,george ,fox's ,journal may also have had a son and daughter of the same names as described in my account1 but ,i have no warrant for supposing this and am anxious that this imaginary tale should not be supposed to possess the same kind of authenticity as most of the other stories4 ,priest ,stephens' remark about ,george ,fox1 and the scenes in ,beverley ,minster and at ,justice ,hotham's house1 are1 however1 historical4 ',,taming ,,the ,,tiger4' ,historical4 ,see ,george ,fox's ,journal 7,ellwood ,edition71 pp4 #bg1 #bh1 #ca-dh1 #cce1 for the different incidents4 ',,the ,,man ,,in ,,leather ,,breeches4' ,expanded1 with imaginary incidents and consequences1 from a few paragraphs in ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #bj4 ',,the ,,shepherd ,,of ,,pendle ,,hill4' ,expanded from ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #dj4 ,n4,b4--,the ,shepherd1 who is the speaker1 is a wholly imaginary person4 ',,the ,,people ,,in ,,white ,,raiment' and ',a ,,wonderful ,,fortnight4' ,historical4 ,taken from various sources1 chiefly ,george ,fox's ,journal1 vol4 i4 pp4 #dj-dd1 and two unpublished papers by ,ernest ,e4 ,taylor1 describing the lives and homes of the ,westmorland ,seekers3 ',a ,great ,people to be ,gathered' and ',faithful ,servants of ,god4' ,see also his ',cameos from the ,life of ,george ,fox1' ,sewel's ',history of the ,quakers1' and ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' by ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite4 ',,under ,,the ,,yew-,,trees4' ,expanded from ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #dg1 #dh1 #eb4 ,the conversation among the girls is of course imaginary1 but many details are taken from ',margaret ,fox of ,swarthmoor ,hall1' by ,helen ,g4 ,crosfield1 a most helpful book that has been constantly used in all these stories about ,swarthmoor4 ',,bewitched6' ,historical4 ,see ,sewel's ,history1 i4 #ajf4 ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #ea4 ',testimony of ,margaret ,fox' 7,ellwood ,edition of above1 p4 xliv74 ',margaret ,fox of ,swarthmoor ,hall1' p4 #ae4 ,also ',england under the ,stuarts1' by ,g4,m4 ,trevelyan 7for ,witchcraft74 ',,the ,,judge',s ,,return4' ,historical4 ,see ',testimony of ,margaret ,fox' 7,ellwood ,edition of ,g4 ,fox's ,journal71 p4 xlv4 ,sewel's ,history1 i4 #ajf4 ',,strike ,,again6' ,historical4 ,see ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #eg-ei4 ,sewel's ,history1 i4 #aaa-aab4 ',,magnanimity4' ,historical4 ,see ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #ei-fa4 ,sewel's ,history1 i4 #aac-aad4 ',,miles ,,halhead ,,and ,,the ,,haughty ,,lady4' ,historical4 ,see ,sewel's ,history1 i4 #abi-aca1 and ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #ec1 #ef1 for ,george ,fox's sermon4 ',,scattering ,,the ,,seed4' ,historical4 ,details taken from ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #ada1 #bji1 #cdg2 #bib1 #big2 #aa1 #ccg4 ,see also ,chapter viii4 ',the ,mission to the ,south1' in ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' by ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite4 ,also ',first ,publishers of ,truth1' for accounts of the work in the different counties mentioned4 ',,wrestling ,,for ,,god4' ,historical4 ,see ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' ,chapter viii4 ,also ',letters from the ,early ,friends1' by ,a4,r4 ,barclay4 ',piety ,promoted1' i4 #ce-ch4 ',story of ,quakerism1' by ,e4,b4 ,emmott1 for description of old ,london4 ,see also ',memorials of the ,righteous ,revived1' by ,c4 ,marshall and ,thomas ,camm1 and note that ,i have followed ,t4 ,camm's account in this book of his father's journey south with ,e4 ,burrough4 ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite in ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' following ',first ,publishers of ,truth1' thinks it1 however1 more probable that ,f4 ,howgill was ,e4 ,burrough's companion throughout the journey1 and that the two ,friends reached ,london together4 ',,little ,,james ,,and ,,his ,,journeys' and ',,the ,,first ,,quaker ,,martyr4' ,mainly historical4 ,details taken largely from ',life of ,james ,parnell1' by ,c4 ,fell ,smith4 ,see also ',james ,parnell1' by ,thomas ,hodgkin1 in ',the ,trial of our ,faith4' ,also ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' ,chapter ix4 and ,sewel's ,history4 ,the discourse of the two ,baptists on ,carlisle ,bridge and ,james's association with them is imaginary1 but they are themselves historical characters1 and the incidents they describe are narrated in ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #aad1 #aae1 #abd-abf2 #aec1 #ahf4 ,for ',the ,first ,quaker ,martyr1' see ',the ,lamb's ,defence against ,lyes1 a true ,testimony concerning the sufferings and death of ,james ,parnell4 #afef4' ',,the ,,children ,,of ,,reading ,,meeting4' ,see ,emmott's ',story of ,quakerism1' p4 #hc4 ,also ',letters of the ,early ,friends4' ,a very graphic but fictitious account of this incident is given in ',the ,children's ,meeting1' by ,m4,e4 ,england1 now out of print4 ,see also ',lessons from ,early ,quakerism in ,reading1' by ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite4 ,my account is founded on history1 but ,i have described imaginary children4 ,the list of scents used on ,sir ,william ,armorer's wig is borrowed from a genuine one of a slightly later period4 ',,the ,,saddest ,,story ,,of ,,all4' ,historical4 ,see ,sewel's ,history1 i4 #hj1 #bee-bic1 #chb-cig1 #djh1 #dch4 ,also ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' ,chapter xi4 ',nayler's ,fall4' ,also ,james ,nayler's collected ,books and ,papers1 published in #agaf4 ',,pale ,,windflowers4' ,see account of ,dewsbury in ',beginnings of ,quakerism4' ,also ',the faithful ,testimony of that ,antient ,servant of the ,lord1 and ,minister of the ,everlasting ,gospel1 ,william ,dewsbury4' ,also ',testimony to ,mary ,samm1' p4 #cdh1 same volume4 ,the details given are as far as possible historical1 but the setting1 the walk1 and the windflowers are imaginary4 ,the prison scene is as far as possible historical4 ,the ,testimony to little ,mary tells the sequel to her 'happy evening1' and a few paragraphs from it are given here4 ,,testimony ,,to ,,mary ,,samm1 #afhj4 ,the first day of the second month1 #afhj1 it pleased the ,lord to afflict her with a violent fever1 that brought her very low in a little time1 and great was her exercise of spirit1 as to her condition and state with ,god1 many times weeping when she was alone4444 ,she said1 ',if this distemper do not abate1 ,i must die1 but my soul shall go to ,eternal ,joy1 ,eternal1 ,eternal and ,everlasting ,life and ,peace with my ,god for ever3 ,oh6 praises1 praises to ,thy ,majesty1 ,oh1 my ,god6 who helpeth me to go through with patience1 what ,i am to endure4' ,then after some time she said4 ',friends1 we must all go hence one after another1 and they that live the longest know and endure the greatest sorrow3 therefore1 ,o ,lord1 if it be ,thy will1 take me to ,thyself1 that my soul may rest in peace with ,thee1 and not any one to see me here any more4 ,oh6 praises1 praises be unto ,thy holy ,name for ever in ,thy will being done with me1 to take me to ,thyself1 where ,i shall be in heavenly joy1 yea1 in heavenly joy for ever and for evermore4'444 ,and many times would she be praying to the ,lord day and night1 ',o ,lord1 lay no more upon me1 than ,thou givest me strength to bear1 and go through with patience1 that ,thy will may be done1 that ,thy will may be done' 7many times together74 ',oh6 help me1 help me1 ,o my ,god6 that ,i may praise ,thy holy ,name for ever4' ,and so continued1 very often praising the ,name of the ,lord with joyful sounds1 and singing high praises to ,his holy ,name for ever and for evermore2 she being much spent with lifting up her voice in high praises to ,god1 through fervency of spirit1 and her body being weak1 her ,grandfather went into the room1 and desired her to be as still as possibly she could1 and keep her mind inward1 and stayed upon the ,lord1 and see if she could have a little rest and sleep3 she answered1 ',dear ,grandfather1 ,i shall die1 and ,i cannot but praise the ,name of the ,lord whilst ,i have a being2 ,i do not know what to do to praise ,his ,name enough whilst ,i live2 but whilst there is life there is hope2 but ,i do believe it is better for me to die than live4' ,and so continued speaking of the goodness of the ,lord from day to day2 which caused many tears to fall from the eyes of them that heard her4 ,her ,grandfather coming to her1 asked her how she did8 ,she said to him and to her ,mother1 ',i have had no rest this night nor to-day2 ,i did not know but ,i should have died this night1 but very hardly ,i tugged through it2 but ,i shall die to-day1 and a grave shall be made1 and my body put into a hole1 and my soul shall go to heavenly joy1 yea1 heavenly joy and everlasting peace for evermore4' ,then she said1 ',dear ,grandfather1 ,i do believe thou wilt not stay long behind me1 when ,i am gone4' ,he answered1 ',dear ,granddaughter1 ,i shall come as fast as the ,lord orders my way4' ,then she praised the ,name of the ,lord with high praises and joyful sounds for a season1 and then desired her ,mother to let her be taken up a little time2 saying1 ',it may be it will give me some ease4' ,then they sent for her ,grandfather1 who said to her1 ',if this be thy last day1 and thereon thou art to die1 it is not safe for thee to be taken forth of thy bed3 dear ,mary1 thou shalt have all attendance that is convenient1 as to set thee up in thy bed1 and to lay thee down again2 but to take thee up we are not willing to do it4' ,she answered1 ',well1 ,grandfather1 what thou seest best for me1 ,i am willing to have it so4' ,then her ,mother and ,aunt set her up in her bed2 she said it did refresh her and give her some ease3 and as they were ordering what was to be done about her bed1 she said1 ',oh6 what a great deal of do is here in ordering the bed for one that is upon their death-bed4' ,her ,aunt1 ,joan ,dewsbury1 said1 ',mary1 dost thou think thou art upon thy death-bed8' ,she answered1 ',yea1 yea1 ,i am upon my death-bed1 ,i shall die to-day1 and ,i am very willing to die1 because ,i know it is better for me to die than live4' ,her ,aunt replied1 ',i do believe it is better for thee to die than live4' ,she said1 ',yea1 it is well for me to die4'444 ',and1 dear ,mother1 ,i would have thee remember my love to my dear sisters1 relations1 and friends2 and now ,i have nothing to do1 ,i have nothing to do4' ,a friend answered1 ',nothing1 ,mary1 but to die4' ,then she said to her ,mother1 ',i desire thee to give me a little clear posset drink1 then ,i will see if ,i can have a little rest and sleep before ,i die4' ,when the posset drink came to her1 she took a little4444 ,then she said to her ,mother1 ',i have a swelling behind my ear1 but ,i would not have anything done to it1 nor to my sore throat nor mouth1 for all will be well enough when ,i am in my grave4' ,then she asked what time of day it was8 it being the latter part of the day1 her ,grandfather said1 ',the chimes are going four2' she said1 ',i thought it had been more2 ,i will see if ,i can have a little rest and sleep before ,i die4' ,and so she lay still1 and had a sweet rest and sleep2 and then she awaked without any complaint1 and in a quiet peaceable frame of spirit laid down her head in peace1 when the clock struck the fifth hour of the #ith day of the #bnd month1 #afhj4 ,we whose names are under-written were eye and ear witnesses of what is before expressed1 as near as could be taken1 and does not much vary from what she declared1 as the substance 7though much more sweet and comfortable expressions passed from her1 but for brevity sake are willing this only to publish7 who stood by her when she drew her last breath4 ,william ,dewsbury1 her ,grandfather4 ,mary ,samm1 her ,mother4 ,joan ,dewsbury1 her ,aunt4 ,hannah ,whitthead1 a ,friend4 ',,an ,,undisturbed ,,meeting4' ,i first heard this story graphically told by ,ernest ,e4 ,taylor4 ,his intimate knowledge of the neighbourhood1 and minute historical researches into the lives of the ,early ,friends in this district1 made the whole scene vivid to his listener4 ,in writing down my own account from memory1 some months later1 ,i find ,i have unintentionally altered some of the details1 and have in particular allowed too long a time for the soldiers' carouse1 and have substituted a troop of horse for militia4 ,for these lapses from strict historical accuracy ,i alone am responsible2 but it has seemed better to leave the story as it was written and to append the following note from the ancient ,,ms4 account of the sufferings at ,sedbergh1 to show exactly what did occur3 '#affe4 ,friends being met at ,john ,blaykling's at ,draw-well1 ,lawrence ,hodgson of ,dent1 an ,ensign to the ,militia1 came into the meeting with other ,militia men1 cursing and swearing that if ,friends would not depart and disperse1 he would kill them and slay and what not4 ,then as ,friends did not disperse they pulled them out of doors and so broke up the meeting4 ,the ,ensign thereupon went off1 expecting ,friends to have followed him1 but they sat down and stood together at the house end 8 and on the hill-side4 ,so the ,ensign came back and with his drawn sword struck at several ,friends and cut some in the hat and some in the clothes1 and so forced and drove them to ,sedbergh town1 where after some chief men of the parish had been spoken with1 ,friends were let go home in peace4'--,sedbergh ,,mss4 ,sufferings4 ,it was of course the gathering together 'in numbers more than five' and 'refusing to disperse' that was at this time illegal and made the ,friends liable to severe punishment4 ,there is still a tradition in the neighbourhood that the ,quakers were to be taken not to ,ingmire ,hall1 but to the house of another ,justice at ,thorns4 ',,butterflies ,,in ,,the ,,fells4' ,see ',bygone ,northumberland1' by ,w4 ,andrews4 ',piety ,promoted1' i4 #hh-ij4 ,w4,c4 ,braithwaite's ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' p4 #cgc4 ',the ,society of ,friends in ,newcastle1' by ,j4,w4 ,steel4 ',,the ,,victory ,,of ,,amor ,,stoddart4' ,see ,george ,fox's ,journal1 i4 #ahe1 #aij1 #bfa1 #dca2 ii4 #afg4 ,sewel's ,history1 i4 #bi4 ',beginnings of ,quakerism1' p4 #cfe4 ',,the ,,marvellous ,,voyage ,,of ,,the ,,good ,,ship ,,woodhouse4' ,taken from ,robert ,fowler's own account3 ',a true ,relation of the ,voyage undertaken by me ,robert ,fowler with my small vessel called the ,woodhouse but performed by the ,lord like as he did ,noah's ark1 wherein he shut up a few righteous persons and landed them safe1 even at the ,hill ,ararat1' published in the ',history of the ,society of ,friends in ,america4' ,the scenes on ,bridlington ,quay and in ,london are not strictly historical1 but may be inferred from the above account4 ',,richard ,,sellar ,,and ,,the ,,merciful ,,man4' ,taken from ,richard ,sellar's own narrative3 ',an account of the sufferings of ,richard ,seller of ,keinsey1 a ,fisherman who was prest in ,scarborough ,piers1 in the time of the two last engagements between the ,dutch and ,english1 in the year #affe1' published in ,besse's ',sufferings of the ,quakers1' vol4 ii4 pp4 #aab-abj4 ',,two ,,robber ,,stories--,,west ,,and ,,east4' 7#a7 ,leonard ,fell and the ,highwayman1 taken from ',the ,fells of ,swarthmoor ,hall1' by ,m4 ,webb1 p4 #cec4 7#b7 ,on the ,road to ,jerusalem4 ,taken from ,george ,robinson's own account1 published in ',a ,brief ,history of the ,voyage of ,katharine ,evans and ,sarah ,cheevers4' pp4 #bjg ad fin4 ',,silver ,,slippers4' ,mainly historical4 ,see ,sewel's ,history1 i4 #bid1 #dgc2 ii4 #cdc4 ,see also ',history of the ,quakers1' by ,g4 ,croese1 for some additional particulars4 ,the best account of ,mary ,fisher and her adventurous journey is given in ',quaker ,women1' by ,mabel ,r4 ,brailsford1 ,chapters v4 and vi41 entitled ',mary ,fisher' and ',an ,ambassador to the ,grand ,turk4' ,i am indebted to ,miss ,brailsford for permission to draw freely from her most interesting narrative1 and also to quote from her extracts from ,paul ,rycaut's ,history4 ,the only historical foundation for the ',silver ,slippers' is the statement by one historian that before ,mary ,fisher's interview with the ,sultan she was allowed twenty-four hours to rest and to 'arrange her dress4' ,h4,m4 ,wallis has kindly supplied me with some local colouring and information about ,adrianople4 ',,fierce ,,feathers4' ,a historical incident1 with some imaginary actors4 ,the outlines of this story are given in ',historical ,anecdotes' by ,pike4 ,several additional particulars and the copy of a painting of the ,indians at ,meeting are to be found in the ,friends' ,reference ,library at ,devonshire ,house4 ,for some helpful notes about the locality ,i am indebted to ,h4,p4 ,morris of ,philadelphia1 ,u4,s4,a4 ',,the ,,thief ,,in ,,the ,,tanyard4' ,historical4 ,the facts and the words of the speakers are taken almost verbatim from ,pike's ',historical ,anecdotes4' ,i have only supplied the setting for the story4 ',,how ,a ,,french ,,noble ,,became ,a ,,friend4' ,entirely historical4 ,all the facts are taken from the ,autobiography of ,stephen ,grellet4 ',,preaching ,,to ,,nobody4' ,this story is not to be found in ,stephen ,grellet's ,autobiography4 ,it appeared in ',the ,american ,friend1' ,november #ahie1 and is now included in the penny ',life of ,stephen ,grellet' in the ,friends ,ancient and ,modern ,series4 ,the actual words of ,stephen ,grellet's sermon have not been recorded4 ,those in the text are expanded from a sentence in another discourse of his1 given here in quotation marks4 ,the incident of the cracked mug is not historical4 ,,the ,,end ,printed in ,great ,britain by ,r4 ,r4 ,,clark1 ,,limited1 ,edinburgh4 99 99 99 99 99 ---------------------------------------- ---------------------- ,typographical errors corrected in text3 ,page #bb3 thinkng replaced with thinking ,page #adh3 twelye replaced with twelve ,page #bge3 thoughout replaced with throughout ---------------------------------------- ----------------------