water.

a Man's House, that had been Convinced, whofe Name 1663. was Fletcher, and he told me, If Mufgrave knew, that I was there, he would be fure to fend me to Pri- Darwinfon; he was fuch a fevere Man. But I ftaid not there; only called on the way to fee this Man and then went on to one William Pearson's near Wigton, where Wigton the Meeting was; which was very large and precious. Some Friends were then Prifoners at Carlisle, whom I vifited by a Letter, which Leonard Fell carried. From William Pearfon's I paffed through the Countries, vifiting Friends, till I came to Pardfey-Crag, Pardleywhere we had a General Meeting, which was large and all was quiet and peaceable, and the glorious, powerful Prefence of the Everlafting God was with

us.

So eager were the Magiftrates about this time to ftir up Perfecution in thofe Parts, that they offered fome Five Shillings, fome a Noble a Day, to any that could apprehend the Speakers amongst the Quakers: but it being now the time of the Quarter-Seffions in that County, the Men, who were fo hired, were gone to the Selfions, to fee to get their Wages; and fo all our Meetings were at that time quiet.

morel.

Beafon

From Pardfey-Crag we went into Westmoreland We calling in the Way upon Hugh Tickell near Kefwick, Kelwick. and upon Thomas Laythes, where Friends came to vifit us: and we had a fine opportunity to be refreshed together. We went that Night to one Francis Benfon's Pr. in Weftmoreland, near Juftice Fleming's Houfe. This Juftice Fleming was at that time in a great Rage against Friends, and me in particular, infomuch that in the open Seffions at Kendal juft before, he had bid Five Pounds to any Man that should take me, that Friend Francis Benfon told me. And it seems, as I went to this Friend's Houfe, I met one Man coming from the Seflions, that had this Five Pounds offered him to take me, and he knew me, for as I paffed by him, he said to his Companion, That is George Fox: Yet he had not Power to touch me, for the Lord's Power preferved me over them all. And the Juftices

1663. being fo eager to have me; and I being so often nigh them, and yet they miffing me, it tormented them the more.

Lancash.

I went from thence to James Taylor's at Cartmel in Cartmel. Lancashire, where I ftaid the Firft-Day, and had a precious Meeting; and after the Meeting was done, I Swarth came over the Sands to Swarthmore.

Hall.

When I came there, they told me Col. Kirby had fent his Lieutenant thither to Search for me; and that he had fearched Trunks and Chefts for me. That Night, as I was in Bed, I was moved of the Lord to Kirby. go next day to Kirby-Hall, which was Col. Kirby's Houfe, about Five Miles off, to speak with him; and I did fo. When I came thither, I found there the Flemmings, and feveral others of the Gentry (fo called of the Country,who were come to take their Leave of Col. Kirby, he being then to go up to London to the Parliament. I was had into the Parlour amongst them; but Col. Kirby was not then within, being gone forth a little way: So they faid little to me, nor I much to them. But after a little while, Col. Kirby came in; and then I fpake to him, and told him; I came to Vifit him, understanding that he "would have feen me; and to know what he had to fay to me, and whether he had any thing againft me? He faid, before all the Company; As he was a Gentleman, he had nothing against me. But, faid he, Miftrefs Fell muft not keep great Meetings at her Houfe, for they meet contrary to the Act. I told him, "That

Act did not take hold on us, but on fuch as did "Meet to Plot and Contrive, and to raife Infurrections against the King; whereas we were no fuch People: for he knew, that they that met at Margaret Fell's * House, were his Neighbours, and a Peaceable People. After many words had paffed, he fhook me by the hand, and faid again, He had nothing against me, and others of them faid, I was a deferving Man. So we Swarth- parted, and I returned to Swarthmore.

mor:.

Shortly after, when Col. Kirby was gone to London, there was a private Meeting of the Juftices and De

puty

6

more.

puty-Lieutenants at Houlker-Hall, where Juftice Pre- 1663. fton lived; and there they granted forth a Warrant to Apprehend me. I heard over Night both of their Swarth Meeting, and of the Warrant, and fo could have gone away, and got out of their reach, if I would: for I had not appointed any Meeting at that time; and I had cleared my felf of the North; and the Lord's Power was over all. But I confidered, there being a Noife of a Plot in the North, if I fhould go away, they might fall upon poor Friends; but if I gave up my felf to be Taken, it might ftop them, and Friends fhould efcape the better. So I gave up my felf to be Taken, and prepared my felf againft they came. Next Day an Officer came with his Sword and Piftols, to Take me: I told him, I knew his Errand before, and had given my felf to be Taken; for if I would have escaped their Imprisonment, I could have been gone Forty Miles off, before he came but I was an Innocent Man, and fo mattered not, what they could do to me. He asked me, How I heard of it, feeing the Order was made privately in a Parlour? I faid, it was no matter for that; it was fufficient, that I heard of it. Then I asked him to let me fee his Order; whereupon he laid his Hand on his Sword, and faid, I must go with him be fore the Lieutenants, to answer fuch Queftions, as they Should propound to me. I told him, It was but civil and reafonable for him to let me fee his Order; but he would not. Then faid I, I am ready. So I went along with him; and Margaret Fell went with us to Houlker-Hall. And when we came thither, there was Houlker one Rawlinson, called a Justice, and one called Sir George Middleton, and many more, that I did not know ; befides Old Juftice Prefton, who lived there. They brought one Thomas Atkinson, a Friend of Cartmel, as a Witness against me, for fome Words which he had told to one Knipe, who had Informed them: which Words were; That I had written against the Plotters, and had knockt them down: Which Words they could not make much of; for I told them, I had

heard

Hall

Hall.

1662. heard of a Plot, and had written against it. Then Old Prefton asked me, Whether I had an hand in that Moulker- Script? I asked him what he meant? He faid, in the Battledoor? I anfwered, Yes. Then he asked me, Whether I did underftand Languages? I faid, Sufficient for my felf; and that I knew no Law, ⚫ that was tranfgreffed by it. I told them alfo, That to understand thofe outward Languages, was no • matter of Salvation: for the many Tongues began but at the Confufion of Babel: And if I did un• derstand any thing of them, I Judged and knockt 'them down again, for any matter of Salvation that was in them. Thereupon he turned away, and faid, George Fox knocks down all the Languages: Come, faid he, we will examin you of higher Mat

ters.

Then faid George Middleton, You deny God, and the Church, and the Faith. I replied, 'Nay: Iown God, ' and the true Church, and the true Faith. But what 'Church doft thou own, faid I? (for I understood he was a Papift.) Then he turned again, and faid, Tou are a Rebel, and a Traytor. I asked him, Whom he fpake to or whom did he call Rebel? He was fo full of Envy, that for a while he could not fpeak: but at last he faid, He fpake it to me. With that I ftruck my Hand on the Table, and told him; I had fuffered more than Twenty fuch as he, or than any that was there: for I had been caft into DerbyPrifon for Six Months together; and had fuffered • much because I would not take up Arms against this King before Worcester Fight: And I had been • fent up Prisoner out of my own Country by Col. Hacker to O. Cromwell, as a Plotter to bring in King Charles, in the Year 1654; and I had nothing but Love and Good Will to the King, and defired the 'Eternal Good and Welfare of him and all his Subjects. Did you ever hear the like, faid Middleton? Nay, faid I, ye may hear it again, if ye will. For ye talk of the King, a Company of you; but where were ye in Oliver's days? and what did ye do then

⚫ for

for him? But I have more Love to the King for 1663. his Eternal Good and Welfare, than any of you have.

Then they asked me, Whether I had heard of the Plot? And I faid, Tes, I had heard of it. They asked me, How I had heard of it? and whom I knew in it? I told them, 'I had heard of it through the High• Sheriff of Yorkshire, who had told Dr. Hodefon, That 'there was a Plot in the North; and that was the way I heard of it: But I never heard of any fuch thing in the South; nor till I came into the North. And as for knowing any in the Plot, I was as a 'Child in that; for I knew none of them. Then faid they, Why would you Write against it, if you did not know fome, that were in it? I faid, 'My Reafon was, Because you are fo forward to mafh the 'Innocent and Guilty together; therefore I writ againft it to clear the Truth from fuch things, and to ftop all forward foolish Spirits from running into fuch things. And I fent Copies of it into Weft"morland, Cumberland, Bishoprick and Torkshire, and to you here: And I fent another Copy of it to the King and his Council; and it is like, it may be in 'Print by this time. One of them faid, Ó! this Man bath great Power! I faid, Yes, I had Power to write against Plotters. Then faid one of them: Tou are against the Laws of the Land. I anfwered, Nay; for I and my Friends direct all the People to the Spirit of God in them, to mortify the Deeds of the 'Flesh: This brings them into the Well-doing, and from that which the Magiftrate's Sword is against, which eases the Magiftrates, who are for the Punishment of the Evil-Doers. So People being turned. to the Spirit of God, which brings them to mortify the Deeds of the Flesh, this brings them from un'der the occafion of the Magiftrate's Sword and this muft needs be one with Magiftracy, and one with the Law, which was added, becaufe of Tranf greffion, and is for the Praise of them that do well. So in this we eftablish the Law, and are an Eafe to C 'the

w Houlker. Hall.