1656.
Near the beginning of the year 1656, G. Fox went from London to Surry,
Chichester, Portsmouth, and Pool; where William Baily, a Baptist
teacher, and some others, were convinced by G. Fox’s ministry, and
entered into the society of those called Quakers; among whom, Baily
afterwards became an eminent minister. From Pool, G. Fox went to
Southampton, and Dorchester, where he desired of the Baptists to have
their meeting-house to meet in; but they refusing, he sent them word,
that they might come to his inn, if they pleased. Many of them came,
with their teacher, and they fell into a discourse about water-baptism.
G. Fox asked them, whether they could say they were sent of God to
baptize people, as John was; and whether they had the same spirit and
power, that the apostles had. They said they had not. Then he asked
them, how many powers there are. Whether there are any more than the
power of God, and the power of the devil; and they said, there was not
any power than those two. Then said G. Fox, ‘If you have not the power
of God, that the apostles had, then you act by the power of the devil.’
And his speaking was of such effect, that many substantial people
were convinced that night. Next morning when he was passing away, the
Baptists began to shake the dust from off their feet after him. ‘What,
said he, in the power of darkness? We who are in the power of God,
shake off the dust of our feet against you.’
Leaving Dorchester, he came to Weymouth, where, inquiring after
the sober people, about fourscore of them gathered together at the
priest’s house, and most of them were turned to Christ Jesus, who had
enlightened them with his divine light, by which they were reproved of
their sins. There was at that time a captain of horse in the town, who
rode about seven miles out of town with G. Fox. This captain was of
such a merry temper, and so exceedingly given to laughter, that G. Fox
several times spoke very seriously to him about it; but it was become
so customary to him that he would laugh almost at any thing he saw. But
G. Fox still admonished him to gravity, and the fear of the Lord; and
of this he spoke to him again when they parted. The next time G. Fox
saw him, the captain told him, that when he spoke to him at parting,
the power of the Lord so struck him, that before he got home he was
serious enough, and had left his laughing. He indeed became a serious
and good man; and being convinced of the Truth, died in the real
profession thereof.
For brevity’s sake I do not intend to mention all the places G. Fox
passed through, much less all his occurrences. At Kingsbridge he had
good service; and returning in the evening to his inn, and there being
many people drinking, he was moved to go amongst them, and to direct
them to the light which Christ, the heavenly man, had enlightened them
withal; by which light they might see all their evil ways, words, and
deeds; and by the same light they might also see Christ Jesus their
Saviour. But this discourse did not please the innkeeper, seeing it
hindered his guests from drinking: and hearing G. Fox speak so much of
the light, he snatched away the candle, and said, ‘Come, here is light
for you to go into your chamber.’
The next day, G. Fox went to Plymouth, and from thence to Cornwall;
and travelling through the country, he came to Market-Jew. Being there
at an inn, he met with some trouble from the magistrates: and he writ
a paper to show, that the Lord was come to teach his people himself,
by Jesus Christ, &c. This paper came accidentally to the hands of
Peter Ceely, a major in the army, and also a justice of peace at Ives,
whither G. Fox came. Here Edward Pyot and William Salt, who were G.
Fox’s fellow-travellers, were hauled before the said major, whilst G.
Fox was walking down to the sea-side; but he hearing this, followed
them, and came also into the justice’s house, where the aforesaid paper
being produced, it was asked him, whether he would own it: and he said,
‘Yes.’ Then the major tendered them the oath of abjuration, G. Fox
thereupon putting his hand in his pocket, drew forth the answer to it,
which had been given to the protector. A priest being present there,
found fault with his hair, which then was pretty long, and asked to
have cut it; but G. Fox told him, he had no pride in it. It happened
also at other times, that because of his long hair he was spoken to,
as I have seen myself; but of this I am fully persuaded, that he had
not the least pride in it; but it seems to me not improbable, that he,
seeing how some would make it a kind of holiness to wear short hair,
did the contrary to show that, in some things, there was a Christian
liberty, for which we ought not to judge one another. But to proceed,
G. Fox and his companions were taken into custody, and with a guard of
horse sent to prison with this mittimus.
‘_Peter Ceely, one of the justices of the peace of this county,
to the keeper of his highness’s jail at Launceston, or his
lawful deputy in that behalf, greeting._
‘I send you herewithal by the bearers hereof, the bodies of
Edward Pyot, of Bristol, and George Fox, of Drayton and Clay, in
Leicestershire, and William Salt, of London, which they pretend
to be the places of their habitations, who go under the notion
of Quakers, and acknowledge themselves to be such; who have
spread several papers, tending to the disturbance of the public
peace, and cannot render any lawful cause of coming into these
parts, being persons altogether unknown, and having no pass for
their travelling up and down the country, and refusing to give
sureties of their good behaviour, according to the law in that
behalf provided, and refuse to take the oath of abjuration,
&c. These are therefore, in the name of his highness, the lord
protector, to will and command you, that when the bodies of the
said Edward Pyot, George Fox, and William Salt, shall be unto you
brought, you them receive, and in his highness’s prison aforesaid
you safely keep them, until by due course of law they shall be
delivered. Hereof fail ye not, as you will answer the contrary at
your peril. Given under my hand, and seal, at St. Ives, the 18th
day of January, 1656.