After this, Margaret determined to go to London, to speak with the
king about this matter: which Porter having heard of, said he would
go too; and so he did. But because he had been a zealous man for the
parliament against the king, several of the courtiers put him in mind
of his plundering of their houses. And this so troubled him, that he
quickly left the court, and returned home, and then spoke to the jailer
about contriving a way to release G. Fox. But in his mittimus he had
overshot himself, by ordering G. Fox to be kept prisoner, till he
should be delivered by the king or parliament. G. Fox also sent him a
letter, and put him in mind, how fierce he had been against the king,
and his party, though now he would be thought zealous for the king. And
among other passages he called to his remembrance, how, when he held
Lancaster Castle for the parliament against the king, he was so rough
and fierce against those that favoured the king, that he said, he would
leave them neither dog nor cat, if they did not bring him in provision
to his castle.
One Anne Curtis coming to see G. Fox, and understanding how he stood
committed, resolved also to go to the king about it; for her father,
who had been sheriff of Bristol, was hanged near his own door, for
endeavouring to bring in the king: upon which consideration, she was in
hopes to be admitted to the king’s presence to speak with him. Coming
to London, she and Margaret Fell went together to the king, who, when
he understood whose daughter Anne was, received her kindly. She having
acquainted the king with the case of G. Fox, desired, that he would be
pleased to send for him up, and hear the cause himself. This the king
promised her he would do, and commanded his secretary to send down an
order for the bringing up G. Fox. But it was long before this order was
executed, for many evasions were sought, as well by carping at a word,
as by other craft; whereby the sending up of G. Fox was retarded above
two months. He thus continuing prisoner, wrote several papers, and
among the rest also this.
_To the King._
‘KING CHARLES,
‘Thou camest not into this nation by sword, nor by victory of
war; but by the power of the Lord; now if thou dost not live
in it, thou wilt not prosper. And if the Lord hath showed
thee mercy, and forgiven thee, and thou dost not show mercy
and forgive, the Lord God will not hear thy prayers, nor them
that pray for thee: and if thou do not stop persecution, and
persecutors, and take away all laws that do hold up persecution
about religion; but if thou do persist in them, and uphold
persecution, that will make thee as blind as them that have gone
before thee: for persecution hath always blinded those that have
gone into it; and such God by his power overthrows, and doth his
valiant acts upon; and bringeth salvation to his oppressed ones:
and if thou dost bear the sword in vain, and let drunkenness,
oaths, plays, may-games, with fiddlers, drums, trumpets, to play
at them, with such like abominations and vanities be encouraged,
or go unpunished; as setting up of maypoles, with the image of
the crown atop of them, &c. the nations will quickly turn like
Sodom and Gomorrah, and be as bad as the old world, who grieved
the Lord till he overthrew them: and so he will you, if these
things be not suddenly prevented. Hardly was there so much
wickedness at liberty before now, as there is at this day; as
though there was no terror, nor sword of magistracy; which doth
not grace a government, nor is a praise to them that do well. Our
prayers are for them that are in authority, that under them we
may live a godly life, in which we have peace; and that we may
not be brought into ungodliness by them. So hear, and consider,
and do good in thy time, whilst thou hast power; and be merciful,
and forgive, that is the way to overcome, and obtain the kingdom
of Christ.