_The humble and thankful Address of the Queen’s Protestant
subjects, the people called Quakers, in and about the city
of London, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of their
persuasion._
‘When we consider the queen’s royal regard to protect our
religious liberty, and the fresh assurance from the throne,
of her Christian resolution to maintain the indulgence by law
allowed to scrupulous consciences, and her tender care that the
same may be transmitted to posterity in the Protestant succession
in the house of Hanover, we find ourselves concerned gratefully
to acknowledge her goodness therein, and the ready concurrence of
her great council therewith: taking this occasion to assure the
queen of our duty and affection, and peaceable behaviour under
her government, as is our principle, and hath always been our
practice.
‘And we heartily desire our fellow-subjects may lay aside all
animosities, and in a spirit of love and meekness, endeavour to
outdo each other in virtue and universal charity.
‘That it may graciously please Almighty God to defend and bless
thee, O queen, and guide thee by his counsel in a long and
prosperous reign here, and afterwards receive thee to glory, is
the hearty prayer of thy faithful subjects.’
_To this address the Queen was pleased to answer_:
‘I thank you for your address, and ye may depend upon my
protection.’
The animosities mentioned in this address, did regard the division,
which having been a good while among the subjects, began to increase as
many thought by the change of the ministry. But this being out of my
province, I will not meddle with it.
In the year 1712, died Richard Cromwell, the son of Oliver the
protector, about the age of ninety years. Great changes this man had
seen, having himself been the supreme ruler of England, as hath been
mentioned in due place.
1713.
Although I do not intend to relate much more of any occurrences,
because I hasten towards a conclusion, yet I think it worth the while
to add the following case:
In the year 1713, in the spring, there was a suit at law, on the act
against Occasional Conformity. It happened that one John Penry, a
justice of peace of Allborough, in the county of Suffolk, going to
the parish church, understood by the way, that no service was to be
done there at that time; but hearing that there was a Quakers’ meeting
there, he went to it. One Wall, the bailiff of the place, being
informed thereof, imagined that the said justice might not go there,
because of the aforesaid act, and therefore thinking that something
might be gained by it, got witnesses to declare that the said justice
had been in the meeting; and said afterwards in a boasting way to him,
‘Now I have hooked you.’ To which the other replied, ‘I will stand to
it’ The bailiff then entered his suit in the name of one that lived
thereabouts by charity. When the case was pleaded at the sessions,
the judge, who was baron Salathiel Lovel, declared the meaning of the
forementioned act to be thus, viz. That it did not regard any who
accidentally went into a meeting of dissenters; but that it was against
those who conformed with the church, thereby to qualify themselves for
an office, without changing their religion. But this was quite another
case; for the priest of the parish himself gave a certificate that the
said justice was a good member of the church. From hence it appeared
that the suit was mere malice; and the informers, or witnesses, were
brought to that pinch, that they durst not expect the verdict of the
jury, for fear that they should have been condemned to pay the charges,
and therefore they let the thing fall.
Being now entered into this year, I cannot omit to say, that a peace
between England and France being concluded, and the subjects from
all parts of the nation congratulating the queen with addresses, the
Quakers did not omit also to present an address; being as follows: