In that same memorable summer of 1652 when George Fox first visited
Swarthmoor Hall and 'bewitched' the household there, he also met and
'bewitched' another member of the Fell family. This was one Leonard
Fell, a connection of the Judge, whose home was at Baycliff in the
same county of Lancashire. Thither George Fox came on his travels
shortly after his first visit to Swarthmoor, when only Margaret Fell
and her children were at home, and before his later visit after Judge
Fell's return.
'I went to Becliff,' says the Journal, 'where Leonard Fell was
convinced, and became a minister of the everlasting Gospel. Several
others were convinced there and came into obedience to truth. Here the
people said they could not dispute, and would fain have put some
others to hold talk with me, but I bid them, "Fear the Lord and not in
a light way hold a talk of the Lord's words, but put the things in
practice."'
Leonard Fell did indeed put his new faith 'in practice.' He left his
home and followed his teacher, sharing with him many of the perils and
dangers of his journeys in the Service of Truth. Up and down and
across the length and breadth of England the two men travelled side by
side along the hedgeless English roads. At first as they went along,
Leonard Fell watched George Fox with sharp eyes, in his dealings with
the different people they met on their journeys, in order to discover
how his teacher would 'put into practice' the central truth he
proclaimed: that in every man, however degraded, there remains some
hidden spark of the Divine. But put it in practice George Fox did,
till at length Leonard Fell, too, learned to look for 'that of God
within' every one he met, learned to depend upon finding it, and to be
able to draw it out in his turn.
One day, Leonard was travelling in the 'Service of Truth,' not in
George Fox's company but alone, when, as he crossed a desolate moor on
horseback, he heard the thunderous sound of horses' hoofs coming after
him down the road. Looking round, he beheld a masked and bearded
highwayman, his figure enveloped in a long flowing cloak, rapidly
approaching on a far swifter horse than his own 'Truth's pony.' A
moment later, a pistol was drawn from the newcomer's belt and pointed
full at Leonard's head.
'Another step and you are a dead man! Your money or your life, and be
quick about it!' said the highwayman, as he suddenly pulled the curb
and checked his foam-covered horse. At this challenge, Leonard
obediently pulled up his own steed with his left hand, while, with his
right, he drew out his purse and handed it over to the robber without
a word.
The pistol still remained at full cock, pointed straight at his head.
'Your horse next,' demanded the stranger. 'It is a good beast. Though
not as swift as mine I can find a use for it in my profession.
Dismount; or I fire.'
In perfect silence Leonard dismounted, making no objection, and gave
his horse's bridle into the highwayman's outstretched hand. Then at
last, the threatened pistol was lowered, and replaced in the robber's
belt. Throwing the folds of his long cloak over one shoulder, and
carefully adjusting his mask, that not a glimpse of either face or
figure should betray his identity, he prepared to depart, leaving his
victim penniless and afoot on the wide, desolate moor. But, though the
highwayman had now finished with the Quaker, the Quaker had by no
means finished with the highwayman.
It was now Leonard's turn to be aggressive. Standing there on the
bleak road, alone and unarmed, Leonard Fell raised a warning hand, and
solemnly rebuked his assailant for his evil deeds. At the same time he
admonished him that it was not yet too late for him to repent and lead
a righteous life, before his hour for repentance should be forever
passed.
This was a most surprising turn of events for the highwayman. At first
he listened silently, too much astonished to speak. Leonard however
did not mince matters, and before he had finished his exhortation the
other man was in a furious rage. Never before had any of his victims
treated him in this fashion. Curses, tears, despair, those were all to
be expected in his 'profession'; but this extraordinary man was
neither beseeching him for money nor swearing at him in anger. His
victim was merely giving a solemn, yet almost friendly warning to the
robber of his horse and of his gold.
'You, you cowardly dog!' blustered Leonard's assailant. 'You let me
rob you of your purse and of your steed like a craven! You could not
even pluck up courage to defend yourself. Yet now, you actually dare
to stand and preach at ME, in the middle of the King's highway?'
The pistol was out again with a flourish. This time Leonard faced it
calmly, making no movement to defend himself.
'I would not risk my life to defend either my money or my horse,' he
answered, looking up straight at the muzzle with a steady eye, 'but I
will lay it down gladly, if by so doing I can save thy soul.'
This unexpected answer was altogether too much for the highwayman.
Though his finger was already on the trigger of the pistol, that
trigger was never pulled. He sat motionless on his horse, staring
through the holes in his mask, down into the eyes of his intended
victim, as if he would read his inmost soul.
This astonishing man, whom he had taken for a coward, was calmly ready
and was apparently quite willing to give his life--his life!--in order
to save his enemy's soul. The robber had almost forgotten that he had
a soul. His manhood was black and stained now by numberless deeds of
violence, by crimes, too many remembered and far more forgotten. Yet
he had once known what it was to feel tender and white and innocent.
He had certainly possessed a soul long ago. Did it still exist?
Apparently the stranger was convinced that it must, since he was
actually prepared to stake his own life upon its eternal welfare.
Surprising man! He really cared what became of a robber's soul. It was
impossible to wish to murder or even to steal from such an one. There
could not be another like him, the wide world over. He had best be
allowed to continue on his unique adventure of discovering souls, a
much more dangerous career it seemed to be than any mere everyday
highwayman's 'profession.'
As these thoughts passed through the robber's mind, his hand sought
the folds of his cloak, and then drawing Leonard's purse forth from a
deep convenient pocket, he returned it to its owner, stooping over
him, as he did so, with a low and courtly bow. Next, putting the
horse's bridle also back into Leonard's hand, 'If you are such a man
as that,' the highwayman said, 'I will take neither your money nor
your horse!'
A moment later, as if already ashamed of his impulsive generosity, he
set spurs to his horse and disappeared as swiftly as he had come.
Leonard, meanwhile, remounting, pursued his way in safety, with both
his horse and his money once more restored to him. But more precious,
by far, than either, was the knowledge that his friend's teaching had
again been proved to be true. In his own experience he had discovered
that there really and truly is an Inward Light that does shine still,
even in the hearts of wicked men. Thus was Leonard Fell in his turn
enabled to 'put these things in practice.'