1672-1673.—-George Fox embarks for Maryland, where he arrives after
a seven weeks’ voyage, and having experienced some remarkable
deliverances—attends a General Meeting for Maryland,
which held four days—several meetings for discipline
established—has meetings with the Indian kings—travels towards
New England—attends the half-year’s meeting on Long
Island, which continued four days—has a meeting with some
opposers—visits Rhode Island, where the Yearly Meeting for New
England is held, which continued six days—attends a marriage
there, and has a meeting with some Ranters—also one with some
Indians on Shelter Island—one of his companions thrown from his
horse and lays apparently dead, but soon recovers in an
unexpected manner—they reach Maryland after nine days’ travel
overland between three and four hundred miles—visits a judge who
is ill, but recovers—attends the General Meeting for Maryland,
which held five days—sails for Virginia, and arrives in three
days, a distance of 200 miles—thence proceeds towards
Carolina—visits the Indians, and shows them that God made but
one woman for one man—returns to Virginia—sails for
Maryland—endures great extremes of heat and cold within a very
short period—speaks to a woman who had been many years in
trouble, and entreats the Lord for her, and she is thereupon
restored—attends the General Meeting for Maryland, to the
edification and comfort of Friends—sails for England, and
arrives safe, after a six weeks’ passage.
We went on board on the 8th of 1st Month, 1671-2; and having
contrary winds, were a full week sailing forwards and backwards,
before we could get out of sight of Jamaica. A difficult voyage this
proved, and dangerous, especially in passing through the Gulf of
Florida, where we met with many trials by winds and storms. But the
great God, who is Lord of the sea and land, and who rideth upon the
wings of the wind, did by his power preserve us through many and
great dangers, when by extreme stress of weather our vessel was many
times likely to be upset, and much of her tackling broken. And
indeed we were sensible that the Lord was a God at hand, and that
his ear was open to the supplications of his people. For when the
winds were so strong and boisterous, and the storms and tempests so
great, that the sailors knew not what to do, but let the ship go
which way she would; then did we pray unto the Lord, who graciously
heard us, calmed the winds and the seas, gave us seasonable weather,
and made us to rejoice in his salvation; blessed and praised be the
holy name of the Lord, whose power hath dominion over all, whom the
winds and the seas obey!
We were between six and seven weeks in this passage from Jamaica to
MARYLAND. Some days before we came to land, after we had entered the
bay of PATUXENT RIVER, a great storm arose, which cast a boat upon
us for shelter, in which were several people of account in the
world. We took them in; but the boat was lost, with five hundred
pounds’ worth of goods in it, as they said. They continued on board
us several days, not having any means to get off; and we had a very
good meeting with them in the ship. But provisions grew short, for
they brought none in with them; and ours, by reason of the length of
our voyage, were well nigh spent when they came to us; so that with
their living with us too, we had now little or none left. Whereupon
George Pattison took a boat, and ventured his life to get to shore;
the hazard was so great, that all but Friends concluded he would be
cast away. Yet it pleased the Lord to bring him safe to land; and in
a short time after, the Friends of the place came to fetch us to
land also, in a seasonable time, for our provisions were quite
spent.
We partook also of another great deliverance in this voyage, through
the good providence of the Lord, which we came to understand
afterwards. For when we were determined to come from Jamaica, we had
our choice of two vessels, that were both bound for the same coast.
One of these was a frigate, the other a yacht. The master of the
frigate, we thought, asked unreasonably for our passage; which made
us agree with the master of the yacht, who offered to carry us ten
shillings a-piece cheaper than the other. We went on board the
yacht, and the frigate came out together with us, intending to be
consorts during the voyage; and for several days we sailed together;
but what with calms and contrary winds, we were in a while
separated. After that, the frigate, losing her way, fell among the
Spaniards; by whom she was taken and plundered, and the master and
mate were made prisoners; afterwards, being retaken by the English,
she was sent home to her owners in Virginia. Which when we came to
understand, we saw and admired the providence of God, who preserved
us out of our enemies’ hands; and he that was covetous fell among
the covetous.
Here we found John Burnyeat[26] intending shortly to sail for
England; but on our arrival he altered his purpose, and joined us in
the Lord’s service. He had appointed a general meeting for all the
Friends in the province of Maryland, that he might see them
together, and take his leave of them, before he departed out of the
country; and it was so ordered by the good providence of God, that
we landed just in time to reach that meeting; by which means we had
a very seasonable opportunity of taking the Friends of the province
together. A very large meeting this was, and held four days; to
which, besides Friends, came many other people, many of whom were of
considerable quality in the world’s account; for there were amongst
them five or six justices of the peace, a speaker of their
parliament or assembly, one of the council, and divers others of
note; who seemed well satisfied with the meeting.
After the public meetings were over, the men’s and women’s meetings
began; wherein I opened to Friends the service thereof to their
great satisfaction. After this we went to a place called the CLIFFS,
where another general meeting was appointed. We went some part of
the way by land, the rest by water; and a storm arising, our boat
was run on ground, in danger to be beaten to pieces; and the water
came in upon us. I perspired much, having come very hot out of a
meeting before, and was now wet with the water beside; yet having
faith in the divine power, I was preserved from taking hurt; blessed
be the Lord. To this meeting also many people came, and received the
truth with reverence. We had also a men’s meeting and a women’s
meeting, at which most of the backsliders came in again; and several
of those meetings were established for taking care of the affairs of
the church.
After these two general meetings, we parted company, dividing
ourselves unto several coasts, for the service of truth. James
Lancaster and John Cartwright went by sea for New England; William
Edmundson and three other Friends sailed for Virginia, where things
were much out of order; John Burnyeat, Robert Widders, George
Pattison, and I, with several Friends of the province, went over by
boat to the eastern shore, and had a meeting there on the First-day;
where many people received the truth with gladness, and Friends were
greatly refreshed. A very large and heavenly meeting it was; and
several persons of quality in that country were at it, two of whom
were justices of the peace.
It was upon me from the Lord, to send to the Indian emperor and his
kings to come to that meeting. The emperor came and was at it; but
his kings, lying further off, could not reach in time; yet they came
after with their cockarooses. I had in the evening two good
opportunities with them; they heard the word of the Lord willingly,
and confessed to it. What I spoke to them, I desired them to speak
to their people; and let them know, that “God was raising up his
tabernacle of witness in their wilderness country, and was setting
up his standard and glorious ensign of righteousness.” They carried
themselves very courteously and lovingly, and inquired “where the
next meeting would be, and they would come to it;” yet they said,
“they had had a great debate with their council about their coming,
before they came now.”
Next day we began our journey by land to New England; a tedious
journey through the woods and wilderness, over bogs and great
rivers. We took horse at the head of TREDHAVEN CREEK, and travelled
through the woods, till we came a little above the head of MILES
(now “St.” Michael’s) RIVER; by which we passed, and rode to the
head of WYE RIVER, and so to the head of CHESTER RIVER; where,
making a fire, we took up our lodging in the woods. Next morning we
travelled through the woods till we came to SASSAFRAS RIVER, which
we went over in canoes (or Indian boats,) causing our horses to swim
by. Then we rode to BOHEMIA RIVER; where in like manner swimming our
horses, we ourselves went over in canoes. We rested a little while
at a plantation by the way, but not long, for we had thirty miles to
ride that afternoon, if we would reach a town; which we were
desirous to do, and therefore rode hard for it. I with some others,
whose horses were strong, got to the town that night, exceedingly
tired, and wet to the skin; but George Pattison and Robert Widders
being weaker-horsed, were obliged to lie in the woods that night
also. The town we went to was a Dutch town, called NEWCASTLE,
whither Robert Widders and George Pattison came to us next morning.
We departed thence and got over the River Delaware, not without
great danger of some of our lives.
When we were over, we were troubled to procure guides; who were hard
to get and very chargeable. Then had we that wilderness country to
pass through, since called WEST JERSEY, not then inhabited by
English; so that we have travelled a whole day together, without
seeing man or woman, house or dwelling-place. Sometimes we lay in
the woods by a fire, and sometimes in the Indians’ wigwams or
houses. We came one night to an Indian town, and lay at the king’s
house, who was a very worthy man. Both he and his wife received us
very lovingly, and his attendants (such as they were) were very
respectful to us. They laid us mats to lie on; but provision was
very short with them, having caught but little that day.[27] At
another Indian town where we stayed, the king came to us, and he
could speak some English. I spoke to him much, and also to his
people, and they were very loving to us.
At length we came to MIDDLETOWN, an English plantation in EAST
JERSEY, where there were some Friends, but we could not stay to have
a meeting there at that time, being earnestly pressed in our
spirits, to get to the half-year’s meeting of Friends at Oyster-Bay
in Long Island, which was very near at hand. We went with a Friend,
Richard Hartshorn, (brother to Hugh Hartshorn, the upholsterer, in
London,) who received us gladly at his house, where we refreshed
ourselves, and then he carried us and our horses in his own boat
over a great water, which occupied most part of the day getting
over, and set us upon LONG ISLAND. We got that evening to Friends at
GRAVESEND, with whom we tarried that night, and next day got to
FLUSHING, and the day following reached OYSTER-BAY; several Friends
of Gravesend and Flushing accompanying us.
The half-year’s meeting began next day, which was the first day of
the week, and lasted four days. The first and second days we had
public meetings for worship, to which people of all sorts came; on
the third day were the men’s and women’s meetings, wherein the
affairs of the church were taken care of. Here we met with some bad
spirits, who had run out from truth into prejudice, contention, and
opposition to the order of truth, and to Friends therein. These had
been very troublesome to Friends in their meetings there and
thereabouts formerly, and likely would have been so now; but I would
not suffer the service of our men’s and women’s meetings to be
interrupted and hindered by their cavils. I let them know, that “if
they had anything to object against the order of the truth which we
were in, we would give them a meeting another day on purpose.” And
indeed I laboured the more, and travelled the harder to get to this
meeting, where it was expected many of these contentious people
would be; because I understood they had reflected much upon me, when
I was far from them.
The men’s and women’s meetings being over, on the fourth day we had
a meeting with these discontented people, to which as many of them
as chose came, and as many Friends as desired were present also; and
the Lord’s power broke forth gloriously to the confounding of the
gainsayers. Then some of those that had been chief in the
mischievous work of contention and opposition against the truth,
began to fawn upon me, and to cast the blame upon others; but the
deceitful spirit was judged down and condemned, and the glorious
truth of God was exalted and set over all; and they were all brought
down and bowed under. Which was of great service to truth, and to
the satisfaction and comfort of Friends; glory to the Lord for ever!
After Friends were gone to their several habitations, we stayed some
days upon the island; had meetings in several parts thereof, and
good service for the Lord. When we were clear of the island, we
returned to Oyster-Bay, waiting for a wind to carry us to RHODE
ISLAND, which was computed to be about two hundred miles. As soon as
the wind served we set sail, and arrived there on the thirtieth day
of the third month; and were gladly received by Friends. We went to
Nicholas Easton’s house, who at that time was governor of the
island; where we rested, being very weary with travelling. On
First-day following we had a large meeting, to which the
deputy-governor and several justices came, who were mightily
affected with the truth.
The week following, the Yearly Meeting for all the Friends of New
England and the other colonies adjacent, was held in this island; to
which, besides very many Friends who lived in those parts, came John
Stubbs from Barbadoes, and James Lancaster and John Cartwright from
another way. This meeting lasted six days, the first four days being
general public meetings for worship, to which abundance of other
people came; for they having no priest in the island, and so no
restriction to any particular way of worship; and both the governor
and deputy-governor, with several justices of the peace daily
frequenting the meetings; this so encouraged the people that they
flocked in from all parts of the island. Very good service we had
amongst them, and truth had a good reception. I have rarely observed
people, in the state wherein they stood, hear with more attention,
diligence, and affection, than generally they did, during the four
days together; which also was taken notice of by other Friends.
After these public meetings were over, the men’s meeting began,
which was large, precious, and weighty; and the day following was
the women’s meeting, which also was large and very solemn. These two
meetings being for ordering the affairs of the church, many weighty
things were opened and communicated to them, by way of advice,
information, and instruction in the services relating thereunto;
that all might be kept clean, sweet, and savoury amongst them. In
these two meetings, several men’s and women’s meetings for other
parts, were agreed and settled, to take care of the poor, and other
affairs of the church; and to see, that all who profess truth, walk
according to the glorious gospel of God. When this great general
meeting in Rhode Island was ended, it was somewhat hard for friends
to part; for the glorious power of the Lord, which was over all, and
his blessed truth and life flowing amongst them, had so knit and
united them together, that they spent two days in taking leave one
of another, and of the Friends of the island; and then, being
mightily filled with the presence and power of the Lord, they went
away with joyful hearts to their various habitations, in the several
colonies where they lived.[28]
When Friends had taken their leave one of another, we, who travelled
amongst them, dispersed ourselves into our several services, as the
Lord ordered us. John Burnyeat, John Cartwright, and George
Pattison, went into the eastern parts of New England, in company
with the Friends that came from thence, to visit the particular
meetings there; whom John Stubbs and James Lancaster intended to
follow a while after, in the same service; but they were not yet
clear of this island. Robert Widders and I stayed some time longer
also upon this island; finding service still here for the Lord,
through the great openness of the people, and the daily coming in of
fresh people from other colonies, for some time after the general
meeting; so that we had many large and serviceable meetings among
them.
During this time a marriage took place amongst Friends in this
island; and we were present. It was at a Friend’s house, who had
formerly been governor of the island; three justices of the peace,
and many others not in profession with us, were there; and both they
and Friends said, they never saw so solemn an assembly on such an
occasion, so weighty a marriage and so comely an order. Thus truth
was set over all. This might serve for an example to others, for
there were some present from many other places.
After this I had a great travail in spirit concerning the Ranters in
those parts, who had been rude at a meeting which I was not at.
Wherefore I appointed a meeting amongst them, believing the Lord
would give me power over them; which he did to his praise and glory:
blessed be his name for ever. There were at this meeting many
Friends, and other people; some of whom were justices of the peace,
and other officers, who were generally well affected. One of the
justices, who had been one twenty years, was convinced, and spoke
highly of the truth; and more highly of me, than is fit for me to
mention or take notice of.
Then we had a meeting at PROVIDENCE, which was very large,
consisting of many sorts of people; I had a great travail upon my
spirit, that it might be preserved quiet, and that truth might be
brought over the people, might gain entrance, and have a place in
them; for they were generally above the priests, in high notions;
and some of them came on purpose to dispute. But the Lord, whom we
waited upon, was with us, and his power went over them all; and his
blessed Seed was exalted and set above all. The disputers were
silent, and the meeting was quiet, and ended well; praised be the
Lord! The people went away mightily satisfied, much desiring another
meeting. This place (called Providence) was about thirty miles from
Rhode Island; and we went to it by water. The governor of Rhode
Island, and many others, went with me thither; and we had the
meeting in a great barn, which was thronged with people, so that I
was exceedingly hot, and perspired much; but all was well; the
glorious power of the Lord shone over all; glory to the great God
for ever!
After this we went to NARRAGANSET, about twenty miles from Rhode
Island; and the governor went with us. We had a meeting at a
justice’s house, where Friends had never had any before. It was very
large, for the country generally came in; and people came also from
Connecticut, and other parts round about, amongst whom were four
justices of the peace. Most of these people had never heard Friends
before; but they were mightily affected with the meeting, and a
great desire there is after the truth amongst them; so that our
meeting was of very good service, blessed be the Lord for ever! The
justice at whose house the meeting was, and another justice of that
country, invited me to come again; but I was then clear of those
parts, and going towards Shelter Island. But John Burnyeat and John
Cartwright, being come out of New England into Rhode Island, before
I was gone, I laid this place before them; and they felt drawings
thither, and went to visit them. At another place, I heard some of
the magistrates said among themselves, “If they had money enough,
they would hire me to be their minister.” This was, where they did
not well understand us, and our principles; but when I heard of it,
I said, “It was time for me to be gone; for if their eye was so much
to me, or any of us, they would not come to their own teacher.” For
this thing (hiring ministers) had spoiled many, by hindering them
from improving their own talents: whereas our labour is to bring all
men to their own teacher in themselves.
I went from hence towards Shelter Island, having with me Robert
Widders, James Lancaster, George Pattison, and John Jay, a planter
of Barbadoes. We went in a sloop; and passing by POINT JUDITH and
BLOCK ISLAND, we came to FISHER’S ISLAND, where at night we went on
shore; but were not able to stay for the mosquitoes which abound
there, and are very troublesome. Wherefore we went into our sloop
again, put off from the shore, and cast anchor; and so lay in our
sloop that night. Next day we went into the SOUND, but finding our
sloop was not able to live in that water, we returned again, and
came to anchor before Fisher’s Island, where we lay in our sloop
that night also. There fell abundance of rain, and our sloop being
open, we were exceedingly wet. Next day we passed over the waters
called the TWO HORSE RACES, and then by GARDNER’S ISLAND; after
which we passed by GULL’S ISLAND, and so got at length to SHELTER
ISLAND; which, though it was but about twenty-seven leagues from
Rhode Island, yet through the difficulty of the passage we were
three days in reaching.
The day after, being First-day, we had a meeting there. In the same
week, I had another among the Indians; at which were their king, his
council, about a hundred Indians more. They sat down like Friends,
and heard very attentively, while I spoke to them by an interpreter,
an Indian that could speak English well. After the meeting they
appeared very loving, and confessed that what was said to them was
truth. Next First-day we had a great meeting on the island, to which
came many people who had never heard Friends before. They were very
well satisfied with it, and would not go away when it was over, till
they had spoken with me; wherefore I went amongst them, and found
they were much taken with the truth; good desires were raised in
them, and great love. Blessed be the Lord, his name spreads, and
will be great among the nations, and dreadful among the heathen.
While we were in Shelter Island, William Edmundson came to us, who
had been labouring in the work of the Lord in Virginia. From whence
he travelled through the desert-country, through difficulties and
many trials till he came to ROANOKE, where he met with a tender
people. After seven weeks’ service in those parts, sailing over to
Maryland, and so to New York, he came to Long Island, and so to
Shelter Island; where we met with him, and were very glad to hear
from him the good service he had had for the Lord, in the several
places where he had travelled since he parted from us.
We stayed not long in Shelter Island, but entering our sloop again,
put to sea for Long Island. We had a very rough passage, for the
tide ran so strong for several hours, that I have not seen the like;
and being against us, we could hardly get forwards, though we had a
gale. We were upon the water all that day and the night following;
but found ourselves next day driven back near to Fisher’s Island.
For there was a great fog, and towards day it was very dark, so that
we could not see what way we made. Besides, it rained much in the
night, which in our open sloop made us very wet. Next day a great
storm arose, so that we were fain to go over the Sound, and got over
with much difficulty. When we left Fisher’s Island, we passed by
Falkner Island, and came to the Main, where we cast anchor till the
storm was over. Then we crossed the Sound, being all very wet; and
much difficulty we had to get to land, the wind being strong against
us. But blessed be the Lord God of heaven and earth, and of the seas
and waters, all was well. We got safe to OYSTER-BAY in Long Island,
on the seventh of sixth month, very early in the morning, which is
about two hundred miles from Rhode Island. At Oyster-bay we had a
very large meeting. The same day James Lancaster and Christopher
Holder[29] went over the Bay to Rye, on the continent, in Governor
Winthrop’s government, and had a meeting there. From Oyster-Bay we
passed about thirty miles to FLUSHING, where we had a very large
meeting; many hundreds of people being there, some of whom came
about thirty miles to it. A glorious and heavenly meeting it was
(praised be the Lord God!) and the people were much satisfied.
Meanwhile Christopher Holder and some other Friends went to a town
in Long Island, called Jamaica, and had a meeting there. We passed
from Flushing to GRAVESEND, about twenty miles, and there had three
precious meetings; to which many would have come from New York, but
the weather hindered them.
Being clear of this place, we hired a sloop; and the wind serving,
set out for the New Country, now called JERSEY. Passing down the Bay
by Coney Island, Natton (now Governor’s) Island, and Staten Island,
we came to Richard Hartshorn’s, at MIDDLETOWN HARBOUR, about break
of day, the 27th of sixth Month. Next day we rode about thirty miles
into the country through the woods and over very bad bogs, one worse
than all the rest; the descent into which was so steep, that we were
fain to slide down with our horses, and then let them lie and
breathe, before they could go on. This place the people of the
country called Purgatory. We got at length to SHREWSBURY in EAST
JERSEY, and on First-day had a precious meeting there, to which
Friends and other people came from far; and the blessed presence of
the Lord was with us. The same week we had a men’s and women’s
meeting out of most parts of New Jersey. They are building a
meeting-place in the midst of them, and there is a monthly and
general meeting set up; which will be of great service in those
parts, in “keeping up the gospel order and government of Christ
Jesus (of the increase of which there is no end), that they who are
faithful may see that all who profess the holy truth live in the
pure religion, and walk as becometh the gospel.”
While we were at Shrewsbury, an accident befell, which, for the
time, was a great exercise to us. John Jay, a Friend of Barbadoes,
who came with us from Rhode Island, and intended to accompany us
through the woods to Maryland, being to try a horse, got upon his
back; and the horse fell a-running, and cast him down upon his head,
and broke his neck, as the people said. They that were near him took
him up as dead, carried him a good way, and laid him on a tree. I
got to him as soon as I could; and feeling him, concluded he was
dead. As I stood by him, pitying him and his family I took hold of
his hair, and his head turned any way, his neck was so limber.
Whereupon I took his head in both my hands, and setting my knees
against the tree, I raised his head, and perceived there was nothing
out or broken that way. Then I put one hand under his chin, and the
other behind his head, and raised his head two or three times with
all my strength, and brought it in. I soon perceived his neck began
to grow stiff again, and then he began to rattle in the throat, and
quickly after to breathe. The people were amazed: but I bid them
have a good heart, be of good faith, and carry him into the house.
They did so, and set him by the fire. I bid them get him something
warm to drink, and put him to bed. After he had been in the house a
while he began to speak; but he did not know where he had been. The
next day we passed away (and he with us, pretty well) about sixteen
miles to a meeting at MIDDLETOWN, through woods and bogs, and over a
river; where we swam our horses, and got over ourselves upon a
hollow tree. Many hundred miles did he travel with us after this. To
this meeting came most of the people of the town. A glorious meeting
we had, and the Truth was over all; blessed be the great Lord God
for ever!
After the meeting we went to MIDDLETOWN-HARBOUR, about five miles,
in order to take our long journey next morning, through the woods
towards Maryland; having hired Indians for our guides. I determined
to pass through the woods on the other side of Delaware-Bay, that we
might head the creeks and rivers as much as possible. On the 9th of
the 7th month we set forwards, and passed through many Indian towns,
and over some rivers and bogs; and when we had rode about forty
miles, we made a fire at night, and laid by it. As we came among the
Indians, we declared the day of the Lord to them. Next day we
travelled fifty miles, as we computed; and at night, finding an old
house, which the Indians had forced the people to leave, we made a
fire and stayed there, at the head of Delaware-Bay. Next day we swam
our horses over a river about a mile, at twice, first to an island
called UPPER TINICUM, and then to the mainland; having hired Indians
to help us over in their canoes. This day we could reach but about
thirty miles, and came at night to a Swede’s house, where we got a
little straw, and stayed that night. Next day, having hired another
guide, we travelled about forty miles through the woods, and made a
fire at night, by which we lay, and dried ourselves; for we were
often wet in our travels. The next day we passed over a desperate
river, which had in it many rocks and broad stones, very hazardous
to us and our horses. Thence we came to CHRISTIANA RIVER, where we
swam our horses, and went over ourselves in canoes; but the sides of
this river were so bad and miry, that some of the horses had like to
have been laid up. Thence we went to NEWCASTLE, heretofore called
NEW AMSTERDAM; and being very weary, and inquiring in the town where
we could buy some corn for our horses, the governor came and invited
me to his house; and afterwards desired me to lodge there, saying he
had a bed for me, and I should be welcome. So I stayed there, the
other Friends being taken care of also. This was on the seventh day
of the week; and he offering his house for a meeting, we had the
next day a pretty large one; for most of the town were at it. There
had never been a meeting here before, nor any within a great way of
it; but this was a very precious one, many of the people were
tender, and confessed to the truth; and some received it; blessed be
the Lord for ever!
On the the 16th of the 7th month we set forward again, and
travelled, as near as we could compute, about fifty miles, through
woods and over bogs, heading BOHEMIA and SASSAFRAS RIVERS. At night
we made a fire in the woods, and lay there all night; and it being
rainy weather, we got under some thick trees for shelter, and
afterwards dried ourselves again by the fire. Next day we waded
through CHESTER RIVER, a very broad water, and after passing through
many bad bogs, lay that night also in the woods by a fire; not
having gone above thirty miles that day. The day following we
travelled hard; and though we had some troublesome bogs in our way,
we rode about fifty miles; and got safe that night, but very weary,
to Robert Harwood’s, at MILES (now “ST.” MICHAEL’S) RIVER in
MARYLAND. This was the eighteenth of the month; and though we were
very weary, and much dirtied with getting through the bogs in our
journey, yet hearing of a meeting next day, we went to it, and then
to John Edmundson’s; from whence we went three or four miles by
water to a meeting the First-day following. Here was a judge’s wife,
who had never been at any of our meetings before; who was reached,
and said after, “she had rather hear us once, than the priest a
thousand times.” Many others also were very well satisfied; for the
power of the Lord was eminently with us; blessed for ever be his
holy name!
We passed thence about twenty-two miles, and had a meeting upon the
KENTISH shore, to which one of the judges came; and a good meeting
it was. Then, after another meeting hard by, at Henry Wilcock’s
house, where also we had good service for the Lord, we went by water
about twenty miles to a very large meeting, where were some hundreds
of people, four justices of the peace, the high-sheriff of Delaware,
an Indian emperor or governor, and two chiefs. With these Indians I
had a good opportunity the night before. I spoke to them by an
interpreter; they heard the truth attentively, and were very loving.
A blessed meeting this was, and of great service, both for
convincing and establishing in the truth them that were convinced of
it. Blessed be the Lord, who causeth his blessed truth to spread!
After the meeting a woman came to me, whose husband was one of the
judges of that part of the country, and a member of the assembly,
and told me, “her husband was sick, not likely to live; and desired
me to go home with her to see him.” It was three miles to her house;
and being just come hot out of the meeting, it was hard for me then
to go; yet considering the service, I got a horse, went with her,
visited her husband, and spoke what the Lord gave me to him. The man
was much refreshed, and finally was raised up by the power of the
Lord; and he afterwards came to our meetings.
I went back again to the Friends that night; and next day we
departed thence about twenty miles to TREDHAVEN-CREEK, to John
Edmundson’s again; whence, on the 3rd of the 8th month, we went to
the general meeting for all Maryland Friends. This held five days;
the first three, we had meetings for public worship, to which people
of all sorts came; the other two were spent in the men’s and women’s
meetings. To the public meetings came many Protestants of divers
sorts, and some Papists; amongst these were several magistrates and
their wives, and other persons of chief account in the country.
There were so many, besides Friends, that it was thought there were
sometimes a thousand people at one of these meetings. So that,
though they had not long before enlarged their meeting-place, and
made it as large again as it was before, it could not contain the
people. I went by boat every day four or five miles to it, and there
were so many boats at that time passing upon the river, that it was
almost like the Thames. The people said, “there were never so many
boats seen there together before.” And one of the justices said, “he
never saw so many people together in that country before.” It was a
very heavenly meeting, wherein the presence of the Lord was
gloriously manifested, and Friends were sweetly refreshed, the
people generally satisfied, and many convinced; for the blessed
power of the Lord was over all; everlasting praises to his holy name
for ever! After the public meetings were over, the men’s and women’s
meetings began, and were held the other two days; for I had
something to impart to them which concerned the glory of God, the
order of the gospel, and the government of Christ Jesus. When these
meetings were over, we took our leave of Friends in those parts,
whom we left well established in the truth.
On the 10th of the 8th Month we went thence about thirty miles by
water, passing by CRANES ISLAND, SWAN ISLAND, and KENT ISLAND, in
very foul weather and much rain; whereby (our boat being open) we
were not only very much wet, but in great danger of being overset;
insomuch that some thought we could not escape being cast away, till
they saw us come to shore next morning. But blessed be God, we were
very well. Having got to a little house, dried our clothes by the
fire, and refreshed ourselves a little, we took to our boat again;
and put off from land, sometimes sailing and sometimes rowing; but
having very foul weather that day too, we could not get above twelve
miles forward. At night we got to land, and made a fire; some lay by
that, and some by a fire at a house a little way off. Next morning
we passed over the GREAT-BAY, and sailed about forty miles that day.
Making to shore at night, we lay there, some in the boat, and some
at an ale-house. Next morning, being First-day, we went six or seven
miles to a Friend’s house, who was a justice of the peace; where we
had a meeting: this was a little above the head of the Great-Bay. We
were almost four days on the water, weary with rowing, yet all was
very well: blessed and praised be the Lord. We went next day to
another Friend’s house, near the head of HATTON’S ISLAND, where we
had good service amongst Friends and others; as we had also the day
following at George Wilson’s,[30] a Friend that lived about three
miles further; where we had a very precious meeting, there being
great tenderness amongst the people.
After this meeting we sailed about ten miles to James Frizby’s, a
justice of the peace, where, on the 16th, we had a very large
meeting, at which, besides Friends, were some hundreds of people it
was supposed; amongst whom were several justices, captains, and the
sheriff, with other persons of note. A blessed, heavenly meeting
this was; a powerful, thundering testimony for the truth was borne
therein; a great sense there was upon the people, and much
brokenness and tenderness amongst them. We stayed after meeting till
about eleven at night, that the tide turned for us; then taking
boat, we passed that night and next day about fifty miles, to
another Friend’s house. The two next days we made short journeys,
visiting Friends, and on the twentieth we had a great meeting at a
place called SEVERN, where there was a meeting-house, but not large
enough to hold the people. Divers chief magistrates were at it, and
many other considerable people, and it gave them generally great
satisfaction.
Two days after, we had a meeting with some that walked disorderly,
and had good service. Then spending a day or two in visiting
Friends, we passed to the WESTERN-SHORE; and on the twenty-fifth had
a large and precious meeting at William Coale’s,[31] where the
speaker of their assembly, his wife, a justice, and several other
people of quality were present. Next day we had a meeting six or
seven miles further, at Abraham Birkhead’s, where many of the
magistrates and upper sort of people were, and the speaker of the
assembly for that country was convinced: a blessed meeting it was,
praised be the Lord!
We travelled next day; and the day following, the 28th, had a large
and very precious meeting at Peter Sharp’s, on the CLIFFS, between
thirty and forty miles distant from the former. Many of the
magistrates and people of upper rank were at this meeting, and a
heavenly meeting it was. The wife of one of the governor’s council
was convinced, and her husband was very loving to Friends. A justice
from Virginia was convinced, and had a meeting afterwards at his
house. Some Papists were at this meeting, and one of them threatened
before he came, that he would dispute with me; but he was reached,
and could not oppose. Blessed be the Lord, the truth reached into
the hearts of people beyond words, and it is of a good savour
amongst them! After the meeting we went about eighteen miles, to
James Preston’s, a Friend that lived on Patuxent river; and thither
came to us an Indian king, with his brother, to whom I spoke, and
found they understood what I spoke of. Having finished our service
in Maryland, and intending for Virginia, we had a meeting at
PATUXENT on the 4th of the 9th month, to take our leave of Friends.
Many people of all sorts were at it, and a powerful meeting it was.
On the 5th we set sail for VIRGINIA, and in three days came to a
place called NANCEMOND, about two hundred miles from Maryland. In
this voyage we met with foul weather, storms, and rain, and lay in
the woods by a fire in the night. At Nancemond lived a Friend,
called the widow Wright. Next day we had a great meeting there, of
Friends and others. There came to it Colonel Dewes, with several
other officers and magistrates, who were much taken with the truth
declared. After this we hastened towards Carolina; yet had several
meetings by the way, wherein we had good service for the Lord; one
about four miles from Nancemond Water, which was very precious; and
there was a men’s and women’s meeting settled, for taking care of
the affairs of the church. Another very good one also we had at
William Yarrow’s, at PAGAN CREEK, which was so large, that we were
fain to be abroad, the house not being large enough to contain the
people. A great openness there was, the sound of truth spread
abroad, and had a good savour in the hearts of people: the Lord have
the glory for ever!
After this our way to Carolina grew worse, being much of it plashy,
and pretty full of great bogs and swamps; so that we were commonly
wet to the knees, and lay abroad at nights in the woods by a fire;
saving one night we got to a poor house, at SOMMERTOWN [now
SOMERTON,] and lay by the fire. The woman of the house had a sense
of God upon her. The report of our travel had reached thither, and
drawn some that lived beyond Sommertown, to that house, in
expectation to see and hear us (so acceptable was the sound of truth
in that wilderness country:) but they missed us. The next day, the
21st of the 9th Month, having travelled hard through the woods, and
over many bogs and swamps, we reached BONNER’S CREEK; and there we
lay that night by the fireside, the woman lending us a mat to lie
on.
This was the first house we came to in CAROLINA; here we left our
horses, over-wearied with travel. From hence we went down the creek
in a canoe, to Macocomocock [now Chowan] River; and came to Hugh
Smith’s house, where the people came to see us (for there were no
Friends in that part of the country,) and many of them received us
gladly. Amongst others came Nathaniel Batts, who had been governor
of Roanoke; he went by the name of Captain Batts, and had been a
rude, desperate man. He asked me about a woman in Cumberland, who,
he said, he was told, had been healed by our prayers, and laying on
of our hands, after she had been long sick, and given over by the
physicians; and he desired to know the certainty of it. I told him
we did not glory in such things, but many such things had been done
by the power of Christ.
Not far from hence we had a meeting among the people, and they were
taken with the truth: blessed be the Lord! Then passing down the
river ROANOKE in a canoe, we went down the bay CONEY-HOE, and came
to a captain’s house, who was very loving, and lent us his boat, for
we were much wet in the canoe, the water splashing in upon us. With
this boat we went to the governor’s house; but the water in some
places was so shallow that the boat being laden, could not swim; so
that we were fain to put off our shoes and stockings, and wade
through the water some distance. The governor, with his wife,
received us lovingly; but a doctor there would needs dispute with
us. And truly his opposing us was of good service, giving occasion
for the opening of many things to the people, concerning the light
and Spirit of God, which he denied to be in every one; and affirmed
that it was not in the Indians. Whereupon I called an Indian to us,
and asked him, “Whether or not, when he lied, or did wrong to any
one, there was not something in him that reproved him for it?” he
said, “There was such a thing in him, that did so reprove him; and
he was ashamed when he had done wrong, or spoken wrong.” So we
shamed the doctor before the governor and the people; insomuch that
the poor man ran out so far, that at length he would not own the
Scriptures. We tarried at the governor’s that night; and next
morning he very courteously walked with us himself about two miles
through the woods, to a place whither he had sent our boat about to
meet us. Taking leave of him, we entered our boat, and went that day
about thirty miles to Joseph Scott’s, one of the representatives of
the country. There we had a sound, precious meeting; the people were
tender, and much desired after meetings. Wherefore at a house about
four miles further, we had another meeting, to which the governor’s
secretary came, who was chief secretary of the province, and had
been formerly convinced.
I went from this place among the Indians, and spoke unto them by an
interpreter; showing them, “that God made all things in six days,
and made but one woman for one man; and that God drowned the old
world, because of their wickedness. Afterwards I spoke to them
concerning Christ, showing them, that he died for all men, for their
sins, as well as for others; and had enlightened them as well as
others; and that if they did that which was evil, he would burn
them, but if they did well, they should not be burned.” There was
among them their young king; and others of their chief men, who
seemed to receive kindly what I said to them.
Having visited the north part of Carolina, and made a little
entrance for truth upon the people there, we began to return towards
Virginia, having several meetings in our way, wherein we had very
good service for the Lord, the people being generally tender and
open; blessed be the Lord. We lay one night at the Secretary’s
house, to which we had much to do to get; for the water being
shallow, we could not bring our boat to shore; but the secretary’s
wife seeing our strait, came herself in a canoe (her husband being
from home) and brought us to land. Next morning our boat was sunk;
but we got her up, mended her, and went away in her that day about
twenty-four miles, the water being rough, and the winds high; but
the great power of God was seen, in carrying us safe in that rotten
boat. In our return we had a very precious meeting at Hugh Smith’s;
praised be the Lord for ever! The people were very tender, and very
good service we had amongst them. There was at this meeting an
Indian captain who was very loving, and acknowledged it to be truth
that was spoken. There was also one of the Indian priests, whom they
call a Pawaw, who sat soberly among the people. On the 9th of the
10th Month we got back to BONNER’S CREEK, where we had left our
horses; having spent about eighteen days in North Carolina.
Our horses having rested, we set forward for VIRGINIA again,
travelling through the woods and bogs, as far as we could well reach
that day; and at night lay by a fire in the woods. Next day we had a
tedious journey, through bogs and swamps, and were exceedingly wet
and dirty all the day, but dried ourselves at night by a fire. We
got that night to SOMMERTOWN. When we came near the house, the woman
of the house seeing us, spoke to her son to fasten up their dogs
(for both in Virginia and Carolina they generally keep great dogs to
guard their houses, living lonely in the woods); but the son said,
“he need not, for the dogs did not use to meddle with these people.”
Whereupon, when we were come into the house, she told us, “we were
like the children of Israel, whom the dogs did not move their
tongues against.” Here we lay in our clothes by the fire, as we had
done many a night before. Next day, before we went away, we had a
meeting; for the people having heard of us, had a great desire to
hear us; and a very good meeting we had among them, where we never
had one before; praised be the Lord for ever! After the meeting we
hasted away. When we had rode about twenty miles, calling at a house
to inquire the way, the people desired us to tarry all night with
them, which we did. Next day we came among Friends, after we had
travelled about a hundred miles from Carolina into Virginia; in
which time we observed a great variety of climates, having passed in
a few days from a very cold, to a warm and spring-like country. But
the power of the Lord is the same in all, is over all, and doth
reach the good in all; praised be the Lord for ever!
We spent about three weeks in travelling through Virginia, mostly
among Friends, having many large and precious meetings in several
parts of the country; as at the widow Wright’s, where a great many
magistrates, officers and other high people came. A most heavenly
meeting we had, wherein the power of the Lord was so great, that it
struck a dread upon the assembly and chained all down, and brought a
reverence upon the people’s minds. Among the officers was a major,
kinsman to the priest; he told me, “the priest threatened to come
and oppose us.” But the Lord’s power was too strong for him, and
stopped him; we were quiet and peaceable, and the people were
wonderfully affected with the testimony of truth; blessed be the
Lord for ever! Another very good meeting we had at CRICKATROUGH, at
which many considerable people were, many of whom had never heard a
Friend before; and they were greatly satisfied with the meeting,
praised be the Lord! We had also a very good and serviceable meeting
at John Porter’s, which consisted mostly of other people; in which
the power of the Lord was gloriously seen and felt, and it brought
the truth over all evil walkers and talkers; blessed be the Lord!
Divers other meetings we had, and many opportunities of doing
service for the Lord amongst the people where we came. The last week
we stayed, we spent some time and pains among Friends, sweeping away
that which was to be swept out, and working down a bad spirit that
was got up in some; blessed for ever be the name of the Lord! he it
is that gives victory over all.
Having finished what service lay upon us in Virginia, on the 30th we
set sail in an open sloop for MARYLAND. But having a great storm,
and being much wet, we were glad to get to shore before night; and,
walking to a house at WILLOUGHBY POINT, we got lodging there that
night. The woman of the house was a widow, and a very tender person;
she had never received Friends before; but she received us very
kindly, and with tears in her eyes. We returned to our boat in the
morning, and hoisted up our sail, getting forward as fast as we
could; but towards evening a storm rising, we had much to do to get
to shore; and our boat being open the water splashed often in, and
sometimes over us, so that we were completely wet. Being got to
land, we made a fire in the woods, to warm and dry us, and there we
lay all night, the wolves howling about us.
On the 1st of 11th month we sailed again, but the wind being against
us, we made but little way, and were fain to get to shore at POINT
COMFORT, where yet we found but small comfort; for the weather was
so cold, that though we made a good fire in the woods to lie by, our
water, that we had got for our use, was frozen near the fireside. We
made to sea again next day; but the wind being strong and against
us, we advanced but little, but were glad to get to land again, and
travel about to find some house, where we might buy some provisions,
for our store was spent. That night also we lay in the woods; and so
extremely cold was the weather, the wind blowing high, and the frost
and snow being great, that it was hard for some to abide it.
On the 3rd, the wind setting pretty fair, we fetched it up by
sailing and rowing, and got that night to MILFORD-HAVEN, where we
lay at Richard Long’s, near Quince’s Island. Next day we passed by
Rappahannock River, where dwell much people; and Friends had a
meeting there-aways at a justice’s house, who had formerly been at a
meeting where I was. We passed over Potomac River also, the winds
being high, the water very rough, our sloop open, and the weather
extremely cold; and having a meeting there-aways also, some people
were convinced; and when we parted thence, some of our company went
amongst them. We steered our course for Patuxent River. I sat at the
helm most part of the day, and some of the night. About the first
hour in the morning we reached James Preston’s house on Patuxent
River, which is about two hundred miles from Nancemond in VIRGINIA.
We were very weary; yet the next day, being the first of the week,
we went to the meeting not far from thence. The same week we went to
an Indian King’s cabin, where several of the Indians were, with whom
we had a good opportunity to discourse; and they carried themselves
very lovingly. We went also that week to a general meeting; then
about eighteen miles further to John Geary’s, where we had a very
precious meeting; praised be the Lord God for ever!
After this the cold grew so exceedingly sharp, the frost and snow so
extreme, beyond what was usual in that country, that we could hardly
endure it. Neither was it easy or safe to stir out; yet we got, with
some difficulty, six miles through the snow to John Mayor’s, where
we met with some Friends come from New England, whom we had left
there when we came away; and glad we were to see each other, after
so long and tedious travels. By these Friends we understood, that
William Edmundson, having been at Rhode Island and New England, was
returned to Ireland; that Solomon Eccles, coming from Jamaica and
landing at Boston in New England, was taken at a meeting there, and
banished to Barbadoes; that John Stubbs and another Friend were gone
into New Jersey, and several other Friends to Barbadoes, Jamaica,
and the Leeward Islands. It was matter of joy to us, to understand
that the work of the Lord went on and prospered, and that Friends
were unwearied and diligent in the service.
On the 27th we had a very precious meeting in a tobacco-house; and
next day returned to James Preston’s, about eighteen miles distant.
When we came there, we found his house was burnt to the ground the
night before, through the carelessness of a servant; so we lay three
nights on the ground by the fire, the weather being very cold. We
made an observation, which was somewhat strange, but certainly true;
that one day in the midst of this cold weather, the wind turning
into the South, it grew so hot that we could hardly bear it; and the
next day and night, the wind changing back into the North, we could
hardly endure the cold.
The 2nd of 12th month we had a glorious meeting at Patuxent; and
after it, went to John Geary’s again, where we waited for a boat to
carry us to the monthly meeting at the CLIFFS, and a living one it
was; praised be the Lord! This was on the 6th: another meeting we
had on the 9th, wherein the glory of the Lord shone over all;
blessed and magnified be his holy name for ever!
On the 12th of the month we set forward in our boat; and, travelling
by night, ran aground in a creek near MANOKIN RIVER. There we were
fain to stay till morning, when the tide came and lifted her off. In
the meantime sitting in an open boat, and the weather being bitterly
cold, some of us had like to have lost the use of our hands, they
were so frozen and benumbed with cold. In the morning, when the tide
had set us afloat again, we got to land, and made a good fire, at
which we warmed ourselves well. Then returning to our boat, we
passed on about ten miles further to a Friend’s house; where next
day we had a very precious meeting, at which some of the chief of
the place were. I went after it to a Friend’s house, about four
miles off, at the head of ANAMESSIC RIVER, where, on the day
following, the judge of the country and the justice with him came to
me, and were very loving, and much satisfied with Friends’ order.
The next day we had a large meeting in the justice’s barn, for his
house could not hold the company. There were several of the great
folks of that country, and among the rest an opposer; but all was
preserved quiet and well; a precious meeting it was, and the people
were much affected with the truth; blessed be the Lord! We went next
day to see Captain Colburn, who was also a justice, and there we had
some service; then returning again, we had a very glorious meeting
at the same justice’s, where we met before; to which came many
people of account in the world, magistrates, officers, and others.
It was large, and the power of the Lord was much felt, so that the
people were generally well satisfied, and taken with the truth; and
there being several merchants and masters of ships from New England,
the truth was spread abroad; blessed be the Lord!
A day or two after, we travelled about sixteen miles through the
woods and bogs, heading ANAMESSIC RIVER and AMOROCA RIVER, part of
which last, we went over in a canoe, and came to MANOKIN, to a
friendly woman’s house; where, on the 24th, we had a large meeting
in a barn. The Lord’s living presence was with us, and among the
people; blessed be his holy name for evermore! Friends had never had
a meeting in those parts before. After this we passed over the River
Wicomico, through many bad and watery swamps and marshy ways, and
came to James Jones’s, a Friend, and a justice of the peace; where
we had a large and very glorious meeting; praised be the Lord God.
Then passing over the water in a boat, we took horse and travelled
about twenty-four miles through woods and troublesome swamps, and
came to another justice’s house, where we had a very large meeting,
much people, and many of considerable account being present; and the
living presence of the Lord was amongst us, praised for ever be his
holy name! This was on the 3rd of the 1st month, 1672-3;[32] and on
the 5th we had another living and heavenly meeting, at which divers
of the justices, with their wives, and many other people, were;
amongst whom we had very good service for the Lord; blessed be his
holy name. At this meeting was a woman that lived at Anamessic, who
had been many years in trouble of mind, and sometimes would sit
moping near two months together, and hardly speak or mind anything.
When I heard of her, I was moved of the Lord to go to her, and tell
her, “that salvation was come to her house.” After I had spoken the
word of life to her, and entreated the Lord for her, she mended,
went up and down with us to meetings, and is since well, blessed be
the Lord!
Being now clear of these parts, we left Anamessic on the 7th, and
passing by water about fifty miles, came to a friendly woman’s house
at HUNGER RIVER. We had very rough weather in our passage to this
place, and were in great danger, for the boat had nearly been turned
over; but through the good providence of God, we got safe thither;
praised be his name! At this place we had a meeting; and amongst the
people present, were two Papists, a man and a woman; he was very
tender, and she confessed to the truth. This meeting was not so
large as it would have been, if many, who had intended, could have
got to it; but the weather was so foul, and the water, by reason of
high winds, so rough, that it was not safe to pass over it. I had no
Friend now with me but Robert Widders, the rest having dispersed
themselves into several parts of the country in the service of
truth.
As soon as the wind would permit, we passed hence about forty miles
by water, rowing most part of the way, and came to the head of
LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER, to Dr. Winsmore’s, who was a justice, lately
convinced. Here we met with some Friends, with whom we stayed a
while; and then went on by land and water, and had a large meeting
out of doors, for the house we were at could not receive the people.
Divers of the magistrates and their wives were present, and a good
meeting it was; blessed be the Lord, who is making his name known in
that wilderness country! We returned thence to a Friend’s house,
named William Stephens, where we met the Friends that had been
travelling in other parts; and were much refreshed in the Lord
together, imparting to each other the good success we had had in the
Lord’s work, and the prosperity and spreading of truth in the places
where we travelled. John Cartwright and another Friend had been in
Virginia, where there were great desires in people after truth; and
being now returned, they stayed a little with us here, and then set
forward for Barbadoes. Before we left this place we had a very
glorious meeting, at which were very many people; amongst others,
the judge of that country, three justices, and the high-sheriff,
with their wives. Of the Indians was one called their emperor, an
Indian king and their speaker, who all sat very attentive, and
carried themselves very lovingly. An establishing, settling meeting
it was. This was on the 23rd of 1st month.
On the 24th we went by water ten miles to the Indian town where this
emperor dwelt, whom I had acquainted before of my coming, and
desired him to get their kings and councils together. In the morning
the emperor came himself, and had me to the town; and they were
generally come together, and had their speaker and other officers
with them, and the old empress sat among them. They sat very grave
and sober, and were all very attentive, beyond many called
Christians. I had some with me that could interpret to them, and we
had a very good meeting with them, and of very great service it was;
for it gave them a good esteem for truth and Friends: blessed be the
Lord.
After this we had many meetings in several parts of that country,
one at William Stephens’s, which was a general meeting once a month;
others at Tredhaven Creek, Wye, Reconow Creek, and at Thomas
Taylor’s in the Island of Kent. Most of these were large, there
being many people at them, divers of them of the most considerable
account. The Lord’s power and living presence were with us, and
plenteously manifested amongst the people; by which their hearts
were tendered and opened to receive the truth, which had a good
savour amongst them; blessed be the Lord God over all for ever.
Being clear of that side, we passed over the bay about fourteen
miles to a Friend’s house, where we met with several Friends. I sent
for Thomas Thurston thither, and had a meeting with him, to bring
the truth over his bad actions.
Having travelled through most parts of that country and visited most
of the plantations, having sounded the alarm to all people where we
came, and proclaimed the day of God’s salvation amongst them, we
found our spirits began to be clear of these parts of the world, and
draw towards Old England again. Yet we were desirous, and felt
freedom from the Lord, to stay over the general meeting for the
province of Maryland (which drew nigh) that we might see Friends
generally together before we departed. Wherefore spending our time,
in the interim, in visiting Friends and friendly people, in
attending meetings about the Cliffs and Patuxent, and in writing
answers to cavilling objections, which some of the truth’s
adversaries had raised and spread abroad, to hinder people from
receiving the truth, we were not idle, but laboured in the work of
the Lord, until that general provincial meeting came on, which began
on the 17th of the 3rd month, and lasted four days. On the first of
these, the men and women had their meetings for business, wherein
the affairs of the church were taken care of, and many things
relating thereto were opened unto them, to their edification and
comfort. The other three days were spent in public meetings for the
worship of God, of which divers of considerable account of the
government, and many others, were present, who were generally
satisfied, and many of them reached; for it was a wonderful,
glorious meeting, and the mighty presence of the Lord was seen and
felt over all; blessed and praised be his holy name for ever, who
over all giveth dominion!
After this meeting we took our leave of Friends, parting in great
tenderness, in the sense of the heavenly life and virtuous power of
the Lord, that was livingly felt amongst us; and went by water to
the place where we were to take shipping, many Friends accompanying
us thither and tarrying with us that night. Next day, the 21st of
the 3rd month, 1673, we set sail for England; the same day Richard
Covell came on board our ship, having had his own taken from him by
the Dutch. We had foul weather and contrary winds, which caused us
to cast anchor often, so that we were till the 31st ere we could get
past the capes of Virginia and come out into the main sea. But after
this we made good speed, and on the 28th of the 4th month cast
anchor at King’s Road, which is the harbour for BRISTOL. We had on
our passage very high winds and tempestuous weather, which made the
sea exceedingly rough, the waves rising like mountains; so that the
masters and sailors wondered at it, and said they never saw the like
before. But though the wind was strong, it set for the most part
with us, so that we sailed before it; and the great God who commands
the winds, who is Lord of heaven, of earth, and the seas, and whose
wonders are seen in the deep, steered our course and preserved us
from many imminent dangers. The same good hand of Providence that
went with us, and carried us safely over, watched over us in our
return, and brought us safely back again; thanksgiving and praises
be to his holy name for ever! Many sweet and precious meetings we
had on board the ship during this voyage (commonly two a week,)
wherein the blessed presence of the Lord did greatly refresh us, and
often break in upon and tender the company.
-----
Footnote 26:
John Burnyeat, a fellow-labourer in the gospel with George Fox,
and who is several times named in this Journal, was born in
Cumberland about the year 1631. He was well educated, and
religiously inclined from his youth, and convinced by George Fox
when he first came into Cumberland in 1653. He became an unwearied
traveller in the gospel, both in this country and in America,
boldly proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation, for which he
fell in for his share of abuse and imprisonments. Once at Ripon,
when visiting twenty-four of his friends imprisoned there for the
testimony of Jesus, speaking a few words to them he was haled away
before the mayor, and several times knocked off his knees when at
prayer, being sent to prison to his friends, and kept there
fourteen weeks.
He married and settled in Ireland, where his service mostly lay in
his latter days. In 1683 he was imprisoned in the Marshalsea in
Dublin two months for meeting and preaching. His wife died in
1688; and he, having finished his course, and kept the faith,
departed in peace in 1690. His works, and testimonies concerning
him, with an account of his convincement, and journal of his
travels, were published in a 4to volume, to which the reader is
referred. See also _Piety Promoted_, vol. i. p. 179; and Whiting’s
_Memoirs_, p. 416-430.
Footnote 27:
The instances of heathen kindness and hospitality, experienced by
George Fox and others who have visited the Indians in a friendly
manner, contrast very favourably in comparison with the many acts
of bigoted intolerance and cruelty recorded in these volumes on
the part of those professedly civilized and Christian.
Many incidents might be related in proof of Indian kindness when
unprovoked to opposite conduct. When the Quakers were under a
cruel persecution by the magistrates of Boston, in New England,
Nicholas Upshal, “a man of unblameable conversation,” and a church
member of their communion, showed the sufferers kindness, by
giving five shillings a week to the jailer to let those confined
in prison have the sustenance necessary for life—_the magistrates
having caused the jail window to be boarded up, that none might
communicate with, or help them_. He proceeded afterwards to reason
with the magistrates, and warn them not to be found fighting
against God, for which he was fined £20, imprisoned, and then
banished; though a weakly old man, and the season the depth of
winter. In his banishment in the wilderness, he met an Indian,
who, having understood how he had been dealt with, took compassion
on him, and very kindly told him, _if he would live with him he
would make him a warm house_; and further said, “What a God have
these English, who deal so with one another about their God!”
See here the Red Indian’s kindly care
Though he the name of _savage_ bear.
Christian, more savage thou than he,
Blush for thy cruel deeds of infamy:
The Indian’s unasked cup of charity
Is larger than as mixed by thee.
The white man aged, through frost and snows,
A banish’d exile to his country goes,
Full many a welcome does he say,
To his warm house whate’er the day.
More Christian he who thus does prove
By practice kindred with a God of love.
More Christian he than they who thus pollute
Their faith, and for their God a brother persecute.
Footnote 28:
See Bowden’s _History of Friends in America_, vol. i., pp.
280-284.
Footnote 29:
This is the only mention of Christopher Holder in these volumes.
He was a great sufferer in the New England persecution. In 1657 he
and another Friend being at Salem, went to the Puritan place of
worship there, and after the priest had concluded, Christopher
Holder addressing the assembly, was not allowed to proceed; one of
the commissioners with much fury “seizing him by the hair of his
head,” and violently thrusting a glove and handkerchief into his
mouth. These two Friends were subsequently sentenced, under “the
law against Quakers,” to receive thirty lashes. The brutal manner
in which this sentence was carried out, was in accordance with the
spirit that prompted the rulers to pass the cruel law. A
three-corded knotted whip was used on the occasion; and the
executioner, to make more sure of his blows, “measured his
ground,” and then “fetched his strokes with all his might.” Thirty
strokes thus inflicted, as will be readily imagined, left the
sufferers miserably torn and lacerated; and in this state they
were conveyed to their prison cell. Here, without any bedding, or
even straw to lie on, the inhuman jailer kept them for three days
without food or drink; and, in this dismal abode, often exposed to
damp and cold, were these faithful men confined for the space of
nine weeks. We may wonder that, under such aggravated cruelties
their lives were spared; but He, for whose holy cause they thus
suffered, was near to support and console them. His ancient
promise was fulfilled in their experience, and they rejoiced in
the comforting presence of his living power.—Bowden’s _History of
Friends in America_.
Previous to this, Christopher Holder and his companion had been
banished from Rhode Island. The governor having hired an Indian to
convey them off the island, ordered the Friends to pay for the
passage themselves. But not being willing to facilitate their own
banishment, and not feeling that it was their Divine Master’s will
for them to leave the island, they declined to go, or to pay the
Indian who was hired to take them. The governor directed the
constable forcibly to obtain the requisite sum from the strangers,
and gave peremptory orders to the natives to take them away in
their canoes. The Algonquins, however, not being in any great
haste to execute the bidding of the governor, contrary to the will
of the Friends, and at a time too when the weather was stormy,
entertained them for three days with marked kindness and
hospitality. A change in the weather then taking place, and the
banished ones feeling that it was no longer required of them to
stay on the island, the Indians, at their own request, prepared to
take them across. Before leaving the island the Friends offered to
remunerate the natives for their kindness, but these poor people,
from the generous impulses of their hearts, acting more in unison
with the spirit of Christianity than those who were wont to be
their teachers, declined to receive any reward. “You are
strangers,” they replied, “and Jehovah hath taught us to love
strangers.” Such simple and feeling language from the lips of
North American Indians, was a striking rebuke to the bigotry and
intolerance which marked the conduct of their highly professing
teachers.—Bowden’s _History of Friends in America_.
Footnote 30:
This George Wilson, at whose house George Fox was entertained, is
not mentioned elsewhere in the Journal. He was originally from
Great Britain, and a great sufferer for the truth during the New
England persecution. In 1661, it appears he was amongst
twenty-seven other Friends in prison in Boston, who were liberated
that year by an order from the home government. But these faithful
messengers of the Lord, who were thus unexpectedly released from
bondage, were concerned, almost immediately on leaving the jail,
to preach to the inhabitants those truths for which they had
suffered. The magistrates, already at their wits’-end, in
fruitlessly endeavouring to arrest the spread of Quaker
principles, being impatient at this fresh manifestation of
devotedness, ordered a guard of soldiers to drive all the Friends
out of their territory into the wilderness; an order which was
speedily executed. George Wilson was among those who were thus
forcibly expelled; but, undismayed by the new law for the
application of the whip, they returned at once to their homes.
There they were quickly apprehended, and sentenced to undergo a
flogging through three towns, and to be put out of the limits of
the colony. The executioner, desirous of lending his ingenuity to
increase the severity of the sentence, provided himself with a
singularly constructed whip, or as it is called, a “cruel
instrument,” with which he “miserably tore” the bodies of the
sufferers. Such was the new and barbarous character of the weapon
used on this occasion, that Friends endeavoured, though
unsuccessfully, to obtain it to send to England, as another proof
of the malignant cruelty which actuated the rulers of
Massachusetts towards the new Society. At the conclusion of this
whipping at Boston, George Wilson, in the midst of his
persecutors, knelt in solemn supplication to the Most High.
Being on a gospel mission in Virginia, George Wilson became a
victim to the reigning intolerance, and was incarcerated in the
dungeon at James’ Town. The circumstances of his case evinced
great barbarity on the part of his persecutors. The place of his
imprisonment was an extremely loathsome one, without light or
ventilation. Here, after being cruelly scourged and heavily ironed
for a long period, he had to feel the heartlessness of a
persecuting and dominant hierarchy; until, at last, his flesh
actually rotted from his bones, and, within the cold damp walls of
the miserable dungeon of James’ Town, he laid down his life a
faithful martyr for the testimony of Jesus.
The patience and resignation with which George Wilson bore his
aggravated sufferings, and his faithfulness unto death, form a
striking instance of the inflexible adherence to conscientious
conviction, which so remarkably characterized the early Friends.
Living near to Him who is the fountain and fulness of love, his
enemies also became the objects of his solicitude; and, whilst
lingering in the wretched dungeon, his heart was lifted up in
prayer for his persecutors. “For all their cruelty,” he writes, “I
can truly say, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do.”—Bowden’s _History of Friends in America_.
Footnote 31:
William Coale, a Friend of Maryland, was convinced about the year
1657. He was a man of an innocent and tender spirit; and a living
and weighty minister of the gospel of Christ. He visited Friends
in Virginia with George Wilson, and was very serviceable, some
being turned to the Lord through his ministry, and many
established in the truth. He suffered cruel imprisonment for the
gospel, which injured him so much that he never recovered it. In
the time of his last illness he was cheerful, freely given up to
die, saying, “The living presence of the Lord is with me;” with
many more words of the great satisfaction he had from the Lord
concerning his peace; adding, “I bless the Lord, I have finished
my course, and I have nothing to do but to wait on the Lord and
die.” He departed very peaceably and quietly about the year 1678.
Footnote 32:
The difference implied here and elsewhere in the date is between
the old style and the new. The above may be read either, the 3d of
the 11th month, 1672; or the 3rd of the 1st month, 1673. It would
appear that an alteration in the mode of reckoning did not take
place generally till made by Act of Parliament in 1752, when the
Friends also adopted a change in the mode of reckoning the months,
which is explained at large in the _Book of Discipline_, p. 73.
ED.: 1833.