of eternal life to the assembly, who heard him with much attention. But before he had finished his testimony, two officers laid hold of him, and with violence carried him before the mayor of the town; who committed him to prison without examination, and therefore without proof of any illegal or disorderly act. The next day, he was again brought before the mayor and another in authority, who then examined him, but could find nothing that would warrant his detention. They however commanded the keeper of the common jail to put him out of the town, and, as the authorities of Derby had previously done, strictly charged him "to depart forth of their coasts;" with many threatenings, what they would do if he returned. But as before, without regarding the threats of man, in obedience to the command of the Lord, he returned to finish his testimony to the inhabitants of Leicester, of whose blood he had not previously felt himself clear. clude, from his general character, not lightly, but under a sense of its being proper at the time, replied, "In the presence of the everlasting God." On this, the jailer was commanded to take him away, and put him in prison, for disturbing the court, which was accordingly done. Towards night, the mayor sent for him, to inquire of him, what he came to do? He answered, "To declare the word of the Lord to the consciences of the inhabitants of Derby." The mayor then asked him, if he would go out of the town? This, Dewsbury refused to do, saying, "When the Lord orders me to go forth, then I shall go; till then, I shall stay.' "The mayor then commanded him to be returned to the prison. The next day, in the forenoon, one of the mayor's officers was sent to him, to say, that if he would go out of the town, and promise not to return, he would open the prison doors, and he might go forth; upon which, William Dewsbury, who had by this time proved himself to be a man of no ordinary courage, said As soon as William Dewsbury, in submisin reply, "Out of the town I shall not go, sion to those impressions which he believed until I am ordered of the Lord; and if thou to be from the Spirit of Truth, apprehended openest the door, I shall not go forth of the himself at liberty to leave Leicester, he purprison, till the man who said he had authority sued his journey into Northamptonshire, and to put me in, come by the same authority and proceeded to Wellingborough, on a visit to the take me out." Most likely the prisoner sus- flock of God scattered thereabout; where he pected a trap: how it was with the mayor, it tarried for a season, finding many in that is not easy to say. Whether, conscious of neighbourhood whose minds were opened to his illegal proceedings, he was intimidated by receive "the word of life with much gladness this resolute conduct on the part of William of heart." An occurrence took place in this Dewsbury, or whether he acted from some town, which ultimately occasioned him some other motive, is not known; but it is at least months' imprisonment at Northampton; and curious, that, shortly afterwards, the man un- will serve to show, that his labours were so der whose charge he was committed to prison, successful as to excite the displeasure and was sent to discharge him; who took him by jealousy of a resident priest there, whose the arm, not with entreaty, as was the case name was Thomas Andrews. As he was with Paul, when he was confined with Silas passing along the street, near the dwelling of at Thyatira, but with much anger put him the latter, the priest called to him, to "give forth, and delivered him to another officer. over deceiving the people, lest the plagues of This man had orders to put him out of the God should fall upon him." To which Dewstown; which he did, charging him with many bury replied, "If thou sayest I deceive the threatenings, to depart and not return. But people, make it manifest, wherein I deceive William Dewsbury, feeling himself to be mov- them.' He answered, "Thou tellest them ing under commands of a higher order, and there is no original sin." Dewsbury then reknowing that he was not in the transgression quired him to say, whether he heard him say of any righteous law, considered these but so. But he, making no answer to that, the the words of vain men, and without regard- former told him, he must either prove what ing them, returned forthwith and continued in he had accused him of, or confess himself Derby until he was free in his spirit to leave it. condemned of making a false accusation: he When this time arrived, he pursued his however hastened away, without giving any journey to Leicester; and there, on the 3d of answer. About three weeks afterwards, namethe seventh month, being the first-day of the ly, on the 29th of tenth month, 1654, William week, a large number of the people were col- Dewsbury having been absent from Welling. lected together to hear him, to whom he de- borough in the interval, felt it to be his reli clared the word of the Lord. After his testi-gious duty, ("I was ordered of the Lord," mony was finished he proceeded to the public place of worship; and when the speaker had done, William Dewsbury preached the word says he,) to return to the place again; and hearing there was to be a lecture in the house where Thomas Andrews was preacher, who had thus falsely and publicly accused him, for such a vague warrant as that in his possesthe truth's sake he went there, entered the sion, for the name of the party to be arrested house and stood in silence until Andrews had was not mentioned in the warrant, the constadone preaching, and had dismissed the people. ble laid his hands on William Dewsbury, alHe then took the opportunity of exhorting the though Joseph Storr was also present, and congregation, who listened without opposition. declared him to be the man he wanted, reAfter this, addressing himself to the priest, he quiring him to go before a justice. This he called upon him, to make it manifest to the was compelled to do the same day. He was people, wherein he had deceived them, or to conducted to the residence of Thomas Pentconfess his error. Without offering any re- low, who lived at Wilby, two miles off, and ply, he again retreated, "he fled away." who appears to have been a rigid persecutor. Notwithstanding the reasonableness of this Francis Ellington and Joseph Storr, willing conduct on the part of Dewsbury, who was to stand by their friend, in his present trial, the offended party, he was haled out of the accompanied him to the house. An additional meeting-house, by a man more zealous than reason why these Friends accompanied Wildiscriminating, into the yard; where he em- liam Dewsbury was, that they had also a braced the opportunity again afforded him, of complaint to make against a woman in the preaching to the collected multitude, they service of the said justice, who a few days standing quietly to hear him; until the high- before had annoyed Ellington and others by constable made his appearance; who seized abusing them in the street, and by throwing and conducted him as a criminal into the water, stones, and dirt at them. The justice market-place, and threatened to bring a charge having examined William Dewsbury, and of blasphemy against him. When it was found found on his person some papers addressed to that nothing could be proved against him, he Cromwell, then Protector, made out a mittiwas liberated. He retired to the house of his mus, and sent him to the common jail at friend, Francis Ellington, and from an upper Northampton, there to await the assizes in window, preached to the people collected be- the first month following. As the mittimus, low, many of whom received the word in among other allegations, was also said to conmuch love. Ellington soon afterwards be-tain a charge of blasphemy, Dewsbury was came his fellow-prisoner. This Friend was an extensive woollen manufacturer at Wellingborough. The manner in which he became acquainted with William Dewsbury, was this. In the pursuit of his business, he happened to be at a fair at Harborough in Leicestershire, where he heard, that a "Yorkshireman" was tarrying at a Friend's house in that town; and that he was that day intending to hold a meeting, in order to his declaring the word of the Lord to the people. To this meeting Francis Ellington went, and was effectually convinced that the word of the Lord was really preached on this occasion. Such was the power which attended, that it enlightened his understanding "to see the way of eternal life; for which," says he, "I had long sought in my imagination of the saints' conditions." When the meeting was over, yielding to a powerful impulse of religious unity, he desired William Dewsbury, as the Lord's servant, to come home to his house, as soon as he was free in his spirit so to do. Which appears to have been the occasion of the present visit. But to proceed with our narrative. On the following day, the constable having procured a warrant for the apprehension of "one who is commonly called a Quaker," came to the house of Francis Ellington; and, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the latter, against taking any person into custody on the more earnest to obtain a copy; which reasonable demand was, however, denied him. As to the complaint against the woman, which Ellington and his friends preferred before Justice Pentlow, it procured them no redress. After calling them to account, for being found on his premises, he told them, the woman had served them right, for aught he knew, and he would do nothing against her; and charged them to be forthcoming at the approaching sessions, as he should send a constable for them, that they might answer there for having come to his house. One account states, that Pentlow included Ellington's and Storr's names in the mittimus. In consequence of such treatment, Ellington a few day after wrote a letter to the justice, which offended him still more deeply, and was the ground of his shortly afterwards suffering for several weeks in company with other Friends in Northampton jail. [By a letter in William Dewsbury's handwriting, addressed to George Fox about this time, it would seem there followed from the labours of this devoted servant "a great convincement," and an earnest desire prevailed among many, for Friends to come amongst them; and he intimates his belief, that a blessing will attend those, who being truly drawn and called, give up to the service. Another letter runs thus: "Many dear people hath our Father in these parts, the harvest is great,—a mighty people our God is bringing forth hereaways, to wait upon him for his wisdom to guide them to his praise and glory." Nor is this from his own pen alone: John Whitehead, a zealous labourer, writes to George Fox from Wellingborough, of "a mighty thirst on every side, great meetings, and many convincements."-Editor.] CHAPTER VIII. should go to prison again. I then required of them, to read me any law I had transgressed; but they would not, but called for bondsmen. I answered, There shall not any be bound for us; here are our bodies, do with them what you have power to do. They commanded the jailer to take us away. We were not suffered to speak any more, but taken and put into prison; and a copy of our mittimus we cannot have; but were denied both by the jailer, and the men called justices, when it was de wrath of man turns to the praise of God. For the truth of God was much spread abroad that day, and a mighty thirst was raised in Lord; praises forever be to him, whose ways the hearts of many towards the name of the are past finding out. He takes the wise in their own craft, and overturns them in their 1655. Letter of William Dewsbury-Assizes-manded of them in open court. But the His trial, with other Friends, before Judges Hale and Wyndham―They refuse to enter into bonds, and are continued in prison—Observations on the trial, with remarks on the times-Apprehensions entertained respecting Friends-Anecdote respecting George Fox and Colonel Hacker-Two letters of Dews-own devices, to their shame and contempt; bury's. THE following letter, under the hand of William Dewsbury, contains a brief but somewhat detailed account of circumstances re specting him at this period; and will put the reader in possession of information connected with the transactions of the preceding chapter, which would otherwise be wanting, and could not be supplied from any other source. "Dear Friends, "Be not troubled at the Lord's disposing of us, in suffering the devil to cast us into prison; for with you we are in the liberty of the spirit, in the unity which cannot be separated. I have declared to you the Lord's ordering of us to his praise and glory. On the 10th day of the eleventh month, Joseph Storr, my fellow-prisoner, and I were carried from the prison to the sessions, which were holden at Northampton. There were John Parker, who fined my brother, Thomas Aldam, and others called justices, who were in great enmity against the truth. But the witnesses, who had sworn against me, as they said, for blasphemy, did not appear. The Lord smote them with terror; the lying spirit durst not appear. They were confounded in that they charged against me; and many friends appeared in much boldness for the truth; Justice Crutt and James Nagill, who are great in the outward; their dwellings are in Bickering Park, Bedfordshire; and one Edward Hackney, an attorney at Kettering in Northamptonshire. "There had not been above three meeting with me; yet the enmity of John Parker and those with him, required bondsmen to be bound for me: for they said I had written strange papers to the lord Protector, and if I would not find men to be bound for me, I but to the glory of his name, who alone is worthy, God over all, blessed forever! “ W. D.” William Dewsbury, together with Joseph Storr, whose name was included in the mittimus, for no other crime than that of being present at the examination of his friend, being committed to prison, were confined there among thieves and murderers, twelve steps under ground, until the quarter sessions on the 10th of the next month; when, so far from receiving any mercy at the hands of the justices, they were again refused a copy of their mittimus, and committed to appear at the next assizes about two months afterwards. Francis Ellington was now added to their number, and Henry Williamson, who had been sorely beaten and abused for attempting to speak to the people at the public house of worship after the officiating priest had done, was also sentenced to drink of the same cup. The assizes commenced the 10th of the first month, 1655, when the prisoners, Dewsbury, Storr and Williamson, were brought to the bar, before Judges Matthew Hale and Hugh Wyndham, who were then associated in the same commission. The following examination thereupon took place. Judge Hale.-Art thou Dewsbury? William Dewsbury.-Yea, I am so called. Judge. Where dost thou live? W. D.-I have a wife and three children at Wakefield in Yorkshire. Judge. What camest thou into this country to do, that thou didst not stay in thy own country with thy wife and children? W. D.-I staid in that country with my wife and children, until the Father revealed his Son in me, and called me forth from my wife and children to declare his word of eter nal life, which he hath manifested to my soul in the great work of regeneration, in the new covenant of life in Christ Jesus. I am sent to preach the everlasting Gospel to those that dwell upon the earth.. Judge. I fear it is a delusion, and thine own fancies, and not the truth, W. D.-Time will make it manifest. Judge. Thou drawest people together, and actest against ministry and magistracy. W. D.-As thou standest in the presence of God, take heed of hearkening to false accusations. Ministry and magistracy, which are of God, I own: but those who are called ministers of Christ, and walk contrary to Scripture, I disown. Judge. But who are they that walk contrary to Scripture? W. D.-They that abide not in the doctrine of Christ; but have the chief place in the assemblies; stand praying in the synagogues, love greetings in the market-places, and are called of men, masters,-which practices Christ cried wo against; and they that walk in them, walk contrary to Scripture. Judge. These are small things to speak of. W. D.-There is nothing small which the Lord commands. Judge. Thou sayest well. (To the court.) What have you against these men? W. D.-That is what we would have manifested, what law we have transgressed. Judge. Produce what you have against them, and I shall proceed according to law. Clerk of the Peace. Here are papers which Dewsbury and Storr had, which are against the lord Protector. W. D.-The papers they took from me, which they say are against the lord Protector, I was moved to write. I sent one to him privately with care, in the fourth month in last year, and the other hath with care been privately delivered to him; and privately I kept the copy of the papers, until I was apprehended by virtue of a warrant granted by Justice Pentlow. There was not any name in it, but it was for one whom he had in scorn called a Quaker: and with that warrant, the constable had me before him. He commanded the constable to see if I had any money; which was done, and my money taken from me, and after a little time he gave it to me again. Then they took those papers from me, which I had privately on me in a lettercase, which here they publish publicly as an evidence against me. Judge. Read the paper. (When part of it was read.) Give over, that paper is not to be published. W. D.-It is not my mind they should be published. Judge. How durst thou write to him in such high language, as from the spirit of the Lord? W. D.-They in whom the spirit of the Lord is, write from the spirit, and he that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his. Judge. But I fear it is not from the spirit, for many pretend the spirit, and the divine light, and revelations; but how shall we know they are the truth according to the Scriptures? W. D.-The Scriptures cannot be known but by the pure divine light of Christ, which enlightens every one that comes into the world; of which pure light Christ hath given to every one a measure, to try the spirits in them, whether they be of God or not. Every spirit that confesses Christ is come in the flesh, is of God; but he that denies Christ is come in the flesh, is the spirit of antichrist. And this light gave the Scriptures forth, which light leads to Christ, who reveals the Father to the soul which gives up to be guided by him. So the soul comes to know God by the revelation of Jesus Christ, and they who walk in the spirit are known by their fruits in all their words and works. The prophet Amos, had the spirit of the Lord, and from the spirit declared the word of the Lord to the king of Israel, but the people could not bear his words. Judge. Thou sayest well, if thou doest as thou sayest; but this, it may be, will be expected, and I think it will be fair, to give bail for your appearance at the next assizes. W. D. First make manifest what law we have transgressed, before bail be required. [After this the prisoners were set aside, and the judge proceeded to other business; but in the evening, when the court was ready to break up, the jailer asked the judge what he should do with those Yorkshiremen ?] Judge.-Bring them before the court.[Which was done. Then some in the court said, "Take off their hats ;" and two of their hats were taken off; but as they were about to take off William Dewsbury's, the judge said, "Let it be on," and bade them put on the hats of the other two again, which was done at his command. He then spake to William Dewsbury.] Judge. Now I see what thou art, and thy vizard and form of fair words is seen, and thou art not the man thou pretendest to be. W. D.—Vizards and formality I deny; but the power of God I own and witness, in which I stand, and am subject to it, and to the ordinance of man for conscience sake. Judge. Now thou art commanded: Take off thy hat. W. D.-Honour is not in pulling off the hat, but in obeying the just commands of God; and my hat offends not any. They who are 31 offended at it, may take it off: I shall not resist them. But there is no Scripture that expresses any honour to be in putting off the hat. Judge.-What! must we do nothing but what is expressed in Scripture, for our apparel, what we shall put on? W. D.-Yea, the Scripture saith, Let your, adorning be with modest apparel. Judge.-Art thou judge, that thou standest covered and wilt not uncover, as other prisoners do? W. D.-What I do, God is my witness, I do it not in contempt to any, but in obedience to the power of God for conscience sake. Judge. If you will not stand as prisoners, I will not do anything concerning you; but here I found you, and here I shall leave you. W. D.-We have been above ten weeks in the low jail, and no breach of any law found against us: we stand subject to the power of God, whatever he suffers thee to do with us. Thus far as relates to the present examination of William Dewsbury. On the 12th of the same month, the Judges Wyndham and Hale being together upon the bench, they called for the prisoners, Dewsbury, Storr, and Williamson. Judge Wyndham.-Take off their hats. Judge Hale.-Read the evidence against them. [Which having been done as before.] What sayest thou, didst thou speak these words? [William Dewsbury then related his rencontre with the priest Andrews, and the circumstances which led to the disturbance in the market-place at Wellingborough; asserting the breach of the peace and the tumult to have been caused by his accusers, and not by him. The examination then proceeded.] Wyndham.-Dewsbury, thou art well known in the north and in Yorkshire; there I have heard of thee; but where wast thou born? W. D.-My natural birth was in Yorkshire. Judge W.-Dost thou begin to cant? Is there any other birth? W. D.-Yea. "Except ye be regenerate and born again, ye cannot see the kingdom of God." Which birth I witness. Judge W.-At what place in Yorkshire wast thou born? W. D.-At a town called Allerthorpe, nine miles from York, towards Hull. Judge W.-Where hast thou been thy time? W. D.-When I was thirteen years of age, I was bound apprentice to a. cloth maker in the west part of Yorkshire, at a town called Holdbeck, near Leeds. Judge W.-Didst thou serve thy time? W. D.-I did stay till the time was nearly expired, and then the wars began in this nation, and I went into the service of the parliament. Judge W.-Dost thou deny all Popish tenets? W. D.-Popish tenets I deny; and all tenets contrary to the pure doctrine of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Judge W.-Dost thou own the Scriptures to be a rule to walk by? W. D.-The Scriptures I own; and the pure light and power of Christ Jesus that gave them forth, to guide in an holy conver sation according to the Scripture; and he that walks contrary to it is condemned by it. Judge W.-Couldst thou not stay in thy own country, and keep thy opinions to thyself; but thou must go abroad in the country, and in these parts, to delude the people, and to make a disturbance? W. D.-Deluding I deny. I would have thee make manifest what delusion is. But truth I witness; and the things I have heard and seen I am sent to declare; which disturbs not the peace of any, but of those who walk not in the truth; whose peace must be disturbed and taken away. Judge W.-But if thou and Fox had it in your power, you would soon have your hands imbrued in blood. W. D.-It is not so. The Spirit of Truth which we witness in us, is peaceable, and neither doth violence nor sheds blood: and the hands of all that are guided by the Spirit of Truth, the light and power of Christ, are bound from offering violence, or shedding blood. J. Storr.--Their sufferings and stonings are well known in this nation-and they never lift up a hand against any. Judge W.-It is because you have not power; but here is evidence against you for breaking the peace. Will you give bond for your appearance at the next assizes? W. D.—It is the liberty of the law of this nation, that all who profess the faith of Christ Jesus, may walk in uprightness to their faith in him, without any breach of the laws. And I require, a law may be read to us that the evidence brought against us is the breach of; that by the law we may be convinced of transgression before any bail be required of us. Judge W.-We are judges, and we conceive and judge what is charged against you to be a sufficient ground to require bail of you, for your appearance at the assizes. W. D.-Though you be judges, you are judges of a law, and are to judge according to law, which is your rule to judge by, and that |