minister, said she; we were in good hopes that his falling down in the pulpit would have been a warning to him, but it was not. After an hour and an half's time, he had so much life, as that he called them that were about him rogues. So they carried him in his chair, to his bed, where he remained some days, and died; but never sensible, as I was informed by several. We were carried to prison before he died, where we had hard usage.

how many of us were dead with our hard fare; some of them were sure, as they said, that I was dead, for I looked as if I would not live until the morning. Finding us all alive and well, they confessed and said, "Surely we were the people of God, if there were any." It being the first-day, we had a meeting in the prison, and many Friends came there, where we had a very good meeting, and the presence of the Lord was with us, and filled our hearts with joy and gladness, Our keeper, Giles Bale, and his wife, put insomuch that I was constrained to praise the us in the common jail, with three felons, who name of the Lord, and magnify his power, were condemned to be hanged, and would not and to testify in the hearing of many people, afford us straw to lie upon, though we would that we were so far from repenting our coming have paid for it. Living some distance from there, that we had great cause to give glory, the prison, they locked us up, and carried honour and praises to the Lord God of heaven away the key with them, to prevent the under- and earth, because he had found us worthy to keeper from showing us any favour and the suffer for his name and truth; for his presence head keeper's wife said, "There let them was with us, and sanctified our afflictions, and be, like a company of rogues together;-made the prison like a palace to us; and we if I had a worse place, I would put them in it.”*

would not change our state, for all the glory of the world, if it were proffered unto us.

It was a most dismal place, where we had Great was the goodness and mercy of the neither stock nor stone to sit upon; nor any Lord towards us from day to day; that I have resting place to lean against, but the black sometimes said, surely the Lord is honouring stone wall, covered over with soot, and the his people, and weaning them from this world. damp cold ground to lie upon. But before we It seemed to me as if I had no habitation but lay down, three of our Friends who were pri- the prison: then was the time for the Lord to soners in the room adjoining to that we were reveal his secrets unto his children, whom he in, put through the grates to us four dust or had tried and proved in such things. It was chaff pillows, and two blankets, and a little faithfulness that rendered the servant acceptastraw, whereon we lay down, like a flock of ble in his master's sight, and caused him to sheep in a pen, in a very cold winter, the say, "Well done thou good and faithful serlike of which I do not remember; where vant, thou hast been faithful in a little, be thou most of us took our rest very sweetly. But ruler over much." I cannot believe, that he when I lay down, the consideration came into who is not true in a little, will ever be made my heart, "Lord thou knowest for what we ruler over much: therefore keep to truth in are exposed to this hardship; it is because we all things, and to the plain language, and cannot betray our testimony, nor wrong our teach your children so to do. In that time of conscience, nor deal treacherously with our great affliction and suffering, and parting of own souls. And seeing it is so, Lord, be thou many, wife from husband, and husband from our comfort in this needful time; for it is thy wife, and both from tender children; the presence makes hard things easy, and bitter Lord was pleased to reveal his secrets to his things sweet; and thou hast sweetened the children. Seeing the goodness of the Lord, waters of a bitter cup. Oh! thou Physician and being made sensible of his gathering arm of value, who can strengthen both soul and from day to day, a great concern came upon body, be with us this night, and all the nights me for many careless ones, who had deprived and days that we have to live in this world." themselves of that blessed benefit which our Then the Lord was pleased to open my heart souls enjoyed with the Lord. In consideraunto him, and to fill it with his mercy and tion of their deplorable state, my soul hath comfortable presence, insomuch that I could often been poured forth before the Lord, cryhave sung aloud of the goodness of the Lord, ing, “O Lord, that they may come and parand of his mercies and blessings bestowed take of thy great mercies, as we do from upon us. But looking over my fellow prison- day to day." Then it would come before ers, and seeing them so sound asleep, I forbore me, how greatly they had dishonoured the to open my mouth. In the morning there Lord and his blessed truth, by their unfaithcame many people to the prison door, to see fulness and unbelief. Yea, they could not trust the Lord, as if he had not power or

*This keeper and his wife died soon after, and strength to preserve them. I cried, O Lord, their family came to ruin. many are weak and feeble, and the cruelty of

of their souls from under satan's power. Now, Lord, preserve me in thy fear for ever, and keep me from sinning against thee, that my soul may not go into captivity again.

known there is a God in heaven who can rule the hearts of the children of men; and whom all men ought to fear, honour and obey."

And the Lord was pleased to hear the prayers of his children, and to answer their request in the days of affliction; for this jury, whom they chose, as they thought, most fit for the work, were long absent; but when they came in with their verdict, the foreman could not readily speak, but looked much like a dead man. Then the bishop in a rage, asked him, "Whether we were guilty or not guilty?"

but not of a riot." "Of not going to church,"
said the bishop, "that is not the matter in
hand, guilty of a riot you mean.' Then the
rest of the jury said, "No, my lord, guilty of
not going to church, but not of a riot." "You
mean of an unlawful assembly then." " "Yes,"
said the foreman; "Why that is a riot in
law," said the bishop. Then I answered, “We
are no rioters :" then the cryer of the court
shook his white rod over my head, and said,
"Be silent." I said, "No, we may not be si-
lent, we are a sober people, and live a good
life and conversation; we do unto all men, as
we would be done by: I never wronged man,
woman, nor child, and I know none that have
aught against us, unless for the answer of a
good conscience; here are of our neighbours
who can testify for us."
." The cryer continued
shaking his white rod over my head, crying,

This was part of the exercise during the time of my confinement with my husband, and many more of the servants of the most high God, in Ivelchester jail. When I came out of the prison, to go to the sessions held at Brewton, I assuredly believed that the time was near that the prison should not enclose us any longer, though it was altogether unlikely; for our persecutors were exceedingly wicked he answered, "Guilty of not going to church, against us. Although the priest was taken off in a remarkable manner, many remained who were very cruel, and acted unjustly against us; and put by the jury that were chosen of our neighbours, and called another jury presently in the court, such as they thought most fit for their turn. Then the clerk began, and read an indictment, viz: “That we were found, or taken at an unlawful assembly, with force of arms, in contempt of the king and his laws, crown and dignity, to the terror of the people," &c. And he said to the jury, "Gentlemen, you have heard their indictment, if you find them guilty, you find for the king." And a bishop who sat upon the bench with the judge, stood up and said, "That the first Quaker that ever was in England, was hanged for being concerned in the Popish plot." I answered, that the first who was called a Quaker, was now alive."Hush, and be silent." Then one of the He said again, "He could prove by sufficient witness that he was hanged for being one in the Popish plot." Then the bishop being enraged, because he was contradicted, held up his hand towards us, and bid us "Have a care what we said, for those who had estates amongst us, it should cost them their estates, and they that had not should lie in prison until they perished." Such was their rage and wickedness against us, that it was very grievous to hear them; but there was a secret cry many times ran through my heart unto the Lord, "Lord, work for thy name sake, and confound their wisdom, and rage, and bring down their proud and wicked spirits, and bring to naught their mischievous contrivance, that they have been contriving against thy innocent people, as they have been making themselves merry, and drinking wine to the full, and feeding themselves with the fatness of the earth, as Dives did, and have what their hearts lust after, and yet none of all these things will give them content nor satisfaction, but the destruction of a poor despised people. Oh Lord! make thy power known this day, and that which will make most for thy honour, and the prosperity of thy blessed truth, do thou bring to pass; that it may be

justices, a sober ancient man, said, “Let the the woman speak for herself, she speaketh truth and reason, let more of them speak; you are many against them, and if they may not be suffered to speak for themselves, it is very hard." This a little stopped the rage of the bishop and judge; then they called to our keeper to take us away, and to bring us when they called for us again; so they went to their dinner, and we with our keeper. But no sooner were they gone, but a great concern fell upon me to follow them; I could neither eat nor drink, but was pressed in my spirit to go after them; and when I came, they were sitting down to their dinner, with a noise of music playing at the going up of their dishes, which were very many of the choicest things. I went in amongst them whilst they were at dinner, but I did not see a fit opportunity, but waited till they had dined: and as they were rising, I came in with a great dread and awe over my spirit. One of the great men came to me, and said, "Good woman, who would you speak withal?" I said, "the judge of the sessions:" he said, "I am the judge, if you have anything to say, I am ready to hear you." But he not being the man who sat upon the bench that day, I said, "Thou art

of the money, but broke up the court, their business being done, and went their way, and our keeper also left us, to our great admiration; above fourscore prisoners, who were before them that day, were freed.

After dinner, the cryer came in amongst us, and said, "Neighbours and friends, I am glad for your release; you are the people of God: men would ruin you, but God will not suffer them so to do." And said, "Where is the woman?" I said, "Here am I," he replied, "The Lord bless you, I pray you forgive me, for I intended no harm, nor would do anything against you; though I shook my rod over your head, I did it in no evil towards you, so I hope my honest neighbours and friends, you will forgive me." We answered, "Yes, freely;" and desired his well being forever. went his way in much love, praying God to bless us, and we returned to our habitations, with the peace of the Lord in our bosoms; everlasting praises be given unto the Lord our God for evermore.

not the man I am going to." Then he turned dicted, the court fines you five shillings towards the judge who sat that day, and said, apiece;" and never spake a word of payment "This woman has something to say to you." Then one of the justices laid his hand upon my shoulder, and said, "Let this good woman have what she will to say, we will hear her." But I getting near to the judge and bishop, who sat at the upper end of the table, said, "Forasmuch as you are all here, who sat in judgment against us this day, I have a concern upon my spirit in vindication of our innocency: we are well known amongst our neighbours to be a sober and an honest people, who live a good life and conversation; we do no wrong to any, we can do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use us. I know of none who has aught against us, but concerning the law of our God. Notwithstanding all this, we are numbered amongst transgressors, and have been turned into the common jail amongst felons, our trades and families are liable to be ruined, and all these things shall not befall us, but you shall understand thereof; for I am here this day to testify the truth of it; for which the just and righteous God will one day plead: and as sure as the day gives its light, and the covenant of the day and night cannot be broken, there is not a man here, nor any that draw breath in the open air, that shall escape the tribunal seat of God's divine justice; every one shall receive a sentence of just recompense of reward for their deeds done in their | life time, whether they be good or evil.”

I can truly say, the dread of the Lord was upon me, insomuch that they were smitten, and paleness appeared in their faces, and they had not a word to say. But when I was going forth, some hectoring young man said, "I thought it would be so when this woman came in. I thought she would preach when the spirit moved her; but why would you suffer her," said he to the man of the house, "to disturb your guests?" Then he said, "Get you down stairs, or I will throw you down." I turned in again, and said, "What wrong have I done to any one here, if I could have kept my conscience clear in staying away, I had not been here this day; but whether you will hear or forbear, I shall be clear in the day of account of all your blood." So I left them, and returned to my place, and had great peace with the Lord. We were not called into court any more that day; but the morrow morning early, we were called, in order to finish our trial, but the bishop came no more into the court, that we saw; and the judge was very moderate: a great change indeed! He only called to the keeper to bring up the Quakers, and called some of us by name, and said, "You who stand here in

He

Now my children, the end of my leaving this to you and all, upon record, is, that future ages may know that the great God of heaven and earth, who brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt's bondage, who made the water stand on heaps, and brought his children through on dry land, and overturned Pharaoh and all his host, is our God, in whom we believe, and his power is not lessened, that he cannot save, nor his arm shortened, that it cannot deliver, at this day, as in former days; praises to his name forever.

This, my dear children, you know is certain. ly true, and you should keep in remembrance these and all other mercies that the Lord our God hath bestowed upon us, ever since he gathered us to be a people, which is eight and thirty years ago. I was in the nineteenth year of my age, when John Camm and John Audland came first to Bristol, in the power of the great God of heaven and earth; and I am a living witness that his presence was with them, and made their ministry so dreadful, that it pierced the hearts of many. Oh, the terror that seized my heart, at the sound of John Audland's voice, and the sight of him, before I rightly understood what he said. But before the meeting was over, the spirit of the Lord moved in my heart, and I came to see my deplorable state, which made me cry to God for mercy; a day never to be forgotten by me. And now I have arrived to the seven and fiftieth year of my age, oh! the many deliverances, both inward and outward, which I have been made a living witness of. The decrees that have been scaled against us, the

threatenings of ruin and destruction which besides thee, that can administer true comfort to me. And the Lord in due time, hath appeared to my satisfaction, established my goings, and kept my feet from falling and my heart from going astray, unto this very day; everlasting honour be given unto his name for evermore, Amen.

have been sounded in our ears, how have we been as it were killed all the day long, and counted as sheep for the slaughter; and yet behold we are alive to this day, to praise the Lord. How have the enemies roared, both inwardly and outwardly, and come with open mouth to devour at once! And how hath our God helped us? The great God of heaven and earth hath been our strength in a needful time; and hath sustained his people and borne up our heads above the waters, that they have not drowned nor overturned us to this day; everlasting honour be given unto the Lord for ever. But our enemies hath he overturned, and broken their bands asunder, and hath made them to bow under his dreadful power, and hath taken many off in his displeasure. What shall I say in the behalf of all his wondrous works, that mine eyes have seen; but more especially the inward work of regeneration! My tongue is not able to demonstrate the tenth part, that the Lord hath been pleased to bring me through. Oh! what shall I say at the remembrance of them, which at this time is livingly come up before me; but bow before the Lord, and prize his mercies for evermore.

Dear children, keep faithful to the Lord, and his blessed truth, in which you have been trained up, and your eyes shall see for yourselves, as mine have for myself. Be faithful to the spirit of Christ Jesus in your own bosoms, and do not overlook little things, for they that are not faithful in a little, shall never be made rulers over much. Do not exercise yourselves in any matter too high for you, but mind the Spirit of Truth in your own hearts, and hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord, that your souls may live. Keep the Lord always in your remembrance, that you sin not against him; remember to keep to the daily cross, which will crucify all the motions of the flesh, and keep you alive to God, and near unto him. In so doing, you will know his counsel; and seek the kingdom of heaven, and the righteousness thereof, above all things in this world, and other things shall be added unto you; for I will assure you this is the way that my soul hath travailed in, and hath found favour with God. One thing more which I have experienced, hath been of moment to me, that in all my afflictions, and pain and sorrow of body or mind, I have not had an eye to confide in man, but have applied my heart to the Lord, and have poured forth my soul unto him. Oh! thou Physician of value, that can cure both soul and body; thou that knowest better how to administer to my necessity, than I can ask of thee; from thee alone do I look for comfort, for there is none VOL. II.-No. 6.

Since I have seen the good effects of my labour and travail, I earnestly beg of the Lord night and day, to do for you, as he hath done for me. How have my prayers ascended unto the Lord in public and in private, and when my hand hath been at labour, and on the highway side. Oh! my children, let it not be in vain, for I can truly say, that you are children for whom many prayers have been offered.

Therefore consider it, when I am gone and can no longer watch over you, for my time is much over; I shall be gone, and see you no more in this world, nor take care for you, nor give counsel: therefore have I written this account of part of my travel out of Egypt's bondage, towards the land of rest and peace; which has been through great difficulties, and through many a sore combat with the enemy of my soul's peace, many a fiery trial, and through a vale of tears. But do not be discouraged at it, for you know how wonderfully the great God of heaven and earth hath been my support in time of need, and hath borne up my spirit, and given me more strength than I could have believed, if it had been declared unto me. How many professors of truth at this day, are going on at an easy rate, careless, indifferent, slighting the cross, and little concerned for their soul's good, slighting the testimonies of truth, and spending their precious time which God hath put into their hands, as if heaven's glory and a state of eternity were not worth looking after; and as if there was no God to punish for these things, nor any day of account. The consideration of these things hath been weighty upon my spirit for many months, and morning and evening hath my heart been afflicted, saying within myself, "Lord what will become of such, I fear the visitation of many of them is almost over. Oh! how does my soul lament for them; and I have the greater concern upon my spirit, to intercede with the Lord to preserve me and mine forever. Lord, my heart is bowed at this time in the sense of thy love, the mercies and blessings which thou hast bestowed upon me; and in consideration of this thy great love, how doth my soul love the Lord, and desire for evermore to obey his voice, and keep covenant, and abide with him forever; that I may be kept faithful all my days.

"And, now oh Lord my God seeing thou hast been pleased thus to deal with me, and

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