only thus, but the king has given us his royal word for his protection, upon several addresses, and particularly upon one from our last yearly meeting at London, the 26th day of the third month, 1716; and another since, from our last national meeting at Dublin, here in Ireland, to which he was pleased to answer in these words, viz: I thank you for the assurance of duty and affection to my person and government, contained in this address; and you may always depend upon my protection.' I myself was present, with many more, when the king received us with this first address in his own bedchamber: so great was his condescension and regard to his loving and peaceable subjects. But it seems the mayor and magistrates here think it their interest to insist upon an opinion quite of another nature, at the hazard of what may follow; for you may assure yourselves we are as jealous and tenacious, both of our gospel and natural liberties as any body here can be bent to deprive us of them."

on our side, which we did: but in the evening the sheriff told me they ended in heat; and that the mayor and alderman Connel, finding they could not have any aid of the others, were resolved, as they pretended, to send me out of the town next morning by the constables, and that if I came again they would put me in the stocks. I told him I did not fear them; let them run the length of their chain. For though they thought to frighten me with their threats, I knew the laws better than they ima gined; and that they could not do it but by illegal violence.

The next day, the 5th, the mayor was much cooler; and intending to go out of the town the day following to meet the judges at Wexford, being deputy clerk of the crown, he took up the mittimus, and sent me word by the sheriff, that I was at liberty, and might go when and where I pleased; and said also, that he would not have done what he had done against us, but that the clergy, as one man, greatly urged him to it, saying they had This being finished, the mayor and his thought him a man for the church; but to party showed a great deal of rancour, but find him so remiss in suppressing the Quakers, could not help themselves; and immediately looked quite otherwise. And added, that for after, the mayor and Connel made application his own part he did not care what meetings as aforesaid for assistance. But the justice we had; but intended to get out of the way at once refused, and told them he had done of it, and leave alderman Connel in his place too much of this drudgery for them already, till he returned, hoping all would be over in and would do no more, but would leave them his absence. to their own measures. This vexed them Upon this message I told the sheriff, That heartily, and occasioned some more words, which were pretty warm on both sides, till the justice and the rest that were for the king and indulgence, asked them, "How came you to connive at so many masses in view, and be so furious upon the king's friends and peaceable subjects? Pray, Mr. Mayor," said he, "what notice have you taken of the seditious sermon you heard yesterday afternoon in the little church? You can hear such with pleasure, whilst you treat these loyal subjects with so much severe usage. Did you, sir, demand that person's notes, and bring him to account for what he had done?" To which the mayor answered, "That is my lord bishop's business, not mine." Then they replied, Many Friends visited me from divers places "If it was not your business, being a matter of on the 9th, being the seventh of the week; religion, pray how comes it to be so much and considering together of a meeting next your business to meddle with these people, day, we spoke to the same person about the who have given you no other occasion but in same place we had before, and he readily respect of their religious opinions, to which granted it: so all was prepared, as seats, &c., they have equal right and liberty with all and notice was given by some Friends to al others his majesty's Protestant dissenting sub- derman Connel, now deputy mayor, and the jects, and are much more useful to the govern- justices, of what we intended; but he said he ment than some that you connive at? And would disperse us again, and that we should pray, from whom arises the common danger?" not have any meeting there. However, we We heard them thus far, but things rising went to meeting, and though I had some things higher and higher, thought best to withdraw in my mind to say in the meeting, before I and leave them, the dispute turning favourably found the proper time to stand up, one of the

they had committed me publicly by a mitti mus till the assizes, as if I had done some heinous crime; and as on the one hand I could not accept of a private discharge, so on the other, this discharge was not legal, which was an indication they were either ignorant or arbitrary; for they ought to have returned their proceedings before the judges, that the matter might be heard at the assizes. But in case of a discharge before that, it ought to have been by a liberate in writing under their hands and seals, or of some other justices; and therefore I remained with the sheriff, which displeased my adversaries worse than before, and heightened their rage.

church wardens came and began the disturbance; and soon after came the mayor's sergeants at mace, commanding the people to disperse, and the church wardens took down names, and threatened the people with the bishop's court. Then I reasoned the case a little with the constables and sergeants, and they seemed troubled that they were put upon using us so; but could not help it, being under authority. After a while I went with them, having first made some remarks on things to the people, and they put me in jail the second time, where I was hardly well entered, till they brought William Brookfield of Dub) lin thither also. For some Friends from thence coming to see me, and he among others, and the meeting continuing after they had brought me away, William had stood up to speak, and some of the constables took him down, and brought him to us.

apology in my mind for it, but cannot be positive whether thou deserves it; and that is, I conjecture that thou dost not act altogether from a native spring of dislike in thy own mind, but as excited by some other person or persons, for some other reasons than perhaps thou carest to express or own." Upon this he said, "I have no enmity against Friends, but have, upon occasion, forgiven some of them fees (being register to the bishop's court) to the value of seven pounds.” And so we were dismissed without any further conditions.

About three in the afternoon we went to meeting again in the same place, and the bishop hearing of it, and walking in the Tolsel, told one of the sergeants if we met again he would have us put in the stocks till he came from church. But being set, many people came to us, and the Lord, who never fails nor forsakes his own, was with us, to our great comfort, whilst envy and rage tormented our enemies. I had something to say, and had gone on some time, the people being

We had been in prison but a small time till the sheriff came and took us home to his house, where the other Friends came to us after the meeting was over, which they held, notwithstanding all the disturbance, till it re-greatly desirous to hear, and many still and gularly ended.

satisfied with what they heard, till the constaBut the deputy mayor being come from his bles and sergeants came in again; but so worship, sent for me before him, and seemed faintly, and with apologies, that they could very angry, and asked me how I came to ap- hardly touch me. But after some time, one of point another meeting, being in custody! the sergeants named the bishop to be concerned Then said the sheriff, "Sir, the gentleman in it, which I laid hold of, and told the people was not in custody, for Mr. Mayor took up we had not been without apprehensions all the mittimus before he went out of town, this time who was at the bottom, but now and told me he was at liberty; only he they heard plainly it was the bishop; and would not go out of town till he himself after some further remarks, viz: "That what thought fit, being free, as he apprehends, our Lord said to his disciples, Some of you to go or stay at his own election." Then shall satan cast into prison,' was now also said to the deputy mayor, "These pro- fulfilled in us. For though that evil one canceedings are very arbitrary: what have I not cast any into prison by himself, as he is done now to deserve imprisonment?" "Did a wicked destroying spirit; yet as ungodly not I tell you, sir," said he, "that I would and wicked persecutors are excited, instigated, disperse you, (for I had met him in the street and hurried to that evil work by satan, he, as as we went to the meeting) and that you the first mover, is said to do it, so that they should have no meeting here?" "It is true," might plainly see on what bottom they were said I; "but since there is no law against our who thus abused us.” The people, nay, even meeting, thou hadst no right to say so, nor many of the Papists who came there to hear was I obliged to take notice of it, being with- and see, were generally displeased with them; out law; but besides, the gospel must be and the Truth reached them through our preached, and God must be worshipped ac- works and patience, and exposed our enemies cording to his own appointment, whoever will to the just censure of all. make laws to the contrary, or apply an unjust and illegal force to restrain it."

Then said one of the sergeants to the deputy mayor, "Sir, this gentleman said nothing in the meeting; he was not preaching." He immediately laid hold on that to get rid of us, for he wanted his dinner, then staying for him, and said, “I cry mercy, I thought you had ;" and so dismissed me. But, before we parted I told him, "That notwithstanding thou hast used us so illy, I have a secret

The sergeants and constables took me away, many of the people followed, calling out shame, and blaming the magistrates; but we desired them to avoid disturbance, lest some advantage might be taken. The officers became so troubled and ashamed, that they entreated me to walk up to my lodging till the church was done: but I told them I was in their custody, and could not go but where they took me; and they went with me to the sheriff's house, where they expressed their great concern,

that

they should be in offices that subjected them posed Truth, and would be heavier and heato actions so much against their inclinations. vier on them, till they sunk under it, or But the meeting continuing after I was brought yielded. And so we saw the hand of the away, William Brookfield had a good time in Lord in the whole, and rejoiced together in a short testimony among them; and though him. That day I went home with Edward some constables were there, they stood with- Cooper, who had been with us all this time. out, as if they had no mind to understand or On the 12th we had a meeting at Samuel hear any thing; and the meeting ended in Watson's, which was a large open meeting, order, and Friends were generally comforted. and the people, as well as Friends, were well In the evening the deputy mayor sent me satisfied. word by the sheriff, that he would wait on me by and by at my lodging about that afternoon's meeting. I replied, "That was not so proper, but if he had any thing more to say, that required my answer, I would wait on him where he pleased." The sheriff told him what I said, and he sent the sheriff to ask me if I intended to go out of town the next day, and if I did, he had no more to say; but if I did not go out, he would put me out. I replied, "That if the mayor had sent to ask me that question without any threats annexed, I would have answered him freely and plainly as to my intent; but was not to be frightened, being at my own liberty to stay or go as I pleased."

This the sheriff told him; and he then made the sheriff take it down in writing, which he did. The mayor then bid him set his hand to it, which he did; but told the mayor he would keep it in his own custody, and accordingly showed it me. I suppose the mayor thought to frighten me by this poor little shift. Then I told the sheriff I intended to go out of the town in the morning, to take some meetings in the country, and return there again at the assizes, in the latter end of the week.

On the 13th we had another meeting at Carlow, which was also well filled with people of several sorts, and they were also very quiet and sober in time of silence. I had taken cold in the transactions at Kilkenny, which had weakened me; but the Lord strengthened me so as to make me instru mental to deliver many things to edification, information and comfort; and it was a good meeting to some, and the people were gener ally satisfied, and some much pleased. That night I went home with John Leckey, about a mile from Carlow, back towards Kilkenny, where I was well entertained.

On the 16th, in company with several Friends, I went to Kilkenny, to see what they had to say to me at the assizes, to which I had been committed by the mittimus afore said, not thinking it honourable in the Truth to take liberty by word only, lest, being absent, they might pretend I had given them the slip; to which I never had any temptation from first to last.

On our way we fell in with some persons going to town; and one of them offering some discourse about religion, I perceiv. ed after a while, he was a Roman CathoThen the sheriff told me the bishop was lic; and after some other points, we came very angry with him, and so were all his upon that of transubstantiation. He urged creatures, for letting me have liberty, and had the words of Christ, where he said, concernsent for him that morning; but that he would ing the bread, "Take, eat ye all of it; this is not go till we were out of the town. I told my body which is broken for you." And him he had best go then, lest the bishop might again, concerning the cup, "This cup is the take some advantage, as if he did not regard New Testament in my blood, which is shed him; but as for us, we did not fear any thing for you," &c. This," said he, "is so plain he could do to us. However, he went not so and distinct, that there can be no mistake in long as we staid, which was till about the it: This is my body; This cup is the New eleventh hour, I going to see several of the Testament,' &c. aldermen who had shown us countenance, I answered, "This is a figurative speech: and also Colonel Warren, before we took horse; and went openly through the greatest part of the town, telling the people on every occasion, I intended to see them at the

assizes.

On the 11th we set forward; and several Friends being in company, on comparing things, we found we had all had a share of the burthen; but were very easy and comfortable in our spirits, concluding that as we had come laden thither, and left our burden behind, it was gone upon those who had op

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this bread signifies my body, which shall shortly hereafter be broken for you; and this cup, that is to say, the wine, or liquor contained in it, signifies, or symbolizes, the New Testament in my blood. For if it were a proper speech, without any figure, many absurdities would follow, against both sense and reason; whereas Christ and his apostles suit their doctrine and miracles to both. And saith reason, It is impossible that both the body of Christ and the bread can occupy one and the same place, at one and the same

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2ndly; By the answer of Peter at the God.'” By this time we drew near the town, same time, Whither shall we go, thou hast and then he said, "No doubt but you have a the words of eternal life?' So that this quick- good intent in what you do, in travelling so ening is not by this so gross and carnal eating in the world; but you must have some good and drinking here imagined; but by receiving considerations for it, as our priests have gold of the Spirit, through the words of Christ, and silver:" and mentioned about three hunabstracted and apart from that holy body, or dred guineas for that time. I told him, "No; any other body. And for the further under- we whom God had raised up, and qualified in standing of sayings of this nature, observe, some degree, in this age, to that service, were that when the disciples of Christ were show- advanced above any such mean, base, and ing him the temple at Jerusalem, and the mercenary considerations, as to take any beauty of it, he said to them, Destroy this thing from men for this labour, which we be temple, and I will raise it up in three days.' stow freely in the love of God, and by his The temple at Jerusalem was the object of commandment, for the common good of men.” their eyes, and the subject of their discourse," Why," said he, "the apostles were but poor which gave them just occasion, as men, to men, and wanted necessaries, and must have suppose he meant that temple; which they received of the people, or wanted." "True," said, was forty years in building, and could said I; " but then they say, 'Having food and he raise it in three days? They admired at raiment, let us be therewith content.' And his saying; but yet, in the sequel of things, where that is really the case, such as are poor they understood afterwards, though not at the among us we would not grudge them that; time, that he spoke of the temple of his body. but it is very seldom or never so among us, Again, in like manner, where he saith, I am but rather, with Paul, we can generally say, the vine, ye are the branches,' &c., this mayThese hands have ministered to my necessi well explain that other saying, I will drink ties;' having no desire that any such thing no more of the fruit of the vine, till I drink it should be done unto us; and we generally new with you in my Father's kingdom;' have sufficient of our own." which can mean no other, than as his coming in the flesh consecrated the way, and was previous to the coming of the Spirit; so his drinking new wine in the kingdom of God must signify the community of spirit, intended in the words of the apostle afterwards, concerning the whole church; We have all been made to drink into that one Spirit.” "

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6

My opponent by this time being weary of the subject, advanced a question concerning the Spirit itself, viz: "How do you know that Spirit from another spirit, since satan is transformed into an angel of light? May it not be that evil one, and not the Spirit of Christ?"

Then, said he, "But in case your friends, after some very good sermon, that pleaseth a great congregation well and generally, should offer you a purse of two or three hundred guineas, would not you accept it, being freely given?"

I replied, "No; I hope it would be no temptation, if so it were, which can never be as long as they and I abide in the Truth we profess, either to give or receive that way. I should rather be greatly troubled to see so great a degeneracy, as to subject them to so great an evil." "Well," said he, "I cannot tell; you say well, and I am apt to believe you; but if you would not, there are many would be glad of the offer, and receive it with both hands."

I replied, “That the divine essential Truth is self-evidencing; that the quickened soul is assured of him by his own nature, and quickening power and virtue; as saith the apostle, "I believe it," said I; "for there are too Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by many mercenary hirelings in the world in this the Spirit which he hath given us.' And he age, who, though they pretend a mission to that is in a state of doubting is in a state of go teach and baptize all nations,' yet, as un condemnation and reprobation, and hath not faithful servants, if they were sent at all, sit yet known the Spirit, but is in death and down where they can have the first mainte darkness, and ignorant of God and Christ; nance, and never move till the voice of a bet and in such satan is transformed, and not in ter, cry in their ears; and then, and not till those that are quickened or regenerated. For then, they run where God does not send such as wanted a proof of Christ's speaking in and by the apostles, were, by Paul, referred back to themselves; Know ye not your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.' And again, The Spirit Coming to town, and many Friends from itself helpeth our infirmities, with sighs and other parts, it was soon known, and many groanings which cannot be uttered; and were looking what would be the issue of searcheth all things, even the deep things of things. William Sandwith being there, he

them."

"There is too much of it," said he and so we parted in friendship, with good wishes on all sides.