makers, Taylors, Weavers,& fuch other Tradefmen (as they appeared to them to be, and no better) bandied about their fubtile Arguments, and nimbly return'd their as fubtile Anfwers to the most nervous and knotty Objections, on all occafions, which yet was the more facile and caly for them to perform, in as much as they could not be at a loss to feek how to defend fo many of their own Doctrines, as in that Sect were owned and maintained: Whereupon the common People cried them up in all Places, as the true wonders of the Age. And multitudes were thereby feduced into a belief that they were all of them inspired: and that, as (at the firft) the wifdom of the learned Rabbi's, Scribes, Pharifees, &c. Were confounded by illiterate Fishermen, and other plain Tradefmen. So now, the Learnedst Spinifters, Epifcopal, Presbyterian, and Independent, were (as to them appeared) daily baffled and filenced, by thefe inspired Quakers: infomuch that they concluded that by incorporating with them, they alfo fhould reap the like glorious fruits, of the like infpirations, and thereupon readily and fpontaneoufly joyned with them; and many of them, to try their talents became Speakers alfo. And fuch was their infatuation,that in a fhort time,the very dullest and most nonfenfical among them (had he but confidence enough to vent his bold cant, be it never fo abfurd and ridiculous) he deemed himself infpir'd, and both he, and his crudities, were by the by-ftanders alfo, prefently cried up, and admired. And being thus elevated, firft in his own opinion, and then, in the opinion of the Silly Vulgar too, and being thus mounted upon the Wings of Fame, and by popular breath exalted, he now thinks himfelf privileg'd above all the rules of intelligible fpeech, and true fence, and by virtue of this privilege roves from Place to Place, and now speaks

and

and utters what he pleases, and that in the higheft defyance of all the most folid oppofitions whatfoever.

So that take the rite of thefe Men how you please, and be the firft Ringleaders of them, even what you will; if you will not grant them to be papifts, yet are they all at this day, the off-fpzing and very ye blows of the Papifts.

Shewing what were the opinions of the most curious ObJervers of them, when they first appeared.

He truth is, the beft eftimate of every new Sect, and of the founders thereof, is from the Writings of thofe who were Contemporary with them; and the most exact, and accute obfervers of them. Now would you know the opinions of the moft learned Men, and moft exquifite Sear chers into this Sect, even then when it first appeared among us? Why then we fhall find, that they all, with one confent, have told us, that the Eggs from whence this brood came, were Laid at Rome, and hatched in the Northern Parts of England; in a County abounding with Papifts, of all ranks; by Men who (without Travelling out of England) might have daily recourfe to Jefuites, Francifcans, and who had Generals of their Orders, and Private Colleges, and Societies, under our very hofes into fome of which, George For, might have been admitted, and in all Probability Secret ly was fo, and was in fome of them, taught, and perfectly inftructed in the beginning, and carrying on of this Enterprife.

The then Minifiers (all over the Kingdom) were fo fenfible thereof, that in Pulpit and in Frefs, in all Publick or Private Difputations with them, they all (as if it were with one mouth) did Publifh and Declare it no many who came from beyond the Seat, kuten feveral of rheir fpeakers, and detected

them.

If you confult Mr. Prynne; he will tell you, how our new Quakers at the firft were fent out of the North Country, by two and two, into other Quarters of the Kingdom, in Imitation of the Francifcans, who (by the rules of their Order) are bound fo to do, and concludes them to be either disguised Franciscan Friars, or at the best, their feduced Dil ciples, and Emiffaries. See his Quakers Unmasked, p. 5. Ed. 2. He will alfo tell you, of the Teftimony of Mr. Charles Chefter, which he gave at Briftol upon his arrival from Marseilles, how he heard two Francifean Friars (whom he well knew) Speakers among the Quakers, at one of their meetings at the Red Lodge in that City. See Prynne's New Difcovery of Romish Emiffaries, p. 10.

Perufe alfo diligently, the Teftimony of George Cowlishaw, Ironmonger of Bristol, taken upon Oath Jan. 22. 1654. how he witnessed against one Coppinger a Franciscan Friar (who was formerly his School fellow, and came purpofely thither, for his paffage into Ireland how that he had confeffed unto him, that at London he met with two of his acquaintance, both of the fame Francifcan Order,who were chief speakers among the Quakers there. And furthermore: that he the faid Friar Coppinger, had himself also spoken among them about thirty times in London, and was well approved of by them. See Farther Prynne's Quakers Unmask'd, Ed. 2. p. 3, 4 c. Read alfo what is credibly reported against Mr. Samuel Fisher, Mr. Henry Dens, and others Fa

streerick Hiftory from, p. 177. to p.185. I' might inalltance in many more of like kind.

In a word then, all obferving Men then plainly faw whofe Servants thefe Crafty-caps were, tho' Jomcthing difguifed in a Strange and Uncouth Livery.

Iknow the Answer to all rbts, and much more of this Nature which might be produced, will be that thefe are lyes, all lpes, and nothing but monstrous, malicious, and flanderous lyes, invented on purpose to defame them.

An Excellent way, and compendious (I must needs own) this is, readily to confute all Arguments drawn from Teftimony, of what nature foever. But then, I pray confider the fatal confequences thereof. In all our Courts of Judicature should this way be once admitted, what would all their care and pains come to in the end? For if a bare Exclamation against a Teftimony and the Evidence which is given in open Court upon Oath, or upon Honour, that fuch an Evidence is falfe, it is a Lye, if this fhall be fufficient to acquit an accufed party, thus to choak the Evidence: Who then (I pray) can at any time be guilty? A Thousand Witnesses will then be but a Thoufand Lyers, be the things never fo true, which are witnessed by them. Now, at fach a rate, who can be fafe in his Life, good Name, or Eftate? Let all Mankind be Judges.

Wherefore thefe Men muft not think fo readily to run away with the Matter. For if their Answer be that these are lyes, mine expectations are, that they do more than fay fo: and that they bring good and convincing reafons to confirm the fame: otherwife the yes objected will all run home again, and lodge among themselves, in defpite of all their Strenuous endeavours to the contrary.

CHA P. V.

Sheweth that the pretended humility of the Quakers in plain Clothes and Garments, is a farther Argument of their Defcent from the Papis.

There are two be known and diftin

"Here are two Ways, by which Strangers of

guished one from another: One is by their Garments, and the way of wearing them; and the other is by their Speech, and Language. The latter of thefe, I fhall have occafion to fpeak of with reference to the Quakers, when I come to speak of their Doctrines,and Principles; that which falls under my prefent confideration, in this Chapter, is the former only. The Outward Garments, and drefs of a Quaker. I confefs at the first, I intended to pals over this, and to Juperfede all my remarks thereon. But when I recollected my thoughts, and confidered that the feveral Fraternities of the Church of Rome are distinguished one from another by their Clothes and Garments, I began to conclude that the Unfashionableness of the Quakers Garments was to bring the wearers in fashion with their Popish brethren.

To follow the prefent Ufe and Fashion, was (at the firft) declared by them an indication of a Wicked and Profane heart. And they generally Expounded it, to be a conforming our felves to this prefent World. So that among them he was then efteemed the most holy, who Ware his Clothes most opposite to the custorns of the prefent times, and the Generality of People therein. When long toed fhooes, and high Crowned hats were in fashion with us. Then thefe good Saints (faith mine Author) muft wear short fhooes fitted to their feet, and dow

Crowned