Now because in those early times, among the many adherents of this persuasion, there were some that having been people of a rude and dissolute life, came so to be pricked to the heart, that they grew true penitents, with real sorrow for their former transgressions; it happened that they at meetings did not only burst out into tears, but also were affected with such a singular commotion of the mind, that some shakings of their bodies were perceived; some people naturally being more affected with passions of the mind than others; for even anger doth transport some men so violently, that it makes them tremble; whereas others will quake with fear: and what wonder then, if some being struck with the terrors of God did tremble? But this being seen by envious men, they took occasion from thence to tell, that these Professors of the Light performed their worship with shaking; yet they themselves never asserted that trembling of the body was an essential part of their religion, but have occasionally said the contrary; though they did not deny themselves to be such as tremble before God; and they also did not stick to say that all people ought to do so; however thereby not enjoining a bodily shaking.
We have seen just now, how one Fretwell was committed with G. Fox to the house of correction; but he not standing faithful in his testimony, obtained, by intercession of the jailer, leave of the justice to go see his mother, and so got his liberty: and then a report was spread, that he had said, that G. Fox had bewitched and deceived him.
G. Fox was now become the object of many people’s hatred; magistrates, priests and professors were all in a rage against him; and the jailer, to find something where with to ensnare him, would sometimes ask him such silly questions, as, whether the door were latched or not; thinking thereby to draw some sudden unadvised answer from him, whereby he might charge sin upon him: but he was kept so watchful and circumspect, that they could get no advantage of him. Not long after his commitment, he was moved to write both to the priests and magistrates of Derby.
Now since G. Croese in the beginning of history, represents G. Fox as one altogether unfit, not only to write legibly, but also to express his mind clearly in writing, and that therefore he always was obliged to employ others that could set down his meaning intelligibly, it will not be beside the purpose to say, that this is more than any will be able to prove. For though it cannot be denied that he was no elegant writer, nor good speller, yet it is true, that his characters being tolerable, his writing was legible, and the matter he treated of was intelligible, though his style was not like that of a skilful linguist. And albeit he employed others, because himself was no quick writer, yet generally they were young lads, who as they durst not have attempted to alter his words and phrases, so they would not have been skilful enough to refine his style. This I do not write from hearsay; but have seen it at sundry times. And how true it is what the same author says, that mostly all G. Fox did write, was scarce any thing besides a rough collection of several scripture places, may be seen by the sequel of this history, wherein will be found many of his writings. The first of his letters I meet with is the following, which he writ to the priests of Derby, from the house of correction, where certainly he had not the convenience of a writing clerk.
‘O Friends, I was sent unto you to tell you, that if you had received the gospel freely, you would minister it freely without money or price; but you make a trade and sale of what the prophets and apostles have spoken; and so you corrupt the truth. And you are the men that lead silly women captive, who are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth: you have a form of godliness; but you deny the power. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do you resist the truth; being men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But you shall proceed no further; for your folly shall be made manifest to all men, as theirs was. Moreover the Lord sent me to tell you, that he doth look for fruits. You asked me, if the Scripture was my rule; but it is not your rule, to rule your lives by; but to talk of in words. You are the men that live in pleasures, pride, and wantonness, in fullness of bread and abundance of idleness: see if this be not the sin of Sodom. Lot received the angels: but Sodom was envious. You show forth the vain nature: you stand in the steps of them that crucified my Saviour, and mocked him: you are their children; you show forth their fruit. They had the chief place in the assemblies; and so have you: they loved to be called Rabbi; and so do you.
G. F.’
That which he writ to the magistrates who committed him to prison, was to this effect:
‘Friends,
‘I am forced, in tender love unto your souls, to write unto you, and to beseech you to consider what you do, and what the commands of God call for. He doth require justice and mercy to break every yoke, and to let the oppressed go free. But who calleth for justice or loveth mercy, or contendeth for the truth? Is not judgment turned backward, and doth not justice stand afar off? Is not truth silenced in the streets, or can equity enter? And do not they that depart from evil, make themselves a prey? Oh! consider what ye do in time, and take heed whom ye do imprison: for the magistrate is set for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Now, I entreat you, in time, take heed what you do, for surely the Lord will come, and will make manifest both the builders and the work: and if it be of man, it will fail; but if it be of God, nothing will overthrow it. Therefore I desire and pray, that you would take heed, and beware what you do, lest ye be found fighters against God.
G. F.’
George Fox having thus cleared his conscience, continued waiting in patience, leaving the event to God. And after some time he felt himself constrained to write to the justices that had committed him to prison, to lay their doings before them, that so they might come to a due consideration thereof; one of them, (already mentioned,) was justice Bennet, the other Nathaniel Barton, both a justice and a colonel, as also a preacher: to these he wrote as follows:
‘Friends,
‘You did speak of the good old way, which the prophet spake of; but the prophets cried against the abominations which you hold up. Had you the power of God, ye would not persecute the good way. He that spake of the good way was set in the stocks: the people cried, ‘Away with him to the stocks,’ for speaking the truth. Ah! foolish people, which have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, without understanding! ‘Fear not me,’ saith the Lord, ‘and will ye not tremble at my presence?’ O your pride and abominations are odious in the eyes of God: you, (that are preachers,) have the chiefest place in the assemblies, and are called of men Master; and such were and are against my Saviour and Maker: and they shut up the kingdom of heaven from men, neither go in themselves, nor suffer others. Therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation, who have their places, and walk in their steps. You may say, if you had been in the days of the prophets, or Christ, ye would not have persecuted them; wherefore be ye witnesses against yourselves, that ye are the children of them, seeing, ye now persecute the way of truth. O consider, there is a true judge, that will give every one of you a reward according to your works. O mind where you are, you that hold up the abominations which the true prophet cried against! O come down,