The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers. William Sewel

coming to church, and next they banished him out of their jurisdiction. This fine was exacted so severely that Endicot said, ‘I will not bate him one groat.’ And though a weakly old man, yet they allowed him but one month’s space for his removal, so that he was forced to depart in the winter.

      Coming at length to Rhode Island, he met an Indian prince, who having understood how he had been dealt with, behaved himself very kindly, and told him, if he would live with him, he would make him a warm house. And further said, ‘What a God have the English, who deal so with one another about their God!’ For it seems Upshal was already looked upon as one that was departing from his church-membership. But this was but a beginning of the New England persecution, which in time grew so hot, that some of the Quakers were put to death on the gallows, as will be related in its due time.

      Now I return to Old England, where we left G. Fox at Exeter, from whence he went to Bristol. Here he had a great meeting in an orchard; and since some thousands of people were come thither, and many very eager to see him, he stepped upon a great stone that stood there, and having put off his hat, stood a pretty while silent, to let people look at him. A Baptist was there named Paul Gwyn, who began to find fault with G. Fox’s hair, and at last said to the people, ‘Ye wise men of Bristol, I strange at you, that ye will stand here, and hear a man speak, and affirm that which he cannot make good.’ Hereupon G. Fox asked the people whether they ever heard him speak before, or ever saw him before? And he bid them take notice what kind of man this Gwyn was, who so impudently said, that he spake and affirmed that which he could not make good; and yet neither Gwyn nor they ever heard him, or saw him before; and that therefore it was a lying, envious, and malicious spirit that spoke in him. Then G. Fox charging Gwyn to be silent, began to preach, which lasted some hours, without being disturbed.

      After this meeting, G. Fox departed from Bristol, and passing through Wiltshire, Marlborough, and other places, he returned to London; and when he came near Hyde Park, he saw the Protector coming in his coach; whereupon he rode up to the coach side, and some of his life-guard would have put him away; but the protector forbade them. Then riding by his coach side, he spoke to him about the sufferings of his friends in the nation, and showed him how contrary this persecution was to Christ and his apostles, and to Christianity. And when they were come to the gate of St. James’s Park, G. Fox left Cromwell, who at parting desired him to come to his house. The next day Mary Sanders, afterwards Stout, one of Cromwell’s wife’s maids, came to G. Fox’s lodging, and told him, that her master coming home, said he would tell her some good news; and when she asked him what it was, he told her G. Fox was come to town; to which she replied, that was good news indeed. Not long after, G. Fox and Edward Pyot went to Whitehall, and there spoke to Cromwell concerning the sufferings of their friends, and directed him to the light of Christ, who had enlightened every man that cometh into the world. To which Cromwell said, This was a natural light; but they showed him the contrary, saying that it was divine and spiritual, proceeding from Christ, the spiritual and heavenly man. Moreover G. Fox bid the protector lay down his crown at the feet of Jesus. And as he was standing by the table, Cromwell came and sat upon the table’s side by him, and said he would be as high as G. Fox was. But though he continued to speak in a light manner, yet afterward was so serious that when he came to his wife and other company, he said that he never parted so from the Quakers before.

      G. Fox having visited the meetings of his friends in and about London, departed thence, and travelled almost through all England, not without many occurrences, which for brevity’s sake I pass by. At length he returned to London again, this year being now come to an end.