coming too potent, for hereupon followed the suppression of the stadtholdership. But how strong soever this law was made, and confirmed by oaths, yet afterwards it was broke by the instigation of the rabble, as will be seen in its due time. This year also a peace was concluded between England and Holland, not long after the Dutch had burnt some of the king's ships in the Thames. THE HISTORY OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. THE NINTH BOOK. IN the beginning of the year 1668, William Penn, son of admiral sir William Penn, began to shew himself openly an adherer to, and asserter of the doctrine of those called Quakers. He had been trained up in the university of Oxford, and was afterwards by his father sent into France, where for some time he lived (as himself once told me) with the famous preacher Moyses Amyraut. After a considerable stay in that kingdom, being returned and come into Ireland, he once went to a meeting of those called Quakers, which being disturbed, he, though finely clothed as a young gentleman, and wearing a great perriwig, was with others carried from thence to prison, where by his fellow-prisoners he was more con firmed in that doctrine which he already apprehended to be truth. But when it came to be known that he was the son of admiral Penn, he was soon released. This change did not a little grieve his father, who intended to have trained him up for the court; but now saw his eldest son in the early part (being about the twenty second year) of his age, entered into the society of the despised Quakers. Several means were used, nay even his necessaries were withheld from him, to draw him off, if possible, and bring him to other resolutions. But all devices and wiles proved in vain for he continued steadfast, and conversed much with Josiah Coale, who likewise in his younger years came over to the Quakers. This summer Stephen Crisp was prisoner at Ipswich, where the number of friends was considerably increased by his ministry. I, with some other friends of Holland, visited him there in prison, and we found him in a cheerful condition, as well contented as if he had been at liberty for he suffered for the ministry of the gospel, and continued to preach in prison when his friends came to visit him. : The journey which G. Fox made this year through England and Wales I pass by. The latter part of the summer he returned to London, where with great satisfaction I heard him preach several times before a numerous audi tory for about that time, the meetings of dissenters were not disturbed in London, but all was so quiet, that the Quakers so called, were suffered to build a large meeting-place in Gracechurch street, where the first time a meeting was kept, I was present, and saw G. Fox, and heard him preach there, besides some others. Whilst he was in London, he paid a visit to Esquire Marsh, who now was a justice of the peace in Middlesex, and it so happened that he was at dinner when G. Fox came to his house, which so pleased him, that he kindly invited him to sit down with him to dinner, but G. Fox courteously excused himself. There were at that time several great persons at table with justice Marsh, who said to one of them, (a Papist) "Here is a Quaker you have not seen before." From this the said Papist took occasion to ask G. Fox, whether he did own the christening of children? To which G. Fox answered, there was no Scripture for any such practice What! said he, not for christening children? Nay, replied G. Fox, the one baptism by the one Spirit into one body, we own; but to throw a little water on a child's face, and to call that baptizing and christening it, there is no Scripture for that. Then the Roman Catholic asked him, whether he did not own the Catholic Faith? Yes, said G. Fox, |