The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers. William Sewel
was an exceeding great cross to his wife, who in the first year of his change, not being of his persuasion, was very much troubled in her mind, and would often say from discontent, ‘Would to God I had married a drunkard, then I might have found him at the alehouse; but now I cannot tell where to find my husband.’ But after the space of a year, it pleased the Lord to visit her. She had a little son of about five years of age, which child she loved extraordinarily, insomuch that she thought it was her only delight and comfort; but it happened that this darling died, and some time after she spoke thus to her husband: ‘Truly, husband, I have something to tell thee: one night being in bed, mourning and lamenting with tears in my eyes, I heard a voice, saying, ‘Why art thou so discontented concerning thy husband? I have called and chosen him to my work; my right hand shall uphold him. Therefore be thou content and pleased, that he serve me, and I will bless thee, and thy children for his sake; and all things shall prosper that thou shalt take in hand. But if thou wilt not be content, but grudge and murmur, and repine against me, and my servant, whom I have chosen to do my work, I will bring a greater cross upon thee.’ These words being fresh in my mind both night and day, I often said within myself, What cross can this be, that would be greater than the want of my husband? But for all this, I could not be content: all the joy I had, or could find, was in our little boy, who would often, when he saw me weeping and mourning, take me about my neck, and say, My dear mother, pray be content, for my father will come home in a little time. This child would often comfort me in this manner; but for all that I could not be content. Not long after, it pleased the Lord to take from me this my only son, my chiefest joy. Then the voice which I had heard came into my mind, and I perceiving that this was the cross which the Lord would bring upon me, smote upon my breast, and said within myself, that I was the very cause why the Lord had taken away my little son. A great fear then seizing upon me, I said, O Lord, my God! give me power to be content to give up my husband freely to do thy will, lest, O Lord, thou take away from me all my children. From that time I never durst oppose thee, my husband, any more in the work of the Lord, for fear that his judgments might also fall upon me and my children.’ This served not a little to strengthen and encourage Miles.
Some time after, walking in his garden, he felt a motion to go to Stanley chapel in Lancashire. Now though he might expect to meet with rude entertainment there, yet he consulted not with flesh and blood, but went to the aforesaid chapel. Being come, he was not suffered to enter, but the door was violently turned against him. Then he walked in the yard till the worship was done, and the people that came out, (one may guess how edified,) fell upon him with great rage, and one captain William Rawlinson, took hold of his arms and shoulders, and calling another man to take him by the feet and legs, they threw him over the wall; by which fall he was exceedingly bruised, so that he had much to do to get home. By the way it was inwardly said to him, that he must be content with what was befallen him that day, and that if he was faithful in what the Lord required of him then, he would heal him again. Being come home, he waited upon the Lord to know his will. In this resignedness, within six days, he was moved to go to Windermere steeple-house, and it was, as it were said unto him, Fear not the face of any man, but speak the word of the Lord freely; and then thou shalt be made sound again of all thy bruises. So he went to the said steeple-house, and having spoken the word of the Lord to the priest and people, without receiving any harm, he was healed that day of his sore bruises.
Some time after by another motion, he came to Furness in Lancashire, to the house of captain Adam Sands, where he found a great number of professors gathered, and priest Lampitt preaching. But as soon as Miles entered, Lampitt was silent, and which continuing a pretty while, captain Sands said to him, ‘Sir, what is the matter: are you not well?’ to which the priest answered, ‘I am well, but I shall speak no more as long as this dumb devil is in the house.’ ‘A dumb devil,’ said the captain, ‘where is he?’ ‘This is he,’ said the priest, pointing with his hand, ‘that standeth there.’ Then the captain said, ‘This man is quiet and saith nothing to you: I pray you, sir, go on in the name of the Lord; and if he trouble or molest you in my house, I will send him to Lancaster castle.’ But the priest said again, ‘I shall not preach as long as this dumb devil is in the house.’ Then the captain said to one Camelford, a priest also, ‘I pray you, sir, stand up and exercise your gift, and I will see that you be not disturbed.’ But the priest answered as the other, ‘I shall not speak as long as this dumb devil is in the house.’ Then the people cried, ‘Lord rebuke thee Satan; Lord rebuke thee Satan: what manner of Spirit is this that stops our ministers’ mouths?’ Then the captain came to Miles, and taking him by the hand, led him out of the house. In all that time he had not spoke a word, and saw now the accomplishment of what he had been persuaded of before, viz. that an invisible power would confound by him the wisdom of the priests when he spoke never a word. The said Camelford was one who, a good while before had stirred up the rabble against G. Fox; and the other was that Lampitt, who has been mentioned already, and who had been so esteemed by Margaret Fell, before she came to be acquainted with G. Fox.
Some time after this occurrence, Miles went to Newcastle, and there said to the mayor, rulers, and priests of that town, that God’s anger was kindled against them, because they had shut the kingdom of heaven against men, and would not enter themselves, nor suffer them that would. Because of this he was imprisoned: but the mayor being much troubled, sent for the sheriff, for these two had committed Miles; when come, he said to him, ‘We have not done well in committing an innocent man to prison: pray let us release him.’ The sheriff consenting, Miles was set at liberty. Then he declared the word of the Lord in those parts, and many were convinced of the truth held forth by him. But now I part with this Miles Halhead, who hereafter is to be mentioned again.
About this time, viz. in the summer, general Cromwell had called a new parliament, consisting mostly, (as hath been said by some,) of members of his own choice; for it was a certain number of persons out of each county and city in England, Scotland, and Ireland, nominated by the council of officers, and sent for to meet at Westminster. Into the hands of these, Cromwell delivered the supreme authority of the nation, by an instrument, or commission, signed by himself and the officers; but the authority of this meeting lasted scarce half-a-year, as will be said in the sequel.
To this parliament a report was made, that at Carlisle, a person was imprisoned, who was to die for religion. This was G. Fox, whom we have left thus long in the dungeon at Carlisle, and now are returning to him again. The parliament then caused a letter to be sent down concerning him to the sheriff, and other magistrates. And G. Fox knowing how scandalously he had been belied, about speaking blasphemous words, gave forth a paper, wherein he challenged all who found fault with his doctrine, to appear in public; since he was ready to stand the test of whatsoever he might have spoken. He also wrote a significant letter to the justices at Carlisle, wherein he showed them plainly the injustice of their dealings, and the horrid evil of persecution, as having been always the work of the false church. Mention hath been made already of the justices Benson and Anthony Pearson: these had desired, more than once, leave to visit G. Fox in prison; but this having been denied them, they wrote a letter to the magistrates, priests, and people at Carlisle, wherein they emphatically described the wickedness of persecution, and what would be the reward of persecutors; saying also, that these were worse than the heathen that put Paul into prison; because none of his friends or acquaintance were hindered by them from coming to him. However, at length Pearson got an opportunity to come with the governor into the dungeon, where G. Fox was kept, and they found the place so bad, and of so noisome a smell, that the governor cried shame of the magistrate, for suffering the jailer to treat G. Fox after such a manner; and calling the jailers into the dungeon, required them to find sureties for their good behaviour, and put the under-jailer, who had been very cruel to G. Fox, into the dungeon with him. In the meanwhile, those who had imprisoned G. Fox began to grow afraid, the rather, it may be, because the parliament took notice of these doings; and it was not long after that he was released; and then coming to the house of one Thomas Bewly, near Coldbeck, in Cumberland, there came a Baptist teacher to oppose him: but he found what G. Fox spoke to be so efficacious, that he became convinced of the truth thereof.
At that time there was also Robert Widders, who being moved to go to Coldbeck steeple-house, the Baptist teacher went with him. Widders coming into the steeple-house, there was one Hutton preaching, to whom he spoke; but the rude people threw him down, and dragged him into the yard, where they pushed and beat him till the