prophets and the apostles learnt; and by the same Spirit know the holy scriptures; for as the Spirit of God was in them that gave forth the scriptures, so the same Spirit of God must be in all them that come to know and understand the scriptures; by which Spirit they might have fellowship with the Son, and with the Father, and with the scriptures, and with one another; and without this Spirit they can know neither God nor Christ, nor the scriptures, nor have right fellowship one with another. I had no sooner spoken these words, but about half a dozen priests that stood behind my back, burst out into a passion, and one of them, whose name was Jackus, amongst other things that he spake against the truth, said that the Spirit and the letter were inseparable. I replied, then every one that hath the letter hath the Spirit, and they might buy the Spirit with the letter of the scriptures. This plain discovery of darkness in the priest moved judge Fell and colonel West to reprove them openly, and tell them, that according to that position they might carry the Spirit in their pockets as they did the scriptures. Upon this the priests being confounded and put to silence, rushed out in a rage against the justices, because they could not have their bloody ends upon me. So the justices, seeing the witnesses did not agree, and perceiving that they were brought to answer the priests' envy, and finding that all their evidences were not sufficient in law to make good their charge against me, they discharged me. And after judge Fell had spoken to justice Sawrey and justice Thompson concerning the warrant they had given forth against me, and shewed them the errors thereof, he and colonel West granted a supersedeas to stop the execution thereof. Thus was I cleared in open sessions of all those lying accusations which the malicious priests had laid to my charge; and multitudes of people praised God that day, for it was a joyful day to many. There was justice Benson out of Westmoreland, who was convinced; and major Ripan, that was mayor of the town of Lancaster, who was convinced also. It was a day of everlasting salvation to hundreds of people; for the Lord Jesus Christ, the way to the Father, and the free teacher, was exalted and set up, and his everlasting gospel was preached, and the word of eternal life was declared over the heads of the priests, and all such money-preachers; for the Lord opened many mouths that day to speak his word to the priests, and several friendly people and professors reproved the priests in their inns, and in the streets; so that they fell, like an old rotten house; and the cry was among the people, that

the Quakers had got the day, and the priests were fallen. Many people were convinced that day, amongst whom Thomas Briggs was one, who before had been averse from friends and truth, insomuch that discoursing on a time with John Lawson, a friend, concerning perfection, Thomas Briggs said to him, dost thou hold perfection? and therewithal lift up his hand to have given the friend a box on the ear. But this Thomas Briggs, being convinced of the truth that day, declared against his own priest Jackus; and afterwards became a faithful minister of the gospel, and stood so to the end of his days.

When the sessions were over, James Naylor, who was present thereat, gave a brief account of the proceedings thereof in a letter, which soon after he wrote to friends; which is here added for the reader's further satisfaction in this matter:

Dear friends and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ, my dear love unto you all, desiring you may be kept stedfast in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the power of his love, boldly to witness forth the truth, as it is revealed in you by the mighty working of the Father: to him alone be everlasting praise and honour for evermore! Dear friends, the Lord doth much manifest his love and power in these parts. Upon the second day of the last week my brother George and I were at Lancaster; there were abundance of friends from all parts: and a great sort, which sided with the priests, giving out, they now hoped to see a stop put to that great work which had gone on so fast, and with such power, that their kingdom is much shaken. We were called before judge Fell, colonel West, justice Sawrey, &c. to answer what was charged against George. There were three witnesses to eight particulars, but they were much confused in themselves, which gave much light to the truth; whereby the justices did plainly see that it was envy; and they divers times told them so. One of the witnesses was a young priest, who confessed he had not meddled, had not another priest sent for him, and set him on work. The other witnesses were two priests' sons: it was proved there by many that heard one of them say, if he had power he would make George deny his profession, and that he would take away his life. This was a single witness to one of the greatest untruths that was charged against George; and the justices told him, that they saw, because he could not take away his life, he went about to take away his liberty. There was one priest chosen out of the whole number as an orator to plead against us, who

spared no pains to shew forth his envy against the truth: and when he could not prevail, he went down in a rage; and there came up a pack of them into the room, among whom was one Jackus. George was then speaking in the room (one of the justices having wished him, if he had any thing to say, he would speak) at which the said priest Jackus was in such a rage, that he brake forth into many high expressions against the truth spoken by my dear brother George, amongst which this was one, that the letter and the spirit were inseparable. Hereupon the justices stood up, and bid him prove that before he went any further. Then he seeing himself caught, would have denied it; and when he could not get off so, the rest of the priests would have helped him to a meaning for his words; but the justices would admit no other meaning than the plain sense of the words, but told him he had laid down a position, and it was fit he should prove it, pressing the matter close upon him. Whereupon the priests, being put to silence, went down in a greater rage than before; and some of them, after they were gone down, being asked what they had done, lied and said, they could not get into the room; thereby to hide their shame, and keep the people in blindness. The justices, judge Fell, and colonel West, were much convinced of the truth, and did set up justice and equity; and have much silenced the rage of the people. Many bitter spirits were at Lancaster to see the event, but went home and cried the priests had lost the day: everlasting praises be to him who fought the battle for us, who is our King for ever! There were others called, who the witnesses confessed were in the room when the things charged on George were said to have been spoken, but they all, as one man, denied that any such words were spoken; which gave much light to the justices, and they durst trust what they witnessed; for they said they knew many of them to be honest men. There was a warrant granted out against us at Appleby, but justice Benson told them it was not according to law, and so it ceased; as I hear he is a faithful man to the truth. The priests began to preach against the justices, and said they were not to meddle in these things, but to end controversy betwixt neighbour and neighbour. They are not pleased with the law, because it is not in the statute to imprison us, as the priest that pleaded against us said: the justices bid him go put it into the statute, if he could; he said it should want no will of his. They are much afraid that they shall lose all; they are much discontented in these parts; and some of them cry, all is gone. Dear friends, dwell in patience, and wait

upon the Lord, who will do his own work. Look not at man in the work, nor at man who opposeth the work; but rest in the will of the Lord, that so ye may be furnished with patience, both to do and to suffer what ye shall be called unto, that your end in all things may be his praise. And take up his cross freely, which keeps low the fleshly man; that Christ may be set up and honoured in all things, and so the light advanced in you, and the judgment set up, which must give sentence against all that opposeth the truth; that the captivity may be led captive, and the prisoner set free to seek the Lord; that righteousness may rule in you, and peace and joy may dwell in you, wherein consisteth the kingdom of the Father; to whom be all praise for ever! dear friends, meet often together; and take heed of what exalteth itself above its brother; but keep low, and serve one another in love for the Lord's sake. Let all friends know how it is with us, that God may have the praise of all.'

Written from Kellet, the 30th day of the 8th month, 1652.

J. N.

At this time I was in a fast, and was not to eat until this work of God, which then lay weighty upon me, was accomplished. But the Lord's power was wonderfully set over all, to his glory; and gave truth and friends dominion therein over all, to his glory; and his gospel was freely preached that day, over the heads of about forty hireling priests. I stayed two or three days afterwards in Lancaster, and had some meetings there; and the rude and baser sort of people plotted together to have drawn me out of the house, and to have thrown me over Lancaster bridge, but the Lord prevented them. Then they invented another mischief, which was this: after a meeting at Lancaster they brought down a distracted man, and another with him with bundles of birchen rods, bound together like besoms, with which they should have whipped me: but I was moved to speak to them in the Lord's mighty power, which chained down the distracted man, and the other also, and made them calm and quiet. Then I bid him throw his rods into the fire, and burn them, and he did so. Thus the Lord's power being over them, they departed quietly.

But the priests, fretting to see themselves overthrown at the sessions at Lancaster, got some of the envious justices to join with them; and at the following assize at Lancaster informed judge Windham against me. Whereupon the judge made a speech against me in open court; and commanded colonel West, who was clerk of the assize,

to issue forth a warrant for the apprehending of me: but colonel West told the judge of my innocency, and spake boldly in my defence. Yet the judge commanded him again, either to write a warrant or go off from his seat: then he told the judge plainly that he would not do it; but that he would offer up all his estate, and his body also, for me. So he stopt the judge; and the Lord's power came over all; so that the priests and justices could not get their envy executed. That same night I came into Lancaster, it being the assize time, and hearing of a warrant to be given out against me, I judged it better to shew myself openly, than for my adversaries to seek me. So I went to judge Fell's and colonel West's chambers; and as soon as I came in they smiled on me; and colonel West said, "What! are you come into the dragon's mouth?? I stayed in town till the judge went out of town; and I walked up and down the town, but no one meddled with me, nor questioned me. Thus the Lord's blessed power, which is over all, carried me through and over this exercise, and gave dominion over his enemies, and enabled me to go on in his glorious work and service for his great name's sake. For though the beast maketh war against the saints, yet the Lamb hath got, and will get, the victory.

From Lancaster I returned to Robert Withers's, and from thence I went to Thomas Leper's to a meeting in the evening; and a very blessed meeting we had there. After the meeting was done, I walked in the evening to Robert Withers's again. And no sooner was I gone, but there came a company of disguised men to Thomas Leper's with swords and pistols; who suddenly entering the house, put out the candles, and swung their swords about amongst the people of the house; so that the people were fain to hold up the chairs before them, to save themselves from being cut and wounded. At length they drove all the people of the house out of the house, and then searched the house for me; who, it seems, was the only person they looked for: for they had laid wait before in the highway by which I should have gone, if I had ridden to Robert Withers's. And not meeting with me on the way, they thought to have found me in the house, but the Lord prevented them. Soon after I was come in at Robert Withers's, some friends came from the town where Thomas Leper lived, and gave us a relation of this wicked attempt: and the friends were afraid lest they should come and search Robert Withers's house also for me, and do me a mischief; but the Lord restrained them, that they came not. Though