CHAPTER IX.

1656-7.-At London writes various Epistles, and visits the Meetings of his Friends.-Travels into Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hants, &c. to Bristol.-Visits part of Wales, -Leaves it for awhile, but soon returns.-Goes into Cheshire and Lancashire.-At Swarthmore stays about two weeks. Travels through Westmoreland and Cumberland, towards Scotland.

WHILST George Fox was in London, he employed much of his time in writing Epistles, relating to the state of the society which he had been instrumental in gathering, with some also to its opponents. In these epistles, he manifested the extensiveness of his mind, by embracing the various circumstances connected with the preservation of the society in unity and peace, and in the discharge of its religious duties. He also effectually repelled the attacks of those who were opposing its principles, which he laboured much to explain and defend.

Having discharged various services in and about London, he travelled into Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Hants, "visiting Friends." From the use of this expression, about this time, it seems the direction of his services was in some degree altered, which was indeed a necessary consequence of the success of his former labours. He had not now,

as formerly, to travel wholly among strangers to him, and, in a great measure, to his doctrine; but he began thus early to reap the fruit of his faithful labours and patient sufferings. It was now near the close of the year 1656, a very short time since the commencement of his public ministry; and we have already seen that a society of many thousands had been formed. He had, no doubt, many fellow labourers, who greatly promoted the same good work. Great indeed was the success which attended their labours, and thus it has frequently pleased Divine Providence to produce great changes in the religious world, to the revival of gospel truth, and the spreading of gospel light. In contemplating these circumstances, though human means are used, we do not find that human power or exertion can, at their pleasure, effect it. We may therefore say; "This is the Lord's doing, it is marvellous in our eyes."

In travelling through the counties above-mentioned, George Fox and his companions met with some rude treatment at different places, particularly at Farnham and Basingstoke. Coming to Bridport, in Dorsetshire, a design was formed to apprehend him; but it did not succeed. Several were convinced in this place, and a meeting settled. Portsmouth, Pool, and Ringwood, he had large and favoured meetings, "and many were turned to the Lord." After having a meeting at Weymouth,

At

they came through Dorchester to Lyme, where the inn was so much occupied with a company of mountebanks, that it was with difficulty they could obtain accommodation. At this place, some of the people were effectually reached, and turned, "by the light and spirit of Christ, to his free teaching."

After travelling in those parts, they came to Exeter, and at an inn called the Seven Stars, a general meeting was held of Friends out of Cornwall and Devon. Of this meeting George Fox writes thus: "A blessed heavenly meeting we had, and the Lord's everlasting power came over all, in which I saw and said, that the Lord's power had surrounded this nation as with a wall and bulwark, and his seed reached from sea to sea."

The day after this meeting, some soldiers were sent to apprehend George Fox; but before they had opportunity, he had left Exeter, from which place he came to Bristol, and thence went into Wales, and had a meeting at the Slone. Coming to Cardiff, he and his companions received much kindness from a justice of the peace, and next day they had a meeting at the Town-Hall, to which seventeen of the justice's family came. Though some who attended this meeting endeavoured at first to cause disturbance, yet he observes, re

K

From Cardiff they came to Swansea, where a meeting was now established. In various other parts of South Wales they had meetings, till they came to Brecknock. Here they met with much rude treatment, and were in considerable danger; but were preserved from suffering any material injury. Thomas Holmes and John ap John were now George Fox's companions; the latter, it seems, had gone into the streets at Brecknock, to preach to the people, which caused a great disturbance and much rudeness. George Fox wrote a paper to the inhabitants, and also personally reproved them, as he left the town, for their unchristian conduct. Going into the country, they had a meeting in a public burying ground, which was very largely attended: "Many were convinced and settled in the truth that day." After the meeting, a justice of the peace said to George Fox, "You have this day given great satisfaction to the people, and answered all the objections that were in their minds." At Point-y-moyle they had another large meeting, which was attended by many persons of consequence in the neighbourhood. Here again many were convinced, and "a large meeting gathered and settled in the name of Jesus."

Leaving Wales for a time, they came to Shrewsbury, where they had a large meeting, and another at William Gandy's, in Cheshire. At the last meeting between two and three thousand people were supposed to be present. "A blessed meeting it was; for Friends were settled by the power of God, upon Jesus Christ, the rock and foundation."

About this time there was a great drought in the nation, on which account the protector issued a proclamation for a general fast. George Fox was concerned on this occasion to publish a paper on the subject of fasts; he also addressed one to the protector, in which he told him, "If he had come to own God's truth, he should have had rain; and that drought was to them a sign of their barrenness, and want of the water of life."

George Fox and his companions now came again into Wales, and passed through Montgomeryshire into Radnorshire. In one place in this county they had a remarkably large meeting. George did not go into it at first, but desired John ap John to go, and if he had any thing to communicate to the people, to speak in Welsh, by which more people might be collected. When the meeting was gathered, a person of the name of Morgan Watkins came to George, and said to him: "The people