appointed to be held, in the following week, at Thomas Ellwood's. It was largely attended, and the opposers had opportunity given to state their objections, in which they manifested a particular enmity to George Fox; but he not only repelled their accusations, but answered their objections in such a manner, that the opposers greatly lost ground; and many who were weak and wavering, were restored to more full unity with their Friends, and satisfied with the religious care exercised among them. Faithful Friends were also united and refreshed together; and the cause of truth was much promoted by this, and a similar meeting held at Wycomb during the same week.

After completing his services in Bucks, George travelled into Oxon, Berks, and Wilts, visiting his Friends, and having meetings amongst them. At Reading he again met with some opposition, in the settling of a womens' meeting; but the opposers were obliged to give way to "the weight of truth," with which they had to contend; and the meeting appears to have been established.

From Wiltshire, George went to Bristol, where he arrived the 24th of Eleventh Month; just before the fair. This was a time of great concourse, and many Friends attended it on business; while others came there in the service of truth. "Many sweet

A a

and precious meetings" they had together; and great love and unity prevailed among those who stood faithful, against that spirit of opposition, which had manifested itself in many places, and particularly at Bristol. George Fox was personally the but of the opponents, who manifested much inveteracy against him; but he bore this, as he had done other sufferings, with heavenly patience; being more desirous to surmount opposition by a righteous and exemplary life, than verbally to plead his own cause, though firm in maintaining what he considered to be the cause of truth. By this conduct, the love of faithful Friends towards him was increased; and some who had been misled by his adversaries, seeing their envy and rude behaviour, returned to the unity of their Friends; and were thankful for the deliverance from the snare, in which they were in danger of being caught.

After he had finished his services in Bristol, he travelled through the counties of Gloucester, Worcester, Warwick, Oxford, Buckingham, Hertford, and Bedford, to London; where he arrived the 8th of Third Month, 1678. In this journey he meetings with Friends at many places. At Worcester, where a few years before he had suffered a cruel imprisonment, he staid several days, and had much religious service among his Friends. At Ragley, in Warwickshire, he visited lady Conway,

who, he understood, was desirous to see him; and she received him with great kindness and tenderness. * In this neghbourhood he was visited by William Dewsbury, who was then a prisoner at Warwick; but it seems had liberty, at times, to visit his friends. They spent half a day together, no doubt to their mutual satisfaction. On the day of George's arrival in London, he went to the weekday meeting at Gracechurch Street, where he says, many Friends not knowing I was come to town, were very joyful to see me there; and the Lord was present with us, refreshing us with his living virtue; blessed be his holy name!"

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A particular account of this extraordinary woman, may be found in the Life of Doctor Henry More.

CHAPTER XX.

1678 to 1684-His services in London.-Goes by Herts, Warwickshire, &c. to Swarthmore.-Continues there above a year.-Writes an Epistle to the Yearly Meeting in London. Leaves Swarthmore, and goes by Yorkshire, &c. to London. Attends the Yearly Meeting there.-At Kingston writes to the Great Turk, and to the King of Algiers.-Visits Friends in Surrey and Sussex.-Returns to London.-In a Suit for Tithes, the Judges are surprized at his liberal conduct to his Wife and her children-Makes excursions to the country, returning to London.-Again visits Holland, and returns to England.

WHEN George Fox arrived in London, the

Parliament was sitting; and he united with other Friends, in applying for relief for those who were suffering under laws made against popish recusants. In about two weeks, the yearly meeting came on. This meeting appears to have been very comfortable and refreshing to Friends, who were nearly united to each other in gospel love and fellowship; and no spirit of opposition manifested itself amongst them. They had also comfortable accounts from Friends in different parts of Europe and America ; of all which he gives a particular account in a letter to his wife, written soon after this yearly meeting.

But though the yearly meeting was thus satis

t

factory, George suffered much in his spirit, on account of a prevailing disposition, in many, to depart from the simplicity and purity of their profession, and particularly to oppose the excellent discipline established in the society; for whose sake he published a paper "for undeceiving the deceived, and opening the understandings of the weak in this matter." It contains many sound observations and arguments, and had probably a good effect; though many of those who were settled in their opposition, did not profit by it.

During his residence in London at this time, the parliament sat again; and he was again engaged in endeavouring to procure redress for his suffering Friends, to which many of the members were much inclined; but other engagements prevented any thing being done at that time.

Having finished his services in the city, for the present, he went to Hertford, where he spent several days, and had much religious service of various kinds. From Hertford he went by Rabley Heath, Stevenage, Baldock, Hitchin, and Ashwell, into Bedfordshire, having meetings at all those places. In Bedfordshire he had many meetings, and much service in the cause of his Master; and then passed into Huntingdonshire. At Ives, in this county, he was met by his friend George