matter or cause. Besides, I look upon myself to be illegally committed, as being fined and committed for the same fact." But they told him, he must answer whether he would swear or no, and then he should be heard. But continuing to refuse swearing, he was remanded to prison with the rest; and afterwards being sent for again, and still unwilling to break Christ's command, not to swear at all, the sentence of premunire was read against him and his fellow prisoners, and so they continued in jail above two years, till they were discharged by an act of grace from the king.

The meetings of those called Quakers were miserably disturbed in Horslydown in the county of Surry. On the 25th of September several musketeers came into the meeting-house, and haling those that were met together in the street, the troopers came riding amongst them, and beat and abused them violently, pushing them with their carbines, which the others did with their but ends of their muskets, to that degree, that above twenty persons were wounded and sorely bruised; nay, so desperately wicked were these mischievous fellows, that a party of horse sought to ride over these harmless people; but the horses, more merciful than their riders, and not going forward, they turned them, and by curbing and reining them backward, strove to do what mischief they could. On the 2d of October these peaceable people being kept out of their meeting-place, there came a party of foot, and a party of horse, and abused them no less violently than the week before; insomuch that with beating and knocking they broke several of their muskets and pikes, and one carbine, and above thirty persons were so sorely wounded and bruised, that their blood was spilled in the streets.

On the 9th of the said month the soldiers, both horse and foot, came again to the meeting at the aforesaid place, and one of them having a shovel, threw the dirt and mire from the channels on both men and women; and after him the horse and foot came, and fell upon them, striking and knocking down, without respect to age and sex, until they drew blood from many; and when some of the inhabitants in pity took them into their houses, to save their lives, the soldiers forced open the door, and haled them into the street again, and plucked off their hats, that they might strike on their bare heads; insomuch that many had their heads grievously broken. Some troopers also tore the women's clothes off their backs, and haled them through the mire by their horses sides; and some of the foot soldiers put their hands in a most shameful manner under the women's coats: nay, a soldier twice struck a woman, that was big with child, with his musket on the belly, and once on the breast, whilst another flung dirt in her face: so that she miscarried. And above fifty persons were this day sorely wounded and bruised. The 16th of the said month these conscientious people meeting again to perform their worship to God, a great party of horse and foot came, and fell to beating them so violently, as if they would have killed all on the spot; so that the blood ran down about the ears of many; and one of the constables endeavouring to stop the wicked crew from shedding more blood, they fell upon him also and broke his head; and when they were rebuked for their cruel dealing, some said, "If you knew what orders we have, you would say we dealt mercifully with you." And being asked, "How can you deal thus with a people that make no resistance nor opposition?" They answered, "We had rather, and it would be better for us, if you did resist and oppose." By which it appeared plainly, that this mischief was done to provoke opposition, that so they might have imbrued their hands in the blood of these sufferers, and so have had their lives and goods for a prey. It was therefore thought convenient to acquaint the king and his council with this barbarous cruelty; which had such effect, that some stop was made to these excessive cruelties, though their abuses did not altogether cease.

About this time it happened that Solomon Eccles came to Cork in Ireland, and went into the cathedral, where the priest Benjamin Cross preached in a surplice; and having formerly been a Presbyterian preacher in Dorsetshire in England, had there said, that he had rather go to a stake and be burned, than to put on a surplice. This priest (now become a turn-coat for gain) having finished his sermon, and concluded with a prayer, Solomon Eccles said, that the prayer of the wicked was an abomination to the Lord. And knowing the deceitfulness of the said priest, and his being an apostate, he added, "What shall be done to the man that makes shipwreck of a good conscience?" For this he was taken, and by the mayor committed to prison, where being kept ten days, he was accused as a vagabond, and without any examination, whipped along the streets of Cork, from Northgate to South-gate, and received about ninety stripes, and then was expelled. We have seen heretofore instances of his great zeal; and though in some respect he might by it have been transported a little too far, yet he gave proofs of a sincere heart; for having said some years after to one John Story (who launched out into great haughtiness and arrogancy) that it was the word of the Lord that he should die that year (which by somebody to set a gloss upon it,, was interpreted to be meant of the spiritual death,) yet Eccles himself said afterwards both at London, and Bristol, and elsewhere, that he had not spoken this according to the counsel of the Lord; but that it had been in his own will, and from a forward mind; and that he had felt the anger of the Lord, because he had called these his own words the word of the Lord; which he really repented of.

In the beginning of the year 1671 G. Fox was in London, and though by reason of a heavy sickness, of which he began to recover, he continued still weak, yet he did not omit preach ing; and about this time he made the following prayer to the Lord, which he put in writing;

"O Lord God Almighty! prosper truth, and preserve justice and equity in the land, and bring down all injustice and iniquity, oppression and falsehood, and cruelty, and unmercifulness in the land, that mercy and righteousness may flourish.

"And, O Lord God! establish and set up verity, and preserve it in the land: and bring down in the land all debauchery, and vice, and whoredoms, and fornication; and this raping spirit, which causeth and leadeth people to have no esteem of thee, O God! nor their souls nor bodies, nor of Christianity, modesty, or humanity.

"And, O Lord! put it in the magistrates'