sonments for the truth. Sometimes he went into the country to take the fresh air, and at other times he was a while at the country-house of his son in law, William Mead, who married one of his wife's daughters. In the meanwhile he wrote much, for he was of a laborious temper, and did not omit under all his business to visit the meetings of his friends, and to edify them by his admonitions and exhortations. For now they were suffered to keep their meetings unmolested, since the king, in the month called April, published his long expected declaration for liberty of conscience to all his subjects; which contained, That henceforth the execution of all penal laws concerning ecclesiastical matters, for not coming to church, for not receiving the sacraments, or for any other nonconformity with the established religion, or for performing religious worship in any other way, should be suspended, &c.

It would indeed have been more acceptable if this liberty had been established by the king and parliament, this being granted as yet only by virtue of his royal prerogative; but however it was, liberty was enjoyed. The friends therefore of the church in London, seeing how those of other persuasions presented addresses of thanks to the king, for his declaration of liberty of conscience, which was now published and whereby the Dissenters were permitted to

perform their worship freely, provided their preaching did not tend to make the minds of people averse to the government, thought it convenient to draw up an address also, and present it to the king: which was as followeth;

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To king James II. over England, &c.

"May it please the King,

Though we are not the first in this way, yet we hope we are not the least sensible of the great favours we are come to present the king our humble, open, and hearty thanks for; since no people have received greater benefits, as well by opening our prison doors, as by his late excellent and Christian declaration for liberty of conscience; none having more severely suffered, nor stood more generally exposed to the malice of ill men, upon the account of religion; and though we entertain this act of mercy with all the acknowledgments of a persecuted and grateful people; yet we must need say, it doth the less surprise us, since it is what some of us have known to have been the declared principle of the king, as well long before, as since he came to the throne of his ancestors.

"And as we rejoice to see the day that a king of England should from his royal seat so universally assert this glorious principle, that con

science ought not to be constrained, nor people forced for matters of mere religion; (the want of which happy conduct in government has been the desolation of countries, and reproach of religion) so we do with humble and sincere hearts, render to God first, and the king next, our sensible acknowledgments; and because they cannot be better expressed than in a godly, peaceable and dutiful life, it should be our endeavour (with God's help) always to approve ourselves the king's faithful and loving subjects: and we hope that after this gracious step the king hath made towards the union of his people, and security of their common interest, has had a due consideration, there will be no room left for those fears and jealousies that might render the king's reign unhappy.

That which remains, great prince for us to do is to beseech Almighty God (by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice) to inspire thee more and more with his excellent wisdom and understanding to pursue this Christian design of ease to all religious dissenters, with the most agreeable and lasting methods; and we pray God to bless the king, his royal family and people with grace and peace; and that after a long and prosperous reign here, he may receive a better crown among the blessed,

"Which is the prayer of," &c.

This address was received favourably, and therefore those of the yearly meeting, which some time after was held in London, also drew up an address, and some deputies of that meeting went to Windsor, where the court then was, and where William Penn, one of those that had been chosen to present the address, made the following speech to the king:

"May it please the king,

"It was a saying of our blessed Lord to the captious Jews, in the case of tribute, "Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's." As this distinction ought to be observed by all men in the conduct of their lives, so the king has given us an illustrious example in his own person that excites us to it for whilst he was a subject, he gave Cæsar his tribute; and now he is a Cæsar, gives God his due, viz, the sovereignty over consciences. It were a great shame then for any Englishman that pretends to Christianity, not to give God his due. By this grace he has relieved his distressed subjects from their cruel sufferings, and raised to himself a new and lasting empire, by adding their affections to their duty. And we pray God to continue the king in this noble resolution, for he is now upon a principle that has good nature, Christianity, and

the goodness of civil society on its side; a security to him beyond all the little arts of government.

"I would not that any should think, that we came hither with design to fill the gazette with our thanks; but as our sufferings would have moved stones to compassion, so we should be harder, if we were not moved to gratitude.

"Now since the king's mercy and goodness have reached to us throughout the kingdom of England, and principality of Wales, our general assembly from all those parts met in London about our church affairs, has appointed us to wait upon the king with our humble thanks, and me to deliver them; which I do by this address, with all the affection and respect of a dutiful -subject."

After W. Penn had thus delivered himself, he presented the address to the king, which the prince kindly receiving, gave it to him to read; which W. Penn did, and it was as followeth :

To king James II. over England, &c.

The humble and grateful acknowledgments of his peaceable subjects called Quakers, in this kingdom.

From their usual yearly meeting in London, the nineteenth day of the third month, vulgarly called May, 1687.