then at night, with a good master or mistress, Are the dogs fed, and have they straw? And seeing homely prose, and on a homely subject, is too apt to be forgotten, I once put it in verse, and printed it (but on a fugitive sheet, alas! not being then in with the bookseller, for a volume) and here it is again at my reader's service! Ed.

Cæsar! why do you bark all night?

It makes me fret to hear you.
Why, Master, if I guess aright,
My tale will not much cheer you.

Suppose yourself without a bed,
Without your supper too,

Chain'd to a watch-box by the head,
Should we not HEAR from you?

Since Tom is such a thoughtless elf,
And Susan's so unfeeling,
I beg you'll interfere yourself,
And let them spend a shilling.

A little straw would keep the wind
From searching to my bones;
And a meal pudding I should find
Better to lick than stones.

When Winter grim opes wide his mouth,
And snows come thick and double,
To turn my kennel to the South

Were not a deal of trouble.

But, once well serv'd, you'll nap too sound

Oh, Master, do not fear it,

There's not a foot comes on your ground,
But, tho' asleep, I hear it!

H.

ERRATA in the present Half-volume.

Page 15. 1 Sam. x, ii, read x, 11.

56, Dimunitive, read diminutive.

58. Mark vi, read xvi.

151. Nantwich read Nortwich.

Notice. The Subscription for an Annuity for Joseph Lancaster, noticed at page 96, amounts at the present time (Eleventh Mo. 15) at the Bankers', to £1053. Some addition to it is yet wanted for the purpose there announced, Ed.

CHARLES ELCOCK, PRINTER, PONTEFRACT.

ART. I.-A Chronological Summary of events and circumstances connected with the origin and progress of the doctrine and practices of the Quakers.

Continued from p. 176.

It was never my design to make this Summary a complete abstract of even the Sufferings of the Society of Quakers; much less of their History in every part of the world in which they have appeared. I have aimed at bringing afresh under the review of my Friends in profession and the notice of the Public, those parts of it, chiefly, which might at the present juncture subserve to the establishment of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, in this country. We are now coming to a period in the work in which Toleration, that middle step towards an entire freedom of the Conscience, will be found recognised, and sanctioned by the three Estates of the realm; after a Revolution in the Government effected by force of arms. The Quakers, who had so largely contributed by a resistance purely passive to this downfall of Arbitrary power, took no part in the measures which were now actively carried on to effect it. When the King, who was so soon to abdicate the throne, perceiving it already shaken by his own and his evil counsellors' proceedings, had begun to promise largely (and in part to perform) on the vital subject abovementioned, this Society chose, in common with many other dissenters, to take him at his word; and thanked him, as warmly as if the exclusive interests of his own Creed had been in nowise concerned in these measures: or that there was not to be apprehended a future substitution of the more ancient for the more modern (80 called Reformed) Religious Establishment, in all its

terrors. I shall take this proceeding first, among those (concerning Friends) which intervened between the cessation of actual violence towards them, and their protection by Law.

A. D. Friends of London present to the King the following Address.

1687.

“To king James II. over England, &c.

"The humble and thankful address of several of the king's subjects, commonly called Quakers, in and about the city of London, on behalf of themselves and those of their communion.

66

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 needs 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 conscience 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 shall 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 uneasy, or any of them 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 aud 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 amongst the blessed.

"Which is the prayer of," &c. (a)

This address was followed, after some time, by a second to the same purport, from the society assembled in Yearly Meeting, (the 19th of 3rd Mo. May 1687) which was presented to the King at Windsor, by a deputation including the name of William Penn. The latter in delivering it made an introductory speech, the most remarkable words in which are these, I would not that any should think we came hither 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: -the most pointed reflection, on a most unfeeling Court, that could have been conceived! The conclusion of the address offers a sentiment which must not be passed by: We can

(a) Gough iii. p. 189–191.

assure the king, it [the toleration] is well accepted in the counties from whence we came :-we hope the good effects thereof for the peace, trade and prosperity of the kingdom, will produce such a concurrence from the PARLIAMENT as may secure it to our posterity in after times ; and while we live, it shall be our endeavour through God's grace, to demean ourselves as, in conscience to God and duty to the king, we are obliged.'

The king in his reply (which was addressed more particularly to Penn) took no notice of the Parliament; but said, 'What I have promised in my declaration, I will continue to perform as long as I live; and I hope before I die to settle it so, that after ages shall have no reason to alter it.' (b)

A. D. The King dispenses, in favour of individual quakers, with the 1687. usual oaths of office, and causes goods that had been taken from them by Legal distraint (and which lay unsold) to be restored. Whitehall, Nov. 6, 1687.

[To the Lord Mayor] "My Lord,

"The king being informed that Edward Brooker, Henry Jefferson, and Joseph Tomlinson, being Quakers, are by Mr. Barker, steward of Southwark, put upon several offices, as constables and the like, which they are willing to do; but the oaths being tendered to them, from which they think themselves exempted by the king's declaration for liberty of conscience, they are threatened to be fined and otherwise molested, for their refusal to take them: his majesty commands me to let your lordship know, that his pleasure is, that the said Edward Brooker, Henry Jefferson, and Joseph Tomlinson, and all other Quakers, should now, and for the future, either be allowed to serve the said offices, without taking any oaths, or else that they be not fined or otherwise molested upon that account; and his majesty would have you give order therein accordingly.

"Gentlemen,

I am, my Lord,

Your Lordship's most humble servant,

Sunderland." (c) Whitehall, Dec. 14, 1687.

"The king being informed that some goods belonging to John Wales, and other Quakers of Leeds, which were seized and taken from them upon the account of their religious worship, do remain unsold in the hands of John Todd, who was constable at the time of the seizure, or in the hands of some other persons; and his majesty's intention being, that all his subjects shall receive the full benefit of his declaration for liberty of conscience, his majesty commands me to signify his pleasure to you, that you cause the goods belonging to the said John Wales, and all other Quakers of Leeds which were heretofore seized upon the account of religious worship, and are unsold, in whose hands soever they remain, to be forthwith restored to the respective owners, without any charge.

I am, gentlemen,

Your affectionate friend and servant,

Sunderland."

"For Mr. Mayor and the Aldermen of Leeds in the county of York." (cc) The dispensation regarding oaths of office was, in the following

(b) Gough: History, iii, 194. After which this writer gives, in a clear and decided manner, his own sentiments, and those of the independent part of the Society, regarding the presumed insincerity of James. (c) Sewel, ii, 440:

See also p. 178 of this Volume. (cc) Whitehead, 623.

year, on petition and at the king's command, extended [by warrant to the Attorney-General,] to Thomas Howard and thirty-seven others, in order to make them freemen of the city of Norwich. (d)

A. D.

The king's exercise of a dispensing power being deemed un1688. constitutional, seven of the Bishops who had petitioned against it (on occasion of being required to cause his declaration for liberty of conscience to be read in all churches and chapels) are committed to the Tower.

This event, which resulted in the trial by Jury and triumphant acquittal of the prelates, would not have claimed a place here, but for a visit paid them in their confinement by Robert Barclay. The popular opinion was in favour of the bishops, yet the former severities of some of that order against dissenters, particularly against Friends, occasioned some reflections on them. Which coming to the knowledge of the imprisoned bishops, they declared that the Quakers had belied them, by reporting that they had been the death of some. Robert Barclay being informed of this declaration went to the Tower, and gave the bishops a substantiated account of some persons having been detained in prison till death, by order of bishops; though they had been apprised of the danger by physicians who were not Quakers. He however observed to the bishops, that it was by no means the intention of Friends to publish such events, and thereby give the king and their other adversaries any advantage against them.' (e)

Great dissatisfaction continuing in the nation, at the proceed ings of King James and his Council, for the establishment of an arbitrary power in the Crown, and the introduction of those of the Romish faith (which he openly followed) into places of trust and profit under him, invitations are given to the Prince of Orange (his son in law) to come over and assume the government.

in

It is not my province to recite here the several public grievances of this period. A principal one certainly was, the king's dispensing with the operation of penal statutes in favour of the Romanists, though by a collateral (and for the time necessary) toleration of the several denominations of dissenters. This, with his arbitrary and oppressive conduct towards the two Universities, and such of the superior Clergy as dared to dispute his will, gave an alarm to the Church Establishment which sufficed to undermine the foundation of James's power England. In Scotland, where he had also proclaimed liberty of con science (and was thanked for it by Friends) he was not much better liked. Ireland alone now remained in his interest. He had in the Court of France a firm and powerful ally: but the recent cruelties exercised there and elsewhere upon the Protestants (many thousands of whom had fled to England) could not fail to make that connexion odious to the English people. (ƒ)

(d) Sewel, p. 447. (e) Barclay's Life 1802, p. 70: Sewel, ii, 443. (f) Burnet says of the year 1685. This year-must ever be remembered as the most fatal to the Protestant religion. In February, a King of England