sent the extent and unreasonableness of their sufferings, to the king and the government. This will appear from the following statement, which George Whitehead makes, of the proceedings which took place subsequently to the passing of the last mentioned act for suppressing conventicles.

On the 5th day of the 4th month, 1670, our Friends being met as usual in a peaceable manner, at their meeting-house in Grace-church street, London; and George Whitehead being moved publicly to pray to God, in time of prayer was laid hold on by some of the soldiers, pulled away, and haled out of the meeting; as was also John Bolton, an ancient citizen, for declaring the Truth to the people. They were both had to the Exchange, and there kept six hours; after which, according to order, they appeared at Guild Hall, before Sir Joseph Sheldon, &c. Whereupon George Whitehead called for their accusers, to have them face to face.

Some of the soldiers being called to give evidence, George Whitehead warned them to take heed what they swore; and he also warned Joseph Sheldon, and the rest with him, to do nothing but what they could answer for before the great God, who would judge righteously:

for, said he, "we apprehend that we are taken contrary to law, even to this present act, viz. by soldiers, where there was no resistance made by any of us; we desire to be heard."

Joseph Sheldon said: "If you be illegally convicted, you may make your appeal:"endeavouring to stop George Whitehead from pleading.

George Whitehead. "I desire to be heard, &c." But being interrupted several times, he said: “I require you in point of justice to hear me, being a free-born Englishman, &c." whereupon they did a little permit him.

George Whitehead. "We would not have you that are our judges, in the mean time to prejudice your own consciences, by an illegal conviction; nor to do any thing but as you will answer the great God; for we have a tenderness to your consciences."

Joseph Sheldon.

"Well, we must answer for what we do: take you no care for that," &c.

The witnesses being upon their oaths, one affirmed, that George Whitehead was preaching or teaching when they took him.

Joseph Sheldon commanded the witnesses to be gone or depart.

George Whitehead. "I desire the witnesses may stay till I have answered." But Joseph Sheldon urged them still to depart.

George Whitehead. "They have absolutely forsworn themselves; for I was not preaching nor teaching when they took me.

A person that stood by the justice said: "You were praying when they took you."

George Whitehead. "Take notice; this man has spoken truth; but the witness has forsworn himself, in saying that I was preaching," &c. Nevertheless the clerk wrote down, George Whitehead an offender; but what judgment was given by the justices against him or John Bolton, they did not hear, either of fine or imprisonment at that time. The Lord was pleased sometimes to touch the consciences, even of some of the magistrates and our adversaries, whereby they were stopped in their proceedings, and prevented from running us to the extreme severity and penalties of the persecuting laws.

On the 26th day of the 4th month, 1670, being the first day of the week, our Friends being again assembled in their meeting place aforesaid, in White-hart court, Sir Samuel Starling, then lord mayor, and some others, having ordered a priest to be there, he read common prayer and preached a sermon in the gallery; seeming to preach up and excite to love, according to these Scriptures of Paul, Ephes. v. 2, and iv. 2, 15, &c. The commendation of love, &c. being the priest's chief subject; but contrary

thereto, in the time of his preaching, the soldiers being present to guard him and disturb us, were rude and abusive to divers of our Friends, for speaking a few words to the priest, to show him how contrary their actions were to his preaching; though he did not rebuke nor stop them from their rudeness and violence to our Friends, women as well as men.

A great concourse of people were present at the meeting; many to attend the priest, and many out of curiosity and novelty, to hear and · see what work the priest and his company would make; for it seemed a very strange thing, to see a minister of the Church of England stand up and read common prayer, say or sing their service, and preach in a Quaker's meeting, deemed an unlawful conventicle; and therein to preach up love and charity, and at the same time to be attended and guarded with a company of soldiers, to apprehend and persecute the Quakers, for an unlawful meeting or conventicle at the same time and place.

After sermon was ended, George Whitehead stood up and preached the Gospel of peace and love, to show how contrary thereto persecution was, &c. Whereupon the people present were quiet and still, and gave audience; and the meeting was in a peaceable posture for a little time, until two rude fellows, with the soldiers

following them, violently pulled the said George Whitehead down, and by their force pushed down some women present, and carried him to the mayor's and kept him a while in his yard. His name and some false information against him being carried in to the mayor, he quickly sent out a warrant to commit him to the compter, then in the gatehouse at Bishopsgate, for making a disturbance, &c. until he should find sureties or was delivered by law; and this without first calling in or admitting George Whitehead to be heard in his own defence.

But George Whitehead obtaining a sight of the warrant of commitment, desired to speak with the lord mayor himself, which some of his officers made way for; whereupon George Whitehead told the mayor, that there was a mistake in the warrant, which was that charge against him for making a disturbance, &c. for there was no such thing; he made no disturbance, but contrariwise, quieted the people by seasonable advice and counsel. To which the mayor said, he would examine further into it after evening prayer; but in the mean time sent George Whitehead to the compter at Bishopsgate, and in the evening sent for him again; and then said to George Whitehead: "Your women have disturbed the minister;" asking him further: "Do they not disturb you?" George