my house, had one of them in his bags, which he had made some marginal notes upon. For

that good man, like Julius Cæsar, willing to improve all parts of his time, did usually even in his travels, dictate to his amanuensis, what he would have committed to writing. I knew not that he had this book with him, for he had not said any thing to me of it, till going in the morning into his chamber, while he was dressing himself, I found it lying on the table by him. And understanding that he was going but for a few weeks, to visit Friends in the meetings hereabouts, and the neighbouring parts of Oxford and Berkshire, and so return through this county again, I made bold to ask him if he would favour me so much, as to leave it with me till his return, that I might have the opportunity of reading it through. He consented, and as soon almost as he was gone, I set myself to read it over. But I had not gone far in it, ere, observing the many foul falsehoods, malicious slanders, gross perversions and false doctrines abounding in it, the sense thereof inflamed my breast with a just and holy indignation against the work, and that devilish spirit in which it was brought forth. Wherefore, finding my spirit raised and my understanding divinely opened to refute it, I began the book again, and reading it with pen in hand, answered it paragraphically as I went. And so clear were the openings I received from the Lord therein,that by the time my friend came back, I had

gone through the greatest part of it; and was too far engaged in spirit to think of giving over the work; wherefore, requesting him to continue the book a little longer with me, I soon after finished the answer, which, with Friends' approbation was printed, under the title of An Antidote against the Infection of William Rogers' book, miscalled the Christian Quaker, &c. This was written in the year, 1682. But no answer was given to it either by him or any other of his party; though many others were concerned therein, and some by name, so far as I have ever heard. Perhaps there might be an hand of Providence over-ruling them therein, to give me leisure to attend some other services, which soon after fell upon me.

1682. For it being a stormy time, and persecution waxing hot, upon the conventicle-act, through the busy boldness of hungry informers, who, for their own advantage, did not only themselves hunt after religious and peaceable meetings, but drove on the officers (not only the more inferior and subordinate, but in some places, even the justices also) for fear of penalties, to hunt with them and for them. I found a pressure upon my spirit to write a small treatise, to inform such officers, how they might secure and defend themselves from being ridden by those malapert informers, and made their drudges.

This treatise I called, A Caution to Constables and other inferior Officers, concerned in the Execution of the Conventicle-Act. With

some Observations thereupon, humbly offered by way of Advice, to such well-meaning and moderate Justices of the Peace, as would not willingly ruin their Peaceable Neighbours, &c.

1683. This was thought to have some good service where it came, upon such sober and moderate officers, as well justices as constables, &c. as acted rather by constraint than choice; by encouraging them to stand their ground, with more courage and resolution, against the insults of saucy informers.

But whatever ease it brought to others, it brought me some trouble, and had like to have brought me into more danger, had not Providence wrought my deliverance by an unexpected way.

For as soon as it came forth in print, which was in the year 1683, one William Ayrs of Watford, in Hertfordshire, a Friend, and an acquaintance of mine, who was both an apothecary and barber, being acquainted with divers of the gentry in those parts, and going often to some of their houses to trim them, took one of these books with him, when he went to trim Sir Benjamin Titchborn, of Rickmansworth, and presented it to him, supposing he would have taken it kindly, as in like cases he had formerly done. But it fell out otherwise. For he looking it over, after Ayrs was gone, and taking it by the wrong handle, entertained an evil opinion of it, and of me for it, though he knew me not.

He thereupon communicated both the book and his thoughts upon it, to a neighbouring justice, living in Rickmansworth, whose name was Thomas Fotherly; who concurring with him in judgment, they concluded that I should be taken up and prosecuted for it, as a seditious book; for a libel they could not call it, my name being to it at length.

Wherefore, sending for Ayrs, who had brought the book, justice Titchborn examined him if he knew me, and where I dwelt. Who telling him he knew me well, and had been often at my house, he gave him in charge to give me notice, that I should appear before him and the other justice, at Rickmansworth on such a day; threatening that if I did not appear, he himself should be prosecuted for spreading the book.

This put William Ayrs in a fright. Over he came in haste with this message to me; troubled that he should be a means to bring me into trouble. But I endeavoured to give him ease, by assuring him I would not fail, with God's leave, to appear at the time and place appointed, and thereby free him from trouble or danger.

In the interim, I received advice by an express out of Sussex, that Guli Penn, with whom I had had an intimate acquaintance, and firm friendship from our very youths, was very dangerously ill, her husband being then absent in Pennsylvania, and that she had a great desire to see and speak with me.

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This put me to a great strait, and brought a sore exercise on my mind. I was divided betwixt honour and friendship. I had engaged my word to appear before the justices, which to omit, would bring dishonour on me and my profession. To stay till that time was come and past, might probably prove (if I should then be left at liberty) too late to an⚫ swer her desire, and satisfy friendship.

After some little deliberation, I resolved as the best expedient to answer both ends, to go over next morning to the justices, and lay my strait before them; and try if I could procure from them a respite of my appearance before them, until I had been in Sussex, and paid the duty of friendship to my sick friend. Which I had the more hopes to obtain, because I knew those justices had a great respect for Guli. For when William Penn and she were first married, they lived for some years at Rick mansworth, in which time they contracted a neighbourly friendship with both these justices and theirs; who ever after retained a kind re. gard for them both.

Early therefore in the morning I rode over. But being wholly a stranger to the justices, I went first to Watford, that I might take Ayrs along with me, who supposed himself to have some interest in justice Titchborn; and when I came there, understanding that another Friend of that town, whose name was John Wells, was well acquainted with the other justice, Fotherly; having imparted to them the occa