sion of my coming, I took them both with me, and hasted back to Rickmansworth. Where having put our horses up at an inn, and leav. ing William Ayrs, who was a stranger to Fotherly, there, I went with John Wells to Fotherly's house; and being brought into a fair hall, I tarried there while Wells went into the parlour to him, and having acquainted him that I was there, and desired to speak with him, brought him to me with severity in his

countenance.

After he had asked me, in a tone which spake displeasure, what I had to say to him? I told him I came to wait on him, upon an intimation given me, that he had something to say to me; he thereupon plucking my book out of his pocket, asked me if I owned myself to be the author of that book? I told him if

he pleased to let me look into it, if it were mine I would not deny it. He thereupon giving it into my hand, when I had turned over the leaves and looked it through, finding it to be as it came from the press, I told him I wrote the book, and would own it, all but the errors of the press. Whereupon, he looking sternly on me, answered, Your own errors you should have said.

Having innocency on my side, I was not at all daunted at either his speech or looks, but feeling the Lord present with me, I replied, I know there are errors of the press in it, and therefore I excepted them; but I do not know there is any error of mine in it, and therefore

cannot except them. But, added I, if thou pleasest to shew me any error of mine in it, I shall readily both acknowledge and retract it. And thereupon I desired him to give me an instance in any one passage in that book, wherein he thought I had erred. He said he needed not go to particulars, but charge me with the general contents of the whole book. I replied; that such a charge would be too general for me to give a particular answer to; but if he would assign me any particular passage, or sentence in the book, wherein he apprehended the ground of offence to lie, when I should have opened the terms, and explained my meaning therein, he might perhaps find cause to change his mind, and entertain a better opinion, both of the book and me. And therefore I again intreated him, to let me know what particular passage or passages had given him an offence. He told me, I needed not to be in so much haste, for that I might have it timely enough, if not too soon; but this, said he, is not the day appointed for your hearing, and therefore, added he, what I pray, made you in such haste to come now? I told him I hoped he would not take it for an argument of guilt, that I came before I was sent for, and offered myself to my purgation before the time appointed. And this I spake with somewhat a brisker air; which had so much influence on him, as to bring a somewhat softer air over his

countenance.

Then going on, I told him I had a particular occasion, which induced me to come now;

which was, that I received advice last night, by an express out of Sussex, that William Penn's wife, with whom I had had an intimate acquaintance, and strict friendship, ab ipsis ferè incunabilis, at least, à teneris unguiculis, lay now there very ill; not without great danger, in the apprehension of those about her, of her life and that she had expressed her desire that I would come to her as soon as I could; the rather, for that her husband was absent in America. That this had brought a great strait upon me, being divided between friendship and duty; willing to visit my friend in her illness, which the nature and law of friendship required, yet unwilling to omit my duty, by failing of my appearance before him and the other justice, according to their com. mand and my promise; lest I should thereby subject, not my own reputation only, but the reputation of my religious profession, to the suspicion of guilt, and censure of willingly shunning a trial. To prevent which, I had chosen to anticipate the time, and come now; to see if I could give them satisfaction in what they had to object against me; and thereupon being dismissed, pursue my journey into Sussex; or if by them detained, to submit to Providence; and by an express, to acquaint my friend therewith, both to free her from an expectation of my coming, and myself from any imputation of neglect.

While I thus delivered myself, I observed a sensible alteration in the justice; and when I

had done speaking, he first said he was very sorry for Madam Penn's illness; of whose vitue and worth he spake very highly, yet not more than was her due; then he told me, That for her sake, he would do what he could to further my visit to her, but, said he, I am but one, and of myself can do nothing in it; therefore you must go to Sir Benjamin Tichborn, and if he be at home, see if you can prevail with him to meet me, that we may consider of it.

But I can assure you, added he, the matter which will be laid to your charge concerning your book, is of greater importance than you seem to think it. For your book has been laid before the king and council; and the earl of Bridgwater (who is one of the council) hath thereupon given us command to examine you about it, and secure you.

I wish, said I, I could speak with the earl myself; for I make no doubt but to acquit myself unto him and added I, if thou pleasest to give me thy letter to him, I will wait upon him with it forthwith. For although I know, continued I, that he hath no favour for any of my persuasion, yet knowing myself to be wholly innocent in this matter, I can with confidence appear before him, or even before the king in council.

Well, said he, I see you are confident, but for all that, let me tell you, how good soever your intention was, you timed the publishing of your book very unluckily; for you cannot be

ignorant, that there is a very dangerous plot lately discovered, contrived by the dissenters against the government, and his majesty's life. (This was the Rye-plot, then newly broke forth, and laid upon the Presbyterians :) and for you, added he, to publish a book just at that juncture of time, to discourage the magistrates and other officers, from putting in execution those laws, which were made to suppress their meetings, looks, I must tell you, but with a scurvy countenance upon you.

If, replied I, with somewhat a pleasanter air, there was any mis-timing in the case, it must lie on the part of those plotters, for timing the breaking forth of their plot while my book was printing; for I can bring very good proof, that my book was in the press, and well nigh wrought off, before any man talked, or knew of a plot, but those who were in it.

Here our discourse ended, and I, taking for the present my leave of him, went to my horse, and changing my companion, rode to justice Tichborn's, having with me William Ayrs, who was best acquainted with him, and who had casually brought this trouble on me.

When he had introduced me to Tichborn, I gave him a like account of the occasion of my coming at that time, as I had before given to the other justice. And both he and his lady, who was present, expressed much concern for Guli Penn's illness.

I found this man to be of quite another temper than justice Fotherly; for this man was smooth,