them of the day of the Lord, and exhorting them to turn to the light and spirit of God in themselves, that thereby they might be led out of evil. Next day, passing through many great waters, we came to Leer, and the day following to Embden, where John Claus' wife's father lived; at whose house, when we went into Germany, we left a young man sick, who travelled with me, and used to write for me; whom now we found pretty well recovered. John Claus went to his father-in-law's, John Hill and I, to an inn, where we dined. After dinner we went also to John Claus' father's, and had a good meeting there in the evening.

The day following we took shipping at Embden, and passed to Delfziel, and went to an inn, where a Friend came to us that then lived in Delfziel, having been often banished from Embden: he was a goldsmith by trade, and had a house and shop in Embden, and still as they banished him he went again. Then they imprisoned him, fed him with bread and water, and at length took his goods from him, and banished him, his wife and children, leaving them neither place to come to, nor any thing to subsist

We comforted and encouraged him in the Lord, exhorting him to be faithful, and stand steadfast in the testimony committed to him. When we had taken leave of him, we passed the same day to Groningen, where we met with Cornelius Andries, a Friend, that had also suffered much by imprisonment and banishment at Embden. We went with him to his house, and the next day we had a good meeting in that city, to which several professors came, who were very peaceable and attentive. After meeting we passed by boat to Strobus, and Dockum, where we lodged that night at an inn. Taking boat again next morning, we passed to Leuwarden, the chief city of Friesland, where I found my daughter Yeomans, who was come from Amsterdam thither to meet me. That day we had a precious meeting at Sybrand Dowes' house. After the meeting I had discourse with some that were at the meeting, who had formerly been convinced of truth; but were not come into obedience to it. We staid there that night; but John Hill left us, and went that day to Harlingen, and so to Amsterdam.

Next day we passed down the river to the lake of Hempen-Sarmer, and thence by the lake Lugmer, and so to a town called Anderigo; from whence sailing through the lake Whispool, we came to Gardick within night. We lodged at an inn; and the next day being first-day, we were at Friends' meeting there, which was very large, many of the town's people coming in. I declared the truth in the power of the Lord, that was upon me; which tendered the people, and they were very sober. After the meeting we staid to refresh ourselves, and went to take boat again; but the people observing us, gathered together at a bridge we were to pass, and there I declared the way of life and salvation unto them, and they were very attentive and civil.

We went back that evening to Leuwarden, being twenty-seven miles; but before we could reach it, the gates were shut and the bridges drawn up, so that we could not get into the city, but were fain to lie in the boat all night; and a man being killed in the city that night, it was late before the gates were opened. When we could get in, we went to a Friend's house, where we staid awhile; then taking boat, we passed through Franeker to Harlingen, to Hassel Jacobs', where we found several Dutch Friends come to be at the meeting there next day. William Penn, returning two or three days before out of Germany, had been at a large meeting at Amsterdam on first-day; and after meeting, understanding I was at Harlingen, came thither to me.

Next day was the Monthly Meeting for men and women, to which we went. It was large and good. And there it was agreed, a meeting should be held there once a month, both for the men and for the women, to take care of the outward concerns of the church.'

In the afternoon we had a public meeting, to which came people of several sorts, Socinians, Baptists, Lutherans, &c. amongst whom was a doctor of physic and a priest. After I had declared the truth pretty largely, opening the happy state that man and woman were in whilst they kept under God's teaching, and abode in paradise; and the wo and misery that came upon them when they went from God's teaching, hearkened to the serpent's, transgressed God's command, and were driven out of the paradise of God; and set forth the way whereby man and woman might come into that happy state again: the priest, an ancient grave man, stood up just as I had done speaking, and, putting off his hat, said, I pray God to prosper and confirm that doctrine, for it is truth, and I have nothing against it.' He would willingly have staid till the meeting had been ended, but being to preach that evening, he could not stay longer, the time for his own worship being come. Wherefore, when he had made confession of the truth, he hastened away, that he might come again; and did come, it seems, to the meeting-place, but the meeting was ended first. After which we went to Hassel Jacobs' where I had a meeting with Friends, and the doctor of physic came thither to discourse with William Penn, who had a good opportunity to open truth to him. By this doctor the priest sent his love to me, wishing him to tell me, that he had left preaching that evening half an hour sooner than he used to do, that he might come to our meeting again to hear more of that good doctrine. I heard afterwards, that his hearers questioned him for what he had said in our meeting; and that, he standing by his words, they had complained of him for it to the other priests of the city, who called him to account about it; but the result I could not learn.

Early next morning William Penn, taking John Clause with him, passed from Harlingen for Leuwarden, where he had appointed a meet

ing, intending to travel into some other parts of Germany to visit a tender people there. I, with those Friends that were with me, took ship the same day for Amsterdam, where we arrived a little after midnight; but the gates being shut, we lay on board till morning: then went to Gertrude Dirick Nieson's, where many Friends came to see us, being glad of our safe return. Next day, feeling a concern upon my mind, with relation to those seducing spirits that made division among Friends, and being sensible that they endeavoured to insinuate themselves into the affectionate part, I was moved to write a few lines to Friends concerning them, as followeth:

'ALL these that set themselves up in the affections of the people, set themselves up, and the affections of the people, and not Christ. But Friends, your peaceable habitation in the truth, which is everlasting, and changes not, will outlast all the habitations of those that are out of the truth, although they be never so full of words. So those that are so keen for J. S. and J. W. let them take them, and the separation; and you that have given your testimony against that spirit, stand in your testimony, till they answer by condemnation. Do not strive, nor make bargains with that which is out of the truth; nor save that alive to be a sacrifice for God, which should be slain, lest you lose your kingdom. 'G. F.

'Amsterdam, the 14th of the 7th month, 1677.'

The first-day following, I was at a Friends' meeting at Amsterdam, to which many people came, and were very civil and attentive, hearing truth declared several hours. John Roeloffs interpreted for me.

Before this several of the Friends that came over with me were returned to England again, as Robert Barclay, George Keith's wife, and others; and now my daughter Yeomans went back also: so that I was left alone at Amsterdam. While I was there, it came upon me to visit my suffering friends at Dantzick, with a few lines to encourage and strengthen them in their sufferings, as followeth:

DEAR FRIENDS,-To whom is my love in the Lord's truth, that is over all, and by which all God's people are made free men and women, being thereby set free from him who is out of the truth; that walking in the truth, they may answer the witness of God in all people; which truth all must come to if they be made free. Therefore be faithful unto what the Lord manifests unto you. I am glad the Lord hath witnesses in that city, to stand for his glory and name, and for Christ Jesus, the great prophet, whom God hath raised up, who is to be heard in all things; so that ye need none of the prophets which men have raised up. There

fore stand faithful to Christ Jesus, your shepherd, that he may feed you; hear his voice, and follow him, who has laid down his life for you; but follow none of the shepherds and hirelings that are made by men, though they may be angry because ye will not follow them to their dry and barren mountains, who have been and are the thieves, persecutors, and robbers, that climb up another way than by Christ. Set up Christ to be your counsellor and leader, and then ye will have no need of any of the counsellors and leaders of the world; for Christ is sufficient, whom God has given you. Set up Christ Jesus to be your bishop and overseer, who is sufficient to oversee you, that you go not astray from God; by which ye may see over all the hireling overseers made by men, which keep the people, that they do not go from the rudiments, formalities, fashions, and customs of the world, which hath been and is their work. I am glad that ye are come to own Christ Jesus, your high priest, who is holy, harmless, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, as the church and the apostle did own him in their days, Heb. vii. who is the high priest over the household of faith; which faith Christ Jesus is the author and finisher of: and this do all the children of the new covenant witness, who walk in the new and living way. Therefore my desire is, that ye all may be steadfast, whether in bonds or out, in the faith of Christ Jesus, which is the gift of God; by which faith the valiants overcame the devil and all their enemies; in which faith they had victory and access to God, and in that was their unity; which mystery of faith is held in a pure conscience, hidden from the world. I do believe, that your imprisonments and sufferings in that place will be for good in the end (as it hath been in other places,) ye standing faithful to the Lord, who is all-sufficient. For your sufferings and trials will try their teachers and religions, churches and worships, and make manifest what birth they are of; even that which persecutes him that is born of the spirit: for ye know that there is no salvation by any other name under the whole heaven, but by the name of Jesus; therefore it is time to leave them when there is no salvation by or in any of them. Now, Friends, I desire that you would take a list of the names of all those that belong to the king of Poland, where they live, and how ye may send books and epistles to them, and keep a correspondence with them; also the name of the bishop or cardinal that I heard was with you; and if ye can get any that belong to the king to come to visit the prisoners, that they may inform the king of their cruel sufferings. Also I desire you to get as many books of mine as you can dispose of, that set forth your sufferings, and the cruelty of the magistrates of Dantzick; and give them to the king, his council, attendants, and bishops. And some of the women may speak to the queen, if they can, that she may signify to the king their cruel sufferings; and especially some of the sufferers' wives, if there be VOL II.

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any of capacity to do it. You may likewise give his attendants any other Friends' books; what books ye lack, send for to Amsterdam where ye may be furnished with them, to answer every tender desirer, and enquiring mind after the Lord. So let all your minds be bended with the Lord's power, to spread his truth abroad; and where ye hear of any, or have any correspondence in trading with any sober people, far or near, send them books, that their understandings may be opened after the Lord. The Lord God Almighty preserve you! To his protection, in his eternal power, do I commend you all, in bonds or at liberty, with my love to you in the everlasting seed of God Christ Jesus, who bruises the head of the serpent, that makes you to suffer. Christ is over him, and will be when he is gone, who is first and last, over all, from everlasting to everlasting, in whom ye have life, knowledge, wisdom, and salvation, and through him live to the praise and glory of God, who is blessed for evermore, Amen.

Amsterdam, the 18th of the 7th month, 1677. 'English style.'

G. F.

The next day, the fourth of the week and the nineteenth of the month, I had a large meeting at Amsterdam, many professors being at it, and truth was largely opened to them, in the demonstration of the heavenly power. The day following I went by boat, many Friends going with me, to Landsmeer in Waterland (a town in which, they say, there are above a hundred bridges,) where I had a very good meeting, to which several professors came. After the meeting I returned with Friends to Amsterdam again, where I staid till the first-day following, and went to their meeting which was large. Many professors of several sorts were at it and heard the truth declared with great attention.

I tarried next day, and the night following had a great exercise upon my spirit concerning that loose spirit that was run into strife and contention among Friends, and had drawn some after it into division and separation; the way, work, and end whereof the Lord opened to me; wherefore, feeling the motion of life upon me, I got up in the morning and wrote the following epistle to Friends.

'MY DEAR FRIENDS,-Keep your first love in the truth, power, and seed of life in Christ Jesus; for this last night, as I was lying in my bed at Amsterdam, I had a great travail in the holy seed of life and peace, and my spirit was troubled with that spirit of strife and separation. I saw it was a destroying spirit, and did seek not only to get over the seed, but to destroy it, and to eat out the minds of the people from it by strife and contention; and under pretence of standing for the ancient truth, its work is to root it out and destroy the appearance of it, to set up itself.