me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds." Upon this the king made a little pause, and seemed to question whether these passages were truly translated, yet said, the translators might have translated You, as well as Thou, from the Greek; upon which George answered, "Then the translators were as simple as we Quakers:" then the king replied," But you will not pull off your hats, and what have you to say for that? To which Gilbert answered, "If to any mortal, then to the king in the first place;" but that it was a matter of conscience, and "we only do it when we approach the Lord in prayer." "But," said the king, "for all this, there are some among you that have not done well:" to which Gilbert answered, "They have no more pleased us than the king: wherupon some of the nobles said, "May it please your majesty, your majesty says some among these people have not done well: must they be charged with that? It may be possible that some of your majesty's own servants may not have done well, shall we therefore be blamed for that?" "No," said the king, "God forbid;" upon this some of the nobles replied, "Pray your majesty, hear these men, for they speak well, and they look well on your majesty;" said the king, "I protest so they do, I admire to see such wise men Quakers." Then Gilbert asked if they might speak freely, for

they were in great hazard in approaching the king's presence; upon which the king stretched out his hand, and said, "Let no man molest or meddle with them, but let them come to me when they have occasion :" upon which Gilbert replied, "We thank God we have had the favour of seeing the king's face this day, and wish the king health, and prosperity, and length of days; and all you nobles that attend the king this day, the Lord reward you for your moderation towards us." George Whitehead again entreated the king to remember the prisoners' case presented to him, which he promised he would; upon which the king and nobles that attended him drew off to the council; and the friends returned after the council was over, towards London. Some short time after, the assizes coming on, the judges, when they came on the bench at Norwich, were very moderate; and when the friends were brought before them, made a motion, that four or five of them should engage for the whole to appear at the next assizes, when called; which being accepted by friends, they all had their liberty and the women friends were wholly cleared, and no fees laid to be paid by either the men or women, all which proceeded from attending the king, and his clemency to his suffering subjects.

Notwithstanding what is already mentioned of Gilbert's being a great support, and frequent

visiter of the meeting at Hammersmith, I have one thing, among many which might be added, as to his service and sufferings there, which take as followeth.

In or about the year 1671, Gilbert having occasion in the way of his trade, which lay much among great people, to wait on the Lady Sawkell; where, after having been a while, and despatched the business he went about, Sir William Sawkell, the Lady's husband, who then had a command under the Earl of Oxford, in his regiment of horse, came into the room, who having, as well as his lady, a kind respect for Gilbert, was often pretty familiar with him: and now Sir William asked him, What meeting he went to? to which he answered, "Sometimes to one meeting, and sometimes to another:" "The reason,' ," said Sir William, "why I ask is, because I have had orders to go and break up a meeting of your people at Hammersmith, which I have deferred executing, and now I have a fresh command laid on me, and I cannot avoid it, but must go there on Sunday next, and therefore I speak in kindness to you, if you use at any time to go there, that you refrain coming that day; for I receive my command now from so high a hand that I dare not omit executing thereof." Upon this discourse it was immediately laid on Gilbert, that he must be at Hammersmith at the same time Sir William had de

sired he would avoid coming, and accordingly Gilbert told him so before they parted, That he must be at Hammersmith meeting that day; and so they parted. And Gilbert answered the necessity which was laid upon him, not consulting with flesh and blood, but offered up himself; and being come accordingly to the meeting, the Lord's good presence accompanied him, and gave him the word of life to declare, in the authority of which he stood up, and delivered that which the Lord moved upon his heart towards his people, and the rest which were that day assembled in the meeting. And while he was thus preaching, came the troopers into the meeting, and stood for some time to hear the truth declared; but one being more rude than others, said, "This man will never have done, let us pull him down," and accordingly laid hands on him; after which Gilbert asked him, Who commanded them? to which they replied, "Sir William Sawkell." Then said Gilbert, "Let your officer know I am here, and my name is Gilbert Latey;" which when Sir William heard, though he was a very lusty jolly man as could likely be seen, he came in trembling; and at last said, "Latey, did I not tell you that I was commanded to be here to day?" to which Gilbert replied, He did; but said Gilbert, "Did I not also tell thee I was commanded by a Greater than thou art, that I must be here also?" Upon

this, said Sir William, "Go, get thee gone about thy business, and I will take care concerning the rest here met;" upon which Gilbert said, "If thou hast any respect for me, then discharge all the rest, and let me be thy prisoner;" so after some time the friends were set at liberty, and Gilbert taken and carried before the lord Mordaunt and Sir James Smith, who were by appointment, as was supposed, met to attend this matter; and when Gilbert was brought before them, the troopers were called as evidence against him; and Gilbert made his defence with that carriage that his words seemed to have place with them; who, notwithstanding, fined him and the house, and distrained on some friends for the same, among which, one William Simonds had a horse taken from him; but Gilbert was not easy that any friends should suffer on his account; and understanding they had got the horse and other goods, which they kept still undisposed of, Gilbert at last found means to be admitted to their presence, and laid the cruelty of that severe law before them, of making one to suffer for the offence of another; adding, if he had transgressed any law, the Lord had blessed him wherewith to enable them to take their course with him, and therefore desired the friends might not be made to suffer on his account, or through any thing by him said or done : and thus having frequent opportunities to ad