and after a cursory examination, during which Hacker pretended to consider the meetings of Friends dangerous to the safety of the Commonwealth, he was sent a prisoner to London for the disposal of the Protector.

When George Fox was introduced at Whitehall, Cromwell conducted himself with moderation and courtesy. He held a lengthened conversation with him on religious subjects, and several times acknowledged the truth of the sentiments he expressed. Upon the entrance of some persons of consideration, George Fox drew back a little, and was about to take his leave, when the Protector caught him by the hand, and in a feeling manner said, "Come again to my house; for if thou and I were but an hour of a day together, we should be nearer one to another: adding, that he wished George Fox "no more ill, than he did to his own soul." He at once received his discharge, and by Cromwell's command, was invited to dine with the officers of the court: but he decisively declined the offer. When Cromwell heard it, he observed, "Now I see there is a people risen, that I cannot win either with gifts, offices, or places." But George Fox says, he was told "Friends had forsaken their own, and were therefore not likely to look for such things from him."

After holding many large and solemn meetings,

attended by persons of various persuasions, he again left the metropolis, and continued diligently to travel through various districts of England during the years 1654 and 1655; and although occasionally arrested or otherwise misused, yet the violence of the persecution to which himself and Friends had hitherto been obnoxious, was for a time considerably mitigated.

But this comparative calm did not long continue. Towards the close of 1655, George Fox was taken in Cornwall, and, along with his friend Edward Pyot of Bristol, sent under a military guard to Launceston jail; charged with wandering about the country without a pass "under the notion of Quakers." There they were kept for many weeks, until the assize; when, as nothing worthy of bonds could be adduced against them, Judge Glynn, at that time Chief Justice of England, fined them the sum of twenty marks each, for not uncovering their heads in court. As, however, to have paid such a fine, would, in the estimation of the prisoners, have implied an acknowledgment of guilt, they declined to do so, and were in consequence recommitted.

Thus unreasonably detained, and seeing no prospect of an early release, they determined to demand free quarters, and to cease to pay the keeper for their board. But at this, the jailer, who had been a thief and was branded both on

the shoulder and in the hand, was exceedingly incensed, and in his malicious rage, thrust them down into a dungeon, called Doomsdale; a place so unwholesome, that it was said few who entered it, ever again came out in health. The accumulated mire and filth of years, covered the floor in some places as deep as their shoe-tops; and their jailer would by no means suffer them to have beds nor straw to lie upon; but they were compelled continually to stand, night and day. They were on one occasion nearly suffocated; and their inhuman keeper railed upon them "hideously." For a long time he would not permit them to cleanse the den, nor to have any food but what was handed to them through the grate: and once when a young woman kindly brought them a little meat, he arrested and prosecuted her "for breaking into his house;" which so discouraged others that i was with difficulty they could obtain water, sustenence of any kind.

At length the sessions being at hand the succeeded in getting a statement ings drawn up and presented Bodmin. On reading it, the that the prisoners should the dungeon, and to p town. A simil

to the governor of Pendennis Castle, to examine into their various causes of complaint; an enquiry which was of essential service. After nearly six months' detention, they were discharged in the autumn of 1656. The year following, the jailer who had used them thus cruelly, became in his turn a prisoner, and was reduced to beg of Friends. His violent dealing returned upon his own head; his successor in office cast him into Doomsdale; he was locked in irons, beaten, and at length died in jail.

In 1657, George Fox visited Scotland, where he combated the prevailing doctrine of unconditional election and reprobation. He taught

that Christ died for all; was a propitiation for the sins of the whole world; that He enlightens all by the manifestation of His Spirit: that therefore all who receive and obey Christ become elected or chosen in Him; whilst those who vex, quench, and grieve the Holy Spirit, become reprobate, because they have rejected the grace of God which brought the offer of salvation to them.

examined before

At Edinburgh he was Cromwell's council, and was commanded to depart the nation of Scotland within a week. He continued, nevertheless, to labour in that city and neighbourhood without further molestation;

C

and on the completion of his service repaired to London.

During his stay in the metropolis he was indefatigable in his exertions to alleviate the sufferings of his imprisoned friends, and in making application to those in power for their release. It was near the conclusion of these engagements, that he went to Hampton Court with the design of seeking an audience of Cromwell, and endeavouring to influence him to put a stop to persecution; when he tells us that he met the Protector riding in the park at the head of his life-guard, and "saw and felt an apparition of death go forth against him." And when he came to him, "he looked like a dead man." They, however, conversed respecting the sufferings to which Friends were subjected under his rule; and at parting, he invited George Fox to repair to Hampton Court on the morrow, and more fully explain their circumstances to him. He accordingly went the next day, but Cromwell was so ill that the physicians would not permit him to be seen. His death took place shortly afterwards.

But neither the accession of Richard Cromwell to the chief magistracy of the nation, nor the subsequent "Restoration" of Charles II. to the throne, prevented the continuance of persecution; and many hard imprisonments were still