'Eat now, Dear Heart,' the woman interrupted, 'whilst thou hast the chance.' So saying, she handed some of the dishes up to the prisoner, standing herself on tiptoe beneath the prison window in order to reach his hand stretched out through the bars. Here James saw his chance. 'Madam,' he cried, 'let me hand the meat up to you.' The lady looked down and saw the worn, thin face. Perhaps she thought the boy looked hungry enough to need the food himself, but something in his eager glance touched her, and when he added, 'For I have come one hundred and fifty miles to see GEORGE FOX,' her kind heart was won. 'Nay, then, thou hast a better right to help him even than I,' she said, 'though I am his very good friend and Colonel Benson's wife. Thou shall hand up the dishes to me, and when our friend is satisfied, thou and I will finish what remains, for in the Lord's power I am moved to eat no meat at my own house, but to share all my sustenance with His faithful servant who lies within this noisome gaol.' 'Madam,' said the boy, speaking with the concentrated intensity of weeks of suppressed longing, 'for the food, it is no matter, though I am much beholden to you. I hunger after but one thing. Bring me within the gaol where I may speak with him face to face. There is that, that I have come afoot a hundred miles to ask him. 'Bring me to him, speedily I pray you, for, though even unseen I love him, 'I MUST SEE GEORGE FOX.' XVIII. THE FIRST QUAKER MARTYR (_From another point of view._) _Extracts from the Diary of the Rev. Ralph Josselin, Vicar of Earls Colne, Essex._ _1655.--'Preacht at Gaines Coln, the Quakers' nest, but no disturbance. God hath raised up my heart not to fear but willing to bear and to make opposition to their ways, in defence of truth.'_ _Ap. 11, 1656.--'Heard this morning that James Parnell, the father of the Quakers in these parts, having undertaken to fast forty days and forty nights was in the morning found dead. He was by jury found guilty of his own death and buried in the Castle yard.'_ _'Heard and true that Turner's daughter was distract in the Quaking business.'_ _'Sad are the fits at Coxall, like the pow-wowing among the Indians.'_ _1660.--'The Quakers, after a stop and a silence, seem to be swarming and increased, and why, Lord thou only knowest!'_ _'So there is no obtaining of Life but through Death, nor no obtaining the Crown but through the Cross.'--JAMES PARNELL._ XVIII. THE FIRST QUAKER MARTYR