A Portraiture of Quakerism, Volume 1: Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners, Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, of the Society of FriendsClarkson, Thomas
Religion
A Portraiture of Quakerism, Volume 1: Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners, Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, of the Society of Friends
Clarkson, Thomas
Society of Friends
Neither did he pull off his hat to the judges at any time,
notwithstanding he was so often brought before them. Controversies
sometimes took place between him and them in the public court, upon
these occasions, one of which I shall notice, as it marks the manner of
conducting the jurisprudence of those times.
When George Fox, and two other friends, were brought out of Launceston
gaol, to be tried before judge Glynn, who was then chief justice of
England, they came into court with their hats on. The judge asked them
the reason of this, but they said nothing. He then told them, that the
court commanded them to pull off their hats. Upon this George Fox
addressed them in the following manner. "Where, says he, did ever any
magistrate, king or judge, from Moses to Daniel, command any to put off
their hats, when they came before them in their courts, either amongst
the Jews, who were God's people, or among the heathen? And if the law of
England doth command any such thing, shew me that law, either written or
printed." Judge Glynn upon this grew angry, and replied, that "he did
not carry his law-books upon his back." But says George Fox, "tell me
where it is printed in any statute-book, that I may read it" The judge,
in a vulgar manner, ordered him away, and he was accordingly taken away,
and put among thieves. The judge, however, in a short time afterwards
ordered him up again, and, on his return put to him the following
question, "Come, says he, where had they hats from Moses to Daniel?
Come, answer me. I have you fast now." George. Fox replied, that "he
might read in the third chapter of Daniel, that the three children were
cast into the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar's command, with their
coats, their hose, and their hats on." The repetition of this apposite
text stopped the judge from any farther comments on the custom, and he
ordered him and his companions to be taken away again. And they were
accordingly taken away and they were thrust again among thieves. In
process of time, however, this custom of the Quakers began to be known
among the judges, who so far respected their scruples, as to take care
that their hats should be taken off in future in the courts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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