The day following, William Penn and I, with other Friends, went
towards Amsterdam with some Friends of that city, who came to
Rotterdam to conduct us thither. We took boat in the afternoon, and,
passing by Overkirk, came to Delft, through which we walked on foot.
We then took boat again to Leyden, where we lodged that night at
an inn. This is six Dutch miles from Rotterdam, which are eighteen
English miles, and five hours' sail or travelling; for our boat was
drawn by a horse that went on the shore.
Next day, taking boat again, we went to Haarlem, fourteen miles from
Leyden, where we had appointed a meeting, which proved very large;
for many of the townspeople came in, and two of their preachers. The
Lord gave us a blessed opportunity, not only with respect to Friends,
but to other sober people, and the meeting ended peaceably and well.
After it we passed to Amsterdam.
[After a conference, the following meetings were established or
"settled."]
A monthly, a quarterly, and a yearly meeting, to be held at Amsterdam
for Friends in all the United Provinces of Holland, and in Embden,
the Palatinate, Hamburg, Frederickstadt, Dantzic, and other places
in and about Germany; which Friends were glad of, and it has been of
great service to Truth.
[One of the most interesting episodes of this journey was the
visit paid by George Keith's wife and Fox's step-daughter,
Isabel Yeomans, to the Princess Elizabeth, to whom Fox sent a
personal letter. "Princess Elizabeth" was the daughter of the
unfortunate Frederick, Elector Palatine, and granddaughter of
James the first of England. She was a woman of great spiritual
gifts and of considerable intellectual power. She was the friend
and correspondent of the philosopher Des Cartes. She had,
previous to this visit, made the acquaintance (which developed
into close friendship) of William Penn and Robert Barclay. She
frequently used her influence upon her uncle, King Charles, and
her brother, Prince Rupert, to secure the release of Friends
from the prisons of England and Scotland. Her answer to George
Fox's letter is as follows:]
"DEAR FRIEND:
"I cannot but have a tender love to those that love the Lord
Jesus Christ, and to whom it is given, not only to believe in
Him, but also to suffer for Him; therefore your letter and your
Friends' visit have been both very welcome to me. I shall follow
their and your counsel as far as God will afford me light and
unction; remaining still your loving friend,
"ELIZABETH.
"Hertford [Westphalia], the 30th of August, 1677."
[Twice we get glimpses of the great world movements which just
then had these Low Countries for their stage. In the great
struggle with Louis XIV. the dykes had been cut and much of
the country was under water. Here is an experience in East
Friesland:]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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