The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers: Intermixed with Several Remarkable Occurrencs.Sewel, William
History
The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the Christian People Called Quakers: Intermixed with Several Remarkable Occurrencs.
Sewel, William
Society of Friends -- History -- Early works to 1800
At the time of the assizes, abundance of people came from far and near,
to hear the trial of the Quakers; who being guarded by the soldiers,
and the sheriff’s men to the court, had much ado to get through the
multitude that filled the streets: besides the doors and windows were
filled with people looking out upon them. Being brought into the court,
G. Fox after all was quiet, said, ‘Peace be amongst you.’ The judge,
(Glyn,) who was then chief justice of England, said to the jailer,
‘What be these you have brought here into the court?’ ‘Prisoners, my
lord,’ said he. ‘Why do you not put off your hats?’ said the judge to
them. They saying nothing; ‘Put off your hats,’ said the judge again;
and they still continuing silent, the judge said, ‘The court commands
you to put off your hats.’ Then G. Fox began to speak, and said, ‘Where
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, (the people of God,) or amongst the heathen?
And if the law of England doth command any such thing, show me that
law either written or printed.’ The judge, then growing angry, said,
‘I do not carry my law books on my back.’ ‘But,’ said G. Fox, ‘where
is it printed in any statute-book, that I may read it?’ At this the
judge said, ‘Take him away, prevaricator! I’ll ferk him.’ Then the
prisoners were taken away, and put among the thieves. But presently
after the judge called to the jailer, ‘Bring them up again.’ This being
done, ‘Come,’ said he, ‘where had they hats from Moses to Daniel? Come,
answer me; I have you fast now.’ To this G. Fox replied, ‘Thou mayest
read in the third 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.’ This plain instance stopped him: so that not
having any thing else to say, he cried again, ‘Take them away jailer.’
Accordingly they were taken away, and being thrust among the thieves,
they were kept there a great while, and at length carried again to
prison; but in the afternoon they were brought up again into the court.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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