About this time the oath or engagement to OLIVER CROMWELL, was tendered to the soldiers; many of whom were disbanded, because, in obedience to Christ, they could not swear. John Stubbs was one, who was convinced when I was in CARLISLE prison, and became a good soldier in the Lamb’s war, and a faithful minister of Christ Jesus, travelling much in the service of the Lord in Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Egypt, and America. And the Lord’s power preserved him out of the hands of the Papists, though many times he was in great danger of the Inquisition. But some of the soldiers who had been convinced, but had not come into obedience to the truth, took Cromwell’s oath; and going afterwards into Scotland, and coming before a garrison there, the garrison thinking they had been enemies, fired at them, and killed many of them; which was a sad judgment. When the churches were settled in the North, and Friends were sat down under Christ’s teaching, and the glory of the Lord shone over them, I passed from SWARTHMORE to LANCASTER (about the beginning of the year 1654,) and so through the counties, visiting Friends till I came to SYNDERHILL-GREEN,[32] where a meeting was appointed three weeks before; leaving the North fresh and green, under Christ their teacher. But before I came to SYNDERHILL-GREEN, we passed through HALIFAX, a rude town of professors, and came to one, Thomas Taylor’s, who had been a captain, where we met with some janglers; but the Lord’s power was over all; for I travelled in the motion of God’s power. When I came to SYNDERHILL-GREEN, there was a mighty meeting, some thousands of people (as it was supposed). Many persons of note were there, as captains and other officers; and there was a general convincement; for the Lord’s power and truth was over all, and there was no opposition. Footnote 32: Near Handsworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire. About this time did the Lord move upon the spirits of many, whom he had raised up, and sent forth to labour in his vineyard, to travel southwards, and spread themselves, in the service of the gospel, to the eastern, southern, and western parts of the nation; as Francis Howgill and Edward Burrough to LONDON; John Camm and John Audland to BRISTOL; Richard Hubberthorn and George Whitehead[33] towards NORWICH; Thomas Holmes[34] into Wales, and others different ways; for above sixty ministers had the Lord raised up, and now sent abroad out of the North country. The sense of their service being very weighty upon me, I was moved to give forth the following paper:— “_To Friends in the Ministry._