About this time, I received letters from New England, which gave account of the magistrates’ and rulers’ cruel and unchristian-like proceedings against Friends there, whipping and abusing them very shamefully; for they whipped many women Friends. One woman they tied to a cart, and dragged her along the street, stripped above the waist. They whipped some masters of ships that were not Friends, only for bringing Friends thither. And at that very time, while they were persecuting Friends in this barbarous manner, the Indians slew three-score of their men, took one of their captains, and flayed the skin off his head while he was alive, and carried it away in triumph; so that the sober people said “the judgments of God came upon them, for persecuting the Quakers;” but the blind dark priests said, “It was because they did not persecute them enough.”[48] Great exercise I had in seeking relief here for our poor suffering Friends there, that they might not lie under the rod of the wicked. Upon this and other services for truth, I stayed in London a month or five weeks, visiting meetings, and helping and encouraging Friends to labour for the deliverance of their suffering brethren in other parts. Afterwards I went down to KINGSTON, and visited Friends there and thereaway. Having stayed a little among Friends there, looking over a book I had then ready to go to press, I went into Buckinghamshire, visiting Friends, and having several meetings amongst them, as at AMERSHAM, HUNGER-HILL, JORDANS, HEDGERLY, WYCOMBE, and TURVILLE-HEATH. In some of which, they that were gone out from the unity of Friends in truth into strife, opposition, and division, were very unruly and troublesome; particularly at the men’s meeting at Thomas Ellwood’s at HUNGER-HILL, where the chief of them came from Wycombe, endeavouring to make disturbance, and to hinder Friends from proceeding in the business of the meeting. When I saw their design I admonished them to be sober and quiet, and not trouble the meeting by interrupting its service; but rather, if they were dissatisfied with Friends’ proceedings, and had anything to object, let a meeting be appointed on purpose some other day. So Friends offered to give them a meeting another day: and at length it was agreed to be at Thomas Ellwood’s[49] the week following. Accordingly Friends met them there, and the meeting was in the barn; for there came so many, that the house could not receive them. After we had sat awhile they began their jangling. Most of their arrows were shot at me; but the Lord was with me, and gave me strength in his power to cast back their darts of envy and falsehood upon themselves. Their objections were answered, and things were opened to the people; a good opportunity it was, and serviceable to the truth; for many that before were weak, were now strengthened and confirmed; some that were doubting and wavering, were satisfied and settled; and faithful Friends