The journal of George Fox, vol. 2 of 2 : $b Being an historical account of his life, travels, sufferings, and Christian experiences.Fox, George
Religion
The journal of George Fox, vol. 2 of 2 : $b Being an historical account of his life, travels, sufferings, and Christian experiences.
Fox, George
Fox, George, 1624-1691
I told the judge, “I had more yet to offer to stop sentence;” and asked
him, “whether all the oath ought to be put into the indictment or not?”
“Yes,” said he, “it ought to be all put in.” “Then,” said I, “compare
the indictment with the oath, and there thou mayest see these words,
viz. [or by any authority derived, or pretended to be derived from him,
or his see] left out of the indictment, which is a principal part of the
oath, and in another place the words [heirs and successors] are left
out.” The judge acknowledged these also to be great errors. “But,” said
I, “I have something further to allege.” “Nay,” said the judge, “I have
enough, you need say no more.” “If,” said I, “thou hast enough, I desire
nothing but law and justice at thy hands, for I don’t look for mercy.”
“You must have justice,” said he, “and you shall have law.” Then I
asked, “Am I at liberty and free from all that hath ever been done
against me in this matter?” “Yes,” said the judge, “you are free from
all that hath been done against you. But then,” starting up in a rage,
he said, “I can put the oath to any man here, and I will tender you the
oath again.” I told him, “he had examples enough yesterday of swearing
and false-swearing, both in the justices and the jury; for I saw before
mine eyes, that both justices and jury had forsworn themselves.” The
judge asked me, “if I would take the oath?” “I bid him do me justice for
my false imprisonment all this while; for what had I been imprisoned so
long for? and I told him I ought to be set at liberty.” “You are at
liberty,” said he, “but I will put the oath to you again.” Then I turned
me about and said, “All people, take notice, this is a snare, for I
ought to be set free from the jailer and from this court.” But the judge
cried, “Give him the book;” and the sheriff and the justices cried,
“Give him the book.” Then the power of darkness rose up in them, like a
mountain, and a clerk lifted up a book to me. I stood still and said,
“If it be a Bible, give it me into my hand.” “Yes, yes,” said the judge
and justices, “give it him into his hand.” So I took it and looked into
it, and said, “I see it is a Bible, I am glad of it.”
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