it being then winter time, and for the most part the winds so high, that the ships could carry but little sail, which made our voyage the longer.

About four days after we landed, we had a meeting near Patuxent River, and a blessed one it was. When it was ended, we went to Daniel Rawling's, and from thence to the Clifts, to Richard John's, a friend that came with us from England, at whose house we had a meeting, wherein God's presence was powerfully felt. We had several meetings on that side the bay called the Western Shore, and then we sailed over to the east side of Chesapeak Bay, with Thomas Everden, in his sloop; went to his house, and had a meeting, where many people came. Here we met with our friends Jonathan Tyler, Henry Payton, and Henry Payton's sister. While I was at this Friend's house, there was one Robert Cathing, who being very ill, sent for Thomas Everden, and he (not being very well) desired me to visit the sick person. So I went, and the man was near to death. Howbeit he said

he was comforted much with the visit, and that he never had received so much benefit by the parish priest in his life: "Although," said he, "it cost me dear for what I had; and if ever I live to get over it, by the assistance of God I shall have nothing to do with them more." But, he said, he should not live three days. And before the end of three days he expired. He desired, if I were not gone, I would be at his funeral. On notice hereof, about ten Friends went; and there was a great many people, among whom we had a good opportunity, and many weighty truths were opened to them in the love of God; and some of them were tender and wept ; and the most, if not all (I think I may say) were solid and weighty.

C

From Thomas Everden's house we went to George Truit's, at whose house we had a meeting this Friend and I went to an Indian town not far from his house, because I had a desire to see these people, having never seen any of them before. When we came to the town they were kind to us, spoke well of Friends, and said they would not cheat them (as some others did.)

From George Truit's, in Maryland, we went down to Virginia; and in Accomack and Northampton counties we had large meetings, and I hope they were effectual to many: I think my hope is not without ground. In those parts we had several meetings, where we were informed Friends had not had any before. And really I cannot but bless the Lord for the opportunities we had with the people; for the goodness of God, through Christ our Lord, was great, both to us and them, and with tears they did acknowledge the truth. Now Thomas Turner who had hitherto accompanied me, went by the seaside the nearest way to Philadelphia; and afterwards I had a meeting at George Truit's brother's, and on the First-day, another near the court-house, and went to Thomas Everden's, and so to Levin Denwood's, and thence to Nanticoke River, and visited Friends up the bay until I came to the river Choptank, about which there is a pretty many Friends. So I went on, and took the meetings till I came to Philadelphia, in and about which place, and in other parts of the province of Pennsylvania, I had many large and precious meetings, the power of the Eternal Son of God being wonderful; in which power we many times blessed his name together. It was in my heart much to exhort Friends to love to God, and to unity one

with another, without which there is no fulfilling the law or gospel. There are many Friends in that province, and many sober young people, which greatly rejoiced my spirit; so that for their encouragement, the Lord opened my mouth in a prophetic manner to declare unto them the blessings which he had in store for them, on condition of their walking in the truth. Glory to God on high! untruth decays, and the branches of it mightily wither; the darkness is much past, and the true light shineth gloriously in many souls. O powerful praises be given to God, who is light for ever.

From Philadelphia I went to Burlington, and so to Croswicks, where we had a large meeting under the trees, where some were convinced of the truth. From hence I went to Shrewsbury, and had meetings there. From Shrewsbury we went, mostly by water, to Woodbridge and Staten-Island, from thence to Long-Island, being accompanied by several Friends. On Long-Island we had several large and good meetings, wherein Christ was preached freely; and after we had been two weeks there, we went on board a sloop bound for Rhode-Island, and by the way we touched at Fisher's and Block Islands, and on the First-day morning we set sail from Block-Island to Rhode-Island, the Yearly Meeting being just over when we got there. That evening we sailed over to Connanicut-Island. On the Third-day of the week had a meeting there, and from thence we went over to Narraganset, and had a meeting, and so over to Rhode-Island again; where Ruth Fry, a sober young woman, was convinced, and remained a Friend till her death. Here I met with several travelling Friends.

From the island we went over to the main, and had a large meeting on First-day, at a place called Greenwich. It was thought there were about five hundred people, and many of them were tender. We went over the same night to the island, and after several open times with Friends and others on Rhode Island, about twelve Friends of that island went with me to Warwick and Providence Yearly Meetings, in our friend Borden's boat. We set sail about noon, and having but little wind, it was late. in the night before we got there, and very dark, insomuch that we could neither see nor know one another, but only by our speech, and the darkness occasioned us to run our vessel against the rocks; but at last we got on shore (with our horses) and after going over a very dirty slough, we entered a dismal wilderness, so that these difficulties occasioned our not getting to the Friend's house until the next day, on which, being the last in the week, we had a meeting; and on the First-day we had a large and satisfactory meeting. Many of us were so united in the love of God, that it was hard for us to part one from another.

From Providence I went to Boston and Salem, where I had meetings, and from thence to Hampton. In those parts God Almighty hath shortened the power of persecutors, and hath brought his righteous judgments upon them for their unrighteousness. Oh! that New England's professors might live in the sense of the same, and repent. I being a stranger and traveller, could not but observe the barbarous and unchristianlike welcome I had into Boston, the metropolis of New England. "Oh! what pity," said

one, "it was that all of your society were not hanged with the other four."* In the eastern part of New England, God hath a seed left of his people.

From thence I returned in order to get a passage to the isle of Nantucket; and from a place called Cushnet, we sailed over to the said island in about ten hours, where we tarried several days, and had five meetings. The people did generally acknowledge to the truth, and many of them were tender-hearted. Some of the ancient people said, that it was never known that so many people were together on the island at once. After the first meeting was over, one asked the minister (so called) whether we might have a meeting at his house; he said, with a good will, we might. This minister had some discourse with me, and asked what induced me to come thither, being such a young man. I told him that I had no other view in coming there, than the good of souls, and that I could say with the apostle, that a necessity was laid upon me, and woe would be to me if I did not preach the gospel. "Then," said he, "I wish you would preach at my house in God's name." So next day we had a meeting at his house; and on the First-day we had the largest meeting that we had on the island. It was thought there were about two hundred people. The Lord in his power did make his truth known to the praise of his name. Oh! how was my soul concerned for that people! the Lord Jesus did open my heart to them, and theirs to him they were also loving and kind to us. The chief magistrate of the island desired that I would have a meeting at his house, there being no settled

* Marmaduke Stephenson, William Robinson, Mary Dyer, and William Leddra, who were put to death in 1659 and 1660.