Here followeth Sixteen Queries delivered to John Story by R.W. and T.L. (it being pretended, that G.F’s desire was, that John Story should Answer them) and the Substance of John Story’s Answers thereto.
{Fourth Part 10} Qu. 1. Whether didst thou say, concerning the Paper sent down to the Quarterly-Meeting at Kendal from G.F. That it came from the Female?
Answ. It was never so said by me, to the utmost of my Remembrance.
Qu. 2. Whether thou preached, or said, That tythes in themselves was Not Unlawful?
Answ. I never so preach’t and said, to the utmost of my Remembrance, at any time, That Tythes, as they are now first paid and received by the Generality in England, were not Anti-christian.
Qu. 3. And, whether didst thou preach in the Meeting, when they of Preston met with you, That Paul was let down in a Basket; and that when they Persecuted you in one City, you should Flee unto another; and that Christ sometimes preach’t upon the Mountains, and by the Sea-side; and the like?
Answ. I do not remember, that ever I preach’t of Paul’s being let down in a Basket; nor yet of those Scriptures, If they Persecute you in one city, Flee unto another; but may do, when God puts them in my Mouth: But have used the Scriptures of Christ’s preaching in Mountains, and by the Sea-side. If any have accused me for abusing those Scriptures, let them Exhibit their Accusations, with their Names to it, and send it to me; and if I cannot defend my Innocency therein, they may have their desired End.
Qu. 4. Whether there was not a Boy, or some other set upon an Hill, as a Mark for some to know where the Meeting was, when they met without Doors?
{Fourth Part 11} Answ. I remember no such thing.
Qu. 5. And, Whether there was not One or Two appointed to come to Kendal every Seventh day, to receive from thee, or others, Instructions where the Meeting should be the First Day after?
Answ. I know none so appointed.
Qu. 6. Whether the persons or Person were not then, or at some other time, ordered privately to communicate it to some Friends; who were to discover the Place and Marks by which the Meeting might be known, where it was; which some, for want of the Knowledge of, wandered a great part of the Day to find it, but could not?
Answ. I Remember no such thing.
Qu. 7. Whether their Houses, which were offered to meet in, were not refused, when they met as aforesaid?
Answ. I know no House offered to Meet in, refused; and William Chambers’s Faithfulness, in offering his House, was kindly Accepted by Friends; though we did not Meet there, being too far for the greatest Part of the Meeting to go; and other Places much nearer, with which we were well satisfied.
Qu. 8. And, Whether didst thou say, That to make a Distinct Assembly of Women, was a Monster, and Ridiculous?
Answ. I never said the Things that are Cited in this Query, neither as to the Matter nor End for which they are so peevishly stated: For I believe, if a Congregation of Women be together, they may Worship God, and Edify one another, though there be no Man amongst them. Yet I have said to this purpose, That to set up a Meeting {Fourth Part 12} of Women by themselves, (a Select Meeting separate from the Men) once a Month, or Quarterly, only about the Practice of God’s Worship, and to give that Practice as the Reason, Cause, and End for which they separate themselves in so Meeting together, would seem to be Monstrous and Ridiculous amongst Christians. And as for Meeting of Women by themselves, about outward Business; when there is Absolute Occasion for their so meeting about Business, most proper for them to inspect into, I neither am, nor ever was against. But yet I would not have them carry it so high to us, as to threaten us with the Gainsaying of Care, and such horrid Offences, for simply asking, or discoursing about the Reason, or Necessity of their so Meeting.
Qu. 9. Whether didst thou say at a Meeting, at William Chamber’s, when Margret Fox was at Prayer, Friend, Keep Order?
Answ. I did not: Yet being grieved in Spirit, that I could not distinguish M.F’s Words, when at Prayer, because of the Noise of Deceit, I spoke Three low Words to my self only.
Qu. 10. And, whether didst thou say, That Margaret Fox had been a Hearer of Lies and Stories these Fifteen Years, and cared not what she said of any; but would not hear the Truth spoken from none?
Answ. To the best of my Knowledge and Remembrance, such things were never said by me: Yet I am sure, she hath asserted many grievous Lyes under her Hand of me.
Qu. 11. Whether didst thou say, That whosoever did Sing or Sound, whilst another was Preaching or Praying, it was Confusion {Fourth Part 13} and Disorder, and a Spirit of Delusion that led them to it?
Answ. I never said these Words, as set down in the Query; neither did I ever deny any Singings, Soundings, Breathings, that had their Rise form the Spirit of God: But all Images my Soul abhors.
Qu. 12. Whether didst thou term or compare such Singing or Sounding, to a Cat, or Catterwouling, or like unto a Horse, or belahing of a Calf?
Answ. I never did so compare it; but I gave a Relation of another that did.
Qu. 13. Whether didst thou Read, or cause it be Read, or consent to the Reading of, in the Latter-End of the Quarterly-Meeting, a Paper of Anthony Pearsons that directed, That the way of Truth should be as the way of a Ship on the Sea, and such like?
Answ. I consented to a Paper that had some such Words; but knew not ‘twas Anthony Pearsons.
Qu. 14. Whether didst thou advise, That Papers of Condemnation should not be Recorded, or gain-sayed it; and the bringing in Friends Testimonies concerning Friends Faithfulness or Unfaithfulness, in the Case of Tythes?
Answ. To this Fourteenth Query, John Story answered much to the same purpose as John Wilkinson did to the same Questions, signified in the Fourth and Fifth Queries to John Wilkinson, already Cited.
Qu. 15. Wheher didst thou consent to, approve of, or wer’t present at the racing or tearing out of the Book H.G’s Paper of Condemnation, for his being Marryed by a Priest?
Answ. No.
{Fourth Part 14} Qu. 16. And, Whether didst thou say, Thou wouldst have all Friends left to their Freedom to pay Tythes, or not to pay Tythes?
Answ. To this Sixteenth Query, John Story answered much to the same purpose as John Wilkinson did to the same Question; which was the Seventh proposed to John Wilkinson.
Though before the giving forth of these Queries, there might be some small Differences amongst Friends in the North, which were aggravated by G.F’s Wife, partly by her causing to be Read in the Quarterly-Meeting in Westmoreland, a Paper dated the 21_st. of the 11_th M_on. 1672. given forth by her against John Story; and therein signifying, that he judged the ||1 Power of God, as it broke forth in Hymns, or Spiritual Songs; Yet many were not so well satifyed, that G.F. was one of the chief Persons that occasioned, or at least encouraged the keeping alive of those Differences, until these Queries were sent to John Wilkinson, and John Story. But then Jeaslousies entred many, that occasion was sought against them; and meerly because they could not gratify that Spirit in G.F._ which (as was also Jealoused) had Accepted of such Submission from some, and many Faithful Friends have abhorred.
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|| Note, John Story denyes, that he ever Judged the Power of God.↩
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