A Testimony of some Friends of Bristol, in Answer to William Roger’s False Charging of George Fox, for Fleeing in time of Persecution, and particularly at the Meeting=House in Broad Mead in the same City.
Whereas William Rogers in his Paper Queries to George Fox (which some of us have already given our Testimony against) hath charged the said George Fox to be one of he greatest Fleers, in time of Persecution, of any that he knew, professing the Truth, and {Fifth Part 68} accounted by others a faithful Friend; and for Confirmation thereof hath brought an Instance at a meeting here at Bristol, at which George Fox was present, about Fifteen years since, at which Meeting he saith The Persecutors coming up one pair of Stairs, while George Fox was speaking, the said George Fox (as some may term it, in a distrustful Spirit) did step down, and went out at a back pair of Stairs, to which (he saith) his Eyes with many more were witnesses. As to which we have this to say, who were generally, all of us, at all, or most parts of the Meetings which George Fox was at here, that we never knew or can remember, that ever any Persecutors did come up the Stairs whilst George Fox was speaking, so as to occasion the ceasing of his Testimony on that account, as William Rogers would insinuate; but this may be put amongst the rest of his False Calumnies and Charges. And we further testifie, that whereas there was two pair of Stairs, (one of which William Rogers calls a Back-pair) that both pair of Stairs were common for Friends to come up and down at, and that George Fox was known to come up the same Stairs to that Meeting.
And this Testimony we have in our hearts for George Fox, as a man Remote in Spirit and Example from any such Practice, as Fleeing in time of Persecution, though charged therewith by Apostates and Bad Spirits; and we have cause to believe, that he hath held up his Testimony in Faithfulness, both in Doing and in Suffering on Truths Account, being confirmed herein by his large Travels, Sufferings and Imprisonments in many Goals, in which we never knew that he hath flinched, but hath endured Patiently; as also the known Care that hath been upon him, for the Preserving and Encouraging of all, by Word and Pattern, to stand in time of Persecution. And this we thought fit to insert, as persons concerned for the Vindication of our dear Friend George Fox’s Innocency in this {Fifth Part 69} Case, which we have done according to the best of our Knowledge and Remembrance, who never saw any just Occasion for such a Charge as William Rogers hath so wickedly aspersed him with.
John Ware, and twenty seven Persons more.
I now come to make some Observations on the above Certificate; they render me False Charging, and seem concerned to Vindicate G.F’s Innocency in this Case; yet they have done it but at a very poor rate, much like the perjured Informers, that on the late Act have appeared against Friends; for first they say, It is a False Charge, which is a positive Testimony against me, wherein they undertake to prove such a Negative, which is impossible to be proved by them, unless they had been Eye witnesses of what George Fox did in every Meeting, in time of Persecution, at the Meeting-house in Broad-Mead, that I also was present at; but that, by their Certificate, it seems, they dare not say; for when they came to disprove me by particular Evidence, they then thus said,[WE WERE GENERALLY, ALL OF US, AT ALL, OR MOST OF THE MEETINGS, AT WHICH GEORGE FOX WAS HERE] and that we never knew or can remember, that ever any Persecutors came up the Stairs while George Fox was speaking. I appeal now to every Impartial Understanding Reader, whether my charging of him for stepping down on a sudden, and hastning out of the Meeting, must be wrong, because they never knew another matter of fact relating to others; or whether it doth follow that the Persecutors did not come up the Stairs at no such Meeting, because they don’t know, or remember the Matter, when not assigned to any Meeting, wherein they dare say that they were present.
They say, that I have charged George Fox to be one of the greatest Fleers in time of Persecution, of any that I {Fifth Part 70} know professing the Truth, and account by others a Faithful Friend: Herein they, as I take it, (and as I am persuaded, all Impartial Readers will,) falsly charge me; my Words were these, And, if Report be true, this is but very little of what might at large be manifested to prove him one of the greatest Fleers, &c. in time of Persecution, that ever I knew, professing the Truth, and esteemed by others a Faithful Friend.
3dly, They say, that I, for Confirmation thereof, brought an Instance of a Meeting here a Bristol, which George Fox was present at, about 15 years since, &c. this also cannot be taken to be a true Charge from my words, not only because I did not positively charge him to be one of the greatest Fleers in time of Persecution, &c. but also because I did not signifie the Time at which the Meeting was held, though they say, ‘twas about 15 years since; and so it appears that they are detected of several Lies, by comparing their Testimony with what I have written. This occasions me to observe that they do not say, they never knew or could remember, that he steps down, and hastened out of the Meeting, at a Back-pair of Stairs, which is the matter wherewith I charge him with the sight of mine own Eyes, and others also on this Occasion. And this also I know, that his so Departure was a very considerable time before the Meeting broke up; and were it not so, that these False Witness Bearers were conscious to themselves, that about fifteen years since George Fox so did, (as I said my Eyes were witness of) what reason should they have for limiting my Charge to that time?
I shall now leave it to the Consciences of all Impartial Readers to consider, whether John Ware and the other twenty seven Persons, do not justly deserve the title of False-Witness-Bearers, and not only so, but since George Fox, in his Answer to me, hath signified on this Occasion, that he believes there are many in Bristol, that will witness against {Fifth Part 71} this False Charge, it be not rational to suppose that the aforesaid John Ware and the other twenty seven Subscribers, have been by him betrayed to affirm whereof they know not, and yet notwithstanding, their Testimony is lame, and not sufficient to serve his turn, not only for the Reasons aforesaid, but also because they do not so much as affirm, that the Meeting, held about Fifteen years since, was in the time of Persecution, and that he staid therein until the Meeting ended.
One thing more is Observable, G.F. informs me, some said, My Paper was not worth answering, to which I said, Doubtless these words came from some of George Fox’s Party; and since George Fox hath acted contrary to their sense, and written six Sheets of Paper in Answer to one of mine; what’s become of their Unity now? and whether this shews not that they are in Confusion amongst themselves, especially since G.F. in his Answer saith the less; I do take notice of them, because I know them to be *1 all False, Malicious Charges, whenas he hath not only written six Sheets of Paper (for the Copy delivered me, contains so many) by way of Answer, which is a taking notice thereof at a large rate; but also it appears that many of them, which by his general Expression he accounts False Charges, are not in his particular Answers denied to be true, but rather an owning thereof, is plainly implied from his words, as is already manifested; this I take to be one sign or Token, that the Word of the Lord by his Servant John Wilkinson is fulfilling.
{Fifth Part 72} I now come to take notice, that G.F. accuseth me, that I threatened the Constables at their Perils, not to meddle with anything of mine within doors, &c. This I say is a False Charge; my words on that Occcasion were to this purpose, the Door is open, that Goods in the house are mine, they might go in, and there was enough; but then I also told them, That if they did meddle, &c. before I spoke with the Justice, I should lay that Injustice at their Doors, because of right I ought to be first heard, before my Goods ought to be distrained, and though G.F. hereupon said (as in his Answer appears) That I had made all fast, yet he is therein in a twofold respect guilty of a False Charge, because all was not secured Without, and none secured Within.
Having thus far, with respect to particular matters, cleared my Conscience, I have this further in short to say, That should I trace G.F’s Answer after the same Method, as he hath done mine, I account that Thirty Sheets of Paper would not contain such an Answer, and might tend to endless Controversie, and therefore I chuse the rather to give the Reader but a tast of the Spirit, from whence his bundle of Confusion and Falshoods do proceed. And in the mean time shall add this Query, Whether or no, since G.F. hath written so many Lyes, as aforesaid, that are detectable from the sight of his Answer, and compared with my Paper (which was an Answer to his queries) it may not be rational to conclude, that he hath taken such a Liberty to himself as at some times and seasons to say any thing (Right or Wrong) to clear himself, and defame others, that cannot be subject to his Will?
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By George Fox’s Rule, those who matter not what they say, &c. are exercised by this Spirit, that made some like Devils, witness his before-cited words, spoken as he was walking in Nathaniel Crips his Chamber, which occasions me to query from his words [all False and Malicious Charges] Whether by his own Rule he hath not manifested himself to be exercised of the same Spirit? for had he been a man that had taken Care to have affirmed nothing but the truth, he would not have been the Publisher (as well as Author) of so many Lyes and Falshoods, whereof to his shame he is detected.↩
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