CHAPTER V

On the 10th of the fourth month, 1655, Edward Burrough felt an impression on his mind that it would be right for him to pay a religious visit to the inhabitants of Ireland. By a memorandum he made on the occasion it appears that he received a promise that his life should be preserved, although he was required to give up that and all things else to the keeping of him who was calling him to this field of labour.

On the 30th day of the month he submitted himself to the will of his divine Master in this matter, and at that time he knew not that his friend Francis Howgill was under a like concern. It was however in the ordering of the Lord that these two Friends should perform at least part of this service together. He had caused a similar concern to take hold of the mind of Francis Howgill, to whom he gave an inward assurance that Edward Burrough should accompany him. The prospect thus clearly opened to both was soon afterwards entered on. Francis Howgill came to London in the fourth month where he probably found Edward Burrough. A great change had taken place in the condition of Friends throughout England. Persecution had arisen almost everywhere and most of the active ministers were now in bonds. To use the language of Francis Howgill, "Our army is most scattered and broken and cast into prison. I know none almost at liberty but George [Fox] and Alexander [Parker], Edward, I and Gervase, except John Stubbs and William Caton, John Wilkinson and John Story, and it is like they cannot be long out. Yet truly the power of the Lord is over all. The work of the Lord is great and goes on fast, notwithstanding all the rage of the heathen." "Edward Burrough is gone to Edmondsbury. I shall take care for the supply of Friends in these parts while I am here. And truly I fear lest the burden should be heavy upon the north, for the charge is great and our camp great." Having received a packet of letters to deliver from Margaret Fell, he writes to her, "Those to Oliver Cromwell are both delivered into his hand, but he is full of subtlety and deceit, will speak fair, but he hardens his heart and acts secretly underneath."

The two travelers intending for Ireland took Swarthmore in their way that they might be refreshed with Margaret Fell's company. From thence they went to Warrington where on the 8th of fifth month they had "an exceeding great meeting." Going to Chester they visited the prisons and stayed one night in the town. They sailed the next day, but had a tedious passage of two days, the wind being at first contrary, and afterwards but light. On Fifth-day the 12th they had a meeting at Dublin in the house of a captain Rich, and on the following First-day at the residence of a captain Alan. Many persons attended and were quiet listeners. Francis Howgill says of the captains, "They are loving, but there is not much in them."

Edward Burrough went several times to the house of Deputies and spoke to Fleetwood, who was moderate with him. They had pretty full meetings on First-days, but say of the inhabitants of Dublin, "They are a careless, dissolute, proud people." Beneficial effects however appear to have attended their labours in that place, some of their hearers being convinced of the truth.

Soon after arriving in Dublin, Edward addressed the following epistle to Friends in London:

"A general Epistle to Friends in London.

"My dear beloved friends and brethren in the everlasting, unerring truth of which you are made partakers, who are called of God to be witnesses of his name and of his truth, with my dear love I do salute you, dearly and tenderly, and all the rest of the begotten of God in that city, whom my soul longeth after, [even for] your growth in the inward man. The everlasting Father strengthen you and refresh you with the living streams from his presence and his love and power and grace be multiplied among you, unto whom he hath opened a door and made an entrance into the true rest which remaineth for you, unto which the Lord of glory is gathering you and leading you and carrying you as lambs in his arms into the fold of everlasting refreshing.

"My dear hearts, walk worthy of the love of God wherewith he hath loved you, and let your lights show forth into the world that your good works they may see, who watch over you with an evil eye. Dear friends, to you that believe, he who is the light of the world is precious. Therefore in the light wait so that your understandings may he opened and your feet prepared to walk in the ways of the Lord which to all the children of light are pleasant ways. Be not entangled with any yoke of bondage which may burden you from running the race that is set before you, but in the death of all [that is] mortal stand, and there the life of immortality you will see and witness and the daily food you will receive to that life which the love of the world doth crucify.

"Do you not know that the friendship of this world is at enmity against God? But you are called not to serve the world, but God, who is the light, and the world must serve you. So take heed lest your affections and desires and hearts be drawn aside from the pure way of life into that which is visible, which will not endure forever; for that life is death, and that glory is shame. In the light I read you and do behold many pleasant plants springing up in the garden of God. And I bear you record, some of you have laid your crowns down at the Lamb's feet and have scorned the glory of Babylon and Egypt. Surely your reward will be everlasting and your cups will the Lord fill in the sight of your enemies, and your glory shall be above the glory of the earth, and your crowns shall never wither.

"Therefore press on and look not back, spare not the fat nor the best from slaughter, but to the sword bring all your enemies which have been they of your own house, which have prevailed over you. But now the Lord is arising among you, and you have seen the shaking of the earth and the heavens, and of the darkness of the sun and of the falling of the stars. Therefore wait to the end that the crown of immortality you may wear. The day begins to dawn among you, therefore put off every work of the night and walk all in the day; for ye are the light of the world and a city set upon a hill which cannot be hid. The Lord prosper you and preserve you and be with your spirits and establish you. Amen.

Edward Burrough

"Dublin, the 14th of the fifth month, 1655."

After they had been about three weeks in Dublin, Francis Howgill felt a concern to travel to the southwest, believing there was religious service for him in that part of Ireland. He writes,

"But now my beloved yoke fellow and I must part, who have borne the yoke so long together,—the cross is great, in so strange and barbarous a nation; yet it is not so great as if any other had parted us:—in the will of God we are. I am moved to go a hundred miles west in the nation towards Cork. There is a service and a people to be gathered that way and at Kinsale and Bandon-bridge, at the end of the land. Edward Burrough must stay here, for this city we cannot leave yet; but I am given up to lay down all for Him who hath made me a conqueror; glory unto Him for evermore."

In the latter part of the sixth month or the 1st of the seventh month, Francis departed from Dublin, being accompanied by Edward Cook, a cornet in the Protector's own troop. Edward was an inhabitant of Bandon, but had been convinced at Dublin under the ministry of these two Friends, and now he was willing to do what he could towards furthering their gospel labours. Perhaps in going with Francis to the south he might have had a view of drawing him to his own house at Bandon in hopes that his beloved wife might also be led thereby to a knowledge of what he now considered the truth. Whatever his views were, it pleased the Lord his Saviour to grant that his wife also might have her spiritual eyes anointed to see things as he saw them. Both of them were afterwards faithful sufferers for the truth.

Edward Burrough remained in Dublin and soon after his companion left him, he thus wrote to Margaret Fell,

"With heaviness of spirit I write unto thee, yea, and with my eyes full of tears, for I am separated outwardly from my dear beloved brother Francis Howgill, who was my right-hand man in the war, before whom many Philistines have fallen. And truly when I consider what the Lord hath done by us, my heart is rent and broken. Many glorious days we enjoyed, and many pleasant hours we had together in dividing the spoil of our enemies; for our hand was always strong in battle and our ensign was lifted up above our enemies, and even thousands have fallen on our right hand and on our left. But according to the will of God, we are now separated, he into the west of this nation one hundred or six score miles from Dublin, where I must stay a season, for ought I see, and truly under great suffering, for few are here that hunger after God, and blindness and deafness have possessed all.

"Little Elizabeth Fletcher is at present here, but I know not how long she stays. Her dear love is to thee and to all the flock of God. Truly I suffer for her, she being as it were alone, having no other woman with her in this ravenous nation where it is very bad traveling every way a foot, and also dangerous; but we are much above all that. If it were the will of the Lord that any woman were moved to come over to her, it might be serviceable.

"I was glad that Francis Howgill had so good an opportunity of passing on his journey. He went with a cornet and some others who were very loving to us and came to meetings while they stayed in the city.

"Let thy prayers be to the everlasting Father for us, that his dread may go along with us, over all. As thou canst, at opportunity, write to us. It will make me glad; the face of one Friend would rejoice my soul." In a postscript he adds, "Here is a Friend come from England since I wrote this, from Oxford, who saith he was moved to come, and I believe it. I am refreshed by him." This Friend from Oxford was without doubt Thomas Loe.

Edward Burrough was diligently employed in Dublin in waiting on his ministry and writing to his friends and others. In a general epistle to his brethren in England, written while in that city, he says:

"To the camp of the Lord in England.

"To all you called, chosen, and beloved of the Lord who are of the circumcision made without hands, of the seed of Abraham, who are Jews indeed, not after the flesh, but in the spirit; unto whom belongs the everlasting promise and covenant which God hath and is fulfilling in you and establishing with you. We, your fellow citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all, and of the same body and of the same seed and same birth, begotten and brought forth by the immortal word of life which lives for ever, do send greeting and do embrace you in the arms of our Beloved, who is and is to come, God blessed for ever. You who are called Quakers, who are so, not only in word or in show, but in life and in power, whom God hath called and chosen to place his name in and to take up his habitation among, above all the families of the earth, the tabernacle of God is with you, his dwelling place is among you, and among you is God known, and his name is great in your assemblies.

"We who are of the same root and offspring do bring in our witness and do set to our seal that God of a truth is with you and among you, and he is the God of the living that answers by fire. He is the I Am and there is none besides him, the first and the last, the beginning and the end of all things.

"Praise him forever, ye redeemed of him. Lift up your heads, your Redeemer is come; clap your hands and shout for joy, and let the everlasting praises of God be in your mouths for ever and ever. Exalt ye his name above all gods and glorify him in the sight of all the heathen, and let his marvelous works stand upon record from generation to generation.

"Wonderful hath his work been among you, and that my soul knows right well. You that were scattered in the cloudy and dark day and were a prey for the wild beasts of the forest and were driven away as lost sheep in the wilderness hath God gathered into the fold to lie down by the springs of living water in fat pastures for evermore. Your bread is sure, and your water never fails, a feast of fat things is made unto you, of wines well refined. The Lord is become the lot of your inheritance and the portion of your cup forever. Your crowns have you laid down at the feet of the Lamb, and your lives and liberties have not been dear unto you. And let this never repent you, for now the Lord will exalt you and crown you with immortal glory.

"The everlasting Day-star is risen among you, which gives light unto the nations; and the light of the sun is as the light of seven days and there is no need of a candle in your dwelling, but the Lamb is the light thereof, fair as the moon, clear as the sun. Yea, it is he which was dead and is alive, and behold he lives forever more. Praise him all ye people, praise ye him, ye holy host. Let all that hath breath praise him forever. Who can express his noble acts? And who can declare his wondrous works? Oh, my soul is ravished and my heart is overcome! Let me speak, that I may be refreshed, and let me declare his wonders among all people!

"The Lord is our king, our judge, our lawgiver, and our rock of defense. Just is he in his judgments, who hath avenged us of our enemies. Mercy and judgment meet, righteousness and peace do embrace each other. Rejoice for evermore, ye saints of the Most High, and tell it to your children that they may tell to another generation what the Lord hath wrought among you, and what his hand hath brought to pass. Salvation is come and plenteous redemption, and the dead hath heard the voice of the Son of God, and liveth.

"Let sorrow and mourning flee away, and be ye comforted, ye that have mourned, and be ye refreshed, ye that have been weary, for God hath opened the everlasting fountain and the streams run pleasantly, which refresh the city of our God. He is come and his reward is with him, even he for whom we have waited. This is he who is our life, our peace, and our exceeding great reward. The light of the world is our Saviour, but the world's condemner; our peace, but the world's torment. Glad tidings, glad tidings! The acceptable year is come. Praise ye the Lord, ye sons and daughters of Zion. Beautiful is your dwelling place and abounds with pleasant fruit, for you are digged and pruned and enclosed, a garden of lovely branches.

"Let the wonders of the Lord never he forgotten, nor his works pass out of your remembrance, for he hath wounded and healed, killed and made alive, raised the dead and slain the living, brought out of captivity and bound with chains, gathered and scattered, brought low and exalted, saved and condemned. All this hath your eye seen and your ear heard. And the heavens and the earth have been burned as a scroll and the indignation of the Lord you have borne, but the winter is past and the summer is come, and the turtle dove and the singing of birds is heard in our land. O magnify his name for ever!

"You are made vessels of honour wherein the everlasting treasure abideth, which never waxeth old. The voice of the bridegroom is heard among you, and how can you have any more sorrow? Instead of weeping, rejoicing, and instead of heaviness of heart, fullness of everlasting joy. The Lord hath fulfilled his promise and made good his word, and his law and covenant is with you. From you doth the law go forth and the powerful word of life, and death soundeth out of your dwelling and you are God's witnesses, to testify of him in the presence of all nations, some of you by suffering, and some by declaring.

"Oh endless love and life and riches! An eternal crown is upon your heads, and your suffering, which hath not been a little, is not worthy to be compared with the glory that is and shall be revealed. I speak to you who have an ear to hear. My soul is comforted in you in the midst of my burdens and sufferings, who am separated from you outwardly, yet joined and united to you by the Spirit which is unlimited, which doth comprehend all nations. I behold your beauty afar off, and my heart is ravished with it, and I am sick of love. Let his works praise him forever, which he hath wrought, for his dwelling is with you in the light, unto which no mortal eye can approach.

"The new Jerusalem is come down from heaven and no unclean can enter; but you are made white with the blood of the Lamb, and purged as silver and purified as gold in the burning. And unto you an entrance is given and the way is prepared, and the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready, and the way of the Lord is pleasant to you and his commands are not grievous. No unclean thing can pass over, no lion's whelp can tread therein, but it is called the way of holiness, where only the ransomed of the Lord do walk. Even your mountain is established upon the tops of all hills, and all nations shall flow into it. Sing praises for ever, for the kingdom of endless peace is come, which passeth understanding, and of glory which no mortal eye can behold, and of life which no flesh can live in.

"Oh my beloved, come up hither, and I will show you what God hath done for you. He hath rebuked the sea and driven back the floods of waters which compassed you about, and he hath scattered your enemies with a whirlwind, and he hath given you to feed upon the flesh of kings and of captains. Can you call to mind the doings of your God and his marvelous works brought to pass and not cry out in praises for evermore. O drink and be refreshed, and eat and be satisfied for ever, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. The planting of the Lord you are and his own purchased possession. He hath separated you from the world and hath called you out of kindreds, and ye are the royal seed of the offspring of the Lord Almighty, and all nations shall call you blessed.

"And O thou, north of England, who art counted as desolate and barren, and reckoned the least of the nations, yet in thee did the branch spring and the star arise which gives light unto all the regions round about. In thee the Son of righteousness appeared with wounding and with healing, and out of thee the terror of the Lord proceeded, which makes the earth to tremble and be removed, out of thee did those come forth in the name and power of the Most High, who uttered their voices as thunders and laid their swords on the necks of their enemies and never returned empty from the slaughter. Though I be as by the waters of Babylon, in a strange land, and as a pilgrim and stranger, destitute but not forsaken, as dying but behold I live; yet if I forget thee, let my right hand forget her cunning and let my name be blotted out of the book of life. 0 how I love the holy seed, which in my eye is precious! No man can hinder my boasting of thee, for I am sealed among you in the record of eternal life, to be read among you in the light where I am known to you, and where my unity stands with you in the love and life which never changes. And you are my mother and my brother and sister, who do the will of my Father.

"Our God is a consuming fire, and his habitation is compassed about with dread and terror. The heathen shall see and fear, and the inhabitants of the earth shall tremble. Our God is everlasting burnings, and it is tempestuous round about his throne, and he reigns for evermore. And though thou be despised and set at naught, and counted as the off-scouring of all things and the scorn of the heathen, yet thy King reigns upon mount Zion, and if he utter his voice, all flesh shall tremble. Before him thy adversaries shall fall and thy persecutors shall be confounded, for thou shalt never be forgotten of thy God, but with his arm will he defend thee and compass thee about, and thy seed shall be increased. Thou, Jerusalem, shall be made the praise of the whole earth, for among you is laid the sure foundation and the tried stone, Christ Jesus, the light of the world, in whom you have believed, which unto the nations is a stumbling stone, but unto you precious.

"Bring in your testimony and set to your seal. Is there salvation in any other, but in him who is the light of the world? Nay, there is no redemption wrought but by him, nor any deliverance but through him. His is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, and he is become all in all. You are no more of this world, but are of the chosen generation and of the royal priesthood, a people redeemed, unto whom there is none like among the thousands of Israel and Judah, whose God is the Lord, whose Saviour is the prince of righteousness, who covers your heads in the day of battle, and smites your enemies in the hinder parts and wounds them in the forehead.

"And now, my beloved, let his name be had in remembrance for evermore and let his praises be declared throughout ages to come, and walk you worthy of his everlasting love wherewith he hath loved you more than your brethren. Let his name be exalted by righteousness, by purity, and by a blameless life, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness and peace, and let your light shine forth into the world and your good works abound plentifully. For you are as a city set on a hill and as a lighted candle to shine abroad and are created unto good works. Let faith, hope, love, and unity be increased among you, and let mercy and judgment and equity flow down and be established for ever; never to be removed. Let joy, long suffering, meekness, and temperance spring out and be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

"Stand upon your watch tower and be not shaken nor drawn aside to follow any other gods, nor to bow to any image nor join yourselves to strangers. Mingle not with the adulterous generation, neither take nor give in marriage with them, but keep yourselves from the idols of the heathen. Be not defiled with them, but abide in your strength. You know where it lies, by which you may work good and be preserved from evil. And you need not that any man teach you, for you are taught of God and are far from oppression.

"Ye children of light, worship your God for ever, who is light and in him is no darkness at all, who is the same and changes not, whose mercy endures for ever. Be followers of the Lamb, as undefiled virgins, and let your soul scorn the glory of Babylon and Egypt forever. For you are not your own but are bought with a price, no more to serve yourselves but the Lord of Israel forever.

"And thou false prophet which hast deceived the nations and scattered the inhabitants thereof and built by fraud and daubed with untempered mortar, thy judgment is past upon thy head already, and the decree of our God is sealed against thee. Thy smoke shall ascend for ever and ever, and of thy sin there is no forgiveness and of thy torment no remission. Over you we do and shall forever rejoice and sing, and over your God and your king, the dragon, that old serpent. Cursed be he and his memorial for ever.

"Ye lambs of the true Shepherd's fold with whom my soul resteth, whether ever I behold you outwardly, yet my heart is with you and I am one of your fold and I lie down with you under the shadow of the rock, upon the mountain which the beast cannot touch, where we are safe from all our enemies, and am to you well known, to be read in your hearts, in the record of the Lamb's book of life, and known only to the world by the name of, Edward Burrough"

It was, perhaps, toward the tenth month before he felt released from that city. He appears first to have gone to the north and then to the south and west, passing through Dublin, and spending two weeks there on his way down. At Kilkenny he spent sixteen days, labouring amongst the inhabitants generally and being twice amongst the Baptists. He says, "A few in that city received our report." Passing on to Waterford he writes at that place, "Our service lies only in great towns and cities, for generally the country is without inhabitants except bands of murderers and thieves and robbers which wait for their prey and devour many, from which yet we are preserved. I had great opposition in this city, five times opposed by the rulers who are Baptists, and once was I tried for a vagabond and once examined by them for a Jesuit. But to this day, out of snares and plots am I preserved and walk as a bird among fowlers' snares, and as an innocent dove which hath no mate; nay, none unto whom I can open my cause, but the Lord my God only."

On the 5th of the eleventh month, writing from Waterford to Margaret Fell he says,

"Sister beloved, whom I forget not, but do remember with kindness, and of whom I am not forgotten." "We are joint heirs of the incorruptible inheritance of the Son, who in us liveth and worketh of his own will, in whom we are what we are and by whom we do what is done. To Him we give his own, glorifying Him with his own, world without end. Though far distant from one another, yet my love is hereby increased unto all the children of light, with tears rejoicing in the unity of the Spirit with you all, who am to you a brother and companion in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, and in labours and sufferings more abundant. But as in suffering with Christ I do abound, so my joy by him and consolation in him are increased also.

"I have not long heard from my chiefest companion F. H., whose love in the same measure salutes thee with mine. It is now four months since we parted at Dublin and what I have said in respect of suffering and trials, he can seal the same with me, who have been companions in tribulation and in patience and are now in joy and rejoicing, hoping to receive the end of our labour and to see the travail of our souls, that we may bring in the [sheep] with us unto the fold and may return to our camp with victory from our Lord. We have not spared to wound on the right hand and on the left and victory, victory hath been our word of watch. Though this nation be as a heath in the desert, yet there is a seed and a remnant for whose sake we are sent. Seldom have I heard from him since [we parted at Dublin]. He is about Cork and Kinsale and Bandon, sixty or eighty miles from this place. And he hath written for me to come that way if I had freedom, for there was service. But yet I have not had freedom to leave these parts, for here is a harvest and but few labourers. And a war is begun in this nation, and but very few on our part to manage it.

"Our dear sisters Elizabeth Fletcher and Elizabeth Smith are also in the west, valiant for the Truth. And some from London arrived at Dublin who are going into the north of this nation. Of all our work and labour, which is doubled upon us since we parted, have we a reward into our bosoms. And herein will our joy be more enlarged, to hear how the war prospers in that nation. Write and let us know, that we may partake with you in your rejoicing; and assuredly you may praise the living God on our behalf. Here is a great want of books in this nation which might be very serviceable in spreading forth the truth."

In the tenth month of this year, a company of priests in the south of Ireland, finding that many of their flocks were leaving them, went to Dublin to obtain some remedy from Henry Cromwell and his council. At their suggestion a warrant was issued, ordering the magistrates to send "all that are called Quakers" to Dublin. A copy was sent to the governor of Kinsale and another to colonel Phayre, governor of Cork, and it would appear other magistrates besides were furnished with them. Phayre was convinced that Friends were true Christians, and he declared that more good had been done by those who were then there, than "all the priests in the country had done for a hundred years." He had no mind to meddle in persecuting them and supposing that he would be able to protect them against other magistrates, he sent a letter privately to Francis Howgill, who was at Kinsale, desiring him to come to Cork. The magistrates to whom the warrants were addressed were not desirous of acting, and one called major Stoding was turned out of his commission for refusing to obey it. Many Friends were now imprisoned in Dublin and a spirit of persecution seemed spreading through the land. Yet at Cork and Kinsale the men in authority continued generally favorable to Friends, and many officers of the army attended their meetings.

In the eleventh month Edward Burrough went to Cork where he and Francis Howgill once more joined company. From Cork they went to Limerick, accompanied by James Sicklemore and Edward Cook. They reached that place on a Seventh-day of the week. The next day they were not permitted to speak in the public places of worship and on Second-day they were expelled the place. As they rode along on horseback, Edward Burrough preached to the people and after they were outside of the gates, he had an opportunity of addressing a great multitude. His three companions each spoke a few words, directing the hearers "to Christ Jesus, a measure of whose light was given to every one to profit withal," and a number of persons were convinced that day.

They also visited Kinsale, where among other fruits of their labour, Susanna Worth, wife of the priest Edward Worth, who was afterward Bishop of that place, was convinced. For her obedience to her conscientious convictions she suffered much at the hands of her husband, but remained a faithful Friend until her death.

Edward Burrough and Francis Howgill returned to Cork in the twelfth month where they were arrested by the high sheriff of the county under a special order from Henry Cromwell and his council. They were taken by armed men from garrison to garrison, until they reached Dublin, having had many opportunities by the way of preaching Christ to the soldiery and others. In Dublin they were committed to the care of Mortimer, the sergeant at arms, in whose house they had a large chamber allowed them where none of their friends were hindered from visiting them.

They arrived at Dublin about the 20th of the twelfth month and being brought before Henry Cromwell and his council, they were examined, but no charges of any kind were brought against them. They answered with freedom the questions put to them, and Edward Burrough says, "Mighty was the power of the Lord with us to the confounding of our enemies." Although no cause of imprisonment could be proved against them, they were kept in close confinement until forcibly banished from the island. Whilst in confinement Edward wrote various addresses, one of which entitled, "The unjust sufferings of the just declared, and their appeal to the just witnesses of God in all men's consciences," is here introduced, which is as follows:

"To all ye colonels and commanders and officers, and to all the honest hearted in the city of Dublin and elsewhere, to whom this may come.

"Hereby, we, the prisoners of the Lord for the testimony of Jesus and for the exercise of a pure conscience do lay down our cause before you. And to the light of Jesus Christ in all your consciences we appeal in this our cause of righteousness and innocency to be judged thereby. We are men fearing God and working righteousness, and are friends to the commonwealth of Israel and are exalters of justice and true judgment in the earth, and are subject to all just power and every just ordinance of man for conscience sake. We have suffered the loss of all and have borne part of the burden with you, that we might obtain the freedom of the righteous seed and the liberty of tender consciences to serve the Lord in his own way.

"We are well known to the Lord, though strangers to you, and are free-men in the record of heaven, though now sufferers unjustly under your present authority, who have taken the place of exercising lordship over our pure consciences and have imprisoned us and endeavoured to give judgment of banishing us only upon false accusations and information and slander without the proof or testimony of any accusation of evil justly laid to our charge. And to you hereby be it known that not for evil doing do we thus suffer, for to this present no man hath convinced us of any evil nor justly proved the transgression of any law, martial or civil, against us, though we stand accused of many grievous things, of which we are clearly innocent in the sight of Him that lives for ever, and do nothing more desire herein but to be tried by the law of equity and righteousness and judged according thereunto.

"By virtue of command given unto us by the eternal Spirit of the Lord came we into this land of Ireland, contrary to the will of man, not to seek ourselves nor our own glory, nor to prejudice your nation or government, nor to be hurtful to your commonwealth. But with the message of the gospel of Christ Jesus we came to turn [people] from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the power of God, and to minister the word of reconciliation and salvation freely, without gift or reward, unto lost souls. Hereof God is our witness, and also we have the seals of our ministry, which unto us herein can give testimony by the same Spirit, and this are we ready to seal with our blood.

"These six months and upwards have we laboured in travels and sufferings and reproaches, and have passed through your cities and towns in soberness, and in meekness have we preached the kingdom of God and have holden forth the word of truth and the testimony of Jesus; and our lives have we not loved till this day, though sometimes dangers on every side have beset us, that we might hold forth the faith of Jesus, the author of our profession, in the exercise of a pure conscience, both by doctrine and conversation. Herein are we justified in the sight of God, and who is he that condemns us? We call heaven and earth to record and the light in all men's consciences who have heard our doctrine and seen our conversation to witness for us herein. We challenge all your nation of Ireland, our very enemies, to prove the contrary, though otherwise we stand falsely accused and falsely reputed to be disturbers and makers of disorders to the breach of public peace, and such like grievous things.

"Upon the false information hereof, a warrant was issued out from the chief ruler and council of Ireland, and we thereby were apprehended in the city of Cork and haled by guards as malefactors before the council in this city where none of all these false accusations were or could be proved against us, nor of the trangression of any known law could we be convicted. Though occasions were sought against us, yet none could be found, and though snares were laid for our feet, yet were we not entrapped but were cleared in the sight of God, witnessed by the light in all their consciences, and were found innocent and without reproof in the eye of the Lord. And by our innocency were their orders of false accusation made of none effect, and we thus far proved to be guiltless before the throne of true judgment. Yet notwithstanding, contrary to the light in their own consciences and contrary to the just laws of the nation which afford freedom to the free-born and righteous, were we committed to prison without conviction or any guilt charged upon us, or the least appearance of evil towards any man's person.

"Though falsely accused, yet no true testimony [was] given against us, whereby our boldness in the way of the Lord could be discouraged, as having the testimony of the Spirit of God, bearing us witness in the Holy Ghost, that in all good conscience towards God and towards man, we have lived to this day. Also are we without reproof in the sight of God and all just men. Though upon search and examination we are found guiltless thus far, yet farther hath the enemy, the devil, prevailed in cruelty against the innocent that it is endeavoured that we be banished under the account of vagabonds. This last accusation is most false and unrighteous. For we challenge this, of whom have we begged? Or to whom have we been burdensome? Or whose bread have we eaten for nothing? Or what evil have we done? Where is the testimony of your slanders? But innocently do we suffer these things, bearing reproaches and binding the cruelty done unto us as chains about our necks and as crowns upon our heads, having the assurance that for well doing we suffer these things from the hands of the rulers, through the lies and slanders of the teachers, who are in Cain's way of persecution, till they have fulfilled their measure of wickedness and be laid waste as the wilderness.

"This is our cause and hereby it comes before you by the light of Christ in your consciences to be judged, if your hearts be not altogether hardened and your minds wholly blinded. And we lay it at your door to receive sentence from you, and without respect of persons hold forth our guiltless cause before you, not begging any thing from you, but herein to clear our consciences, that you may save yourselves from this untoward generation, whose root is corrupt and fruit bitterness. While we have breath from the Lord, we shall bear witness against injustice and all cruelty and oppression and shall appeal to receive justice from the present power that now rules. In the name of the Lord we challenge our privilege of freedom, as being free-born, till we be accused guilty by the just law of equity, unto which we are subject for conscience sake, and not to any man's will. By word and writing are we bound by the law of God to bear witness against the unjust proceedings herein of the heads and rulers of Dublin and shall seal our witness against them and against their unrighteous decrees with our blood if thereunto we be called.

Edward Burrough

"Dublin, the 26th of the Twelfth month 1655."

On the 23rd, Edward Burrough sent a general challenge to all the priests in Dublin and its neighbourhood, at whose instigation he understood he and his companion were confined, to give them a public meeting in order to debate the doctrines of either, that so the honest enquirers after truth might be satisfied who were right and who were wrong. Of this paper no notice was taken, but the council after a few days issued an order to the mayor of the city that he should send Edward Burrough and Francis Howgill with all speed to England. About the last of the year they were by force placed on board a vessel bound for Chester, at which they arrived the 2nd of first month 1656.

During the course of this year, Edward Burrough and Francis Howgill addressed several epistles to their brethren in London and other parts of England, evincing much lively concern for their spiritual welfare and preservation in the unchangeable Truth. The excellent counsel and pertinent exhortation, they contain, render them well worthy of a careful perusal. See Appendix A.

On landing in England they heard of a meeting to be held at Preston, in Lancashire, and being desirous to attend it, they left Chester on the 3rd of the first month for that purpose. The meeting was probably held on the 4th, for Edward Burrough says that they "made haste, much desiring to be there, which also was brought to pass by the hand of our God." At Preston they unexpectedly met John Audland and Alexander Parker and the meeting was held to the great advantage of Truth. Recurring to the recent field of labour which he and Francis had been engaged in, Edward writes, "Truly great service for the Lord we had in Ireland for near seven months. The particulars would be very large but, in short, there is a precious work begun and seed sown which shall never die." "Francis' dear wife, we hear, is departed this world, which will be a little hindrance to him at present, as to settle his children and the like. But truly he is wholly given up to do our Father's will through great and many trials and dangers and sufferings."

From Preston Edward Burrough and companion proceed to Lancaster and from thence to visit Friends in the counties still further north. Here it appears that they parted for a while, Francis Howgill looking after his children whilst Edward Burrough proceeded to London. Besides his labours in the ministry in that great city, he published the epistles written by him in Ireland and those prepared jointly with Francis Howgill. On the 6th of the third month he finished and dated a work entitled, "A description of the State and Condition of all mankind on the face of the earth."

Francis Howgill soon joined him and they continued labouring together in gospel unity. A letter from Francis Howgill to Margaret Fell, which was probably written early in the fourth month of this year, says, "In this city Truth hath dominion over all; none will stand now to dispute, but they turn away. We have about twenty meetings in a week; and ten or twenty miles about [there are] great desires; and if we can, we go out, but we cannot stay; great is our care." "Edward Burrough salutes thee. He is almost spent. Few know our condition."

From London they went to Bristol and had a great meeting there on a First-day, (fifth month, 27th), at which about five thousand persons attended. Soon after, Edward returned to London and it was not long before he was joined by his faithful companion, and for many months they had sore trials and conflicts in contending with some who had gone out from the Truth, and others who had never attained it. The ranters, a body of people acknowledged by no religious society, were a disturbance to all. Particularly were they so to Friends whose places of worship were not in any wise protected by the civil authorities. These ranters would come into the meetings, screaming or singing with loud voices, interrupting the ministers in their solemn services, and at times using very indecent language and actions.

William Caton who came to London about the 1st of the seventh month of this year writes of the exercises they had in the city from some who had left the Truth and gone into extremes, but adds that the faithful had comfort in one another. Although Edward Burrough and Francis Howgill had much suffering to endure in London, they yet felt sympathy for their brethren under suffering in other places. On the 19th of the seventh month they addressed a joint letter to Thomas Aldam and others in Yorkshire, on whom much abuse had been bestowed for their faithfulness. Francis Howgill held the pen. This communication bears witness to the unity and fellowship subsisting amongst them. They say,

"Dear brethren,

"We are with you in your bonds, in your reproaches and imprisonments, and in your rejoicing. Your joy is ours, for we eat with you and drink with you at our Father's table where there is plenteous nourishment for all those who wait in his counsel and are obedient to his commands.

(In respect to things in London they say,) "Dear brethren, our care is great; the harvest is great; who are sufficient for these things. Here are fields white unto harvest and much of the power of God hath been with us. Great hath been our burden and our work since we came here, and our reward is great. Much have we been drawn out to administer in power and wisdom. We have exceeding great meetings of all sorts and we labour and travail until Christ be formed in them. Pray for us that we may be kept in His power, [which] reigneth over all. By the power of the Lord the mouths of lions are stopped, kings are bound in chains, eternal living praises for evermore to Him who rides on conquering in power and great glory! Many are brought under great judgment and true power, and many have learned their own condemnation.

"The last First-day, seventh month, 14th, my dear yoke-fellow and I went in the forenoon to two of the highest notionists and the greatest deceivers in the city at two steeple houses where the wise of the city come, and I had great liberty and spoke toward an hour. All were silent, and some confessed they never heard so much truth in power delivered. Many would have had me to their houses, but we lay hands on none hastily."

James Lancaster and Miles Halhead were at this time in London, but tarried not long there. The parliament had met on the 17th, but it was no longer a meeting of the free and independent representatives of the nation. Those only of its members who were approved by Cromwell and his council were permitted to enter the House or to sit therein. This high handed measure of arbitrary power occasioned great excitement throughout the community, particularly amongst those who were attached to republican principles. In this public agitation Friends took no part. In reference to it Francis Howgill says; "As for these things, they are nothing to us. We are redeemed from them. Praises to the Lord for evermore, who hath made us to reign above the world and to trample upon it."