was one of the most pleasant diversions of my youth, this drew me, when I attained to some maturity of age, to enquire after many things that had happened in thy kingdoms and dominions, which by many were almost forgotten. And having gathered great store of very remarkable cases, which I thought worthy to be kept upon record, and not buried in oblivion, I was induced to compose an history, which contains such rare occurrences, and unusual matters as I believe, are not easily paralleled.

And after a long and difficult labour having at length finished the work, so far as to expose it to public view; and then thinking to whom I should dedicate it, it presently came into my niind, that this could not be done more suitably to any than to the King of these countries, which are the chief theatre of this history; and the rather, because therein is described the rise of a people, who are no small part of his faithful subjects, (for so I may safely call them) since they never, how much soever wronged and oppressed, offered any resistance to the government: and when for conscience-sake they could not comply with what was required of them, by patient suffering they shewed their subjection and obedience to the higher power. Nay, when opportunity was offered to revenge themselves of their enemies, even then they would not, but left it to the Lord; and thus

at all times they behaved themselves like a peaceable people.

And since I have also had occasion in this history to mention some illustrious branches of thy royal family, to whom could I with more justice offer this work, than to thee, O King of Great Britain, who, having already made thy self gloriously renowned by thy eminent clemency bestowed even upon such who by their unnatural rebellion had forfeited it, didst rather choose to establish thy throne thereby, than by severity, and thus effectually to observe this lesson of the wisest of Kings, "Mercy and Truth preserve the King, and his throne is upholden by mercy." Prov. xx. 28.

All this hath emboldened me, great King, to dedicate this work to thee with due regard, and in a way of humble address to approach thy royal presence. Be pleased therefore, according to thy wonted goodness, to excuse this modest freedom, and to know, that though it be offered by a foreigner, yet it proceeds from him who heartily wisheth that God may vouchsafe thee long to reign in peace and tranquillity over thy subjects; and when removed hence from an earthly and perishing diadem, to grant thee an heavenly and incorruptible Crown of Glory. Which is the unfeigned desire of,

Great and Mighty Prince,

Thy Affectionate and Sincere Well-Wisher,
William Sewel.

THE

PREFACE.

AFTER a labour of more than five and twenty years, this history at length appears in public view; to the compiling of which I was induced from the consideration that the rise and increase of that religious society, which in this work I have given a circumstantial account of, is indeed so rare and wonderful a thing, that I think few will be met with in modern histories, which in the like respect may be compared therewith; because the Quakers (so called) are become a great people under such heavy oppres sion as is herein after mentioned; and that not by any human power, or making resistance, but merely by an harmless deportment, and the exercising of patience; for the bearing of arms, and the resisting of the wicked by fighting, they always have counted unlawful and contrary to the doctrine of our Saviour. Thus they, who had no king, prince nor potentate to protect them, and who, in the beginning had not among themselves any men of renown or literature, but relying on their integrity, and trusting to God alone, have at length triumphed over the malice of their opposers, by suffering, (which rose to that degree, that it was at the expence of the lives of many of them) under violent oppression from high and low, and the opposition of learned and unlearned.

All this after much search, being found out by assiduous diligence, it appeared so wonderful to me, that I resolved to give a relation thereof, notwithstanding the great labour I soon perceived this work required. To this may be added, that when I considered that several authors both Germans and others, had published books and accounts of this people, stuffed with gross untruths, I was the more spurred on thereby to set down in due order,(for my countrymen's sake, what I knew of the matter; for it seems, indeed to be of small advantage, that when any thing is well known to us, we keep that knowledge only to ourselves, without imparting it to others.

Now how difficult soever I found it, yet having made a beginning I resolved to go on; and so I did, though often stopped by several accidents, and also other work: for during this labour, I have not only translated several bulky books into dutch, besides Kennet's Antiquities of Rome, but also composed several treatises of moment, and among these my great Dictionary, English and Low Dutch. And notwithstanding all these impediments, I continually resumed this work by intervals, so often that I have written it almost thrice to make it complete: for doubting of some things, and find⚫ Scire tuum nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter.

Pers. Sat. 1.

ing others defective, it made me write to England for better information; which having gotten at length after much pains and long waiting, I was several times obliged to lay aside part of my former description, and make a new one ; which happened so often, that had I not been supported by an unwearied application, the difficulty of the labour, which hath been much greater in Holland than if I had composed the work in England, would have made me give it over. But I went on, and so finished this history in that form as it now appears.

:

And I am not without thoughts, that I was prepared to be instrumental for such a work as this for several remarkable things I have made use of, I had noted down before ever I thought of composing such a history; and even in my young years, when I was in England, I copied from manuscripts several pieces and letters which are inserted in this history, it may be hardly to be found elsewhere.

At the first sight, perhaps some will be ready to think that I might have superseded this labour; since the learned world hath long ago seen a book written in latin by Gerard Croese, with the title of Historia Quakeriana. But be it known to the reader, that though the author got the chief contents thereof from me, yet that relation which he gives of the rise and progress of the Quakers, is very imperfect and defective;