Letters on England | Page 9

1675, his "Apology for the Quakers," a work as well drawn up as the
subject could possibly admit. The dedication to Charles II. is not filled
with mean, flattering encomiums, but abounds with bold touches in
favour of truth and with the wisest counsels. "Thou hast tasted," says he
to the King at the close of his epistle dedicatory, "of prosperity and
adversity; thou knowest what it is to be banished thy native country; to
be overruled as well as to rule and sit upon the throne; and, being
oppressed, thou hast reason to know how hateful the Oppressor is both
to God and man. If, after all these warnings and advertisements, thou
dost not turn unto the Lord with all thy heart, but forget Him who
remembered thee in thy distress, and give up thyself to follow lust and
vanity, surely great will be thy condemnation.
"Against which snare, as well as the temptation of those that may or do
feed thee and prompt thee to evil, the most excellent and prevalent
remedy will be, to apply thyself to that light of Christ which shineth in
thy conscience, which neither can nor will flatter thee nor suffer thee to
be at ease in thy sins, but doth and will deal plainly and faithfully with
thee, as those that are followers thereof have plainly done.--Thy faithful
friend and subject, Robert Barclay."
A more surprising circumstance is, that this epistle, written by a private
man of no figure, was so happy in its effects, as to put a stop to the
persecution.

LETTER IV.--ON THE QUAKERS

About this time arose the illustrious William Penn, who established the
power of the Quakers in America, and would have made them appear
venerable in the eyes of the Europeans, were it possible for mankind to
respect virtue when revealed in a ridiculous light. He was the only son
of Vice-Admiral Penn, favourite of the Duke of York, afterwards King
James II.
William Penn, at twenty years of age, happening to meet with a Quaker
in Cork, whom he had known at Oxford, this man made a proselyte of
him; and William being a sprightly youth, and naturally eloquent,
having a winning aspect, and a very engaging carriage, he soon gained
over some of his intimates. He carried matters so far, that he formed by
insensible degrees a society of young Quakers, who met at his house;
so that he was at the head of a sect when a little above twenty.
Being returned, after his leaving Cork, to the Vice-Admiral his father,
instead of falling upon his knees to ask his blessing, he went up to him
with his hat on, and said, "Friend, I am very glad to see thee in good
health." The Vice-Admiral imagined his son to be crazy, but soon
finding he was turned Quaker, he employed all the methods that
prudence could suggest to engage him to behave and act like other
people. The youth made no other answer to his father, than by
exhorting him to turn Quaker also. At last his father confined himself to
this single request, viz., "that he should wait upon the King and the
Duke of York with his hat under his arm, and should not 'thee' and
'thou' them." William answered, "that he could not do these things, for
conscience' sake," which exasperated his father to such a degree, that
he turned him out of doors. Young Pen gave God thanks for permitting
him to suffer so early in His cause, after which he went into the city,
where he held forth, and made a great number of converts.
The Church of England clergy found their congregations dwindle away
daily; and Penn being young, handsome, and of a graceful stature, the
court as well as the city ladies flocked very devoutly to his meeting.
The patriarch, George Fox, hearing of his great reputation, came to
London (though the journey was very long) purely to see and converse
with him. Both resolved to go upon missions into foreign countries, and

accordingly they embarked for Holland, after having left labourers
sufficient to take care of the London vineyard.
Their labours were crowned with success in Amsterdam, but a
circumstance which reflected the greatest honour on them, and at the
same time put their humility to the greatest trial, was the reception they
met with from Elizabeth, the Princess Palatine, aunt to George I. of
Great Britain, a lady conspicuous for her genius and knowledge, and to
whom Descartes had dedicated his Philosophical Romance.
She was then retired to the Hague, where she received these Friends,
for so the Quakers were at that time called in Holland. This princess
had several conferences with them in her palace, and she at last
entertained so favourable an opinion