debts, though I might lose my life in the pursuit of it, about which I had no anxious guilt, because I never was extravagant nor indolent, but met with divers casualties by fire and water; by the latter I lost many hundreds of pounds for several years together; and I would persuade all in their undertaking for a livelihood in this world, to be sure to have an eye to divine providence, who will not suffer us, if we do well, nor so much as a sparrow to fall to the ground, without he think it best for us, he knowing what is for our good better than we know ourselves. Thus when I had paid my debts, and in a good degree settled my affairs, I visited several of my rela tions, as at Kingsworth, Staines, Guilford, &c. Had a meeting at Market-Street, and one at Guilford, an other at Staines, and one at Longford; in all which I had some service, and my relations were joyful to see me once more, having never expected to see me again; and when I had visited meetings in and about London, I went towards the North, in order to visit some places where I had never been, and some that I had been at. The number of meetings, and the names of the places where I had meetings (while I was this time in England) are as follows. While I was in and about London, I was at eighteen meetings in that great city, at two of which I was with May Drummond, a virtuous young woman, who hath a good gift in the ministry, and had a gracious opportunity of declaring her convincement to our noble Queen Caroline, our great King George's royal consort. The kind treatment, and good reception, she had with the queen, spread so in city and country, that many thousands flock. ed to hear her, and more of the gentry and nobility than ever was known before, to our meetings. I had some private conversation with her, which put me in mind of the apostle's exhortation, where he adviseth the primitive christians, that their words be few and savoury, and that they should be seasoned with grace for this great reason, that they might administer grace to the hearers; and truly I thought there was the influence of grace in her conduct and conversation, whom I pray God to preserve in Christ to the end.

I had a meeting at the house of my brother with his scholars at Edmonton, and also with his family and divers of our relations, which some of us may have occasion to remember. We had seven meetings at Tottenham, at sundry times, and four at Hartford; I travelled to Hitching, from thence to Baldock, and then to Stadtfold and Ashwell. The 7th of the eighth month (being the third day of the week) to Royston, fourth to Ives, fifth to Huntington, sixth to Ramsey. First day, being the 12th of the month, we had a meeting at a small town named Finding, and the same day, in the evening, had a large meeting at Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire. The 14th, being the third day of the week, we had a meeting at Northampton, fourth day at Braybrook, fifth day at Okeham, the county town of Rutland, sixth day at Long-Clackson; and first day, being the 19th of the month, I was at a large and open meeting at Nottingham, where were many people, not of our society, who were very sober; third day had a meeting at Fairnsfield, fourth day at Mansfield, fifth at Chesterfield, in Derbyshire; from whence we went over the moors and mountains, Benja min Bangs, the younger, accompanying me, who came on purpose from Stockport to be my companion and guide thither his company was both pleasant and profitable to me in that hilly country, through which we trav. elled to Stockport, where we had three meetings, and where I met with my dear, worthy old friend, Benjamin Bangs. When we met, we embraced each other in arms of christian love, having not seen one another for many years, with whom I stayed four days. This worthy friend, though upwards of fourscore years of age, went with me to Manchester, where we had two meetings, and then I went back with him to his house. He was a man of extraordinary character, and well beloved, he being a pillar in the church of Christ.

When at Manchester, I went to visit a friend newly cut for the stone, who had one taken out of him, the measure of which I saw, and had the stone in my hand. It was nine inches about, and three over. Before I went out of those parts, he was well enough to ride home,

which was near a hundred miles. well as thankful.

He was cheerful, as

From Stockport I went to Macclesfield, to Joseph Hobson's, where I met with Joshua Toft and his brother, two choice ministers of Jesus Christ, of whose company I was glad, though at that time I was very low and poor in my spirit. We had two meetings here; on the 2d of the ninth month, being first day. I was at a large meeting at Morley, and, in the evening, at the meeting at John Leigh's, at both which meetings there were many people, not of our society, who were very still, and some were broken into tenderness. From Morley I went to Penketh, where we had a large, solid meeting, and had an evening meeting at Warrington, where I met with many brethren and sisters, who sincerely love our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom I was refreshed, particularly at Gilbert Thompson's and Lawrence Calen's. From Warrington I went to Langtree, Preston, and Clifton, where I had meetings, and so went on to Lancaster. I went to Wray, in order to visit my old ship-mate Elizabeth Rawlinson, (whose son, Hutton Rawlinson, went with me). When I came to Wray, they desired me to have a meeting with them; and though there was little notice, yet we had a large meeting, divers neighbours coming in, and Christ was preached to them freely; this was the 10th in the evening, and second day of the week. Third day I went to Kendal, and, in the evening, with very little notice, we met with several hundreds of peo ple, friends and others. It was a surprize to me, I expecting but a few, because of the shortness of time; but I acknowledge it was a pleasant surprize, to see the willingness and readiness of the people to hear the gospel preached. Friends here are a great people, and well beloved and esteemed by their neighbours, and live in much love and unity. The fourth day many friends came to see me from divers parts, I giving them some notice that I designed no farther northward, and hastening to get ready to go to America, betimes in the spring; hav ing been from home near two years; wherefore divers of my friends, some of whom had been at sea with me, met

me here. We rejoiced to see one another, and, after a large and good meeting, we took a solemn farewell, divers of us never expecting to see each other any more.

In this journey and travel I endeavoured to be, as much as I well could, at such meetings as I had never been at before, and because I was short in this visit to my friends, some were not so well pleased; but my call was most to the American shore, where I thought my service mostly lay, and in order to return, I set my face toward London, and expected to meet with my friend and brother in Christ, Isaac Pickerell, in Cheshire, who designed to accompany me towards the south; wherefore I went from Kendal to Lancaster, and was at Penketh on a first day, being the 16th of the ninth month, which meeting was large and solid; after this meeting we went to Sutton, where I met with Isaac Pickerell, also with our ancient friends, James Dickenson and Christopher Wilson, a choice young man, his fellow labourer. We had meetings at Sutton, Newtown, Chester, and Shrewsbury: James Dickenson was about fourscore years of age, and yet held out in travels to admiration, and was lively in preaching the gospel: he is a worthy elder, of whose company I was joyful; at Shrewsbury we parted, and Isaac and I went to Colebrook, where, on a first day, we had a solid, good meeting; from thence we went to Stourbridge, and after having a meeting there, we had another at Broomsgrove, and so went on to Worcester, where we had divers large and solemn meetings: we lodged at John Corbin's, who was very kind to us, as also were his hopeful children, and in great love and unity we both met and parted. From Worcester, we went to Evesham, where we had two meetings, and from thence to Oddington, and had a large evening meeting; the people, who were mostly of other societies, were very sober, and gave good attention; this was the fourth day of the week; fifth day we had a meeting at Chalbury, and a tender time with a friend very weak at Wallingford, who expressed his satisfaction and thankfulness for the visit; his children were very tenderly affected also. The good Lord, the great physician of value was with us, and

his balsamic grace was at that time shed abroad in our hearts. From Wallingford, we went to Reading, where my good companion and fellow traveller, Isaac Pickerell, dwelt; we were lovingly received by our friends; I stayed here, and rested several days, and had several satisfactory meetings with friends, they being a large people, living much in love and good will; here Samuel Thornton, of Edmonton, my kinsman, and Isaac Brown, my wife's son, came to see me from London. From Reading, Isaac Pickerell accompanied me to Maidenhead, and to Jordan's, at both which places we had meetings. The house and burying ground at Jordan's are kept in the neatest order I ever saw, in which ground lie the bones of divers worthy friends, Isaac Penington, William Penn, Thomas Elwood, George Bowles, and their wives, as I remember. This meeting is often, if not mostly, kept in silence; yet several have been convinced there, through the grace of God, and the power of the Holy Ghost, which Christ said he would send to the true be lievers, and that should abide with the church forever: here my beloved friend Isaac and I parted in much love, having good desires for each other's welfare. From Jordan's I went with my kinsman to my brother's at Edmonton, where I stayed and rested a few days from trav elling.

Then a concern came upon me to visit friends meet. ings in the county of Essex, and I went from my broth er's to Hartford, and had several meetings there; and one I had also at Ware, which was very large; after which I went to Hartford again, I having divers relations there; from thence I went to Bishopstafford, where I had a meeting, and so on to Stebbing, where I had a large meeting; and had a meeting at Braintree, Coggeshall, and a large meeting on a first day at Halstead, and there were abundance of people at Cone, at an evening meeting we had there, where I met with my worthy friend Joshua Toft, and his fellow traveller, Joseph Hobson, we rejoic. ing to see each other. From Cone, I went to Cockfield, which was a very small meeting; from thence I went to Colchester, where I stayed several days, and went to sev