CHAPTER IV.

STRANGE DOINGS IN HARP ALLEY.

"This their jangling I esteem a sport."

SHAKSPEARE.

ARRIVED at Master Barlowe's, the close fisted trader could not agree about price, nor settle whether he should purchase a Royal Oak, or a King's Head: "What may be the amount of this," pointing to a large pannel, "Master Jonathan."

What, thou needest one friend,” replied the quaker.

"I ask you what one of these may be worth," said the bookseller, petulantly.

"Signs be signs, in these times, I assure thee, friend Waller," said Jonathan, see-sawing on his toes and heels; "trade flourisheth, and industry prevaileth from the morning until the night, in our master's house: yea, orders be forth-coming, from the east and the west, from

the north and the south, and he that would be well served, should not tarry long."

"Then why dost prate, what is the value of this King's Head ?”

"The good man of this house, estimateth the cunning labour of his own hand, friend Waller, and he hath not vouchsafed to communicate to Jonathan his servant, other than that one be of one price, and another be of another price: yea, Matthew Barlowe reserveth unto himself the value thereof."

"Then thou prevaricating blockhead, my time be of some value if thine be not. Confound thy stupidity, what is the price of this King's Head? hast wit enough to answer a plain question ?”

"Peradventure, thou wanteth it for thyself." "What is that to thee,-I ask the price,-thou oaf."

"Peradventure, thou wanteth it per order from one of thy country correspondents, for thou do'st trade under the sign and symbol of the Black Eagle."

"But thou inquisitive-prying - stiff-obstinate-"

66

Nay, friend Waller, thou hast no occasion : if thou needest the article for thyself, he who employeth me would charge thee one sum; if for another, then would he demand another, allowing thee a fair and equitable profit, according to the custom of trade, for the maxim of Master Matthew Barlowe, yea, and a wholesome maxim it be, is to do unto another, as he would another should do unto him."

66

Aye! thou art a smooth spoken one, Master Aminidab," said Watkin Waller with a sneer, "though I do not think a whit the better of thee, for being a disciple of that obstinate fanatic George Fox."

George Fox, the founder of this sect, affirmeth, "That when the Lord sent him into the world he forbad him to put off his hat to any, high or low; and that he was required to thee and thou men and women, without any respect to rich or poor, great or small; and as he travelled up and down, he was not to bid people good-morrow and good-evening; neither might he bow or scrape the leg to any one."

The obstinacy of the primitive quakers, made a part of the strange religious drama of the seventeenth century. Bishop Parker says, "They scarce accounted any act so religious, as to resist human autho

"It moveth not my inward man to ill will, friend Waller, in hearkening to thy revilings. George Fox recommendeth the living together in peace and brotherly love. Thy sister and thee hath had words this morning, as I gathered from thy own complaints to our friend and neighbour, Potter, the cordwainer, on the threshold of this house, and verily thou art moved to drive a bargain in anger, yea in a froward and unchristian spirit;" then again raising himself

rity; therefore, they met the oftener, because they were forbid; (viz. by the 35th of Queen Elizabeth, against the assemblies of fanaticks,) nor could they by any force be drawn away one from another, till a merry fellow hit upon this stratagem: he proclaimed in the king's name, that it should not be lawful for any one to depart without his leave, and he had scarcely done this, when they all went their ways, that it might not be said, that they obeyed any man.

George Fox, born at Drayton in Lincolnshire, in 1624, was apprenticed to a shoe-maker, and followed his trade in Nottingham, until partaking of the fanaticism of the times, his heated imagination engendered spiritual illuminations, which urged him to set about the reformation of mankind. He asserted that he received his instructions immediately from the holy

on his toes, and dropping upon his heels, he added "my spirit moveth me to utter the word, wherein it is written, Let not the sun go down upon thy wrath."

"What is the price of this sign, thou impudent, stiff-necked hypocrite? raved old Waller, increasing his voice at each word; "mind thine own affairs, or at least attend to thy master's. Dost think I have nothing better to do than stand here to hold a cabal with a preaching fool of a quaker?"

"The price then," said Jonathan, “to thee, peradventure if it be for thyself, will be two pounds and ten shillings."

spirit. His wife under a like delusion, fancied herself inspired too, and preached to their followers.

From these sprung that respected fraternity, denominated Quakers, who live in peace and charity with all men. The sect, however, was upheld by William Penn and Robert Barclay, whose Apology for the Quakers, is a work of good sense and piety, and abounding in Christian charity.

The morality, justice, and plain dealing of the brethren is proverbial. But when a member does disgrace their congregation, he is generally found to be

a

Rogue in Grain.”