University of Virginia Library

July ye 6th.

Yesterday a strange thing happened in the Meeting-house.
The Minister had gone on in his Discourse,
until the Sand in the Hour-glass on the rails before

the Deacons had well nigh run out, and Deacon Dole
was aboute turning it, when suddenlie I saw the Congregation
all about me give a great start, and look back.
A young Woman, barefooted and with a coarse canvass
Frock about her, and her long hair hanging loose like a
periwigg, and sprinkled with ashes, came walking up the
south Aisle. Just as she got near Uncle Rawson's seat
she stopped, and turning round towards the four corners
of the House, cried out: “Woe to the persecutors!
Woe to them who for a pretence make long prayers!
Humble yourselves, for this is the day of the Lord's
power, and I am sent as a sign among you!” As she
looked towards me I knew her to be the Quaker maiden,
Margaret Brewster. “Where is the Constable?”
asked Mr. Richardson. “Let the Woman be taken
out.” Thereupon the whole Congregation arose, and
there was a great uproar, Men and Women climbing the
Seats, and manie crying out, some one thing and some
another. In the midst of the noise, Mr. Sewall, getting
up on a Bench, begged the people to be quiet, and let
the Constable lead out the poor deluded creature. Mr.
Richardson spake to the same effect, and the tumult a
little subsiding, I saw them taking the young Woman
out of the door; and, as manie followed her, I went out
also, with my Brother, to see what became of her.

We found her in the middle of a great crowd of

angrie people, who reproached her for her wickedness
in disturbing the Worship on the Lord's day, calling
her all manner of foul names, and threatening her with
the Stocks and the Whipping-post. The poor creature
stood still and quiet; she was deathly pale, and her
wild hair and sackcloth frock gave her a verie strange
and pitiable look. The Constable was about to take
her in charge until the morrow, when Robert Pike came
forward, and said he would answer for her appearance
at the Court the next Day, and besought the people to
let her go quietly to her home, which, after some parley,
was agreed to. Robert then went up to her, and
taking her hand, asked her to go with him. She
looked up, and being greatlie touched by his Kindness,
began to weep, telling him that it had been a sorrowful
cross to her to do as she had done; but that it had been
long upon her Mind, and that she did feel a reliefe
now that she had found strength for obedience. He,
seeing the People still following, hastened her away,
and we all went back to the Meeting-house. In the
afternoon, Mr. Richardson gave notice that he should
preach, next Lord's day, from the 12th and 13th verses
of Jude, wherein the Ranters and Disturbers of the present
day were verie plainlie spoken of.

This morning she hath been had before the Magistrates,
who, considering her youth and good behavior

hitherto, did not proceed against her so far as manie
of the People desired. A fine was laid upon her,
which both she and her Father did profess they could
not in conscience pay, whereupon she was ordered to
be set in the Stocks; but this Mr. Sewall, Robert Pike,
and my Brother would by no means allow, but paid the
fine themselves, soe that she was set at Liberty, whereat
the Boys and rude Women were not a little disappointed,
as they had thought to make sport of her in the
Stocks. Mr. Pike, I hear, did speak openlie in her
behalf before the Magistrates, saying that it was all
along of the cruel persecution of these People that
did drive them to such Follies and breaches of the
Peace. Mr. Richardson, who hath heretofore been
exceeding hard upon the Quakers, did, moreover,
speak somewhat in excuse of her Conduct, believing
that she was instigated by her Elders; and he therefore
counselled the Court that she should not be
whipped.