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Vol 01 - Part 02

The Minute Book of the Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends for the Upperside of Buckinghamshire, 1669-1690

Transcribed, with Introduction & Notes, by BEATRICE SAXON SNELL, M.A. (Lond.) 
PRINTED FOR THE RECORDS BRANCH OF THE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Printed by Hague & Gill Ltd., High Wycombe for the Records Branch of the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society (being Volume I of the publications of the Branch  and issued for the year I937) 
Printed & made in Great Britain

CONTENTS
Introduction
The Minute Book - Part One
The Minute Book - Part Two
The Minute Book - Part Three
The Minute Book - Part Four
Appendix

NOTES ON TRANSCRIPTION

(a) Symbols used
1. Words underlined, underdotted, or crossed through, for deletion from the original manuscript, which form no part of the final record, are enclosed in braces e.g. {unity}
2. Additions and interlineations, which form part of the final record, are in half-round parentheses, and marked by a ?? dagger, e.g. (were)  
3. Marginal notes by the scribe are similarly in (), but are marked by an asterisk in addition * (see 6: mo: 71)
4. Interpolations and additions by the transcriber, other than the usual expansions, are in crotchets [given]
5. Letters, words, and phrases, of which the reading is uncertain, are enclosed in square crotchets with a query . [ ? refuse]

(b) Superior letters
In the manuscript, superior letters are used in such words as ye, yt, wch, but, principally for reasons of economy, this usage has not been retained in the printed book.

(c) Marginal notes
In the margin, opposite the beginning of the entry for each Meeting, the scribe has entered the date. As this information is precisely repeated in the heading to each Meeting entry, the marginal date has been omitted. All other marginal notes have been incorporated in the text and indicated by the symbol described in No. 3 above.

(d) Marriage formulas
The formulary words relating to intentions of marriage and assents to marriage have not, after the initial entries, been printed verbatim. The essential information has been inserted in crotchets, the original spelling of personal names and place-names being retained.

THE MINUTE BOOK
Part Two

[25r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwoods on ye 5th: of 3d: mo: 75.
     The Condicion of Rebecca Widmore & her Child was taken into Consideracion, & it was ye joynt judgmt, of ye Meeting (as it had been also of ye Meeting before) yt ye best & most advantagious course yt could be taken, both for their releif, & ye ease of friends, would be, yt ye child should be carefully disposed at Nurse, & a service provided for ye woman.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 2d: 4th: mo: 75
     Ralph Johnson of London Joyner and Mary Greenhill of Bouvington in ye County of Hertford proposed their intention to take each other in Marriage, ye said Ralph producing a Certificate from ye monethly Meeting at Devonshire house in London of his Clearnes: wherupon it was referred to Philip Thompson to enquire concerning ye clearness of ye maid, & give an account at ye next Meeting.

[25v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 7th: 5th: mo: 75.
     [Assent given to Ralph Johnson & Mary Greenhill. (Vide under date 2.iv.75)
     Intention of marriage between Richard Vivers son of Edward Vivers of Banbury, & Elizabeth Stoddart of Watford. George Mead appointed to inquire concerning Elizabeth], And a Certificate is expected from ye Meeting in Oxfordshire, to wch the said Richard belongeth, concerning his clearnes.
      [Intention of marriage between Andrew Walker of Amersham & Sarah Bates of Chesham. Robert Jones, William Cooper, & George Meade appointed to inquire.]
     The Meeting being informed yt friends of Chesham are of late grown more negligent in Meeting together, so as yt that Meeting is in danger to be lost ; It is ordered yt John Raunce & Nicholas Noy do shortly visit them & upon inquiry into ye business, admonish & advise them as need shal require.

[26r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: 6t: mo: 75.
     [Consent given to Richard Vivers & Elizabeth Stoddart, (vide under date 7.v.75)] Richard producing a Certificate of his clearnes subscribed by above 30 friends, from their monthly Meeting at North Newton in Oxfordshire.
     [Consent given to Andrew Walker & Sarah Bates. (Vide under date 7.v.75)
     Intention of Marriage between Thomas Child of Rickmansworth & Dorcas Parker of Warlord. George Meade & Philip Thompson appointed to inquire.]

Samuel Jenings received 10s. to defray a quarter's Rent for Jane Turner of Alisbury ending 24th: of 4th: mo: past.

[26v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 1st. of 7th: mo: 75.
     [Consent given to Thomas Child & Dorcas Parker. (Vide under date 4.vi.75)
     Intention of marriage between Edward Cooke of Bow Brickhill & Mary Pearce of Weston Turvill. Robert Jones & John Brown appointed to inquire. Also between Roger Kempster of Rowsam & Ann Brown of Burston in the parish of Aston Abbots. James Stevens & John Hicks appointed to inquire.]
     Several Women-friends being met together to wait upon ye Lord in ye house of John Mannock at Larkin's Green, a Message was delivered from them to ye Men-friends at this Meeting, wherby they declare That they have a sense that their Meeting is of ye Lord, & yt they cannot go back, & therfore desire that they may go on wth the incouragemt. & unity of ye Men. To wch the Men's Answer is, That they are therupon willing to incourage them, & do not desire they should go back, but go on in ye name of ye Lord.

[27r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on 6t. of 8 th mo: 75.
     Edward Cooke & Mary Pearce, who at ye last Meeting proposed their intention to take each other in Marriage, desiring ye advice of friends therin came now to receive ye answer of ye Meeting, & had ye consent of friends therto.
     Roger Kempster & Ann Brown, who at ye last Meeting proposed their intention to take each other in Marriage, desiring ye advice of ye Meeting therin, came now to receive ye answer of friends who condescending to ye weaknes of their states, permitted them to go on to ye finishing therof.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on 3d: of 9th mo: 75.
     Thomas Kelly of Twyford in ye County of Buck, being lately convinced of ye blessed Truth, & for his Obedience therto, turned out of his service, habitation & al imploymt, & therby exposed to great sufferings & hardship, came to lay his condition before this Meeting, & desired their advice therin. Al wch friends have throughly [erasure] weighed, ye sense & advice of ye Meeting was, yt it is most expedient & serviceable both to Truth & himself, for him to return to ye same place again & there to abide; & by an innocent life & blameless conversation to adorn ye profession of ye Gospel in yt rude & prophane place. And James Stevens of Hogshaw was desired to have an eye over ye young man, & take care to supply him wth such things as he shall need, that his sufferings from ye world may not ly too heavy upon him. [The Quarterly Meeting Minutes of vii. 1677 direct James Stevens to supply Thomas Kelly with apparel.]

[27v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 1st: of 10mo: 75.
     [Intention of marriage between Henry Costard of Oulsweeck & Ann Ball of Colshill in the parish of Amersham. John White, Edward Hoare & Ralph Trumpet appointed to inquire.]

At a Meeting at Tho: Ellwoods on ye 5th: 11th: mo: 75.
     [Consent and approbation given to Henry Costard & Ann Ball. (Vide under date 1.x.75)
     Intention of marriage between Joseph Hackney of Corner Hall in the parish of Hemstead & County of Hertford, & Elizabeth Jenings of Alisbury. Robert Jones, Samuel Jenings & John Brown appointed to inquire.]
     Agreed yt ye loss by fire sustained by friends at Northampton, & recommended to ye consideration of friends of this County by ye General Meeting at London in ye 8th mo: last, be communicated to ye respective Meetings belonging to this ; & yt what shal be therupon contributed towards their releif, be brought in hither at ye next Meeting here.

[28r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 2d: 12 : mo: 75.
     [Consent & approbation given to Joseph Hackney & Elizabeth Jenings. (Vide under date 5.xi.75)]

*(see 7th: mo: 76)
     The monyes collected & brought in hither for ye relief of Northampton friends, were as follows

     This mony was received here by Charles Harris, who undertook to return it to Edward Mann of London.
     The great loss & therby low condition of John Gigger of Eaton, occasioned by fire, was considered of & judged meet to be recommended not only to ye several Meetings of this county, but also to friends of Uxbridge, Kingston, Walton upon Thames, Stains, Guilford, Henly & Berkshire (friends of Reading, by reason of their present great sufferings, excepted) ["Friends of Reading."-Joseph Besse, Sufferings of the Quakers, Vol. I. 32. Anno 1675. - "On the 17th of October W. Armorer and George Goswell, Mayor, came to the Meeting at Reading, and Armorer, with a sharp Bodkin or packing Needle, pricked several of the women most inhumanly . . . on the 7th of November they came again, but the Meeting being just ended, they stopt thirteen persons in the Street going Home; to all these they tendred the Oath of Allegiance, and for refusing it, sent them to Prison, where they were confined in two small rooms over the Dungeon, in which a Felon then lay sick of the Small Pox. They were kept close locked up 17 hours of 24, and not suffered to go out to ease themselves : Their working Tools were taken from them, and their Wives and Servants not suffered to bring them Necessaries, nor were they allowed the Benefit of Air which the Felons had."]

[28v]
Wherupon a letter was drawn up & sent to ye said friends, in these words

Dr Friends & Brethren.
     In the blessed Truth, into wch ye Lord God hath gathered us, & in wch our fellowship stands wth him & one wth another, do we salute you, even in yt wch makes us neer to one another, & gives us a sense of & sympathy wth each other in ye various exercises, sufferings, losses & distresses yt befal any who are indeed Members of ye one body: so yt we know there cannot but be a fellow-feeling & compassion of ye wants of such in those who are gathered into & abide in ye one spt. Wch induceth us to lay before you ye condicion of Jon. Gigger of Eaton near Windsore ; an honest & faithful friend, of whose uprightnes & sincerity to ye Lord, we have an ample testimony in ourselves, & whose blameless conversation & plain dealing hath gained him a good report even amongst them yt are without. He, on ye I4th of ye 10th mo: last, by a fire wch began in a Neibour's house, had ye house wherin he dwelt burnt down in ye night time, himself being then absent upon his occasions, & therin lost in grain of several sorts, meal & houshold goods, etc. to ye value of about 8oli; by wch means, having but a smal stock before, he is now reduced to so low & strait a condition, yt he is not in a capacity to go forward in his imploymt, nor indeed to sustain his family, wth out ye charitable assistance of friends. And inasmuch as a Collection hath lately past through ye several Meetings of this County, wherin friends of these parts have put forth their ability towards ye releif of our suffering Brethren at Northampton, wherby we are become at present less capable of answering ye necessity of this our neibouring friend, we found freedom in ourselves to recommend his condicion to your consideracions, hoping it wil find acceptance wth you, & desiring yt whatsoever {it shal please) ye Lord shal incline your hearts to communicate towards his loss, may be returned unto Wm. Peachy Haberdasher of hatts, at ye sign of ye Hart in Martin's London, near ye Bull & Mouth. So, in ye love & service of ye Truth, we remain
Your Friends & Brethren
Ralph Trumper.           Samuel Jenings.
Robt. Jones.           William Sexton.
Isaac Penington.          George Salter.
William Penn.          Robt. White.
Charles Harris.          Henry Costard.
Thomas Dell.          Thomas Ellwood.
[This letter is recorded in the Reading Monthly Meeting Minute Book, with the addition, after the words "Bull & Mouth " - " Yet it is not in the least our Aime hearin to ingage our Friends at Reading (whose Cruel bonds & greivous Sufferings we have a deep Sense of) but to present this Case unto Such other Meetings in Barkesheire as through ye goodness of ye Lord do yet inioy an house of peace and Quiett." Nevertheless, a Minute in the Reading M. M. Minute Book, dated 3.ii.76, records a collection of £11.15.2. for John Gigger and the Northampton Friends.]

[29r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 1st: 1st: mo: 75/6.
     [Intention of Marriage between Nicholas Horton & Martha Blake both of Penn. William Cooper & Henry Child appointed to inquire. 
     Also between Thomas Redman & Ann Round both of Chipping Wiccomb. John Raunce & William Kidder appointed to inquire.
     Also between Edward Dolt of Watford & Elisabeth Gillat of Pinner-Marsh, Middlesex. Robert Jones & George Mead appointed to inquire.]

[29v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwoods on ye 5th :2d: mo: 76.
     [Consent given to Nicholas Horton & Martha Blake. (Vide under date i.i.75/6)
     Also to Thomas Redman & Ann Round. (Vide under date i.i.75/6)
     Also to Edward Dolt & Elizabeth Gillat. (Vide under date i.i.75/6)
     Intention of Marriage between Philip Thompson of Flandell & Elizabeth White of Watford. George Mead & Edward Butterfeild appointed to inquire.
     Also between John Robbins of Hensworth, Co. Herts & Hanna Davis of Cheshham. William Cooper & John Costard appointed] to inquire concerning ye maid's clearnes.

[30r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 3d: of 3d: mo: 76.
     [Consent given to Phillip Thompson & Elizabeth White. (Vide under date 5.ii.76)
     Also to John Robbins & Hannah Davis. (Vide under date 5.ii.76)] He producing a Certificate of his clearnes under ye hands of a dozen friends of ye Meeting at Waterside in Hertfordshire, to wch he belongs.
     [Intention of marriage between Samuel Wilson of Tring & Mary Goddin of Wiccomb. Robert Jones & Samuel Troane appointed to inquire.
     Also between Henry Saul of Uxbridge, and Elizabeth Chamber of Watford. George Mead appointed to inquire.]

[30v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 7th: of 4th: mo: 76
     [Consent given to Samuel Wilson & Mary Goddin. (Vide under date 3.iii.76)
     Also to Henry Saul & Elizabeth Chamber, (vide under date 3.iii.76)] he producing a Certificate of his clearnes & uprightnes, attested by 10 of ye Menfriends at their monthly Meeting at Longford in ye County of Middlesex.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 5th: of 5th: mo: 76.
     For ye better spreading of Friend's books in order to a more general service therby: & for ye more equal proportioning ye charge therof among friends in this County, a Proposition was made yt ye respective parcels of books wch are to be taken offby this upper side ofye County, be brought from time to time to this Meeting, & paid for out ofa publick stock belonging to this Meeting. And yt whatsoever friends do take any ofye said Books for their own use, doe repay ye ye [sic] prices therof to ye said Stock. And what Bookes are not so taken off, to be disposed of, where service may be, upon ye publick charge out ofye said stock. This Propositioa was refer'd to be considered of at another Meeting; & friends here were desired in ye meantime to acquaint ye friends of their respective Meetings wth it, & understand their minds therin.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 2d of 6th: mo: 76.
     Certain Letters & Papers [See Appendix.] from ye general Meeting at London in ye 3d mo: last, containing advice & direction to friends in several particulars, were read, & agreed to be put in execution as soon as conveniently may be ; & yt so much as concerns ye friends of ye lower side of ye County to take notice of, before ye Quarterly Meeting, be writ out & sent down unto them, & ye rest communicated to them at ye Quarterly Meeting.

[31r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 6t. of 7th: mo: 76.

*(see 1st: mo: 77; 5th: mo: 77)
     Robt. Jones acquainted ye Meeting yt Susan Todd of great Missenden hath repaid into his hand yt 5li wch was lent her by this Meeting in ye 4th mo: 74.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: of 8th mo: 76.
     [Intention of marriage between Richard Kirton of Kensington & Sarah Ball of Brainford's barn in the Hamlet of Coleshill Co. Herts. Ralph Trumpet & Robert White appointed to inquire. 
     Also between Robert Aldrige of Hitcham and Susanna Salter of Peter's Chalfont. William Sexton, & Edward Barton appointed to inquire.]

     In pursuance of a Letter from ye yearly Meeting at London on ye 17th: of 3d mo: last, it was here agreed that a Collection be made through ye respective Meetings belonging to this, & brought in hither at ye next Meeting.

[31v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on 1st: 9th : mo: 76
     Report being made yt Mary Mitchel of Wooburn Meeting Widow hath joyned herself in Marriage to a man of ye world by ye assistance of a Priest, ye Meeting appointed William Sexton & Thomas Dell to make inquiry into ye truth of ye matter; & give an account therof at ye next Meeting.
     [Consent given to Richard Kirton & Sarah Ball. (Vide under date 4.viii.76)] he producing a Certificate signed by a dozen of ye friends of London from their Meeting there on the 21th: of 7th mo: 1676.
     [Also to Robert Aldrige & Susanna Salter. (Vide under date 4.viii.76)
     Intention of marriage between John Heywood of London, Salter, & Elizabeth Harrison of Amersham. Ralph Trumper & William Cooper appointed to inquire.
     Also between Richard Aldridge of Woburn & Hanna Medin of Burnham. Thomas Dell & William Sexton appointed to inquire.]

     The Collection made in ye respective Meetings belonging to this, pursuant of an Agreement of the last Meeting, for ye defraying of publique and National charges relating to the service of Truth, was brought in hither as followeth, & comitted to Thomas Dell to pay at London to Gerrard Roberts, vizt. [Inserted between pp 31(v ) and 32(r ) is the following receipt : - Recd. ye 13th: of xth: ber 1676 of Tho: Dell from their Monthly Meeting in ye uper part of Buckingham Sheir ye Sum of foureteen pounds Seauen Shill. & 3d - for ye use of Gerrard Roberts. pr Jon. Forster - li14, s7, d3

     Tho: Dell undertooke to pay this 14:07:03 to some of ye friends in London appointed to receive it.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on 6t: 10th: mo: 76.
     Friends being satisfied of ye certainty of ye report of Mary Mitchel being married by ye Priest, & also of her insensiblenes at present of ye evil she hath done ; it was agreed yt Nicholas Noy & John Raunce or one of them do visit her & admonish her to repentance.
     [Consent given to Richard Aldrige & Hanna Medin. (Vide under date x.ix.76)
     Intention of marriage between Thomas Pewsey of Beconsfeild & Elizabeth Airs of Giles Chalfont. Robert White & Henry Ball appointed to inquire.]

     John Heywood & Elizabeth Harrison, who at ye last Meeting proposed their intention to take each other in marriage, desiring advice of friends therin, came now to receive ye Answer of friends, who understanding yt one John Chearsly of Amersham had given out some words intimating yt the said Elizabeth ought to be his Wife, did appoint Ralph Trumper, William Cooper & Thomas Ellwood to speak wth ye said John Chearsly about it, & if they found yt ye said John Chearsly had any reasonable, just & sufficient ground so to express himself, yt then they should suspend any further proceedings in order to marriage between ye said John Heywood & Elizabeth ?? (until the next Meeting). But if they found no sufficient ground therfore, then they should declare unto ye said John Heywood & Eliz: Harrison the ful consent of this Meeting to their Proposition of marriage.

[32v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on 3d: of 11th mo: 76
     Upon a fresh complaint of ye prophane carriage of Henry Parks lately acted by dancing & otherwise & friends unanimously declaring their sense that they had no hope of him, it was ye Agreemt. of ye Meeting yt a paper be drawn up by T. Ellwood in ye name of this Meeting ?? (for) {of} a publick denyal of him.
     Nicholas Noy gave ye Meeting an Account yt having since ye last Meeting visited Mary Mitchel (who was lately married by a Priest to a man of ye world) he found her in a very dead & senseless state, so yt he hath little hopes to bring her to a sense of her miscarriage. Yet friends being desirous to use al tenderness to her, have desired John Raunce to give her one visit more, before a publick denyal of her be given forth.
     [Consent given to Thomas Pewsey & Elizabeth Airs. (Vide under date 6.x.76 )
     Intention of marriage between Joseph Welch of Chesham & Sarah Jones of Cholesbury. John Costard & John Brown appointed to inquire.
     Also between John Childs & Sarah Parrat both of Amersham. William Cooper & Ralph Trumper appointed to inquire.]
     Upon a complaint from Amersham Meeting, that the present charge upon yt Meeting is greater than they are able to defray, a Proposition was made yt ye respective Meetings belonging to this, would bring in hither an Account of their receipts & disbursmts, together wth ye Surplussage of their collections (if any be) to be as a stock for this Meeting to dispose of to ye supply of any Meeting yt may be overcharged; yt so ye burden may be born ye more equally. This Proposition was left under consideration til the next Meeting.

[33r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on 7th: of 12th: mo: 76.
     [Consent given to Joseph Welch & Sarah Jones. (Vide under date 3.xi.76)
     Also to John Childs & Sarah Parrat. (Vide under date 3.xi.76)]
     In pursuance of a Proposition made ye last Meeting concerning Collections for ye Poor &c. It is agreed, That once in every three months (to wit, at ye Meeting next before each quarterly Meeting) ye Friends of each Meeting do bring hither an Accompt in writing of what monyes have been collected & how disbursed, together with the overpluss (if there be any) to remain here as a stock disposeable by this Meeting for ye supply & assistance of any Meeting yt shal be overcharged; yt so, as brethren, we may help to bear one another's burdens, & ye weight therof may ly more equally. And it is agreed yt this Course be entred upon at ye next Meeting, & be from thence continued quarterly.
     According to ye Agreemt. ofye last Meeting, a Paper, containing a publick denyal of Henry Parks, was drawn up, & presented to this Meeting, who approving therof, it was subscribed by several of ye Meeting: but ye Execution therof was at present deferred. * (see 2d mo: 73.)
     An Account being given to this Meeting yt ye Monthly Meeting agreed upon between ye Friends of Chalfont & Charlywood, Watford & Flanden Meetings in ye 10th: mo: 73 (of wch see ye 3d head of yt agreemt in ye 11th: rno : 73.) did not answer ye end for wch it was appointed, nor suited ye conveniency of those Friends ; it was referd by this Meeting to ye Friends of those Meetings to alter, & settle it as to them, in ye wisdom of God, should appear most convenient & serviceable.

[33v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 7th: of 1st: mo: 76/7.
     It was agreed yt a paper be drawn up by some friends of Wiccomb as a Testimony agt. ye miscarriage of Mary Mitchel, (in ?? (being married by a Priest) {joyning herself} to a man of ye world) & a denyal of her therfore, & oral such practises in whomsoever.
     Inasmuch as some friends (through a misunderstanding of ye agreemt, of ye last Meeting concerning Collections) did not bring in any accompt therof, or stock thereupon, it was agreed yt ye Friends of other Meetings also should for this time forbear giving in their accompts. And friends were desired to take care yt at ye next three months Meeting, accompts & stock be duly brought in, yt no further Obstruction may be therin. And because Amersham Meeting stood in need of a present supply & assistance, ye Meeting understanding yt T. Ellwood had some mony in hand at their disposal, did order him to pay unto Wm. Cooper 2li : 3s wch he did. Of this mony 1li was a legacy given by Sarah Jenings of Alisbury.  1li more was part of a Debt repaid by Joseph Winch of Amersham; & ye 3s. was ye Stock of this Meeting remaining from ye 7th month 1676. *(see 3d:mo: 77& 3:mo: 80)

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: of 2d: mo: 77.
     John Raunce acquainted ye Meeting, yt having visited Mary Mitchel (who was married by a Priest to a man of ye world) he found her under a great exercise of mind & sense of judgmt, for her miscarriage, whereupon ye meeting forbore for ye present to give forth a publick denyal of her, & desired yt Eliz: Medin & Susanna Aldridge would give her a visit, & endeavour to bring her to a further sense of her evil, yt she may acknowledge & condemn it.
     The loss by fire sustained by Geo: Flane & Henry Glidwell (two faithful friends of North Crawley in ye lower side of ye County of Buck) being certified by divers Friends of yt side to ye quarterly Meeting, & from thence referd to this, it was agreed to be recommended to ye several Meetings belonging to this, & ye Collections therin respectively made to be brought hither at ye next Meeting. And ye friends of each Meeting were desired to take care accordingly.

[34r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 2d: of 3d: mo: 77.
     George Mead & John Hawes acquainted friends, yt one John Clark of Mill End near Rickmansworth, hath left his own habitation and Wife, & is gone to live wth one Elizabeth Winkfeild a single woman, in a lone house by themselves, to ye great scandal & reproach of Truth, they being both persons yt have made a pretence to truth. Whereupon it was concluded yt Samuell Jenings, together wth John Hawes, Thomas Lovett, & any other friends yt finds freedom to accompany them, do visit ye said John Clark & Eliz: Winkfeild, & before some sober people ofye world (if they can be procured) bear testimony agt. their present practice, & that wicked spt. which hath led them therinto.
     Friends considering yt ye next meeting wil in course fal at ye same time wth ye general Meeting at London have thought fit for ye service of Truth & convenience of friends, to alter ye day for yt time only ; So it is agreed yt ye next Meeting shal be held here on ye last fourth Day in ye ?? (last) week of this month; & friends are desired to give notice therofin their respective Meetings, yt no disappointment may be occasioned thereby.

Att a Meeting at T. Ellwood's on ye 30th: of 3d: mo: 77.
     [Intention of marriage between Joseph Weston of Tring & Susanna Darvell of Great Missenden. Robert Jones & John Puddivat appointed to inquire.]
     Samuel Jenings gave ye Meeting an accompt, yt, having visited John Clark & Eliz: Winkfeild, he found them very hard & dark, rejecting admonition, {dis}contemning reproof, & obstinately persisting in & justifying their evil Course.  Wherupon it was thought meet yt some friends of yt sides should, for Order sake, visit them once again, & yt in case yt visit wrought no amendmt, on them, a publick Testimony should speedily be given agt. them, ye execution wherof was referd to ye Friends of yt Meeting.
     The Case of Mary Mitchel was again reported to this Meeting much to ye same purpose as it was in ye 2d mo: last. Wherupon Friends, understanding ye woman to be under a sense of judgemt. were willing for a while longer to forbear a publick denyal of her, in 
[34v]
hopes she herself may shortly come to judge & condemn her own miscarriage.
     There was brought in at this Meeting towards ye assistance of those Friends yt had lately suffered by fire, as followeth.

     This mony was sent by Samuel Jenings to Alisbury for James Stevens of Hogshaw, who undertook to convey it to Stephen Marshal of Sherington for ye use of ye suffering Friends aforesaid 
     There was collected at this Meeting for ye service of Truth from ye several Meetings of Chalfont Meadle Weston & Watford ye sum of 3li : 13s : 08d wherof 40s. was return'd into T.E.'s hands to make good ye like sum, paid by him by order of this Meeting to Wm. Cooper in ye 1st: mo: last (wherof 1li was a legacy given by Sar. Jenings of Alisbury; & t'other, part of a debt repaid by Jos: Winch of Amersham. ) *(see 1st: mo: 77 & 3: mo: 80). The rest of ye mony was thus disposed, 13s: 8d. to Wm. Cooper for ye help of Amersham Meeting, & 20s to remain in T.E.'s hands as stock for ye service of this Meeting.* (see 5th: mo: 77 & 1st. mo: 78)

[35r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: of 5th mo: 77
     The friends of Flandell & Watford Meeting (to whom it was at ye last Meeting refer'd to visit John Clark & Eliz: Winkfeild) acquainted ye Meeting yt they had visited them, & though they pretended an intention to separate, & ye man to return to & live with his Wife; yet they understand there is not any amendment, but that they continue in their evil course. And ye Friends of that Meeting not being Willing (not} to take upon themselves singly ye giving a publick Testimony agt. them, This Meeting agreed that a paper shal be drawn up by T:E: agt. ye next Meeting to be given forth agt. them from yt Meeting.
     Tho: Dell & John Dollin undertake to visit Mary Mitchel again, & endeavour to bring her to a further sense of her miscarriage. 
     The Condition of Sarah Lamburne of Alisbury being laid before this Meeting, by wch it appeared that she is decayed in her Stock, so yt a considerable loss is (clearly} likely to fall upon her Creditors, & truth therby to suffer ; It is ye judgmt. & advice of this meeting to her, yt she ought to secure ye goods now in her possession, &, having invited her Creditors together, to yeild up & deliver al she hath to be equally divided amongst them according to their respective interests, yt so she may yet render every one their due, so far as her ability wil permit. And NichoI. Noy was desired to assist her in her busines with her Creditors.
     T. Ellwood & Saml. Jenings having (according to an agreemt & order of ye general Meeting at London in ye 4th mo: last) made search in ye Exchequer Office for ye names of al such friends as are returned thither upon ye statute made agt. Popish Recusants, [Quarter Sessions Records give the name of one Friend indicted for recusancy, in 1678. (Bucks Quarter Sessions Records, Vol.1, p.12.)] & taken out a List of ye said Names, in order to make application to ye K. & Council for Relief to such sufferers, ye charge of wch was 10s: 06d. The Meeting ordered T.E. (who disburst ye mony) to repay himself out of ye Stock left ?? (in his hands) at ye last Meeting (wch was 20s) wch being done, ye Stock now remaining is but . . . . . . 9 : 6
     Edward Hoar acquainted ye Meeting that Mary Tod of great Missenden, having some time agoe conscienciously left her former imploymt, of making Bone-lace, *(see 4th: mo: 74) is in some strait for want of a smal Stock, to enter into & carry on a trade of Weaving silk laces, & therfore desires ye Assistance of Friends therin, who agreed to lend her yt 5li, which in ye 4th mo: 74 was lent unto her sister Susan Tod for ye like service, & by her in ye 7th mo: 76 repaid. And Robt. Jones (in whose hand it hath since lain) is desired to let her have it, & take a Bill of her hand for it. *(see 7th: mo: 76; see 2d: mo: 74)

[35v]
Att a Meeting at Tho : Ellwood's on ye 1st: of 6t: mo: 77.
     Joseph {Thos} Weston & Susanna Darvall, who, at the last Meeting save one, proposed their intention to take each other in Marriage, desiring ye advice of friends therin, came now to receive an answer therunto, & had the consent of ye Meeting therin, it appearing to ye Meeting by ye Testimony of Tho: Martin & John Foster that one Eliz: Bate of Tring, who (it seems) pretended an interest in ye man in relation to Marriage, did in the presence of several friends & others fully & plainly cleer, release & discharge ye said Joseph Weston from any ingagement tending to Marriage.
     [Intention of marriage between David Bovingdon of Hugendon and Eliz: Crutch of great Missenden.] John Raunce & Edward hoare to inquire into the clearnes of their proceeding, & give an accompt at next Meeting.
     Tim: Dell & John Dollin acquaint ye Meeting yt they have visited Mary Mitchel, whom they find somwhat tender & sensible of her misdoing, yet not so as to give a publick Testimony for ye clearing of Truth from ye scandal brought by her upon't. But yt she told them, yt if ?? (friends) would [erasure] bear with her a while longer, it may be she might give forth a paper beyond what was expected (or words to that purpose.)
     Sarah Lamburn aqcuaints ye Meeting, yt according to ye advice of ye Last Meeting she has given up al to her Creditors ; & N. Noy ads yt he, according to the {adv} desire of friends, had treated wth her Creditors, & composed ye business.
     According to ye order of last Meeting, a Paper containing a publick Testimony agt. John Clark & Eliz: Winkfeild was drawn up, & read by T.E. at this Meeting, & being approved of by ye Meeting, was committed to ye friends of Flandell & Watford Meeting to disperse ; a Copy wherof followeth.

[36r]
     Whereas one John Clark of ye parish of Rickmansworth in ye County of Hertford Tanner, having a Wife & habitation of his own, hath left his own habitation, & betaken himself to ye house of one Elizabeth Winkfeild, a single woman, by whom he hath been (received) entertained & lodged agt. ye mind & consent of his Wife (who hath complained therof, & expressed her dislike therto) & contrary to ye Rules of modesty & civil behaviour, wherby great offence hath been given to sober People, & a very evil example shewed to al other loose & disorderly persons. And forasmuch as ye said John Clark & Eliz: Winkfeild, by going sometimes to ye Meetings of ye People called Quakers, have procured to themselves amongst some of their Neibours, ye name & denomination of Quakers, by Means wherof ye way of Truth also is evil spoken of, & an occasion taken by some to blaspheme ye holy name ofye Lord. We therefore ye People of God called Quakers (who live in ye parts adjacent) being met together in ye name & fear ofye Lord Jesus, to take care of ye concerns ofye Church of Christ in these parts, in ye sense of our duty to God & his Truth, & to our Christian Profession (al wch are in danger of being exposed to reproach, by ye evil conversation of these disorderly persons) do solemnly declare, yt although ye said John Clark & Eliz: Winkfeild have at sometmies come to our Meetings (wbose Meetings are wel known to be publick & open to al) yet were they never received or owned by us, as living Members of yt heavenly body, wherof Christ our Lord is head or as partakers of yt immortal Life, in wch our unity stands, nor otherwise regarded by us than as such as might possibly gather into their understandings some Notions of Truth to talk of, as too too many do, who notwithstanding are Enemies to ye Cross of Christ Jesus. And although this hath been & is our sense concerning them, yet nevertheless, in the universal love of God, who would not yt any one should perish, they have at several times, by divers of us, been sharply reproved for their evil & scandalous manner of living, & exhorted to repentance & amendment of life. But finding them deaf to Christian admonition, & understanding they not only persist in their evil courses, but also endeavour to justify themselves therin, We hold ourselves in duty bound (for ye clearing of ye Truth & our Christian Profession from any imputation of their guilt) to give forth this publick Testimony agt. them, solemnly declaring to al People, yt we utterly deny, disown & detest, & in ye name & authority of ye Lord God almighty do judge, & condemne their wicked & ungodly course of life, wch we desire they may repent of & forsake, yt they may find mercy wth ye Lord. And yt none by reason of such miscarriages may take offence at ye way of ye Lord, We testify, in ye fear & dread ofye most high (according to ye experience we have had thereof) yt ye way of ye Lord (into wch (blessed be his name) he hath gathered us) is a pure & an undefiled way, & leads al those yt sincerely walk in it, out oral uncleannes, & every appearance of evil, into purity & true holiness. Into wch blessed way of life & peace, God almighty (ye father of mercies & of tender compassions) daily more & more gather al such as have any true desires after Righteousnes, & therin preserve & establish them with us for ever.
     From our monthly Meeting for ye service of ye Church of Christ this 1st: day of ye 6t: mo: 1677.

[36 v]
Att a Meeting at Tho : Ellwood's on ye 5th: of 7th: mo: 1677.
     David Bovingdon & Eliz: Crutch, who at ye last Meeting proposed their intention of taking each other in Marriage, desiring ye advice of ye Meeting therin, came now to receive ye answer of friends therto; But ye Meeting being not satisfied concerning them, advised them to wait a while, til friends were better satisfied concerning them; & to use their own liberty of coming again either at ye next Meeting, or at any other hereafter, wch they liked best. In ye mean time, Ralph Trumpet & John Morton are desired to inquire both concerning them & their proceedings towards each other, in this Matter.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 3d: of 8th mo: 77.
     David Bovingdon & Eliz: Crutch came again for the Answer of the Meeting to their proposition. And the Meeting (upon Inquiry) understanding yt ye man had been but very lately convinced, & come but little among Friends, & judging it both most advantagious for him to seek first ye kingdom of God, & some growth and establishmt. in ye way yt leads therto ; & also more orderly & becoming ye gravity of Truth, advised them to forbear for a while, & wait to feel ye power of God bringing them more into, & establishing them in Truth.

[37 r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 7th: of 9th: mo: 77.
     [Intention of marriage between Henry Sawyer of London, Cord winder, & Mary Kingham of Penn. Thomas Dell & Jeremy Stevens appointed to inquire.]
     John Jenings of Prestwood came again to move ye Meeting in his old business of Marriage wth his first-Cousin Mary Arnold, to wch ye Meeting returned their answer with much tenderness to the persons, but with ful testimony agt. the thing. The Man was somwhat broken & tendered, wch inclined several friends to bestow another visit of love upon them, wch is appointed to be on ye 12th of this month, at ye house where they live, by ye 11th: houre.
     Amersham Meeting complayning of overcharge, received supply at this Meeting . . . . . . . . 01 - 16 - 00

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 5th: of 10th: mo: 77.
     [Consent given to Henry Sawyer & Mary Kingham. (Vide under date 7.ix. 77)] ye man producing a Certificate under ye hands of 18 friends of ye City of London from their men's Meeting.
     [Intention of marriage between James Cox of Farnham Royal & Mary Aldrige of Hitcham. Thomas Dell & William Seaxton appointed to inquire.]
     David Bovingdon & Eliz: Crutch came again for ye Answer of ye Meeting; & friends understanding yt ye said Eliz: stood charged by some of her Neighbours of ye world wth having behaved herself very immodestly with her father, & perceiving yt she had therby given great Occasion of reproach to
[37 v]
Truth, wch she had in some degree made profession of, did exhort them to wait in patience until ye busines was further inquired into. And in as much as ye matters charged agt. her was judged more proper & comely for women to examine than for men, some friends were sent from this Meeting to ye Womens Meeting to acquaint ye Women friends with ye matter, & committ it to their care.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 2d. of 11th: mo. 77
     [Consent given to James Cox & Mary Aldridge. (Vide under date 5.x.77)
     Intention of marriage between John Rose of ye Hale in the parish of Wendover, & Mary Lake of Tring. Robert Jones & John Brown appointed to inquire.
     Also between William Thorn of Tring & Susanna Pettit of Wigginton, widow. Robert Jones & John Brown appointed to inquire.]
     Margaret Cooper & Margarett Treadway acquaint ye Meeting, yt they being employed by ye Women's Meeting to speak wth Eliz: Crutch of Prestwood, & to inquire into ye matter charg'd agt. her, did find yt she had behaved herself very immodestly in her carriage towards her father, & is very hard & insensible as to truth.
     Edward Hore was desired to inquire concerning David Bovingdon's clearnes from another woman, whom he had before been a suitor to.

[38 r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on 6t. of 12th: mo: 1677.
     [Consent given to John Rose & Mary Lake. (Vide under date 2.xi.77)
     Also to William Thorn & Susanna Pettit. (Vide under date 2.xi.77)]
     David Bovingdon & Eliz: Crutch came again to the Meeting; & Eliz: exprest yt she was sensible she had brought a scandal upon Truth, & was sorry for it, & willing to do what she can to take off ye reproach; & in order therunto she did engage to give forth a paper to condemn her miscarriage & clear Truth ; in ye drawing of wch paper Friends of Wiccomb undertook to assist her. David also engaged to go & clear himself to ye Maid & her Friends, to whom he was charged to have done wrong; & Edward Hoare was desired to goe with him, & take a ful understanding ofye Matter. The Meeting understanding also yt ye said Eliz: was gone to live with ye said David at his house, did blame them both for it, & laid it upon them to part & live asunder again, or at least to get some other woman to lodge in ye house with them, to avoid al occasion of scandal. 
     George Mead desired ye advice & consent ofye Meeting for ye removal of a Meeting from Charlywood to Watford ; wch appearing to be for ye propagation & service of Truth, was referd to ye Friends of yt Meeting to determine.

[38 v]
Att a Meeting at T. Ellwood's on ye 6t: 1st: mo: 77/8.
     David Bovingdon & Elizabeth Crutch came again to receive an answer to their proposition of marriage ; & ye Meeting being satisfied by Edward Hoar yt ye said David was not under any engagemt. to ye other woman to whom it was reported he had done wrong, & yt he was cleared by ye Parents ofye said woman ; & ye said Elizabeth Crutch delivering in to the Meeting an acknowledgemt. & condemnation of her miscarriage in writing under her hand, & promising to use her best endeavours to clear Truth amongst her Neighbours ; ye Meeting considering their condition & standing both outwardly, & in relation to Truth, did declare unto them, yt although they could not joyn with them in unity of spirit & consent of mind, yet they were willing so far to condescend to their weakness, as to permit them to take each other in marryage.
     The paper of Condemnation [In his "Account from Wickham Examin'd" Thomas Ellwood says that this paper was drawn up for Elizabeth Crutch by Charles Harris, who with his father-in-law, John Raunce, subsequently raised much dissension in the Meeting.] given in by Eliz: Crutch was this following.

Forasmuch as it is reported yt I Eliz: Crouch did lodge sometimes with nay father in ye time of his aged weaknes, & when he was sick unto death ; This may certify al whom it may concern, That ye Lord is nay witness, That what I did was with no evil intent, but only in simple tender affection, yt I might be neer to assist my weak aged father, there being no more of family but him & myself, with a sister's child. &c. Nevertheless in as much as such things have in them an appearance of evil & some have or may make use therof to defame the pretious truth, & ye real Professors therof. That it & they may be cleared, I take ye blame to myself, being really sorry yt through my weakness therin, any occasion of Offence should be given either to Jew or Gentile, or yet to ye Church of God. Witness my name, by my marke

Elizabeth E Crouch

     [Intention of marriage between William Hicks & Alice Lane both of ColeshiI. Henry Ball and [blank] appointed to inquire. 
     Intention of marriage between Joseph Pearce of Croydon in the County of Surrey Millwright, and Frances Goulder of Penn. Jeremiah Stevens & William Kidder appointed to inquire.]
     The meeting being engaged to pay Charles Noy for 6 weeks dyet for a grandchild of Sarah Lamburn's, wch came to x 5s, sent him the mony now by Samuel Jenings, wch was thus raised. 5s - 6d. gathered now, & 9s - 6d. of old stock.
     No stock now remaining.

[39 r]
Att a meeting at T. Ellwood's on ye 3d: 2d: mo: 78.
     [Consent given to William Hicks & Alice Lane. (Vide under date 6.i.1677/8)] al things being cleared, [erasure] & no obstruction appearing either at the Women's Meeting or this.
     [Intention of marriage between Richard Spot of Lambeth in the County of Surrey, & Hannah Partridge, daughter of Nathanaell & Sarah Partridge, of Rickmansworth. George Belch & George Meads appointed to inquire.]
     Tho: Dell & Robt. White to inquire concerning John Pusey of Burnham (both as to his conversation & clearnes,) in order to give a Certificate of him to Friends of Windsor Meeting in case of Marriage.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 1st: of 3d: mo: 78. 
A Certificate was subscribed, & sent from this Meeting to ye monthly Meeting at Windsor, on ye behalf of John Pusey of Burnham, in order to Marriage.
     [Consent given to Richard Spott & Hannah Partridge. (Vide under date 3.ii.78)]
     Joseph Pearce & Frances Goulder, who on ye sixt of ye first month went (& proposed) to ye Women's Meeting, & there proposed their intention of Marriage, desiring ye advice & consent of that Meeting therin, having since refused to go again to receive ye Answer of ye said Meeting, six of the Women-Friends came up hither, & in ye name of their Meeting, did acquaint this Meeting, yt ye said Joseph & Frances had put a Slight & Contempt upon their Meeting, wch their Meeting was dissatisfied with, & therefore desired this Meeting not to proceed any further in ye Proposition of Marriage between ye said Joseph & Frances, until ye said Joseph & Frances had given satisfaction to ye Women's Meeting. Which thing being solemnly weighed, this Meeting could not find clearnes to proceed in ye said Marriage, until satisfaction be given to the Womens Meeting.

[39 v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwoods on ye 5th: of 4th: mo: 78.
     Joseph Pearce & Frances Goulder came again, pressing for a dispatch in their case of Marriage, & Friends understanding {the) by them that they had not been at ye Women's Meeting to give yt Meeting Satisfaction, & remove ye Offence wch they had given, did tenderly exhort them therunto, which they refusing or neglecting to do, ye Meeting could not find clearness to proceed at present in their business.
     [Intention of marriage between William Goulder of Penn and Marah Wheeler of Wingrove Widow. John Brown, Samll. ]enings & Nicholas Noy appointed to inquire.]

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 3d: of 5th: mo: 78.
     Edward Hoare acquainting ye Meeting that it is reported yt David Bovingdon & Elizabeth his Wife have been lately married by a Priest, It is desired of William Kidder & Edward Hoar to speak with ye said Persons, & endeavour to find out ye Truth of ye matter, & give an Account of it at ye next Meeting.
     Joseph Pearce & Frances Goulder came again to this Meeting, & went from hence to ye Womens Meeting, where ye Maid expressing herself in much tenderness and brokenness, although ye Reasons wch she gave them ~were not} why she had refused to come to receive their Answer, were not satisfactory to them, yet in regard of her tenderness they were willing to pass by ye Offence to them, & left the business to ye wisdom of God in ye Friends of ye Mens-Meeting. Wherupon this Meeting taking the matter again into their weighty Consideration, did give this Answer to ye said Joseph & Frances, that although they could not joyn with them in this matter in Unity of spirit & Consent of mind (divers of ye Friends expressing their sense & beleif, that they had been guided & acted by a wrong spirit in refusing to go ye second time to the women's meeting to receive their Answer & Advice, wch at their first going they had so freely & readily desired of them, & so solemnly pressed them to weigh & give) yet in tenderness to them, & in hopes yt they might hereafter be brought to see & acknowledge their miscarriage herein, the Meeting was willing, by way of condescension, to permit 
[40r]
them to take each other in Marriage.
     William Goulder & Marah Wheeler, who at ye last Meeting proposed their intention of marriage, came now to receive ye Answer of ye Meeting. And friends understanding yt ye said William had positively refused to go to ye womens meeting, enquired ye Reasons of his RefusaIl, wch appearing to some to proceed from a wrong ground in him, did put a Bar & Stop upon Friends, so yt ye Meeting could not give that free & full Consent to their Proposition as they would gladly have done. Yet having a tender Regard to ye man, did permit ye said William & Marah to take each other in marriage. 

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 7th: of 6t: mo: 78.
     Edward Hoar & William Kidder acquaint ye Meeting yt they have spoken with David & Elizabeth Bovingdon, but could not obtain from either of them a plain and direct Answer whether they have been married by a Priest or no. The man acknowledged yt somthing hath been done to secure them from ye danger of ye Law, [B sse, Sufferings of the Quakers, records a case of long imprisonment "for marrying otherwise than according to the liturgy of the Church of England."] but would say no more. The woman positively refused to tel them whether they were so married or not. The Meeting hereupon desired Nicholas Noy, who had somthing on him to them, to give them another visit, & endeavour both to find out ye truth ofye matter, & to make them sensible (if it might be) of ye evil.

Att a meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: of 7th: mo: 78.
     Nicholas Noy acquainted ye Meeting yt he had spoken wth Eliz: Bovingdon (her husband shunning him) & though he could not get from her a plain & positive Confession yt she was married by ye Priest, yet from her discourse he gathered enough to satisfy himself yt it was really so. Wm. Cooper exprest yt he had somthing upon him to visit thein, & Henry child was desired by ye Meeting to go along wth him. 
     Damaris Sanders & Elizabeth Walmesly delivered a Paper to this Meeting in ye name of ye Womens Meeting, a Copy wherof here followeth, thus directed,

This for our Friends & Brethren of the Mens Meeting at Hunger Hill.
     Dear Friends & Brethren in ye holy truth, The Lord, who hath gathered us, is with us, & causeth his life to spring amongst us, in ye arising of which we are greatly refreshed, & have cause to say with an holy rejoycing, Good is ye Lord, who hath visited us with loving-kindness in our low estate, & drawn our spirits closer to himself, & brought us nearer one to another
[40v]
in ye pure fellowship of ye Gospel. And since we have met together in yt blessed Order into which ye Lord hath led us, we have not wanted Testimonies of his acceptance of us, & yt he is wel pleased with our thus waiting upon him: for he hath honoured our Meeting with his living presence, & hath sealed unto us, by his holy spirit, a certain assurance yt our gathering is by him, wch is ground of incouragement to us to continue waiting on ye Lord, in ye way wherin he hath led us; yt as members of ye same body with you, we may be always ready (in ye ability wch God gives) to do our service in ye body & for ye body, in ye place wherin ye Lord hath set us. And we are sensible ye Lord requires it of us, for we beleive there is no member in ye body but hath a service relating to ye body; so yt ye Eye cannot say to ye Hand, I have no need of thee, nor ye Head to ye Feet, I have no need of you; nay, much more those members ofye body wch seem to be more feeble are necessary, as the Apostle witnesseth. Wherfore dear Brethren, as ye Lord hath reached us by ye same love, & gathered us by ye same Arm, & quickened us in measure by ye same life with you, & we partake of ye same grace, by wch we are brought, in our several Measures, into ye fellowship of ye same Gospel; so in ye same quickening life we desire to abide, stil waiting to be fitted more & more by ye Lord, for whatever service he shal be pleased to imploy us in. And as by ye continued presence of ye Lord amongst us, & ye renewed Testimonies of his love to us in our wayting upon him, we have received ful satisfaction yt ye Lord owns our Meeting & yt our Meeting is ofye Lord, set up by his holy spirit, And in this our hearts are stirred up to communicate this our satisfaction, & ye ground of it, unto you, yt you feeling ye Truth of our Testimony, may be more ingaged in your spirits to cleave unto us, & joyn wth us in ye Truth, against what spirit soever shal rise up in any to deny our Meeting or ye service of it, yt so being firmly united & knit together in ye pure love of our heavenly Father, as Brethren & Sisters in ye Covenant of life, we may al go chearfully on in ye service of ye Lord, & his work may prosper in our hand, to the praise of his great name, & exceeding comfort of our souls.

[41r]

Att a Meeting at Tho : Ellwood's on ye 2d: of 8th: mo: 78.
     William Cooper & Henry Child acquaint {friends} the Meeting yt they have been to visit David Bovingdon & his Wife. The man would not be spoken with. The Woman told them she was sorry for what she had done; but they found no willingness in her to clear Truth by condemning ye Action openly. Yet inasmuch as she came since to Edward Hoar, & {made} shewed some further appearance of sorrow & trouble, the Meeting, being willing to exercise al manner of tenderness towards her, did forbear at present to give forth a Testimony agt. her, & desired Edward Hoar & John Raunce to visit her once more, & to endeavour to make her sensible of ye necessity yt lies upon Friends to clear Truth by a publick Denyal of her & her evil Deeds, if she herself do not take course to wipe of ye reproach she hath brought upon Truth therby.

[41v]
At a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 6t. of 9th: mo: 78.
     Edward Hoar acquainted ye Meeting yt Jo : Raunce & he had spoken with David Bovingdon & his Wife, & [erasure] found them stil close & reserved, not willing to acknowledge their Evil, nor to do anything for the clearing of Truth. Wherupon it was concluded necessary yt a Testimony be given forth against them. But to make ye way therunto more clear Charles Harris was desired (& undertook) to speak with them again before ye next Meeting, & in ye mean time to draw up a Testimony agt. them, for friends to make use of at ye next Meeting, as they shal see Occasion.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: of 10th mo: 78
     Charles Harris not being present, sent word by John Raunce yt he had spoken wth David Bovingdon & his Wife, but could not understand directly fi'om them whether they were [erasure] married by ye Preist or no. And yt he was prevented by extraordinary business from drawing up a testimony agt. them, as was desired & intended: but would do it agt. the quarterly Meeting.
     Thomas Ollife desired a Certificate from this Meeting to Friends in Oxfordshire in order to his Marriage wth Dorothy D'oyly of Adderbury; wherupon ye Meeting desired William Kidder & John Brown to inquire into his clearness etc. & give an accompt therof next Meeting.
     Moses West of London Pewterer & Ann Robson daughter of James Robson of Chipperfeild in ye parish of King's Langly in ye County of Hertford proposed their intention to take each other in Marriage. The man was desired to bring a Certificate from the Meeting at London to wch he belongs, & Geo : Mead & John Wells were desired to inquire concerning the maids clearnes &c. & to give an accompt therof at next Meeting.

[42r]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye first of ye 11th mo: 1678.
     Upon Occasion of David Bovingdon & his Wife being married by ye Priest (as ye common & constant report goes, & themselves would not deny) a Paper was subscribed & sent forth from this Meeting both as a general Testimony agt. al such hypocrisy & dissimulation, & al such persons as are guilty therof; as also as a general Exhortation & Warning to friends to beware of & shun ye like temptation & snare. And it was thought fit to defer a particular Testimony against ye said David & his Wife until further consideration.
     A Certificate on behalf of Tho: Ollife of Alisbury, concerning his clearnes in relation to Marriage, was subscribed by this Meeting, & directed to ye Friends of Bloxam Meeting in Oxfordshire.
     Moses West & Ann Robson, who at ye last Meeting proposed their intention of {inter) marriage, came now to receive ye Answer of ye Meeting. He produced a Certificate from ye Men's Meeting of ye city of London, concerning his clearnes, & another from his Parents, signifying their consent; & no Obstruction appearing on ye maid's part, they had ye consent of ye Meeting to their Proposition.
     [Intention of marriage between John Whiting & Elizabeth Win yard, both of Chiping Wiccomb. Nicholas Noy & Thomas Dell appointed to inquire.
     Also between John Floud of Fulmer & Elizabeth the daughter of Thomas Castle of Hugely Dean in the parish of Farnham Royall. Thomas Dell & Robert White appointed to inquire.
     Also between Timothy Anthony & Ann the daughter of Henry Higgins, both of Pen. William Kidder & Thomas Ellwood appointed to inquire.]

[42v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 5th: of ye 12th mo: 78
     [Consent given to John Whiting & Elizabeth Winyard, to John Floud & Elizabeth Castle, and to Timothy Anthony & An Higgins. (Vide under date i.xi.78)
     Intention of marriage between Thomas Whippum of Blechly in the parish of Eaton cure membris, & Elizabeth the daughter of Henry Parks of Great Missenden. Thomas to bring a certificate from his own Meeting, & Robert Jones, Thomas Barton, & Samuel Jenings appointed to inquire concerning Elizabeth.]
     The monthly Meeting at Prestwood being to be removed from thence by reason of ye death of ye woman of ye house, it was agreed by this Meeting, yt it should at present return to great Missenden, (from whence it came thither)& ther be kept tmtil Friends shal see a service to truth in settling it elswhere. 
     William Cooper acquainting ye Meeting with his intention of removing out of England, & desiring a Testimonial from this Meeting of his honest & blameless deportment here, {the following) a Certificate was therupon signed & given him from this Meeting, as followeth: viz.

Wheras William Cooper of Coleshil in the parish of Amer sham, & in the County of Hertford Blacksmith, hath signified unto us, yt he hath ,an intention (if the Lord permit) to transport himself with his Wife & Children unto the Plantation of West-New-Jersey, & hath desired a Testimonial from this Meeting, for ye satisfaction of Friends there or elswhere unto whom he may be outwardly unknown: We therfore whose names are hereunderwritten, do hereby certify al whom it may concern, That the said William Cooper & Margaret 
[43r]
his Wife, having lived in these parts for many years, even from the first of their convincement, have walked conscientiously & honestly amongst us, agreably to ye profession & testimony of Truth according to ye best of our knowledge and observation of them. In witness wherof we have hereunto set our hands this 5th day of ye 12th month, 1678.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwoods on ye 5th: of 1st: mo: 78/9.
     Henry Geary of ye Cherry-Trees in ye parish of Chesham desired a Certificate from this Meeting to Friends of ye Upper side of Bedfordshire concerning his clearness, in order to marriage wth one Lydia Smith of Hemel-Hempstead in ye County of Hertford. Wherupon ye Meeting desired Robt. Jones & John Foster to inquire into his clearness, & give an accompt therof at ye next Meeting.
     The Meeting being acquainted yt Mary Kingham (one of ye daughters of Jonathan Kingham late of Wooburn deceased) hath walked disorderly, [The Women's Monthly Meeting Minute Book says that she was in the habit of "going to dancing and such evll company."] & entertained a man of ye world in order to marriage, being herself before engaged to another man yt makes a profession of ye Truth, did desire Jeremiah Stevens & Nicholas Noy to visit ye said Mary, inquire into ye matter, reprove, exhort, admonish her, as they should find cause, & give an account of ye business at ye next Meeting.
     [Intention of marriage between Richard Stringer of Rickmansworth & Mary Gate of Sarrat Co. Herts. William Loddington & Daniel Cooke appointed to inquire.]

[43v]
Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 2d. of 2d. mo: 1679.
     [Assent given to Richard Stringer & Mary Gate. (Vide under date 5.i.78/9)]
     John Kirton of Hammersmith in ye County of Middlesex Maulster, & Damaris ye daughter of Tho: Saunders of Ilmore in ye County of Buck proposed their intention to take each other in marriage. The man brought a Certificate from ye Meeting to wch he belongs, wch gave satisfaction to this Meeting concerning [him] ; & Henry Costard & John White were desired to inquire into ye maid's clearness, & give an accompt therofat ye next Meeting.
     Robt. Jones & John Foster being appointed by the last Meeting to make inquiry concerning ye clearnes of Henry Geary of Chesham, for ye satisfaction of Friends here, in order to their giving a Certificate on his behalf to ye Friends in Bedfordshire, before whom he intended to propose his intention of Marriage ; Robt. Jones acquainted this Meeting yt, upon inquiry made, ye said Henry doth appear to them to be clear & fi'ee in yt case, & they find nothing to hinder his proceeding, wherupon a Certificate was subscribed, & directed as followeth:

     To the Friends & Brethren at {ye} their monthly Meeting in ye upper side of Bedfordshire.
     Wheras Henry Geary of ye Cherry Trees in ye parish of Chesham in ye County of Buck, hath acquainted us with his intention of taking to Wife one Lydia Smith of Hemel-Hempstead in ye County of Hertford, & hath, (in order to your satisfaction) desired a Testimonial from us concerning him: 
     These are therefore to certify you, that (upon inquiry made) we do not find but yt ye said Henry Geary is clear & free from al other women, & hath ye consent of his Father to his undertaking. Nor do we know any cause on his part to hinder him, but yt he may (according to ye good order of truth) proceed therin. So with the salutation of our love to you, we remain your Friends & Brethren in ye service of ye Truth 

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Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: of ye 3d month 79.
     [Assent given to John Kirton & Damaris Sanders. (Vide under date 2 .ii.79)]

Of wch paid by order of this Meeting to John Archedale of Wiccomb 10s. laid out by him formerly at ye request of this Meeting for ye service of Friends; & 10s more by same order to Richd. Baker of Biddlesden wch was laid out by him for ye same service. The other 9s rests in Tho: Ellwood's hand.

     John Heywood of Amersham desired a Certificate from this Meeting to friends of London concerning his clearness in order to marriage with one Elizabeth Warne of ye Strand in ye County of Middlesex. Wherupon ye Meeting desired Ralph Trumper & John Costard to inquire concerning his clearness, & give an Account therof at ye next Meeting.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th of ye 4th mo: 79
     Ralph Trumper & John Costard acquaint ye Meeting, yt having made inquiry concerning John Heywood, according to ye order of ye last Meeting, they find no cause of Obstruction on his part. Wherupon a Certificate was subscribed, directed as followeth.

     To the Friends & Brethren of Westminster Meeting.
     Wheras John Heywood of Amersham in ye County of Buck, hath acquainted us with his intention of taking to wife one Elizabeth Warn (a Friend belonging to your Meeting) & hath also (in order to your satisfaction) desired a Testimonial from us concerning him :
     These are therfore to certify you, that (upon inquiry made) we do not find but that the said John Heywood is clear & free from al other women ; Nor do we know any cause one his part to hinder him from proceeding in his intended Marriage, according to the good order of Truth; In wch, saluting you with unfeigned love, we remain

your Friends & Brethren

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Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 2d. of 5th: mo: 1679.
     A letter from ye last yearly Meeting directed to the quarterly Meeting, & from thence refer'd to this, was here read, & yt part of it wch concerns a Collection to be made towards a National Stock for ye publick service of Truth, ordered to be copied out & sent to each particular meeting belonging to this.
     Thomas Whippum & Eliz: Parks (who, in ye 12 mo: past, did here propose their intention to take each other in marriage) came now again to this Meeting; & being sensible yt both ye rise & progress of their affection to each other was wrong & altogether contrary unto Truth, did by mutual consent & agreement between themselves renounce their former purpose of marriage, & release each other from any engagements made between themselves in order therunto, each of them declaring a willingness of mind to part.
     [Intention of marriage between John Martin of Edgcot, & Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Sellat of Hogshaw. Robt. Jones, James Smith, James Stevens & Thomas Barton appointed to inquire.]

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 6th: of 6th: mo : 1679.
     [Assent given to John Martin & Elizabeth Sellat. (Vide under date 2.v.79)]
     A letter (bearing date from Sherrington Meeting ye 17th day of ye 5th moth: last, & subscribed by x 6 of ye Friends of that Meeting) was delivered here, in wch is signified yt Thomas Whippum & Eliz: Parks (who at ye last Meeting here did openly renounce their purpose of marriage) have in their Meeting proposed their intention to take each other in marriage. And inasmuch as they had been formerly at this Meeting upon ye same account, ye Friends of that Meeting desire a Certificate from Friends here concerning our approbation therof. To wch, Answer was returned as followeith, vizt.

Dear Friends
Upon ye receipt of your letter (dated from your Meeting ye 17th past) & due consideration of ye contents therof, relating to Thomas Whippum & Eliz: Parkes, These are to acquaint you, That we cannot give any manner of approbation to their marriage, having found them so unconstant, uncertain & fickle in their pretended affections to each other, & so very far out of & contrary to Truth in ye rise & beginning of their league yt was between them, & false & deceitful in ye carrying of it on .--  It stands recorded in our
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Meeting-Book, That at ye last Meeting Tho: Whippum & Eliz: Parkes, being made sensible yt both ye rise and progress of their affection to each other was wrong & altogether contrary to Truth, did by mutual consent & agreement between themselves, renounce their former purpose of Marriage, & release each other from any engagements made between each other in order thereunto, each of them declaring a willingness of mind to part. And so forward they were to part, yt if it could then have been effected, it is very probable they would then have sealed Releases one to another, wch they spake of doing. Al wch considered we cannot but fear, that if they proceed to marriage, it wil tend to bring dishonour to God, reproach to his Truth, and vexation & trouble to his People: for wch reasons we are by no means willing to touch or meddle wth them in this business, lest we should be defiled therby. Thus having given you ye sense we have of ye matter, we remain 

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 3d: of 7th: mo: 1679.
     An Account being given by some friends of Weston Meeting, yt some professing Truth in & about Berldaamstead have of late attempted to set up a Meeting there in an irregular & disorderly way, wch it is feared may turn to ye dishonour of Truth, if not in time prevented; this Meeting did therfore make choice of William Kidder Henry Child & Tho: Ellwood to visit ye Friends cheifly concerned therin, & to inform them of their miscarriage in yt business, & to advise & exhort them as occasion shal offer, either wholly to desist from their said attempt, or to proceed therin (if it be judged needful) with the consent & unity of Friends.

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Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye i st: of 8th mo: 79.
     Upon occasion of ye visit wch Wm Kidder, Hen: Child & Tho: Ellwood (by order of last Meeting) made to ye Friends in & about Berkhamstead, divers of them (both men & women) came to this Meeting, & did both acknowledge yt they had (for want of a right understanding) missed ye right order & method of setting up a Meeting, & declare yt (now) they have no intent to proceed in setting up a Meeting there without ye consent & approbation of this Meeting. But withal did desire yt there might be a publick Meeting settled there, to be held monthly in ye Barn wch they have already hired for yt purpose, offering some reasons both for ye need & service of it: wch Friends having wel & seriously waighed & understanding ye fewness & withal perceiving ye weakness of ye Friends concerned in it (very unfit & unlikely in either respect to bear up & support a Meeting of yt kind) did unanimously agree in this sense, & gave it as their advice to ye Friends concern'd, yt it would most conduce to ye honour of Truth, & to their own inward & spiritual advantage & welfare, for al those in & about Berkhamstead, yt are convinced of ye way of Truth, to meet together once a week or [erasure] oftener (as their Occasions wil permit) at some one of their own dwellinghouses, & there sit down together in silence waiting upon ye Lord, to feel ye arisings of his life & power in & amongst them, yt therby they may be settled & established in Truth & grow up therin. And when at any time any publick Labourer in ye Lord's vineyard shal come to visit them with a publick Testimony, then to make use of the Barn yt they have hired, for the more commodious receiving ye people of ye world, at such times & upon such occasions, but not otherwise:
     Henry Arnut of Oulsweek & Mary Newnam of Bril both in ye County of Buck, proposed their intention to take each other in marriage, desiring ye advice of this Meeting therin; It was refer'd to John White & Henry Costard to inquire into ye clearness of their proceedings & give an accompt therof at ye next Meeting.
     In pursuance of an agreemt, of ye last quarterly Meeting for raising ye sum of 7li - 15s - 6d in ye several Meetings belonging to this monthly Meeting for ye assistance of the Friends of ye lower side ye County to discharge for ye diet & cure of George Cooper (a poor Orphan, in danger of losing his limbs by ye Kings Evill) there was collected at this Meeting 7li - 11s - 6d. to wch ye stock remaining from ye 3d. mo: * (see 3d: mo: 79) last (being 9s) being added, made in al the sum of 8li - 00s - 6d. Out of wch, 7li - 15s - 6d was paid to Richd. Marks of Sherrington for ye use above mentioned * (see 8th: mo: 80), &ye

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Att a Meeting at Tho : Ellwood's on ye 5th: of 9th mo: 79.
     [Assent given to Henry Arnutt & Mary Newnam. (Vide under date 1 .viii.79)
     Intention of marriage between John Costard of Amersham Meal man, & Ruth Ball of Coleshill. Henry Child & Thomas Ellwood appointed to inquire.]

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 3d: of 10th: mo: 79.
     [Assent given to John Costard & Ruth Ball. (Vide under date 5 .ix. 79)]

Att a Meeting at Tho: EIIwood's on ye 7th: of 11th: mo: 79.
     A letter (dated ye 14th: of 6t. too: past) from ye Meeting of sufferings in London to ye quarterly Meeting of this County, concerning a Collection to be made for ye Redemption of friends Captives in Algier, [Note: In June 1679 Yearly Meeting considered the matter of Friends taken prisoner by Barbary rovers and referred it to Meeting for Sufferings. In August of the same year Meeting for Sufferings sent down a letter to Quarterly Meetings, saying they had set about the redemption of two Quaker captives at a cost of £22% and mentioning others, among whom were the Quaker passengers of a ship captured on her way home from Virginia. Meeting for Sufferings asked to he informed of further captures, and appealed for a strictly private collection, limited to members of the Society, "that our adversaries may not take advantage by this our public collection, to inform thereof, thereby to advance the ransom of Friends for the future." In 1682 there were 20 Quaker captives at Algiers who had their own Meeting for Worship; all of these were redeemed by the end of 1686, some of them having been converted to Quakerism during their captivity. George Fox, writing to Friends at Algiers in 1683, says, "I think you have more liberty to meet there than we have here; for they keep us out of our Meetings and cast us into Prison and spoil our Goods."] being read at ye last quarterly Meeting, & referd hither wth respect to this side of ye County, was now read, & agreed to be recommended to ye severall Meetings belonging to this. 
     Some intimation having been yt Mary Weston of Prestwood hath not been taken care of in her necessity, ye Meeting desired yt Robt. Jones & Wm. Kidder wil make inquiry into ye business, & give ye Meeting an Account therof.
     [Intention of marriage between Daniel Akehurst & Mary Noy of Cheping Wiccomb. William Kidder & John Littleboy appointed to inquire.
     Also between John Gadsden of Alisbury & Mary Littleboy of Cheping Wiccomb. Nicholas Noy, Win. Loddington & James Smith appointed to inquire.]
     The Collection agreed in ye 5th: too: last to be made for ye general & publick service of Truth, being (through some delay in ye lower side of the County) not compleated til very Iately, was since ye last Meeting sent up to London & ye Account therof stands thus, as on ye following page appears, vizt.

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     This 30li. I returned by Philip Ford to James Claypoole on ye 5th instant, as by )re Receipt annexed appears. [The receipt is missing]

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: of 12th: mo: 79.
     Robt. Jones & Wm. Kidder acquaint ye Meeting yt they have inquired into Mary Weston's business, & find ye neglect to arise from an uncertainty what Meeting she belonged to, wch being removed by her declaring her willingnes & intent to joyn wth Missenden Meeting, ye friends of yt meeting have undertaken ye care of her for ye future.
     An intimation being given here, yt Jacob Treacher of Prestwood hath been at some charge in repairing ye said Mary Weston's house, John Raunce & Nicholas Noy have undertaken to inquire into yt business, & give an account thereof at ye next Meeting.
     Daniel Akehurst & Mary Noy , who at ye last Meeting proposed their intention of Marriage, came now to receive ye answer of ye Meeting, & though many of ye Meeting declared yt by reason of ye contempt & disrespect yt they shewed to the women's Meeting (wch was set up & establisht in ye wisdom & power of God as wel as ye mens) they had not unity wth their proceeding, nor had freedom to give consent therunto: yet in as much as there appeared no other obstruction, ye Meeting agreed to return them this Answer, That ye Meeting was contented to leave them to their liberty to accomplish their intended Marriage, which Answer was given them accordingly.
     John Gadsden & Mary Littleboy who at ye last Meeting proposed their intention of marriage, came now to receive ye answer of the Meeting, & were left to their liberty in like manner as ye former. 
     Richard Underwood of Blechly in ye parish of Eaton cum Membris in ye County of Buck & Mary Boucher of Berkhamstead in ye County of Hertford, proposed their intention of Marriage. Robt. Jones & Henry Geary were appointed to inquire concerning ye maids clearnes, & ye young man was ordered to bring a Certificate from ye monthly Meeting to which he belongs.

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     Thomas Allen of Chipping Wiccomb Blacksmith & Susanna Grace of Weston Turvill in ye County of Buck (who in ye 10th mo: last came to this Meeting with intention to propound their purpose of marriage, but ye Meeting perceiving yt ye man was not so much as in ye profession of Truth, they were put by; ye man being tenderly advised to seek ye kingdom of Heaven & ye Righteousness therof, by waiting upon ye Lord to be taught ye way of Truth, & to be brought to walk therin; & ye maid being gently reproved for joyning her affection to a man of ye world, wheras she herself had made a profession of ye Truth for many years) came now again upon ye same account, ye man appearing to have some convincemt, upon him, and expressing a desire to receive ye Truth & to live in it. But many of ye Friends being not satisfied to lay hands [Note: Figurative = "accept as a member." There was no formal membership until 1737.]  so suddenly on a man but newly come among us, without having some better & further experience of him, & judging it more safe for ye honour of Truth, more agreeable to ye way & method of it, & more conducing to his own advantage in {the spiritual travel} his entrance into ye spiritual travell, to defer ye business of marriage, & mind more his inward exercise, he was advised to wait diligently on ye Lord, yt he might feel ye work of ye Lord wrought in him, & yt Friends might have some sense & satisfaction of his growth & establishment in Truth.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 3d: of 1st: mo: 79/80
     The business of Jacob Treacher (committed last Meeting to John Raunce & Nich: Noy, being not by them so far inquired into as yt an account could be given of it yet,) was deferred til another Meeting.
     [Assent given to Richard Hnderwood & Mary Boucher. (Vide under date 4. xii. 79)]
     Thomas Alien & Susanna Grace came now again to press ye Meeting for a dispatch of their business of marriage; but some friends of ye Meeting being much dissatisfied wth ye ground & beginning of their business, & very many wth the [erasure] sudden hastiness of their proceedings therin, it occasioned some debate in ye Meeting what answer should be returned them; wch while friends were in consideration of, ye said Thomas & Susanna (being brought in by one who was privy to their design, & earnest for ye carrying it on) (attempted & began) under pretence yt they had somthing to offer to ye Meeting, did endeavour to surprise & abuse ye Meeting by attempting & beginning to take each other in Marriage in this Meeting, but were immediatly stopt by several Testimonys publicly given agt. it & them ; & ye man being asked by whose advice or instigation he made this attempt, did in a very surly manner refuse to give an account therof, & being afterwards desired to come in again, yt he might be made sensible of his Miscarriage, he positively refused, discovering therby an obstinat mind. Al wch ye Meeting taking into consideration, unanimously agreed & declared (Friends of Wiccomb also concurring herein) yt ye said Thomas & Susanna have herin comitted a great disorder, & put a foul abuse upon ye Meeting, for wch they ought to own their condemnation.

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Att a meeting at Tho: Ellwoods on ye 7th: of 2d: mo: 80.
     The business of Jacob Treacher (committed formerly to John Raunce & Nich: Noy) being not yet inquired into, was referd to another Meeting.
     A Proposition being made at ye last quarterly Meeting by Friends of Sherrington Meeting, on behalf of John Bedford a poor friend & shoomaker of Sherrington, with desire yt this Meeting would assist ye said John with 5li, they themselves undertaking to give him 5li more, It was consented unto & agreed by this Meeting to supply ye said John wth 5li upon these terms, vizt. That if ye Lord should hereafter inable him to repay it, he should; else it should not be expected from him. And there being 5ti in Tho: Ellwood's hands of ye stock of this Meeting (wch was given by ye widow Duncomb of Oulsweek (mother to John Whites wife) for ye service of Truth & releif of Friends, ye Meeting ordered yt mony for this use, yet with this reserve, yt in case John White (to whom his Mother committed it, & who was now absent) should not be satisfied in ye dispose of it this way, ye Meeting would make it good. This 5li. was delivered to Richd. Baker of Biddlesden together wth a letter directed to Richd. Marks of Sherrington.
     [Intention of marriage between Daniel Cooke, Clothworker, and Sarah Kingham, both of Rickmansworth. George Belch & Thomas Dell appointed to inquire.
     Also between William Greenhill, Wheelwright, & Mary Cooke, both of Rickmansworth. George Belch & George Mead appointed to inquire.
     Also between Jobal Hudson of Ryslip, Co. Middlesex, Bricklayer, & Hannah Hookes of Wafford. John Wells, George Mead, & Thomas Dell appointed to inquire.]
     This Meeting being sensible of ye miscarriage & disorder comitted at ye last Meeting here by Thomas Allen of Wiccomb & Susanna Grace, did agree yt ye said Thomas & Susanna should be visited by some friends from this Meeting, & in ye name of this Meeting should be reproved for ye same. And ye question being put who were free to go, Tho: Ellwood & Henry Child expressed their Willingness to undertake yt service as from this Meeting, & were approved by the Meeting therin.
     The Collection agreed in ye 11 th mo: last to be made

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for the Ransom of friends Captives in Algiers, being not compleated til ye last quarterly Meeting is now ready to be returned to London by ye first safe opportunity, & is as followeth, vizt.

This 22li - 10s - 07d being committed to Tho: Ellwood, was by his order paid by ye hand of Philip Ford unto James Claypoole of London, as by his receipt, hereunto annexed, appeareth. [Note: The receipt has been lost.]

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 5th: of 3d: mo: 80.
     An Accompt being given in by Nicholas Noy of ye particulars of ye charge yt Jacob Treacher was at in repairing Mary Weston's house at Prestwood, ye Meeting thought fit he should be reimbursed, & it appearing yt there is in Tho: Ellwood's hand 20s (wch being part of a greater sum given to friends by Tho: Rogers of Prestwood, * (was) formerly lent wth other monyes to Joseph Winch of Amersham, & since by him repaid) it was agreed yt that 20s should be sent to Jacob Treacher to reimburse him, & accordingly it was then delivered by T. E. to Nicholas Noy for yt use. * (see 8: mo: 72, 4: mo: 74, 1: mo: 77, 3: mo: 77)
     John White of Meadle expressing a dissatisfaction yt ye 5li: formerly given to friends by his wife's mother (& lent at our last Meeting to John Bedford a friend of Sherrington) should be wholly expended or given away, & desiring that ye Principal should be secured & continued as a stock, This Meeting therupon did ingage (& ordered yt it should be entred so in ye book) That in case ye said 5li: should not be repaid by ye said John Bedford, This Meeting will make it good.
     Samuel Jenings acquainting ye Meeting that he hath an intention (ff the Lord permit) to transport himself wth his Wife & Children unto West-New-Jersey, & desiring a 
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Testimonial from this Meeting of their honest and blameless deportment, The Meeting did committ to John Smith & Daniel Akehurst to make inquiry concerning them, & give an account therof at ye next Meeting here.
     Thomas Ellwood acquainted ye Meeting, yt he wth Hen: Child & Robt. Jones, having (according to ye agreemt. & desire of ye last Meeting) visited Thomas Allen & Susan Grace of Wiccomb, & wth much tenderness laboured to bring them to a sense of ye Evil & Disorder they committed at ye Meeting here in ye first month last, found them in a hard, obstinate & resolute frame of mind, justifying themselves & blaming ye Meeting. And ye said Thomas & Susan having since sent a letter by Nicholas Noy, directed to this Meeting & subscribed wth their Names, wherin they highly justify themselves in ye disorder & evil by them committed as aforesaid, & charge ye Meeting wth injustice towards them; The Meeting being sensible of ye unsavouriness of their letter, & unruliness of their spirit, yet desirous (if possible) by gentlenes to draw them to a sight & sense therof in themselves, did think fit to give them another visit, wch William Loddington & Daniel Cooke tmdertook to do, as from this Meeting.
     [Assent given to Daniel Cooke & Sarah Kingham. (Vide under date 7.ii.80)
     Also to William Greenhill & Mary Cooke. (Vide under date 7.ii.80)
     Also to John Hudson & Hannah Hookes. (Vide under date 7.ii. 80)
     Intention of marriage between Edmund Barton & Mary Grove of Flanden. Robert Jones & Edward Butterfeild to inquire.] The man was ordered to get a Certificate from yt Meeting of Bedfordshire, to wch he lately belonged.
     Friends considering yt ye next Meeting wil in course fal at ye same time wth ye general Meeting at London, have thought fit for ye service of Truth, & conveniency of Friends, to alter ye day for yt time only. So yt it is ye agreemt, of this Meeting, That ye next Meeting shal be held here on ye fourth day in ye ?? (last) week of this month; & friends are desired to give notice therof in their respective Meetings, that no disappointmt, may be occasioned therby to any.

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Att a Meetingat Tho : Ellwood's on ye 26th: of 3d: mo: 80:
     William Loddington acquainted ye Meeting yt he & Daniel Cooke had been with Thomas Allen & his Wife, endeavouring to make them sensible of their miscarriages, but found them so hard & shut up from Councell, that they could not make any impression upon them, stil justifying themselves, & condermling ye Meeting; wch ye Meeting taking into consideration, did conclude it necessary yt a Testimony be given agt. ye disorder comitted by them, & yt unruly & unsavoury spt. by wch they are acted; Yet being very desirous to exercise al manner of tenderness towards them, ye Meeting was content to forbear any further prosecution of ye Matter mltil ye next Meeting, if haply in the mean time any sense may arise {from} ?? (in) themselves wch may bring them to acknowledge & condemn those Evils committed by them.
     A Certificate was given to Saml. Jenings, as followeth.

Wheras Samuel Jenings late of Alisbury in ye County of Buck Salesman, hath signified unto us yt he hath an intention (if ye Lord permit) to transport himself wth his Wife & Children unto ye Plantation of West-new-Jersey in America, & hath desired a Testimonial from this Meeting, for ye satisfaction of friends there or elswhere, unto whom he may be outwardly unknown. We therfore whose names are hereunderwritten do hereby certify al whom it may concern, yt ye said Samuel Jenings & Anne his Wife, having lived in these parts for many years, have walked conscienciously & honestly amongst us, agreably to ye profession & testimony of truth according to ye best of our knowledge & observation of them. In witness wherof we have hereunto set our hands, at our monthly Meeting, holden at Coleshill for ye upper side of ye County of Buck, ye 26th: of 3d: mo: in ye year 1680.

Robt. Jones Hen. Costard Tho: Dell.  Robt. White  Wm. Loddington   Edw. Hoare

Tho: Olliffe Tho: Ellwood  John Costard  John Heywood  John Puddivat  Bray Doyley

Edw. Vivers Ralph Trumper Richd. Clipsham Nich: Skidmore John Archedale.

Rowland Foster of Wiccomb complaining to this Meeting, yt Joyce Olliffe formerly of Alisbury, having for some time entertained him in ye way of a Sutor in order to Marriage, is lately removed to London, in order to transport herself beyond ye Seas, to his great trouble & dissatisfaction ; The Meeting desired T. Ellwood to speak with the said Joyce at London, & acquaint her, That it is ye Judgmt. of this Meeting, yt she ought (before her departure) to endeavour to give ye said Rowland satisfaction in this case, & yt if he shal desire to have ye business heard by some Friends of London, to be chosen indifferently by him & herself, she ought not to refuse it.
     Edmund Barton & Mary Grove, who at ye last Meeting
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proposed their intention of Marriage, came now to receive ye Answer of ye Meeting. But it appearing yt ye said Edmund & Mary had before laid their business before ye Women's Meeting, & left it there depending, & had since, in contempt of ye womens Meeting, not only refused to go thither again to receive their Answer, but yt ye said Edmund had wth reproachful & slanderous words abused & vilified ye said Meeting; [Note:  It appears from the Women's Minute Book that Barton told a woman Friend "shee was in a vanting sperit," for which he afterwards apologized.]  it occasioned a dissatisfaction in many, so yt ye Meeting could not give way to ye passing of their business at present, until satisfaction be given by them to ye Women's Meeting for ye injury & abuse offered therunto.

Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 7th: of ye 5th: mo: 80.
     Friends not having received any satisfaction from Thomas Allen & Susan Grace of Wiccomb for the disorder & abuse committed by them at this Meeting formerly & by their letter since; nor finding any further drawings in any to visit them any more: It was ye unanimous agreement of this Meeting yt a Paper be drawn up as a Testimony & Judgemt. agt. their disorderly Proceedings, & yt spirit of obstinacy in wch they stand ; & it was left to T. Ellwood to draw up ye said Paper agt. ye next Meeting.
     Tho: Ellwood acquainted ye Meeting yt (according to ye direction of ye last Meeting) he had delivered their Message to Joyee Olliffe, who received it very kindly; & yt afterwards, Rowland Foster & she discoursing together, did wholly end ye Controversy yt had been between them, each of them solemnly releasing ye other by a writing under their hands.
     Jane Folliat of Oxford, having formerly lived in this County, & being now upon a Treaty of Marriage to a Friend of Oxfordshire, came hither to desire a Certificate from this Meeting of her clearness & orderly walking whilst among us. The Meeting appointed Tho: Dell, John Costard & Tho: Olliffe to make inquiry concerning her, & give an Account therof at ye next Meeting.
     A Paper, directed from ye last yearly Meeting to the quarterly & monthly Meetings of this County, being read in our last quarterly Meeting, & from thence recommended to this, was here read, & some particulars of it, relating to ye first entrance of Truth in this County, being transcribed, were by ye agreement of this Meeting recommended to ye care of ye respective Meetings belonging unto this.

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Att a Meeting at Tho: Ellwood's on ye 4th: of 6t. mo: 80.
     The friends imployed to inquire concerning Jane Foliat gave Meeting an Account yt Charles Noy (who formerly claimed an interest in her) had in writing under his hand given her a Discharge, wch they produced here, & yt upon ful inquiry made they did not find any Matter in our County wch might be an obstruction to her marriage. Wherupon ye Meeting signed ye Certificate following, 

To our Friends & Brethren at their monthly Meeting in or near the City of Oxford.
     Wheras Jane Folliat of ye City of Oxford Spinster, having formerly lived some time in this County, & being now (as we are given to understand) in a Treaty of Marriage with a Friend of your County, hath (in order to your satisfaction) desired a Testimonial from this Meeting concerning her: 
     These are therfore to certify you, yt (upon ful inquiry made) we do not find but yt ye said Jane Folliat is clear & free from any Engagement of Marriage to any person in this County, & yt while she lived amongst us, she was of an orderly conversation; nor do we know any cause on her part to hinder her from proceeding to Marriage, according to ye good Order of Truth. To wch recommending you in ye management of this & al ye affairs of Truth, we remain 

Henry Costard  Robt. Jones Wm. Loddington Thomas Dell Jo. Heywood

Tho: Ellwood    Win. Kidder    Edw. Hoare   Tho: Olliffe    Edw. Barton

Your Friends & Brethren John Puddivatt John Dollin Richd. Clipsham John White Nich: Skidmore.

     Edmund Barton of Flanden having, since ye meeting in ye 3d: mo: last, been wonderfully reached unto & wrought upon by ye Lord, & judged & condenmed in himself in ye most of his Opposition & gainsaying, insomuch yt he hath been made publickly in Meetings to confess his Errour, & condemn himself, came this day to ye womens Meeting, & did there freely & fully acknowledge his fault in having despised, contemned & vilified their Meeting, condemning himself & judging yt spirit by wch he had been led into yt evil frame & temper of mind. And having given satisfaction to ye Women Friends for ye injury & abuse done to their Meeting & to them, He and his friend Mary Grove did propose anew their intention of taking each other in Marriage, desiring ye advice & assistance of ye Women's Meeting therin. [Note: The Women's Minute Book says that this couple were "desired to be very waity, considering their great disproportion in years."]   Wherupon two women-friends being chosen by their Meeting came wth them to this Meeting, & having acquainted this Meeting with ye business, the said Edmund & Mary did again propose their intention of taking each other in Marriage, & desired ye advice of this Meeting therin. Robt. Jones & Edward Butterfeild, who were imployed in ye former inquiry, to inquire anew.
     A letter was read from Francis Holden a friend of Kingston upon Thames, complaining agt. Robt. Kingham of Farnham Mill, for nonpaymt, of a Debt owing to him, & for frequent breach of promise thereupon, & desiring ye advice of this Meeting therupon. Wherupon ye Meeting desired Robt. White, Wm. Sexton, Geo: Salter & John Dollin, to speak with Robt. Kingham about it, & let him know ye Meeting expects he should satisfy ye said Francis before ye next Meeting or come himself to the next Meeting, yt Friends may more fully understand the matter.

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At a Meeting at Tho: Ellwoods on ye first of ye 7th: mo: 80.
     According to ye agreemt, of this Meeting in ye fifth month last, a Paper was drawn up by T. E. as a Testimony agt. ye disorderly acting & unruly obstinate Spirit of Tho: Allen of Wiccomb & Susan Grace, wch there not being room for at the last Meeting, was now presented, approved & signed as followeth.

Forasmuch as Thomas Allen of Cheping Wiccomb in ye County of Buck Blacksmith & Susanna ye daughter of John Grace of Weston-Turvill in ye said County, having laid before this Meeting their intention of taking each other in Marriage, while their business was here depending, & actually under consideration, having by guile & falshood obtained liberty to come into ye Meeting, did deceitfully & treacherously attempt & offer to obtrude & impose a rude & disorderly Marriage upon ye Meeting, contrary to ye order & way of truth ; And did not only then persist in their disorderly undertaking, against ye manifest & express dislike of ye Meeting, but have also since (as an aggravation of their Evil) by their letter directed to this Meeting (bearing date ye sth of ye 3d: mo: last past) undertaken to justify themselves & their proceedings & to judge & condemn ye Meeting of injustice. And inasmuch as this Meeting hath exercised very much xtian care & tenderness towards ye said Tho: & Susanna, & hath dealt with them according to Gospel-Order, [Note: See Matthew XVIII. 15.] by sending divers of ye Members of this Meeting, at several times (as wel before ye said Letter was received, as since) to visit ye said Tho: & Susanna, & to lay before them ye Evil of their doings, & to reprove, admonish & exhort them to Repentance; which tenderness & counsell they ye said Thomas & Susanna have rejected, obstinatly persisting to justify themselves in their deceitful working & unruly disorderly carriage aforesaid. We therfore whose names are hereunder written, being met together in ye holy fear of ye Lord, to take care of ye concerns of ye Church of Christ in these parts, & being sensible both of ye abuse & contempt offered unto this Meeting, by ye said Thomas & Susanna, & of ye evil tendency & dangerous consequences of such unruly & disorderly practises, do feel a weighty concern upon our spirits to testify agt. them. And therfore in ye authority & power of Truth, wch God almighty hath placed amongst us, & in wch we meet & act, do we judge & condemn & hereby solemnly testify agt. their deceitful and tr