Paris, are four alabaster panels, viz. the Crucifixion, the Assumption of the Virgin, and the two illustrated (Plate IX.). These latter panels apparently formed part of a series which depicted incidents from the life of some sainted bishop, though who it is, in the absence of the missing panels, it is now a matter of difficulty to determine. Plate IX. 1, shows us a scene which follows closely the mode of treatment adopted in portraying the Nativity of Our Lady. Here we find a mother resting upon a bed, sunk in slumber, to whom in a dream an archbishop, who bears a cross-staff, reveals the future merits of her child, whom a nurse, seated at her feet, dandles on her knee. Beside the head of the bed another attendant is preparing food in a pan, which rests upon a movable hearth, the contents of which she stirs with a spoon held in her left hand. At the foot of the bed is yet another female wearing a veil, who stands with her hands raised in prayer. Plate IX. 2. bishop, who is This depicts the burial of the being interred in a tomb with moulded sides. The body, which is clad in albe and chasuble, is mitred and holds in the left hand a crozier, and is being lowered into the tomb by two ecclesiastics by means of linen bands. Behind is a bishop, wearing a chasuble and mitre, holding in his left hand his crozier, whilst with his right hand he bestows his benediction. Beside him to the right is another ecclesiastic who holds in both hands an open book from which the bishop recites the service. Each panel is surmounted by a triple-gabled canopy, wrought on the same piece of alabaster. COMMUNICATIONS LANCASTER JOTTINGS-IV DR. WILLIAM MARSHALL1 IN (Cambridge, N Mr. Norman Penney's edition of Fox's Journal (Cambridge, 1911), there is an additional account of the discussion at the Quarter Sessions at Lancaster in October 1652, much fuller than in the ordinary edition. Some of "Dr." Marshall's observations are there recorded. Mr. Penney also draws attention to the following passages in which the same matter is mentioned, and which seem necessary to complete the story. Both the writers quoted state that the discussion took place at a private meeting of the justices, and that is probably the reason why the clerk made no reference to it in his record of the proceedings of the session. The theology of the matter does not here concern us, but the local interest and the references to court procedure justify our printing the passages. The first extracts are from a tract called A Brief Relation of the Irreligion of the Northern Quakers, by F. Higginson, published in 1653. He writes thus: Of the horrid Blasphemies of the Quakers against God and His Christ (p. 2). George Fox, the Father of the Quakers of these parts, hath avowed himself over and over to be equal with God. Being asked by Doctor Marshall, in the presence of Master Sawro, Colonel Fell and Colonel West, justices of the peace in the County of Lancashire, at a private sessions in 1 See Transactions, lxvii. 159. the town of Lancaster, whether or no he was equal with God, as he had before that time been heard to affirm, his answer was this: "I am equal with God." This blasphemy hath been attested upon oath by the foresaid Doctor Marshall and Master Altam, schoolmaster of Lancaster, before the justices at the last Sessions, held at Appleby, January the 8, 1652[-3], and before Judge Puleston at the last Assizes held at Lancaster, March the 18, 1652[−3]. . . . At the last assizes above mentioned at Lancaster, Mr. Sawro, a justice of the peace in that county and an honest gentleman, told Judge Puleston in the open court that he could produce many [to] witness that Fox had affirmed himself to be the Christ. The same also he said in the hearing of an honest minister in Westmorland, who will be ready to attest it when called to it. James Milner, one of Fox's disciples in the county of Lancaster, professed himself to be God and Christ. Thomas Shaw, Gerard Shaw, George Inman, witnesses. They are also horrible railers. . . . The Billingsgate oister-women are not comparable to them (p. 21). For satisfaction of the reader (p. 32) I shall give him a true copy of one [of the Quakers' libels] that was affixed one Lord's day, about the beginning of January last, unto the church door at Lancaster, which Dr. Marshall openly read to the people there assembled, that they might perceive the strange temper of the spirits of those men by such their unsavoury eructations. A Copy of a Scurrilous Paper affixed to the Church This is the Idols Temple where the worship of the Beast is upheld. Down with it, down with it, Revel. xv, 7, 8; Revel. i, 2, 5. God that made the World and all things therein, dwels not in this Idolls Temple that is made with hands, Act. vii, 47, 48, 49; Act. xvii, 21. Neither is he worshipped in this Idolls Temple [made] with mens hands, Act. xvii, 24. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him, Joh. xiv, 23, 24. All the World wonders after the Beast and worshippeth the Beast, but those who have found their names written in the Book of life; and they that worship the Beast, and receive his Mark in their Forehead, as sprinckling Infants and worshipping the works of their own hands, following the imaginations of their hearts, they must drink of the wine of the wrath of the Almighty powred out without mixture, Revel. xiv, 9, 10, 11, 12. This Idolls Temple that is made with hands is a place for Night-birds and Screech-owles to meet, each one to the dishonour of the true God that dwelleth in Temples made without hands, at New Jerusalem where the Temple of God is with men, Revel. xxi, 3Drunkards and Swearers, Revellers and Scoffers and Scorners, and proud and wanton ones, and Hypocrites and Dissemblers, Enviors, Haters, backbiters, Persecutors, Lustfull ones, and contentious Persons, and Earth-wormes, meets here; the fearefull and unbelieving, peevish and perverse, and contentious ones meets here in their Idolls Temple to satisfie their Lusts: and saith the Lord, this people draw near me with their mouths, and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. But know yee not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, but must be cut down and cast into the fire, and have their Portion in the Lake that burneth? Be not deceived, God is not mocked. This is a Deceiver that standeth up here to deceive the people every seventh day, proud and covetous, and speaketh a Divination of his own brain, and not from the mouth of the Lord, and so makes the people light and vain. But the Lord is against him, hold him not up. All the Children of the Lord are and shall be taught of the Lord, Jer. xxxi, 34; Isa. liv, 13; 1 Joh. ii, 27. The second extract is from The Perfect Pharisee, under Monkish Holines, opposing the Fundamental Principles of the Doctrine of the Gospel, written by Thomas Weld, Rich. Prideaux, Sam. Hammond, Will. Cole, and Wil. Durant, ministers in Newcastle, 1654. The relevant portions are : Position 1. Equality with God (p. 3). Proof. I. That this hath been affirmed by the chiefest of them, upon whose mouth it's fully known they much depend, will thus appear. George Fox, being by warrant from M. Tolnson and M. Sawry (now a Member of Parlia ment), two justices of the peace in Lancashire, to be apprehended, for affirming he was equal with God; before the said Warrant was put in execution, the said business was heard over again at Lancaster, at a private meeting of the justices, where George Fox was present; where after several distinctions and occasions favourably given on behalf of the said Fox, Dr. Marshal, in presence of the said justices, proposed the case to Fox himself, to speak his heart, whether he did not believe himself equal with God. The said Fox in answer thereto positively affirmed thus: "I am equal with God." The said Dr. Marshall and Mr. Altham, schoolmaster at Lancaster, deposed this at a general sessions in Westmorland in the hearing of one of us; and deposed the same again before the honourable Judge Puleston at Lancaster the next Assizes. Position 5. That Christ in the Flesh, with all he did and suffered therein, was but a figure and nothing but an example (p. 8). Proof. I. This is expressly found in their [the Quakers'] book called Saul's Errand to Damascus. 2. As also Mr. Higginson [Brief Relation], page 5, says: "The Lancashire charge stands clear against them in this principle, and nothing answered to evade it in Saul's Errand to Damascus, page 8. 3. Also this was written in that letter which Naylor wrote to one in Lancashire, which was objected against him by Dr. Marshal upon account of another principle in it (viz., that he that expected to be saved by him that died at Jerusalem should be deceived). And thus Mr. Jacques, minister at Bolton [-le-Sands] in Lancashire, sent his testimony under his hand that he would make appear, if the justices of Westmorland pleased to call for him at another season, being detained at that time upon other occasions. The book above mentioned, Saul's Errand to Damascus, 1654, contained the accused persons' answer to the following petition: To the Right Honourable the Council of State. The humble Petition of several Gentlemen Justices of Peace, Ministers of the Gospel and People within the County of Lancaster, whose names are subscribed, |