A
NARRATIVE
0 F T H E
Moft remarkable Particulars
1 N T H E
LIFE
O F
James Albert Ukawfaw Gronniofaw,
AN
AFRICAN PRINCE,
As related by himself.
»>*«<«►>
1 will bring the blind by a Way that they know not, 1 will
lead them in paths that they hwve not known: I will
make darkncfs light before them and crooked things
Jlraight. Thefe things will I do unto them and not for-
fake them. Ifaiah xhii. 16.
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Printed by B. DugdAle, No. ijo, Capcl-ftreetj"
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PREFACE.
HIS account of the life and fpiritual experience
o/"James Albert, w as taken from his awn
mouth, and committedjo paper by the elegant pen of a
young Lad y of the town of Leominster, for her
euin private'fatisfaflion•, and without any intention
atfirfl that it fhould be made public. But new ffye
has been prevailed on to tommit it to the prejs, as it
is apprehended, this little hiflory contains matter wall
worthy the notice and attention of every Chfiflian rea¬
der.
As his call was very extraordinary, fo there are
certain particulars exceedingly remarkable in hit
experience. God has put a fingular honor upon him
in the exercife of his faith and patiencet which
in the mo ft diflreffing and pitiable trials and cala¬
mities have been found to the praife and glory of
God. How deeply it mufl affefl a tender heart,,
not only to be reduced to the lajl extremity himfelf9
but to have his• wife and children perifhing for want
before his eyes/ Tet his faith did not fail him; he
put his trufl in the Lord and he was delivered.
And at this infant, though born in an exaltedflati^
on of life, and now under the preffure of various af■
jlifling providences, 7 am perfuaded (for I know the
man) he would rather embrace the dunghill, having.
A 2
Christ
iv PREFACE.
christ in his hearty than give up his fpiritual pof-
feffions and enjoyment, to fill the throne of princes»
It perhaps may not be amifs to obferve that James
Albert left his native country, (as near as lean
guefs from certain circumjlances) when he was about
fifteen years old. He now appears to be turned of ftx-
ty; has a good natural under/landing ; . is well ac¬
quainted with the fcripture, and the things of God,
has an amiable and tender difpofitiony and his charac¬
ter can be well attejled not only, at Kiddermin¬
ster, the place of his refuknce> but likewife by ma¬
ny creditable perfons in London and other places*
Reader, recommending this narrative to your pe""-
M
I am your faithful and obedient fervanf,
For Christ's fake,
W. SHIRLEY,
AN
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A N
A C C O U N T
O F
JAMES ALBERT, See.
J Was born in the city of Bournou ; my mo¬
ther was the eldeft daughter of the reigning King
of Zaara, of which Bournou is the chief city.
I was the youngeft of fix children, and particular¬
ly loved by my mother, and my grand-father af-
moft doated on me.
I had, from my infancy, a curious turn of mind,
was more grave and referved ir my difpofition
than either of my brothers and fitters. I often
teafed them with cjueftions they could not anfwer ;
tor which reafon they difliked me, as they fuppof-
ed that I was either foolifh, or inlane. 'twas cer¬
tain that I wis, at times, very unhappy in myfelf:
it btingflrongly imprtffed on my mind that there
was fome Great Man of power which refided
above the fun, moon, and ftars, the obje&s of
our woifhip. Mydeir indulgent mother would
bear with me more than any of my friends be-
fide.—I often raifed my hands to heaven, and
afked her who lived there ? was much diiTatisfied
when fhe told me the fun, moon and ftars, being
peifuadtd, in my own mind, that there rnuft be
fome Superior Tower. 1 was frequently
lofl in wender at the works of the creation : was
A 3 afraid
(' 6 )
afraid, uneafy,. and reftlefs, but could not teH for
what. I wanted to be informed of things that no
perfon could tell me ; and was always diflatisfi*
ed.—Thefe wonderful impreffions begun in my
childhood, and followed me continually.'till I left
my parents,, which affords me matter,of admirati¬
on and thankfulnefs.
To this moment I grew more and more unea/yi
every day, in fo much that one Saturday, (which
is the day on which we keep our Sabbath) I la¬
boured under anxieties and fears that cannot be ex--,
prefled ; and, what ismore extraordinary, I could
not give a reafon for it.——I rofe, as our cuftom
is, about three o'clock, (as we are obliged to be
at our place of worfhip an hour before fun rife :)
We fay nothing in our worlhip, but continue on
our knees with our hands held up, obferving a
4W6t filence till! the fun is at a certain height*,
which I fuppofe to be about io'or 11 o'clock in
England: when,., at' a certain fign made by the
prieft, we get up (our duty being over,) and dif—
jperfe to our different houfes.—Our place of meet¬
ing is under a large palm-tree ; we divide ourfelves,
into many congregations; as it is impoffible for
the fame tree to cover the inhabitants of the whole
city, though they are extremely large, high, and
majeftic; the beauty and ufefulnefs of them are
not to, be defcribed they fupply the inhabitants
of the country with meat, drink, and cloaths :*
the body of the palm tree is very large ; at a cer¬
tain
* It is a generally received opinion, in England, that the
natives of Africa go entirely uncloathed; but this fuppofli-
tion is very unjuft : they have a kind of drefs fo as to appear
Accent, though it is very flight and thin.
( 7 )
tain feafcn of the year they tap it, and bring vef-
feIs to receive the wine, of which they draw great
quantities, the quality of which is very delicious j
the leaves of this tree are of a filky na:ure'; they
are large and foft: when they are dried and pulled
to pieces, it has much the fame appearance as the
Englifii flax, and the inhabitants of Bournou
rnanufafture it for cloathing, &c. This tree like-
wife produces a plant or fubitance which has the
appearance of a cabbage, and very like it, in tafte
almofl the fame: it grows between the branches*
Alfo the palm tree produces a nut, fornething
like a cocoa, which contains a kernel, in which is
a large quantity of milk, very pleafant to the
tafte : the fhell is of a hard fubftance, and of a
very beautiful appearance, and ferves for bafono,.
bowls, See.
I'hope this digreffion will be forgiven.—I was
going to obferve,.' that after the duty of our Sab¬
bath was over (on the day in which I was more
diftrefled and afflifted than ever) we were all on
our way home as ufual, when a remarkable black
cloud arofe and covered the fun ; then followed
very heavy rain and thunder more dreadful than
ever I had heard: the heavens roared, and the
earth trembled at it: I was highly affe&ed and
call down ; in fo much that 1 wept fadly; and
could not follow my relations and friends home.
I was obliged to flop, and felt ds if my legs were
tied, they feemed to fhake under me : fo I flood
ftill, being in great fear of the Man of Power
that I was perfuaded in myfelf, lived above. One
of my young companions (who entertained a par¬
ticular friendfhip for me and I for him) came back
to fee for me: he alked me why I flood ftill in
fuch
( 8 )
fuch very hard rain ? I only faid to him that
my legs were weak, and I could not come fafter;
he was much afFedled to fee me cry, and took me
by the hand,, and faid he would lead me home,
which he did. My mother was greatly alarmed at
my tarrying out in fuch terrible weather; fhe afk-
ed me many quellions, fuch as what I did fo for,
and if I was well ? My dear mother, fays I, pray
tell me who is the great MANof Power that
makes the thunder ? She faid, there was no pow¬
er but the fun, moon and ftars j that they made
all our country. 1 then enquired how all our
people came ? She anfwered rne, from one ano¬
ther ; and fo carried me to many generations
back.—Then fays I, who made the/fry? man? and
who made the firft cow, and the firft lion, and
where does the fly come from, as no one can make
him? My mother feemed in great trouble; fhe
was apprehenfive that my fenfes were impaired,
or that I was fcoliih. My father came in, and fee¬
ing her in grief afked the caufe, but when fhe re¬
lated our converfation to him, he was exceeding¬
ly angry with me, and told me he would punifh
me feverely, if ever I was fo troublefome again;
fo that I refolved never to fay any thing more ta
bin »- But I grew very unhappy in myfelf; my
relations and acquaintance endeavoured by all the
means" they could think on, to divert me, by
taking me to ride on goats (whicii is much the
cuftom of our country) and to {hoot with a bow
and arrow ; but I experienced no faiisfuftron at
all in any of thefe things; nor could i be eafy by
any means whatever; my yaicots wer very un¬
happy to fee me fo dejected and melancholy.
About this time there came a mei rhant from the
Cold Coajl (the third city in Guinlaj he traded
with.
( 9 )
with the inhabitants of our country in ivory, &c,
he took great notice of, my unhappy fituation,
and enquired into the caufe ; he exprefTed vaft
concern for me, and faid, if my parents would
part with me for a little while, and let him take
me home with him, it would be of more fervice
to re than any thing they could do for me.— He
told r->e that if I would go with him I fhould fee
houfet. with wings to them walk upon the water,
and fhould alfo fee the white folks; and that he
had ntany fous nearls of my age, which ftiould be
my companions ; and he adiied to all this that he
would bring me fafe back again foon.—I was
hi* Yiy pleafed with the account of this ftr?mge
place, and was very defirons of going —I feemed
feniible of a fecret impulle upon my miod, which
I could not relift, that feemej to tell me I mufl go.
When my dear mother faw I w as willing to leave
them, fhe fpolce to my father and grandfather, and
the reft of my relations, who all agreed that I
fhould accompany the n erchant • to the Gold
Coaft. I was the moie willing ns my brothers and
fitters defpifed*me, and looked on me with con¬
tempt, on the account < f my unhappy difpofition j
and even my fervants flighted me, and difregarded
all I faid to them I had one lifter who was al¬
ways exceeding fond of me, and I loved her en¬
tirely; her nara^e was Logwy, fhe was quite
white, and fair, with fine light hair, though my
father and mother were black.—I was truly con¬
cerned to leave my beloved lifter, and fhe cried
moft fadly to part with me, wringing her hands,
and difcovered every fign of grief that can be
imagined, indeed if I could have known when I
left my friends and country that 1 fhould never
return to them^again, my mifery on thatoccafion
wppld have been inexpreflible. All my relations
were
( )
were forry to part with me; my dear mother
came with me on a camel more than three hun¬
dred miles, the firft of our journey lay chiefly
through woods : at night we fecured ourfelves
from the wild beafts by making fires all around us;
we snd our camels kept within the circle, or we
mud have been tore to pieces by the lions, and
other wild creatures that roared terribly as foon
as night came on„and continuedfo do fo till morn¬
ing. There can be little faid in favour of the
country through which we pafled ; only a valley
of marble that we came through which is unfpeak-
ably beautiful —On each fide of this valley are ex¬
ceedingly high ^nd almoft inacceffible mountains-
Some of thefe^ffieces of marble are of prodigious
length and xt,"p;dth, but of different fixes and co¬
lour, and (haped in a variety of forms, in a won¬
derful manner.—Mod of it is veined with gold mix¬
ed with flriking and,, beautiful colours •, fo that
when the fun darts up'on it, it is as pleafing a fight
as can be imagined. The merchant that brought
me from Bournou, was in partnerfhip with ano¬
ther gentleman who accompanied us; he was ve¬
ry unwilling that he (hould take me from home,
as, he faid, he forefaw many difficulties that would
attend my going with them. He endeavoured to
prevail on the merchant to throw me into a very
deep pir that was in the valiev, but he refufed to
lifteir to him, and ' faid, he was refolved to take
care of rne; but the other was greatly diffatisfied ;
and when we came to a river, which we were o-
bliged to pafs through, he purpofed throwing me
in and drowning me ; but the merchant would
not confent to it, fo that 1 was preferved.
We travel'ed till about four o'clock every day,
and then began to make preparations for night,
*7
{ II )
by cutting down large quantities of wood, to make
fires to preferve us from the wild beafts.—I had a
very unhappy and difcontented journey, being in
continual fear that the people I was with would
murder me. I often reflected with extreme regret
on the kind friends I had left, and the idea of my
dear mother frequently drew tears from my eyes.
—I cannot recollect how long we were going
from Bournou to the Gold Coast ; but as-
there is no fhippi*g nearer Bournou than that
city, it was tedious in travelling fo far by land, be¬
ing upwards of a thoufand miles. I. was heartily
rejoiced when we arrived at the end of our jour¬
ney : I now vainly imagined that all my troubles
and inquietudes would terminate'here ; but could
I have looked into futurity, I fi'ouk! have per¬
ceived that I had much mqre to fu. or t*han I had
before experienced, and that they had as yet
barely commenced.
I was now more than a thoufand miles from
home, without a friend or any means to procure
one. Soon after I came to the merchant's houfe,
I heard the drums beat remarkably loud, and the
trumpets blow, the perfons accuflomed to this em¬
ploy, are obliged to go on a very high ftru£ture,
appointed for that purpofe, that the found may
be heard at a great diftance; they are higher than
the fteeples in England. I was mightily pleafed
with founds fo entirely new to me, and was very
Inquifitive to know the caufe of this rejoicing,
and afked many queftions concerning it; I was an-
fwered that it was meant as a compliment to me,
becaufe I was grandfon to the king of Bournou.
This account gave me a fecret pleafure; but I
"was not fuffered. long to enjoy this fatisfa&ion,
for
( 12 )
for In the evening of the fame cloy, two of the
merchant's fons (boys about my own age) came
running to me anu told me, that the next day I
was to die, for the King intended to behead me.
—I replied that I was fure it could not be true,
for I came there to play with them, and to fee
houfes walk upon the water wiih wings to them,
and ihe white tolks; but I was foon informed that
their king imagined I Was fent by my father as a
fpy, and wouid make fuch difcoveries at my re¬
turn home, as would enable them to make war
with the greater advantage to ourfelves ; and for
thefe reafons he had refolved I fhould never re¬
turn to my native country.—When I heard thir,
I fuftcred mifery that cannot be defcribed.—I
wifhed a thoufand times that I had never left my
friends and country. But ftill the Almighty
was pleafed to work miracles for me.
The morping I was to die, I was wafhed, and
all my gold ornaments made bright and fliining,
and then carried to the palace, where' the king
was to behead me himfelf (as is the cuflom of the
place.) He was feated upon a throne at the top of
an exceed/ng large yard, or court, which you mtifi:
go through to enter the palace ; it is as wide and
fpacious as a large field in England.—I had a lane
of life-guards to go through.—I gueffed it to be
about three hundred paces.
I wttS conduced by my' friend the merchant,
about halfway up ; then he durft proceed no far¬
ther: I went up to the king alone,—I went with
ail undaunted courage, and it plc^fed God to melt
the heart of the king, who fat with his fcymitar in
his hand ready to behead me ;°yet,' being himfelf
fo affe&ed, he dropped it out of his hand, and took
me
( 13 )
me upon his knee and wept over me. I put my
right hand round his neck, and prefled him to my
heart.— He fat me down and blelTed me ; and ad¬
ded, that he would not kill me, that I fhould not
go home, but be fo'd for a (lave, fo then I was
conducted back again to the merchant's hcufe.
The next day he took me on board a French
T>rig ; hut the captain did not choofe to buy me ;
he faid I was too fmall; fo the merchant took me
home with him again.
The partner, whom I have fpoken of as my
enemy, was very angry to fee me return, and a-
gain propofed putting an end to my life ; for he
reprefented to the other, that I fhould bring them
into troubles and difficulties, and that I was fo lit¬
tle that no perfon would buy me.
The merchant's refolution began to waver, and
I was indeed afraid that I fhould be put to death;
but however, he faid he would try me once more.
A few days after, a Dutch fliip came into the
harbour, and they carried me on board, in hopes
that the captain would purchafe me.—As they
went, I heard them agree, tjiat if they could not
fell me then, they would throw me overboard.—
I was in extreme agonies when I heard this ; and
as foon as ever I faw the Dutch captain, I ran to
him, and put my arms round him, and faid, te fa¬
ther, fave me," (for I knew that if he did not buy*
me, I fliould be treated very ill, or poflibly mur¬
dered.) And though he did not underftand my"
language, yet it pleafed the Almighty to in¬
fluence him in my behalf, and he bought me for
B tVJQ
( M )
two yards of cheque, which is of more value theres
than in England.
When I left my dear mother, I had a targe
quantity of gold about me, as is the cuftom of
our country, it was made into rings, and they
ivei'e linked into one another, and formed into
a kind of chain, arid fo put round my neck, and
arms and legs, and a large piece hanging at onb
ear, almoft in the {lispe of a pear. I found all
this troublefome, and was glad w hen my new
mafter took it from me.—I was now wafhed, and
cloathed in the Dutch or Englifh manner. My
mafter grew very fond of me, and I loved him
exceedingly ; I watched every look, was always
ready when he wanted rne, and endeavoured to
convince him, by every action, that my only plea-
fure was to ferve him well. I have fince thought
that he ir.uft have been a ferious man. His ac¬
tions correfponded very well with fucli a charac¬
ter.—He ufed to read prayers in public to the
ihip'a crew every Sabbath day ; and when firft I
faw him i-ead, I was never fo lurprized in my life,
as when I faw the book talk to my mafter, for I
thought it did, as I obferved him to look upon it,
and move his lips.—I wilhed it would do fo to
me. As foon as my mafter had done reading, I
followed him to the pl&ce where he put the book,
being mightily delighted with it, and when no¬
body faw me, I opened it and put my ear down
dofe upon it, in great hopes that it would fay
fpmething to me 5 but was very forry, and great¬
ly difappointed when I found it would not fpeak,
this thought immediately prefented itfelf to me,
that every body and every thing defpifed me bc-
caufe 1 was black.
I was
\ 15 )
I was exceedingly Tea Tick at firil; bat when I
became more accuftomed to the Tea, it wore off.
My matter's fhip was bound for Barbadoes.—
When we came there, he thought fit to fpeak of
me to feveral gentlemen of his acquaintance, and
one of them expreffed a particular delire to fee.
me. He had a great mind to buy me ; but the
captain could not immediately be prevailed on to
part with me ; but however, as the gentleman
feemed very folicitous, he at length let me go, and
I was fold for fifty dollars (four and ftx~penny pieces
in Englifo.) My new mailer's name was Van-
horn, a young gentleman ; his home was in New-
England, in the city of New-York, to which place
he took me with him. He dreffed me in his live¬
ry, and was very good to me. My chief bufinefs
was to wait at table and tea, and clean knives,
and I had a very eafy place ; but the fervants ufed
to curfe and fwear furprizingly; which I learned
fafter than any thing, it was almoft the firft Eng-
lifh I could fpeak. If any of them affronted me,
I was fure to call upon God to damn them im¬
mediately j but I was broke of it all at once, oc-
cafioned by the correction of an old black fervant
that lived in the family.—One day I had juft clean¬
ed the knives for dinner, when one of the maids
took one to cut bread and butter with j I was ve¬
ry angry with her, and immediately called upon
God to damn her •, when this old black man
told me I muft not fay fo. I afked him why ?
He replied there was a wicked man called the
Devil, who lived in hell, and would take all who
faid thefe words, and put them in the fire and
burn them —This terrified me greatly, and I was
entirely broke of fwearing. Soon after this, as
I was placing the china fortea, my miftrefs cache
iiito the room juft as the maid had been cleaning
B 2 it;
( 16 )
it j the girl had unfortunately fprinkled the wain-
fcot with the mop, at which my miftrefs was an¬
gry, the girl very fooliflily anfwered her again,
which made her worfe, and fhe called upon God
to damn her.—I was vaftly concerned to hear this,
as (he was a fine young lady, and very good to
me, infomuch that I could not help fpeaking to
her; " ftfradam, fays I, you mud not fay To,"
Why ? fays fhe, Eecaufe there is a black man call¬
ed the Devil that lives in hell, and he will put you
in the fire and burn you, and I fhall be very for-
ry for that. Who told you this ? replied my la¬
dy, Old Ned, fays I. Very well, was all her
anfwer j but fhe told my mafter of it, and he or¬
dered that ol4 Ned fhould be tied up and w hip¬
ped, and he was never fuffered to come into the
kitchen with the reft of the fervants afterw ards.
My miftrefs was not angry with me, but rather
diverted with my fimplicity, and by way of talk,
fhe repeated what I had faid to many of her ac¬
quaintance that vifited her ; among the reft, Mr.
Freelandhoufe, a very gracious, good Minifter,
heard it, and he took a great deal of notice of
me, and defired my mafter to part with me to
him. He would not hear of it at firft, but being
greatly perfuaded, he let me go, and Mr. Free¬
landhoufe gave fifty pounds for me.—He took
me home with him, and made me kneel down,
and put my hands together, and prayed for me,
and every night and morning he did the fame.—
I could not make out what he did this for, nor
the meaning of it, nor what they fpoke to when
they talked—I thought it comical, but I liked it
very well.
After I had been a little while with my new
mafter, I grew more familiar, and alked him the
meaning
C 17 1
meaning of prayer: (I could hardly fpeak Eng-
lifh to be underftoodj he took great pains with
me, and made me underftand that he prayed to
God, who lived in heaven *, that He was my Fa¬
ther and best Friend. I told him that this muffc
be a miftake ; that my father lived at Bournou,
and that I wanted very much to fee him, and
likewife my dear mother, and fitter, and I wifh-,
ed he would be fo good as to fend me home to
them ; and I added all that I could think of to-in¬
duce him to convey me back. I appeared in great
trouble, and my good matter was fo afFe&ed, that
the tears ran down his face. He told" me that
God was a Great and Goqd Spirit, that He
created all the world* and every perfon and thing
in it, in Ethiopia, Africa, America and every¬
where. I was delighted when I heard this : There,
fays I, I always thought fo when I lived at home !
Now if I had wings like an eagle, I would fly to
tell my dear mother that God is greater than the
fun, moon, and flarij and that they were made
by Him,
I was exceedingly pleafed with this information
of my matter's, becaufe it correfponded fo well
withvmy own opinion •, I thought now if I could
but get home, I {hould be wifer than all my coun¬
try-folks,, my gVandfathex*, or father, or" mother,
or any of them. But though I was fomeuhat
enlightened, by' this information of my mafrer'sj
yet I had <10 other knowledge of God but that
he was a Good Spirit, and created every bo¬
dy, and every thing.—I n€ver was fenfible in
myfelf nor had any one ever told me, that ha
would punifh the wicked, and love the ju(L I
was only glad that I had been tpld there was| a
God becaufe I had always thought fo.
B 3 * My
( J® )
My dear kind matter grew very fond cf me,
as was his lady; (he put me to fchool, but I was
uneafy at that, and did not like to go; but try
mailer and miftrefs requefted me to tearn in the
gentlef! terms, and perfuaded me to attend my
School without any anger at all ; that, at I a ft, I
came to like it better, and learnt to read pretty
well. My fehool-mafter was a good man, his
name was Vanofdore, and very indulgent to me.
I was in this ftate, when one Sunday, I heard
my mafter preach from thefe words out of tha
Revelations, chap. i. v. 7. (t Behold* Be cornet A
in the clauds and every eye Jhall fee himy and they
that pierced Him." Thefe words affedted me ex-
ceffively : I was in great agonies becaufe I thought
my mafter directed them to me only ; and, 1 fan»
cied, that he obferved me with unufual earneft-
nefs. I was farther confirmed in this belief as
I looked round - the church, and could fee no
one perfon befides myfelf in fuch grief and diftrefs
as J was; I began to think that my mafter hated
me, and was very, defirous to go home to my
own country ; for I thought if God did come,
(as he faid} He would be fure to be mod angry
with me, as I did not know what he was, nor
had ever beard of him before.
I went home in great trouble, but faid nothing
to any body.—I was fomewhat afraid of my maf¬
ter , I thought he difliked me. The next text
I heard him preach from was, Heb. xii. 14.
^ Follow peace with all men, and holtnefs, without
"which no man /hall fee the LORD '* He preached
the law fo feverely, that it made me tremble.
He faid that GOD would judge the whole world j
Ethiopia, Afia4 Africa, and every where. I was
now exceffively perplexed, and undetermined
what
( >9 )
what to do ; as I Lad now reafon to believe my
fituation would be equally bad to go, as to flay.—•
I kept thefe thoughts to myfelf, and faid nothing
to any perfon whatever.
I fhould have complained to my good miftrefs
©f this great trouble of mind, but (he had been a
little flrange to me for feveral days before this hap¬
pened, occafioned by a ftory told of me by one of
the maiijs, , The fervants were all jealous, and en¬
vied me the , regard and favour fhewn me by my
mafter and miftrefs, and the Devil being always
ready, and diligent in wickednefs, had influenced
this girl to make a lye. on me. This happened
about hay-harveft, and one day when I was un¬
loading the waggon, to put the hay into the barn,
fhe watched an opportunity in my abfence, to
take the fork out of the flick, and hide it; when
I came again to my work^ and could not find it, I
was a good deal vexed, but I concluded it was
dropt fomewhere among the hay ; fo I Went and
bought another with my own money, when the
girl faw that I had another, fhe was fo malicious,
that fhe told my miftrefs I was very unfaithful,
and not the perfon fhe took me for, and that fhe
knew I had, without my matter's permiffion, or¬
dered many things in his name, that he rauft pay
for 7 and as a proof of my careleffnefs, produced
the fork fhe had taken out of the flick, and faid
£he found it out of doors. My lady, not know¬
ing the truth of thefe things, was a little fhy to
me till flie mentioned it, and then I foon cleared
myfelf, and convinced her thefe accufatioris were
falfe.
I continued in a moft unhappy ftate for many
<Jays. My good miftrefs infilled on knowing what
was
( 10 )
was the matter ; when I made known my fitua-
tion, die gave me John Bunyan on the holy war,
to read ; I found his experience fimilar to my owny
which gave me reafon to fuppofe he mud be a bad
man ; as I was convinced of my own corrupt na¬
ture, and the mifery of my own heart; as he ac¬
knowledged that he was likewife in the fame con¬
dition, I experienced no relief at all, in reading
his work, but rather the reverfe.—-I took the book
to my lady, dnd informed her I did not like it at
all, as it was concerning a wicked man as bad as
myfelf, I did not choofe to read it, and I defired
her to give me another, wrote by a better man,
that was holy without fm. She affured me that
John Bunyan was a good man, but lhe could not
convince me, I thought him too much like myfelf
to be upright, as his experience feemed to anfwer
with my own.
I am very fenfible that nothing but the great
power and unfpeakable mercies ot the Lord could
relieve my foul from the heavy burden it laboured
under at that time.—A few days after, my mailer
gave me Baxter's Call to the Unconverted: This was
no relief to me neither, on the contrary it occali-
oned as much diftrefs as the other had done before*
as it incited all to come to C'nrifl; and I found
myfelf do wicked and miferable, that 1 could not
come.—'-This confideration threw me into agonies
that cannot'be defcribed ; irifomuch, that I even
attempted to put "an end to my life.—I took one
of the large tafe-knive:, and went into the flabie,
with an intent to deftroy myfelf,- and as I endea¬
voured with all my flrength to force the knife ints
my fide, it bent double. I was inftantly (truck with
horror at the thoughts of my own rallmefs, and my
* confciencs
( 21 )
confcience told me, that bad I fucceede<J in this at¬
tempt, I fhould probably have gone to hell.
I could find no relief, nor the lead (hadow of
comfort; the extreme diftrefs of my mind fo af«
fe£ted my health, that I continued ill for three
days and nights, and would admit of no means to
be taken for my recovery, though my lady \yas ve¬
ry kind, and fent many things to me ; but T re¬
jected every, means of relief, and wifhed to die.——
I would not go into my own bed, but lay in the
ftable upon ftraw,—I felt all the horrors of a trou¬
bled confcience^ fo hard to be borne, and faw all
the vengeance of God ready to overtake me —
I was fenfible that there was no way for me to be
faved unlefs I came to Chrij?, and I could not
come to Him; I thought it was impoffible He'
,/hould receive fuch a finner as me.
The lafl: night that I continued in this place, in
the midft of my diftrefs, thefe words were brought
home upon my mind, Bthald the Lamb of God"
I was fomething comforted at this, and began fo
grow eafier, and wifhed for day, that I might find
thefe words in my bible.—I ,rofe very early the
following morning, and went to my fchool-maf-
ter, Mr.. Vanofdore, and communicated the fitua-
tion of my mind to him: he was greatly rejoiced to
find me enquiiing the way to Zion, and bltfled
the Lord who had worked fo wonderfully for me,
a poor heathen.—I was more* familiar with this
goo<J gentleman than with my mafter, or any o-
ther perfon ; and found myfelf more at liberty to
talk, to him : He encouraged me greatly, and pray^
ed with me frequently, and I was always benefited
by his difcourfe.
About
( 22 )
About a quarter of a mile from my matter's
houfe, flood a large remarkably fine oak-tree, in
the midfl: of a wood', I often ufed to be employed
there in cutting down trees, (a work I was very
fond of) and I feldom failed going to this piace e-
very day ; fometimes twice a day if I could be
fpared. It was the higheft pleafure I ever expe¬
rienced to fit under this oak, for there I ufed to
pour out my complaints before the Lord ; and
when I had any particular grievance, [ ufed to go
there, and talk to the tree, and tell my forrows as
if it were to a friend.
Here I often lamented my own wicked heart
and undone ftate ; and found more comfort and
confolation than I ever was fenfible of before.—
"Whenever I was treated with ridicule and con¬
tempt, I ufed to come here and find peace. I
now began to relifh the book my mafter gave me,
Baxter's Call to the Unconverted, and took great de-.
light in it. I, was glad to be employed in cut¬
ting wood, 'twas a great pait of my*bufinefs, and
I followed it with delight, as I was then quite a-
ioneand my heart lifted up to God, and I was
enabled to pray continually, and bleflfed forever be
his Holy Name, he faithfully anfwered my pray¬
ers. I can never be thankful enough to Almighty
God for the many comfortable opportunities I
experienced there.
It is poflible the circumftance I am going to re¬
late will not"'gain credit with many; but this I
know, that thl* joy and comfort it conveyed to
me, cannot be expreffed, and only conceived by
thofe who h^ve experienced the like.
I was
( *3 )
I was one day in a moft delightful frame of
mind, my heart fo overflowed with love and gra¬
titude to the author of all my comforts.—I was fo
drawn out of myfelf, and fo filled and awed by the
prefence of God, that I faw (or thought I faw)
light inexpreflible dart down from heaven upon
me, and fhone around me for the fpace of a mi¬
nute. I continued on my knees, and joy unfpeak-
able took pofTeflion of my foul. The peace and
fereuity which filled my mind after this, was won¬
derful, and cannot be told. I would not have
changed fituations, or been any one but myfelf
for the world. I bleftld God for my poverty,
that 1 had no worldly riches or grandeur to draw
my heart from Him. I wifhed at that time if it
had been poflible for me, to have continued on
that fpot for ever. 1 felt an unwillingnefs in my¬
felf to have any thing more to do with the world,
or to mix with fociety again. I feemed to pof-
fefs a full afTurance that my fins were forgiven me.
I went home all my way rejoicing, and this text
of fcripture came full upon my mind, i( And I
iwill make an everlajling covenant with them, that
J will not turn away from them, to do them good ;
but I will put my Jear in their hearts that they fball
not depart from meThe firfl? opportunity that
prefented itfelf, I went to my old fchool-mafter,
and made known to him the happy ftate of my
foul, who joined with mc in praife to God for
his mercy to me the vilefl: of finners. I was now*
perfectly ealy, and had hardly ^ wifn to make
beyond what I poffeffed, when nj^ temporal com¬
forts were all blafted by the deatii of Mr. Frec-
landhoufe, who was taken from this world rather
fuddenly, he had but a Ciort illnefg, "and died of a
fever. I held his hand in mine when he depart¬
ed; he told me he had given metriy freedom, I
was
( 24 )
•was at libeVty to go where I would. He added,
that he hacf always prayed for me, and hoped I
fiiould be kept unto the end. My martcr left me
by hia, will, ten pounds arid my freedom.
I found that if he had lived, it was his intention
to take me with him to Holland, as he had often
mentioned me to fome friends of his there, that
were defirous to fee me?; but I chofe to continue
with my miftrefs *wh(/ was as good to mc as if fh$
hachbeen my mother.
The lofs of Mr. Freelandhoufe diftrefied me
greatly, but 1 was rendered dill more unhappy by
the clouded and perplexed fituation of my mind;
the great enemy of mv foul being ready to tor¬
ment me, would prefent my own mifery to me in
fuch ftriking light, and diftrefs me with doubts,
fears, and fuch a deep fenfe of my own unworthii
nefs, that after all the comfort and encourage¬
ment I had rtceived, I was oftea tempted to be¬
lieve I fhould be caft away at laft. The more I
faw of the beauty and glory of GoD, the more I
was humbled under a fenfe of my own vilenefs. I
often repaired to roy old place of prayer, and I
feldom came away without confolation. One
da7 this fcripture was applied to my mind, tc And
ye are complete in Him, which ts the head of all prin¬
cipalities and powersThe Lord was jpleafed
to comfort me by the application of many graci¬
ous pro,mifes at times when I was ready to fink
undef my trouble. " Wherefore he is alfo able to
fave them to the uttermofl that come unto God by
Him) feeing He ever liveth to make interdefjionfor
them. Heb. x. 14. For by one offering he hath per-
fefled fsr ever them that are fanflified.
My
( 25 )
My kind indulgent miflrefs Jived bat two years
after my mailer, Her death was a great affitdtion
to me. She left five fons, all gracious young
men, and minifters of the gofpel. I continued
witn them all, one after another, till they died ;
they lived b^it four yeais after their parents, when
it pleafed God to take them to himfelf. I was
now quite deftitute, without a friend in the world;
but 1 who had fa often experienced the goodnefs
of God, ttufled in him to do what he pleafed
with me. In this heiplefs condition I went into
tke wood to prayer as ufual; and though the
fnow was a coniitlerable height, I was not fenfible
of cold, or any other inconveniency. At times
indeed, when I faw the world frowning round me,
I was tempted to think that the Lord had for-
faken me : I found great relief from the contem¬
plation of thefe words in Jfaiah xlix» 16, Behold I
have 'graven thee on the palms of my hands ; thy
\ualls are continually before me. And very many
comfortable promifes were fwectly applied to me.
The 69th pfalm and 34th vcrfe, My covenant zvill
/ not break, nor alter the tiling that is gone out of my
hps. Heb. xvi. 17, 18. Ph.l. 1, 6. and fevera/
more.
As I had now loft ail my dear and valued friends,
every place in the world was alike to me. I had
for a great while entertained a defire to come to
England. I imagined that^all the inhabitants of
this ifland were holy; becaufe all thofe that had
vifited my mafter from thence were good, (Mr.
\Vhitefield was his particular friend) and the au¬
thors of the books that had been given me were
all Englifh. Bur above all the places in the world,
I wilhed to fee Kidderminfter, for I could not but
think that on the fpot where Mr. Baxter had
C lived
( 26 )
lived, and preached, the people mil ft: be all righ¬
teous.
The fituation of my affairs required that I fliould
tarry a little longer in New-York, as I was fome-
thingin debt, and was embarrafled how to pay it.
About this time a young gentleman that was a
particular acquaintance of one of my young maf-
ter's, pretended to b» a friend to me, and promifed
to pa,y my debts, which was three pounds ; and
he afiured me he would never expe£t the money
again. But in lefs than a, month he came and
demanded it; and when I aflured him I had no¬
thing to pay, he threatened to fell me. —Though
I knew he had no right to do that, yet as I had
no friend in the world to go to, it alarmed me
greatly. At length he propofcd rny going a pri¬
vateering, that I might by thefe means be enabled
to pay him, to which I agreed.—Our captain's
name was " I went in chara£ter of
a cook to him. Near St. Domingo, we came up
to five French fliips, merchant-men. We had a
"very fmart engagement, that continued from eight
in the morning, till three in the afternoon ; when
vi£tory declared on our fide. Soon after this,, we
were met by three Englifh fliips which joined us,
and that encouraged us to attack .a fleet of 36
jfhips- We boarded the three firft and then fol¬
lowed the others, and had the fame fuccefs with
twelve; but the reft efcaped us. There was a
great deaj of blood fhed, and I was near death fe-
veral times, but the Lord preferved me.
I met with many enemies, and much perfec¬
tion among the failors; one of -them was very un¬
kind to me, and ftudied ways to vex and teaze
!me. I cannot help mentioning one circumftance
( 27 )
that hurt me more than all the reft, which'was,
that he ("hatched a book out of my hand that I was
very fond of, and afed frequently to amufe myfelf
with, and threw it into the fea# But what is re¬
markable, he was the firft man killed in our en¬
gagement. I do not pretend to fay that this hap-"
pened becaufe he was not my friend; but I thought
it was a very awful providence to fee how the ene¬
mies of the Lord are eut off.
Our captain was a cruel hard-hearted man.—
I was exeeffrvely forry for the prifoners we took
in general; but the pitiable cafe of one young
gentleman grieved me t« the heart. He appear*
ed very amiable, and was ftrikingly handfome.
Our captain took four thouiand pounds from him %
but that did not fatjsfy birn^ as he-imagined he
was pofTefTed of more, and had. fomswhere con¬
cealed it, fo lhat the captain threatened him with
death, at whicli he appeared in the deepeft dif-
trefs, and took the buckles out of his fi*oes, and
Untied his hair, which was very fine and long;
and in which feveral valuable ring&were faftened.
. —He came into the cabin to me, and in the moll
obliging ternfis imaginable |jked for fomethipg to
eat and drink; which wherT I gave him, he "was
fo thankful and pretty in his manner, that my
heart bled for him ; and I heartily wifbed that I,
could have fpokerc in any language in which tho
ihip's crew could not have understood me ; that I
might have let him know his danger ; for I heard
the captain fay he was refolded upon his death ;
and he put his barbarous defign in execution, for
he took him on fhore with one of the failors, and
there they {hot him.
This
( 23 )
This circumftance affected me exceedingly, and
I could not put him out of my mind a long while.
—When we returned to New-York the captain
divided the prize-money among lis, that we had
taken. When I was called up to receive my part
I waited upon Mr. , (the gentleman who paid
my debt and-was the occafion of my going abroad)
to know if he would go with me to receive my
money, or if I fhould bring him what I owed.—
He chofe to go with me ; and when the captain
laid my money on the table ('twas an hundred and
thirty-five pounds) I defired Mr. , to take
■what I was indebted to him ; and he fwept it all
into his handkerchief, and could never be prevail¬
ed on to return a farthing of the money, nor any
thing at all befides.—And he likewife fecured a
hogfhead of fugar which was my property from
the fame (hip. The captain was very angry with
him for this piece of cruelty to me, as was every
other perfon that heard it. But I have reafon to
believe (as he was one of the principal merchants
in the cit}) that he tranfa&ed bufinefs for him,
and on that account did not choofe to quarrel with
him.
At this time a very worthy gentleman, a wine-
merchant, his name was Dunfcum, took me un¬
der his protection, and would have recovered my
money tor me if I had chofe it; but I told him
to let it alone ; that I would rather be quiet. I
believed that it would not profperwith him, and
fo it happened, for .by a feries of lofies and mif-
fortunes he became poor, and was foon after
drowned on a party of pleafure.—The veffel was
driven out to fea, and firuck againrt a rock, by
which means every foul periflied.
I was
( 29 ;
I was very-much diflreSed when I heard if, and
felt greatly fon his family who were reduced to
very low circumfiances. I never knew how to
fet a proper value on money ; if I had but a little
meat and "drink to fupply the prefent necefiaries
of life, I never wiflied for more ; and when I had
any, I always gave it if ever I faw an obje£t in
diftrefs. If it was not for my dear wife and chil¬
dren I fliould pay as little regard to money now as
I did at that time. I continued foAie tifne with
Mr. Dqnfcum as his fe.rvant; he was very kind to
me. But I had a vaft inclination to vifit England,
:and wifhed continually that it would pteafe provi¬
dence to make a elear way for me to fee this ifland.
I entertained a notion that if I could get to Eng¬
land, I (hould nev&r more experience either cru¬
elty or ingratitude, fo that I was very defirous to
get among chriftians. I knew Mr. Whitefield
very well,—I had heard him preach often at New-
York. In this difpofition I enlifted in the 28th re¬
giment of foot, who were defigned for Martinico,,
in the late war. We went in admiral Pocock's
fleet, from New-York to Barbadoes ; from thence
to Martiriic®. When that was takeu, we proceed¬
ed to the Havanna, and took that place likewife.
■-*»There I got difcharged.
I was then worth about thirty pounds, but I ne¬
ver regarded money in the leaft, nor would I tarry
for my prize-money leaft I Ihould lofe my chance
of going to England, I went with the Spanifh pri-
foners to Spain ; and came to Old^Engknd with
the Englifli prisoners. I cannot defcribe my joy
when we we're within fight of Portfmouth. But
I was aflonifhed when we landed to hear the in¬
habitants of that place curfe and fwear and other-
wjife profane. I expe&ed to find nothing but
C 3 » goodnefs^
( 3° )
goodntfs, gentlenefs and metknefs in this chriflian
land, I then fuffered great perplexities of mind.
I enquired if any ferious Chriftian people re-
fided tfiere, the woman I made this enquiry of,
anfwered me in the affirmative ; and added that
ihe was one of them. I wab heaitity glad to hear
foej- fay fo. I thought I could give her my whole
heart; fhe kept a public houfe. I depofited with
her all. the money that I had not an immediate oc-
cafion for; as I thought it would be fafer with
her.-—It was 25 guineas but 6 of them I defire'd
bjtr to lay out to the bell advantage, to buy me
fome flints, a hat and fome other neceffaries. I
made her a prefent of a very handfome large look¬
ing glafs that I brought with me from Martinico,
in order to recompence her for the trouble I had'
given her. I mutl.do this woman the juftice to
acknowledge that ihe did lay out fome little for
my ufe, but the 19 guineas and part of the 6 gui¬
neas with my watch, fhe would not return, but de¬
nied that I ever gave it her.
I foon perceived that I was got among bad peo¬
ple, who defrauded me of my money and watch;
and that all my promifed happinefs was blafted,
I had no friend but God and I prayed to him ear-
neftly. I could fcarcely believe it poffible that the
place where fo many eminent chriftians had lived
and preached could abound with fomuch wicked-
nefs and deceit. X thought it worfe than Sodom
(confidering the great advantage they have) I cried'
Jikeachild, and that almoft continually-: at length
God heard my prayers, and raifed me a friend
indeed.
This
( 3* )
This publican had a brother who lived on
Portfmouth-Common, his wife was a very ferious
good woman.---When fhe heard of the treatment
I had met with, (he came and enquired into my
real (Ituation, and was greatly troubled at the ill
ufage I had received, and took tne home to her
own houfe. I began now to rejoice, and my prayer
was turned into praife. She made ufe of all the
arguments in her power to prevail on her who
had wronged me to return my watch and money,
but it was to no purpofe, as (he had given me no
receipt, and I had nothing to {hew for it, I could
not demand it- My good friend was exceflivel^1
angry with her, and obliged her to give me back
four guineas, wjiic^ ihe faid fhe gave me out of
^charity; though in fa£t it was my own and much
irtore. She would have employed fome rougher
means to oblige her to give up my money, bat I
would not fuffer her, let it,go, fayg I, (( My God
is in heaven." Still I did not mind my lofs in the
leaft j all that grieved me- was, that I had been
difappointed in finding fome chriftian friends,
with whom I hoped to enjoy a little fweet and
comfortable fociety.
I thought the beft method that I could take
now, was to go to London, and find'out Mr.
Whitefield, who was the only living foul I knew
in England, ahd get him to dirett ine how to
procure a . living without being troublefome to
any pei'fon. I took leave ©f my chriftian frjend
atTortfmouth, and went in the ftage to London.
A creditable tradefman in the city, who went up
with me in the ftage, offered to fhew me the way
to Mr. Whitefield's tabernacle. Knowing* that I
was a perfect ftranger, I thought it Very kind,
and accepted his offer j but he obliged me to give
( 32 )
him half a-crown for going with me, and lite-
wife infilled on my giving him five {hillings more
for conducing me to Dr, Gifford's meeting.
I began now to entertain a very different ideas
of the inhabitants of England, than what I had
figured to myfelf before I came among_them, Mr.
\Vhitefield received me very friendly, was hearti*
ly glad to fee me, and directed me to a proper
place to board and lodge in Petticoat-lane, till he
could think of fome way to fettle me in, and paid
for my lodging, and all my expepces. The morn¬
ing after I came to my new lodging, as I was at
breakfaft wiih the gentlewoman of the houfe, I
heard the noife of fome looms oveV our heads ;
I enquired what it was, {he told me a perfon wa&
weaving {ilk* I expreffed a great defireto fee it,
ai}d afked if I might ? She told me fhe would go
up with me, and flie was fure I fhould be very
welcome* She was as good as her word, and as.
foon as? we entered the room, the perfon that-was
weaving looked about, and fmiled upon us, and
I loved her from that moment, lb he afked me
many -queflions ; and I in return talked a great
deal to her. I found {he was a member of \Tr.
Allen's meeting, and I begun to entemin a good
opinion of her, though, I was almoft afraid to in*
dulge this inclination, leaft fhe ihould prove like
all the reft I had met- with, at Portfmouth, &c.
and which had almoft given me a difli'«e ti> all
white women. But after a fhort acquaintance I
had the happinefs to find fhe was very different",
and quite fincere, and I was not without hupes
that (he entertained fome' efteetn for me 'Va,
often went together to hear Dr Gilford, and as
I had always a propenfity to relieve every objrft in
diftrefs as far as I was able, I ufed to j ve ill t'lat
complained
( 33, )
cemplaine.d to me, fcmetimes half a-guinea^p^
time, as I did not underftand the real value ^
it; thir, gracious good woman took great pains
to correct and advife me in that and many other
refpetts.
After I had been in London about fix weeks, I
was recommendrd to the ncrice of fomeofmy
late matter Mr. Freelandly ufe's acquaintance, who
had heard him fpeak frequently of me, I was
much perfuaded by them to go to Holland. My
matter lived there before he bou^iit me, and ufed
to fpeak of me fo refpe£lfully amocg his friends
there, that it raifed in them a curiofuy to fee me ;
particularly the gendemen Engaged in the minif-
try, who exprefled a defire tojhear my experience
and examine me. I found that it was my good
old matter's defign that I flxould ha> " gone if he
had lived; for which reafon I refolved upon go¬
ing to Holland, and informed my deai friend Mr.
Whitefield of my intention ; Jie was muchaverfe
to my going at firft, but after Ijgave him myrea-
fons appeared very well fatisfied. I Ijkewife in¬
formed my Betty (the good woman that Thave
mentioned above) of my determination to go to
Hol'and, and I told her that I believed £he was to
be my wife ; and if it was the Lord's will I de-
fired it, but not elfe.— She made me very little an-
fwer, 'but has fince told me, fhe did not think it
at that time,
I embarked at Tower-warf at four o'clock in
the morning, and arrived" at Amtterdam the next
day by three o'clock in the afternoon. I had fe-
veral letters of recommendation tomyoldmaf-
ter's friends, who received me very gracioufly.
Indeed
( 34 )
Indeed one of the chief minifters was. particularly
good to me j he kept me at Jiis own houfe a long
whUcj, and took great pleafure in alking me quef-
tfons, which I anfwered with delight, being always
ready to fay, Come unto me all ye that fear GOD,
and 1 will tell what he hath done for my foul" I
cannot but admire the footfteps of Providence,
aftonifhed that I ftiouldbe fo wonderfully preferv-
ed ! Though the grandfonof a king, I have want-*
ed bread, and Ihould have been glad with the hard-
eft cruft I ever faw* I who at home, was fur-
rounded and guarded by flaves* fo that no- indiffer¬
ent perforj might approach me, and cloathed with
g,old, have been inhumanly threatened with death ;
and frequently wanted'cloathing to defend me from
the inclemency of th,e w^aiher ; yet I never mur—
mured, nop wasl ever difcontented. I am, willing,
and even, delirous to be counted as nothing, a '
ilranger in the. world, and a^ pilgrim here ; for (t 1
know thai my Redeemer liveth" and I am thank*-
fuL for every trial and trouble that I have met with,
as I am not without hope that they have been all
fan<Slifie<l to me.
The Calvioift' miniften defired to hear my ex¬
perience from my felf, which propofal I was very
well pleafed with j fo I flood before thirty-eight
rainifters< every Thurfday, for feven weeks toge¬
ther, end they were-all very well fatisfied, and per-
fuaded I was what I pretended to be. They wrote-
down my.experience as I fpoke it : and the Lord
Almighty* was with-me at that time in a re¬
markable mantaer, and gave me words and enabled
rae to anfwer them; fo great was his mercy to
taker me ira harui a- poor blind heathen.
At
( 35 )
At this time a very rich merchant in Amster¬
dam, offered to take me into his family in the
capacity of his butler, and I very willingly accept¬
ed it. He was a gracious worthy gentleman, and
very good to me. He treated me more like a
friend than a fervant. I tarried there a twelve¬
month but was not thoroughly contented, I want¬
ed to fee my wife ; (that is now) and for that rea-
fon I wiflied to return to England, 1 wrote to
her once in my abfence, but (he did not anfwer my
letter; and I muft acknowledge if fhd had, it
would have given me a lefs opinion of her. My
matter and miftrefs perfuaded me much not to
leave them, and likewife their two fons who en¬
tertained a good opinion of me ; and if I had found
my Betty married on my arrival in England, I
fhould have returned to them again immediately.
'My lady purpofed my marrying her maid ; fhe
was an agreeable young woman, had faved a great
deal of money, but I could not fancy her, though
flie was willing to accept of me, but I told her,
my inclinations were engaged in England, and
I could think of no other perfon. On my return
homej I found my Betty difengaged. She had re-
fufed feveral offers in my abfence, and told her
fifter, that fhe thought if ever ihe married, I was
to be her hufband.
Soon after I came home, I waited on Do&or
Gifford, who took me into his family, and was
exceedingly good to me. The chara&er of this
pious worthy gentleman is well known, my praife
can be of no ufe or fignification at all. I hope I
fhall ever gratefully remember the many favours I
have received from him* Soon after I came to
Do£tor Gifford, I exprefied a defire to be admitted
into
( 3« )
into their church, and fit down with them j they
to Id me I muft firft be baptized ; fo I gave in my
experience before the church, with which they
were very well fatisfied, and I was baptized by Dr.
Gifford with fome others. I then made known
my intentiorrof being married j but I found there
were many objections againft it, becaufe the per-
fon 1 had fixed on was poor. She was a widow,
her hufband had left her in debt, and with a child,
fo that they pejfuaded me again/I it out of real re¬
gard to me. But I had promised and was refolved
to have her; as I knew her to be a gracious wo¬
man, her poverty was no obje&ion to me, as they
had nothing elfe to fay againfl her. When my
friends found they could not alter my opinion ref-
pe&ing her, they wrote to Mr. Allen, the minis¬
ter fhe attended, fo perfuade hex to leave me j but
he replied he would not interfere at all, that we
might do as we would I was refolved all my wife's
little debt fhould be paid before we were married ;
fo that I fold alniod every thing I had-, with all the
money I could raife, cleared all that fhe owed, and
1 nevei" did any thing with a better will in all my
life, becaufe I firmly believed that we fhould be
very happy together, and fo it proved, for fhe was
given me from the Lord. And I have Found her
a blefled partner, and we have never repented,
though we have gone through many great troubles
and difficulties.
My wife got a very good living at weaving, and
could do extremely wett; but juft at that time
there^was great difturbance among the weavers:
fo that I w'as afraid to let my wife work, leaft they
fhould infift on my being one of the rioters, which
I could not think of, and, poffibly, if I had refu-
fed to do fo, they would have knocked me on the
head.
( S7 )
kad. So that by thefe means my wife Could get,
no employ, neither had 1 work enough to main¬
tain my family. We had not yet been married
a year before all ihefe misfortunes overtook, us.
Juft at this time a gentleman, that feemedmuch
concerned fur us, advifed us to go into ILlXex with
him, and promifed to get me employed. I accept*
cd his kind propofal, and he fpoke to a friend of
his, a quaker, a gentleman of large fortune, who
refided a little way out of the town of Colchefter,
his name was Kandbarar^ he ordered his fleward
to fet me to work.
There were feveral employed in the fame way
with myfelf. I was very thankful-and contented
though my wages were but fmall. I was allowed
but fijht-pcnce a day and found myfelf;. but af*
ter I had been in this fituation for a fortnight, my
mafter, being told that a black was at work for
him, had an inclination to fee mfc. He was pleaf-
ed to talk with me for fome time, and at laft en¬
quired -what wages I had ; when I told him, he
declared it was too little, and immediately order¬
ed his Reward to Itt me have eighteen-pence a day,
which he confiantly gave me after; and T then did
extremely well.
I did not bring my wife with me: I came firfl
alone, and it was my defign, if things anfwered
according to our wifhes, to fend for her— 1 was
fiow thinking to defire her to come to me, when
I received a letter to inform me that Ihe was juft
brought to bed, and in want of many necefTaries.
This news was a great trial to me, and a frefh.
afRi&ion : but my God, faithful and abundant in
fiercy, forfook me not in this trouble. As I could
D not
( 38 )
pet read writing, I was obliged to apply to Tome
•perfon to read the letter I received, relative torn/
wife. I was directed by jhe good providence of
God, to a worthy young gentleman, a quaker,
and friend of my matter's. I defired he would take
the trouble to read my letter for me, which he
readily complied with, and was greatly moved and
affe&ed at the contents •, infomuch that he faid he
w6uld "undertake to make- a gathering for me,
which he did and was the firft to contribute to it
himfeff. The money was fent that evening to
London by a perfon who happened to be going
there ; nor was this all the goodnefs I experienced
from thefe kind friends, for as foon as my wife
came about and was fit to travel, they fent for her
to me, and were at -the whole expence. of her
coming j fo evidently has the love and mercy of
God appeared through every trouble that ever I
experienced. We went on very comfortably all
thefummer. "We lived in a little cottage near
Mr. Handbarar's houfe; but when the winter came
-on I w^s difcharged, as he had no farther occa-
fion for me. And now the profpeft began to dark¬
en upon us again. We thought it mod advifeable
to mo've our habitation a little neareiMo the town,
as the houfe we lived in was very cold, and wet,
and ready to tumble down. -
The boundlefs goodnefs of God fo me lias been
fo very great, that with the moft humble grati¬
tude I defire to proftrate myfelf before him ; for
I have been wonderfully fupported in every af¬
fliction.—My God never left me, I perceived
light Jiill tl rough the thickeft darknefs.
My dear wife and I were now both unemployed,
we could get nothing to do; the winter proved
remarkably
i 39 )
remarkably fevere, and we were reduced to the-
greateft diftrefs imaginable. I was always very
fhy of alking for any thing, I could never beg,
neither did I choofe to make known our wants to
any perfon, for fear of offending, as we were en¬
tire Grangers; but our laft bit of bread was gone,
and I was obliged to think of fomething to do for
our fupport. I did not mind for myfelf at all, but
to fee my dear wife and children in wanf, pierced
me to the heart. I now blamed myfelf for bring¬
ing her from Londor, as doabtlefs had we conti¬
nued there, we might have found fiiends to have
kept us from llarving. The fnow was at this fea-
fon remarkably deep, fo that we couid fee no prof-
pe£t of being iclievtd : In this melancholy fitu-
ation, not knowing what ftep to purfue, I refolv--
ed to make my cafe known to a gentleman's gar¬
dener, that lived near us, and intreat him to em¬
ploy me ; but when I came to him my courage
failed me, and I was ailiamed to make known our
real fitua.tion : I endeavoured all I could to prevail
on him to fet.me to work, but to no purpofe, he
allured me it was not in his power; but juft when
I was about to leave him, he afked me if I would
accept of fome carrots? I took them with great
thankfulnefs, and carried them home ; he gave
me four, they were very large and fine. We had
nothing to make a fire with, fo confequently could
net boil them, but was glad to have them to eat
raw. Our youngeft child was then an infant, fo
that my wife was obliged to chew it, and fed her,
in that manner for feveral days. We allowed our-
felves but one every day, leaft they fhould not laft
till we could get fome other fupply. I was un¬
willing to eat at all myfelf, nor would I take any
the I a lit day that we continued in this fitualion, as
I could not bear the thought that my wife and chil-
D 2 dren
( 4® }
«fren would be in want of the means offupport-
We lived in this manner, till our carrots were
gonej then my wife began to lament btcaufe of
our poor babies, but I comforted her all Icould ;
ftill hoping and believing, that my God would
not l€l us die, but that it would pleafe him to re¬
lieve us, which he did almoft by a miracle*
We went to bed as ufual, before it was quite
«Iark, (as we had neither fire nor candle) but had
, not been there long, before fome perfon knocked
at the door and enquired if James Albert li-ved
there ? I anfwered in the affirmative, and rofe
immediately ; as foon as I opened the door, I
found it was the fervant of an eminent attorney
who refided at Colchejlev• He afked me how it
wa&with me ? if I was not afmoft ftarved^ I burft
out a crying, and told him I was indeed. He laid
his mafter fuppofed fo, and tha_t he wanted to
fpeak with roe, and I mud return with him. This
gentleman's name was Dannie!, he was a fincere
good chriftian. He ufed to ftand and talk with
ifie frequently, when I worked on the road for
Mr. Handbarar, and would have employed me
himfelf, if I had \canted work: When I came to
his houfe, he told me that he had thought a great
deal about me of late, and was apprehenfive that
I mull be in want, and could not be fatufied till
he had fent to enquire after me. I imde known my
diftrefs to him, at wrnch he was greatly affe&ed,
and generoufly gave me a guinea, and promifed
to be kind to me in future. I could not help ex¬
claiming, Oh! the boundlefs mercies of my God !
I prayed unto him and he has heard me; I trufted
in him and he has preferved me / where fhall I
begin to praifc him, or how (hall I love him,
enough I
I wenl
( "4* )
I went immediately and bonght fome bread and
cheeie, and coal, and earned them home. My
dear wife was rejoiced to fee me return with fome- -
thing to eat. She inftanrly got up and drefled
■cur babies, while I made a fire, and the firft no¬
bility in the land never made a better meal. We-
did not forget to thank the Lord for all hisgood-
nefs to us. Soon after this, as the fpring came
cn, Mr. Peter Danniel employed me in helping to «
pull down a houfe, knd rebuilding it-. I had then .
very good work, and full employ j.he Tent for my
wife and children to Colchefler, and provided us>
a houfe where we lived'very comfortably^ I hope -
I (hall always gratefully acknowledge his kindnefs
to m^fetf and family. I, worked at this houfe for
more than a year, till -it was finiihed,1 and aftejt
that I was employed by feveral fucceffiveiy, and
was never fo happy as. when I had fomething to
do; but perceiving the winter coming on, and
work k rather flack, I was apprehenfive that we
fliould again be in want* or become .iroublefome
to our,friends.*..
Iliad at this time ail effer made me of going to
Noi wich, and having conftant employ. My wife
Teemed pleafed with this propofal, as fhe fuppofed
Ihe might get work there in the weaving manu¬
factory, being the bufinefs fhe was brought up to,
and more 1 kely to fucceed there than in any other
place; and we* thought as we had an opportunity
of moving to a town where we might both be em¬
ployed, it was moft advifable to do fo; and that
probably we might ■ fettle th£re for our liftes.
When this ftep was refolved on, I went firft alone
to fte how it would anfwer, which I very much
repented after, for it was not in my power im¬
mediately to fend mv wife any fupply, as I fell
( 42 )
into the hands of a nailer that was neither kindP
nor confederate, and lTie was reduced to great dif-
trefs, fo that fhe was obliged to fe'l the few eocds
that we had, and when I fent for her, fhe was
under the difagreeable nec-eflity of parting with
our bed.
"When fhe came to Norwich, I hired a room
ready furnifhed. I experienced a great deal of
difference in the carriage of my mailer from what
I had been accuftomed to from fome of my other
matters; he , was very irregular in his pavmcnts
to me':'My vi e hired a loom, and wove all the
leifure time fhe had, and we bc-gan to do \ ery
"Well, till we were overtaken by frefh piisfortunes.
Our three poor children fell ill of the fmaI!-}ojf,
this was a great trial to us, bat ftill I w^s per-
fuaded in myfelf we ihould not be forfaken. I did
all in my power to keep my dear partners fpirits
from finking; as her whole attention was now
taken up with the children, fhe could mind no¬
thing elfe, and all I could get was but Utile to
fupport a family in fuch actuation, brfi !es pay¬
ing for the hire of our room, which I was obliged
to omit doing for feveral weeks ; but the woman
to whom we were indebted would not excufe us,
though I promifed fhe Ihould have the firft money
we could get after my children came about, but
ihe would not be fatisfied, and had the cruelty to
threaten us, that if we did not pay her immediate¬
ly, flie would turn us all into the flreet.
The apprehenfion of this, plunged me into the
deepeft diftxefs, confidering the fituation of my
poor babies, if they had been in health, I fhould
have been lefs fenfible of this misfortune. But
any Cod Jiill faithful to his promifet raifed me a.
friend^
{ A3 )
friend, Mr. Henry Gurdney, a quaker, a gra¬
cious gendeman heard of our d hire fa, he fent a
fervant of his own to the woman we hired our.
room of, paid our rent, ^nd bought all flic-
goods, with my wife's loom, and gave it us all.
Some other gentlemen hearing of his.defign,*
were pleafed to adrfc him in theie generous ac>s,
for which we never can be thankful enough •, af¬
ter this my children foon came about, and we be¬
gan to do pretty well again j my dear wife work¬
ed hard and conftant when {he could get work,
but it was upon a difagreeable footiog,* her em¬
ploy was fo uncertain, fometimes fhe could get
nothing to do, and at other times when the wea¬
vers of Norwich had orders from LonJon, they
were fo eXcefilvely hurried^ that the people they
employed were obliged to work on the Sabbath--
dajy but this my v&ife would .never do, and it was
matter of uneafinefs to us that we could not get -
our living in a regular manner, though we were
both diligent, induftriouS; and willing to work.
I was far from being happy in my mafler, he did
not ufe me well, I could fcarcely ever get my
money from him; but I continued patient, till it
pleafed God to alter my fuuation.
My worthy friend Mi*. Gurdney, advifed me
to follow the employment of chopping chaff, and
bought me an inftrument for that purp jfe There
were but few people in the town that made this
their bufinefs befides myfelf, fo that I did very
well indeed, and became quite eafy and happy.
But we did not continue long in this comfortable,
ftate, many of the inferior people were envious
and ill-natured, and fet up the fame employ and
worked under price on purpofe to get my bufi-
( 44 )
r\efs from me, and they fucceedcd fo well that I
could hardly get any thing to do, and became a-
gain unfortunate: Nor did this misfortune corns,
alone, for juft at this time we loft one of our lit¬
tle girls who died of a fever : This circumftance
occafioned us new troubles, for the baptift ftii-
nifter refufed to bury her becaufe we were not
their members \ the parfon *F the parifii d.nied
becaufe ibe had never been baptized : I app led
to the quakers, but met with no fuccefs ; this was
one of the greateft trials I had ever met with, as
we did not know what to do with our poor baby :
At length I refjived to dig a grave in the garden
fcehiud the houfe and bury her there; when the
parfon of the parifh fent for to tell me he would
bury the child, but did not choofe to read the
burial fervice over her. i told him I did not
care whether he would or no, as the child could
11 ot hear it.
We met with a great deal of ill treatment after
this, and found it very dimcult to live : We could
fcarcely get work to do, and were obliged to pawn
our cloaths, we were ready to link under ouy
troubles; when I propofed to my wife to go to
Kidderminfter, and try if we could do there —
I had always an inclination for that place, and
now more than ever, as i had heard Mr Fa\v«
cet mentioned in the moft refpedtful manner, as
a pious worthy gent'eman, and I had 'een his
name in a favourite book of mine, ca led Baxter's
Saint, Ever>ajhn% R-/i ; and as the manufactory-
at Kidderminfter ieemed to promife my wife
fome employment, fhe readily came into .my way
of thinking.
I left
" ( 45 )
. I left her once more, and fet out for Kidder-
nainfler, in order to judge If the'fituation would
fuit us. As foon as I came there I waited imme¬
diately ori Mr. Fawcet, v ho was pleafed to' re¬
ceive me very "kindly, and recommended me to
]VIr. Watfon, who employed roe In twifting lilk
audVorfted together. I continued here about a
fortnight, and when I thought it would anfwer
our expe£buion, I returned to Norwich, to fetch
my wife; flie was then near her time, and too
much indifpofed, fo we were obliged to tarry un¬
til (he was brought to bed, and as foon as fhe
could conveniently travel, we came to Kidder-
.m'jnfter, but we brought nothing with us, as we
were obliged to feU all we had to pay our debts,
and the expences of my wife's ilinefs, &c.
Such k our fituation at prefent —My wife, by
hard labour at the loomK does every thing that
can be expe£fced fron* her towards the mainte¬
nance of our family ; and God is pleafed to in¬
cline the hearts of his people at times to yield us
their charitable alliftance, being myfelf through
age and infirmity able to contribute but little to
their fupport. As pilgrims, and very poor pil¬
grims, we are travelling through many difficul¬
ties towards our heavenly home, and wait¬
ing patiently for his gracious call, when the Lord
fhall deliver us out of the evils of this prefent
world, and bring us to the everlasting gLp-
RiEs/of the world to come.——To him be
praise for EVER aiid" ever. AMEtf.
FINIS.
JuJl Publi/hed\
(Price \s. id )
A CURIOUS
hieroglyphics bible;
SELECT PA S S A G E S
OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS,
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EMBLEMATICAL FIGURES,
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5. E.vqJJih' es relating to the Gospi l of Christ.
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