have received, be the praise, but unto the Lord alone who is the giver of every good and perfect gift.”

William Caton continued visiting his friends in England, Scotland, and Holland, till the year 1662, when he was married at Amsterdam to Anneken Dirricks. His marriage, however, did not much interrupt his religious service, for in less than three months after its accomplishment, he was engaged to go to England on a religious visit; and a few months after his return to Holland, he went again into England, taking his wife with him. When they had been sometime together in this country, she returned to Holland, and he travelled northward, attending meetings in his way from London to Swarthmore; where, after visiting Friends in the neighbouring counties, he returned, and paid his last visit. George Fox being there, his company added to the pleasure and profit, which that seat of christian beneficence had always afforded him. He took his leave of them" in the fulnes of endeared love, and much brokenness of heart;" and travelled through the county of Durham to Sunderland, where not meeting with a vessel ready to sail for Holland, and inclining to visit Friends in some other places, he went by Shotten, Stockton, and Whitby, to Scarbrough, where, after visiting. Friends, he took shipping for Holland. The voyage

proved very tempestuous, and the ship'leaky. At length they put into Yarmouth Roads, and while detained there, William Caton went on shore to visit his friends. Being there on the first day of the week, he attended a meeting, where he, with several others under similar circumstances, were apprehended and sent to prison, in which they were confined six months, because they would not take an oath. They were committed on the 4th of 8th month, 1663, and liberated on the 22d of 2d month, 1664.

Here ends William Caton's own account of himself; and I find nothing further of consequence recorded of him till his death in the 10th month of the following year, 1665. He was the author of several publications, among which is an Abridg ment of the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilius. William Sewel, who was personally acquainted with Caton, says of him: "He was a man not only of literature and zealous for religion, but of a courteous and affable temper and conversation, by which he was in good esteem among those he was acquainted with." He appears indeed to have been a man of great worth; and his removal would, no doubt, be much felt by his friends. But there is great reason to believe that he was one of those who could say, with a holy apostle, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is. gain."

IN the preceding Memoir, the conversion of Samuel Fisher to the principles of the Quakers, is noticed as the effect of the ministry of William Caton and John Stubbs. The time and place of his birth I have not been able to ascertain. He was educated at one of the universities, and entering into holy orders, as they are called, he first became chaplain to some person of quality, and afterwards was made priest of Lydd in Kent, a living at that time worth about two hundred pounds per annum. While in this situation, he was requested by the master of Luke Howard, an apprentice to a shoemaker at Dover, to converse with the young man respecting a scruple which he entertained about the singing of David's Psalms in places of public worship. Howard explained the reasons of his uneasiness with that practice in such a manner, that Fisher, rather than Howard, was altered in opinion on the subject.

The arguments used on this occasion were these, that God is a Spirit, and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth; but that it was contrary to

truth for a proud man to sing, he was not puffed up in mind, that he had no scornful eye, and did not exercise himself in things too high for him. Further, to sing, rivers of tears run down my eyes, because other men keep not thy law, when those who thus sing, never knew true repentance for their own sins, was such a violation of common morality, as true religion could not sanction.

By this conversation, Fisher, who had already entertained some dissatisfaction with various matters connected with his present employment, grew more uneasy with it. Preaching for hire, and the baptism of infants, became a burden to his tender, feeling mind; and so great was his dedication to that which appeared to be his religious duty, that he voluntarily resigned his lucrative situation, took a farm for the support of his family, and joined himself in society with the Baptists, by whom he was highly esteemed; and he became a minister. among them.

When Caton and Stubbs went into those parts, Fisher hospitably entertained them in his house; and their gospel labours made some impression on his mind, though he did not then acknowledge it. After leaving Lydd, and visiting some places thereabout, they returned thither again, when they found their former labours had been blessed, and many persons were now ready to join them. George Hammond, however, a Baptist preacher, publicly

preached against them; which gave Samuel Fisher so much uneasiness, that he stood up in the same meeting, and said to Hammond: “Dear Brother, you are very near and dear to me, but the truth is nearer and dearer. This is the everlasting truth and gospel." This was very trying to Hammond; and, with a mixture of anger and sorrow, he exclaimed: "Our brother Fisher is also bewitched." Fisher made no reply, but attaching himself still more closely to Caton and Stubbs, he joined the religious society to which they belonged. This was in the year 1:655%

In the following year Cromwell convened the parliament, which met on the 17th of the 7th month, in the Painted Chamber, Whitehall. Fisher had been under a great exercise for several days, from an apprehension of duty to go there at that time, and to deliver what he considered a message from the Lord to the Protector and Parliament. After much secret conflict of spirit, he resigned himself to this duty, and went to the Painted Chamber at the time appointed. The Protector made a long speech, in the course of which he said, he knew not of one man that suffered imprisonment unjustly in England. As soon as Cromwell had finished his speech, Fisher attempted to deliver what was upon his mind; but he had proceeded a very little in his intended speech, before he was interrupted with the cry of, "A