of age, and then departed at her own house at Herwerden, which was about two years since;* as much lamented as she had lived beloved of the people; to whose real worth I do, with religious gratitude for her kind reception, dedicate this memorial.”

*She died in 1680, and this passage was inserted in a second edition of "No Cross no Crown."

375

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE following letter of Robert Barclay to Princess Elizabeth, written soon after his return to England, indicates that he had not been of the number of those friends who visited her a second time. It appears also from this document, that he had interested himself in the welfare of the suffering friends in Scotland, by making applications to the Duke of York in their behalf, and that with a nobility of spirit, which exhibits an admirable specimen of the integrity of his cha

racter.

"ROBERT BARCLAY TO THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH. "Theobald's, near London,

"DEAR FRIEND,

12th of the 7th month, 1677.

"By thy letter of the last of the month past, I understood that the friends were with thee, and was refreshed by the account they gave me of thy kind and Christian entertainment of them;

they having overtaken me in Holland. God will not be wanting to reward thy love, as well as to increase the same.

"Finding no ready passage for Scotland, I came over here; and albeit I had no great expectation of success, I resolved once more to try thy cousin, the Duke of York.* So I told him, that I understood from Scotland, notwithstanding Lauderdale was there, and had promised, ere he went, to to do something, yet, our friends' bonds were rather increased; and that there was now only one thing to be done, which I desired of him,—and that was, to write effectually to the Duke of Lauderdale, in that style wherein Lauderdale might understand, that he was serious in the business, and did really intend the thing he did write concerning, should take effect: which I knew he might do, and I supposed the other might answer;—which, if he would do, I must acknowledge as a great kindness. But if he did write, and not in that manner, so that the other might suppose him to be serious, I would rather he would excuse himself the trouble; desiring withal, to excuse my plain manner of dealing, as being different from the court way of soliciting; all which, he seemed to take in good part, and said he would so write as I desired, for my father and me, but not for the persecuted friends in Aberdeen, in general. So, he hath given me a letter; whether it will prove

* Afterwards James II.

effectual or not, I cannot determine; but of this thou mayest hear hereafter.

"I am now entered into my journey, and intend to pass by the way of Ragley.*

"What thou writest of the counsellor of the elector, and the other preachers, is very acceptable to me to hear; whose joy it is to understand that the eyes of any are opened to see the truth as it is this day revealed; as it should be much more, to hear that any came into that universal obedience, which the life and power thereof lead to; which life and power, as they are felt in the inward parts, are more than all the words that can be spoken:-of which, I know thou hast, at sometimes, not been insensible. And therefore, my soul's desire for thee is, that thou mayest more and more come out of all that which cumbers, to feel this power of truth to operate in, and redeem thy soul from all the difficulties that do, or may attend thee. This, in the nature of it, it is powerful to do, albeit thy temptations were greater and more numerous than they are, if received by thee in the love of it, and with a heart fully resigned

*The seat of Lord Conway. Lady Conway was a person of great piety, and a favourer of friends. In a letter to the learned and excellent Dr. Henry More (who was her particular friend) she thus expresses herself concerning them:

"Your conversation with them (the friends) at London, might be, as you express it, charitably intended, like that of a physician frequenting his patients for the increase or confirmation of their health; but I must profess, that my converse with them is, to receive health and refreshment from them."-See Appendix to Barclay's Second Edition of I. Penington's Letters, p. 311.

to obey it in all its requirings, without consulting with flesh and blood, or turning by the plain and simple leadings thereof, by wise and fleshly reasonings, which will never admit of the government and rule of the cross of Christ;-as thou well knowest, and will not refuse to acknowledge, and therefore art the more concerned to watch against it in thy own particular, as I hope in measure thou dost, and my heart's desire is.

"Thou mayest make mention of my dear and tender love to Anna, whose servant, as also the Frenchwoman, I forget not. To Anna, I thought to have written apart; but must now leave it until another opportunity. If thou seest meet to salute that counsellor of the elector in my name, thou mayest do it.

"I shall add no more at present, but that I am thy real and unfeigned friend,

"ROBERT BARCLAY."

"The memoirs of the family," says John Barclay, "state in general terms, that the release of both the father and son [David and Robert Barclay] took place by an order from court, with a reprimand for meddling with either of them; and that the son afterwards procured the liberation of his other friends, who were detained after them. It is presumed," he continues, "that this must be understood of the imprisonment of David Bar

* See "Jaffray and the Friends in Scotland," by J. Barclay,

P. 415.