thought it had been more; I will see if I can have
a little rest and sleep before I die.'

And so she lay still, and had a sweet rest and sleep; and then
she awaked without any complaint, and in a quiet peaceable frame
of spirit laid down her head in peace, when the clock struck the
fifth hour of the 9th day of the 2nd month, 1680.

We whose names are under-written were eye and ear witnesses of
what is before expressed, as near as could be taken, and does
not much vary from what she declared, as the substance (though
much more sweet and comfortable expressions passed from her, but
for brevity sake are willing this only to publish) who stood by
her when she drew her last breath.

William Dewsbury, her Grandfather.
Mary Samm, her Mother.
Joan Dewsbury, her Aunt.
Hannah Whitthead, a Friend.

'AN UNDISTURBED MEETING.'

I first heard this story graphically told by Ernest E. Taylor. His
intimate knowledge of the neighbourhood, and minute historical
researches into the lives of the Early Friends in this district, made
the whole scene vivid to his listener. In writing down my own account
from memory, some months later, I find I have unintentionally altered
some of the details, and have in particular allowed too long a time
for the soldiers' carouse, and have substituted a troop of horse for
militia. For these lapses from strict historical accuracy I alone am
responsible; but it has seemed better to leave the story as it was
written and to append the following note from the ancient MS. account
of the sufferings at Sedbergh, to show exactly what did occur:

'1665. Friends being met at John Blaykling's at Draw-well, Lawrence
Hodgson of Dent, an Ensign to the Militia, came into the meeting with
other Militia men, cursing and swearing that if Friends would not
depart and disperse, he would kill them and slay and what not. Then as
Friends did not disperse they pulled them out of doors and so broke up
the meeting. The Ensign thereupon went off, expecting Friends to have
followed him, but they sat down and stood together at the house end [?
and] on the hill-side. So the Ensign came back and with his drawn
sword struck at several Friends and cut some in the hat and some in
the clothes, and so forced and drove them to Sedbergh town, where
after some chief men of the parish had been spoken with, Friends were
let go home in peace.'--_Sedbergh MSS.