looked, it seems, somewhat above the then common garb of a Quaker;
and this put me out of conceit with my cap.

I came at this time to London from Isaac Penington's, and thither I
went again in my way home; and while I stayed there, amongst other
Friends who came thither, Thomas Loe, of Oxford, was one. A
faithful and diligent labourer he was in the work of the Lord, and
an excellent ministerial gift he had. And I, in my zeal for truth,
being very desirous that my neighbours might have the opportunity of
hearing the gospel, the glad tidings of salvation, livingly and
powerfully preached among them, entered into communication with him
about it; offering to procure some convenient place in the town
where I lived for a meeting to be held, and to invite my neighbours
to it, if he could give me any ground to expect his company at it.
He told me he was not at his own command, but at the Lord's, and he
knew not how He might dispose of him; but wished me, if I found when
I was come home that the thing continued with weight upon my mind,
and that I could get a fit place for a meeting, I would advertise
him of it by a few lines directed to him in Oxford, whither he was
then going, and he might then let me know how his freedom stood in
that matter.

When therefore I was come home, and had treated with a neighbour for
a place to have a meeting in, I wrote to my friend Thomas Loe, to
acquaint him that I had procured a place for a meeting, and would
invite company to it, if he would fix the time, and give me some
ground to hope that he would be at it.

This letter I sent by a neighbour to Thame to be given to a dyer of
Oxford, who constantly kept Thame market, with whom I was pretty