all which he was deficient; for he was but a fellmonger by trade,
accustomed to ride upon his pack of skins, and had very little
estate, as little knowledge of the law, and of but a mean presence
and appearance to look on. But as my father, I suppose, was the
means of getting him put into the Commission, so he, I know, did
what he could to countenance him in it, and help him through it at
every turn, till that turn came (at the King's return) which turned
them both out together.

My friends received me in affectionate kindness, and my companion
with courteous civility. The evening was spent in common but grave
conversation; for it was not a proper season for private discourse,
both as we were somewhat weary with our walk, and there were other
companies of Friends come into the family, to be at the meeting next
day.

But in the morning I took John Ovy into a private walk, in a
pleasant grove near the house, whither Isaac Penington came to us;
and there in discourse both answered all his questions, objections,
and doubts, and opened to him the principles of truth, to his both
admiration and present satisfaction. Which done, we went in to take
some refreshment before the meeting began.

Of those Friends who were come overnight in order to be at the
meeting, there was Isaac's brother, William Penington, a merchant of
London, and with him a Friend (whose name I have forgotten), a
grocer of Colchester, in Essex; and there was also our friend George
Whitehead, whom I had not, that I remember, seen before.

The nation had been in a ferment ever since that mad action of the