MEMOIRS
OF
THE LIFE
OF
JOHN ROBERTS
BY
HIS SON
DANIEL ROBERTS
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way. He is his strength in the time of trouble. Psalm 37:23, 39.
I have had it on my mind for some years past to commit to writing some memorable passages, the chief of which were transacted in my time, together with some short account of our family.
My grandfather's name was John Roberts, alias Hayward. He lived at a village called Siddington, within a mile of Cirencester in Gloucestershire. I have heard he lived reputably on a little estate of his own which he occupied. He married Mary Solliss, sister to Andrew Solliss, Esq., who was in the commission of the peace, and sustained great spoil in the time of the civil war between king Charles I. and the Parliament. I have heard that a colonel and his men and horses quartered themselves upon him a considerable time together, turning their horses to the corn and hay mows.
My father and his next neighbor went into the army under Oliver Cromwell and continued till they heard Cirencester was taken by the king's party when they thought proper to return home to see how it fared with their parents and relations.
As they were passing by Cirencester, they were discovered and pursued by two soldiers of the king's party then in possession of the town. Seeing themselves pursued they quitted their horses and took to their heels, but by reason of their accouterments could make little speed. They came up with my father first and though he begged for quarter, none would they give him but laid on him with their swords, cutting and slashing his hands and arms which he held up to save his head, as the marks upon them did long after testify.
At length it pleased the Almighty to put it into his mind to fall down on his face, which he did. Hereupon the soldiers being on horseback cried to each other, "Alight and cut his throat!" But neither of them did. Yet they continued to strike and prick him about the jaws, till they thought him dead. Then they left him and pursued his neighbor, whom they presently overtook and killed. Soon after they had left my father, it was said in his heart, "Rise, and flee for thy life," which call he obeyed and starting upon his feet his enemies espied him in motion and pursued him again.
He ran down a steep hill and through a river, which ran at the bottom of it, though with exceeding difficulty, his boots filling with water and his wounds bleeding very much. They followed him to the top of the hill, but seeing that he had got over, they pursued him no further. He was at a loss which way to take in this wounded and disconsolate condition, being surrounded with enemies on every hand.
At length he determined to go to his uncle Solliss', from whence he sent a servant to a widow at Cirencester at whose house the chief officers lay, with whom he was acquainted, desiring her to come to him, which she readily did and offered him all the service in her power. He desired her, as the principal officers lay at her house, to use her interest with them to give command that none of the soldiers might offer him any abuse, which she effected, and in good will to her they likewise sent their ablest surgeon to him. He was a man of great skill, but of a sour disposition, for he told my father that if he had met him in the field, he would have killed him himself. "But now," said he, "I will cure you," which he did.
When my father found himself able, he went to his father's house and found him very ill in bed. They greeted each other with many tears and a great intermixture of joy and sorrow. After some time my father perceived him to tremble to such a degree that the bed shook under him. Upon this my father asked him how it was with him. He replied, "I am well. I feel no pain,—it is the mighty power of God that shakes me." After lying still some time, he broke out in a sweet melody of spirit, saying, "In the Lord only have I righteousness and strength! In God have I salvation!" I do not remember to have heard that he said anything more before his departure.
The civil war continuing, my father found he could not be safe at home and therefore he went again and continued till near the conclusion of that dreadful eruption. Then he returned again to his sorrowful family at Siddington.
After some time he took to wife Lydia Tindall, daughter of Thomas Tindall of Slincomb, near Dursley, a religious family and one of those under the denomination of Puritans. Matthew Hale, afterwards lord chief justice of England, was her kinsman and drew her marriage settlement. It pleased God to give them six children, viz., John, Joseph, Lydia, Thomas, Nathaniel and Daniel. Joseph and Lydia died young and Thomas was killed at the age of fourteen by a kick from a mare. The rest lived to man's estate.
In the year 1665 it pleased the Lord to send two women Friends out of the north to Cirencester who inquiring after such as feared God were directed to my father as the likeliest person to entertain them. They came to his house and desired a meeting. He granted it and invited several of his acquaintance to sit with them. After some time of silence, the Friends spake a few words which had a good effect. After the meeting, my father endeavored to engage them in discourse, but they said little, only recommending him to Richard Farnsworth, then a prisoner for the testimony of Truth in Banbury jail, to whom they were going.
Upon this recommendation my father went shortly after to the prison in order to converse with Richard, where he met with the two women who had been at his house. The turnkey was denying them entrance and telling them he had an order not to let any of those giddy-headed people in and therefore if they did go in, he would keep them there. But upon my father's desire they were admitted in along with him and conducted through several rooms to a dungeon where Richard Farnsworth was preaching through a grate to the people in the street.
Soon after they came in, he desisted, and after a little time of silence, turning to them, he spake to this purpose, that Zaccheus, being a man of low stature and having a mind to see Christ, ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree. And our Savior, knowing his good desires, called to him, "Zaccheus, come down. This day is salvation come to thy house." Thus, Zaccheus was like some in our day who are climbing up into the tree of knowledge, thinking to find Christ there. But the word now is, "Zaccheus come down, come down, for that which is to be known of God is manifested within." This, with more to the same purpose, was spoken in such authority that when my father came home he told my mother he had seen Richard Farnsworth who had spoken to his condition as if he had known him from his youth. From this time he patiently bore the cross.
Afterwards, when it pleased God to communicate to him a portion of the knowledge of his blessed Truth, a necessity was laid upon him one First-day morning to go to the public worship-house in Cirencester in the time of worship, not knowing what might be required of him there. He went, and standing with his hat on, the priest was silent for some time. Being asked why he did not go on, he answered that he could not while that man stood with his hat on. Upon this some took him by the arm and led him into the street, staying at the door to keep him out. But after waiting a little in stillness, he found himself clear and passed away.
As he passed the market-place, the tie of his shoe slackened, and while he stooped down to fasten it, a man came behind him and struck him on the back a hard blow with a stone, saying, "There, take that for Jesus Christ's sake!" He answered, "So I do," not looking back to see who it was, but quietly going on his way. A few days after a man came and asked him forgiveness, telling him that he was the unhappy man that gave him the blow on his back, and he could have no rest since he had done it.
Not long after, three Friends came that way who found the like concern, viz., Robert Silvester, Philip Grey and Thomas Onyon. These standing in the steeple-house with their hats on, though they said nothing, the priest was silent. And being asked if he was not well, he answered that he could not go forward whilst those dumb dogs stood there. Wherefore the people dragged them out, and the priest afterwards informing a justice that they had interrupted him in divine service, they were bound over to the quarter sessions.
My father, at their desire, accompanied them to the sessions and when they were called and the priest had accused them, the bench, in a rage, without asking them any questions, ordered their mittimus to be made. This unjust and illegal proceeding kindled my father's zeal, insomuch that he stepping forward called to the justices, saying, "Are not those who sit on the bench sworn to do justice? Is there not a man among you that will do the thing that is right?"
Whereupon John Stephens, of Lipeat, then chairman, cried out, "Who are you, sirrah? What is your name?" My father telling him his name, he said, "I am glad that I have you here. I have heard of you—you deserve a stone doublet. There is many an honester man than you hanged."
"It may be so," answered my father, "but what dost thou think becomes of those who hang honest men?"
The justice replied, "I will send you to prison. And if any insurrection or tumult be in the land, I will come and cut your throat first with my own sword, for I fear to sleep in my bed lest such fanatics should come and cut my throat." And snatching up a ball of wax, he violently threw it at my father, who avoided the blow by stepping aside. Their mittimuses were then made, and they were all sent to prison.
The same evening my uncle Solliss, who was one of the justices on the bench, came to the prison and calling for my father asked him if he was willing to have his liberty to go home to his wife and family. "Upon what terms, uncle!" said my father.
Uncle. Upon such terms that the jailer open the door and let you out.
John Roberts. What, without entering into any recognizance?
Uncle. Yes.
John Roberts. Then I accept of my liberty. But I admire, uncle, how thou and several others could sit upon the bench as with your thumbs in your mouths when you should speak a word in behalf of the innocent.
Uncle. You must learn to live under a law, cousin. And if you will accept of your liberty till next sessions, you may have it. If not, stay where you are.
So they parted and on the morrow my father went home, having also the jailer's leave.
In the night a concern came upon him with such weight that it made him tremble till the bed shook under him. My mother asking the reason of it, he answered, "The Lord requires hard things of me. If it would please him, I had rather lay down my life than obey him in what he requires at my hands."
To this my mother replied, "If thou art fully persuaded that the Lord requires it of thee, I would not have thee disobey him, for he will require nothing of us but what he will enable us to go through. Therefore, we have good cause to trust in him."
On this he said, "I must go to this John Stephens, who is my great enemy and sent me to prison where he said he would secure me. And as my uncle Solliss in kindness has given me leave to come home, I can expect no favor from him if I now go and run myself into the mouth of my adversary. But I must go, whatever I suffer."
He arose and prepared for his journey, but durst eat or drink nothing. When he mounted his horse, the command of the Lord was unto him, "Remember Lot's wife! Look not back." So on he rode very cheerfully eight or nine miles, till he came within sight of the justice's house. And then he let in the reasoner who reasoned him out of all his courage, presenting to his mind that his uncle Solliss and his neighbors would say that he had no regard for his wife and family thus to push himself into the hands of his greatest enemy.
This brought such a cloud over his mind that he alighted off his horse and sat down upon the ground to spread his cause before the Lord. After he had waited some time in silence, the Lord appeared and dissipated the cloud, and his word was to him, "Go, and I will go with thee and will give thee a threshing instrument, and thou shalt thresh the mountains." Now he was exceedingly overcome with the love of God, and I have often heard him say that he was filled like a vessel that wanted vent and said in his heart, "Thy presence is enough,'' proceeding to the house with great satisfaction.
It being pretty early in the morning and seeing the stable door open, he went to the groom and desired him to put up his horse. While this was doing, the justice's son and his clerk came up. The latter roughly said, "I thought you had been in Gloucester castle."
John Roberts. So I was.
Clerk. And how came you out?
John Roberts. When thou hast authority to demand it, I can give thee an answer. But my business is with thy master, if I may speak with him.
Clerk. You may, if you will promise to be civil.
John Roberts. If thou seest me uncivil, I desire thee to tell me of it.
They went in and my father following them. They bid him take a turn in the hall and they would acquaint the justice of his being there. He was soon called in and my father no sooner saw him but he believed that the Lord had been at work upon him, for as he had behaved to him with the fierceness of a lion before, he now appeared like a lamb. Meeting him with a pleasant countenance and taking him by the hand, he said, "Friend Haywood, how do you do?"
My father answered, "Pretty well," and then proceeded thus, "I am come in the fear and dread of heaven to warn thee to repent of thy wickedness with speed, lest the Lord cut the thread of thy life and send thee to the pit that is bottomless. I am come to warn thee in great love, whether thou wilt hear or forbear, and to preach the everlasting gospel unto thee."
The justice replied, "You are a welcome messenger to me. That is what I have long desired to hear."
"The everlasting gospel," returned my father, "is the same that God sent his servant John to declare when he saw an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to his name, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea, and the fountains of water.'"
The justice then caused my father to sit down by him on a couch and said, "I believe your message is of God, and I receive it as such. I am sorry I have done you wrong and I will never wrong you more. I would pray you to forgive me and to pray to God to forgive me."
After much more discourse, he offered my father the best entertainment his house afforded, but my father excused himself from eating or drinking with him at that time, expressing his kind acceptance of his love. And so in much love they parted.
The same day William Dewsbury had appointed a meeting at Tedbury whither my mother went. But she was so concerned on account of my father's exercise that she could receive little benefit from the meeting. After the meeting was ended, William Dewsbury walked to and fro in a long passage, groaning in spirit, and by and by came up to my mother, and though she was a stranger to him, he laid his hand upon her head, and said, "Woman, thy sorrow is great. I sorrow with thee." Then walking a little to and fro, as before, he came to her again, and said, "Now the time is come that those who marry must be as though they married not, and those who have husbands, as though they had none, for the Lord calls for all to be offered up."
By this she saw that the Lord had given him a sense of her great burden. For she had not discovered her exercise to any and it gave her such ease in her mind that she went home rejoicing in the Lord. She no sooner got home but she found my father returned from Lipeat where his message was received in such love, as was far from their expectation, the sense of which brake them into tears in consideration of the great goodness of God in so eminently making way for and helping them that day.
At the next sessions my father and the three Friends appeared in court where, as soon as justice Stephens espied them, he called to my father and said, "John, I accept of your appearance and discharge you, and the court discharges. You may go about your business." But my father thinking his work not done did not hasten out of court, upon which the clerk demanded his fees.
John Roberts. What, dost thou mean money?
Clerk. Yes, what do you think I mean?
John Roberts. I do not know that I owe any man here anything but love, and must I now purchase my liberty with money? I do not accept it on such terms.
Clerk (to the chairman.) An't please your worship, John will not pay the fees of the court.