Two Quakers of the names of
John Stubbs and Benjamin Furley, took great pains in compiling it: and
some additions were made to it by George Fox himself, who was then a
prisoner in Lancaster castle.
This work, as soon as it was published, was presented to King Charles
the second, and to his council. Copies of it were also sent to the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and to each of the
universities. The King delivered his sentiments upon it so far as to
say, that thou was undoubtedly the proper language of all nations. The
Archbishop of Canterbury, when he was asked what he thought of it, is
described to have been so much at a stand, that he could not tell what
to say. The book was afterwards bought by many. It is said to have
spread conviction, wherever it went. Hence it had the effect of
lessening the prejudices of some, so that the Quakers were never
afterwards treated, on this account, in the same rugged manner as they
had been before.
But though this book procured the Quakers an amelioration of treatment
on the amended use of the expression thou, there were individuals in the
society, who thought they ought to put their defence on a better
foundation, by stating all the reasons, for there were many besides
those in this book, which had induced them to differ from their fellow
citizens on this subject.
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