John Gilpin

(‘one Gylpin y^t had sometimes come amongst vs att Kendall ’)

A Kendal man (some maintained he was the local drunkard), John Gilpin's sensational and popular account of his violent conversion to Quakerism and his repudiation of ‘the imposture of Quaking’ in THE QUAKERS SHAKEN: OR, A Fire-brand snach'd out of the Fire. BEING A briefe Relation of GODS wonderfull Mercie extended to JOHN GILPIN of KENDALE in WESTMORELAND. Who, as will appeare by the sequel, was not only deluded, but possessed by the Devill (London: Simon Waterson, 1653) was excellent ammunition for the anti-Quaker faction. His account centres upon the ‘quaking and trembling ’ which he had ‘earnestly desired ... apprehending that I should thereby attaine to the immediate discoveries of God unto me ’. He maintains that he was subject to other delusions (such as thinking that two swallows which came down the chimney were his guardian angels), and crawled up the street outside his house on his hands and knees ‘'thinking that I bore a Crosse upon my neck, ’. James Cock (see fol. 33r) adds a testimonial to the printid account, saying, ‘I saw him when he went through the Town, declaring himself the way, truth, and life’.