From The First Publishers of Truth: Richard Robinson of Brigflatts
Sedbergh
In ye begining of ye yeare 1652, he [George Fox] Came into ye north west part of Yorkshire, into ye dalls &
hilly Country there, & perticularly to the house of Richard Robinson, at Brigflats, neare ye Towne of Sedbergh
in Yorkshire, near ye borders of Westmrland, upon ye seventh day of ye weeke, in ye later End of ye third Month,
or begining of ye fourth, being the day Called whitsoneve.1 And the sd Richard Robinson received him &
his Testemony in great Love, wt whome G: ff: lodged that night. And the morrow, being ye first day of ye weeke,
he & the sd R. R. went to a Meeting of A religeous people seperated from the Common Nationell Worshippe,
at the house of Gervise Benson, at Borrat, neare Sedberge aforesd ...
At whose [Justice Benson's] house there was a great Meeting from sevrall Adjacent places, both of York shire
and Westmrland, in wch Meeting G: ff did Powrfully preach ye Gospell of ye Kingdome, wch had an Enterance into,
& reception by many harts there. And the sd Gervice Benson & Wife were Convinced, & gladly received him into
their house, And the sd Richard Robinson, & Major Busfield, Tho: Blaikling & wife, their Son, John Blaikling,
& wife, all of Drawell, near Sedbergh, Joseph Bains, of Stangerthewaite in Westmrland, & many others, who sevrall
of them afterwards received him Joyfully into their houses, & beleived in ye Truth by him preached, & became
obedient to the same, and lived & died faithfull witnesses & faithfull testemony bearers therto, who are all
now dead, except Joseph Bains.
[pages 242–3]
Submission by Westmorland (?)Quarterly Meeting edited by Norman Penney in “The First Publishers of Truth (London: Headley Brothers, 1907). Presented to Yearly Meeting in 1709. Said to be in the hand of Thomas Camm.
1. In 1652, Whitsunday was on 19 May (New Style), 6 June (Old Style). Fox would therefore have arrived at Brigflatts on 18 May/5 June. Return