American Quotations by William J. Federer 2024

Daniel Defoe (c.1660-April 24, 1731) was an English author who was one of the originators of the English novel. A merchant by profession, he began writing pamphlets against the Anglican High Church, for which he was fined and placed in stocks. Being nearly 60 years of age, Daniel Defoe began writing novels, his most popular of which were: Robinson Crusoe, 1719; Moll Flanders, 1722, and A Journal of the Plague Year, 1722. In volume III of A Selection from the Works of Daniel Defoe, he wrote: <In what glorious colors do the Scriptures, upon all occasions, represent these two hand-in-hand graces,...

Virginia Governor William Berkeley (August 8, 1660) to officials in Lower Norfolk: <Mr. Richard Conquest, I hear with sorrow that you are very remiss in your office, in not stopping frequent meetings of this most pestilent sect of ye Quakers, whether this be so or not, I do charge you (by virtue of ye power ye grand assemble has entrusted me with) not to suffer any more of their meetings or Conventicles & if any such shall be refractory, that you send them up prisoners to James City. I expect your obedience to this which I send you without enclosing that...

Virginia House of Burgesses (March 13, 1660) ordinances of Jamestown: <Whereas there is an unreasonable and turbulent sort of people, commonly called Quakers, who contrary to the law do daily gather unto them unlawful Assemblies and congregations of people teaching and publishing, lies, miracles, false visions, prophecies and doctrines, which have influence upon the communities of men both ecclesiastical and civil endeavoring and attempting thereby to destroy religion, laws, communities and all bonds of civil society, leaving it arbitrary to every vain and vicious person whether men shall be safe, laws established, offenders punished, and Governors rule, hereby disturbing the public...

Remonstrance of Flushing (December 27, 1657) addressed to New Netherlands' Governor Peter Stuyvesant: <Right Honorable, You have been pleased to send up unto us a certain prohibition or command that we should not receive or entertain any of those people called Quakers because they are supposed to be by some, seducers of the people. For our part we cannot condemn them in this case, neither can we stretch out our hands against them, to punish, banish or persecute them for out of Christ God is a consuming fire, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the...

Virginia House of Burgesses (December 1, 1656) ordinances of Jamestown: <Whereas many congregations in this colony are destitute of ministers whereby religion and devotion cannot but suffer much impairment and decay, which want of the destitute congregations ought to be supplied by all means possible to be used, As also to invite and encourage ministers to repair hither and merchants to bring them in, Be it therefore hereby enacted for the reasons aforesaid, that what person or persons soever shall at his or their proper cost and charge transport a sufficient minister into this colony without agreement made with him shall...