James Nayler: the Most Controversial Quaker | Jon Watts Music Video

James Nayler was a powerful and respected Quaker preacher, who, at the beginning of the formation of the Religious Society of Friends, traveled extensively preaching the Quaker message and writing prolifically. After being in prison in Exeter, Nayler and a group of followers traveled North, embodying "signs" in each town they came across, eventually getting arrested in Bristol. Nayler was tried in front of Parliament and convicted of high blashphemy, whipped through the streets of London, branded with a 'B' and had a hole bored through his tongue with a hot iron.

Jon Watts discovered Nayler while working on his Senior project for the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program (QLSP) at Guilford College. The project (and this song especially) served to convict Jon of Quakerism (though born into the religion, Jon considers himself to have been a "cultural Quaker" up until this point).

Full Album! http://bit.ly/oGDiLt
Download! http://bit.ly/pQmEvV
Twitter! http://bit.ly/qU7cwI
Facebook! http://on.fb.me/5grDKA


Lyrics

James Nayler hadn't slept for days. He had a letter in his pocket
from George and Margaret Fell. They prayed that he would read in time to stop it.
They eldered him. He would respect them and not Martha Simmons.

It started when James went to London. He had so much success there.
He preached and worked, converting hundreds. No one questioned his welfare.
Then ranters came, interrupting meetings. They said they preferred James' preaching
to Burrough and Howgill and even George Fox.
Their leader was Martha. James, ask her to stop. They came to the Bull and Mouth Sunday with rocks.
They want to split Quakers with you at the top. Oh god don't listen to Martha and her flock.

James stopped eating then. He made a decision from an Exeter prison. He would wait for George's visit.

George came in from the street and James stood three feet below. They spoke in front of people and then George Fox had to go.
And James said --George, let me hug you.-
George said --I'm not bowing down.-
and James said --well, let me kiss you.-
George offered his foot. It was a falling out.

James decided to go on his own
and George went preaching and keeping the meetings afraid of James.

When James came into Bristol he rode upon a horse. The women sang as they went --oh Lord.-
James Nayler hadn't slept for days, a letter in his pocket from George and Margaret Fell. They prayed, but prayers could not have stopped him.
No Quakers came to see that day James Nayler's reenactment but Parliament heard otherwise and said that James had blasphemed.
They indicted him, his punishment: three hundred and ten lashes, a red hot iron through James' tongue and branded B and laughed at.
"God gave me a body and spirit to endure this."

They tied up his hands. He could barely stand.
Oh james, you've gone too far now. Oh james, you've fallen down.
You've brought our movement with you. You've brought the Quakers down.

___________________________________________
jon watts, a few songs occasioned, james nayler, music video, dance party erupts during quaker meeting for worship, quakers get naked, max carter, a quaker in kmart, guilford college, senior thesis, QLSP, quaker history

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jon watts
• a few songs occasioned
• james nayler
• music video
• quakers get naked
• max carter
• a quaker in kmart
• guilford college
• senior thesis
• QLSP
• quaker history

[kdgolive]

I cry every time. How do we, who claim to be Quakers, bring shame on ourselves, our friends and our religion? Thanks, Jon. This is ministry.

[BridgeFilmFestival]

Beautiful song about some difficult Quaker history.