BARCLAY (Robert), one of the most eminent among
the Quakers, the son of Colonel David Barclay, de-
scended of the ancient family of Barclays, was born at
Edinburgh in 1648. He was educated under an uncle
at Paris, where the Papists used all their efforts to draw
him over to their religion. He joined the Quakers in
1669, and distinguished himself by his zeal and abili-
ties in defence of their doctrines. In 1676 he pub-
lished in Latin at Amsterdam his Apology for the Qua-
kers; which is the most celebrated of his works, and
esteemed the standard of the doctrine of the Quakers.
The Thefts Theologice, which were the foundation of
this work, and addressed to the clergy of what sort
ever, were published before the writing of the Apology,
and printed in Latin, French, High-Dutch, Low-
Dutch, and English. The dedication of his Apology to
King Charles II. is very remarkable for the uncom-
mon frankness and simplicity with which it is written.
Amongst many other extraordinary passages, we meet
with the following: "There is no king in the world
who can so experimentally testify of God's providence
and goodness; neither is there any who rules so many
free people, so many true Christians; which thing ren-
ders thy government more honourable, thyself more
considerable, than the accession of many nations filled
with slavish and superstitious souls. Thou hast tasted
of prosperity and adversity; thou knowest what it is to
be banished thy native country, to be over-ruled as well
as to rule and sit upon the throne; and being oppressed,
thou hast reason to know how hateful the oppressor is
both to God and man: if, after all those warnings and
advertisements, thou dost not turn unto the Lord with
all thy heart, but forget him who remembered thee in
thy distress, and give up thyself to follow lust and va-
nity, surely great will be thy condemnation."—He
travelled with the famous Mr William Penn through
the greatest part of England, Holland, and Germany,
and was every where received with the highest respect;
for though both his conversation and behaviour were
suitable to his principles, yet there was such liveliness
and spirit in his discourse, and such serenity and cheer-
fulness in his deportment, as rendered him extremely
agreeable to all sorts of people. When he returned to
his native country he spent the remainder of his life in
a quiet and retired manner. He died at his own house
at Ury on the 3d of October 1690, in the 42d year
of his age.