his charge. Mr. Burton replied, he had nothing to say against him, and he might depart. Mr. Wesley answered, "That is not sufficient without clearing my character, and that of many innocent people, whom their enemies are pleased to call Methodists." "Vindicate them, said my brother Clergyman, that you will find a very hard task." I answered, as hard as you may think it, I will engage to prove that all of them, to a man, are true members of the Church of England, and loyal subjects of his Majesty King George. I then desired they would administer to me the oaths; and added, I wish, gentlemen, that you could send for every Methodist in England, and give them all the same opportunity you do me, of declaring their loyalty upon oath. Justice Burton said, he was informed that we constantly prayed for the Pretender in all our Societies, or nocturnal meetings, as Mr. Zouch called them. I answered, the very reverse is true. We constantly pray for his Majesty King George, by name. Here are such hymns (shewing them) as we sing in our Societies. Here is a sermon which I preached before the University, and another preached there by my brother. Here are his Appeals and a few more tracts, containing an account of our principles and practices. Here I gave them our books, and was bold enough to say, I am as true a church of England man, and as loyal a subject as any man in the kingdom. They all cried that was impossible. But it was not my business to dispute, and as I could not answer till the witnesses appeared, I withdrew without further delay.

"While I waited at a neighbour's house, the Constable from Birstal, whose heart the Lord had touched, was brought to me by one of the brethren. He told me he had summoned the principal witness, Mary

Castle,

Castle, on whose information the warrant was granted. She was setting out on horseback when the news came that I was not gone forward to London, as they expected, but had returned to Wakefield. Hearing this she turned back, and declared to him that she did not hear the treasonable words herself, but another woman had told her so. Three more witnesses, who were to swear to my words retracted likewise, and knew nothing of the matter. The fifth, Mr. Woods, an Alehousekeeper, is forth-coming, it seems, in the afternoon. I now plainly see the consequence of not appearing here to look my enemies in the face. Had I gone on my journey, there would have been witnesses enough, and oaths enough, to stir up a persecution against the Methodists. I took the witnesses' names, and a copy of the warrant as follows,

West Riding of Yorkshire,

To the Constable of Birstal, of the said Riding, or Deputy,

"THESE are, in his Majesty's Name, to require and command you to summon Mary Castle, of Birstal aforesaid, and all other such person or persons as you are informed can give any information against one Westley, or any other of the Methodist Preachers, for speaking any treasonable words or exhortations, as praying for the banished, or the Pretender, &c. to appear before me, and other of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Riding, at the White Hart in Wakefield, on the 15th of March instant, by ten o'clock in the forenoon, to be examined, and to declare the truth of what they and each of them know touching the premises: and that you likewise make a

retur

return hereof, before us on the same day. Fail not. Given under my hand the tenth of March, 1744. E. BURTON."

Between two and three o'clock, Mr. Woods came, and started back on seeing me, as if he had trod upon a serpent. One of the brethren took hold of him, and told me, he trembled every joint of him. The Justices Clerk had bid the Constable bring Woods to him as soon as ever he came. But notwithstanding the Clerk's instructions, Woods frankly confessed, now he was come, he had nothing to say, and would not have come at all, if they had not forced him.

"I waited at the door till seven in the evening, while they were examining the disaffected. I took public notice of Okerhousen, the Moravian teacher ; but not of Mr. Kendrick. When all their business was over, and I had been insulted at their door from eleven in the morning till seven at night, I was sent for and asked, what would Mr. Wesley desire? Wesley. I desire nothing but to know what is alleged against me. Justice Burton said, what hope of truth from him? Then addressing himself to me," Here are two of your brethren, one so silly it is a shame he should ever set up for a teacher; and the other has a thousand lies and equivocations upon oath. He has not wit enough, or he would make a complete Jesuit." I looked round, and said, I see none of my brethren here, but this gentleman, pointing to the Reverend Justice, who looked as if he did not thank me for claiming him. Burton. "Why do you not know this man?" pointing to Kendrick. Wesley. Yes Sir, very well: for two years ago I expelled him from our Society in London, for setting up for a Preacher. To this poor Kendrick assented; which put a stop to further reflections on the Methodists.

Methodists. Justice Burton then said, I might depart, for they had nothing against me. Wesley. Sir, that will not satisfy me; I cannot depart till my character be fully cleared. It is no trifling matter: even my life is concerned in the charge. Burton. I did not summon you to appear. Wesley. I was the person meant by one Westley, and my supposed words were the occasion of your order, which I read signed with your name. Burton. I will not deny my orders, I did send to summon the witnesses. Wesley. Yes; and I took down their names from the Constable's paper. The principal witness, Mary Castle, was setting out, but hearing I was here, she turned back, and declared to the Constable, she only heard another say, that I should speak treason. Three more of the witnesses recanted for the same reason; and Mr. Woods, who is here, says he has nothing to say, and should not have come, had he not been forced by the Minister. Had I not been here, he would have had enough to say; and you would have had witnesses and oaths enough; but I suppose, my coming has prevented theirs. One of the Justices added, "I suppose so too."

you

"They all seemed fully satisfied, and would have had me to have been so too. But I insisted on their hearing Mr. Woods. Burton. Do desire he may be called as an evidence for you? Wesley. I desire he may be heard as an evidence against me, if he has ought to lay to my charge. Then Mr. Zouch asked Mr. Woods, what he had to say? What were the words I had spoken. Woods was as backward to speak as they to hear him: but was at last compelled to say, "I have nothing to say against the Gentleman; I only heard him pray, that the Lord would call home his banished ones." Zouch. But were there no words before or after, which pointed to these troublesome times?

Woods.

Woods, No: none at all. Wesley. It was on February the 12th, before the earliest news of the invasion. But if folly and malice may be interpreters, any words, which any of you Gentlemen, may speak, may be construed into treason. Zouch. It is very true. Wesley. Now, Gentlemen, give me leave to explain my own words. I had no thoughts of praying for the Pretender; but for those who confess themselves strangers and pilgrims upon earth; who seek a country, knowing this is not their home. The scriptures, yes Sir, (to the Clergyman) know that the scriptures speak of us as captive exiles, who are absent from the Lord, while present in the body. We are not at home till we are in heaven. Zouch. I thought you would so explain the words, and it is a fair interpretation-I asked if they were all satisfied? They said they were; and cleared me as fully as I desired. I then asked them again, to administer to me the oaths. Mr. Zouch looked on my sermon, and asked who ordained me ? I answered, the Archbishop and Bishop of London, in the same week, He said, with the rest, it was quite unnecessary, since I was a Clergyman, and student of Christ Church, and had preached before the University, and taken the oaths before, Yet I mentioned it again, till they acknowledged in explicit terms, "That my loyalty was unquestionable." I then pre'sented Sir Rowland and Mr. Zouch, with the Appeal, and took my leave."

3

Mr. Wesley now returned to Birstal, where he preached, and then left Yorkshire. He came to

Derby, and Nottingham; at the last of which places, the mob was become outrageous, under the patronage of the Mayor, The Methodists presented a petition to the Judge, as he passed through the town, and he gave the Mayor a severe reprimand, and encouraged

them