Wesley Corpus

for a soldier, and carried to an inn, where the gentlemen were. Mr Pearse hearing of it, came, and offered bail for my appedrance the next day. They said they would take his word for ten thousand pounds ; but not for me; I must go to the Round house: (the little stone room on the side of the bridge :) so thither I was conveyed by five soldiers. There Il found nothing to sit on but a stone, and nothing to lie on but a little straw. But soon after a friend sent me a chair, on which I sat all night. I had a double guard, twelve soldiers in all; two without, one in the door, and the rest within. I passed the night without sleep, but not without rest; for, blessed be God, my peace was not broken a moment. My body was in prison, but I was Christ’s freeman; my soul was at liberty. And even there I found some work to do for God: I had fair opportunity of speaking to them who durst not leave me. And I hope it was not in vain. “Tn the morning I had leave to go to a private house with only one soldier to guard me. About three in the afternoon I was carried before the commissioners, and part of the act read, which empowered them to take such able bodied men as followed no business, and had no lawful or sufficient maintenance. ‘Then I said, ‘If these are the men you are to take, Iam not a proper person; for I do follow a lawful calling in partnership with my brother, and have also an estate.’ The justice said, ‘ If you will make oath of that, I think we must let you go.’ But the commissioners said, no man could swear for himself. I said, ‘ Gentlemen, give me time, and you shall have full proof.’ After a long debate, they , - took a fifty pound bond for my appearance on that day three weeks. All the time I could bless God, that he counted me worthy to suffer for his name’s sake.