Wesley Corpus

‘ Here they were at a full stop, till one advised, to go to justice Persehouse, at Walsal. All agreed to this; so we hastened on, and about seven came to hishouse. But Mr. P. likewise sent word, that he was in bed. Now they were at a stand again; but at last they all thought it the wisest course, to make the best of their way home. About fifty of them undertook to convoy me. But we had not gone a hundred yards, when the mob of Walsal came, pouring in like a flood, and bore down all before them. The Darlaston mob made what defence they could; but they were weary as well as outnumbered: so that in a short time, many being knocked down, the rest ran away, and left me in their hands. To attempt speaking was vain; for the noise on every side was like the roaring of the sea. So they dragged me along till we came to the town ; where seeing the door of a large house open, I attempted to go Oct. 1748. ] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 297 in; but a man catching me by the hair, pulled me back into the middle ofthe mob. They made no more stop till they had carried me through the main street, from one end of the town to the other. I continued speaking all the time to those within hearing, feeling no pain or weariness. At the west end of the town, seeing a door half open, I made toward it, and would have gone in; but a gentleman in the shop would not suffer me, saying, they would pull the house down to the ground. However, I stood at the door, and asked, “ Are you willing to hear me speak?” Many cried out, “ No, no! knock his brains out ; down with him; kill him at once.” Others said, ‘¢ Nay, but we will hear him first.” I began asking, ‘ What evil have I done? Which of you all have I wronged in word or deed?” And continued speaking for above a quarter of an hour, till my voice suddenly failed : then the floods began to lift up their voice again ; many crying out, “ Bring him away ! bring him away !”