Wesley Corpus

Butler after this. So the poor people patiently suffered whatever he and his mob were pleased to inflict upon them, till the Assizes drew on, at which they doubted not to find a sufficient, though late, relief. Accordingly, twenty-eight depositions were taken, (from the foul copies of some of which the preceding account is mostly transcribed,) and laid before the Grand Jury, August 19. But they did not find any one of these bills. Instead of this, they made that memorable presentment which is worthy to be preserved in the annals of Ireland to all succeeding generations: “We find and present Charles Wesley to be a person of ill fame, a vagabond, and a common disturber of His Majesty’s peace; and we pray he may be transported. “We find and present James Williams,” &c. “We find and present Robert Swindle,” &c. “We find and present Jonathan Reeves,” &c. “We find and present James Wheatly,” &c. “We find and present John Larwood,” &c. “We find and present Joseph M'Auliff,” &c. “We find and present Charles Skelton,” &c. “We find and present William Tooker,” &c. “We find and present Daniel Sullivan,” &c. 12. Mr. Butler and his mob were now in higher spirits than ever. They scoured the streets day and night; frequently hallooing, as they went along, “Five pounds for a Swaddler’s head!”* their chief declaring to them all, he had full liberty now to do whatever he would, even to murder, if he pleased; as Mr. Swain, of North Abbey, and others are ready to testify. 13. The Sessions, held at Cork on the 5th of October fol lowing, produced another memorable presentment. “We find and present John Horton to be a person of ill fame, a vagabond, and a common disturber of His Majesty’s peace; and we pray that he may be transported.” But complaint being made of this above, as wholly illegal, it vanished into air. 14. Some time after, Mr. Butler removed to Dublin, and began to sing his ballads there. But having little success, he returned to Cork, and in January began to scour the streets again, pursuing all of “this way,” with a large mob at his heels, armed with swords, staves, and pistols. Com plaint was made of this to William Holmes, Esq., the present Mayor of Cork.