Page:Susanna Wesley (Clarke 1886).djvu/64

52 Epworth, June 7th, 1705. "I went to Lincoln on Tuesday night, May 29th, and the Election began on Wednesday, 30th. A great part of the night our Isle people kept drumming, shouting, and firing of pistols and guns under the window where my wife lay, who had been brought to bed not three weeks. I had put the child to nurse over against my own house: the noise kept his nurse waking till one or two in the morning. Then they left off, and the nurse, being heavy to sleep, overlaid the child. She waked and finding it dead, ran over with it to my house, almost distracted, and calling my servants, threw it into their arms. They, as wise as she, ran up with it to my wife, and before she was well awake, threw it cold and dead into hers. She com- posed herself as well as she could, and that day got it buried.

"A clergyman met me in the Castle yard, and told me to withdraw, for the Isle men intended me a mis- chief. Another told me he had heard near twenty of them say, 'if they got me in the Castle yard, they would squeeze my guts out,' My servant had the same advice. I went by Gainsbro', and God preserved me.

"When they knew I was got home, they sent the drums and mobs, with guns, &c. as usual, to compliment me till midnight. One of them passing by on Friday evening, and seeing my children in the yard, cried out, ' O ye devils ! we will come and turn ye all out of doors a-begging shortly.' God convert them and forgive them!

"All this, thank God, does not in the least sink my wife's spirits. For my own, I feel them disturbed and disordered ; but for all that I am going on with