Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., late of Pembroke-College, Oxford, and Chaplain to the Rt. Hon. the Countess of Huntingdon (1771 Volume 2).djvu/61

 give us the victory over the Hampton rioters. You remember I informed you, that I thought we should be obliged to appeal unto Cæsar. A solemn day of fasting and humiliation was kept on that account; and accordingly last term we lodged an information against them in the King's-Bench. Matters of fact being proved by a variety of evidence, and the defendants making no reply, the rule was made absolute, and an information filed against them. To this they pleaded Not guilty, and therefore, according to the method of the Crown-office, the cause was referred to the assizes held in Gloucester the third instant. Our council opened the cause by informing the court, that rioters were not to be reformers, and that his Majesty had no where put the reins of government into the hands of mobbers, nor made them either judge or jury. One of them in particular, the Recorder of Oxford, with great gravity, reminded the gentlemen on the jury of the advice of Gamaliel, "Refrain from these men and let them alone, for if this council, or this work be of man, it will come to nought; but if it be of, ye cannot overthrow it, least haply ye be found even to fight against ." Our witnesses were then called. Mr. Adams and four more, three of which were not reputed Methodists, so clearly proved both the riot and the facts, that the judge was of opinion, there needed no other evidence. The council for the defendants then rose up, and displayed a good deal of oratory, and I think said all that could be said to mend a bad matter. One urged, "that we were enthusiasts, and our principles and practices had such a tendency to infect and hurt the people, that it was right, in his opinion, for any private person to stand up and put a stop to us; and whoever did so, was a friend to his country." He strove to influence the jury, by telling them, "That if a verdict was given against the defendants, it would cost them two hundred pounds; that the defendants rioting was not premeditated, but that coming to hear Mr. A, and being offended at his doctrine, a sudden quarrel arose, and thereby the unhappy men were led into the present fray, which he could have wished had not happened; but however, it did not amount to a riot, but only an assault." Their other council informed the jury, "That they would undertake to prove, that the Methodists began the tumult first." He was pleased to mention me by name, and acquainted the