The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Methodism; Wesley, John, 1703-1791
Ann Cooshea and her family were called heretic bitches; and
then a huge stone was thrown at her head with such force as to render
her insensible. Ann Wright was told, by the same inhuman wretches, that
they would make her house hotter than hell; her goods were dashed to
pieces; while she herself was pelted with all kinds of missiles, and
had to quit her shop, and flee for her very life. Margaret Griffin
had her clothes torn to tatters; was cut in the mouth; and beaten and
abused to such a degree, that she was covered with gore, and spat blood
for several days. Jacob Connor was fearfully wounded, and, had not a
gentleman interposed, would probably have been killed. Ann Hughes,
besides being called most abusive names, was dragged by Butler along
the ground; had her clothing rent in pieces; and was stabbed and
slashed in both her arms by the sword of the ferocious brute. Butler
and his troop came to Mary Fuller’s shop, brandishing a dagger, and
swearing he would cleave her skull. He then made a stroke at her head,
which must have killed her, had not Henry Dunkle diverted the felon’s
aim. Dunkle was seized; had his shirt and clothes torn to tatters; and
narrowly escaped an untimely death, by the interference of neighbours.
Mary Fuller fled for life, and had her goods hacked to pieces. Margaret
Tremnell was violently struck with a club on her arm and back; stones
were hurled into her shop; and her property was partly destroyed by the
swords of Butler’s mob, and partly thrown into the street.
For two months, these horrible outrages were continued; and, at the
end of that period, Wesley writes:—“It was not for those who had any
regard, either to their persons or goods, to oppose Mr. Butler after
this. So the poor people patiently suffered, till long after this,
whatever he and his mob were pleased to inflict upon them.”
Of these subsequent sufferings details are wanting. We only know that,
on the 19th of August, twenty-eight depositions respecting Nicholas
Butler and his crew were laid before the grand jury of the Cork
assizes, and were all thrown out. At the same time, the same jurists
made a memorable presentment, “which,” says Wesley, “is worthy to be
preserved in the annals of Ireland, to all succeeding generations,” to
wit, that Charles Wesley, and seven other Methodist preachers therein
named, together with Daniel Sullivan, the honest baker, were all
persons of ill fame, vagabonds, and common disturbers of his majesty’s
peace, and ought to be transported.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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