The earliest extant Susanna Wesley letters stem from 1702, when she was a young wife of some 13 years, mother of six children, and for some five years the mistress of the Epworth rectory. They record the political quarrel that for six months disrupted her marriage. At issue was the legitimacy of William Ill’s claim to the English throne. While most, Samuel Wesley included, supported his reign and the “Glorious Revolution” that brought him to power, a small, conscientious minority refused to take an oath to him and his consort, Mary, on the grounds that the deposed James II remained king by divine right. As these letters show, Susanna Wesley put herself in that camp, writing to two members of the church’s Nonjuring party for advice in her domestic dispute.
The incident also involves sexual politics, demonstrating how far a woman might go in resisting the will of her husband and on what grounds. In this case Susanna’s Puritan conscience, now serving (and being bolstered by) a sectarian right-wing Anglicanism, enabled the otherwise obedient 32-year-old wife to withstand the bluster of her politically more moderate 39-year-old husband. Having vowed to live apart from her until she apologized, the rector left for London in a huff. Far from accepting the charge of “pride and obstinacy,” she felt herself to be “pretty innocent” and stood her ground until circumstances brought him back.
The story was known to John Wesley1 Indeed, when the quarrel was resolved (the rectory fire described in the second letter to George Hickes brought Samuel around), John Wesley himself, born the following June, was the most obvious result of the healed rift.
Lady Yarborough was born Henrietta Maria Blagge and had been a maid of honor of the duchess of York at Charles II’s court. Thomas Yarborough, later a member of Parliament (MP), married her in 1663 and brought her to Snaith in a corner of Yorkshire just a few miles from Epworth. Susanna made her acquaintance there and trusted her Nonjuring sympathies enough to ask for advice. Lady Yarborough referred her to a much more eminent Nonjuror, the Rev. George Hickes. As a result of his principles, Hickes had been deprived of the deanship of Worcester and was by this time styled Suffragan Bishop of Thetford, one of the highest-ranked clerics in the samll schismatic movement.
The letters were discovered by Robert Walmsley in the early 1950s in a manuscript book, “The Genuine Remains of the Late Pious and Learned George Hickes, D. D., and Suffragan Bishop of Thetford, consisting of Controversial Letters and Other Discourses.” Walmsley published them in the Manchester Guardian, 3 July 1953, and soon thereafter in the Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society, from which we reprint them here.
To Lady Yarborough
7 March 1702
Reprinted from Robert Walmsley, “John Wesley’s Parents: Quarrel and Reconciliation,” PWHS 29.3 (1953-1954): S2-53. Paragraphing introduced by Walmsley. Occasional punctuation, indicated in brackets, and notes have been added in this volume.
To the lady Yarborough.
Saturday night March 7, 1701–2.
Madam
I’m infinitely obliged to your Ladyship for your charming civility to a person so utterly unworthy of your favours, but oh Madam! I must tell your Ladyship you have somewhat mistaken my case. You advise me to continue with my husband and God knows how gladly I would do it but there, there is my extreme affliction[:] he will not live with me. ‘Tis but a little while since he one evening observed in our Family prayers I did not say Amen to his prayer for K[ing] W[illiam] as I usually do to all others; upon which he retired to his study, and calling me to him asked me the reason of my not saying Amen to the Prayer. I was a little surprised at the question and don’t well know what I answered, but too too well I remember what followed: He immediately kneeled down and imprecated the divine Vengeance upon himself and all his posterity if ever he touched me more or came into a bed with me before I had begged God’s pardon and his, for not saying Amen to the prayer for the K[in]g.
This Madam is my unhappy case. I’ve unsuccessfully represented to him the unlawfulness and unreasonableness of his Oath; that the Man in that case has no more power over his own body than the Woman over her’s; that since I’m willing to let him quietly enjoy his opinions, he ought not to deprive me of my little liberty of conscience. But he has opened his mouth to the Lord and w[ha]t help? What’s past is Fate, nor can God or man recall the time that is actually elapsed, or undo an action once performed. I should be eternally obliged to your Ladyship would you be pleased to consult one of our Divines about it that might be trusted with such an important secret. ‘Tis a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,2 or to trifle with the divine Vengeance which we can never sufficiently deprecate. He is too great to be affronted or mocked, to[o] wise to be deceived, no artifice or evasion could possibly pass upon him were I so impious to attempt it. I have no resentment against my Master, so far from it that the very next day I went with him to the Communion, though he that night forsook my bed to which he has been a stranger ever since.
I’m almost ashamed to own what extreme disturbance this accident has given me, yet I value not the world. I value neither reputation[,] friends or anything in comparison of the single satisfaction, of preserving a conscience void of offence towards God and man;3 and how I can do that if I mock almighty God, by begging pardon for what I think no sin, is past my discerning. But I am inexpressibly miserable, for I can see no possibility of reconciling these differences, though I would submit to anything or do anything in the world to oblige him to live in the house with me. I appeal to your Ladyship if my circumstances are not strangely unhappy. I believe myself an Original of misery. I don’t think there’s any precedent of such a case in the whole world; and may I not say as the Prophet, “I am the person that has seen affliction.”4 I’m almost afraid I’ve already complied with him too far, but most humbly beg your Ladyship’s direction.
I am etc.
S. Wesley.
I’ve a great deal more to say but am afraid of being troublesome, and ask pardon for what I’ve already given your Ladyship. My Master is for London at Easter, when I hope I shall be able to wait on your Ladyship if I can live so long, and in the meantime earnestly desire your prayers and direction.
To Lady Yarborough
15 March 1702
Reprinted from Robert Walmsley, “John Wesley’s Parents: Quarrel and Reconciliation,” PWHS 29.3 (1953-1954): 53–54.
March 15 [1701-2]
Madam
The shortness of my time will I hope excuse the brevity of my answer. I’m extremely obliged to your Ladyship for your generous concern and pity of my misfortunes, and return my humblest thanks for your Letters, which have been a great cordial to me and given me unspeakable satisfaction. I find the Gentleman that has seen my Letters is of opinion that I ought not to comply any further, but persevere in following the dictates of my own conscience, which I hope is not erroneous. I thank God I’m much better satisfied in all things than I was, and find God has by these unusual afflictions vouchsafed me many favours; they have greatly inclined my mind to patience and a more entire resignation to the divine Will, I am not so much affected as formerly with these sublunary affairs, which as your Ladyship rightly observes are but for a time, and a very little inconsiderable time indeed. I’ve represented as long as I could be heard the sin of the Oath and ill consequences of it to my Master, but he cannot be convinced he has done ill, nor does the present change in State5 make any alteration in his mind; I am persuaded nothing but an omnipotent power can move him and there I leave it. He is for London at Easter where he designs to try if he can get a Chaplain’s place in a Man of War.
I’m more easy in the thoughts of parting because I think we are not likely to live happily together. I have six very little children, which though he tells me he will take good care of, yet if anything should befall him at Sea we should be in no very good condition, but still I believe that that charitable Being which feeds the Ravens and cloathes the Lilies 6 will never think me or mine below his care and Providence, though none in the world is more unworthy of either. I’ve offered since I last writ to your Ladyship to put this business to a reference, provided I might choose one Referee and my Master another, but I fancy he’ll never agree to it. He is fearful of my communicating it to any person, which makes me somewhat more confined than usually, but when he is gone I hope I shall be able to wait on your Ladyship to discourse more fully of things, and to return you my repeated thanks as well as to confirm my sincere profession of being, Madam, your Ladyship’s S. W.
I am extremely concerned for Sir Thomas’s illness and pray God to mitigate it, and in the meantime to sanctify all his afflictions. I humbly beg the Gentleman would be careful that the world may know nothing which may reflect upon my Master, but that the business may be concealed.
To George Hickes
? April 1702
Reprinted from Robert Walmsley, “John Wesley’s Parents: Quarrell and Reconciliation,” PWHS 29.3 (1953-19S4): 54. The address at its close (Snaith) indicates this letter was written from Lady Yarborough’s home, some 13 miles northeast of Epworth.
To the Rev Mr Dean Hickes
Reverend Sir, I should not at this time trouble or divert your better thoughts, but you having been already acquainted by the Lady Yarborough with some uneasy circumstances I at present am under, and expressing so generous a pity and compassion for an unfortunate stranger, makes me presume to beg your direction in this particular. My Master will not be persuaded he has no power over the conscience of his Wife, and though I believe he’s somewhat troubled at his Oath yet cannot be persuaded ‘tis not obligatory. He is now for referring the whole to the Archbishop of York and Bishop of Lincoln, and says if I will not be determined by them, he will do anything rather than live with a person that is the declared enemy of his country, which he believes himself obliged to love before all the world.
I very well know before such Judges I’m sure to be condemned without a fair hearing; nor can I see any reason I have to ask either God Almighty’s or his pardon for acting according to the best knowledge I have of things of that nature. If I thought or could be persuaded I’m in an error I would freely retract it and ask his pardon before the whole world. He accuses me of pride and obstinacy and insists upon my making him satisfaction for the injury he believes I’ve done him. I dare not plead not guilty to such an Indictment, but yet I hope however I may in other instances be culpable, in this I’m pretty innocent. I most humbly beg the favour of your direction and prayers, and your acceptance of most humble thanks and service from, Sir, your most humble Servant.
(Smith)
S. Wesley
My Master is at London, and the extreme difficulty of receiving a Letter when he’s at home without his knowledge is the reason I would humbly beg the favour of a speedy answer.
To George Hickes
31 July 1702
Reprinted from Robert Walmsley, “John Wesley’s Parents: Quarrel and Reconciliation,” PWHS, 29.3 (1953-1954): 55–56.
Reverend Sir, ‘Twas not want of the most grateful sense of your great charity and goodness made me so long defer writing, but some other reason which I shall acquaint you with when I wait on you. This however comes at last, though ‘tis long first, with my humblest thanks for the great favour of yours which found me in circumstances that very much needed advice. My Master was then at London and had given me time to consider what to do, whether I would submit to his judgment and implicitly obey him in matters of conscience. I foresaw a great many evils would inevitably befall me if I refused to satisfy his desires, and had scarce courage enough to support me in the melancholy prospect when your Letter came, which was the noblest cordial, and gave me the greatest satisfaction of any thing in my whole life. When he returned he absolutely refused a reference, and so I thought it unnecessary to write to the Archbishop. He stayed two days and then left me early one morning with a resolution never to see me more, but the infinite Power that disposes and overrules the minds of men as he pleases, and can speak to their wild unreasonable passions as he does to the waves of the sea, hitherto shalt thou go and no farther,7 so ordered it, that in his way he met a Clergyman to whom he communicated his intentions, and the reason that induced him to leave his Family: He extremely pitied him and condemned me, but however, he prevailed with him to return.
But as it often happens that great mischiefs take their rise from very small beginnings, so his long absenting himself upon that account occasioned abundance of trouble to himself and Family; the particulars of which I shall not, Sir, at present trouble you with, but if I live to see you as I hope I shall, I must beg the liberty of informing you of as strange a complication of misfortunes as perhaps as ever happened to any persons in the world. Yet though I’ve had so much trouble, since Sir you have fully satisfied me I do my duty in following the dictates of my conscience, I will as you advise persevere, and against hope believe in hope, since I know after all there is an inseparable connection betwixt virtue and happiness; for let it be granted that a vicious person may and often does find a great deal of present satisfaction in the enjoyment of their irregular inclinations and desires, yet we can by no means allow that to be any part of a rational Happiness that is immediately succeeded by ungrateful reflections, and must inevitably end in unspeakable eternal misery: so on the other side though Virtue may be here oppressed and despised, yet as sure as God himself has said it the end of Virtue is peace and endless Felicity.
I’m afraid I’m troublesome already, yet must once more beg direction in some other cases when I know how to write; I’m forced at present to give my Lady Yarborough the trouble of superscribing my Letter. Before I’ve finished my Letters I’m alarmed by a new misfortune; my house is now fired by one of my servants, I think not carelessly but by so odd an accident as I may say of it, as the Magicians of Moses’s fourth Miracle, “This is the finger of God.” 8 Two thirds are burnt, and most of our goods though they have escaped the flames are utterly spoiled. May heaven avert all evil from, my children and grant that the heavy curse my Master has wished upon himself and Family may terminate in this life. I most earnestly beg the continuance of your prayers, that God may at last have mercy upon us, at least that he would spare the innocent Children however he is pleased to deal with the unhappy parents. I am Sir
Your most obliged humble Servant.
S. Wesley
Epworth, July ult[imo,] 1702.
1. See Robert Walmsley, “John Wesley’s Parents: Quarrel and Reconciliation,” PWHS 29.3 (1953-1954): 50, quoting Wesley’s own accounat in AM, 1784, p. 606 and the version Adam Clarke recorded in Memoirs of the Wesley Family; Collected Principally from Original Documents (New York: N. Bangs and T. Mason for the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1824), p. 83.
2. Hebrews 10:31.
3. Close paraphrase of Acts 24:16.
4. Lamentations 3:1; quotation marks added.
5. The king’s death on March 8. This note appears in brackets in the PWHS edition.
6. See Psalm 147:9; Luke 12:24, 27.
7. Job 38:11, closely paraphrased.
8. Exodus 8:19; quotation marks added.