I thank God, my wife was pretty well recovered and churched some days before I was taken from her; and hope she’ll be able to look to my family, if they don’t turn them out of doors as they have often threatened to do.  One of my biggest concerns was my being forced to leave my poor lambs in the midst of so many wolves.  But the great Shepherd is able to provide for them and to preserve them.  My wife bears it with that courage which becomes her, and which I expected from her.

I don’t despair of doing some good here (and so I sha’n’t quite lose the end of living), and it may be, do more in this new parish than in my old one:  for I have leave to read prayers every morning and afternoon here in the prison, and to preach once a Sunday, which I choose to do in the afternoon when there is no sermon at the minster.  And I’m getting acquainted with my brother jail-birds as fast as I can; and shall write to London next post, to the Society for propagating Christian Knowledge, who, I hope, will send me some books to distribute among them. . . .

The next letter, dated from prison on September 12th, proves that he had reasons only too good to be fearful.

The other matter is concerning the stabbing of my cows in the night since I came hither, but a few weeks ago; and endeavouring thereby to starve my forlorn family in my absence; my cows being all dried by it, which was their chief subsistence; though I hope they had not the power to kill any of them outright. . . .

The same night the iron latch of my door was twined off, and the wood hacked in order to shoot back the lock, which nobody will think was with an intention to rob my family.  My housedog, who made a huge noise within doors, was sufficiently punished for his want of politics and moderation, for the next day but one his leg was almost chopped off by an unknown hand.  ’Tis not every one could bear these things; but, I bless God, my wife is less concerned with suffering them that I am in the writing, or than I believe your Grace will be in reading them. . . .  Oh, my lord!  I once more repeat it, that I shall some time have a more equal Judge than any in this world.

Most of my friends advise me to leave Epworth, if e’er I should get from hence.  I confess I am not of that mind, because I may yet do good there; and ’tis like a coward to desert my post because the enemy fire thick upon me.  They have only wounded me yet and, I believe, can’t kill me.  I hope to be home by Xmass.  God help my poor family! . . .

By the end of the year (the Archbishop and other friends assisting) a good part of his debts had been paid and Mr. Wesley was at home again.  From Epworth he refused to budge; and there, for three years and more, the rage of his enemies slumbered and his affairs grew easier.  John (if we do not count the poor infant overlaid) had been the last child born before his imprisonment.  Now arrived Patty, in the autumn of 1706, and Charles, in December, 1707.  A third was expected, and shortly, when in the night of February 9th, 1709, the parsonage took fire again and burned to the ground in fifteen minutes.