John Wesley's Journal:

January 1747: 'I rode ... to the Devizes. The town was in an uproar from end to end, as if the French were just entering: and abundance of swelling words were heard, oaths, curses and threatenings. The most active man in stirring up the people, we were informed, was Mr. [Innys] the [curate]. He had been indefatigable in the work, going all the day from house to house. He had also been at the pains of setting up an advertisement in the most public places of the town of 'An omnubilative, Pantomime Entertainment, to be exhibited at Mr. Clark's' (where I was to preach)... I began preaching at seven, on 'the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Many of the mob came in, listened a little, and stood still. No one opened his mouth, but attention sat on the face of every hearer.'

February 1747: 'I found much pains had been taken again to raise a mob; but it was lost labour; all that could be mustered were a few straggling soldiers and forty or fifty boys. Notwithstanding these , I preached in great peace on 'All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.' In the morning ... I explained and applied 'He healeth them that are of a broken heart.' We then took horse, in the midst of a quiet and civil multitude...'

October 1764: 'I breakfasted at the Devizes with Mr. B----- [Henry Samuel Biggs?], a black swan, an honest lawyer!'

March 1772: 'I preached ... at the Devizes. The furious prejudice which long reigned in this town is now vanished away, the persecutors, almost to a man, being gone to their account.'

October 1772: 'I preached very quietly at the Devizes. Scarce one of the old persecutors is alive. Very few of them lived out their days; many were snatched away in an hour when they looked not for it.'

October 1778: 'I went with my brother to the Devizes, and preached in a large, commodious room.'

Charles Wesley's Journal:

February 1747: 'Between three and four in the afternoon came to Mr. Clark's at the Devizes… We soon perceived that our enemies had taken the alarm, and were mustering their forces for the battle.They began with ringing the bells backward, and running to and fro in the streets, as lions roaring for their prey. From the time my brother told me in London, " there was no such thing as raising a mob at the Devizes," I had a full expectation of what would follow. But saw my call and walked with my brother Meriton and Mrs. Naylor to an house where the Society used to meet.

"'The curate's mob had been in quest of me at several places, particularly Mrs. Philips's, where I was expected to preach. They broke open and ransacked hr house. But not finding me, marched away to our brother Rogers's, where we were praying and exhorting one another to continue in the faith, and through much tribulation enter the kingdom.

'The chief gentleman of the town headed the mob; and the zealous curate, Mr. Innys, stood with them in the stret the whole time, dancing for joy… He had gone about several days, stirring up the people and canvassing the gentry for their vote and interest, but could not raise a mob while my brother was here. The hour of darkness was not then fully come…'

'They continued raging and threatening for the first hour, and pressed hard upon us to break the door. The windows they did break to pieces and tore down the shutters of the shop. The little flock were less afraid than I expected. Only one of our sisters fainted away, but beneath were the everlasting arms.

'Our beseigers had now blocked up the door with a wagon, and set up lights lest I should escape. Yet a brother got out unobserved and, with much entreaty, prevailed upon the mayor to come down. He came with two constables, one a faithful brother, the other a persecutor, and threatened the rioters. But so softly that none regarded him…'

'We were at a loss meantime what to do, when God put it into the heart of our next-door neighbour, a Baptist, to take us through a passage into his own house, offer us a bed, and engage for our security. We accepted his kindness, and slept in peace.'

[The violent rioting continued much of the next day, until Charles and his companion, John Meriton, managed to ride through the mob and reached Seend.]