The Supernatural Noises

THE subject of supernatural manifestations is one on which mortals must agree to differ. One half of humanity refuses to give credence to anything but what it can see and handle, and regards those who believe in spiritual influences of any kind as the dupes and votaries of degrading superstition ; while the other half has a deeply rooted, if indefinable, faith in second sight, mysterious intuitions, and communications from the unseen. The Apostle's Creed contains a sentence which is frequently interpreted as embodying belief in some kind of intercourse between the dead and the living, and even between those who, though absent from each other in the body, are present in the spirit, when it states, "1 believe in the Communion of Saints/' In this Mrs. Wesley had a firm faith, having been heard by her son John, during her widowhood, to say, that she was often as fully persuaded of her deceased husband's presence with her as if she could see him with her bodily eyes. Her sons, inheriting her temperament to the full, always found an irresistible attraction in the subject ; John iuvariably preached on it with great exaltation on All Saints' Day, and declared that he was sometimes so vividly aware of the presence of those he loved who had crossed the dark river before him, that he had turned round expecting to see them ; and anyone acquainted with Charles Wesley's hymns must observe that they are frequently instinct with the same faith.

Persons who see signs and visions, and hear sounds inaudible to others, are always highly strung, sensitive, and emotional. They are almost invariably individuals who, from choice or necessity, are extremely abstemious (not to say underfed), and in whom the veil of flesh is thin, while the mental and spiritual faculties are abnormally developed. This description applied to all the Wesleys, so that they were exactly the kind of people to accept and believe in occult influences.

The first impression produced on Mrs. Wesley's mind by the extraordinary noises which were heard at Epworth Rectory in December 1816, when only herself, her husband, and her daughters were at home, was that they betokened that death, or some calamity, had befallen one or other of the absent boys. Charles, by this time, was at Westminster School, though only eight years old, Samuel having sent for him, considering that he could best relieve the family burdens by undertaking the maintenance and education of his youngest brother. Little Charles was a plucky boy, and remarkably ready with his fists; and, perhaps, mother-like, Mrs. Wesley was always anxious lest harm should come to him. In after days, and when assured of the safety of her own children, she connected the first noises with the death of her brother in India, who ceased to be heard of about that time. But as the sounds continued during many years, and "were, in fact, audible to some of the family throughout life, they must have applied to many occurrences, if indeed they were of the nature attributed to them by the hearers. The first account of the disturbances was written by Mrs. Wesley herself to her son Samuel, and it was at his request that his sisters and father also recorded what they had themselves experienced. Mrs. Wesley's letter is very circumstantial : — SAM, " January 12th, 1716-17.

" This evening we were agreeably surprised with your pacquet, which brought the welcome news of your being alive, after we had been in the greatest panic imaginable, almost a month, thinking either you was dead, or one of your brothers, by some misfortune, (had) been killed.

" The reason of our fears is as follows : On the 1st of December our maid heard, at the door of the dining-room, several dismal groans, like a person in extremes at the point of death. We gave little heed to her relation, and endeavoured to laugh her out of her fears. Some nights (two or three) after, several of the family heard a strange knocking in divers places, usually three or four knocks at a time, and then staying a little. This continued every night for a fortnight ; sometimes it was in the garret, but most commonly in the nursery or green chamber. We all heard it but your father ; and I was not willing he should be informed of it, lest he should fancy it was against his own death, which, indeed, we all apprehended. But when it began to be so troublesome, both night and day, that few or none of the family durst be alone, I resolved to tell him of it, being minded he should speak to it. At first he would not believe but some8 * body did it to alarm us ; but the night after, as soon as he was in bed, it knocked loudly nine times, just by his bedside. He rose, and went to see if he could find out what it was, but could see nothing. Afterwards he heard it as the rest.

" One night it made such a noise in the room over our heads, as if several people were walking, then ran up and down stairs, and was so outrageous that we thought the children would be frighted ; so your father and I rose and went down in the dark to light a candle. Just as we came to the bottom of the broad stairs, having hold of each other, on my side there seemed as if somebody had emptied a bag of money at my feet ; and on his, as if all the bottles under the stairs (which were many) had been dashed in a thousand pieces. We passed through the hall into the kitchen, and got a candle, and went to see the children, whom we found asleep.

"The next night your father would get Mr. Hoole to lie at our house, and we all sat together till 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning, and heard the knocking as usual. Sometimes it would make a noise like the winding up of a jack, at other times, as that night Mr. Hoole was with us, like a carpenter planing deals ; but most commonly it knocked thrice and stopped, and then thrice again, and so, many hours together. We persuaded your father to speak, and try if any voice would be heard. One night, about 6 o'clock, he went into the nursery in the dark, and at first heard several deep groans, then knocking. He adjured it to speak, if it had power, and tell him why it troubled his house ; but no voice was heard, but it knocked thrice aloud. Then he questioned it if it were Sammy, and bid it, if it were, and could not speak, knock again; but it knocked no more that night, which made us hope it was not against your death.

"Thus it continued till the 28th of December, when it loudly knocked (as your father used to do at the gate) in the nursery and departed. We have various conjectures what this may mean. For my own part, I fear nothing now you are safe at London hitherto, and I hope God will still preserve you ; though sometimes I am inclined to think my brother is dead. Let me know your thoughts on it.

" SUSANNA WESLEY."

Samuel Wesley was very much impressed by this letter, and wrote to both his parents in reply, asking the minutest questions, as to the possibility of rats, mice, or other animals having caused the noises, whether there were fresh servants, &c., and requesting that his father would write, that Mr. Hoole would favour him with an account, and that each of his sisters would give her version of what had taken place. It is evident that he had a firm belief in the supernatural origin of the disturbance, and wished to have it confirmed. This called forth a second letter from his mother : — SAM, "January 25th or 27th, 1716-17.

" Though I am not one of those that will believe nothing supernatural, but am rather inclined to think there would be frequent intercourse between good spirits and us, did not our deep lapse into sensuality prevent it, yet I was a great while ere I could credit anything of what the children and servants reported concerning the noises they heard in several parts of our house. Nay, after I had heard them myself, I was willing to persuade myself and them that it was only rats or weasels that disturbed us; and, having been formerly troubled with rats, which were frightened away by sounding a horn, I caused a horn to be procured, and made them blow it all over the house. But, from that night they began to blow, the noises were more loud and distinct, both day and night, than before ; and that night we rose and went down, and I was entirely convinced that it was beyond the power of any human creature to make such strange and various noises.

" As to your questions, I will answer them particularly; but, withal, I desire my answers may satisfy none but yourself, for I would not have the matter imparted to any. We had both man and maid new this last Martinmas, yet I do not believe either of them caused the disturbance, both for the reason above mentioned and because they were more affrighted than anybody else. Besides, we have often heard the noises when they were in the room by us ; and the maid, particularly, was in such a panic that she was almost incapable of all business, nor durst ever go from one room to another, or stay by herself a minute after it began to be dark.

" The man, Robert Brown, whom you well know, was most visited by it, lying in the garret, and has often been frighted down barefoot, and almost naked, not daring to stay alone to put on his clothes ; nor do I think, if he had power, he would be guilty of such villainy. When the walking was heard in the garret, Robert was in bed in the next room, in a sleep so sound that he never heard your father and me walk up and down, though we walked not softly, I am sure..

All the family has heard it together, in the same room, at the same time, particularly at family prayers. It always seemed to all present in the same place at the same time, though often, before any could say it is here, it would remove to another place.

"All the family, as well as Robin, were asleep when your father and 1 went down-stairs, nor did they wake in the nursery when we held the candle close by them, only we observed that Hetty trembled exceedingly in her sleep, as she always did before the noise awaked her. It commonly was nearer her than the rest, which she took notice of, and was much frightened, because she thought it had a particular spite at her. I could multiply particular instances, but I forbear. I believe your father will write to you about it shortly.

" Whatever may be the design of Providence in permitting these things, I cannot say. Secret things belong to God; but I entirely agree with you, that it is our wisdom and duty to prepare seriously for all events.

"S. WESLEY."

The second daughter, commonly called Sukey, wrote substantially the same account to her brother, but adds that the door-latch and warming-pan rattled beside her bed, and continues : " It is now pretty quiet, only at our repeating the prayers for the king and prince, when it usually begins, especially when my father says ' Our most gracious Sovereign Lord,' &c. This my father is angry at, and designs to say three instead of two for the Royal Family. We all heard the same noise, and at the same time, and as coming from the same place. To conclude this, it now makes its personal appearance; but of this more hereafter.' Of course this letter made Samuel more curious than ever, and he wrote begging for further information, and gravely asked his mother, " Have you dug in the place where the money seemed poured at your feet ? " To his father he observed, " if the noises bode anything to our family, I am sure I am a party concerned." It was some time before the Rector could be persuaded to answer his son's inquiries, but at last he enclosed a few lines with a long letter from Emilia, which gave some particulars not mentioned by anyone else : — " DEAR SAM, " February llth, 1716-17.

" As for the noises, &c. in our family, I thank God we are now all quiet. There were some surprising circumstances in that affair. Your mother has not written you a third part of it. When I see you here you shall see the whole account, which I wrote down. It would make a glorious penny book for Jack Dunton ; but while I live I am not ambitious for any thing of that nature. I think that 's all, but blessings, from "Your loving father, " SAM WESLEY."

Emilia described the sound as hollow and different to anything else, and said : " It would answer to my mother, if she stamped on the floor and bade it. It would knock when I was putting the children to bed, just under me, where I sat. One time little Kezy, pretending to scare Patty, as I was undressing them, stamped with her foot on the floor, and immediately it answered with three knocks, just in the same place. It was more loud and fierce if anyone said it was rats, or anything natural." The young lady also described how something resembling a white rabbit or a badger had been seen in the house, and asserted her opinion that it was witchcraft, adding that her father had been preaching " warmly " against the custom prevalent in the parish of consulting cunning men, shortly before the rappings and other manifestations at his own house.

Ventriloquism and occult phenomena were not unknown even in the days of George the First, to those who posed as wizards and soothsayers ; and the notion that some one or other of these cunning me a were paying the rector out for robbing them of their gains by denouncing the practice of consulting them from the pulpit, cannot but suggest itself to the profane and unbelieving mind of this nineteenth century. But the Wesleys, and many of their biographers, took these wonders seriously, and firmly believed that they had beneficial effects on the minds of some of the family.

One incident marvellously like our modern tableturning was chronicled by Sukey, who wrote to her brother how " last Sunday, to my father's no small amazement, his trencher danced upon the table a pretty while, without anybody's stirring the table, when lo ! an adventurous wretch took it up, and spoiled the sport, for it remained still ever after."

Samuel probably continued to ask questions, for on March 27th Mrs. Wesley wrote to him : " I cannot imagine how you should be so curious about our unwelcome guest. For my part, I am quite tired with hearing or speaking of it ; but when you come among us you will find enough to satisfy all your scruples, and perhaps may hear or see it yourself."

Mr. Wesley himself wrote a detailed account of everything that took place, and the following are the most remarkable passages.

" When we were at prayers, and came to the prayers for King George and the Prince, it would make a great noise over our heads constantly, whence some of the family called it a Jacobite. I have been thrice pushed by an invisible power, once against the corner of my desk in the study, a second time against the door of the matted chamber, and a third time against the right side of the frame of my study door, as I was going in.

" This day (January 24) at morning prayer, the family heard the usual knocks at the prayer for the King. At night they were more distinct, both in the prayer for the King and that for the Prince ; and one very loud knock at the Amen was heard by my wife and most of my children, at the inside of my bed.

" On Friday the 25th, having prayers at church, I shortened, as usual, those in the family at morning, omitting the confession, absolution and prayers for the King and Prince. I observed, when this is done, there is no knocking. I therefore used them one morning for a trial ; at the name of King George it began to knock, and did the same when I prayed for the Prince. Two knocks I heard, but took no notice after prayers till after all who were in the room, ten persons besides me, spoke of it, and said they heard it. No noise at all the rest of the prayers.

" Sunday, January 27th. — Two soft knocks at the morning prayers for King George, above stairs."

There was something wonderfully like human agency in all this, especially when Mrs. Wesley's Jacobite proclivities are remembered. Imagination, perhaps, caused the girls to think that the latches of their doors were uplifted and their beds heaved upfrom underneath. It is, moreover, on record that the phenomena were almost always accompanied by the change and rising of the wind. Everyone who knows how servants and ignorant rustics are in the habit of out- Heroding Herod when there is anything mysterious afloat will take the statements of Robin Brown, the man-servant, for what they were worth. He heard gobbling like a turkey-cock, and something stumbling among his boots and shoes, saw an uncanny little beast resembling a white rabbit, and once, when grinding corn in a handmill, declared that the handle went round vigorously when the mill was empty and he was not touching it.

The fear shown by the mastiff" whenever the noises began was very curious. A memorandum written by John Wesley records that " the first time my mother ever heard any unusual noise at Epworth was long before the disturbance of Old Jeffery." This was the name given by the girls to the intruding agency » f:My brother, lately come from London, had one evening a sharp quarrel with my sister Sukey, at which time, my mother happening to be above in her own. chamber, the door and windows rang and jarred very loud, and presently three distinct strokes, three by three, were struck. From that night it never failed to give notice in much the same manner against any signal misfortune, or illness of any belonging to the family." Emilia, writing thirty-four years afterwards to one of her brothers, declared that Jeftery " never failed to visit her when any fresh trouble was coming."

This, then, is the history of the Ep worth ghost. It reads rather puerile and silly, and perhaps would have been so regarded by the family, had not the rappings of the spirit appeared to justify or chime in with the Jacobite prejudices of Mrs. Wesley. She had implanted them very deeply in the mind of her eldest son; and his connection with and friendship for Dr. Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, fostered them. A few years later, in 1722, Atterbury, who was a distinguished High Churchman, and indulged in implacable animosity towards the House of Hanover, was implicated in a conspiracy which had for its object the placing of the Chevalier de St. George, that is to say the " Old Pretender," on the English throne, and was consequently tried at the Bar of the House of Lords, deprived of his see, and banished the kingdom for ever. He was a restless spirit and unpopular among his brother bishops, and, as Samuel Wesley was a writer of squibs and invectives, both in prose and rhyme, against the Whig party, there is no doubt that he did so with his patron's approval and at his instigation. Samuel was also on intimate terms with the Earl of Oxford, Pope, Swift, and Prior, all of whom .were of Jacobite proclivities. The fall of Bishop Atterbury did not make any immediate difference to the Westminster usher ; but when changes took place in the great school, and he looked for promotion, he was simply left out in the cold. The Earl of Oxford used his influence and procured for him the headmastership of the Tiverton Grammar School, where he spent the remainder of his life. He maintained a close correspondence with the exiled bishop and his family, and never changed his political opinions, as may oe seen by a glance at his collected poems, which were reprinted as lately as 1862.

The last words Mrs. Wesley is known to have written on the supernatural were in 1719, in answer to a letter from John Wesley, who gave extraordinary credence to stories of ghosts and apparitions ; he was then at Oxford, where he was interested in a haunted house in the neighbourhood. The special subject of his epistle was to describe how a Mr. Barnesley and two other undergraduates had recently met a wraith in the fields, and afterwards ascertained that Barnesley's mother had died in Ireland at the very moment of the spectre's appearance. Mrs. Wesley's reply was temperate, and even guarded : — "DEAR JACKY, "The story of Mr. Barnesley has afforded me many curious speculations. T do not doubt the fact ; but I cannot understand why these apparitions are permitted. If they were allowed to speak to us, and we had strength to bear such converse — if they had commission to inform us of anything relating to their invisible world that would be of any use to us in this — if they would instruct us how to avoid danger, or put us in a way of being wiser and better, there would be ' sense in it ; but to appear for no end that we know of, unless to frighten people almost out of their wits, seems altogether unreasonable.

"S. WESLEY."

It was a very curious circumstance that about a hundred years after the Wesley s had ceased to have any connection with Epworth, strange noises were heard in the Rectory; and the then incumbent, not being able to trace or account for them, went away with his family and resided abroad for some time.