Chapter II: Part 2

I had noe sooner withdrawne my selfe from the window, but God, who had given eare to my crys, sent an instinct into my mind to try whether I could gitt privatly downe the stayres whilst all the companie in the same roome were tryumphing and rejoyceing in my mesiry. The which motion I went immeadiatly to put into execucion, and made foure or five turnes up and downe the roome, taking every time in my walking alsoe the lenght of a long gallery which crossed the rome running streght out of the doore, wherby I conteyned myself in every turne a little while out of there sight, which afterwards caused a carelessnes in them not to looke presently after mee when I went for good and all. At length I tooke the oppertunity to walke downe the stayres silently, and coming downe I found the gaurd that was apoynted to attend mee in the kitchin, making merry with drinking liberaly upon my cost, not suspecting my coming downe. By reason whereof I was not discovered as I passed by the kitchin doore, but without any further let I came to the streete doore, which was not locked yet, but onely boulted with two boults, and having unboulted it I went out, making what hast I could to the Citty gates. But it being late, about 10 a clocke at night, all the gates were shut.

Then I bent my course to the Citty walls, and ran about the same soe long till I came to a place where the battlements with sume parts of the wall were broaken downe, whereby the wall in the same place was become six foote lower then the rest of the wall. But before I was gott soe farr I heard the cryes in the streetes made by my persecutours, which doubtles were sore greeved and vexed that I was gone out of their hands without taking leave of them; therefore being senceable of that cruell intertainment which was prepared for mee in my unfortunate quarters I durst not goe farther about upon the walls for feare of my approaching ennemys, but resolving to cast myselfe upon the same God who had torne me but then out of the lyons mouth, beseeching him with all ernestnes that he would alsoe carry mee out of the same enemies sight, and send and assist mee in that dangerous but nessisary atempt of myne, which I was forced to make by leaping over that wall formerly mentioned, which was yett about 17 or 18 foote high from the ground. Thus having made another experiment of the wonderfull mercy of God I came on the ground on the other side of the wall without any hurt at all, save one small spraine I perceived in my right heele, which was by strayning a vaine as I thought. Yet was the same soone cured with the joye I was ravished withall, because of the seasonable and unexpected deliverance. Being without the wall I had a deepe moate or graffe to passe through yet before I could march any further. And seeking a passage where with most ease I might gett through I went about an houre round about on the foot of the wall, which was on dry ground, till at length I found a place where formerly their had beene built a water bearer crosse the graffe but now was broken downe, only some ruins of the foundations left yet, some above water and some under water, so that I could passe over the water upon the said ruins wadeing not above knee deepe.

Now I counted myselfe at full liberty, and being transported even above myselfe with unspeakable joy I retourned praise unto the Lord for his wonderfull dealings towards me, and resolved to march some seaven or eight leagues towards the sea side, to try whether I could meet their with any shipping wherby I might get from thence. And as I was marching on that night I lost my way, and was drawne by degrees into the middle of a great morast some two English miles broad, being misled by a supposed foot path, which had beene of use in the dry Summer tyme but none in Winter when it was altogether unpassable. Here I was wadeing up and downe to my middle, backwards and forwards all the rest of the night, even to the danger of my life, not knowing whether I went because no starrs appeared. Then I wrought myselfe through and came on dry land againe about nyne of the clock in the morning. My strength was wholy spent by this night's worke so that I was not able to goe any further before I had rested myselfe some two or three houres under a hedge. In the meane while I dryed my cloaths againe as well as I could, and made a paire of shoes of my bootes, cutting of the leggs of them, and makeing the feet servisable for shoes, that so I might be able to march with more agillity then I could with boots on my feet. Then having recollected some strength by a little rest, and refreshing my spirit with a draught of cold water (for better accomodation I was affraid to seeke in any house) I betooke me to my journey againe, in hopes that night to gett to some of those little townes which lay over against Blaye, before hue and cry after me could come thither. For their I intended to hire a boate that should have carried me by night to some of the shipps which were rideing over against Blaye.

At night an houre after sun set I got to Pullitor (which was one of the little townes I aimed at), and being tyred above measure both in body and spirit, by reason of the hard travills that I had endured both that day and the night before, I was ready to faint for some refreshment. I was fasting all that day, not dareing to aske releife of any body by the way. I was forced theirfore to venture into a taverne in that towne and aske for a pott of wine with some bread, which was brought me accordingly, not feareing in the meane tyme that the inhabittants of that place had goten any notice of my escape from Burdeaux. But before I had eaten and drunke my fill a guard of the townsmen came to secure me, haveing received a compleat discription of my person with an order to apprehend me before I came thither. By these townes-men I was kept all that night in the same house I first came into. In the meane while they sent to the next garrishon, which was Blaye on the other side of the water, giveing intemation to the Governer their of my captivity, and desiring him to take care of my examination and tryall.

Wher upon the next morning about nyne of the clock their were sent from thence for that purpose two officers, fouer comon soldiers with fyerlocks, and another hangman with two servants (for as I learned afterwards the magistrate of every place where I was apprehended was to have all my estate I had in France), and mention being made in the hue and cry after, that I had 1200 livers in some bodys hands in Burdeaux, I was by their privelidges to be tryed in the same towne, or in that jurisdiction where I was taken. The two officers tooke up their lodgeing in the next house, but the foure soldiers and the hangman with his crue were ordered to beare me company in the same rome where I was.

The evening or the beginning of the night being appointed for my tryal, the hangman made all manner of preparation in the same roome before myne eyes; and when I prayed him to be as favourable as he could to me and I would resigne all what I had about me, he promissed me upon his faith I should not be hanged before I was sufficiently tortured. Such and the like comfort I received from him and all that were neare me. Now my terrors was multeplyed againe, and my sorrows brought to the same height they were at before, I finding myselfe forsaken of all the world, and seing no less grounds of feare and dispaire then I did two dayes before at Burdeaux. I heard through out the whole day no other discourse of all that was neer me but augmentations of my greife. I laid most part of that day upon my bed, sighing and crying unto the Lord that he would not withdraw his presence from my fainting spirit. And truly giving over all hopes of life I could not solicit the Lord for another deliverance, for I thought it a vaine thing to beg for impossibillityes; therfore all the scope of my supplication was only for spirituall comfort, for increase of my wearyed patience, and for a joyfull resolution to take up my crosse, and to carry it without murmouring after my Saviour. All that weere about me tooke occation at every carriage of mine to mock and scoffe att my calamity, in so much that when somtymes they perceived my whispering upon the bed they would saie 'harke, hearke, he is very earnestly preaching and praying, let us see if he can pray himselfe out of our hands.'

The day being thus spent and the night drawing on, the hangman seeing me in a fainting condition (because I refused to take either meat or drinke all the day) was very fearfull that I should faint under his hands when he should come to worke with me at night. To that end he devised this pollisie, to perswade me to sitt downe to supper with him and the rest, and to take some refresh of meate and drink, wherby my spirits might be revived againe. Halfe an houre before supper tyme he came in suddenly from the street, telling me their was an order come from the Governer of Blaye that I should be carried from thence to Rochell the next morning, their to be kept in custody for further examination. This designe of his, because it semed at least wise to delay the evill expected, though it could not altogether free me from the feares of it, tooke such effect upon me that my hart being eased theirby in some measure of the heaviness it was in, I rose presently from my bed; not suspecting any deceit in the project, for it appeared very probable to me that I should be carried to Rochell, because most of my accusers dwelled their, being in hope in the meane tyme, if my tryall weere suspended for the present, that God would work perhaps some meanes for my deliverance. In this perswation I satt downe to supper betweene seaven and eight of the clock, and fell to my meat with a good appetite.

In the midst of our supper my maister the hangman called for a cup of wine, the which was filled and given him by his man; and as he was putting it to his mouth, before he drunke he remembered himselfe, and asked his man out of which pot it had beene filled (for their stood two potts on the dresser); and when he shewed him which pot the glasse had beene filled out of with his finger, the hangman fell to cursing, and rebukeing the fellow for his carelessnesse, in so much that he threwe the glasse with the wine into the fyre. Hereby I came to be sensible of my delusion, remembering some words that weere spoken that afternoone as I lay upon my bed; for the hangman had sett a little skellit with faire water upon the fyre, and as in the boyleing theirof he putt somthing into it, his wife bid him put a greater quantety of that ingredience that the water might be the stronger; but he answered her saying, 'by no meanes if you put in any more you will kill him altogether, this is enough to bourne him to the hart.' These words, together with the other passages that happened both at and after supper, were a sufficient argument to me of their intentions: namely the hangman had prepared a potion for mee, which was to procure unto mee greate gripings in the belly, that soe the outward torments being added to the inward paines it might make mee confesse the secritts of my hart. My eyes being thus opened by the wonderfull worke of God, I refused to drinck any wine but what I filled my selfe out of the potts which I saw others drinking out of before me. Now the hangman saw himself frustrated in his hopes hee perswaded mee presently after supper to goe to my rest into my bed betymes, because the shipper with whom I was to goe to Rochell would call mee early in the morning. But I being sufficiently convinced of his designe could give noe eare to his perswacions, but spent my time by walking up and downe the roome; till at lenght about 9 or 10 a clock hee suspected my fears (for hee would faine have made mee gone to my bed before he should have medled with meef, that soe hee needed not throw mee downe perforce). Therefore to remove all grounds of suspition I had of him, hee bid us all good night, and tooke his leave of all as though he was going to his rest into the next house, where the two officers lay, which were to bee present at my tryall; but being gone downe the stayers, and one of the gaurds with him, unto whom hee gave order to send him word whensoever I was gone to bed, that hee might come with the officers to finish the worke that they had in hand with me.

In the mean time, notwithstanding his pretences, I kept walking up and downe the roome full of feares and suspitions till eleven of the clock, and then I layd myselfe downe upon the bed in my cloathes. I was noe sooner layd but those that gaurded me sent a boy to the hangman, who because it was soe late returned this answer: that the officers who were to attend my tryall were fallen asleepe, but they would bee ready to come with him about 3 a clocke in the morning; hee desired them therefore to bee very vigilent and carefull of mee till then, least I should escape there hands. The gaurd according to these instructions used all means to keepe one another from sleeping; if one did but slumber a little the other would presently waken him againe to my greate greefe. All this while I lay in a hellish paine and anguish, expecting with horror and trembling that dreadfull howre but lately mentioned which was drawing one apace. Neverthelesse about one of the clock I felt within my selfe (doubtlesse by the Lord's instigacion who would further declare his wonderfull love to mee) a strong conceipt and an undeniable perswation that I should make another escape, althow the meanes how to perfect the same was not as yet aparent to mee. Where upon I began againe to consult with my selfe after what manner with most probability to accomplish my desires; and seeing, that unlesse my watchmen that were with mee in the roome were asleepe, it would be altogether vaine to make any attempt, I besought the Lord of all might that hee would with his alsufficient power to cast them into a sleepe while I should indeavour to gitt from amongst them. Thus I lay in expectacion with a watchfull eye, I making all signes of them of sleepe, till the Lord was pleased to answer mee graceously.

About two of the clock I found them all fast asleepe, both the fowre souldiers which sate about mee before the fire, and the two servants of the hangman which lay on a bed in the other end of the roome. As soone as I perceived it, I hasted to make use of this oportunity, and took both the sheetes of the bed, tying them togeather with the two corners, and slitting the other corner of the sheete assunder, that with the more conveniency I might tye it about the midle frame of the window (for the lower end of the pertition of the windows in these parts have wooden sutters without glassing). Having thus prepared the way, I stept out of the window in the name of the Lord, and let myselfe downe by the sheets, having my shooes in my mouth, till I came to the ground. Here I would make noe long stay soe much as to put on my shoose, but betooke myselfe presently to my heeles, and ran as hard and as long as breath would hould out. I was not gon full muskett shott from the house, before I heard the cry and alarem in the towne after mee. Suspecting that I was gone towards the River to looke for shipping, they persued mee up and downe the River side, as I could guese by the barking of the doggs in those townes and villages which lay in the water side. But the night being darke and I taking my course directly to the land side, I perceived none to come after mee that way, soe I marched peaceably all that night towards Bourdeaux againe, with an intencion to try whether I could gitt in some evening tyme, and find out a shipper with whome I might agree to take mee along with him beyond sea for a sume of mony.

In the morning after breake of day I lodged my selfe in a wood, and continued there till 2 a clock in the afternoone. But being weary of fasting, and thinking the inhabitants which lived soe farr from the water side would not have had any notice concerning mee, I put of my gray coate (which was mentioned in the hue and cry) and carreing it under my arme, I ventured out of the wood, and kept on my way till about 4 of the clock to an open village which was about 4 leagues from Bourdeaux. There I went into a taverne, and called for a pot of wyne with some bread to refresh my tyred body withall; the wyne was brought to me presently, but as for the bread I was to stay for it till they had fetched the key, which was some where in the towne. But insted of fetching the key they went to fetch halfe a dozen troopers that were quartered in the same towne, and some of them in the same house (for I saw five greate sadle horses standing in the stable) for to aprehend mee whilst I was staying for the bread. Not having forgotten yet my former miscarriages, I mistrusted by the wispring of those that were in the house, that there was a new plott preparing against mee, the which suspition caused mee to pay for my wine, and soe hasten out of the house.

As soone as I came out in the streete, I saw five of the troopers coming downe the towne. They called to me desiring me to stay, but I taking noe notice of their calling, went on a strong pace, yet without running, till I came about the corner of a close; then I ran in hast behind a hedge, where I made a version of my waye, and turned quyt back againe, till I came to the end of the towne where I first came in. There I went into a garden, and kreept (as I thought unknowne to any body) into the bottome of a hedge. The troopers before I gott to this hedge, were gotten on horse backe serching for mee with great rage. They crossed the fields thereabouts till darke night, and having missed their ayme after this manner, they caused all the villages within a league round about to watch and keepe a gaurd that night, barricading with carts and ladders the highwayes in all places where there was any considerable passage, for the fields were all inclosed with thick and unpassible hedges. I lay in the meane time securely in the hedge bottome, thinking that noe body had knowne of my being there, till there came a lustie cuntry man, who having seene mee to creepe into the hedge walked all the while I was there in the garden, taking noe notice of mee in the hedge; and as soone as it was darke, hee approached towards mee, and thrusting mee with a staffe desired mee to come forth. Soe when I came forth, I besought him to lett mee goe, and I would give him all that I had. Hee being willing to grant my desire asked mee presently, where my goods were? I tould him in the bottome of the hedge; for having seene mee to carry a bundle under my arme, which was my short coate, hee thought that the richest plunder that I had would bee in the bundle, by reason of that he bad me goe whither I pleased, he would be no hinderance unto me. While he went to looke for his booty I hasted away. Then I went all that night out of one close into another, not being able to get through, the guards weere so strictly kept upon all the high wayes.

About breake of day I betooke myselfe to a ruinous chappell wherof the walls were only standing, the ground within in most places was overgrowne with nettles, which weere my shelter for all that day till the afternoone. About two of the clock, being ready to starve for cold because of my thin cloathing, and having perceived no body all the day to come to so sollitary a place, I went forth out of the corner in which I had hid myselfe till then. I went into the middle of the chappill where I had place to walke by short tournes, therby to gett some heate into my quakeing body. As I was walking in the middle of my walking their came a countryman with a short crooked bill in his hand; him I prayed after many other discourses, that he would be a meanes to conduct me to the water side, which was within a league, from thence to transport me on the other side the River, and I would give him tenn pistolls for his paines, if he would not betray me. This man did seme to like my motion well, and promised me with many oaths to be faithfull to me, desiring me not to stir from the place till at night, as soone as it was darke, he should come to fetch me. After this fellow was gone I began to consider within myselfe that I could looke for no reall dealing from him, but that he intended either to deliver me into the custody of my persecutors, or else to destroy me privately in the night, and so to make a prey of me for his owne profitt; for if I had put myselfe after this manner into his power, wherby all that I had in my custody became to be at his disposeing, he could not but hope to reape a greater game by killing me then by keeping his promise with me. Therfore not thinking it safe for me to continue theire till night, I resolved an houre after he was gone to seeke some other hideing place.

Thus deserting the said chappell I fell into a high way, which of necessity I was forced to keepe, by reason of the thick hedges and deep ditches on both sides of the way. Before I had gon far I mett with a barricade cross the way, made with carts and ladders the night before, but now it was without any guard. Seing this I concluded that their was not so strict watch kept for me by day as by night, the which emboldened me to continue my march in hopes to passe all the inclosed feilds before night, to reach the champion country, where I could not bee blocked up in the maner I used to bee among the hedges and ditches. Now when I had even overcome those difficult wayes among the hedges, and was now upon the brim of a large champion country, I sought about the hedges for some hiding place where I might be obscured till darke night. But before I could find a place fitt for my turne, I was discovered by a contry man coming from the feild, who dwelled hard by where I was; who as soone as hee gott a vew of mee hee came rounding towards mee with a long crooked bill, and made mee to goe along with him to his house, where I saw never another man, but fowre or five women, whereof one was his mother, who did curse and revile mee in a most abhominable manner. A maid was presently sent to some officers in the parish for more helpe, for his house stood by it selfe in the field far from neighbours. In the meane time the good man gave mee a glasse or two of wine, and a little crust of bread, which after two dayes fasting, was some though not considerable refreshment to mee because it was noe more. Taking noe delight of the ayre in the house I could not have patience to sitt downe, though much intreated, but sought to walk up and downe rather without the dores then within. After that I had bin there about halfe an howre, the maid that went for more helpe, returned with news, that some more men would be there immeadiatly. Now the day and night were even parting, darkenes increasing apace, whilst I still continued to walke, with many intreaties that hee would dismis mee, promising him 20 pistolls for his reward, but I could not prevaile with him. At length the ould woman came forth full of indignacion, rayling and chiding him for walking in the darke without armes in his hands. The good sone, taking his mother's witt for the best, willingly yeilded to her instructions, and prayed her to stay with mee till hee went to fetch his fowling peece; thus having resigned me to his mother's care, he went to fetch his gun in the house. I kept in the mean time of his absence a slow walke while the ould woman full of jealousy followed mee close at the heeles mandring, and when I guessed what tyme her sone might be got up the stayres, I made use of my leggs on a suddaine, and ran into a plaine champion feild, which was on one side of the house, with all possible speed, leaving the ould woman behind in a distracted and raging condition, clamering and taking on as one out of witts. Before her good sone could gitt downe to see what his mother ayled, I was out of reach of his gun, and out of sight, making soe many crooked turnes in my passage that they might not know where to follow mee.

Thus being at liberty again I made full account to bee at Bourdeaux against the next morning. To which end I marched all the night, making noe stay in any place, but in the morning when I thought my selfe to be neere Bourdeaux, I perceived my selfe to bee two leagues directly backward further from Bourdeaux, then I was in the evening before I made myne escape. And finding my selfe in a wood through which I had passed two dayes before, because it was an extraordinary thick misty night, which was a meanes that I knew not how to deserne the east from the west by moone or starrs whereby I might have directed my course according to my intentions, the day being at hand I durst not venture to march farther for feare of being discovered, but lodged my selfe in a greate thicked of thornes, for I feared to be discovered in the wood. I lay hiden till about two of the clock in the after noone some cattle came neere mee, which following an ould over growne path for grasse, and forcing through directly upon me, made me run forwards out of the thicked, for I feared the boyes that kept the cattle would follow them in the reare, and the thornes and bryars were soe thick and soe closely growne togeather that it was impossible for mee to creepe through on eather side. Soe being driven by these brute beasts out of the private receptacle into a more perspicuus place, I fell presently into the vew of some boyes that looked to the cattle, whereof some went presently to make knowne that I was in the wood. Not long after the wood was besett, and all the high wayes, by which unavoydably I was to pass whensoever I should offer to gitt out from thence, were strongly gaurded by the countrymen living thereabout.

Now I found myselfe as bad as taken againe; for though I could not be easily found out and aprehended in the wood, by the many impassable thicketts therein, yet could not I hide my selfe from hunger and cowld, which were now my greatist enemyes following mee close whether soever I went or turned my self. I went all the night from one end of the wood to the other, trying all the passages round about, whether I might nott make my way through any of them, butt the guards being soe stronge and vigilant I wearied my self to noe purpose that whole night. In the morning I retired myself into the thickest and most retired parte of the wood, and continued there till evening, nott appearing to anybody all that day, except some hounds which belong'd to the lord that lived close to the wood side came hunting to mee, but having looked upon mee with silence they went away. The night drawing on the gaurd about the wood were sett as strong and as many as the night before, wherby I was deprived of all hopes of escape; and seeing before mee in case I continued in that condition any longer, nothing else but present and unavoydable distruction both of health and life, because I had bin without releefe both of meate and drinke now about the space of fowre dayes, I thought it more expedient for mee to make myne escape by some desperate meanes, though there were never soe little probability in them, rather then to yeild my selfe to those of whom I could expect noe comfort then what those cruell and most exquisit torments they had prepared for mee accompaned with a most ignominous death would have afforded mee. I resolved therefore to cut two bundles of bulrushes upon which I could presume to swim over the river of Garrone which was about two English myles from the wood. But before I came to the River I was to pass through a greate moras about halfe a myle broad, running all along close by the wood side, which side was not gaurded by the contrymen, because the morast it selfe tho unknowne to mee was a sufficient gaurd to keepe mee from running away. Thus I tooke two bundles of rushes, and went into the said morast; which though it proved soe deepe and soe dificult that I sunck to my midle in the quagmire, where I should have bin past getting out againe if it had not bin for the bundles of bulrushes which supported mee whilst I recoverd myselfe, yet could I not be diverted from my resolution, till after I had wrought my selfe almost through the midle of it, and soe was forced to returne from whence I came.

Being come to the wood againe, wet to the midle and exhausted all my strenght, I sate under a tree, examining and bewayling my mesirable and hopeles condition. I counted my selfe reduced to that extreamity wherein infallibly I should have perisht, being opressed with hunger within and seeing the whole creation against me without, soe that in naturall reason I could not see how or by what meanes I might have the least hope, either for my restoration or for my present sustenance. I sent up to heaven many earnist and importunate requests that the Lord would bee pleased to shorten my mesiry or else to worke some meracle for my dileverance and present releife. Now although I earnestly wished and confidently expected my disolution, which I thought would have befalne mee that night or sudenly after, in soe fainting a condition I was in (for besides the failing of my strenght being hindred soe long from sleep both by feare and cowld, I was not onely uncapable of my reason, but alsoe careles and altogeather weary of my life), yet would I, I know not by what naturall instinct, seeke to gitt some ease for my almost senseles body, as long as occation would give way to it.

Knowing therefore that under the wood side at the end of the said morast there stood a lord or gentlemans house which had some stabling about it, I endeavored to repaire to one of the stables for some shelter, whereby I might defend my selfe from the extreamity of the ayre, which was very sharp then; and coming into the stables I went round about groaping and feeling all along the wall for a private place to hide my selfe. At length I met with a scaffold in the corner raised a foote and a half from the ground, and climing upon the same I passed likewise along the wall till I did tread with my foote upon a little bagg wrapped up in an ould coate, the which after I had taken up and unwrapped I perceived to be a bagg full of scrapps or crusts of bread as are used to bee gathered of the table after meales, weiging some 4 or 5 pounds. This singular providence of the Lord had such a reflection upon my body and sperritt, as that whereas before I might have bin counted halfe dead, now I received a new life againe. Now having gott both bread to sattisfie the rage of my hunger for three or fowre dayes, and covering to defend my selfe from the vehement cowld, I could not bee overjoyed of the sight of this wonderfull mercy of God without which, in my conjecture, I was absolutely to perish. This unexpected releife gave such comfort to my drooping spirit as that I was confidently assured there by that the Lord had thoughts of peace and not of distinction to mee, however hee suffered mee to bee under the cloud of affliction at present, having found such a booty. Taking away the said things theirfore I went with a light hart to the wood againe, takeing along with me a burthen of straw wrapped into the coate least by scattering of it I should be dogged out againe; and when I had fetched another burthen of straw I lodged myselfe in a private place in the wood, and pulling of my wett cloaths I wrapped myselfe into the long coate I had found in the stable. In this manner I made a poore shift to keepe my selfe from starving that night.

The next morning I imployed my tyme in drying my cloaths againe in the sun, which did shine very bright all that day longe. The night followeing I went againe round about the wood, trying the guards how I might secretly slip by some of them, which I found to be very difficult, till after midnight I percieved the watchmen of one post were asleepe, or by reason of the cold altogether departed from their station, because I heard none of them (for to be silent or stand still without acting some apish tricks is an impossible thing for most men of that nation, which often tended to my advantage to keepe me from falling into their hands unawarrs in the darke); then I made bold to steale through, and once more gott an inlargement of my restraint in which I had bin for those 3 dayes.

Now I was free, and intended to hold my former course. I mistooke my way againe, going too much west of Burdeaux, because of the cloudie ayre which deprived mee of the sight of the moone and starres, soe that after I had marched the quantity of 4 leagues, I was neverthelesse as farre as I was the day before from Burdeaux. And as it hapned all alonge that all my troubles were soe chaine-like linked together that the end of one calamitie was alwayes the beginning of another, soe heere did providence keepe the same method in exercising my patience with further trialls[27]. For before daylight I fell in my march uppon a great plaine-heath, which after itt was light I found to bee 4 or 5 miles broad. Now when I was in the middle the day broake in uppon mee, wherby I was exposed to the sight of all that mett mee; yett was I arrested by none till I came over the plaine, then even as I was to leave the great comon and entering into the inclosed feilds againe, my way fell thorough a small village, wher as I passed through I saw two or three boores or paisants standing in a doore. These men taking notice of my habit (the discription wherof they had learned out of the hew and cry) called after me, but I not mooved by their call kept on my pace till some of them gott on horse back others following on foote they overtooke me before I could hide myselfe in any convenient place. I ran for feare into a ditch full of water, but they pulled me out from thence with great cruelty. Having me thus at their mercy they tooke first all my money from me, which was about eighty pistolls in gold besides what I had in silver coyne. Suspecting that I had hidden some in the water out of which they tooke me, setting their fowling peices often to my brest theirby to make me confesse whether it were so or not, and when they could finde no more money about me they fell to strip me of my cloaths, and takeing so much as the shirt from my back they left me naked in the feilds as I came into the world, telling me that naked I came and naked I must goe out of the world againe. One of them presently putt on my worsted coate and drawers, flinging away his owne drawers and wastcoate that were of thin canvis ragged and torne. Another, which tooke away my hat, resigned unto me his old bonit. Of these leavings I was forced to make use of to cover my nakedness withall, though it was an habbit very unsutable for the season, for their had beene a hard niping frost ever since my escape from Pulliac, and continued so for two weeks together.

So parting one from another we went every one his way, they towards their houses and I towards Burdeaux, though it had beene better for those villands to have knocked me on the head then to have dismissed me, for it was their duty to carry me according to order to the safe keeping of the next magistrate, only for that they should not keepe all the booty to themselves they let me goe whether I would without restraint. Because I was now become a worme and no man, a scorne to all that saw me, I thought that now no body would count me worthy of takeing, theirfore I retourned to march openly by day. But the mallice of these rogues that robbed me was such and so great that rather then I should escape they would make an alarum (though it should be to their owne hurt) by sounding the horn, wherby they tooke the alarum from one towne to another, so that before I had martched a league hearing the alarum behinde and before and round about me, I was forced to fall into the bottom of a thick hedge to save myselfe from being taken againe. Their I continued from nyne till two of the clock of the afternoone till the cold and frost had so benumed all my members of my body that I was uncapable of any motion, and noe more senceable of any greate and sharp cold but onely inclyning to a fainting sleepe, soe that I was affraid if in case I continued fowre howres longer there till I might march at night againe, I should be past ever rising againe. Therefore when I saw a plaine contry man not farr of from mee passing I made bold to call him, with an intencion to promise him a good some of mony if he would take me into his house, and keepe mee there private for fowre or five weekes till I might git some letters of creditt from my frinds by way of Bourdeaux. But when hee came to see mee even spechles by shaking and quaking for cold, the owld man seeing my condition desired mee to come home with him to his house, which was hard by in a little village consisting not of above 12 houses. Having brought mee to his house hee made mee presently a good fire to gitt life into my starved joynts againe, and gave mee some bread and drinke such as his house afforded for my refreshment.

Whilst I thus refreshed me by the fire side there came severall of the neibours to looke upon mee in my comfortles condition, whereby some conjecturing that I was the man conserning whom they had received the hue and cry, presently sent for the Justice of the peace, which lived not farr from thence. He came about five of the clocke to waite upon mee, and was overjoyed that he had gott such a bird in his nett whose feathers hee thought would be at least 1200 livers in his way. Having variously discorsed with me and earnestly enquired in whose hands in Bourdeaux I had the 1200 livers mentioned in the hue and cry, hee tooke mee along with him into a larger house, where himselfe alsoe lying he caused mee to bee kept by a gaurd of contrymen. The next morning, because I could not give him a satisfactory answer to his demands especially concerning the 1200 livers, hee sent a messenger to Bourdeaux which was some 3 leagues from thence, for a confessor as he termed it to bee there against the next morning for to begin the same processe againe with mee as those at Bourdeaux and Puliack would have done, if God had not prevented it. In the meane while the gentleman being willing to gitt as much by my ruine as could bee went to consult with some of his frinds that were there, how hee might gitt some of the monies that I had lost the other day within his jurisdiction. Finding hee was not like to compasse his ends, he began to carry himselfe more affable to mee then before with all manner of faire promisses, namly that hee would helpe mee to my cloathes againe and to halfe the mony which I had lost, if soe be I could find out the men that robed mee or their houses. Wher upon, though I was sufficiently convinced that onely his and not my profitt was concern'd in the plott, yet being altogeather in his power, I could not chuse but yeild myselfe to his desires, and promised to goe back the same way I came the day before, and not returne before I had found out the houses of those men that had robbed mee. Then he provided a gaurd of fowre men with fowling peeces to goe along with me, and two greate doggs with a little one which were to attend my returne, which would bee in the night, least I should ever slip in the wood through which wee were to march. And because my feete being very much spoyled by the frost I indured before, I could make but small hast to follow my leaders, they furnished mee with a lame horse, on which I might make some shift to keepe pace with my gaurd, and yett not to run away from them neither.

In this equipage wee began our march about 2 of the clock in the afternoone, and found the house wherein the robbers lived within an howre and halfe after our departure. But before wee were come halfe the way to them, least the theeves wee sought for should conceave any suspition, and so absent themselves if from farr they should see mee come in their companie, wee went into a farmers house that lived by the way, and borrowing a long coate from him made of a thick white frize, they put it about mee, therewith to disguise me. This pollisie of theirs did exceedingly rejoyce mee, because it not onely conforted my naked body for the present, but it spoke moreover to mee that the Lord thereby was preparing new meanes for my deliverance, for by the helpe of this coate I thought my selfe in a capacity to lye out of dores againe in the field, which otherwise it was impossible for mee to doe for want of cloathes. I began therefore to make provision for a new jorney by filling my bosome with bread where and whensoever occation would serve mee, for both in the farmers, and severall other houses they made my gaurd (and me for my gaurds sake) wellcome, by setting alwaye a pott of wine and a greate househould loafe before us, by which meanes I gott as much bread as did serve mee two dayes after. At length when wee had found the place where the robbers dwelt, three of my gaurds went into the house and would not suffer mee to goe with them, but left mee in another howse with one of the gaurd, giving to the people of the house a strickt charge besides to looke to mee least I should make an escape. Having dispatched their Masters arrand, and returned into the house where they left mee, I asked them whether they would not helpe mee to my cloathes againe according to their promisse. They replied that I should find a man at home that would keepe me warm enough without cloathes, meaning the hangman, which was sent for him from Burdeaux to be theire against our retourne.

The night coming on a pace we prepared for a martch againe, and tooke our leave from the house we were in. Comeing forth those of my guard went two before and two behinde keepeing close to my horse heeles because it was very darke. When we weere gott againe so far as the farmers house where they borrowed my longe coate, they desired me to restore the coate to the owners againe. In the meane while the farmer himselfe came forth of the house entreating my guard to come into the house, and being entered the men that gaurded me set themselves round about a table while I was walking up and downe the roome with the borrowed coate on my back still. And seeing by and by the attentions of the men taken up with their cupps, and the doggs which were taken along on purpose to observe my motion in the darke striving about the warmest place in the chimney corner, I thought it to be the season for which I had looked with great expectation ever since I gott the coate on my backe. I made bold theirfore to step out of the roome with leasure as though I had some private businesse to doe without, and assoone as I was gotten out I pulled of the coate, and taking it under my arme I went in hast to try once more my heeles, which though they weere lame before yet now they were become as light as ever they were. I ran with all speed towards the open plaine feild which was on one side of the house. I was not gott halfe musket shott from the house before they came to looke for me, and finding me to be gone, they called presently forth the doggs, and sett them with a great and impetuous storme against the wood which was on the other side of the house, suspecting that I had taken that wood for my refuge rather then the open feilds. But I being gon the cleane contrary way, and the doggs amazed and confounded with the rageing cry of six or seaven men so that they could not take notice of me as I ran on, the poore men lost their labours and I gott my libberty by the assistance of God, together with a good warme coate to my back.

In the end of the game, to take all possible heed from falling into their or any mans hands againe, I steered my coarse directly back againe, to a wood which I knewe formerly being stripped not fair from thence. There I intended to conceale my selfe, and not to goe from thence till hunger should force mee, for I feared because of the nessessity they knew that I was in, I must goe to Bourdeaux for releife, that now they would raise for mee more then ever they did, but if it were soe that I could be some where in secritt two or three dayes till the heat of their fury against mee were some what cooled, then I supposed their gaurds would bee either more careles, or altogeather removed, that soe I might with more safety gitt throw to Bourdeaux by night. And coming into the wood, I found in the same a Church with an empty parson's house, and continued there, for the space of two dayes. The first night I lodged my selfe in the oven for feare of any bodyes coming into the house, for I knew not in the darke that I was soe far from neighbours. But the next day when it was light, I chose for my habitation a great come chest which stood upon leggs a foote and ½ high from the ground, and was in all about seaven foote deepe, and there I spent the rest of the time, as long as I stayed there, onely in the night I went forth to squench my thurst, out of the trench that went about the church yard. This was the best lodging that I had since I leaped over the wall at Bourdeaux; for in the morning after I first came in I found in a corner an owld sack full of wooll of about 15^{lb}. weight, which being most in great fleeces was of singular use to mee in supplying the want of cloathes, for I contryved to wrap my whole body to the knees into itt, putting the wooll to my skin and tying my canvas wastcoate and britches on the tope of it whereby I became as warme although not soe fashonnably clad as ever I was.