Chapter III: Part 3

The stoare of my provision being totaly exhausted, I was now nessesitated to quitt this place, after I had sojorned there two dayes and two nights. In the 3d night I undertooke to march againe towards Bourdeaux, which was some 4 leagues from thence. Upon my march I found the gaurds through the whole night to bee strickly kept in all the villages, yet I made shift to pas them all by the healp of the great and continuall noyse the watchmen continually made, which gave me allwayes sufficient warning to goe by tims about, and soe avoyd the gaurds that layd waite for me. Yett for all that I could not reach Bourdeaux undiscovered, for when I came with in a league of the Citty, there was I met in the morning about 4 of the clock in a plaine place (where two wayes met) by a man that was one of the cheif of those that gaurded mee when I made my last escape, and which was also the principall authour of my borrowing my long coate. He desired mee to make hast to goe with him to Bourdeaux, though hee had noe armes at all. At lenght his patience being tired, and thincking infallibly I must come to Bourdeax for releif both of meate and cloathes, hee went before, out of an intention to lay waite for mee through others, either by the way or at the Cittie gatts. Now I was againe possesed with a new fright, for to goe directly without any delay into the Citty would bee my present mine, and to tarry without in the feilds did threaten noe less, because I wanted both food and rayment; yet counting it my best to make choyce of the lesser evill, I resolved to keepe my selfe in the feild, soe long as I might bee able to subsist without meate (for though I had lost my warme coate againe, yet could I make some shift to endure the weather by reason of the wooll where with my whole body was covered after the manner expressed). Soe thinking it a greater happines to perrish by hunger and frost (if it had soe pleased unto God) then to have yeilded my selfe to myne adversaryes crueltys, I tooke up in this beleefe the bottome of an hedge for my bed within an English myle from Bourdeaux and remained two dayes.

Again the 3^{d} day before it was light I drew neere to the towne into the suburbs, to the end that I might with more expedition gitt to the water side in the beginning of the next evening before it would bee toe late; and having layin hidden in the ruines of an owld house all the day long I went soe soone as it was darke, and came to the water side, where the shippers are used to have their constant meetings. There I first met with an Hollandish merchant of a shipe, unto whom I made knowne my desire to goe along in his ship, engaging my selfe to pay unto him the sum of 5000 livers for his reward, where and whensoever hee should land without the kingdom of France. But this man, because I was not able to speake plaine Hollandish without mixing some English amongst it, tould me that I was an English rogue, and hee would rather bee a meanes to helpe me to the gallowes then to carry mee in his ship. Thus taking my answer from this inhuman Hollander I went to another man that was master's mate of a great Lubeckish ship, which was ready to sett sayle the next day. This Lubecker having received my complaints was mooved with compacion, and tooke mee on board, where both hee and all the men of the ship expressed greate love to mee, and put mee into another habitt againe with ould cloathes, furnishing mee among themselves with dublitt, britches, long coate and other nessisaryes, soe that I looked now like a rationall man againe, whereas in my former habitt I seemed to bee a distracted person. As for passage they doubted not but they should prevaile with the master of the ship who did lye one shoare that night, but came the next morning on shipboard, in the meane time they entertayned mee with the best accomodation they had.

Being thus tenderly entertayned that night, when I wakened the next morning, I found my feete in which I had felt noe warmnes many dayes before, soe much swelled, and soe full of paine, after this warme lodging, that I was not able to stand upright without greate greefe, nor to abide my shoes upon them. Now as soone as the master came, all the men in the shipp made intercession for mee to gitt his consent for my passage, and my selfe promised him as much as I did the Hollander for my transportation before mentioned; but he being of a dogged surly disposition would give no eare to my complaints nor take to hart my woefull mesery, pleading for the safety of his ship and goods, which by my being their would be exposed to the danger of confiscation, in case said he that I weere found theirin by the searchers. Yet he said if so be that I could get so far as Blaye, and shew myselfe their on the shore side, his men should fetch me into the ship after it had beene searched, and so I might then goe along with him to Lubeck. Here my sorrowes were multeplyed againe in an unspeakable manner, because as all my former endeavours even so this project which I had taken for my last refuge was fruitllesse. As much as my hart was refreshed the day before, when getting on ship board I came from dispaire to some hopes of a deliverance, so much and farr more was I now dejected, being reduced from hope to dispaire againe. For although the maister of the ship made some promisse to take me along with him if I could get to Blay, yet being altogether deprived of the present use of my feet, I could not conceive any hopes to gett thither and so to enjoy the comfort of his promisse neither. This desperate condition of myne gave so sad a spectacle to beholders in the ship that it fetched teares from their eyes when they saw me tourned into the boate againe, for they looked upon me as one that was going to a wofull and miserable end.

Now when I was carryed on the shore againe the men in the ship, who was much greived with the maisters obstanacy, made a collection among themselves, and fournished my pocket with a French crowne in money, and giving me five or six dayes provision of bisket and pootered beefe they landed me on the other side of the river, with an earnest expectation that I should strive to the utmost of my power to get to Blaye, which was eight leagues from thence, and their they would watch for my coming to fetch me on ship board.

Being set on shoare about two of the clock in the afternoon, I did force myselfe to march, though my feet raged as if they had beene full of needles, and every step I sett was like a knife run through my heart, yet to strive for my life I would hazzard the losse of my feete, and have endured the greatest paine in going to Blaye then to fall into the hands of mine enimyes againe. Thus I marched in great paine all that day and the night following, without any obstruction because I was unknowne of that side of the water. The next morning about tenn of the clock I was met with a younge ougly looking country fellow, who hearing by my tongue that I was a stranger, bore me company, till he met two men of his aquaintance, then he together with them fell upon me, and tooke the crowne from me, and most part of the bisket which the seamen in the ship had bestowed on me, pretending that I was a spy left behind by the Spanish fleet which was lately in the river, and so my cloaths being not worth the taking they lett me goe. But within halfe an houre after upon better consideration they made an alarum after me by sounding the horne, which was presently taken round about, wherby I became subject to as much persecution as I had beene on the other side of the water, for although I had other habit yet did all the country take me for the man that was discribed in the hue and cry the two weeks before, seing that all that came to speake with me reviled me for an English trator. The alarum was so great that the troopers which quartered their abouts went the rounds on the high wayes till evening, and at night the countrymen kept their guards as strictlie as those did on the other side of the water.

Heere I was cast into a new despaire againe, for besides that I had lost all hopes of getting to Blay, by reason that my feete were nott onely very much swelled by the frost after the manner aforsaid, butt my soales were alsoe blistred that I was now disabled for going any more, there was moreover this block cast in my way, that I was now described and besett with guards in a waterish and inhedged country, and had yett a great river betweene mee and Blay to passe over, where without all doubt I was laide waite for in case I had bin able to goe further. Being by these meanes forced to desist from my resolution to meete the shippe att Blay, I fell into an hedge to hide mee from the rage of the countrymen and troopers which did every where attend mee. There I lay in a deplorable condition, sorely oppressed with greif both of body and minde; my feete full of raging paine were noe more able to carry mee, myne heart broke within mee with the conceit that alwayes my later calamities proved more desperate then the former, and the more that I strove to gett out of my misery that still the more I should sinke the deeper into the same. Hence I could nott butt fall into these thoughts, that the Lord had utterly rejected mee, that hee would bee favourable noe more, seing hee had sett mee as a marke into the which hee would shoote all his arrowes of anger; for when I looked for a time of healing behold my troubles increased, having bin frustrated in this attempt which I tooke for the last remedy of myne evill, I gave it for lost in regard I was now altogether disabled to make any further escape as I was formerly wont to doe when I was taken. In so hopeless a condition I spent my tyme under the said hedge that day and the night following, making an end of my provision that the robbers had left me.

The next day continuing still in the same place, because I was not able to goe nor knew I whether to goe, the hedge wherin I lay being very thin, I was discovered by some boyes that kept sheep (about two of the clock in the afternoone) their abouts, who as soone as they had seene me ran to the villadge hard by to give notice of my being their. Wher upon seing myselfe discovered, though before I was not able to stand on my feet, yet did feare so far overcome me that to shun any danger as long as possible I could make any shift to crawle a little way from thence to hide myself in a securer place. But as I was gott a quarter of a myle from the place where I lay in, it began to raine very hard; so seing a great house not far of I had a desire to try whether I could finde same shelter about the same, and coming neare it I entered into a stable one of whose doores was opened towards the feild the other into a court before the house. This stable being large was accomodated not only for cattell on the one side but also for all manner of other uses, for I found theirin a winepresse round about, their was also laid some cart loads of faggotts of greene furrs betweene which and the presse I did hide my selfe thinking it a great happinesse to be out of the cold winde and raine into a dry place wherby I hoped to have a warme nights lodging. Perceiving but little company about the house, when I came first into the stable I lay their with great confidence, not suspecting any body knew of my being their, yet before I had beene their halfe an houre, the good man of the house with two of his servants came home from the feild and received information conserning me of his son, a little boy of some 13 or 14 yeares old, who see my coming into the stable and watched me ever since then, wherby he knew that I was not come forth againe. Here upon great and small come into the stable rejoyceing for to have gotten the theife for whose sake all the townes and villages theirabouts had been fame to keepe guard all the night past, and being assured that I could have no other hiding place but under the furrs they sent for two longe hay forkes to remoove them all to come att me. I, in the meane tyme full of terror and trembling as soone as I perceived that I was discovered, forced myselfe under the winepress which was joyned to one side of the wall, the bed their of lay on two peices of timbre which being some five foot one from another were no thicker then my body so that with hard shift I could worke betwixt the bed and the ground upon my belly to the wall. Being crept under it as farr as I could, I tooke an old peece of wood which accidentally lay their and left it with other small sticks in the outside under the bed theirby to prevent in them all suspicion of my being under the presse. Now when they had remooved all the furrs and come to the full sight of the bed of the winepress they tooke it for granted that I could not be their, because the hollownesse between the ground and the bed was so flat in their apprehentions that they judged it altogether uncapable of receiving a man, theirfore they only ran the forke into the peice of wood which I had laid out of the mouth of the hollow, and having tourned the same they made no further scruple of that place, but were taken with great wonder and amazment, being confident I had beene seene going into the stable and not coming out againe, or if I was gott out it was not by naturall meanes but by witchcraft. Nevertheless suspecting that perhaps he might be mistaken in watching my coming forth either into the feild or into the court (though both the doors of the stable were so placed that from one station he could looke them both) because it was now darke, and their were more stables and a great deale of timber in the court where I might hide myselfe in case I were got out of the stable, the maister of the house sett his two men to watch in the court all the night over till the next morning that they might make a more exact search for me.

The two watchmen walked the round in the court all the fore part of the night, while in the meane tyme about eleaven of the clock, being weary to lye longer in so cumbersome a posture, I gott forth from underneath the winepress, where I had lyen now about nyne houres flatt on my belly till all my joynts felt like dead, because being pressed close to the ground I had no roome to turne myselfe nor to make any motion with my body. Being gott out of this straite lodging I sheltered myselfe betweene the cattle that stood on one side of the stable observing the motion of the said watchmen, which having borne the labour of the day and now walked till now about midnight began to longe for some rest, because they could not perceive all that tyme the least signe of my being their abouts. They blamed the boy for making such trouble with his groundless fancies and came into the stable where I was, laying themselves downe to sleepe hard by the doore that went into the court, and after they had a little reasoned that I could not breake open the doore about the court without making a great noyse they went boldly to sleepe while I heartely prayed for their good rest. As soone as I judged them to be fast a sleepe I passed by them into the court where I found all the doors locked and the walls so high that by no meanes I could gett over them. I walked an houre up and downe devising by what shift I might get out into the feilds, at length finding no other meanes to escape I pitched upon a doore which went into a vineyard joyning to the house, and seeing this doore went not close to the threshold upon the ground but lacked so much of his full length as that I could put my fist under it, I tooke a small peice of a tree and lifted the said doore from the hinges and after I had loosened it, being both in feare and hast, I could not prevent the falling of it to the ground, wherby presently the whole house tooke an alarum, but I having now before me a great hole to get out by would make no stay to looke for the issue of that alarum but ran a pace till I gott without the bounds of that vineyard.

Thus in the midst of my greatest trouble I received comfort againe, though it was but such as in relation to a better condition was comparable to dispare it selfe, for although I had drawne my foot out of the snare yet knew not where to fix my biding but must of necessity fall into another againe. I was become like a ship that upon a tempestuous sea hath lost his rudder and sailes and can no more be guided by the discretion of the steersman to any harbour of safty, but left to the mercyless waves to be overtourned and swallowed up in the deepe, to be cast upon the rocks of despaire. Even so was I at this instant deprived of all hope and counsell to direct my course either to the right or left for safety, seing nothing but signes of unavoidable destruction round about me.

Being thus at liberty againe to seeke another hiding place I walked or rather crawled upon my pittifull feet out of one feild into another, not knowing nor careing which way I went, till againest day I lit on another barne which stood by itself about a stones cast from the dwelling house. Coming to this barne I found a little haystack piled up against a wall the which, the weather being very ill, was a great invitation to me to take up my lodging on the top of it, perswadeing my selfe that no body would suspect or seeke me theire. In this confidence I made shift to get to the top of it, and having prepared me a place wherin I might lye both secret and warme I fell presently a sleepe, not wakeing till about nyne of the clock. Being wakened I saw two country fellows at the barne doore standing on purpose to watch least I should get away before those came for whom they had sent to aprehend me. Here the comfort my last nights escape had gotten in me was tourned into dispaire againe, although I knew not by what meanes or after what manner I had beene discovered so soone, only I ghesed that either some body had seene me goe into the barne, or else the servants when they came to feed a couple of oxen which stood in a pertition made in the corner of the barne had heard me make some noyse in my hard sleepe. How ever it came these same fellows thought themselves very sure of me, mocking and jearing with my pittifull condition, and demanding of me why I would rather come to be taken in their barne then their neighbours house which was but halfe a mile from thence. I had bewitched their neighbours eyes, but I should not bewitch theirs. With such and the like jeasts they passed their tyme till the good wife of the house called them to dinner; then they went to the dwelling house, and fetched their meat, with an intent to dine without the doore that so they might both eate and have an eye to the prisoner.

As soone as they were gone I raised myselfe from my couch and perceiving in the little pertition where the oxen stood that their was a hole broken in the wall some nyne foot from the ground for to let the light in I hasted downe from the stack and went into the said stable and making meanes by a long beame to get up to the hole, after I had looked out of it, I found that it would be very narrowly overlooked by them that stood in the doore of the dwelling house. Yet because the watchmen that were at dinner saw a little more to that side of the doore where they could not give so good attendance to the hole as to the barne doore, I retourned to creep out and fell into a thicket of briers which were under the hole, and on that side of the barne. Being gotten to the ground I crept in the bottom of these bryers till I came at the back of the barne, then could I goe whether I would without disturbing the watchmen, being at their dinner. Now because it was daylight I durst not venture far to seeke a hiding place for feare of being betrayed againe, I was constrained to fall into a ditch under a thick hedge near the high way that came from Burdeaux. I had not lien long their before the alarum conserning me was made as fresh as ever it was. The troopers went too and fro upon the high wayes, and all the travillers that passed by me made me the cheife subject of their discourse, giving to my hearing (because I laid on the way side) their severall judgments upon me, one counting me a crafty fellow, another tooke me for a witch by reason that I had beene so oft in hold and yet escaped as oft again beyond their expectations that had me in coustody.

All these things that I heard and saw could promisse nothing else but a finall ruine to me, neither could I since I was disapointed in my journey to Blaye think upon any way more wherby I might conceive any hopes of life; yet as every day brought forth new troubles, so new troubles led me upon new devices, new devices gave me new experiences of the wonderfull mercyes of God. Even so while I lay in the bottom of the hedge struggleing for life, I began to have new consultations againe; though I had hitherto beene frustrated in all my attempts, as longe as I enjoyed breath I thought it my duty to nature to thinke upon others. However the latter project semed to be more desperate then the former. I resolved theirfore to retourne to Bourdeaux againe being no further then three leagues from thence, and to apply myselfe to some Hambrough marchants, thinking if the Lord would yet looke upon my afflictions that he was able to incline their harts towards me, and make them instruments of my recovery, and keepe me also out of the hands of my enimyes which lived their, but if he intended to bring me to a wofull end in this world I counted it as expedient for me to submit to his good pleasure their, as in the country where not the least hope of life did appeare to me.

To prosecute this resolution, as soone as it was darke I laboured to get forward to Burdeaux with as much speed as I could. Finding the guards very vigilant in all villages I made shift to pass by them with going about where occation served, but as I came to an open market towne within two leagues of Burdaux I met with a small river at the hither end of the towne. Because of the low waterish grounds and deepe ditches and thick hedges, this place was so barrocaded up with carts and ladders and through all the night so strongly guarded that by no means it was possible for me to get through or by it, although I spent all the whole night in trying all manner of wayes to gett by. Against morning I went a little back to hide myselfe in a great empty barne which stood aloane in an inclosed feild, in hope that it would not be frequented much by day by any people, because their was nothing in it but some rotten and decayed straw under which I lay hid. Their I took my rest undiscovered till about one of the clock, their came halfe a dozen children which in their play running up and downe a top of the straw came to tread upon me as I lay in my sleep. Herby they presently discovered me, saying that I was the theife for whom they had watched all the last night, they would goe to tell their fathers of my being theire. And so they being gon their way I thought it not safe for me to stay their till the inhabitants should come to take me with delibration, theirfore I went forth to seeke another hiding place, but could finde none ready to my hand, because of the ditches under the hedges were brim full of water. In the meane while I came accidentally to see the barrecado which the townes men had made the night before for my sake to be without any guard (for they thought I durst not march by day in view of the people--they kept only guard in the night tyme) I resolved to make use of this opportunity, and to venture through the towne at noone day. Thus comitting myselfe to the Lord I marched with confidence through the towne whilest the people theirin least expecting my coming, because it was about dinner tyme I did not meet many on the streets, divers men looking over the doores, and seeing me goe fistling as though I heard nothing, knew not what to make of me. I went in a poore seamens habbitt, yet by that tyme I was gott through the other end of the towne they bethought themselves better, and suspected that I was he for whose sake they watched the last night, calling after me and desiring me to tarry, and I refused to hearken to their call, they cryed aloud their was the traytor we looked for the last night. But before they could be ready to come or send after me, I being now got through the towne went backward behind the middle of the towne, where I did hide myselfe againe whilest some of the townes men pursued me in the way to Burdeaux.

I continued my march the next night carrying nevertheless about me and before me the alarum all the night longe till I came to the river side, only now being in a dry country I could shunne at pleasure all their guards by goeing about, receiving always sufficient warning by the singing and clamouring they used where they were. The morning following I gott to the river side some two English miles before Burdeaux, taking up my quarters on the bottom of a steep hill overgrowne with small wood on purpose to overlooke all the conveniences how I might get privately in the evening tyme into the Citty, their to put my last project in practice. And when it was broad day light that I could see all about the sittuation of the towne and river I found myselfe in another mistake, wherby all my hopes were dashed with one blow as it were to peeces; for I was perswaded all this while that their was a bridge extant over the river into the Citty, over which I intended to have pased in the duske of the evening when no body would have taken notice of me, but now I was come neer the Citty I found no such thing, and counted myselfe to be in as great a strait as ever I was, for to desire passage over the water of any waterman I durst not venture, unlesse I would be carried by him directly into the hands of myne enimyes againe, neither had I any money to pay for my passage, and to be transported for charrity I could not expect from any in that country. I was now as neare if not neerer to despaire as the Israelites were at the Red Sea, being persecuted by innumerable enimyes that were round about, and sorely oppressed with hunger within, besides the pittifull condition of my feet. I gave over all hope of life, unlesse the Lord would work further mirracles for my deliverance as he had done formerly.

In this comfortlesse condition I kept my lodging upon the hill till night, then I went downe into the plaine which was all along the river side, to see whether I could get a peece of bread by begging in the darke (for I had beene now foure dayes without) thinking that no body would be ready to apprehend me if I fell not upon a guard. And as I came to a house, asking but in vaine for a peece of bread for God's sake, I perceived that they were making fire into a baking oven standing in an out house in the garden which together with the house was incompased with a deepe moate round about. This same sight caused me to looke to the oven while the bread was bakeing, to that end I got into the next vineyard and made passage into the said garden with a bundle of sticks which lay in that vineyard, filling the moate with them being ready to my hand. Being by this meanes gott into the garden I watched with great longing till the bread was put into the oven, and when it had an hours baking I made bold to step to the oven, and tooke the iron shutter downe wherwith the mouth was stopped rearing it against the wall upon some cloggs of wood; then I reached forth a loafe with the bread shovill, but having got it to the mouth of the oven the iron shutter fell downe and made a very great noyse, which so frighted me that I let the shovill fall and run for my life. The man of the house came presently running towards the oven, but I was gone before he could see me, and so my designe to get bread came to nothing. Afterwards I walked about all the night, out of one vineyeard into another on the water side, studdying how I might get over the water. At length my deliberations came to this result, that I intended to seek a boat some where on the river side, wherin I might endeavour to put myselfe over the river by stealth in the night tyme, though it semed very difficult to me, both for breadth of the river and for the luggish and unweildiness of the boates which were their abouts, for I could find no less then such as would carry at least three horses at one tyme, which could not be guided by one man and without a rudder too. Yet necessity compelling me to make use of such occasions as I could get, I was fully resolved to prosecute this conclusion, only as the tyde fell out I could not put it into practice before two or three dayes were past when I might have a flowing water about ten or eleven of the clock at night.

The maine question now in debate with me was how I should subsist so many dayes longer without bread, for having fasted already foure dayes I was now theirby, as also by former hardship, brought so low that to my thinking I could not be able to goe another day. But the determination of that query was so far above the reach of my reason that I could not contribute the least thought towards it. Theirfore I did cast myselfe wholy upon the Lord's providence and went against daybreake to my former lodging upon the hill againe, the lower ground next to the river not yeilding me as yet any convenient hiding place by reason of the watery ditches under the hedges. Their I sat and had a faire prospect which was very fitt to overlook the country, but not the end of my mesery. Because it was Sunday I beheld all the inhabitants merry and joviall below, while I was ready to faint for hunger and greife above. No earthly thing had place in my thoughts but bread, bread, great store of which was not far from me but to come by very hard for me. About tenn of the clock I saw both men and women to flock very thick to the Church which was neare an English mile from thence, the which sight gave me occation to think that whilest the most part of men were at masse I might goe downe without any great danger, and try the charrity of the maids and women that were left at home to looke to the houses, if perhaps they would take pitty on me and succour me with a peece of bread. And when I came downe I came from one house to another to beg for releife, useing all the arguments of perswation as ever any begger in the world did, yet could not stir the least compassion in any of them what pittifull expressions soever I made to them, but instead of an almes they bestowed so many heavy curses and ill wishes upon me. Whereat neverthelesse I was not daunted, but hunger helping me to beare all reproaches I continued to solicite though to no purpose one house after another, till at the length I came at a house where no body was at home, but were all at the masse. Wherupon to try all manner of conclutions for my releife I made bold to climbe into the window, not fearing any neighbours because all the houses stood by themselves a great way asunder, and seing the chimney to have some live coales in it, I doubted not but the cubbard would also afford some bread. I broke open the window and went into the house streight way to the cubbard, not minding anything else in the house. Having opened the cubbard I found nothing else then a loafe of a peck of houshold bread one quarter wherof was eaten, I borrowed the rest, together with a pipkin full of fatt gathered both of boyled and roaste meate holding about a pinte. Having performed what I came in for I went out at the window againe, and being by that meanes provided by the spetiall providence of God and theirby enabled to subsist for some dayes till the tide would fall out later to carry on my designes to get over the water by night.

I went now to consider of a place where I might spend this prey in rest and safty, and knowing that all the sittuation theirabouts would not aford me a better accomodation then the presse house joyned to the same dwelling house where I borrowed the loafe, both being under one roofe only distinguished by a partition wall in the midle, I went into the same, in hopes that the people of the house when they came home would not once suppose me to have tarried so neare the place wher I had comitted such a fact, but that they would rather perswade themselves that I was gon further to conceale my actions. This presse house was very full of lumber, and their was amongst the rest a great coupe or fat about nyne foot high and seaven foot wide. I liked this coupe so well that I made use of it for my lodging as long as I should stay on this side of the water, supposeing that their I should lye in no bodys way to be discovered, because no body could get neither in nor out of the same without a ladder. But having first made provision how to get in and out by meanes of a long rope and longe notched peece of wood reared up within the tubb, went into the same and fell to feed upon such cheare as God had sent me, giving God praise both for this seasonable releife and for so necessary and convenient lodging prepared for me, for I estemed myselfe now to want nothing having meate within the fatt with me, and their lay four hogsheads of small wine or burick (made with water wherwith the grapes are washed after they are pressed over againe) in a room which was instead of a seller under the dwelling house, but the dore of it came into the press house. Their as often as I was dry and nobody in the way I went to drinke my fill with a reed out of the bung-hole opened with an iron naile which I continually carryed about me.

I had not beene longe in the fatt before my landlord came home, who with all the rest of his houshold was much amazed at the honesty, yet at the boldness of the theife was offended, because he had offered to breake open nothing but the cubbard, and carryed away nothing but the bread, and the fat driping. When he made his complaints to his neighbours of his ill fortune, they told him that I had been begging at their doores, and that I was not come back againe that wayes, but if he would finde me out he must goe forewards his house. Borrowing in the meane tyme another loafe he went to dinner with his family which consisted of two men besides himselfe and two women. After diner they went all up and downe to inquire whether I had bent my course. One of the men being wiser then the rest my foot prints were easily diserned from other folks who all both great and small made use of wooden shooes which having no high heeles make farre another print then other shooes doe, and doeing after this manner they found indeed I was come into the house, but that I was neither retourned nor gon beyond the house, so they concluded that infallably I must be still in the presse-house hidden under the lumber that was theirin. They began theirfore to remove with great confidence all the lumber and empty caskes that was in the presse house, which was so tedious a worke that it kept them busy from two of clock till darke night, having not the least conjecture all this while of the great fatt wherin I lay fearing and trembleing, because they were sure that without a ladder I could not get out nor into the same. Thus having wearyed themselves with searching for me in vaine till evening they gave over searching, and I kept quiet possession of my tub till Wedensday in the morning.

I came forth somtymes for drinke and motion of my body, especially in the night tyme, but when the Lord intended to let me see another experiment of his power and love towards me, he let it come to passe that on Weddensday in the morning about day break I fell as I was in my sleepe into a violent coughing, caused by some humors falling into my throat, of which though it were for my life I was not able to refrain myselfe, so that those that were in the dwelling house came theirby to heare distincly wher I was and had beene ever since Sunday noon; for the great tubb made such an eccho, that they presently called to me out of the window of the dwelling house that looked into the pressehouse congratulating and jearing me with my strangly conceited lodging. Theirupon the good man of the house sent imediatly his two men to guard the doore of the presshouse, and himselfe when it was breake of day went to advise with his neighbours how to send to their Justice of peace to give notice of my condition.

Now my hopes began again to faile, being falne into the hands of those who in regard of their owne wrong they had received from me would use their uttmost endeavours to look more narrowly to my coustody then ever any did before, yet considering how the Lord had owned me hithertoo with so many wonderfull deliverances I would not cast away all courage, what grounds of dispaire soever came into my way, but perswaded myselfe confidently that he would not have wrought so many wonderfull evasions heretofore if he intended to destroy me in the end. Theirfore I doubted not but that the Lord would finde some way to deliver me even from these present feares, though the manner how was hidden from mine eyes till noon. For then it came to passe that the watchmen which otherwise stood constantly at the doore of the press-house had their dinner brought them, for the eating of which they seated themselves on the ground some what to the left hand of the doore, so that I had liberty to creep out of the great fatt without their sight, and to passe by the doore without their sight into the roome where the foure hogsheads of beverick before mentioned were. Now having heretofore observed the structure of the house, and knowing their were a paire of stairs built after the Scotch fashon without the maine wall by which they went up into the dwelling roome, and that underneath the staires their was a concavity fitted for a hogstye into the which their was made a hole through the maine wall out of the roome where the drinke lay, I went whilest the watchmen minded their dinner to creepe through that hole, and being with much pains (because it was both little and high from the ground) gott through I laid close in the said hogstye till evening; not dareing to stir forth because of the watchmen standing at the presshouse which was hard by the front of the stairs, the doore of the hogsty being on the backe of the same. After the watchmen had dined they went to their station againe in the press-house, fastening the doore, and sett themselves on jeering and mocking the theife in the tubb, not knowing the change of my quarters. Againe evening when it became dark they drew themselves to a place not far from the tubb. Their they made themselves merry with useing all manner of idle talke to me as they thought in the tubb, desiring me to content my selfe with my lodging one night longer and I should be releived the next morning betymes. It being quite darke I went out of the hogstye, where I had lyen since one of the clock in great feare, because their went a foot path close by me on which much people used to walke, and could as they came along fully see me in the hogstye, which had no corner to hide me in but was only a square hole capable to receive one hogg. But by providence it began to raine very hard soon after I was got into it, and continued so till ten of the clock at night, by reason wherof they that went by had either their faces covered or were faine to look to their feet to keep themselves from slipping.

Then I made for the water side to looke for the boate that I had made choyse of on Saturday night before, and having found it I ventured about ten of the clock to goe over in it, giving myselfe to the streame which of itselfe carried me upwards being some two miles below Burdeaux, and with a strick wrought to make way to cross the River which their abouts was neare an English mile broad, and by these meanes I arived safely on the Chartrux in Burdeaux about twelve of the clock at night, discharging the boate after my arivall by comitting it to the care of the streame againe. Being landed I went to hide myselfe and take up my rest in the ruins of an house in the subbearbs on the other side of the towne. In the morning as soon as it was light I retourned to the Charterux to inquire for some Hambrough marchants, and having found two of them living in one house, I declared to them my straits that I was in, desiring them in charrity to assist and helpe me till I could get releife by letters of credit from my freinds. I durst not aquaint them with the grounds and circumstances of my mesery upon what account I had beene persecuted (for then they would have beene affraid to medle with me), only I told them that I was coming with other company from Rochell and I fell sick, wherby I was forced to stay behind for two or three dayes, and being recovered I came along with a guide, and being halfe the way betweene Rochell and Burdeaux I was set upon by three robbers who tooke all that I had from me, stripping me also of my cloaths. These gentlemen gave some credit to my complaint with much to doe, being neverthelesse full of doubts whether or no I was not an imposture or vagabond run away from the Spanish or French army, yet could they not altogether withdraw their comiserations from my pittifull complaints, especially hearing of mine acquaintance with severall men of credit in Hambrough. Theirfore as the credit which they gave to my relation was mixed with doubts so they recomended me to a poore drinking house, where upon their word I had some poore entertainment mixed with sorrow. It was such as came short of that I had in the tub before I was discovered, only it served very narrowly to keepe body and soule together till I gott other releife. Very loathsom and musty bread, or livers, sheep and hoggs lights, were my best faire on flesh dayes. On fasting dayes (videl:) Frydayes and Saturdayes I was glad to be contented with sopps made of the said bread scalded with water and greased over with stinking oyle.

And with all this I should have beene contented and have counted myselfe happye might I but have enjoyed withall a kinde looke of my landlady once a weeke, but she was such an inveterate and malicious woman, desended as I thought of an infernall progenety, as that I never knew the like of her. Her humour was such that she would maunder all the weeke like a cursed dog, and if a straw crossed her the whole house trembled at her indignation, none, not the goodman of the house himselfe dareing to come into her presence till her fury was spent; and when she wanted other matter of scolding my poverty was the maine subject of her malice, because she perceived the recomendation of my freinds (the marchants that brought me thither) to proceed from a coole affection she respected me no better then a begger that is maintained for God's sake, upbraiding me dayly with the poore entertainment she gave me, and threatening oft to tourne me out of doores. So impetuous and formidable was the carriage of this Proserpina, and made me so tame and so aplicable that upon her command I served her for a scullion boy in all occations, waiting upon the ghests that came to drink their to carry their potts to the celler, and performing all manner of servile duties all the tyme of my being their. She made me tourne the spitt, the which preferment indeed was more agreable to my present habbit then my stomack, nor did the action itself so much greive me as the conceit to think I should not eat of the roast meat but take only the smell for my paines. In this practise I continued almost a moneth, keeping constantly within doores both for shame of my poore habbit and for feare of myne enimies, till I got releife by a bill of Exchange from my freinds. Then I changed my lodging, and put my selfe into another habbit againe.

I prepared for a journey to retourne by land to Roan, by the way of Paris. Now because I had beene so frighted with that nation I feared my journey would proove but uncomfortable to me if I should travaile without aquaintance, I made choyce of a younge man whom I had learned to know in my poore lodging but lately mentioned. This young man was borne and had his parents in Roan, but had beene for many yeares in the Low Countryes, by reason wherof he spoke good Dutch; he had beene lately taken by an English vessell and set on shoare near the River of Garrone. Having understood his desire to be at Rouen I promissed to beare his charges if he would goe along with me; he was much pleased with this offer of mine only he desired to take the consent of some of his friends. Now this young man beyond my expectation had a kinsman in Bourdeaux who was a familiar friend and daly aquaintance of one that was among the number of my principall adversaries liveing in the Citty. Both the kinsman of my chosen companion and my adversary spoke very good English, for they had lived a longe tyme in England, and when the said yonge man had asked his kinsman's advice about my proffers made to him, the kinsman was very inquisitive to know my name and my condition; then having obtained both and theirupon conferred with myne adversary, they came to finde that I was the man which was upon the stage eight weeks agoe (when I applyed myselfe to the Hambrough marchants their lay a great necessity upon me to keepe the same name by which I was persecuted, or else I could not have sent letters of credit in another name) then they went to contrive after what manner they might renew my troubles againe. Now what the reason was they did not areast me presently before I went from Burdeaux I know not, only besides the pertickular providence of God. I think it was either for feare that the English marchants living in Burdeaux with whom they had much dealings, would take notice of their mallice to the English nation, or else knowing that I intended to goe to Rochell they judged it more convenient that I should be accused and tryed where the other of my persecutors were, especially the first and cheife author of my mesery being of that number. They gave instruction to my comrade how he should betray me at Rochell to the said persecutors of mine which then would take further care of myne accusation.