Part 7

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.

In the meane tyme I was altogether ignorant of these new plotts, not having the least suspission of my comrade that he would have played the traytor with me till I came to Roan in Normandie. But the Lord who had saved me out of all former troubles would anihilate even this device against me. For when on the 16^{th} day of January I departed from Bourdeaux with my traytor, goeing by the water so farr as Blaye we lodged their that night, having another gentleman from Tours bound to goe the same way with or in our company. The next morning[28] before we sett forth we met their accidentally with three horses and a guide which were to retourne to Poicters. This oppertunity happened very comodiously for our tourne, seing that I and the other gentleman might gaine a days journey in the shortness of the way to Paris, for that the gentleman from Tours and I made choice to goe by the way of Rochell was only for want of occation to goe the nearest way to Paris. Theirfore I and the said gentleman, being glad of such an ocasion to shorten our journey, compounded with the messenger from Rochell with whom we had contracted at Bourdeaux for our passage to Rochell, giving him halfe fright rather then to loose a dayes journey. My tretcherous companion, having laboured as much as he could to hinder our purpose to goe by the way of Poicters, was much discontented that by this meanes he lost all hopes of coming to Rochell their to discharge himselfe of his dutye he owed to his cousin, yet that he might not be wanting in any thing that he might reward me with an ill tourne for all my kindnesse to him all the way through France, he sent presently a letter from Blay to his cousin in Bourdeaux to give him notice that we were not like to come at Rochell, but that we were gone another way to Paris, desiring him to send further instructions how he should behave himselfe in the businesse to a certaine house in Paris, where he would call for it when he should come thither.

Thus we marched very lovingly to Paris, I having not the least jealousy of his perfidious dealings, I made him every way equall with me both for entertainment and accomodation, bearing all his charges and expences by the way coming to Paris. As soone[29] as we were got into our lodging he went forth to looke for his directions, which were to be sent after him by the post by his kinsman above mentioned, and their he received my accusation subscribed both by my adversaryes at Rochell and of those that were of my examination at Bourdeaux, together with a letter of recomendation to a gentleman that was borne in Paris, who had a brother that kept an inne at Rouen, this gentleman was to take care of my examination and accusation according to the instructions he had received from Bourdeaux in writing and from my comrade in word of mouth. Theirfore the day following, as I and my Judas came to take horse at the messengers house, he tooke the paines to travaile with us from Paris to Roan their to execute his commission against me. Now by the way both he and those that were in our company whom he had aquainted with his designe began to put forth many merry conceits and perswations of my future troubles, yet continuing their jeasts that I could not aply any thing to my selfe openly, but only I entertained some suspition within myself not taking however any notice of their apish gesticulations, but carryed my selfe as though I had not perceived the meaning of them.

Being come to Roan this gentleman who was to mannage the businesse by letter of attorney perswaded me to take up my lodging in his brothers house, unto which, not to shew myselfe unwilling or any ways daunted, I willingly consented, still hopeing that perhaps I might be deceived in my suspisions that I had collected out of their foolish mockeryes, for I could not imagine that my comrade unto whom I shewed so much love and freindshippe would have rewarded me with so perfideous dealings. Because it was darke night when we entered the citty, their could be nothing done that night, but the next morning betymes they went about their erand; being in the meane tyme perswaded that I knew not nor suspected any thing of their plott against me because I carryed myselfe with a merry countenance among them.

But the Lord, who heretofore had found out many wonderfull wayes for my deliverance, sent here also his angell to give me warning of the bloody devices they had contrived against me. For ther was a yonge man from Rochell who intended to travaile by land so far as Deepe, and had beene in our company ever since we came from Poicters. He taking to hart the cruell entertainment that was prepared for me, was mooved with compassion of my woefull misery that I was like to fall into. Very suddenly theirfore when oppertunity served, in the morning he tooke me into a private corner, and told me that I was to be examined in a rigorus way by the hangman the next day after uppon some artickles that my comrade had brought along with him from Bourdeaux, and that I might give the better heed to his words he made a circumstantiall relation to me of all what had passed at Bourdeaux with me, and what was lately mentioned concerning this new plott, adviseing me to absent myselfe if I loved my life and safety. Further said he, 'the reason that you are not yet areasted is, because your comrade told them that you are quite bare of moneys, and that you intend this day to take up some from your marchant; they will not lay hold of you till you have taken so much as you will that they may have the better booty, theirfore they let you goe freely whether you will, for they all think that you suspect nothing of their designe.'

Now I came to see the trueth of the suspition I conceived the day before upon the roade, but being aquainted with the greediness of my adversaryes, I made the use of it. When I had beene forth in the morning and taken up some money of my marchant, I retourned againe to my tretcherous comrade, at my dinner tyme imparting to him that I had beene with my marchant to receive of him 500 livers, but he having not the money ready in the morning desired me to come about three or foure of the clock in the afternoon. This pollicy I used because I durst not venture to make an escape in the day tyme for feare of being watched by some body, but in the darke I thought I might goe any whether. The Lord blessed my endeavour accordingly, for this excuse of myne concerning the receiving the money was taken for a reall trueth, so that they suffered me to goe forth againe in the afternoon, not doubting my retourn, for to make all sure I bought in the forenoon a couple of books and some lining, and left them on the table in my chamber in the presence of my comrade with my pistolls and sword and other necessaryes in a little port-mantle.

Now when night drew on that it was a little duskish I bought another sword, a pockett pistoll, a paire of shooes, and a leather bagg the which I filled with bread. Having made this provision I crossed the river of Seine in a boate, I intending to goe on foot to Caen in Normandie, which was some 28 leagues from Roan, their to look for some English ship wherin I might be transported to England. For brevity sake I forbeare to make any relation of the pertickulars of every day. Only because hue and cry followed me close where ever I came I durst not come neare any towne or house, but was constraned to keepe the open feild twelve dayes together, or for the most part in sollitary woods, dureing which tyme their was a most vehement frost, and the ground was all covered with snow wherby I was often dogged as a hart by his track. For eight dayes I could neither sit nor lye downe but where I was first faine to bestow halfe an houres worke to cleare the snow from the ground; and above all the rest the night after the fifth of February proved most pernicious to my feet, for the night and day before their was a great storme with snow and tempest, wherby the ground became so deeply covered with snow, that as I was marching the night after, every step I made I trode halfe and somtymes whole knee deep in the snow. By which meanes the snow melting upon my leggs and runing downe into my shooes, my stockins began to be frozen to my toes like as it were a cold stone before I was awar of it; for whilest I was in motion I thought no snow could indanger me, how wet soever my feet were, but having lost all the feeling out of them, I did not presently pull of my stockings as soone as I came to sit still, and that while the frost gott such an advantage upon me that it would have cost me both my feet had I not bouried them after the sun was up in a heape of snow, wherby the frost was drawn out againe, yet the flesh about the great and little toe of my left foot being past recovering I was forced to have it cut of as soone as I had oppertunity of tyme and place.

During this progresse I had no other sustenance but what I brought out of Roan, and what afterwards I got with great hazard of my life. The provision that I carried out of Roan with me lasted three dayes, having fasted after that was spent two dayes, I ventured in the duske of the evening into a little towne called Bullie, their to buy some bread, thinking that no body would take notice of me at such a tyme in the evening. But as soone as I was gott into the towne, the townesmen being informed of my coming before hand by two travillers, which on horseback overtooke me a little before I gott to the towne, besett presently the two passages of the towne with a gaurd, while they went to consult how to lay hold on me in a more legall way. For the towne lyeing close to the river and backed with very steep and unaccessable hills had but two passages to come in and out, which being guarded though they let me goe about the towne, yet they counted me as sure in their hands as if they had had me in a safer coustody. Perceiveing this, as soone as I came into the towne by the people staring and mocking me, I forgot my hunger, and could not looke for bread, but only meanes to get out of the towne againe. And it being now become quite darke I tourned up and downe in the towne till I gott out of the peoples sight, makeing towards the other passages which were a musket shott without the towne, theire to try whether I could make some shift to steale by the guards (for I had beene formerly a little aquainted with the place as I travailed through it foure moneths before that tyme); but coming to the passage I found it altogether impossible to gett by, the place being so narrow and the guards so carefull, and while I was walking under the hills not farre from that passage their came two men with fowling peeces on their shouldiers from the guard upon me before I was awar of it, intending to goe home to supper and leave me to my selfe assuring themselves that I could not escape any whether. Then I went from one place to another making severall endevours to get through, but I wearyed myselfe in vaine, till about eleven of the clock at night I tooke a resolution to try whether I could try the hills (though they were such as that I beleeive no body since the creation had made use of that way before me). Yet the Lord (to disapoint my enimies in their devices) carried me over the same, after I had beene climbing from one hill to another some three houres, and the hilt of my sword and my knife were the cheife meanes to get over these steep places, I could take no hold with them in the rubbish that lay upon the rocks while I crept upon my hands and knees upwards.

The Lord having thus wonderfully delivered me even out of the trap, after I had overcome the hills I lodged myselfe in a wood hard by. For those hills had so exhausted me of all my strength that I was not able to march any whether that night, but I continued their that night and the next day. The night after I marched againe till I came in the morning before another market towne, where once I had marched through in the midst of the night being the third night after I came from Roan, but I was now come hither againe accidentally by a mistake caused by the cloudy weather (for having beene neer halfe the way to Caen, till I came to see the impossibillity of getting through, espetially my feet being spoiled by the frost, I was now upon my back way to Roan to seek some English ship for my last refuge); and finding the conveniency of a small wood neare to the said towne to conceale myselfe theirin all the day following I remained their with an intention to goe, like as I did two dayes before, in the duske of the evening into the said towne to buy some bread before any body would take notice of me, not fearing in the meane while any would be privy to my being their now.

Whether the two men that met me in the morning before day at the townes-end, or whether a boy that saw me by chance in the wood at noon had betrayed me I know not, but all the towne knew that I was in the wood, setting watchmen on the top of the hill, where they knew that I must needs come forth whensoever I left the wood unlesse I would goe through the towne (which they did not expect), while they sent for halfe a dozen of the Duke de Longevilles guard (which when I saw goe all in the Duke's livery having white crosses on their backs) on purpose to apprehend me in the wood, which might easily be affected, the wood being little and not very thick, runing up from the valley hard by the end of the towne to the top of the hill. Now before the guard came it was about sun-set, theirfore not to loose any more tyme many of the townes people great and small went with them to the top of the hill, their to begin to search for me and so continue downwards, for on the top of the hill were the thickest bushes, and their also was I discovered at noon by the boy; but being then frighted with the boy I was before evening crept downe into the valley under the banck side by the high way, and their I lay till I heard and saw the multitude with the guard to passe by me, then tarrying till they were all got to the top of the hill, and seing no body to hinder me from coming into the towne, I rose and went into the towne, buying some bread while no body was their to opose me, though all those that saw me cryed out upon me, saying 'this is the theife they seeke,' calling for those that were appointed to take me, and sending after them to the top of the hill, which required above a quarter of an houre to get up. Yet because others had undertaken the charge to apprehend me, no body would make it his proper duty to lay hands on me, especially seing me armed with a sword and pistoll. Being thus fournished with bread I went out againe as free as I came in, getting out of the other end of the towne, and having the aproaching night to friend me I stole away under the hedges before any of the said guard or catchpools could retourne from the hill and be ready to follow me.

After this wonderfull deliverance and releife I marched the same and the next night till I came before Roan againe. And being within an English mile of the towne I searched for a place to hide myselfe among the bushes all the day longe till in the evening I might gett over the river, and goe into the towne, their to putt into practice my intentions before mentioned; but as I was thus busie their came by unawarrs two travillers goeing into the Citty a little before daybreake, these hearing a noyse among the oake bushes fell a running and cryed 'a theife,' 'a theife in the bushes,' all the way alonge. This accident struck me againe with such new frights that I durst not goe to the Citty the next evening, according to my former intentions, for feare their should be waite laid for me at my enterance into the Citty. So I deferred my enterance for three dayes longer, although I were sure to fast all the tyme, for my bread that I lately bought before I came so farr was neare spent. For the said reason I lay their from Saturday morning till Munday night[30], and then I went in the name of the Lord into the towne, yet leaving my sword and cloake behinde me in the wood least they should betray me at the water side.

After I gott into the Citty my first care was to refresh my selfe with meate and drinke, and then I sought for a ship. The God of all comfort and Father of all mercyes, intending now to put a period to my longe continued afflictions, was pleased to prosper my endeavours, and to direct me to a man that was both faithfull and willing to take care for my security, granting me the use of his ship for my transportation for the summe of fifty pounds sterling. Being got on ship board and come againe into warme lodgeing my feet began to be altogether uselesse to me, and full of raging paine, my frozen toes began now to rott, and were in great danger of loosing altogether, for I had hitherto no tyme for convenience to aply any thing to them, nor could I by what meanes soever recover the flesh that was cutt of the bones till the begining of May following. Because of the contrariety of windes and other impedements we were faine to lye in the River of Sceine till the 21^{th} of March, then we set saile and came into the Downes on the 23^{d} of the same, the same day after I came to London againe.

Now the Lord had tourned my mourning into joy and gladnesse againe, in granting me the sight of that day wherof I had many hundred tymes dispaired of before. Great and unspeakable have beene the sufferings of my body, but farr greater and even beyond all expression have beene the sufferings of my minde. Had I had a thousand worlds in my possession I would freely have given them all for my liberty, and made choyce besides to live in the condition of the meanest beggar all the dayes of my life, if I might have beene freed from those horrid feares which at severall tymes suppressed my spirit with such a weight as if heaven and earth had laid upon my shouldiers. My burthen was so much the heavier the lesse hopes that I had ever to be eased of it, when I tasted and felt in the highest degree all the greife and anguish that poverty, nakednesse, hunger, frost, and the most tiranicall persecution that cruell enimyes could ever inflict upon any mortall body. I could looke for ease no where but from death it selfe, who would have beene my most welcome friend, so it had not beene accompanied with so cruell and exquesite torments as my enimyes threatened me withall.

But blessed and for ever blessed be the Lord, who doth great and marvillous things without number; who disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot performe their enterprize; who delivereth the poore from him that is too stronge for him; he woundeth and he healeth again; he bringeth downe to the grave and raiseth up againe; he hath not suffered my foes to rejoyce over me, nor given me as a prey to their teeth; he hath beene my sanctuary, my refuge, and my stronge tower from the enimye; he hath saved me from the reproach of those that would have swallowed me up; he hath revived me in the midst of my troubles; he hath delivered my soule from death, myne eyes from teares, my feet from falling; he hath not dispised the affliction of the afflicted, neither hath he hidden his face from me, but when I cryed unto him he heard me; he hath given me my harts desire, and added a length to my dayes. To him only belongeth all praise and thanksgiving for evermore. Amen.

NOTES

=P. 5=, l. 20. Blaye is on the east side of the estuary of the Gironde. It had in 1876, according to Reclus, a population of 4,500 souls.

=P. 15=, l. 9. 'Graffe,' i.e. a ditch or moat. Richard Symonds describes Borstall house as defended by 'a pallazado without the graffe; a deepe graffe and wide, full of water.' _Diary_, p. 231.