_His Birth; Apprenticeship; Going into_ France; _His beginning with Ten
Shillings and three Pence; His Service in the_ Netherlands; _His bad
Passage into_ Scotland; _His return to_ Willoughby, _and how he lived in
the Woods._
He was born in _Willoughby_ in _Lincoln-shire,_ and a Scholar in the two
Free-Schools of _Alford_ and _Louth._ His Father antiently descended from
the ancient _Smiths_ of _Crudley_ in _Lancashire;_ his Mother from the
_Rickards_ at Great _Heck,_ in _York-shire._ His Parents dying when he was
about Thirteen Years of Age, left him a competent Means, which he not
being capable to manage, little regarded; his Mind being even then set
upon brave Adventures, sold his Satchel, Books, and all he had, intending
secretly to get to Sea, but that his Fathers Death stay'd him. But now the
Guardians of his Estate more regarding it than him, he had liberty enough,
though no Means, to get beyond the Sea. About the Age of Fifteen Years, he
was bound an Apprentice to Mr. _Thomas Sendalt_ of _Linne,_ the greatest
Merchant of all those Parts; but because he would not presently send him
to Sea, he never saw his Master in Eight Years after. At last he found
Means to attend Mr. _Peregrine Berty_ into _France_, second Son to the
Right Honourable _Peregrine_, that generous Lord _Willoughby,_ and famous
Soldier; where coming to his Brother _Robert,_ then at _Orleans,_ now Earl
of _Lindsey_, and Lord Great Chamberlain of _England;_ being then but
little Youths under Tutorage: His Service being needless, within a Month
or six Weeks they sent him back again to his Friends; who when he came
from _London_, they liberally gave him (but out of his own Estate) Ten
Shillings to be rid of him; such oft is the share of Fatherless Children:
But those two Honourable Brethren gave him sufficient to return for
_England._ But it was the least thought of his Determination, for now
being freely at liberty in _Paris_, growing acquainted with one Mr. _David
Hume,_ who making some use of his Purse, gave him Letters to his Friends
in _Scotland_ to prefer him to King _James._ Arriving at _Roan,_ he better
bethinks himself, seeing his Money near spent, down the River he went to
_Haver de grace,_ where he first began to learn the Life of a Soldier:
Peace being concluded in _France,_ he went with Captain _Joseph Duxbury_
into the Low-Countries, under whose Colours, having served three or four
Years, he took his Journey for _Scotland,_ to deliver his Letters. At
_Ancusan_ he imbark'd himself for _Lethe,_ but as much danger, as
Shipwreck and Sickness could endure, he had at the Holy Isle in
_Northumberland_ near Berwick, ( being recovered ) into _Scotland_ he went
to deliver his Letters. After much kind usage among those honest _Scots_ at
_Ripweth_ and _Broxmoth,_ but neither Money nor Means to make him a
Courtier, he returned to _Willoughby_ in _Lincoln-shire;_ where within a
short time, being glutted with too much Company, wherein he took small
delight, he retired himself into a little Woody Pasture, a good way from
any Town, invironed with many hundred Acres of other Woods: Here, by a fair
Brook he built a Pavillion of Boughs, where only in his Cloths he lay. His
Study was _Machiavil's_ Art of War, and _Marcus Aurelius;_ his exercise a
good Horse, with his Lance and Ring; his Food was thought to be more of
Venison than any thing else; what he wanted his Man brought him. The
Country wondering at such an Hermite, his Friends perswaded one Seignior
_Theodora Polaloga,_ Rider to _Henry_ Earl of _Lincoln,_ an excellent Horse
Man, and a Noble _Italian_ Gentleman, to insinuate into his Woodish
Acquaintance, whose Languages and good Discourse, and Exercise of Riding
drew him to stay with him at _Tattersall._ Long these Pleasures could not
content him, but he returned again to the Low Countries.
* * * * *