suffitiently argued the groundless charges they had conveined against
me, they refused to reason any longer with me, but desire me to repaire
into the other roome where I was afore, saying that I should finde
another examinator, unto whom I should be more ready to reveale the
trueth then I had beene to them. Thus I retourned into the said roome
where I found the hangman making his instruments ready for the worke,
and myne accusers; who being ravished with joy because they had brought
their designe to an expected end, continued to increase the sadness of
my spirit with many insolent and hart breaking expressions, and drinking
an health to my confusion, another to my speedy journey to the gallows.
Now the temptations of that day (which was a day of distresse and
unspeakable greife to me) came to their height; now fearfullnesse and
trembleing came upon me and horror overwhelmed me; here the sorrows of
death incompassed me and the paines of hell gott hold on me; here I was
to goe through the fire and water, and to make choyce of destruction for
myne inseperable companion. To describe the heavinesse of my spirit and
the sorrowes of my hart I was in at that instant I know not where to
begin, nor where to conclude, nor where to finde signeficant words to
make a true and propper expression of the matter; only I say they were
such as that I cannot without astonishment of heart thinke of them, nor
reflect upon them with my mind in a serious consideration without teares
of joy.
Now when I was past all humane helpe and comfort, wanting both time and
place and the use of myn understanding (which was then wholly suppressed
and stupified by hellish feares) to thinke upon any project for an
escape, I leaned myselfe out of a window, having noe other place or
conveniencie for any private meditacions, and tooke myne onely refuge to
him who is an helper to the oppressed, a protectour to the forlorne, and
a saviour of them that are without helpe, with confident perswacion that
hee was both able and wise enough to deliver mee out of the hands of
myne enemies, though they were never soe many, and though noe hope at
all apeared in my sight for my deliverance, if it seemed good in his
eyes to doe soe. But if by his eternall decree, I was to drinke this
bitter cup of affliction, my onely request to him was then, that with
his strenght hee would appeare in my weaknes, and worke a conformity
betweene mine and his owne will, that with a contented minde I might
take this cupp from his hands, and glorifie his name for his
dispensacions.
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.