necessity I was forced to keepe, by reason of the thick hedges and deep
ditches on both sides of the way. Before I had gon far I mett with a
barricade cross the way, made with carts and ladders the night before,
but now it was without any guard. Seing this I concluded that their was
not so strict watch kept for me by day as by night, the which
emboldened me to continue my march in hopes to passe all the inclosed
feilds before night, to reach the champion country, where I could not
bee blocked up in the maner I used to bee among the hedges and ditches.
Now when I had even overcome those difficult wayes among the hedges, and
was now upon the brim of a large champion country, I sought about the
hedges for some hiding place where I might be obscured till darke night.
But before I could find a place fitt for my turne, I was discovered by a
contry man coming from the feild, who dwelled hard by where I was; who
as soone as hee gott a vew of mee hee came rounding towards mee with a
long crooked bill, and made mee to goe along with him to his house,
where I saw never another man, but fowre or five women, whereof one was
his mother, who did curse and revile mee in a most abhominable manner. A
maid was presently sent to some officers in the parish for more helpe,
for his house stood by it selfe in the field far from neighbours. In the
meane time the good man gave mee a glasse or two of wine, and a little
crust of bread, which after two dayes fasting, was some though not
considerable refreshment to mee because it was noe more. Taking noe
delight of the ayre in the house I could not have patience to sitt
downe, though much intreated, but sought to walk up and downe rather
without the dores then within. After that I had bin there about halfe an
howre, the maid that went for more helpe, returned with news, that some
more men would be there immeadiatly. Now the day and night were even
parting, darkenes increasing apace, whilst I still continued to walke,
with many intreaties that hee would dismis mee, promising him 20
pistolls for his reward, but I could not prevaile with him. At length
the ould woman came forth full of indignacion, rayling and chiding him
for walking in the darke without armes in his hands. The good sone,
taking his mother's witt for the best, willingly yeilded to her
instructions, and prayed her to stay with mee till hee went to fetch his
fowling peece; thus having resigned me to his mother's care, he went to
fetch his gun in the house. I kept in the mean time of his absence a
slow walke while the ould woman full of jealousy followed mee close at
the heeles mandring, and when I guessed what tyme her sone might be got
up the stayres, I made use of my leggs on a suddaine, and ran into a
plaine champion feild, which was on one side of the house, with all
possible speed, leaving the ould woman behind in a distracted and raging
condition, clamering and taking on as one out of witts. Before her good
sone could gitt downe to see what his mother ayled, I was out of reach
of his gun, and out of sight, making soe many crooked turnes in my
passage that they might not know where to follow mee.
Thus being at liberty again I made full account to bee at Bourdeaux
against the next morning. To which end I marched all the night, making
noe stay in any place, but in the morning when I thought my selfe to be
neere Bourdeaux, I perceived my selfe to bee two leagues directly
backward further from Bourdeaux, then I was in the evening before I made
myne escape. And finding my selfe in a wood through which I had passed
two dayes before, because it was an extraordinary thick misty night,
which was a meanes that I knew not how to deserne the east from the west
by moone or starrs whereby I might have directed my course according to
my intentions, the day being at hand I durst not venture to march
farther for feare of being discovered, but lodged my selfe in a greate
thicked of thornes, for I feared to be discovered in the wood. I lay
hiden till about two of the clock in the after noone some cattle came
neere mee, which following an ould over growne path for grasse, and
forcing through directly upon me, made me run forwards out of the
thicked, for I feared the boyes that kept the cattle would follow them
in the reare, and the thornes and bryars were soe thick and soe closely
growne togeather that it was impossible for mee to creepe through on
eather side. Soe being driven by these brute beasts out of the private
receptacle into a more perspicuus place, I fell presently into the vew
of some boyes that looked to the cattle, whereof some went presently to
make knowne that I was in the wood. Not long after the wood was besett,
and all the high wayes, by which unavoydably I was to pass whensoever I
should offer to gitt out from thence, were strongly gaurded by the
countrymen living thereabout.
Now I found myselfe as bad as taken againe; for though I could not be
easily found out and aprehended in the wood, by the many impassable
thicketts therein, yet could not I hide my selfe from hunger and cowld,
which were now my greatist enemyes following mee close whether soever I
went or turned my self. I went all the night from one end of the wood to
the other, trying all the passages round about, whether I might nott
make my way through any of them, butt the guards being soe stronge and
vigilant I wearied my self to noe purpose that whole night. In the
morning I retired myself into the thickest and most retired parte of
the wood, and continued there till evening, nott appearing to anybody
all that day, except some hounds which belong'd to the lord that lived
close to the wood side came hunting to mee, but having looked upon mee
with silence they went away. The night drawing on the gaurd about the
wood were sett as strong and as many as the night before, wherby I was
deprived of all hopes of escape; and seeing before mee in case I
continued in that condition any longer, nothing else but present and
unavoydable distruction both of health and life, because I had bin
without releefe both of meate and drinke now about the space of fowre
dayes, I thought it more expedient for mee to make myne escape by some
desperate meanes, though there were never soe little probability in
them, rather then to yeild my selfe to those of whom I could expect noe
comfort then what those cruell and most exquisit torments they had
prepared for mee accompaned with a most ignominous death would have
afforded mee. I resolved therefore to cut two bundles of bulrushes upon
which I could presume to swim over the river of Garrone which was about
two English myles from the wood. But before I came to the River I was to
pass through a greate moras about halfe a myle broad, running all along
close by the wood side, which side was not gaurded by the contrymen,
because the morast it selfe tho unknowne to mee was a sufficient gaurd
to keepe mee from running away. Thus I tooke two bundles of rushes, and
went into the said morast; which though it proved soe deepe and soe
dificult that I sunck to my midle in the quagmire, where I should have
bin past getting out againe if it had not bin for the bundles of
bulrushes which supported mee whilst I recoverd myselfe, yet could I not
be diverted from my resolution, till after I had wrought my selfe almost
through the midle of it, and soe was forced to returne from whence I
came.
Being come to the wood againe, wet to the midle and exhausted all my
strenght, I sate under a tree, examining and bewayling my mesirable and
hopeles condition. I counted my selfe reduced to that extreamity wherein
infallibly I should have perisht, being opressed with hunger within and
seeing the whole creation against me without, soe that in naturall
reason I could not see how or by what meanes I might have the least
hope, either for my restoration or for my present sustenance. I sent up
to heaven many earnist and importunate requests that the Lord would bee
pleased to shorten my mesiry or else to worke some meracle for my
dileverance and present releife. Now although I earnestly wished and
confidently expected my disolution, which I thought would have befalne
mee that night or sudenly after, in soe fainting a condition I was in
(for besides the failing of my strenght being hindred soe long from
sleep both by feare and cowld, I was not onely uncapable of my reason,
but alsoe careles and altogeather weary of my life), yet would I, I know
not by what naturall instinct, seeke to gitt some ease for my almost
senseles body, as long as occation would give way to it.
Knowing therefore that under the wood side at the end of the said morast
there stood a lord or gentlemans house which had some stabling about it,
I endeavored to repaire to one of the stables for some shelter, whereby
I might defend my selfe from the extreamity of the ayre, which was very
sharp then; and coming into the stables I went round about groaping and
feeling all along the wall for a private place to hide my selfe. At
length I met with a scaffold in the corner raised a foote and a half
from the ground, and climing upon the same I passed likewise along the
wall till I did tread with my foote upon a little bagg wrapped up in an
ould coate, the which after I had taken up and unwrapped I perceived to
be a bagg full of scrapps or crusts of bread as are used to bee gathered
of the table after meales, weiging some 4 or 5 pounds. This singular
providence of the Lord had such a reflection upon my body and sperritt,
as that whereas before I might have bin counted halfe dead, now I
received a new life againe. Now having gott both bread to sattisfie the
rage of my hunger for three or fowre dayes, and covering to defend my
selfe from the vehement cowld, I could not bee overjoyed of the sight of
this wonderfull mercy of God without which, in my conjecture, I was
absolutely to perish. This unexpected releife gave such comfort to my
drooping spirit as that I was confidently assured there by that the Lord
had thoughts of peace and not of distinction to mee, however hee
suffered mee to bee under the cloud of affliction at present, having
found such a booty. Taking away the said things theirfore I went with a
light hart to the wood againe, takeing along with me a burthen of straw
wrapped into the coate least by scattering of it I should be dogged out
againe; and when I had fetched another burthen of straw I lodged myselfe
in a private place in the wood, and pulling of my wett cloaths I wrapped
myselfe into the long coate I had found in the stable. In this manner I
made a poore shift to keepe my selfe from starving that night.
The next morning I imployed my tyme in drying my cloaths againe in the
sun, which did shine very bright all that day longe. The night
followeing I went againe round about the wood, trying the guards how I
might secretly slip by some of them, which I found to be very difficult,
till after midnight I percieved the watchmen of one post were asleepe,
or by reason of the cold altogether departed from their station, because
I heard none of them (for to be silent or stand still without acting
some apish tricks is an impossible thing for most men of that nation,
which often tended to my advantage to keepe me from falling into their
hands unawarrs in the darke); then I made bold to steale through, and
once more gott an inlargement of my restraint in which I had bin for
those 3 dayes.
Now I was free, and intended to hold my former course. I mistooke my way
againe, going too much west of Burdeaux, because of the cloudie ayre
which deprived mee of the sight of the moone and starres, soe that after
I had marched the quantity of 4 leagues, I was neverthelesse as farre as
I was the day before from Burdeaux. And as it hapned all alonge that all
my troubles were soe chaine-like linked together that the end of one
calamitie was alwayes the beginning of another, soe heere did providence
keepe the same method in exercising my patience with further
trialls[27]. For before daylight I fell in my march uppon a great
plaine-heath, which after itt was light I found to bee 4 or 5 miles
broad. Now when I was in the middle the day broake in uppon mee, wherby
I was exposed to the sight of all that mett mee; yett was I arrested by
none till I came over the plaine, then even as I was to leave the great
comon and entering into the inclosed feilds againe, my way fell thorough
a small village, wher as I passed through I saw two or three boores or
paisants standing in a doore. These men taking notice of my habit (the
discription wherof they had learned out of the hew and cry) called after
me, but I not mooved by their call kept on my pace till some of them
gott on horse back others following on foote they overtooke me before I
could hide myselfe in any convenient place. I ran for feare into a ditch
full of water, but they pulled me out from thence with great cruelty.
Having me thus at their mercy they tooke first all my money from me,
which was about eighty pistolls in gold besides what I had in silver
coyne. Suspecting that I had hidden some in the water out of which they
tooke me, setting their fowling peices often to my brest theirby to make
me confesse whether it were so or not, and when they could finde no more
money about me they fell to strip me of my cloaths, and takeing so much
as the shirt from my back they left me naked in the feilds as I came
into the world, telling me that naked I came and naked I must goe out of
the world againe. One of them presently putt on my worsted coate and
drawers, flinging away his owne drawers and wastcoate that were of thin
canvis ragged and torne. Another, which tooke away my hat, resigned unto
me his old bonit. Of these leavings I was forced to make use of to cover
my nakedness withall, though it was an habbit very unsutable for the
season, for their had beene a hard niping frost ever since my escape
from Pulliac, and continued so for two weeks together.
So parting one from another we went every one his way, they towards
their houses and I towards Burdeaux, though it had beene better for
those villands to have knocked me on the head then to have dismissed me,
for it was their duty to carry me according to order to the safe keeping
of the next magistrate, only for that they should not keepe all the
booty to themselves they let me goe whether I would without restraint.
Because I was now become a worme and no man, a scorne to all that saw
me, I thought that now no body would count me worthy of takeing,
theirfore I retourned to march openly by day. But the mallice of these
rogues that robbed me was such and so great that rather then I should
escape they would make an alarum (though it should be to their owne
hurt) by sounding the horn, wherby they tooke the alarum from one towne
to another, so that before I had martched a league hearing the alarum
behinde and before and round about me, I was forced to fall into the
bottom of a thick hedge to save myselfe from being taken againe. Their I
continued from nyne till two of the clock of the afternoone till the
cold and frost had so benumed all my members of my body that I was
uncapable of any motion, and noe more senceable of any greate and sharp
cold but onely inclyning to a fainting sleepe, soe that I was affraid if
in case I continued fowre howres longer there till I might march at
night againe, I should be past ever rising againe. Therefore when I saw
a plaine contry man not farr of from mee passing I made bold to call
him, with an intencion to promise him a good some of mony if he would
take me into his house, and keepe mee there private for fowre or five
weekes till I might git some letters of creditt from my frinds by way of
Bourdeaux. But when hee came to see mee even spechles by shaking and
quaking for cold, the owld man seeing my condition desired mee to come
home with him to his house, which was hard by in a little village
consisting not of above 12 houses. Having brought mee to his house hee
made mee presently a good fire to gitt life into my starved joynts
againe, and gave mee some bread and drinke such as his house afforded
for my refreshment.
Whilst I thus refreshed me by the fire side there came severall of the
neibours to looke upon mee in my comfortles condition, whereby some
conjecturing that I was the man conserning whom they had received the
hue and cry, presently sent for the Justice of the peace, which lived
not farr from thence. He came about five of the clocke to waite upon
mee, and was overjoyed that he had gott such a bird in his nett whose
feathers hee thought would be at least 1200 livers in his way. Having
variously discorsed with me and earnestly enquired in whose hands in
Bourdeaux I had the 1200 livers mentioned in the hue and cry, hee tooke
mee along with him into a larger house, where himselfe alsoe lying he
caused mee to bee kept by a gaurd of contrymen. The next morning,
because I could not give him a satisfactory answer to his demands
especially concerning the 1200 livers, hee sent a messenger to Bourdeaux
which was some 3 leagues from thence, for a confessor as he termed it to
bee there against the next morning for to begin the same processe againe
with mee as those at Bourdeaux and Puliack would have done, if God had
not prevented it. In the meane while the gentleman being willing to gitt
as much by my ruine as could bee went to consult with some of his frinds
that were there, how hee might gitt some of the monies that I had lost
the other day within his jurisdiction. Finding hee was not like to
compasse his ends, he began to carry himselfe more affable to mee then
before with all manner of faire promisses, namly that hee would helpe
mee to my cloathes againe and to halfe the mony which I had lost, if soe
be I could find out the men that robed mee or their houses. Wher upon,
though I was sufficiently convinced that onely his and not my profitt
was concern'd in the plott, yet being altogeather in his power, I could
not chuse but yeild myselfe to his desires, and promised to goe back the
same way I came the day before, and not returne before I had found out
the houses of those men that had robbed mee. Then he provided a gaurd
of fowre men with fowling peeces to goe along with me, and two greate
doggs with a little one which were to attend my returne, which would bee
in the night, least I should ever slip in the wood through which wee
were to march. And because my feete being very much spoyled by the frost
I indured before, I could make but small hast to follow my leaders, they
furnished mee with a lame horse, on which I might make some shift to
keepe pace with my gaurd, and yett not to run away from them neither.
In this equipage wee began our march about 2 of the clock in the
afternoone, and found the house wherein the robbers lived within an
howre and halfe after our departure. But before wee were come halfe the
way to them, least the theeves wee sought for should conceave any
suspition, and so absent themselves if from farr they should see mee
come in their companie, wee went into a farmers house that lived by the
way, and borrowing a long coate from him made of a thick white frize,
they put it about mee, therewith to disguise me. This pollisie of theirs
did exceedingly rejoyce mee, because it not onely conforted my naked
body for the present, but it spoke moreover to mee that the Lord thereby
was preparing new meanes for my deliverance, for by the helpe of this
coate I thought my selfe in a capacity to lye out of dores againe in the
field, which otherwise it was impossible for mee to doe for want of
cloathes. I began therefore to make provision for a new jorney by
filling my bosome with bread where and whensoever occation would serve
mee, for both in the farmers, and severall other houses they made my
gaurd (and me for my gaurds sake) wellcome, by setting alwaye a pott of
wine and a greate househould loafe before us, by which meanes I gott as
much bread as did serve mee two dayes after. At length when wee had
found the place where the robbers dwelt, three of my gaurds went into
the house and would not suffer mee to goe with them, but left mee in
another howse with one of the gaurd, giving to the people of the house a
strickt charge besides to looke to mee least I should make an escape.
Having dispatched their Masters arrand, and returned into the house
where they left mee, I asked them whether they would not helpe mee to my
cloathes againe according to their promisse. They replied that I should
find a man at home that would keepe me warm enough without cloathes,
meaning the hangman, which was sent for him from Burdeaux to be theire
against our retourne.
The night coming on a pace we prepared for a martch againe, and tooke
our leave from the house we were in. Comeing forth those of my guard
went two before and two behinde keepeing close to my horse heeles
because it was very darke. When we weere gott againe so far as the
farmers house where they borrowed my longe coate, they desired me to
restore the coate to the owners againe. In the meane while the farmer
himselfe came forth of the house entreating my guard to come into the
house, and being entered the men that gaurded me set themselves round
about a table while I was walking up and downe the roome with the
borrowed coate on my back still. And seeing by and by the attentions of
the men taken up with their cupps, and the doggs which were taken along
on purpose to observe my motion in the darke striving about the warmest
place in the chimney corner, I thought it to be the season for which I
had looked with great expectation ever since I gott the coate on my
backe. I made bold theirfore to step out of the roome with leasure as
though I had some private businesse to doe without, and assoone as I was
gotten out I pulled of the coate, and taking it under my arme I went in
hast to try once more my heeles, which though they weere lame before yet
now they were become as light as ever they were. I ran with all speed
towards the open plaine feild which was on one side of the house. I was
not gott halfe musket shott from the house before they came to looke for
me, and finding me to be gone, they called presently forth the doggs,
and sett them with a great and impetuous storme against the wood which
was on the other side of the house, suspecting that I had taken that
wood for my refuge rather then the open feilds. But I being gon the
cleane contrary way, and the doggs amazed and confounded with the
rageing cry of six or seaven men so that they could not take notice of
me as I ran on, the poore men lost their labours and I gott my libberty
by the assistance of God, together with a good warme coate to my back.
In the end of the game, to take all possible heed from falling into
their or any mans hands againe, I steered my coarse directly back
againe, to a wood which I knewe formerly being stripped not fair from
thence. There I intended to conceale my selfe, and not to goe from
thence till hunger should force mee, for I feared because of the
nessessity they knew that I was in, I must goe to Bourdeaux for releife,
that now they would raise for mee more then ever they did, but if it
were soe that I could be some where in secritt two or three dayes till
the heat of their fury against mee were some what cooled, then I
supposed their gaurds would bee either more careles, or altogeather
removed, that soe I might with more safety gitt throw to Bourdeaux by
night. And coming into the wood, I found in the same a Church with an
empty parson's house, and continued there, for the space of two dayes.
The first night I lodged my selfe in the oven for feare of any bodyes
coming into the house, for I knew not in the darke that I was soe far
from neighbours. But the next day when it was light, I chose for my
habitation a great come chest which stood upon leggs a foote and ½ high
from the ground, and was in all about seaven foote deepe, and there I
spent the rest of the time, as long as I stayed there, onely in the
night I went forth to squench my thurst, out of the trench that went
about the church yard. This was the best lodging that I had since I
leaped over the wall at Bourdeaux; for in the morning after I first came
in I found in a corner an owld sack full of wooll of about 15^{lb}.
weight, which being most in great fleeces was of singular use to mee in
supplying the want of cloathes, for I contryved to wrap my whole body to
the knees into itt, putting the wooll to my skin and tying my canvas
wastcoate and britches on the tope of it whereby I became as warme
although not soe fashonnably clad as ever I was.