1661. but his Wife, who had a young Child in her Arms.

She enquired of me, upon what Account I was taken up; and feeming to have fome Pity for me, endeavoured to perfwade me not to ftay, but to go my way; offering to fhew me a Back-way from their Houfe, which would bring me into the Road again beyond the Town, fo that none of the Town should fee me, or know what was become of me. But I told her, I could not do fo.

Then having fate a while in a muze, fhe afked me, If there was not a Place of Scripture which faid, Peter was at a Tanner's Houfe? I told her there was fuch a Scripture, and directed her where to find it.

After fome Time, the laid her Child to fleep in the Cradle, and ftept out on a fudden; but came not in again in a pretty while.

I was uneafy that I was left alone in the House, fearing left, if any Thing fhould be miffing, I might be fufpected to have taken it yet I durft not go out to ftand in the Street, left it should be thought I intended to flip

away.

But befides that, I foon found Work to imploy myself in; for the Child quickly waking, fell to crying, and I was fain to rock the Cradle in my own Defence, that I might not be annoyed with a Noife, to me not more unpleasant than unusual. At length the Woman came in again, and finding me nurfing the

Child,

Child, gave me many Thanks, and feemed 1661. well pleased with my Company.

When Night came on, the Conftable himfelf came in again, and told me, Some of the Chief of the Town were met together, to confider what was fit to do with me; and that I must go with him to them. I went, and he brought me to a little nafty Hut, which they called a Townhoufe (adjoining to their Market - house) in which dwelt a poor old Woman whom they called Mother Grime, where alfo the Watch used by Turns, to come in and warm themselves in the Night.

When I came in among them, they looked (fome of them) fomewhat fourly on me, and afk'd me fome impertinent Questions; to which gave them fuitable Answers.

Ι

Then they confulted one with another, how they fhould difpofe of me that Night, till they could have me before fome Juftice of Peace to be examined. Some proposed, That I should be had to fome Inn, or other publick Houfe, and a Guard fet on me there. He that started this was probably an Inn-keeper, and confulted his own Intereft. Others objected against this, That it would bring a Charge on the Town. To avoid which, they were for having the Watch take Charge of me, and keep me walking about the Streets with them till Morning. Moft Voices feemed to go this Way; till a third wished them to confider, Whether they could anfwer the doing of that, and the Law would bear them out in it? And this put them to a Stand.

K 4

1661. Stand. I heard all their Debates, but let them alone, and kept my Mind to the LORD.

While they thus bandied the Matter to and fro, one of the Company asked the reft, If any of them knew who this young Man was, and whither he was going? Whereupon the Constable (to whom I had given both my Name, and the Name of the Town where I dwelt) told them my Name was Ellwood, and that I lived at a Town called Crowell in Oxfordshire.

Old mother Grime, fitting by and hearing this, clap'd her Hand on her Knee, and cry'd out, I know Mr. Ellwood of Crowell very well. For when I was a Maid I lived with his Grandfather there, when he was a young Man. And thereupon she gave them fuch an Account of my Father, as made them look more regardfully on me; and fo Mother Grime's Teftimony turned the Scale, and took me off from walking the Rounds with the Watch that Night.

The Conftable hereupon bid them take no further Care, I fhould lie at his House that Night, and accordingly took me home with him, where I had as good Accommodation as the House did afford. Before I went to Bed, he told me, That there was to be a Vifitation, or Spiritual Court (as he called it) bolden next Day at Amersham, about four Miles from Beaconsfield, and that I was to be carried thither.

This was a new Thing to me, and it brought a fresh Exercise upon my Mind. But being given up, in the Will of God, to fuffer what

He

He should permit to be laid on me, I endea- 1661. voured to keep my Mind quiet and still.

In the Morning, as foon as I was up, my Spirit was exercised towards the Lord, in ftrong Cries to Him, that He would ftand by me, and preferve me, and not fuffer me to be taken in the Snare of the Wicked. While I was thus crying to the LORD, the other Conftable came, and I was called down.

This was a budge Fellow, and talked high. He was a Shoe-maker by Trade, and his Name was Clark. He threat'ned me with the Spiritual Court. But when he faw I did not regard it, he ftopt, and left the Matter to his Partner, who pretended more Kindness for me, and therefore went about to perfwade Clark, to let me go out at the Back-door, fo flip away.

The Plot, I fuppofe, was fo laid, that Clark should seem averfe, but at length yield, which he did; but would have me take it for a Favour. But I was fo far from taking it fo, that I would not take it at all; but told them plainly, That as I came in at the Fore-door, so I would go out at the Fore-door. When therefore they faw they could not bow me to their Will, they brought me out at the Fore-door into the Street, and wished me a good Journey. Yet before I went, calling for the Woman of the House, I paid her for my Supper and Lodging, for I had now got a little Money in my Pocket again.

After

1661.

After this I got home (as I thought) very well; but I had not been long at home, before an Ilness seized on me, which proved to be the Small-pox. Of which, fo foon as Friends had Notice, I had a Nurfe fent me; and in a while Ifaac Penington, and his Wife's Daughter Gulielma Maria Springett (to whom I had been Play-fellow in our Infancy) came to vifit me, bringing with them our dear Friend Edward Burrough, by whofe Miniftry I was called to the Knowledge of the Truth.

and

It pleased the Lord to deal favourably with me in this Ilness, both inwardly and outwardly. For His fupporting Prefence was with me, which kept my Spirit near unto Him; though the Distemper was ftrong upon me, yet I was preferved through it, and my Countenance was not much altered by it. But after I was got up again, and while I kept my Chamber, wanting fome Employment for Entertainment-fake, to spend the Time with, and there being at hand a pretty good Library of Books (amongst which were the Works of Auguftine, and others of thofe ancient Writers, who were by many called the Fathers) I betook myself to Reading. And these Books being printed in the old Black-letter, with Abbreviations of the Words, difficult to be read, I spent too much Time therein, and thereby much impaired my Sight, which was not ftrong before, and was now weaker than usual, by reafon of the Ilness I had fo newly had,

which