you for the prefent, and you shall hear from me 1661. again To-morrow.

We told him, we did intend, if he did not otherwise dispose of us, to fpend that Night with our Friend Ifaac Penington, and would (if the LORD gave us Leave) be there in the Morning, ready to answer his Requirings. Whereupon he dismist us all, willing, as we thought, to be rid of us; for he seemed not to be of an ill Temper, nor defirous to put us to Trouble if he could help it.

Back then we went to Ifaac Penington's. But when we were come thither, O the Work we had with poor John Ovy! He was fo dejected in Mind, fo covered with Shame and Confufion of Face for his Cowardlinefs, that we had enough to do to pacify him towards himself.

The Place he had found out to fhelter himfelf in, was fo commodioufly contrived, that undiscovered he could difcern when the Soldiers went off with us, and underftand when the Buftle was over, and the Coast clear. Whereupon he adventured to peep out of his Hole, and in a while drew near, by degrees, to the House again; and finding all Things quiet and still, he adventured to ftep within the Doors, and found the Friends, who were left behind, peaceably settled in the Meeting again.

The Sight of this fmote him, and made him fit down among them. And after the Meeting was ended, and the Friends departed to their feveral Homes, addreffing himself to Mary Penington (as the Miftrefs of the House) K

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1661. he could not enough magnify the Bravery and Courage of the Friends, nor fufficiently debase himfelf. He told her how long he had been a Profeffor, what Pains he had taken, what Hazards he had run, in his youthful Days, to get to Meetings; how, when the Ways were forelaid, and Paffages ftopt, he fwam through Rivers to reach a Meeting; And now, faid he, that I am grown old in the Profeffion of Religion, and have long been an Inftructor and Encourager of others; that I should thus fhamefully fall short myself, is matter of Shame and Sorrow

to me.

Thus he bewailed himfelf to her. And when we came back, he renewed his Complaints of himself to us, with high Aggravations of his own Cowardice. Which gave Occafion to fome of the Friends, tenderly to represent to him the Difference between Profeffion and Poffeffion; Form and Power.

He was glad, he faid, on our Behalfs, that we came off fo well, and escaped Imprisonment.

But when he understood that George Whitehead and I were liable to an After-reckoning next Morning, he was troubled; and wifh'd the Morning was come and gone, that we might be gone with it.

We spent the Evening in grave Converfation, and in religious Difcourfes, attributing the Deliverance, we hitherto had, to the LORD. And the next Morning when we were up and had eaten, we tarried fome Time to fee what the Juftice would do further with us, and to discharge

discharge our Engagement to him; the reft of 1661. the Friends, who were before fully discharged, tarrying alfo with us to fee the Event.

And when we had staid so long, that on all Hands it was concluded we might fafely go, George Whitehead and I left a few Words in Writing, to be fent to the Juftice, if he fent after us, importing that we had tarried till fuch an Hour, and not hearing from him, did now hold ourselves free to depart; yet so, as that if he should have Occafion to fend for us again, upon Notice thereof we would return.

This done, we took our Leave of the Family, and one of another; they who were for London taking Horfe, and I and my Companion, fetting forth on Foot for Oxfordshire, went to Wiccomb, where we made a fhort Stay to reft and refresh ourselves, and from thence reached our refpective Homes that Night.

After I had fpent fome Time at home, where, as I had no Reftraint, fo (my Siflers being gone) I had now no Society, I walked up to Chalfont again, and spent a few Days with my Friends there.

As foon as I came in, I was told, that my Father had been there that Day to fee Ifaac Penington and his Wife; but they being abroad at a Meeting, he returned to his Inn in the Town, where he intended to lodge that Night. After Supper, Mary Penington told me, fhe had a mind to go and fee him at his Inn (the Woman of the Houfe being a Friend of ours) and I went with her. He feem'd fomewhat furprized

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1661. furprized to fee me there, because he thought I ~ had been at home at his Houfe; but he took no

Notice of my Hat, at leaft fhewed no Offence at it; for, as I afterwards understood, he had now an Intention to fell his Estate, and thought he should need my Concurrence therein; which made him now hold it neceffary to admit me again into fome degree of Favour. After we had tarried fome little Time with him, she rifing up to be gone, he waited on her home, and having spent about an Hour with us in the Family, I waited on him back to his Inn. On the Way, he invited me to come up to London to fee my Sifters; the younger of whom was then newly married, and directed me where to find them; and also gave me Money to defray my Charges. Accordingly I went; yet ftaid not long there, but returned to my Friend Ifaac Penington's where I made a little Stay, and from thence went back to Crowell.

When I was ready to fet forth, my Friend Ifaac Penington was fo kind to fend a Servant with a Brace of Geldings, to carry me as far as I thought fit to ride, and to bring the Horfes back. I, intending to go no farther that Day than to Wiccomb, rode no farther than to Beaconsfield Town's-end, having then but five Miles to walk. But here a new Exercife befel me, the manner of which was thus:

Before I had walked to the Middle of the Town, I was ftopt and taken up by the Watch. I asked the Watchman, What Authority he had to ftop me, travelling peaceably

on

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on the High-way? He told me he would fhew 1661. me his Authority; and in order thereunto, had me into an Houfe hard-by, where dwelt a Scrivener whofe Name was Pepys. To him he gave the Order which he had received from the Conftables, which directed him to take up all Rogues, Vagabonds and fturdy Beggars. I asked him, For which of these he stopped me; but he could not anfwer me.

I thereupon informed him, what a Rogue in Law is, viz. One, who for fome notorious Offence was burnt on the Shoulder; and I told them, they might fearch me if they pleafed, and fee if I was fo branded. A Vagabond, I told them, was One that had no Dwelling-houfe, nor certain Place of abode; but I had, and was going to and I told them where it was. And for a Beggar, I bid them bring any one that could fay, I had begged or afked Relief.

it ;

This ftopt the Fellow's Mouth, yet he would not let me go; but, being both weakheaded and ftrong-willed, he left me there with the Scrivener, and went out to feek the Conftable; and having found him, brought him thither. He was a young Man, by Trade a Tanner, fomewhat better mannered than his Wardsman, but not of much better Judg

ment.

He took me with him to his Houfe. And having fettled me there, went out to take Advice, as I fuppofed, what to do with me; leaving no Body in the Houfe to guard me,

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