334 Life of the Rev, John Flamsteed, [Nov. 



Nottingham, and whose brother I had known,) who travelled 

 towards Dublin to gather his master's debts, who was [a] 

 trademan in London. He hearing me accidentally name 

 the place whence I came, inquired several things of Derby. 

 I asked his name ; but he civilly declined an answer, telling 

 me he would let me know more next morning (Sept. 14), 

 when [we] were on our journey to Dublin, whither we 

 agreed to travel together: with which answer I rested 

 satisfied. 



Goaren is a town consisting of houses built but slenderly, 

 many after the Irish manner ; only our inns were capacious, 

 and carried a handsome aspect with them. Hence, having 

 with some trouble got our horse shod, we departed ; and 

 when we were on our journey, I renewed our former demand 

 to Mr. Toplady ; who told me his name, and that he was 

 servant to Mr. Jekell, of London, and on his business to 

 travel to the north of Ireland. And as we were inquiring 

 of his forepassed journey, he told us that the preceding 

 day, coming over the mountains, and being out of his way, 

 he met with an Irishman ; of whom inquiring the road to 

 Goaren, he could get no answer in English, which he sup- 

 posing to proceed rather from the man's knavery than 

 ignorance, threatened him, and struck him with [his] whip : 

 which nothing availing, he laid his hands to the hilt of his 

 hanger, and threateningly told him — *' Now, sirrah, if you 

 answer not presently in English, here will [I] make an end 

 of your days ; at which words the fellow spoke English 

 presently, and directed him his way very readily. Since 

 which, he would say. as he travelled with us, he carried his 

 tobacco by his side. For he used afore to give the Irish 

 tobacco (of which they are very desirous) to show him his 

 way ; but now he relinquished that custom, and resolved 

 to make them do it perforce, and yet not to trust their 

 perfidiousness. 



This morning we got our horse shod with some trouble, 

 and then discharging our host, departed. We came first 

 to Laughton Bridge, a very commodious pass, upon a broad 

 and deep river. Here was a fair kept when [we] passed by ; 

 in which I saw nothing but Irish beasts, and booths after 

 their manner : it is five miles from Goaren, and hath some 

 English-built houses in it. Here we stayed not, but passed 



