1646.] SCOUT-MASTER GENERAL. 135 



the Clocke struck 3. wc passed over Magdalen bridge, & after 

 we were out of the last port a little, the Governor, havinge 

 received Orders from the Kinge, not to let any port be opened, 

 nor any passe in or out of Oxford for 5. dayes. So we three 

 passed through Mouch Bulden, & thence to Dorchester, where 

 was a Guard of Dragoons, which we passed without any 

 difficultie or examination. At Benson a small partie of 

 Horse mett us & asked to whom we belonged (M"" Ashburn- 

 ham & I rideinge both with Pistolls) I answered to the House 

 of Commons, and so passed. At Henley we passed in like 

 manner without any question, onely shevvinge the Passe to the 

 Corporall, and givinge 12'' to the Guard. One of Col. Ireton's 

 men rid in oure Company from Nettlesbsd to Slow, & seeing 

 me give money alwaies at the Guard, asked him if his M"" 

 [master] were not one of the Lords of the Parliament, he 

 answered noe, his M'' was of the lower House. After we 

 passed IVIaydenhead & Slow, we turned out of the Road 

 towards Uxbridge, & there passt another Guard at the water, 

 in the same manner as we had passed the former. After we 

 had passed Uxbridge, at M'' Treasdale's House, a Taverne in 

 Hillingdon, we alighted & stayed to refresh ourselves, betwixt 

 ten and eleven of the clocke, & there stayed 2. or 3, houres, 

 where the King was much perplexed, what course to resolve 

 upon, London or Northward. The consideration of the 

 former Vote, & the apparent danger of being discovered at 

 London, moved him to resolve to goe Northward and through 

 Norfolke where he was least known, & there stay till he had 

 sent me againe to Montreuil, to heare what he had donne with 

 the Scotts, resolvinge absolutely, that if the Scots would not 

 send him assurance under their hands, of such conditions as 

 he expected, he would rather cast himself upon the English, 

 and trust them, and wished me to bringe their hands to him, 

 or if there were danger in that, to see all their hands to such 

 Propositions, as they agreed to. About 2. of the Clocke, we 

 tooke a Guide towards Barnet, resolvinge to crosse the Roads 

 into Essex ; but after we were passed Harrow upon the Hill, 

 I told the Kinge, if he were not knowne much in St. Albon's 

 Road, It was much the neerer way to goe through St. Albon's 



