By W. W. Ravenhill, Esq. 



59 



What must have been the joy of Mrs. Harrison when she saw 

 him entering- the old home. Think of the reunion of those aged 

 souls, so long and sadly severed ! What must have been the 

 feelings of the son, who had taken so prominent a part in the 

 execution ! 



At length Mr. Harrison could tell his story. 1 



" I had gone to Charringworth to collect rents, had expected to receive a 

 considerable sum, but had only received £23 and no more. 



" In my return home in the narrow passage amongst Ebrington furzes, there 

 met me one horseman, and said Art thou there ? and I fearing that he would 

 have rid over me struck his horse over the nose ; whereupon he struck at me with 

 his sword several blows, and ran it into my side ; while I (with my little cane) 

 made my defence as well as I could ; at last another came behind me, run me 

 into the thigh, laid hold on the collar of my doublet and drew me to a hedge 

 near the place ; then came in another. They did not take my money, but 

 mounted me behind one of them, drew my arms about his middle, and fastened 

 mv wrists together with something that had a spring lock to it, as I conceived 

 hearing it give a snap as they put it on ; then the 7 threw a great cloak over me 

 and carried me away ; in the night they alighted at a hayrick, which stood near 

 unto a stone pit by a wall side where they took away my money, about two hours 

 before day (as I heard one tell the other he thought it to be then) they tumbled 

 me into the stone pit. They stayed as I thought about one hour at the hay rick 

 when they took horse again, and one of them bad me come out of the stone pit, 

 I answered they had my money already and asked what they would do with me. 

 Whereupon he struck me again, drew me out and put a great quantity of money 

 in my pockets and mounted me again after the same manner and on the Friday 

 about the sun setting they brought me to a lone house upon a heath by a thicket 

 of bushes, where they took me almost dead being sorely bruised with the carriage 

 of the money." 



There they rested for the night, and he had broth and " strong 



waters " given him. Once more his own words : — ■ 



" In the morning, very early, they mounted me as before, and on 

 Saturday night they brought me where were two or three houses, in one of 

 which I lay all night by their bedside. On Sunday morning they carried me 

 from thence, and about 3 or 4 o'clock they brought me to a place by the sea side 

 called Deal, where they laid me down on the ground ; one of them stayed by me 

 the other two walked a little off, to meet a man with whom they talked and in 

 the discourse I heard them mention £7 after which they went away together, 

 and about \ hr after returned. The man whose name as I afterwards heard was 

 Wrenshaw said he feared I would die before he could get me on board ; then 

 presently they put me into a boat and carried me on ship board, where my wounds 

 were dressed. I remained in the ship as near as I could reckon 6 weeks." 



1 This is contained in a letter written by Mr. Harrison to Sir Thomas Overbury. 



