~ 
142 
positively to me, that it is you; but I 
have denied it. Upon which I presently 
without more ado,.asked him wether he 
was an honest man or not, when he 
answered me, that he knew him to be- 
so honest a fellow that he durst trust him 
with his life, as having been always on 
our side; [ thought it better to trust him 
than go away leaving that suspicion upon 
him, and thereupon! sent for Pope, and 
told him that I was glad to meet him 
there, and would trust-him with my life 
as an old acquaintance; upon which, 
being a discreet fellow, he asked what 
T intended do, for, (says he)-I am ex- 
tremely happy I know you, otherwise 
you might run great danger in this house ; 
for tho’ my master and mistress are good 
people, yet there are at this time one or 
two in it that are very great rogues, and I 
think I can be usefall to you in any, thing 
you will command me; upon which I told 
him my design of getting a ship (if possi- 
ble) at Bristol, and to that end bade him 
go that very day immediately to Bristol, 
‘to see if there was any sips going either 
to Spain or France, that I might get-a 
passageaway in, Talsotold him thatmy 
I'¢ Wilmot-vas coming to meet me here, 
for he and I had agreed at Col. Lane’s, 
and were to meet this very day at Nor. 
- ton’s; upon which Pope told me, that it 
was most fortunate thethe knew me, and 
had heard this from me, for if my I’ 
Wilmotsh’? have come thither, he would 
have been most certainly krown to se- 
veral people in the house, and therefore 
he w’ go, and accordingly went out to 
meet my |’? Wilmot, a mile or two from 
the house, carrying him to an ale-house 
not far ot, where he lodged him till it 
was dark,-and then brought him. hither 
by a back-door into my chamber, I still 
passing for a serving man; and Lasell’s 
and I lay in one chamber, he knowing 
all the way who I was: so after Pope had 
been at Bristoll to enquire for a.ship, but 
could hear of none ready to depart be-~ 
yond sea soonér than above a month, 
which was too long for me to stay there- 
abouts, I betook myself to the, advising 
afresh with my I'¢ Wilmot and Pope, 
what was to be done, ‘and the latter tel- 
ling me fhat there lived somwherein that 
country4ipon the edge of Somersetshire, 
at Trent, within two miles of Sherbourne, 
Frank Windiiam, y® knight marshall’s 
brother, who being my old acquaintance 
and a very honest man, I resolved to get 
to his house; but the night before: we 
were to ge away, we bad-a misfortune 
that might have dene us some prejudice ; 
“Searce Tracts, &c. 
. - 
o [Sept. 1, 
for Mrs, Norton, who was big with 
child, fell into labour and miscarried of a 
dead child, and was very ill, so that we 
could. not tell how in the world to find an 
excuse for Mrs. Lane to Jeave her cousin 
In that condition; and indeed it was not 
safe to stay any longer there,, where 
there was 50 great a resort of disaffectéd 
and idle people, At length consulting 
with Mr, Lasell’s, I thought the best way 
would be to counterfeit a letter from her 
father’s house, old Mr. Lane’s, to tell 
her that ber father was extremely ill, 
and commanded her to come away im- 
mediately, for fear she sh’? not find him 
alive, which. letter Pope delivered so 
well while they were all at supper, and 
Mrs, Lane playing her part so dexte- 
rously, that all believed old Mr. Lane 
to bein great danger, and gave his 
_davghter the excuse to go away with ime 
the next morning early; accordingly the 
next morning we went directly to ‘Trent, 
to Frank Windham’s house, and Jay that 
night at Castle Casey, and the next night 
‘came to Trent, where I had appointed 
my 14 Wilmot to meet me, whom | still 
took care not to keep with me, but sent 
him a little before, or left him to come 
atter me, When we cametoTrent, my 
I¢ Wilmot advised with Frank Windham, 
‘ 
wether he had any acquaintance at. any” 
Sea-port town upon the coast of Dorset, 
or Devonshire, who told me he was very. 
well acquainted with Giles Strangways, 
and that he would go directly to him,. to 
inform himself wether he might not have 
‘some acquaintance at Weymouth, or 
Lyme, or some of those ports. But Giles 
Strangways proved not to have any, as 
having been long absent from alt those 
parts, as not dareing to stir abroad, be- 
ing“always faithfull to the King, but he 
desired Frank Windham what he could 
do therein himself, it being unsafe for 
him to be found busy upon the sea- 
coast. But withall, he sent me 300 
broad pieces, which he knew- were ne- © 
cessary for me in the condition I was 
now in, for I durst not carry any mone 
about mein those mean cloths, and my 
hair cut short, (but about 40 or 12 
shillings in silver.) Frank Windham, 
upon this, went himself to Lyme, and 
spoke with a merchant there, to hire’ a 
ship for my transportation, being forced 
to acquaint him that it was I that was to 
be carried out. 
took. it (his name heing 
+ 
»)'and ace 
pointing a day for my coming to Lyme 
Ca 
to embar« ; and accordingly we set ovt 
~ 
7 
Pa \ J, nS sel 
The, merchant’ under- 
~€ording hired’ a ‘vessel for France, ap- — 
