1661. with her. He feem'd fomewhat furprized to fee me there, becaufe he thought I had been at home at his Houfe: but he took no notice of my Hat; at least fhewed no Offence at it: for (as I afterwards understood) he had now an Intention to fell his Eftate, and thought he fhould 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; fhe 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 'em; and alfo gave me Money to defray my Charges. Accordingly I went; yet ftaid not long there: but returned to my Friend J. P'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 Beconsfield Towns-End; having then but Five Miles to walk. But here a new Exercise befel me; the manner of which was thus.

Before I had walked to the middle of the Town, I was ftop't, and taken up by the Watch. I asked the Watchman, What Au

thority

thority he had to ftop me, travelling peaceably 1661° on the High-Way. He told me he would fhew 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 all Rogues, Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars. I asked him, For which of these he stopped me: but he could not Anfwer me.

up

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 it and I told them where it was. And for a Beggar; I bid them bring any one that could fay, I had begged or asked Relief.

This ftop't 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 Wardfman: 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 House, to Guard me, K 2

but

1661. but his Wife; who had a young Child in her

Arms.

She enquired of me, upon what Account I was taken up; and feeming to have fome Pity for me, endeavoured to perfwade me not to ftay; but to go my way: offering to fhew me a back way from their Houfe, which would bring me into the Road again beyond the Town; fo that none of the Town fhould fee me, or know what was become of me. But I told her, I could not do fo.

Then having fate a while in a muze, fhe asked me, If there was not a place of Scripture which I told faid, Peter was at a Tanner's Houfe. her there was fuch a Scripture; and directed her where to find it.

After fome time, fhe laid her Child to fleep in the Cradle; and step't out on a fuddain: but came not in again in a pretty while.

I was unealie that I was left alone in the Houfe; fearing left, if any thing fhould be miffing, I might be fufpected to have taken it: yet I durft not go out to ftand in the Street: left it should be thought I intended to flip a

way.

But befides that, I foon found Work to imploy my felf in; for the Child quickly waking, fell to Crying; and I was fain to Rock the Cradle in my own Defence; that I might not be annoyed with a Noife, to me not more unpleasant than unufual. At length the Woman came in again; and finding me Nurfing the

Child, gave me many Thanks: and feemed 1661. well pleased with my Company.

When Night came on, the Conftable himfelf came in again, and told me, Some of the Chief of the Town were met together, to Confider what was fit to do with me; and that I must go with him to them. I went, and he brought me to a little nafty Hut, which they called a TownHoufe (adjoining to their Market-House) in which dwelt a poor old Woman, whom they called Mother Grime: where alfo the Watch ufed by turns, to come in, and warm themselves in the Night.

When I came in among them, they looked (fome of them) fomewhat fourly on me; and ask'd me fome impertinent Questions: to which gave them fuitable Answers.

I

Then they confulted one with another, how they should difpofe of me that Night, till they could have me before fome Juftice of Peace, to be Examined. Some propofed, That I fhould be had to fome Inn, or other publick House; and a Guard fet on me there. He that started this was probably an Inn-keeper, and confulted his own Interest. Others objected against this, That it zwould bring a Charge on the Town. To avoid which, they were for having the Watch take Charge of me; and keep me walking about the Streets with them till Morning. Moft Voices feemed to go this way; till a Third wifhed them to confider, Whether they could anfwer the doing of that, and the Law would bear them out in it: And this put them to a stand. I heard

K 3

1661. I heard all their Debates; but let them alone: and kept my Mind to the LORD.

While they thus bandied the Matter to and fro, one of the Company asked the reit, If any of them knew who this young Man was, and whither he was going? Whereupon the Constable (to whom I had given both my Name, and the Name of the Town where I dwelt) told them my Name was Ellwood, and that I lived at a Town called Crowell in Oxfordshire.

Old Mother Grime, fitting by and hearing this, clap'd her Hand on her Knee, and cry'd out, I know Mr. Ellwood of Crowell very well. For when I was a Maid I lived with his Grandfather there, when he was a Young Man. And thereupon she gave them fuch an Account of my Father, as made them look more regardfully on me and fo Mother Grime's Teftimony turned the Scale; and took me off from walking the Rounds with the Watch that Night.

The Constable hereupon bid them take no further Care; I fhould lie at his House that Night and accordingly took me home with him; where I had as good Accommodation as the House did afford. Before I went to Bed, he told me, That there was to be a Vifitation, or Spiritual Court (as he called it) holden next Day at Amersham, about four Miles from Beconsfield : and that I was to be carried thither.

This was a new Thing to me, and it brought a fresh Exercise upon my Mind. But being given up, in the Will of God, to fuffer what

He