Goodfolkwhodwellinalawfulland，ifanysuchtherebe，mayforwantofexploration，judgeourneighbourhoodharshly，unlessthewholetruthissetbeforethem。Inbarofsuchprejudice，manyofusaskleavetoexplainhowandwhyitwastherobberscametothatheadinthemidstofus。Wewouldrathernothavehaditso，Godknowsaswellasanybody；butitgrewuponusgently，inthefollowingmanner。OnlyletallwhoreadobservethathereIentermanythingswhichcametomyknowledgeinlateryears。
InorabouttheyearofourLord1640，whenallthetroublesofEnglandwereswellingtoanoutburst，greatestatesintheNorthcountryweresuddenlyconfiscated，throughsomefeudoffamiliesandstronginfluenceatCourt，andtheownerswereturnedupontheworld，andmightthinkthemselvesluckytosavetheirnecks。
Theseestateswereinco-heirship，jointtenancyI
thinktheycalledit，althoughIknownotthemeaning，onlysothatifeithertenantdied，theotherliving，allwouldcometotheliveoneinspiteofanytestament。
OneofthejointownerswasSirEnsorDoone，agentlemanofbriskintellect；andtheotherownerwashiscousin，theEarlofLorneandDykemont。