knownotwhat，hadprocuredfromMasterFaggus。AndwhenIletitbeknown，bysomehap，thatIwastheowncousinofTomFaggus，andhonouredwithhissociety，therewasnotahouseupontheroadbutwasproudtoentertainme，inspiteofmyfellow-traveller，bearingtheredbadgeoftheKing。
’Iwillkeepthisclose，mysonJack，’hesaid，havingstrippeditoffwithacarving-knife；’yourflagisthebesttofly。Themanwhostarvedmeonthewaydown，thesameshallfeedmefatgoinghome。’
Thereforewepursuedourway，inexcellentcondition，havingthrivenuponthecreditofthatverypopularhighwayman，andbeingsurroundedwithregretsthathehadlefttheprofession，andsometimesbeggedtointercedethathemighthelptheroadagain。Forallthelandlordsontheroaddeclaredthatnowsmallalewasdrunk，normuchofspiritscalledfor，becausethefarmersneednotprimetomeetonlycommonriders，neitherweretheseworththewhiletogetdrunkwithafterwards。MasterStickleshimselfundertook，asanofficeroftheKing’sJusticestopleadthiscasewithSquireFaggusaseverybodycalledhimnow，andtoinducehim，forthegeneralgood，toreturntohisproperministry。
Itwasalongandwearyjourney，althoughtheroadsarewondrousgoodonthefarthersideofBristowe，andscarcelyanymanneedbebogged，ifhekeepshiseyeswellopen，save，perhaps，inBerkshire。Inconsequenceofthepasswehad，andthevintner’sknowledgeofit，weonlymettwopublicriders，oneofwhommadeoffstraightwaywhenhesawmycompanion’spistolsandthestoutcarbineIbore；andtheothercametoaparleywithus，andprovedmostkindandaffable，whenheknewhimselfinthepresenceofthecousinofSquireFaggus。
’Godsaveyou，gentlemen，’hecried，liftinghishatpolitely；’manyandmanyahappydayIhaveworkedthisroadwithhim。Suchtimeswillneverbeagain。Butcommendmetohisloveandprayers。Kingmynameis，andKingmynature。Saythat，andnonewillharmyou。’Andsohemadeoffdownthehill，beingaperfectgentleman，andaverygoodhorsehewasriding。
ThenightwasfallingverythickbythetimewewerecometoTyburn，andheretheKing’sofficerdecidedthatitwouldbewisetohalt，becausethewaywasunsafebynightacrossthefieldstoCharingvillage。
Iformypartwasnothingloth，andpreferredtoseeLondonbydaylight。
Andafterall，itwasnotworthseeing，butaveryhideousanddirtyplace，notatalllikeExmoor。Someoftheshopswereveryfine，andthesignsabovethemfinerstill，sothatIwasneverwearyofstandingstilltolookatthem。Butindoingthistherewasnoease；forbeforeonecouldbeginalmosttomakeoutthemeaningofthem，eithersomeofthewayfarerswouldbustleandscowl，anddrawtheirswords，ortheowner，orhisapprenticeboys，wouldrushoutandcatchholdofme，crying，’Buy，buy，buy!Whatd’yelack，whatd’yelack？Buy，buy，buy!’AtfirstImistookthemeaningofthis——forsowepronouncetheword’boy’
uponExmoor——andIansweredwithsomeindignation，’Sirrah，Iamnoboynow，butamanofone-and-twentyyears；andasforlacking，Ilacknaughtfromthee，exceptwhatthouhastnot——goodmanners。’
Theonlythingsthatpleasedmemuch，weretheriverThames，andthehallandchurchofWestminster，wheretherearebravethingstobeseen，andbraverstilltothinkabout。ButwheneverIwanderedinthestreets，whatwiththenoisethepeoplemade，thenumberofthecoaches，therunningofthefootmen，theswaggeringofgreatcourtiers，andthethrustingasideofeverybody，manyandmanyatimeIlongedtobebackamongthesheepagain，forfearoflosingtemper。Theywerewelcometothewallforme，asItookcaretotellthem，forIcouldstandwithoutthewall，whichperhapswasmorethantheycoulddo。ThoughIsaidthiswiththebestintention，meaningnodiscourtesy，someofthemwerevexedatit；andoneyounglord，beingflushedwithdrink，drewhisswordandmadeatme。ButIstruckitupwithmyhollystick，sothatitflewontheroofofahouse，thenItookhimbythebeltwithonehand，andlaidhiminthekennel。Thiscausedsomelittledisturbance；butnoneoftherestsawfittotryhowthemattermightbewiththem。
NowthisbeingtheyearofourLord1683，morethannineyearsandahalfsincethedeathofmyfather，andthebeginningofthishistory，allLondonwasinagreatfermentaboutthedisputebetweentheCourtoftheKingandtheCity。TheKing，orratherperhapshispartyfortheysaidthatHisMajestycaredforlittleexcepttohaveplentyofmoneyandspendit，wasquiteresolvedtobesupremeintheappointmentofthechiefofficersofthecorporation。Butthecitizensmaintainedthatundertheircharterthisrightlayentirelywiththemselves；uponwhichawritwasissuedagainstthemforforfeitureoftheircharter；andthequestionwasnowbeingtriedinthecourtofHisMajesty’sbench。
Thisseemedtooccupyalltheattentionofthejudges，andmycasewhichhadappearedsourgentwasputofffromtimetotime，whiletheCourtandtheCitycontended。Andsohotwastheconflictandhatebetweenthem，thatasheriffhadbeenfinedbytheKingin100，000pounds，andaformerlordmayorhadevenbeensentencedtothepillory，becausehewouldnotswearfalsely。Hencethecourtiersandthecitizensscarcecouldmeetinthestreetswithpatience，orwithoutrailingandfrequentblows。
NowalthoughIheardsomuchofthismatter，fornothingelsewastalkedof，anditseemingtomemoreimportanteventhanthechurchwardenshipofOare，I
couldnotforthelifeofmetellwhichsideIshouldtaketo。Forallmysenseofposition，andofconfidencereposedinme，andofmyfather’sopinions，layheavilyinonescale，whileallmyreasonandmyheartwentdownplumpagainstinjustice，andseemedtowintheotherscale。Evensomyfatherhadbeen，atthebreakingoutofthecivilwar，whenhewaslessthanmyagenow，andevenlessskilledinpolitics；andmymothertoldmeafterthis，whenshesawhowImyselfwasdoubting，andvexedwithmyselffordoingso，thatmyfatherusedtothankGodoftenthathehadnotbeencalledupontotakeonesideorother，butmightremainobscureandquiet。Andyethealwaysconsideredhimselftobeagood，soundRoyalist。
ButnowasIstayedthere，onlydesiroustobeheardandtogetaway，andscarcelyevenguessingyetwhatwaswantedofmeforevenJeremySticklesknewnot，orpretendednottoknow，thingscametoadreadfulpassbetweentheKingandallthepeoplewhodaredtohaveanopinion。ForaboutthemiddleofJune，thejudgesgavetheirsentence，thattheCityofLondonhadforfeiteditscharter，andthatitsfranchiseshouldbetakenintothehandsoftheKing。Scarcelywasthisjudgmentforth，andallmenhotlytalkingofit，whenafarworsethingbefell。Newsofsomegreatconspiracywasspreadateverycorner，andthatamaninthemaltingbusinesshadtriedtotakeupthebrewer’swork，andloptheKingandtheDukeofYork。Everybodywasshockedatthis，fortheKinghimselfwasnotdislikedsomuchashisadvisers；buteverybodywasmorethanshocked，grievedindeedtotheheartwithpain，athearingthatLordWilliamRussellandMr。
AlgernonSidneyhadbeenseizedandsenttotheTowerofLondon，uponachargeofhightreason。
Havingnoknowledgeofthesegreatmen，norofthematterhowfaritwastrue，Ihadnotverymuchtosayabouteitherofthemorit；butthissilencewasnotsharedalthoughtheignorancemayhavebeenbythehundredsofpeoplearoundme。Suchacommotionwasastir，suchuniversalsenseofwrong，andsternresolvetorightit，thateachmangraspedhisfellow’shand，andledhimintothevintner’s。EvenI，althoughatthattimegiventoexcessintemperance，andafraidofthenameofcordials，washardsetIdoassureyou
nottobedrunkatintervalswithoutcoarsediscourtesy。
However，thatasBettyMuxworthyusedtosay，whenargueddown，andreadytotakethemopforitisneitherherenorthere。Ihavenaughttodowithgreathistoryandamsorryforthosewhohavetowriteit；
becausetheyaresuretohavebothfriendsandenemiesinit，andcannotactastheywouldtowardsthem，withoutdamagetotheirownconsciences。
Butasgreateventsdrawlittleones，andtherattleofthechurndecidestheuncertaintyoftheflies，sothismovementofthetown，andeloquence，andpassionhadmorethanIguessedatthetime，todowithmyownlittlefortunes。Forinthefirstplaceitwasfixedperhapsfromdownrightcontumely，becausethecitizenslovedhimsothatLordRussellshouldbetriedneitheratWestminsternoratLincoln’sInn，butattheCourtofOldBailey，withintheprecinctsofthecity。Thiskeptmehangingonmuchlonger；becausealthoughthegoodnoblemanwastobetriedbytheCourtofCommonPleas，yettheofficersofKing’sBench，towhomIdailyappliedmyself，wereincounselwiththeirfellows，andputmeofffromdaytoday。
NowIhadheardofthelaw’sdelays，whichthegreatestofallgreatpoetsknowingmuchofthelawhimself，asindeedofeverythinghasspeciallymentioned，whennotexpected，amongthemanyillsoflife。ButIneverthoughtatmyyearstohavesuchbitterexperienceoftheevil；anditseemedtomethatifthelawyersfailedtodotheirduty，theyoughttopaypeopleforwaitinguponthem，insteadofmakingthempayforit。
ButhereIwas，nowinthesecondmonthlivingatmyownchargesinthehouseofaworthyfellmongeratthesignoftheSealandSquirrel，abuttingupontheStrandroadwhichleadsfromTempleBartoCharing。HereI
didverywellindeed，havingamattressofgoodskin-dressings，andplentytoeateverydayofmylife，butthebutterwassomethingtocry’but’thriceataccordingtoaconceitofourschooldays，andthemilkmusthavecomefromcowsdriventowater。
However，theseevilswerelightcomparedwiththeheavybillsentuptomeeverySaturdayafternoon；andknowinghowmymotherhadpinchedtosendmenoblytoLondon，andhadtoldmetosparefornothing，butlivebravelywiththebestofthem，thetearsverynearlycameintomyeyes，asIthought，whileIate，ofsorobbingher。
Atlength，beingquiteattheendofmymoney，andseeingnootherhelpforit，Ideterminedtolistentoclerksnomore，butforcemywayuptotheJustices，andinsistuponbeingheardbythem，ordischargedfrommyrecognisance。ForsotheyhadtermedthebondordeedwhichIhadbeenforcedtoexecute，inthepresenceofachiefclerkornotary，theverydayafterIcametoLondon。Andthepurportofitwas，thatonpainofaheavyfineorescheatment，Iwouldholdmyselfreadyandpresent，togiveevidencewhencalledupon。Havingdeliveredmeuptosignthis，JeremyStickleswasquitofme，andwentuponotherbusiness，notbutwhathewaskindandgoodtome，whenhistimeandpursuitsallowedofit。
HavingseenLordRussellmurderedinthefieldsofLincoln’sInn，orratherhavinggonetoseeit，butturnedawaywithasicknessandabitterfloodoftears——forawhiterandanoblerneckneverfellbeforelowbeast——IstrodeawaytowardsWestminster，curedofhalfmyindignationatthedeathofCharlestheFirst。
Manypeoplehurriedpastme，chieflyofthemoretendersort，revoltingatthebutchery。Intheirghastlyfaces，astheyturnedthemback，lestthesightshouldbecomingafterthem，greatsorrowwastobeseen，andhorror，andpity，andsomeanger。
InWestminsterHallIfoundnobody；noteventhecrowdofcrawlingvarlets，whousedtobecravingevermoreforemploymentorforpayment。Iknockedatthreedoors，oneafterother，oflobbiesgoingoutofit，whereIhadformerlyseensomeofficersandpeoplepressinginandout，butformytroubleItooknothing，exceptsomethumpsfromecho。Andatlastanoldmantoldmethatallthelawyersweregonetoseetheresultoftheirownworks，inthefieldsofLincoln’sInn。
However，inafewdays’time，Ihadbetterfortune；forthecourtwassittingandfullofbusiness，toclearoffthearrearsofwork，beforethelawyers’holiday。
AsIwaswaitinginthehallforagoodoccasion，amanwithhorsehaironhishead，andalongbluebaginhislefthand，touchedmegentlyonthearm，andledmeintoaquietplace。Ifollowedhimverygladly，beingconfidentthathecametomewithamessagefromtheJusticiaries。Butaftertakingpainstobesurethatnonecouldoverhearus，heturnedonmesuddenly，andasked，——
’Now，John，howisyourdearmother？’
’Worshipfulsir’Iansweredhim，afterrecoveringfrommysurpriseathisknowledgeofouraffairs，andkindlyinterestinthem，’itistwomonthsnowsinceIhaveseenher。WouldtoGodthatIonlyknewhowsheisfaringnow，andhowthebusinessofthefarmgoes!’
’Sir，Irespectandadmireyou，’theoldgentlemanreplied，withabowverylowandgenteel；’fewyoungcourt-gallantsofourtimearesoreverentanddutiful。
Oh，howIdidlovemymother!’Hereheturneduphiseyestoheaven，inamannerthatmademefeelforhimandyetwithakindofwonder。
’Iamverysorryforyou，sir，’Iansweredmostrespectfully，notmeaningtotrespassonhisgrief，yetwonderingathismother’sage；forheseemedtobeatleastthreescore；’butIamnocourt-gallant，sir；I
amonlyafarmer’sson，andlearninghowtofarmalittle。’