Marginalia1557. Iune.worst is you can but make vs fetch it. Then I sayd, fetch it if you will, but if you come in my house before you haue it, at your owne aduenture. MarginaliaWoodmā escapeth the handes of hys takers.So I shutte the dore and went my way out of the other dore. So they got helpe to watch my house, while one of them fet the Constable and many moe, thinking to haue had me in my house, and to haue taken me in my house, and caried me away wyth a licence: but I was gone before, as God would haue it. Notwithstandyng they sought euery corner of my house, but could not preuayle. I mistrusted they would search it agayne that nyght, and kept me abroade, MarginaliaWoodmās house agayne searched for hym.and in deede there came seuen of hys men and the Constable and searched my house. And when they saw that they could not meete with me, they were ready to rent their coates that I had scaped theē so, knowing they should haue such a checke of their maister. When I heard that they had sought so for me again, I perceiuing that they were greedy of their pray, came home, and my wife tolde me all thinges.

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Then I supposed that they would lay all the Countrey for me, and the sea coaste, because I should not goe ouer, and then I thought they would not mistrust that I would dare be nigh home. So I tolde my wife that I would make my loding in a wood not past a flight shot from my house, as I did in deede, euen vnder a tree, and there had my Bible, my penne and myne incke, and other necessaries, MarginaliaWoodmā lodged vj. weekes in a woode.and there cōtinued a vj. or vij. weekes, my wyfe bringing me meat dayly, as I had neede. Yea I thought my selfe blessed of God, that I was counted worthy to lye in the woods for the name of Christ. Then there came word into the Countrey that I was seene and spoken to in Flaunders: whereupon they left laying a wayte for me, MarginaliaAll the countrey and sea coastes layde for Woodmā.for they had layd all þ^e countrey for me, and the sea coast from Portesmouth to Douer, euen as God put in my mynde they would.

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So when all was husht, I went abroad among out frendes and brethren, and at length I went beyond the sea, both into Flaunders & in Fraūce: but I thought euery day vij. yeare or euer I were at home agayne. So I came home againe as soone as it was possible. I was there but 3. weekes, but as soone as I was come home, and it once known among Bales Priestes, they could not abide it, but procured out warrantes agaynst me, causing my house to be searched sometymes twise in a weeke. This continued from S. Iames tyde to the first Sonday in Lēt. Otherwhile I wēt priuely, otherwhile openly, otherwhile I went from home a fortnight or iij. weekes, otherwhile I was at home a moneth or fiue weeks together, liuing their most commonly, and openly, doyng such workes as I had to do: and yet all myne enemyes could lay no hands on me, till the houre was full come: and then by the voyce of the Countrey and by manifest proofes, MarginaliaWoodmā deliuered by his own brother into hys enemies handes.myne owne brother as concer- þ^e fleshe, deliuered me into their hands by that he knew that I was at home.

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For my father and he had as much of my goodes in their handes as I might haue lvj. Ž for by the yeare cleare, and therunto prayed. It was a Lordshyp and a honnor and halfe a honnor, that I had deliuered into their handes, MarginaliaAuri sacra fames quid non mortalia cogis pectora? Virgil.  

to pay my debtes, and the rest to remaine to my wife and children. But they had reported that it would not pay my debtes: which greued me sore. For it was ij. hūdreth poundes better thē þ^e debtes came too. Which caused me to speake to some of my frēdes, that they would speake to them to come to some reckenyng with me, and to take all such money agayne of me, as they were charged with, and to deliuer me such writynges and writtes, as they had of myne agayne, or to whom I would appointe them.

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So it was agreed betwixt my father and me, that I should haue it agayne, and the day was appointed, that the reckening should be made and sent to me that same day that I was taken, my brother supposing that I should haue put him out of most of all hys occupying, that he was in: for it was all mine in a maner that he

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occupyed, as all the countrey can, and do well know. MarginaliaBrother bewrayeth the brother.Whereon (as it is reported) he told one Gardillar my next neighbour, and he told some of M. Gages men, or to M. Gage him selfe: and so he sent to his brother, and his brother sent xij. of his men (he beyng Sheriffe) in the night before I was taken, and lay in the bushes not farre from my house, till about ix. of the clocke, euen the houre that was appointed amongest them selues: for about the same tyme they thought to haue had me within my house.

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They had taken a man of mine, and ij. of my childrē that were abroad in the lād: and kept them with them, till theyr houre was appointed to come in, & then a litle girle, one of my children, saw them come together, and came runnyng in, and cryed: mother, mother, yonder commeth xx. men. I sittyng in my bed and makyng of shooe thonges, heard þ^e words, & suspecting straight way that I was betrayd, I stirred out of my bed & whipt on my hose, thinkyng to haue gone out of þ^e doores or euer they had bene come. My wife beyng amased at the childes wordes, looked out of the doore, and they were hard by. Then she clapped to the doore and barred it fast, euen as I came out of my chamber into the Hall, and so barred the other. So the house was beset round straight way, and they bad open the doores, or els they would breake them in peeces. Then I had no shift, but eyther I must shew my selfe openly, or make some other remedie.

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MarginaliaWoodman put to hys shiftes.So there was a place in my house that was neuer found, which was at the least, I dare say, xx. tymes and sometymes almost of xx. men searched at once, both by night & day. Into which place I went: MarginaliaThe part of a trustie wife to her husband.And as soone as I was in, my wife opened the doore: wherby incontinēt they came, and asked for me: and she sayd I was not at home. Then they asked her wherfore she shut the doore if I were not at home. She sayd, because she had bene made affraid diuers times, with such as came to search vs, and therfore she shut the doore. For it is reported (sayth she) þ^t who soeuer cā take my husbād, shall hang hym or burne hym straight way: and therfore I doubt they will serue me or my children so: for I thinke they may do so vnto vs aswell as to him, she said. Well sayd they, we know he is in the house, and we must search it, for we be the Shriues mē: let vs haue a cādle. It is told vs, there be many secret places in your house. So she lighted a candle, and they sought vp and downe in euery corner that they could find, and had geuen ouer, and many of them were gone out of my house into the Churchyarde, and were talkyng with my father, and with some that he had brought with hym.

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Now, when they could not finde me, one of themMarginaliaThys belike was his brother. went to him that gaue them word that I was at home, and sayd we can not find him. Then he asked thē whether they had sought ouer a wyndow that was in the Hall (as it was knowne afterward) for that same place I had told hym of my selfe. For many tymes when I came home, I would send for hym to beare me company: yet as it chaūced I had not told hym the way into it. Then they began to search a new. One looked vp ouer the window and spyed a litle loft, with iij. or iiij. chestes, and the way went in betwixt ij. of the chestes, but there could no man perceaue it. Then he asked my wife, which was þ^e way into it. Here is a place that we haue not sought yet. Thē she thought they would see it by one meanes or other. She sayd the way was into it out of a chamber they were in euen now. So she sent them vp and cried, away, away. Then I knew there was no remedy, but make the best shift for my self that I could. The place was boarded ouer, and fast nailed, and if I had come out that way that I went in, I must needes come amongest them all in þ^e hall. MarginaliaWoodman at length after long seeking found out.Then I had no shift, but set my shoulders to the bourdes that were nayled to the rafters to keepe out the raine, and brake them in peeces, which made a great noyse and they that were in the other chamber, seekyng for the

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