[479] Postwitham, so written.  North Witham and South Witham are near
        the route.

    [480] Longbennington.

Nixt day, Fryday, 1 of November, left Toxford[481] on the Clay on our left hand, entred unto Sheerwood Forest, wheir Robin Hood of old hanted.  Was of a incredible extent; now theirs no wood in it; but most excellent hunting:  it was good way.  Baited at Barnby in the Moore, 17 miles of Newwark.  As we was heir J. Graham my Lord Middletons man overtook us going post.  After diner past Scrouby and Batry and[482] came late at night to Doncaster, 10 miles further.

    [481] Tuxford.

    [482] Scrooby and Bawtry.

The 6’t day, being Saturday and the 2’d of November, it was a brave clinking frost in the morning; we clawed it away past Robin Hoods well; baited at Ferry bridges, arrived at York safely:  lay wheir our coach stayed.  Devoted the nixt being Sabath for viewing of the toune; saw that so much talked of minstrell, and truely not undeservedly, for it is a most stupendious, magnificent Church as I had sein.  Duc Hamilton was come their then.

Nixt day, being Monday and 4 of November, having bid adieu to our coach companie and Mr. Thomas Paterson who had come doune all the way with us, Sir George and I took post for Barrowbridges,[483] 10 miles.  Arrived about 11 howers, dined on apple tarts and sider:  on immediatly for Northallerton, 12 miles; arrived ere halfe 3; my horse almost jaded:  was very unresolved whither to go any further or not; yet on for Darneton[484] (wheir the good spurs are made).  We are all weill monted with a good guide:  we are not 3 miles of[485] the toune when it falls pit dark; a most boystrous night both for wind and rain, and for the comble of our misery 10 of the worst way on all the rode; yet out we most it.  He led us not the ordinar way but throw the enclosures, breaking doune the hedges for a passage wheir their was none.  Many a 100 ditch and hedge did we leap, which was strange to sie had we not bein on horses that ware accustomed with it, yea some ware so horrible broad that we forced to leap of and lead over our horses.  We was forced to ride close on on another, otherwise we should have losed on another.  When we was within 2 miles of Darnton we came to a great river called Tees, in Latin by Cambden Tesis, which divides Yorkshire from the Bischoprick of Durham (for from the time we came to Barnby in the Moore til this place we ware ever in Yorkshire, which is the greatest in England); heir we lighted and hollowed on the boatman on the other syde to come and boat us and our horses over.  If he had not bein their we had bein obliged to ride 2 miles ere we had come to a bridge:  over we win, and at last reaches Darnton, both wet, weary, and hungrie.

    [483] Boroughbridge.

    [484] Darlington.

    [485] Off, as usual.