[Having escaped the Court service, falls to his former course of life.] For now I returned to my former course of life, dressing my Victuals daily with mine own hands, fetching both Wood and Water upon mine own back.  And this, for ought I could see to the contrary, I was like to continue for my life time.  This I could do for the Present, but I began to consider how helpless I should be, if it should please God I should live till I grew old and feeble.  So I entred upon a Consultation with myself for the providing against this.  One way was the getting of me a Wife, but that I was resolved never to do.  Then I began to enquire for some poor body to live with me, to dress my Victuals for me, that I might live at a little more ease, but could not find any to my mind.  Whereupon I considered, that there was no better way, than to take one of my poor Country-mens Children, whom I might bring up to learn both my own Language and Religion.  And this might be not only Charity to the Child, but a kindness to my self also afterwards.  And several there were that would be glad so to be eased of their charge, having more than they could well maintain, a Child therefore I took, by whose aptness, ingenuity and company as I was much delighted at present, so afterwards I hoped to be served.

It was now about the year M DC LXXIII.  Altho I had now lived many years in this Land, and God be praised, I wanted for nothing the Land afforded, yet could I not forget my native Countrey England, and lamented under the Famine of Gods Word and Sacraments, the want whereof I found greater than all earthly wants:  and my dayly and fervent Prayers to God were, in his good time to restore me to the enjoyment of them.

[Their pedling forwarded their escape.] I and my Companion were still meditating upon our escape and the means to compass it.  Which our pedling about the Countrey did greatly forward and promote.  For speaking well the Language and going with our Commodities from place to place, we used often to entertain discourse with the Countrey people; viz. concerning the ways and the Countreys, and where there were most and fewest inhabitants, and where and how the Watches laid from one Countrey to another; and what Commodities were proper to carry from one part to the other, pretending we would from time to time go from one place to another, to furnish our selves with ware that the respective places afforded.  None doubted but we had made these inquiries for the sake of our Trade, but our selves had other designs in them.  Neither was there the least suspition of us for these our questions:  all supposing I would never run away and leave such an estate as in their accounts and esteem I had.