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was covered with rushes, against some solemn festival, which I heard it was bespoken for.

Here was my nil ultra; and here I found I might set up my pillar; for although there was a door out of it, to a back pair of stairs which led to it; yet that was kept locked. So that finding I had now followed my keeper's direction to the utmost point, beyond which I could not go, I sat down and considered that rhetorical saying, that the way to heaven lay by the gate of hell; the black room through which I passed into this, bearing some resemblance to the latter, as this comparatively, and by way of allusion, might in some sort be thought to bear to the former.

But I was quickly put out of these thoughts by the flocking in of the other Friends, my fellow-prisoners; amongst whom yet, when all were come together, there was but one, whom I knew so much as by face; and with him I had no acquaintance. For I having been but a little while in the city, and in that time kept close to my studies; I was by that means known to very few.

Soon after we were all gotten together, came up the master of the house after us, and demanded our names, which we might reasonably have refused to give, till we had been legally convened before some civil magistrate, who had power to examine us, and demand our names. But we, who were neither guilful nor wilful, simply gave him our names, which he took down in writing.

It was, as I hinted before, a general storm which fell that day, but it lighted most, and most heavy, upon our meetings; so that most of our men-Friends were made prisoners, and the prisons generally filled. And great work had the women to run about from prison to prison, to find their husbands, their fathers, their brothers or their servants; for accordingly as they had disposed themselves to several meetings, so were they dispersed to several prisons. And no less care and pains had they when they had found them, to furnish them with provisions, and other necessary accom. modations.

But an excellent order, even in those early days, was practised among the Friends of that city; by which there were certain Friends of either sex, appointed to have the oversight of the prisons in every quarter, and to take care of all Friends, the poor especially, that should be committed thither.

This prison of Bridewell was under the care of two honest, grave, discreet and motherly women, whose names were Anne Merrick (afterwards Vivers) and Anne Travers; both widows.

They, so soon as they understood that there were Friends brought into that prison, provided some hot victuals, meat and broth, (for the weather was cold) and ordering their servants to bring it them, with bread, cheese and beer, came themselves also with it, and having placed it on a table, gave notice to us, that it

was provided for all those that had not others to provide for them; or were not able to provide for themselves. And there wanted not among us a competent number of such guests.

As for my part, though I had lived as frugally as possibly I could, that I might draw out the thread of my little stock to the utmost length, yet had I by this time reduced it to ten pence, which was all the money I had about me, or any where else at my command.

This was but a small estate to enter upon an imprisonment with; yet was I not at all discouraged at it, nor had I a murmuring thought. I had known what it was moderately to abound; and if I should now come to suffer want, I knew I ought to be content; and through the grace of God I was so. I had lived by Providence before, when for a long time I had no money at all; and I had always found the Lord a good provider. I made no doubt therefore that he who sent the ravens to feed Elijah, and who clothes the lilies, would find some means to sustain me with needful food and raiment; and I had learned by experience the truth of that saying, natura paucis contenta; i. e. nature is content with few things, or a little.

Although the sight and smell of hot food was sufficiently enticing to my empty stomach (for I had eaten little that morning, and was hungry) yet considering the terms of the invitation, I questioned whether I was included in it; and after some reasonings, at length con

cluded, that while I had ten pence in my pocket I should be but an injurious intruder to that mess, which was provided for such as, perhaps, had not two pence in theirs.

Being come to this resolution, I withdrew as far from the table as I could, and sat down in a quiet retirement of mind, till the repast was over, which was not long; for there were hands enough at it to make light work of it.

When evening came, the porter came up the back-stairs, and opening the door, told us if we desired to have any thing that was to be had in the house, he would bring it us; for there was in the house a chandler's shop; at which beer, bread, butter, cheese, eggs and bacon might be had for money. Upon which many went to him, and spake for what of these things they had a mind to; giving him money to pay for them.

Among the rest went I, and intending to spin out my ten pence as far as I could, desired him to bring me a penny loaf only. When he returned, we all resorted to him to receive our several provisions, which he delivered; and when he came to me, he told me he could not get a penny loaf, but he had brought me two half-penny loaves. This suited me better; wherefore returning to my place again, I sat down and eat up one of my loaves reserving the other for the next day.

This was to me both dinner and supper. And so well satisfied I was with it, that I could willingly then have gone to bed, if I had had

one to go to; but that was not to be expected there; nor had any one any bedding brought in that night.

Some of the company had been so considerate as to send for a pound of candles, that we might not sit all night in the dark; and having lighted divers of them, and placed them in several parts of that large room, we kept walking to keep us warm.

After I had warmed myself pretty thoroughly, and the evening was pretty far spent, I bethought myself of a lodging; and casting mine eye on the table, which stood in the bay-window, the frame whereof looked, I thought, somewhat like a bedstead.

Where

fore willing to make sure of that, I gathered up a good armful of the rushes, wherewith the floor was covered, and spreading them under that table, crept in upon them in my clothes, and keeping on my hat, laid my head upon one end of the table's frame, instead of a bolster.

My example was followed by the rest, who gathering up rushes, as I had done, made themselves beds in other parts of the room; and so to rest we went.

I having a quiet, easy mind, was soon asleep, and slept till about the middle of the night. And then waking, finding my legs and feet very cold, I crept out of my cabin, and began to walk about apace.

This awoke and raised all the rest, who finding themselves cold as well as I, got up and

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