 road; and so fortunate was I in the choice of these scouts,
that I never was betrayed by one of them, though they were often bribed for that
purpose.
    I no sooner received this intelligence, than I ordered my horse to be
saddled, and mounting, rode out of sight immediately, directing my course a
different way from the London road. I had not long proceeded in this tract, when
my career was all of a sudden stopp'd by a five-bar gate, which, after some
hesitation, I resolved to leap (my horse being an old hunter) if I should find
myself pursued. However, with much difficulty I made shift to open it, and
arrived in safety at the house of my very good friend Mr. G--, who being a
justice of the peace, had promised me his protection, if it should be wanted.
    Thus secured for the present, I sent out spies to bring information of his
lordship's proceedings, and understood that he had taken possession of my house,
turned my servants adrift, and made himself master of all my moveables, cloaths
and papers. As for the papers, they were of no consequence, but of cloaths I had
a good stock; and when I had reason to believe that he did not intend to
relinquish his conquest, I thought it was high time for me to remove to a
greater distance from his quarters. Accordingly, two days after my escape, I set
out at eleven o'clock at night, in a chariot and four, which I borrowed of my
friend, attended by a footman, who was a stout fellow and well armed, I myself
being provided with a brace of good pistols, which I was fully determined to
use, against any person who should presume to lay violent hands upon me, except
my lord, for whom a less mortal weapon would have sufficed, such as a bodkin or
a tinder-box. Nothing could be farther from my intention, than the desire of
hurting any living creature, much less my husband; my design was only to defend
myself from cruelty and oppression, which I knew, by fatal experience, would
infallibly be my lot, should he get me into his power: and I thought I had as
good a right to preserve my happiness, as that which every individual has to
preserve his life, especially against a set of ruffians, who were engaged to rob
me of it, for a little dirty lucre.
    In the midst of our journey, the footman came up, and told me I was dogg'd
