as much as the town. But your father hearing that, by accident, there
was a great ship of Amsterdam bound for Malaga, in Spain, and Cromwell
pursuing his conquests at our backs, resolved to fall into the hands
of God rather than into the hands of men; and with his family of about
ten persons came to the town at the latter end of February, [Footnote:
Probably January, as in a subsequent page Lady Fanshawe says, she
embarked for Galway in the beginning of February.] where we found
guards placed that none should enter without certificates from whence
they came; but understanding that your father came to embark himself
for Spain, and that there was a merchant's house taken for us, that
was near the sea-side, and one of their best, they told us, if we
pleased to alight, they would wait on us to the place; but it was long
from thence, and no horses were admitted into the town.

An Irish footman that served us, said, 'I lived here some years and
know every street, and likewise know a much nearer way than these men
can show you, Sir; therefore come with me, if you please.' We resolved
to follow him, and sent our horses to stables in the suburbs: he led
us all on the back side of the town, under the walls, over which the
people during the plague, which was not yet quite stopped, flung out
all their dung, dirt, and rags, and we walked up to the middle of our
legs in them, for, being engaged, we could not get back. At last we
found the house, by the master standing at the door expecting us, who
said, 'You are welcome to this disconsolate city, where you now see
the streets grown over with grass, once the finest little city in the
world.' And indeed it is easy to think so, the buildings being
uniformly built, and a very fine marketplace, and walks arched and
paved by the sea-side for their merchants to walk on, and a most noble
harbour.