did not know that it would give any offence barely to ride or to
walk on that day, so long as I did not carry or drive any carriage
or horses laden with burthens. "Why," said he, "if your business
was urgent, did you not take a pass from the mayor of Reading?"--
"Because," replied I, "I did not know nor think I should have needed
one."--"Well," said he, "I will not talk with you now, because it is
time to go to church, but I will examine you further anon." And
turning to the constable, "Have him," said he, "to an inn, and bring
him before me after dinner."

The naming of an inn put me in mind that such public-houses were
places of expense, and I knew I had no money to defray it; wherefore
I said to the warden: "Before thou sendest me to an inn, which may
occasion some expense, I think it needful to acquaint thee that I
have no money."

At that the warden started again, and turning quickly upon me, said:
"How! no money! How can that be? You don't look like a man that
has no money."--"However I look," said I, "I tell thee the truth,
that I have no money; and I tell it to forewarn thee, that thou
mayest not bring any charge upon the town."--"I wonder," said he,
"what art you have got, that you can travel without money; you can
do more, I assure you, than I can."

I making no answer, he went on and said: "Well, well! but if you
have no money, you have a good horse under you, and we can distrain
him for the charge."--"But," said I, "the horse is not mine."--"No,"
said he; "but you have a good coat on your back, and that I hope is
your own."--"No," said I, "but it is not, for I borrowed both the
horse and the coat."