militia forces at Oxford, whither on that occasion came the Lord
Lieutenant and deputy-lieutenants of the county, of which number
they who committed me were two.

When they had been awhile together, and the Marshal with them, he
stepped suddenly in, and in haste told me I must get ready quickly
to go out of town, and that a soldier would come by and bye to go
with me. This said, he hastened to them again, not giving me any
intimation how I was to go, or whither.

I needed not much time to get ready in; but I was uneasy in thinking
what the Friends of the town would think of this my sudden and
private removal; and I feared lest any report should be raised that
I had purchased my liberty by an unfaithful compliance. Wherefore I
was in care how to speak with some Friends about it; and that
friendly baker, whose wife was a Friend, living on the other side of
the street at a little distance, I went out at a back door,
intending to step over the way to their house, and return
immediately.

It so fell out that some of the lieutenants (of whom Esquire Clark,
who committed me, was one) were standing in the balcony at a great
inn or tavern, just over the place where I was to go by; and he
spying me, called out to the soldiers, who stood thick in the
street, to stop me. They being generally gentlemen's servants, and
many of them knowing me, did civilly forbear to lay hold on me, but
calling modestly after me, said, "Stay, sir, stay; pray come back."
I heard, but was not willing to hear, therefore rather mended my
pace, that I might have got within the door. But he calling
earnestly after me, and charging them to stop me, some of them were