frantic fifth-monarchy men, and was not yet settled; but storms,
like thunder-showers, flew here and there by coast, so that we could
not promise ourselves any safety or quiet in our meetings. And
though they had escaped disturbance for some little time before, yet
so it fell out that a party of horse were appointed to come and
break up the meeting that day, though we knew nothing of it till we
heard and saw them.

The meeting was scarce fully gathered when they came; but we that
were in the family, and many others, were settled in it in great
peace and stillness, when on a sudden the prancing of the horses
gave notice that a disturbance was at hand.

We all sat still in our places, except my companion John Ovy, who
sat next to me. But he being of a profession that approved Peter's
advice to his Lord, "to save himself," soon took the alarm, and with
the nimbleness of a stripling, cutting a caper over the form that
stood before him, ran quickly out at a private door, which he had
before observed, which led through the parlour into the gardens, and
from thence into an orchard; where he hid himself in a place so
obscure, and withal so convenient for his intelligence by
observation of what passed, that no one of the family could scarce
have found a likelier.

By the time he was got into his burrow came the soldiers in, being a
party of the county troop, commanded by Matthew Archdale of Wycombe.
He behaved himself civilly, and said he was commanded to break up
the meeting, and carry the men before a justice of the peace; but he
said he would not take all; and thereupon began to pick and choose,
chiefly as his eye guided him, for I suppose he knew very few.