sts everie Goose
and Turkey they had from our Yard.

_June 27, 1646_.

Praised be _Heaven_, deare _Father_ hath just received Sir _Thomas
Fairfax's_ Protection, empowering him quietlie and without let to goe
forthe "with Servants, Horses, Arms, Goods, etc." to "_London_ or
elsewhere," whithersoever he will. And though the Protection extends but
over six Months, at the Expiry of which Time, _Father_ must take Measures
to embark for some Place of Refuge beyond Seas, yet who knows what may
turn up in those six Months! The King may enjoy his Owne agayn.
Meantime, we immediatelie leave _Oxford_.

_Forest Hill_.

At Home agayn; and what a Home! Everiething to seeke, everiething
misplaced, broken, abused, or gone altogether! The Gate off its Hinges;
the Stone Balls of the Pillars overthrowne, the great Bell stolen, the
clipt Junipers grubbed up, the Sun-diall broken! Not a Hen or Chicken,
Duck or Duckling, left! _Crab_ half-starved, and soe glad to see us,
that he dragged his Kennel after him. _Daisy_ and _Blanch_ making such
piteous Moans at the Paddock Gate, that I coulde not bear it, but helped
_Lettice_ to milk them. Within Doors, everie Room smelling of Beer and
Tobacco; Cupboards broken upon, etc. On my Chamber Floor, a greasy
steeple-crowned Hat! Threw it forthe from the Window with a Pair of
Tongs.

_Mother_ goes about the House weeping. _Father_ sits in his broken
Arm-chair, the Picture of Disconsolateness. I see the _Agnews_, true
Friends! riding hither; and with them a Third, who, methinks, is _Rose's_
Brother _Ralph_.

_London. St. Martin's le Grand_.

Trembling, weeping, hopefulle, dismaied, here I sit in mine Uncle's hired
House, alone in a Crowd, scared at mine owne Precipitation, readie to
wish myselfe back, unable to resolve, to reflect, to pray . . .

_Twelve at Night_.

Alle is silent; even in the latelie busie Streets. Why art thou cast
down, my Heart? why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou stille in
the _Lord_, for he is the Joy and Light of thy Countenance. Thou hast
beene long of learning him to be such. Oh, forget not thy Lesson now!
Thy best Friend hath sanctioned, nay, counselled this Step, and overcome
alle Obstacles, and provided the Means of this Journey; and to-morrow at
Noone, if Events prove not cross, I shall have Speech of him whom my Soul
loveth. To-night, let me watch, fast, and pray.

_Friday; at Night_.

How awfulle it is to behold