: The Journal of Joachim Hane containing his escapes and sufferings during his employment by Oliver Cromwell in France from November 1653 to February 1654 by Hane Joachim Firth C H Charles Harding Editor - France Foreign relations Great Britain; Great Brita

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house, where I saw never another man, but fowre or five women, whereof one was his mother, who did curse and revile mee in a most abhominable manner. A maid was presently sent to some officers in the parish for more helpe, for his house stood by it selfe in the field far from neighbours. In the meane time the good man gave mee a glasse or two of wine, and a little crust of bread, which after two dayes fasting, was some though not considerable refreshment to mee because it was noe more. Taking noe delight of the ayre in the house I could not have patience to sitt downe, though much intreated, but sought to walk up and downe rather without the dores then within. After that I had bin there about halfe an howre, the maid that went for more helpe, returned with news, that some more men would be there immeadiatly. Now the day and night were even parting, darkenes increasing apace, whilst I still continued to walke, with many intreaties that hee would dismis mee, promising him 20 pistolls for his reward, but I could not prevaile with him. At length the ould woman came forth full of indignacion, rayling and chiding him for walking in the darke without armes in his hands. The good sone, taking his mother's witt for the best, willingly yeilded to her instructions, and prayed her to stay with mee till hee went to fetch his fowling peece; thus having resigned me to his mother's care, he went to fetch his gun in the house. I kept in the mean time of his absence a slow walke while the ould woman full of jealousy followed mee close at the heeles mandring, and when I guessed what tyme her sone might be got up the stayres, I made use of my leggs on a suddaine, and ran into a plaine champion feild, which was on one side of the house, with all possible speed, leaving the ould woman behind in a distracted and raging condition, clamering and taking on as one out of witts. Before her good sone could gitt downe to see what his mother ayled, I was out of reach of his gun, and out of sight, making soe many crooked turnes in my passage that they might not know where to follow mee.

Thus being at liberty again I made full account to bee at Bourdeaux against the next morning. To which end I marched all the night, making noe stay in any place, but in the morning when I thought my selfe to be neere Bourdeaux, I perceived my selfe to bee two leagues directly backward further from Bourdeaux, then I was in the evening before I made myne escape. And finding my selfe in a wood through which I had passed two dayes before, because it was an extraordinary thick misty night, which was a meanes that I knew not how to deserne the east from the west by moone or starrs whereby I might have directed my course according to my intentions, the day being at hand I durst not venture to march farther for feare of being discovered, but lodged my selfe in a greate thicked of thornes, for I feared to be discovered in the wood. I lay hiden till about two of the clock in the after noone some cattle came neere mee, which following an ould over growne path for grasse, and forcing through directly upon me, made me run forwards out of the thicked, for I feared the boyes that kept the cattle would follow them in the reare, and the thornes and bryars were soe thick and soe closely growne togeather that it was impossible for mee to creepe through on eather side. Soe being driven by these brute beasts out of the private receptacle into a more perspicuus place, I fell presently into the vew of some boyes that looked to the cattle, whereof some went presently to make knowne that I was in the wood. Not long after the wood was besett, and all the high wayes, by which unavoydably I was to pass whensoever I should offer to gitt out from thence, were strongly gaurded by the countrymen living thereabout.

Now I found myselfe as bad as taken againe; for though I could not be easily found out and aprehended in the wood, by the many impassable thicketts therein, yet could not I hide my selfe from hunger and cowld, which were now my greatist enemyes following mee close whether soever I went or turned my self. I went all the night from one end of the wood to the other, trying all the passages round about, whether I might nott make my way through any of them, butt the guards being soe stronge and vigilant I wearied my self to noe purpose that whole night. In the morning I retired myself into the thickest and most retired parte of the wood, and continued there till evening, nott appearing to anybody all that day, except some hounds which belong'd to the lord that lived close to the wood side came hunting to mee, but having looked upon mee with silence they went away. The night drawing on the gaurd about the wood were sett as strong and as many as the night before, wherby I was deprived of all hopes of escape; and seeing before mee in case I continued in that condition any longer, nothing else but present and unavoydable distruction both of health and life, because I had bin without releefe both of meate and drinke now about the space of fowre dayes, I thought it more expedient for mee to make myne escape by some desperate meanes, though there were never soe little probability in them, rather then to yeild my selfe to those of whom I could expect noe comfort then what those cruell and most exquisit torments they had prepared for mee accompaned with a most ignominous death would have afforded mee. I resolved therefore to cut two bundles of bulrushes upon which I could presume to swim over the river of Garrone which was about two English myles from the wood. But before I came to the River I was to pass through a greate moras about halfe a myle broad, running all along close by the wood side, which side was not gaurded by the contrymen, because the morast it selfe tho unknowne to mee was a sufficient gaurd to keepe mee from running away. Thus I tooke two bundles of rushes, and went into the said morast; which though it proved soe deepe and soe dificult that I sunck to my midle in the quagmire, where I should have bin past getting out againe if it had not bin for the bundles of bulrushes which supported mee whilst I recoverd myselfe, yet could I not be diverted from my resolution, till after I had wrought my selfe almost through the midle of it, and soe was forced to returne from whence I came.

Being come to the wood againe, wet to the midle and exhausted all my strenght, I sate under a tree, examining and bewayling my mesirable and hopeles condition. I counted my selfe reduced to that extreamity wherein infallibly I should have perisht, being opressed with hunger within and seeing the whole creation against me without, soe that in naturall reason I could not see how or by what meanes I might have the least hope, either for my restoration or for my present sustenance. I sent up to heaven many earnist and importunate requests that the Lord would bee pleased to shorten my mesiry or else to worke some meracle for my dileverance and present releife. Now although I earnestly wished and confidently expected my disolution, which I thought would have befalne mee that night or sudenly after, in soe fainting a condition I was in , yet would I, I know not by what naturall instinct, seeke to gitt some ease for my almost senseles body, as long as occation would give way to it.

Knowing therefore that under the wood side at the end of the said morast there stood a lord or gentlemans house which had some stabling about it, I endeavored to repaire to one of the stables for some shelter, whereby I might defend my selfe from the extreamity of the ayre, which was very sharp then; and coming into the stables I went round about groaping and feeling all along the wall for a private place to hide my selfe. At length I met with a scaffold in the corner raised a foote and a half from the ground, and climing upon the same I passed likewise along the wall till I did tread with my foote upon a little bagg wrapped up in an ould coate, the which after I had taken up and unwrapped I perceived to be a bagg full of scrapps or crusts of bread as are used to bee gathered of the table after meales, weiging some 4 or 5 pounds. This singular providence of the Lord had such a reflection upon my body and sperritt, as that whereas before I might have bin counted halfe dead, now I received a new life againe. Now having gott both bread to sattisfie the rage of my hunger for three or fowre dayes, and covering to defend my selfe from the vehement cowld, I could not bee overjoyed of the sight of this wonderfull mercy of God without which, in my conjecture, I was absolutely to perish. This unexpected releife gave such comfort to my drooping spirit as that I was confidently assured there by that the Lord had thoughts of peace and not of distinction to mee, however hee suffered mee to bee under the cloud of affliction at present, having found such a booty. Taking away the said things theirfore I went with a light hart to the wood againe, takeing along with me a burthen of straw wrapped into the coate least by scattering of it I should be dogged out againe; and when I had fetched another burthen of straw I lodged myselfe in a private place in the wood, and pulling of my wett cloaths I wrapped myselfe into the long coate I had found in the stable. In this manner I made a poore shift to keepe my selfe from starving that night.

The next morning I imployed my tyme in drying my cloaths againe in the sun, which did shine very bright all that day longe. The night followeing I went againe round about the wood, trying the guards how I might secretly slip by some of them, which I found to be very difficult, till after midnight I percieved the watchmen of one post were asleepe, or by reason of the cold altogether departed from their station, because I heard none of them ; then I made bold to steale through, and once more gott an inlargement of my restraint in which I had bin for those 3 dayes.

Now I was free, and intended to hold my former course. I mistooke my way againe, going too much west of Burdeaux, because of the cloudie ayre which deprived mee of the sight of the moone and starres, soe that after I had marched the quantity of 4 leagues, I was neverthelesse as farre as I was the day before from Burdeaux. And as it hapned all alonge that all my troubles were soe chaine-like linked together that the end of one calamitie was alwayes the beginning of another, soe heere did providence keepe the same method in exercising my patience with further trialls. For before daylight I fell in my march uppon a great plaine-heath, which after itt was light I found to bee 4 or 5 miles broad. Now when I was in the middle the day broake in uppon mee, wherby I was exposed to the sight of all that mett mee; yett was I arrested by none till I came over the plaine, then even as I was to leave the great comon and entering into the inclosed feilds againe, my way fell thorough a small village, wher as I passed through I saw two or three boores or paisants standing in a doore. These men taking notice of my habit called after me, but I not mooved by their call kept on my pace till some of them gott on horse back others following on foote they overtooke me before I could hide myselfe in any convenient place. I ran for feare into a ditch full of water, but they pulled me out from thence with great cruelty. Having me thus at their mercy they tooke first all my money from me, which was about eighty pistolls in gold besides what I had in silver coyne. Suspecting that I had hidden some in the water out of which they tooke me, setting their fowling peices often to my brest theirby to make me confesse whether it were so or not, and when they could finde no more money about me they fell to strip me of my cloaths, and takeing so much as the shirt from my back they left me naked in the feilds as I came into the world, telling me that naked I came and naked I must goe out of the world againe. One of them presently putt on my worsted coate and drawers, flinging away his owne drawers and wastcoate that were of thin canvis ragged and torne. Another, which tooke away my hat, resigned unto me his old bonit. Of these leavings I was forced to make use of to cover my nakedness withall, though it was an habbit very unsutable for the season, for their had beene a hard niping frost ever since my escape from Pulliac, and continued so for two weeks together.

So parting one from another we went every one his way, they towards their houses and I towards Burdeaux, though it had beene better for those villands to have knocked me on the head then to have dismissed me, for it was their duty to carry me according to order to the safe keeping of the next magistrate, only for that they should not keepe all the booty to themselves they let me goe whether I would without restraint. Because I was now become a worme and no man, a scorne to all that saw me, I thought that now no body would count me worthy of takeing, theirfore I retourned to march openly by day. But the mallice of these rogues that robbed me was such and so great that rather then I should escape they would make an alarum by sounding the horn, wherby they tooke the alarum from one towne to another, so that before I had martched a league hearing the alarum behinde and before and round about me, I was forced to fall into the bottom of a thick hedge to save myselfe from being taken againe. Their I continued from nyne till two of the clock of the afternoone till the cold and frost had so benumed all my members of my body that I was uncapable of any motion, and noe more senceable of any greate and sharp cold but onely inclyning to a fainting sleepe, soe that I was affraid if in case I continued fowre howres longer there till I might march at night againe, I should be past ever rising againe. Therefore when I saw a plaine contry man not farr of from mee passing I made bold to call him, with an intencion to promise him a good some of mony if he would take me into his house, and keepe mee there private for fowre or five weekes till I might git some letters of creditt from my frinds by way of Bourdeaux. But when hee came to see mee even spechles by shaking and quaking for cold, the owld man seeing my condition desired mee to come home with him to his house, which was hard by in a little village consisting not of above 12 houses. Having brought mee to his house hee made mee presently a good fire to gitt life into my starved joynts againe, and gave mee some bread and drinke such as his house afforded for my refreshment.

Whilst I thus refreshed me by the fire side there came severall of the neibours to looke upon mee in my comfortles condition, whereby some conjecturing that I was the man conserning whom they had received the hue and cry, presently sent for the Justice of the peace, which lived not farr from thence. He came about five of the clocke to waite upon mee, and was overjoyed that he had gott such a bird in his nett whose feathers hee thought would be at least 1200 livers in his way. Having variously discorsed with me and earnestly enquired in whose hands in Bourdeaux I had the 1200 livers mentioned in the hue and cry, hee tooke mee along with him into a larger house, where himselfe alsoe lying he caused mee to bee kept by a gaurd of contrymen. The next morning, because I could not give him a satisfactory answer to his demands especially concerning the 1200 livers, hee sent a messenger to Bourdeaux which was some 3 leagues from thence, for a confessor as he termed it to bee there against the next morning for to begin the same processe againe with mee as those at Bourdeaux and Puliack would have done, if God had not prevented it. In the meane while the gentleman being willing to gitt as much by my ruine as could bee went to consult with some of his frinds that were there, how hee might gitt some of the monies that I had lost the other day within his jurisdiction. Finding hee was not like to compasse his ends, he began to carry himselfe more affable to mee then before with all manner of faire promisses, namly that hee would helpe mee to my cloathes againe and to halfe the mony which I had lost, if soe be I could find out the men that robed mee or their houses. Wher upon, though I was sufficiently convinced that onely his and not my profitt was concern'd in the plott, yet being altogeather in his power, I could not chuse but yeild myselfe to his desires, and promised to goe back the same way I came the day before, and not returne before I had found out the houses of those men that had robbed mee. Then he provided a gaurd of fowre men with fowling peeces to goe along with me, and two greate doggs with a little one which were to attend my returne, which would bee in the night, least I should ever slip in the wood through which wee were to march. And because my feete being very much spoyled by the frost I indured before, I could make but small hast to follow my leaders, they furnished mee with a lame horse, on which I might make some shift to keepe pace with my gaurd, and yett not to run away from them neither.

In this equipage wee began our march about 2 of the clock in the afternoone, and found the house wherein the robbers lived within an howre and halfe after our departure. But before wee were come halfe the way to them, least the theeves wee sought for should conceave any suspition, and so absent themselves if from farr they should see mee come in their companie, wee went into a farmers house that lived by the way, and borrowing a long coate from him made of a thick white frize, they put it about mee, therewith to disguise me. This pollisie of theirs did exceedingly rejoyce mee, because it not onely conforted my naked body for the present, but it spoke moreover to mee that the Lord thereby was preparing new meanes for my deliverance, for by the helpe of this coate I thought my selfe in a capacity to lye out of dores againe in the field, which otherwise it was impossible for mee to doe for want of cloathes. I began therefore to make provision for a new jorney by filling my bosome with bread where and whensoever occation would serve mee, for both in the farmers, and severall other houses they made my gaurd wellcome, by setting alwaye a pott of wine and a greate househould loafe before us, by which meanes I gott as much bread as did serve mee two dayes after. At length when wee had found the place where the robbers dwelt, three of my gaurds went into the house and would not suffer mee to goe with them, but left mee in another howse with one of the gaurd, giving to the people of the house a strickt charge besides to looke to mee least I should make an escape. Having dispatched their Masters arrand, and returned into the house where they left mee, I asked them whether they would not helpe mee to my cloathes againe according to their promisse. They replied that I should find a man at home that would keepe me warm enough without cloathes, meaning the hangman, which was sent for him from Burdeaux to be theire against our retourne.

The night coming on a pace we prepared for a martch againe, and tooke our leave from the house we were in. Comeing forth those of my guard went two before and two behinde keepeing close to my horse heeles because it was very darke. When we weere gott againe so far as the farmers house where they borrowed my longe coate, they desired me to restore the coate to the owners againe. In the meane while the farmer himselfe came forth of the house entreating my guard to come into the house, and being entered the men that gaurded me set themselves round about a table while I was walking up and downe the roome with the borrowed coate on my back still. And seeing by and by the attentions of the men taken up with their cupps, and the doggs which were taken along on purpose to observe my motion in the darke striving about the warmest place in the chimney corner, I thought it to be the season for which I had looked with great expectation ever since I gott the coate on my backe. I made bold theirfore to step out of the roome with leasure as though I had some private businesse to doe without, and assoone as I was gotten out I pulled of the coate, and taking it under my arme I went in hast to try once more my heeles, which though they weere lame before yet now they were become as light as ever they were. I ran with all speed towards the open plaine feild which was on one side of the house. I was not gott halfe musket shott from the house before they came to looke for me, and finding me to be gone, they called presently forth the doggs, and sett them with a great and impetuous storme against the wood which was on the other side of the house, suspecting that I had taken that wood for my refuge rather then the open feilds. But I being gon the cleane contrary way, and the doggs amazed and confounded with the rageing cry of six or seaven men so that they could not take notice of me as I ran on, the poore men lost their labours and I gott my libberty by the assistance of God, together with a good warme coate to my back.

In the end of the game, to take all possible heed from falling into their or any mans hands againe, I steered my coarse directly back againe, to a wood which I knewe formerly being stripped not fair from thence. There I intended to conceale my selfe, and not to goe from thence till hunger should force mee, for I feared because of the nessessity they knew that I was in, I must goe to Bourdeaux for releife, that now they would raise for mee more then ever they did, but if it were soe that I could be some where in secritt two or three dayes till the heat of their fury against mee were some what cooled, then I supposed their gaurds would bee either more careles, or altogeather removed, that soe I might with more safety gitt throw to Bourdeaux by night. And coming into the wood, I found in the same a Church with an empty parson's house, and continued there, for the space of two dayes. The first night I lodged my selfe in the oven for feare of any bodyes coming into the house, for I knew not in the darke that I was soe far from neighbours. But the next day when it was light, I chose for my habitation a great come chest which stood upon leggs a foote and 1/2 high from the ground, and was in all about seaven foote deepe, and there I spent the rest of the time, as long as I stayed there, onely in the night I went forth to squench my thurst, out of the trench that went about the church yard. This was the best lodging that I had since I leaped over the wall at Bourdeaux; for in the morning after I first came in I found in a corner an owld sack full of wooll of about 15^. weight, which being most in great fleeces was of singular use to mee in supplying the want of cloathes, for I contryved to wrap my whole body to the knees into itt, putting the wooll to my skin and tying my canvas wastcoate and britches on the tope of it whereby I became as warme although not soe fashonnably clad as ever I was.

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