with diamonds, the other an onyx,' and a pair of buckles set with rubies and diamonds, which were of value, and after all bound my hands behind me, and my feet, having before pulled off my boots; they then set me up against an oak, with most bloody threats to cut my throat if I offered to cry out, or make any noise; for they should be within hearing, I not being the person they looked for. I told them that if they had not basely surprised me they should not have had so easy a prize, and that it would teach me never to ride near a hedge, since, had I been in the mid-way, they durst not have adventured on me; at which they cocked their pistols, and told me they had long guns, too, and were fourteen companions. I begged for my onyx, and told them it being engraved with my arms would betray them; but nothing prevailed. My horse's bridle they slipped, and searched the saddle, which they pulled off, but let the horse graze, and then turning again bridled him and tied him to a tree, yet so as he might graze, and thus left me bound. My horse was perhaps not taken, because he was marked and cropped on both ears, and well known on that road. Left in this manner, grievously was I tormented with flies, ants, and the sun, nor was my anxiety little how I should get loose, in that solitary place, where I could neither hear nor see any creature but my poor horse and a few sheep straggling in the copse.

After near two hours' attempting, I got my hands to turn palm to palm, having been tied back to back, and then it was long before I could slip the cord over my wrists to my thumb, which at last I did, and then soon unbound my feet, and saddling my horse and roaming a while about, I at

1 [This seal, described in Evelyn's will as his "fine Onix Seale, set in Gold in fleure work, with my Cyfer and Armes inamell'd," is figured at p. 31, vol. v., of Brayley's Surrey, 1850.]

last perceived dust to rise, and soon after heard the rattling of a cart, towards which I made, and, by the help of two countrymen, I got back into the highway. I rode to Colonel Blount's, a great justiciary of the times, who sent out hue and cry immediately. The next morning, sore as my wrists and arms were, I went to London, and got 500 tickets printed and dispersed by an officer of Goldsmiths' Hall, and within two days had tidings of all I had lost, except my sword, which had a silver hilt, and some trifles. The rogues had pawned one of my rings for a trifle to a goldsmith's servant, before the tickets came to the shop, by which means they escaped; the other ring was bought by a victualler, who brought it to a goldsmith, but he having seen the ticket seized the man. I afterwards discharged him on his protestation of innocence. Thus did God deliver me from these villains, and not only so, but restored what they took, as twice before he had graciously done, both at sea and land; I mean when I had been robbed by pirates, and was in danger of a considerable loss at Amsterdam; for which, and many, many signal preservations, I am extremely obliged to give thanks to God my Saviour.

.

25th June. After a drought of near four months, there fell so violent a tempest of hail, rain, wind, thunder, and lightning, as no man had seen the like in his age; the hail being in some places four or five inches about, brake all glass about London, especially at Deptford, and more at Greenwich.

29th. I returned to Tunbridge, and again drank the water, till 10th July.

We went to see the house of my Lord Clanricarde at Summer - hill, near Tunbridge

[Ulick de Burgh, fifth Earl and Marquis of Clanricarde, 1604-57.]

(now given to that demned the King). hill, with a park; ordinary.

villain, Bradshaw, who con-
Tis situated on
'Tis situated on an eminent
but has nothing else extra-

2

4th July. I heard a sermon at Mr. Packer's chapel at Groombridge,' a pretty melancholy seat, well wooded and watered. In this house was one of the French Kings kept prisoner. The chapel was built by Mr. Packer's father, in remembrance of King Charles the First's safe return out of Spain.s

9th. We went to see Penshurst, the Earl of Leicester's, famous once for its gardens and excellent fruit, and for the noble conversation which was wont to meet there, celebrated by that illustrious person, Sir Philip Sidney, who there composed divers of his pieces. It stands in a park, is finely watered, and was now full of company, on the marriage of my old fellow collegiate, Mr. Robert Smythe, who married my Lady Dorothy Sidney, widow of the Earl of Sunderland.

One of the men who robbed me was taken; I was accordingly summoned to appear against him; and, on the 12th, was in Westminster Hall, but not being bound over, nor willing to hang the

1 In the parish of Speldhurst, in Kent, four miles from Tunbridge Wells. John Packer, 1570?-1649, was Clerk of the Privy Seal to Charles I.

2 The Duke of Orleans, taken at the battle of Agincourt, 4 Hen. V., by Richard Waller, then owner of this place. See Hasted's Kent, vol. i. p. 431.

3 With this inscription (according to Hasted, i. p. 432) over the door, "D.O.M. 1625, ob felicissimi Caroli Principis Ex Hispaniâ reducis Sacellum hoc D.D.I.P."; and above it the device of the Prince of Wales.

4 [Dorothy Spencer, Countess of Sunderland, 1617-1684, Waller's "Sacharissa," and daughter of Philip Sidney, Earl of Leicester. After her first husband's death, she married, 8th July, 1652, Mr. (afterwards Sir Robert) Smythe of Sutton-at-Hone and Boundes in Kent, an old admirer, and (according to Dorothy Osborne)" a very fine gentleman."]