Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/162

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154
Memoirs of

keep in the Road, whereas the People of this other Band went over the Fields or Roads, Path or no Path, Way or no Way, as they pleaſed; neither had they any Occaſion to paſs thro’ any Town, or come near any Town, other than to buy ſuch Things as they wanted for their neceſſary Subſiſtence, and in that indeed they were put to much Difficulty: Of which in its Place.

But our three Travellers were oblig’d to, keep the Road, or elſe they muſt commit Spoil and do the Country a great deal of Damage in breaking down Fences and Gates, to go over encloſed Fields, which they were loth to do if they could help it.

Our three Travellers however had a great Mind to join themſelves to this Company, and take their Lot with them; and after ſome Diſcourſe, they laid aſide their firſt Deſign which look’d Northward, and reſolv’d to follow the other into Effex; ſo in the Morning they took up their Tent and loaded their Horſe, and away they travelled all together.

They had ſome Difficulty in paſſing the Ferry at the River ſide, the Ferry-Man being afraid of them; but after ſome Parly at a Diſtance, the Ferry-Man was content to bring his Boat to a Place diſtant from the uſual Ferry, and leave it there for them to take it; ſo putting themſelves over, he directed them to leave the Boat, and he having another Boat, ſaid he would fetch it again, which it ſeems however he did not do for above Eight Days.

Here giving the Ferry-Man Money before-hand, they had a ſupply of Victuals and Drink, which he brought and left in the Boat for them, but not without, as I ſaid, having receiv’d the Mony before-hand. But now our Travellers were at a great Loſs and Difficulty how to get the Horſe over, the Boat being ſmall and not fit for it, and at laſt cou’d not do it without unloading the Baggage, and making him ſwim over.