15143On Friday morning I set forward towards 144Chelmsford, not having past two hundred, being 145the least company that I had in the daytime 146between London and that place. Onward I went, 147thus easily followed, till I come to Witford Bridge, 148where a number of country people and many gentlemen 150and gentlewomen were gathered together 151to see me. Sir Thomas Mildmay, standing at his 152park pale, received gently a pair of garters of 153me -- gloves, points, and garters being my ordinary 154merchandise that I put out to venture for performance 155of my merry voyage.

16156So much ado I had to pass by the people at 157Chelmsford that it was more than an hour ere I 158could recover my inn gate, where I was fain 159to lock myself in my chamber and pacify them 160with words out of a window instead of deeds. To 161deal plainly, I was so weary that I could dance 162no more.

17163The next morning I footed it three mile of my 164way toward Braintree, but returned back again 165to Chelmsford, where I lay that Saturday 166and the next Sunday. The good cheer and kind 167welcome I had at Chelmsford was much more 168than I was willing to entertain, for my only desire 169was to refrain drink and be temperate in my 170diet.

18171At Chelmsford, a maid (not passing fourteen 172years of age) dwelling with one Sudley, my 173kind friend, made request to her master and 174dame that she might dance the morris with 175me in a great large room. They being entreated, 176I was soon won to fit her with bells -- besides, 177she would have the old fashion with napking on 178her arms -- and to our jumps we fell. A whole hour 179she held out, but then, being ready to lie down, I 180left her off. But thus much in her praise: I would 181have challenged the strongest man in Chelmsford, 182and amongst many I think few would have done 183so much.