1096Thursday being Market day at Brentwood, 97Tom Sly was earlier up than the lark and 98sounded merrily the morris. I roused myself 99and returned from Romford to the place where 100I took horse the first night, dancing that quarter 101of a mile back again through Romford, and so merrily 102to Brentwood. Yet now I remember it well, 103I had no great cause of mirth, for at Romford 104town's end I strained my hip, and for a time endured 105exceeding pain. But being loath to trouble a 106surgeon, I held on, finding remedy by labor that 107had hurt me, for it came in a turn, and so in my 108dance I turned it out of my service again.

11109The multitudes were so great at my coming 110to Brentwood that I had much ado, though I 111made many entreaties and stays, to get passage to 112my inn.

12113In this town two cutpurses were taken, that 114with other two of their companions followed me 115from London, as many better disposed persons did; 116but these two didappers gave out when they were 117apprehended that they had laid wagers and betted 118about my journey. Whereupon the officers bring 119ing them to my inn, I justly denied their acquaintance, 120saving that I remembered one of them 121to be a noted cutpurse, such a one as we tie to a 122post on our stage for all people to wonder at when 123at a play they are taken pilfering.

13124This fellow and his half brother, being found with 125the deed, were sent to jail; their other two consorts 126had the charity of the town, and after a dance 127of trenchmore at the whipping cross, they were 128sent back to London, where I am afraid there 129are too many of their occupation. To be short, I 130thought myself well rid of four such followers, 131and I wish heartily that the whole world were clear 132of such companions.

14133Having rested well at Brentwood, the moon 134shining clearly and the weather being calm, in 135the evening I tripped it to Ingatestone, stealing away 136from those numbers of people that followed me. 137Yet do I what I could, I had above fifty in the 138company -- some of London, the other of the country 139thereabout -- that would needs when they heard my 140tabor trudge after me through thick and thin.