20 Journal and Correspondence

C. S. C.

would go to either to fight against their King. I then told
him he was a Tory, another told me I should not come there
to find any thing else; I told him I hoped to find it otherwise.
A young man then desired to hear the proposals; I attempted
to read them to him, but one of the Company struck the paper,
and many of them made such a noise, that prevented me
from informing those who wanted to enlist. I then put up
my papers, lest they should take them from me. About an
hour after a man called me aside and told me he would enlist
at Cambridge, for he was afraid to do it there. M^r George
Slakum overheard him, and said Dam your forty shillings, it
is not worth six pence. I have gold and silver enough, and
will give fifty shillings to a man either to fight for the King,
or not fight against him, which of the two I am not positive,
but believe I can prove both, if I can be enabled to go there
for the evidences. M^r George Slakum told me I was a
damned rascal in offering to enlist men against the King and
they were damned fools that would go with me. I saw imme-
diately after that in different places men whispering together,
at which time a young man as he passed by me said goe off
immediately or you will be murthered. I took his advice. It
being dark, I knew not the road perfectly. In a few minutes
I heard some horses in full speed coming after me; on which
I took to the woods and made my escape for that time. It
would take up too much time to relate what I suffered in that
night, which had almost cost me my life. In Cambridge I
received of Capt. Daffin eight pounds, which he told me was
at his own risque, being bound up by the Instructions he
received not to advance more than forty Shillings at one time,
but as I proved to him the inconveniency attending it he
advanced me more. When I came away I returned him the
whole Sum advanced. I have advanced some cash to the men
I have enlisted, to do which I was under the necessity to sell
my sword and watch. As I have been so much disapointed
in getting men, I was determined not to make use of the
public money. In Cambridge I next beat up for men in the
presence of many of our principal Gentlemen, being the time
of the Election. I had a flag made of two sheets of small
bills, which one of a mob that had raised against me, often
attempted to take from the man who had it and struck him.
They then proceeded to insult me, and was very industrious
in advising men not to enlist. John Chalmers seeing the
treatment I met with told me he had two swords and that I
was welcome to one of them. I accepted of one of them and
soon chased the Town of my enemies. Lieutenant James
Gray was much my friend in this affair. I intended next to
goe to New Market as I understood there was to be two days