ke sent me a small
manuscript, which had been Sir Christopher Heydon's, who had wrote
something of the conjunction of [symbol: Saturn] and [symbol: Jupiter],
1603; out of which, to bring my method in order, I transcribed, in the
beginning, five or six lines, and not any more, though that graceless
fellow Gadbury wrote the contrary: but, _Semel et semper nebulo et
mendax_. I did formerly write one treatise, in the year 1639, upon the
eclipse of the sun, in the eleventh degree of Gemini, May 22, 1639; it
consisted of six sheets of paper. But that manuscript I gave unto my
most munificent patron and ever bountiful friend, William Pennington, of
Muncaster in Cumberland, Esq., a wise and excellently learned person;
who, from the year 1634, even till he died, continued unto me the most
grateful person I ever was acquainted with. I became acquainted with him
by means of Davy Ramsey.

Oh! most noble Esquire, let me now beg your pardon, if I digress for
some small time, in commemorating his bounty unto me, and my requital of
his friendship, by performing many things successfully for his
advantage.

In 1639 he was made captain, and served his Majesty in his then wars
against the Scots; during which time a farmer's daughter being delivered
of a bastard, and hearing, by report, that he was slain, fathered the
child upon him. Shortly after he returned, most woefully vexed to be
thus abused, when absent. The woman was countenanced by some gentlemen
of Cumberland, in this her villany against him; so that, notwithstanding
he had warrants to attach her body, he could never discover her: but
yet, hunting her from one place to another, her friends thought it most
convenient to send her to London, where she might be in most safety. She
came up to the city, and immediately I had notice thereof, and the care
of that matter was left unto me. I procured the Lord Chief Justice
Bramston's warrant, and had it lying dormant by me. She had not been in
the city above one fortnight, but that I, going casually to the clerk of
the assizes' office for Cumberland, saw there an handsome woman; and
hearing of her speak the northern tone, I concluded she was the party I
did so want. I rounded the clerk in his ear, and told him I would give
him five shillings to hold the woman in chat till I came again, for I
had a writing concerned her. I hasted for my warrant, and a constable,
and returned into the office, seized her person before the clerk of the
assize