At last I said we would discharge all our
servants, except two footmen, who should travel with us to Dover, and
one maid to wait on me, that had lived with me only since the retreat of
Amy, and she was to go through, if she was willing; and as to the
carriage of us, a coach should be hired for my husband, myself, and
maid, and two horses were to be hired for the footmen, who were to
return with them to London.

When the Quaker had heard when and how we intended to go, she begged, as
there would be a spare seat in the coach, to accompany us as far as
Dover, which we both readily consented to; no woman could be a better
companion, neither was there any acquaintance that we loved better, or
could show more respect to us.

The morning before we set out, my husband sent for a master coachman to
know the price of a handsome coach, with six able horses, to go to
Dover. He inquired how many days we intended to be on the journey? My
husband said he would go but very easy, and chose to be three days on
the road; that they should stay there two days, and be three more
returning to London, with a gentlewoman (meaning the Quaker) in it. The
coachman said it would be an eight days' journey, and he would have ten
guineas for it. My husband consented to pay him his demand, and he
received orders to be ready at the door by seven of the clock the next
morning: I was quite prepared to go, having no person to take leave of
but the Quaker, and she had desired to see us take the packet-boat at
Dover, before we parted with her; and the last night of my stay in
London was spent very agreeably with the Quaker and her family. My
husband, who stayed out later than usual, in taking his farewell of
several merchants of his acquaintance, came home about eleven o'clock,
and drank a glass or two of wine with us before we went to bed.

The next morning, the whole family got up about five o'clock, and I,
with my husband's consent, made each of the Quaker's daughters a present
of a diamond ring, valued at L20, and a guinea apiece to all the
servants, without exception. We all breakfasted together, and at the
hour appointed, the coach and attendants came to the door; this drew
several people about it, who were all very inquisitive to know who was
going into the country, and what is never forgot on such occasions, all
the beggars in the neighbourhood were prepared to give us their
benedictions in hopes of an alms. When the coachmen had packed up what
bo