Hungry I am, and sore of body, from my heels right upward, and sorest in front of my doublet, yet may I not rest nor bite barley-bread, until I have seen and touched John Ridd.

God grant that he be not far away; I must eat my saddle, if it be so.' 'Have no fear, good sir,' I answered; 'you have seen and touched John Ridd.

I am he, and not one likely to go beneath a bushel.' 'It would take a large bushel to hold thee, John Ridd.

In the name of the King, His Majesty, Charles the Second, these presents!' He touched me with the white thing which I had first seen him waving, and which I now beheld to be sheepskin, such as they call parchment.
It was tied across with cord, and fastened down in every corner with unsightly dabs of wax.

By order of the messenger (for I was over-frightened now to think of doing anything), I broke enough of seals to keep an Easter ghost from rising; and there I saw my name in large; God grant such another shock may never befall me in my old age.
'Read, my son; read, thou great fool, if indeed thou canst read,' said the officer to encourage me; 'there is nothing to kill thee, boy, and my supper will be spoiling.