And they having through suffering maintained their
freedom and obtained their liberty, we were the more concerned to
keep what they had so hardly gained, and therefore resolved not to
make any contract or terms for either chamber-rent or fees, but to
demand a free prison, which we did.
When we came in, the gaoler was ridden out to wait on the judges,
who came in that day to begin the assize, and his wife was somewhat
at a loss how to deal with us; but being a cunning woman, she
treated us with great appearance of courtesy, offering us the choice
of all her rooms; and when we asked upon what terms, she still
referred us to her husband, telling us she did not doubt but that he
would be very reasonable and civil to us. Thus she endeavoured to
have drawn us to take possession of some of her chambers at a
venture, and trust to her husband's kind usage. But we, who at the
cost of our friends had a proof of his kindness, were too wary to be
drawn in by the fair words of a woman, and therefore told her we
would not settle anywhere till her husband came home, and then would
have a free prison, wheresoever he put us.
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