Ford. And do you assure us that you are all sound men?

Rich. Nay, we are concerned to tell you of it, that you may not be uneasy, or think yourselves in danger; but you see we do not desire you should put yourselves into any danger, and therefore I tell you that we have not made use of the barn; so we will remove from it, that you may be safe and we also.

Ford. That is very kind and charitable; but if we have reason to be satisfied that you are sound, and free from the visitation, why should we make you remove, now you are settled in your lodging, and, it may be, are laid down to rest?  We will go into the barn, if you please, to rest ourselves awhile, and we need not disturb you.

     Rich. Well, but you are more than we are.  I hope you will assure
     us that you are all of you sound too, for the danger is as great
     from you to us as from us to you.

     Ford. Blessed be God that some do escape, though it be but few! 
     What may be our portion still, we know not, but hitherto we are
     preserved.

     Rich. What part of the town do you come from?  Was the plague come
     to the places where you lived?

     Ford. Ay, ay, in a most frightful and terrible manner, or else we
     had not fled away as we do; but we believe there will be very few
     left alive behind us.

     Rich. What part do you come from?

     Ford. We are most of us from Cripplegate Parish; only two or
     three of Clerkenwell Parish, but on the hither side.

     Rich. How, then, was it that you came away no sooner?

Ford. We have been away some time, and kept together as well as we could at the hither end of Islington, where we got leave to lie in an old uninhabited house, and had some bedding and conveniences of our own, that we brought with us; but the plague is come up into Islington too, and a house next door to our poor dwelling was infected and shut up, and we are come away in a fright.

     Rich. And what way are you going?

     Ford. As our lot shall cast us, we know not whither; but God will
     guide those that look up to him.

They parleyed no further at that time, but came all up to the barn, and with some difficulty got into it.  There was nothing but hay in the barn, but it was almost full of that, and they accommodated themselves as well as they could, and went to rest; but our travelers observed that before they went to sleep, an ancient man, who, it seems, was the father of one of the women, went to prayer with all the company, recommending themselves to the blessing and protection of Providence before they went to sleep.