they were so very strange, that I do yet remember them. I more∣over remember, that he staid not above a year in our Colledge, but removed to S. Johns; what the occasion was, I cannot call to mind: and then he was so inconsiderable both as to his person and parts, that I appeal to all who knew me, whether Elliot and Oates could be such intimate acquaintance as Oates would make the world be∣lieve.
After I had commenced Batchelour▪ in 1668, I left the University; in the beginning of 1669 I had the opportunity of travelling with some Gentlemen of my acquaintance, with whom, after a transient view of Flanders and other of the Spanish Provinces, which had been the seat of war for some years preceding, I had the opportunity to see St. Omers also, where Oates was once a School-boy, and no Jesuit. I remember during my stay there, which was three days, S. Igna∣tius or Xaverius or some other Jesuit▪ Saints day happened, and I with the Gentlemen with me, were civilly invited to Dinner to the English Colledge; where, to give the Devil his due, we met with nothing but Learning and Civility to their Country-men and Strangers. From St. Omers we directed our Course into France, directly for Paris; whence, after I had gratified my juvenile curiosity with the rarities and remarkable places there, and several others in France, about the lat∣ter end of 1669, I was carried into Italy, and about November we came to Rome; where I saw that Great Beast of a Whore, as Oates call'd him, a Reverend old Gentleman Rospigliosi who then was Pope. He happened to die a little after my coming thither, which was the oc∣casion of my fortune to stay there, sede vacante, during the Election of another Pope. I never saw the Scotch Colledge during my stay there, nor any Scotch Father, nor any that belonged to the Colledge that I know of: I was frequently indeed in the Roman Colledge, and I had the happiness of hearing Padre Gotinio, the then Mathematick Professor, discourse very satisfactorily upon several curious subjects.
I staid in Rome no longer than the Election of Altieri Rospigliosi Suc∣cessor to the former, which was in March 1670: after which an occasion happening of parting with my Company, I parted also from Rome; and intending home again for England, I came to Leghorn, where finding an opportunity of the Bristol one of his Majesties Friggots, I had a convenient passage to Alicant in Spain, and from thence to Malaga, where I embark'd aboard Sir John Herman, then Rere-Admiral un∣der Sir Thomas Allen in the Streights, who gave me passage to Cales. About the beginning of May, I had a curiosity to see Sevil; from whence having the convenience of some Company, I took my course directly for Lisbon in Portugal; there was then residing Dr. Cradock Minister to the English Merchants there, whom I had seen at Cam∣bridge; to whose civility, and some English Gentlemens, particularly Mr. Bulteel's, I was exceedingly oblig'd.
There was at that time no Vessel design'd for England in the Ri∣ver of Lisbon, excepting a little Ketch call'd the John of London, la∣den with Oranges and Lemons, and I was very desirous to return home, so that I was obliged to take my passage in that small Ves∣sel; some who seconded my desires, alledging that I should be more