“Only a few hours had passed when, for the second time that day, I found myself in a boat on the Thames bound for The Chancel House. I had made some effort to smarten myself up and had exchanged my cloth breeches for a velvet doublet and hose – a green and gold combination – set off by a smart pair of leather boots, borrowed from my landlord, and a thick velvet cape. The boots were a size too small for me and pinched my toes painfully, but other than that I felt in comparative comfort and had been relieved to get out of my damp clothes.”