132 EARLY METHODIST PREACHERS
me with his shoulder, knocked me down in an instant, went over me, and left me sprawling on the ground ; but I was only stunned a little. About the same time I was thrown down by two horses in a carriage, and was very much hurt; while I was down, one of the horses trod upon me, but the driver stopping in a moment, I had time to creep out of the way. In June 1768 my father apprenticed me to a printer. In 1771 I resolved to run away from my master and enter on board a man-of-war. Having spent the last Sabbath in taking leave of my friends, I got drunk. I travelled to Birmingham, where I got work. Some time after there came a countryman of mine. I told how I had run away from my apprenticeship. He reproved me very sharply, saying I could never show my face in Ireland again. What he said rested upon my mind, and made me resolve to return the first opportunity, and serve my lawful master. Accordingly, on Monday morning, this man and I set off for Ireland. He had fivepence and I had threepence. We made the best of our way to Wolverhampton, where we got a shilling from a master printer. The hardships I endured in this journey far exceeded all I met with before. When I came within half a mile of Chester, I sat down to rest myself. \Vhile I sat my joints stiffened, and I was in great pain. However,