In the year 1741-2, being then one-and-twenty years of age, he left Ullerton.

It is my ancient mariner's belief that he ran away from home, after some desperate quarrel with his father; and it is also the belief of my ancient that he stayed away, without intermission, for twenty years,--though on what precise fact that belief is founded is much more than I can extract from the venerable proser.
My ancient suggests--always in the haziest and most impracticable manner--the possibility that Matthew in his wild days lodged somewhere Clerkenwell way.

He has a dim idea that he has heard his grandfather speak of St.John's-gate, Clerkenwell, in connection with Matthew Haygarth; but, as my ancient's grandfather seems to have been almost imbecile at the time he made such remarks, _this_ is not much.
He has another idea--also very vague and impracticable--of having heard his grandfather say something about an adventure of Matthew Haygarth's, which was rather a heroic affair in its way--an adventure in which, in some inexplicable manner, the wild Matthew is mixed up with a dancing-girl, or player-girl, of Bartholomew Fair, and a nobleman.
This is the sum-total of the information to be extracted in three mortal hours from my ancient.

Altogether the day has been very unsatisfactory; and I begin to think I'm not up to the sort of work required of me._Oct.

3rd._ Another long interview with my ancient.