not to be relied on.

The place of my birth was a little country town called Crowell,
situate in the upper side of Oxfordshire, three miles eastward from
Thame, the nearest market town.

My father's name was Walter Ellwood, and my mother's maiden name was
Elizabeth Potman, both well descended, but of declining families.
So that what my father possessed (which was a pretty estate in
lands, and more as I have heard in moneys) he received, as he had
done his name Walter, from his grandfather Walter Gray, whose
daughter and only child was his mother.

In my very infancy, when I was but about two years old, I was
carried to London; for the civil war between King and Parliament
breaking then forth, my father, who favoured the Parliament side,
though he took not arms, not holding himself safe at his country
habitation, which lay too near some garrisons of the King's, betook
himself to London, that city then holding for the Parliament.

There was I bred up, though not without much difficulty, the city
air not agreeing with my tender constitution, and there continued
until Oxford was surrendered, and the war in appearance ended.

In this time my parents contracted an acquaintance and intimate
friendship with the Lady Springett, who being then the widow of Sir
William Springett, who died in the Parliament service, was
afterwards the wife of Isaac Penington, eldest son of Alderman
Penington, of London. And this friendship devolving from the
parents to the children, I became an early and particular playfellow