John Clare wrote the story of his escape from Epping Mental Asylum multiple times. Each version is a little different. Clare was suffering both from malnutrition and the effects of his ‘madness’ – it’s fair to say he wasn’t the most reliable narrator.
The following – pieced together from Clare’s own writings thanks to Eric Robinson – is illustrated with moments from the Clare’s Escape game.
July 18, 1841, Sunday.
Felt very melancholy. Went for a walk in the forest in the afternoon. Fell in with some gypsies, one of whom offered to assist in my escape from the madhouse by hiding me in his camp, to which I almost agreed but told him I had no money to start with but if he would do so I would promise him fifty pounds and he agreed to do so before saturday[.] on friday I went again but he did not seem so willing so I said little about it

On Sunday I went and they were all gone – an old wide-awake hat and an old straw bonnet, of the plum-pudding sort, was left behind – and I put the hat in my pocket, thinking it might be useful for another opportunity. As good lack would have it, it turned out to be so.
July 19 – Monday – Did nothing
July 20.
Reconnoitered the rout the gipsey had taken, and found it a legible one to make a movement and having only honest courage and myself in my army I led the way and my troops soon followed. But being careless in mapping down the road as the gipsey told me, I missed the lane to Enfield Town, and was going down Enfield Highway, till I passed the “Labour-in-vain” public-house, where a person I knew comeing out of the door told me the way.

I walked down the lane gently, and was soon in Enfield Town, and by and by on the great York Road, where it was all plain sailing and steering ahead meeting no enemy and fearing none I reached Stevenage where being night I got over a gate crossed over the corner of a green paddock where seeing a pond or hollow in the corner, I was forced to stay off a respectable distance to keep from falling into it for my legs were nearly knocked up and began to stagger. I scaled some old rotten paleings into the yard and then had higher palings to clamber over to get into the shed or hovel which I did with difficulty, being rather weak and to my good luck I found some trusses of clover piled up about six or more feet square, which I gladly mounted and slept on. There was some trays in the hovel on which I could have reposed had I not found a better bed. I slept soundly, but had a very uneasy dream I thought my first wife lay on my left arm and somebody took her away from my side which made me wake up rather unhappy. I thought as I awoke somebody said “Mary”, but nobody was near

I lay down with my head towards the north to show myself the steering point in the morning.
July 21.
When I awoke daylight was looking in on every side and fearing my garrison might be taken by storm and myself be made a prisoner I left my lodging by the way I got in and thanked God for his kindness in procuring it (for any thing in a famine is better than nothing and in any place that giveth the weary rest is a blessing) I gained the North Road again, and steered due north – on the left hand side the road under the bank like a cave I saw a man and boy coiled up asleep which I hailed, and they awoke to tell me the name of the next village.
Some where on the London side near the “Plough” public-house, a man passed me on horseback, in a slop frock, and said, “Here’s another of the broken-down haymakers,” and threw me a penny to get a half pint of beer, which I picked up, and thanked him for, and when I got to the “Plough,” I called for a half pint and drank it and got a rest and escaped a very heavy shower in the bargain by having a shelter till it was over

Afterwards I would have begged a penny of two drovers who were very saucey so I begged no more of any body meet who I would – I passed 3 or 4 good built houses on a hill and a public house on the road side in the hollow below them. I seemed to pass the Milestones very quick in the morning but towards the night they seemed stretched further asunder. I got to a village further on and forgot the name the road on the left hand was quite over shaded by some trees and quite dry so I sat down half an hour and made a good many wishes for breakfast but wishes was no hearty meal so I got up as hungry as I sat down – I forget here the names of the villages I passed through but recollect at late evening going through Potton in Bedfordshire where I called in a house to light my pipe in which was a civil old woman and young country wench making lace on a cushions round as a globe and a young fellow all civil people – I asked them a few questions as to the way and where the clergyman and overseer lived but they scarcely heard me or gave me no answer.
I went through Potton and happened with a kind talking country man who told me the Parson lived a good way from where I was or overseer I do’n’t know which so I went on hopping with a crippled foot for the gravel had got into my old shoes one of which had now nearly lost the sole. Had I found the overseers house at hand or the Parsons I should have gave my name and begged for a shilling to carry me home but I was forced to brush on pennyless and be thankful I had a leg to move on – I then asked him wether he could tell me of a farm yard any where on the road where I could find a shed and some dry straw and he said yes and if you go with me I will show you the place – its a public house on the left hand side of the road at the sign of the ‘Ram’ and seeing a stone or flint heap I longed to rest as one of my feet was very painful so I thanked him for his kindness and bid him to go on – but the good natured fellow lingered a while as if wishing to conduct me and then suddenly recolecting that he had a hamper on his shoulder and a lock up bag in his hand cram full to meet the coach which he feared missing – he started hastily and was soon out of sight.
John Clare’s written journey continues in the second part.
Or explore this journey through the game, Clare’s Escape (on Steam or the Apple Store) where you can explore Clare’s mind state and challenge his official account.
© A Human Sense Design game, 2024