was never the wiser all that I could observe was that the Company consisted of an old Man a Citizen two young Women and two young Men who although they kept at a distance from the rest and they two were like Strangers to one another yet I supposed that they were somewhat concerned with the Women I found that although one of the Women and one of the Men had designed to go with the Carrier to London yet they did not telling him that they would go by Water this was all I could discover while we staid there but we having broken our Fasts and being resolved on our Journey away we marched no sooner had we left the Town on our Backs and we entred Hounsloe Heath but we all three at once renewed our Requests to the Cooks Wife to acquaint us with the truth of the Adventure she laughing refused us and our nor her Husbands importunity would not for a long time prevail but at length we so importuned her that she consented but when she went to begin she could not say one word for laughing this heightned our expectations and much concerned we were to know that which for a long time she could not tell us but at length having settled her self and bethinking what she should say and how to begin she did it in this manner I know not whether I shall give you the satisfaction you expect for I 'le assure you though I think I know all my self yet what I do know is so confused that I can hardly tell how to begin my Discourse nor when I have begun how to continue it in any Method to your satisfaction but if you 'l take the good Will for the Deed I shall give you all the content that I can And thus said she it is I suppose said she to her Husband that you know that two of the Parties viz. the old man and one of the young women are Mr. such a one and his Wife our Neighbours yes replied the Cook and I understand the other young woman is her Sister and this is all I know or can understand although I believe the two young men are of their company you are in the right said the Good-wife and now you know thus much I will tell you the rest One of these two young men continued she is a Sweet-heart or Servant what you please to tearm it of the old mans Wife and hath courted her for enjoyment whether they were ever at the sport or no formerly I know not but last night I believe they were for I understand the matter to be thus This young woman having agreed to content her Servant and they intending to have a Frollick together she hath perswaded the old man her Husband to give her leave to take a journey into the Countrey to see her Sister which is the other young woman the Husband for a long time either refused her or made excuses that he would in short time spare so much time as to go with her but she not being desirous of his company had purposely ask'd him at the time of his greatest imploy when he could not be spared from his business and did importune him so much that in the end she gained his consent and he like a loving Husband since he could not spare time to go with her all the journey did however resolve to accompany her the first days journey and there to leave her to travel with other good company She acquainted her Gallant with this Agreement and they two concluded that so soon as the old man her Husband left her he should meet her and accompany her the rest of the journey where they passing for Man and Wife might lie together upon the way and frollick it to their own hearts content Thus I understand was this Design laid and yesterday it was put in execution for the old man and his Wife came last night to our Inn as you well know and were there met by the young man the Gallant who although he seemed before her Husband not to know her but yet they had together their private Conference and he not having patience to stay till the old man left her importuned her so hardly that in the end his Lodging-Chamber being near hers she promised to take her opportunity and leaving the old Mans Bed come to Bed to him In order to which she thus managed her Affairs The old Man was very weary with his unaccustomed travel and withal sleepy desirous to go to Bed but she kept him up pretending much care and love of his Health made him drink mull'd Sack and when he was in Bed caused him to eat a Sack-posset and all such kind of things as intricating his Brain should cause him to sleep the more soundly she had her desires for no sooner was his Head laid on his Pillow but he fell asleep and although she made haste to undress her self yet when she came to Bed he snored and was as fast as a Pillar she lay still for some time but he sleeping on and she attempting to wake him but in vain she thought it a convenient time to perform her promise with her Gallant wherefore turning out of the Bed and onely putting on a white Smock-pettycoat she left her Husband asleep and leaving her Chamber door put to a char she went to her Gallants Chamber door and found that in the same condition and him ready to receive her she without many perswasions went to Bed to him but what they did together or whether he pleased her or not I 'le leave you to consider and judge for there she staid until it was almost morning and then in the same Equipage she left his Bed and Chamber to go to her Husbands but although it was not far off in the same Gallery yet just as she was at our Chamber door being in the middle way she was met by a man who having a Candle in his hand was followed by a woman in a countrey Habit ready dress'd she seeing this and looking earnestly on the Countrey-womans face and withal knowing it for it was her Sister that very Sister she was going to visit she being amazed at the encounter gave a great Shriek The Countrey woman hearing the Shriek partly knowing the voice and with earnestness looking on the face and seeing it all in white did also shriek out You may imagine the cause of both their shrieking for the old Mans Wife seeing her Countrey Sister at that time and place thought it was her Ghost which came to meet and chide her for playing that foul play 〈◊〉 her Husband which she had so lately done And on the other hand the Countrey Sister being of the same Mettle for there was never a Barrel better Herring who had also been guilty of the same fault for she as well as her City Sister had had her Gallant not onely that night but many more during all the journey having set out from the good Countreyman her Husband upon
and looked back ready to run faster I was full of fears dreading every one I met by this I know that as the contemplation and thoughts of a happiness or good is more than the thing it self when enjoyed so the fear and cares that attends the expectation of a danger is more than falling into the danger it self for as I have fancied the great pleasure and happiness I should have and enjoy if I could but have such a desire of mine fulfilled and when it hath hapned as I wished when I have enjoyed what I so earnestly desired I then found no such great pleasure or content in it the fruition was not half so pleasant as the contemplation so I have again thought that if I should be so unfortunate as to be thrust into a Prison how miserable I should be and that having falâ— upon me although I have been very impatient during the time of my constraint and confinement yet the affliction hath not been so horrible as I have imagined it but I shall have occasion hereafter when I come to discourse of the Misfortunes which I have suffered in that nature to be more particular in it and therefore close it up at present with this conclusion That the fear I was in of my Fathers anger against me needed not to have been so great as it was for he was more moderate than I expected and by what I understood afterwards I had no great cause to dread meeting with my Master for if I had so done he would hardly have took notice of me being as willing to be â—â—d of me as I was to leave him No matters were not as I expected and there was reason for it that I understood not I was no Statesman nor Pollitician to look to the bottom of things and there see their true state and condition as I after found them for afterwards I understood the Case to be thus My Master knowing that it would be almost impossible to regulate things as he ought between his Son and I he was therefore willing to be rid of me he knew that it was unreasonable that his Son coming three years after me should take place before me and continue so all the time and that by that means I should be under Apprentice all the time he I was resolved it should be so but he knew that I would never admit of this and he knew that my Father would endeavour to remedy it and this would make continual brauls in his House He also knew well enough that if I were gone he could not want for more Apprentices when he pleased and he could have considerable sums of money with them and therefore he was not at all displeased with my departure And let me tell you that I have observed and known that some Citizens have much encreased their Estates by taking many Apprentices for perhaps having fifty pounds or more with an Apprentice and being very severe and rigid the boy hath been so hardly used that he hath run away within a year and rather than return again lose all his Money I knew one that served eight so one after another and in three or four years by this means gained four hundred pounds for their diet which they likewise earned causing them to work like Porters so that I think they paid dear enough for it they had been better to have been boarded at the costliest Boarding-school in England and besides the loss of the Money there was a worse inconvenience for the Apprentice hath been quite spoiled so harassed and frighted that he hath not been fit for any other service and for the sake of his first Master would not be perswaded to go to any other a second And besides this it may be an After-clap hath hapned to the poor Apprentice or his friends worse than all the rest for Bond being given for truth and true service that hath also been sued and much Money recovered that way and then trouble and charge hath faln upon those friends that entertained this Apprentice till agreement hath been made for the Law gives the Master five pounds a night against any that shall entertain him By this means some Citizens have encreased their Estates but whoever they are that make this their practice let me tell them That it is a very wicked one it is worse than Robbery nay than any kind of mischief that I know of for it is not onely a perfect Cheat or Robbery of so much Money but it is the undoing of a young man that might with good usage have made a good Commonwealths-man be of good use to God and his Prince in doing them Service but are by this means spoiled And therefore let such Masters look to it for although their Money may thrive at present yet it will consume all the rest in time and be as bad to them as worse gotten Goods or Estate that is rarely possessed to the third generation They ought to consider that when they take an Apprentice they take as great â— charge upon them for the time as if he were their own Child and that their care ought to be the same for the age of an Apprentice is the onely time of instilling good or bad into him that is the time of his making or marring and what is well grounded in him and he learns then he will never forget therefore the greatest care of Parents ought to be in the choice of a good Master you may soon discover such a one as will use you as I have related by enquiry whether he hath ever made free any Apprentices that have served their times out with him and if so do but enquire of them and you may ghess at the temper of the Master but some Parents think that if the Master they intend to place their Sons with be but a rich man and hath a great Trade that all is well enough but let me tell them that it is not enough several other things are to be considered and there hath been one thing that hath made much difference between Masters and Servants and that hath been difference in opinion and judgment for I do not think it fit for a Boy that hath been bred up in the Orthodoxal way should be Apprentice with an Anabaptist or Quaker this very thing does oftentimes cause much jarring betwixt Man and Wife as well as Master and Apprentice but this Scruple or Caution is now adays almost needless for God be thanked the factions are much decreased having not so much encouragement as formerly and theâ— most of them both in their choice of Wives and Apprentices take this Caution themselves and will hardly and very rarely marry with a Wife or take a Boy to be aâ— Apprentice that is not of their own Tribe their own Gang or perswasion Much more might be said by way of Caution between the Servant and Master but let this suffice and let the Apprentice after he is bound resolve to obey let no pretences
the good Husband with them they have usually gained no more of me than needs must and although I now have and â—or these many years past have had several â—undreds of pounds owing me yet all â—hese sorts of Cattel have not had so many â—â—illings of me to arrest others for me as I have paid them pounds when arrested at the Suit of others and althoâ—gh the Debts owing to me have always been more and exceeded the Debts that I owe yet I have expended twenty times as much Money as Defendant as I have done as Plaintiff I have been so tender of the Reputation of others and so unwilling to put them to charge and have found those that I owed Money to to be like raging Lyons and ravening Wolves and so you will find in the prosecution of my Story and yet I have been as cautious and curious of running and going into Debt as any man and as dilligent and careful to pay I never borrowed Money or took up any Commodity of any man but with a design to pay it and hopes to get by it I know he that doth purpose otherwise is a Knave but if my Designs did not answer my Expectations or that they did not turn to account so soon as I expected and I thereby disappointed as indeed it hath hapned many aâ— time I have then come to the loss and being ashamed to see those that I owed it to because of my disappointments I have commonly heard from them by some oâ— these Caterpillers who have given me a Caâ— of their Office to my great cost and then I have been forc'd to be troublesome to friends for Bail and defend my self at Law till I could raise the sum sometimes I have been arrested for so small a sum as I have been ashamed off but could not help it possibly unless I would leave some one business unmannag'd and undone that would be of six times moreloss than the sum I owed came to and these reasons are not to be given and made known to every man but for my silence and non performance I have been accounted a Knave but I never was so and never owed any sum of Money but I was willing to secure it by assigning some Debt equivalent or some Lease or such Security But sometimes again the Debt I owed hath been so inconsiderable that it hath not been worth the while to offer this and yet the necessity of my present Affairs so urgent that I could not possibly spare Money to pay it Many of these unlucky Cases have hapned on me and I being thereby reduced to so great necessity misery and torment thereby for to a generous honest noble spirit nothing else can be more grieveous or intollerably miserable than to be put upon the necessity in these Affairs Nay I have been oftentimes arrested for no cause but an humour an absolute Design of doing me mischief and that in a strange unlucky manner Would you not think it an unlucky thing to be thus in a manner causeslessly arrested for a Book and that before you were twenty years old One would think that such a matter as that between a couple of Boys for we were neither of us any better might have been ended without these Varlets but you see so it was Would not you think it was an unlucky thing that you must be enforc'd to part from your Clothes off your back to satisfie a pitiful inconsiderable Debt that was never thought off and indeed not due Do you not think it an unlucky thing to be arrested within a few days after you were married for your Wedding-Clothes And do you not think it much more unlucky to have those very Clothes and your Wife 's too soon after seiz'd on and attach'd for Diet and Lodging and that when both these parties had no reason to do it being promised and assured their Moneys in a few days and which was paid accordingly was not this such a Misfortune as would try and vex your patience Would it not appear to you an unlucky thing to be arrested for Gloves and Ribbons pretended to be delivered at your Wedding which were never so done the Glover setting down almost as many Gloves again as there were Folks at the Wedding Do you think it was not unlucky that when you had taken a new House and Shop and had but just turned the workmen out that had fitted it newly swept the Shop to entertain Customers and before you had any entred upon that account to have a Serjeant enter and arrest you onely at the directions of a Servant without the Masters consent would not such handsale as this please you Was it not think you unlucky when you went to see a Prisoner to be made one your self because you would not give a roguish Bailiff Money for nothing Would it not above all things vex you and would you not think your self very unlucky that going to the Counter to see a Prisoner at your coming out you should be arrested in three several Fob-Actions but however put to charges and staid at that very hour when you being a Widower were going to visit a Widow who at that instant expected you to appoint the time of Marriage to be within two dayes after would not such a Misfortune as this try all your patience would you not think it a pitiful unlucky story to be arrested for five shillings by your Fellow-Citizen which is contrary to City-Law and by one that was a Member of the same Company with you and therefore enjoyned in five pound penalty not to arrest each other without leave would you not think this hard and unkind dealing and forced to pay this five shillings and charges though none of your own Debt and never demanded but in jest and at last be made to pay it in earnest Would not you think you had very hard luck if you in trusting others to receive and pay Rent for you he should be so negligent a Knave as to omit paying of Ground Rent anu thereby your Estate be forfeited and you forced to pay all Arrears besides Thus have I been twice served to the loss of two very considerable Leases Would you not think it hard that you should be arrested for Money by a person that owes you the same Sum this unlucky Trick I have been often served Would you not think him a Cross-grain'd spiteful Fellow that should go about enquiring to whom you owe Money and set them all on to arrest you and rather than fail do it without leave at his own Charges was not this unlucky Would you think any mans Malice should extend so far as to pursue you ten or twelve Mile into the countrey when you might be taken any day in London and cause you to be arrested on a Sabboth day as you were going to Church in some solemnity of a Wedding to hurry you away from friends onely to disgrace and vex you and that without all need for when the Money was in
for you who will be all ready to serve you upon all Accounts The Glittering of the Money was so â—owerful that there needed no other Arguments to perswade the Apothecary to â—ndertake the business who having â—nown the Name and place of aboad â—f his new Patient resolved that against â—he next Morning he would provide a Clyster and that either by Fair means or â—oul he should take it He was told that â—one lived with him but a Lacquey who every Morning went out and returned before his Master did arise This Apothecary prepared his Clyster and taking â—ix good Fellows with him to assist him â—pon occasion they waited in the Street â—ill they saw the Boy go forth and then â—hey went up Stairs the Apothecary â—eaving them upon the Stairs to attend â—is Motion and so enter when he should â—ive them the Signal he himself knock'd â—t the Dore Leander who was alone in â—is Bed cryed out who is there a â—â—iend said the Apothecary he hearing that rising in his shirt and opening the dore went to bed again He being entred Leander asked him his business I am said he the Apothecary that have brought your Clyster The Divel corke it said Leander it is not here go up higher excuse me Sir said he I know that it is here your name is Leander and thereupon taking the Clyster from under his Cloak he put the pipe to it The Divel take it said Leander I tell you once agen that it is above therefore be gone Pardone me Sir said the Apothecary I know the aversion that you have against Clysters and much wonder that you should suffer your self to perish rather then make use of so gentle a Remedy I have Administred it to a child of two years old and to a woman ready to lye in My Ingredients are all so good and so pleasant that you may eat it with a Spoon The poor Leander was quite out of patience at this Discourse he call'd him a thousand names and threatned to throw him out at the Window the Apothecary who was provided for this language took all in good part and seeing he could not by fair means accomplish his ends he was resolved to use compulâ—ion and having given the watch-word â—o his Attendants that waited on the Stairs they entred the Chamber The Apothecary thus accompanied approached the Bed saying these speeches shall avail you little for sure it is for your good and if you will not take it by intreaty I shall force you to it at the signal given to his people they all seized on the Gentleman each took hold of a Limb of him but it was well for them he was in bed otherwise they should not with such ease have over-rul'd him but now he could make but little defence with his Hands but his tongue walked he stormed raged and threatned but all to no purpose for in despight of him they put him into the posture the Apothecary required who being ready with his Tools did what he came for and forced every drop of it into his body and being cautious lest his Patient out of Revenge should let fly in his Face he provided against it and the dore being opened he â—nd his Assistants having done their business vanished in an instant shutting the dore after them and leaving the Patient to consider of what had been done the most out of Countenance and ashamed of any man breathing He considering of many things at last doubted that Climanthus was the Author of this design wherefore changing his shirt that and his other Linnen being in a pittiful pickle he dressed himself and went up to Climanthus's Chamber but so enraged that he could hardly speak Climanthus who had heard all passages and who indeed had no more harm in him then a Divel of two year old made as if he were asleep and arising as if newly awaked let him in asking what was the matter Leander was so out of temper that he could say nothing buâ— with his Teeth and hands appeared in a threatning posture the other pretending not to understand him whereupon he told him the story adding that who ever had caused this affront was no better than a Sott Climanthus seemed to be amazed telling him that he did him much wrong if he suspected him to have any hand in it protesting his ignorance offering him his assistance in any Revenge upon those that had done it if he could discover them and that he himself would endeavour the Discovery and Revenge Whereupon he left Climanthus who rising and being dressed went into the presence of that Person of Honour whom they attended and there he being of this Humor that he had rather have the Anger and hatred of all the world then lose the Honour of boasting himself to be the Author of so honourable an Action bragg'd of it to all the Family obligeing them to make it a publick discourse and by this means Leander was well enough ascertained of the Author of this Affront and was resolv'd to Revenge it at the peril of his life or any rate whatsoever And thereupon he went to a Gentleman of his acquaintance whom I shall call Lotarius and who was a great Favorite of the then Lieutenant of the Tower he acquainted this Gentleman with the Affront which he was resolved to Revenge and therefore he desired him on his behalf to acquaint Climanthus that he desired to see him with his Sword in his hand and withal that he would be his Second Latarius was no Novice in these affairs but considering soberly of the cause and not being to be drawn by every Youthful Flash to an inconsiderate Action although he was a brave and Valiant man and had upon several signal occasions given sufficient proofs of his Valor he therefore diverted him from these resolves saying That the Cause was so Ridiculous that there would be no Honour gained by a Combat occasioned upon so Idle Slender and mean account How then Replyed Leander must I endure so base an Affront without Revenge and suffer my self to be pointed at as I walk the Streets and be thus outbraved No said Lotarius I would have you Revenged but in its kind we should make use of Strength against strength and wit against wit leave this affair to my management and if I do not sufficiently Revenge you complain on me Leander being satisfied left him and his honour in his hands I have already told you that Lotarius was in Favour with and did belong to the Liuetenant of the Tower who had so great a power in those times that if any spake against him or his Master Oliver he took course to chastise them without any cause of Justice Lotarius was upon this account very well acquainted with all the Warders Souldiers and Goalor of the Tower and therefore he was resolved to use his Interest with them to Revenge the Affront done to Leander he therefore spake to a Corporal who Commanded a Fyle of Musqueteirs to seize on
Climanthus when ever they met with him and also he told the Goalor that a Prisoner would be brought him that should be kept very close and none permitted to see or speak with him but by his order The Corporal having sure notice to find Climanthus it was not long ere he seized him it was no hard matter for him to do so because he suspected nothing but being taken he demanded the cause of his Imprisonment he was answered that he should know that time enough when he came to his Tryal He being thus caught was forced to go with them to the Tower where the Goalor being in expectation of him readily received him and put him into the place where he had designed Poor Climanthus knew not who to apply himself unto he ruminated on many things but could not suspect for what cause he had been Apprehended after he had been there about an hour Lotarius who was well acquainted with Climanthus being as he pretended his particular friend came to to visit him in Prison At the first sight he appeared mighty sad and astonisht saying Dear Friend what is the meaning of this I just now understood that you were a Prisoner and therefore all business being laid aside I came to know the cause and to make a tender to you of my utmost service Oh Friend said Climanthus I protest I know not for what cause I am Apprehended If it be a Money business said Lotarius command all that I have and if the summ be great I have considerable Friends that shall furnish me No no replyed the other certainly it is not for that I owe none but a little to my Landlord and I know he would lend me upon occasion all that he hath have you beaten any body said Lotarius no said he but somewhat is the matter you are said Lotarius very Prodigal in your Discourse and do not when you are entred care what you say have you not in your usual Railleries been accustomed to say somewhat against the Protector the present Government or against the Lieutenant here I know you are a little too Lavish upon that account and you know that in this Age the very thoughts against the Government are criminal and a word against the Protector being Treason is present death At this word he was as pale as Ashes for being a Cavalier and that a bold one he had not spared to speak what he thought against the Government and after a little pause beleiving himself Guilty he putting his hand to his Mouth and lifting up his Eyes cryed out I am undone this must be the cause If it be so said Lotarius all that I can do is but to pitty you because you know that you are in hands of those that will shew none especially upon such an Offence as yours is I therefore will leave you at present and see if I can serve you better abroad then here I will therefore go and inform my self and return to acquaint you of my knowledge and then you may consider wherein I can serve you Hereupon our Prisoner was left alone who did now certainly beleive that the Protector or Leiuetenant had caused him to be Apprehended and that he should be in very great danger of his life Lotarius being resolved to be fully Revenged on him for the Abuse he had done his Friend found out a Parson who had been used in such Cases to Administer Spiritual comfort to Condemned persons and prepare them for Death He tells this Parson that there was a poor Gentleman of his intimate Acquaintance without any Formality of Justice was Condemed to have his Head Cut off and that he was to be Executed that Evening his Crime being only for speaking against those persons that had the Reins of Government in their Power that the poor Gentleman himself did not know of his Sentence and very few others that he would be very much surprised at the News of it and therefore he desired him to Visit him and prepare him in the best manner he could to receive his Death This Doctor being used to these affairs being told his Name and the place where he was Prisoner promised to go to him presently But Lotarius went before him and entring the Prison seemed by his Countenance to be very much troubled Oh dear Friend said he I judged right enough for I understand that it is Oliver himself that is your Enemy it is he that you have been too free with and thereby angred him so highly that there is no Pacification what am I Accused of said Climanthus I know not in Particular said Lotarius but I could a hundred times easier have brought you off if you had killed twenty men then for this Crime against this All-powerful Person and you know in this case I dare not speak on your behalf What then said the other in a desperate tone Must I dye then at this word the Doctor entered and hearing what he had said replyed and why not my good Friend consider that our good Lord himself was much more innocent and he suffered Death This discourse was very terrible to our poor Prisoner which Lotarius seeing said I pray comfort him whilst I walk out and acquaint my self further with his Affairs He being now alone with the Doctor who was deceased by Lotarius as I have told you he said to him my Friend it is no time now to trifle and dream of the affairs of this World you must prepare your self for Death you have not above two or three hours to live you are condemned At these words the poor Climantus was so surprised that he could not open his mouth but being come to himself he cryed out aloud and by these passionate sallies he made it evident that he was not in his right senses The Doctor seeing that and being expert in these affairs endeavoured by little and little to bring him to his Wits telling him that this life and all the enjoyments of it were nothing in comparison of Eternity and such kind of Divinity he urged to him as is usual in such cases and wherewith I not being of that function am not so well acquainted but let this suffice to tell you that with much pains he somewhat pacified him and brought him into a condition and temper more fit to be wrought upon At his second visit which he promised him should be within an hour advising him in the mean time to examine his Conscience and thus he left our poor Prisoner more than half dead so that the Executioner should have the less to do to finish his business Lotarius having thus put the poor Climanthus into these mortal apprehensions did not think that his Revenge had as yet gone far enough but was resolved to proceed further in it but so as that Evening should put a period to it where again entring the Prison and fetching a deep sigh he said Ah dear Friend I am come to tell you the sad news of your Condemnation I know
to be ascertained of it by Friends and the visit of a spiritual person who is usually the last acquaintance a man hath in this World was so absolute an ascertaining of the truth that nothing could be more it was enough to depress and tame the most Jocose and bravest spirit in the World what would he not give what would he not do or suffer to be delivered from this fear You may judge that as well and strangely disguised as our Prisoner was he wa still in great fear he could not all the time he was in the Colliers habit be in any rest or quiet that which he reckoned was the cause of his escape his disguise must needs give him very sad apprehentions of the danger he was in In fine you may by this Story find that the bravest Spirits may be daunted A man that when he was in a Tavern or in his high Cups amongst his friends despised all the world feared nothing and contemned death at such a rate as if he had bin a child now when this passion of fear seizes him might have bin beaten by a little child so great is the effects of fear but when he came to be acquainted with the management of the affairs and how all this had been contrived against him you may judge that his passion of fear was changed into that of shame and that bred another passion of Revenge but that was moderated by the advice of Friends Chap 14 Chap 14 CHAP. XIIII The Author relates a Comical Story of a Purse of Money found in a Church and a Tragical story of an Arch-Bishop and Shoomaker ANd now sure I have finished this Story wherein I have had some considerations Reflexions upon the word Retalliation and having heard of such a Law it put 's me in mind of a Story and that a Comical one wherein the Law of Retalliation was very pleasantly put in practise the story is in short thus An honest Good Fellow that had spent all his Money knew not where to get more nor how to bestow his time for want of that necessary Companion for want of which all his companions had left him he takes the honest and Pious resolve of going to Church being there and kneeling at his Devotions when he had finished them and went to arise he saw on one side of him a Purse which seizing on by the bulke and weight he guessed there was Money in it he soon opening it and finding it to be so in earnest you may judge he was not displeased but joyful of his good fortune and that he should have so considerable a reward for his Devotion he clapping the Purse into his Pocket went to find some of his Acquaintance that were in the Church he waiting at the door took them up as they went out and being overjoyed at his good luck he told them that he had met with a Prise and that such a one as would make him and them merry and therefore if they would go with him to the Cooks they should be his Guests and that he would feast them at his own Charges this was heard by the Sexton of the Church but he understood not what was meant by it Our Goodfellows Companions were not at all displeased with the proposition but went together to a house not far from that place there they eaâ— drank and were merry and there I will leave them at present to tell you that this Purse was not directly dropt from Heaven nor laid in that place on purpose for our Goodfellow No it had an Owner who was in as great trouble for the loss of it as the other was joyful for the Owner having been at Church and that at his Devotions in the next adjoyning place to our Goodfellow had by some accident dropt his Purse and going out of the Church in the croud of People was ignorant of his loss but when he came to walk alone he was sensible that his Pocket was lighter then it had been and putting his hand into it missed his purse money He searched groped both his pockets and Breeches but he made no discovery and so seized he was that he knew not what to think nor to imagine where or how he had lost it He remembred he had it when he went to Church and therefore concluded that he must lose it there or in his return and that his pocket had been pick't or else that it had dropt out He feared the first and then he knew there was no remedy no recovery but however having a mind that it should be so he hop'd that it had dropt out of his pocket at Church and that there he should find it whereupon he hastned thither and finding the Sexton tells him of his loss who assists him in searching for it but in vain at length the Sexton remembred that he heard our Goodfellow invite his Friends to a Collation and that he did believe he had found it he acquaint's the Owner of the Purse of his knowledge who concludes that it must be that certainly that man had taken it up he being told of the house he was gone to was resolved to go to him but believing or doubting there might be occasion for an Officer he found one out and carryed him with him being thus accompanied he entred the house and enquiring for such Guests was soon told where they were he went to them and thus told them his business that he had that day lost a Purse of money in the Church that he understood one of that Company had taken it and therefore he demanded restoration Our Goodfellow that had found it was very blanck but withal being very honest and knowing it would be a folly to be otherwise for he had it about him and had discoursed too largely in the house of his Purchase to be concealed he therefore ownes the finding of the Purse and Money but withal desires to know the Marks of the Purse and quantity of the Money he is particularly told the marks of the purse and that there was in it 5 l. just he therefore takes out the purse pours out the Money and tells it over and finding there was 4 l. 15 s. in it he says truly Master it is very right here is 4 l. 15 s. and 5 s. which I have spent of it makes it very right to a Farthing and therefore you may have it Nay but said the Owner what must I have all that I have said our good-fellow you can have no more for 5 s. is spent I care not for that said the Owner 5 l. there was and 5 l. I will have but you cannot said one you can have no more of a Cat then her skin nor no more Money of me then I have left but I will said the other and thereupon he commands the Officer to lay hold on the Good Fellow which he hearing first layes hold of the Money and puts it into his pocket and seeing that he must be troubled