Chapter XII: Part 12

They had hardly Dined, so that he had part of a good Dinner, was welcomed by all the Company, who in his absence had enquired of one another, who this unknown Merchant was, and seeing him so full of Gold, they doubted not his ability, but they were resolved to treat him handsomely, which they did, and the Dinner being ended, he redelivered the _Watch_, and received back his Gold, with a Complement from the Owner, that he begg’d his pardon for taking any thing as an engagement, and desiring his further acquaintance; but Dinner being ended, and a good quantity of Wine brush’d off, they promising to meet the next day at the _Exchange_, departed, I suppose they all did meet, especially the owner of the _Watch_, to enquire of the Captain, for his Merchant, and also the Captain, to conclude his begun bargain with our Counterfeit Merchant, but he, although he had made them a fair promise to meet, yet he came not there, he had other Eggs on the Spit, his affairs lay now at the other end of the Town, and although he had made as profitable a bargain the last Exchange-time, as most Merchants that came thither, yet he had no mind to return thither in hast. But with all the hast he could, he removed his Money and Quarters to the other end of the Town, and that he might pass the more securely undiscovered; he left off his Merchant-like habit, wherein he had performed his exploit, and put on Cloaths more modish and gallant, with a Sword and Belt, and large Perriwig, in this disguise he passed without any discovery, by those who sought out for him, but one of his Extravagant acquaintance meeting him, although thus accoutred, soon knew him, and believing that some Extraordinary adventure had fallen out, was very desirous to be acquainted with it, wherefore that they might compare notes together, they put in to the next Tavern, our Extravagant’s Companion saw by this disguisement, that there was somewhat in the wind, somewhat extraordinary had befallen him, and withall that he was shy in declaring it, wherefore to the end that he might induce him, to tell him how squares went with him, he told him that he had had a very luck since they parted last; for, said he, I met with a brave Prize within these two days which I carried off with very little hazard or danger, and this it was, I was sauntring about the streets, to see and observe where I might get a purchase, and at length I observed a Coach was called for, it was neer _Aldgate_, and it was just about the dusk of the Evening, I having nothing else to do, resolved to see what Company was to go in the Coach, and therefore waited not long, but saw it was only a Woman and a Child, and withall there was two bundles of Linnen. I seeing there was no more Company, was resolv’d to be Master of one of those bundles, neither did I question to do it with ease enough, I observed which way the Coach drove, and went along with it. There was so many Passengers with Lanthorns, Links and Torches walking backwards and forwards, that I was forced to Laquey this Woman till the Coach had brought her to the Stocks in the _Poultrey_, there observing it to be a narrow dark place, and no lights neer me, and having my purchase in my eye, I soon had it in my hand and slapt it under my Coat.

The Woman saw me seize it, and therefore cryed out immediately, but the Coachman not presently hearing of her, and he driving on towards _Cheapside_, I thought it would be necessary for me to march off another way, and so I did, returning back again, but not the very same way we had come, that is, down _Cornhil_, but now returning back by _Lombardstreet_, I did hear the Woman cry out, Hold Coachman, I am rob’d! but I suppose he driving one way, and I running another, I was got to _Gracious-street_, and he to _Cheapside_ before he stopt, and so then it was to no purpose to look after me, for I soon crossed _London_ Bridge, and went to my old Quarters in _Southwark_; when I came there I undid my fardle, but it was filled with such a parcel, as I understood very little, I think there was 100 several pieces of fowl Linnen, which upon examination, I found to be Childbed Linnen, and withall there was Blankets and Mantles, but above all there was the _Unum necessarium_, a parcel of good ready Money, _Ten Pieces_ of good old Gold, and _Five Pounds_ in Silver, the sight of this pleased my eyes, and I thanked my stars for my good fortune. Although (continued he) I knew not so well what to do with the Linnen, as I did with the money, yet I knew it was too good to be thrown away, and that it would fetch good ready money, but in the pickle it was in, I thought it not convenient to offer it to sell, wherefore I resolved to have it washed, and in order thereto, said he, I am now going to an old acquaintance, a Woman who gets the best part of her living by washing and starching, and I intend to intrust her not only to wash and starch, but also to sell this Commodity for me. And (this concluded he) is my business at present, and now I have told you mine, I pray acquaint me with yours.

Our Extravagant understanding from his acquaintance, that he had lately gained a Prize, and by that concluding that he was not in want of money, so that he was not obliged to impart any of his Prize to him, which is a customary thing between Persons of that quality, he therefore without much perswasions acquainted him with his late good fortune in the adventure of the 100_l._

This discourse us’d, the business of drinking being over, our Extravagant’s Companion desired him to go with him a little way to the old Laundress, he spake of, that he might deliver his Pack of smal things to her ordering and dispose, he was not hard to be entreated, wherefore away they went together. But when they came there, they found the old Woman all in tears, for she being in debt a Sum of Money, that she was not able to pay, and an Attachment having been brought against her Goods, she not having Money or skill to defend the Suit, her adversary had obtained Judgement against her, and thereupon the execution was deliver’d into the Bayliffs hands, who at this very minute that our Extravagants came, was come also to seize the Goods, and this was the occasion of the old Womans Lamentation.

She gave the Bayliff all the good words she could, and they not prevailing, she fell to railing and scolding, but it was all one to him, he minded her not, but proceeded in executing his Office, and delivered out to his Man all the poor Womans goods, one piece after another, and there was nothing now remaining, but a kittle which stood on a Trevet over the Fire, and the Utensils of the Chimney. He told her he must have the Kettle, but she might take out the Cloathes, she saying they were none of hers, but she refusing to empty the Kettle, he took it off from the Fire, and threw the water and Cloathes that was in it about the house. The old Woman seeing this, and being resolved to be revenged on him, took the Tongs in her hands, and with them took up the Trevet, which was red hot, and lifting it up, clapt it about the Bayliffs neck, saying, _Since you will have all, then you shall have all_. He was quickly so sensible of the fire, that he roared and cryed out like a Mad-man, and believing that it would burn him to death, for it had already made his flesh fry, to save his Neck and Shoulders, was forced to take it hot as it was, into his hands, to throw it off: This adventure was like to have proved Tragical to the hard-hearted Bayliff, who with much difficulty disingaged himself. But our two Extravagants were extreamly well-pleased with the Washer-womans Revenge, as we hope the _Reader_ will be; and now we shall put an end to this _Fourth Part_: And, if (as we hope) you are pleased with what is already written, we shall in short time give you greater pleasure and satisfaction in the Continuation of our Extravagants adventures, which shall be fully finished in a _Fifth_ and _Last_ Part.

_FINIS._

Transcriber’s Note.

While acknowledging the author’s sentiment in the Preface regarding errors, spelling in that era was extremely variable, and any corrections made here were limited to the most obvious lapses. As the table below will show, ‘e/c’, and ‘u/n’ errors, as well as doubled words, were most common.

The word ‘Gaol’ is printed interchangeably as ‘Goal’, and all such instances are retained.

Due to the variability of hyphenation, where a hyphenation occurs on a line or page break, the hyphen is retained or removed based on the preponderance of the same word elsewhere. Where there are no other or similar instances, the decision was based on modern usage.

The following table summarizes the issues encountered, and their resolution:

ii.24 As to the verity of those ingenio[n/u]s Replaced.
Exploits,

14.2 a large [M/D]ish of most incomparable Replaced.

22.6 [e/c]onfession at the Gallows of all her Replaced.
former

24.1 a Merchant of _Naples_, pay[a]able Removed.

45.14 I took exact noti[e/c]e of his Unkles name, Replaced.

102.15 finally co[n/u]nselling me Replaced.

108.20 but first I[ I] plumm’d the depth of the Removed.
Vault

123.1 [(]which proved to be a _Practice of Added.
Piety_)

124.18 yo[n/u]r walk Replaced.

133.12 if I were aloft, a[ ]head, or abaft Added.

136.8 was deeply musing [m/w]ith myself Replaced.

138.18 I laying them [caresly] upon the Dresser _sic_

140.24 lasht me with [VV/W]hipcord Recorded.

143.11 till we set Sail.[’] Added.

152.27 daring to s[h/t]ay longer in _London_ Replaced.

165.13 nor encouraging as the _Anabaptists_; and Removed.
finding that [that]

184.18 expensive Courts[t/h]ip, Replaced.

204.8 against _Shadwell-Do[e/c]k_. Replaced.

212.4 I knew qui[e/c]kly Replaced.

215.27 won threescore and upward[,/.] Replaced.

216.2 those ill [i/t]idings, Replaced.

220.33 an errant piece of impuden[e/c]e Replaced.

222.15 prosecuti[u/n]g his more serious affairs Replaced.

223.1 to increase their [fl/st]ore Replaced.

224.34 who was [not] only well cliented _sic_ Missing?

227.14 Ames[, /-]Ace, Replaced.

236.16 A Gentlem[e/a]n who was well stored Replaced.

258.6 at great Cost and Charges[./,] in the Replaced.
Provision aforesaid

266.28 to the place w[h]ere our Old Fellow was Added.

270.4 our young[s] mans Father Removed.

294.4 her best Wea[l]th; Added.

311.12 Sword and Belt, Half-Shirts[,] Bands, Added.
Caravats,

312.3 came to our Extrav[a]gant to examine him Added.
privately