Chapter I: Part 1

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THE AUGUSTAN REPRINT SOCIETY

ELKANAH SETTLE THE NOTORIOUS IMPOSTOR (1692)

DIEGO REDIVIVUS (1692)

Introduction by Spiro Peterson

Publication Number 68

Los Angeles William Andrews Clark Memorial Library University of California

GENERAL EDITORS

RICHARD C. BOYS, _University of Michigan_
RALPH COHEN, _University of California, Los Angeles_
VINTON A. DEARING, _University of California, Los Angeles_
LAWRENCE CLARK POWELL, _Clark Memorial Library_

ASSISTANT EDITOR

W. EARL BRITTON, _University of Michigan_

ADVISORY EDITORS

EMMETT L. AVERY, _State College of Washington_
BENJAMIN BOYCE, _Duke University_
LOUIS BREDVOLD, _University of Michigan_
JOHN BUTT, KING'S COLLEGE, _University of Durham_
JAMES L. CLIFFORD, _Columbia University_
ARTHUR FRIEDMAN, _University of Chicago_
LOUIS A. LANDA, _Princeton University_
SAMUEL H. MONK, _University of Minnesota_
ERNEST C. MOSSNER, _University of Texas_
JAMES SUTHERLAND, _University College, London_
H. T. SWEDENBERG, JR., _University of California, Los Angeles_

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY

EDNA C. DAVIS, _Clark Memorial Library_

INTRODUCTION

The great English novel of the eighteenth century was developed out of the long established traditions in the essay, letter, religious treatise, biography and personal memoir. Although this influence has been generally acknowledged, the critical investigation of its exact nature has often been hampered by the lack of readily available texts. Especially is this true of the criminal biographies written in the late seventeenth century. The reprinting of Elkanah Settle's _The Notorious Impostor_ (Part One) and the anonymous _Diego Redivivus_ is thus justified as providing the means for the further study of the early fiction-writer's techniques. Published In 1692, the two pamphlets belong to a group of five closely-related narratives dealing with a real criminal named William Morrell. In the probable order of their publication, these were _Diego Redivivus_, _The Notorious Impostor_ (Part One), _The Second Part of the Notorious Impostor_, "_William Morrell's_ Epitaph" in _The Gentleman's Journal_, and _The Compleat Memoirs of the Life of that Notorious Impostor Will. Morrell_. The different accounts forcefully demonstrate how criminal fiction allied itself with both biography and the picaresque. In addition, _The Notorious Impostor_ serves as a representative work by Elkanah Settle whose criminal biographies have never received the attention they deserve.[1]

The combination of fact and fiction in the William Morrell narratives had been tried earlier in Settle's first known criminal biography, _The Life and Death of Major Clancie, the Grandest Cheat of this Age_ (1680). Like Bunyan's _Mr. Badman_, advertised in the same issue of _The Term Catalogues_ (I, 382), _Major Clancie_ purports to narrate "Real matter of Fact." Thus, in the background, significant historical events, from the Irish Rebellion to the Great Fire, are being enacted. Important English worthies--Lord Ormonde, Bishop Compton, Charles II--become entangled in the villainies of the Major, an actual Irish criminal. None of this historical backdrop is to be found, however, in _The Notorious Impostor_; and the characters here, although Sir William Walters and Humphrey Wickham were well-known local personages, are not historically eminent. The picaresque in _Major Clancie_, too, is more readily identifiable than in _The Notorious Impostor_. For, contrary to its stated aim, the biography of Clancie is more fiction than fact. Anthony Wood, noting the fictional elaborations, remarked: "Several stories in this book which belong to other persons are fathered on the said major; who, as I remember, was in Oxon in the plague year 1665 when the king and the queen kept their respective courts there."[2] Wood then contributes a few of his own pungent stories about the Major, which have no counterparts in Settle's narrative. Where the two writers provide parallel accounts, the "fiction" appears to be based on a substratum of truth surviving in anecdotes. Settle's verisimilitude had an effect upon Theophilus Lucas's _Memoirs of the Lives, Intrigues, and Comical Adventures of the Most Famous Gamesters and Celebrated Sharpers_ (1714), which begins with a condensed version of _The Life and Death of Major Clancie_.[3] Lucas presents his account as if it were a true memoir.

_The Notorious Impostor_ was to experience a similar acceptance as a memoir. All modern biographical accounts of its villain-hero, William Morrell,[4] are based on the two separate parts of _The Notorious Impostor_ or _The Compleat Memoirs_. On January 3, 1692, he had died, a criminal at large; and the strange circumstances of his death became the talk of London. While the event was still a sensation, the bookseller Abel Roper rushed his "last will and testament" lives into print. The first to appear was _Diego Redivivus_, reprinted here from the rare copy at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library. Evidence for the publication of _Diego Redivivus_ before _The Notorious Impostor_ is fairly conclusive. _The Registers of the Worshipful Company of Stationers_ (III, 397) enters _Diego Redivivus_, on behalf of Abel Roper, for January 12, 1692, and _The Term Catalogues_ (II, 392) advertises _The Notorious Impostor_ in the quarterly issue published in February, but Anthony Wood (III, 384) states that he bought his copy of the latter "in the beginning of March." A comparison of the two texts, moreover, supports this order of the publication.

Events in _Diego Redivivus_, as in a news story, have greater immediacy. Morrell's death, the title asserts, took place the third of "this instant January." The specific detail of _Diego_ (p. 2: "about a fortnight before _Christmas_") is paralleled by the general statement of _The Notorious Impostor_ (p. 30: "Some few days before _Christmas_"). Although its title-page promises a "Full Relation" of Morrell's cheats, _Diego Redivivus_ presents only the final "will" episode, whereas _The Notorious Impostor_ ranges over the whole criminal career. Both narratives have in common the long will and codicil, except that _The Notorious Impostor_ (p. 34) drastically shortens the Latin passage which, in _Diego Redivivus_ (p. 10), states that the will had been probated. Even more conclusive evidence may be found in comparing the dates of the final events in the two accounts. _Diego Redivivus_, licensed on January 12, stops short with the humble burial of Morrell on January 13. Considerably later, certainly, must be the occurrence described in the Postscript of _The Notorious Impostor_: the nurse's and assistants' recollection that Morrell was laughing to himself in his last grim cheating of the world.

Part One of _The Notorious Impostor_, as the sequel informs us, met with a "general Reception." Advertised in the February issue of _The Term Catalogues_, also, was a separate continuation. Interest in the impostor did not diminish during February. "The Death of _William Morrell_," complained _The Gentleman's Journal_ of this month, "hath made too much Noise not to have reach'd you before this.... Had not his Will and Life been printed, I would have given you a large Account of both." The anonymous writer refers here, perhaps, to _Diego Redivivus_ ("Will") and _The Notorious Impostor_ ("Life") in the order of their publication. He then ironically lauds, in the verses of "_William Morrell's_ Epitaph," the great skill of the impostor ("Columbus-like I a new World descry'd, / Of Roguery before untry'd").

Elkanah Settle's two parts of _The Notorious Impostor_ were finally published together in 1694 as _The Compleat Memoirs of the Life of that Notorious Impostor Will. Morrell, alias Bowyer, alias Wickham, &c._ ... under the imprint of Abel Roper and E. Wilkinson. So extensive are the re-arrangements of the episodes taken from Parts One and Two that _The Compleat Memoirs_ may be regarded as a fifth, very different narrative. All the apologies for not resorting to "romance" are now dropped, and the humorous dedication is replaced by a direct appeal to Gabriel Balam, signed "E. Settle." _The Compleat Memoirs_ then reworks the texts of the two Parts into a smooth, chronologically consistent narrative.[5] Even more important in designating _The Compleat Memoirs_ as "new" are the "Considerable Additions never before Published" announced by the title-page. After using the incidents from _The Second Part of the Notorious Impostor_, Settle then adds: "Since the first Publication of our fore-going History of our Grand Guzman, we have receiv'd some Comical Adventures, worth inserting in his Memoirs, which though they now bring up the Rear of his Chronicle, however, they were the first of all his Wedlock Feats...." In the totally new adventures that end _The Compleat Memoirs_ (pp. 72-88), the cynical tone and raciness of the picaresque become even more dominant than in the earlier separate narratives.[6]

The importance of the Morrell narratives in the development of English fiction lies mainly in their deft combinations of the real and the picaresque and in their conscious effort to unify the action, draw out the humour, or handle realistic talk and setting. But the narratives also look backward to an older type, the picaresque. William Morrell makes his printed appearance as the new picaro. The title _Diego Redivivus_ (i.e. James Revived) had overtones of the sensationally picaresque. The witty pseudonym "Don Diego Puede-Ser" had been used by James Mabbe in his translation (1623) of Aleman's _Vita del Picaro Guzman_;[7] and more recent in English memories were the exploits of James Hind, the English Rogue. In the Dedication, _The Notorious Impostor_ describes itself as "_the Life of our English_ Guzman" and later promises to "paint our new _Guzman_ in some of his boldest and fairest Colours." But the picaresque traditions have shaded into one another. For Morrell is not simply the new Guzman; he is also Hudibras and, in _The Second Part_, Don Quixote.

Still another reason for the importance of the Morrell narratives is their consciousness of fictional techniques and theory. In _Diego Redivivus_, for example, the final deception is meticulously developed with closely-woven incidents which do not appear elsewhere. The motives of the characters, too, are sharply defined; and the action is unified by the two references to oath-taking (pp. 2-3). The anonymous author, at the outset, stresses the value of "the Particulars ... no disacceptable Entertainment" (p. 1). Aware of theory, he specifies that Morrell created "some Romantick narrative" to explain his poverty (p. 4). In fictional technique, Elkanah Settle approaches a unified theme especially in _The Second Part of the Notorious Impostor_ and the "Comical Adventures" of _The Compleat Memoirs_ where the incidents are mainly of one kind--matrimonial. Theorizing appears, too, in Part One somewhat in the manner of Daniel Defoe: "we dare not venture to play the Historian any farther than certain Intelligence (which yet we have not received) can guide us, being resolved not to load our Rambles with Romance or Fiction, his Life being furnisht with matter sufficiently voluminous without the addition of Flourish or Fancy" (p. 27). This may be Settle's pointed reference to the "fiction" of _Diego Redivivus_.[8] He maintains, also, that he had to delay for a fortnight the publication of _The Second Part of the Notorious Impostor_ in order to be certain of its authenticity.

Finally, the importance of the Morrell narratives may be seen in terms of the realistic fiction that was to achieve fulfillment in the eighteenth-century novel. The clear presence of fictional elaboration, in _The Notorious Impostor_, caught the attention of both Frank Wadleigh Chandler and Ernest Bernbaum.[9] Elkanah Settle thus rightly belongs with writers, like Francis Kirkman, who masked fiction as the truth. Historians of the novel, moreover, attach significance to _The Notorious Impostor_ in its resemblance to the novels of Defoe, Mrs. Heywood, and Smollett. Only the claim of influence on Smollett's _Ferdinand Count Fatham_ has been investigated to any extent. In a full analysis of Smollett's novel, Chandler's strong statement will have to be taken into account: "The resemblance, indeed, between the two anti-heroes and the terms in which the accounts of their cheating are couched is so strong as to suggest actual borrowing on the part of Smollett."[10]

Spiro Peterson

Miami University
Oxford, Ohio

Since writing the above, I have been informed by G. F. Osborn,
archivist of the City of Westminster Public Libraries, that the
registers of St. Clement Danes, in his keeping, have the following
entry under 12 January 169-1/2: "William Morrell alias Bowier a man
bur[ied] poor."

Notes to the Introduction

[1] See F. C. Brown, _Elkanah Settle: His Life and Works_ (1910), pp. 22, 29, 127.

[2] _The Life and Times of Anthony Wood_, ed. Andrew Clark (1892), II, 48-49.

[3] _Games and Gamesters of the Restoration_, ed. Cyril Hughes Hartmann (The English Library, 1930), pp. 123-137.

[4] E.g. Alfred Beasley's in _The History of Banbury_ (1841), pp. 448-492, and G. T. Crook's in _The Complete Newgate Calendar_ (1926), pp. 117-124.

[5] The text of _The Compleat Memoirs_ is indeed a composite. Paragraph one of p. 1 unites a paragraph from p. 1 of Part One and a paragraph from pp. 34-35 of Part Two; pp. 1-27 are the same as pp. 5-27 of Part One; pp. 27-46: pp. 2-21 of Part Two; pp. 46-50: pp. 27-29 of Part One; pp. 50-57: pp. 22-29 of Part Two; pp. 57-65: pp. 30-36 of Part One; pp. 66-71: pp. 29-36 of Part Two.

[6] _The Post Boy_ advertised _The Compleat Memoirs_ from February 17 to April 23, 1698. See also W. Carew Hazlitt (_Bibliographical Collections_, Third Series, p. 229) for a description of a copy dated 1699.

[7] Morrell's last impersonation involving the fake will resembles Pantalon's "last Will and Testament" jest in Mabbe's _The Rogue or The Life of Guzman de Alfarache_ (The Tudor Translations, 1924), II, 184-186.

[8] Settle's authorship of _The Notorious Impostor_ is confirmed by his name appended to the Dedication of _The Compleat Memoirs_. Although _Diego Redivivus_ occasionally resembles _The Notorious Impostor_, it need not necessarily be Settle's work. The similar style and the identical documentation (e.g. the will) may be due to Settle's direct use of the earlier narrative. None of its minutely-drawn description, curiously, is perpetuated in _The Compleat Memoirs_. The authorship of _Diego Redivivus_ remains an unsettled question.

[9] _The Literature of Roguery_ (1907), I, 153: _The Mary Carleton Narratives_ (1914), p. 6.

[10] I, 153. Ernest A. Baker makes a similar statement (_The History of the English Novel_ [1937], III, 46). With respect to the influence of _The Notorious Impostor_ on Mrs. Eliza Haywood, he should have cited _Miss Betsy Thoughtless_ (1751)--the very book praised by Captain Minikin as "worth reading" in _Ferdinand Count Fathom_ (Chap. XXXIX).

THE

Notorious Impostor,

Or the History of the LIFE of

William Morrell,

ALIAS

BOWYER,

Sometime of _Banbury_, Chirurgeon.

Who lately personated _Humphrey Wickham_ of _Swackly_, in the County of _Oxon_, Esquire, at a Bakers House in the _Strand_, where he Died the third of _Jan. 169-1/2_

Together

With an Authentick Copy of his Will, taken out of the _Prerogative Court_, and the manner of his Funeral in St. _Clements_ Church-yard.

_LONDON_, Printed for _Abel Roper_ at the _Mytre_ near _Temple-Bar_, 1692.

TO THE

Honourable Capt. _Humph. Wickham_.

SIR,

_When this following 'Paper makes thus bold to be your Addressor, the only Encouragement for the Presumption is, that your borrow'd Name has fill'd up so large a Sheet in our History, as justly entitles You to this Presentation. And truly as a considerable part of it has already furnisht you with no small Jest at your Laughing Hours, we hope the Life of our English_ Guzman, _your late Adopted Name-sake, will be no undiverting Entertainment. His Life, 'tis true, has been little else than a continued Scene of Masquerade; and if to finish his last Act, he had occasion of borrowing a Face and Character of Quality and consequently fixt upon Captain_ Wickham; _alas, you must consider he wanted Worth and Honour, and can you blame him for looking for 'em where they were to be found? You stood fair for him, and the World, however, it may censure his Impudence, at least it cannot but commend his Choice. And the Reason (if you have any) to complain, is, that whereas the World is but a Stage, and_ Life _but a Play, and Captain_ Wickham _was only personated to Cheat a poor Baker of a Fortnights Lodging and Bread. 'Tis pity your Name, that much better deserved, was only drawn in to the filling up of a Farce. But, as great a Thief as he was to steal a Title of Honour, whatever hard Charge the poor suffering Baker has against him, yet considering how little you have lost by him, we hope your excusing Goodness will not load him higher than Petty Larceny. And truly if he can feel it in his Grave, he has sufficiently felt the Lash for it. His Last Will and Testament, I confess, has very bountifully cantoned out your Estate; all the sorrow is, that the Gaping Executors, and the rest of the Inheritors, have no shorter a Walk than into_ Fairy-Land _to receive their Legacies; a longer Journey, 'tis to be feared, than either the Bright Bay, or Dappled Grey, will ever be able to carry 'em._

_And now to do our last Office,_ viz. _to speak a good word of the Dead (for truly he had no Funeral Sermon to do it) they may talk of Monuments and Epitaphs for preserving of Memories; but our_ quondam _Operator of_ Banbury, _tho' with plainer Funeral Ceremonies, has taken care for a lasting Renown, when much finer Dust under Statues and Marble shall sleep forgotten: And whereas there are famous Examples of old, that have perpetuated their Names at no less price than the burning of Temples, his better Husbandry, to his Glory be it recorded, has purchased Immortality much cheaper; where we'll leave him, and beg your Pardon for this Boldness_

_Of_

Your unknown Humble Servant.

THE

Notorious Impostor:

OR THE

HISTORY

OF THE

LIFE

OF

_William Morrell_ alias _Bowyer_, &c.

This Famous Rover, from the Multitude of his Titles, to begin with his right Name _William Morrell_, was by Profession a Chyrurgion, and more than twenty Years ago, for many Years together, a Practitioner of good Credit in _Banbury_, where his Industry honestly got him, by his Practice, near two Hundred a Year, with which he maintained himself, his Wife and Family very handsomely, till about eighteen Years ago he began to be very Lazy, and much addicted to hanker after the Conversation of the Gentry thereabouts; and being a Person very Facetious, and his Company not disacceptable, he screwed himself into the Society of the best Quality round about, and would be a Month or two a Guest at several Great Mens Houses; more particularly he some time since insinuated himself into the Favor of a Worthy Gentleman near _Banbury_, viz. _Humphry Wickham_ of _Swakely_ Esq; whose Person and Character he pretended to represent, and in which Imposture he made his last _Exit_.

But to begin our History in order; From his Conversing with Gentlemen and Herding with Quality, Business began to fall off: His many Rambles from home, soon made his Practice flag; when the Glass and the Bottle came into play, the Salvatory and Playster-box went out. And his Patients could not well stay for the Setting of a Broken Limb, or Tenting a Green Wound, till our _Esculapius_ was to be called, the Lord knows where, and found the Devil knows when. This Trade continuing, the other fell to decay, till at last Poverty began to peep in at his Window, and Duns to hover about his Door. In these little Exigencies and Necessities (for the Gentleman's Tables abroad would not fill the Bellies at home, nor would Hunting or Hawking pay Landlords Rent) his Wants put him upon Shifts and Artifices for his Subsistence; and what with a Natural Wit and a pretty large Talent of Confidence, the pressing Hand of Fortune threw him upon several Tricks and Frauds to hold his Head above-board. But not to trouble you with any of his lesser Diminutive Exploits, the Infancy and Nonage of his Activity, we do not think fit to treat you with these pettier Adventures, but e'en set out in one of his noblest Atchievements, and paint our new _German_ in some of his boldest and fairest Colours.

Accordingly he Equips himself with a Sturdy Young Country Fellow, a _Ralpho_ to our _Hudibras_, and takes a Knight-Errantry one day to a Fair at _Brayls_ in _Warwickshire_, his Habit between a Grazier and a plain Country Gentleman; where Santering about with his Man _Tom_ (for so his Squire was titled) at last spying a Knot of good likely Kine (near a Score of them). _Ah Master_, says Tom, _what a parcel of brave Cattle are these_. _Ay_ Tom, replies the Master, _I am sorry I saw them no sooner; these would do my Business to a T; but as the Devil and ill Luck would have it, I have laid out my whole Stock already, and so I'll e'en set my Heart at Rest_. The Country Fellow, the Owner of the Cattle, seeing a Gentleman of his honest Appearance surveying his Beasts, and hearing every word that pass'd between the Man and Master (for they took care to talk loud enough to be heard) thought he had got a good Chapman, and desired the Gentleman to draw nearer and handle the Cattle. _Handle_, answers _Tom, what for?_ _You know, Sir, you have laid out all your Money already, and what should we handle Cattle unless we had Cole to buy 'em. I confess they are for your Turn above any I have zeen in the whole Vair, but that's nothing, the Money Master the Money._ _The Money_, replies the Country-man, _Troth that shall make no Difference, nor break Squares between us; if you and I can agree, the Cattle are at your Service: I suppose you are some honest Gentleman hereabouts, and the Money will do my work next Market-day. Pray what may I call your Name? My Name is_ Walters, replies our Cattle-Merchant, _Walters, Master_, answers our Country-man, _What any Relation to his Worship the Noble Sir_ William Walters? _Ay, Friend, a small Relation, a Brother of his. A Brother of Sir_ William_'s_! Off goes the Country-man's Bonnet at the next word, and a long Scrape made; for no Respect was too great for a Brother to a Person of such eminent Quality. _My Cattle, Noble Squire, Ay with all my Heart._ In short after much ado to make the Country-man be covered before him, he fell to treat about the Price of the Cattle, in which he bargained so warily, that they had almost parted for a single Shilling in a Dispute between them. But at last the Bargain and Sale concluded, _Tom_ is commanded to drive home the Cattle, the Money to be paid next Market-day, and the Country-man has the Honor to drink a Pot at parting with his Worshipful Chapman our Sir _William_'s Brother: This Feat performed, he takes a walk round the Fair, and picks up a pretty Country Girl, a Mason's Daughter, at a small Town about four Miles off, and gives her the common Country Civility of a Fair, _viz._ a Glass of White-wine and Sugar. During this Entertainment of our young Damsel, he is most desperately smitten with her Beauty, insomuch that our _Inamorato_ must wait upon her home to her Father's House, nothing but Death and Despair attending if he cannot have that extraordinary Happiness. The Girl who by this time had learnt his Name and Quality, was not a little confounded at the pressing Importunities of a Person of his Worth to a poor Girl of her little Capacity, and notwithstanding her modest Refusals, felt a secret Pride from so kind an offer, and at last accepted of his Service home. No sooner was she got safe handed home, and Mother and Daddy, were privately whispered what Honor they received from such a Visitant; the best the House could afford was not good enough for him: after the courser Compliments of [_Lord, Sir, such a Person of Quality under our poor Roof_] and the like; the best welcome that could be made him was not wanting: Nay, for what was deficient at home, the whole Neighborhood was Ransakt to lend help toward the Accommodation. Our new Lover not to baulk a good Cause, openly Professes no less than honourable Matrimonial Affection to his dear Conqueror. Estate he wants none; and Portion or Quality are below his Consideration, the Satisfaction of Love is the only thing in the World he resolves to gratifie.

The Father and Mother are much astonish'd at such an Addressor to their Daughter, nor is the Daughter her self a little surprized at it, though of the two her Wonder is the least; for her Sexes natural Frailty was so apt to make her think it the pure Effect of her own sweet Face, that the power of her Charms, and the Quality of her Captive was not altogether (she fancied) so extraordinary an Adventure. In fine, Our passionate Admirer pushes on his suit with all the Vigour and Application imaginable, and truly you may well conceive so weak a Resistance could not well hold out long against so Puissant an Assailer: The Siege is press'd home, and in three short days the white Flag is hung out, a Parly beat, Articles concluded, and the Fort surrendered. Our Damsel, in short, commits Matrimony; and the whole Family is not a little Transported at such a Noble Alliance. Thus Wedded and Bedded, Our new Couple are all Honey and Sweetness, and though Sir _William Walter_'s House was not above a dozen Miles from thence, his Adopted Brother all safe and secure, sleeps in the soft Arms of his young Bride with all the Rapture of Pleasure and Delight. After three Revelling days were spent in Feasting and Joy, the Father-in-Law and himself enter in a close Cabinet Consult about providing for Family and Settlement. He tells the Old Man, that truly his Brother the Knight will undoubtedly take no little Dudgeon at this Match, not that he cares a Farthing for't. He has Married the only Creature of the World he can Love, and he is resolved to Cherish her accordingly. But however, to manage Affairs with Discretion, he thinks it his best Prudence and Policy, to get his Trunks and the Writings of his Estate safe out of his Brother's Hands, before he publishes the Marriage. And for that purpose he has no better way than for his Father-in-Law to help him to a small Cart and a couple of able Horses, and to drive to his Brothers, and take up his Trunks, _&c._ And considering he had laid out all his ready Money in Cattle at _Brayle_ Fair, he desired the favour of him to furnish him with Ten Pounds, that he might not be unprovided with a little of the Ready about him, in case of any Rupture between his Brother and himself, till he could furnish himself better amongst his Tenants.

The Old Man very readily embraced this reasonable proposition, and though truly the Summ of Ten Pounds was above his Stock, nevertheless living in Repute amongst his Neighbors, through great Solicitation, some forty and some thirty Shillings, and such like Summs, with much ado he raises the Ten Pounds desired; and more and above he procures two very Able Horses and a Cart to bring away the Treasure aforesaid, _&c._

By this time his Man _Tom_ having Sold the Cattle, is come to wish his Noble Master Joy of his fair Bride, and so the Master and _Tom_ attended by a Brother of his Bride, an Honest Country Swain, who though so highly honoured with this new Affinity, is at present planted in no higher a Post than to be a Mate with his Man _Tom_ to drive the Cart, set forwards, _&c._

The Brother-in-Law, Cheek by Jowl, with the fore-Horse of his small Team, drives on very merrily for about Nine of the Twelve Miles to Sir _William_'s, entertaining his Worshipful Relation with the very best Tune he could Whistle all the way they travell'd.

But now within Three Miles of home, our politick Bridegroom thinks it advisable, that one of his Carters, the Brother, should make a Halt at an Alehouse where they stopp'd, and the whole Manage of the Cart and Horses be intrusted with _Tom_, for fear the sight of a Stranger to come to take up Goods at his Brother's might give occasion of Curiosity and Inquiry, whereas _Tom_, an old Servant in the Family, with less Suspision and Inspection might do it.

These strong Reasons (or indeed weaker would have served turn) were satisfactory enough, and so the Gentleman Equipping his Brother _Clodpate_ with a _George_ to stay and Drink till they returned, the Master and Man fairly drive on, for the remaining three Miles to bring off the Bag and Baggage, _&c._

The Potent Summ of a whole Half Crown to be laid out in Ale, set in our Country Youth to a hearty Carouse with the kind Hostess of the House, where the Esquires Health was over and over remembred, not forgetting the Great Man at the Great House about Three Miles off; where, as simple a Country Fellow as he was, he expected one day to be better acquainted.

But to draw this Adventure towards a Conclusion, our waiting Carter long expecting the return of the Brother, the Palfries and the Cargo, notwithstanding the Strength of powerful Ale, and his Sweet Land-Ladies diverting Company, began at last to be Impatient; sometimes he fancied the Loading was too heavy for the Poor Beasts, and he thought it his best way to walk out and see if he could meet them: But all Inquiry was in vain, Night at last drew on, and the best part of his Half-crown melted down; at last, though very Uneasie and Restless, he is perswaded by his kind Hostess to take a hard Nap till Morning. The Cock was not so soon awake as he, for to tell Truth, he ne're slept at all, though indeed he dreamt all Night, for he could not think less, than that some Retainers of the Family had undoubtedly followed the Cart, and Murder'd the Squire to run away with the Treasure, and what his poor Sister would suffer to be a Widow so early, was little less than a mortal Apprehension. Thereupon very betimes in the morning he pads to Sir _William_'s, and very earnestly enquires, what was become of the Squire, the Knights Brother. Sir _William_'s Brother, _reply'd the Servants_, we know none he has; 'tis true, he had one some years beyond Sea, but whether dead or alive, is more than any Man upon _English_ Ground (_God wott_) can tell. How! no Brother-in-law Squire! No Sir _William_'s Family! No Sister like to be a Lady, nor Brother a Gentleman! nor no Horses nor Cart neither! This staggering Account, put him into so doleful a Dumps, that he stood almost Thunderstruck. And truly the twelve Miles home agen, was so tedious a Journey, and the lamentable Narrative he must make 'em at home, so killing a Fancy, that it was a great Mercy he did not make a stay upon some convenient Twig in some Hedge in the Road, rather than live to be the Messenger of such a woful, sad Tale--But ill News at last must out. The Bird and the Beasts were all flown; the poor Bride sweetly brought to Bed, a Cart and two Horses to pay for, a Son-in-law to find when the Devil was blind, the Daughters sweet play thing lost, the Father and Mother dipt ten whole pounds in Chalk, and the whole Family under the suffering of a whole Chamberpot full of waylings and Tears for their Calamities and Misfortunes.

But to return to our Rover: By the sale of Cart and Team, ten pound in Cole the last lump, and the price of his Kine the other, his Pockets were pretty well lined; and considering this spot might soon grow too hot for him, he thinks it wisest to shift the Scene, and thereupon dismissing, for some time, his Man _Tom_, who had pretty well lick'd his Fingers in so profitable a Service, our Grasier now transmogrifies into a Spark, and very sprucely rigg'd, takes a ramble Westward, where meeting with no Adventure worth recital, in some small time he gets to _Ludlow_. There taking up the first Night at an Inn, his Garb (though unattended by Servants) soon made him good Reception; his first enquiry was to learn out the Eminentest People in the Town, of which being readily inform'd by the Drawers; he learnt, amongst other Relations, that there was a Substantial Wealthy Tradesman, had two pretty Marriageable Daughters: Being directed to the House, he addresses to the Father, telling him he was a _Barkshire_ Gentleman, and intending to make some small abode in _Ludlow_, he did not think fit to continue in a Publick House, but would gladly gain admission to some private Family. The Tradesman (whose name we will not mention) being a Widower, and taken with the manner of his Discourse, kindly invited him to his own House, which our Travelling Gallant as kindly embracing, Accommodation was made, and he was lodged that very Night at this private Landlords.

His entrance here gave him the opportunity of daily conversing with no mean wit and charms in the two sweet Daughters of the Family; and our Gallant, very apt to take fire at but a small matter of Beauty, especially with a Portion at the Tail of it, felt no little wamblings at the extraordinary accomplishments of the elder, somewhat the sweeter Creature. But this new Adventure was not an enterprise so easie as the last; this Sire of some fashion, was so far above the Education and Extract of his former Father-in-Law, a Man of Mortar and Trowel; and his Daughters of a reach and understanding so much beyond the others humbler capacity; that measures must be quite alter'd here from those that he took before. Accordingly now his discourse was always upon Foreign subjects, himself and his own affairs the least part of his talk; and if any inquisitive question, either by Father or Daughters were made relating to his Family or Concerns, he answered with that Modesty, and almost silence to all demands of that kind, that he left their curiosity still in the dark; and which indeed was so much a heightning to the favourable imaginations they had conceived of him; that they doubted not in the least, but he was of eminent Quality; and what any boasting Vanity would have made 'em rather suspect, his Modesty on the contrary confirm'd. 'Twas some few days before they inquired his name, for which he had ready at his Tongue's end, the name of a very great Family in _Barkshire_; but not descending to particulars, the remoteness of the place did not gain 'em much intelligence of his Quality from only the bare name. All this while, at some little distance, he dropt a great many complaisant words to the elder Sister, which look'd very much like Love, and which he indeed desired should be so interpreted. In this Conversation, now of a Fortnights continuance, he had rendred himself so acceptable to the whole Family, that a great many favourable thoughts on all sides inclined towards him. The Address to the Daughter, at last looked a little more plain and barefac'd, and at that time a Fair happening at _Ludlow_, where he had been diverting himself with seeing of Fashions, he came home in much Concern, and some kind of Passion, much greater than hitherto they had at any time seen from him. "Certainly there is no place in the world (_says he passionately_) so retir'd, but some Devil or other will still find out and haunt me." The odness of this expression invited the elder Sister to ask him what he meant. "Why truly, Madam, (_he replied_) I have been hunted from three or four Towns already, for in spight of all my resolutions of living _incognito_, some unlucky Person or other comes full in my mouth, and will betray me in spight of my Soul." This answer did but heighten her Curiosity, and having, as she thought, some little Interest in him as a profest Servant of hers, she was a little the bolder in pressing the Question; and therefore plainly ask'd him why he liv'd _incognito_, and what accident had now discovered him: To this at last, with a little more frankness than he had hitherto used, he replied, the reason of his Ramble from his Family, with his Living three or four Months past unknown to the whole World, was only to prevent the ruine of a Sister, who like a foolish Girl, was in much danger to be undone by a Beggerly Match she was too fond of; and her Portion being in his hands, he had absented himself from his home, left the softness of her tears, the importunities of several Advocate's in behalf of this indigent Lover, together with the weakness of his own tender heart, might at last be prevail'd upon to grant his consent to what he knew would be his shame and her undoing. And as ill luck would have it, he had unfortunately tumbled upon a Countryman of his, now at the Fair, who would infallibly run open mouth'd to his Sister and his Family, and tell 'em all where he was. This discovery gave a good occasion to the fair Examiner to be not only a Pleader for her own Sex in the Person and cause of his unknown Sister, but likewise to be a Champion for Love. For now she plainly told him, that a great many grains of allowance were to be made, where hearts were inseparable. If this Lover of his Sisters was a man of Sense and Quality (as neither of those he could deny him) it was a little barbarous in him to oppose the whole Repose and Contentment of so near a Relation as a Sister, for so sordid a consideration as a little Worldly Interest. Besides, there was a Providence always attended Faith and Truth in Love, and undoubtedly sooner or later would provide for their well-being, or else enable 'em to bear a meaner portion of Riches, which others perhaps might, less contentedly, possess. This argument was almost the daily discourse, in which she seem'd to gain some little ground, but not enough to perswade him to the unreasonable Grant of his Sisters desires.

About five days after comes a Letter directed to him at _Ludlow_, with the Post Mark upon it very authentically, which in a very legible Woman's hand contained these words.

Dear Brother,

_What unhappy Star am I born under, to suffer all this miserable
Persecution? Certainly, when my Father left me to your disposal,
and tied my Portion to your liking of the man that must marry me,
surely he could never have died reconciled to Heaven, could he have
foreseen the Slavery he tied his poor Child to, in putting me into
the power of so cruel a Brother. To run so many Months from your
House, your Family, nay, your Honour too, (for what must the
censuring world talk of you) and all to break a poor Sister's
Heart. Oh shameful! to hide your self from the World, and run from
Mankind, only to shut your Ears against Justice, and to be deaf to
all Goodness and Humanity! Alas, what Capital Crime have I
committed, who only loved a Gentleman, in Birth and Blood no ways
my Inferiour; and what if an unfortunate Younger Brother's slender
Patrimony of a Hundred a Year, is not answerable to a Portion of
Two thousand Pounds. A wonderful Cause to make me the most unhappy
Creature living, in refusing me the only Blessing the World has to
give. How many fair steps to Preferment and Honour lye in the way
of so accomplish'd and so well Related a Gentleman, notwithstanding
his Elder Brother run away with the Estate; and what good Fortune
have I not to hope for, if your Barbarous Aversion did not
interpose between my Felicity and me. In short, resolve to return
home, and be kind to your languishing, and almost despairing
Sister, or else expect very speedily to be visited by her at your
Bedside in her Winding-sheet. For if Ghosts can walk, and your
Barbarity has sworn my Death, expect to be eternally haunted, as
you shall deserve from----_

Your Distracted----

The next Post four or five Letters more came after him; one from his Bayliff, to desire him, for God's sake to come home again; for the Devil a Farthing would his Tenants pay till they saw their Landlord. A second from one of his Tenants, complaining of his bad Crop, and the low price of Corn, and that unless he would bate him Twenty pound a Year Rent, he could never hold his Farm; earnestly desiring his Worship to come home, and take care of his poor Tenants, _&c._ A third condoling his Misfortune in the loss of his Eldest Son, and desiring to see his Sweet Worship's Face, that he might get him to put his Second Boy's Life into his Copy-hold; and others of the like Import.

These Letters our Spark left in his Closet Window, and one whole day going abroad, by a pretended Negligence, he shot the Bolt of his Closet Lock out of the Staple, and so left his Door a-jar, and his Letters expos'd to any body that would please to read 'em. This Stratagem succeeded to his Wish, for the Daughter, whom I may now call his Mistress, knowing him safe abroad, had dropt into his Chamber when the Maid was making the Bed, and finding the Closet Door open, made bold to peep, and spying his Letters there, tips the wink upon the Maid, whom she made of the Council, and read 'em all out. The Contents put her mightily upon the gog; for certainly she concluded he must be a Man of a mighty Estate, so many Tenants, and the Lord knows what; and if a Sister had Two thousand Pounds, what must an Elder Brother possess. After she had conjured the Maid to silence, she could not forbear running to her Father, and telling him all she had discover'd: The Father at first a little reprimanded her Curiosity, but considering he had found out a Love Intrigue between his Daughter and him, he thought it no unwelcome discovery. At last looking very stedfastly upon his Daughter's Face, with a sort of a kind fatherly leer, he cry'd, _Ah Child, would he were a Bed with thee_. How, Father, _reply'd the Girl blushing_. Nay no harm (_quoth the Father_) Chicken, that's all. Thou sayst he makes love to thee, and troth I must own it no small part of my Ambition to have a Person of his Quality and Fortunes for a Son-in-law. In short, The Father gave her very seasonable Admonition; for having sounded her Inclinations, and found 'em to his own wish, with a Fatherly Authority he commanded her, if his Addresses hinted at Marriage, to make him all reasonable Advances that way.

Our Gallant found his Plot had taken; for he had critically observed in what most particular manner and station to a quarter of an inch he had laid his Letters; and finding all of 'em displaced more or less from the exact point he had left 'em, he plainly perceived they had all of 'em been read. Besides, in compliance to her Father's Orders, and indeed a little to her own Inclinations, he discover'd her usual Coldness to him a little diminish'd, and her Aspect more favourable, which plainly told him the Bait had taken. Whereupon one Evening finding her alone in her Garden, with a confidence more than usual, he plainly spoke home, telling her what an inestimable Blessing he should acquire in possessing so much sweetness for a Wife.

A long Courtship ensued, the Particulars too tedious, only the Girl was a little more pliant than ordinary, but much doubting the integrity of his Protestations; alledging it was very unlikely he would debase himself to marry a Creature of her mean Fortune, for all she could at present challenge, except what her Father might do for her after his decease, was only a 100_l._ left her in her Father's hands by an Uncle deceas'd. Our Gallant presently with much disdain seem'd to slight all thoughts of her Fortune, for that, he thank'd Heav'n, he wanted not; and truly her dear Person was the only consideration that had fix'd his Heart intirely her Captive. To bring him to the happy point, 48 hours are not past, before he comes to reap the fair Fruit. The marriage-knot is tied; and the Nuptials consummated, and Joy and Felicity runs high between them.

In this happy State, and uninterrupted Delights, they continued some days, when of a sudden his old Servant, _Tom_, booted and spurr'd, comes to _Ludlow_, and now in a little higher station than before, in the garb and figure of one of his Bayliffs, he comes post thus far, first to tell him the Distraction of his Family occasion'd by his absense; 2dly, The Lady his Sister's sudden departure, God knows whither, for she went away by night two days before he set out from home, and has not been heard of since. And that a Letter was come from _Bristol_, intimating that his Venture in _Sherry_ was safely landed there, and that the King's Customs came to 97_l._ but his Correspondent at _Bristol_ being lately dead, the Custom was yet unsatisfied; and truly for his part none of the Tenants would pay him one Groat till they saw their Landlord again, and therefore he could not raise the Money to satisfy it. Our new Bridegroom hearing all this, presently communicates the whole matter to his sweet Bedfellow, desiring her to get her Father to accommodate him with that Sum; not that he ask'd it as any part of her Unkle's Legacy, he scorned to be so poor-spirited; no, he requested it as a Boon, and the Monies should speedily be repaid with Thanks: Which if he pleas'd to do for him, his Servant should fall down the _Severn_, and take care of his Wines, of which his dear Father-in-law should have one Hogshead to drink to her _Hans in Keldar_. The Daughter was a speedy and successful Embassadress, for the Money was presently laid him down in Gold, for the more ease of his Servant's carriage of it. _Tom_ had not been two hours gone, but a Footboy in a very fine Livery brings him a Letter from his Sister, signifying her extreme Concern for his deserting his Affairs and Family, and that her Griefs and Disquiets had made her take a long Ramble to see him once more. And that she was now at _Hereford_, not daring to approach any nearer till she had his gracious Warrant and Permission, which she humbly upon her bended Knees intreated of him, with a great deal more passionate Courtship to him upon that Subject. Upon perusal of this Letter he seem'd to melt into a great deal of good nature and compassion for his dear Sister, insomuch that a Tear stood in his Eyes which his sweet Bride very kindly drank in a kiss. At length launching out into a great many tender Expressions towards his Sister, which Goodness his kind Bride much applauded and encouraged, throwing in many a kind word in her Sisters behalf; At last the Brother concluded he would be so civil to her, that since her extravagant Affection had brought her thus far to visit him, he would return her the Favour of Riding himself to _Hereford_ to fetch her, if his kind Father would procure him a Horse. Ay, with all his heart. Nay, both Father and Daughter proffer'd to take the same Journey with him to pay their Respects to the young Lady, and attend upon her as part of her Train to _Ludlow_. No, by no means, replied our Spark; that was more than the Rules of Honour would allow: for his dear Bride, as his Wife, was a Person in Quality above her, and whatever Kindnesses she pleased to show her when at _Ludlow_, was in her free Power; but this complaisance was too great a Condescension, and consequently he beg'd her leave that the tenderness he had of her Honour might absolutely forbid her any such thought. And indeed his Father's was much the same Condescention, which he must likewise no way suffer.

The Father and Daughter both silenced with this Answer, acquiesced with his Reasons, as being much a more experienced Master of Ceremonies than they could pretend to; consenting to let him go alone only attended by the Sister's Page; in the mean while resolving to apply their officious Respects to this fair, tho yet unknown Relation another way, _viz._ in making a suitable preparation for her honourable Reception. But first a very stately Horse was borrow'd, one that a Collonel of the Guards had lately bid a lumping Sum for; with all Accoutrements answerable. And at mounting, our Cavalier whispering in his Father's ear, and telling him he had been long from home, and not knowing whether his remaining Stock might hold out to his present Occasions, he desired---- The Father would not hear out the Speech, but running up stairs presently, fetch'd down, and stole into his hand a silk Purse richly lined with Twenty Broad Pieces.

Our Squire thus every way obliged, after his due Conges all made, bids them all Farewel till tomorrow, and so prances off. Here let us leave the Father and Daughter as busy for the Credit of the Cause, as may be imagined, making all suitable Provision for tomorrow's Entertainment; the Kitchin, and Pantry, the Bed-Chamber, and the Court-Cubboard, must all appear in Splendour extraordinary.

And now to return to our Traveller: Heaven knows he had the misfortune to miss his way, for he never found _Hereford_, nor Sister. His Barb too found another Chapman than the Collonel of the Guards; for both Horse and Accoutrements all embargoed, and the dismounted Cavalier slipt into a Frize-Coat of his Man _Tom's_ providing, who waited his coming, The Master, Page, and _Tom_, in a small prepared Vessel, troul'd down the _Severn_ as fast as Tide and good Speed could carry them.

As we thunder'd down the _Severn_, one of our Strollers being at present useless, our Page (well rewarded for playing his part in the _Farse_) is dropt at _Worcester_, from whence we continue our Voyage to _Bristol_. Arrived there pretty late in a Summers Evening, 'tis not thought convenient to appear in any Dress whatever had been seen before at _Ludlow_, nor indeed to expose his Face, lest any Inquiry might be made there about him as a Sherry-Merchant, and so trunking up all his best Rayment, he gets himself new rigged at a Salesman's in a genteel Garb, but something modester than his _Ludlow_ Bravery, and _Tom_ and he next morning move off to _Bath_.

It fortunes here, that he Quarters at one of the great Inns, it being the beginning of the Summer, just before _Bath_ time, where was a brisk Daughter of the house, about half way stage between 20 and 30. and consequently much inclinable manwards. A Girl that had had the Honour of many a slap cross the Mouth, and chuck under the Chin by Lords and Earls in her time, her Fathers honourable Guests at _Bath_ season. Our most constant Lover of every new face, feels the old Itch again. Business he finds will thicken upon him, and therefore flusht with his late Successes, he resolves to throw out his winning hand as far as it will run.

But now to know what Portion this Damsel had, for without a spill of yellow Boys, naked White and Red has but indifferent Charms with him. This Intelligence was quickly made, without asking the question; for there was a Jest in the Family of one of the Drawers being Suitor there, who belike wanted a tite sum of 80_l._ to set up withal (a small Portion of hers formerly left her by a Grandfather, and now at use.) This Drawer forsooth was a Rival, but not an over-formidable one. For truly our Inn-keepers Daughter had so often been tickled with the Addresses of Quality, that (_Foh!_) her Fathers Drawer was scarce worthy to hold up her Train. A Gentleman, or nothing for her. Nay, if she has not the happiness to strike in for a Lease for Life at Bed and Board with some honourable Person, rather than dye in ignorance, keep a stale Maiden-head, and so lead Apes, she has long since resolved not to stand out at a lower game, and en'e admit a Tenant at Will to an Inmate of Fashion and Quality; and was grosly suspected she had tried the Constitution of her Body, under a load of Honour long before her present year of twenty five. But true or false, that's a small Blot, in her Scutchion.