Produced by David Starner and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
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.