_How he had like to have been transported, being taken up by
Kid-napper, vulgarly called a Spirit._
Having satisfied my stomach, I walked along with much more courage than
before; which had been to little purpose, had I not had a stick in my
hand; For there was hardly a dog in the street (which I went through)
that gave me not his _grinning Salutation_, and would when my back was
turned (knowing else I would never have suffered their humility) have
kist my very _heels_, had not my stick prevented their _Snearing
Dog-ships_ mouths. I have wondred often why Doggs will bark so
incessantly at the sight of a Tinker, Pedlar, Tom-a-Bedlam, nay, any
suspitious fellow, till I found it my self by experience, that by
natural instinct they know and hate the scent of a Rogue. My course of
life appeared so idle (by my lazy stalking and gaping this way and that,
sometimes standing still and seriously viewing what deserved not a
minutes observance) that the Beadle took hold on me, telling me it was
great pitty that such a lusty young Man should want imployment, and
therefore would help me to some: but understanding from him that it must
be in _Bridewel_, my leggs failed me, shewing thereby how unwilling they
were to be accessary to the punishment which would be inflicted on my
back: at length by pitiful looks, and many intreaties, I got clear of
him, but fell immediately foul with an evil spirit, or a Seducer of
Persons to the Indies. Well may he be called a Spirit, since his nature
is like the Devils, to seduce any he meets withal, whom he can perswade
with allurements and deluding falsities to his purpose.
After he had asked me many impertinent questions, he invited me to drink
with him; I ingeniously told him I had not a penny, otherwise his motion
would be acceptable to me. At which he cast up his eyes to Heaven, and
laying his hands on his breast, Alas poor young Man, said he, what pitty
it is such a fellow as thou art shouldst want money; which argues thou
art both destitute of friends, and an imployment also. Well, I’le say no
more for the present, but before we part I’le study some way or other
for thy advantage, which I shall do meerly out of commiseration to the
miserableness of thy condition, as also out of respect to thy Father,
whom I am confident I have heretofore known; by the resemblance thou
bearest him in thy Countenance. I could but smile to my self to hear how
this Rascal dissembled; not discovering my thoughts, I willingly went
with him to drink, resolving to see what the event would be; after he
had paused a while, Well, said he, I have found it.
There is a _Merchant_ an intimate friend of mine that wants a
Store-house-keeper; Now if you can cast accompts ever so indifferently,
you shall find entertainment from him, and 40 _l._ _per annum_ for
encouragement. I told him that I joyfully accepted his kind proffer, and
that I should refer my self to be disposed of as he should think fit.
With that he imbraced me, saying, within two days I should go aboard the
Ship where the Merchant was, who would go along with me to _Virginia_
(where he pretended the Merchants Plantation lay) in the mean time, you
shall go along with me to my house, where you shall be, and shall
receive from me what your necessities require. I had heard before, how
several had been served in this kind, so that being forewarned, I was
fore-armed: _premonitus, premunitus_. He carried me away presently to
_Wapping_, and housed me. To the intent he might oblige me to be his, he
behaved himself extraordinary friendly; and that he might let me see
that he made no distinction between me and his other friends, he brought
me into a Room where half a score were all taking Tobacco: the place was
so narrow wherein they were, that they had no more space left, than what
was for the standing of a small table. Methought their mouths together
resembled a stack of Chimneys, being in a manner totally obscured by the
smoak that came from them; for there was little discernable but smoak,
and the glowing coals of their pipes. Certainly the smell of this Room
would have out-done _Assa Fœtida_, or burned Feathers in the Cure of
Ladies troubled with the Fits of the Mother. As to the sight, the place
resembled Hell, so did it likewise as to its scent, compounded of the
perfume of stinking Tobacco and Tarpawlin. So that I concluded the
resemblance most proper.
_In Hell damn’d souls, fire, smoak, and stink appear.
Then this is Hell, for those four things were here._