_Six Country Blades steal a Goose and two Hens; by the contrivance of
two of them and the Host; the other four pay soundly for them, and
laugh at their Companions. A Traveller by a mistake lies with another
mans Wife. A noise of Fidlers are forced to pay for their sawciness._
The poor Traveller, who was thus used by the Calf, still continued his
roaring out, and the Calf being hungry, did suck very hard, but to no
purpose, our young Crack-rope and his Companion still listening and
laughing: but in fine, the noise continuing, and they doubting that
there was more than sport, they entered the Chamber, where they saw the
Calf close to the Traveller, but could not tell what he did there; but
the Traveller still making a noise, they came near, and perceiving the
Calfs mistake; they thrust somewhat into his mouth, and thereby
disingaged him from the Travellers Bawble: He still lay on the Ground
whilst they carried the Calf out of the Chamber, soon returning with a
lighted Candle to see what was the matter: the Traveller was by that
time somewhat come to himself, and feeling that he had lost nothing, was
indifferently satisfied: they being now entered the Chamber, asked what
was the matter? and wherefore he made so much noise? he now looking
about the Chamber, and seeing nothing but People with a light, whom he
knew, could not well tell what answer to give, only he told them, that
the Devil, or some wicked Spirit had been there, and he had like to have
been mischiev’d by him, but that now he found himself well again: his
Fellow-Traveller likewise said that there had been some walking in the
Chamber, but what it was, and wherefore his Companion roared out, he
knew not: in fine, they who had done the mischief were thanked for their
readiness to come and assist them; and so with some perswations our
Traveller went to bed again, where he lay till the next morning,
although he slept not, so great was his fear of the foul Fiend; but so
soon as morning came they both arose, and though the weather still
continued cold and rainy, yet they could not be perswaded to stay any
longer in our Inn, but paying their reckoning left it, and half their
wood behind them; so that mine Host was now no looser by this bargain,
it being ready cleft to sell to the next cold Guest that should arrive
there.
The last passage hapned in the Winter time, a little before _Christmas_,
which soon after coming, we had two or three notable Accidents that
befel in our Inn; the first was this: half a dozen of young Country
Blades had been abroad a Fowling, or a Fooling rather, and among other
purchase that they had, they coming near a Farm-house where there was
store of Poultry, at two shots which they made, they kill’d two Hens and
a Goose: this with the rest of their Game they brought to our house to
be dressed against the next day for dinner: they drank some bottles of
wine when they brought them, and being merry (said one) we will to
morrow drink a health to the owner of the Hens and Geese: well, that we
will (said another,) but I would not for forty shillings that he should
know of it, for if he did, I doubt he would make us pay sawce: and truly
I am yet somewhat fearful that we shall be discovered: so am I, said
another, and so a third; well, if we be found out we can pay for them,
and my share shall be ready. This was their discourse, and so for that
time they parted; but it was not long ere two of the Company returned,
and calling for a bottle of wine fell heartily a laughing; and (sayes
the one to the other) I am resolved it shall be so, and with the
assistance of mine Host we may carry the matter very closely; and
thereupon mine Host was call’d for: he being come, they told him that
they must have his assistance in a design, which he promised should not
be wanting, and thereupon one of them thus began: mine Host, we have
this day, as you know, been a Fowling, and part of what we brought in we
plunder’d for, or in plain English, stole; now some of our Company are
very conscious of their guilt and are not only penitent, but fearful;
now it is our design to increase their fear, and get some money out of
them to make us merry; and thus we have contrived it: to morrow when we
are towards the latter end of our dinner, I would have you to tell us,
that there is a Country fellow, who enquires for such persons as we are,
and likewise that he was here as this day to enquire of us, and that he
talks of a warrant that he hath against us about some Poultry his Master
lost, and that he suspected us to be guilty; and withal you may add,
that he is resolved to have the Law against us, and that you have had
much adoe to perswade him to be patient till we had din’d. Mine Host
having heard the instructions, was no Fool, but soon understood them,
and procur’d a Country Fellow to manage the business so well, that they
should be all startled, only (said he) you shall allow him half a Crown
for his labor, and the rest that he gets of you (for I know you intend a
Composition) shall be justly return’d you. Thus was this Affair agreed
on, and accordingly the next day managed: for the Guests also came at
the hour appointed, and merrily drank about till Dinner was brought in;
which being come they fell to eating, and the Goose being well nigh
eaten, a Glass of Wine was call’d for to drink a Health to the Owner,
and mine Host himself was then call’d for up to make one in the Frolick:
he being come, and seeing whereabouts Causes went, thought it now a fit
time to begin, and therefore he thus bespeaks the Company: Gentlemen, I
understand your Health, and shall willingly drink it, but if I be not
mistaken, you will have but little cause to be so merry on this
occasion: why? what’s the matter, says one? what’s the matter, said
another? I’le tell you presently, reply’d mine Host, but first let us
drink; whereupon up went his Glass, and down Gutter-lane went the Wine,
and mine Host being grave in his Countenance, and slow in his Speech,
they all, as amazed, star’d either on him or one another, wondring what
should be the meaning of mine Host’s Speech: At length he spake, and
acquainted them with the business, just as he and two of the Company had
agreed on; then having done, added farther, That he had endeavoured to
underfeel the Fellow that was below, but he found him very obstinate,
and doubted very much that he woad make no end but what the Law should:
How! (said one) is your fooling come to this! Oh Lord! (said another) we
have brought our Hogs to a fair Market: Well (said a third) but what
must we do in this case? Truly (said mine Host) if I may advise you, I
would have one of you go down to treat with the Fellow, and see what
composition you can draw him to: This was in the end thought to be the
best way, and thereupon one went down with mine Host; so soon as the
Country-man saw him (being well instructed in every thing) he cries out,
nay, I am sure I am in the right, for though the man hath changed his
Clothes, yet that won’t serve his turn: I know you well Sir, said he, by
your hair and beard: What do you know replyed the guest? why I know,
said the Country-man that you are one of the six that stole my Masters
two Hens and Goose; I saw you well enough when you did it, and know you
all well enough when I see you again; I follow’d you hither yesterday, &
see you hous’d, and able to swear before Mr. Justice that you are the
persons; and my Master is resolved to prosecute you, for he hath lost as
much Poultry this winter as is worth five pound, and now we have found
you you shall pay for all. How! (said the Guest) surely you do not mean
as you say; one body may be like another, and you may be mistaken; and
besides, if it were so, that we were the Parties, you mean yet a great
deal less than five Pound, which I hope will serve the turn for two hens
and a goose, which you say is all you lost. I (said the fellow) that is
all indeed that we lost yesterday, but I tell you five pound will not
pay for all my Master hath lost within this moneth, and my Master and I
both believe you had them all, or else you would not so readily have
found the way into our yard; and therefore I say, and so my Master
sayes, that you shall pay for them. Nay friend, (said mine Host) I pray
let me perswade you to be more reasonable in your demands; reason me no
reasons,(said the fellow) it was unreasonable for them to come and rob
my Master, and therefore I will not be reasonable; I am sure I shall
lose my share of Goose and other Poultry this _Christmas_, that I should
have had, had not we been robb’d. Nay but come, (said mine Host) let me
take up this matter: I say you shall not, (reply’d the Fellow) the
Justice shall know the matter, and no body else; but if they be your
friends, if you will make an end, and pay me the money, I’le be rul’d by
you. Whereupon mine Host took the Fellow by the Arm, and leading him
into a drinking room, said, come let you and I talk a little further of
this matter, and in the mean time, said he to the Guest, go you up to
your Friends and confer with them about it. How, said the fellow, you
mean to lead me out of the way while they get away from me. No, replyed
mine Host, I’le pass my word for their appearance. Nay, that matters not
much, quoth the fellow; for I have such a Warrant in my pocket, as will
fetch them again in the Devils name. Having thus said, he and mine Host
went to drink a pot of Ale together, and laugh a while; in the mean time
our Guest went up to his companions to relate how things were like to go
with the fellow, but he needed not tell them, for they being all
concern’d, had listned at the stairs head to what the Fellow had said,
and therefore knowing in what case they were, they all agreed to
contribute to the fellows satisfaction, but they thinking five pounds
were too much, grumbled at the demand, but was resolved to give that
rather than fail, and have further trouble. One of the two confederates
seeing how matters went, and though he was willing to put a trick upon
his companions, yet thought five pounds was too great a sum to get by
waggery, he therefore made a proposal that he would go down to the
fellow and mine Host and treat with them, and he would warrant to get
the business of for a great deal less: They were soon content with the
proposition, whereupon down he went, and after some time spent with mine
Host and the Country man, he returned, saying, Come, come Friends, draw
your moneys, for I have ended the Controversie, and I hope to your
content; we must be Noble-men, a Noble a piece, in all Forty shillings
is the sum agreed upon to compound this brabling Business, and herein we
are much engaged to mine Host for his civility, who hath much perswaded
the fellow, and indeed the fellow by his perswasions is brought to be so
civil, that I have promis’d him Half a Crown for himself. All the
Company were all well contented with this Composition, and thereupon
readily laid down their money, which one of our Confederates pretended
to carry down to the fellow, but he put it up in his own pocket, onely
giving him the Half Crown he had promised, and ordering half a dozen of
Beer more for managing the Affair so handsomly. And thus was this
Adventure ended, and in short time the Company separated, but the two
Confederates soon came back again, and shared stakes of the moneys, and
there they laughed at the easiness and credulity of their Companions,
and mine Host was as merry as they, and had as much cause, for if the
Proverb be true, _Let them laugh that win_, he was sure to win most, and
therefore might well laugh; for he made them pay sawcily for the Sawces
to their Goose, and in the confusion they were then in, it was no hard
matter to mis-reckon them several bottles of Wine, and the two
Confederates who onely managed this Affair to make sport and not for
gain, delivered all their profits, which was 26s. 8d. into mine Hosts
hands to be spent two or three days after, when they were to bring more
company to laugh at this Adventure, and I remember they then came, and
mine Host knowing they came easily by their moneys, was resolved to put
in for a share of it, and so he did, and had it; for they had but three
Dishes of Fish, but he again made them pay for their Sawce, reckoning
fourteen shillings for that and dressing it, although the Fish it self
did cost but half so much; these were his Tricks.
But there was about that time such a trick plaid by a mistake, as I have
seldom heard of: Several Companies were in the house and lodged there,
and it being long nights, much of that tedious time was spent in Gaming,
and higgedly piggedly one with another, all Companies mixt in that
pastime; but it growing late, those that were weary and sleepy dropt
away to bed: Among the rest, one man who had a very handsome woman to
his Wife went to bed, and his Lodging was in a Chamber where there was
another Bed; the man being in Bed, laid his wearing Clothes, _viz._,
Doublet, Breeches and Cloak upon him, and putting out the candle went to
sleep; in short time after, another single man who was to lodge in the
Bed in the same Chamber went up, and walking about, a conceit came into
his head, that it was probable he might have a Shee-bedfellow, and in
order thereto he thus carried his on Design: He put off his own Clothes,
and laid them very orderly on the Bed where the man was asleep, first
taking off those of his Chamber-fellows, and when he had done, he very
fairly spread them on the Bed he was to lye in; having done this, he
went to bed and put out his Candle, expecting the event, which happened
to be so as he hoped and expected; for not long after up came the woman,
intending to go to bed to her Husband, undrest herself, and seeing and
well enough knowing her Husbands clothes, believing that to be a
sufficient sign of her Husbands being there, not looking on the face
which was purposely hid, she put out her Candle & went to Bed to the
wrong man, who although he pretended then to be asleep, yet he did her
right before morning; for she still supposing it was her husband, gave
him free liberty to do what he would. Her bed-fellow, though he had
taken much pains and was weary, yet towards morning considering that if
this matter were discovered, he might have sower Sauce to his sweet
Meat, studied and contrived how to come off as well as he had come on,
and therefore turning to his Bed-fellow and kissing her, &c. as a
Farewel, he pretended to rise and make water, went out of the Bed; he
soon found the way to his Chamber-fellows Beds side, and there took off
his clothes, dress’d himself and departed. The woman missing her
Bed-fellow, which she thought had been her Husband, much wondred what
was become of him, and lay and studied in great confusion, she knew not
what to do or say, and she began to distrust that she had a wrong
Bedfellow, especially when she consider’d with herself that her Husband
was not wont to be so kinde: when she was partly sensible of the
mistake, she could not tell how to think of a remedy; if she should
arise and go into the other Bed, she might chance to be mistaken again,
and therefore in this confusion she knew not what to do: whilest she was
in these thoughts a maid with a Candle appeared, who passing through the
Room gave her clear sight that her Husband was in the other Bed, she
therefore resolved now to rise, take her Clothes, and go to Bed to her
Husband; but he who had slept hard all night was now awaked with the
noise of the maid passing through the Chamber, and therefore he leaps
out of the Bed and felt for a Chamber-pot, at the length he found one,
having used it, and going to return to Bed where he had layen, his wife
then took the opportunity to call to him, saying, Sweet-heart, whither
go you? you mistake your Bed: No sure, said the man, where are you?
Here, she said; he hearing her voice soon found out where she was, but
could not presently be perswaded that he had layen there all night, you
shall see that by and by, replyed she, when you can see your clothes on
this Bed: if it be so, then you are in the right said he, and that he
agreed to soon after day light appeared and he seeing his clothes on the
Bed, was satisfied: and thus was his business done, and he not knew it,
and the woman in the morning enquiring for the man who had been her
Chamber-fellow, could not finde him; she was earnest in her inquiry
after him, and this raised some jealousie in me, but I was soon after
resolved of all by the man himself, who came again to our house and told
me. This was a fine Christmas Frolick, I will adde one more, and so have
done with them.
The Fidlers of our Town haveing had good trading this _Christmas_ were
grown proud and surly, and had abused some Gentlemen, who told mine Host
of it; he who was good at inventing mischief, soon contrived a way to be
revenged of them, and in order thereunto, the next day a considerable
Dinner was bespoke, and the Fidlers were sent for to attend and play to
them, which they did all Dinner. The Gentlemen having dined, the Fidlers
had the Remains for their Dinner, and then again they fell a tuning
their instruments and played lustily, whilest the Guests drank of their
Cups as roundly; at length they fell to Dancing, and many Countrey
Dances they had, spending the day in all manner of Jovial and Sprightly
Recreations; the night being come, and therefore a fit time to put their
plot in execution, they again Danced several Rambling Dances, and anon
they all desired and agreed to Dance the Cushion-dance, which they did,
and in their humours rambled from one Room to another all over the
house, this musick pacing it afore them, and now one dropt away, and
anon another, till in the end all the Guests were gone, and none were
left but the Fidlers, who still plaid on expecting their Company. Mine
Host seeing it was now time came into them, and causing them to cease
their playing, asked where are the two guests? they reply’d they knew
not: no, said he, if you do not finde them, you are like to suffer; for
if you have played away my Guests, you shall pay their reckoning: he was
so peremptory in his demands, that it was to no purpose to contradict
it; and the reckoning amounting to three pounds, he made the five
Fidlers pay ten shillings a man, and told them he was a looser in
abaiting them ten shillings of his reckoning; they were forced and could
not help it, and therefore paid down their dust, and they who had not
money enough were fain to leave their Fidles, and go home without, and
end _Christmas_ to the Tune of _Lachrymæ_.
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