_Sayling from St._ Helena, &c. _Landing at_ Messina, _the Captain_,
Latroon, &c. _sell Ship and Goods; the Seamen falling out and killing
one another, they leave them and go for_ Palermo; _Thence they travel
into the Country, and describe it with its Rarities and Wonders. A
comical Adventure in a house supposedly haunted, as they travelled
through_ Gergento _with their Mulletteer_.
Whilst we anchored at the Island of St. _Helena_ there happened a sad
Accident; whilst we were recreating and refreshing our selves in the
Island, one of our men (that brought us ashore in the Skiff) being an
excellent Swimmer, stript himself, and over the side of the Boat he
went, he had not been long in the water before such as stood on the
shore to see him swim, perceived a _Shark_ to make towards him; who
cryed out, A _Shark_, a _Shark_, hasten to the Boat; which he did with
incredible speed, and had laid his hands on her side as the _Shark_
snapt at his Leg, and having it in his mouth turned on his back, and
twisted it off from his knee. The fellow protested to me that when this
was done, he felt no pain any where but under his Arm-pits; the fellow
was drest and perfectly cur’d; afterwards this very _Shark_ was taken by
one of our men, fishing for him with a great piece of Raw-Beef, and when
his belly was ripp’d open, the Leg was found whole therein. From St.
_Helena_, having taken in fresh water, and gotten in some other
refreshment that the Island afforded, we set sail with a fresh breeze
and good weather.
Our Captain getting himself into the great Cabbin, gave the word for me,
I coming to him, now, said he, let you and I have a little private
discourse together, to the intent that we may perfect with safety what
we have enterpriz’d with hazard. You know my full intent as to the
disposing of the Ship and Goods to my own use and benefit, excepting
only what is yours, and the rest of our Comrades: What your old friend
in Breeches hath with great hazard ventur’d for, let her enjoy it freely
since she hath deserved it, and that you may see the frankness of my
Spirit, go, get our friends together that I may inform them, that though
I play the Rogue with others, yet I will be just to them; your _Newgate_
Birds will have such as wrong their own fraternity to be stigmatiz’d,
and branded with a name of Infamy indelible.
I quickly got them together, and having provided for us what Meat and
Liquors (the best) he had aboard, he then told us that we were all
heartily welcome, and that he was now, more than ever our friend, and
having taken a good lusty draught of what he had before him, seeing it
go round; friends and fellow-Travellers, said he, from my Childhood I
have had wondrous and various vicissitudes of Fortune, in so much that
though the relation of several of your lives which I have had, seems
very strange and eminently remarkable to me, yet when you shall hear me
giving you an account of the transactions of my life, which I shall
trouble you with very speedily, you will look upon them as incredible as
_Mounsieur_ St. _Serfs_ Voyage into the Moon, or the Travels of Sir
_John Mandivle_; In all the various windings and turnings of my life, I
never was settled long in one Condition. It is true, from very low and
mean beginnings I have got to the height of considerable employments,
from a Parish Child, I was for my Rogueries condemned to be transported,
by subtle deportment and insinuating behaviour I changed my Doom, and
was made Cabbin-boy, from thence I did gradually rise passing through
every Office that doth belong to a Ship till I was constituted a
Captain, several Voyages I have made to most parts of the known World,
and have gotten great sums of money, but no sooner did I call it my own,
but it vanished by shipwrack, or I was taken Prisoner and lost it that
way. I am now in my declension, and having a fairer opportunity than
ever I yet had, or ever thought to have to enrich my self, and sit down
quietly in some remote Corner of the World, I am resolved to lay hold on
it. And now coming near the Coast of _Europe_ I shall tell you my
resolution, that I intend to make my self a voluntary Exile to my own
Countrey. In order thereunto I shall shape my course for the
_Streights_, which will harbor my design in disposing of my goods,
neither will it be prejudicial to you to accompany me thither, since
from thence you may dispose your selves to the best and most flourishing
Countries of the World.
Here he paused a while to hear our opinion, which we acquainted him with
unanimously, that we were very joyful to continue longer in his company,
and that we would see him anchored in his designed Port, or run what
ever fortune should befal him; having assured him this, he continued his
discourse: Since I know your minds, and am, and shall be obliged to you
for your societies, I shall endeavour to requite your kindnesses: and
that my words may not seem airy pretences without performances, I shall
make this Proposition which if granted, you shall know how I have
studied a way to gratifie you. It is this, Master _Latroon_, the
Scrivener there, and Drugster, shall give each of them one hundred
pounds a piece to Mistress _Dorothy_, and that I may not exempt my self
from helping her forward into the World, I will give the like sum with
this Box of rough Diamonds, which I know is worth as much more; we all
consented: next, said he, every man according to his stock of money
expended in the procuration of what Commodities we have aboard upon the
Sale thereof shall receive it again, and his profit thereof according to
proportion, with an equal dividend of what Goods was taken upon credit.
You shall see me so just to you, that I will somewhat injure my self by
taking no fraught from you, but instead thereof the principal Officers
shall share with us, and the private Seamen shall have double pay out of
the same Goods which we took upon trust.
Upon this we all agreed, and the noise of this Agreement running through
the Ship, the nicest of them all from the highest to the lowest liked so
well the Knavish-generosity of our Captain, that they all caper’d for
joy, and having brought out what Brandy they had on the Decks, drinking
the Captains Health, protesting to serve him with their lives, they
received Commands to stand away for _Sicilia_, where in a little time we
safely came to an Anchor.
Arriving at _Sicilia_ an Island of the Mediterranean-Sea, seated between
_Italy_ and _Africk_, we made choice of _Messina_, a City as it is the
most illustrious one, in that all-fruitful and ever-flourishing Island,
so it is for all manner of forreign Commerce as much crowded with the
great Conflux of strangers as most places in _Europe_; here we landed,
and soon found it the onely place of the world that would best fit our
purpose: The Joy that possess’d such especially that had never been
there before, undoubtedly would have over-swell’d its Banks and become
boundless, had not the prudent foresight of some of us hindred its
increase by informing there were some black threatning Clouds of danger
still hung over our heads, and that we could not be safe till we had
settled our affairs by the sale of our Ship and Goods, then if they
would ride post to their pleasures none should stop them in their
Carreer; this something qualified their exultation and rejoycing, and
every one officiated in his proper function.
Our Commodities were not only excellently good in their kind, but
extraordinary rich and valuable, the knowledge whereof soon reaching the
ears of the Inhabitants and Merchants of _Messina_, they came in Droves
to us, because it was troublesome to deal with so many, we resolv’d to
make a quick market of the Continent and things contained, Ship and
_Cargo_ altogether. This Proposition better pleas’d those wealthy
Citizens, than if we had plaid the Hucksters with our Commodities,
wherefore two of the most wealthy and greatest account amongst them
bought all, paying us ready money without a penny Credit. After that
every man had received his share or dividend proportionably, and
according to a general Agreement; we divided our selves into parties as
Interest or Inclination lead us. The Captain, Scrivener, Drugster,
_Jane, Doll_, and my self were of one company, the Sea-men with the
Under-officers of the ship divided themselves into several Gangs or
Squadrons, who having more money now than their Great grand-fathers ever
told in their lives, fell into such an excess of Debauchery, that the
Citizens thought that Hell had plotted a Conspiracy to disturb their
quiet, and these were the Emissaries who should put it in execution.
Getting drunk they frequently quarrell’d about their _Sicilian_ wenches,
and indeed to give them their due they seem by the out-side to be worth
the going to Logger-heads for, sometimes they fell together by the ears,
in that one that deserved not to have a quarter so much as himself, yet
had full as much; and now having store of money they regarded their
gentility, in that manner that they stood upon every punctilio to defend
it from the calumnies and aspersions of such who had but a little before
been _hail fellow, well met_: so that now the least seeming affront
would not go down with them, unless it were steept in the blood that
dropt from the Nose of the Affronter, when there was a cessation of Arms
among themselves, then would they ramble about the streets like mad men,
abusing whomever they met, and were well chasten’d for their pains,
several of them coming short home.
The City began now to mutter, and verily believed them to be a parcel of
Rogues that had sold what was none of their own, and probably to the
ruin of many an honest man; and was therefore resolved to endure this
outrage no longer.
We hearing this, thought our selves very unsafe whilst in _Messina_, and
therefore concluded to remove thence to _Palermo_, a City in the same
Island of _Sicilia_. By enquiry I found the most convenient and
customary way of travelling thither was by _Mules_, which are plentiful
for Hire; I bargained for as many as would conveniently carry our
company which were six, and our money; and so with as much privacy as we
could we departed _Messina_; these _Mules_ travelled very commodiously
with us, and carried us over the mountains both with speed and security;
and although it was an hundred and eighty miles from the City we left
behind us, to _Palermo_, yet we got thither in less then four days.
In this famous City of _Palermo_ (the fairest of all others of _Sicily_,
and at present the Metropolis and Regal Seat) we stayed some
considerable time, and laying aside for a while our shifting and
cheating, _&c._ having enough, that we might employ our wits and
inventions in nothing but contriving variety of Recreations, and
Pleasures, which were the novel, we cared not at what excessive rate we
purchas’d them.
The Captain and my self being more than half glutted with City delights
resolved, for some few days to travel into the Countrey, and since it
was so famously noted, we would not leave it till we had seen those
Excellencies and Rarities wherewith it injoyes Fames Trumpet through the
whole Universe. In order thereunto taking our leave of our Friends, and
promising to return within five or six days, we proceeded in our
progress. In our short Itinerary we saw many brave Towns, and wonderful
Places, which told, would exceed belief, as Mount _Ætna_, and
_Mongibello_, _Strombellow_, _&c._ which though it belcheth
inexpressible and continual fire out of its bowels, yet hath its head
notwithstanding (on that part where the fire issues) covered with deep
Snow till the midst of Summer. In _Meunenino_ is the lake _Nastia_,
where in three Eddies you may perfectly perceive boyling water, which
gurgles up with an intolerable stink, and sometimes you may see it spew
up flames of fire. It hath likewise in sundry other places divers other
fountains of admirable nature and quality.
In some Caves and Grots we were shown by the people, we saw the vastly
big and immense bodies of men in former time, which were accounted
Monsters of Men or Gyants, or to verifie the matter, they believe
themselves that a long time since, the _Cyclops_ inhabited their Island.
We found the People generally acute, and quick-witted, very facetious,
and of a jolly temper, which suited well with the Nature of the
Countrey. For to be brief, this Island is not inferiour to any other,
either for its fatness or abundance; exceeding _Italy_ in the excellency
of their Grain, Saffron, Honey, Beasts-skins, and other things either
for Profit or pleasure, in so much that as it was call’d by _Tully_ the
Granary of the world, so _Homer_ call’d it the Island of the Sun, and
would have us believe all things grew there spontaneously of their own
accord; the salubrity of the air is very excellent, as well as the
abundance of terrene sustenance, and plenty of all things necessary for
mans use, and indeed may be counted the best, which it either affords
naturally, or produceth by man’s ingenuity.
Wild-oats grow there, without sowing, and the Vines without planting;
their Wines are most delicate, their fruit of all sorts grow with great
plenty and goodness; to be short, there is nothing wanting which may not
only delight the eye, but please the most critical Palat with whatever
may be accounted gustful.
Being almost tired with variety of objects abroad, and being not willing
to trust our Comrads at home too much, fearing the temptation of a too
long absence, we concluded to return, which I perceived was no small
trouble to our _Mulletteer_, whom we hired to shew us the Countrey, and
the rather, because he could indifferently speak good _English_,
intelligible at least, for this Rogue had not been accustomed to fare as
we made him do, and therefore he had been well content to have travelled
through the whole Universe at that Rate. Being homewards bound, and the
day being far spent, we came to a place called _Gergento_, near which is
the Territory of _Matharuca_, a small Town, in which there were but few
houses; however we rode up to the best of them, and commanded our Guide
to ask whether we might have entertainment there that night: The Master
of the house took it as a great affront that his house should be
accounted an Inn, and answered him snappishly that he might look his
masters lodging where it was made a profession to accommodate Passengers
on the road: he asked him, where such accommodation might be had? to
which the other replyed, he knew none nearer than three Leagues.
Our Guide told us what he said, which nettel’d me to some purpose;
insomuch that I could not but express some passion, and a great deal of
trouble that we should be exposed to the travelling so far, and so late;
which the Gentleman taking notice of, seeing by my Garb I must be a
Gentleman, though a stranger, and therefore could not be ignorant of the
_Latine_ tongue so ornamental and universally useful, addrest himself
very civilly to me, and desired me (in _Latine_) that I would take no
exception at whatever had pass’d, that though his house was no Inn, yet
he should be very glad to accommodate any Gentleman with a Lodging,
especially in such an extremity, had he not been that very day deprived
of the means by the arrival of some friends of his from _Syracusa_,
which had filled his house excepting only one Room, which if I would not
think with my friend too mean and unworthy for our reception, he should
gladly spare it, and with it, what the house afforded. I tendered him in
the behalf of my self and the Captain a thousand thanks, in the same
tongue, though not in so quaint a dialect, being somewhat deficient in
the propriety and Ideom of that noble Language, assuring him we should
not be so forgetful as to prove ingrateful for this favour he was
pleased to confer upon us; upon this we dismounted, and giving our Mules
to our Guide we were conducted into a very handsome Rome by this
_Seignior de Domo_, and caressed by him and his newly arrived friends as
if we had been of their antient acquaintance. I could hardly forbear
laughing outright to see what a confusion the Captain was in, when they
spake to him, for they spake to him in their own tongue, which is a
rough _Italian_ without any sweetness, which they perceiving he
understood not, they spake _Latine_, and then _Spanish_, of all which he
understood not so much as to make sense, and therefore answered them in
_French_, which none of them understood, so that when he saw the
distorting of his eyes and mouth, which was shaped in a hundred forms
(partly for confusion, and partly for vexation) would not interpret his
meaning; he applied himself to his fingers, telling his story after such
an antick manner, that as I laught, the Company had much ado to forbear
bearing me company: Seeing him grow almost angry, I thought it high time
to make an Apology for him, pretending that what I said, was what he
would have said, but that his language was _non-intelligent_ in the
Company.
Supper, by that time we had chatted a little longer (_modo Italiano_)
was served to the Table, and with some Ceremony seated our selves,
without his Wife or Daughters, although he had both, and as I afterwards
found, had such angelical countenances, that in stead of obscuring or
absconding so great a lustre, he might have gloried in communicating
their external perfections to our sight, which were illustrated by the
adjuncts of so many transcendent concurrences of beautiful _Ideas_.
We did not _German_-like after this Evenings Repast, presently fall to
drinking as if we had lately swallowed the Offals of half a dozen
slaughter-houses, and now were pouring down liquor in abundance to
sweeten the Funnel or cleanse the Common-shore that the filth had
contaminated within us; but instead thereof we entred into very pleasant
and agreeable discourse, every one having the liberty of inlarging it as
he thought fit without interruption.
Among a great variety of several Subjects, that of Phantasms and
Aparitions fell in our way, one affirming he believ’d that though
Spirits might appear formerly, yet it would not enter into his belief
that now there was any such thing; Nay, said another, methinks you may
be easily convinc’d of the contrary by those Legions of stories to this
purpose, so that I should think there should be some Fire whence all
this Smoak comes. Said the Master of the house, if you will not believe
what is contained in so many Volumes written by the Pens of so many
learned and pious Divines, believe yet the reports of such as now are
living, have seen Phantasms in several shapes, and have heard their
terrifying noise, amongst whom I am one, and I shall tell you to my
great trouble that this very house of mine is to this day, from a
considerable time since, afflicted with horrible Apparitions. Gentlemen,
said he, fear not, he confines himself to one Room only, and so, that he
that lyeth in the next, shall be so far from being disturbed, that he
shall neither see nor hear anything: and this is the Room, speaking to
us, which this disturbed Fiend makes his Rendezvouz, and for no other
reason I refused you Lodging, all my other Rooms being prepossess’d by
those Gentlemen my _Amigo’s_. This shall not daunt us, said I, but we
will lie there this night that we may resolve to morrow what is now much
doubted.
Bidding them good night, several offer’d themselves to accompany us till
morn, but we refus’d it, judging their proffer a Complement by the
pallid hue of their countenances. It was not long after our departure
e’re every one in the whole house betook themselves to their respective
Chambers there to take their rest. My stout Captain (as I have
sufficiently made appear) had no mind to take any, either for fear he
should be caught napping by the Fiend, or else seeing him by flight,
escape him; I was partly of his mind too, rather desiring to contend
with a thousand men than one Devil. The Captain and my self sate up in
our Room till we judg’d it to be about midnight, and then seeing nothing
(our eyes being almost shut by sitting up so long) we went to bed, and
quickly fell asleep.
Our _Mulletteer_ (either having not filled his belly at Supper, or the
remembrance of such excellent food which he had seen not letting him
sleep till he had the other bout with it) got up where he lay, and
having observed where the Servants had placed on a shelf a large Dish of
most incomparable food in a small Closet accompanied with several flasks
of _Flowrence_-wine, he softly crope down the stairs, and got to this
Room where the delights of his heart stood, but endeavouring to take
down the dish (which proving too heavy for him to manage) slipt out of
his hands, and in its fall broke down a small shelf that had a great
many Pewter-plates thereon, with other rattling stuff, all which
together made a fearful noise, and so great that not a Person in the
house but what awak’d thereat; but such was their Courage that not one
of them would stir, for they now really concluded the Spirit was come,
as for my own part my Captain and self were so terrified and affrighted
at this hideous noise that we now believed what reports we heard, and
therefore were resolved to lye a bed, and sweat our selves to death,
rather than rise in that reaking condition and endanger our lives by
catching cold, as the sweat dropt from us, so we trembled that the bed
shook, I am sure it was not with cold.
Whilst we were in this fearful Agony, the Rogue our _Mulletteer_, who
listning what effects this clutting Alarm would produce, and hearing no
person stirring, concluded we were all dead asleep through the whole
house, fell on manfully on the Cheer that was before him, getting out
some Bottles of Wine, interloyning every bit with a large soop of the
bottle, having now stuft his gut and fill’d his head with the fumes of
Wine, which he drank at no aim, he gets to the stairs, but the covetous
and provident Rascal fearing he should be dry before morning, steps back
and takes with him a flask of that wine he had already so freely drank
of, and mounts the stairs softly with it in his hand, advancing to the
top of the stairs, directly against which our Chamber-door stood, he
stumbled upon the head of the stairs, and endeavouring to save himself
and the Bottle, he raised that hand aloft, wherein it was, and falling,
not being able to recover himself, dasht the Bottle against our door
with so much fury, that I do not think there was a piece of the glass in
the flask the breadth of a shilling, the suddain surprize of this dismal
and horrid thump made the Captain start with such a leap that he fell
out of the bed, bearing the Bed-staff with him which so rattled in his
fall, that this added very much to the horrour that had invaded all our
spirits. This noise in our Chamber confirmed the justness of their fears
throughout the house, only that of our Mulletters was of a different
nature; for he believing his Masters (as he call’d us) were getting up
to find what was the matter, endeavoured to get down the said way he got
up, but groaping with his hands, met with the shattered flask on the top
of the stairs, which tumbling down to the bottom, the noise of the
fractur’d glass perfectly resembled the gingling of Chains.
It is impossible for me to characterize their fear and fright, both
which together had so totally routed what courage they had within them,
that a Corporal Pygmie with two files of revolted Cranes would at that
time have taken them all Prisoners. Our _Mulletteer_ fearing by this
second alarm that he should now infallibly wake some of the house; who
finding him in that condition would undoubtedly suspect him of some
vilanous Design, therefore thought it his safest way to march down
again, and lay his Carkass any where till it was day, Being half way
down the stairs, he could hear the voice of one crying, _Il Diabolo, Il
Diabolo_, The Devil, the Devil, repeating it often, which so affrighted
him that he thought to have returned back, but hearing the noise go from
him, with the trampling of feet on the stones as in flight, he boldly
pursued them, _Questo Diabolo_, what Devil, and where, I am none, but I
will see what Devil you are. These were three Rogues which had a long
time design’d to rob this house, not living far off it; who were well
acquainted with this house, and had heard that it was visited by
Phantasms; now as they were about to mount the stairs they met with the
flask, and broken glass in it, which frighted them away from that
enterprize as effectually, as if the Devil with the gingling his Chains
had come to meet them.
Our _Mulletteer_ had not been so long a Rogue, condemned twice to be a
Gally slave, and very narrowly escap’d from being broken on the wheel,
but that he quickly smelt the plot of these three Night-walkers, that
they were only bent on mischief, so taking advantage of the fright their
guilty Consciences put them in, he seized one of their Swords, which he
exercised so well that they found they had another sort of spirit to
deal with, than what they had fled from; it being a _Devil incarnate_;
disarming the Thieves he raised the house, but with much ado, and had
not done it, had he not shown their light in their Dark lanthorn, none
yet daring to be so bold as to come down in the dark to light a Candle;
and now they began to creep out of their Chambers with as much caution,
as if their way had been planted with _Spanish_-needles. The Captain and
my self waited when some others would stir first, and others exspected
the like from us, but at length casting off this enslaving Cowardise, we
went down the stairs, meeting with the Gentleman of the house,
accompanied with some of his last nights Guests, and so descended into
the Court-yard together, where we found our _Mulletteer_ with Swords
enough to furnish us all, his Captives lying at his feet not daring to
stir; these, said he, are the Devils that haunt this house, but I will
lay them for you, I will conjure them far enough off if you will but say
the word; leading them into the Hall, we met with one of the Menials of
the house whose haste had made him (after an hours consideration what
was best to be done) to leave his Doublet behind him, yet forgot not his
Sword.
Upon his first Examination they confest what they intended to do, that
there was four more in their company who had made their escape, but were
ignorant of what they carryed with them. Their own confession was a
sufficient conviction, and so they were secured for the present, by
tying Neck and Heels together.
The old Gentleman missing some of his friends, began to condemn them for
their sluggishness, and supinity; come, said he, let us take them
napping and in that posture upbraid them with their sloath: We hereupon
followed him up stairs, and entring their Chambers found nought but the
furniture therein; without speaking one word, away he ran hastily to his
Daughters Chamber, but found that as empty of Lodgers as the rest; and a
Cabinet which he committed to her custody gone, which was worth a very
valuable sum: at the sight hereof you might have blown the old Gentleman
down, had not passion animated him and kept him up from sinking, which
he discharg’d so violently on those that were left behind, which were
the aged Kindred of the young man that had stoln this fair Maid away,
that as much as ever they could do to bear the shock, but at last
unanimously protesting they were innocent and ignorant of what was done,
and promising they would use their utmost assistance and endeavour in
the speedy restitution of his Daughter inviolated, he believ’d them
guiltless, and begg’d them to be as good as their word.
And now consulting what he should do with his Prisoners, he was advised
to send his man for an Officer, and secure them in a place not far
distant, erected for the confinement of Felons, Murderers, &c. as he was
going out he had forgot his Doublet for haste, although he had his Sword
on, wherefore he was call’d back, who being ordered to fetch it first,
was prevented by the Maids coming full butt as he was going in the
search thereof, he would have pass’d her, had I not perceived she had a
thing like a Waste-coat on, and therefore calling to him, said, Save
your self the labour, here is what you are going to seek for; coming
back he found his Doublet on the maids back, I imagining whence this
Mistake did arise, to make our sorrowful Landlord a little sport, Sir,
said I, Do you not see your Maid hath got your mans Doublet already, and
will no doubt, get his Breeches too if you do not prevent it; and then
looking to his leggs and seeing what a traiterous mistake he had
committed; Do you Sir, said I, buy your mans Stockings of two different
colours, the one is blue, you see, the other grey; hereupon the maids
Stockings were examined and found to be on the one side gray, the other
side true blue. This made the Company all laugh, neither could the old
Gentleman forbear to smile, but having other business to think on,
commanded them to restore to each other what they had borrowed, and he
would take a time to examine the cause thereof, plain enough from what
was seen to outward appearance.
These Rogues being committed to a publick Goal, he could not be quiet
but he must go into his Daughters Chamber again, and upon a review
thereof found a Letter directed to him, to this purpose:
Sir,
Y_ou may justly blame me for leaving your House without your consent or
privity, but when you shall consider it was to avoid my eternal ruine, I
hope the Sentence and Punishment which my disobedience doth deserve may
prove more favourably merciful; hitherto you have been the sole Monarch
of both mind and body, but play not the Tyrant by making my will your
eternal Slave. Sir, Youth cannot look through those Spectacles which are
useful to Age, nor can my inclination suit with your choice. I am now
with him whom I love more than my self, nor can I esteem of that
Gentleman of_ Catania _whom you have selected for me, otherwise than the
designed Murderer of my quiet. If you will sequester me from my Choice,
I will seclude my self from all in a Monastery._
Having read these lines he raved out-right, some times condemning his
rigid destiny, then exclaiming against the perfidiousness of such who
under the pretence of friendship should be his undoers; But having tired
himself with these fruitless complaints, he soberly ask’d our advice
what he should do in this intricacy. We all advised him to follow them
close at heels with all imaginable expedition, the Captain and my self
promising him our Company in the search; the next day mounted we rode
the way wherein we guest the Gentlemen were gone with the young
Gentlewoman, and having rid about ten miles from _Gergento_, the place
from whence we came, we overtook two fellows who gave us cause to
suspect them by their looks and habits, whilst I was acquainting the old
Gentleman with my thoughts of them, they liking not our whispering
betook themselves to their heels, which so increased our jealousie, that
with Whip and Spur I soon overtook them, they resisted me for a while,
but being overpoured by number yielded, searching them we found little
money, the old Gentleman viewing them strictly, saw his own Coat upon
one of their backs, and now concluding that these were the Rogues that
had his Cabinet too, made a very strict research but to no purpose, they
denying they had ever seen such a thing; but this served not their
turns, and although we should hinder our intent in prosecuting a better
discovery, yet we thought it very requisite to return and secure them
with the rest of their fellows.
Coming home to his own house, he understood that the maid which
particularly had waited a long time on his Daughter was suddenly gone,
giving to none an account why or wherefore, but she was watch’d to go
such a way: We were now all verily perswaded she was gone in quest of
her Mistress, and that by tracking her, we should know where she was.
The advise was well resented and speedily prosecuted, with such good
success, as in less than a days time we found this Gillian and her
companion footing it in great haste towards _Catania_, but we soon stopt
their Journey, and discovered, they had got what the poor Gentlewoman
was accused of, she had given it to her Friend to carry, but they were
both like to bear the weight of the burthen. Examining her, she confest
when she saw her Mistress was gone from her Father, and imagining she
would be suspected to carry the Cabinet with her, (which would support
her, should her Father frown for ever) she took that opportunity to
enrich her self, and that Friend with her.
It was well this timely discovery was made for the five Rogues in Goal,
it was as good as a Pardon after condemnation past, and now the old
Gentleman seeing he had lost nothing, and that his Daughter with her
disobedience was unjustly suspected a thief, he franckly protested
before us all, that he would never put a restriction on his Daughters
choice, but would freely give his consent to whom she thought so worthy
as to be her Husband; This Protestation was immediately dispatch’d away,
by one that knew where our Lovers were, which happy News recall’d them
home to their mutual satisfactions, and that the sufferings of her Maid
and Friend might not eclipse the Joy and Gladness which attended their
Hymenial Rites, she begg’d her Father to forgive them all, who to
gratifie their desires prosecuted none of those notorious Offenders; and
so we shall leave this joyful Couple to spin out the Thread of their
delight equally to that of their lives education.
_Were ever men so scar’d, did ever fright
So seize weak Mortals in the dead of night?
Could a bare noise affright when nought appear’d?
And being afraid we knew not what we fear’d:
One hid his head all underneath the cloaths,
Lest that the Fiend should take him by the Nose:
Dumb was he too, for not a word did pass,
Lest that should tell him where about he was.
My Friend, the Captain, whom I will not wrong,
Did ne’re before to me smell half so strong:
My panting heart (I almost stew’d to death)
Did beat so fast I could not draw my breath.
Now comes the worst, the noise approach’d more near,
All things combin’d for to increase our fear.
Mounting the stairs Old_ Nick _was drunk I think,
To break his Bottle, and to spill his drink:
The ratling Flask tumbling the stairs amain,
Did make us think the Devil shook his Chain.
But now th’ appearance of the Morning-light,
Gave us new life, and put our fears to flight:
For now we found, for all the peoples talk,
The Sp’rit was quiet, but the Thieves did walk.
This house these haunted which were worser Evils,
Than Fiends or Goblins, Damn’d-incarnate-Devils.
This Apparition plainly did discover,
That this same night the Maid lay with her Lover.
For the Stockings and the Doublet did disclose,
The match they made had thus mismatch’d their Cloths._