_Mistress_ Dorothy _finishes the Story of the Gentleman-Soldier and
Mercers Wife; who being returned to_ England, _renews his Suit to his
old Mistress, though married to another, whose weakness made the match
unsuitable, whose Estate depending on an Heir, and this Husband
uncapable of getting one, gave the Gentleman that opportunity whereby
he at once had a Wife, an Heir, and an Estate._
Thus (continued the young Gentleman) did I initiate my acquaintance with
this woman, which is one of the best and pleasantest Adventures of my
life, and indeed, said he, I have no cause to complain of women, for
that Sex hitherto hath been very lucky to me, as you may guess by my
Story of the _Courtezan_, whose Cabinet and other things I conveyed
away; and now by this second _French_ adventure I was likely to gain
more, and that more honourably than by the other. But, continued he, in
six days after my Companion returned from his Journey; I asked him if we
must not all have Stables; Why? said he; because, replied I, I suppose
that your Unkle is dead, and hath left you all he hath: No such matter,
replied he, but I could wish that he were hang’d that writ the Letter;
why? said I, I think it was very carefully done, of him, and that he
deserved not only thanks, but a Reward; I should reward him if I knew
who he was, said he: Why, cannot you find him? said I; No, nor no body
else, said he, there is no such sign nor no such man, living in or near
that Town, nor in all that Countrey, that I could hear of; but I hope
(said I) there was and is such an Unkle; yes, reply’d he, and Heavens be
praised, in health too, but I was forc’d to go further a field to find
him, for after I had spent a whole day in fruitless search for the Host,
who sent the Letter, and could not hear of any Tale nor Tidings of him,
I being within thirty miles of my Unkles habitation, thought it very
proper to ride on thither, and so I did, but when I came I found him
well and lusty, I shewed him the Letter, and thereby he knew the
occasion of my Journey, but he knew not who writ it, and he and I both
concluded it was a trick put upon me, however we were joyful to see one
another well, and he intended to take a journey to _Paris_ in few days,
to order me some moneys, but since I was come my self, he resolved to
desist from that Journey, and give me Bills of Exchange, fain he would
have engaged me to have staid there for some days longer, but telling
him I had affairs of consequence to dispatch at _Paris_, that required
my presence, he gave me leave to depart; and so, said he, with all
possible expedition I am returned: and you are very welcome (replyed I)
but this was a very strange adventure of the Letter, and I cannot tell
to what purpose, nor I neither said he, but I hope to find it out, for I
preserve the Letter carefully. I gave him the hearing, and now knowing
his thoughts, I believed my self obliged to mind his Actions; as for the
Letter he had, and his Design of finding out the Writer of the Letter by
the hand, I knew he could not, for although I writ it, yet it was in
such a hand as I never writ before, and which I then writ on purpose not
to be discovered by it, if he should be acquainted with my hand, as
hitherto he was not, wherefore I car’d not for that, but my chiefest
care was in charging my Boy to watch his, and knowing that he would
suddenly write a Letter to send to his Mistress, I commanded him to use
all possible diligence to get it into his Custody, and bring it to me,
as being a matter of very great consequence.
My Boy followed my directions so carefully, that he attained his ends,
but with much difficulty, for no sooner was my friend parted from me,
but he writ a Letter to his Mistris, and giving it to the Boy, charged
him immediately to carry it: My Boy who waited all his motions, seeing
him running with a Letter in his hand, asked him what haste? great
haste, said the Boy, and would have proceeded, but my boy caught hold on
him, and said, how now, what is your haste so great that you cannot
spare time to drink with your friends? time enough for that anon, said
the Boy, and would have proceeded; but my Boy knowing how strictly I had
charged him about this Letter, was resolv’d by Hook or by Crook to be
Master of it, and therefore told him, that although he had not been so
civil as to give him his Foy when he went out (for he had been the
Journey with his Master) yet he would now give him his Welcome home. The
other understanding there was drink in the case, and that of free-cost,
went in with him to the next Drinking house, and my boy knowing what a
work he had in hand, calling for a quart of Wine, desired a Room above
stairs, so that up they went, and my Boy intending to fuddle the other,
cheated him in his drink, for after two or three Glasses were off, and
the other boy began to be merry, my Boy drank water, and the other wine,
so that in short time he was knock’d down, and fell asleep; and it was
not long e’re he took the Letter out of his pocket, and that he might
make all sure, he lock’d the Chamber door, bringing the Key with him,
and thus he securing the Letter, and boy both; came to me, and brought
me the Letter, which I immediately opened, and read these words:
Madam,
E_ver since that fortunate Minute wherein I first had the happiness to
be acquainted with you, my stars I thank them have been very propitious
to me; and Dame Fortune (how unconstant soever she hath been to others)
hath yet been to me very favourable, so that till within these few days
I could boast that no malevolent Planet hath had any malign influence in
my ascendant; I thought and hoped I should have lived and died in this
opinion; but I now have cause enough to change my mind, for I have
lately had such a cross adventure, that I yet know not what to think of
it, but if all be right and well with you, I then bid defiance to
fortune; Madam, I am very unquiet and much puzzeld, so that I know not
how to begin, nor well know what to say to you, but hoping you will
pardon this impertinence, and attribute it to my perplexity; I shall
thus plainly begin with you, and this it is: Madam, about ten days since
when I last was with you, among other Requests I desired a hundred
Crowns of you for a present use, till my Vnkle whom I every day expected
should come to Town; in regard you never refused me anything, I did not
doubt of that, and therefore expected to hear from you accordingly, but
just at that time when I expected a Letter from you, I received one from
my Vnkle, as I thought, whereby, as that Letter inform’d me, I thought
it absolutely necessary to leave_ Paris, _and go to him forty miles, to
a Town where he lay sick, I was perswaded to be gone immediately, and
indeed over-rul’d by an intimate friend, and one that I have so great a
respect for, that I had no reason to suspect, and what he urged being as
I thought reasonable: I soon mounted on Horse-back, and departed, I must
beg your pardon that I did not acquaint you with this sudden remove, but
it was impossible to do it without suspition of my Friend from whom I
have hitherto conceal’d our amours, as I have done from all the world
besides._
_This Letter which I received, I found was but forged, and written on
purpose to cause me to leave the City, but if in my absence I have not
received some prejudice in your opinion, I account all the rest of my
trouble and vexation as nothing, wherefore I pray Madam, let me know in
what condition I am with you, and whether you know any thing, and what
you do know of this Adventure, and I shall always remain_