_They go for_ London, _one is apprehended and the other in his flight
casually doth two or three mischiefs; the strange discovery of a
Murther of seventeen years standing._
Here puft up with good fortune, we scattered our Moneys up and down the
City, trampling the streets in terrour and huffing after a strange rate:
but coming along by _South-Hampton_ Building an aged Matron seized on my
Elbow-shaking Companion, crying out this is the Rogue that robb’d me; I
hearing that betook my self to my heels fearing lest being found in his
company, I might be taken up for his accounts in the Theft. I made more
hast than good speed it seems, for in my flight I bore down all that
opposed me; insomuch that a poor Woman with a basket of Eggs standing in
my way, I overthrew her and breaking her Eggs utterly undid the Woman,
her whole stock consisting in that basket. A fellow seeing this
endeavoured to lay hold on me, but I struggling to disingage my self
from him pusht him forward on his Nose and falling, fell into an old
Womans deep Codling Pan up to the Armpits, it being almost full of newly
scalded apples, never was Codlings so handled, nor man so becodled as he
was, the almost boyling water so tormented him, that he roared as bad as
the fellow which was inclosed in _Phalarus_ his Bull; fearing the
mischief I had done I added new wings to my speed, but not looking
before me, I ran directly against a Ladder in my way, on which there was
a labouring man carrying up Morter to the top, but he was stopt in his
intent, for though he went up by the Ladder, he came down without a
Roop, his Morter falling on the heads of four finical Gentlewomen as
they past by, who now might properly be called Morter-Pieces, the Ladder
fell easily and gradually from the house to a Sign Post, the Man holding
fast by one of the rounds, this while receiving little or no dammage, to
the wonder and astonishment of all the Spectators. However I was
detain’d, and none coming against me, nor accusing me for anything but
the Woman with her Eggs, and the old Woman for the dammage she had
sustained by the mashing of her Codlings; the fellow for being scalded
by them, and this man that charged me most with supposition of loosing
his life by my means I was dismist, giving to each what satisfaction I
Judged convenient.
What became of my _Come-at seven_ I know not, but glad I was to be
clear’d from this fright: thus it is to have a guilty Conscience; a man
I have heard of, who flew in a Moon-shine night from his own shaddow,
thinking it to be a Devil that haunted his wicked carcass: Another more
remarkable I have heard much talk of, who having murdered a man in
_London_, fled into Forreign Parts, and living to and fro eighteen
years, returning home again as he walked one day through _Cheap-side_,
he heard a cry behind him, stop him, stop him, seeing a great quantity
of People making towards him, presently fell a running with all the
speed he could, the rabble seeing two run as if it were for their lives,
divided themselves and in their pursuit they took the Thief they chiefly
run after, and seizing the Gentleman who run they knew not for what, he
cryed out, pray be civil Gentlemen it is confest I am the man; upon
farther enquiry found him from his own mouth to be a Murderer of near
twenty years standing.
Gaming had so general a possession of me, that I could think of nothing
else, and because I could not always meet in my ramble in the City with
such as suited my purpose: I frequented ordinaries where I never mist of
good chear, nor variety of Company. For about one of the Clock you are
sure to have an excellent dinner provided by way of ordinary; where you
shall have so many choice dishes and wine, that the Master is always a
looser in his entertainment what cares he for that? the box shall make
all good again. Gentlemen of quality and civility frequent this Table,
and after dinner will play a while for Recreation moderately and
commonly without deserving reproof, but the generality of such as meet
there are _Wit-shifters_. Some have frequented the house to eat only
there being such excellent provision, and cheaper than they can get
elsewhere, and never play at all only look on, but being once taken
notice of they shall have small encouragement to come again.
Here I came acquainted and did so commonly frequent all houses of this
function, that I shall endeavour to give you an account of what I either
acted or observed in the time of my converse amongst these Esquires of
the Elbow.