_Our Extravagant puts a notable cheat upon a Merchant for_ 100l. _He and
one of his Companions being at a Washerwomans see her handsomly
revenged on a Bayliff._
Our Extravagant being Master of this Money, and knowing the difficulty
of getting more, was resolved to look out betimes. He was drinking with
some Friends at a Tavern neer the Exchange, _London_, and it being the
busie time of the day, Exchange time, several Companies were put into
one Room though at several Tables: He was not so busie in attending the
discourse of his own Company, but that he gave great attention to what
was said by that Company who sat at the next table. He soon understood
that their discourse was about Money; and that one of the Company
expected _Two Hundred Pounds_ to be paid him by and by. He hearing that
there was business of that consequence began to contrive within himself,
how he might be Master of some of it; many contrivances he had, and many
fancies ran in his brain, but none would do, none would take at present,
however he and his Company still drank on, and that so long that the
promised 200_l._ was brought thither and paid to the Person, who was
there ready to receive it. The Money being paid, he who was now Master
of it, delivers it to a servant that attended him, and ordered him to
carry it home, and deliver it to his Mistres, he further observed that
this Money was intended to be suddainly paid away again, for part of a
Ship, which he then agreed with one of the Company to buy of him; and
also he observed that the next day all the Company were to meet there
again to participate of a Collation that the Person who had received the
Money was to bestow on the rest. All these passages, and several others,
as their Names, and the qualities of most of the Persons there present,
he gained from the discourse he had heard. He being thus instructed was
resolved to try his wits to the utmost, and if possible be Master of
some of this Money, and that without the help, advice, or assistance of
any other. He beats his brains about it all that night, and the next day
making himself as spruce and fine as he could, and being laden with the
rich Cargoe of _Twenty pieces_ of _Gold_, and sufficient spending Money
besides, he sailed on to the _Exchange_, and there knowing several of
the Yesterdays Company both by sight and name, he soon found out the
Person who was to sell part of the Ship, and understanding that he was a
Sea-Captain, who wanted Owners, he bore up to him, and tels him that he
was willing to hold a part with him, whereupon the Captain invites him
to their intended Dinner, and he accepting the invitation, and being
come thither upon a farther discourse, he seemed pretty well content
with the bargain, and told the Captain that at the next days Exchange he
would resolve him about it. Their discourse being ended, Dinner was
called for but it not being yet ready, he who was the Invitor seemed to
be very angry for the delay, for said he, I commanded it to be ready
between _One_ and _Two_, and now by my _Watch_ it is between _Two_ and
_Three_, our Merchant seeing a _Watch_ drawn, said, I pray _Sir_ let me
see it, and having it in his hand, highly commended it for its richness
and good workmanship, for it had two Gold Cases, and desired to know the
Price what it did cost, the Owner replyed _Twenty Pound_, I like it so
well, replyed our Merchant, that I wish I had such another for the
Price, (and continued he to the Owner) I shall be much obliged to you,
if you will lend it me for _One_ Hour or _Two_, to shew it to my
Watchmaker, who is now in hand with one for me; and _Sir_, that you may
assure your self of the return of it to you, here is _Twenty Pieces_ of
good old Gold, I will leave in your hands: When would you have it,
replyed the Owner, even just now, said our Merchant, for I must needs
step home instantly, and I can call on my Watch-maker, by the way, and
when I return to you hither, which I promise you shall be within _two_
Hours, I will bring it and return it you. I, but _Sir_, said the
Captain, I hope you will not leave us, but stay and Dine here, indeed I
cannot, said our Merchant you must pardon me at present, an urgent
affair calls me, but in _Two_ Hours I shall have dispatched it, and then
I will return and drink a Glass of Wine with you. The Owner of the Watch
seeing that he made these excuses, and not distrusting his Watch, as he
had little reason to do, because he had more than the worth in his
hands, delivered the Watch to our Counterfeit, who takes his leave, and
calling a Coach, caused the Coach-man to drive directly to the house of
the owner of the _Watch_; when he came there, he asked for the good
Woman, and without any circumstantial discourse, tells her that he left
her Husband in such a Tavern, with such Company, and that he had gone
through with his bargain about the _Sixteenth_ part of such a Ship; that
the Sum agreed upon was 100_l._ that the Captain who was to receive it
had ordered it to him, who was now come for it; and Mistress (said he) I
should give you such sufficient tokens for the delivery of it, as I hope
you will do it without any distrust. Therefore in the first place, said
he, the 100_l._ I must have, is part of 200_l._ your Husband did receive
yesterday, and sent home to you by your Servant, and to convince you of
the truth of all, as an infallible token, I have here brought your
Husband’s _Watch_, and thereupon he drew it out, and shew’d it to her.
She knowing that all he had said was true, and viewing the _watch_, &
knowing that to be the same, and finding that he told his tale without
any hesitation, stopping, or stamering, did not at all distrust him, but
went up stairs & fetcht down the Money. He ordered the Coach-man to
drive him to his Quarters, and there he secured the Money, and thanked
his Stars for thus favourably assisting him in this affair, where he had
come off without so much as a Rub, and that better than he expected, for
he did suppose that to purchase this 100_l._ it would have cost him the
Twenty Pieces of Gold,for he expected that the good Woman would have
desired him to leave the _Watch_ behind with her, as her warrant for the
delivery of the Money, which if she had, he could not have refused it,
and now he had Money and _Watch_ too, wherefore having had so good
success he was resolved to try his good fortune a little further, and
therefore away he went to the Tavern, where he had left the Captain and
Owner of the _Watch_.
They had hardly Dined, so that he had part of a good Dinner, was
welcomed by all the Company, who in his absence had enquired of one
another, who this unknown Merchant was, and seeing him so full of Gold,
they doubted not his ability, but they were resolved to treat him
handsomely, which they did, and the Dinner being ended, he redelivered
the _Watch_, and received back his Gold, with a Complement from the
Owner, that he begg’d his pardon for taking any thing as an engagement,
and desiring his further acquaintance; but Dinner being ended, and a
good quantity of Wine brush’d off, they promising to meet the next day
at the _Exchange_, departed, I suppose they all did meet, especially the
owner of the _Watch_, to enquire of the Captain, for his Merchant, and
also the Captain, to conclude his begun bargain with our Counterfeit
Merchant, but he, although he had made them a fair promise to meet, yet
he came not there, he had other Eggs on the Spit, his affairs lay now at
the other end of the Town, and although he had made as profitable a
bargain the last Exchange-time, as most Merchants that came thither, yet
he had no mind to return thither in hast. But with all the hast he
could, he removed his Money and Quarters to the other end of the Town,
and that he might pass the more securely undiscovered; he left off his
Merchant-like habit, wherein he had performed his exploit, and put on
Cloaths more modish and gallant, with a Sword and Belt, and large
Perriwig, in this disguise he passed without any discovery, by those who
sought out for him, but one of his Extravagant acquaintance meeting him,
although thus accoutred, soon knew him, and believing that some
Extraordinary adventure had fallen out, was very desirous to be
acquainted with it, wherefore that they might compare notes together,
they put in to the next Tavern, our Extravagant’s Companion saw by this
disguisement, that there was somewhat in the wind, somewhat
extraordinary had befallen him, and withall that he was shy in declaring
it, wherefore to the end that he might induce him, to tell him how
squares went with him, he told him that he had had a very luck since
they parted last; for, said he, I met with a brave Prize within these
two days which I carried off with very little hazard or danger, and this
it was, I was sauntring about the streets, to see and observe where I
might get a purchase, and at length I observed a Coach was called for,
it was neer _Aldgate_, and it was just about the dusk of the Evening, I
having nothing else to do, resolved to see what Company was to go in the
Coach, and therefore waited not long, but saw it was only a Woman and a
Child, and withall there was two bundles of Linnen. I seeing there was
no more Company, was resolv’d to be Master of one of those bundles,
neither did I question to do it with ease enough, I observed which way
the Coach drove, and went along with it. There was so many Passengers
with Lanthorns, Links and Torches walking backwards and forwards, that I
was forced to Laquey this Woman till the Coach had brought her to the
Stocks in the _Poultrey_, there observing it to be a narrow dark place,
and no lights neer me, and having my purchase in my eye, I soon had it
in my hand and slapt it under my Coat.
The Woman saw me seize it, and therefore cryed out immediately, but the
Coachman not presently hearing of her, and he driving on towards
_Cheapside_, I thought it would be necessary for me to march off another
way, and so I did, returning back again, but not the very same way we
had come, that is, down _Cornhil_, but now returning back by
_Lombardstreet_, I did hear the Woman cry out, Hold Coachman, I am
rob’d! but I suppose he driving one way, and I running another, I was
got to _Gracious-street_, and he to _Cheapside_ before he stopt, and so
then it was to no purpose to look after me, for I soon crossed _London_
Bridge, and went to my old Quarters in _Southwark_; when I came there I
undid my fardle, but it was filled with such a parcel, as I understood
very little, I think there was 100 several pieces of fowl Linnen, which
upon examination, I found to be Childbed Linnen, and withall there was
Blankets and Mantles, but above all there was the _Unum necessarium_, a
parcel of good ready Money, _Ten Pieces_ of good old Gold, and _Five
Pounds_ in Silver, the sight of this pleased my eyes, and I thanked my
stars for my good fortune. Although (continued he) I knew not so well
what to do with the Linnen, as I did with the money, yet I knew it was
too good to be thrown away, and that it would fetch good ready money,
but in the pickle it was in, I thought it not convenient to offer it to
sell, wherefore I resolved to have it washed, and in order thereto, said
he, I am now going to an old acquaintance, a Woman who gets the best
part of her living by washing and starching, and I intend to intrust her
not only to wash and starch, but also to sell this Commodity for me. And
(this concluded he) is my business at present, and now I have told you
mine, I pray acquaint me with yours.
Our Extravagant understanding from his acquaintance, that he had lately
gained a Prize, and by that concluding that he was not in want of money,
so that he was not obliged to impart any of his Prize to him, which is a
customary thing between Persons of that quality, he therefore without
much perswasions acquainted him with his late good fortune in the
adventure of the 100_l._
This discourse us’d, the business of drinking being over, our
Extravagant’s Companion desired him to go with him a little way to the
old Laundress, he spake of, that he might deliver his Pack of smal
things to her ordering and dispose, he was not hard to be entreated,
wherefore away they went together. But when they came there, they found
the old Woman all in tears, for she being in debt a Sum of Money, that
she was not able to pay, and an Attachment having been brought against
her Goods, she not having Money or skill to defend the Suit, her
adversary had obtained Judgement against her, and thereupon the
execution was deliver’d into the Bayliffs hands, who at this very minute
that our Extravagants came, was come also to seize the Goods, and this
was the occasion of the old Womans Lamentation.
She gave the Bayliff all the good words she could, and they not
prevailing, she fell to railing and scolding, but it was all one to him,
he minded her not, but proceeded in executing his Office, and delivered
out to his Man all the poor Womans goods, one piece after another, and
there was nothing now remaining, but a kittle which stood on a Trevet
over the Fire, and the Utensils of the Chimney. He told her he must have
the Kettle, but she might take out the Cloathes, she saying they were
none of hers, but she refusing to empty the Kettle, he took it off from
the Fire, and threw the water and Cloathes that was in it about the
house. The old Woman seeing this, and being resolved to be revenged on
him, took the Tongs in her hands, and with them took up the Trevet,
which was red hot, and lifting it up, clapt it about the Bayliffs neck,
saying, _Since you will have all, then you shall have all_. He was
quickly so sensible of the fire, that he roared and cryed out like a
Mad-man, and believing that it would burn him to death, for it had
already made his flesh fry, to save his Neck and Shoulders, was forced
to take it hot as it was, into his hands, to throw it off: This
adventure was like to have proved Tragical to the hard-hearted Bayliff,
who with much difficulty disingaged himself. But our two Extravagants
were extreamly well-pleased with the Washer-womans Revenge, as we hope
the _Reader_ will be; and now we shall put an end to this _Fourth Part_:
And, if (as we hope) you are pleased with what is already written, we
shall in short time give you greater pleasure and satisfaction in the
Continuation of our Extravagants adventures, which shall be fully
finished in a _Fifth_ and _Last_ Part.
_FINIS._
Transcriber’s Note.
While acknowledging the author’s sentiment in the Preface regarding
errors, spelling in that era was extremely variable, and any corrections
made here were limited to the most obvious lapses. As the table below
will show, ‘e/c’, and ‘u/n’ errors, as well as doubled words, were most
common.
The word ‘Gaol’ is printed interchangeably as ‘Goal’, and all such
instances are retained.
Due to the variability of hyphenation, where a hyphenation occurs on a
line or page break, the hyphen is retained or removed based on the
preponderance of the same word elsewhere. Where there are no other or
similar instances, the decision was based on modern usage.
The following table summarizes the issues encountered, and their
resolution:
ii.24 As to the verity of those ingenio[n/u]s Replaced.
Exploits,
14.2 a large [M/D]ish of most incomparable Replaced.
22.6 [e/c]onfession at the Gallows of all her Replaced.
former
24.1 a Merchant of _Naples_, pay[a]able Removed.
45.14 I took exact noti[e/c]e of his Unkles name, Replaced.
102.15 finally co[n/u]nselling me Replaced.
108.20 but first I[ I] plumm’d the depth of the Removed.
Vault
123.1 [(]which proved to be a _Practice of Added.
Piety_)
124.18 yo[n/u]r walk Replaced.
133.12 if I were aloft, a[ ]head, or abaft Added.
136.8 was deeply musing [m/w]ith myself Replaced.