_In his Journey to_ London, _he overtakes a Trooper and a Wench: he lyes
with her and two more of her Companions, and after this frollick he
goes with them all to_ London.
I was now resolved nothing should hinder me from proceeding in my
Journey to _London_, and that I might get thither the sooner, I
endeavoured to borrow a horse, but could not procure one, I being a
stranger, every person was unwilling to trust me: but at noon-day
staying for a bait, I happened into the company of a Trooper, who was
likewise travelling to _London_; we dined together, and he asking
whither I was going? I told him: he said he should be glad of my
company. I said, that would be very pleasing to me if I might enjoy his;
but I could not because he was better furnish’d for a Journey than I,
being provided with a horse, and I on foot: he told me that
inconveniency might be supplyed, for there were horses in the stable to
be let. I told him that I would give any consideration for the hire of
one, and that he, if acquainted, might do me much kindness in procuring
one for me: he seeing me full of money, quickly procured me a horse,
engaging himself that I should leave the beast at his _London_ quarters.
My host being well acquainted with him, and he being to ride along with
me, was contented: and I paying five shillings for his hire, had the
horse deliver’d to me, and on his back I mounted, thinking my self to be
some brave fellow: As we rid along together, we overtook a female
Creature, young and handsom, in somewhat an ancient decayed, but Gentile
garb. The Trooper being a notable well experienced blade, soon fell into
discourse with her, and found her to be a Rambling Baggage, whose
journey was now intended for _London_, and would be glad of our company,
were she accommodated with a horse: to that I offered her my service,
and agreed that she should ride behind me; to which she assenting, soon
mounted, and now we merrily put on, holding a pleasing discourse with
our female companion. I had a great desire to take a better view of her
than I could, being thus on hors-back together, and therefore perswaded
the Trooper to make a halt at the next Town which we came to, where we
all dismounted, and I saluted my Lady, who kindly received my Courtesie.
The Trooper after some discourse, was well enough acquainted with the
Lady, having often times been merry with her, and others, at the house
where she lodged in _London_. He call’d me on one side, and told me,
that she was a person with whom he had been formerly acquainted, and so
might I too, if I would, and if I had any desire thereto, he could and
would assist me.
I told him he had done me many kindnesses in the small time of my
acquaintance, and now he had offered that which exceeded all; for indeed
I was much taken with her beauty, and very desirous I was to enjoy her.
Well, said he, let us be going from hence, and make you your bargain
with her as you ride along by the way, and I will take such care in the
business that you shall be entertained as man and wife at my quarters,
and there lie together. I was infinitely glad of this his kind proffer,
and thankfully accepted thereof, and so after some little longer stay,
we again mounted our steeds and put forwards: according to his
instruction I courted my Mistress, and without much difficulty obtained
her promise to permit me to lie with her, and so we rid on till we
arrived at the Troopers quarters, where he told his Landlady, that he
had brought her some guests; for this young man and his wife, (said he)
pointing to us, will stay here all night: they shall be welcom, said the
Hostess, and so a supper was provided; for as we did eat and drink with
a very good appetite, and my Landlady did accompany us, who I found was
very well respected, and familiar with the Trooper; and bed-time being
come, which I had much desired, I and my Lady went to bed, neither did
the Trooper lie alone, for our Landlady was his bed-fellow; how he spent
the night I know not, but I am sure for our parts we slept but little,
for it was the first time that I ever enjoy’d a woman naked in my arms
all night, and I was ravished with delight, never having had so much
pleasure. My bed-fellow was well enough contented with the entertainment
I gave her; we discoursed of one anothers fortunes, but whether she told
me the truth of hers, I know not, but I disguised mine wholly from her,
not thinking it fit to make her acquainted with my late adventures; she
told me, that the occasion of her late travel was this, that she and two
women more of her acquaintance had been perswaded by three Gentlemen to
a Ramble, and had gone down to such a City in a Coach, that they had for
some time continued together as three men and wives at an Inn, and there
had enjoyed a full plenty of every thing; but at length the three
Gentlemen had basely left them to pay a great reckoning in a strange
place, and all they had would not make the one half of it, that they had
for some time waited in expectation of the return of their friends, but
in vain, so that at last it was agreed, that one of us, said she, should
go for _London_, and procure mony to redeem the rest, and the lot
falling on me I have prosecuted the journey, and hopes to raise money to
relieve, and redeem my companions. I hearing this story was sensibly
troubled thereat, and offered her my assistance, and she so far
prevail’d with me, that I lent her five pound to send to her companions,
she promising me to continue either there, or at any other place with me
so long as I should please, and at our coming to her quarters at
_London_, to repay me my mony with many thanks. To all this I agreed,
and the next day she conveyed most part of the mony to her companions by
a Coach that travelled thither: and thus did I enjoy this Lady for many
nights together, and lying at Rack and Manger: the horse I sent back at
the directions of the Trooper, who likewise continued with his Hostess,
and only my purse paid for all; but indeed we lived sparingly enough,
the Trooper being one of the honestest Travellers that I ever met with.
The Coach-man who carried the money to the afflicted and distressed
Damoyselles, returned, and with him the Ladies, very glad of their safe
return, and very thankful were they, not only to their companions who
sent it, but also to me of whom, she said, she procured it, and now we
all thought of removeing to _London_, but one night more we lay at our
old quarters, where I had the greatest frollick I was ever guilty of,
for that night I kist with all three of the women, and pleased them
round, by giving each of them a tryal of my skill. What now could I
desire to enjoy further? I thought my self to be as brave a fellow as
the great Turk in his _Seraglio_, he having but his choice of Women,
which I now enjoyed to my full content. But morning coming, we took
leave of our Hostess and the Trooper, and all four taking Coach, soon
came to _London_, where I took up my Quarters with my three Damsels, who
made very much of me, and indeed they were the honestest Wenches, and I
had the best frollick that I ever had in my life, but in time I was
weary of this life, for what man can last out alwayes? And I finding my
pocket begin to shrink, bethought me that it was fit to leave off in
time, for all my Silver was gone, and ten pound of my twenty pound in
Gold: but I selling my Watch and Rings raised ten pound more; with this
stock of twenty pound I was resolved to retire, and fit my self for some
employment. My three Ladies never offered to return me the five pound I
had lent them, neither indeed could I handsomly expect it; for they had
been very liberal in their expences, and had declined all other company
to accommodate me. They heard of their three Gentlemen who had trapan’d
them in the Country, and so wisely plaid their Cards that they gained
all their money again, I assisting them, and pretending the man of the
house had assigned the money to me. I scorned to pocket any of it, but
gave it amongst them; and so being resolved to take another course of
life, I retired my self from them: and to the end that I might be fitted
for an employment, I hired one who was well known therein, to teach me
to write more perfectly than I could formerly, as also Arithmatick: I
likewise hired several Books of a Stationer, for which I gave him so
much _per_ week; These being chiefly Knight-Errantry and Romances, I
took much pleasure therein. I had a mind to diversion, and went to visit
my Damoyselles, and thus did I live the pleasantest life in the world;
but I had so much reason as to think that things would not last long as
they were, and I had no inclination to stealing, more virtuous thoughts
had now possessed me, and therefore a Trade being the only thing that
would maintain me, I enquired for one, and setled my self, as you shall
hear in the next Chapter.
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[Illustration: _The Extravagant Prentices with their Lasses at a Taverne
Frollick._]
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