_Of a Ladies Steward that was drawn in by a Bawd, and turn'd out into
the Street naked._
A Bawd of the better sort, that us'd to provide Jilts for Men of figure,
had appointed a Person of Quality whom she was to furnish with a fresh Bit,
to meet her at a certain Tavern near _West-Smithfield_; and waiting there
for him, it happen'd that there came into the next Room a Country
Gentleman, who was a Steward to a Lady of a good Estate, and another
Gentleman who liv'd in _London_, and was to pay him fifty Guineas, which he
also did. After he had paid his Money, and the Steward had given him a
Receipt, they drank a Glass of Wine together, and talk'd of their
Acquaintance in the Country; and then the Steward ask'd how such and such
Persons did in _London_, and the Gentleman answer'd him accordingly: Among
others the Gentleman ask'd him if he did'nt know Mrs. _Pierpoint_? I did
know her formerly, said the Steward; but 'tis so long since I saw her, that
I have now quite forgot her: She's grown ancient, says the Gentleman, but
she has a Daughter that is a very fine Woman: Is she married says the
Steward? No, says the Gentleman, but she deserves a good Husband, for she's
very Handsome; and not only so, but she has a good Portion. After this
Discourse, the Gentleman takes a Glass, Come Mr. _Brightwell_ said he, to
the Steward, here's a good Health to Mrs. _Pierpoint_ and her Daughter Mrs.
_Betty_; withal my heart replied Mr. _Brightwel_, (for that was the
Steward's Name) and then he drank to the Gentleman, remembring all their
Friends in _Bedfordshire_, especially at _Hargrave_. All these Passages the
Bawd, who waited for one to come to her, in the next Room, heard
distinctly, and took especial Notice of them; determining in herself to
make some use of them: For she had a very great mind to be fingering of the
fifty Guineas, and was laying a Plot how to come at them. And since the Man
of Quality that was to meet her fail'd, she was resolv'd not to spend her
time altogether idly. And therefore having Paid for the Pint of Wine she
had call'd for, she attended the two Gentlemens motion; and finding they
were ready to go (she having taken a distinct view of them thro' a hole in
the wall) went out first herself, and waited in a convenient place for
their coming out, which was soon after. When they were parted, one going
towards _Long Lane_, and the other through St. _Bartholomews Hospital_, the
Bawd made it her Business to wait upon the Ladies Steward, who had the
Fifty Guinea's (which was the Prize she aim'd at) she takes an opportunity
of getting before him, and then meeting him in _Long-Lane_: And just as she
came at him, making a stand, I think, Sir, said she to him I shou'd know
you: If I been't mistaken, your'e a _Bedfordshire_ Man: I am so, Madam,
says the Steward: Then Sir, says she, I presume your Name's _Brightwell_.
Yes, Madam, said he, it is so; but I don't know you: No, Sir, says she, I
believe you have forgot me; but my Name's _Pierpoint_: _Brightwel_ hearing
her say so, was a little surpriz'd, and started: How Madam, said he,
_Pierpoint_! Yes Sir, says she, you han't forgot _Pierpoint_ of _Hargrave_,
I suppose; I have some small Estate there still: Madam says he, I am very
glad to see you; It is not an hour ago since I was Drinking your Health: I
hope your good Daughter's very well: She's very well at your Service, Sir,
replyed the old Crone; and I hope, Sir, you'l do me the honour to go and
see her: I'll wait upon you another time, Madam, said he, but I an't in a
condition to wait upon a young Lady now; O you are very well, reply'd she;
come, you shall go along with me; and taking him by the Hand, leads him
along with her: The Steward was the more willing to go, upon the account of
what the Gentleman had said to him at the Tavern about _Mrs. Pierpoint_ and
her Daughter, and so went with her the more easily.
As they went along together, she ask'd him about several Persons in the
Country, which she had hear the Gentleman and he talk of; So that he had no
manner of doubt but that this was the very Person she pretended to be. And
among other things, she ask'd him who it was that he was drinking her
Health with to day, as he was talking; and he telling her it was one Mr.
_Hanwel_ she presently describ'd his Person, which she had seen at the
Tavern with him. At last she brings him to her house, which was in an Alley
on the back-side of _St. Jones_'s Lane, and has him into a Parlour very
well furnished; and then tells him She'll go and fetch her Daughter: And
goes to one of her first-rate Girls, and having given her her Lesson, has
her into the Steward, who Complements her to a great degree, and told her
he had heard a very good Character to her, both as to her Beauty and Parts;
but that he found they came far short of what she merited; & added, that he
thought himself very happy in Meeting with her Mother, because by that
means he had the Honour of being introduc'd into her good Company.--The
Jilt knew whom She was to personate, and carry'd herself is demurely as
cou'd be; but both the Bawd and She ply'd him with good store of Wine,
which made the Steward very merry and frollicksome, and according as Mrs.
_Betty_ found him, She put her self forward. But it beginning to grow late,
_Brightnel_ would have been gone, but the pretended Mrs. _Pierpoint_ would
by no means suffer him to go, till he had supp'd, which was a getting ready
on Purpose for him, by which means he was drawn to to stay till supper was
ready; and to make the time seem less tedious, the old Bawd calls for a
Pack of Cards, and sets her pretended Daughter and he to play a Game of
_Cribbage_ together. At last Supper was brought in, and her Servants
waiting upon them at Table, like a Person of Quality; Mrs. _Pierpoint_
every now and then Drinking a Health, sometimes to Mr. _Hanwel_, and by and
by to all their Friends at _Hargrave_; then to his good Health, which
engag'd him to drink theirs: Till Supper being ended, the Bawd ask'd one of
her Servants what a Clock it was? Who answered, Past Eleven: The Gentleman
at this begins to get up, to be going; but it was now too late, and they
would by no means let him at that time of Night; to which end they urg'd
that it was an obscure place they liv'd in, and it might be very dangerous
(tho his greatest danger was in being there) and that he shou'd have a good
Bed at his Service there: The Gentleman finding himself almost fluster'd,
and thinking he was secure where he was, agreed to stay till the next
Morning: Upon which the t'other Bottle of Wine was brought in, & then he
began to be very frollicksome, and would needs be Kissing Miss _Betty_, who
pretended a great kindness for him; which pleas'd _Brightwel_ so much, that
he wou'd'nt go to Bed without she'd lie with him; which she not only
promis'd, but was as good as her word; yet engages him to take no notice of
it to her Mother, and then as soon as he was a Bed, she'd come to him:
Accordingly, after he was a Bed, she comes to Bed to him, as she before had
promis'd: And after they had both gratify'd their wanton desires, the Whore
professing a great deal of Love to him, and pretending she shou'd never be
happy till they were married, Miss _Betty_ all of a sudden pretends to want
the Chamber-pot, which she desir'd him to help her to, who feeling about
for it for sometime, cou'd'nt find it; upon which she told him she
remember'd the Maid left it in the Window and desir'd him to reach it
there; which he going to do, and treading upon a Trap door, it presently
gave away; and down fell our Amorous Spark into the Alley; his Fall was but
little, and so did but stun him for the present, and his being only in his
Shirt quickly made him sensible of the cold; As soon as he came to himself
he got up, and it being very dark, he knew neither where he was, nor which
way to go; but endeavouring to find a door, he went on till he came to
_Clerken well-green_; where seeing a Light at the Watch-house, he went
thither; a Person all in white being seen by one of the Watch-men, he gave
notice of it to the Constable; who with his whole Watch was very much
affrighted, and began to exorcise this supposed Spirit; who being almost
dead with cold, (for it was cold frosty Weather) told them he was no Ghost,
but Flesh and Blood as they were; but Mr. _Constable_ was loth to believe
him upon his own Word, and therefore commanding him to stand, sent one of
the most Couragious of his Watch-men to see whether it was so or no; who
having found him to be what he said, he was taken into the Watch house, and
put to the Fire, and examined how he came into that condition; who gave the
_Constable_ an account how he met with one Mrs _Pierpoint_ his
Country-woman, by whom he was invited to her House, and what befell him
there, related: But neither _Constable_ nor any of the Watch-men knowing
any such Person, they supposed rightly that he had been drawn in by a Bawd,
and had lain with a Whore, who had together Cheated him of what he had. For
by a Ring on his Finger, and the Gold Buttons on his Shirt, which was all
he carried off, they supposed his other Rigging was suitable thereto; which
made Mr. _Constable_ so kind as to lend him his Night-gown, to cover his
Nakedness. And likewise to offer him his assistance, to recover his Losses;
but being in the dark he was altogether a Stranger to the Place, that he
could give 'em no manner of Directions, so that it was but like seeking a
Needle in a Bottle of Hay. However they went and search'd several of the
most notorious reputed Bawdy-Houses, but found nothing, and had only their
Labour for their Pains: Whilst the Bawd and the Whore triumph'd in their
wickedness, and were glad they had met with so easy a Cully, from whom they
had obtain'd so good a Booty.
In the Morning our reduc'd Gallant sent a Messenger to Mr. _Hanwell_ to
come to him, and related to him the unhappy Rencounter he had met with from
Mrs. _Pierpoint_; who soon perceived how he had been impos'd upon; and
furnish'd him with more money to new Rig himself, and supply his occasions,
ere he durst appear before his Lady; Mr. _Hanwel_ promising him, when he
was at leisure, he wou'd have him to the true Mrs. _Pierpoint_, from whom
he engag'd he shou'd meet with better entertainment than he did from the
Counterfeit one.
_Thus still the Bawd does her old Game pursue;_
_Her End's the same, altho' her Method's New._
_Her Baits are various, which she still does suit_
_To ruin those that love forbidden Fruit._
_And by her Management of things we find,_
_She's one knows how to Sail with every Wind._
* * * * *