A Person not over-well Clad, was seen standing gazing about him in the Streets, over-against Arundel-Buildings in the Strand; but the gravity of his Age (being a Person between 50 and 60) invited the Curiosity of Mr. Cullin the Baker, to ask this unknown Person what he wanted? To which he replied, He wanted a Lodging. Upon this, Mr. Cullin very courteously made answer, He should be welcome to his House; which he very easily and readily accepted; and accordingly was received very kindly. Now having no extraordinary Stock of Money, viz. but Two Shillings in his Pocket, he was exposed to the necessity of making use of some Romantick Narrative of his Quality and Condition, to make good his Quarters with so slender a Purse, to hold out payment. Accordingly the Curiosity of his Landlady enquiring what Country-man he was? He replied, Oxfordshire; that his Name was Wickham, a Person of a good Estate near Banbury; and that the occasion of his coming to Town, was only to avoid the payment of 500l. which he stood engaged for by Bond, in behalf of a Person that was run away, and had left him to pay that Money, and which truly he had made an Oath to himself he would never pay; not that the Summ was so considerable to a Man of his plentiful Fortune, only he was resolved to keep his Vow; and that had made him retire a little from being arrested for it.

The Affability and good Language of this Person of imaginary Quality, soon found Credit with his believing Landlord and Landlady, and no Caress was thought kind enough to a Person of his eminent Figure and Extraction. His first entrance into this indulgent Family was about a fortnight before Christmass, where he gained that daily ground, that no Respect could be sufficiently paid him: His little Pocket Strength signified nothing, for his Host was not a little exalted with the Honour of such a Guest under his Roof.

But, as Providence was pleased to order it, his Reign was ordain'd to be but short; for he soon fell into a languishing Sickness, in which time neither Doctor, Apothecary, Nurse, or any other Assistance was wanting.

Now our pretended Captain, what ever other Faults he had, was resolv'd not to be guilty of Ingratitude, and accordingly made an ample Last Will and Testament, and most liberally gave extraordinary large Donations and Legacies to his kind Landlord, &c.

It was very remarkable, that during his Sickness, his Landlord, being Overseer of the Poor, had requested a kind Brother in Office, the Church-Warden, to pay a small Office of Christian Duty to this poor languishing Gentleman; who making him a condoling Visit, with wet Eyes and uplifted Hands, was so kind as to wish his Worship's Soul everlasting Rest, which was seconded by many a repeated sigh from the rest of the Condolers about him: And one more especially, having heard of this great Wind-fall, lamented much his Unhappiness, in not visiting this Gentleman, saying, He was never born to do himself good, having lost by his Negligence at least 1000l. Also another eminent Man of the Parish, being dissatisfied that he did not come in for a Share with the rest of his Neighbours, went and told them, That the Coroner ought to be sent for, and an Enquiry made how he died.

All Care and Application signified but little, for his last Exit was drawing on; in which time, not in the least to shrink from his Character of Quality, he still kept up the Honourable Figure he had so long presented; and accordingly made most prodigious Protestations of Good-will and Acknowledgments to the Family, avowing that the few Hundreds he had bequeathed them, was nothing to what he would do for 'em, if please God to lengthen his Life to serve them and theirs.

And now having performed the Part of a good Patron and Friend, as his last Legacies do sufficiently testifie; he was resolved to be as good a Christian too, and thereupon requested the taking the Sacrament: To which, being admitted (with what Integrity you'll find by the Sequel) with a grave Countenance to the very last, he was very ready to receive the Sacrament; and upon so serious an Undertaking, was pleased to put a Case of Conscience to the Minister, viz. having made a Vow never to pay the 500l. he stood engaged for, Whether he was obliged to keep his Vow, or no? To which being answered in the Negative, That he was obliged to pay his Debts, notwithstanding his rash Vow. He made answer, That truly now drawing near Heaven, he considered the point, and acquiesced with his Ghostly Monitor; and thereupon incerted the 500l. into the Will.

This piece of extraordinary Justice being perform'd with a very composed and setled mind he left this troublesom World on Sunday the Third Instant, seeming very well contented to part with his great Riches and Lands, for the more valuable consideration of future Happiness.

Now I must do the Family this Right, That notwithstanding the great Sums they gain'd by so ample a Testament, and such bounteous Legacies, however their sorrow for the lamented Departure of so worthy a Gentleman was very hearty and cordial: Nay, some are of Opinion, that instead of diminishing (as Sorrow generally wears off) theirs, on the contrary is daily encreasing.

But perhaps nothing was so unkind as excluding the poor Prentice from visiting the sick Gentleman. For, alas, the poor Boy has been heard most dolefully to bewail the unkindness of his Master; for undoubtedly the worthy Gentleman would have left him enough to have set him up, had he been amongst the Throng of Visitants, who all tasted so highly of his extravagant Liberality.