‘“Well,” (quoth Browne), “if it must be so, I’m contented; but, then, I’ll tell you what, I’ll have the odd Eighteen Pence spent.”
‘“With all my heart,” said Blowen. “We’ll never make a dry Bargain on’t.”
‘They are all agreed, and Browne leads them up to the Blackmore’s Head Alehouse, in Exeter Street, where a couple of Fowls are ordered to be laid down, and Stout and Ale is called for by wholesale. At last they went to Dinner, and, afterwards, Browne, changing his Six Guineas for Silver, gave his Follower (to carry on the jest) Forty Shillings, and put the rest in his pocket. Mark Blowen, seeing that, began to look surly, and asked for his Share.
‘Said Browne: “What Share, friend?”
‘Quoth Mark Blowen: “Forty Shillings, as you gave this Man here.”
‘Browne reply’d: “Why, truly, Sir, I shall have an urgent Occasion to Night for what Sum I have about me, and if you’ll be pleas’d to lend me your Share but till Monday Morning, I’ll come and pay you then at this House without fail, and return you, with infinite thanks, for the Favour.”
‘Quoth Mark (who was a blundering, rustical sort of a Fellow): “D—— me, Sir, don’t think to Tongue-Pad me out of my Due. I’ll have my Share now, or else he that’s the best Man here of us three shall have it all, win it, and wear it.”
‘“Pray, Sir,” (said Browne), “don’t be in this Passion. I’ll leave you a sufficient Pledge for it till Monday.”
‘Quoth Mark: “Let’s see it.”
‘Hereupon Browne pulls out his Tip-Staff, and lays it on the Table; but the Butcher, not liking the Complexion of it, began to be moving, when the Follower, laying Hands on him, they arrested him in an Action of Eighteen Pounds, and carried him to the Marshalsea, where, after a Confinement of Nine Months, he ended his Days.’