The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth Part

by Richard Head; Francis Kirkman

After due Respects to you, these are to acquaint you that although we have had the misfortune of your long absence, yet your affairs have hitherto fallen out fortunate enough, and are likely still to continue so, for of the last half years Rent due to you, I have gathered in two hundred pounds, which you know is the whole within a small matter, and there is three hundred pounds more fallen upon you by an accident which you may receive at your first arrival: for S. L. your old Tenant in your Copyhold and his Wife are both dead, and their Son hath offered two hundred pounds for a new Lease, renewed in his and his brothers Names, besides an addition of twenty pounds per annum Rent more than formerly, and a hundred pounds more is offered by Goodman L. to put in his Sons Life into his Lease, so that I am much importuned to dispatch them, If you please to perform these two Leases (as in my opinion you may) they are so desirous of their Bargains that they will pay down the money to me, and take my promise that you will at your return seal to them, so that if you please to accept it I will send up the whole sum, five hundred pounds together, it being more safe and profitable for you to dispose it at London than here.

And now having done with your business, I beseech you pardon me, if I desire to know whether, and how you proceed in your Love Sute, for the Widow R. who you had some affection for her, is desirous that you would renew your Suit, and she is in some better capacity as to her Estate than formerly, for an Unkle lately dead, hath left her five hundred pounds: but Sir, I knowing that you do not esteem money equal to affection must be silent, and leave all to your own discretion; Thus desiring your Worships Pardon for this boldness, I rest

Your Worships Servant

and Steward,

L. T.

Our covetous Widow having greedily read over this Letter, was hugely pleas’d with the Contents thereof, and hugg’d her self for the good Fortune she was likely to have; for now she resolved that her Sweet-heart had near five hundred pound per annum, besides five hundred pounds ready mony in his Purse that she knew of, but the latter end of the Letter did not at all please her, wherein the Steward was so bold as to put him in minde of his old Love, and she was very fearful that the five hundred pounds additional Estate that she had, might incline him to renew his Suit; wherefore all these matters being considered, she was resolv’d to delay or protract the business no longer, but upon his next desires of marriage, to accept of it, and that upon his own terms.

Wherefore two or three days being past over, wherein she had promis’d to consider of it, and he again desiring her Answer, and withal telling her that his occasions called him into the Countrey, she therefore tells him that she was so far perswaded of his Love and Honesty, that she was ready to be married to him so soon as he pleased, and that without any terms leaving it to his own disposing, not doubting but as she had generously cast herself upon him, so that he would be as generous in his providence for her; he replyed that she should command all he had, and then by her consent ordering the Wedding Solemnities, they were within three days married. She hoping that by her freeness with him, he would be civil to her, gave him the Keys, and thereby the possession of all her Money, Plate, and writings, and he taking so much as he had present occasion for, returned the Keys to her again.

And thus they strived to out-do one another in kindness; but some weeks being past, and he not at all speaking of his Countrey affairs, she put him in mind of them, telling him that it would be convenient for him to visit his house in the Countrey, and that if he pleas’d she would accompany him in the Countrey, and withal adding, that she hoped he would be as good as his word, and make her a considerable Joynture; he reply’d that she had so well pleas’d him, that he would make her a Joynture of all he had, she believing that it was as considerable as the Letter express’d, gave him many thanks; and thus he fed her with good words, but still delay’d his Journey, and put her off with some odd pretence or other, but she at last becoming importunate with him for her Joynture, he told her that he was so well skill’d in Law, that he would draw a Draught of it himself, and give it her to advise with her friends, she was now well enough content, only she still put him in mind of the Draught of the Joynture; he told her he was about it, and had almost finished it, and one day told her that now it was done, and that he also had occasion to take a Journey for three days, and in that time she might confer with her friends about the Draught he would leave her; she was very well content, and he taking money in his Pocket went his journey; when she taking the Paper he had left, and believing it to be the draught of her Joynture, went to some of her nearest Relations to confer with, and have their advice about it, but they opening the Paper, instead of the expected draught of a Joynture, they found these Lines:

Grave plodding Sirs, my Wife I’ve sent to you,

That you’le advise her what she’d had best to do;