Her Mistress having reapt the utmost of her Harvest, advised her to keep in till she was well, and being so, make the best and quickest advantage she might of getting a Husband, for she told her, that she must stay with her no longer, she being so great a scandal to her Profession. My young Gentlewoman was over-ruled, courted, and a little after married, about two years before our Souldier of Fortune came acquainted with her, he now re-inforces his suit, and tells her withal, if she will be ruled by him, they should both march off together, it was agreed on, that she should observe her opportunity, and take what Money and Goods of her Husbands she could, and come to him; which accordingly she did: and now being both glad, that the one should be freed from a cross grain’d impotent Husband: and the other from a jealous deformed, ill condition’d Wife, they both went to the West of England, not intending then to leave the Kingdom; but finding a Ship ready to Sail for Barbadoes; and judging themselves not secure, till they got thither, or to some other forreign Plantation, they resolved to go, carrying Money enough to pay their passage, and Goods to live ashore on.
But let me not forget my promise, but give you an account of the rest in order; the next are,
Two Button-makers.
They are hardly worth taking notice of, and therefore I shall not much trouble my self about them. They were brought up in London, and therefore they were capable of driving a Trade in the Countrey: and indeed they were forced to make that their refuge or Sanctuary. For in the place aforesaid, they were known to be such notorious Night-walkers, and Pick Pockets (for which they had been so often in those two famous Universities, Newgate and Bridewell,) that they resolved to go elsewhere: making choice of Excester, a place so remote from their former habitation and acquaintance, that they assured themselves of a new credit, amongst a People so altogether unknown to them.
There they took a Chamber, (lying together) and went for two Sisters; the noise of two London Button-makers coming down to inhabit in that City, quickly reacht the ears of the Shopkeepers therein, and that word, London carried so great a sway, and esteem with it, that they were presently imployed, and had much work a days. A young Mercer, newly set up, fell in love with one of them, and prosecuted his Suit so closely, that though with much difficulty (she giving him many repulses to make him the more eager in the pursuit), yet he at length obtained his desires, and so fond he was of his enjoyments, that his business must needs lie at six and sevens, since, all the day after, he imployed his time in the Company. She like a Cunningham, at last fearing the Proverb will prove true, (Hot love grows soon cold,) she pretended herself with Child, which in two Months time grew so monstrously fast, that he must believe what his eyes saw so apparently. His Breech made Buttons too now, and not knowing how to save his Reputation, he consulted his best wits again, and again; at length found this the only expedient to preserve his endangered credit, that is, to give her a good sum of Mony, with which he might perswade her to remove into the Countrey. He propounded this to her, (and although she was ready to leap out of her skin to see her Design take so good effect,) yet she would give no hearing to it, but falling on her knees, beg’d that he would save hers, and his own Reputation, by making her an honest Woman, that is, marrying her: if he would not condescend to that, she would admit of no other terms, but what sudden death should make her the overture of.
Some days he spent in perswading her; getting her good will; he gave her a sum of Money to accommodate her lying Inn, in the Country; giving a good part to her Comrade, and ordering her to stay till her return, which should be speedy; she took leave of her Lover, as if she had been doing the like to her Soul going a Voyage to the other world. But she was no sooner out of sight, but she re-assumed her former jolly temper; coming to an Inn (where she was to lie that night) she there miscarried of a Cushon. To carry on her project with the least suspition, the next day she went for Bristol, where staying four or five days to recreate her self, and see the curiosities of that City, she removed to another, from thence to a third, fourth, and fifth, only to prolong time, that she might not be suspected on her return. Six weeks being expired, she shap’t her course homewards, where being arrived, she found her Comrade had not been idle, but had imployed those hands she sate on to a very good advantage.
Her Lover hearing of her return played least in sight; and although he heard that she had cast her Colt, yet would not come nigh her, for fear of paying as dearly for his pleasures, as he had done before; and so resolved to acquit her for ever. Yet his forsaking her did not hinder other Visitants. To conclude, they had cheated so many with the pretence of being with Child, that the younger-Fry were afraid to come near them, being lookt upon by the Town, no other than a Couple of subtle Trapans. Their Trade thus miserably decaying, they resolved to try what effects Night-walking would produce. So stroling about one evening, with their white Aprons spread as a Flagg of Truce, they walkt a long time before they could meet with any fit for the purpose; in short, when it was grown late, they met with a Gentleman coming out of a Tavern, more than half drunk, whom they pickt up, the bargain was quickly struck, and into an Entry they went, one of the Sisters standing at door as a Centinal; at length (quoth she within) Good Sir, let me go, the Watch is coming; which he hearing, stept nimbly into the street, because he would not be found with Females in so suspected a place; casting his head about, he perceiving his two Wenches make more than ordinary haste, he presently suspected that they had shew’d his Pockets foul Play; wherefore putting his Hands therein, found his Watch missing, he straightways ran after them, and just overtook them as he met with the Watch, by whom they were secured, and being searcht, the Watch was found; the next day they were carried before a justice, who upon Examination, finding them guilty, committed them to Gaol. At the Sizes, such a general complaint (besides this theft) came in against them by the sober Citizens, for debauching and ruinating their Servants, that they were both sentenced to be transported. The same Sizes was doom’d another after the same manner, and for the same practice, whom whosoever marries, hath got a wife with a treble Trade, a Whore, a Thief, and a Stockin-mender; but fearing lest if I handle her, I shall offend your Noses, I shall pass her by, and present your Nostrils with the perfume of