Will. Sir, I do tell ye, this Committee consisted of several Persons, Male and Female—Imprimis, The Man of the House, and his Wife, chief Presidences of the Council. In the next place, two Fishmongers in Bloomsbury, if you hunt after the name of the one, you may easily find it: the other a most rude and ungraceful acknowledger of the Lord Russel's former favours, as who had all along serv'd his Table from his own Shop; his Grandfather seems to have bin the Son of Tomlins.
Ralph. These Fishmongers, Sir, were notably drawn into this Conspiracy—twas emblematical—For as great undertakings require great silence, so none more likely then Fishmongers to bear the Proverb always in mind, As mute as a Fish.
Will. The next was a Tallow-chandler, who, tho' he live by the Night, takes his name from Noon-Day.
Ralph. Why that was it that spoil'd the whole Plot, to engage a Tallow-chandler in deeds of Darkness.
Will. Oh, Sir, but he was to have been a Witness—and none so fit to be witness as a man of Light—besides, Sir, he was to attend the Hobgoblin, and none so fit as a Tallow Chandler to hold a Candle to the Devil. But observe how the Tallow Chandler was match'd; for the other witness was to be a Papistical Printer in the Neighbourhood.
Ralph. There y'are right again—for if the Truth should chance to slip out of the Chandler's memory, the Printer had always a Register ready to refresh it.
Will. By what I hear, theres no such need of rubbing up the Tallow-chandler's memory. A my word Sir, y'are got into pleasant company—Here's a Vintner acts the Devil—and a Tallow-chandler acts a Judge—and Judges, Sir, are no fools to have their memories rub'd.
Ralph. Who the Devil made the Tallow-chandler a Judge?
Will. Wine and Fat Venson, Sir, at the Crown-Tavern, in Bloomsbury; For there it was that the Tallow-chandler a Witty, Jocose, Droll of a Tallow-chandler, finding there was something to be done to gratify the Company (for it was at a public Venson-Feast) took upon him the Dignity of the Coife, and causing Mr. Hamden to be arraign'd before him, Mercilesly condemn'd him to be hang'd.
Ralph. What had the Tallow-chandler to do with Mr. Hamden.—Surely he is to stand or fall by another sort of Judicature then six ith Pound.