Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A41837
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The Graves-end tilt-boat
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1699
(1699)
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Wing G1606; ESTC R4953
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21,400
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50
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the Kings Cypher and Crown upon his Coat with the Two Letters of the Kings Name this Fellow had a Warrant from the Master of the Revels to Travel throughout England with a fine Ape that he had which cou'd dance and do several Feats of Activity whereby he got his Living by showing him at Markets and Fairs and this Ape always rid upon a Mastiff Dog and a Man with a Drum to attend him It happened that these four Travellers came to a Town call'd Looe in Cornwal where the Inn being taken the Drum went about to signifie to the People that at such an Inn was an Ape of great Quality and extraordinary Vertue if they pleas'd to bestow their Money and Time to see him But the Townsmen being for the most part Fisher-men and other Painful and Laborious Callings had no leisure to waste either Time or Money to see an Ape shew Tricks so that no Audience came to the Inn to the great Disappointment of the Jack-an-Apes and his Master Who finding himself like to be a Loser Resolv'd to put a Trick upon the Town let the Issue be what it wou'd Whereupon he call'd for a Pen Ink and Paper and Writ the following Warrant to the Mayor of the Town These are to will and require you and every of you with your Wives and Families that upon the sight hereof you make your Personal Appearance before the King's Ape for it is an Ape of Rank and Quality who is to be practised through his Majesties Dominions that by his long Experience among his Majesties Subjects he may be the better Enabled to do his Majesty Service hereafter and hereof fail you not as you will answer the Contrary c. This Warrant being brought to the Mayor he sent for a Shoe-maker at the farther end of the Town to read it Which when he heard he sent for all his Brethren who went with him to the Town-Hall to consult what to do in this weighty Business where after they had sat a Quarter of an hour no Man saying any thing nor any Man knowing what to say at last a young Man that never had born any Office said Gentlemen if I were fit to speak I think without offence under the Correction of the Worshipful I should soon decide this Business to whom the Mayor said I pray good Neighbour speak for tho' you never did bear any Office here yet you may speak as Wisely as some of us Then Sir said the Young Man My opinion is That this Ape-Carrier is a scoffing gybing Knave and one that designs to make this worthy Corporation a meer Laughing-stock through-out the whole Kingdom for was it ever known that a fellow shou'd be so Impudently Audacious as to send a Warrant without either Name or Date to a Mayor of a Town to the King's Lieutenant and that he with his Brethren their Wives and Families shou'd be all commanded to come before a Jackanapes This is against the Liberty of the Subject and I am sure our gracious King who is in all respects so tender of his Peoples Liberties wou'd never grant such a Warrant My Counsel therefore is That you take him and his Ape with his Man and his Dog and whip the whole Crew of 'em out of Town Which I think will be much for your Credit for he deserves to be punish'd that dares Counterfeit the Kings Warrant At these Words a grave Man of the Town who seem'd to be in a great Passion said My Friend you have spoken little better than Treason for it is the Kings Ape and therefore beware what you say For had it been in the late Reigns you might have been fairly hang'd for it and this Corporation have lost their Charter for hearing you You say true said Mr. Mayor with a great deal of Indignation I wonder who bid that saucy Fellow come into our Company And what had you to do among us For you never bore any Office and that 's a sign by your wise Speech You are a fine Counsellor indeed to advise us to whip the King's Ape The Rogue had a mind to have us all hang'd Get you out of my sight Sirrah For I cann't be well while you 're here So away went poor Peel-Garlick for he was no Company for them He being gone Well says Mr. Mayor what 's now to be done in this matter Marry says another Senior we may see by the Crown upon his Coat that he 's one of the Kings Servants and who knows what Power a Knave may have in the Court to do poor Men wrong in the Country Let us go and see the Ape It is but two pence a piece no doubt but it will be well taken And if it comes to the Kings Ear he will think us good Subjects that will shew so much duty to his Ape What may he think we wou'd do to his Bears if they shou'd come hither Besides it is above Two Hundred Miles to London and if we shou'd be complain'd on and be fetch'd with Pursivants whereas now every Man may escape for his Two-Pence I 'll warrant it wou'd cost us ten Groats a piece at the least This Counsel being grounded upon so much reason past currant and all the whole Drove of the Towns-men with their Wives and Children went ro see the Ape who was sitting on a Table with a Chain about his Neck To whom Mr. Mayor because he was the King's Ape put off his Hat and made a Leg but Jack let him pass unregarded But Mrs. Mayoress coming next in her clean Linnen laid her hands before her Belly and like a Woman of good Breeding made a low Courtsie whilst Jack still Courtier-like though he respected not the Mayor yet to shew his kindness for his Wife he put forth his paw towards her and made a Mouth which Mrs. Mayoress perceiving said Husband I think in my Conscience that the King's Ape doth Mock me Whereat Jack made another Mouth at her Which Mr. Mayor espying Was very angry saying Sirrah thou Ape I do see thy sawciness and if the rest of the Courtiers have no more manners than thou hast they have all been better fed than taught How thou camest to be the Kings Ape I know not for I believe thou art a Jacobite in thy heart or else thou wouldest behave thy self with more Reverence before his Lieutenant And I will make thee know before thou goest hence That this Woman is my Wife and an Ancient Woman and a Midwife and one that might have been thy Mother for Age. In this rage Mr. Mayor went to the Inn-Door where the Jack-an Apes's Master was gathering Money as fast as he cou'd To whom Mr. Mayor said Sir Do you allow your Ape to abuse my Wife No Sir said he by no means Why truly Sir said the Mayor there is Witness enough within that have seen him make Mops and Mows at her as if she were not worthy to wipe his Shoes and I will not so put it up Upon which