had received a good-account though little satisfaction but since it is a Novelty and may well enough â—uit with the following discourse which will consist of several and variety of Knaveries and Cheatings whereof I suppose this of this Countries Religion mâ—y very well bear a part I shall give you a shoâ—t account thereof in this following Chapter CHAP. II. The Original Religion and Worship of the Banians Persees with all their Casts and Tribes THis large part of the World which is governed by the Great Mogul is inhabited by these three sort of People Banians Moor-men or Rashpoots and Persees the several Religions or Worships of the first and last viz. the Banians and Persees I shall here give you an account of but for the Moors or Rashpoots they have little esteem â—or any Religion in particular and being â—or the most part Souldiers are of the Great Moguls Religion which is partly Mahometan I shall therefore begin with the Banians who believe in one God that he created the World out of nothing that after this manner first he having the 4 Elements of Air Earth Fire water for a ground-work by some great cane or such like instruments blew upon the Waters which arose into a bubble of a round form like an Egg which spreading it self made the firmament so clear and transparent which now compasseth the world about after this there remaining true liquid substance in the earth God made of both these together a thing round like a ball which is called the lower World the more solid part became earth the liquid Sea both which making one Glob he by a great noise or huming sound placed them in the midst of the firmament there he created the Sun and Moon to distinguish times and seasons and the four elements which were before mixed were now separated and assigned to their several places and discharged their several officies the Air filled up the empty parts the fire nourished with heat the earth and sea brought forth their living creatures and then was the World created and as it had its beginning from four Elements so it was measured by four points As East West North and South and was to be continued for four Ages to be peopled by four Casts or sorts of men who were to be married to four sort of women appointed for them The world being made man was likewise made out of the earth God putting into him life and he Worshipping his Creator woman was like-wise made and given to him as a companion the first mans name was Poucous and the womans name was Parcontee and they lived together as man and wife feeding on the fruits of the earth not destroying any living Creature These two had four sons called Brammon Cuttery Shaddery and Wyse who were of different and distinct nature from each other for Brammon was of an earthly constitution and therefore Melancholly Gutteâ—y fiery and therefore Martial Shaddery Flogmatic and therefore peaceable Wyse airey and therefore full of contrivances and inventions Brammon being melancholly and ingenious God gave him knowledge and appointed him to impart his laws and therefore gave him a book conteining the form of Divine Worship and Religion Cuttery being Martial had power to Govern Kingdoms and therefore had a sword given him Shaddery being mild and conversable it was thought fit that be should be a Merchant and Trâ—ffick and therefore had a pair of ballances and a bag of waits hung at his Girdle and Wyse being aiery was appointed for a Mechanick or handicrafts man and therefore had a bag of several sorts of tools These were the first men and these their qualities according to the Banian tradition that peopled the earth Poucous and Parcontee had no daughters because the sons should go else where to find them Wives which were made for them and pâ—aced at the four winds the four sons being grown up to mans estate were commanded to travel And Frst Bramon with his Book in his hand took his journey towards the rising of the Sun in the East for the place where they were born and their Parents created was in the Middle or Navel of the World the Sun at Noon-day casting no shaddow Brammon taking his journey as is said towards the East arrived at a goodly Mountain before which was a Valley through which there passed a Brook in the descent of which there appeared a Woman a drinking This Woman was of black hair yellow complexion of an indifferent size and a modest aspect and indeed in every thing made as if made for her beholder who being naked and seeing her to be so too was more bashful than the Woman who make silence by questioning the cause of his coming thither Brammon hearing her speak anâ— that in his own Language thus reply'd That the great God who made all things had sent him thither The Woman seeing his Book asked the use of it whereupon he opening it shewed her the Contents thereof and after some other diâ—course she consented to be married to him acording to the form prescribed in that book which being dâ—ne they lay together and had many children who peopled the East part of the world this womans name was Savatree Cuttery the 2d Brother was sent upon the same account to the West part of the world and taking his sword in his hand he advanced on his journey but not meeting with any adventure or occasion to make use thereof he was much troubled desiring above all things that he might meet with some people whereon he might exercise his courage thus impatiently did he proceed on his journey till he arrived near a high Mountain where he might behould a Personage who was walking with a Martial pace and coming nearer found to be a Woman armed with a weapon call'd a Chuckery They were no sooner met but they encountred and set upon one another but though he expected a sudden conquest yet was he deceived therein for his adversary held him in play all that day till night parted them The next day also they wholly spent in fight he gained no advanrage over his female enemy only at the cloze of the day he had the fortune to cut her weapon in two but the night coming on she escaped from him without any further damage The next day she was provided vvith Bovv and Aâ—rovvs and then had a great advantage over them because she could wound him at a distance and he could not hurt her without a close fight he being sensible of this odds clozed with her by main strength threw her down holding her by the hair of the head when having a perfect view of her beauty instead of an enemy he became a lover of his beautiful object and that he might gain her affections he threw by his weapons and applyed himself to her in fair speeches to whiâ—h she was attentive and he at length became so prevalent that they at present plighted troths to one another and of enemies not only
lived piously but his successors did not so but committed so much wickedness that God again destroyed the world â—y the opening of the earth which swallowed up all mankind â—ut a few of the four Tribes who were left to new people the world again and this was the conclusion of the third Age. At the beginning of tâ—e fourth Age there was one Kistney a famous Ruler and pious King who wonderâ—ully promoted Religion Vistney was now taken â—p into Heaven there being no further need of his preservation â—or when this Age is concluded there shall be a full end of all things The Brammanes suppose this Age shall be longer then any of the rest in the end whereof Ruddery shall be taken â—p into Heaven these four ages they call by these four names Curtain Duauper Tetrajoo and Koâ—ee they hold the manner of these last judgements shall be by fire when all shall be destroyed and so the four Ages of the world shall be destroyed by the four Elements And then shall Ruddery carry up the souls of all people to Heaven with him to rest in Gods bosom but the bodyes shall all perish so that they believe not the resurrection for they say Heaven being a place that is pure they hold it cannot be Capable of such gross substances This is the sum of the Banians Religion wherein you find much of fancy and conceit as to make it be so Antient and the number four to be used so often as you have heard the meaning of the three Creatures I suppose alludes to the Trinity but instead of a confirmation and proof of a Trinity they would make a Quaternity thereof In the name I suppose they as well as other Nations who differ from us in Religion had read over our Bible and supposing that but fictions were resolved to make a Law of their own to be somewhat like that of ours which how they have done you have already heard I shall now likewise give you a brief account of the Religion used by the Persees and so put an end to this Chapter These Persees are a People discended from the antient Persians who lived in much splendor but wars coming among them they were dissipated and the Mahâ—mâ—tans who invaded them compelled several to leave their antient Religion for that of the Mahometan which they refusing exposed themselves to a voluntary banishment and therefore carried what of their substanee they could with them they sought for a new plaâ—e of habitation and at length found it in this Country where they now inhabit being admitted â—o use their own Religion but yielding themselves in subjection to the government of the Nation and paying homage and tâ—ibute their Religion being different from the rest of the Inhabitants I shall thus describe to you Thâ—â— affirm that before any thing was there was a God who made the Heavens and the Earth and all things therein conteined at six times or labours and between each labour â—e rested five dayes first He made the Heavens with their Orbs adorned with great lights and lesser as the Sun Moon and Stars also the Angels whom he placed in their several orders according to their dignities which place he ordained to be for the habitations of such as should live holy in this life this being done he rested five days Then he made Hell in the lower parts of the world from which he banished all light and comfort wherein were several Mansions that exceâ—ded each other in dolour propoâ—tioned for the degrees of Offenders about which time Lucifer the chief of Angels with other of his Order conspiring against God to agin the Soverâ—ignty and command over all God threw him first from the Orb of his happineâ—s together with his confederates and complices damned him to Hell the â—lace that was made for Offenders and turn'd them from their glorious shapes into shapes black ugly and deformed till the end of the world when all oâ—fenders shall receive punishment this was the second labour After this God created the earth and waters making this world like a ball in that admirable manner that now it is this was the third labour The fourth was to make the Trees and Herbs the fifth was to make Beasts Fowles and Fishes and the sixth and last Man and Woman whose names were Adamah and Evah and by these the world was propagated in this manner God as they affirm did cause Evah to bring forth two twins every day for a thousand years together and none dyed Lucifer being malicious and endeavouring to do mischief God set certain Supervisors over his creatures Hamull had charge of the Heavens Acob of the Angels Foder of the Sun Moon and Stars Soreb of the Earth Josah of the Waters Sumbolah of the Beaâ—â—s of the Field Daloo of the Fish of the Sea Rocan of the Tree Cooz of Man and Woman and Settan and Asud were Guardians of Lucifer and other evil spirits who for all that did some mischief the â—ins of men occasioned the destruction of the world by a flood which spared only a few to people the Earth which was done accordingly and this is their opinion oâ— the Creation aâ—d first Age. As to their Religion it was given them by a Law-giver whose name was Zertoâ—st whose birth was strange and breeding and visions miraculous the names of his Father and Mother were Espintaman and Doâ—oo he was born in China and great fame going of him when young the King of that Country endeavoured his destruction but could not bring it to pasâ— for those who were sent to destroy him had their sinews shrunk he being twelve or thirteen years of age was taken with a great sickness the King hearing theâ—eof sent Physitians to destroy him but Zertoost sensible of their practice reâ—uâ—eâ— their Physick and fled with his Father and Mother into Persia in his way meeting with Rivers he congeal'd them to ice and so went over he arrived at Persia in the time of the Reign of K. Gustasph it was in that Country that at his request to God he being purified was carried up into Heaven where he heard the Almighty speaking as in flames of fire who revealed to him the works of the Creation and what was to come and gave him Laws for the better government and eâ—tablishment of Religion Zertoost desired to live always that he might instruct the woâ—ld in Religion but God answered That if he should live never so long yet Lucifer would do more â—aâ—m then he should do good but if he desired to live long as the World endured he might God also presented to Zertooâ—â— the seven ages oâ— times of the Persian Monarchy the first was the Golden age the dâ—ys of Guiomaras second the Silver the days of Fraydhun third the Brazen the days of Kaykobod the fourth the Tin the days of Lorasph fifth Leaden the days of Bahaman sixth the Steel the days of Darah Segner the seventh the Iron Age in the Reign of Yesdegerd He finding by this
must never eat and drink excessively 9. That he fear no body but God and sin and not fear what Lucifer can do to him 10. That God having given him power in matters of the soul therefore when any Man sins he may tell him of it be he never so great and every man is to obey him as one that speaketh not his own cause but Gods 11. That he be able to discern in what manner God comes to reveal himself in what manner Lucifer 12. That he reveal not what God madifesteth to him by Visions 13. That he keep an ever-living fire that never may â—o out which being kindled by that fire that Zertoost brought from Heaven may endure for all ages till fire shall come to destroy all the world and that he say his prayers over it This is a Summary of those precepts contained in the book of their Law that Zertoost is by them affirmed to bring from heaven and that Religion which Guslasph with his followers embraced perswaded by the afore-mentioned miracles wrought by Zertoost amongst them The 3 d. particular in this Tract is the rights and ceremonies observed by this Sect differencing them from others First Though their Law allows them great libeâ—ty inmeats and drinks yet because they will not displease the Banians and Moors they abstain from Kine and Hogs-flesh they eat alone and drink in several Cups 2. They observe 6 Feasts in the year according to the 6 works of the Creation 3. As for their Fasts after every one of theâ—â— Feasts they eat but one Meal a day for 5 days togâ—ther and when they eat Flesh they carry part of â—t to the Temple as an offering Their worship of Fire is taken from Zâ—rtâ—â—â—ts bringing it from Heaven and it being enjoyned them for the nature of it that which he brought câ—â—ld not be extinguished whether that be preferâ—ed is unknown but upon effect thereof they are licensed to compose a fire of several mixtures which is oâ— eâ—en sorts when they meet about that ceremony bestowed on this Fire the Defloore or Herbood together with the Assembly encompass it about and â—â—andiâ—g about 11 or 12 foot distance the Deâ—loore or Hâ—â—â—ood uttereth this speech That forasmuch as 〈◊〉 was â—â—lâ—vered to Zertoost their Law-giver from God â—lmighâ—y who pronounced it to be his vertue and excelâ—â—nce that therefore they should reverence it and not abuse 〈◊〉 the ordinary use thereof as to put water in it or spit in it c. At the birth of a child the Dacoo or Churchman is sent for who calculates the Nativity of the Child and the Mother names it without â—ny ceremony â—fâ—â—r this it is carried to the Church and water is pâ—â—râ—d thereon and prayer used That God would cleanse it from the uncleanness of the Father and menstruous pollutionis of the Mother At 7 years of age he is led by the Parents into the Church to have Confirmation where he is taught Prayers and instructed in Religion and being washed he is cloathed in a Linnen Cassock and other habits which he ordinarily wears and so is admiâ—ted into their Sect. They have a five-fold kind of marriage for which they have several terms the most singular is that of hiring a mans Son or Daughter to be matched to their dead Daughter or Son with whom they are contracted The ceremony observed in their Marriages is performed at Midnight not in the Church but upon a bed by two Church-men one in behalf of the man the other in behalf of the Woman who ask if they are willing to be married and they joyn hands the man promising to provide for the Woman and give her some Gold to bind her to him and the woman promiseth all she hath is his then the Churchmen scattering rice prays that they may be fruitful and so they conclude celebrating the marriage feast for 8 days together As for burial they have two places or Tombs built of a round form a pretty height from the ground within they are paved with stone in a shelving manner in the midst a hollow pit to receive the consum'd bones about the walls are the shrowded sheeted carkasses laid both of men and women exposed to the open Air. These 2 Tombs are distant from one another the one is for good livers the other for the wicked When any are sick unto death the Herbood is sent for who prays in the eares of the sick man when he is dead he is carried on anIron biere all who accompany them are interdicted all speech only the Churchman when the dody is laid in the burial place saith thus Thiâ— our Brother whilst he lived consisted of the 4 Elements now he is dead let each take his own Earth to Earth Air to Air Water to Water and Fire to Fire This done they pray to Sertun and Asud that they would keep the Devils from their deceased Brother when he repairs to their holy fire to purge himself for they suppose the Soul wandreth three days on the earth in which time Luoifer molesteth it for security from which molestation it flyes to their â—ire seeking preservation here which time concluded it receiveth justice or reward Hell or Heaven and therefore they for those three days offer up Prayers Morning Noon and Night that God would be merciful to the Soul departed and forgive his sins After three days are expired they make a Festival and conclude their mourning CHAP. III. The Arrival of the English Fleet his entertaining of six Englâ—sh-men an account of whose Adventures is promised him by one of the Company The Travellâ—r describeth the place of his birth and Parents the death of his elder Brother and how through the perswasions of his Father he resolved to follow thieving I Had now spent several Months in my Voyage by Sea perambulations by Land and observations of the Country in general and this more particular discovery of the Laws and manner both of Civil and Eccleâ—iastical of the Inhabitants a just account whereof I have given you in the foregoing Chapters And now we daily expected the return of Ships from England and therefore every one provided to be â—urnished with all things necessary against their arrival The Merchants who were reâ—ident on shore had every day several sorts of commodities brought out of the Country in Waggons drawn by Oxen so that their Store-houses were filled and I for my part provâ—ded my self with all sorts of Liquor and Victuals that the Country afforded All the time usual the Fleet arrived which cnosisted of 4 â—hips whereof 3 was on the account of the Company and the 4th by their permission came aâ— an Interloper those that came on the account of the company were provided with all things necessary by the order of the Consul or President and the other Ships company being left to shift for themselves took up my house for their quarters The chief of the company that lodged with me consisted of 6 persons two whereof seemed to be very
thaâ— night I told her very well for my skin was armor of proof against the biting of fleas or any other disturbance whatsoever but though I carried fair weather in my countenance my heart boyled in revenge against her wherefore thaâ— day I went and bought two penny-vorth of Cow-itch which is a drug of that nature that where it touches the flesh it will make tâ—em so scrub seventeen times worse than if they weâ—e plagued with the itch with this I anointed her sheets in the same manner as I strowed them with horse-hair before but if the hair netled this fleyed she had needed to have had Briarius hundred hands to have scratcht her self at once for when she came to be a little hot in her bed she fared like a mad woman the more she scratcht the more it itcht so that by what she seek't to allay her pain she encreased it the going out of her bed would not cure her now she carried her distemper along with her so that knowing not how to ease her self she bellowed like a Bull and made such a quarter that the whole houâ—e was disturbed with her bellowing All night she continued thus in the morning I began to play upon her told her that the scratching of her arse signified we should have butter cheap and that â—ow ever things wents she would be sure to Rub through with them but had I not took my heels she had so rubbed my ears for it as would have turned my mirth into mourning That day was very fatal to me and my running from the Maid in the morning prognosticated I should run from my master before night It so happened that we had some work to do that day at a Tavern in Thames-street the back-side whereof adjoyned to the Thames which the Vintner would have beautified next to the water-side now for to make hâ—m a scaffold to work on he put the ends of two long sticks out at the window laying a board over them for him to stand on the out side and on the in-side faâ—tned the end of the one with a Cord but wantiâ—g a Cord for the other he bid me to sit on it thereby to keep it from kicking up thus was all things ordered my Master gotten up upon his scaffold which vvas just over the water and I sâ—tting on the end of the stick he fell a singing as he was accustomed to do at his work and I fell a nodding being lulled a sleep with his singing in my sleep I dreamed that my old Master the Cook was alive again that I lived with him and that our House was full of Guests by and by some Gentlemen knocked in the next room I hearing them imagined that I was called and thereupon cryed out Anon Anon I come I come Sir and thereupon fell a running when presently up flew the stick and down fell my Master crying all the way he fell help help I shall be drownâ—d the noise he made waked me out of my sleep when looking forth so the window I saw my Master floating like a shitle-cock upon the water I seeing what had happened thought more upon saving my self than him imagining if he were drowned that I should be hanged and therefore that I might not die the death of a dog to prevent it I run away leaving my Master to shift for himself whom though yet I loved well and would not have parted from him but for this accident I made great hast in going and yet knevv not whither to go East West North or South all was indifferent to me for it is impossible he can be out of his way to whom all vvays are alike London though large and populous I judged no Coverture for me I wanting those two great helps of concealment money and friends The Country therefore I pâ—tcht upon invited thereto the more it being then the merry month of May the pleasantest time of all the year the earth having then put on her richest apparel the meadow cloathed in green the fields beautified with flowers and the Woods adorned vvith Violets Cowslips and Primroses the winged Choristers of the Forrest warbled forth their ditties very harmoniously the Lambs friskt and leapt dancing lavaltoâ—s on the flowry pastures and the murmuring stream made a noise like to a chime of Bells running through their winding Meanders As I walked thus in the Country encircled with pleasures and every where having my eyes satiated with variety of pleasing objects I thought my self to be in Paradise and imagined no pleasure in the world comparable to that of a Country life Happy yea thrice happy thought I is he who not playing with his wings in the golden flames of the Court not setting his foot in the busie throngs of the City not running up and down in the intricate mazes of the Law can be content in the winter to sit by a Country fire and in the Summer to lay his head on the green pillows of the Earth The Country Cottage is neither battered down by the Canon in time of War nor pester'd with clamorous Suits in time of peace The fall of Cedars that tumble from the tops of Kingdoms the ruine of great Houses that bury Families in their overthrow and the ways of shipwracks that begat even shrieks in the heart of Cities never send their terrors thither that place stand as safe from the shock of such violent storms as the Bay tree does from lightening their sleeps are secure from such dangers and their wakings as pleasant as golden dreams In the homely village art thou more safe than in a fortified Castle the stings of Envy nor the bullets of Treason are never shot through those thin walls sound healths are drunk out of the wholsome wooden dish when the Cup of Gold boyles over with Poyson Hast thou a desire to rule get up to the Mountains and thou shalt see the greatest trees stand trembling before thee to do thee Reverence those mayest thou call thy Nobles Thou shalt have ranks of oak on each side of thee which thou maist call thy Guard thou shalt see Willows bending at every blast whom thou maist call thy flatterers thou shalt see valleys humbled at thy feet whom thou maist term thy slaves Wouldest thou behold battels step into the fields there shalt thou behold excellent Combats between the standing Corn and the windes Art thou a tyrant and delightest in the fall of great ones muster then thy Harvesters together and down with those proud Summer Lords when they are at highest Wouldst thou have Subsidies paid thee the Plough sends thee in Corn the Meadow gives thee her pasture the Trees pay thee custom with their fruit the Ox bestows upon thee his labour the Sheep his wool the Cow her milk the Fowls their feathers c. Dost thou call for Musick nâ— Prince in the world keeps more sâ—ilful Musitians the Birds are thy Conâ—orts and the wind instruments they play upon yield ten thousand tunes Thus went I on contemplating
Mogul did but understand what a treasure he had in his Country by their arrival that he would quickly secure it to himself and hinder the prosecution of their Voyage any further To this they reply'd that they did not believe he would see any thing in them that should merit such an esteem but added one of them If he should do so and be never so desirous of my Company yet I am better satisfied in the Society that I am at present in possession of then if I were courted and served by the greatest Prince upon Earth To this so generous speech I reply'd that those persons who had the honour to be her servants were in that very happy These Complements being pass'd drink was brought and after that Victuals which we had in great plenty there being no want of any thing that could he had at the best mans table in England and all the dishes of Meat were dress'd in the English fashion by a Cook of that Country After Dinner we fell again to discourse the Women being very desiâ—ous oâ— Novelties and to be acquainted with the customs of the Country especially of those used by Women but when I told them of thâ—t Custom of the better sort of Country-women how they usually accompanied their Husbands in death by burning their living with their Husbands dead bodies they were not very well pleased therewith accounting it great folly for said they it cannot possibly do their Husbands any good and why they should so destroy themselves out of a complement was foolish To pass through and accompany a Husband or friend whilst living in all dangers is what is befitting but there being no remedy for death nor no present enjoyment after death thus to cast away themselves is ridiculous We allowed of their Opinions as grounded upon reason I asked them how they liked our Men the Inhabitants Not at all said one of them as a Husband or Bed-fellow but if there were no other men to be had we must be contented with them rather then none as well as you are with the Native-women Various were our Discourses in which we entertained one another with much pleasure having a lusty bowl of Punch still standing by us whiâ—h as we drank off we renewed and at some of our frolicks one of the great Guns were discharged I had ey'd both these women very curiously and did imagine that I had formerly seen them and had some acquaintance with them I knew one of them more particularly by the tone of her Voice but it having been so long a time since I had seen either I could not call them to mind I did not at all think it covenient to ask them any particular questions referring that to a greater privacy I being now acquainted with most of their transactions they asked my advice in disposing their moneys and selling their Commodities and what to buy to turn to the beâ—t advantage To all these Questions I gave them the best answers I could to their satisfaction and now night coming on I desired to leave them and invited them all to my house the next day they not only concluded on that but agreed that the Women should constantly take my house for their quarters it being more convenient then on board of the Ship they coming in their mens apparel and I providing for them with all privacy to this I agreed and after a fresh Cup of Wine and my ordinary salutes to the women I left them and went home to my wife who at my desire provided all things necessary not only for the next days entertainment but for the future conveniency of my lodgers who were not to be known to her for other then men The next day they came and we were again all merry but some occasions calling away the men the women were left alone with me I was now resolv'd to enquire whether they had never known me they both replied Not that they at present knew of but they both said that certainly they had seen me in England but at present they could not remember where wherefore they prayed me to give them some account of my condition and quality when I lived in England To this I reply'd that I had indeed been of all conditions and a very rambler and it was a great chance but if they had been in any publique house of Entertainment that I might have seen them there to this they both answered that they had for some time been publique enough in entertaining Gentlemen in their Company with much freedom But said one of them who was the Scriveners Mistress I have certainly seen and known you before I undertook any such courses for if I be nâ—t mistaken you are the man did first deceive me and therefore I pray tell me if in your travels in Englanâ— you did not light into a Farmers house and dâ—d some kindnesses oâ— discourtesies to his Daughter and then leâ—t her I hearing her say this after some small pause recollected my self and seriously viewing her concluded heâ— to be the very Farmers Daughter whose Maidenhead I bereaved her of and in requital left her and gave her no other satisfaction then a paper oâ— Verses I being now resolv'd in my opinion ran to her and embracing her beg'd pardon for that affront telling her that it was onely one of those maâ—y youthful tricks whereof I had been guilty She at fiâ—st out of sence of the affront I had done her could not forbear weeping but I gave her so many good words that in fine she was well enough satisfied and lovingly permitted me to embrace and kiss her The other woman hearing that my acquaintance with her Companion began with the loss of her Virginity musâ—d and blushed and very strictly beholding me said And truly if I be not mistaken I purchasâ—d my acquaintance with you with the same loss but I was deceived by you in a more subtil manner then this my Companion for she knowing you to be a man permitted you to her bed as she hath related to me But if you are the person that I mean as I now think you are you became my bedfellow by a mistake for not only I but many others of the Family believed you to be a Woman I hearing her say this fixed my eys upon her but could not perfectly remember her but to the discourse she made I gave this answer Truly Madam I have been oâ—ten guilty of Female frauds and during the whole course of my life I endeavoured chiefly to have the Company oâ— Fâ—males and I hope if you were one of those with â—hom I â—ay at a Boarding-School where I went for a Sâ—rvant-Maid that you will forgive me that fact for iâ— it were not there I then cannot tell where I should have so much happiness as to enjoy you There it was replyed she where I lost my Virginity and honour and which I have so often repented of for I was then well beloved of an indulgent Father who