robustious Spirit they were forced to lye still for four or five whole days and nights in which time Don Tomazo's Father had been amply inform'd which way the two Edomites were march'd with the Spoyls of his Purse and Stable How fatal this discovery might have prov'd to these young Practitioners in iniquity may be easily conjectur'd had the Father been eager to follow them But he being more tender of his credit as disdaining the world should know how his grave Experience had been over-reach'd by two raw Whipsters then to make a noise of his losses neglected the pursuit so that upon Jemmy's recovery the two Knight-Errants set forward again without any disturbance But Jemmy as unsound in body as in mind having ventur'd too soon into the sharp winter air for such was the season of the year which they chose for their Journey of pleasure before they could accomplish four days travel more fell into a new distemper to the great grief and sorrow of Don Tomazo who had then no small reason to doubt the loss of his Guide and pillar of his hopes as finding himself for the love and friendship which he bore to Jemmy now more likely to be expos'd then ever to the misfortunes of unhappy Undertakers easily foreseen but so not easie to be prevented especially considering the great expence he then and still was like to be at These reflections and the thoughts of being a stranger without having any Bills of Exchange for future supply among a rude sort of people that would no longer respect him then his money lasted which was not likely to be long at the rate of Nurses and Pothecaries Bills were sufficient to have confounded all the cogitations that an unexperienc'd Stripling could muster together But Fortune and good Husbandry so well agreed to encourage Don Tomazo in his first Essays of Gusmanry that in three weeks time Jemmy not yet mellow enough for the Devil's palate was well recover'd and able to undertake the remaining part of the Journey And indeed he had then more reason then ever to promise a retaliation of that care and kindness which his Master had shewn him in his Sickness nor to say truth could Don Tomazo accuse him in the least while he was yet in England where he was as lavish of his acknowledgements as could be expected and protested such works of supererogation at home as if his Fathers Opulent Seat had been the Mansion of Gratitude it self But the Reader shall soon find the vast difference between Scotch Promises and Scotch Performances Well after a cold and tedious Journey all weather-beaten as we were at length we arrived at Jemmy's Father's Palace lying in the County of Anderdale near a Town callâ—d Moffut When Don Tomazo beheld it he was so far from being over-ravish'd with joy at the sight that he took it for some inchanted Castle in regard he could not see so much as one stone of all that magnificent Pile which Jemmy all the way upon the road had been building in his fancy Rather he was more than usually surpriz'd at the humility of the Structure and the lowliness of the Owner Had he not been a Scot you would have sworn him a Turk regardless of his habitation in this world in expectation of Fools Paradise in the next It was a Hovel or rather Stie in length about six and thirty foot not covered Cathedral-like with Lead nor yet with glittering Copper after the Swedish manner but according to the Scotch custome very meanly thatcht with oaten Reeds not such as the Arcadian Shepherds pip'd withal but plain down-right illiterate Straw The fire was made near the Bed-side at one end which for want of a Chimney wrapt the whole Family Guests and all like so many Ixions in a continual cloud of Eye-tormenting smoak Near to the Bed-side lay the Corn and Hay which you may be sure was not worth its weight in Gold and at the other end without the distinction of Partitions stood two Sheep a Cow and the Squires Horses So that it may be verily believ'd that Vertue her self in all her exiles and persecutions never liv'd in such a Homely Hermitage and Marius when he lay hid among the Bulrushes in the Fens of Minturnus might be thought to have lodg'd in a Palace to this ill-favour'd resemblance of Noah's Ark. So soon as we came to this unfortunate Apartment the Old man overtaken with joy not only to see his Son who had been absent from him several years but to behold him in an equipage so Gentile after the English mode could not forbear bedewing his Cheeks but when Jemmy fell on his Knee to crave his Fathers blessing the old man who well knew he had none to give stood amaz'd What a muckle Dee'l quoth he is the Carle wood Whereupon Tomazo observing his astonishment acquainted the old Bacon-fac'd Lown that it was the onely customary way for Children in England to acknowledg their respect and duty to their Parents and that Jemmy had done it purely out of natural affection and to shew his improvement in English Behaviour and Education Thereupon the old man seeming to be better satisfi'd condescended to the breeding of his Son and Embrac'd him Which Ceremonie being soon over he requested the Squire to enter his Polyphemes Den. But Don Tomazo being very hungry and not finding the place proper for many Complements came close to the point and demanded what Provision they had in the House To which they made answer that they had good store of Oatemeal and water but neither Flesh nor Fowl Milk nor Butter Bread nor Drink and which was worse that none of these Creature-comforts were to be had for money within six miles of the place so that poor Don Tomazo who had always far'd well at a plentiful Table began to curse his man Jemmy who after such mountainous promises of a splendid Entertainment and Princely Viands had betray'd his longing Appetite to such miserable Commons hardly worth the acceptance of a Country mouse But Jemmeys Mother discovering discontent in Don Tomazo's face and taking pitty of his Youth or rather for joy of her dear Darlings return began to comfort up our desponding Stomachs with the hopes of a notable Banquet This after the expence of all her Huswifery prov'd to be that sumptuous Scotch Dish called a Steane-Bannock which was a certain Composition of Bean Peas'n Barly and Oat'n-meal mix'd together with water and made into the form of a large Cake and being set to the fire against a stone and so bak'd was to be eaten with water and this without first or second Course was the cream of their entertainment a strange sort of Philosophical Diet that no way answer'd Don Tomazo's pamper'd Expectations Supper if so it might be call'd being thus soberly dispatch'd at the meer instance of craving hunger the weary Guests were no less desirous of repose then they were before of food to which the old man repli'd that 't was the Fashion in
of Quality and Heirs to fair Estates and thus far Tomazo had Greymolkin's luck still to fall upon his Legs While the Ship was under Sail the two Gentlemen and Tomazo had several Consultations how to shape their Travels after they came ashoar in order whereunto it was agreed that they should travel all Spain first and after that set Sail for Aegypt from whence they would visit India China Tartarie and so through Muscovie and Germanie home into England again Full of these design'd Rambles they arriv'd at Cadiz from whence they made hast to Madrid where they had not been above four days but one of the Gentlemen happen'd to kill a Spanish Count which occasion'd an immediate and diligent enquiry after all Persons that had been in his company Thereupon the Gentlemen upon notice of the search given them by a Blackamore-Maid that serv'd in the House where they lodg'd stole away afoot though all the by-ways of the Country shaping their Course for Ligorn and leaving miserable Tomazo behind without either Money or Credit who in two days after was apprehended and in that bless'd condition committed to Goal There he found several other English People whose Crimes were only their acquaintance with the Gentleman that had kill'd the Gount which Gentlemans Name the sequel of the Story so requiring is to be henceforward Don Pedro Perguelio But such was the kindness of the Spanish Justice that when the Search was over all the Pris'ners were brought before the Court where nothing appearing against them they were all discharg'd Had not Tomazo had a wonderful Love for the Light of the Sun it had been all one for him to have confess'd the Fact and been hang'd as to starve for want of mouldy Crusts Such were the violent persecutions of a hungry Stomack under which Tomazo pin'd and wasted at that time But if it had not been for these blessed Butts of which you shall meet with anow before the Story concludes poor Tomazo had been half worm-eaten by this but then I say it so fell out one day as Tomazo was walking upon the Parade among the Soldiers for his inclinations were always Martial a certain Captain whose Name was Don Pedro del Viejo Castello perceiving Tomazo by his Habit to be a Forreigner ask'd him his Country to which Tomazo reply'd of England for which the Captain liking him much the better perswaded him to list himself in his Company which lay then at Puerto Ferrara promising him due payment of his Wages which came to three half-pence a day but withal by his deportment giving Tomazo to understand that there might be some hopes of advance and better usage for an English-man then for the riffraff of the Country The Offer considering the nick of time was as welcome to Tomazo as Rain to the parch'd Earth he having been a Stranger to all sort of Sustenance for some time So that now being advanc'd on a sudden from the Grave to be a Gentleman Soldier he again resumes his forsak'n Title of Don and marches away in state to his new Quarters at Puerto Ferrara There he liv'd about three quarters of a year upon his foremention'd allowance and the augmentation of a pound of Bread a day at the end of which term the Garrison was in a most violent manner besieg'd by the Portugueses with whom the Besieg'd had many Encounters in one of which the Collonel of Tomazo's Regiment being kill'd Don Pedro del Viejo Castello succeeded him in the employment who not forgetting Don Tomazo in his advancement whose courage and behaviour had very much won his Heart took such a special care of him that he rais'd his Pay from three half-pence to four pence and after that for some works of super-arrogation that Don Tomazo perform'd from four pence to eight pence a day About which time the Besiegers drew off leaving all their Trenches in good order and retreated home for some time which gave the Town both leisure and opportunity to recruit During this Calm the rest of the Soldiers who had recover'd their Spirits envying Don Tomazo's Prosperity and the great esteem which his Collonel had for him enter'd into Cabals and Consultations among themselves to contrive his ruine but finding no success in their Spanish Plots a Brace of the Conspirators undertook to attaque him by main force and in pursuance of their design one evening at the turning of a Corner set upon him with that violence that Don Tomazo was very severely wounded but having recover'd himself he drew forth a Pistol and shot one of his Assailors who soon after dy'd of his hurts and while he was in pursuit of the other a Corporal came in to his assistance who took the other and secur'd him upon the Guard Nevertheless upon the death of the first Aggressor Don Tomazo was try'd by a Counsel of War where upon a full examination of the Fact Don Tomazo was acquitted with great applause and the other Assailant that was taken both degraded and cashier'd This Exploit made Don Tomazo more famous then before and more esteem'd and redoubted in the Garrison So that when the Enemies return'd again and renew'd their Attacques upon the Town with that fury that the Inhabitants began to be apprehensive of the loss of the Place several of the better sort deliver'd their Jewels to a very considerable value to the custody of Don Tomazo the better to secure 'em upon the surrender of the Town Which 〈◊〉 no longer after several rude Assaults able to hold out yielded upon honourable Conditions and so the Spanish Garrison march'd forth and as one of the Number Don Tomazo Who now possess'd of so fair a Booty and knowing the danger of Delays went to his Collonel for a Pass-port The Collonel unwilling to part with Tomazo promis'd to advance him to a Commission and to make his Fortune provided he would stay in his Service But Tomazo who had an unknown Fortune within the compass of his Breeches gave those pressing Arguments for his departure to his Collonel and press'd him so home that at length vanquish'd by Importunity the Collonel granted him his Pass by vertue of which Don Tomazo posted away for Ligorn as fast as his Legs would carry him and there embarqu'd for Scanderoon whither he was inform'd some English Gentlemen had taken Shipping about fourteen days before with a resolution to visit Grand Cairo When he came to Scanderoon upon enquiry by all descriptions he guest them to be the Persons that had left him to his shifts at Madrid which was the reason he was not very sollicitous to follow them At Scanderoon therefore he stay'd till upon the sale of some of his Jewels to a Jew that was bound for Ligorn he was inform'd by his Landlady an English-woman that that there was an express come with Orders to apprehend him For the Jew coming to Ligorn presently offers his new Purchase to sale and as the Devil and ill luck would have it to a Merchant nearly
related to the very Person from whom Don Tomazo had receiv'd them who had also particular order from his Relation to seize all such Persons as should expose any such sort of Jewels to sale of which he had sent a particular description So that the Jew being question'd about the Jewels informs against his Chapman and discovers where he was Thereupon Don Tomazo thought it high time to shift his Quarters and posts away with all imaginable speed for Grand Cairo where if a Man do but alter his Habit 't is impossible to find him out To which purpose he puts on the disguise of a Turk and in that dress one day met with his old Fellow-Traveller Don Pedro Perguelio who admir'd to find Don Tomazo in such a Mahometan Garb but being acquainted in few words with the occasion he receiv'd ample satisfaction more especially when Don Tomazo farther told him that at that distance from his Country he could in that Heathenish City command a thousand Pound Which was at that time no Rodomantado in regard the Jewels were worth above four times the value Certainly there can be no greater pleasure in this World then for one distress'd Gusman to meet another of the same Order flush in the Trophies of succesful project Gusmans being the only relict of the Golden Age that have all things in common so that if one has it the rest never want So that it is but reason that the Purses of Fools should pay Tribute for the maintenance of such a noble Generosity Don Pedro was upon his last Legs when the happy accident to meet a Member of the Fraternity so richly laden made his Heart dance in his Breast without a Violin On the other side Don Tomazo understood that it had not been so much the ill husbandry of Don Pedro which had brought him so low but a generous Charity to two English Gentlemen his Comrades who dy'd there of the Plague the Expences of whose Sickness together with their Funeral Charges had exhausted him to a very small Remainder So that as if the two deceased Gentlemen had left Don Pedro the Executor of their gratitude from thence forward Don Pedro and Don Tomazo enter'd into an inviolable League as well offensive as defensive in so much that though they were two Bodies there were the same thoughts and the same mind in both and an united force now manag'd all their intreagues Grand Cairo is a City famous for its situation and the variety of Pleasures it affords all Persons so well able to purchase 'em as then Don Tomazo was who resolving to know the difference between three half-pence a day and the splendor of unlimited plenty concluded with his friend to debarr themselves of no freedom or recreation which Money could command in the greatest Mart of the World But as the Sea it self would dry up without the continual supply of swelling Rivers so it was impossible for Tomazo's unreplenish'd Bag had it been as deep as Virgils Passage to Hell to answer the Expectations of a Brace of Scattergoods that thought it would never be ev'ning till at length their inconsiderate profuseness having reduc'd their lean Bank to the low ebb of not above a hundred and fifty Pounds Repentance stept in and put them in mind of the calamities of Poverty a very unsuccessful remedy to cure the Surfeits of Excess among the pitiless Adorers of Mahomet Thereupon they began to think of a new Ramble and understanding that there was a Caravan of 800 Passengers ready to depart for India both the Dons agree'd to make a part of the Company But the season of the year for passing the sandy Deserts proving more tempestuous then usually gave them leisure enough to spend a hundred and twenty Pound out of their low Stock for the curses of the credulous Portugueses had by this time taken their desir'd effect so that they perceiving no more then thirty Pound remaining alter'd both their Resolutions and their Habits and embarqu'd from Scanderoon for Genoa where they continu'd fourteen Months to the total consumption of all the Portugal Booty Then it was that Necessity put Don Tomazo to employ the Talents of his Youth to which purpose he made Love to a Genoese Widow over whose Affections in a short time he had obtain'd a Conquest that very fairly answer'd both his own and his Friends Expectations But having made that Post too warm by debauching the Woman getting her with Child and wasting her Fortunes they departed incognito in an English Man of War that brought them safe to Cadiz Where they behav'd themselves so well that the Merchants gave them daily invitations and were very free in all manner of accommodations But one day among the rest Don Tomazo to retaliate the Kindnesses they had both receiv'd for true Gusmans never mind Morality propos'd to his Friend Don Pedro a Design which had it taken effect would have made them Masters of a new Fortune to the value of above five hunder'd Pound But it so happen'd that as they were walking upon the Beach in a deep Consultation about the most compendious and effectual way to proceed in their attempt not minding their way they were rambl'd about a League from the Town where they were overtaken by three English Gentlemen who were in pursuit of eight Land Pirates for a Robbery and Murder they had committed the night before upon the Person of Thomas Lucie Esq These Gentlemen requested their assistance which they readily promis'd and joyn'd in the Pursuit After a chase of four hours they found one of the Criminals sitting upon a Sand-hill who pretended himself half dead This crafty Devil sate there as a Decoy having planted his other seven Confederates under the Sand whence they were all ready to rise with Pistols and Stilletoo's if occasion requir'd as indeed it most unfortunately fell out For the Gentlemen eagerly falling to search and examine the single Pickaroon he presently gave the watch-word to the rest who presently rising from their Ambuscado fell upon the Gentlemen not a little surpriz'd at their number and their Instruments of death with that violent fury that one of them was kill'd outright having receiv'd near twenty stabs with a Stilletto and the other two so wounded that they were left for dead Tomazo was shot in the Back and Shoulder and Don Pedro prick'd in five or six places with a Spanish Tuck and both convey'd by the Victors among the great Sand-hills The other two who were left for dead made such hideous out-cries through the extremity of their Pain that a Spaniard fishing not far from the Shoar came and took them into his Boat Don Tomazo and Don Pedro had the good luck to tast of the Free-booters mercy who very carefully dress'd their Wounds as if natural instinct had prompted them to be kind to Persons that liv'd upon the spoil as they did and when they were in a hopeful way of recovery perswaded them to enter in their Society and to
by being bitten with about 30 Pieces of the same nature before Whose revenge exasperating him to a strict examination of the Woman she was constrain'd to discover where she had it and then to go along with the Officers of the City and shew them Philip's Lodging who was immedately surpriz'd and apprehended with all his Materials and Instruments about him and without enquiry after farther proof committed to Prison This apparent discovery and the great alarum it gave the whole City was notice sufficient for Don Pedro and Gulielmo to shift for themselves who made all imaginable hast to Don Tomazo to whom they related the doleful disaster and the sad tydings of their interrupted Commerce Thereupon Don Tomazo sold off all his Merchandize and having quarter'd his Companions in a Village near to Gaunt he went himself to Middleburgh with an intention to use all his endeavours to help Philip out of the Briars But by that time he had been twice with Philip in the Prison and had order'd all things ready for his Escape there came in the middle of the night several of the Officers of the Town to seize Tomazo upon information given to the Heer 's against him by Philip himself who not believing it was in Don Tomazo's power to bring him off was in hopes by an ingenious confession and the conviction of Don Tomazo to save his own Bacon But his treachery did him no kindness For he wanted Money without which there is nothing to be done in that nor in any other part of the World On the other side Tomazo had plenty and with his Golden Showers so mollifi'd the Goalers Daughter that she not only brought him an Iron Instrument to dig his way through the Wall a Rope to let himself down and a Boat to receive him but accompany'd him her none tender self leaving Father and Mother for the sweet satisfaction of her fleshly appetite Being both safe in the Boat away sail'd Feliciano and his Feliciana to Flushing and from thence without any Provision put to Sea where they drave almost starv'd to death upon the Wide Ocean till Fortune threw them at length upon the Coast of Flanders at what time they quitted the Boat and travel'd the Country by Land like a Tinker and his Doxey till they came to Don Pedro and Gulielmo to whom Don Tomazo gave an account of the kindness Philip would have done him in requital of his pains and friendly Intentions Nor was it long after that we heard of poor Philips being transported to the other World in a Caldron of boyling Oyl according to the Sentence of his Judges which sort of terrible Execution did not little startle the rest of the Confederates yet not so as altogether to daunt 'em in the progress of their profession For Don Tomazo Don Pedro Gulielmo and the Goalers kind Daughter whose Name was Mariana removing to Brussels they fell again in that Place to their Zeland sport resolving to hazard t'other Caldron where after they had made a considerable quantity of Coyn they took their several Stations and Employments of Merchandizing till all their Pieces were gone Which good success encourag'd them to go on afresh But so it fell out that Mariana who had alter'd her Habit and went for a Dutch Minheir and Gulielmo going one day to Court to buy Horses of Count Monterey's Servants were spy'd by a Person of Quality of whom they had purchas'd other Horses before and pay'd him two hunder'd Pistols of Coyn out of their own Mint This same Person was a certain Count who made such a noise that the whole Court was alarum'd the Parties accus'd were both apprehended and sent to eat the Bread of affliction in Lobbs-pound where they endur'd no small torment both of Body and Mind especially Mariana whose misfortune was the greater for want of her dear Don Tomazo But neither were his Love nor his Jealousie so importunate nor so vehement at that time but that he was content rather to trust the Spaniard with his Mistress then venture his Carcass for them as he had done for Philip. A piece of ingratitude which his Conscience and Self-preservation were forc'd to dispense with at that time in regard he was too well known to be their Sollicitor Which was the reason that both the wary Dons stole privately away for Dunkirk there to attend the Issue of Gulielmo's and Mariana's Imprisonment who in a short time after were both convicted by their own Confessions and forc'd to evaporate their Souls in boyling Oyl as Philip had done by an Infernal Torment in this the better to prepare them for the bituminous Tan-pits of the other World The news of which hellish Execution reaching the Ears of the two Dons at Dunkirk the very thoughts of Dutch and Flemish Crucibles so cool'd their courages that for the future they resolv'd utterly to abandon the Melting Trade And believing that Time would obliterate the memory of these extravagancies they resolv'd to employ themselves in Travel as they did through most Parts of France But returning for Calice with an intention to embarque for England the boyling Oyl had so perfum'd those Parts that not able to endure the scent they retreated to Diepe from whence they arriv'd safe and sound at Rye in Sussex where when they came to cast up their Accounts they found themselves reduc'd to 500 l. apiece a sound Foundation could they have had the patience to build upon it like either Suttons or old Audleys But they had no skill in Grazing or Maulting or setting up of Brew-houses by which they had known as many ruin'd as rais'd They were for the quick dispatch They were for drink and be rich They look'd upon themselves like two Children of Israel and all the World beside as Aegyptians from whom they thought it no crime to borrow in their necessity And Gusmans call that Necessity when they want Fewel to feed the heat of their Prodigality The inseparable Don Tomazo and Don Pedro being thus return'd into their Native Country like two Sons of Priam Per varios casus per tot discrimina Rerum made hast to London the Grand Receptacle of all the most refin'd Virtuoso's in Gusmanry where they made it their business to repair the loss they had sustain'd by the parboyling of their Spanish Companions Nor was it long before they had found out a parcel of Projectors as fit for intreague as themselves to whom they communicated a certain Conundrum which they had just coddl'd in their continually working Brains the sum and shape of which piece of Midwifery was this That six Persons should lay down 300 l. apiece to fit out a Privateer to Sea a Gudgeon quickly swallow'd among Persons that took all for Fish that came to Net Thereupon there was a Person employ'd to go to Dunkirk to buy a Vessel and to fit and Victual her out to Sea They that made the Grand-Councel at London were to pick up Men and to have them ready to go
aboard when the Vessel should arrive upon the Coast of England wherein the concording Gusmans were so punctual for the Sinews of their War began to wast that the Men being convey'd away in Boats the little Dreadnought set forward in pursuit of her design which was no less then the intended Destruction of the whole Guiney Trade See here the difference between a Spanish and an English Gusman the one pursuing a poor hungry Plot upon his penurious Masters Bread and Cheese the other designing to grasp the Riches of the fourth part of the World by the Ruine of a National Commerce Thus with a firm belief that they should have ballasted their Ship with Dust-Ore they hois'd their Sails but being driven by most violent Storms upon the Coasts of Ireland they lost both their Vessel and all their Hopes no other good luck attending that Voyage but only that of saving the Men which were in number above three hunder'd who dividing into small Companies for convenience of Travel took several ways to seek for new employment by which means the Coast of Guiney scap'd a most desperate scowring and the African Company had a very great deliverance Don Tomazo and Don Pedro so lately Men though now but Mice kept still together Companions in misery and coming to Dublin by the instigation of pure necessity a thing which the morose Law never considers fell to their old Trade which was to counterfeit Guineys and broad Pieces of Gold Which after they had done and carry'd on about two Months some as good and as expert at the sport as themselves not enduring interlopers to their own prejudice trac'd 'em out and found their Quarters Where they gave the Dons very courteously to understand that that small City was already too well stock'd with Gravers of the Kings Image and therefore desir'd the Right Worshipful Copper-smiths to depart lest worse befel them Upon which kind advice the two Dons took shipping for Bristol a Place much more fit for their purpose There being loth to draw Bills and break the bulk of their London Stock with a poor inconsiderable Bank of thirty Shillings of which fifteen were Mill'd they began again Those fifteen Mill'd Shillings did the Two Dons Knights Service for being double guilt and in-laid with Scepters they march'd off currantly Upon which Foundation they wrought so long with ease and little expence till they had well lin'd their Pockets were well mounted and in a good condition to ramble From thence well knowing the danger of staying too long in a place they rode to Glocester Where after they had made up near three hunder'd and fifty of their own St. Martins Ware they were disturb'd by an officious Rumor and forc'd to ride the Country During which Journey of pleasure in exchange either for good Mony or Commodities they put out all their illegitimate Pieces to Nurse After which like a little running Pestilence they went to infect the City of Worcester There the Two Dons met accidentally with four other Persons of the same profession who being pursu'd by the Country were apprehended in their Company At what time one of the Strangers to prevent the Fatality of a Search convey'd under the Table into Tomazo's hands a certain Bag both large and weighty Don Tomazo was with Child to know the Contents and therefore being got to his Lodging his dear Pylades and he made bold to open the Bag in which they found six Letters to as many Gentlemen in the neighbouring Counties a Note of considerable Sum of Money left with an Inn-keeper at Bridgenorth and 220 false Guineys most artificially and elaborately order'd The Letters they open'd took Copies and seal'd up again having found by the Contents how Affairs stood with the Gentlemen to whom they were directed Thus fortunately provided Don Tomazo and Don Pedro departed forthwith and galloping tantivy to Bridgenorth they receiv'd 337 l. from the Inn-keeper From thence they took their Rounds to visit the six Gentlemen who being all Persons of valuable Estates and fearing to run the bloody hazard of having their spotless Reputations brought upon so dangerous a Stage upon the delivery of the Letters and a relation of the misfortune that attended the Persons from whom they came willingly bled their fifty Pound apiece for an obligation of Secrecy The Two Dons having thus made the best of their Market left the Gentlemen for that time and took a Ramble for Stourbridge where being forc'd to continue by reason of an Accident that befel Don Tomazo's Horse they liv'd to the height of their Estates During which demorage Don Tomazo's behaviour always taking among the tender Sex had infus'd such a passion into the Heart of a Gentlewoman in the Town who wanted neither Wit nor Caution to manage her amorous Diversions that partly out of gratitude partly for profit for he seldom lov'd but for his advantage partly for pleasure his friend and he were forc'd to encamp in that Place much longer then they intended Don Tomazo passing for a German and humouring that pretence with broken English All that while Don Tomazo lost no time in improving the advantage of his Amours nor spar'd for any sort of Caresses which he thought were proper to entertain so kind and bountiful a Lady But that Post growing too hot through the jealousies and suspitions conceiv'd of Don Tomazo and Don Pedro in regard of the high rate they liv'd at the two Sparks were forc'd to remove though not without taking leave of the young Lady who was so concern'd for the loss of her dear German's society that the magnetick Vertue of his Embraces had almost engag'd her in a resolution to be the Companion of his Fortunes But Don Tomazo not desiring to travel with the expensive Molestations and Inconveniences of Female Luggage diverted her affectionate humour with such powerful Arguments that at length they parted though not without some Briny Deluges that overflow'd the sorrowful Ladies Rosie Cheeks Don Tomazo having thus disingag'd himself from the Labyrinths of Love after a prodigal wast of his Venerial Ammunition set forward with his other self Don Pedro for London where they ranted with a profuse pomp and vain-glory for about half a year till finding their Exchequer grow low they began to think it time to recruit Neither was it for such extraordinary high-soaring Gusmans as they to play at ordinary Games whose prodigality was not to be supply'd by the dipping of Country Squires or the little Cheats of high and low Fullums At that time the French and Dutch were at Daggers drawing and they understanding that there was a Fleet of Holland Merchant-men in the River of Thames very richly laden to the value of eight hunder'd thousand Pound all outward bound under a Convoy of two Men of War of 40 Guns apiece and very well mann'd concluded upon a design to surprize these Ships and their Convoy and to make them Prize by vertue of a French Commission with which they were already
small Taste of their Ingenuity steer'd directly for the Country of Cornwal where they found great Opportunities of Business play'd several Pranks and among the rest this in particular Don Tomazo having taken up his Quarters at a Town call'd Pensanse and Don Pedro at another call'd St. Ives both Sea-ports lay there without taking the least Cognizance of each other They had been such strangers one to another for some Weeks that the one had not been in the others Company but once and that as it were by an Accidental Meeting So that it was impossible for the Country to imagin or suspect any such thing as an Intimacy between them which was the Foundation upon which many Designs were laid and brought to perfection One time among the rest it hapn'd that Don Tomazo being at Church upon a Sunday paying his Devotions to something or other Cupid finding him at a loss for an Object of his Zeal fix'd his Eyes upon a very pretty Lady whose Beauty made no slight Impression in Tomazo's Heart The inflam'd Lover whose business it was always to use the swiftest Expedition in his Affairs now more violently hastn'd by his amorous Impatience returns to his Quarters and makes all those diligent Enquiries after the Lady that Lovers are wont to do which concluding with such a passionate Joy that all their Answers satisfi'd his Expectations the People easily from thence drew their wonted Conjectures and presently reported that Don Tomazo who past for the Son of a Person of great Quality in the North was deeply in Love with such a Lady This Report flew like Lightning and was presently bandy'd from one Tittle-tattle to another till it came to the Father's Ear with all the Embellishments of Multiplication in reference to the Behaviour and Gallantry of the Enamour'd Esquire The Father was tickl'd at the Tidings and as it is the fashion of the Unwary to look upon distant Prospects with a Magnifying fancy thought it but an act of Paternal Affection to advance his Daughters Fortune and the Daughter her self proud of the Conquest of her Victorious Beauty already imagin'd her self riding in her Coach and Six Horses the ador'd Mistress of many Tenants and the charming Wife of a brisk bonny and wealthy Heir Thereupon the Justice comes thundring to Pensanse to take view of his Son-in-Law and having found him out took an occasion to fall into a sifting Discourse with Don Tomazo who had all his Story so Geometrically fram'd and deliver'd it with such a careless Exactness without the least Hesitation that the Cornish Chough was not only taken with his Person and Behaviour but so intoxicated with his Narrative that he invited him over to his House Don Tomazo kindly accepted his Invitation and accordingly gave him the Honour of his Company home where he had leisure enough to unbosom his Affections to the Young Isabella the Name by which hence forward she shall be known Some time after the Justice his Wife and his Daughter went to visit a Gentleman of their Acquaintance that liv'd not far from St. Ives who after Dinner inform'd the Justice of a Gentleman that quarter'd at St. Ives that was certainly the best Company that ever he met with withal That he was a Spaniard whose Curiosity had brought him thither to view the Country Upon which rare Character of an intimate Friend the Justice desir'd he might be sent for as he was with all speed But when he came the Country Gentleman who only thought to compleat his Pastime with the mirth of some Comical Droll was strangely out of Countenance and in a Surprize believing his Old Acquaintance had put some Trick upon him For such was Don Pedro's Air and Deportment that the Justice took him for no less then some Person of High Quality which was no small trouble to the Justice to be put out of the road of his Rural Addresses and Country Complements and forc'd on a suddain to recollect the Exercises of his Youth at the Dancing-School for new Congies and Refin'd Expressions For indeed Don Pedro might well have past for such a one as the Justice took him to be in any part of the World He was a Person so comely that few Spaniards were like him very Fair full Ey'd with a lovely Head of Long Hair as black as a Raven's Wing and a Body most curiously proportion'd to which his Graceful Carriage his affable sweet and complaisant Humour his fluencie of Speech and his Noble Equipage were such charming Additions that it was no wonder Cupid took his Stand in such a Face and bent his Bow to kill two Birds with one Stone I say bent because at that time I believe the God of Love made use of a Cros-bow in regard of the Crossness of the Shot In short the Mother and the Daughter were both shot Plumb-dead at the same time insomuch that there was no Peace or Quiet in either of their Bosoms till they had prevail'd with the Justice who could hardly think his Mansion worthy such a Guest to invite Don Pedro to his House But at last overcome by their Importunity and his own Ambition he took the Confidence to give him a Solemn and Cardinal-like Invitation which Don Pedro readily accepted You may be sure the Entertainment could not chuse but be splendid where the Master consulted his Honour the Mistress her deep Affection and no question but the Daughter sate up late and had a Finger in every Pye and every Tart. Nor was the Female diligence of those two Love-shot Ladies less to dress and trim and trick and adorn themselves with all the Ornaments their Trunks and Cabinets could afford What Fairs and Christnings saw but seldom and in Parcels that D. Pedro saw at once and every day display'd while the Mother strove to renew the Youth of her past Beauty the Daughter to beautifie her present Youth All this Don Pedro contentedly observ'd and as he was extremely acute in his Observations after Dinner he gave Madam Isabella an occasion to convey a little Billet into his hand at what time the Mother took an Opportunity to slip another into his Pocket ignorant of what her Rival Daughter had done Neither indeed was Don Pedro aware of the Mothers contrivance So ambitious they were which of the two should make the first and deepest Impression in Don Pedro's Heart The two Ladies having thus disburthen'd their Affections the one into his Pocket the other into his Hand Don Pedro after a powre of Complements and Kindness took his Leave and being return'd to his Quarters drew forth the Billet which he had receiv'd from Mrs. Isabella wherein he read these following Lines SIR THe first time I saw you the Idea of your Perfections caus'd a violent Passion in my Heart which having ever since tormented me pardon the Flame that enforces me to let you know the Wound you have giv'n me I doubt not but that a Person of your Quality will be careful to manage this Secret with
so transported that for that day all the Gayety and Pleasure she had ever show'n or enjoy'd in her whole Life seem'd to be recollected and rendevouz'd in her Countenance She thought of nothing but of reinforcing her amorous Heat that she might be able to meet her Dear Don Pedro's Fires with equal Flames Her Heart danc'd the Canaries in her Bosom for joy that she should so soon be happy in the Embraces of her Beloved Spaniard and the continual meditations of her Brain upon these voluptuous felicities did so employ her thoughts that her Daughter might have had the opportunity to have lost more Maiden-heads then Hercules got in one night for any enquiry her Mother made after her Thus was the Mothers security the Daughters safety who by this time had lost her troublesome Virginity in those Embraces to which the other was the next day to resign the Matrimonial Loyalty of many years So little does the continual sight of a Gold Thumb-Ring controul the temptations of a wanton Appetite Isabella having by this means obtained a full satisfaction from Don Pedro and now become as wise in the Natural Philosophy of Love as her Mother left her Instructor a thousand sweet kisses in pawn for an assurance of her farther Society and with the modesty of a Nun return'd home to laugh in her sleeve at the Cheat she had put upon the vigilance of her Mother and all her Female Guardians But before Don Pedro and she parted there was an agreement made that whenever D. Pedro came to the Justices House it should be under pretence of making Love to her who had already given him the surest pledge of her affection For under that colour D. Pedro being now to manage the Intrigue between the Mother and him where lay the stress both of his and D. Tomazo's design and the prospect of their gain it was necessary to uphold the amorous correspondence which he and Isabella had begun And now the happy Hour was come D. Pedro and the enamour'd Mother met and he that had so deliciously fed the Young Kitlin was now to purr it with Grey-maulkin the Elder whom he entertain'd with such variety of Embraces that she protested all the Justices Cornish Huggs were but Bavin-bands to ' em Which gave her such an intrinsick Satisfaction that she enjoyn'd D. Pedro to stay in those Parts a Month longer and indeed till those Quarters were grown almost too hot to hold either him or his Company In order whereunto she had contriv'd a way for his coming to the Justices House But D. Pedro not deeming her way so commodious as his own acquainted the Mother with his Affections to her Daughter who thereupon approv'd of his Intentions and having resolv'd to act conformably to the Design they parted for that time Don Pedro being return'd home wrote a Letter to be left at the Rock for D. Tomazo wherein he gave him an exact account of what had past between him and the two Ladies and farther desir'd D. Tomazo with all speed to get himself introduc'd into Isabella's Company and to make his Addresses to her wherein he promis'd to be assisting so soon as there appear'd any publick Acquaintance between them This Letter Don Tomazo read with great regret cursing Pedro's happiness and his own ill Conduct not so much for the Love he bore the dissembling Isabella as for that he had not made the same Improvement of his Opportunity that Don Pedro had done but finding it was now Don Pedro's Intention to carry on the Common Advantage and that the Design began to ripen he easily rid his Head of those impertinent Imaginations and two days after gave a Visit to the Justice who being at home entertain'd him with great Respect and among the rest of the Discourse knowing Don Tomazo was well skill'd in the Spanish Tongue inform'd him of a Famous Spanish Gentleman that was in those Parts well worth his Acquaintance Of which Don Tomazo seemingly made slight telling the Justice that he was a Young Man and did not know what Inconveniencies the Knowledge of that Gentleman might produce But the more Don Tomazo slighted it the more earnest the Justice was to send for Don Pedro. So that Don Tomazo unwilling to disoblige the Justice by his Obstinacy suffer'd himself to be over-rul'd As soon as Don Pedro came Don Tomazo entertain'd him with all the Ceremonies according to the Gravity of Spain and afterwards discours'd him in the Spanish Language which fell out luckily for their Business in regard that none of the Justices Family understood what they said This Interview between the two pretended Strangers Don Tomazo and Don Pedro first begat a Familiarity then frequent Meetings and at length by the Justices Consent his House became the General Rendevouz During which time Don Pedro having had the frequent sight and handling of his enamour'd Mistress's Jewels had got such a perfect Idea of the shape form and bigness of the Pearls and Stones and afterwards drawn them so exactly in Paper that there was no question of the Success of the Design Thereupon Don Tomazo dispatch'd away his Man to Exeter who there bought up several Pendants of counterfeit Pearl and Bristow-stones so well match'd that they were hardly to be distinguish'd from the Originals Which being brought to Don Tomazo he deliver'd them to Don Pedro who watching his opportunity which the fond Dotage of Issabella's Mother often gave him by opening her Cabinet and displaying her Wealth to dazle his Eyes and oblige him to the satisfaction of her desires took an honest occasion to pay himself for his Drudgery by taking out the real Substances and conveying the Counterfeit Shadows in their places Which being done for about three days after Don Tomazo and Don Pedro drank the Justice very hard and indeed made it their business to keep him elevated for the most part of their Stay after the moral Exchange which Don Pedro had made with his Wife During which time one Evening the Justice being bowsie they took an occasion to make a Repetition of the great Favours he had shewn them promising those Returns which they neither durst nor ever intended to perform In the Conclusion of which most lofty Complements some Discourse arising about Mrs. Isabella D. Pedro catch'd at it and spar'd not to say that he lov'd her beyond measure and little less then his Life but he came short of D. Tomazo who swore by way of Reply that she was more dear to him then Life it self and in pursuit of his Zeal for the Lady requested the Justice to declare if it were his Intention to dispose of his Daughter in Marriage and if it were possible for her to love Tomazo and Pedro both alike on which of the two he would soonest bestow her The Justice being ravish'd to hear such a brisk Contest about his Daughter between two such great Persons of Quality was at first in a Dilemma but at length heightn'd by the t'other Round and