AT the requeſt of ſeveral friends, and finding myſelf draw near the cloſe of life, I ſhall, in this edition, give a more full account of my birth and parentage than any yet publiſhed; as alſo of my real name, and the reaſons I had for taking the name of Poll Flanders.

My grandfather was born at Carrickfergus in the north part of the kingdom of Ireland of good and honeſt parentage, who joining with O'Neale in the troubles of that Kingdom, forfeited his eſtate, and a little after died for grief, leaving my father James Fitzpatrick, to the care of his brother, who brought him up a gentleman; but at his death did not leave him above fifty pounds to ſeek his fortune, with which he equipped himſelf like a gentleman, as he really was one, and came over to England; but that ſmall ſum being ſoon expended, he was driven very much to his ſhifts, and liv'd upon dice and Miſſes as is uſual with too many of that country, and at that time got acquainted with my mother, whoſe name was Mary Flanders, and the top of all the miſtreſſes about Whetston's-park, then the rendezvous of all the Miſſes about town. But her beauty fading, and ſhe becomine an old face, they found that way of living would not maintain them in their extravagancies, and my father was obliged now and then to turn out, and go upon the highway, wherein he always behaved like a gentleman, and never killed any one in his life, as he declared the very laſt moment of his breath; but aſſociating with ſome • og • es worſe than himſelf, he was in a years time betray'd by his companions, taken, committed to Newgate, and executed, at Tyburn, where he died truly penitent, and like a good chriſtian, made a decent Exit.

My mother was young with child, at the death of my father, and his untimely end had like to have coſt her her life; but it was not ſo decreed, for in a little time ſhe recovered, and found herſelf in a more miſerable condition than ſhe expected, being much in debt with the charges ſhe was at, in hopes of getting a reprieve for my father; and the world frowned very hardly upon her, every one was for getting his own, tho they knew ſhe had not a farthing to pay them; ſo miſerable is the caſe of perſons in diſtreſs, that inſtead of affording pity, they add one affliction to another; and nothing would ſerve the hard hearted creditors, but that they would have my mother rot in a goal, and make dice of her bones, which made her begin to look about her, and conſider what way ſhe had beſt to take: if ſhe could not get money, ſhe knew ſhe muſt ſoon periſh in goal; how to get it ſhe had no way, her beauty being, as I ſaid before decayed, and ſhe having been an old battered wretch about town, had but little to expect from that courſe of life; beſide, the very name of having her huſband hanged, added very much to her misfortunes. although her creditors were moſt of them of that fraternity themſelves; yet theſe hard-hearted creatures, never dreaming how ſoon it might be their own turns to follow him, arreſted her, and threw her into the Marſhalſea, where ſhe lay in a very deplorable condition for above a month, and was then diſcharged upon paying her ſees, when they found they could make nothing of her.

When ſhe came out, ſhe found herſelf in a worſe condition than before, and did not know what to do to ſupport nature; to work ſhe was unable, and to beg aſhamed: and in this deplorable ſtate ſtrolling about the ſtreets one evening, ſhe met a woman that had been a priſoner with her in the Marſhalſea, with whom going to drink a pint of beer, comparing notes, they found their conditions to be much alike, and the other being an old practitioner, adviſed my mother to go along with her a ſhoplifting, who not having a farthing in the world, and being afraid to go home for want of money to pay her lodging, they at length agreed, when going along Ch • apſide, they went into a linen draper's ſhop, and cheapened ſeveral pieces of linen, in which time the other woman concealed three pieces of holland, which ſhe gave to my mother to hide under her petticoats, and ſhe went away, leaving my mother to ſhift for herſelf, who being but a young practitioner at the buſineſs, was eaſily diſcovered, ſecured, and carried before a juſtice of the peace, who committed her to Newgate, from whence ſhe was carried to the Old Bailey, and there condemned; but pleading pregnancy, was respited for about four months, when being called down to her former judgment, was ordered for tranſportation till which ſhe lay in Newgate above five months, and then left me in the hands of the priſoners, who ſold me to the Gypſies, with whom I continued till I was about three years old, when they left me at Colcheſter in Essex, where I was taken up by the pariſh, but could give no account how I came there only that I belonged to the Gypſies, and that they had left me, but why or where they were gone, I did not know, neither could they find them, although they ſent every way to look for them.

I was now too young to take care of myſelf, not being above three years old, and was ordered by the church warden, to the pariſh nurſe, who proved a very good ſort of a woman, and took a great deal of care of the children under her, teaching them to read and work till they were fit to go to buſineſs.

Under this good woman I continued till I was eight years old, and then the officers were for putting me to ſervice, which I had a ſtrong averſion to, and told my nurſe, if ſhe would keep me, I was ſure I could get my own living by ſpinning and working with the 〈◊〉 and that I would work night and day rather than leave her. Fooliſh child, ſaid ſhe, thou wilt learn to do houſe-work as thou haſt learnt thy needle, and they won't put thee to hard work at firſt: Yes they will, ſaid I, and if I don't do it they will beat me: and then I could not forbear crying for a quarter of an hour, which ſo moved the good woman, that ſhe took me in her arms and ſaid I ſhould not go to ſervice, ſhe would ſpeak to the Mayor to let me continue at my needle a little longer.

The next day, ſhe going to wait on the Mayor, who would often ſend for her to know how the children did, ſhe told him they were all well, but that ſhe had one that would be nothing but a gentlewoman; which ſtory ſo pleaſed the Mayor's lady and her daughters, that in 〈◊〉 week's time they came to the ſchool, and being pleaſed with the order and management of the children, one of the daughters enquired which was ſhe that was a gentlewoman? which terribly frighted me; but ſhe taking me by the hand, and ſaying Miſs has a lady's hand, and for ought I know may be one before ſhe dies. This gave me courage to preſent my work to Mrs. Mayoreſs who, being mightily pleaſed with it, gave me a ſhilling, and bade me mind my work, and I would be a gentlewoman the ſooner.

But alas! they did not know what I meant by a gentlewoman; for the young ladies aſking me, What a gentlewoman was, I told them, to get my own living by my needle, and not go to ſervice: This prattle ſo pleaſed the daughters, that they gave me money too.

I gave my money to my nurſe, and told her ſhe ſhould have all I got when I was a gentlewoman, which ſo diverted the good old woman, that ſhe would be often talking with me, all which ſhe related to the Mayor's daughters, who told other young ladies of the town, with whom they were uſed to come every week to ſee me, and they were often uſed to ſay I was a very pretty girl, which made me not a little proud, and I began to ſpruce myſelf up a little finer than the reſt of the children, with linen and laced head-dreſſes, and gloves, which my nurſe bought me with the money that was given me, which ſhe always faithfully gave an account of to thoſe who gave it me; which ſo pleaſed many of them, that they ſtrove who ſhould give me moſt money; ſo that by the time I was ten years old. I was as fine as a gentlewoman indeed. And now I was again called upon to go to ſervice, but by this time my nurſe did not care to part with me, for I was now become uſeful to her ſchool, and could teach the children in her abſence, ſo that ſhe told them, if they pleaſed ſhe would keep the gentlewoman herſelf, which ſo pleaſed the ladies, that they were kinder to me than before, and bro't me fine works to do, which they not only paid me for, but taught me how to do it themſelves, ſo that by twelve years old, I not only helped my nurſe in her ſchool, but paid her for my keeping, and went very genteelly beſides, and had money in my pocket.

At laſt one of the ladies deſired my nurſe in the Chriſtmas to let me go home with her to keep her daughters company, which the old woman could ſcarcely be perſuaded to do, 〈◊〉 , the lady would keep me for good and all, which ſhe told her ſhe did not know but ſhe might do in a little time, but at preſent I ſhould only ſtay a week, to ſee how I could agree with her daughters, where I had not been a day or two, but I became the delight of the whole family.

However, according to promiſe, I went home to my nurſe again, much, you may be ſure, againſt my inclination; for I had gotten ſuch a taſte of genteel living at my lady's, that every thing was out of order at my nurſe's, and nothing could pleaſe me, having quite other notions of being a gentlewoman than I had formerly and believed it to be a fine thing even to be among ladies; However, the many obligations I had to my nurſe would not let me think of leaving her, and, indeed if I had I did not know where to go, ſo that I judged it 〈◊◊〉 continue longer with her, 〈◊〉 ſome kind opportunity ſhould offer; which I did till I was paſt fourteen years of age, when my good old woman ſickened and died, which indeed was a ſad grief to me, I not knowing what to do, o • where to go, the pariſh children being removed, and the ſchool broken up; and what was ſtill worſe, my nurſe had two and twenty ſhillings ſterling of mine, which was my all, in her hands when ſhe died, which her daughter at firſt denied to give me, altho her mother had told her of it before ſhe died.

I was now a poor gentlewoman indeed, for the goods being removed, I did not know where to go, till ſome of the neighbours informed the lady, in whoſe family I had been how I was left, who ſent a maid for me, and I went with a glad heart, you may be ſure; however the fright had made ſuch an impreſſion upon me, that I was willing to do any thing they ſhould put me to; but my good lady deſigned no hard work for me, but received me very generouſly, and if poſſible, exceeded the old woman in kindneſs; and the Mayoreſs ſoon after ſent for me, and then others, ſo that I was very much made of wherever I went; but the lady would not part with me, altho the Mayoreſs claimed me as her right, ſhe being the firſt that had taken notice of me.

By this time I was between ſeventeen and eighteen years of age, and had all the advantages of improvement imaginable; and the young ladies having maſters at home, teaching them French, dancing, and muſic, I learnt faſter than any of them, and could ſing much better, which made me not a little proud of myſelf; and I alſo heard the young gentlemen ſay, I was the prettieſt girl they ever ſaw in their lives, which was no ſmall addition to the good opinion. I had of myſelf. Notwithſtanding this, I carried myſelf very modeſtly, which gained me the eſteem of all that knew me, more eſpecially the lady's two ſons who both fell in love with me, and which proved my ruin, as you ſhall hear hereafter.

The eldeſt was a gentleman of pleaſure, and knew the gaiety of the town as well as the ſolidity of the country; he was always praiſing my beauty, and endeavoring to entrap me, which he knew as well how to do as to catch a patridge; always commending me to his ſiſters, but to be ſure it was in my hearing, which would make them often rebuke him, ſaying, I heard what he ſaid, which he would put off with a joke, and then preſently begin to talk of me again, this pleaſed me ſo much that I was always as willing to hear as he was to commend.

After this fly way of laying his bait, he endeavored to catch me more openly: and coming one day into his ſiſter's chamber when I was with them, he aſked me if my cheeks did not burn? to which I anſwered not a word, but bluſhed and made a courteſy: why? ſaid the lady becauſe we have been talking of her ſaid he, above half an hour below ſtairs: and what then? ſaid his ſiſter, I am ſure you can ſay no harm of her: no faith, ſays he, far from it, we all agree ſhe is the handſomeſt young woman in Colcheſter, and in ſhort ſhe is become the toaſt of the town.

One of the young ladies checked her brother for talking so before me, and ſaid, that Betty wants but one thing, and ſhe had as good want all the graces, and that's money, which is all that men want now-a-days; for tho a woman were as beautiful as Venus, chaſte as Diana, and wiſe as Minerva—hold, ſiſter, ſaid the younger, who was ſtanding by, if I could find a woman ſo accompliſhed as you talk of, I would not matter the money; but you will ever be uneaſy about that, ſaid the ſiſter.

How do you know, ſaid the elder brother, you have more fortune than beauty: you need not exclaim againſt it, then ſaid the ſiſter, I have the better of my neighbors: You don't know that, ſaid the younger brother; beauty will often ſteal a huſband in ſpite of money, and the maid often makes a better bargain than her miſtreſs that rides in her coach before her.

I thought it was high time for me to withdraw, which I did, but not ſo far, but I heard all their diſcourſe, which proved not much to my advantage; for the younger brother fell out with his ſiſter about me, which ſhe ſo reſented, that her future conduct was very diſagreeable, tho indeed at that time ſhe had no occaſion, for I had no thoughts of her younger brother, and the eldeſt ſaid ſo many things in jeſt, that I gave credit to nothing he ſaid.

Knowing they were out, he came one day to the door, and knocking as he uſed to do, I told him the ladies were gone out; I know that ſaid he, my dear, but you are here, and that's better; and upon that he claſped me in his arms, and gave me repeated kiſſed, at which I ſtrugged, I can▪t ſay but it was faintly, and ſo he held me and kiſſed me till he was out of breath, ſwearing he was in love with me, which put me into ſome diſorder, he ſtill continuing to repeat it, and I cannot ſay but I in my heart wiſhed it, were ſo; however I ſoon recovered myſelf, and he ſeeing his sisters coming up the garden, ſwore he was in earneſt, kiſſed me and took his leave.

My head now ran upon nothing but love; and I cannot ſay, but the pride of having ſuch a fine gentleman in love with me, would have made me yield to any thing he could have deſired, had he at that time thought fit to have aſked it, but he was more modeſt then, than he proved afterwards: for in a few days, the family being all abroad, and I not dreaming he was at home, he ſurprized me in his younger ſiſter's chamber, and fell a kiſſing me as before, and when he had done, he ſat down, and ſwore he was charmed with my beauty, and abundance of fine things, and that if I would but return his love, I ſhould ſave his life; and then taking me in his arms, he threw me upon the bed, and kiſſed me violently, but offered then no rudeneſs to me, lifting me up again, and put five guineas into my hand, ſwearing it was in honeſt affection; and then going down ſtairs, and finding the houſe clear, he returned and fel • to work with me, as he did before, but with leſs ceremony, for ſhutting the door, he ſaid he fancied there was ſomebody coming up ſtairs, Miſs Betty; but I ſaid I believed not, for there was no body in the ho • ſe but he and I; well, my dear, ſaid he, it is good to be ſure, however, and ſitting down he began to tell me how he loved me, and that as ſoon as he came to his eſtate he would marry me, which I had no more wit than to believe; and then he threw me upon the bed again, and ſtopt my mouth with kiſſes, and offered ſome things which decency will not permit me to mention; however he did not attempt the laſt favor, on which he made a plea for his other freedoms, which done, he put a handful of gold in my hands, and renewed his former proteſtations of love. Vanity had now gotten the maſter of my virtue, & I was reſolved not to deny him any favour he ſhould aſk & indeed I wondered that he had not done it before: However, I was cunning enough not to give the leaſt ſ • ſpicion in the family, and for that reaſon I avoided ſeeing him as much as poſſibly, but ſometimes we had a meeting or ſo, when be might have had any favour had not he made more difficulty about it than there really was, for to be plain, I was as willing as he.

The Devil, who never wants means as well as agents, to do his work, ſoon found out a way to enjoy that, which I cannot but ſay we had both ſo long wiſhed for. Coming one day into his ſiſter's chamber, he deſired them to let me go to a milliner's for two neck cloths he had bought, of the ſame muſlin with a turnover he had in his hand, in which he gave me a note which was my direction; and then he began to tell them a long ſtory of a viſit he was going to make, and that he ſhould be very glad of their company, which they deſired to be excuſed of, becauſe they had company to viſit them that afternoon, as he knew very well.

In the mean time a gentleman's chariot came to the door, under pretence of fetching him, but he had borrowed it on purpoſe, which he had no ſooner notice of, than be took his leave of his ſiſters, in a very formal manner, and came to meet me at M • le-end, where he had appointed in the note at a confidents of his, in whoſe houſe we had all the conveniency we deſired to be as wicked as we would.

At firſt he began to tell me, that his love would not let him betray me, and that he would marry me as ſoon as he came to his eſtate, and many ſuch proteſta • ions that he needed not to have done; and ſaid he, my dear, if you prove with child. I'll take care of you both, and to ſatisfy you I am in earneſt, here's an hundred guineas for you in this purſe, and I'll give you ſuch another every year till I marry you.

My colour came and went at the ſight of the purſe, ſo that I could not ſpeak a word, which he perceiving, put the purſe into my boſom, and ********** from which moment I might reckon the date of my ruin; for my virtue and modeſty being gone, I had nothing left to recommend myſelf to God or man,

After which I went and bought the neck-cloths, and was home ſoon enough not to be ſuſpected, and my lover ſtayed out till late at night, fluſhed with wine and pleaſure. Afterwards we made uſe of all opportunities to renew our unlawful pleaſures for above half a year, and yet all this while I proved not with child. When his younger brother finding me alone in the garden one evening, began to talk to me of love, and prop • ſed to marry me, which I reſiſted with great obſtinacy, and reaſoned with him on the inequality of ſuch a match and the ingratitude I ſhould be guilty of in marrying the 〈◊〉 of ſuch a gentleman who, had taken me into the houſe in ſuch 〈◊〉 deplorable condition; but there happen'd a difficulty which I did not expect, for this young man made no ſcruple of owning it publickly, and though they could not prove I had ever given him any encouragement, yet I found their behaviour towards me more unkind than ever before, and I underſtood by one of the ſiſters, that in a little time I ſhould be deſired to remove.

This did not at all trouble me, knowing that I ſhould be provided for, and that if I ſhould prove with child I muſt then go away with diſgrace: but the young gentleman coming to me, ſaid, Since it was known, he was not aſham'd to own it, and that if I would have him, he was bred up to the law, and could maintain me, let his father and mother be pleas'd or not, he was not afraid to make me his wife, which words he ſpoke ſo cordially, that I began to repent of my converſation with his elder brother, but I could not bear to think of being a Miſs to one brother and a wife to the other, beſide, I ſtill imagined the elder would marry me; but then I remembered he had not ſaid one word of that ſince I was his miſtreſs.

I was now, to be ſure, in a great ſtrait, the one laid cloſe ſiege to me, and declar'd it publickly, which the other could not be ignorant of altho' he took no notice of it; upon which I began to think for the firſt time, never having done 〈◊◊〉 before, and reſolved to tell him of it, which I had an opportunity to do, very luckily the next day,. ( • he whole family being gone to London) he came as uſual to ſpend an hour or two with me; but he ſoon perceiv'd an alteration in my countenance and that I had been crying and taking notice of it, enquir'd very tenderly what was the matter, which I would now have concealed, but it was not to be done, he ſtill perſiſting to 〈◊〉 the cauſe of my grief and in reality I was willing • e ſhould, tho' I pretended otherwiſe, but at laſt I told him, that indeed I was troubled, and I had great reaſon to be ſo, for I knew not what courſe to take unleſs he would direct me, upon which he bade me not to be troubled, for he would protect me, be it what it will.

I then began to ſpeak more freely, and told him I was afraid we were diſcovered, for I was remov'd from his ſiſter's bed, to lie with one of the maids, who told me ſhe heard I was to be turned away, and that his mother ſaid, it was not ſafe to keep me in the houſe; at which he ſmil'd, and ſaid No, my dear, we are not ſo much as ſuſpected, it is my brother Robin, who has been ſo ſilly to own his love to you, and is always vexing them, which makes them ſo unkind to you.

I know that too, ſaid I, but this is not all, your brother has not only the vanity to be confident of my being his wife, but has the folly to tell every body, notwithſtanding I have ſo often given him a flat denial which when they underſtand, they will preſently imagine there is ſomething elſe in it, or I would never refuſe a match ſo much above me; which ſurpriz'd him ſo that he owned, he did not well know what way he ſhould take, but he would conſider of it, and in the mean time adviſed me not to conſent, nor yet be rude to his brother, but keep him in ſuſpenſe for a while; at which words I ſeem'd to be very uneaſy, ſaying, He knew very well I had no conſent to give, that he had promis'd to marry me, and that he all along perſuaded me to call myſelf his wife.

He pacify'd me as well as he could, telling me if he were not my huſband, he would be as good as a huſband to me, & then he gave me money; but he never offer'd to touch me, although we were two hours together, which I wondered at, conſidering how he uſed to be, and what opportunity we had.

In about a week's time his brother came from London, when he took an opportunity to talk with him, telling him, That he heard ſtrange news, that he made love to Miſs Betty, which the youngeſt frankly owned, but I find ſays he, ſome do concern themſelves about it, and uſe the poor girl ill, which I take as done to myſelf. But tell me truly, do you really love the girl? you may be free with me you know. Why then, ſays Robin, I do love her above all the women in the world, and will have 〈◊◊〉 them ſay what they will; I believe the girl will not deny me.

Next time we met, he told me what diſcourſe had paſſed betwixt Robin, and him, which ſh • ck me to the heart, and made me ſay, does he think I cannot deny him! he ſhall find I can for I have learned to ſay No now, though I had not learned it before; but what can you ſay to them, ſays he, when they find you poſitive againſt a match that would be ſo much to your advantage • I own ſays I, I ſhould be at a loſs; but I am not obliged to give them my reaſon at all: on the other hand. I may tell them I am married already, and that will be a ſtop to any further enquiry; and now I have acquainted you with the circumſtances let me have your advice.

I have been 〈◊〉 very much on it, you may be ſ • re, ſaid he, and though it is a piece of advice that has a great many mortifications in it to me, yet all things conſider'd, I ſee no other way than to let him go on, and do not deny him at firſt.

I thought I ſhould have ſunk at thoſe words, and immediately turned as pale as death, my dear ſays he don't be ſurpriſed at what I ſaid, I would have you conſider ſeriouſly, you may ſee plainly how the family ſtand, and for ought I know, your denying my brother would be my ruin and your's too: Conſider, my dear, by marrying my brother you will come into a ſafe •• ation, and appear with honor and ſplendor at once, and the remembrance of what we have done may be wrapt up in an eternal ſilence, as if it had never happened; and you ſhall always have my reſpect, and ſincere affection, only then if ſhall be honeſt, and perfectly juſt to my brother; you ſhall be my 〈◊◊〉 then, as now you are my dear—and here he 〈◊〉 .

Your dear Miſs, ſays I, you would have ſaid, if you had gone on, and you might as well have ſaid it; for I underſtand you: However, I deſire you to remember the long •• courſes you have had with me, and the many 〈◊〉 you have taken to perſuade me to believe myſelf an honeſt woman, and to 〈◊〉 myſelf your wife • If then I have yielded to the importunities of my affections, and have been perſuaded to call myſelf your Wiſe, ſhall I now give the lie to all theſe arguments and call myſelf a Miſs, and though you may transfer me to your brother, you cannot transfer my affection to make me love him. Is it in my power, think you, to make ſuch a change at demand? No, ſaid I, it is impoſſible, and whatever the change on your ſide may be, I will ever be true; and I had much rather be your Miſs, ſince it is come to that, than your brother's wife.

Notwithſtanding all my reproaches, he replied again, my dear, I have not broken one promiſe with you yet; I did tell you I would marry you when I was come to my eſtate; but you ſee my father is a firm healthy man, and may live theſe thirty years ſtill, and not be older than ſeveral are round us in the town; and you never propoſed my marrying you ſooner, becauſe you know it might be my ruin; and as to all the reſt, I have not failed you in any; you have wanted for nothing.

He told me he had but one queſtion then to aſk me that could lie in the way of it, and if that queſtion were anſwered in the negative, he could not but think ſtill it was the only ſtep I could take. I gueſſed at the queſtion preſently, namely, whether I were ſure I was not with child? I told him he need not be concerned about that, for I was not; with this he took his leave, by reaſon of his mother and ſiſters ringing juſt then at the gate. He left me in the utmoſt confuſion of thought from Tueſday till Sunday, when all the family, but himſelf, went to church, and then he had me an hour and an half again by myſelf; and after falling into divers arguments, I aſked him what opinion he could have of my modeſty; that he could ſuppoſe I could entertain a thought of lying with two brothers? and aſſured him it could never be.

Being ſurprized at my obſtinacy, as he called it, he told me it was ſuch an unlooked for criſis, that he did not ſee any other way to ſave us both from ruin; and that if he muſt ſay no more of it, he knew of nothing elſe we had to talk of, and ſo he roſe up to take his leave; I roſe up too, as if with the ſame indifference, but when he came to give me, as it were, the parting kiſs, I 〈◊〉 vehemently, and, tho I would have ſpoken, could not, and only preſſing his hand, ſeemed to give him the adieu.

He was ſenſibly moved with this, ſo he ſat down again, and ſaid a great many things to me, to abate the exceſs of my paſſion; but letting me plainly ſee that he would decline me in the main point, nay, even as miſtreſs, making it a point of honor not to 〈◊〉 with the woman, that for ought he knew might come to be his brother's wife.

The bare loſs of him as a gallant was not ſo much my affliction, as the loſs of his perſon, whom indeed I loved to diſtraction, and the loſs of all the expectations I had of having him one day for my huſband; Theſe things oppreſſed my mind ſo much, that I fell into a high fever, ſo that none in the family expected my life. I was reduced very low, and was often delirious and lightheaded, about the end of five weeks I grew better, but was ſo weak, and recovered ſo ſlowly, that the phyſicians apprehended I ſhould go into a conſumption; and which vexed me moſt, they gave it as their opinion, that I was in love; upon this they were all ſet on to examine me, and preſs me to tell whether I were in love or not; but I denied my being in love at all.

They had, on this occaſion, like to have put the whole family in an uproar; for happening to be all at table, but the father, when the maid told the old gentlewoman that I could not eat what her ladyſhip had ſent up: Alas! ſays ſhe, that poor girl I am afraid, will never be well; why, ſays the elder brother, how ſhould ſhe be well? they ſay ſhe is in love. I believe nothing of it, ſays the old gentlewoman. I don't know, ſays the elder ſiſter, what to ſay to it 〈◊〉 they have made ſuch a rout about her being handſome, and that in her hearing too, that it has turned the creature's head, I believe: Why, ſiſter, you muſt acknowledge ſhe is very handſome, ſays the elder brother: Ay, much handſomer than you, ſiſter, ſays Robin, and that's your mortification: She is well enough ſays his ſiſter; ſhe need not be told of it to make her vain: We are not talking of her being vain, ſays the elder brother, but of her being in love: I would ſhe were in love with me, ſays Robin, I'd quickly put her out of pain: What do you mean by that ſays the old lady, how can you talk ſo? Why, ſays Robin, do you think I'd let the girl die for love, and or one who is ſo near at hand too: I find, ſays the elder ſiſter, if Betty be not in love, my brother is: I wonder he has not broken his mind to Betty, I warrant ſhe wont ſay No: They who yield when they are aſked, ſays Robin, are one ſtep before them who were never aſked, and that's an anſwer to you. This fired the ſiſter, and ſhe flew into a paſſion, ſaying, ſince things were come to that paſs, it was time the wench, meaning me, was removed.

It run a great deal farther, and poor Betty loſt ground by it extremely, I heard of it and cried heartily, and the old lady came up to me I complained to her, that it was very hard the doctors ſhould paſs ſuch a cenſure upon me, for which they had no ground, and that I had more need to think of a coffin than of being in love. She deſired I would anſwer her one queſtion: I told her I would which was, whether there were any thing between her ſon Robert and me? I told her there was not, nor ever had been; adding that Mr. Robert had rattled, as ſhe knew it w •• his way, and I took it to be a wild airy way of ••• courſe which had no ſignification in it. The old lady was fully ſatisfied, and took her leave; but when ſhe came down ſhe found the brothers and ſiſters together by the ear; but her coming put a ſtop to it, telling them all the diſcourſe ſhe had with me, and that I ſaid there was nothing between Mr. Robert and me, but Robert ramble, ſo in his diſcourſe that no body know • whether he be in earneſt or jeſt. It is in vain to tell any more lies about it; I am in earneſt; and if Miſs Betty would marry me, I would have her to-morrow morning faſting: Well, ſays the mother, then there's one ſon loſt: I hope not, ſays he, when a good wife has found him: Why ſays the old lady, ſhe is a beggar: She has more need of 〈◊〉 , ſays he: It is bad jeſting with ſuch things, ſays ſhe; I don't jeſt, ſays he, but I am afraid ſhe won't have me: Betty is no fool, ſays the youngeſt ſiſter: But ſhe may be engaged ſome other way▪ Nay ſays the eldeſt ſiſter, we can ſay nothing to that; ſhe is never out doors; it muſt be between you; I have been examined enough, ſays Robin, there is my brother, go to work with him.

This ſtung the elder brother, who concluded that Robin had diſcovered ſomething: P • ithee, ſays he, do not 〈◊〉 your •• ories upon me, I deal in no ſuch ware, and with that he went off. No, ſays the elder ſiſter, my brother knows the world better.

Thus the diſcourſe ended, leaving the elder brother quite confounded; and one day his eldeſt ſiſter going up ſtairs, he runs after her, hark ye ſiſter, ſays he, may not a body ſee this ſick woman? Yes, ſays ſhe, ſo entering my chamber, I would have gotten up off he chain, but was ſo weak I could not for a good while; do not ſtrive to ſtand, ſays ſhe, my brother deſires no 〈◊◊〉 , ſays he, and he ſat down in a chair over againſt me, and appeared as if he were merry; ſaying poor Mrs. betty, it is a ſad thing to be in love. I am glad to 〈◊〉 you merry, ſir, ſays I, but I think the doctor might have found ſomething elſe to do than to make game of his patients. He then invited me to ſing; I 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 days were over; He aſk'd me if he ſhould play upon his flute, to which I conſenting, he gave his ſiſter the key of his cloſet to fetch it: As ſoon as ſhe was gone, he related the diſcourſe his brother had about me, which was the reaſon of his contriving this viſit to me: I told him I heard that when I was well I muſt quit the family; he was going to reply but his ſiſter entered the room, and told him ſhe could not find the 〈◊〉 ; another time will do as well, ſays 〈…〉 his ſiſter on this errand, was only to have an opportunity of ſpeaking to me.

At laſt I broke the way for my removing, where upon the old lady told me ſhe feared I was melancholy on her ſon Robert's account, and deſired me to let her know how matters ſtood with us both: I told her Mr. Robert had ſeveral times propoſed marriage to me, but I told him I would never entertain ſuch a thought, unleſs I had your conſent and his father's alſo; Then ſays ſhe, yo • have been more juſt to us than we have been to you; for we all looked upon you as a ſnare to my ſon: As to the truth of what I ſay, I refer you to your ſon, and if he do me juſtice, he muſt tell the ſtory juſt as I have done.

The old lady told her daughters what I ſaid, and they were ſurpriſed at it and ſaid they would never believe it and would warrant that Robin would tell the ſtory another way; but the old gentlewoman who was reſolved to go to the bottom of it, before I ſhould have an opportunity of ſpeaking to him, ſent immediately for her ſon. As ſoon as he came, ſays the old lady I muſt have ſome talk with you; I hope it is about a good wi • e, ſays he for I am at a great loſs in 〈◊◊〉 : How can that be, ſays his mother, don't you 〈◊〉 you reſolve to marry Betty; Ay, ſays he, but 〈◊◊〉 yield upon any terms, except ſuch 〈…〉 ſays ſhe, 〈◊〉 are th • ſe 〈…〉 bring my father and you to conſent to it, ſays he which I ſuppoſe I ſhall never be able to 〈◊〉 This anſwer was ſurpriſing to them all, 〈◊〉 ſays the mother again, would you to 〈◊〉 have her as you pretend! I muſt declare that I am in earneſt, and that I will have no one cue.

The 〈◊◊〉 thus broken out, the mother propoſed to the elder brother to talk to me about it, which was as well as he could 〈◊〉 ; and coming 〈◊〉 after into the 〈…〉 he had a long 〈…〉 I would not 〈◊〉 with 〈◊◊〉 we ſhould be both 〈◊〉 and then 〈…〉 whole ſtory between Robin and his mother 〈…〉 ; And now, my dear, ſays, 〈…〉 will be to marry a gentleman of a good family 〈◊◊〉 with the conſent of the 〈…〉 would 〈◊〉 he gave me 50 • l. on account of 〈◊〉 promise, towards my mainta • nance, 〈…〉 never ſpeak to me more; which laſt word were 〈◊〉 ſmall ſurpriſe to me, and I could scarcely avoid falling down, which diſorder he food perceived, and 〈…〉 well of it, ſaying, it was the ſureſt way to preſerve our mutual affection, and that we might 〈◊◊〉 as friends, tho not as lovers; and thus he wrought me by a thouſand kind ſayings, as, he ſhould be a debtor to me as long as he •• ved, and that he owed 〈◊〉 to my complying; till at length he reaſoned me out of my reaſoning, and 〈◊〉 anſwered all my objections, ſo that he prevailed with me to conſent, tho I cannot ſay but with ſome reluctance; and ſoon after Mr. Robert and I were married with the conſent of his parents, which was no ſooner over than I began to fear whether my ſpouſe ſhould challenge me upon a former account when we were in bed together; but this his elder brother had taken care to prevent, by making him very drunk ſo that he was not capable of knowing.*********

In the five years he lived I had two children by him, and we lived very comfortably together; 〈◊〉 he had no fortune from his friends I did not find myſelf at his 〈…〉 than I was 〈◊〉 ſore, for with the 〈◊◊〉 bill his brother gave me, to consent 〈…〉 gave me before and what my huſband left me, I found myſelf worth about 〈◊〉 pounds, and my huſband's friends has taken the two children off my hands, I was now let 〈◊〉 to the world. So being ſtill young and handſome, as every body 〈◊〉 of me, and I cannot but ſay I thought myſelf ſo, and having a tolerable fortune beſide, I put no ſmall value upon myſelf, and my huſband's elder brother being married before my huſband died, I could have no 〈◊〉 of him: I now admitted ſeveral courtiers to viſit me, having ſoon forgotten my huſband, whom I cannot ſay I ever loved as I ought to have dare, tho he was a very 〈◊〉 and tender huſband to me, amongſt whom was a 〈◊〉 draper at 〈◊〉 houſe after my huſband's death, I 〈…〉 where I had all the opportunity to make 〈◊◊〉 that I could deſire, my landlord's ſiſter being the pleasantest creature alive, and brought home ſeveral gentlemen to ſee her pretty widow as • he called me, by whom I was wonderfully care •• ed, and had abundance 〈◊〉 , but I found not a man of honor amongſt them, and I had gained too much experience to be drawn in a ſecond time; I had been tricked once by the cheat, love, and was reſolved never to be ſo again; I had now money in my pocket, and no propoſals could deceive me but what were honourable. I cannot but ſay I loved the company of men of mirth and wit, but I always found that ſuch came upon unlawful terms, and they who came otherwiſe, were a parcel of the dulleſt ſouls I ever met with. I was not altogether averſe to a tradeſman, provided he were genteel, and had not the marks of his apronſtrings about him when he took me abroad with him and ſeemed a fellow that carried his trade in his countenance.

At laſt I was catched in the very ſnare I laid for another, by a draper, an acquaintance of my comrade's; for altho her brother had made ſome pretences, it was for a miſtreſs, and that would not go down with one that had bitten of the bridle and had now money to make herſelf a wife, though I ſoon found my miſtake, and had better been ſold by my comrade to her brother, than have ſold myſelf to a tradeſman, who was a Rake, Gentleman, Shop-keeper, and Beggar all together.

I was hurried on to ruin, by my own fancy in the maddeſt manner that ever woman was; for my huſband coming into a lump of money at once, thought it would never be day, and ſpent ſo extravagantly, that had I given him all I had at firſt, it would have laſted but a year. Indeed at firſt, he was very fond of me, and would coach me up and down in the country with a retinue as if he were a nobleman, and ſpent as ſuch, till at length he was arreſted, and put into a ſpunging houſe, where he sent for me and told me plainly, that he foreſaw he could not hold it, and he adviſed me in the night to take away every thing of value in the houſe and ſhop I could; and a for his part he was reſolved to get out of that miſerable place one way or the other, and if I never heard of him more, he wiſhed me well, and was only ſorry for the injury he had done me.

Taking my leave of him, I did as he bade me and in the night he get away from the 〈◊〉 and came home, and removed what things I had left to the 〈◊〉 which he 〈◊◊〉 and with the money g • t ever to 〈◊〉 from whence I had one or two letters, and never heard of him any more.

In the firſt letter, he ſent me word where he had pawned twenty pieces of fine Holland for thirty pounds, of which I made one hundred, with which, and all that I had carried off myſelf, and what money I had, I could not make above five hundred pounds, and what was worſe a tho I had no children by him I was a widow bewitched, had a huſband and no huſband, and I could not pretend to marry again tho I was ſure my huſband durſt never ſee England again; and beſides, I was informed, that if the creditors could have found me, they would ſeize me, till I delivered up what I carried off, which made me take ſhelter in a private place in the mint, where I went in the habit of a widow, and changed my name to that of Flanders.

Notwithſtanding I endeavored to be as private as I could, I ſoon got a great deal of acquaintance, and found that an agreeable woman in the 〈◊〉 was as valuable as in the city, and that they who could not pay a ſhilling in the pound to their creditors, could find half a crown to ſpend at the B • ll, if they liked the woman they had in company; yet I kept myſelf ſafe, altho I began like Rocheſter's miſtreſs, to have the ſcandal of a Miſs without the pleaſure, which made me think of leaving that place, which was ſo diſagreeable as well as the company.

It was often matter of wonder to ſee men, whoſe families were objects of their own error and others charity endeavouring to drown their ſorrow in their wickedneſs; but it is none of my talent to preach, this place was ever too wicked for me, there was ſomething horrid in their way of ſinning 〈◊〉 they did not only often act againſt conſcience but againſt nature; nay, in the midſt of their lewdneſs, I have heard one fetch a deep ſigh, and cry, what a dog am I? then fail to drinking again, with company in the ſame condition with themſelves.

I was not wicked enough, as yet, for this ſort of company, and finding that I began daily to waſte, I reſolved to be gone, but where, I did not know, till getting acquainted with a good ſort of a woman, whoſe huſband had been a ſea captain, but loſing his ſhip and cargo, was forced to take ſhelter in that place: ſhe invited me to go home with her, where ſhe told me I might live privately enough, and it was twenty to one but I might marry ſome rich ſea-captain or other; which I readily accepted of, and was with her half a year; but what ſhe propoſed to me happened to herſelf, and I found nothing but two or three boatſwains, or ſuch fellows, that courted me in that part, for the captains ſeldom marry any, but ſuch as have fortunes, or thoſe who have relations that are owners of ſhips, neither of which was my caſe, and ſo I was likely ſo lie on hand, beſide I found that little I had daily grew leſs.

I ſoon perceived that love had no ſhare in this part of the world, and that wit, beauty, good humour or any thing, without money, had no power to recommend; and that money would make any deformity in a wiſe agreeable, though not in a miſtreſs, and as the market run all on the men's ſide, it was a favor for a woman to have the queſtion, if the dared to ſay no, ſhe would never have an opportunity of denying again; beſides, I obſerved that men made no ſcruple of going a fortune 〈◊〉 , when they had no fortune themſelves, and they now-a-days carried it ſo high, that a woman durſt not enquire after the character of her ſpark, of which I had an example in a young lady of two thouſand pounds fortune, with whom I had contracted an intimacy, who was courted by a young captain, 〈◊〉 ſhe enquiring of his character, among ſome of his neighbor's, and he hearing of it, told her, the next viſit, he would have no more to ſay to her, and ſo left her, which ſhe told me the next time I ſaw her, and 〈◊〉 he was gone to court one of a leſs fortune.

I endeavored to fortify her mind againſt taking it to heart, and told her there were a hundred ways for a woman to be revenged on a man who uſed her ill; which pleaſed her very much, and ſhe told me ſhe would be very glad I would either put her in a way to recover him, and make him ſenſible of his ill uſage, or to have the ſatisfaction of a revenge as public as poſſible.

I told her then, that as he had reported among the ladies he had left her, the way to recover him, which I found ſhe was deſirous to do, was to report that ſhe had enquired into his circumſtances, and found he was not ſo good a man as he pretended to be, or as ſhe expected, and that he was of an ill temper, and made it his buſineſs in all companies to degrade the ladies of his acquaintance, and that he was a debauched follow, which although it was true, yet I did not find that ſhe liked him the worſe for it. This advice worked upon her immediately, and took beyond expectation, for ſhe wanted not her agents to publiſh it abroad, neither was ſhe wanting to do it herſelf wherever ſhe came, ſo that it ſoon became the chat of the tea-table over all that part of the town: and to help her at a 〈◊◊〉 , I reported alſo wherever I went, that I heard he was not in to good circumſtances as was commonly reported, and that if he did not marry 〈◊〉 he was likely to loſe his ſhip, for his part in her was not yet paid for, which if he did not before he 〈◊〉 his che • mate would command her, who offered to buy the captain's part; beſides, ſaid I, there is ſomething worſe, for people ſay he has a wife at Plymouth and another in the Weſt-Indies, which is what uſually happens to men in that employment. Theſe reports ſoon anſwered our end, and indeed more than we purpoſed; for his new 〈◊〉 was watched carefully by her guardians, and he was forbidden the houſe, and another lady, to whom he had made 〈◊〉 pretentions 〈◊〉 him a flat denial, and wherever he went he was looked upon with diſdain, as a 〈◊〉 that was not worth entertaining.

He ſoon found his miſtake and could not tell how to help himſelf, and therefore reſolved to try his fortune on the other ſide of the water; but there his luck 〈◊◊〉 as before for although he met with many 〈◊〉 there he could have liked, yet they all wanted 〈◊〉 , and this was what he wanted as much as a wi • e, if not more.

〈◊〉 , the young lady got a relation, whom 〈◊〉 into the ſecret to viſit her, in his chariot two or three times a week, and I ſpread it abroad that he came to cou • t her, and that he was a gentleman of a the 〈◊◊〉 year, which ſo 〈…〉 he was ready to hang himſelf; but not knowing 〈◊〉 come at her again, he wrote ſeveral letters to 〈…〉 till 〈◊〉 he was admitted to wait on her only to hear what he had to ſay for himſelf, when ſhe played her part more like a tyrant than a lover, aſking 〈◊〉 how he could have the impudence to ſee her again, who had uſed her ſo ungenerouſly and left her on no other account than upon her 〈◊〉 to enquire into his circumſtances: Do you think, ſaid ſhe, marriage is of 〈◊〉 , and that a woman ought to marry every man who aſks her the 〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉 ſhe related to 〈…〉 reports that had been ſpread 〈…〉 told him, unleſs he 〈…〉 , he ſhould find 〈…〉

At which the 〈…〉 ſo confounded, that he could not ſay a word, 〈…〉 all was true that was 〈◊〉 of him, 〈…〉 at length recovering him 〈…〉 became one of the moſt 〈…〉 by which ſhe ſoon brought him to 〈◊◊〉 account of his circumſtances and behaviour

By this project I convinced her, that if man thought women ſo eaſy to be gotten it was owing to their want of courage to maintain their ground and that according to Rocheſter.

Afterwards ſhe played her part ſo well, that though ſhe reſolved to have him, yet ſhe kept him at the greateſt diſtance, not by a haughty carriage but by a juſt policy, and pretending to enquire ſtrictly into his affairs, ſhe prevented him to look into her own, and as ſhe had left no room to aſk any more queſtions about her fortune, ſhe took the advantage, and placed part of it in the care of truſtees, without letting him know any thing of it; by which management, he was not only more obſequious to her in his courtſhip, but proved a moſt tender and loving huſband.

Nothing is more certain, than that women have the advantage of men by keeping their ground; for no man of ſenſe will value a woman the leſs, for not giving up herſelf at the firſt attack; 'tis nothing but want of reſolution, and the fear of never being married at all, and dying an old maid. In ſhort, there is no woman if ſhe manage well, but may be married ſafely one time or other, and if they don't marry ſo ſoon as they would, they may make themſelves amends by marrying more ſafely; but if a woman won't give herſelf time to think, but take the firſt bidder, it is 〈◊〉 to one but ſhe is undone for ever.

But to return to my own caſe wherein there was at this time no little nicety: My preſent condition being not ſo good as I deſired, made the offer of a good huſband very acceptable, but I knew by experience, to be made cheap was not the way. I cannot ſay, but moſt acknowledged that the widow was well bred, handſome, witty, modeſt, and in every thing agreeable, but what was worſt of all, they got a notion that the widow had no money, and without that, I found that I was likely to come but to a 〈…〉 that place.

I communicated my thoughts of removing, to the captain's lady, whom I had juſt before ſerved and I frankly told her, that I had not above 500 pounds, left beſides a gold watch, and ſome jewels, cloths, and linen, all not worth above a hundred more, who being ſorry for my low circumſtances, made me ſeveral 〈◊〉 preſents, and one evening, in converſation, told me, as we had formerly obſerved 〈◊◊〉 made no ſcruple to cheat the women, ſo that it was juſt to do the like by them, for what was ſauce for the gooſe was ſauce for the 〈◊〉 in ſhort, ſhe ſaid if I would be ruled by her, I 〈◊〉 ſoon get a man of fortune, without bringing any ſcandal upon myſelf, which I told her I was ready to do, and that I would wholly follow her directions, not doubting but ſhe would extricate me out of any difficulty ſhe might bring me into, which, with a great deal of ſincerity ſhe told me ſhe would.

She adviſed me to go to a relation of her's in the country, where I ſhould paſs for her couſin and ſhe and her huſband would come and viſit me, and ſhe ordered it ſo, that he ſhould invite me to London, and make him believe that I was a fortune worth two thouſand pounds, and had a great deal more in expectation, which is better, ſaid ſhe, than to tell the bell man; for my huſband, I know his temper, will not fail to publiſh it to all his acquaintance, ſo that I had nothing to do but ſet ſtill and wait the event; and accordingly ſo it happened, for it was preſently rumoured over all the neighborhood, that the young widow was a great fortune, and that the captain told them ſo, which he did, but he knew nothing of the matter; however it ſoon brought me abundance of admirers, amongſt whom my buſineſs was to ſingle out one that was moſt proper for my purpoſe, and which I did, without much difficulty, from the judgment I made of his courtſhip, for he pretended that he loved me above all the world, tho I knew it was the money he wanted more than me; I told him it was the cuſtom of men to ſay ſo to every woman, and that it was my fortune more than my perſon that he admired. He proteſted it was not, and that he would marry me had I not a farthing. I was glad to hear him ſay that; and then he pulls off his diamond ring, and writes on the glaſs You I love, and you alone; Which I anſwer'd with the ſame ring; And ſo, in love, ſo 〈◊〉 every one. He. Virtue alone is an eſtate. She. But money's virtue, gold is • ate. H • . I ſcorn your gold, and yet I love. She. I'm poor let's ſee 〈◊◊〉 you'll prove. He. 〈◊〉 mine with all your poverty. She. Yet ſecretly, you hope, I lye: He. Let love alone be our tribute. She. She loves enough who does not hate.

This he took for a favour, and fell a kiſſing me, proteſting I was the wittieſt woman he ever met with in his life; & indeed he was the beſt humoured man I ever met with which made me believe he would more eaſily take the diſappointment than a fiery tempered wretch, who had nothing to recommend him, but ill humours enough to make a woman miserable.

He purſued me 〈◊〉 after that, and I trifled with him longer that I 〈◊〉 to have done that I might forecloſe any object 〈◊〉 , when he ſhould come to diſcover my circumſtances; however, I took the freedom one day to tell him, that though he had often proteſted he would marry me without any fortune, yet I hoped he would give me leave to aſk him ſome queſtions, which he might anſwer or not, as he thought fit, which were, wh • ther he deſigned to live in England or Virginia? where I told him, I did not care to be tranſported.

He frankly owned that moſt of his eſtate was in Virginia, which brought him in about three hundred pounds a year, but if 〈◊◊〉 it, it would bring in a thouſand, which I told him was too much for one of my fortune, and that he would do better to marry a lady of that country; he 〈◊〉 he did not aſk me what my fortune was, becauſe at firſt he told me he never would, but that he would never go to Virginia without my conſent, or deſire me to go unleſs I were willing. All which was as I deſired, and which I mention, only to put the ladies in mind that nothing but want of courage makes our ſex ſo cheap and ill uſed, as they often are; for had I really diſcovered what my fortune was at the firſt, I had certainly been neglected; yet afterwards I locked him ſo faſt, that I am ſatisfied he would have had me in my worſt circumſtances.

In ſhort we were married, and he proved the beſt humoured man that ever woman had; but his circumſtances were not ſo good as I imagined, and he did not better himſelf much by • e. We had not been married above a fortnight before I thought it time to diſcover to him my little ſtock which I did not know how to bring about, but one day I ſaid to him in the midſt of our amours, my dear, I wonder you never aſk me after my portion, your time for that, child, 〈◊〉 he. I am ſatisfied. I have the wife I love; I never ſhall trouble you 〈◊〉 with inquiry after that.

That's true, ſaid I, but I am much troubled about it; I am told that the captain has informed you I had a great dea • more money than ever I pretended to have. What then, ſaid he; if you have not ſo much, I have no body to blame but myſelf. That's ſo generous, ſaid I, that my not having more is a double affliction to me. The leſs you have, ſaid he, ſmiling, is the worſe for us both; but I hope you don't think I ſhall be unkind to you upon that account; perhaps I may tell the captain he has cheated me, but I ſhall never ſay ſo to you. Well, ſaid I, my dear, you cannot ſay I have cheated you; but to ſatisfy you I am not ſo poor as you might imagine, here is two hundred pounds in bank 〈◊〉 telling him there was ſomething for him, and that not all, which was doubly welcome, becauſe he owned he expected nothing, and in two or three days more I brought him home a hundred pounds more in gold, and in a week after I fetched him two hundred pounds more; and now, my dear, ſaid I, I am ſorry to tell you I have given you my all. I added, that I had loſt five hundreds in a perſon's hands, with whom I had entruſted it; which ſo obliged him, that he 〈◊〉 it very thankfully. By which management you ſee how I got over the fraud of paſſing for a fortune, which I take to be one of the moſt dangerous ſteps a woman can take, becauſe ſhe runs the hazard of being ill uſed afterwards.

My huſband finding his return from his plantations not to anſwer his expectations, any more than my fortune, diſcovered his inclinations to go to look after them, which I readily agreed to and told him to make him amends for his diſappointment in my fortune, I would willingly go along with him. At which he ſaid a thouſand kind things to me, aſſuring me, that tho he was diſappointed in the expectations of a fortune, he was not in that of a wife.

In ſhort we agreed to go, and he told me he had a very good houſe well furniſhed, in which his mother then lived, but ſhe would remove to another plantation which was to be his after her deceaſe; which was all true. In our paſſage, we met with two terrible ſtorms, and a pirate who took away moſt of our proviſions, and what was worſe, had like to have taken away my huſband; but at length we arrived in York river, and were received with all the tokens of affection by his mother, with whom we lived ſome time very comfortably, for ſhe was a good ſort of a woman, and I would not let her go to another plantation, for ſhe uſed to divert me with abundance of ſtories, as well of the country as the people; among the reſt, ſhe told me how the colony came at firſt to be inhabited; and ſaid, the people were originally ſuch as are brought over by maſters of ſhips to be ſold as ſervants, or felons that are tranſported, amongſt whom we make no difference, ſaid ſhe, they work together in the field and when their time is out, they have land to form a plantation given them for themſelves: hence child, ſaid ſhe, many a Newgate Bird becomes a great man, and ſeveral of our juſtices have been burnt in the hand, and indeed ſaid ſhe, I was one of them myſelf, for being too buſy with what was none of my own, I was convicted a criminal, and here, ſaid ſhe, is the mark of it, ſhewing me her hand. This made me enquire more particularly into her own caſe who frankly told me, that her mother uſing to ſend her often abroad, ſhe had fallen into very ill company at London in her youthful days, for which ſhe was ſent to Newgate and condemned to die, but pleading pregnancy, ſhe was ordered for tranſportation, and forced to leave her child, who, ſaid ſhe, with tears in her eyes, I fear was ſoon ſtarved to death, for that Newgate is a miſerable place, and breeds more rogues and thieves than all the clubs of villains in the land, and then ſhe went on in ſo particular a manner, that I began to be very uneaſy, but when ſhe came to tell her name, I thought I ſhould have ſunk down in the earth, which ſhe eaſily perceived, and aſked me if I were not well: I told her I was ſo affected with her melancholy ſtory, that it had ſomewhat diſordered me, why, ſaid ſhe, my dear, theſe things were long before your time, and I look back on them with pleaſure. And then ſhe goes on, and tells how ſhe came to marry her maſter, by whom ſhe had my huſband; to which I did not give much attention becauſe I wanted to retire and give vent to my paſſion, which you may imagine was very great when I concluded this muſt certainly be my mother, and I had now two children, and was with the third by my brother.

I leave it to any one to judge what difficulties I was in; if I diſcovered it, I could expect nothing leſs than to loſe my huſband, for he was too honeſt a man to lie with his ſiſter; and on the other hand 〈◊〉 ſhe had doubted me I had been undone; and I 〈◊〉 too ſure of the fact for though I was not ſo much touched with the crime, yet the action had ſomething in it ſo ſhocking to nature, that the very thoughts of it made my huſband nauſeous to me, however I reſolved to conceal it, and let nobody know, which I did for three years longer.

In the mean time, my huſband grew jealous, without any other reaſon but that I was not 〈◊〉 fo • d of him as formerly, 〈◊〉 nothing proſpered which we took in hand. Theſe reaſons made me claim my promiſe; that if I did not like Virginia I ſhould return to England when I pleaſed, inſiſting that he uſed me ill, and was jealous without any cauſe, which I inſiſted upon ſo poſitively, that he could not avoid giving me an anſwer. He uſed all his rhetoric to perſuade me to the contrary, but all in vain; for he was become ſo loathſome to me, that I would not let him touch me in bed, which at laſt put him ſo out of humour, that he reſolved I ſhould not go to England, ſaying, it would unhinge his affairs, and ruin the whole family, which touched me very much; but 〈◊〉 he knew nothing of the reaſons that prompted me to take ſuch meaſures.

Many ſay, it is impoſſible to make a woman change her mind, when once ſhe is ſet upon a thing, and ſo it was with me, which provoked my huſband ſo far, that he called me the moſt unnatural woman in the world, to leave a huſband, and what was worſe, two children, with a deſign never to ſee them more. About this we had ſeveral family quarrels, which at laſt grew to ſuch a height, that we both did what we could to provoke one another, till at length I refuſed to bed with him, which ſo enraged him, that he told me I was mad, and that he would have me in a mad-houſe, which ſo frightened me, that I reſolved to lay open my whole caſe, but to whom I did not know: however, the next quarrel, I told him enough to make him uneaſy as well as myſelf, and that as for my behaviour towards him and my children, there was ſomething in it more than he knew, for I did not look upon him to be my lawful huſband, or they my lawful children; which made him look as pale as death, 〈◊〉 ſtand as one thunderſtruck, and when he had recovered himſelf he told me, I had given him a mortal wound, and deſired to know the meaning of it, which I excuſed, ſaying, I found I had told him too much already. He ſaid he ſuppoſed he knew what it was and that I had another huſband alive, which I aſſured him was falſe. Upon which he aſked me, if I only did it to provoke him? But I would give him no anſwer, unleſs he would promiſe to let me go to England. At length he ſet his mother on me, but I preſently ſtopt her mouth, te • ling her ſhe knew the ſecret 〈◊〉 , and that it was owing to her I concealed it, which ſtruck her dumb, and ſhe could not tell what to ſay, but at length I agreed to reveal it to her, if ſhe would promiſe not to tell her ſon of it without my conſent, to which ſhe agreed, and after a great many preliminaries, I told her the whole ſtory.

Firſt I rehearſed her own ſtory, and her London names, and that my trouble was all upon that account, and then I told her my own name and aſſured her that I could be no other, than her daughter born in Newgate, who had ſaved her front the gallows by being in her, and in what manner ſhe left me when ſhe was tranſported.

Unhappy child, ſaid ſhe, what deſtiny brought thee hither? and to be my ſon's wife, we are all undone and thus ſhe run on a long 〈◊〉 ; neither had I any power to ſpeak, and ſo we parted with ſorrowful hearts, ſhe then deſiring me not to ſpeak of it, till ſhe conſidered further.

It was not long before we had a ſecond conference, when ſhe began to tell the ſtory quite otherwiſe; but I refreſhed her memory ſo that ſhe could not go from it; and then ſhe began to fall into her agonies; ſaying, ſhe was the moſt miſerable creature in the world; which being • ver, we began to conſult what was beſt to be done. My mother begged of me to bury the whole thing in oblivion, till a more favorable opportunity ſhould offer to diſcover it to my huſband, and that if I would do ſo, ſhe would leave me all ſhe had at her death; which I told her was impoſſible, and aſked her how ſhe 〈◊〉 imagine I could bear the thoughts of lying with my brother, and begged ſhe would uſe her endeavor • with her ſon to give me leave to go to England, which was the only expedient that I knew of, that was left to make us all eaſy, and that when I was gone ſhe might diſcover the whole matter to him, which would prevent his ſlighting the children: to which my mother could not for a long time agree, ſhe inſiſting it was impoſſible to bring him to conſent to my going to England; and I, that I could never lie with him as a huſband.

A length I reſolved that I would tell him of it myſelf, which put my mother in a ſad fright, but ſaid I, I will do it when he is in a good humour, ſo that I did not queſtion ſucceeding; as we might part with conſent, and both ſtill love as brother and ſiſter, though he could not as huſband and wife.

All this while my huſband was very uneaſy to know what I meant by 〈◊〉 he was not my lawful huſband, but my mother gave him good words, and put him off from time to time, telling him he might thank himſelf for his ill uſage in ſaying he would ſend me to the mad houſe.

He vowed he had no ſuch deſign, whatever he might ſay in his paſſion, and that he would be kinder to me for the time to come, and indeed he was, but I durſt not let him meddle with me, for ſear of being with child by him again, and therefore I found there was abſolute neceſſ •• y of letting him into the ſecre • , which I did one evening as we were ſitting under a little auning at the entrance of the gardes, where he was ſaying a great many kind things to me, when I fetched a deep ſigh, and told him no body could be more delighted than I was in his company, nor more afflicted now I knew we ma • part, for there was ſomething in our circumſtances which I knew not how to Impart to him, which rendered us both very miſerable. He preſſed me to tell him, which I told him I could not do, for while he knew nothing of it, he would not be unhappy, and therefore it was more kind to keep it from him: He ſaid I could not be kind 〈◊〉 him if I concealed it from him, ſaying let it be what it will, it ſhall no more interrupt our quiet or mutual kindneſs.

I told him I was glad to hear him ſay ſo, and if he would promiſe me one thing I would diſcover it, tho' it was the moſt againſt my inclinations of any thing in the world. What is that? ſaid he, and I promiſe you I will do it. Then, ſaid I, my dear, you muſt hear it patiently, and not be angry with your mother, or me, or yourſelf, ſince we are all innocent. I will not, ſaid he, provided you keep me no longer in ſuſpence, which is more terrifying than the thing itſelf can be.

Prepare then to hear it: You remember in my paſſion I told you I was not your lawful wi • e nor your children legal children, which indeed they are not, for I am your ſiſter, and we are both children of one mother, who is now in the houſe and convinced of the truth.

At which I ſaw him turn pale and look wildly when I put him in mind of his promiſe to bear it with patience, and got him a glaſs of P • um to comfort his ſpirits, and then I told him, how my mother came to diſcover it to me; and now my dear ſaid I, you may ſee reaſons for my capitulations.

I am fully ſatisfy'd of that, ſaid he but 'tis ſtrange ſurprize to me; however I know a remedy, and that ſhall put an end to all, looking wildly at the ſame time, and going haſtily from me, he went to hang himſelf, which he had done had not his mother luckily gone into the room in the very moment, and cut him down with the help of a negro-ſervant.

We were all in a very deplorable condition, and my love to him began to revive at firſt, but it threw him into a deep melancholy, and had likely to have coſt him his life, which made me importune him to let me go to England, as the only mean to recover his health, and make us both eaſy; which at length he agreed to, and gave me a very good cargo to bear the expence of my voyage.

We agreed, before we parted, that ſome time after I arrived, he ſhould pretend to have an account that I was dead, and that he might marry again when he would, and he pomiſed to aſſiſt me, as long as he lived, and if he died before me, he would leave ſufficient to take care of me, which indeed he did.

In two and thirty days I arrived in England, and had a pretty good voyage, meeting with but one or two ſtorms, and thoſe on the coaſts or Ireland.

I had now a new ſcene of life upon my hands, and not above three hundred pounds in the world that I was ſure of, and not a friend in the world to adviſe with me; but buſineſs calling me to Briſtol, where the ſhip was unloaded, I determined, afterwards to go to the Bath, where ſomething I thought might offer, which I did not foreſee, for I had ſtill a gaiety in my temper, tho' no fortune to ſupport it, where I ſtayed the ſeaſon, and contracted ſome unhappy acquaintance, which rather promoted the follies I fell afterwards into, than fortified me againſt them.

I got acquainted with a woman, in whoſe houſe I lodged who was not one of the beſt, though ſhe did not keep a bad houſe, where there was a gentleman lodged, who always ſingled me out for the diverſion of my company, and his converſation, I confeſs, was as agreeable to me, as mine could be to him, and there was nothing but modeſty for a long time paſs'd between us; he would indeed frequently come into my chamber, even when I was in bed, yet he never offered any thing to me further than a kiſs, of which I frequently took notice to my landlady; and ſhe anſwered me that he was a man of ſtrict honor and very good eſtate, and therefore I ought to oblige him, for it was my intereſt ſo to do. I anſwered I had never told him how my circumſtances were; Oh! then, ſaid ſhe, I will for I had let her in part know how my condition ſtood, which ſhe did ſoon after, and the next time we met he earneſtly enquired how I lived, and whether I did not want money? I told him not as yet; for altho' my cargo was damaged in the ſtorm, yet it was not quite loſt, and that I hoped I ſhould make it hold out till more was come.

Not long after he attacked me again, and aſſured me he enquired into my condition, for no deſire to ſatisfy his own curioſity, but to aſſiſt me if there were occaſion; and that if at any time I ſhould find myſelf ſtreightned, he begged I would be ſo kind as to let him know, and I ſhould always find a friend of him; but yet I could not do it, though I was glad of his offer, I muſt own.

In a little time my landlady, unknown to me came into the room, when we were both together, crying out, O widow, I have bad news to tell you, the virginia fleet is taken by the French, and the man you ſent to Briſtol for money is come back without it. I cannot help that, ſaid I, I have about twenty guineas left, and I will pay you preſently.

The next morning he began to talk of it again, and ſaid he had heard the ſame at the coffee-houſe, and wondered why I would not accept of a ſmall matter from him, when I had promiſed him otherwiſe. I anſwered that I was ſurpriſed why my landlady ſhould ſo expoſe me, but I imagined it was for a ſmall matter that I owed her, which was about eight guineas, which I had paid her, and would have done with her very ſoon.

Not ſo, madam, ſaid he, firſt take this key and open that walnut-tree box, and bring me hither the drawer, which I ſoon did, and I believe there might be in it about two hundred guineas; now ſaid he, take out a handful for your pains, which I refuſing, he held my hand and made me do it; and now, ſaid he, go and count them in your chamber, which I did, and with what I had of my own, they made up in all fifty guineas.

Not long after this, he began every day to find fault with my cloth • , laces, and head-dreſſes, and preſſed me, to buy better, which I was willing enough to do, tho' I did not ſeem ſo to him; but he ſtill preſſing me to do it, I told him I could not afford it till I had paid him what I owed him; at which he ſaid ſmilingly, he had not lent me the money, but given it me, which was the leaſt he ought to do for my agreeable company.

In about three months the company began to go off, and he talked of going ſoon, and was very deſirous to have me along with him, which I did not care to do becauſe I did not know how he might uſe me, but before he went, he was taken very ill of a fever for five weeks, all which time I looked after him as carefully as if I had been his wife, and after ſome time he grew better, when he made me a preſent of fifty guineas more for ſaving his life, as he called it, making the deepeſt proteſtations of his reſpect for me in the world, and that he would take another opportunity to give me an undoubted teſtimony of it.

A little after, I had occaſion to go to Briſtol, where he accompanied me, when it was our chance to lye in an inn, where all the lodgings were taken up, except, one room which had two beds in it, but a very great curtain drew between them, which troubled us both very much I but ſeeing it could not be helped, my friend bade me go to bed firſt, and he would come afterwards to his bed; and ſo he did, where we lay talking together a great while, till ſtarting from his bed on a ſudden he comes to me, and bid • me not be concerned, for he would aſk nothing immodeſt, and indeed he did not, for we lay all night together as innocently as children, altho, he was a vigorous briſk man, and I cannot ſay for my part that I ſhould have made much reſiſtance had he made any attempt.

At our return to the Bath, he lay with me almoſt every night, and although we had mutual embraces every time, and always ſlept in one another's arms, yet he never offered any thing further; this he mightily valued himſelf for, yet I cannot ſay I ſo much liked it, till one night as we were in bed pretty merry, having drunken a little more than uſual, being claſped cloſely in his arms, I told him I could find in my heart to diſcharge him of his engagement for one night and no more.

He took me at my word, and after this we were one as willing as the other; for this reaſon I exchanged the name of a friend for that deteſtable name of a Miſs. In the morning we looked ſtrangely at one another, and both ſeemed to be ſorry for what we had done, and indeed it was a week before we were ſo free as uſual with one another. I could not forbear bluſhing, whenever I was with him, and he looked as if he were frightened, till one night I aſked him, what if I ſhould be with child! he bade me not be frightened at that, for he would take care of the child and me, which hardened us both ſo much, that we repeated the crime every night, and in a little time it ſo happened that I was with child, and when I was certain of it, I propoſed truſting the ſecret to my landlady, who ſaid ſhe knew it would come to that at laſt, and made us very merry about it that evening.

When I grew near my time, ſhe adviſed him to go to London, and then acquainted the pariſh officers that there was a lady ready to lye in at her houſe, but ſhe was a woman of faſhion, and that ſhe knew her huſband very well, which ſatisfied them; and I lay in, in as much ſtate as if I had really been a lady, having many of the beſt in the town at my labour.

My gentleman allowed me very handſomely, and I was as ſparing as poſſible in my expences, ſo that I ſaved nearly one hundred pounds in my lying in. I had alſo a fine boy, which as ſoon as he heard, he wrote a very obliging letter to me, and adviſed me to come to London as ſoon as I was able, and he would take a lodging for me at Hammerſmith, which I liked very well; and accordingly I took coach for myſelf, child, nurſe and maidſervant, he meeting us at Rending, where he took me in his own chariot, and conducted us all to my new lodgings at Hammerſmith.

And now I wanted nothing to make me happy but to be a wife, which I knew could not be, for he had a wife already, but ſhe was mad, I therefore laid up againſt a rainy day what I could, knowing very well that kept miſtreſſes, like old cloths, are thrown away when they are done with: However, I lived ſix years with him, and in that time I had three fine children by him but only the firſt lived. At length I was ſurprized with a very melancholy letter from him, intimating, that he was very ill, and that he was afraid he ſhould have another fit of ſickneſs but that he being in the houſe with his wife's relations, it was not poſſible for me to come to him, which he deſired very much.

I was very much concerned at this account, you may be ſure, and I was every day impatient to know how he did, hearing nothing further from him for about a month, I diſguiſed myſelf like a ſervant maid in a round cap, and went to his houſe, and ſaid my maſter and miſtreſs ſent to know how he did; where underſtanding that the doctors ſaid they had but little hopes of him, I began to conſider that it was well that I had ſaved ſomething while he was alive to maintain me and my ſon.

This was ſad news, no doubt; however, I did not ceaſe 〈◊〉 every day, till at laſt I underſtood he was abroad 〈◊〉 , when I hoped I ſhould ſoon hear of him: but to my ſurprize I heard nothing of him for a quarter of a year, in which 〈◊〉 I had written ſeveral letters, and d •• e • ted them as uſual, but received no anſwer, till I found means to have a letter given him at a coffee-houſe which he uſed; wherein I repreſented the bad condition I was in, having lodgings to pay, and neceſſaries for the child were wanting, which forced an anſwer from him, and is as follows:

I was thunderſtruck with this letter, as you may imagine, but I never once reflected on my own conduct towards my huſband, the linen-draper, or my brother whom I had married; but was only ſorry for the loſs of ſo fine a gentleman, who had done ſo many good-natured things for me; and being troubled about my little boy, not knowing what would become of him, I ſent him word, that I left him to his diſcretion, and had obeyed him, in 〈◊◊〉 but that of going to the 〈◊〉 , and with all I told 〈◊◊〉 what condition I was in, in the moſt moving 〈◊〉 , aſſuring him that I repented as ſincerely as he had done, but intreated him to put me into 〈◊〉 condition to live, 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 into greater temptation; and that if he thought I ſhould be troubleſome to him any more, I defined him to lend me only 50l. more, and I would go to Virginia, which would put an end to all his fears; and that • f I found my mother living, and my circumſtances 〈◊〉 , I would 〈◊〉 ſend for my child, and take him, off his hands, which I muſt own I had no intention to do, as my former affairs may convince you, but my buſineſs was to get the laſt fifty pounds, knowing I ſhould never have any more.

I was now free from all obligations: a wife or a miſtreſs, except to the linen draper, whom I had never heard of nor my huſband, or father brother at Virginia, when I received, after a long expectation, a return of ſome goods from my brother, but upon condition of ſigning a general releaſe, which I promiſed to do, but having • he goods delivered faſt, I would not do it; ſo that by this means I found my little ſtock amounted to about 5 • 0l. with which I had the world to begin again; but what was my greateſt misfortune, I was not the ſame woman as formerly, but now ſomething old.

I thought upon ſeveral ways to ſet me off, but nothing would offer, till at length a new ſcene opened. There was in the houſe where I lodged a North country gentlewoman, who was talking to me of the cheapneſs of her country till at length ſhe tempted me to promiſe to go and live with her in the country, telling her, that altho' I had enough to live on, yet I found London was an extravagant place, and I did not much care for it.

Before I went, it came into my mind to go to the bank, where I had often been to receive the intereſt of ſome bill • , and adviſe with one of the clerks, who always was very ready to ſerve me; but when I told him what my buſineſs was, he aſſured me, be could not do it with conveniency to himſelf, but that he would recommend me to a gentleman whom he could be anſwerable for and was always well pleaſed to do ſuch acts of charity.

I anſwered I would rather have depended on him, becauſe I had found him honeſt, but if that • ould not be, I would accept of his recommendation; he replied, you will be as well ſatisfied with my friend as with me, and that he would give his word that he ſhould aſk nothing for his pa • ns, but that he himſelf was obliged, by virtue of that place, not to meddle with any buſineſs.

I no ſooner ſaw his friend, than I was ſatisfied he was a very honeſt man by his looks, and to whom I told my circumſtances at large, how that I was a widow, newly came from America, and had a little money, and 〈◊〉 little and was afraid to loſe it having no friend to adviſe with, and that I was going to the North of England to live cheaply.

He told me, that I might lodge the money in the bank on account, which would entitle me to the money at any time, but then it would be eſteemed as running caſh, or that I might buy ſtock with it, but if I wanted to diſpoſe of it at any time, I muſt come to town to transfer it or elſe I might enter it in ſome friend's name, and he might receive it for me; and then ſaid, ſmiling, madam, why don't you get an honeſt ſteward that might take you and your money together! That, ſaid I, is more difficult than the other, ſaid he, he had a wife, or elſe he ſhould have been very glad of the bargain; for, ſaith he, I have a wife and no wife, and it would be no ſin to hang her, for ſhe is a w—e.

That alters the caſe indeed 〈◊〉 ſaid I, but a cuckold may be an honeſt man, and I don't queſtion but you will do my buſineſs honeſtly, and that you are very good to own ſuch a woman for a wife. I do think, ſaid he, to clear my hands of her; for to be plain I am no con • ented cuckold, though I cannot rid my hands of her as yet. I begun to wave the diſcourſe and talk of buſineſs, but I found he could not have done with it but went on, and told me, how that his buſineſs called him out of England, and that ſhe in the mean time had two children by an officer in the army, and that on her ſubmiſſion he took her again and maintained her very well, till ſhe ran away with a linen draper, and robbed him of what ſhe could come at: and now madam, ſaid he, ſince you come to aſk advice, let me aſk yours.

Alas ſir, ſaid I, 'tis a nice caſe that ſince ſhe is run away, you are well off I think: however you may get a divorce if you think fit, and then marry another. Will you take me, madam ſaid he. I cannot tell, ſaid I, your caſe ſeems worſe than mine, although the queſtion pleaſed me better than any thing he had ſaid before, however, I knew the way to ſecure him was to ſtand off, and that it was time enough to accept it when he was able to perform it; upon which he broke off, and he made me promiſe to come the next day, which I did; and brought my maid with me, to let him ſee that I kept a maid, whom he deſired me, to ſend home, and he would wait on me in a coach by myſelf—which I did not much care for, for fear he ſhould enquire into my character.

He provided a handſome ſupper for me, and then began to talk of love and preſſed me to drink a glaſs or two of wine, and deſired me to give him leave to make a propoſal; which I ſaid I was willing to hear, provided it were honorable. Why ſaid he, it is to marry me, and to convince me that he meant honorably he would not live with me, or go to bed to me, till the divorce was obtained.

I declared the motion unfair, with ſome warmth, and told him there could be nothing in it, but to entangle us both in greater difficulties; but that if he did get a divorce, I did not know what I might ſay, or he could not expect that I ſhould ſay yes, at firſt aſking, beſides I never did imagine that he had any ſuch deſign.

He preſſed me to give him a promiſe, which I would not before I had ſeen the iſſue of my journey in the North, wherein my friend had promiſed me great matter, but I told him, as a pledge of my ſincerity, I had entruſted him with almoſt my all, and as ſoon as he had ſued out the divorce, if he would ſend me an account of it, I would come up to London, and—then we would talk more of the matter.

It was a baſe deſign in me, I confeſs, and it proved accordingly. I went with my friend (as I called her) into Lancaſhire, who all the way down treated me with a great deal of good manners, and her brother in a gentleman's coach met us at Warrington, and from thence carried us to Liverpool, where we were entertained at a merchant's houſe three or four days, and then her uncle, as ſhe called him, ſent a coach and four; which carried us to a gentleman's ſeat forty miles further, where I was nobly entertained; but I diſcovered they were all Roman Catholics, which did not in the leaſt alter their behaviour to me, altho the ladies ſoon found I was not of their religion.

I ſtayed here about ſix weeks and then we returned to a village near Liverpool, where her brother, as ſhe called him, met us in his own chariot with two footman, and carried us to his own houſe, where I had not been long before he began to make love to me, his pretended ſiſter telling him I was a great fortune, and he paſſed for a gentleman of a thouſand pounds a year in Ireland. I cannot ſay but to outward appearance he was a fine gentleman, and talked as naturally of 〈◊〉 park, ſtables, horſes, game-keepers and tenants, as if he really had them all.

I own, 〈◊〉 never aſked me about my fortune, for his ſiſter had already told him I had at leaſt ten thouſand pounds; but he often talked of ſettling a jointure on me of ſix hundred pounds a year, and that he would enter into covenants for performance: 〈◊〉 words ſounded ſo pleaſantly in my ears, that I soon conſented to be married, never ſo much as 〈…〉 this while of my faithful citizen, with whom I had entruſted my money.

After we had been married about a month, he began to talk of going to Weſt-Cheſter, to embark for Ireland, where, when we came he aſked me if I had no 〈◊〉 to ſettle at London before we went off; I ſuppoſe, and he, the greateſt part of your eſtate, which my 〈◊〉 tells me is in money, might want to be transferred, and therefore it will not be amiſs to go up to London before we go to Ireland.

I told him I did not underſtand him. I had no effects in the bank, neither did I ever tell him I had. No, 〈◊〉 he, my dear, then I am undone; this woman told me ſo, and I was to give her five hundred pounds to bring you down. I aſked her then what reaſon ſhe had for 〈◊〉 ſaying, and ſhe anſwered, the people in the houſe where I lodged told her ſo. I can't help that ſaid I. Nor have I any eſtate, my dear, ſaid he, for what little I had, this devil has made me run it out in putting me into this equipage. At this I was confounded as much as he and thought I had the worſt of it by far, telling him, if I had a fortune I found I had been cheated, and 〈◊〉 would have been a double bite. My dear, ſaid he, I cannot ſay but you would have been cheated, but you would not have been undone for ten thouſand pounds would have maintained us both very 〈◊◊〉 in Ireland, and I would not have wronged you of a 〈◊〉 , and the re •• I would have made up to you in love.

I told him it was very unhappy, that ſo much love and ſo much good nature as I diſcovered in him, ſhould be thus precipitated into miſery, and that what little I had, was not 〈◊〉 to relieve us a week; and with that I pulled out a bankbill of twenty pounds, which with eleven guineas I had in my pocket, I thought would have maintained me two or three years, which if it were taken from me, I told him I was left deſtitute; however, there it was at his ſervice.

He told me, that he ſcorned to make me miserable, and that he had fifty pounds left, and throwing it down on the table bade me take it, tho he ſhould ſtarve. I returned him thanks, and told him I was willing to ſtarve with him. He begged of me not to expreſs ſo much kindneſs, for that would make him diſtracted; but ſaid he, my dear, tell me if you have any money at all, I told him I had the bank-bill and eleven guineas, thinking it proper to conceal the reſt, for I would have been rid of him at any rate.

He ſhook his head, and remained ſilent ſome time, and after a pauſe he ſaid, my dear, tho the caſe is bad, it is to no purpoſe to be dejected, I will endeavor to find out ſame way or other to live, and then thinking to me, vowed all his concern was for me.—To give him his due, he was really a very tender huſband, and of • a generous ſpirit; and 'tis ſatisfaction if one muſt be ruined, that it be by a man of honor, rather than a ſcoundrel. We had a great deal of talk that night, and he propoſed many ways, but came to no reſolution, till at laſt he took a huſband's leave of me, and then fell aſleep.

He roſe betime in the morning, and left me aſleep, taking with him his ſervants, horſes, and baggage, and upon the table I found the following letter, which when I had read, I thought I ſhould have fallen down dead.

Nothing ever made ſo great an impreſſion upon me as this letter, and more when I found in my pocket ten guineas, a gold watch, a diamond ring, and a plain one, upon which I could not forbear looking above two hours, till my maid came and told me dinner was ready, but I could not eat any thing you may be ſure: After it was over, I fell a crying. O Jemmy, come back, I'll beg, I'll ſtarve with you, when to my ſurprize, he comes back in the evening, but without any ſervant, and I not knowing what could be the occaſion of it, aſked him how he could be ſo unkind to leave me, and whether he did not hear me call him to come back again, which he ſaid he did about ten miles off, upon Delamare foreſt, and that was the reaſon of his coming back, believing it would be very melancholy for me to travel to London alone, and that he might as well go that way as any other, ſaying he had diſmiſſed his ſervants, and that they were in a happier caſe than himſelf, for they could get places when he might be in a goal.

Two days after this we quitted Cheſter, I in a ſtagecoach, and he on horſeback, leaving my maid behind me, and he came with me as far as Dunſtable, within thirty miles of London, and there he told me he muſt leave me, for he durſt go no further; I told him if it were ſo, I deſired he would ſtay a week or two in that town, which, he readily agreed to; then calling the landlady, he told her his wife was taken ill, and enquired whether ſhe could not get us a lodging in the town for two or three nights, till I had recovered myſelf; which ſhe willingly agreed to and indeed I liked the room very well, and the people of the inn as well, ſo we paid the coach and took out our baggage, and then told him I would live with him there till I had ſpent our money, which with a great deal of difficulty at length I brought him to agree to, and we ſtayed here about a month, in which time he let me into part of his own life which was very ſurprizing, and full of variety, and of which I ſhall give a full account hereafter.

We parted at lad, with great reluctance on both ſides, for I found by what he ſaid, that he durſt not come to London, and the next day I came to St. Jones's in Clerkon well, a private place where no body knew me; but being a ſtranger, I did not know where to lye in, for I grew big, and people in the houſe taking notice of it, intimated that I muſt think of removing, which troubled me ſo much that I grew ill, and my melancholy increaſed my diſtemper, ſo that the miſtreſs of the houſe propoſed to ſend for a midwife, which ſhe did, who, told her, ſhe believed that my condition was pretty much in her way; but I did not underſtand at firſt, what ſhe meant: but the midwife ſoon informed me, and ſaid ſhe believed I was under ſome circumſtances that rendered my lying in difficult, and that if I pleaſed to communicate it to her, ſhe would ſoon make all eaſy, which put new life into me, and I found my blood began to circulate immediately.

I was too ſenſible of the want I had of ſuch a friend, not to return her thanks for her kind offers, but I aſſured her I had a huſband, tho he could not appear publicly thro misfortunes; at which ſhe preſently took me up, and ſaid that was none of her buſineſs to enquire into, ſaying, all the ladies that came under her care were married women to her; if you dare truſt yourſelf in my hands, ſaid ſhe, I live in ſuch a place, and I have already given ſecurity to the pariſh, to ſecure them from any charge that ſhall happen under my roof; and I have only one queſtion further to aſk,—which is, whether you have money? I anſwered, I thanked God I did not want for that, tho I did not much abound in it. Why then, ſaid ſhe, you are happy, for without that nothing can be done: and to ſatisfy you I will not impoſe on you, you ſhall know the whole charges beforehand. I told her that was very fair, but that as I had not over much money, I begged ſhe'd be as reaſonable as poſſible, which ſhe ſaid ſhe would, and for that reaſon would give me an account of the expences in two or three ſhapes which were as follows: The firſt bill.     l. s. d. 1. For three months lodging and diet, at 10s. per week 06 00 00 2. For a nurſe for the month, and uſe of child bed linen, 01 10 00 3. For a miniſter to chriſten the child, and to the godfathers and clerk, 01 10 00 4. For a ſupper at the chriſtening if five were at it, 01 00 00 5. For her fees as midwife, and taking the trouble off the pariſh, 03 03 00   To her maid ſervant, attending 00 10 00     In all 13 13 00 The ſecond bill.     l. s. d, 1. For three months lodging diet, at 20s. per week, 12 00 00 2. For a nurſe for the month, and uſe of child-bed linen, 02 00 00 3. For a miniſter to chriſten the child, &c. as above, 02 00 00 4. For a ſupper and ſweet meats, 03 03 00 5. For her fees, &c. 05 05 00   To her ſervant maid, 01 00 00     In all 25 18 00 The third bill ſhe ſaid was to perſons of quality, 1. For three months lodging and diet, having two rooms, and a garret for a ſervant, 30 00 00 2. For a nurſe for the month, and the fineſt ſuit of childbed linen, 04 04 00 3. For a miniſter to chriſten the child, &c. 02 10 00 4. For a ſupper, the gentleman to ſend in the wine, 06 00 00 5. For my fees, &c. 10 10 00   To the maid, 01 10 00     In all 54 14 00

I looked upon the bills, and telling her I could not ſay but the bills were very reaſonable: but that I was ſorry to tell her, I feared I muſt be her loweſt cuſtomer. With all my heart, ſaid ſhe, I have ten to one as many of them as the other; and then, ſaid ſhe, if the child be dead born, or ſhould not live, you ſave the miniſters article, and if you have no friend at the chriſtening, you ſave the expences of the ſupper, ſo that then your lying-in will not ſtand you in above 5l., 3s. more than your ordinary charge of living.

I told her I would be her cuſtomer, but as I had two months to go, I might perhaps ſtay with her longer than three months, and deſired to know if ſhe would not be obliged to remove me before it was proper, which ſhe ſaid ſhe never did upon any account whatever; and then looking about, ſhe began to find fault with my apartment, and ſaid I might remove as ſoon as I pleaſed.

I quitted my lodgings at St. Jones's, and went to my new governeſs's where I was well looked after, and I underſtood that ſhe had about twelve ladies of pleaſure under her care at that time, and about thirty abroad. But before I was delivered, I received a letter from my truſtee at the bank, full of obliging things, and preſſing me to come to London, which was ſent from Liverpool, as I had ordered; to which I returned an anſwer, and dated it at Liverpool, but ſent it by a meſſenger, as if it came by a friend to town, wherein I gave him to underſtand how glad I was, that he had obtained a divorce, but I queſtioned the lawfulneſs of his marrying again, notwithſtanding, I would be in London in three months at farthereſt.

I was brought to bed a little after receiving this letter, and then I received another from him, wherein he aſſured me, that his wife having a remorſe of conſcience after the divorce was obtained, had deſtroyed herſelf; and altho' he was concerned at her diſaſter, yet he had no • and in it; for what he did was to do juſtice, which ex • eedingly ſurprized me; and I began now to reflect on 〈◊〉 misfortunes of having a child, and ſeeming more melancholy than ordinary, my governeſs daily preſſed me 〈◊〉 know the reaſon of it, which I did not know how to 〈◊〉 her, becauſe I had formerly told her I had a huſband; but ſhe, daily importuning me, at laſt I related the •• ole ſtory of my Lancaſhire marriage, and then I ſhew •• her my friend's letter, wherein ſhe ſaw how affectionately he wrote to me, which as ſoon as ſhe had read, ſhe 〈◊〉 a laughing, ſaying, the other was no marriage, but a cheat on both ſides, till at length ſhe reaſoned me out of my reaſon, not that I can ſay it was much againſt my inclination.

But then there was this difficulty, which was the parting with thy child, which grieved me very much, but this was ſoon removed, for it died within the month. Now I began to write to my friend in a more kind manner, and ſent him word, that I deſigned to be in town in a month, which he deſired to be informed, becauſe he would come two days journey to meet me, which puzzled me more than the other; till at laſt it came into my mind to go into the country, which would not only blind my old governeſs, but cover all my other affairs, for ſhe did not know, whether my lover lived in London or Lancaſhire; and ſo taking a place in the ſtage-coach to Weſt Cheſter, where I had no manner of buſineſs but only to conceal my having been in London, I went down, and next week I took a place in another ſtage-coach for London and ſent him word I ſhould be up ſuch a night, upon the receipt of which, he met me according to promiſe at Brickhill.

He came in a very handſome coach with four horſes and a ſervant to attend him, in which he took me, and ordering the coachman to drive into an inn, he beſpoke a dinner, and afterwards we walked to ſee the town and church, and our landlord accompanied us when I 〈◊〉 my gentleman enquired pretty much after the parſon 〈◊〉 my landlord, who told him he had a friend a little way off, who would ſerve him and be as private as he pleaſed; he anſwered it was very well, and ſaid he believe • he ſhould.

I had no ſooner come back to the inn, than he 〈◊〉 upon me with irreſ ••• ble words, that ſince every thing 〈◊〉 concurred to made him happy, it would be 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 to ſay, nay: and then pulling a bundle of papers out 〈◊〉 his pocket, he ſhews me the deed of divorce, and 〈◊〉 ſaid he, my dear, is the licence for us to be married, 〈◊〉 there's a diamond ring for you, and there's a better 〈◊〉 for you preſently; and then taking me in his arms, 〈◊〉 b • gged me as if he would not let me go till I promiſe • him: Well, ſaid I, ſince 〈◊〉 won't be 〈◊〉 , you 〈◊〉 and ſo giving him a • light kiſs, I promiſed to comply with his requeſt.

He was 〈◊〉 tranſported with my conſent, that I believed once, he would not ſtay for the ceremony, for he threw me upon the bed, and then ſnatching me u • gave me two or three kiſſes, and fell a crying for joy, and indeed I could not forbear crying, reflecting how abominable a creature I had been, and how this innocent gentleman wa • deceived in me.

My landlord ſent away for the clergyman, and got him ready in the houſe, and without any more words brought him up, who being aſked if he were willing to marry a couple of ſtrangers replied with all his heart, but that he hoped it was not a clandeſtine marriage, for he ſaw madam was not a girl; but to put him out of all doubt, my gentleman gives him a licence, with which he was more ſatisfied; but ſo an • not I, ſaid I, 'tis time enough in the morning; beſide ſaid I, what do you mean ſir, to marry me in an inn?

Madam, ſaid the miniſter, it is all one, I aſſure you, your marriage is as good 〈◊〉 as in a church; yet I was a great while before I could be perſuaded, but at length married we were, and my landlady and her daughter were called up to be at the wedding. Afterwards we were all very merry the whole evening, and yet not a ſervant knew any thing of it in the houſe, for the landlord was afraid the miniſter of the pariſh ſhould hear of it: but in the morning it was known, and the landlord blazened it out, and ſaid we were married before 〈◊〉 ; there, and being formerly his gueſts came to his houſe to have the wedding-ſupper.

The next day an odd accident happened, which interrupted all my mirth, for as I was looking out of the window, I ſaw three gentlemen ride by and go into an inn almoſt againſt us, one of which 〈◊◊〉 be my Iriſh huſband, which frightened me to death; I never was in ſuch a conſternation in my life, and remained in that condition two hours, but at laſt, to my great ſatisfaction, I ſaw them all three ride away Weſtward, and a little after, we were alarmed with a great uproar in the 〈◊〉 , with a hue and cry after three highwaymen that had robbed 〈◊〉 coaches near Dunſtable of about five hundred pounds and the houſe they had been in was immediately beſet and ſearched; 〈◊〉 by good • uck they were gone three hours before I told my landlord that I ſaw them go in, and know 〈◊〉 them to be a very honeſt gentleman, and to have a very good eſtate in 〈◊◊〉 from whence I had juſt come; which being 〈◊〉 the conſtable, he came over to me, and believing what I ſaid to be true, left off purſuing them, 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 they were not the men.

This is a 〈◊◊〉 another day, which was agreeable enough to me I fearing my 〈◊〉 acquaintance ſhould 〈◊〉 be upon the 〈◊〉 chance to 〈◊◊〉 ; but the next day we 〈◊〉 away, and my landlord with three country fellows with fire arms, attended us to Dunſtable, from whence we proceeded to London, and I lived in the utmoſt tranquility five years with him, for he was an honeſt, virtuous, 〈◊〉 an, and diligent in his buſineſs.

But a ſudden blew blaſted all my happineſs, and turned 〈◊〉 out into the world in a wor •• condition than I ever had been in before; for my huſband having truſted one of his fellow clerks with a ſum of money, two much for our fortunes to b • ar the loſs of, the clerk failed, and it fell very heavily on my huſband; yet it was not ſo great but that if he has courage he might have recovered it, but he grew melancholy and diſconſolate upon it, and died ſoon after.

I had two children by him, and was left in a deplorable condition, for I was now forty eight years old, and the time was over with me ever to be courted for a 〈◊〉 , and I was become the moſt dejected diſconſolate creature in the world beſide I was friendleſs and helpleſs and what was 〈◊〉 . I was left in ſo mean a condition, that I foreſaw, what was left would not ſupport me and my children long.

In this diſtreſs I lived two years, and had no friend to comfort or adviſe me, till at length I put off my houſe and took lodgings, and ſold moſt of my goods, which put a little money in my pocket, upon which I lived nearly a year, when one day dreſſing myſelf, but I knew not for what reaſon, the devil directed me to be ſure to an apothecary's ſhop in L •• denhall-ſtreet, where I ſaw a little bundle on a ſtool, and the boy looking another way, I took it away and went off with it, no-body ſeeing me, which when I came to open, I found there was a ſuit of child-bed linen in it, a ſilver porringer, and a ſmall ſilver mug, and ſix ſpoons, and a good ſhift and three ſilk handkerchiefs, and in them ſixteen ſhillings and ſix pence in money; but all the while I was opening them, I was under ſuch dreadful impreſſions of mind that I cannot expreſs the manner of it; but my own diſtreſſes ſoon ſilenced all reflections; and I went out the next day, not knowing where to ſteer my courſe; till my old friend the devil, threw a ſnare in my way again; for meeting with a pretty little child in Aldergate-ſtreet, who had been at a dancing-ſchool, and was going home, I took it by the hand, and led it into an alley near Bartholemew-cloſe, and robbed it of a gold necklace, and ſo went off with it leaving the poor child to ſhift for herſelf.

I cannot ſay but this execrable deed did ſometimes trouble me, but I grew harden'd and paſt any remorſe of conſcience.

The next thing of moment, was an attempt I made upon a gentle • oman's gold-watch, as ſhe was coming out of a meeting-houſe, when giving it a pull, and finding it would not come I let it go, and crying out as if I had been kill'd, and ſaid there were pick pockets, for ſome body had given a pull at my watch; which I had no ſooner done, than the gentlewoman cry'd pick-pocket too, for ſome body had tried to pull her watch away, and at that inſtant they diſcovered a pick-pocket whom they took in the act, and committed him to the mob, which is a cruelty I deed not deſcribe, but what they had much rather undergo than be ſent to Newgate, all which happened very luckily for me, for thereby I went away undiſcovered.

The Barthelomew following I went to the cloiſters, and fell into one of the raffling-ſhops, where I met with a gentleman well dreſt and very rich, who ſingled me out, and told he would put in for me to raffle, and I getting a muff, he preſented it to me, and continued talking to me very reſpectfully, till at length drew me out to walk in the cloiſter, with him, where he told me he was charmed with my company, and aſked me if I durſt truſt myſelf in a 〈◊〉 with him, which after ſome importunity I yielded to. He carried me to ſpring-garden at Knightforidge, where we drank very freely, and by that time we got to London it was nearly ten o'clock at night, when we ſtopt at a houſe wherein he was acquainted, and they made to ſcruple to ſhew us up ſtairs into a room with a bed in it. Here he began to be a little free with me, and I by little and little yielded to every thing, till he did what he pleaſed with me, and about one o'clock, he drinking freely all the while we went into the coach again, where he was for doing what he had done before; but I finding him in drink, thought my game ſecure, and bade him ſit ſtill a little, which he did, and in a minute fell aſleep, which I no ſooner perceived than I took his gold watch, a ſilk purſe of gold, and a ſnuff-box, and gently opening the door, got away and came home to my governeſs; with whom I then lodged, telling her what I had done, which pleaſed her wonderfully, ſaying child, this uſage may, for ought I know, reform this gentleman more than all the ſermons he ever heard in his life.

Another time I placed myſelf at a ware houſe by the water ſide, where comes a young fellow with a letter, and wanted a box and a hamper that came from New-caſtle upon Ty • e; but the warehouſe-man not being in the way, I read the letter, and obſerved what was in it, bidding him come in the morning, and then he would be ſure to meet with him. Away I went and wrote down every particular, and when the warehouſe-man came about an hour after, I had the goods delivered without any ſcruple, which in all was worth about ſeventy pounds.

After this I had many adventures, and ſome of them proved very fortunate; but at length as when doth the pitcher come ſafely home that goes ſo often to the well, I met with an unlucky accident which did me no good, altho I knew nothing of the matter. As I was going thro Kingſtreet, in Covent-Garden where I heard a cry of ſtop Thief, and they ſeeing me, one of them ſwore I was the widow that was among them, and carried me back to the ſhop, but the maſter ſaid I was not the perſon, and would have let me go; but another ſaid, pray ſtay, madam, till the journey man comes back for he know • whether you be the perſon or not. In which time the ſervants uſed me very fancily tho the conſtable was by, whom I deſired to let me ſend for my friends, which he would not agree to, till I came before a juſtice: With that I ſpoke aloud to the maſter of the ſhop, and ſaid, Sir, you know in your own conſcience that I am not the perſon, and why do you detain me then? which he ſaid he ſhould do as yet: I then ſaid to the conſtable and porter, he pleaſed to remember this; which hard-uſage to moved the conſtable, that he perſuaded him to let me go, but he would not, although the conſtable told him, he was afraid he ſhould bring himſelf into trouble by it. At which the apprentice ſaid, 〈◊〉 her, I will ſwear ſhe is the ſame widow that was in the ſhop, when at the ſame time, the journeyman brought back with them the true widow that was in the ſhop, dragging her along with a mob after them.

I began now to take better heart, and turning to the conſtable, ſaid, Let me alone maſter, let them go on; then the mercer came and begged my pardon, and charged the conſtable with the right thief; which I told him, he ſhould find would not do, for if he had diſcharged me at firſt, when he himſelf owned I was not the perſon, I would have put it by; but the treatment of him and eſpecially of his ſervants had been ſuch, that I was reſolved to have reparation: Which he ſaid he would give me; But I told him, I was not my own judge, and the law ſhould determine it; for I inſiſted to be carried before a magiſtrate: And he bidding the conſtable to let me go, he told him it was not in his power; for ſince he had already charged me, I muſt be diſcharged before a magiſtrate; which being done. I charged him and his man now, inſte •• of his charging me, in which confuſion, the real thief got away in the crowd, and we went with a mob at our heels, before 〈◊〉 juſtice in Bloomſb • ry, the people aſking all the way, what was the matter and others replying a mercer has ſtopt a gentlewoman inſtead of a thief, and has ſince taken the thief, and now the gentlewoman has taken the mercer, and is carrying him before a juſtice when pleaſed the people I found very much.

When we came before the juſtice, he aſked me my name, which I told him was Polly Flanders, and that my huſband being a ſea captain died in his voyage to Virginia, and that I lodged at preſent in town, with ſuch a perſon, but that I was preparing to go to Virginia, where my huſband's effects lay; and then I told him how they uſed me, although the maſter owned I was not the perſon that robbed him: all which the conſtable confirmed.

Then the juſtice heard the mercer, who made a long 〈◊〉 , of the great 〈◊〉 they daily receive by ſhoplifters, and that it was eaſy for him to miſtake; which being over, the juſtice told me I was diſcharged, and that he was very ſorry for what had happened and ſaid, if I would not forgive them, he muſt bind them over.

I coming home, and telling my governeſs the ſtory, ſhe fell a laughing ſaying, this job will be the beſt bargain you ever made in your life if you manage it well you ſhall make five hundred pounds of it. And ſhe found me out a very c •• dible attorney, wh •• I met, and gave him all the particulars at large; who ſaid, he did not queſtion but the jury would gave me conſiderable damages. And he 〈◊〉 the mercer, who gave ba • l, but a few days after 〈◊〉 to my attorney, to let him know that he deſired 〈◊〉 accommodate the matter; who managed the matter ſo well on my ſide, that he got my 150l. in money with law-charges, and a piece of black ſilk to make me a gown and petticoat.

I was now in good circumſtances indeed if I could have known when to leave off; for I had now ſeven hundred pounds by 〈◊〉 in money, beſides cloaths, rings, ſome plate, and two gold watches; but I could not forbear going abroad again, any more than I could when my extremity really drove me out for bread.

The next day I dreſſed myſelf up in quite different cloaths, and went to St. James's Park where I ſaw abundance of fine ladies walking in the Mall, and among them a little miſs, twelve or thirteen years old, with a ſiſter about nine, who I obſerved had a gold watch on, and a necklace of pearl; and obſerving the footman to ſtop at going into the Mall, I ſtept up to him, and made myſelf acquainted with the whole family; and then put myſelf in rank with the young ladies, whom I ſaluted by name, and aſked her when ſhe heard from her father, and when her mother wou'd be in town, and how they did; and a thouſand ſuch impertinent queſtions, when on a ſudden the guards came, and a crowd ran to 〈◊〉 the king go to the parliament-houſe: and among them lady Betty and her ſiſter; and lifting the little one up in my arms, that ſhe might be high enough to ſee, I conveyed the watch ſo clean from her that ſhe never miſſed it, till ſhe got into the middle of the Mall, and was carried away in the crowd, while I got into St. James's, where I took coach and made off.

I am now drawing towards a new variety of life: in three days after, I ventured into a factor's houſe, where I ſaw the doors open and all things ſafe ſeeing no body in it, where I took up two pieces of flowered ſilk, very rich; but as quickly as I was going out I was attacked by two wenches, who came to me open mouthed and ſhutting the door called the maſter and miſtreſs, to whom I gave very good words, and told them it was my firſt act and being poor, it was a temptation to me to find the door open, which moved the miſtreſs to compaſſion; but the maſter grew outrageous, and ſent for a conſtable, the ſight of which ſtruck me with horror, ſo that I thought I ſhould ſ • nk into the ground.

I offered to pay for the pieces, whatever the value was, but all wou'd not do. I was carried before a magiſtrate, and committed 〈◊〉 Newgate; where being left, it was impoſſible to expreſs the horror of my mind, when I was 〈…〉 and when I ſaw the horror of that place, 〈…〉 and that I had nothing to think of but death, and that in the moſt infamous way. The helliſh noiſe, the roaring, ſwearing and clamor, the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 , and all the dreadful crowd of afflictions that I ſaw there, joined together to make the place ſeem an emblem of hell itſelf, or a kind of entrance into it.

Then I repented of all my life paſt, but it yielded me no ſatisfaction, no peace, becauſe it was repenting after the power of ſinning was taken away; and was penitential, not that I had ſinned, but that I was to ſuffer.

And what added to my afflictions, were the revilings of thoſe hardened wretches that were there before me; ſcoffing, what Mrs. Flanders catched in the trap at laſt, ſurely the devil had helped me, or I had been in Newgate long before. Then they welcomed me to the place, and then called for brandy, and drank to me, ſaying ſurely I had money, tho they had none.

But nothing could expreſs the amazement and ſurprize I was in. when the firſt man that came out I knew to be my Lancaſhire huſband, the very ſame with whom I lived ſo well at Dunſtable and the ſame whom I afterwards ſaw at Brickhill, when I was married to my laſt huſband.

I was ſ • auck dumb at the ſight of him, and knew neither what to ſay, nor what to do; but returning, I cried vehemently for a great while; my own caſe gave me no diſturbance, in compariſon with his: Oh! ſaid I, how many poor people have I made miſerable? How many wretches have I ſent to the devil? And this misfortune I placed all to my account, reproaching myſelf for it.

While I was under theſe influences of ſorrow for him, came notice to me, that the next ſeſſions I ſhould certainly be tried for my life at the Old-Baily, which ſoon abated the hardened ſpirit I had acquired by long continuance in Newgate: and I became dejected to the laſt degree, ſending for my old governeſs who, to give her her due, left no ſtone unturned to prevent the grandjury's finding the bill, but it would not prevail. I could hear nothing about the priſon, but every one pitying me, and ſaying, Mrs. Flanders will be hanged; and at laſt one of the keepers came to me, and ſaid, Mrs. Flanders! What do you intend to do? you will be tried on Friday: I wont flatter you, I would have you prepare for death; for as you are an old offender, I doubt you will find but little mercy. Which was ſuch a ſtab to me, that I could not ſpeak a word; and he left me in the greateſt confuſion imaginable.

Well! there was no remedy. On Thurſday I was carried down to the ſeſſion to be arraigned for ſtealing two pieces of ſilk, value forty pounds, where I pleaded not guilty, the next day I was appointed to be tried, which, when it came on, I would have ſpoken, but they told me the witneſſes muſt be heard firſt, and then I ſhould have time to be heard. The witneſſes were a couple of hard-mouthed jades, for they aggravated every thing to the utmoſt; and although what they ſaid was true in fact, yet I inſiſted that they ſtopped me, before I was out of the houſe, and that I went in with a deſign to buy, but ſeeing no body in the houſe, I took them, and was going to the door to look at them.

In ſhort I was found guilty of the felony, but acquitted of the burglary, and the next day was carried down to receive the dreadful ſentence; when being aſked what I had to ſay, I told them, I had nothing to ſay but to beſpeak the mercy of the court, that I had broken no doors, had carried nothing off, and that the proſecutor having loſt nothing, had deſired mercy might be ſhewn me, and added alſo, that it was my firſt offence; all which I ſpoke in ſuch a pitiful tone, that it moved many in the court to pity.

The judges were grave and mute, and gave me leave to ſay what I could, but at length one of them pronounced ſentence of death upon me, which was almoſt as bad as death itſelf.

It is more eaſily to be imagined than expreſſed, what trouble I was in; I had nothing before me but death, and expected my name in the dead-warrant every day.

In the mean time my governeſs ſent me miniſter who was a very good man indeed, and he exhorted me ſeriouſly to repent, and not dally any longer with my ſoul; which was the firſt time I felt any real ſigns of repentance, beginning to look back upon my paſt life which abhorrence, and have a view to eternity. He told me he did not come to extort confeſſion from me, but 〈◊〉 put me in mind off • urity 〈◊〉 , and prepare me, if poſſible, for heaven, which m •• d way of treating me, unlocked all the 〈◊〉 of my 〈◊〉 , and I unravelled all the wickedneſs of my life to him and he exhorted me to a ſincere repentance, and if I did ſincerely repent I had no reaſon to deſpair of eternal happineſs. He viſited me again the next morning, and explained to me the •• rms of divine mercy, which made 〈◊〉 impreſſion upon me, that I thought I could have freely gone that minute to execution; which ſo moved this good gentlem • n, that he praiſed GOD for his being the inſtrument of reclaiming a great ſinner.

Twelve days after ſentence, we were ordered for execution, and my name was in the dead warrant, 〈◊〉 ſorely afflicted the miniſter and I wondered much that I did not ſee him all the day before execution 〈◊〉 when I heard his voice at the door, my heart leapt within me for joy, and reaſon enough I had for it, when he told me he had brought me a reprieve, praying that my repentance might be ſincere and that I might never return to my wicked 〈◊〉 of life, in which I joined with him he •• tily. The firſt thing that I heard next morning, was the telling of the great bell at St. 〈◊〉 , and as ſoon as it began, a diſmal cry was heard from the condemned 〈◊〉 , where there lay ſix poor ſouls to be executed that day, which was followed by a confuſed clamor in the houſe, ſome 〈◊〉 thoſe that had brought them to it, and others pitying them: and ſome few, but very few out of ſo great a number, praying for them.

About a month afterwards, there was a rumour that I ſhould be included in the dead warrant next ſeſſions; but through the induſtry and application of the good miniſter, it was changed to tranſportation, which was bad enough, but ſomething better than death and that day five weeks I went 〈◊〉 board a ſhip with a gang of fifteen as hardened villains as ever Newgate produced.

When we came on board, we were all clapt under the hatches the firſt •• ight, which I thought would have ſuffocated me; and the next morning 〈◊〉 •• hip fell down the river to Bugby's-hole, where we were by turns permitted to come upon deck.

All that night I lay upon the hard deck, but had afterwards a cabin allowed me to put my bed in 〈◊〉 . When it was my turn to come up, I aſked one of the officers, if I might not be allowed to ſend a letter, to let my friends know where we lay, which the boatſwain told me very civily I might; and when the boat went off, he told me if I would give him the letter he would take care of it. I gave him the letter, and a ſhilling, which I took out of a purſe, in which I had a pretty deal of money, taking care to let him ſee it, which I found afterwards, was no diſadvantage 〈◊〉 me.

He delivered my letter to my governeſs, and brought me back an anſwer, giving me the ſhilling again, and aſked me whether that gentlewoman were my ſiſter? I told him, no, but one of my beſt friends, and would give an hundred pounds to deliver me from this condition. Will ſhe 〈◊〉 ſaid he, for half the money I can put you in a way how to deliver yourſelf; but alas I ſaid I, the • I ſhould be taken again, and that would caſt me my life. In the mean time, my governeſs went to my huſband, and ſoon came to me, and brought me a ſea-bed and all its furniture, a ſea-cheſt, and what money I deſigned to take with me, to redeem me when I came on ſa • re as alſo a letter from my huſband, who told me he had alſo received a ſentence of tranſportation, but he queſtioned whether they would give him leave to go in what ſhip he pleaſed, and that if they did, he feared it could not be obtained time enough to go with me; which troubled me very much, and I was forced to let my governeſs into the whole affair, except that of his being my huſband. I told her, I had made an agreement to go with him, if poſſible, and that when we came there, how we deſigned to plant, ſettle, and grow rich, without any more adventures; which pleaſed my governeſs very much, ſo that ſhe made it her buſineſs to get him delivered in time.

When my huſband came on board, he looked with a dejected countenance, but afterwards he began to be cheerful; and told me what money he had when he came to the priſon, but ſaid, the making of friends, and ſoliciting his caſe, had been expenſive; and that he had but an hundred and eight pounds left which was in gold.

I gave him an account of my ſtock then as faithfully, that is, what I had taken with me, which was 246l, ſo that we had 354l, between us; but a worſe gotten eſtate was never put together to begin the world with, it being all in money, an unprofitable cargo to be carried to the plantations.

In this condition we ſet ſail from Bugby's hole 〈◊〉 Graveſend, where we lay about ten days, and then ſet ſail for the Downs; and from thence we got ſafely on the coaſt of Virginia in two and forty days. We 〈◊〉 up the great river Potomack where we got our goods on ſhore, and lodged them in a ſtore-houſe, and then after ſettling with the captain, I began to enquire after my mother and brother, when I heard ſhe was dead, but he was alive, and lived in a plantation juſt by the place where we landed.

I went with a woman who was my guide, to enquire after him, as if I had only a deſire to ſee the country, and coming near the houſe, I aſked the woman, Whoſe plantetion that was? who anſwered, there's the gentleman who owns it, and his father with him.

You may gueſs what a confuſion I was in, betwixt joy and grief, however, I 〈◊〉 my h •• d about my face, and ventured to go nearer to him; but I need not have taken all that caution, for he was grown dim-ſighted; yet fearing to diſcover myſelf, I fell down on the 〈◊〉 and wept; the woman perceiving this thought I was not well, and begged of me, to •• e from the ground; and to divert me, ſhe began to tell the ſtory. How that old gentleman going to England, fell in love with a young lady and married her, and brought her over to his mother, with whom ſhe lived ſeveral years, and had that young gentleman by her? but after ſome time, the daughter-in-law being very much ſurpriſed at ſomething the mother had told her and upon inquiry, finding ſhe was her daughter, would not live with him, but went away for England and had not ſince been heard of. This relation troubled me ſo much, that I could ſcarcely bear the hearing of it; but cheering up a little, aſked in what circumſtances the old woman died, and to whom ſhe had left what ſhe had, who anſwered, that ſhe had left that plantation to her daughter, if ever ſhe could be heard of; which was good news enough for me, and I was ſatisfied with this account But it was ſome time before I could reſolve on making myſelf known; but knowing that there was no other way of recovering the plantation, I at length ſent a meſſage with a letter to my brother, diſcovering who I was, and deſiring to ſee my ſon; but my brother not being at home, his ſon opened and read it; and taking a horſe and ſervant, came with a meſſenger to the place where I was, which was about ſeven miles off.

I cannot expreſs the joy of my ſoul, when I • ound that he came not as a ſtranger, but a ſon, and a ſon who had never before known what a mother of his own was. After our mutual embraces, he told me that what his grand-mother had left me was in his hands, and that he would do me juſtice to my full ſatisfaction; that his father had become very infirm, and that he would leave to me either to diſcover myſelf to him or let it be ſtill a ſecret.

We then ſettled on a plantation near his own, where he provided for me with great care, calling me his aunt; and here I lived ſo happily, that I began to wiſh I had not brought my Lancaſhire huſband with me from England. But we went on proſperouſly for a long time, and managed our plantation very well, until my huſband died; and my brother dying the ſame year, I went to live with my ſon, willing to him the plantation, which his grand-mother willed to me.

And now being on the laſt ſtage of my life, I began ſeriouſly to reflect on the paſt follies and wi • edneſs thereof, truly repenting of all my former ſins and transgreſſions, and to ſhew an utter abhorance of thoſe vices of which I had been too frequently guilty. And although I often felt the ſtings of conſcience, and the keeneſt remorſe, for many years, yet by a ſincere repentance I obtained the forgiveneſs of God, and cloſe my life entirely reſigned to his holy will.