The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders Read Online

that I would Sign and Seal a Contract with him, Conditioning to marry him as soon as the Divorce was obtain'd, and to be void if he could not get it.

I told him that was more Rational than the other; but as this was the first time that ever I could imagine him weak enough to be in earnest, I did not use to say Yes at first asking, I would consider of it. I plaid with this Lover, as an Angler does with a Trout: I found I had him fast on the Hook, so I jested with his new Proposal, and put him off: I told him he knew little of me, and bad him enquire about me; I let him also go Home with me to my Lodging, tho' I would not ask him to go in, for I told him it was not Decent.

In short, I ventur'd to avoid Signing a Contract, and the Reason why I did it, was because the Lady that had Invited me to go with her into Lancashire insisted so possitively upon it, and promised me such great Fortunes, and fine things there, that I was tempted to go and try; perhaps, said I, I may mend my self very much, and then I made no scruple of quitting my honest Citizen, whom I was not so much in Love with as not to leave him for a Richer.

In a Word, I avoided a Contract; but told him I would go into the North, that he would know where to write to me by the Business I had entrusted with him, that I would give him a sufficient Pledge of my Respect for him, for I would leave almost all I had in the World in his Hands; and I would thus far give him my Word, that 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 that then we would talk seriously of the Matter.

It was a base Design I went with, that I must confess, tho' I was invited thither with a Design much worse, as the Sequel will discover; well I went with my Friend, as I call'd her, into Lancashire; all the way we went she caressed me with the utmost appearance of a sincere undissembled Affection; treated me, except my Coach-hire all the way; and her Brother brought a Gentleman's Coach to Warrington to receive us, and we were carried from thence to Liverpool with as much Ceremony as I could desire.

We were also entertain'd at a Merchant's House in Liverpool three or four Days very handsomely: I forbear to tell his Name, because of what follow'd; then she told me she would carry me to an Uncle's House of hers where we should be nobly entertain'd; and her Uncle, as she call'd him, sent a Coach and four Horses for us, and we were carried near forty Miles I know not whither.

We came however to a Gentleman's Seat, where was a numerous Family, a large Park, extraordinary Company indeed, and where she was call'd Cousin; I told her if she had resolv'd to bring me into such Company as this, she should have let me have furnish'd my self with better Cloaths; the Ladies took Notice of that, and told me very genteely, they did not value People in their own Country so much by their Cloaths, as they did in London; that their Cousin had fully inform'd them of my Quality, and that I did not want Cloaths to set me off; in short, they entertain'd me not like what I was, but like what they thought I had been, Namely, a Widow Lady of a great Fortune.

The first Discovery I made here was, that the Family were all Roman Catholicks, and the Cousin too; [however], nobody in the World could behave better to me; and I had all the Civility shown that I could have had, if I had been of their Opinion: The Truth is, I had not so much Principle of any kind, as to be Nice in Point of Religion; and I presently learn'd to speak favourably of the Romish Church; particularly I told them I saw little, but the Prejudice of Education in all the Differences that were among Christians about Religion, and if it had so happen'd that my Father had been a Roman Catholick, I doubted not but I should have been as well pleas'd with their Religion as my own.

This obliged them in the highest Degree, and as I was besieg'd Day and Night with good Company, and pleasant Discourse, so I had two or three old Ladies that lay at me upon the Subject of Religion too; I was so Complaisant that I made no scruple to be present at their Mass, and to conform to all their Gestures as they shew'd me the Pattern, but I would not come too cheap; so that I only in the main encouraged them to expect that I would turn Roman Catholick, if I was instructed in the Catholick Doctrine, as they call'd it, and so the matter rested.

I slay'd here about six Weeks; and then my Conductor led me back to a Country Village, about six Miles from Liverpool, where her Brother (as she call'd him) came to visit me in his own Charriot, with two Footmen in a good Livery; and the next thing was to make Love to me: As it happen'd to me, one would think I could not have been cheated, and indeed I thought so my self, having a safe Card at Home, which I resolvd not to quit unless I could mend my self very much: However, in all appearance this Brother was a Match worth my listning to, and the least his Estate was valu'd at, was a 1000l. a Year, but the Sister said it was worth 1500l. a Year, and lay most of it in Ireland.

I that was a great Fortune, and pass'd for such, was above being ask'd how much my Estate was; and my false Friend taking it upon a foolish hearsay had rais'd it from 500l. to 5000l. and by the time she came into the Country she call'd it 15,000l. The Irishman, for such I understood him to be, was stark Mad at this Bait: In short, he courted me, made me Presents, and run in Debt like a mad Man for the Expences of his Courtship: He had, to give him his due, the Appearance of an extraordinary fine Gentleman; he was tall, well-shap'd, and had an extraordinary Address; talk'd as naturally of his Park, and his Stables; or his Horses, his Game-keepers, his Woods, his Tenants, and his Servants, as if he had been in a Mansion house, and I had seen them all about me.

He never so much as ask'd me about my Fortune or Estate; but assur'd me that when we came to Dublin he would Joynture me in 600l. a Year in good Land; and that he would enter into a Deed of Settlement, or Contract here, for the Performance of it.

This was such Language indeed as I had not been us'd to, and I was here beaten out of all my Measures; I had a she Devil in my Bosom, every Hour telling me how great her Brother liv'd: One time she would come for my Orders, how I would have my Coach painted, and how lin'd; and another time what Cloaths my Page should wear: In short, my Eyes were dazled, I had now lost my Power of saying NO, and to cut the Story short, I consented to be Married; but to be more private we were carried farther into the Country, and married by a Priest, which I was assur'd would marry us as effectually as a Church of England Parson.

I cannot say, but I had some Reflections in this Affair, upon the dishonourable forsaking my faithful Citizen; who lov'd me sincerely, and who was endeavouring to quit himself of a scandalous Whore by whom he had been barbarously us'd, and promis'd himself infinite Happiness in his new Choice; which Choice was now giving up her self to another in a Manner almost as Scandalous as hers could be.

But the glittering show of a great Estate and of fine Things, which the deceived Creature that was now my Deceiver represented every Hour to my Imagination, hurried me away, and gave me no time to think of London, or of any thing there, much less of the Obligation I had to a Person of infinitely more real Merit than what was now before me.

But the thing was done, I was now in the Arms of my new Spouse, who appear'd still the same as before; great even to Magnificence, and nothing less than a Thousand Pounds a Year could support the Ordinary Equipage he appear'd in.

After we had been married about a Month, he began to talk of my going to Westchester in order to embark for Ireland. However, he did not hurry me, for we stay'd near three Weeks longer, and then he sent to Chester for a Coach to meet us at the Black-Rock, as they call it, over against Liverpool: Thither we went in a fine Boat they call a Pinnace with six Oars, his Servants, and Horses, and Baggage going in a Ferry-Boat. He made his Excuse to me, that he had not Acquaintance at Chester, but he would go before and get some handsome Appartment for me at a private House; I ask'd him how long we should stay at Chester? he said not at all, any longer than one Night or two, but he would immediately hire a Coach to go to Holyhead; then I told him he should by no Means give himself the trouble to get private Lodgings for one Night or two, for that Chester being a great Place, I made no doubt but there would be very good Inns and Accommodation enough; so we lodg'd at an Inn not far from the Cathedral, I forgot what Sign it was at.

Here my Spouse talking of my going to Ireland, ask'd me if I had no Affairs to settle at London before we went off; I told him No, not of any great Consequence, but what might be done as well by Letter from Dublin: Madam, says he very respectfully, I suppose the greatest part of your Estate, which my Sister tells me is most of it in Money in the Bank of England, lies secure enough, but in case it requir'd Transferring, or any way altering its Property, it might be necessary to go up to London, and settle those Things before we went over.

I seem'd to look strange at it, and told him I knew not what he meant; that I had no Effects in the Bank of England that I knew of; and I hope he could not say that I had ever told him I had. No, he said, I had not told him so, but his Sister had said the greatest part of my Estate lay there, and I only mention'd it my Dear, said he, that if there was any Occasion to settle it, or order any thing about it, we might not be oblig'd to the hazard and trouble of another Voyage back again, for he added, that he did not care to venture me too much upon the Sea.

I was surpris'd at this talk, and began to consider what the meaning of it must be! and it presently occurr'd to me that my Friend, who call'd him Brother had represented me in Colours which were not my due; and I thought that I would know the bottom of it before I went out of England, and before I should put my self into I knew not whose Hands, in a strange Country.

Upon this I call'd his Sister into my Chamber the next Morning, and letting her know the Discourse her Brother and I had been upon, I conjur'd her to tell me, what she had said to him, and upon what Foot it was that she had made this Marriage? She own'd that she had told him that I was a great Fortune, and said that she was told so at London: Told so, says I warmly, did I ever tell you so? No she said, it was true I never did tell her so, but I had said several times that what I had, was in my own disposal: I did so, return'd I very quick, but I never told you I had anything call'd a Fortune; No, that I had one Hundred Pounds, or the Value of an Hundred Pounds in the World; and how did it consist with my being a Fortune, said I, that I should come here into the North of England with you, only upon the Account of living cheap? At these Words which I spoke warm and high, my Husband came into the Room, and I desir'd him to come in and sit down, for I had something of Moment to say before them both, which it was absolutely necessary he should hear.

He look'd a little disturb'd at the Assurance with which I seem'd to speak it, and came and sat down by me, having first shut the Door; upon which I began, for I was very much provok'd, and turning my self to him, I am afraid, says I, my Dear, for I spoke with kindness on his side, that you have a very great Abuse put upon you, and an Injury done you never to be repair'd in your marrying me, which however as I have had no Hand in it, I desire I may be fairly acquited of it, and that the Blame may lye where it ought and no where else, for I wash my Hands of every part of it.

What Injury can be done me, my Dear, says he, in marrying you? I hope it is to my Honour and Advantage every way: I will soon explain it to you, says I, and I fear there will be no Reason to think yourself well us'd, but I will convince you, my Dear, says I again, that I have had no Hand in it.

He look'd now scar'd and wild, and began, I believed, to suspect what follow'd; however, looking towards me, and saying only, go on, he sat silent, as if to hear what I had more to say; so I went on; I ask'd you last Night, said I, speaking to him, if ever I made any boast to you of my Estate, or ever told you I had any Estate in the Bank of England, or any where else, and you own'd I had not, as is most true; and I desire you will tell me here, before your Sister, if ever I gave you any Reason from me to think so, or that ever we had any Discourse about it, and he own'd again I had not; but said, I had appeared always as a Woman of Fortune, and he depended on it that I was so, and hoped he was not deceived. I am not enquiring whether you have been deceived, said I, I fear you have, and I too; but I am clearing my self from being concern'd in deceiving you.

I have been now asking your Sister if ever I told her of any Fortune or Estate I had, or gave her any Particulars of it; and she owns I never did: And pray Madam, said I, be so just to me, to charge me if you can, if ever I pretended to you that I had an Estate; and why if I had, should I ever come down into this Country with you on purpose to spare that little I had, and live cheap? She could not deny one Word, but said she had been told in London that I had a very great Fortune, and that it lay in the Bank of England.

And now, Dear Sir, said I, turning my self to my new Spouse again, be so just to me as to tell me who has abus'd both you and me so much, as to make you believe I was a Fortune, and prompt you to court me to this Marriage? He could not speak a Word, but pointed to her; and after some more pause, flew out in the most furious Passion that ever I saw a Man in my Life; cursing her, and calling her all the Whores and hard Names he could think of; and that she had ruin'd him, declaring that she had told him I had Fifteen Thousand Pounds, and that she was to have Five Hundred Pounds of him for procuring this Match for him: He then added, directing his Speech to me, that she was none of his Sister, but had been his Whore for two Years before, that she had had One Hundred Pounds of him in part of this Bargain, and that he was utterly undone if things were as I said; and in his raving he swore he would let her Heart's Blood out immediately, which frightened her and me too; she cried, said she had been told so in the House where I lodg'd, but this aggravated him more than before that she should put so far upon him, and run things such a length upon no other Authority than a hear-say; and then turning to me again, said very honestly, he was afraid we were both undone; for to be plain, my dear, I have no Estate, says he, what little I had, this Devil has made me run out in putting me into this Equipage; she took the Opportunity of his being earnest in talking with me, and got out of the Room, and I never saw her more.

I was confounded now as much as he, and knew not what to say: I thought many ways that I had the worst of it, but his saying he was undone, and that he had no Estate neither put me into a meer Distraction; why, says I to him, this has been a hellish Juggle, for we are married here upon the Foot of a double Fraud; you are undone by the Disappointment it seems, and if I had had a Fortune I had been cheated too, for you say you have nothing.

You would indeed have been cheated, my Dear, says he, but you would not have been undone, for Fifteen Thousand Pounds would have maintain'd us both very handsomely in this Country; and I had resolv'd to have dedicated every Groat of it to you; I would not have wrong'd you of a Shilling and the rest I would have made up in my Affection to you, and Tenderness of you as long as I liv'd.

This was very honest indeed, and I really believe he spoke as he intended, and that he was a Man that was as well qualified to make me happy, as to his Temper and Behaviour, as any Man ever was; but his having no Estate, and being run into Debt on this ridiculous Account in the Country, made all the Prospect dismal and dreadful, and I knew not what to say, or what to think.

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; that I saw nothing before us but Ruin, for as to me, it was my unhappiness, that what little I had was not able to relieve us a Week, and with that I pull'd out a Bank Bill of 20l. and Eleven Guineas, which I told him I had saved out of my little Income; and that by the Account that Creature had given me of the way of living in that Country, I expected it would maintain me three or four Years; that if it was taken from me, I was left destitute, and he knew what the Condition of a Woman must be, if she had no Money in her Pocket; however, I told him, if he would take it, there it was.

He told me with great concern, and I thought I saw Tears in his Eyes, that he would not touch it, that he abhor'd the Thoughts of striping me, and making me Miserable; that he had Fifty Guineas left, which was all he had in the World, and he pull'd it out and threw it down on the Table, bidding me take it, tho' he were to Starve for want of it.

I returned with the same concern for him, that I could not bear to hear him talk so; that on the contrary, if he could propose any probable Method of living, I would do any thing that became me, and that I would live as narrow as he could desire.

He beg'd of me to talk no more at that rate, for it would make him Distracted; he said he was bred a Gentleman, tho' he was reduc'd to a low Fortune, and that there was but one way left which he could think of, and that would not do, unless I cou'd answer him one Question, which, however, he said he would not press me to; I told him I would answer it honestly, whether it would be to his Satisfaction or no, that I could not tell.

Why then, my Dear, tell me plainly, says he, will the little you have keep us together in any Figure, or in any Station or Place, or will it not?

It was my Happiness that I had not discover'd my self, or my Circumstances at all; No, not so much as my Name, and seeing there was nothing to be expected from him, however good humour'd, and however honest he seem'd to be, but to live on what I knew would soon be wasted, I resolv'd to conceal every thing but the Bank-Bill, and Eleven Guineas, and I would have been very glad to have lost that, and have been set down where he took me up: I had indeed another Bank-Bill about me of 30l., which was the whole of what I brought with me, as well to subsist on in the Country, as not knowing what might offer; because this Creature, the go-between that had thus betray'd us both, had made me believe strange things of marrying to my Advantage, and I was not willing to be without Money whatever might happen. This Bill I conceal'd, and that made me the freer of the rest, in Consideration of his Circumstances, for I really pitied him heartily.

But to return to this Question, I told him, I never willingly deceiv'd him, and I never would: I was very sorry to tell him that the little I had would not subsist us; that it was not sufficient to subsist me alone in the South Country, and that this was the Reason that made me put my self into the Hands of that Woman who call'd him Brother, she having assured me that I might board very handsomely at a Town call'd Manchester, where I had not yet been, for about six Pounds a Year, and my whole Income not being above 15l. a Year, I thought I might live easy upon it, and wait for better things.

He shook his Head, and remain'd silent, and a very melancholly Evening we had; however we supp'd together, and lay together that Night, and when we had almost supp'd he look'd a little better, and more chearful, and call'd for a Bottle of Wine; Come my Dear, says he, tho' the Case is bad, it is to no Purpose to be dejected, Come, be as easy as you can, I will endeavour to find out some way or other to live; if you can but subsist your self, that is better than nothing, I must try the World again; a Man ought to think like a Man: To be discouraged, is to yield to the Misfortune; with this he fill'd a Glass, and drank to me, holding my Hand all the while the Wine went down, and protesting his main concern was for me.

It was really a true gallant Spirit he was of, and it was the more Grievous to me: 'Tis something of Relief even to be undone by a man of Honour, rather than by a Scoundrel; but here the greatest Disappointment was on his side, for he had really spent a great deal of Money, and it was very remarkable on what poor Terms she proceeded; first, the baseness of the Creature herself is to be observ'd, who for the getting One Hundred Pounds herself, could be content to let him spend Three or Four more, tho' perhaps it was all he had in the World, and more than all; when she had not the least Ground more than a little Tea-Table Chat, to say that I had any Estate, or was a Fortune, or the like: It is true the design of deluding a Woman of Fortune, if I had been so, was base enough; the putting the Face of great Things upon poor Circumstances was a Fraud, and bad enough; but the Case a little differ'd too, and that in his Favour, for he was not a Rake that made a Trade to delude Women, and as some have done, get six or seven Fortunes after one another, and then rifle and run away from them; but he was already a Gentleman, unfortunate and low, but had liv'd well; and tho' if I had had a Fortune, I should have been enrag'd at the Slut for betraying me; yet really for the Man, a Fortune would not have been ill bestow'd on him, for he was a lovely Person indeed; of generous Principles, good Sense, and of abundance of good Humour.

We had a great deal of close Conversation that Night, for we neither of us slept much; he was as Penitent, for having put all those Cheats upon me, as if it had been Fellony, and that he was going to Execution; he offered me again every Shilling of the Money he had about him, and said, he would go into the Army and seek for more.

I ask'd him why he would be so unkind to carry me into Ireland, when I might suppose he could not have subsisted me there? He took me in his Arms, My Dear, said he, I never design'd to go to Ireland at all, much less to have carried you thither; but came hither to be out of the Observation of the People, who had heard what I pretended to, and that no Body might ask me for Money before I was furnish'd to supply them.

But where then, said I, were we to have gone next?

Why my Dear, said he, I'll confess the whole Scheme to you, as I had laid it; I purposed here to ask you something about your Estate, as you see I did, and when you, as I expected you would, had enter'd into some Account of the Particulars, I would have made an Excuse to have put off our Voyage to Ireland' for some time, and so have gone for London.

Then my Dear, says he, I resolv'd to have confess'd all the Circumstances of my own Affairs to you, and let you know I had indeed made use of these Artifices to obtain your Consent to marry me, but had now nothing to do but to ask your Pardon, and to tell you how abundantly I would endeavour to make you forget what was past, by the Felicity of the Days to come.

Truly, said I to him, I find you would soon have conquer'd me; and it is my Affliction now, that I am not in a Condition to let you see how easily I should have been reconcil'd to you, and have pass'd by all the Tricks you had put upon me, in Recompence of so much good Humour; but my Dear, said I, what can we do now? We are both undone, and what better are we for our being reconcil'd, seeing we have nothing to live on.

We propos'd a great many things, but nothing could offer, where there was nothing to begin with: He beg'd me at last to talk no more of it, for he said I would break his Heart; so we talk'd of other things a little, till at last he took a Husband's leave of me, and so went to Sleep.

He rose before me in the Morning, and indeed having lain awake almost all Night, I was very sleepy, and lay till near Eleven o'Clock, in this time he took his Horses, and three Servants, and all his Linnen and Baggage, and away he went, leaving a short, but moving Letter for me on the Table, as follows:

My Dear,

I am a Dog; I have abus'd you; but I have been drawn in to do it by a base Creature, contrary to my Principle, and the general Practice of my Life: Forgive me, my Dear! I ask you Pardon with the greatest Sincerity; I am the most miserable of Men, in having deluded you: I have been so happy to Possess you, and am now so wretched as to be forc'd to fly from you: Forgive me, myDear, once more I say forgive me! I am not able to see you ruin'd by me, and my self unable to support you: Our Marriage is nothing, I shall never be able to see you again; I here discharge you from it; if you can marry to your Advantage do not decline it on my Account; I here swear to you on my Faith, and on the Word of a Man of Honour, I will never disturb your Repose if I should know of it, which however is not likely: On the other hand, if you should not marry, and if good Fortune should befall me, it shall be all yours where ever you are.

I have put some of the Stock of Money I have left into your Pocket; take Places for your self and your Maid in the Stage Coach, and go for London; I hope it will bear your Charges thither, without breaking into your own: Again I sincerely ask your Pardon, and will do so, as often as I shall ever think of you.

Adieu, my Dear, for ever,

I am yours most Affectionately,

J.E.

Nothing that ever befel me in my Life, sunk so deep into my Heart as this Farewel: I reproach'd him a Thousand times in my Thoughts for leaving me, for I would have gone with him thro' the World, if I had beg'd my Bread. I felt in my Pocket, and there I found ten Guineas, his Gold Watch, and two little Rings, one a small Diamond Ring, worth only about Six Pound, and the other a plain Gold Ring.

I sat down and look'd upon these Things two Hours together, and scarce spoke a Word, till my Maid interrupted me, by telling me my Dinner was ready: I eat but little, and after Dinner I fell into a violent Fit of Crying, every now and then, calling him by his Name, which was James; O Jemy! said I, come back, come back, I'll give you all I have; I'll beg, I'll starve with you: And thus I run Raving about the Room several times, and then sat down between whiles, and then walking about again, call'd upon him to come back, and then cry'd again; and thus I pass'd the Afternoon, till about seven o'Clock, when it was near Dusk in the Evening, being August, when to my unspeakable Surprise he comes back into the Inn, and comes directly up into my Chamber.

I was in the greatest Confusion imaginable, and so was he too: I could not imagine what should be the Occasion of it; and began to be at odds with my self whether to be glad or sorry; but my Affection byass'd all the rest, and it was impossible to conceal my Joy, which was too great for Smiles, for it burst out into Tears. He was no sooner enter'd the Room, but he run to me and took me in his Arms, holding me fast and almost stopping my Breath with his Kisses, but spoke not a Word; at length I began, my Dear, said I, How could you go away from me? To which he gave no Answer, for it was impossible for him to speak.

When our Extasies were a little over, he told me he was gone above 15 Miles, but it was not in his Power to go any farther, without coming back to see me again, and to take his leave of me once more.

I told him how I had pass'd my time, and how loud I had call'd him to come back again; he told me he heard me very plain upon Delamere Forest, at a Place about 12 Miles off: I smil'd; Nay says he, Do not think I am in Jest, for if ever I heard your Voice in my Life, I heard you call me aloud, and sometimes I thought I saw you running after me; Why said I, what did I say? for I had not nam'd the Words to him, you call'd aloud, says he, and said, O Jemy! O Jemy! come back, come back.

I laugh'd at him, my Dear, says he, do not Laugh, for depend upon it, I heard your Voice as plain as you hear mine now; if you please, I'll go before a Magistrate and make Oath of it; I then began to be amaz'd and surpriz'd, and indeed frighted, and told him what I had really done, and how I had call'd after him, as above. When we had amus'd ourselves a while about this, I said to him, well, you shall go away from me no more, I'll go all over the World with you rather: He told me, it would be a very difficult thing for him to leave me, but since it must be, he hoped I would make it as easy to me as I could; but as for him, it would be his Destruction, that he foresaw.

However he told me that he had consider'd he had left me to Travel to London alone, which was a long Journey; and that as he might as well go that way, as any way else, he was resolv'd to see me thither, or near it; and if he did go away then without taking his leave, I should not take it ill of him, and this he made me promise.

He told me how he had dismiss'd his three Servants, sold their Horses, and sent the Fellows away to seek their Fortunes, and all in a little time, at a Town on the Road, I know not where; and, says he, it cost me some Tears all alone by my self, to think how much happier they were than their Master, for they could go to the next Gentleman's House to see for a Service, whereas, said he, I knew not whither to go, or what to do with my self.

I told him, I was so compleatly miserable in parting with him, that I could not be worse; and that now he was come again, I would not go from him, if he would take me with him, let him go whither he would; and in the mean time I agreed that we would go together to London; but I could not be brought to consent he should go away at last, and not take his leave of me; but told him Jesting, that if he did, I would call him back again as loud as I did before; Then I pull'd out his Watch and gave it him back, and his two Rings, and his Ten Guineas; but he would not take them, which made me very much suspect that he resolv'd to go off upon the Road, and leave me.

The truth is, the Circumstances he was in, the passionate Expressions of his Letter, the kind Gentlemanly Treatment I had from him in all the Affair, with the Concern he show'd for me in it, his manner of Parting with that large Share which he gave me of his little Stock left, all these had join'd to make such Impressions on me, that I could not bear the Thoughts of parting with him.

Two Days after this we quitted Chester, I in the Stage Coach, and he on Horseback; I dismiss'd my Maid at Chester; he was very much against my being without a Maid, but she being hired in the Country, keeping no Servant at London: I told him it would have been barbarous to have taken the poor Wench, and have turn'd her away as soon as I came to Town; and it would also have been a needless Charge on the Road, so I satisfy'd him, and he was easy on that Score.

He came with me as far as Dunstable, within 30 Miles of London, and then he told me Fate and his own Misfortunes oblig'd him to leave me, and that it was not Convenient for him to go to London, for Reasons, which it was of no value to me to know, and I saw him preparing to go. The Stage Coach we were in, did not usually stop at Dunstable, but I desiring it for a Quarter of an Hour, they were content to stand at an Inn-Door a while, and we went into the House.

Being in the Inn, I told him I had but one Favour more to ask him, and that was, that since he could not go any farther, he would give me leave to stay a Week or two in the Town with him, that we might in that time think of something to prevent such a ruinous thing to us both, as a final Separation would be; and that I had something of Moment to offer to him, which perhaps he might find Practicable to our Advantage.

This was too reasonable a Proposal to be denied, so he call'd the Landlady of the House, and told her, his Wife was taken ill, and so ill that she cou'd not think of going any farther in the Stage Coach, which had tir'd her almost to Death, and ask'd if she cou'd not get us a Lodging for two or three Days in a private House where I might rest me a little, for the Journey had been too much for me? The Landlady, a good sort of a Woman, well bred, and very obliging, came immediately to see me; told me, she had two or three very good Rooms in a part of the House quite out of the Noise, and if I saw them, she did not doubt but I would like them, and I should have one of her Maids, that should do nothing else but wait on me; this was so very kind, that I could not but accept of it; so I went to look on the Rooms, and lik'd them very well, and indeed they were extraordinarily Furnish'd, and very pleasant Lodgings; so we paid the Stage Coach, took out our Baggage, and resolv'd to slay here a while.

Here I told him, I would live with him now till all my Money was spent, but would not let him spend a Shilling of his own: We had some kind squabble about that, but I told him it was the last time I was like to enjoy his Company, and I desir'd he would let me be Master in that thing only, and he should govern in every thing else so he acquiesc'd.

Here one Evening taking a Walk into the Fields, I told him, I would now make the Proposal to him I had told him of; accordingly I related to him how I had liv'd in Virginia, that I had a Mother, I believ'd, was alive there still, tho' my Husband was dead some Years; I told him, that had not my Effects miscarry'd, which by the way I magnify'd pretty much, I might have been Fortune good enough to him to have kept us from being parted in this manner: Then I enter'd into the manner of Peoples settling in those Countries, how they had a quantity of Land given them by the Constitution of the Place; and if not, that it might be purchased at so easy a Rate that it was not worth naming.

I then gave him a full and distinct account of the nature of Planting, how with carrying over but two or three Hundred Pounds value in English Goods, with some Servants and Tools, a Man of Application wou'd presently lay a Foundation for a Family, and in a few Years would raise an Estate.

I let him into the nature of the Product of the Earth, how the Ground was Cur'd and Prepar'd, and what the usual Increase of it was; and demonstrated to him, that in a very few Years, with such a Beginning, we should be as certain of being Rich, as we were now certain of being Poor.

He was surpriz'd at my Discourse; for we made it the whole Subject of our Conversation for near a Week together, in which time I laid it down in black and white, as we say, that it was morally impossible, with a supposition of any reasonable good Conduct, but that we must thrive there and do very well.

Then I told him what measures I would take to raise such a Sum as 300l. or thereabouts; and I argued with him how good a Method it would be to put an end to our Misfortunes, and restore our Circumstances in the World, to what we had both expected; and I added, that after seven Years, we might be in a Posture to leave our Plantation in good Hands, and come over again and receive the Income of it, and live here and enjoy it; and I gave him Examples of some that had done so, and liv'd now in very good Figure in London.

In short, I press'd him so to it, that he almost agreed to it, but still something or other broke it off; till at last he turn'd the Tables, and began to talk almost to the same purpose of Ireland.

He told me that a Man that could confine himself to a Country Life, and that cou'd but find Stock to enter upon any Land, should have Farms there for 50l. a Year, as good as were let here for 200l. a Year; that the Produce was such, and so Rich the Land, that if much was not laid up, we were sure to live as handsomely upon it as a Gentleman of 3000l. a Year could do in England; and that he had laid a Scheme to leave me in London, and go over and try; and if he found he could lay a handsome Foundation of living suitable to the Respect he had for me, as he doubted not he should do, he would come over and fetch me.

I was dreadfully afraid that upon such a Proposal he would have taken me at my Word, viz. to turn my little Income into Money, and let him carry it over into Ireland and try his Experiment with it; but he was too just to desire it, or to have accepted it if I had offer'd it; and he anticipated me in that, for he added, that he would go and try his Fortune that way, and if he found he cou'd do any thing at it to live, then by adding mine to it when I went over, we should live like our selves; but that he would not hazard a Shilling of mine till he had made the Experiment with a little, and he assur'd me that if he found nothing to be done in Ireland, he would then come to me and join in my Project for Virginia.

He was so earnest upon his Project being to be try'd first, that I cou'd not withstand him; however, he promis'd to let me hear from him in a very little time after his arriving there, to let me know whether his prospect answer'd his Design, that if there was not a probability of Success, I might take the Occasion to prepare for our other Voyage, and then, he assur'd me, he would go with me to America with all his Heart.

I could bring him to nothing farther than this, and which entertain'd us near a Month, during which I enjoy'd his Company, which was the most entertaining that ever I met with in my life before. In this time he let me into part of the Story of his own Life, which was indeed surprizing, and full of an infinite Variety, sufficient to fill up a much brighter History for its Adventures and Incidents, than any I ever saw in Print: But I shall have occasion to say more of him hereafter.

We parted at last, tho' with the utmost reluctance on my side, and indeed he took his leave very unwillingly too, but Necessity oblig'd him, for his Reasons were very good, why he would not come to London, as I understood more fully afterwards.

I gave him a Direction how to write to me, tho' still I reserv'd the grand Secret, which was not to let him ever know my true Name, who I was, or where to be found; he likewise let me know how to write a Letter to him, so that he said he would be sure to receive it.

I came to London the next Day after we parted, but did not go directly to my old Lodgings; but for another nameless Reason took a private Lodging in St. John's-street, or as it is vulgarly call'd St. Jones's near Clarkenwell; and here being perfectly alone, I had leisure to sit down and reflect seriously upon the last seven Months Ramble I had made, for I had been abroad no less; the pleasant Hours I had with my last Husband I look'd back on with an infinite deal of Pleasure; but that Pleasure was very much lessen'd, when I found some time after that I was really with Child.

This was a perplexing thing because of the Difficulty which was before me, where I should get leave to Lye-In; it being one of the nicest things in the World at that time of Day, for a Woman that was a Stranger, and had no Friends, to be entertain'd in that Circumstance without Security, which I had not, neither could I procure any.

I had taken care all this while to preserve a Correspondence with my Friend at the Bank, or rather he took care to Correspond with me, for he wrote to me once a Week; and tho' I had not spent my Money so fast as to want any from him, yet I often wrote also to let him know I was alive; I had left Directions in Lancashire, so that I had these Letters convey'd to me; and during my Recess at St. Jones's I received a very obliging Letter from him, assuring me that his Process for a Divorce went on with Success, tho' he met with some Difficulties in it that he did not expect.

I was not displeas'd with the News, that his Process was more tedious than he expected; for tho' I was in no condition to have had him yet, not being so foolish to marry him when I knew my self to be with Child by another Man, as some I know have ventur'd to do; yet I was not willing to lose him, and in a word, resolv'd to have him if he continu'd in the same mind, as soon as I was up again; for I saw apparently I should hear no more from my other Husband; and as he had all along press'd me to Marry, and had assur'd me he would not be at all disgusted at it, or ever offer to claim me again, so I made no scruple to resolve to do it if I could, and if my other Friend stood to his Bargain; and I had a great deal of Reason to be assur'd that he would, by the Letters he wrote to me, which were the kindest and most obliging that could be.

I now grew Big, and the people where I lodg'd perceiv'd it, and began to take notice of it to me, and as far as Civility would allow, intimated that I must think of removing; this put me to extreme perplexity, and I grew very melancholly, for indeed I knew not what Course to take, I had Money, but no Friends, and was like now to have a Child upon my Hands to keep, which was a difficulty I had never had upon me yet, as my Story hitherto makes appear.

In the course of this Affair I fell very ill, and my Melancholly really encreas'd my Distemper; my Illness prov'd at length to be only an Ague, but my Apprehensions were really that I should Miscarry; I should not say Apprehensions, for indeed I would have been glad to miscarry, but I cou'd never entertain so much as a thought of taking any thing to make me Miscarry, I abhorr'd, I say, so much as the thought of it.

However, speaking of it, the Gentlewoman who kept the House propos'd to me to send for a Midwife; I scrupled it at first, but after some time consented, but told her I had no Acquaintance with any Midwife, and so left it to her.

It seems the Mistress of the House was not so great a Stranger to such Cases as mine was, as I thought at first she had been, as will appear presently, and she sent for a Midwife of the right sort, that is to say, the right sort for me.

The Woman appear'd to be an experienced Woman in her Business, I mean as a Midwife, but she had another Calling too, in which she was as expert as most Women, if not more: My Landlady had told her I was very Melancholly, and that she believ'd that had done me harm; and once, before me, said to her, Mrs. B –––, I believe this Lady's Trouble is of a kind that is pretty much in your way, and therefore if you can do anything for her, pray do, for she is a very civil Gentlewoman, and so she went out of the Room.

I really did not understand her, but my Mother Midnight began very seriously to explain what she meant, as soon as she was gone: Madam, says she, you seem not to understand what your Landlady means, and when you do, you need not let her know at all that you do so.

She means that you are under some Circumstances that may render your Lying-In difficult to you, and that you are not willing to be expos'd; I need say no more, but to tell you, that if you think fit to communicate so much of your Case to me, as is necessary, for I do not desire to pry into those things, I perhaps may be in a Condition to assist you, and to make you easy, and remove all your dull Thoughts upon that Subject.

Every word this Creature said was a Cordial to me, and put new Life and new Spirit into my very Heart; my Blood began to circulate immediately, and I was quite another Body; I eat my Victuals again, and grew better presently after it: She said a great deal more to the same purpose, and then having press'd me to be free with her, and promis'd in the solemnest manner to be secret, she stop'd a little, as if waiting to see what Impression it made on me, and what I would say.

I was too sensible of the want I was in of such a Woman, not to accept her Offer; I told her my Case was partly as she guess'd, and partly not, for I was really married, and had a Husband, tho' he was so remote at that time, as that he cou'd not appear publickly.

She took me short, and told me, that was none of her Business, all the Ladies that came under her Care were married Women to her; every Woman, says she, that is with Child has a Father for it, and whether that Father was a Husband or no Husband, was no Business of hers; her Business was to assist me in my present Circumstances, whether I had a Husband or no; for, Madam, says she, to have a Husband that cannot appear, is to have no Husband, and therefore whether you are a Wife or a Mistress is all one to me.

I found presently, that whether I was a Whore or a Wife, I was to pass for a Whore here, so I let that go; I told her, it was true as she said, but that however, if I must tell her my Case, I must tell it her as it was: So I related it as a short as I could, and I concluded it to her: I trouble you with this, Madam, said, I, not that, as you said before, it is much to the purpose in your affair; but this is to the purpose, Namely, that I am not in any pain about being seen, or being conceal'd, for 'tis perfectly indifferent to me: but my difficulty is, that I have no Acquaintance in this part of the Nation.

I understand you, Madam, says she, you have no Security to bring to prevent the Parish Impertinences usual in such Cases; and perhaps, says she, do not know very well how to dispose of the Child when it comes; the last, says I, is not so much my Concern as the first: Well, Madam, answers the Midwife, dare you put your self into my Hands? I live in such a place, tho' I do not enquire after you, you may enquire after me, my Name is B –––, I live in such a Street, naming the Street, at the Sign of the Cradle, my Profession is a Midwife, and I have many Ladies that come to my House to Lye-In; I have given Security to the Parish in General to secure them from any Charge, from what shall come into the World under my Roof; I have but one Question to ask in the whole Affair, Madam, says she, and if that be answer'd, you shall be entirely easy of the rest.

I presently understood what she meant, and told her, Madam, I believe I understand you; I thank God, tho' I want Friends in this Part of the World, I do not want Money, so far as may be Necessary, tho' I do not abound in that neither: This I added, because I would not make her expect great things; well Madam, says she, that is the thing indeed, without which nothing can be done in these Cases; and yet, says she, you shall see that I will not impose upon you, or offer anything that is unkind to you, and you shall know every thing before hand, that you may suit yourself to the Occasion, and be either costly or sparing as you see fit.

I told her, she seem'd to be so perfectly sensible of my Condition, that I had nothing to ask of her but this, that as I had Money sufficient, but not a great Quantity, she would order it so, that I might be at as little superfluous Charge as possible.

She reply'd, that she should bring in an Account of the Expences of it, in two or three Shapes, I should chuse as I pleas'd; and I desir'd her to do so.

The next Day she brought it, and the Copy of her three Bills was as follows.

l. s.