In the mean time, he followed his farming, and kept a warm house in the old-fashion’d way; and seldom stirred abroad, unless to make up differences among neighbours, or to meet the _hundred_ for applotting the land-tax; and by his good will would never have gone farther, or meddled out of the parish and manor, if the neighbours had let him sit still. But it happened, at this time, that _Slyboots_, the _Secretary_, got a commission to be Lord-lieutenant of the county; and besides arraying the militia, came with a power (as all the county believed) to get new taxes laid on at the sessions, and double the county charges. The neighbours, one and all, entreated _Roger_ to go to the county town, and oppose those _new rates_. Tho’ he thought there was no such design, yet he chearfully went, and very plainly told the governor his mind in private, and warned him of trying what he could never compass. Now, whether it was that _Slyboots_ had no projects in his head of that kind, or found he could not bring them to bear, certain it is he did no hurt to the county, and has ever since appeared to be an honest man. But what alarmed them was his character for sense, and cunning, and politicks. And, to be sure, they were not out in their notion of him; for he could bambouzle _Old-nick_ himself, if he sat about it, and make him do journey-work; much more could he outwit the poor country folks, which makes me believe he never set about it _in earnest_. It is impossible else he could have missed it; for he could out-drink, out-talk, out-joke every man in the province, and could make a fool, at any time, of the best _Norfolk Attorney_, if he would let him _parly with him_. Besides, he was, at all times, so _good-humoured_ and _free_, and pushed his bottle so joviously among his acquaintance, that it was beyond the power of honest men to resist or refuse him any thing. The whole secret of his behaviour in _Yorkshire_ was, that old _Suck-fist_, who governed every thing at court, wanted a pretence to ruin him, as he found _Slyboots_ too hard for him, and too _smoaky_ to be bantered. Now, says _Suck-fist_ to himself, if he does things beyond his commission, the county will complain of him, and I’ll back them; if he be negligent in doing his business, I’ll get him turn’d off. But _Slyboots_ cunningly put the business on a couple of _mooncalves_, _Balaam_ the _Parson_, and _Numps_ the _Seneschal_, who he knew could do nothing, and then laid the blame on them; and, in his merry moods, would compare himself to a famous rope-dancer, then in town, who walked the slack-rope with two _lubberly porters_ tyed to her heels.