English literature -- Early modern, 1500-1700; English wit and humor; Great Britain -- Civilization -- 17th century -- Literary collections
[26.] A Woman accidentally coming into the room where they were, and
hearing them speak of that Frost[F. 170] in _Germany_, told some such
stories; but when she saw the Company began to scruple at the truth
of it (which I wonder they did, if they consider but her following
discourse) then she up and told them That her dear and loving Husband,
peace be with him, was in that great Frost, out late one night, which,
truly, Gentlemen, I believe was the occasion of his death; though he
lingred Fourteen or Fifteen years after it; he, I say, riding
that night, came to a Common, where were great store of very good
Cole-pits, insomuch that he fell down to the bottom in one of them,
and his Horse fell directly upon him; that it was impossible at that
time of night, and in such weather, to be relieved in that great
distress; and, having lain so for a long time, and no hopes to be
relieved at all, he presently bethought himself, and immediately
rose, and went to the next Village, and there borrowed a Pickaxe and
a Spade, and then came back with 'em to the Pit, and first digged out
himself, and then his Horse, and so about Five a Clock in the Morning
came home; but so weary and so cold, that he could not unbutton his
Doublet: Nay, says she, after I had hope (_sic_) him off with all his
Cloaths: he was so benumb'd, that I was forc'd to take a Warming Pan
of hot Coles, and so went all over his body, yet was he so cold, that
he scarcely felt, though the Warming Pan sometimes stood a pretty
while together in one place; which truly, Gentlemen, I was fain to do
for my Dear Husband: which confirmed them in the belief of it, that it
was as true as any of the rest, and gave her thanks for it also, and
so she made them half a dozen reverend Courchys and bid 'em good by.
[Footnote 170: See ante, p. 259. (Footnote 160)]
_On a Cobler._
Death at a Coblers doore oft made a stand, [5.]
And alwaies found him on the mending hand;
At last came death in very foule weather,
And ript the soale from the upper leather:
Death put a trick upon him, and what was't?
The Cobler call'd for's awle, death brought his Laste.
[82.] There was a Scottish Gentleman that had sore eyes, who was
counselled by his Physitians to forbeare drinking of wine: but hee
said hee neither could nor would forbeare it, maintaining it for the
lesser evill, to shut up the windowes of his body, than to suffer the
house to fall downe, through want of repair.
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