Tom being short of money, began to think how he could raise a fresh supply; so he went to the port among the shearers, and there he hired about thirty of them, and agreed to give them a whole week’s shearing at ten-pence a-day which was two-pence higher than any had got that year; this made the poor shearers think he was a very honest generous and genteel master, as ever they met with; for he took them all into an ale-house, and gave them a hearty breakfast. Now says Tom when there is so many of you together, and perhaps from very different parts, and being unacquainted with one another I do not know but there may be some of you honest men and some of you rogues; and as you are all to lie in one barn together, any of you who has got money, you will be surest to give it to me and I’ll mark it down in my book, with your names, and what I receive from each of you, and you shall have it all again on Saturday night when you receive your wages. O! very well goodman, there’s mine, take mine said every one faster than another. Some gave him five, six, seven and eight shillings even all that they had earn’d thro’ the harvest, which amounted to near seven pounds sterling. So Tom having got all their money, he goes on with them till about three miles out of town, and coming to a field of standing corn tho’ somewhat green, yet convenient for his purpose, as it lay at some distance from any house; so he made them begin work there, telling them he was going to order dinner for them, and send his own servants to join them. Then he sets off with all the speed he could, but takes another road into the town lest they should follow and catch him. Now when the people to whom the corn belonged, saw such a band in their field they could not understand the meaning of it: so the farmer whose corn it was, went of crying always as he ran to them, to stop; but they would not, until he began to strike at them and they at him, he being in a great passion, as the corn was not fully ripe; at last, by force of argument, and other people coming up to them the poor shearers were convinced they had got the bite, which caused them to go away sore lamenting their misfortune.