The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants, Comprehending the most Eminent Cheats of Both Sexes: The Third PartHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants, Comprehending the most Eminent Cheats of Both Sexes: The Third Part
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
pay for the Boots, I know all the story, and if you will not pay now,
one time or other you will be forc’d to it to your Cost, and Trouble; do
not you trouble your head with that, replied the Gentleman, let it alone
till that day comes; take your own course said mine Host; and you yours,
said the Gentleman, and so they parted. Mine Host having had this
huffing answer, made further enquiry what this person was, and found
that he was no better than a Cheat, and one that came thither for no
other purpose, he therefore tells his neighbour the Shoemaker of all
passages, and advises him to get a Warrant to apprehend him, and carry
him before the Judge; He who was forward enough before, now went
directly and made his Complaint to the Judge that evening, telling him
all the Circumstance of the matter; the Judge asked him if he had
enquired what quality he was of? he answered, yes, he was suspected to
be no better than a Pick-pocket, or Cut-purse: well then replied the
Judge, bring him hither to morrow morning before I go to the Court; our
Shoemaker did not fail in a tittle, but the next morning seized on him
in his Chamber, and carried him immediately before the Judge; when they
came there, the Shoemaker made his Complaint, and mine Host was there
present, not only to justifie it, but to produce the very fellows, which
indeed were easily enough to be known to be so, and so they managed
their evidence that the Gentleman-Cheat had little or nothing to say for
himself, and therefore he was committed to Prison. It happened at this
time that the Judge had a Kinsman with him who was somewhat wilde, and
only rid about the progress with him to see fashions, and he had one
scurvy humor, which was this; he had a good Estate, and was full of
mony; and therefore in a prodigal vapouring way, he would carry a Purse
with near a hundred pieces of Gold in it, in his pocket, and this he
would always carry about with him, and upon all occasions, though never
so trivial he would be drawing his Purse, and shewing his Gold, this was
his Custom; and the Judge his Unkle knowing it, had oft times chid him
for it, telling him that one time or other he would have his Pocket
pick’d and lose it; he would not take any warning, but still replied he
would warrant none could pick his pocket, so that his Unkle the Judge
did wish many times that he might lose it; and so be broken of that
foolish vainglorious humor. Our Cheat being now in Prison, his
Companions, who were all Workmen in the same Trade, were very much
troubled at his loss, because he would have done them much service, and
to be so taken up for so trivial a matter as a pair of Boots much vexed
them, and they knew there was no recovering him without the Judges
favour; they therefore resolved to put themselves in the best Equipage
they could, and go to him, accordingly that night they went, and told
him they were humble Petitioners to his Honour, for a poor friend of
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