skill, inclination, nor money to buy; but the Countrey-man believing that the Goldsmith onely said thus, thinking to draw him on to part from his own Ring the more easily, and by that means cheat him, resolv’d if he could, to be too wise for the Goldsmith; wherefore taking both the Rings into his hands as to compare them together, he thus said: I am sure mine is a right Diamond: and so is mine, reply’d the Goldsmith: and said the Countrey-man, shall I have it for twenty pounds? Yes, reply’d the Goldsmith; but said he, I suppose you come to sell, and not to buy; and since you shall see I will be a good Customer, I will give you fifteen pounds for yours. Nay reply’d the Countrey-man, since I have had my choice to by or sell, I will never refuse a good Penny-worth, as I think this is, therefore Master Goldsmith, I will keep my own and give you money for yours: Where is it? said the Goldsmith hastily, and endeavouring then to seize on his Ring; Hold a blow there, said the Countrey-man, here’s your money, but the Ring I will keep. The Goldsmith seeing himself caught, flustered and flounced like a mad man, and the Countrey-man pulling out a little Purse, told down twenty Pieces of Gold, & said, Here Shop-keeper, here’s your money; but I hope you will allow me eighteen pence a piece in exchange for my Gold. Tell not me of exchange, but give me my Ring, said the Goldsmith: It is mine, said the Countrey-man, for I have bought it and paid for it, and have witness of my Bargain. All this would not serve the Goldsmith’s turn, but he curs’d & swore that the Countrey-man came to cheat him, & his ring he would have; & at the noise several people came about his Shop, but he was so perplexed that he could not tell his Tale, and the Countrey-Gentleman could; at length a Constable came, and although the Goldsmith knew not to what purpose, yet before a Justice he would go: the Countrey-man was content, and therefore together they went; when they came there, the Goldsmith who was the plaintiff, began his Tale, and said, that the Countrey-man had taken a Diamond Ring from him worth one hundred pounds; and would give him but twenty pounds for it, have a care what you say, reply’d the Country-man; for if you charge me with taking a ring from you, I suppose that is stealing; and if you say so, I shall vex you farther than I have done, and then he told the Justice the whole story as I have related, which was then a very plain case, & for proof of the matter, the Countrey-Gentleman’s man was witness. The Goldsmith hearing this, alleadged, that he believed the Countrey Gentleman and his man were both Impostors and Cheats: to this the Countrey-man reply’d as before, that he were best have a care he did not make his case worse, and bring an old house on his head by slandering of him, for it was well known that he was a Gentle-man of three hundred pounds _per Annum_, and liv’d at a place he nam’d but twenty miles from _London_; and that he