_The Old Woman relates to Mrs._ Dorothy, _where she was born, in an Ale house; how educated in all manner of debauchery; how she had a Bastard, which she murther’d, is after marriage gotten with Child by a_ Moor, _and perswades her Husband it was his, notwithstanding, it being conceived so by the strength of imagination. Her Husband growing jealous of the Black_ Moor, _fights him; and they kill one the other. A strange adventure between her Lover and a_ Frenchman, _with a Wind mill_. I was born (said she) at _Portsmouth_; a Sea-Port-Town, very well known, not only to most _English_ Men, but also to many Strangers. My Parents were of the ordinary ranck, keeping a fudling School, or House of good fellow-ship. I was educated, according to the Custom of the place, to learn to read, and Sew; in learning of which having spent two or three years, at the Age of eleven I was taken home to sit in the Barr and keep the scores; I was well pleased to be at home, because there was great variety of Guests; especially merry drunken Saylors: who, when they had liberty to come ashore, would lustily booz it; and sing, and dance, all weathers. And to that end, our House was still accommodated with a blind Harper, who pick’d up a merry living: I taking pleasure in Musick, and my Father thinking it would advance his trading, bought for me a pair of Virginals; and hired a man to teach me: I giving my mind to it, soon learnt some tunes, which I played to the merry Saylers, whilst they pull’d off their shoes, and danc’t Lustick; and sometimes I gaining a Teaster, or Groat for my Musick, was so encouraged, that I quickly took all the instructions my Master was able to give me; I likewise learned some songs of him, and some of the Saylers; so that in little time I was well furnished with fat and lean Songs; so we term’d the bawdy and others. Although I soon understood what was meant by bawdy Songs; yet I was yet to young to have experience of them: however, when my Auditors laugh’d, and sometimes hug’d and kiss’d me, I had some kind of Notions that were very pleasing to me; and although my Mother sometimes told me of the hateful name of Whore, and how much it concerned me to keep my Maiden-head; yet I resolved that if it were long ere I were married, yet it should not be so before I tryed what it was to lye with a Man: however I followed my Mothers directions, in frowning, and scouling on those who forc’d a kiss from me. But, as I had designed, so it came to pass; for at the Age of fourteen years, a Sayler, who of all other sort of People, I liked best, gained my good liking: he newly came home from a boon Voyage, and was full of half Crown pieces, and took up his quarters at our house; my Father seeing him so flush, was resolved to milk him; and therefore permitted him to keep me Company, though he saw he was very familiar in hugging and kissing me; I likewise had a great mind to some of his money, and therefore begg’d some of him to buy