The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth PartHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth Part
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
One Market-day, (which was the chief time they pitcht on) they Acted a
Play, (by the invitation of some Gentlemen in a Tavern,) in which there
were two which fought on the stage, which were supposed Clowns, and were
to baste one another to some purpose. A Countrey Gentleman being there
present, and having never seen a play, but this Acted once before, and
seeing them fight again in the same manner, as they had done before,
steps hastily down stairs, and bringing up a Bottle of Wine in his hand,
interposes between them; telling them they should not thus bear a grudge
one to the other, but that they should be friends; and to that end he
had brought a Bottle of Wine, that they should shake hands, and drink to
each other, and would not stir, off the place, till he had seen them so
do, and go too, off a several way. That Scene was spoyled, however they
played on, and coming to the third Scene in the fourth Act, these
Fellows were to enter again; the Gentleman seeing them together, and
facing each other, ran from his seat to them again; swearing that he
that gave the first blow, should beat him too; _What_, said he, _cannot
we be quiet here, but you two Logger-heads must spoil the Play_? This
put the whole audience into such laughter and confusion, that the Play
was forced to be deferred till another days action.
They staid not long in a place, the People being tired with such costly
novelties as they call’d them, which made them ramble every where.
Coming to _York_, they had the same success at first, as they found else
where, but had like to have been scared out of their wits. For one day
acting a Play, wherein the King of _Scots_ was to be murdered
barbarously by his Subjects, and having intimation of the suddain coming
of the Assassinates, condoled his own unhappy Fate, and condemns the
treachery of his Subjects proceedings; is there no hope of Life, is
there never a true Scot, that now dares stand by me? A Scot there
present, seeing the murderers come in with their drawn Swords, cryed
out, _there is one left still, my neen sel, yar een Country-man. Let the
Deel fill my wem with smaw steans, if I make not the Loons eat my Sward
as smaw as_ Saunies _durch_. And thereupon drew his broad Sword, and at
them he came as desperately resolved, as if they had been real enemies;
and notwithstanding the King intreated him to be patient, he grew more
furious, and would have prosecuted them to death, had not his supposed
Majesty held him in his arms, till they had made their escape. Not long
after this they were invited to act at a Gentlemans house in the
Countrey, where they acted their parts so badly, by stealing several
pieces of Plate, that some of them had like to have acted their last;
Our Soldier of Fortune fearing by their ends, he might come to his last,
fled away privately to _London_; where he betook himself to his Pen
again, altering the Scene of his former design. Observing what large
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