_Women they say will _lye_, but now I see ’Tis false, to th’ last she spake the _truth_ to me. Farewel said she, I thought my grief t’have hid, _I die for love of thee_,——and so she did. Here with her lies her Child, that strove in vain To untomb it self to be intomb’d again. But rest my babe, thy cares with life are gone, _Thou’lt rise again_, though now a setting Sun. Though wonders cease, thy Mothers death doth prove They may revive, for she did _die for love_._ CHAP. XX. _His credit becomes suspected by his exorbitant manner of living in Drinking, Whoring, Gaming, &c. He thinks to sawder up that crack by Marriage; he is deceived both in Person and Portion._ Returning to my own Habitation, I found that my so long absence had raised a jealousie in my Neighbours breasts, that I was run away; which rested not there, but spread like a Canker, so that this flying report came to some of my Creditors ears, which made them both impatient and importunate with me for their moneys; I wondered whence proceeded their unexpected haste. Some that would not be put off with promises, I was forced to pay; from others I obtained a little longer forbearance, which gave me but liberty to prosecute my former courses. If I was at the Tavern, I was either drunk, ingaged in a quarrel, and so involv’d in blood; or else at play, if not at a Bawdy house, which places I could not refrain from frequenting, though I kept one _of my own at home_. For I would not entertain a Maid, but what was more than ordinarily handsome, whom I commonly vitiated either by presents, or promises if I got them with child. When I was weary of one, I paid her off, with some additions to her wages, and entertain’d another, who would in a short time be wrought upon as well as her predecessors, being ambitious to lie with her Master, and vainly hoping that to be the first step to her preferment, thinking of nothing but presently marrying, and so be Mistress. In three years that I lived as a Master I had nine illegitimates, which I knew, four whereof were begotten of my Maids, which put me to a vast expence. Two of the Mothers would have forced me to have married them, or allowed them competent maintenance (for they were subtil cunning baggages) had I not by a wile got them aboard a Vessel bound for _Virginia_, and never heard of them since. Besides two or three terrible Claps, which cost me a considerable sum in their cure. This distemper, as it caused a _consumption_ in my Pocket, so it impaired my wonted strength, and almost spoiled my natural Talent. _For now it is much like Paul’s Steeple turn’d A stately thing before the top was burn’d._