_Tom_ never dreamed of any prosecution in law being carried on against him, and therefore was purring an inoffensive song, in expectation of the skeleton of the pigeons, a leg of which he was cranching with sensible delight, when he was interrupted by the entrance of one of the bailiffs, who was followed by several others, who secured the person of _Tom_, and another shewed the warrant, that they might not be accused of doing any thing illegal, or contrary to form, and while some of them remained to explain the nature and legality of this seizure, he who made the caption, carried him to the first prison which came in his way, and delivered him into _Salva Custoda_, under the name of _Tom Filch_, at the same time giving the goaler and the other prisoners, a facetious and short narrative of the whole affair, and the history of the parties concerned. When the prisoners discovered, that it was all a piece of waggery, they entered hastily into the joke, and hearing that _Tom_ the prisoner was the favourite particular of a substantial house-keeper, who would in all probability release him by paying his fees; they boldly and with one voice demanded garnish of _Tom_, who not being used to such questions from strangers, did not think proper to answer them. Now, if they had according to the custom of garnish, threatened to strip him, _What could they have of a Cat but his Skin?_ But as he made no answer to their previous question, they thought it more adviseable to lock him in a dark cell, and called for ale, which for the joke’s sake, was not denied them in so unprecedented a garnish, and they sat down to regale themselves, where we shall leave them in order to finish this chapter and begin another. CHAP. VII. _A curious conference between some of the most eminent personages of the prison, during_ Tom’_s confinement. In which_ Tom Traveller _relates part of his own life and adventures_. It has been a usual, and a wise method too let me tell you, with all Biographers to relax the reader’s mind with somewhat episodical in imitation of _Homer_ and _Virgil_ in their Epics, who introduce several respectable persons into the drama, beside _Achilles_, and _Æneas_, so have we thought that we should oblige our readers, who would in return be obliged to us for not cramming them with the single adventures of _Tom_ the _Cat_ only, since we have this fair opportunity of opening a fine prison-scene to his view, and entertaining him with the most curious adventures, and interesting incidents of _Tom the Traveller_, extracted from no book, or books in the world, as his surprizing memoirs are no where to be found but in this true history, and if any of our readers should be so incredulous as to doubt the veracity of these anecdotes, we shall be bold to remind him of the more incredible travels and voyages, which are not half so well authenticated, though passed upon the world every day, as real and genuine.