The Pennyles Pilgrimage: Or The Money-lesse Perambulation of John TaylorTaylor, John
General
The Pennyles Pilgrimage: Or The Money-lesse Perambulation of John Taylor
Taylor, John
Great Britain -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Great Britain -- Social life and customs
time of my stay, I might borrow, (if any man would lend) spend if I
could get, beg if I had the impudence, and steal, if I durst adventure
the price of a hanging, but my purpose was to house my horse, and to
suffer him and my apparel to lie in durance, or lavender instead of
litter, till such time as I could meet with some valiant friend, that
would desperately disburse.
Walking thus down the street, (my body being tired with travel, and my
mind attired with moody, muddy, Moor-ditch melancholy) my contemplation
did devotely pray, that I might meet one or other to prey upon, being
willing to take any slender acquaintance of any map whatsoever, viewing,
and circumviewing every man's face I met, as if I meant to draw his
picture, but all my acquaintance was _Non est inventus_, (pardon me,
reader, that Latin is none of my own, I swear by _Priscian's
Pericranium_, an oath which I have ignorantly broken many times.) At
last I resolved, that the next gentleman that I meet withal, should be
acquaintance whether he would or no: and presently fixing mine eyes upon
a gentleman-like object, I looked on him, as if I would survey something
through him, and make him my perspective: and he much musing at my
gazing, and I much gazing at his musing, at last he crossed the way and
made toward me, and then I made down the street from him, leaving to
encounter with any man, who came after me leading my horse, whom he thus
accosted. My friend (quoth he) doth yonder gentleman, (meaning me) know
me, that he looks so wistly on me? Truly sir, said my man, I think not,
but my master is a stranger come from _London_, and would gladly meet
some acquaintance to direct him where he may have lodging and
horse-meat. Presently the gentleman, (being of a generous disposition)
overtook me with unexpected and undeserved courtesy, brought me to a
lodging, and caused my horse to be put into his own stable, whilst we
discoursing over a pint of Spanish, I relate as much English to him, as
made him lend me ten shillings, (his name was Master _John Maxwell_)
which money I am sure was the first that I handled after I came from out
the walls of _London_: but having rested two hours and refreshed myself,
the gentleman and I walked to see the City and the Castle, which as my
poor unable and unworthy pen can, I will truly describe.
The Castle on a lofty rock is so strongly grounded, bounded, and
founded, that by force of man it can never be confounded; the foundation
and walls are unpenetrable, the rampiers impregnable, the bulwarks
invincible, no way but one it is or can be possible to be made passable.
In a word, I have seen many straits and fortresses, in _Germany_, the
_Netherlands_, _Spain_ and _England_, but they must all give place to
this unconquered Castle, both for strength and situation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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