The Surprising Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew, King of the Beggars: Containing his Life, a Dictionary of the Cant Language, and many Entertaining Particulars of that Extraordinary ManUnknown
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The Surprising Adventures of Bampfylde Moore Carew, King of the Beggars: Containing his Life, a Dictionary of the Cant Language, and many Entertaining Particulars of that Extraordinary Man
We have already mentioned Mr. Carew’s being on board the Yarmouth
man-of-war up the Baltic; it will not, therefore, be improper here to
relate the occasion of that voyage, which was as follows:—He and his
friend, Coleman, being at Plymouth, and appearing to be able-bodied men,
some officers seeing them there, thought them extremely fit to serve his
majesty, therefore obliged them to go on board the Dunkirk man-of-war:
but they not liking this, Coleman pricked himself upon the wrists,
between his fingers, and other joints, and inflamed it so with gunpowder,
that every one thought it to be the itch; he was therefore carried
ashore, and put into the hospital, from whence he soon made his escape.
Mr. Carew tried the stragem, but too late; for the Lively and Success
men-of-war now arriving from Ireland with impressed men, they were all of
them carried immediately (together with the impressed men lying at
Plymouth) to the grand fleet, then lying at Spithead; they were first put
on board the Bredau, Admiral Hosier, to choose whom he liked of them: and
their names being called over, the Irishmen were all refused; which Mr.
Carew seeing declared himself, in a true Irish brogue, to be a poor Irish
weaver, and disabled in one arm, whereupon he was also refused: the
Irish, among whom he was now ranked, were carried from ship to ship, and
none would accept of them, which made them all expect to be discharged;
but they were disappointed in their hopes, for they were put on board the
Yarmouth, Captain O’Brien, being one of the squadron destined for the
Baltic. Mr. Carew finding Captain O’Brien refused no Irishmen, when he
came to be examined changed his note, and declared himself to be an
Englishman, but crippled in one arm: however, the captain accepted of
him, and putting a sword in his hand, made him stand sentry at the bitts,
which easy post he liked very well; and during all the time he was on
board, every one supposed him really disabled in his arm.
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