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
General
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
It is almost unnecessary to inform the reader, that these successful
stratagems gained him high applause and honour in the company of the
gipseys: he soon became the favourite of their king, who was very old and
decrepid, and had always some honourable mark of distinction assigned him
at their public assemblies. These honours and applauses were so many
fresh spurs to his ingenuity and industry; so certain it is, that
wherever those qualities are honoured, and publicly rewarded, though but
by an oaken garland, there industry will outwork itself, and ingenuity
will exceed the common bounds of art. Our hero, therefore, was
continually planning new stratagems, and soon executed a very bold one on
his grace the Duke of Bolton. Coming to his seat near Basingstoke, in
Hampshire, he dressed himself in a sailor’s ragged habit, and knocking at
the gate, desired of the porter, with a composed and assured countenance,
admittance to the duke, or at least that the porter would give his grace
a paper which he held in his hand; but, as he did not apply in a proper
manner to this great officer, (who we think may not improperly be styled
the turnkey of the gate) as he did not show him that passport which can
open every gate, pass by the surliest porter, and get admittance even to
kings, neither himself nor paper could gain any entrance. However, he
was not disheartened with this, but waiting near the gate for some time,
he at last saw a servant come out, whom he followed, and, telling him
that he was a very unfortunate man, desired he would be so kind as to
introduce him where he might speak to his grace. As this servant had no
interest in locking up his master, for that belonged to the porter only,
he very readily complied with his request, as soon as the porter was off
his stand; which he accordingly did, introducing him into a hall, where
the duke was to pass through soon. He had not been long there before the
duke came in, upon which he clapped his knee to the ground, and very
graciously offered a paper to his hand for acceptance, which was a
petition, setting forth that the unfortunate petitioner, Bampfylde Moore
Carew, was supercargo of a large vessel that was cast away coming from
Sweden, in which were his whole effects, and none of which he had been
able to save. The duke seeing the name of Bampfylde Moore Carew, and
knowing those names to belong to families of the greatest worth and note
in the west of England, inquired of what family he was, and how he became
entitled to those honourable names? He replied, they were those of his
godfathers, the Honourable Hugh Bampfylde, and the Honourable Major
Moore. The duke then asked him several questions about his friends and
relations, all of which he answers very fully; and the duke expressing
some surprise that he should apply for relief in his misfortunes to any
but his own family, who were so well able to assist him, he replied, he
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account