or two for an Hat that was edged with filver galloon. But in the year following I broke the head of Henry Stubbs, and obtained an hat not inferior to the former. At Yelverton I encountred George Cummins, Weaver, and behold my head was broken a fecond time! At the wake of Waybrook I engaged William Simkins, Tanner, when lo! thus was my head broken a third time, and much blood trickled therefrom. But I adminiftred to my comfort, faying within myself, "What man "is there, howfoever dextrous in any craft, who " is for aye on his guard?" A week after I had a bafe-born child laid unto me; for in the days of my youth I was looked upon as a follower of venereal fantafies: Thus was I led into fin by the comeliness of Sufanna Smith, who firft tempted me and then put me to fhame; for indeed she was a maiden of a seducing eye, and pleasant feature. I humbled myself before the Juftice, I acknowledged my crime to our Curate; and to do away mine offences and make her fome attonement, joined to her in holy wedlock on the fabbath day following.

How often do those things which feem unto us misfortunes, redound to our advantage! For the Minifter (who had long look'd on Sufanna as the most lovely of his parishioners) liked fo well. of my demeanour, that he recommended me to the honour of being his Clerk, which was then VOL. VI.

U

become vacant by the decease of good Master William Harris.

Here ends the first chapter; after which follow fifty or fixty pages of his amours in general, and that particular one with Sufanna his prefent Wife; but I proceed to chapter the ninth.

No fooner was I elected into mine office, but I layed afide the powder'd gallantries of my youth, and became a new man. I confidered myself as in fome wife of ecclefiaftical dignity, fince by wearing a band, which is no fmall part of the ornament of our Clergy, I might not unworthily be deemed, as it were, a fhred of the linnen veftment of Aaron.

Thou may'st conceive, O reader, with what concern I perceived the eyes of the congregation fixed upon me, when I firft took my place at the feet of the Priest. When I raised the pfalm, how did my voice quaver for fear! And when I array'd the fhoulders of the Minifter with the furplice, how did my joints tremble under me! I faid within myself, Remember, Paul, thou ftandest "before men of high worship, the wife Mr Juf"tice Freeman, the greve Mr. Justice Tonfon, "the good Lady Jones, and the two virtuous gen"tlewomen her daughters, nay the great Sir Tho "mas Truby, Knight and Baronet, and my young mafter the Elquire, who fhall one day be Lord "of this Manor:" Notwithstanding which, it was

my good hap to acquit myself to the good liking of the whole congregation; but the Lord forbid I fhould glory therein.

The next chapter contains an account how he dif charged the feveral duties of his office; in particular be infifts on the following:

I was determined to reform the manifold Corruptions and Abuses which had crept into the Church.

First, I was especially fevere in whipping forth. dogs from the Temple, all excepting the lap-dog of the good widow Howard, a fober dog which yelped not, nor was there offence in his mouth.

Secondly, I did even proceed to moroseness, tho' fore against my heart, unto poor babes, in tearing from them the half-eaten apples which they privily munch'd at Church. But verily it pity'd me, for I remember'd the days of my youth.

Thirdly, With the sweat of my own hands, I did make plain and fmooth the dogs-ears throughout our great Bible.

Fourthly, The pews and benches which were formerly fwept but once in three years, I caus'd every Saturday to be fwept with a befom and trimmed.

Fifthly and laftly, I caufed the furplice to be neatly darned, washed, and laid in fresh lavender, (yea, and fometimes to be fprinkled with rofewater) and I had great laud and praife from all

the neighbouring Clergy, forafmuch as no parish kept the Minifter in cleaner linen.

Notwithstanding thefe his publick cares, in the eleventh chapter he informs us he did not neglect his ufual occupations as a handy-craftsman.

Shoes, faith he, did I make, (and, if intreated, mend) with good approbation.

Faces alfo did I thave, and I clipped the hair. Chirurgery alfo I practifed in the worming of Dogs; but to bleed adventured I not, except the poor. Upon this my twofold profeffion, there paffed among men a merry tale delectable enough to be rehearsed: How that being overtaken with liquor one Saturday evening, I fhav'd the Pricft with Spanish blacking for fhoes inftead of a wath-ball, and with lampblack powdered his perriwig. But thefe were fayings of men, delighting in their own conceits more than in the truth. For it is well known, that great was my care and kill in these my crafts; I once had the honour of trimming Sir Tho mas himself, without fetching blood. Furthermore, I was fought unto to geld the Lady Frances her fpaniel, which was wont to go aftray: He was called Toby, that is to fay, Tobias. And 3dly, I was entrusted with a gorgeous pair of thoes of the faid Lady, to fet an heel-piece thereon; and I received fuch praise therefore, that it was faid all over the parith, I fould be recommended unto the King

yea,

to mend fhoes for his Majefty: whom God preferve! Amen.

The rest of this chapter I purposely omit, for it must be own'd that when he speaks as a Shoemaker he is very abfurd. He talks of Mofes's pulling off his Thoes, of tanning the hides of the Bulls of Bafan, of Simon the Tanner, etc. and takes up four or five pages to prove, that, when the Apostles were inftructed to travel without fhoes, the precept did not extend to their fucceffors.

The next chapter relates how he difcover'd a Thief with a bible and key, and experimented verfes of the Pfalms that had cured Agues.

I pass over many others which inform us of parish affairs only, fuch as of the Succeffion of Curates; a lift of the weekly Texts; what Pfalms he chose on proper occafions; and what Children were born and bury'd: the last of which articles be concludes thus:

That the shame of women may not endure, I fpeak not of Baftards; neither will I name the Mothers, although thereby I might delight many grave women of the parish: Even her who hath done penance in the sheet will I not mention, forafmuch as the church hath been witnefs of her difgrace: Let the father, who hath made due composition with the Churchwardens to conceal