They go for London, one is apprehended and the other in his flight casually doth two or three mischiefs; the strange discovery of a Murther of seventeen years standing.

Here puft up with good fortune, we scattered our Moneys up and down the City, trampling the streets in terrour and huffing after a strange rate: but coming along by South-Hampton Building an aged Matron seized on my Elbow-shaking Companion, crying out this is the Rogue that robb’d me; I hearing that betook my self to my heels fearing lest being found in his company, I might be taken up for his accounts in the Theft. I made more hast than good speed it seems, for in my flight I bore down all that opposed me; insomuch that a poor Woman with a basket of Eggs standing in my way, I overthrew her and breaking her Eggs utterly undid the Woman, her whole stock consisting in that basket. A fellow seeing this endeavoured to lay hold on me, but I struggling to disingage my self from him pusht him forward on his Nose and falling, fell into an old Womans deep Codling Pan up to the Armpits, it being almost full of newly scalded apples, never was Codlings so handled, nor man so becodled as he was, the almost boyling water so tormented him, that he roared as bad as the fellow which was inclosed in Phalarus his Bull; fearing the mischief I had done I added new wings to my speed, but not looking before me, I ran directly against a Ladder in my way, on which there was a labouring man carrying up Morter to the top, but he was stopt in his intent, for though he went up by the Ladder, he came down without a Roop, his Morter falling on the heads of four finical Gentlewomen as they past by, who now might properly be called Morter-Pieces, the Ladder fell easily and gradually from the house to a Sign Post, the Man holding fast by one of the rounds, this while receiving little or no dammage, to the wonder and astonishment of all the Spectators. However I was detain’d, and none coming against me, nor accusing me for anything but the Woman with her Eggs, and the old Woman for the dammage she had sustained by the mashing of her Codlings; the fellow for being scalded by them, and this man that charged me most with supposition of loosing his life by my means I was dismist, giving to each what satisfaction I Judged convenient.

What became of my Come-at seven I know not, but glad I was to be clear’d from this fright: thus it is to have a guilty Conscience; a man I have heard of, who flew in a Moon-shine night from his own shaddow, thinking it to be a Devil that haunted his wicked carcass: Another more remarkable I have heard much talk of, who having murdered a man in London, fled into Forreign Parts, and living to and fro eighteen years, returning home again as he walked one day through Cheap-side, he heard a cry behind him, stop him, stop him, seeing a great quantity of People making towards him, presently fell a running with all the speed he could, the rabble seeing two run as if it were for their lives, divided themselves and in their pursuit they took the Thief they chiefly run after, and seizing the Gentleman who run they knew not for what, he cryed out, pray be civil Gentlemen it is confest I am the man; upon farther enquiry found him from his own mouth to be a Murderer of near twenty years standing.

Gaming had so general a possession of me, that I could think of nothing else, and because I could not always meet in my ramble in the City with such as suited my purpose: I frequented ordinaries where I never mist of good chear, nor variety of Company. For about one of the Clock you are sure to have an excellent dinner provided by way of ordinary; where you shall have so many choice dishes and wine, that the Master is always a looser in his entertainment what cares he for that? the box shall make all good again. Gentlemen of quality and civility frequent this Table, and after dinner will play a while for Recreation moderately and commonly without deserving reproof, but the generality of such as meet there are Wit-shifters. Some have frequented the house to eat only there being such excellent provision, and cheaper than they can get elsewhere, and never play at all only look on, but being once taken notice of they shall have small encouragement to come again.

Here I came acquainted and did so commonly frequent all houses of this function, that I shall endeavour to give you an account of what I either acted or observed in the time of my converse amongst these Esquires of the Elbow.