were it not for her
Aristus
. Their Virtues are blended in their Children, and diffuse through the whole Family a perpetual Spirit of Benevolence, Complacency, and Satisfaction.
C.
Footnote 1:
that
return to footnote mark
Footnote 2:
to be esteemed
return
ContentsContents p.5
Vertentem sese frustra sectabere canthum,Cum rota posterior curras et in axe secundo.Pers.
Great Masters in Painting never care for drawing People in the Fashion; as very well knowing that the Headdress, or Periwig, that now prevails, and gives a Grace to their Portraitures at present, will make a very odd Figure, and perhaps look monstrous in the Eyes of Posterity. For this Reason they often represent an illustrious Person in a
Roman
Habit, or in some other Dress that never varies. I could wish, for the sake of my Country Friends, that there was such a kind of
everlasting Drapery
to be made use of by all who live at a certain distance from the Town, and that they would agree upon such Fashions as should never be liable to Changes and Innovations.
For
want of this
standing Dress
, a Man
who
1
takes a Journey into the Country is as much surprised, as one
who
1
walks in a Gallery of old Family Pictures; and finds as great a Variety of Garbs and Habits in the Persons he converses with. Did they keep to one constant Dress they would sometimes be in the Fashion, which they never are as Matters are managed at present. If instead of running after the Mode, they would continue fixed in one certain Habit, the Mode would some time or other overtake them, as a Clock that stands still is sure to point right once in twelve Hours: In this Case therefore I would advise them, as a Gentleman did his Friend who was hunting about the whole Town after a rambling Fellow, If you follow him you will never find him, but if you plant your self at the Corner of any one Street, I'll engage it will not be long before you see him.
I have already touched upon this Subject in a Speculation
which
1
shews how cruelly the Country are led astray in following the Town; and equipped in a ridiculous Habit, when they fancy themselves in the Height of the Mode. Since that Speculation I have received a Letter (which I there hinted at) from a Gentleman who is now in the Western Circuit.
Mr.Spectator,'Beinga Lawyer of theMiddle-Temple,a2Cornishmanby Birth, I generally ride the Western Circuit for my health, and as I am not interrupted with Clients, have leisure to make many Observations that escape the Notice of my Fellow-Travellers.One of the most fashionable Women I met with in all the Circuit was my Landlady atStains, where I chanced to be on a Holiday. Her Commode was not half a Foot high, and her Petticoat within some Yards of a modish Circumference.Inthe same Place I observed a young Fellow with a tolerable Periwig, had it not been covered with a Hat that was shaped in theRamillieCock3. As I proceeded in my Journey I observed the Petticoat grew scantier and scantier, and about threescore Miles fromLondonwas so very unfashionable, that a Woman might walk in it without any manner of Inconvenience.Notfar fromSalisburyI took notice of a Justice of Peace's Ladywho4was at least ten Years behindhand in her Dress, but at the same time as fine as Hands could make her. She was flounced and furbelowed from Head to Foot; every Ribbon was wrinkled, and every Part of her Garments in Curl, so that she looked like one of those Animals which in the Country we call aFriezelandHen.Notmany Miles beyond this Place I was informed that one of the last Year's little Muffs had by some means or other straggled into those Parts, and that all Women of Fashion were cutting their old Muffs in two, or retrenching them, according to the little Modelwhich5was got among them. I cannot believe the Report they have there, that it was sent down frank'd by a Parliament-man in a little Packet; but probably by next Winter this Fashion will be at the Height in the Country, when it is quite out atLondon.The greatest Beau at our next Country Sessions was dressed in a most monstrous Flaxen Periwig, that was made in KingWilliam'sReign. The Wearer of it goes, it seems, in his own Hair, when he is at home, and lets his Wig lie in Buckle for a whole half Year, that he may put it on upon Occasions to meet the Judges in it.I must not here omit an Adventurewhich5happened to us in a Country Church upon the Frontiers ofCornwall. As we were in the midst of the Service, a Lady who is the chief Woman of the Place, and had passed the Winter atLondonwith her Husband, entered the Congregation in a little Headdress, and a hoop'd Petticoat. The People, who were wonderfully startled at such a Sight, all of them rose up. Some stared at the prodigious Bottom, and some at the little Top of this strange Dress.Inthe mean time the Lady of the Manor filled thearea6of the Church, and walked up to her Pew with an unspeakable Satisfaction, amidst the Whispers, Conjectures, and Astonishments of the whole Congregation.Upon our Way from hence we saw a young Fellow riding towards us full Gallop, with a Bob Wig and a black Silken Bag tied to it. He stopt short at the Coach, to ask us how far the Judges were behind us.HisStay was so very short, that we had only time to observe his new silk Waistcoat,which7was unbutton'd in several Places to let us see that he had a clean Shirt on, which was ruffled down to his middle.From this Place, during our Progress through the most Western Parts of the Kingdom, we fancied ourselves in KingCharlesthe Second's Reign, the People having made very little Variations in their Dress since that time.Thesmartest of the Country Squires appear still in theMonmouth-Cock8and when they go a wooing (whether they have any Post in the Militia or not) they generally put on a red Coat. We were, indeed, very much surprized, at the Place we lay at last Night, to meet with a Gentleman that had accoutered himself in a Night-Cap Wig, a Coat with long Pockets, and slit Sleeves, and a pair of Shoes with high Scollop Tops; but we soon found by his Conversation that he was a Person who laughed at the Ignorance and Rusticity of the Country People, and was resolved to live and die in the Mode.Sir, If you think this Account of my Travels may be of any Advantage to the Publick, I will next Year trouble you with such Occurrences as I shall meet with in other Parts ofEngland. For I am informed there are greater Curiosities in the Northern Circuit than in the Western; and that a Fashion makes its Progress much slower intoCumberlandthan intoCornwall. Ihaveheard in particular, that the Steenkirk9arrived but two Months ago atNewcastle, and that there are several Commodes in those Parts which are worth taking a Journey thither to see.
C.
Footnotes 1:
that
return to footnote mark
Footnote 2:
and a
return
Footnote 3:
Fashion of 1706
return
Footnote 4:
that
return
Footnotes 5:
that
return
Footnote 6:
whole Area
return
Footnote 7:
that
return
Footnote 8:
Of 1685.
return
Footnote 9:
Fashion of 1692-3.
return
ContentsContents p.5
... Semperque recentesConvectare juvat prædas, et vivere rapto.Virg.
As I was Yesterday riding out in the Fields with my Friend Sir
Roger
, we saw at a little Distance from us a Troop of Gypsies. Upon the first Discovery of them, my Friend was in some doubt whether he should not exert the Justice of the Peace upon such a Band of Lawless Vagrants; but not having his Clerk with him, who is a necessary Counsellor on these Occasions, and fearing that his Poultry might fare the worse for it, he let the Thought drop: But at the same time gave me a particular Account of the Mischiefs they do in the Country, in stealing People's Goods and spoiling their Servants.
If a stray Piece of Linnen hangs upon an Hedge, says SirRoger, they are sure to have it; if the Hog loses his Way in the Fields, it is ten to one but he becomes their Prey; our Geese cannot live in Peace for them; if a Man prosecutes them with Severity, his Hen-roost is sure to pay for it: They generally straggle into these Parts about this Time of the Year; and set the Heads of our Servant-Maids so agog for Husbands, that we do not expect to have any Business done as it should be whilst they are in the Country.Ihave an honest Dairy-maidwho1crosses their Hands with a Piece of Silver every Summer, and never fails being promised the handsomest young Fellow in the Parish for her pains. Your Friend the Butler has been Fool enough to be seduced by them; and, though he is sure to lose a Knife, a Fork, or a Spoon every time his Fortune is told him, generally shuts himself up in the Pantry with an old Gypsie for above half an Hour once in a Twelvemonth. Sweet-hearts are the things they live upon, which they bestow very plentifully upon all those that apply themselves to them. You see now and then some handsome young Jades among them: The Sluts have very often white Teeth and black Eyes.
Sir
Roger
observing that I listned with great Attention to his Account of a People who were so entirely new to me, told me, That if I would they should tell us our Fortunes. As I was very well pleased with the Knight's Proposal, we rid up and communicated our Hands to them. A
Cassandra
of the Crew, after having examined my Lines very diligently, told me, That I loved a pretty Maid in a Corner, that I was a good Woman's Man, with some other Particulars which I do not think proper to relate.
My
Friend Sir
Roger
alighted from his Horse, and exposing his Palm to two or three that stood by him, they crumpled it into all Shapes, and diligently scanned every Wrinkle that could be made in it; when one of them,
who
2
was older and more Sun-burnt than the rest, told him, That he had a Widow in his Line of Life: Upon which the Knight cried, Go, go, you are an idle Baggage; and at the same time smiled upon me. The Gypsie finding he was not displeased in his Heart, told him, after a farther Enquiry into his Hand, that his True-love was constant, and that she should dream of him to-night: My old Friend cried Pish, and bid her go on. The Gypsie told him that he was a Batchelour, but would not be so long; and that he was dearer to some Body than he thought: The Knight still repeated, She was an idle Baggage, and bid her go on. Ah Master, says the Gypsie, that roguish Leer of yours makes a pretty Woman's Heart ake; you ha'n't that Simper about the Mouth for Nothing — The uncouth Gibberish with which all this was uttered like the Darkness of an Oracle, made us the more attentive to it. To be short, the Knight left the Money with her that he had crossed her Hand with, and got up again on his Horse.
As we were riding away, Sir
Roger
told me, that he knew several sensible People who believed these Gypsies now and then foretold very strange things; and for half an Hour together appeared more jocund than ordinary. In the Height of his good-Humour, meeting a common Beggar upon the Road who was no Conjurer, as he went to relieve him he found his Pocket was picked: That being a Kind of Palmistry at which this Race of Vermin are very dextrous.
I
might here entertain my Reader with Historical Remarks on this idle profligate People,
who
3
infest all the Countries of
Europe
, and live in the midst of Governments in a kind of Commonwealth by themselves.
But
instead of entering into Observations of this Nature, I shall fill the remaining Part of my Paper with a Story
which
4
is still fresh in
Holland
, and was printed in one of our Monthly Accounts about twenty Years ago.
'AstheTrekschuyt, or Hackney-boat, which carries Passengers fromLeydentoAmsterdam, was putting off, a Boy running along theside5of the Canal desired to be taken in; which the Master of the Boat refused, because the Lad had not quite Money enough to pay the usual Fare.Aneminent Merchant being pleased with the Looks of the Boy, and secretly touched with Compassion towards him, paid the Money for him6, and ordered him to be taken on board. Upon talking with him afterwards, he found that he could speak readily in three or four Languages, and learned upon farther Examination that he had been stoln away when he was a Child by a Gypsie, and had rambled ever since with a Gang of those Strollers up and down several Parts ofEurope. It happened that the Merchant, whose Heart seems to have inclined towards the Boy by a secret kind of Instinct, had himself lost a Child some Years before. The Parents, after a long Search for him, gave him for drowned in one of the Canals with which that Country abounds; and the Mother was so afflicted at the Loss of a fine Boy, who was her only Son, that she died for Grief of it.Uponlaying together all Particulars, and examining the several Moles and Marksbywhich the Mother used to describe the Childwhen7he was first missing, the Boy proved to be the Son of the Merchant whose Heart had so unaccountably melted at the Sight of him.TheLad was very well pleased to find a Fatherwho8was so rich, and likely to leave him a good Estate; the Father on the other hand was not a little delighted to see a Son return to him, whom he had given for lost, with such a Strength of Constitution, Sharpness of Understanding, and Skill in Languages.'
Here the printed Story leaves off; but if I may give credit to Reports, our Linguist having received such extraordinary Rudiments towards a good Education, was afterwards trained up in every thing that becomes a Gentleman; wearing off by little and little all the vicious Habits and Practises that he had been used to in the Course of his Peregrinations:
Nay
, it is said, that he has since been employed in foreign Courts upon National Business, with great Reputation to himself and Honour to
those who sent him
9
, and that he has visited several Countries as a publick Minister, in which he formerly wander'd as a Gypsie.
C.
Footnote 1:
that
return to footnote mark
Footnote 2:
that
return
Footnote 3:
that
return
Footnote 4:
that
return
Footnote 5:
Sides
return
Footnote 6:
About three pence.
return
Footnote 7:
by when
return
Footnote 8:
that
return
Footnote 9:
his Country
return
ContentsContents p.5
... Ipsæ rursum concedite Sylvæ.Virg.
It is usual for a Man who loves Country Sports to preserve the Game in his own Grounds, and divert himself upon those that belong to his Neighbour.
My
Friend Sir
Roger
generally goes two or three Miles from his House, and gets into the Frontiers of his Estate, before he beats about in search of
a
1
Hare or Partridge, on purpose to spare his own Fields, where he is always sure of finding Diversion, when the worst comes to the worst. By this Means the Breed about his House has time to encrease and multiply, besides that the Sport is the more agreeable where the Game is the harder to come at, and
where it
does not lie so thick as to produce any Perplexity or Confusion in the Pursuit. For these Reasons the Country Gentleman, like the Fox, seldom preys near his own Home.
In the same manner I have made a Month's Excursion out of the Town, which is the great Field of Game for Sportsmen of my Species, to try my Fortune in the Country, where I have started several Subjects, and hunted them down, with some Pleasure to my self, and I hope to others. I am here forced to use a great deal of Diligence before I can spring any thing to my Mind, whereas in Town, whilst I am following one Character, it is ten to one but I am crossed in my Way by another, and put up such a Variety of odd Creatures in both Sexes, that they foil the Scent of one another, and puzzle the Chace. My greatest Difficulty in the Country is to find Sport, and in Town to chuse it. In the mean time, as I have given a whole Month's Rest to the Cities of
London
and
Westminster
, I promise my self abundance of new Game upon my return thither.
It is indeed high time for me to leave the Country, since I find the whole Neighbourhood begin to grow very inquisitive after my Name and Character. My Love of Solitude, Taciturnity, and particular way of Life, having raised a great Curiosity in all these Parts.
The Notions which have been framed of me are various; some look upon me as very proud,
some as very modest,
and some as very melancholy.
Will. Wimble
, as my Friend the Butler tells me, observing me very much alone, and extreamly silent when I am in Company, is afraid I have killed a Man. The Country People seem to suspect me for a Conjurer; and some of them hearing of the Visit
which
I made to
Moll White
, will needs have it that Sir
Roger
has brought down a Cunning Man with him, to cure the old Woman, and free the Country from her Charms. So that the Character which I go under in part of the Neighbourhood, is what they here call a
White Witch
.
A Justice of Peace, who lives about five Miles off, and is not of Sir
Roger's
Party, has it seems said twice or thrice at his Table, that he wishes Sir
Roger
does not harbour a Jesuit in his House, and that he thinks the Gentlemen of the Country would do very well to make me give some Account of my self.
On the other side, some of Sir
Roger's
Friends are afraid the old Knight is impos'd upon by a designing Fellow, and as they have heard that he converses very promiscuously when he is in Town, do not know but he has brought down with him some discarded Whig, that is sullen, and says nothing, because he is out of Place.
Such
is the Variety of Opinions
which
2
are here entertained of me, so that I pass among some for a disaffected Person, and among others for a Popish Priest; among some for a Wizard, and among others for a Murderer; and all this for no other Reason, that I can imagine, but because I do not hoot and hollow and make a Noise. It is true my Friend Sir
Roger
tells them,
That it is my way
, and that I am only a Philosopher; but
this
2
will not satisfy them. They think there is more in me than he discovers, and that I do not hold my Tongue for nothing.