feeding without a keeper. Immediately three of the likelieft were taken from the reft. Out came fciffars, and other implements, with phials of colouring ef fences, and to work went many hands, when, in less than five minutes, had the owners come up, they could not have found a fingle mark of their own property upon them. And indeed I have frequently known fome of thofe my ingenious brotherhood, fo very audacious as to fell, in public market, the cattle, which they had ftolen, to the very perfons from whom they were taken. As thefe people were never unprovided of their conveniencies, the horfes were quickly bridled and difpatched, by feveral emiffaries, feveral ways, to fummon the neighbouring brotherhood, on the third night, to meet near the white cross with their appointed apparatus. Accordingly, on the evening of the night required, we arrived on a little hill that flood oppofite to the house of my confcientious landlord; and, foon after, we were joined by feveral parties, from feveral fides, amounting to about a hundred and twenty perfons, with parcels of I knew not what upon affes, &c. The packs were quickly opened, and from thence were produced black and flames flame-coloured gowns, flambeaux, hoofs, and horns, and vizards of horrid aspect and terrific dimenfion. In a hurry, we were all fitted with our respective dresses and characters. A large pafteboard coffin was covered with a white sheet, and exalted upon the fhoulders of four fiery devils; and, as night began to fall dark and heavy upon us, a light was, ftruck, the flams were lighted, one was put into every right hand; fpeaking- trumpets, with other inftruments of heart-finking. founds, were put to many a mouth, and we directly fet out on our diabolical proceffion. Some roared like bulls, others howled and bayed like dogs at a midnight-moon, while others yelled articulately in the caterwauling gibberish; in fhort, the founds made fuch a complica tion of horrors as no mortal ears could abide, nor mortal courage fupport. Mean while the town took the alarm, and began to be in commotion. Old and young quitted their houses, and nurried hither and thither through the ftreet, But, as we advanced, they made backward, and running, or climbing, or fcrambling up the hill, they gathered all in a body before the wind-mill. In the interim, we pufhed forward, and entered the inn, where neither cat nor dog, nor living creature creature was left, fave Goodman Gruff, who lay impotent of the gout, in an upper chamber. While most of the company ftaid routing and fearching the houfe below, Signior Geoffry led a few of us up ftairs. He represented the perfon of Lucifer, whofe name was impreffed in flaming characters on his cap. On entering the room where landlord Gruff lay, Hark ye, Jerry, fays Lucifer, you fneaking thief, you mean petty-larceny villain! how came you to rob a child, the other day, of the money which he gained under my influence and encouragement? I have a mind, you fcoundrel, to strike you out of my lift of innkeepers. O, my good Lord Lucifer, cries Gruff, with a trembling voice, in my confcience, now, I did not think that any kind of robbery would be an offence to your honour. You lie, you raical, you lie, cries Lucifer, the devil is a gentleman, he loves thofe who rob the great, who have robbed the little; but he hates your low-fpirited fcoundrels, who rob the widow, and the fatherlefs, and take from the little ones the little that they have. Why, pray, my Lord Lucifer, are you a Chriftian? cries Gruff. A better one, rafcal, than you or any of your tribe; for, though I tremble, yet I believe. And And I tell thee, Jerry, that I will make this generation to tremble; but, as I think, the devil himself cannot bring them to believe. During this confabulation, the whole houfe, drawers and all, was gutted as clean as a foul for fupper. So, without entering into any other habitation, away we marched, as in our former tremendous proceffion; till, coming to fome standing water, we halted, and, at a given word, we all together plunged our torches in the pool, and inftant night fell upon all the world. Thus, from day to day, and year to year, while I continued with this people, I was witness to a variety of fleights, deceits, impoftures, metamorphofes, and depredations, without any inttance of their being brought to condign punishment. One of them, however, within my time, was detected, taken, imprisoned, brought to the bar, tried, and brought in guilty; and yet found means to evade juttice by the most marvellous piece of ftratagem that ever was. He was spied in the act of stealing a bay horte. Fresh fuit was made. He was feized, and loaded with irons in the dungeon of the county-gaol. On the day of trial the fact was proved by inconteftable Contestable witnesses; and the jury, with out quitting the box, pronounced the fatal word Guilty. Have you any thing to fay, cried the judge, why fentence of death should not be pronounced against you? I can truly affirm, exclaimed the culprit, that I am as clear as the light of this matter; that the beast which I took, then was, and, to this hour, is my own property; and that there must be fome wonderful mistake in this business; wherefore, my Lord, as I am upon life and death, I trust that your charitable indulgence will order this fame horse to be brought into court. The horfe accordingly was brought, and the culprit continued, Now, my Lord, be pleased to order the witneffes to fay whether this be the fame horse that I ftole or not? The fame, the fame, cried the witneffes, by virtue of our oaths. Be fo good then, my Lord, to ask them of what age this horfe was, at the time that I stole him? By virtue of the fame oath, four years old, rifing five. Now, my Lord, if will continue your gracious indulgence, be pleased to order his mouth to be examined by fome people skilled in fuch matters. This alfo was done by two or three jockeys of acknowledged judgment, who inftantly cried out, Why, my you Lord, |