The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The…

Title: The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth Part

Author: Richard Head

Francis Kirkman

Release date: August 16, 2016 [eBook #52822] Most recently updated: October 23, 2024

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52822

Credits: Produced by KD Weeks, Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Given the publication date (late 17th century), the capitalization, spelling and punctuation of the original, is variable, There are a number of instances where it is very likely a printer’s error has been made, These have been corrected, and are summarized in the transcriber’s note at the end of the text.

Corrections appear in the text as corrected. The original text appears as a pop-up when the cursor hovers on the word or phrase.

There are several full page panelled illustrations, which were not included in the pagination, and have been moved slightly in the text in order to avoid falling within a paragraph. Each panel serves as illustration of a numbered chapter.

Several concessions to modernity are made. The text employed the long ‘s’ (‘ſ’), which has been rendered here as a modern ‘s’. Likewise the ligature of ‘ct’ is given as the two separate characters.

The cover image has been fabricated and is placed in the public domain. Each correction is linked to the summary in the text.

THE PREFACE.

Gentlemen

We see there is a necessity for our travailing in the common road or High-way of Prefacing; as if the Reader could neither receive nor digest the Pabulum mentis, or fatten by the mental nourishment, without a preparatory. And yet we think it savours neither of civility, nor good manners to fall on without saying something of a grace; but we do not love that it should be so tedious, as to take away your stomack from the meat, and therefore that we may not be condemned for that prolixity we mislike in others, we shall briefly tell you how little we value the favour of such Readers, who take a pride to blast the Wits of others, imagining thereby to augment the reputation of their own: What unexpected success we have obtained in the publication of the former parts, will keep us from despairing, that in this we shall be less fortunate than in the other. But although our Books have been generally received with great applause, and read with much delight and satisfaction, at home and abroad, (having travailed many thousand miles) yet we do not imagine them to be without their Errata’s, for

which they have suffered very hard Correction; this is a younger brother to the former, lawfully begotten, and if you will compare their faces, you will find they resemble one another very much: Or else match this pattern with the former cloth, you will find it of the same colour, wool, and spinning, only it having passed the curious hands of an excellent Artist, he hath by shearing and dressing it made it somewhat thinner, and withall finer, than was intended; however we hope it will prove a good lasting piece, and serviceable. You cannot imagin the charge and trouble we have been at, in raising this building, which we must acknowledg was erected upon an old foundation. From the actions of others we gather’d matter, which materials we methodized, and so formed this structure. We challenge nothing but the order; it may be called ours, as the Bucentauro may be now called the same it was some hundred of years since, when the Pope therein first married the Duke of Venice to the Seas, having been from that time so often mended and repaired, as

that it is thought, there is not left a chip of her primitive building. So what remarkable stories, and strange relations we have taken up on trust, by hear-say, or otherwise, we have so altered by augmentation, or deminution, (as occasion served) that this may be more properly called a new Composition, rather than an old Collection, of what witty Extravagancies are therein contained. As to the verity of those ingeniousingenious Exploits, Subtle Contrivances, crafty projects, horrid villanies, &c. we have little to say, but though we shall not assert the truth of them all, yet there are none, which carry not circumstances enough to make apparent their probability. And you may confidently believe, that most of them have been lately acted, though not by one, two, three, a score, nay many more. To conclude, (least we tire your patience with tedious preambles) it is our desire that you will have a charitable opinion of us, and censure not our writings according to their desert; we are ready to condemn them, before you examine their faults, what would ye more? We

are not insensible, that ours are many, and are forc’t to bear the burden of the Printers too; we know the stile is mean and vulgar, so are the Interlocutors, and therefore most requisite and allowable; the Subject is Evil, (you say) and may vitiate the Reader; the Bee gathers honey from the worst of weeds; and the Toad poison, from the best of Herbs. An ignorant young Plowman learn’d from a Sermon how to steal an Ox, by the Parsons introducing a Simile; even as the stubborn Horn is made soft, pliable, and to be shaped as you please, by laying a Hot loaf thereon; so is &c. which he trying so effectually chang’d the form of the Ox-head, that the right Owner knew not his own Beast. There is no matter so good, but may be perverted, which is worst of all, for, Corruptio optimi est pessima; and there is no Subject so bad, out of which some good may not be collected; this drolling discourse, will, I question not, in the reading, prove not only facetious, but profitable, which if you find, we have obtain’d our desired end.

And subscribe our selves

CHAP. I.

Sayling from St. Helena, &c. Landing at Messina, the Captain, Latroon, &c. sell Ship and Goods; the Seamen falling out and killing one another, they leave them and go for Palermo; Thence they travel into the Country, and describe it with its Rarities and Wonders. A comical Adventure in a house supposedly haunted, as they travelled through Gergento with their Mulletteer.

Whilst we anchored at the Island of St. Helena there happened a sad Accident; whilst we were recreating and refreshing our selves in the Island, one of our men (that brought us ashore in the Skiff) being an excellent Swimmer, stript himself, 2and over the side of the Boat he went, he had not been long in the water before such as stood on the shore to see him swim, perceived a Shark to make towards him; who cryed out, A Shark, a Shark, hasten to the Boat; which he did with incredible speed, and had laid his hands on her side as the Shark snapt at his Leg, and having it in his mouth turned on his back, and twisted it off from his knee. The fellow protested to me that when this was done, he felt no pain any where but under his Arm-pits; the fellow was drest and perfectly cur’d; afterwards this very Shark was taken by one of our men, fishing for him with a great piece of Raw-Beef, and when his belly was ripp’d open, the Leg was found whole therein. From St. Helena, having taken in fresh water, and gotten in some other refreshment that the Island afforded, we set sail with a

fresh breeze and good weather.

Our Captain getting himself into the great Cabbin, gave the word for me, I coming to him, now, said he, let you and I have a little private discourse together, to the intent that we may perfect with safety what we have enterpriz’d with hazard. You know my full intent as to the disposing of the Ship and Goods to my own use and benefit, excepting only what is yours, and the rest of our Comrades: What your old friend in Breeches hath with great hazard ventur’d for, let her enjoy it freely since she hath deserved it, and that you may see the frankness of my Spirit, go, get our friends together that I may inform them, that though I play the Rogue with others, yet I will be just to them; your Newgate Birds will have such as wrong their own fraternity 3to be stigmatiz’d, and branded with a name of Infamy indelible.

I quickly got them together, and having provided for us what Meat and Liquors (the best) he had aboard, he then told us that we were all heartily welcome, and that he was now, more than ever our friend, and having taken a good lusty draught of what he had before him, seeing it go round; friends and fellow-Travellers, said he, from my Childhood I have had wondrous and various vicissitudes of Fortune, in so much that though the relation of several of your lives which I have had, seems very strange and eminently remarkable to me, yet when you shall hear me giving you an account of the transactions of my life, which I shall trouble you with very speedily, you will look upon them as incredible as Mounsieur St. Serfs Voyage into the Moon, or the Travels of Sir John Mandivle; In all the various windings and turnings of my life, I never was settled long in one Condition. It is true, from very low and mean beginnings I have got to the height of considerable employments, from a Parish Child, I was for my Rogueries condemned to be transported, by subtle deportment and insinuating behaviour

I changed my Doom, and was made Cabbin-boy, from thence I did gradually rise passing through every Office that doth belong to a Ship till I was constituted a Captain, several Voyages I have made to most parts of the known World, and have gotten great sums of money, but no sooner did I call it my own, but it vanished by shipwrack, or I was taken Prisoner and lost it that way. I am now in my declension, and having a fairer opportunity than ever I yet had, 4or ever thought to have to enrich my self, and sit down quietly in some remote Corner of the World, I am resolved to lay hold on it. And now coming near the Coast of Europe I shall tell you my resolution, that I intend to make my self a voluntary Exile to my own Countrey. In order thereunto I shall shape my course for the Streights, which will harbor my design in disposing of my goods, neither will it be prejudicial to you to accompany me thither, since from thence you may dispose your selves to the best and most flourishing Countries of the World.

Here he paused a while to hear our opinion, which we acquainted him with unanimously, that we were very joyful to continue longer in his company, and that we would see him anchored in his designed Port, or run what ever fortune should befal him; having assured him this, he continued his discourse: Since I know your minds, and am, and shall be obliged to you for your societies, I shall endeavour to requite your kindnesses: and that my words may not seem airy pretences without performances, I shall make this Proposition which if granted, you shall know how I have studied a way to gratifie you. It is this, Master Latroon, the Scrivener there, and Drugster, shall give each of them one hundred pounds a piece to Mistress Dorothy, and that I may not exempt my self from helping her forward into the World, I will give the like sum with this Box of rough Diamonds, which I know is worth as much more; we all consented: next, said he, every man according to his stock of money expended in the procuration of what Commodities we have aboard upon the Sale thereof shall receive

5it again, and his profit thereof according to proportion, with an equal dividend of what Goods was taken upon credit. You shall see me so just to you, that I will somewhat injure my self by taking no fraught from you, but instead thereof the principal Officers shall share with us, and the private Seamen shall have double pay out of the same Goods which we took upon trust.

Upon this we all agreed, and the noise of this Agreement running through the Ship, the nicest of them all from the highest to the lowest liked so well the Knavish-generosity of our Captain, that they all caper’d for joy, and having brought out what Brandy they had on the Decks, drinking the Captains Health, protesting to serve him with their lives, they received Commands to stand away for Sicilia, where in a little time we safely came to an Anchor.

Arriving at Sicilia an Island of the Mediterranean-Sea, seated between Italy and Africk, we made choice of Messina, a City as it is the most illustrious one, in that all-fruitful and ever-flourishing Island, so it is for all manner of forreign Commerce as much crowded with the great Conflux of strangers as most places in Europe; here we landed, and soon found it the onely place of the world that would best fit our purpose: The Joy that possess’d such especially that had never been there before, undoubtedly would have over-swell’d its Banks and become boundless, had not the prudent foresight of some of us hindred its increase by informing there were some black threatning Clouds of danger still hung over our heads, and that we could not be safe till we had settled our affairs by the sale of our Ship and Goods, then 6if they would ride post to their pleasures none should stop them in their Carreer; this something qualified their exultation and rejoycing, and every one officiated in his proper function.

Our Commodities were not only excellently good in their kind, but extraordinary rich and valuable, the knowledge whereof soon reaching the ears of the Inhabitants and Merchants of Messina, they came in Droves to us, because it was troublesome to deal with so many, we resolv’d to make a quick market of the Continent and things contained, Ship and Cargo altogether. This Proposition better pleas’d those wealthy Citizens, than if we had plaid the Hucksters with our Commodities, wherefore two of the most wealthy and greatest account amongst them bought all, paying us ready money without a penny Credit. After that every man had received his share or dividend proportionably, and according to a general Agreement; we divided our selves into parties as Interest or Inclination lead us. The Captain, Scrivener, Drugster, Jane, Doll, and my self were of one company, the Sea-men with the Under-officers of the ship divided themselves into several Gangs or Squadrons, who having more money now than their Great grand-fathers ever told in their lives, fell into such an

excess of Debauchery, that the Citizens thought that Hell had plotted a Conspiracy to disturb their quiet, and these were the Emissaries who should put it in execution.

Getting drunk they frequently quarrell’d about their Sicilian wenches, and indeed to give them their due they seem by the out-side to be worth the going to Logger-heads for, sometimes they 7fell together by the ears, in that one that deserved not to have a quarter so much as himself, yet had full as much; and now having store of money they regarded their gentility, in that manner that they stood upon every punctilio to defend it from the calumnies and aspersions of such who had but a little before been hail fellow, well met: so that now the least seeming affront would not go down with them, unless it were steept in the blood that dropt from the Nose of the Affronter, when there was a cessation of Arms among themselves, then would they ramble about the streets like mad men, abusing whomever they met, and were well chasten’d for their pains, several of them coming short home.

The City began now to mutter, and verily believed them to be a parcel of Rogues that had sold what was none of their own, and probably to the ruin of many an honest man; and was therefore resolved to endure this outrage no longer.

We hearing this, thought our selves very unsafe whilst in Messina, and therefore concluded to remove thence to Palermo, a City in the same Island of Sicilia. By enquiry I found the most convenient and customary way of travelling thither was by Mules, which are plentiful for Hire; I bargained for as many as would conveniently carry our company which were six, and our money; and so with as much privacy as we could we departed Messina; these Mules travelled very commodiously with us, and carried us over the mountains both with speed and security; and although it was an hundred and eighty miles from the City we left behind us, to Palermo, yet we got thither in less then four days.

8In this famous City of Palermo (the fairest of all others of Sicily, and at present the Metropolis and Regal Seat) we stayed some considerable time, and laying aside for a while our shifting and cheating, &c. having enough, that we might employ our wits and inventions in nothing but contriving variety of Recreations, and Pleasures, which were the novel, we cared not at what excessive rate we purchas’d them.

The Captain and my self being more than half glutted with City delights resolved, for some few days to travel into the Countrey, and since it was so famously noted, we would not leave it till we had seen those Excellencies and Rarities wherewith it injoyes Fames Trumpet through the whole Universe. In order thereunto taking our leave of our Friends, and promising to return within five or six days, we proceeded in our progress. In our short Itinerary we saw many brave Towns, and wonderful Places, which told, would exceed belief, as Mount Ætna, and Mongibello, Strombellow, &c. which though it belcheth inexpressible and continual fire out of its bowels, yet hath its head notwithstanding (on that part where the fire issues) covered with deep Snow till the midst of Summer. In Meunenino is the lake Nastia, where in three Eddies you may perfectly perceive boyling water, which gurgles up with an intolerable stink, and sometimes you may see it spew up flames of fire. It hath likewise in sundry other places divers other fountains of admirable nature and quality.

In some Caves and Grots we were shown by the people, we saw the vastly big and immense bodies of men in former time, which were accounted Monsters of Men or Gyants, or to 9verifie the matter, they believe themselves that a long time since, the Cyclops inhabited their Island. We found the People generally acute, and quick-witted, very facetious, and of a jolly temper, which suited well with the Nature of the Countrey. For to be brief, this Island is not inferiour to any other, either for its fatness or abundance; exceeding Italy in the excellency of their Grain, Saffron, Honey, Beasts-skins, and other things either for Profit or pleasure, in so much that as it was call’d by Tully the Granary of the world, so Homer call’d it the Island of the Sun, and would have us believe all things grew there spontaneously of their own accord; the salubrity of the air is very excellent, as well as the abundance of terrene sustenance, and plenty of all things necessary for mans use, and indeed may be counted the best, which it either affords naturally, or produceth by man’s ingenuity.

Wild-oats grow there, without sowing, and the Vines without planting; their Wines are most delicate, their fruit of all sorts grow with great plenty and goodness; to be short, there is nothing wanting which may not only delight the eye, but please the most critical Palat with whatever may be accounted gustful.