66 the young people kept the matter a secret from me." And so he would, had he known it; but though Mrs. Dobbs had made several attempts to acquaint him with the precise hour and method of the intended elopement, he peremptorily ordered her to hold her tongue. The fact is, that the matter had been discussed by the rector's lady many times. "Young Hayes," would she say, 'has a pretty little fortune and trade of his own; he is an only son, and may marry as he likes; and though not specially handsome, generous, or amiable, has an undeniable love for Cat (who, you know, must not be particular), and the sooner she marries him, I think, the better. They can't be married at our church, you know, and-" "Well," said the doctor, "if they are married elsewhere, I can't help it, and know nothing about it, look you." And upon this hint the elopement took place which, indeed, was peaceably performed early one Sunday morning about a month after; Mrs. Hall getting behind Mr. Hayes on a pillion, and all the children of the parsonage giggling behind the window-blinds to see the pair go off. During this month Mr. Hayes had caused the banns to be published at the town of Worcester; judging rightly that in a great town they would cause no such remark as in a solitary village, and thither he conducted his lady. Oh, ill-starred John Hayes! whither do the dark fates lead you? Oh, foolish Dr. Dobbs, to forget that young people ought to honor their parents, and to yield to silly Mrs. Dobbs's ardent propensity for making matches! The London Gazette of the 1st April, 1706, contains a proclamation by the queen for putting into execution an act of parliament for the encouragement and increase of seamen, and for the better and speedier manning of her Majesty's fleet, which authorizes all justices to issue warrants to constables, petty constables, headboroughs, and tything-men, to enter, and if need be, to break open the doors of any houses where they shall believe deserting seamen to be; and for the further increase and encouragement of the navy, to take able-bodied landsmen when seamen fail. This act, which occupies four columns of the Gazette, and another of similar length and meaning for pressing men into the army, need not be quoted at length here; but caused a mighty stir throughout the kingdom at the time when it was in force. As one has seen or heard, after the march of a great army, a number of rogues and loose characters bring up the rear; in like manner, at the tail of a great measure of state, follow many roguish personal interests, which are protected by the main body. The great measure of reform, for instance, carried along with it much private jobbing and swindling-as could be shown were we not inclined to deal mildly with the Whigs and this enlistment act, which, in order to maintain the British glories in Flanders, dealt most cruelly with the British people in England (it is not the first time that a man has been pinched at home to make a fine appearance abroad), created a great company of rascals and informers throughout the land, who lived upon it; or upon extortion from those who were subject to it, or not being subject to it were frightened into the belief that they were. When Mr. Hayes and his lady had gone through the marriage ceremony at Worcester, the former, concluding that at such a place lodging and food might be procured at a cheaper rate, looked about carefully for the meanest public-house in the town, where he might deposit his bride. In the kitchen of this inn, a party of men were drinking; and, as Mrs. Hayes declined with a proper sense of her superiority, to eat in company with such low fellows, the landlady showed her and her husband to an inner apartment, where they might be served in private. The kitchen party seemed, indeed, not such as a lady would choose to join. There was one huge lanky fellow, that looked like a soldier, and had a halberd; another was habited in a sailor's costume, with a fascinating patch over one eye; and a third, who seemed the leader of the gang, was a stout man in a sailor's frock and a horseman's jack-boots, whom one might fancy, if he were anything, to be a horse-marine. Of one of these worthies, Mrs. Hayes thought she knew the figure and voice; and she found her conjectures were true, when, all of a sudden, three people, without with your leave" or "by your leave," burst into the room into which she and her spouse had retired. At their head was no other than her old friend, Mr. Peter Brock; he had his sword drawn, and his finger to his lips, enjoining silence, as it were, to Mrs. Catherine. He with the patch on his eye seized incontinently on Mr. Hayes; the tall man with the halberd kept the door; two or three heroes supported the one-eyed man; who, with a loud voice, exclaimed, "Down with your arms-no resistance! you are my prisoner, in the queen's name!" And here, at this lock, we shall leave the whole company until the next chapter; which may possibly explain what they were. CHAPTER V. CONTAINS MR. BROCK'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, AND OTHER MATTER. Yonder fellow," continued Mrs. Catherine, "I know, for all his drawn sword and fierce looks; his name is " "Wood, madam, at your service!" said Mr. Brock. "I am a follower to Mr. Justice Gobble, of this town: a'n't I, Tim?" said Mr. Brock to the tall halberd-man who was keeping the door. "Yes, indeed," said Tim, archly; "we're all followers of his honor, Justice Gobble." "Certainly!" said the one-eyed man. "Of course!" cried the man in the nightcap. now?" con tinued Mr. Brock a. Wood. "You can't deny the testimony of gentlemen like these; and our commission is to apprehend all able-bodied male persons who can give no good account of themselves, and enroll them in the service of her majesty. Look at this Mr. Hayes' (who stood trembling in his shoes). Can there be a bolder, properer, straighter gentleman? We'll have him for a grenadier before the day's over!" 66 "Take heart, John-don't be frightened. Psha! I tell you I know the man," cred out Mrs. Hayes: he is only here to extort money." 44 “Oh, for that matter, I do think I recollect the lady. Let me see; where was it? At Birmingham, I think-ay, at Birmingham-about the time when they tried to murder Count Gal-" "Oh, sir!" here cried Madam Hayes, dropping her voice at once from a tone of scorn to one of gentlest entreaty, "what is it you want with my husband? I know not, indeed, if ever I saw you before. For what do you seize him? How much will you take to release him, and let us go? Name the sum; he is rich, and—” 'Rich, Catherine !'' cried Hayes. "Rich !—Oh, heavens! Sir, I have nothing but my hands to support me; I am a poor carpenter, sir, working under my father!'' "He can give twenty guineas to be free; I know he can!" said Mrs. Cat. "I have but a guinea to carry me home," sighed out Hayes. 66 "But you have twenty at home, John," said his wife. Give these brave gentlemen a writing to your mother, and she will pay; and you will let us free then, gentlemen-won't you?" "When the money's paid, yes," said the leader, Mr. Brock. 66 'Oh, in course, "echoed the tall man with the halberd. "What's a thrifling detintion, my dear?" continued he, addressing Hayes. 'We'll amuse you in your absence, and drink to the health of your pretty wife here." This promise, to do the halberdier justice, he fulfilled. He called upon the landlady to produce the desired liquor; and when Mr. Hayes flung himself at that lady's feet, demanding succor from her, and asking whether there was no law in the land'There's no law at the Three Rooks' except this!" said Mr. Brock in reply, holding up a horse-pistol. To which the hostess, grinning, assented, and silently went her way. 66 After some further solicitations, John Hayes drew out the necessary letter to his father, stating that he was pressed, and would not be set free under a sum of twenty guineas; and that it would be of no use to detain the bearer of the letter, inasmuch as the gentlemen who had possession of him vowed that they would murder him should any harm befall their comrade. As a further proof of the authenticity of the letter, a token was added; a ring that Hayes wore, and that his mother had given him. The missives were, after some consultation, intrusted to the care of the tall halberdier, who seemed to rank as second in command of the forces that marched under Corporal Brock. This gentleman was called indifferently Ensign, Mr., or even Captain Macshane; his intimates occasionally in sport called him Nosey, from the prominence of that feature in his countenance; or Spindleshins, for the very reason which brought on the first Edward a similar nickname. Mr. Macshane then quitted Worcester, mounted on Hayes's horse; leaving all parties at the "Three Rooks" not a little anxious for his return. This was not to be expected until the next morning; and a weary nuit de noces did Mr. Hayes pass. Dinner was served, and, according to promise, Mr. Brock and his two friends enjoyed the meal along with the bride and bridegroom. Punch followed, and this was taken in company; then came supper. Mr. Brock alone partook of this, the other two gentlemen preferring the society of their pipes and the landlady in the kitchen. "It is a sorry entertainment, I confess," said the ex-corporal, "and a dismal way for a gentleman to spend his bridal night; but somebody must stay with you, my dears; for who knows but you might take a fancy to scream out of window, and then there would be murder, and the deuce and all to pay? One of us must stay, and iny friends love a pipe, so you must put up with my company until we can relieve guard." The reader will not, of course, expect that three people who were to pass the night, however unwillingly, together in an inn-room, should sit there dumb and moody, and without any personal communication; on the contrary, Mr. Brock, as an old soldier, entertained his prisoners with the utmost courtesy, and did all that lay in his power, by the help of liquor and conversation, to render their durance tolerable. On the bridegroom his attentions were a good deal thrown away; Mr. Hayes consented to drink copiously, but could not be made to talk much; and, in fact, the fright of the seizure, the fate hanging over him should his parents refuse a ransom, and the tremendous outlay of money which would take place should they accede to it, weighed altogether on his mind so much as utterly to unman it. As for Mrs. Cat, at I don't think she was at all sorry in her heart to see the old corporal; for he had been a friend of old times-dear times to her; she had had from him, too, and felt for him not a little kindness; and there was really a very tender, innocent friendship subsisting between this pair of rascals, who relished much a night's conversation together. The corporal, after treating his prisoners to punch in great quantities, proposed the amusement of cards; over which Mr. Hayes had not been occupied more than an hour, when he found himself so excessively sleepy as to be persuaded to fling himself down on the bed dressed as he was, and there to snore away until morning. Mrs. Catherine had no inclination for sleep; and the corporal, equally wakeful, plied incessantly the bottle, and held with her a great deal of conversation. The sleep, which was equivalent to the absence of John Hayes, took all restraint from their talk. She explained to Brock the circumstances of her marriage, which we have already described; they wondered at the chance which had brought them together at the "Three Rooks"; nor did Brock at all hesitate to tell her at once that his calling was quite illegal, and that his intention was simply to extort money. The worthy corporal had not the slightest shame regarding his own profession, and cut many jokes with Mrs. Cat about her late one; her attempt to murder the count, and her future prospects as a wife. And here, having brought him upon the scene again, we may as well shortly narrate some of the principal circumstances which befell him after his sudden departure from Birmingham; and which he narrated with much candor to Mrs. Catherine. 66 He rode the captain's horse to Oxford (having exchanged his military dress for a civil costume on the road), and at Oxford he disposed of George of Denmark," a great bargain, to one of the heads of colleges. As soon as Mr. Brock, who took on himself the style and title of Captain Wood, had sufficiently examined the curiosities of the university, he proceeded at once to the capital; the only place for a gentleman of his fortune and figure. Here he read, with a great deal of philosophical indifference, in the Daily Post, the Courant, the Observator, the Gazette, and the chief journals of those days, which he made a point of examining at "Button's" and "Will's," an accurate description of his person, his clothes, and the horse he rode, and a promise of fifty guineas reward to any person who would give an account of him (so that he might be captured) to Captain Count Galgenstein at Birmingham, to Mr. Murfey at the "Golden Ball" in the Savoy, or Mr. Bates at the "Blew Anchor in Pickadilly.' But Captain Wood, in an enormous full-bottomed periwig that cost him sixty pounds,* with high red heels to his shoes, a silver sword, and a gold snuff-box, and a large wound (obtained, he said, at the siege of Barcelona), which disfigured much of his countenance, and caused him to cover one eye, was in small danger, he thought, of being mistaken for Corporal Brock the deserter of Cutts; and strutted along the mall with as grave an air as the very best nobleman who appeared there. He was generally, indeed, voted to be very good company; and as his expenses were unlimited ("A few convent candlesticks, my dear," he used to whisper, melt into a vast number of doubloons "), he commanded as good society as he chose to ask for; and it was speedily known as a fact throughout town, that Captain Wood, who had served under his majesty Charles III. of Spain, had carried off the diamond petticoat of our Lady of Compostella, and lived upon the proceeds of the fraud. People were good Protestants in those days, and many a one longed to have been his partner in the pious plunder. 46 All surmises concerning his wealth, Captain Wood, with much discretion, encouraged. He contradicted no report, but was quite ready to confirm all; and when two different rumors were positively put to him, he used only to laugh, and say, "My dear sir, I don't make the stories; but I'm not called upon to deny them; and I give you fair warning that I shall assent to every one of them; so you may believe them or not, as you please." And so he had the reputation of being a gentleman, not only wealthy, but discreet. In truth, it was almost a pity that worthy Brock had not been a gentleman born; in which case, doubtless, he would have lived and died as became his station; for he spent his money like a gentleman, he loved women like a gentleman, he would fight like a gentleman, he gambled and got drunk like a gentleman. What did he want else? Only a matter of six descents, a little money, and an estate, to render him the equal of St. John or Harley. Ah, those were merry days!" would Mr. Brock say-for he loved, in a good old age, to recount the story of his London fashionable campaign;" and when I think how near I was to become a great man, and to die perhaps a general, I can't but marvel at the wicked obstinacy of my ill-luck." 66 I will tell you what I did, my dear; I had lodgings in Piccadilly, as if I were a lord; I had two large periwigs, and three suits of laced clothes; I kept a little black dressed out like a Turk; I walked daily in the mall; I dined at the politest ordinary in Covent Garden; I frequented the best of coffee-houses, and knew all the pretty fel* In the ingenious contemporary history of Moll Flanders, a periwig is mentioned as costing that sum, lows of the town; I cracked a bottle with Mr. Addison, and lent many a piece to Dick Steele (a sad, debauched rogue, my dear); and, above all, I'll tell you what I did-the noblest stroke that sure ever a gentleman performed in my situation. "One day, going into Will's,' I saw a crowd of gentlemen gathered together, and heard one of them say, Captain Wood! I don't know the man; but there was a Captain Wood in Southall's regiment.' Egad, it was my Lord Peterborough himself who was talking about me. So, putting off my hat, I made a most gracious congé to my lord, and I said I knew him, and rode behind him at Barcelona on our entry into that town. "No doubt you did, Captain Wood,' says my lord, taking my hand; and no doubt you know me; for many more know Tom Fool than Tom Fool knows.' And with this, at which all of us laughed, my lord called for a bottle, and he and I sat down and drank it together. "Well, he was in disgrace, as you know, but he grew mighty fond of me, and-would you believe it?-nothing would satisfy him but presenting me at court! Yes, to her sacred majesty the queen, and my Lady Marlborough, who was in high feather. Ay, truly, the sentinels on duty used to salute me as if I were Corporal John himself; I was on the high road to fortune. Charley Mordaunt used to call me Jack, and drink canary at my chambers; I used to make one at my lord treasurer's levée; I had even got Mr. Army-Secretary Walpole to take a hundred guineas as a compliment; and he had promised me a majority; when bad luck turned, and all my fine hopes were overthrown in a twinkling. "You see, my dear, that after we had left that gaby, Galgenstein—ha, ha—with a gag in his mouth, and twopence-halfpenny in his pocket, the honest count was in the sorriest plight in the world; owing money here and there to tradesmen, a cool thousand to the Warwickshire squire; and all this on eighty pounds a year! Well, for a little time the tradesmen held their hands; while the jolly count moved heaven and earth to catch hold of his dear corporal and his dear money-bags over again, and placarded every town from London to Liverpool with descriptions of my pretty person. The bird was flown, however-the money clean gone-and when there was no hope of regaining it, what did the creditors do but clap my gay gentleman into Shrewsbury jail; where I wish he had rotted, for my part. "But no such luck for honest Peter Brock, or Captain Wood, as he was in those days. One blessed Monday I went to wait on Mr. Secretary, and he squeezed my hand and whispered to me that I was to be major of a regiment in Virginia-the very thing for you see, my dear, I didn't care about joining my lord duke in Flanders; being |