You would take his Valet de Chambre for his Brother, his Butler is grey-headed, his Groom is one of the gravest Men that I have ever seen, and his Coachman has the Looks of a Privy Counsellor. THE COVERLEY GUEST As I was Yesterday Morning walking with Sir Roger before his House, a Country-Fellow brought him a huge Fish. THE COVERLEY LINEAGE We were now arrived at the Upper-end of the Gallery, when the Knight faced towards one of the Pictures, and as we ftood before it, he entered into the matter, after his blunt way. THE COVERLEY SABBATH 19 33 329 51 As Sir Roger is Landlord to the whole Congregation, he keeps them in very good Order, and will suffer nobody to sleep in it befides himself. 57 SIR ROGER IN LOVE Her Confident fat by her, and upon my being in the laft Confufion and Silence, this malicious Aid of hers turning to her. THE COVERLEY HUNT The Huntsman getting forward threw down his Pole before the Dogs. At the fame time Sir Roger rode forward, and alighting took up the Hare in his Arms. THE COVERLEY WITCH I could not forbear fmiling to hear Sir Roger, who is a little puzzled about the old Woman, advifing her as a Juftice of Peace to avoid all Communication with the Devil. A COVERLEY LOVE MATCH We faw a young Woman fitting as it were in a perfonated Sullenness just over a transparent Fountain. Opposite to her stood Mr. William, Sir Roger's Master of the Game. One of them, who was older and more Sun-burnt than the reft, told him, That he had a Widow in his Line of Life. I love to rejoice their poor Hearts at this season, and to see the whole Village merry in my great Hall. SIR ROGER IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY Page 71 81 87 127 My old Friend fat himself down in the Coronation Chair: and asked our Interpreter, what authority they had to say, that Jacob had ever been in Scotland? The Fellow, instead of returning him an Answer, told him, that he hoped his Honour would pay his Forfeit. It was a moft moving fight to see him take leave of his poor Servants, commending us all for our Fidelity, whilst we were not able to speak a word for weeping. 151 175 Non fumum ex fulgore, fed ex fumo dare lucem HOR. HAVE obferved, that a Reader feldom peruses a Book with Pleafure, until he knows whether the Writer of it be a black or a fair Man, of a mild or cholerick Difpofition, Married or a Bachelor, with other Particulars of the like Nature, that conduce very much to the right understanding of an Author. To gratify this Curiofity, which is fo natural to a Reader, I defign this Paper and my next as Prefatory Difcourfes to my following Writings, and fhall give fome Account in them of the feveral Perfons that are engaged in this Work. As the chief Trouble of Compiling, Digesting, and Correcting will fall to my Share, I must do myself the Juftice to open the Work with my own History. I was born to a fmall Hereditary Eftate, which B |