Page:Brief relation of the adventures of Bamfylde Moore Carew (1).pdf/14

 drowned; you, believing this story generously relieved me with a guinea and a good suit of clothes. Mr Pleydell said, he well remembered it, but on this discovery it is impossible to deceive me so again, come in whatever shape you will. The company blamed him for thus boasting, and secretly prevailed upon Carew to put his art into practice, to convince him of the fallacy thereof; to which he agreed, and in a few days after appointing the company present to be at Mr Pleydell s house he put the following scheme into execution.

He shaved himself closely, and clothed himself in an old woman’s apparel, with a high crowned hat and a large dowde under his chin; then taking three children from among his fraternity, he tied two on his back and one under his arm. Thus accoutred, he comes to Mr Pleydell’s door, and pinching one of the brats, set it a roaring; this gave the alarm to the dogs, who came out with open mouths so that the whole company was soon alarmed. Out came the maid saying Carry away the children, good woman, they disturb the ladies, God bless their ladyships I am the poor unfortunate grandmother or these helpless