Page:Brief relation of the adventures of Bamfylde Moore Carew (2).pdf/10

 10 Bamfylde Moore Carew." This occasioned much mirth, and Mr. Pleydell expressed extraordinary pleasure. He had often wished to see him, but never had." Yes you have,” replied Carew," and given me a suit of clothes. Do you not remember meeting a poor wretch one day at your stable door, with a stocking round his head, an old mantle over his shoulders, without shirt, stockings, or scarce any shoes, who told you he was a poor unfortunate man, cast away upon the coast, with sixteen more of the crew, who were all drowned ; you, believing this story, generously relieved me with a guinea and a good suit of clothes." "I well remember it," said Mr. Pleydell, “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 in 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 dowdy under his chin; then taking three children from among his fraternity, lie 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 ladis. “God bless their ladyships," said Carew, " I am the poor unfortunate grandmother of these helpless infants, whose mother and all they had