Page:Brief relation of the adventures of Bamfylde Moore Carew (2).pdf/13

 13 gentlemen at dinner with Sir William at that time, none of whom had any knowledge of him except the Rev. Mr. Richards, who did not discover him till he was gone ; upon which & servant was despatched to desire him to come back, which he did; and when lie entered the room they were very merry with him and requested him to give au account how he got his fine clothes, and of his stratagems, with the success of them. He asked Sir William if he had not given half-a-crown in the morning to a beggar, and about noon relieved a poor unfortunate shoemaker, “I did," said Sir William. "Behold him before you," said Carew, “in this fine embroidered coat, as a broken mer- chant." The company would not believe him ; so, to convince them, he re-assumed those characters again, to their no small mirth and satisfaction.

Carew made King of the Beggars.

On the death of the king of the gypsies, named Clause Patch, our hero was a candidate to succeed him, and exhibited to the electors a long list of bold and ingenious stratagems which he had exe- cuted, and made so graceful and majestic an ap- pearance in his person, that he had a considerable majority of voices, though there were ten candidates for the same honour; on which he was declared duly elected, and hailed by the whole assembly- King of the Gypsies. The public register of their acts being immediately committed to his care, and homage done him by all the assembly, the whole concluded by rejoicings. Though Mr. Carew was now privileged, by the dignity of his office, from going on any cruise, and was provided with every thing necessary, by the