Page:Brief relation of the adventures of Bamfylde Moore Carew (2).pdf/7

 7 more or less than an unfortunate shipwrecked sea- man. In this, his first excursion, he gained much credit. artfully imitating passes and certificates that were necessary for him to travel unmolested. After a month's travel be happened to meet with his old school-fellow Coleman, who had once left the gypsies' society, but for the same reason as himself, returned to them again. Great was their joy at meeting, and they agreed to travel some time together: so en- tering Exeter, they in one day raised a contribu- tion of several pounds. Having obtained all he could from this stratagem, he then became a plain, honest farmer, whose grounds had been overflowed, and cattle drowned ; his dejected countenance and mournful tale, together with a wife and seven helpless infants being par- takers of his misfortunes, gained him both pity and profit. Having obtained a considerable booty by these two stratagems, he returned to his companions, where he was received with great applause; and, as a mark of their respect, seated him next the king. He soon became a great man in the profes- sion, and confined not himself from doing good to others, when it did not infringe upon the commu- nity of which lie was a member. His next stratagem was to become a mad-man; so stripping himself quite naked, he threw a blanket over him, and then he was, " Poor mad Tom, whom the foul fiend has led through fire and through flame! through fire and whirlpool, over bog and quagmire; that hath laid knives under his pillow, and halters in his pew; set rats bane for his porridge, and made him proud at heart to ride on a bay trot- ting-horse over four-inch bridges ; to curse his own shadow for a traitor ; who eats the swimming-frog,