Page:Comical transactions of Lothian Tom (5).pdf/15

 ( 13 ) there may be some of you honest men, and some of you rogues; and as you are to lie all in one barn together, any of you who has any money, you’ll be surest to give it to me, and I’ll mark it down in my book, with your names, and what I receive,from each of you, and you shall have it alt again on Saturday’s night, when you get your wages. O! very well, goodman, take mine, take mine, every one faster than another; some gave him five, six, seven, and eight shilling, even all they had earned thro’ the harvest, which amounted to near seven pounds sterling. Having got all their money, he goes on with them, till about three miles out of the town, and coming to a great field of standing corn, though somewhat green, yet convenient for his purpose, as it lay at some distance from any house or person. So he made them begin there, telling them he was going to order dinner for them, and send his own servants to join them. Away he goes with all the speed he could, but takes another road into the town, lest they should follow and catch him. Now, when the people to whom the corn belonged, saw such a band in their field, they could not understand the meaning of it; so the far- mer whose corn it was, went off crying always as he ran, to them to stop; but