Page:Merry life and mad exploits of Captain James Hynd.pdf/6

 6 The Life and merry Exploits

ſaid the old woman, I have ſomething to ſay to you, and then you may be gone. Hynd not liking her countenacce, pulled out five ſhillings and gave her, thinking, fhe would but like a gypſie tell his fortune, ſaying, good woman I am in haſte: Sir, ſaid ſhe, I have ſtayed all this morning to ſpeak with you, and would you have me to loſe my labour? osak your mind, ſaid Hynd: whereupon the old woman begon thus, Captain Hynd, as you ride and go through many dangers, by my poor fill, I have thought on a way to preſerve you for the ſpace of three years, but that time being paſt, you are no more than an ordinary man; and a miſchance may fall on you as well as another but if you be in England, come to me, and I will renew the virtue of this charm again. In ſaying theſe words, Me pulled out of her pockct a little box, almoſt like a ſun-dial, and gave it to Captain Hynd, and ſaid unto him, when you are in any diſtreſs, open this, and that way you ſee the ſtar turn, ride or go that way, you ſhall eſcape all dangers. So ſhe ſwitched him with a white rod that was in her hand, and ſtruck the horſe on the buttock, and bad him farewel; the horſe preſently leapt forward with ſuch courage, that Hynd could not turn him to give her thanks; but gueſſing that it was her will it ſhould be ſo, rode on his way.

CHAP. V.

How Hynd robbed a Gentleman in Yorkſhire, and afterwards came into the Inn where he lay, to ſup quith him.

A Gentleman coming from York, intending for London, by accident met Hynd, who ſoon