I I - American Memory

[ 102 ]
cf the Rules, wliicli coft me upwards of ilxteen Gt3f»
iieas. That being done, I took the Ihifile and Cronjon
3n the Old-Bailey, and liv'd there for feme Time, till
1 had the Opportunity of a better Houfe, and after-
wards took the Cock in the Old-Bailey, there 1 liv*d
for three Years, and the moft noted and beft of the
Parifh reforted my Houfe j that then IVIr. Bamhridgi
became Warden of the Fleet, he in\'ited me into his
Service, promifing to make me Turnkey to the Fleet,
v»'hich indeed would have been a beneficial Bufmefs, up-
on which I quitted my Houfe, and then could attain
no other Station than to keep the Fleet Cellar or Tap-
Houfe. It was here I was drawn into the unhappy
Quarrel between the Warden and Sir William Rich,,
!Bart. for which the Honourable Houfe of Commons
Voted me an Agent to Mr, Bamhridge in the Commif-
fion of his Crimes, and order'd me clofe Prifoner to
Nnv^^ate, where I remain'd till the End of the Seffions,
and then obtain'd my Liberty, a Liberty fujhich hath
nrw trov'd fatal to me.
I had not only loft that little Share of Credit and
..Reputation I had acquir'd fmce I quitted a wicked
Courfe of Life, by being in Cuilody on that' fcanda-
lous Occafjon, but likewife all my Stock of Goods,
ISc. (for during my Confinement, my Brewer made
•Seizure of my Stock of Beer, to the Value of 300 /.
and upwardt) by which Means I was entirely ruin'd
and deftitute; but notwithftanding fo infupportable a
Misfortune, I had a ftrong Inclination to follow an in-
duflrious Courfe of Life, without the leafl Intention
cf returning to my former ill Courfes already mentio-
li'd; but at laft the Importunities of the Devil, and
the Difficulty of quitting evil Habits for good ones,
foon broke thro' my poor Refolutions, and I was de-
termjn'd again for the Road, but thought it moft pru-
dent and judicious not to join, or admit a fecond Per-
Ibn to be concern'd with me, befidea 'tis by being in
Confederacy with others is the Reafon why fo many
Crimes of that Nature are deteiled.- It's too evident,
til*