I

Mr URBAN,

N your Mifcellaneous Correfpondente, No. III. You have given your Readers, An hiftorical Obfervation upon a Paffage in Salmon's Review of the Hiftory of England, with your Leave, I'll give you another Instance of that Party Writer's Want of Faithfulness. Review, &c. Vol. I. p. 20.Ten thoufand of the Religious were at once turn'd out a ftarving, with but 40 Shillings a Piece in their Pockets. But now this appears to be a notorious Falfhood, by the Records printed at the End of Battely's Canquaria Sacra, and of Lewis's Antiquities of Fauresham Abby; where you may fee with your own Eyes, the Names of the late religious Perfons of the House of Chrift Church in Canterbury, which were appointed to depart the fame Houfe with the yearly Penfions affigned and allotted to every of of them the 4th Day of April, Anno xxxi. Hen. VIII. The firft Payment to begin at the Feast of Michaelmafs, next enfuing, for one balf Year, befideş Records for Money in Pocket, for prefent Subfiftance.

Firft, To the late Prior there Thomas Goldwell, with the Office of one of the Prebendaries there Yearly,

Nicolaco Clement,

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The Names of the Monks of the late Monaftery of Chrift.Church in Canterbury, with their Offices, Rewards, and Penfions.

Warrantum Hen. VIII. Johanni Caftlock, Abbati [ Fauresham ] quo illi conceditur annua Penfio centum Marcarum.

A Warrant was granted to every one of the Monks in the fame Form, for their having the following Penfions. (Recorda Curiæ Augmenta

John Fylpott, Monk

4 Pds per Ann. &c.

What fhall be done unto thee, thou falfe Tongue?

M

The INCONSTANT or General LOVER.

Y Name is Peregrine, and having lately quitted a roving Way of Life, I have drawn it out by way of Amusement, and fhould be giad to fee it in Print, if you think proper to honour it with a Place in one of your Collections; it may be of Service to People of both Sexes, and this may be a Motive ftrong enough to induce you, Sir, to print it. My Father dying while I was very young, left me to the Care of a very honest Relation, who spar'd no Pains to improve my Fortune and Understanding. At the Age of 15 I was remov'd from one of our great

Schools,

Schools, to the University. Enjoying now more Liberty, tho' I was thought not an idle Student, yet thro' this Freedom and the fprightly Warmth of Youth, I begun to difcover my natural Temper; or rather my Temper began to discover itself; for Diffimulation is an Art I could never learn.

What I was first remarkable for was a free Manner of Converfation, fuch an Openness as my Acquaintance often told me, difcovered me at first Sight. If I spoke my Opinion of Men or Things, I always faid what I really thought, and this Freedom, with the Gaiety natural to my Age, made my Conversation agreeable and courted by People of the like Temper.

Among other of my Companions, I grew particularly acquainted with one Mr Widdin, a Penfioner of the fame College. How I came to prefer him to others, I could not for fome Time conjecture; he was about my Age and very handfome; but a thoughtful fedentary Life was fo little his Tafte, that, when he was retired to his Room, he would walk whiftling about it, to prevent, as he told me, the Fatigue of thinking. When he was abroad in the public Walks, which was as frequent as poffible, he had an Air, that feem'd to fay, Who'll go any where? He was vifited fometimes by his Sifter, a young Lady of about 14, who had too much Beauty to be trufted at that Age, at her Brother's Chamber without a fage Attendant, tho' fhe was fent the oftner as fhe was a kind of Spy on her Brother's Behaviour. I thought her the handfomeft Creature I had ever beheld; she was tall of her Age, had an exceeding fine Complexion, dark Hair, full black Eyes, Fire and Brisknefs which could be equali'd in nothing but her Wit: Among other Qualitles of Breeding what the most valued herself upon, was talking French, an Accomplishment I had hap pily learnt at School. In all our Meetings we us'd to be eternally jabbering in that Language, fuch French as the Poet Chaucer fays in his Time, the London Ladies us'd to talk.

-Down at Stratford upon Bow,

Such French as France did never know,

It was not long before the Mother, a Widow Lady, invited me to her Lodgings, which were very neat. She feem'd too young to be the Mo ther of two fuch Children, but I heard afterwards, that he had been run away with from a boarding School. The Entertainment was elegant, our Difcourfe at first ferious, but lively enough before we parted. When I was thus admitted, my Vifits became frequenter; whenever I went abroad their Lodgings always were in the Way: To be fhort, in less than a Year, I found that I prefer'd Mr Widdin to the rest of my Acquaintance, on Account of his pretty Sifter, who grew every Day more charming, at leaft in my Imagination; her Brother and fhe were ever at Pique and Repique, and if I spoke, tho' what I faid was ever fo indifferent, she had the Addrefs to make it a Verdict in her Favour; fhe would fometimes put on fuch an agreeable Saucinefs to me, as I thought bewitching, I grew every Day more in Love, and fhe was wild and entirely difengag'd.

I was thus deeply in Love, before I knew myfelf in Danger, I never thought of asking myfelf what I was abour, her Company was always charming, and that was enough. The young Marian, that was the Lady's Name, as I thought, knew nothing of the Matter, I had declar'd no

thing:

thing; the Mother took no Notice, whatever fhe might remark in my Looks, which, no doubt, betray'd fometimes what my Lips concealed. Whether the thought one of my Fortune, which was not mean, a defirable Match for her Daughter, whatever was the Realon, fhe took no Notice; my Paffion was in fuch an Oblivion, that I hardly discover'd it myfelf. But while I was wand'ring in this Labyrinth of Love, and amufed with the most agreeable Ideas, I was rous'd, by a Gentleman's making his Addreffes to my Miftrefs, who came recommended by her Mother's Uncle. He was young, tall and fwarthy, and from a folemn Kind of Carriage, the witty Marian call'd him her Spaniard, and afterwards gave him the Name of Don Pacheco.

This Gentleman had very little to fay to his Miftrefs, in Converfation, while I had fo much the Advantage as to keep the Company on my Side; but then he had Affiduity, and daudled, as Mifs call'd it, and by his conftant Importunity, I found he got Ground of me every Day. I then awaked from my Dream, while Jealously confirm'd what I before but fufpected; I discovered that I was in Love, I improv'd every Opportunity of fhewing it, but too late; Don Pacheco had gain'd the Afcendant with Mifs, all was going to a Conclufion, when her Mother fufpecting Treachery in Don Pacheco, forbid him her Family and retir'd into the Country.

I took the first Opportunity of following 'em, accompanied by my friend the Brother. I thought to have found poor Marian quite difconfolate for the Lofs of her Dear; but I was deceiv'd. She had feen a young Country Squire, whofe Father was of fuperior Fortune, and therefore averfe to the Match. The young Gentleman, who liked her well enough, was not as he faid of fuch a puling Conftitution as to break his Heart for her, and to ferve a Friend, fuch as he very obligingly call'd me, he could be content without her.

Thus I was left to run as it were by myself, and the fair Marian, who was by no means difficult, made me think myfelf every Day happier. It was now the latter End of the Hunting Seafon, and the Beginning of the Spring, the gentle Seafon of Love. I was in the romantic Time of Life, and, as thought, belov'd by the Object of my Wishes.But from all this I was speedily hurry'd; the good Man, my Guardian, was dying; I dew to fee him, and came Time enough to take myFarewel, and receive his laft Advice. Out of respect to him, I forbore Writing a Week to my dear Marian, whom I had parted from with mutual Vows and Tears; but I could now no longer forbear, I fent her a Letter, which the receiv'd as fhe was coming out of Church, where fhe had just been married to one Pedro, a Rival that I never dreamt of. Such was the End of my firft Amour.

It might be expected that I should fuffer fome Chagrin on this Occafion, I believe I call'd the young Lady inconftant, and fome hard Name; but I did not indulge much Sorrow, nor do I remember that I was more than commonly fond of Solitude, Willow Walks, or murmuring Brooks.

I ftay'd fome time in the Country, which became, as the Spring advanced, every Day more delightful, and went fometimes to Vifit fome young Neighbours that had been formerly my Schoolfeilows; for one of whom, I had ever fuch an Affection as exceeded that of a Brother; he had a Sifter that was the Admiration of all the Neighbourhood; he had

the

the Refufal of all the best Matches in the County; but while fhe engag'd fo deeply the Affection of others, the was, at leaft to all Appearance, infenfible herself. She faw the rough loud-laughing Sportiman in her Company become well-behaved, and fupple as his Spaniel, and the lewd double-entendre Gallants, who are ever putting the Fair to the Blush, and representing that amiable Sex as void of Modefty, change their Behaviour in her Company into a decent fearful Regard; and all this without knowing that herself was the Cause of thofe ftrange Metamorphofes. She was a perfect Infenfible: I added one to the Number of the Admirers of this Lady, the fair Serina; for as my Heart had neither the untam'd Wildness of the Tiger, nor the Hardness of a Rock, I thought I might fubmit without Difgrace to fo triumphant a Beauty. I was now again in Love, but this fecond Fit had very different Symptoms from the former; it was of the Platonic kind; I was abfent in Company, fond of being alone; I writ three Copies of Verfes; wou'd fometimes rove thro' the Woods and Meadows, and fit lift'ning to the Murmur of purling Brooks, and in the Height of my romantic Madness lie down and im gine very fine Things. Out of this Revery I was rais'd by a Friend, who came a crofs the Country to invite me to his Houfe: I went with him, and we diverted ourselves very agreeably with rural Sports, Horfe-races, and Country Affemblies. While I was at my Friend's, his Bufinefs fometimes calling him away, I was left frequently with a Relation of his, whom I fhall call Mifs Folly. She was a fresh Country Girl, inclinable to be fat; her Breeding was fuch as is to be had in a genteel Country Family, the had Wit without Affectation, and a Temper that made her very engaging to thofe fhe could be free with. I was not at all enamoured with her at first Sight; but by frequent Converfation I found a Paffion ftealing upon me, and in a fhort Time was fo far gone, that I fell to downright Courtship, which fhe received in fuch a Manner as difcovered a timorous Modefty, but no Averfion. I proceeded therefore with as much Succefs as I could defire; my only Difficulty was to affure her of my Sincerity, which fhe had no Opinion of. I told her I might be inconftant, but as for my present Sincerity, I would make it appear beyond Difpute: Her Answer was, All in good Time; adding, that as her Coufin and myfelf were to take a Journey into the Weft the Week following, there was no doubt of our meeting with Temptation in our Way, especially as we were to go to Bath, and therefore the chofe to put me to the Tryal, fince it was better she knew my Turn of Mind, before she was too far engag'd. I left her, and have never feen her fince.

After parting with the unaffected Mifs Jolly, my gayFriend and myself fet out for Bath; we foon enter'd into the Diverfions of that agreeable Place, where People flock more for Company than Health, to avoid thofe Spectres Spleen and Solitude, which haunt many fashionable Country Seats as well as old Manfion-houses. I fhall not defcribe how People here enjoy the Sweets of Society, which in my Opinion they do to the greatest Perfection. They have Morning and Evening Affemblies; I faw no Diverfions but what were innocent; and in Converfation, fuch a wellbred Freedom prevails, as makes Society most engaging. I could willingly dwell on this Subject, as far more agreeable than contemplating my own Follies.

I need not tell you that there were many beautiful young Ladies here, e

Ee

fpecially

I

fpecially as it was the full Seafon; nor after the Defcription I have given of myself, that I had a Heart not infenfible of their Beauty. forgot all the artlefs Innocence of Mifs Jolly, as the faid I would, tho' I had pro:efted to have a lafting Affection for her; and I thought myself fincere, fo little did I know my own Heart. You have read of the Philofopher's Afs, placed at an equal Distance from two Burdens of Hay, in which Situation being equally tempted by both Burdens, the Philofopher concludes that, thro' Sufpenfe which Side to incline to, the Afs would ftarve.

Whether I should have been as long in fixing my Choice, I can't fay, but fuch was my Sufpenfe, if at one Time I was all Respect for a cold infenfible Beauty, I grew foon after quite enamoured with the fparkling Vivacity of another; and as I had been charm'd with the artless Innocence of my Country Mistress, that Paffion foon disappeared at the Sight of a welbred Beauty, whofe graceful Eafinefs appeared as far beyond it, as the finest Strains of Mufic are preferable to the wild Harmony of Birds. MyFriend infifted on my leaving the Place; I was not recovered from my Sufpenfe, and went away under a kind of Inchantment, which fo much poffefs'd my Imagination, that for fome Days, I was in a profound Revery; the pleafing Images of what I had feen dwelt fo much in my Thoughts, that I was incapable of any other Reflections.

My Friend laugh'd at me; he was too gay and difengag'd in his Temper, to be fo eafily captivated. He introduced me into the Company of fome brisk young Fellows, who defpis'd the Arts of Venus; they were what they call Very Honeft Fellows, whofe Principle is to be "jovial

while they may." Thefe Gentlemen's Excellencies were bold Riding, never flinching at a Bumper, finging Songs of Bacchus, fuch as Wrinkled Care deride, and laughing indifferently, with or without a Jeft.

This merry Company foon rous'd me out of my pleasing Dream, I was willing to be thought an Honeft Fellow; or, not to mince the Matter, thro' a falfe Modefty, too common in young Men, and an Eafine's in complying with the prevailing Humour of Company against one's Judgment, I gave into all their Merriment. I had no longer any Paffion for the fair Sex; however, not that tender romantic Paffion I had felt before; the willingeft began to seem the most defirable. Such was my Zeal for this boneft Caule, that having but a weak Conftitution, fuch as could not bear any Excefs, it was thought I fhould foon die a Martyr to it.

But kind Nature, as I grew worfe, created in me a Loathing of all Drinking, upon which I grew dull, and was refolved to leave this Sett of Company. I took my Leave of fome of 'em, and going to pay the fame Compliment to one whom I call Bonifacio, from his jolly Countenance, he faid I should not drink, as it was to pernicious to me; and to amuse me that Evening he'd introduce me to a Neighbour, who had two handfome Daughters.

Accordingly I went, and while my Friend was caroufing wi' the Gentleman of the House, I drank Tea wi' the Lady and her Daughters; the youngest (I fhall fay nothing of the other) was the handiomeit Creature I ever faw; my Spirits were all alive; her Wit, at least to my Imagination, was equal to her Beauty, which I fhall not difgrace by attempting to defcribe it. My Friend was too honeft to be a Flincher, and I had no Defire to go away. Whether they obferv'd any Thing parti

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