For thefe had fifhe's tails; yet, upon occafion could outfly any bird in the air. Peter put thefe bulls upon feveral employs. Sometimes he would fet them a roaring, to frighten naughty boys, and make them quiet. Sometimes he would end them out upon errands of great importance; where it is wonderful to recount, and perhaps the cautious reader may think much to believe it; an appetitus fenfibilis, deriving itfelf through the whole family, from their noble ancestors, guardians of the golden fleece; they continued fo extremely fond of gold, that if Peter fent them abroad, though it were only upon a compliment, they would roar, and fpit, and belch, and pifs, and fart, and fnivel out fire, and keep a perpetual coil, till you flung them a bit of gold; but then, pulveris exigui jactu, they would grow calm and quiet as lambs. In short, whether by fecret connivance, or encouragement from their mafter, or out of their own liquorish affection to gold, or both; it is certain they were no better than a fort of sturdy, fwaggering beggars; and where they could not prevail to get an alms, would make women mifcarry, and children fall into fits; who, to this very day, ufually call fpirits and hobgob lins by the name of bull-beggars. They grew at laft fo very troublefome to the neighbourhood, that fome gentlemen of the north-weft got a parcel of right Englifh bull dogs, and baited them fo terribly, that they felt it ever after.

I must needs mention one more of Lord Peter's projects, which was very extraordinary, and difcovered him to be mafter of a high reach and profound inven. tion. Whenever it happened that any rogue of Newgate was condemned to be hanged, Peter would offer him a pardon for a certain fum of money: which when the poor caitiff had made all shifts to fcrape up and fend, his Lordship would return a piece of paper in this formt.

That is, kings who incur his displeasure.

+This is a copy of a general pardon, figned Servus Servorum. I

Ibid,

"To all Mayors, Sheriffs, Jailors, Conftables, Bai"liffs, Hangmen, &c. Whereas we are informed that "A. B. remains in the hands of you, or any of you, "under the sentence of death; we will and command

you, upon fight hereof, to let the faid prisoner depart "to his own habitation, whether he stands condemned “for murder, fodomy, rape, facrilege, incest, treason, « blasphemy, &c.; for which this fhall be your fuffi"cient warrant. And if you fail hereof, Ġ-d-mn "you and your's to all eternity. And so we bid you "heartily farewel.

Your most humble
Man's Man,

EMPEROR PETER."

The wretches trusting to this, loft their lives and money too.

I defire of those whom the learned among posterity will appoint for commentators upon this elaborate treatife, that they will proceed with great caution upon certain dark points, wherein all who are not vere adepti, may be in danger to form rash and hafty conclufions; efpecially in fome myfterious paragraphs, where certain arcana are joined for brevity's fake, which in the operation must be divided. And I am certain, that future fons of art will return large thanks to my memory, for fo grateful, fo useful an inuendo.

It will be no difficult part to perfuade the reader, that fo many worthy difcoveries met with great fuccefs in the world; though I may juftly affure him, that I have related much the fmatleft number: my design having been only to fingle out fuch as will be of moft benefit for public imitation, or which beft ferved to give fome idea of the reach and wit of the inventor. And therefore it need not be wondered, if by this time Lord Peter become exceeding rich. But, alas! he had kept a fo long and fo violently upon the rack, that at folution in articulo mortis, and the tax camera apojefted upon in Emperor Peter's letter. W.Wotton.

was

laft it fhook itself, and began to turn round for a little eafe. In fhort, what with pride, projects, and knavery, poor Peter was grown diftracted, and conceived the ftrangeft imaginations in the world. In the height of his fits (as it is ufual with those who run mad out of pride) he would call himself God Almighty*, and fometimes monarch of the univerfe. I have feen him (says my author) take three old high crowned hats+, and clap them all on his head, three ftory high, with a huge bunch of keys at his girdle, and an angling-rod in his hand. In which guife, whoever went to take him by the hand, in the way of falutation, Peter, with much grace, like a well-educated fpaniel, would prefent them with his foot; and if they refufed his civility, then he would raise it as high as their chops, and give them a damned kick in the mouth; which hath ever fince been called a falute. Whoever walked by, without paying him their compliments, having a wonderful strong breath, he would blow their hats off into the dirt. Mean time his affairs at home went upfide down, and his two brothers had a wretched time; where his first boutade § was to kick both their wives one morning out of doors, and his own too¶; and in their ftead, gave orders to pick

*The Pope is not only allowed to be the Vicar of Chrift, but by feveral divines is called God upon earth, and other blafphemous titles.

+ The triple crown.

The keys of the church. The Church here is taken for the gate of heaven; for the keys of heaven are affumed by the Pope in confequence of what our Lord faid to Peter, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven." Ibid. The Pope's univerfal monarchy, and his triple crown, and fisher's ring. W. Wotton.

Neither does his arrogant way of requiring men to kifs his flipper efcape reflexion. W.Wotton.

This word properly fignifies a fudden jerk, or lash of

an horfe, when you do not expect it.

The celibacy of the Romish clergy is ftruck at in Peter's beating his own and brothers wives out of doors. W. Wotton.

To all Mayors, Sheriffs, Jailo: liffs, Hangmen, &c. Whereas we "A. B. remains in the hands of yo "under the fentence of death; we v

you, upon fight hereof, to let the fa "to his own habitation, whether he "for murder, fodomy, rape, facrileg "blafphemy, &c.; for which this fi "cient warrant.

And if you fail he:

you and your's to all eternity. Am. "heartily farewel.

Your moft hum

Man's Ma

EMPIT

The wretches trufting to this, loft money too.

I defire of those whom the learned a will appoint for commentators upon this tife, that they will proceed with great cat tain dark points, wherein all who are n may be in danger to form rash and haity efpecially in fome myfterious paragraphs, arcana are joined for brevity's fake, which tion must be divided. And I am certa.. fons of art will return large thanks to fo grateful

It

an izuendo.
It part to

company to hell, if they pretended to make uple of believing him. One time he swore w at horne, which gave as much milk at a ould fill three thoufand churches; and what re extraordinary, would never turn four *, e he was telling of an old fign-poft † that is father, with nails and timber enough on teen large men of war. Talking one day, ggons, which were made fo light as to tains: “Z―ds, (faid Peter,) where's the that? By G-, I faw a large house of he travel over fea and land (granting that ometimes to bait) above two thousand quest." And that which was the good fwear defperately all the while, that he

in his life; and at every word, "By men, I tell you nothing but the truth; broil them eternally that will not believe

r grew fo fcandalous, that all the neighin plain words to fay, he was no better

s multiplying of the Virgin Mary's milk 25, under the allegory of a cow, which Silk at a meal as would fill three thoufand

otton.

ft is meant the cross of our bleffed Sahe wood that is thewn for parts of it, quantity would fufficiently juftify this

Loretto. He falls here only upon the of Popery. The Church of Rome ngs to gull filly, fuperftitious people, money. The world had been too our ancestors gloriously redeemed us e Church of Rome therefore ought to leferves well of mankind that does ex

11.

I of Loretto, which travelled from the

th