To fay fuch kings, Lord, rule by Thee, XXVI. Such know no law, but their own luft; Still fpent, and fpilt for fubjects good. XXVII. Such kings curs'd be the pow'r and name, XXVIII. Then farewel, facred majesty, Let's pull all brutish tyrants down; Where men are born, and fill live, free, There ev'ry head doth wear a crown: Mankind, like miferable frogs, Prove wretched, king'd by storks and dogs.. Much Much about this time, the duke of Buckngham was under difgrace for things of another nature; and, being difengaged from any particular attachment in town, he and lord Rochester refolved, like Don Quixote of old, to fet out inqueft of adventures; and they met with fome which will appear entertaining to our readers, which we fhall give upon the authority of the author of Rochester's life, prefixed to his works. Among many other ad ́ventures, the following was one : There happened to be an inn on New-market road to be lett; they disguised themselves in proper habits for the perfons they were to affume, and jointly took this inn, in which each in his turn officiated as mafter: but they foon made this fubfervient to purposes of ano ther nature. Having carefully obferved the pretty girls in the country with whom they were moft captivated, (they confidered not whether they were maids, wives, or widows) and to gain opportunities of feducing them, they invited their neighbours, who had either wives or daughters, to frequent feafts; where the men were plied hard with good liquor, and the women fufficiently warmed to make but as little refift ance as would be agreeable to their inclina tions, dealing out their poifon to both fexes, infpiring the men with wine and other ftrong liquors, and the women with love. Thus they were able to deflower many a virgin, and alienate alienate the affections of many a wife by this odd ftratagem; and it is difficult to say, whether it is poffible for two men to live to a worse purpose. It is natural to imagine that this kind of life could not be of long duration. Feasts fo frequently given, and that without any thing to pay, must give a strong fufpicion that the inn-keepers would foon break; or, that they were of fuch fortune and circumstance, as did not well fuit the poft they were in. This their lordships were fenfible of, but not much concerned about it, fince they were seldom found long to continue in the fame fort of adventures, variety being the life of their enjoyments. It was, befides, near the time of his majesty's going to Newmarket when they defigned, that the discovery of their real plots fhould clear them of the imputation of being concerned in any more pernicious to the govern ment. These two conjectures meeting they thought themselves obliged to dispatch two important adventures, which they had not yet been able to compass. There was an old covetous mifer in the neighbourhood, who, notwithstanding his age, was in poffeffion of a very agreeable young wife. Her husband watched her with the fame affiduity he did his money, and never trufted her out of his fight but under the protection of an old maiden fifter, who never had herfelf felf experienced the joys of love, and bore no great benevolence to those who were young and handfome. Our noble inn-keepers had no manner of doubt of his accepting a treat, as many had done, for he loved good living with all his heart when it coft him nothing; and, except upon thefe occafions, he was the most tempereat and abftemious man alive: but, when they could never prevail with him to bring his wife, notwithstanding they urged the prefence of fo many good wives in the neighbourhood to keep her company, all their ftudy was then how to deceive the old fifter at home, who was fet as a guardian over that fruit which the mifer could neither eat himself, nor fuffer any other to tafte; but fuch a difficulty as this was foon to be overcome by such inventions. It was therefore agreed that lord Rochester fhould be dreffed in women's cloaths, and, while the husband was feafting with my lord duke, he should make trial of his fkill with the old woman at home. He had learned that the had no averfion to the bottle when the could come fecretly and conveniently at it. Equip ped like a country lafs, and furnished with a bottle of fpiritous liquors, he marched to the old mifer's house. It was with difficulty he found means to fpeak with the old woman, but at last obtained the favour; where, perfect in all the cant of thofe thofe people, he began to tell the occafion of his coming, in hopes fhe would invite him to come in, but all in vain; he was admitted no farther than the porch, with the house-door a jar. At laft, my lord, finding no other way, fell upon this expedient: he pretended to be taken fuddenly ill, and tumbled upon the threshold. This noife brings the young wife to them, who, with much trouble, perfuades her keeper to help her into the houfe, in regard to the decorum of her fex and the unhappy condition he was in. The door had not been long shut before our impoftor, by degrees, recovers; and, being fet on a chair, cants a very religious thankigiving to the good gentlewoman for her kindnefs; and obferved how deplorable it was to be fubject to fuch fits, which often took her in the street, and exposed her to many accidents; but every now and then took a fip of the bot tle, and recommended it to the old benefac trefs, who was fure to drink a hearty dram, His lordfhip had another bottle in his pocket qualified with opium, which would fooner ac complish his defire by giving the woman a fomniferous dofe, which drinking with gree dinefs fhe foon fell faft afleep. His lordship having fo far fucceeded, and being fired with the prefence of the young wife, for whom he had formed this odd fcheme, his defires became impetuous, which produced a change of colour, and made the artlefs |