第29章

knownotwhat)，hadprocuredfromMasterFaggus。AndwhenIletitbeknown，bysomehap，thatIwastheowncousinofTomFaggus，andhonouredwithhissociety，therewasnotahouseupontheroadbutwasproudtoentertainme，inspiteofmyfellow-traveller，bearingtheredbadgeoftheKing。

’Iwillkeepthisclose，mysonJack，’hesaid，havingstrippeditoffwithacarving-knife；’yourflagisthebesttofly。Themanwhostarvedmeonthewaydown，thesameshallfeedmefatgoinghome。’

Thereforewepursuedourway，inexcellentcondition，havingthrivenuponthecreditofthatverypopularhighwayman，andbeingsurroundedwithregretsthathehadlefttheprofession，andsometimesbeggedtointercedethathemighthelptheroadagain。Forallthelandlordsontheroaddeclaredthatnowsmallalewasdrunk，normuchofspiritscalledfor，becausethefarmersneednotprimetomeetonlycommonriders，neitherweretheseworththewhiletogetdrunkwithafterwards。MasterStickleshimselfundertook，asanofficeroftheKing’sJusticestopleadthiscasewithSquireFaggus(aseverybodycalledhimnow)，andtoinducehim，forthegeneralgood，toreturntohisproperministry。

Itwasalongandwearyjourney，althoughtheroadsarewondrousgoodonthefarthersideofBristowe，andscarcelyanymanneedbebogged，ifhekeepshiseyeswellopen，save，perhaps，inBerkshire。Inconsequenceofthepasswehad，andthevintner’sknowledgeofit，weonlymettwopublicriders，oneofwhommadeoffstraightwaywhenhesawmycompanion’spistolsandthestoutcarbineIbore；andtheothercametoaparleywithus，andprovedmostkindandaffable，whenheknewhimselfinthepresenceofthecousinofSquireFaggus。

’Godsaveyou，gentlemen，’hecried，liftinghishatpolitely；’manyandmanyahappydayIhaveworkedthisroadwithhim。Suchtimeswillneverbeagain。Butcommendmetohisloveandprayers。Kingmynameis，andKingmynature。Saythat，andnonewillharmyou。’Andsohemadeoffdownthehill，beingaperfectgentleman，andaverygoodhorsehewasriding。

ThenightwasfallingverythickbythetimewewerecometoTyburn，andheretheKing’sofficerdecidedthatitwouldbewisetohalt，becausethewaywasunsafebynightacrossthefieldstoCharingvillage。

Iformypartwasnothingloth，andpreferredtoseeLondonbydaylight。

Andafterall，itwasnotworthseeing，butaveryhideousanddirtyplace，notatalllikeExmoor。Someoftheshopswereveryfine，andthesignsabovethemfinerstill，sothatIwasneverwearyofstandingstilltolookatthem。Butindoingthistherewasnoease；forbeforeonecouldbeginalmosttomakeoutthemeaningofthem，eithersomeofthewayfarerswouldbustleandscowl，anddrawtheirswords，ortheowner，orhisapprenticeboys，wouldrushoutandcatchholdofme，crying，’Buy，buy，buy!Whatd’yelack，whatd’yelack？Buy，buy，buy!’AtfirstImistookthemeaningofthis——forsowepronouncetheword’boy’

uponExmoor——andIansweredwithsomeindignation，’Sirrah，Iamnoboynow，butamanofone-and-twentyyears；andasforlacking，Ilacknaughtfromthee，exceptwhatthouhastnot——goodmanners。’

Theonlythingsthatpleasedmemuch，weretheriverThames，andthehallandchurchofWestminster，wheretherearebravethingstobeseen，andbraverstilltothinkabout。ButwheneverIwanderedinthestreets，whatwiththenoisethepeoplemade，thenumberofthecoaches，therunningofthefootmen，theswaggeringofgreatcourtiers，andthethrustingasideofeverybody，manyandmanyatimeIlongedtobebackamongthesheepagain，forfearoflosingtemper。Theywerewelcometothewallforme，asItookcaretotellthem，forIcouldstandwithoutthewall，whichperhapswasmorethantheycoulddo。ThoughIsaidthiswiththebestintention，meaningnodiscourtesy，someofthemwerevexedatit；andoneyounglord，beingflushedwithdrink，drewhisswordandmadeatme。ButIstruckitupwithmyhollystick，sothatitflewontheroofofahouse，thenItookhimbythebeltwithonehand，andlaidhiminthekennel。Thiscausedsomelittledisturbance；butnoneoftherestsawfittotryhowthemattermightbewiththem。

NowthisbeingtheyearofourLord1683，morethannineyearsandahalfsincethedeathofmyfather，andthebeginningofthishistory，allLondonwasinagreatfermentaboutthedisputebetweentheCourtoftheKingandtheCity。