A BAWD (continued 3)

This unexpected Adventure put us all to a stand. And after consulting what was best to be done, I resolved not to venture being expos'd, and so immediately with-drew, and took down all my Pictures, leaving only a Servant in the House for some days, to see whether he wou'd be as good as his word: and in three Days after, a Constable came with a Warrant to search the House for disorderly Persons; but finding only a Servant there, he told her he perceiv'd the Birds were flown. The search being over, some of my Women were for returning again; but I oppos'd it, as not judging it safe; and the Event prov'd it so; for the Day they design'd to have gone, there was another Search made, and a strict enquiry after what was become of us? Which made all to commend my Caution and Conduct.

This last Search made us look upon that Place as unsafe to go to again; for I perceiv'd that Disguis'd Constable was a busie Fellow, and wou'd be always Jealous of our Returning again. So I threw up my Lease of that House, and from thence came hither: Where I have continued ever since. And carrying a good Correspondence amongst my Neighbours, I have never been molested here, but when there is any Trade stirring, I have my share of it. And thus, Madam, I have given you the History of my Life hitherto; which I have been more particular in, because of your Civility and Generosity towards me. And if you find at any time an occasion to make use of any Gentleman to supply any Deficiency you may meet with at home, or to gratifie your Inclination with a desire of Change I will be always ready to serve you to the utmost of my Power.

The Bawd having thus finish'd her Narration, the Goldsmith's Lady gave her many thanks, and told her that her Relation had been very diverting to her, But, said she, there is one thing that I have had a mind to ask you two or three times and still forgot it. Pray Madam, said the Bawd, What may that be? For I am very ready to resolve you in any thing I can—That is, reply'd the She-Goldsmith, Whether or no these new Attempts for Reformation be not a very great hinderance to you in your Business? For I am told that some of the Members of the Society put themselves into all Shapes, that they may make a Discovery of such Houses. And I suppose he who disturb'd you at your other House might be one of them. And therefore methinks this should quite spoil your Trade: For as matters are now manag'd, how do you know who to Trust?

To this the Bawd reply'd thus: As to what you say Madam, there is this in it, That it makes us use more Caution than we us'd to do. For we now admit of none into our Houses that are Strangers. But perhaps you may say, That I us'd a great deal of Caution with the other Person who was a Trapan before; which is really true enough; and when he mention'd to me Esq; —— I thought I might very well have trusted him: But I'll tell you how that hapen'd; Esq; S—— had it seems been talking to some intimate Friends of his, of some very pretty Ladies that he had to do withal: For indeed being a good Customer, and paying very well, he had always the Cream of all that came to my House; being very much a Gentleman; and one whom I wou'd be glad to help to your Embraces, if you wou'd do me that Honour, and I am sure you cann't have to do with a Compleater Person, and one better fitted to serve a Woman. You wou'd, make me have a Mind to him, reply'd the Lady: Well, Madam, said the Bawd, ere it be long, I'll bring you two together. But, as I was a saying, he having told some intimate Friends of his, that he had the enjoyment of a very fine Lady: said one of 'em, Prithee Esq, who is't that helps you to these fine Ladies that you talk of? Upon this, not doubting but they wou'd keep his Counsel, he told 'em 'twas I that help'd him, upon such occasions; and one of these Gentlemen told another of his Comrades in the hearing of the Disguis'd Constable, who made that use of it I have already told you. But now, to prevent the like accidents, we admit no Strangers, unless they bring a Letter from the Person they are Recommended by, and therein an Account of the last time they were here. By which means we are very secure; and tho' the Society for Reformation, as they call it, does utterly Ruine all such as are Publick Houses of Assignation, yet our Trade is rather made the better by it; because here they may meet without Danger of being Exposed, as a Worthy Gentlewoman had like to have been not long ago, which might have been her Ruine, had she not fallen into the hands of Gentlemen.

Pray how was that, said the Goldsmith's Lady?

It is a Story worth your hearing, reply'd the Bawd; and if you please I'll give you the Relation of it, as I had it from one of the Gentlemen concern'd therein. You will Oblige me very much; answer'd the Lady. Whereupon the Bawd thus began.

It happened that two Gentlemen belonging to the Army (of which the one was my Particular Acquaintance, and a good Customer to my House) taking Water at the Still-yard, was minded to divert themselves upon the River, by going up to Chelsie-Reach; where they sometimes met with pretty Ladies proper for their Purpose, But as they were going along, they perceived a very fine Gentlewoman in a rich Garb, in a Sculler, all alone; and also observed that she made the Sculler, who was a good likely Young Man, row her sometimes one way, and sometimes another, without going to any certain Place. This gave 'em occasion to Conjecture that she had appointed some Spark or other to meet her thereabouts, whose coming she expected with some Impatience; as they easily perceiv'd:

After she had near half hour in that manner fluctuated to and fro upon the silver Surges of Thamesis, like one of the Nereides, and found she was disappointed; she bid the Sculler Land her at the Three Cranes, which he accordingly did; and the Gentlemen likewise order'd their Oars to Land 'em at the same Place; and observ'd, after the Lady was Landed, that the Sculler ask'd for his Money, and she bid him follow her; and after he follow'd her into Thames-street, he began to grumble, and told her he cou'd go no further, and therefore he wou'd have his Money; which she wou'd not give him whithout he went wither she was going, telling him she wou'd pay him for his time. This made the Gentlemen dog her, and soon after saw her go into the Three-Cranes Tavern, and the Sculler after her; which the Gentlemen seeing, and (being resolv'd to know the bottom of this intrigue) follow'd them into the same Tavern; and bid the Drawer, if it was possible, let them have the next Room to that which the Gentlewoman had, who came in just before 'em with a Waterman following her: The Drawer told 'em there was Company in the next Room then, but they were paying there Reckoning, and would be gone immediately; and in the mean time desir'd 'em to walk into a Box in the Yard, which they accordingly did; and whilst they sat there, they saw the Waterman go out again. Presently after the Drawer came and told 'em that the Room was now empty, which they forthwith went into, and had the conveniency through a hole in the Wall, to see the Gentlewoman unseen, who sat leaning her Arm upon the Table, in a very melancholy Posture, as one much dissatisfy'd; having a Glass of Wine before her, and Pen, Ink and Paper. Soon after the Waterman comes in again, and tells her the Gentleman had not been at home since Morning, nor did they know where he was. Where's the Note that I gave you, says she? Which he giving her, she took and tore it, and then burn'd it, Then taking the Glass, what's your Name, Waterman, said she? An't please you, Madam, my Name's John: Well, then honest John here's to ye, says she; and drank off her Glass, and made John fill a Brimmer and drink it off. And then John offering to go, she said, No, John, you shan't go yet, I have something to eat, and you shall stay and eat with me: Don't be uneasie John, for I'll pay you well for your time. Presently up comes the Drawer and brings a Lobster and a Piece of Sturgeon, with him; then bidding the Drawer bring a Quart of Canary up, she ask'd John whether he lov'd Lobster and Sturgeon? Yes, very well, Madam, reply'd John, but they are too good for my common Eating. After the other Quart of Canary was brought up, and the Drawer gone down, she bid John come nearer and sit down; and at last having both eat and drank Plentifully, she pull'd John close to her, and told him he look'd like a clever well-made Fellow, and ask'd him, if he did'nt think himself capable of doing a Ladies Business? which put John so much out of Countenance he did'nt know what to say to her: Upon which, first Embracing the Dull Fool in her Arms, Come, says she, let's see how well you're furnish'd: And then putting her Hand into his Breeches, John began to think she was in Earnest, and made as bold with her; giving her what she wanted; and then calling for another Quart of Wine, and having drank and repeated their Amorous Embraces two or three times, she gave John a Guinea; and told him she lik'd him so well, that she would go by Water with him that day Sennight; and charg'd him to meet her then at five a Clock, at Paul's Wharf; and she wou'd then give him such another Treat. Which John promis'd her to do, and so went away very well Satisfied. The two Gentlemen who (unseen of her) had seen and heard all those Passages; were resolv'd to make a further Discovery of the Gentlewoman and so dogg'd her home to her own House, which happen'd to be at a Woollen-Drapers in St. Paul's Church-Yard. Having thus seen her at her own House they left her, and went to their own Lodgings.

The next Morning they went into Paul's Church-Yard to make the Lady a visit, but past many times to & fro before the Door, but cou'd'nt get a sight of her. In the Afternoon they came again, and having waited up and down about an hour, they at last saw her in the Shop, and knew her to be the same Person: Whereupon going into the Shop they ask'd her to see some of the best Scarlet-Cloth, and whilst the other Gentleman was busie in choosing the Cloth, my Friend took an opportunity to tell the Lady what a Passion he had for her, and how ready he wou'd be to serve her with the greatest hazard, and how he hop'd to be made happy with the enjoyment of her last Favours; but she seeming to be mightily affronted at his Discourse, told him, That if he did'nt leave off prating at that rate to her, she would call to her Man to Kick him out of the Shop: Which disdainful Carriage did so much exasperate him, that he replyed with some heat, Why Madam, do you think I cann't do your Business as well as John did, at the Three-Cranes Tavern in Thame-street, last Night? These words made her change as Pale as Death: Sir, said she, As you are a Gentleman, I hope you won't expose me: And I'll oblige you in what'e'er you ask me.—Chuse your Cloth, says she, and I'll come down to you presently. And then going up Stairs she return'd again in two minutes, and put twenty Guineas into his hands, to pay for the Cloth, appointing to meet 'em at the old Tavern an hour after; which she did accordingly, gratifying both the Gentlemen with the same Favours she had bestow'd the Night before upon John the Waterman, whose Nose these Gentlemen had put out of joint.—Judge you now, Madam, what a case this Gentlewoman had been in, had she fallen into other hands. But all such accidents are avoided by those that make use of such a House as mine.

The Bawd having made an End of her Discourse, after a little pause, The Goldsmith's Lady thus began:

I return you many Thanks for the Relation of your Life: Your Advice before has sav'd my Reputation to my Husband and the World; which he who had first Tempted me to Lewdness, and overcame me through the Love of Money, would have afterwards Expos'd; for which I think my self oblig'd to you: But the Relation you have now given me, has Oblig'd me much more; for it has made me quite out of Love with the Trade you have all along follow'd; if for nothing else, because of the Dangers that attend it. For if you look back, and reflect upon your first going astray, it was full of danger and hazard; and how private so ever you thought you were in it, yet it could not escape your Husbands Jealousie and Mistrust; and at last, when you least suspected it, was fully discover'd by your Gallant himself. And that occasion'd your being turn'd out of Doors; and that taking all sense of shame from you, (as you well observed) exposed you to a thousand Temptantions; which being suited to your own Natural Inclinations, you presently closed withal; which in a little time was, it seems, attended by the Pox; and which besides, many times laid you open to the Cognizance of the Civil Magistrate; and made you afraid of every one you saw; which must needs be a very uneasy Life.—I can speak some thing of this by my own experience: For after I had given way to Mr. Bramble's desires, and yeilded to his Unlawful Embraces, I was so full of Guilt, that when ever my Husband call'd hastily to me, or spoke in the least angrily, I thought it was to tell me of my playing the Whore with Mr. Bramble, my guilt still flying in my Face; so that I wou'd not be expos'd to the like Fears again, for double the value of what I receiv'd from him. But having been over come by him, the fear of his exposing of me, as I perceive he intended, had not you helpt me to prevent him, caus'd me to serve him as I did.—But you cannot imagine, (said she) what a Consternation I was put into the other Night, when a Constable that lives hard by us, and is one of the Society for Reformation, came to our House, and told my Husband he came to tell him of some Discoveries he had lately made, which were worth his hearing: My blood came all into my Face, and I did not question but that I was to be the Subject of his Discourse. But when I had heard out his Stories, I was better satisfy'd: Tho' they were such as sufficiently declare the Danger, that such as you are dayly in, of being detected, as those were of whom he gave my Husband a Relation: Which indeed I thought to be diverting enough, as long as it did not concern me. For tho' we care not to be expos'd our selves, we are yet ready to take a kind of pleasure in hearing that others are so.

If it were not too great a trouble (said the Bawd) I should be glad to hear what those Discoveries were, that he made to your Husband; which perhaps may be of use to me in knowing how to prevent the like Disasters.

I shall esteem it no trouble (reply'd the Gentlewoman) to tell you any thing I can, that may be serviceable to you; especially, if it may but prevail with you to leave off a Calling that is so hazardous as well as wicked—But that will be more proper to discourse, when I have given you the Constable's Relation; and that I shall give you in his own words; which were as follows:

Being resolved, if possible, to prevent all that Debauchery that is acted in the Streets of this great City every Night, I dress'd up my self as like a Beau as possibly I could, and then taking my short Staff in my Pocket, I went t'other Night abroad, to see what Discoveries I could make: And as I went along the Strand, I met with a young Woman by the New Exchange, who pretending to stumble, catch'd hold of my Coat, to save her self from falling, and begg'd my Pardon for her Rudeness: I soon understood her meaning, and looking upon her to be one of those Cattle I was in quest of, I ask'd her whither she was going? She told me as far as Sheer-Lane, to an Aunt of hers, where she Lodged, and she should be glad of my Company; by which, being confirmed in what I before thought, I bid her go on, and I would follow her, which I also did: and coming to the place said he, I found there an old wither'd Bawd, who presently had us into a Room, and ask'd us what we wou'd drink? I told her what the young Woman pleas'd; who hereupon call'd for a Bottle of Ale. I told her I cou'd'nt drink, and therefore bid her call her Aunt to drink with her: The old Woman coming in, I bid her sit down, and ask'd her, how long she had follow'd that Trade; What Trade, Sir, says she? Of keeping Nieces, said I: For I understand you are this young Woman's Aunt. O Sir, said she, you are a merry Gentleman. I have followed this Trade of being an Aunt, ever since Age made me uncapable of being a Niece. That's a long Time ago, said I; but I believe it had been better for you to have gone a Nurse-keeping, then a Neice-keeping. That's your mistake Sir, says she: For as old as I am, I had rather hear a young Girl and a brisk Spark Sing their Song by Turns, than to hear an old Man grunting a Bed, and be oblig'd to hang my Nose continually over a Close-Stool or a Chamber-Pot. A Glass of good Ale or Wine now and then, or a Dram of cool Nantz, is more chearing to my old Spirits, than to be sipping and tasting a little Stale Pearl Cordial or Juleps, or indeed any Apothecaries Slop. Well, said I, you are a cunning old Woman; but pray let me talk now to your Neice a little. Pray, how many such Aunts have you? Why, truly Sir, said she, I have one at every corner of the Town, and lodge sometimes with one, and sometimes with another, as I have occasion. Well but, said I, had you not better go to Service then be burdensome to your Freinds? No, Damn it, says she, I had rather be my own Mistress, and go to Bed and rise when I will, then to be curb'd by every Snotty Dame. I remember once, said she, I met with an old Master, who had a Colts Tooth in his Head, and he would be smugling me, and kissing me in a corner, tho his Breath was enough to turn my Stomach: but for the sake of a rusty Shilling now and then, I was content to humour him. But when once my Mistress came to know it, I had a Peal rung about my Ears, with the Tongs, and was forc'd to pack out of Doors. Another time, I met with a young Master, and an old Dame, and he wou'd always watch for an opportunity to catch me making the Bed when my old Mistress was abroad at Market, or else sat wrapt in Flannel by the Kitchen Fire; and with a thousands Langushing Looks and soft Expressions, he would wish his Wife were as young and as handsome as I: or that she was dead that he and I might make a match on't. By which means I was betray'd to part with my Virgin-Treasure, and lick the Butter off my old Mistresses Bread, with a very good Appetite. At last, the rising of my Belly discover'd what I would willingly have conceal'd; this caus'd me to be turn'd out of Doors, and left to provide for my self and a Child. Which, when I was brought a Bed, I dispos'd to a poor Woman, who got her Living with it, by begging in the Streets. And then finding I cou'd'nt be free from Mens solicitations whilst a Servant, I e'en betook my self to the present Employment, wherein I meet with Men enough, and am at no care, to provide for Children.—When she had given an Account of her Life, said the Constable, I then thought it was time to reprove them. And, addressing my self to the Wench, said I, Would it not now have been a great Mortification to you, if instead of following you to your Lodgings, I had deliver'd you to a Constable, who had made you sit up all Night in the Round-house, and sent you next Morning to Bridewell, to beat Hemp for your Living. The young Slut nothing daunted by what I had said (says the Constable) presently pluck'd up her Coats, and told me she'd find me other Business to do. I seeing that pull'd out my Short Constables Staff, and told her she didn't know her Danger, and had therefore best forbear her Impudence, or I should quickly make her sensible that I had Power to punish her. This put both the Old Woman and her self into a great fright; and altering her Tone, she prayed me not to molest 'em and they would gratifie me any way imaginable. And the Old Woman prayed me not to be severer to her then others of my Office had formerly been: For, said she, this is not the first time that I have been threatted in this manner, and I never yet found a Constable, nor indeed scarce a Justice of Peace whom it was not in my Power some time or other to oblige, either by my Purse, or in the way of my Trade. For I have such fine Women at my Command, continued she, as are able to Charm the most insensible Persons. I then told them, says the Constable, That good Advice was meerly thrown away upon 'em, but I wou'd take another Course that was more effectual; and so (says he) calling the Watch, they were both sent that Night to the Counter> and the next day to Bride-well; where they are still beating Hemp. And this Course (said the Constable) I intend to take, as often as I meet with any of them.

When the Constable had made an End, my Husband and I both applauded his Conduct. And tho' I have once been overcome; yet I resolve never to be guilty of the like Folly again. Nor is it yet too late for you to repent said the Goldsmith's Lady to the Bawd; tho you have run through so long a course of Wickedness; which if you still continue in, will sooner or later bring you to certain ruine.

Well, said the Bawd, I thought to have serv'd you, by the way of Gratitude, for your kindness and Liberality to me, in my way of Business: But seeing you are otherwise determined, I thank you for your Advice: and am very glad that by my Discourse and seeing the Errors of my Life, you may come to rectifie your own: My advice herein being the same with that of a late great Debauchee, that writ a Book of his Life,