 ensue; from searching and setting a Watch over those People; their Testimony is already given, and can't be invalidated thereby.
I cannot agree to it, answered the Judge. They are free Subjects. There is no Indictment nor Deposition against them. They are, also, Evidence for his Majesty, and are therefore under his peculiar Protection. But, I would willingly hear what this Fellow, this Turncoat has to say for himself.
My Lord, replied the Youth, I now stand before a Tribunal that is, infinitely, more aweful than that of your Lordship. And, provided I approve my Truth before God, I shall be the less afflicted for having fallen under your Lordship's Displeasure. My Name is
Edward Longfield.
I was born to happier Prospects. My Father was a Gentleman. And, about eighteen Months ago, I took the Degree of Batchelor at Queen's College in
Oxford.
But, Misfortunes and Misunderstandings happening in our Family, I was left to be the Former of my own Fortunes, and, arriving at
London,
I was taken into Service by my late Lord
Stivers.
He grew fond of me, beyond my Merits, and I began to partake of his Friendship and Confidence, at the Time that I was deprived, of the most generous of Masters, by the most unhappy of all Events.
My Lord had one Foil to his many Virtues. It was an invincible Passion for Female-Beauty. The last Night of his Life, having called me aside,
Ned,
says he, I must take you on an Adventure To-morrow. I have positively the finest Girl in the Universe in Chase; and I must enjoy her in all Events. But the Devil on't is that she is virtuous, though I hope not incorruptible. I have put her Husband out of the Way upon a feigned Action for Debt; and I have bribed her Maid over to my Party. So, that I have nothing to contend with but her own lovely Person, and that will be the sweetest Dispute in the World. Sure, my Lord, I cried, you wouldn't force her. Pshaw, said he, damn your impertinent Scruples. Another such Word,
Ned,
and you are blown with me, I can tell you. A fine Woman, my Lad, must be won at any Rate; if she is garrisoned with Virtue, and cannot be got by Stratagem; she must be taken by Storm.
The Day following, my Lord took me, and his Footman
Robert
there, who is one of the Witnesses
