where I walked as I was commanded, drew my Hang er, put it up again, made my Reverence to my Mafter's Gueft, afked him in his own Language how he did, and told him he was welcome; just as my little Nurse had inftructed me. This Man, who was old and dim fighted, put on his Spectacles to behold me better, at which I could not forbear laughing very heartily; for his Eyes appeared like the full Moon fhining into a Chamber at two Windows. Our People, who difcovered the Caufe of my Mirth, bore me Company in laughing; at which the old Fellow was Fool enough to be angry and out of Countenance. He had the Character of a great Mifer; and to my Misfortune he well deferved it by the curfed Advice he gave my Mafter, to fhew me as a Sight upon a Market-day, in the next Town, which was half an Hour's riding, about two and twenty Miles from our Houfe. I gueffed there was fome Mischief contriving, when I obferved my Mafter and his Friend whifpering long together, fometimes pointing at me; and my Fears made me fancy that I overheard and underfood fome of their Words. But, the next Morning, Glumdalclitch, my little Nurse, told me the whole Matter, which he had cunningly picked out from her Mother. The poor Girl laid me on her Bofom, and fell a weeping with Shame and Grief.

She

apprehended fome Mischief would happen to me from rude vulgar Folks, who might squeeze me to Death, or break one of my Limbs, by taking me in their Hands. She had alfo obferved how modest I was in my Nature, how nicely I regarded my Hcnour, and what an Indignity I should conceive to be expofed for Money as a publick Spectacle to the meaneft of the People. She faid, her Pappa and Mamma had promifed that Grildrig fhould be hers; but now the found they meant to ferve her as they did last Year, when they pretended to give her a Lamb; and yet, as foon as it was fat, fold it to a Butcher. For my own Part, I may truly affirm, that I was lefs concerned than my Nurfe. I had a ftrong Hope, which

1

never left me, that I should one Day recover my Liberty; and, as to the Ignominy of being carried about for a Monster, I confidered myself to be a perfect Stranger in the Country; and that fuch a Misfortune could never be charged upon me as a Reproach if ever I fhould return to England; fince the King of Great Britain himself, in my Condition, must have undergone the fame Diftrefs."

My Mafter, pursuant to the Advice of his Friend, carried me in a Box the next Market-day to the neighbouring Town; and took along with him his little Daughter my Nurse upon a Pillion behind me, The Box was close on every Side, with a little Door for me to go in and out, and a few Gimlet-holes to let in Air. The Girl had been fo careful as to put the Quilt of her Baby's Bed into it, for me to ly down on. However, I was terribly fhaken and difcompofed in this Journey, although it were but half an Hour: For the Horfe went about forty-Foot at every Step; and trotted fo high, that the Agitation was equal to the rifing and falling of a Ship in a great Storm, but much more frequent: Our Journey was fomewhat further than from London to St. Albans. My Mafter alighted at an Inn which he used to frequent; and after confulting a while with the Inn-keeper, and making fome neceffary Preparations, he hired the Grultrud, or Cryer to give Notice through the Town, of a strange Creature to be feen at the Sign of the Green Eagle, not fo big as a Splacknuck, (an Animal in that Country very finely fhaped, about fix Foot long) and in every Part of the Body resembling an human Creature; could fpeak feveral Words, and perform an hundred diverting Tricks.

I was placed upon a Table in the largest Room of the Inn, which might be near three hundred Foot fquare. My little Nurfe ftood on a low Stool close to the Table, to take care of me, and direct what I should do. My Mafter, to avoid a Crowd, would fuffer only thirty People at a Time to fee me. I walked about on the Table as the Girl commanded; fhe afked me VOL. III. Questions

I

Queftions as far as she knew my Understanding of the Language reached, and I answered them as loud as I could. I turned about feveral times to the Company, paid my humble Refpects, faid they were welcome; and used fome other Speeches I had been taught. I took up a Thimble filled with Liquor, which Glamdalclitch had given me for a Cup, and drank their Health. I drew out my Hanger, and flourished with it after the Manner of Fencers in England. My Nurfe gave me Part of a Straw, which I exercised as a Pike, having learned the Art in my Youth. I was that Day fhewn to twelve Sets of Company; and as often forced to go over again with the fame Fopperies, until I was half dead with Wearinefs and Vexation. For, those who had feen me, made fuch wonderful Reports, that the People were ready to break down the Doors to come in. My Master for his own Interest would not fuffer any one to touch me, except my Nurfe; and to prevent Danger, Benches were fet round the Table at fuch a Distance, as put me out of every Body's Reach. However, an unlucky Schoolboy aimed a Hazel-nut directly at my Head, which very narrowly miffed me; otherwife, it came with fo much Violence, that it would have infallibly knocked out my Brains; for it was almoft as large as a fmall Pumpion: But I had the Satisfaction to fee the young Rogue well beaten, and turned out of the Room.

My Mafter gave publick Notice, that he would fhew me again the next Market-day: And, in the mean time, he prepared a more convenient Vehicle for me, which he had Reason enough to do; for I was fo tired with my first Journey, and with entertaining Company eight Hours together, that I could hardly stand upon my Legs, or fpeak a Word. It was at least three Days before I recovered my Strength; and that I might have no Reft at home, all the neighbouring Gentlemen from an hundred Miles round, hearing of my Fame, came to fee me at my Mafter's own Houfe. There could not be fewer than thirty Perfons with their Wives and Children; (for the Country is very populous)

populous) and my Master demanded the Rate of a full Room whenever he fhewed me at home, although it were only to a fingle Family. So that for fome time I had but little Eafe every Day of the Week (except Wednesday, which is their Sabbath) although I were not carried to the Town.

My Mafter finding how profitable I was like to be, refolved to carry me to the most confiderable Cities of the Kingdom. Having therefore provided himself with all things neceffary for a long Journey, and fettled his Affairs at home, he took Leave of his Wife; and upon the 17th of August 1703, about two Months after my Arrival, we fet out for the Metropolis, fituated near the Middle of that Empire, and about three thoufand Miles Distance from our Houfe. My Mafter made his Daughter Glumdalclitch ride behind him. She carried me on her Lap in a Box tied about her Waift. The Girl had lined it on all Sides with the fofteft Cloth fhe could get, well quilted underneath; furnished it with her Baby's Bed, provided me with Linen and other Neceffaries; and made every thing as convenient as fhe could. We had no other Company but a Boy of the Houfe, who rode after us with the Luggage.

My Mafter's Defign was to fhew me in all the Towns by the Way, and to step out of the Road for fifty or an hundred Miles, to any Village or Person of Quality's Houfe where he might expect Cuftom. We made eafy Journeys of not above feven or eight fcore Miles a Day: For Glumdalclitch, on Purpofe to fpare me, complained fhe was tired with the trotting of the Horfe. She often took me out of my Box at my own Defire, to give me Air, and fhew me the Country; but always held me faft by Leading-ftrings. We paffed over five or fix Rivers many Degrees broader and deeper than the Nile or the Ganges; and there was hardly a Rivulet so small as the Thames at London-Bridge. We were ten Weeks in our Journey; and I was fhewn in eighteen large Towns, befides, many Villages and private Families.

I 2

ON

On the 26th Day of October, we arrived at the Metropolis, called in their Language Lorbrulgrud, or Pride of the Universe. My Mafter took a Lodging in the principal Street of the City, not far from the Royal Palace; and put out Bills in the ufual Form, containing an exact Description of my Perfon and Parts., He hired a large Room between three and four hundred Foot wide. He provided a Table fixty Foot in Diameter, upon which I was to act my Part; and pallifadoed it round three Foot from the Edge, and as ma ny high, to prevent my falling over. I was fhewn ten times a Day to the Wonder and Satisfaction of all People. I could now fpeak the Language tolerably well; and perfectly understand every Word that was fpoken to me. Befides, I had learned their Alphabet, and could make a Shift to explain a Sentence here and there; for Glumdalclitch had been my Inftructor while we were at home, and at leifure Hours during our Journey. She carried a little Book in her Pocket, not much larger than a Sanfon's Atlas; it was a common Treatife for the Ufe of young Girls, giving a fhort Account of their Religion; out of this fhe taught me my Letters, and interpreted the Words.

СНАР. Ж.....

The Author fent for to Court. The Queen buys him of bis Mafter the Farmer, and prefents him to the King. He difputes with his Majefty's great Scholars. An Apartment at Court provided for the Author. He is in high Favour with the Queen. He fands up for the Honour of his own Country. His Quarrels with the Queen's Dwarf.

THE

HE frequent Labours I underwent every Day, made in a few Weeks a very confiderable Change in my Health: The more my Master got by me, the more infatiable he grew. I had quite loft my Stomach, and was almoft reduced to a Skeleton. The

Farmer