CHARLES COTTON. clxxv 



At Chester he was taken ill, but he speedily recovered; and 

 after he had 



" Comb'd out and powder'd my locks that were grizzle " 



he went to the Cathedral, and when the service was ended, he fell 

 into the rear of the procession of the mayor and aldermen ; 



"For why, 'tis much safer appearing, no doubt, 

 In authority's- tail, than the head of a rout. 

 In this rev'rend order we marched from prayer, 

 The mace before me borne as well as the Mayor, 

 Who looking behind him, and seeing most plain 

 A glorious gold belt in the rear of his train, 

 Made such a low cong£, forgetting his place, 

 I was never so hononr'd before in my days ; 

 But then off went my scalp-case, and down went my fist. 

 Till the pavement, too hard, by my knuckles was kiss'd, 

 By which, though thick-skull'd, he must understand this, 

 That I was a most humble servant of his ; 

 Which also so wonderful kindly he took 

 (As I well perceiv'd both b' his gesture and look), 

 That to have me dogg'd home, he straightway appointed. 

 Resolving, it seems, to be better acquainted ; 

 I was scarce in my quarters, and set down on crupper, 

 But this man was there too, to invite me to supper ; 

 I start up, and after most respective fashion 

 Gave his worship much thanks for his kind invitation. 

 But begg'd his excuse, for my stomach was small. 

 And I never did eat any supper at all ; 

 But that after supper I would kii^s his hands, 

 And would come to receive his worship's commands." 



The mayor however insisted upon having his company at supper : 

 he obeyed, and 



" Supper being ended, and things away taken, 

 Master Mayor's curiosity 'gan to awaken ; 

 Wherefore making me draw something nearer his chair, 

 He will'd and requir'd me there to declare 

 My country, my birth, my estate, and my parts, 

 And whether I was not a master of arts ; 

 And eke what the bus'ness was had brought me thither, 

 With what I was going about now, and whither? 

 Giving me caution, no He should escape me, 

 For if I should trip, he should certainly trap me.'* 



His answer to these inquiries contains an amusing account of 

 himself : — 



" I answer'd, my country was fam'd Staffordshire; 

 That in deeds, bills, and bonds, I was ever writ Squire ; 

 That of land I had both sorts, some good and some evil. 

 But that a great part on't was pawn'd to the devil ; 

 That as for my parts, they were such as he saw ; 

 That indeed I had a small smatt'ring of law. 

 Which I lately had got more by practice than reading, 

 By sitting o' th' bench, whilst others were pleading; 

 But that arms I had ever more studied than arts. 

 And was now to a Captain rais'd by my deserts ; 

 That the business which led me through Palatine ground 

 Into Ireland was, whither now I was bound." 



