Part of the River. My Friend Sir RoGER heard them both, upon a round Trot; and after having paused some time, told them, with an Air of a Man who would not give his Judgment rashly, that much might be faid on both Sides. They were neither of them diffatisfied with the Knight's Determination, because neither of them found himself in the Wrong by it: Upon which we made the best of our Way to the Affizes.

THE Court was fat before Sir RoGER came, but notwithstanding all the Juftices had taken their Places upon the Bench, they made Room for the old Knight at the Head of them; who for his Reputation in the Country took Occafion to whisper in the Judge's Ear, That he was glad his Lordship had met with fo much good Weather in his Circuit. I was liftening to the Proceed ings of the Court with much Attention, and infinitely pleafed with that great Appearance and Solemnity which fo properly accompanies fuch a publick Administration of our Laws; when, after about an Hour's Sitting, I obferved to my great Surprize, in the midft of a Tryal, that my Friend Sir ROGER C 3

was

was getting up to fpeak. I was in fome Pain for him, till I found he had acquitted himself of two or three Sentences, with a Look of much Business and great Intrepidity.

UPON his firft Rifing the Court was hushed, and a general Whisper ran among the Country-People that Sir ROGER was up. The Speech he made was fo little to the Purpose, that I fhall not trouble my Readers with an Account of it; and I believe was not fo much defigned by the Knight himself to inform the Court, as to give him a Figure in my Eye, and keep up his Credit in the Country.

I was highly delighted, when the Court rofe, to fee the Gentlemen of the Country gathering about my old Friend, and ftriving who fhould Compliment him moft, at the fame time that the ordinary People gazed upon him at a Diftance, not a little admiring his Courage, that was not afraid to speak to the Judge.

IN our Return home we met with a very odd Accident, which I cannot forbear relating, because it fhews how defirous all who know Sir ROGER are of giving him Marks of their Efteem.

When

When we were arrived upon the Verge of his Eftate, we ftopped at a little Inn to reft our felves and our Horfes. The Man of the Houfe had it feems been formerly a Servant in the Knight's Family; and to do Honour to his old Mafter, had fome Time fince, unknown to Sir ROGER, put him up in a Sign-poft before the Door; fo that the Knight's Head had hung out upon the Road about a Week before he himself knew any thing of the Matter. As foon as Sir ROGER was acquainted with it, finding that his Servant's Indifcretion proceeded wholly from Affection and Good-will, he only told him that he had made him too high a Compliment; and when the Fellow feemed to think that could hardly be, added with a more decifive Look, That it was too great an Honour for any Man under a Duke; but told him at the fame time that it might be altered with a very few Touches, and that he himself would be at the Charge of it. Accordingly they got a Painter by the Knight's Directions to add a Pair of Whiskers to the Face, and by a little Aggravation of the Features to change it into the Saracen's Head. I fhould not have known this Story, had not the C 4 Inn

Inn-keeper upon Sir ROGER's alighting told him in my Hearing, That his Honour's Head was brought back laft Night with the Alterations that he had ordered to be made in it. Upon this my Friend with his ufual Chearfulness related the Particulars above-mentioned, and ordered the Head to be brought into the Room. I could not forbear difcovering greater Expreffions of Mirth than ordinary upon the Appearance of this monstrous Face, under which, not withstanding it was made to frown and ftare in a most extraordinary manner, I could ftill difcover a distant Resemblance of my old Friend. Sir ROGER, upon feeing me laugh, defired me to tell him truly if I thought it poffible for People to know him in that Disguise. I at first kept my usual Silence; but upon the Knight's conjuring me to tell him whether it was not ftill more like himself than a Saracen, I compofed my Countenance in the beft Manner I could, and replied, That much might be faid on both Sides.

THESE feveral Adventures, with the Knight's Behaviour in them, gave me as pleasant a Day as ever I met with of my Travels.

in any

L

Saturday,

Doctrina fed vim promovet infitam,
Rectique cultas pectora roborant:
Utcanque defecere mores,
Dedecorant bene nata culpæ.

A

Hor.

SI was Yesterday taking the Air with my Friend Sir RoGER, we were met by a fresh-coloured ruddy young Man, who rid by us full Speed, with a couple of Servants behind him. Upon my Enquiry who he was, Sir ROGER told me that he was a young Gentleman of a confiderable Estate, who had been educated by a tender Mother that lived not many Miles from the Place where we were. She is a very good Lady, fays my Friend, but took fo much Care of her Son's Health that fhe has made him good for nothing. She quickly found that Reading was bad for his Eyes, and that Writing made his Headake. He was let loose among the Woods as foon as he was able to