is to cut him down.

HAB.--Thou suspicious creature! if thou must needs know it, I tell thee
it is Sir Roger;* he has been in tears ever since thy misfortune. Don
Diego and we have laid it so that he is to be in the next room, and
before the rope is well about thy neck, rest satisfied he will break in
and cut thee down. Fear not, old boy; we'll do it, I'll warrant thee.

* It was given out that the Earl of Oxford would oppose the
occasional Bill, and so lose his credit with the Tories; and
the Dissenters did believe he would not suffer it to pass.

JACK.--So I must hang myself up upon hopes that Sir Roger will cut
me down, and all this upon the credit of Don Diego. A fine stratagem,
indeed, to save my life, that depends upon hanging, Don Diego, and Sir
Roger!

HAB.--I tell thee there is a mystery in all this, my friend, a piece
of profound policy; if thou knew what good this will do to the common
cause, thy heart would leap for joy. I am sure thou wouldst not delay
the experiment one moment.

JACK.--This is to the tune of "All for the better." What's your cause to
me when I am hanged?

HAB.--Refractory mortal! if thou wilt not trust thy friends, take what
follows. Know assuredly, before next full moon, that thou wilt be hung
up in chains, or thy quarters perching upon the most conspicuous
places of the kingdom. Nay, I don't believe they will be contented
with hanging; they talk of impaling, or breaking on the wheel, and thou
choosest that before a gentle suspending of thyself for one minute.
Hanging is not so painful a thing as thou imaginest. I have spoken
with several that have undergone it; they all agree it is no manner of
uneasiness. Be sure thou take good notice of the symptoms; the relation
will be curious. It is but a kick or two with thy heels, and a wry mouth
or so: Sir Roger will be with thee in the twinkling of an eye.

JACK.--But what if Sir Roger should not come; will my friends be there
to succour me?

HAB.--Doubt it not; I will provide everything against to-morrow morning:
do thou keep thy own secret--say nothing. I tell thee it is absolutely
necessary for the common good that thou shouldst go through this
operation.

CHAPTER XIII. How Jack hanged himself up by the persuasion of his
friends, who broke their words, and left his neck in the noose.

Jack was a professed enemy to implicit faith, and yet I dare say it
was never more strongly exerted nor more basely abused than