oes; and although my
Loyalty to King George and the Protestant Succession was without stain,
I felt that it was somewhat beneath the dignity of a Gentleman Cavalier
to dangle all day beneath a Portcullis with a Partisan on one's
shoulder, or act as Bear Leader to the Joskins and simpering City Madams
that came to see the Curiosities. And I felt my own roaming Fit come
upon me as fierce as ever, and longed to be off to Foreign Parts again.
I could have taken service under the Duke of Cumberland in the wars of
Germany, and could have procured, perhaps, a pair of Colours in his
Royal Highness's army; but, odd to relate, ever since my Misadventure at
Vienna what time I was in little Squire Pinchin's service, I had
conceived a great Distaste for those High Dutch countries, and cared not
to go a campaigning there. Then there was fighting going on, and to
spare, in Italy, where the Austrians were doing their best to reduce
Genoa, the French opposing 'em tooth and nail. But I misliked the
Germans as well as their country, and saw not the Profit of getting shot
under the command of an Austrian Archduke. There were many other
Continental countries open to the enterprise of Gentlemen Adventurers
from England, but in most of them only Papists would go down; and to
turn Romanist, for whatever reward of Place or Dignity, was against my
principles.

Pending, however, my coming to some Determination as to my future mode
of life, I resolved to throw up my Post of Tower Warder receiving the
gratuity of Twenty Guineas which was granted to those resigning by the
bounty of his Majesty the King. Those who state that I left my
Employment in any thing like Disgrace are surely the vilest Traducers
and Libellers that ever deserved to have their tongues bored through
with a Red-hot Iron; but I do not mind myself admitting that my
situation had become somewhat unpleasant, and that I was sufficiently
anxious to change the scene of my Adventures. There was a certain
Waiting-maid belonging to Madam Williamson (that was General
Williamson's lady, Military Commandant) who had long cast Sheep's Eyes
upon me. I declare that I gave the Lass no encouragement; but what would
you have? I was in the prime of life, and she a buxom kind of Wench,
about twenty-two years of age. 'Twas following me here, and ogling me
there, and leaving love-billets and messages for me at the Guard-Room. I
will not deny but that from time to time I may have passed a jest with
the