said the Gentleman) I'll
give thee a Flaggon or two; Where is the best Drink? At yonder House,
Master, (answer'd the Soldier) where you see yon Soldier at the Door,
there be the best Drink and the best Measure, zure: Chil woit a top o
your Worship az Zoon as you be got thare. I'll take thy Word, said
t'other, and went directly to the Place; where he had hardly sate down,
and call'd for some Drink, e'er the Soldier came in, to whom the
Gentleman gave one Pot, and drank to him out of another. _Lostall_, that
was the Soldier, whipp'd off his Flaggon, and said, bowing, Well,
Master, God bless your Worship! Ich can but love and thank you, and was
going; but the Gentleman, who had farther Business with him, with some
Difficulty prevail'd on him to sit down, for a Minute or two, after the
Soldier had urg'd that he must mind his Business, for he had yet half a
Day's Work almost to complete, and he would not wrong any Body of a
Quarter of an Hour's Labour for all the World. Th'art a very honest
Fellow, I believe, said his Friend; but prithee what does thy whole
Day's Work come to? Eighteen-pence, reply'd _Lostall_: Look, there 'tis
for thee, said the Gentleman. Ay; but an't like your Worship, who must
make an End of my Day's Business? (the Soldier ask'd.) Get any Body else
to do it for thee, and I'll pay him. Can'st prevail with one of thy
Fellow-Soldiers to be so kind? Yes, Master, thank God, cham not so ill
belov'd nother. Here's honest _Frank_ will do so much vor me, Zure: Wilt
not, _Frank_? (withal my Heart, _Tom_, reply'd his Comrade.) Here,
Friend, (said _Lostall's_ new Acquaintance) here's Eighteen-pence for
thee too. I thank your Honour, return'd the Soldier, but should have but
Nine-pence. No Matter what thou should'st have, I'll give thee no less,
said the strange Gentleman. Heavens bless your Honour! (cry'd the
Soldier) and after he had swigg'd off a Pot of good Drink, took
_Lostall's_ Pick-ax and Spade, and went about his Business. Now (said
the Stranger) let us go and take a Glass of Wine, if there be any that
is good hereabouts, for I fancy thou'rt a mighty honest Fellow; and I
like thy Company mainly. Cham very much bound to behold you, Master,
(return'd _Lostall_) and chave a Fancy that you be and a
_West_-Country-Man, zure; (added he) you do a take zo like en; vor
_Mainly_ be our Country Word, zure. We'll talk more of that by and by,
said t'other: Mean while I'll discharge the House, and walk whither thou
wilt le