er. Scott having some occasions into Staffordshire, addressed
himself for a month or six weeks to Hodges, assisted him to dress his
patients, let blood, &c. Being to return to London, he desired Hodges to
shew him the person and feature of the woman he should marry. Hodges
carries him into a field not far from his house, pulls out his crystal,
bids Scott set his foot to his, and, after a while, wishes him to
inspect the crystal, and observe what he saw there. 'I see,' saith
Scott, 'a ruddy complexioned wench in a red waistcoat, drawing a can of
beer.' 'She must be your wife,' said Hodges. 'You are mistaken, Sir,'
said Scott. 'I am, so soon as I come to London, to marry a tall
gentlewoman in the Old Bailey.' 'You must marry the red waistcoat,' said
Hodges. Scott leaves the country, comes up to London, finds his
gentlewoman married: two years after going into Dover, in his return, he
refreshed himself at an inn in Canterbury, and as he came into the hall,
or first room thereof, he mistook the room, and went into the buttery,
where he espied a maid, described by Hodges, as before said, drawing a
can of beer, &c. He then more narrowly viewing her person and habit,
found her, in all parts, to be the same Hodges had described; after
which he became a suitor unto her, and was married unto her; which woman
I have often seen. This Scott related unto me several times, being a
very honest person, and made great conscience of what he spoke. Another
story of him is as followeth, which I had related from a person which
well knew the truth of it.
A neighbour gentleman of Hodges lost his horse; who having Hodges's
advice for recovery of him, did again obtain him. Some years after, in a
frolick, he thought to abuse him, acquainting a neighbour therewith,
viz., that he had formerly lost a horse, went to Hodges, recovered him
again, but saith it was by chance; I might have had him without going
unto him: 'Come, let's go, I will now put a trick upon him; I will leave
some boy or other at the town's-end with my horse, and then go to Hodges
and enquire for him.' He did so, gave his horse to a youth, with orders
to walk him till he returned. Away he goes with his friend, salutes Mr.
Hodges, thanks him for his former courtesy, and now desires the like,
having lost a horse very lately. Hodges, after some time of pausing,
said; 'Sir, your horse is lost, and never to be recovered.' 'I thought
what skill you had,' replies the gallant, 'my horse is
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