him has this
good, merciful master, thrown into gaol; and for what? Why, truly, for
that, being a divine, and a good man, he had the fear of God before his
eyes, and was willing to forego all his expectations of interest, and
assist an oppressed poor creature.

But, to be sure, I must be forward, bold, saucy, and what not! to dare
to run away from certain ruin, and to strive to escape from an unjust
confinement; and I must be married to the parson, nothing so sure!

He would have had but a poor catch of me, had I consented: But he, and
you too, know I did not want to marry any body. I only wanted to go to
my poor parents, and to have my own liberty, and not to be confined by
such an unlawful restraint; and which would not have been inflicted upon
me, but only that I am a poor, destitute, young body, and have no friend
that is able to right me.

So, Mrs. Jewkes, said I, here is my history in brief. And I am a very
unhappy young creature, to be sure!--And why am I so?--Why, because my
master sees something in my person that takes his present fancy; and
because I would not be undone.--Why, therefore to choose, I must, and I
shall be undone!--And this is all the reason that can be given!

She heard me run on all this time, while I was undressing, without any
interruption; and I said, Well, I must go to the two closets, ever since
an affair of the closet at the other house, though he is so far off. And
I have a good mind to wake this poor maid. No, don't, said she, I charge
you. I am very angry with her, and she'll get no harm there; and if she
wakes, she may come to bed well enough, as long as there is a candle in
the chimney.

So I looked into the closet, and kneeled down in my own, as I used to
do, to say my prayers, and this with my underclothes in my hand, all
undressed; and passed by the poor sleeping wench, as I thought, in my
return. But, oh! little did I think it was my wicked, wicked master, in
a gown and petticoat of hers, and her apron over his face and shoulders.
What meanness will not Lucifer make his votaries stoop to, to gain their
abominable ends!

Mrs. Jewkes, by this time, was got to bed, on the farther side, as she
used to be; and, to make room for the maid, when she should awake, I got
into bed, and lay close to her. And I said, Where are the keys? though,
said I, I am not so much afraid to-night. Here, said the wicked woman,
put your arm under mine, and you shall find them about my wrist, as they