s commission in
the Imperial army, and his captain's challenge, which he preserved as
testimonials of his character. I was so well convinced of this poor
man's honesty and courage, that I determined to speak in his behalf
to some of my acquaintance, who might recommend his case to the
consideration of those who could provide for him; and in the meantime
to accommodate him with a few clothes, by which his appearance would be
much mended, and himself enabled to renew his solicitations in person.

As we walked along conversing socially together, we were met by a file
of musketeers, and Strap at their head, who no sooner approached than,
with a frantic look, he cried, "Seize them! In the name of God seize
them!" We were accordingly surrounded, and I put in arrest by the
corporal, who was commanding officer; but Captain Oregan disengaged
himself, and ran with such speed towards Tottenham Court Road that he
was out of sight in a moment. When my arms were delivered up, and myself
secured, Strap became a little more composed, and asked pardon for the
liberty he had taken, which he hoped I would excuse, as it proceeded
from his affection. He then told me that, suspecting the letter (which
by the by was brought by the author himself) contained something
extraordinary, he had peeped through the keyhole, and seen me load my
pistols; upon which he ran down to Whitehall, and applied to the officer
on guard for a party to put me in arrest, but before he returned, I
was gone in a coach; that he had inquired which way I went, and, having
heard that duels were commonly fought at the back of Montague House, he
conducted the guard to this place, where he thanked God for having found
me safe and sound. I gave him to understand that I forgave his officious
concern for once, but cautioned him in pretty severe terms for making
me the subject of idle conversation for the future; then turning to the
corporal, thanked him for his care, and gave him a crown to drink with
his men, assuring him that the rencontre was over long before he
came up, and everything compromised, as he might have observed by our
behaviour; as a farther proof of which, he would find upon examination
that one of my pistols had been discharged: but this civil person,
without giving himself or me any farther trouble, received the bounty
with a thousand bows and acknowledgments, and, returning the pistols,
released me immediately.

He was not gone a hundred yards, when my frie