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Richard Head, Francis Kirkman
Published by Good Press, 2020
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Having read these lines he raved out-right, some times condemning his rigid destiny, then exclaiming against the perfidiousness of such who under the pretence of friendship should be his undoers; But having tired himself with these fruitless complaints, he soberly ask’d our advice what he should do in this intricacy. We all advised him to follow them close at heels with all imaginable expedition, the Captain and my self promising him our Company in the search; the next day mounted we rode the way wherein we guest the Gentlemen were gone with the young Gentlewoman, and having rid about ten miles from Gergento, the place from whence we came, we overtook two fellows who gave us cause to suspect them by their looks and habits, whilst I was acquainting the old Gentleman with my thoughts of them, they liking not our whispering betook themselves to their heels, which so increased our jealousie, that with Whip and Spur I soon overtook them, they resisted me for a while, but being overpoured by number yielded, searching them we found little money, the old Gentleman viewing them strictly, saw his own Coat upon one of their backs, and now concluding that these were the Rogues that had his Cabinet too, made a very strict research but to no purpose, they denying they had ever seen such a thing; but this served not their turns, and although we should hinder our intent in prosecuting a better discovery, yet we thought it very requisite to return and secure them with the rest of their fellows.
Coming home to his own house, he understood that the maid which particularly had waited a long time on his Daughter was suddenly gone, giving to none an account why or wherefore, but she was watch’d to go such a way: We were now all verily perswaded she was gone in quest of her Mistress, and that by tracking her, we should know where she was. The advise was well resented and speedily prosecuted, with such good success, as in less than a days time we found this Gillian and her companion footing it in great haste towards Catania, but we soon stopt their Journey, and discovered, they had got what the poor Gentlewoman was accused of, she had given it to her Friend to carry, but they were both like to bear the weight of the burthen. Examining her, she confest when she saw her Mistress was gone from her Father, and imagining she would be suspected to carry the Cabinet with her, (which would support her, should her Father frown for ever) she took that opportunity to enrich her self, and that Friend with her.
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