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A Gentleman being very much in Debt, kept close within doors, and never stir'd abroad, which made all the waitings of the Bayliffs for him ineffe∣ctual, several snares they laid for him, but he by his wariness shun'd them all, till the goodness of his own nature to one, betray'd him to the cruelty of others in this manner.
There was a Smith who lived opposite to this Gentlemans Window, through which, every morning very early, for the benefit of the fresh Air, he used to look out, which this Vulcanian Rascal took notice of; and being before bribed by some Officers for his Apprehension, he thought of a way how to betray this poor Gentle∣man into their Clutches. He went and told the Officers what he intended such a morning and ordered them to be ready in some ambush very near him, for he que∣stioned not but he had studied the means infallibly to draw the Gentleman out of doors. The Smith having bought him a rope over night, got up very early the next morning much about the time the Gentleman used to look out of his win∣dow, having got upon his Grindston, he threw a Rope cross a Beam in his own shed, where he might be easily seen by the opposite Gentleman, and having made it fast above, he put the noose about his neck, and then extending his hands to Heaven, with elevated Eyes, he pretend∣ed to say his Prayers, the Gentleman see∣ing this, out of meer pitty and commi∣seration, ran out with all the speed he could, the Bayliffs seeing that, ran out
and surprised him; the Smith hearing a noise, endeavoured to turn about to see what was the matter, and in that motion, slipt from the grindstone, and there hung; the Bayliffs being busied, and over-joy'd upon the seizing their Prisoner, never minded what became of the Smith, but going away with their Prisoner to secure him, left him hanging as the just reward of so foul a Treachery,
Another Smith living in the Countrey, there was a nest of Hornets in the Thatch of his Hovel, who had made their way quite through, and as he was at work on a long Curtain rod red hot, an Hornet stung him; at first he minded it not very much, but presently after came another, and stung him in the face, this so enraged him that looking up and seeing them all busy in the thatch, cry'd out are ye there ye Devils, i'le set fire in your Arses pre∣sently; hereupon he ran with the rod to the Forge, and heating it again, he ran it up at them, and withal running through the thatch set it a fire, and so revenging himself on his enemies he half ruin'd him∣self by burning down his own Hovel.