Cambridge jests, or, Witty alarums for melancholy spirits by a lover of ha, ha, he.

202.

A Lady going to visit a Gentlewoman of her acquaintance, took her Maid a∣long with her, which was very simple and ignorant; and it happen'd, as they came away, that in straining comple∣ments, there escaped a fart; not a thun∣dering one, but a Lady's fart; born be∣fore its time. At this accident she became very much ashamed, and to excuse her self, she put it upon the Maid, saying, Get you hence you stinking slut. The Maid being wrongfully accused, as all the Com∣pany knew, went about to excuse her

self: but her Mistriss persisting, made her hold her tongue; and so took leave of the company. Afterwards when she was out and alone with her Maid, she said, How now impudence, how durst you contradict me? Did you not see I did it to save my cre∣dit before the company? And that it would have been better, they should have thought it had been you, than I. The Maid begg'd pardon, saying, She did not think in the least of that. Go, go, you are a beast, said her Mistriss, and by your dulness make me suffer shame. Whereupon the poor inno∣cent Maid, to repair her fault, went back privately to the House whence they came, and entred into the Room where all the Company was, laughing still at the pleasant Dispute between the Lady and her Maid: Then making a great reve∣rence, she said aloud, Gentlemen and La∣dies, I declare freely, that the fart which was let here just now, I take upon my self. Which caused the Company to redouble their laughter at the simplicity of the Maid.