But ’twas not always I had such good Luck, for not long after, I met with one, who tho’ he appear’d very well to sight, gave me more than I car’d for; and more than I cou’d rid my self on for a great while after.  ’Twas then, Madam, by taking Mercury, and using Salivations, to be rid of that unwelcome Guest, the Pox, that I lost all that Beauty which I once cou’d boast of.  And then, as one misfortune seldom comes alone, my Husband, whilst I was in this condition, dy’d; who while he liv’d, allow’d me some small Maintenance; but hearing on his Death-Bed the Misfortune that had then befallen me, he became so exasperated against me, he only left me Twenty Shillings to buy a Coffin for me, as thinking I shou’d ne’er Recover; whereas before, as I have since been told by the Executors, he design’d at least a hundred Pounds for me.

The great Expences of my Sickness (which had besides made me unfit for Business) had brought me pretty low; and I was now quite destitute of any other way to help my self but the old Trade of Whoring; and yet I was afraid of being now a Common Night-walker, lest I shou’d meet with such another Job as I had met withal before; which wou’d have ruin’d me to all Intents and Purposes:  But by a Friend of mine, that had been a Well-wisher to the calling, I was advis’d, as much the safer way, to list my self as a Retainer to a Private Vaulting School; where I was told (and indeed found it so) that there were none admitted but what were Sound and Tight.  To this, altho the Gains to me was less, yet since there was less hazard of the Pox, I thought it best to hire my self:  And this Madam, was such a House as now I keep my self.  Where we don’t only take special care, that none but what are free from all Distempers be admitted; but likewise have Surgeons and Apothecaries with whom we are in Fee, who, if we but suspect the least miscarriage, straight give us something that may carry’t off.

Here I continued for some time:  and tho I say’t, behav’d my self so well, that I was prefer’d to the best Gentlemen; for tho, my Natural Beauty had been much decay’d, yet I by Art so patch’d it up again, that I by my good Management, pass’d for a Maid at first to all that didn’t know me:  And besides what my Mistress got, I am sure I had ten Guineas given me by an Esquire for parting with my Maiden-head; which I had parted with many years past; and yet I sold it to new Customers several times after.

During the time that I was in this Station, I met with several odd Adventures; some of which I shall briefly give you an account of.