do what we’d have you. Yes, said I, I shall
be willing to do what you’d have me, if you
please to tell me what it is: Why said he, your
Business will be Easie enough, and pleasant enough:
For we intend to take a very good Lodging for you,
and provide you with all things necessary; and your
Business shall only be to lie with one of us one Night,
and the other another. The chief thing we shall
desire of you, is only to keep your self entirely
to us, and not stir out without our Approbation.
And for other things you shall have what you will,
and be maintain’d like a Gentlewoman; For we’ll
maintain you; and the Money you shall have, shall be
for your own Occasions, and to find you New Cloths.
Well, Sir, says I, for such things we shou’d
not differ; but we in the Country think ’tis
a Wicked thing to lye with Folks, unless they be Married;
and then they mun be married but to one nother:
And so that mun not be, Sir. I know not what you
do in the Country, says one of the Sparks,
but here in London ’tis as common as
Washing of Dishes. And People of the best Quality
do it. Look ye, continued he, to Encourage
you, we will give you Thirty Pounds a Year: And
Maintain you besides. We cou’d have enow
in Town to serve us, and thank you too; but we look
upon you to be an Innocent Country Maid, and for that
reason we had rather have you than another: Are
you sure you are a Maid, said the other? Sure!
said I? Yes, I think I am. Yes, yes, said
the other, I believe she is: But I believe,
said I, You but taak’n all this while, for
no Body mun do such things. No, I’ll assure
you, says the more serious of the two, We are
in Earnest; and we’ll pay you down half your
Money, fifteen Pounds now, to put your self in a good
Garb, fit for a Gentleman’s Mistress. But
what mun I do for’t, said I? Let’s
agree upon that first. You shall be Mistress
to us both, said they: And let one of
us lye with you one time, and the other another:
And we’ll now go along with you, and take a
Lodging for you; and you shall go under the Notion
of our Sister_, and we will be your Brothers;
And so no Notice shall be taken of it._—But
not to trouble you longer, Madam_, with the Particulars,
we at last agreed the matter; and I had fifteen Pounds
paid me down for half a Years Pay: And my two
Sparks cast Lots, to decide the Important Controversie
of who should lie with me first: And it happened
to him that was the most Civil of the Two; And he
was to tarry with me till Ten a Clock at Night, at
my New Lodgings, and then to go home, for he cou’d
not stay all Night. So to it we went, and I gave
him all the Satisfaction he desir’d; counterfeiting
the matter so well, that he was mightily pleased with
the Enjoyment he had: And went home very well
satisify’d; telling me, he wou’d acquaint
his fellow-Prentice that was to come the next Night,
that he had found me all Love and Charms. And
so took his Leave of me._


