Now to break myself from this bewitched Gaming, I bid adieu to Hazard, Backgammon, Tick-tack, l’Ombre, Picquet, Cribbidge, and Basset, and was resolved to take a Pilgrimage into _Scotland_, where I found the Inhabitants addicted to no sort of Game but _One and Thirty_, at which they are as dextrous as a Milk-Maid at Dancing on _May-Day_, with one Foot upon the Ground, and t’other never off; for from _Fergus_ their first King down to _Charles_ the First, whom they Sold for a Sacrifice to Stratocracy or Army Power, they had Murder’d no less than Thirty One of their Sovereigns, which is just the Game at Regicide: Hereupon to call them Traytors is a Favour, for they will hatch Treason as soon as they do _Chickens_ at _Grand-Cairo_, by the Adoption of an Oven; but now the _Scots_ are bound to their good Behaviour, by a Union, they ought to be as Circumspect in their Loyalty, as the Ambassador that Beds a Queen, with the nice Caution of a Sword between them.
It is said that _Scota_ the Daughter of _Pharaoh_ King of _Egypt_, who was Drown’d in the _Red-Sea_, gave Name to _Scotland_, when she went thither, and betwixt which People and the valiant _English_, a Quarrel continued longer than ever did any between any other two Nations in the World, for they have most obstinately contended (like _Rome_ and _Carthage_) for Empire above 2000 Years; which is the most tenacious Suit that ever depended between any two People in the Court of _Mars_. Since the _Norman_ Invasion, there have been 30 pitcht Battles betwixt us and them; of which the _English_ have obtain’d of the _Scots_ at least four for one, and those of greatest Consequence. The South Part of _Great-Britain_ being Champian, hath been sometimes in its Borders harrass’d, and laid wast by the _Scots_, never possess’d, but their Country, defended by inaccessible Hills, and by two invincible Enemies, Hunger and Cold, hath been wholly reduc’d by the _English_, who have Slain four _Scotch_ Kings, and took two Prisoners; whereas they have never Slain nor took Prisoner one _English_ King, to whom the Kings of _Scotland_ were Homagers for a long Time.
Those _Scots_, who dwell by the Sea, dung their Land with the Weeds which it casts on the Shore; and all Women throughout the Country in Writing use their Maiden Names after Marriage. About the High and Solitary Hills of _Genap_ I saw good Store of Magpyes and Goats; but few Hogs, to whose Flesh they bear as utter an Aversion as the _Jews_; and among all their Flocks of Sheep, where you’ll see one White, there’s ten Black, so that you may soon know a _Scotchman_ from a black Sheep. The farther I Travell’d, I observ’d Geese were not over plentiful; Parsnips very scarce; Venison not to be had for want of Deer; Boys Knitted, and Men, Women, and Children went bare-legg’d.