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_Mistress_ Mary _continues the story of the young Gentleman; relates how a Cheat (with two more) pretending to be a Countrey man, performed a very profitable but most comical exploit on a Shop keeper; she is interrupted by the Arrival of her comrades;_ Meriton Lattroon _enters into a Pleasant Dialogue with her; his_ Indian _wife falls in love with Mistress_ Mary _and Mistress_ Dorothy, _disguis’d in mans apparel: and a pleasant Adventure there upon._
Thus (said Mistress _Mary_) did the Gentleman discourse of the _French_ manner of Thieving and Cheating, which was after a more confident and bold manner than that of our Countrey-men; and their manner of picking pockets was, I told him a great Novelty; he replyed that he could relate many such tricks that were done at his being there; two more whereof, continued he, I will tell you, and so conclude.
Three Cheats intending a piece of roguery, had aparelled themselves like Countrey-men; and two sauntring in the Street, one of the other went into a Shop-keeper, whom they saw was alone in his Shop, and tells him that he was a Countrey-man, and had born all offices in the Parish where he liv’d: and was now Church-warden, and that he was come to Town to lay out a little money for the use of the Parish; but more especially to buy a Cope for the Parson; and, said he, I would buy a good one though it cost me the more money: and thereupon fetch’d several and shew’d him: he turn’d many of them over, but still desired to see better, at length one was brought which he seemed to like: but, said he to the Shop-keeper, I doubt it is too short: no, said the Shop-keeper, it is long enough of all conscience, and thereupon measured it upon the Country-man: who said, I cannot tell by this measuring, whether it be long enough or no: but our Parson is a man much about your pitch, and therefore I pray do you put it on, and I shall be better satisfied, the Shop-keeper to satisfie his Customer, did so; and our cheating Church-warden did assist, and help him to put it on; but in doing it, he clapt his hand into the Shop-keepers pocket, and drew from thence a purse of money, the Shop keeper perceiv’d it, and caught hold of his Customer, but he slipping out of his hand, shew’d him a fair pair of heels, and the Shop-keeper without putting off the Cope followed him; in the mean time the other two of our cheats Companions acted their parts, for the one went into the shop, and taking the next bundle of goods that came to hand went away, and the third doubting that if the Shop-keeper kept his pace he might overtake his Companion whom he pursued; he therefore having plac’d himself in the way on purpose, catches hold on the Shop-keeper, and sayes, O Lord Master Doctor! what makes you thus distracted? as to run in the streets in this unseemly manner: the Shop-keeper told him that he was mistaken, he was no Parson, and that he was in pursuit of a fellow that robb’d him; by this time our Cheat who was pursued, had turned a corner of a Street, and was out of sight; and the Neighbors coming out to see what was the matter, perswaded the Shop-keeper to go home again and put off that Garment, and then go look for the Cheater; he did so, but there he found that he had a second loss, which made him more angry than before, especially when he considered that he was without all remedy, not being able to discover who they were that had shown him this clenly conveyance.