FRIEND JOHN.
"WHAT Schellum is this, that makes thee jealous of thy old friend Nicholas? Hast thou forgot how some years ago he took thee out of the spunginghouse[2]?" ['Tis true my friend Nic. did so, and I thank him; but he made me pay a swingeing reckoning.] "Thou beginn'st now to repent thy bargain, that thou wast so fond of; and if thou durst, would'st forswear thy own hand and seal. Thou say'st, that thou hast purchased me too great an estate already; when, at the same time, thou know'st I have only a mortgage: 'tis true, I have possession, and the tenants own me for master; but has not esquire South the equity of redemption?" [No doubt, and will redeem it very speedily; poor Nic. has only possession, eleven points of the law.] As for the turnpikes[3] I have set up, they are for other people, not for my friend John; I have ordered my servant constantly to attend, to let thy carriages through without paying any thing; only I hope thou wilt not come too heavy laden to spoil my ways. Certainly I have just cause of offence
- ↑ A letter from the states general.
- ↑ Alluding to the revolution.
- ↑ The Dutch prohibition of trade.
