Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/154

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146
Memoirs of

and damp, and we have a double Reaſon to take care of our Healths at ſuch a time as this; and therefore, ſays he, you, Brother Tom. that are a Sail-maker, might eaſily make us a little Tent, and I will undertake to ſet it up every Night, and take it down, and a Fig for all the Inns in England; if we have a good Tent over our Heads, we ſhall do well enough.

The Joyner oppos’d this, and told them, let them leave that to him, he would undertake to build them a Houſe every Night with his Hatchet and Mallet, tho’ he had no other Tools, which ſhould be fully to their ſatisfaction, and as good as a Tent.

The Soldier and the Joyner diſputed that Point ſome time, but at laſt the Soldier carry’d it for a Tent; the only Objection againſt it was, that it muſt be carry’d with them, and that would encreaſe their Baggage too much, the Weather being hot; but the Sail-maker had a piece of good Hap fell in which made that eaſie, for, his Maſter who he work’d for having a Rope-Walk as well as his Sail-making Trade, had a little poor Horſe that he made no uſe of then, and being: willing to aſſiſt the three honeſt Men, he gave them the Horſe for the carrying their Baggage; alſo for a ſmall Matter of three Days Work that his Man did for him before he went, he let him have an old Top-gallant Sail that was worn out, but was ſufficient and more than enough to make a very good Tent: The Soldier ſhew’d how to ſhape it, and they ſoon by his Direction made their Tent, and fitted it with Poles or Staves for the purpoſe, and thus they were furniſh’d for their Journey; viz. three Men, one Tent, one Horſe, one Gun, for the Soldier would not go without Arms, for now he ſaid he was no more a Biſcuit-Baker, but a Trooper.

The Joyner had a ſmall Bag of Tools, ſuch as might be uſeful if he ſhould get any Work abroad, as well for their Subſiſtence as his own: What Money they