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The CARDS, &c.
ONE Richard Middleton, a soldier, attending divine service with the rest of the regiment at a church in Glasgow, instead of pulling out a bible like the rest of his brother soldiers, to find the parson’s text, spread a pack of cards before him; this singular behaviour did not pass unnoticed both by the clergyman and the serjeant of the company to which he belonged: the latter in particular commanded him to put up his cards, and on his refusal conducted him, after church, before the mayor to whom be preferred a formal complaint of Richard’s indecent behaviour during divine service.
Well soldier (said the mayor) what excuse have you to offer for this strange, scandalous, indecent behaviour; if you can make any apology or assign any rea for it, it’s well; if you cannot, assure yourself that I will cause you to be severely punished for it. Since your honour is so good (replied Richard) as to let me speak for myself, an’t please your worship, I have been eight days upon the march with a bare allowance of sixpence a day, which your honour will surely allow is hardly sufficient to maintain a man in meat, drink, washing, and other necessaries and consequently he may want money to purchase a bible, prayer-book, or any other good book: On saying this, Richard drew our a pack of cards, and presenting one of the aces to the mayor, continued his address to the magistrate in the following manner, viz. when I see an
ACE,
May it please your honour (continued Richard) it reminds me that there is but one God and father of all I have to adore and serve, one faith to believe, one truth to practise, one baptism to cleanse me from
