( 22 )
Mrs. HARRIS'S PETITION. 1699.
TO their Excellencies the Lords Justices of Ireland[1], The humble petition of Frances Harris,
Who must starve, and die a maid, if it miscarries: Humbly showeth,
That I went to warm myself in lady Betty's[2] chamber, because I was cold;
And I had in a purse seven pounds, four shillings, and six pence, beside farthings, in money and gold;
So, because I had been buying things for my lady last night,
I was resolved to tell my money, to see if it was right.
| Now, you must know, because my trunk has a very bad lock, | |
| Therefore all the money I have, which, God knows, is a very small stock, | |
| I keep in my pocket, tied about my middle, next to my smock. |
So when I went to put up my purse, as God would have it, my smock was unripp'd,
And, instead of putting it into my pocket, down it slipp'd;
Then the bell rung, and I went down to put my lady to bed;
And, God knows, I thought my money was as safe as my maidenhead.
So, when I came up again, I found my pocket feel very light;
But when I searched, and miss'd my purse, Lord! I thought I should have sunk outright.
- ↑ The earls of Berkeley and of Galway.
- ↑ Lady Betty Berkeley, afterward Germaine.
