andising. [Retrench my
beef--a dog! Retrench my beef; then it is plain the rascal has an ill
design upon me--he would starve me.] Mortgage thy manor of Bullock's
Hatch, or pawn thy crop for ten years. [A rogue! part with my
country-seat, my patrimony, all that I have left in the world; I'll
see him hanged first.] Why hast thou changed thy attorney? Can any man
manage thy cause better for thee? [Very pleasant! because a man has a
good attorney, he must never make an end of his law-suit.] Ah, John!
John! I wish thou knewest thine own mind. Thou art as fickle as the
wind. I tell thee, thou hadst better let this composition alone, or
leave it to thy

Loving friend,

Nic. FROG.

* A letter from the States-General.

** Alluding to the Rebellion.

*** The Dutch prohibition of trade.

CHAPTER X. Of some extraordinary Things* that passed at the "Salutation"
Tavern, in the Conference between Bull, Frog, Esquire South, and Lewis
Baboon.

* The Treaty of Utrecht: the difficulty to get them to
meet. When met, the Dutch would not speak their sentiments,
nor the French deliver in their proposals. The House of
Austria talked very high.

Frog had given his word that he would meet the above-mentioned company
at the "Salutation," to talk of this agreement. Though he durst not
directly break his appointment, he made many a shuffling excuse: one
time he pretended to be seized with the gout in his right knee; then he
got a great cold, that had struck him deaf of one ear; afterwards two
of his coach-horses fell sick, and he durst not go by water, for fear
of catching an ague. John would take no excuse, but hurried him away.
"Come, Nic.," says he, "let's go and hear at least what this old fellow
has to propose; I hope there's no hurt in that." "Be it so," quoth Nic.;
"but if I catch any harm, woe be to you; my wife and children will curse
you as long as they live." When they were come to the "Salutation," John
concluded all was sure then, and that he should be troubled no more with
law affairs. He thought everybody as plain and sincere as he was. "Well,
neighbours," quoth he, "let's now make an end of all matters, and
live peaceably together for the time to come. If everybody is as well
inclined as I, we shall quickly come to the upshot of our affair." And
so, pointing to Frog to say something, to the great surprise of all the
company, Frog was seized with a dead palsy in the tongue. John be