ed! You know, and have often told me of it,
how Hocus and those rogues kept my husband, John Bull, drunk for five
years together with punch and strong waters: I am sure he never went one
night sober to bed, till they got him to sign the strangest deed that
ever you saw in your life. The methods they took to manage him I'll tell
you another time; at present I'll read only the writing.

Articles of Agreement betwixt JOHN BULL, Clothier, and NICHOLAS FROG,
Linen-draper.*

* The sentiments of the House of Commons, and their
representation of the Barrier Treaty.

I. That for maintaining the ancient good correspondence and friendship
between the said parties, I, Nicholas Frog, do solemnly engage and
promise to keep peace in John Bull's family; that neither his
wife, children, nor servants, give him any trouble, disturbance, or
molestation whatsoever, but to oblige them all to do their duty quietly
in their respective stations. And whereas the said John Bull, from
the assured confidence that he has in my friendship, has appointed me
executor of his last will and testament, and guardian to his children, I
do undertake for me, my heirs and assigns, to see the same duly executed
and performed, and that it shall be unalterable in all its parts by John
Bull, or anybody else: for that purpose it shall be lawful and allowable
for me to enter his house at any hour of the day or night, to break open
bars, bolts, and doors, chests of drawers, and strong boxes, in order
to secure the peace of my friend John Bull's family, and to see his will
duly executed.

II. In consideration of which kind neighbourly office of Nicholas Frog,
in that he has been pleased to accept of the aforesaid trust, I, John
Bull, having duly considered that my friend, Nicholas Frog, at this
time lives in a marshy soil and unwholesome air, infested with fogs and
damps, destructive of the health of himself, wife, and children, do bind
and oblige me, my heirs and assigns, to purchase for the said Nicholas
Frog, with the best and readiest of my cash, bonds, mortgages, goods and
chattels, a landed estate, with parks, gardens, palaces, rivers, fields,
and outlets, consisting of as large extent as the said Nicholas Frog
shall think fit. And whereas the said Nicholas Frog is at present hemmed
in too close by the grounds of Lewis Baboon, master of the science of
defence, I, the said John Bull, do oblige myself with the readiest of my
cash, to purchase and encl