spectators
increased abundantly. And whilest every one was so busie in beholding
it, the moniless Students were as serious in picking of their Pockets,
cutting the silver buttons off their cloaths, which no body perceived,
till the Spirit was vanished, and they were gotten home. So did I
know, saith Master Mouth, two necessitous Students, who at a
Fair-time, observed that a Country man, having sold some commodities
that he brought to Market, had received five or six Crown pieces for
them; and went amongst the Booths to buy somthing, but feared in the
throng one or another might steal them from him; therefore would not
trust them in his Pocket, nor with his Purse in the breast of his
doublet; but puts them in his mouth; saying, No body I'm sure can take
them from thence, and walks into the Booths, there cheapning a hat;
in the mean while, one of these Students goes to the very next Booth,
buies some pedling thing, and pulling mony out of his Pocket to pay,
saith what a pox is the meaning of this? Just now I had several Crown
pieces, and now I have nothing; and since that, there hath no body
else been near me, but this Country fellow; and begins to catch him by
the shoulders; saying, hark ye Squire, I miss several Crown pieces
which I had but just now. This so amazed the Country man, that he
began to mumble with the Crown pieces in his mouth; whereupon the
Student said, I verily beleeve the villain hath them in his mouth. The
Country man answered thereupon, those that I have in my mouth are my
own, I received them just now for some commodities; But let the
Country man say what he would, it was not beleeved; he was lamentably
beaten, his Crown pieces taken from him, and given to the Student.

By this you may perceive, saith Master Otherway, that the Proverb is
true, _Poverty is subtle_. I was lately told of some poor troublesom
Students, who had, a little way off the City, caused a dainty Feast to
be made ready for them; and knowing that the Landlord had a brother,
whom he extreamly loved, which lived about five and twenty miles off;
write a Letter to the Landlord, and therein acquaint him that his
Brother was very desperately sick, oftentimes calling for him;
therefore if he would see and speak with him alive, he must with all
possible speed immediately come thither, &c.

Then they found out such a cleaver contryvance to have this Letter
delivered into the hands of the Landlord, that he had not the least
distrust of a c