her lately, but had heard
that she and his daughter were well; but that his wife never expected to
see him more.
Mr. Carew soon called for a room above stairs, ordered an elegant dinner
to be provided, and passed the afternoon very merrily. The next morning
he waited on the merchant with his bill, and received the money for it;
then weighed anchor, and steered for Bridgewater, where he arrived at
night. He immediately repaired to a mumper's house, kept by a one-eyed
woman, named Laskey, from whence he went to the Swan, where several
gentlemen were passing the evening together, viz. Mr. More, Dr. Deptford,
Counsellor Bedford, and others, all of whom were particularly acquainted
with him; however, he pretended to be a West Indian who had been cast
away in a ship, coming from Antigua, which foundered behind Cape Clear;
that he was taken up by an Irishman, and afterwards put on board a
Bristol ship. Having by this story raised a handsome contribution from
the gentlemen, he discovered himself, knowing them to be his good
friends; but the gentlemen could scarcely credit him, till he gave them
sufficient proofs of his being the real Bampfylde Moore Carew.
The next morning he went to Sir John Tynte, and made the same complaint
he had done the night before at the Swan in Bridgewater: the servant
telling him Sir John would come forth soon, he waited till he did so, and
then discovered himself; Sir John would not believe him, but at last made
him a present. He afterwards visited Justice Grose, of Bromfylde, who
presently knew him, and made him very welcome; from whence, setting out
for Exeter, he visited on the road Mr. John Bampfylde, of Hesticomb, the
Rev. Mr. Boswell, and Dr. Hildyard, of Taunton, the Rev. Mr. Manifee,
Squire Bluet, of Melcombe Regis, the Rev. Mr. Newt, of Tiverton, Squire
Blundel, and Major Worth, in the neighbourhood of that place, who, being
all his particular friends, were very glad to see him return, and treated
him very handsomely. Major Worth took a hunting with him: but he soon
found an opportunity of slipping away, and directed his steps to his own
parish of Bickley. Here he happened to meet Lady Carew; but so great was
his respect for her, that he, who used to attempt every thing, had not
courage to accost this lady, and therefore turned off to a place called
Codbury, the seat of Mr. Fursdon. As soon as he came there, he was known
to Mr. Fursdon's sister, who told him he should not stir thenc
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