ut artless air
and behaviour of a sailor, inquired for some of the king's officers, whom
he informed that he belonged to a vessel lately come from France, which
had landed a large quantity of run goods, but the captain was a rascal,
and had used him ill, and damn his blood if he would not ---. He was
about to proceed, but the officers, who with greedy ears swallowed all he
said, interrupted him by taking him into the custom-house, and filling
him a bumper of cherry brandy, which when he had drunk, they forced
another upon him, persuading him to wet the other eye, rightly judging
that the old proverb, 'In wine there is truth,' might with equal
propriety be applied to brandy, and that they should have the fuller
discovery, the more the honest sailor's heart was cheered; but, that no
provocation should be wanting to engage him to speak the truth, they
asked him if he wanted any money. He with much art answered very
indifferently, no; adding, he scorned to make such a discovery out of a
mercenary view, but that he was resolved to be revenged of his captain.
They then ordered him to the sign of the Boot, in St. Thomas's, Exeter,
whither they soon followed him, having first sent to Mr. Eastwood, an
exciseman, to ask what he would have for dinner, and what liquor he would
have to drink. A fire was lighted up stairs in a private room, a couple
of ducks roasted, and full glasses of wine and punch went cheerfully
round; they then thrust four guineas into his hand, which at first he
seemed unwilling to accept of, which made them the more pressing. He now
began to open his mind with great freedom, gave a particular account of
the vessel, where they had taken in their cargo at France, and what it
consisted of; the day they sailed, and the time they were on their
passage; and at last concluded with acquainting them they had landed and
concealed part of their valuable cargo in the out-houses of Squire
Mallock, of Cockington, and the remainder in those of Squire Cary, of
Tor-abbey, both which houses, upon account of their situation on the
sea-side, were very noted for such concealments. The officers, having
now got on the scent, were like sagacious hounds for pursuing it
forthwith, and also thought proper the sailor should accompany them; and,
to prevent all suspicion, resolved he should now change his habit; they
therefore dressed him in a ruffled shirt, a fine suit of broad cloth
belonging to the collector, and put a gold-laced ha