Faith. he was no sooner up, but for want of living Oxen, he made out his
number upon Paste, and offer'd them up in Form upon an Altar. For this Mockery,
divine Vengeance pursu'd him, and he had an Apparition come to him in a
Dream, that bad him go and search in such a Place near the Coast, and he
should find a considerable Treasure. Away he went, and as he was looking
for the money fell into the Hands of Pyrates. He begg'd hard for his Liberty,
and offer'd a thousand Talents of Gold for his Ransome; but they would not
trust him, and so he was carried away, and sold afterwards as a Slave for
as many Groats.
The Dev'l was sick, the Dev'l a Monk would be; The Dev'l was well, the Dev'l
a Monk was he.
Large Promises
There was a poor sick Man, that according to the Course of the
World, when Physicians had given him over, betook himself to his
Prayers, and vow'd a Sacrifice of a thousand Oxen ready down upon
the Nail, to either Apollo, or Aesculpaius, which of the two would
deliver him from his Disease. Ah my dear! (says his Wife) Have
a care what you promise; for where would you have these Oxen if
you should recover? Sweet heart (says he) thou talk'st like a
Fool: Have the Gods nothing else to do, dost think, than to leave
their Business, and come down to sue me in an Action of Debt?
They restor'd him however for that bout, to make Tryal of his
Honesty and good
