ciples and Paffions, as will more fully appear by the Sequel. Among thefe Hocus, who had been lately obliged to retire to fave his Bacon from the Pursuit of Justice, which Sir Roger had it in his Power to execute upon him by Means of certain Proofs he had accidentally got into his Hands: Hocus, I fay, among this new Set was Chief in John Bull's Favour, though it is thought that John could not be a Stranger to a certain late dangerous Combination entered into by Hocus the little Time he was from Home.

Hocus was the Darling of Fortune all his Life, but in no Inftance does it appear more than in the blind Fondness of John for him after he had had Information that this new Favourite had agreed to a Scheme drawn up by Sir Roger a few Years before, for defeating John Bull of his Succeffion to the Manor of Bullocks-Hatch. So lucky was this Minion of Chance, that the very Act for which he deferved to lofe his Head, if fecret Family-Memoirs are to be credited, turned to his Advantage, and became the Means of his ingroffing the Heart of his Master. Though this Tranfaction be fomewhat of a foreign Nature, yet to indulge the Reader's Curiofity, we hall relate it fuccinctly.

Hocus had been employed in carrying on the Law-Suit against the Baboons; and though his Bills of Coft ran exceffively high, it must be owned that he managed with great Succefs and Skill. But a Compofition taking Place by Means of Sir Roger, Hocus, to be revenged of the Compounder, agreed fecretly, as it is reported, with Efquire South and Nic Frog, to ftir up John Bull's Tenants in fuch a Manner, that Sir Roger fhould be glad to drop his Overtures for a Compofition, and fculk away to Clay-pool to Lewis Baboon, to fave his Head. This whole Scheme of Hocus, and his Letters, fell into Sir Roger's Hands, which, when he produced to

Hocus

Hocus, the Schemift was forced to compound for his Head by a voluntary Abfence from Bullocks-Hatch. But Hocus willing to be at Home to manage the great Fortune he had acquired in the Management of the Law-Suit; and perhaps not averfe by Nature from Sir Roger's Scheme in Favour of a certain Itinerant Perfon, who laid Claim to the Inheritance of the Bulls, he is faid to have capitulated for his Return, by Articles under his Hand. But be that as it may, his arriving fo critically as he did, looks as if he had entered into quite other Measures than thofe he affected to purfue, as foon as he fet his Foot within the Manor of Bullocks-Hatch. Whatever was his Agreement with Sir Roger and his Fellow-Servants; and however inclined he might have been, on his fetting out for Home, to fulfil his Agreement, it is certain, that as foon as he found Matters in Confufion on his Arrival, he chopped about, made a publick Entry to the Manor-Houfe, and afterwards made a Merit of his Sufferings, and opportune Arrival, to ferve the prefent Landlord.

CHAP.

CHA P. IV.

How Hocus had incenfed John Bull against all the late Compounders, and particularly against Sir Roger, 'Squire Worthy, and young Courtly.

How John's new Servant frightened away Worthy and Courtly, but could not move Sir Roger; and how this last escaped a Blow which John aimed at his Head, by Squatting between two Benches in the Manor Court-Houfe.

N

OW that Hocus was very fnug in all his former Places, and had the Ear of John Bull, there was nothing he dreaded more than that John fhould permit Sir Roger, Worthy, or Courtly to smoke a Pipe, or drink a Bottle in his Company, in an Opinion that he muft like their Converfation, and take them into his Service, fhould he become thoroughly acquainted with their perfonal Merit. Therefore his firft Care was to depreciate the late Compofition, and to incenfe John against the principal Compounders, fo as to induce him to refolve to chop off their Heads with his Conning fmark Sabre the first Place he met them. It is thought by fome of the Annalists of thofe Days, that Hocus did not intend any Blood should be fhed, but only to frighten away thefe Rivals from the Manor; and indeed the Industry with which John Bull's fanguine Refolution was spread abroad by Hocus's Emiffaries, gives a Colour to the Suggestion.

But though we may fuppofe by his Stay, that Sır Roger fmoaked Hocus's Design, it is certain Worthy

and

and Courtly thought him in downright Earneft; for they feparately and fecretly withdrew them felves from the Manor, and returned to Clay-pool, where they were fecretly well received by old Lewis Baboon, who durft do them no public Honours for fear of incenfing John Bull. But though their Perfons were got out of John's Reach, their Copyholds were at his Mercy, as Lord of the Manor; and thefe he retained to his own Ufe. Sir Roger lay by all this while, trufting to his own Innocence, or rather reckoning that Hocus would find Means to fave him, to prevent his opening John's Eyes, by producing the Proofs he had of his Attachment to the Bulls of the Bonnet Branch. And he was not mistaken; for by a private Agreement between him and Hocus, while he was in the Stocks, he was to give up the aforefaid Proofs, in Confideration of which Hocus was to blunt the Edge of John's Sabre, or to fhew Sir Roger how to avoid the Blow, by ducking his Head between two Benches in the Manor Court-Houfe, which Hocus was to place there for the Purpose. Sir Roger, trufting rather to his own Agility than the Bluntnefs of John Bull's BackSword, chofe the Expedient of the Benches, and by that Means faved his Head and Copyhold Leafes.

CHAP.

CHA P. V.

How John's new Servants would have him break through the late Agreements with Lewis Baboon, and renew the Law-Suit: And how John gave them the deaf Ear out of Jealousy to 'Squire South, and for other private Reafons.

T

HOUGH Hocus had acquired more wealth in the Management of the grand Law-Suit, than ever had been known by any of the Profeffion; he and his meek Wife were of fo infatiable a Difpofition, that they fet all the World upon John Bull, to perfuade him to kick the Inftrument of the late Compofition out at Window, and file a new Bill against Lewis and Philip Baboon. Nay, fo great was their Influence, that they brought over Mrs. Bull of their Side: But John, who had quite other Views from either his Wife or Servants, gave them the Hearing, but would not be perfuaded.

The Tenants of Bullocks-Hatch, who had been impoverished to defray the Expence of the Law-Suit, bleffed John for his pacifick Difpofition, little imagining he had any private, feparate Views, or that their Burdens fhould continue, though no Suit was carried on. And Hocus and the rest of his Fellow-Servants were not a little disappointed in John, whom they thought to manage as they had done his Predeceffor: But finding that he would be ferved in his own Way, rather than fall in his Favour or lofe their Places, they came one and all into his Meafures; and as Example has generally more Influence than Precept, the Submiffion of this firft Se: was implicitly fubfcribed to by ⚫ all the Servants of the Family ever fince.

VOL. II.

C

John