Duke Dangerfield DECLARING How he Represented The D. of MON—In the COUNTRY;
With his Miraculous gift of Touching, making Knights, and other Pranks in Staffordshire. How he was brought to Town, Examin'd before the King and Counsell, and Committed to Newgate.
DAnger field, having brought himself to the last shift, and that so damnable black, that it was ready to drop off his back for want of Change, began thus to argue with himself.
Am I he that laid so many profound Plots? that famous Danger field that writ the Legend, the Inconvincible Narrative! that laid the Foundation of a deep Plot in the bottom of a Meal-Tub? He that offer'd to kill his King for 20 l. and shall I now be afraid to take upon me the person of a Duke? The D. of M—A Duke out of Fashion, and out at heels, no place nor being in the Earth, and but a Vagabond, no more then my self?
This is no Age for Whoreing, Swearing nor Lying, I'le try what fooling will do. I will be a Duke, and the Duke of Mon—I, and a King for the time, and why shou'd I not? I am an English Man as well as he, I am as good a Subject as he, and for ought I know, have as good a Title to the Crown.
With that having furnished himself with a Star and a Purple Livery Coat purchas'd in Long-lane, down he went into Staffordshire, keeping the Star close cover'd under a Campain Coat.
The Banishment of the D. of M—out of Brussells, made luckelv for his purpose, for being turn'd out of Flanders beyond the Seas, the Straffordians thought he had no other Refuge but into England, He did not fail to confirm them in this opinion, ever and anon talking of Flanders, Brussels, and the unkindness of the M. de Grana in banishing him his Territories; which with the Star and blew Garter (which now and then he took occasion to shew) made the People believe he was not only the D—of M. but ador'd him as a King.
And now to convince them, that he was of Royal Extraction, he begins with his first Miracle of Touching (as a gift peculiar to himself) for he generally Touched all Night, besides once or twice a day as the patient presented. As a Badge of his Royalty, he tyed about their Necks Counterfeit half Geanies which he Coyned himself for that purpose, fastned in halfpeny Tape, for every of which he had two real Gennies which put him in stock.
The next, his Counterfeit Grace (to give further tokens of his Soveraignty) falls a Knighting all the Scum of the Country, by which means in a short time he brought 400 l. Fees into the Treasury, viz.
- Sir Jer. Joil. Dogboy,
- Sir Simon Smut, Blaksmith,
- Sir Barnaby Button, Weaver,
- Sir Solomon Sole, Cobler,
- Sir Lio [...]el Long, Carrier,
- Sir Brason Nose, Kettle Tinker.
Ferguson was principal Chaplain, Baxter Arch Bishop of Canrerbury, D. Bur—Dean of the Chappel, with other Changes at Court, which will be to tedious to Name.
Having got six blank Patents for Baronets (which he design'd to dispose of in the Citty) away he trudges to Town. He had not got to Milsend when he was discover'd by an old Suffered John Sing, an honest Lay-man, who this D. Danger field h [...] twice put up in Newgate for a Jesuit. He dog'd him to Whit [...] Chappel where he see him lodged, and brought the Intelligence to Madam Celier, who glad to catch the old Badger in his own Trap, went with a strong Guard and secured his Grace in the presence, which was the Kitching, under a Canopie in the Chi [...] ney Corner. The sham Duke seeing himself thus surpriz'd, and by one whom he had so much abus'd before, cry'd out Celiere [...] The Scarlet Witch! The Eternal Sorceres.
Cel. Dangerfield, the Rogue in Grain! the Everlasting Villain!
Dan. Hast thou outliv'd my Fury? Withstood all the Volleys of Tur [...] and rotten Eggs, and lives yet to be my Tormenter?
Cel. I have out liv'd the Pillory, to see thee recant at the Gallows.
Dan. This is a plaguy turn of Fortune. What worse can happen?
Cel. Yes, When thou art turn'd off the Ladder with a mealy mouth'd confession.
Dan. The Meal Tub Plot was mine I must confess, though you suffer'd [...]
Cel. Do you begin to confess? You know what follows.
Dan. If I had been hang'd when I was Dangerfield, and a poor Devil, no had pitty'd me, But now I have liv'd to be a Duke, I dye with Honour, a Fig for the World.
Cel. Thou wast ever an Impudent fellow, but this was boldness indeed, take his Name upon thee, when no Man wou'd be in his Coat. Now you [...] answer for't and all your Villany.
With that they catry'd him in a Coach with a strong Guard, and a [...] Retinue of his old Friends the Rabble, to White-hall, where being Examine by the King and Councell (having nothing to say but that he knew the w [...] on't) he was carried to Newgate in the same splendor where any Woman [...] be Touched, or Man dub'd Knight of the Order for 13-Pence-half-penny.