Part 3

One Day at _Lisbon_, on her Return to _England_, falling in Company with many of her Ship-mates, they all went into an _Irish_ House, by the _Romanado_'s, to drink some Wine, where was sitting at the same Time an _Englishman_, a Sailor, who had lately come from _Genoa_ on board a _Dutch_ Vessel; there were some of his Brother Tars in Company who knew him; upon which they became very merry, and began, over their Glass and their Pipe, to talk over some of their Adventures, and what they met with in their Travels worthy taking Notice of; and she, acoording to her constant Practice, was enquiring amongst the Mariners if any of them knew one _James Summs_, who, she said, had formerly been an intimate Acquaintance of her's; upon which this Stranger broke Speech, and told 'em of an Affair that happened at _Genoa_ while he was there. There was, says he, a _Dutchman_ of that Name, a Sailor, imprisoned there, for stabbing a Native of the Place, a Person of some Distinction, with a Knife, of which Wound he soon expired; I, with two or three more of our Countrymen appointed to go and visit him under this his Misfortune, which we accordingly did: When we came to the Place, we were introduced by a Kind of Officer, where he lay in a melancholy Situation; but upon our entering the Room, he raised himself up from the Place where he had reclined his Head, and saluted us in _English_; then we began to condole his Misfortune: Upon which, finding us affected with his melancholy Situation, and the cruel Punishment he was about to suffer, he spoke to us in the following Manner. Gentlemen, The Crime I am to die for I committed, therefore my Punishment will be just whenever it falls: But this is not the only Crime I stand indicted for at the Bar of that All-seeing Judge, who searches into the innermost Recesses of our most concealed Actions, and who pursues the Guilty where-ever they go; I, who am here condemned for Murder, a few Years ago lived in _Wapping, London_, my Name is _James Summs_, a _Dutchman_ by Birth; I married a young Woman there, named _Hannah Snell_, born in _Worcester_, but who then lodged with a Brother-in-Law, a Carpenter in _Ship-street_: We had not been long joined in Matrimony before she proved with Child; and I, forgetting my Duty as a Husband, and an approaching Father, gave a loose to my vicious Inclinations, eloped from the Partner of my Bed, and the one half of myself, went and took up my Residence amongst a Parcel of lewd, base Women, who withdrew my Affections entirely from her, who had the only just Title to it; and to satisfy their insatiable and extravagant Demands, I drained her of her all. This proved only the Downfall to my future Calamities; for my Substance being now exhausted, thrust out of Doors by these _Ladies of Pleasure_, who proved to me _Ladies of Pain_, and being ashamed to look my much injured Wife in the Face any more, whom I had so basely betrayed, my Mind was rack'd with exquisite Torture, so that I would willingly have fled from myself if it had been possible. A thousand Inventions came into my Head how I should dispose of myself at this critical Juncture. I employed all the Skill I was master of to be assisting in extricating me out of this Dilemma; at last I resolved to go on board one Ship or other, in order to make a Voyage.

The first Ship I boarded was a _Rotterdam_ Trader, who accepted me in the Capacity of a Sailor, having but few Hands, the Steersman agreed to give me 40 Guilders _per_ Month. A few Days afterwards we made down with the Tide, and sailed over to _Rotterdam_, where we unloaded: We had not been many Days here, before an unforeseen Accident happened, which was like to have produced fatal Consequences: One of the Boys going one Day into the Steerage with a lighted Candle, where was some Powder loose; a Spark from the Candle dropt into the Powder, which in an Instant blew up, and did great Damage to the Vessel. This Accident was charged upon me by two of the Men who bore me a Grudge; upon which I was Keel-haul'd, and received many Lashes besides. This ill Usage provoked me much, so that I determined to quit my Master's Service, and let him know that I intended to leave him; upon which he paid me my Wages, and we parted. I then entered myself on board an _Irish_ Merchant, bound to _Lisbon_, which Voyage I performed, and returned to _Cork_, the Place where the Cargo was to be disposed of.

Here, after I had received my Wages, I was discharged, and falling into bad Company, my Wages was soon spent, and being without Money, Cloaths or Friends, in a strange Country, made my Case very deplorable, which brought into my Mind, my wicked Proceedings to my dear Wife, and I lookt upon those Afflictions I underwent, as a just Punishment from Heaven, for my wicked Actions; however, these Reflections soon gave Way to Self-preservation; I was in great Distress, and how to work my Deliverance, was the main Subject of my Thoughts; at the very same Time, there was a _Portuguese_ Vessel lying in the Harbour, bound to _Genoa_; they wanted a few Hands, some of their own Men having died in the Voyage; I proffered my Service; they accepted of me, staid in _Cork_, a few Days afterwards, then weighed Anchor, and set sail for _Genoa_, where we arrived in Safety in about three Weeks; here we had not continued long, before I perpetrated the Murther, for which I am about to suffer: Now Gentlemen, I have given you a full Account of the most material Incidents that has happened to me since I left _England_, I therefore earnestly intreat the Favour of you, when once you return to _England_, to enquire after my Wife, and if you find her, be pleased in my Name, to present her the Love of a dying Husband, who conscious of his Guilt, humbly begs her Pardon and Forgiveness, for all the Injuries he hath done her, since first he knew her; this his Request we promised to fulfill, if once we returned to _England_; so we took our last Farewel. None of us, ever saw him afterwards, but were informed, that he was sewed up in a Sack, with heavy Stones, and thrown into the Sea; the other two _Englishmen_ sailed for _Leghorn_, and I for this Place, and when I go Home, I intend to make an Enquiry concerning the said Woman: She listened attentively all the While he was relating this Story, and weighing all the particular Circumstances of this Relation, she perceived so many concurring Circumstances blended together, as put it beyond all Doubt he was her Husband; this Account however, notwithstanding his vile Proceedings, grieved her much, and no doubt would have broke forth into briny Tears, had she been in a Place of Retirement: She sometimes grieved at his cruel and untimely Fate, but suddenly, the ill Treatment she met with from him, returned triumphant in her Mind, and extinguished her kindled Tenderness: However, she told the Sailor who related this Story, that from the Account he gave of this Man, he must have been the same identical Person, with whom she had formerly been acquainted, and if once she came to _England_, she would endeavour to find out the Wife of this unfortunate Man, whom she knew very well, and would acquaint her with this Catastrophe, and by so saying, concealed herself entirely from the least Suspicion.

Having now finished the Account of her Husbands untimely End, as related to her at _Lisbon_; the Detail of which, appeared to her, as if sent from above, to free her from those anxious Cares, which, in the midst of the greatest Dangers, always set triumphant in her Breast, I shall now proceed to her Voyage from thence to _England_.

They set sail from _Lisbon_ the 3d of _May_, and arrived at _Spithead_ the 1st of _June_, without any Thing material during the Voyage (which was lengthened by Calms and contrary Winds); that very Day she arrived at _Spithead_ she came on Shore, and took a Lodging along with several of her Shipmates and Marines, at one _James Cunningham_'s, at the Sign of the _Jolly Marine_ and _Sailor_; where the House being thronged with Lodgers, she was obliged to be Bedfellow to one _John Huchins_, a Brother Marine, the first Night; but during her short Stay in _Portsmouth_, in her often Rovings in and about the Town, (which was only two Days and three Nights) she happen'd to meet with the Sister of Mr. _Cunningham_, the Drum-Major's Wife, one _Catherine ----_, with whom she had cultivated a slender Acquaintance at the Time she first enlisted there. This young Woman knew _Hannah_ to be the young Soldier that had enlisted and been sent abroad with Admiral _Boscawen_, and expressed some Joy at her safe Return: Then entering into this Conversation, introduced a farther Intimacy; and _Hannah_, rather than sit to drink with her Shipmates, spent most of her Time with this young Woman. This Opportunity improved their Conversation, and sometimes they conversed upon Love; and _Hannah_ finding this young Woman had no dislike to her, she endeavoured to try if she could not act the Lover as well as the Soldier, which she so well effected, that it was agreed upon she should return from _London_, in order to be married as soon as she had got her Discharge and Pay; and tho' but so short a Time there as two Days, had effected this her Amour so as to obtain the young Woman's Consent to marry her.

In order to countenance this her Scheme, she told the supposed Object of her Love, that as soon as she arrived at _London_, and received her Wages, she would remit the same to her; and when she had visited, and tarried some time with each of her nigh Relations and intimate Friends, she would then return to _Portsmouth_, according to Agreement, and consummate their matrimonial Ceremonies with a Solemnity suitable to her Abilities.

The next Night, being _Saturday_ the 2d of _June_, _Hannah_'s Bedfellow, who had lain with her the Night before, went out of Town, and one _James Moody_, who had been a Ship-mate with her on board the _Eltham_ from Fort St. _David_'s to _England_, coming in the Evening of that Day, and wanting a Lodging, he was received by the Landlord, and as _Hannah_ was his intimate, he was admitted to be her Bedfellow, which continued for two Nights together, without the least Suspicion in Life.

It is here worthy of Observation, that this Woman should lay three Nights with two different Men, one of whom who had been her Companion and Fellow-adventurer, during the Space of fifteen Months and more; and never, during that Space of Time, discover the least Hint of her being of the female Kind; and this Man had often been her Assistant in the most dangerous Exploits, and could not avoid acknowledging, that she behaved upon all Occasions, with the greatest Bravery and Resolution.

Whitmonday, being the 4th of _June_, she set out from _Portsmouth_ for _London_; accompanied by _George Orley_, a Serjeant of Marines, who was a Partner with her in her Adventures, and who, together with nine Marines, accompanied her to _London_: She received before they set out from _Portsmouth_, five Shillings Conduct-money. The first Place she traveled to after her departure from _Portsmouth_, was _Petersfield_, in _Hampshire_; where she lay all Night, with one _Andrew Gray_ a Marine, not only in the same Regiment, but in the same Company: Next Day travel'd as far as _Guildford_, where the aforesaid _Andrew Gray_ and she were Bedfellows; next Night she arrived in _London_, where she disingaged herself from her old Intimates, and lodged along with her Brother, Mr. _James Gray_, Carpenter, in _Ship-Street, Wapping_; where she now resides.

Now I have brought my female Adventurer home again to her native Country, after near five Years Adventures; prompted thereto by the ill Usage of a faithless Husband, who, after first stripping her of her all, and then eloping, prompted her to the Resolution of disguising herself, by putting on Men's Apparel, going into the Country without the Knowledge of her Brother, Sister, or any other of her Friends, in search of him who had thus abused her; and entering into Colonel _Guise_'s Regiment of Foot, then lying at _Coventry_, who from thence marched to _Carlisle_, where she was ill used, the Particulars of which, are set forth at large in the foregoing Pages: How she received five hundred Lashes at _Carlisle_, as a Punishment for her virtuous Conduct, her Resolution to desert, and her puting this Determination into Execution; her changing her military Cloathing about a Mile from Town, for the rustick Garb of a Shepherd; her Arrival at _Portsmouth_, her entering into General _Fraser_'s Regiment of Marines, her being draughted out for the _East Indies_; her embarking on board the _Swallow_ Sloop of War, under the Command of Admiral _Boscawen_, and the many Vicissitudes she underwent during the Series of her Adventures, until her safe (though unexpected) return to her Native Country, where, after her Arrival, she met with sundry humorous Incidents; with many other material Circumstances, the Particulars of which is here set down at large; but not to swell this Treatise with any Thing fictitious or doubtful, I have asserted nothing but plain Matter of Fact as here set down.

I would have my candid Readers survey in Imagination, the many various Scenes that here display themselves with a most surprizing Lustre. Here is a Woman, and an _English_ Woman, who, notwithstanding the many Dangers and Vicissitudes she underwent for near the Space of five Years, during her Travels, was never found out to be of the feminine Gender. It is true many threatned Discoveries were attempted by her Shipmates and Fellow-Adventurers, which derived its Influence from her not having a Beard; but her ready Turns of Mind undeceived all those who shewed themselves overbusy in prying into this Secret: This her Conduct, very surprizingly preserved her Virtue from becoming a Sacrifice to the Impetuosity of the carnal Desires of both her Superiors and Inferiors; for can it be imagined, that in the midst of so many Dangers, where there was no Back-Door to creep out at, if her Sex had been discovered, but she must have fallen a Victim to the loose, disorderly, and vitious Appetites of many on board, especially those whom she was more immediately concerned with, to wit, her Officers. These Reflections must possess the Reader with generous Sentiments of this our Heroine, who by her Subtilty, and ready Inventions, destroyed in the Embrio, every Thing advanced by her Fellow-Shipmates, that she imagined might be a Means of exposing her Virtue.

Such an Adventure as this, is not to be met with in the Records of either antient or modern Observations, therefore, for the Sake of the _British_ Nation, ought to be recorded in Golden Characters on a Statue of Marble for succeeding Ages, to peruse with Admiration, that an _English_ Woman should, _Amazon_ like, not only enter herself upon the List in behalf of her Country at Home, but boldly and resolutely launch out into the most remote Corners of the Earth, upon enterprizing and dangerous Adventures, the like never attempted before by any of her Sex, even daring Fate, as it were, to execute her most rigorous Inflictions upon her; the many Struglings and Conflicts she encounter'd during the Course of her Travels, not being used to the watery Element, and the many Revolutions that often happen upon the Surface of the Deep; the many Duties she was obliged to execute, in the midst of Hundreds of the most unpolite Part of Mankind, such as Tars; the many Fears and Suspicions she harboured least her Sex should be discovered, to avoid which, she proved her own Physician, in extracting the Ball out of her Wound, to prevent that Discovery which must unavoidably have happened, had she permitted the Surgeons to have performed their regular Operations: These, with many more, (seemingly insurmountable Difficulties) did this our _British_ Heroine undergo, and overcome, by her safe Arrival in her native Country, as before-mentioned.

When she arrived in _London_, she went to her Brother in Law's House, in _Ship-Street, Wapping_; where he lived at the Time when she went abroad; she no sooner entered the House, than her Sister (notwithstanding her Disguise) knew her, but her Brother in Law, Mr. _Gray_ being in Bed, she went to his Bedside, being desirous to see him, where he lay in a Slumber, and embraced him, upon which he awoke, and seeing a Person in a Soldier's Dress, coming to his Bedside in such a Manner and imbracing him, surprised him much, however, he was soon freed from this Surprize by her discovering herself, which afforded him a great deal of Satisfaction; as she was his great Favourite before she went abroad, and her sudden and unexpected Appearance, caused a great deal of Joy, in the whole Family; after refreshing herself with a Part of what the House afforded, she diverted her Brother and Sister 'till Bed-time, with some Part of her Adventures, which relation forced Tears from their Eyes.

There was at this Time a Female Lodger in Mr. _Gray_'s House, of whom Mr. _Gray_ requested, that she would admit a Sister of his for a Bedfellow, to which she readily agreed: But when the Sister was introduced, the young Woman, who was then in Bed, was very much surprized to see a Soldier sit down to undress himself in her Bed-Chamber; but Mr. _Gray_ and his Wife discovered the Secret, which, notwithstanding, she would not Credit, until she had occular Demonstration. This was the first, next to her Brother and Sister, that she discovered herself to, and ever since they have been Bedfellows, which made the Neighbours report (imagining her to be a Man) that the young Woman was married to a Soldier, and this great Untruth was reported for Fact throughout the whole Neighbourhood.

Sometime after this, she, in Company with her Sister and supposed Wife, went to _Westminster_, in order to see her Friends, who were very much dissatisfy'd at her carrying a strange Woman in Company with her supposed Brother, who perhaps, upon receiving his Money, might decoy him into some Place of bad Fame, where he might chance to lose it all in an Instant. This, together with some former Passages, constrains me to observe how much the Publick, both at Home and Abroad, have been deceived in this Woman, she being so long in the Army and Navy, where there were many penetrating clear-sighted Gentlemen, and ashore in foreign Countries amongst Men, Women and Children; and notwithstanding all these publick Characters, her Sex not discovered. This must cause Admiration in every Reader; but she counterfeited the Man so dextrously, and does to this very Day, that the most excellent Judge of Features, Semetry or Gesture, cannot discover the Deceit.

But that I may not suffer any of my inquisitive Readers to remain in suspence concerning some particular Adventures that befel her, the bare Relation of which may not be altogether so satisfactory, I shall explain those which appear most Paradoxical, in order not only to satisfy every Reader, but also to prevent any future Reflexions that might occasionally arise from such a Neglect.

When she first enter'd into the Service at _Coventry_, she marched to _Carlisle_, where she was Whipt for Neglect of Duty, being unjustly accused by Serjeant _Davis_, as is fully mentioned in the preceding Pages. The Method she used to prevent the Discovery of her Sex was this, according to her own Declaration: Her Breasts were then not so big by much as they are at present, her Arms being extended and fixed to the City Gates, her Breasts were drawn up, and consequently did not appear so large; and besides this, her Breast was to the Wall, and could not be discovered by any of her Comrades; and when she was Whipt on board, her Hands being lashed to the Gangway, she stood upright, and tied a Handkerchief round her Neck, to prevent, as it were, any Lashes that she might accidentally receive there, to conceal her Breasts, which were covered by the Ends of the Handkerchief falling over them, and thereby prevented a Discovery which must unavoidably have happened, had not she thus acted. And what the Consequences of such an unravell'd Secret would have produced, she was at a Loss to imagine, the Thoughts of which perplexed her incessantly; however, she escaped being discovered at this Juncture also, as well as at many more, when she imagined herself in the most imminent Dangers: But all those adverse Turns gave an Edge to her Inventions, and by that means extricated her out of the many Difficulties she was involved in.

This the Reader may plainly perceive throughout the whole Narration; and I am convinced, that no Age or Country, ever produced a more distinguished Instance of Virtue, Conduct and Resolution, than is to be met with in this our Heroine's Adventures, which is worthy to be transmitted to latest Posterity; to inform succeeding Ages, that such an Instance of Heroism was not to be found in the _British_ Annals, that the like could not be met with, in the Observations of any Nation in the World, that a Woman, whose mould is tender, delicate and unable to endure Fatigues, and who is terrified at the Name of Dangers, should undergo so many Scenes without relinquishing her Resolution of keeping her Sex a Secret.

I had forgot to mention a Circumstance worthy of Notice, in its proper Place, which happened at _Lisbon_, concerning the two Sweethearts, she and _Edward Jefferies_ had there, as is before mentioned; which was, that when she and _Jefferies_ were on board before they set sail from _Lisbon_ to _England_, these two young Women, of whom mention is made, came along the Ship's Side in a Boat, and called for _James Grey_, and she being informed thereof, went into the Boat where they were, but after a little Conversation, she found them inclined to come on board, and remain there while they lay in the River; she promised to ask Leave of the Captain for their Reception, but a fresh and seasonable Thought came into her Head, which was, that if they came on board, and continued any Time, they might sooner discover her than any of the Men, therefore to prevent the worst, instead of pleading for their Admittance, she requested of the Captain, that they should not be suffered to come on board. This Request was not only intended for her own Preservation, but likewise to preserve the Women from being debauched by the Sailors, which they could not have avoided, had they came on board; by which Means, both she and they escaped the threatned Danger.