Part 1

E-text prepared by Robert Cicconetti, Suzan Flanagan, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)

Transcriber's note:

The original spelling, hyphenation, and capitalization have been retained. However, long s's have been transcribed as modern s's, and minor punctuation corrections have been made.

The oe ligature is represented as [oe].

THE TRUE

LIFE

OF

_Betty IRELAND._

[Price a _British_ Sixpence.]

THE TRUE

LIFE

OF

_Betty IRELAND._

WITH

Her BIRTH, EDUCATION, and ADVENTURES.

Together with

Some Account of her elder Sister _BLANCH_ of _BRITAIN_.

Containing,

Sundry very curious Particulars.

_LONDON_, Printed:

_DUBLIN_, Reprinted for PETER WILSON, in _Dame-street_. MDCCLIII.

THE TRUE

LIFE

OF

_Betty IRELAND_.

It is agreed on all Hands, that _Betty Ireland_ was a younger Daughter by a _second Venter_; let, at first, to run wild in the Woods, cloathed with Skins and fed with Acorns; till a _famous Hunter_ took her in his Toils, and, liking her _Countenance_, gave her to a Son of his, a _Lad_, to bring up. The _Girl_ was born to a good Estate, but ill tenanted, and run to waste. Her _Farms_ neither _meared_ or bounded, her Rents never paid, as she had no _certain_ Tenants, and had little more to claim than a Pepper-corn Acknowledgment. She had no Relation to manage her _Demesnes_, and could hardly be said to be possessed of any thing.

In this Condition the young _Sportsman_ found her, was fond of her at first, and resolved to marry her; and _happy_ had it been both for _him_ and _her_, if he had kept his Resolution, and performed the _Contract_. But he hankered after his elder Brother's _Estate_, and, on his Death, suddenly got the Tenants to _attorn_ to _him_, and basely dispossessed his _Nephew_. But instead of an _Estate_, he got nothing but a _Law-suit_, lived in _Broils_, and dyed a _Beggar_. Whereas had he quitted all Pretensions at home, married _Betty_ and minded her Concerns, he had soon been in a Condition not to envy his Brother; and, perhaps, had left a _second Family_ little inferior in _Greatness_ to the first.

This was the only Chance ever _Betty_ had to make a _separate_ Fortune, set up for herself, and be _independent_ of her _Sister_. She was ever after _beholden_ to _her_ for maintaining her _Rights_, settling her _Affairs_, and bringing her _Tenants_ to Reason.

Neither _Betty_ or her Sister were yet of Age, but the Younger far from it, and continued under such _Guardians_, as the _Elder_ recommended, and had chosen for herself. It was natural to think they should chiefly be employed in ordering the Affairs of _Blanch_, and be less attentive to benefit the other. Accordingly, from time to time, they sent _Proxies_, to let Leases, keep her _Courts_, and _force_ Possession, where the Tenants held over. Little, however, was done for _Betty_, though they put her _Sister_ to great Charges; nor did she thrive in the World to any Purpose, 'till she came under the Care of a good _orderly Gentlewoman_, who was also _Guardian_ to _Blanch_, a notable _Manager_, and very affectionate to her _Wards_, understood their Business to a hair, and was never to be imposed on or _over-reached_. Every thing she put her hand to prospered, and every thing against her miscarried.

When she first looked into _Betty_'s Affairs, she found them in a manner desperate; her small Revenues had been embezzled by _Agents_, Farms set to _insolvent_ Tenants, _double_ Leases made out, huge _Fines_ taken in Hand and sunk in their own Pockets. She was preyed upon by Vagabonds and _Outlaws_; and, to compleat her Misfortunes, a _Foreign Count_ fell in love with her, an odious Monster and _braggadocio_ Huffer. He swore bitterly no one else should have her, and to support his Claim, brought in his Pocket, a _pretended Licence_ from the _Spiritual Court_, and a Pack of _outlandish Goths_ along with him, to take Possession of her Freehold, and break down her Gates. But her _Sister_ generously came in to her Assistance, repelled Force by Force, and rescued her from a Tyrant Ravisher, built Houses for herself, and Fences for the Tenants, and left some of her own People with her to instruct them in Trades and Husbandry.

She was then, it might be thought, in a Way of making herself respected, both by her own and her _Sister_'s Tenants, and not stand in need of any more Supplies from them; and if the _good Woman_, her guardian, had lived to bring Matters to any Kind of Establishment, Things had been better. But she unfortunately died, more, however, to her _Sister_'s Disadvantage than _hers_; for the _Guardian_ had chalked out a Track of Proceeding for _Betty_, which she could hardly miss to follow. The _Elder_, however, was inconsolable for the Loss of her _Guardian_, and resolved, for the future, to manage her Concerns by the Assistance of a _Steward_, a Sort of a Cousin to her _Guardian_ deceased, but no way allied to her, in Worth or Understanding. He minded nothing but Hunting and _Puppet-shews_, Feasts and Revels; and though the uncomeliest of an _ill-favoured Race_, spent his Lady's Money in adorning his own Person, instead of _fencing_ her Grounds. He was laughed at by one half of the Neighbours, and despised and gulled by the other. In a Word, he was every Way unfit for the Charge.

His Son succeeded to the Place; he was a grave-looking, orderly young Man, main religious, and skilled in the _Customs of the Manor_. Both the Sisters had great Hopes their Affairs would thrive under his Management. _Betty_'s, indeed, went on well for a while; but, in the End, both of them had Cause to complain, and curse the Day they had bethought them of employing a _Steward_ in their Concerns. He was not so great a Fool as his Father; yet nothing he put his Hand to succeeded. He was _bubbled_ by every _Neighbour_ he dealt with, and choused by every _Tenant_ he trusted. His Word could never be relied on, as he had always some quibble to evade it. His Wife made him hated by the Tenants; and for a finishing Stroke to his undoing, and compleat the Ruin of his _Wards_, he pretended the _Steward_ had a Right to hold Courts without _Juries_, and by his own Authority levy Money for _Repairs_. The Tenants would not endure this Invasion on their Rights, but stoutly opposed it; and, after a hard Struggle, got the better, turned him out of the _Stewardship_, and some of them finding him one Day at a _why-not_, tied him to a Rope, and hanged him in a Frolick.

The Office of a _Steward_ was now abolished for a Time, and the elder _Sister_ resolved to take her Affairs entirely into her _own Hands_, and have neither _Steward_ or _Guardian_ for the future. The Condition, indeed, of _both_ was deplorable. There had been nothing during the _late Quarrel_, but Riot and Plunder, Rents unpaid, and Soldiers quartered at Discretion; so that, in order to retrieve their Affairs, it seemed necessary to put things on a _new Footing_, and trust none but themselves to manage them. But whatever they intended mattered but little.

Among the Soldiers quartered on them was a bustling Knave, who from a Corporal had come to be a Captain. He was bold as a Lion, and _crafty_ as a Fox. He had cajoled his Soldiers to stand by him; and pretending _Compassion_ for the Sisters, offered, or rather forced himself, to be their _Guardian_. They only complied because they could not help it; and he took more _rule_ over them, than ever _Steward_ or _Guardian_ had done before him.

He seemed, indeed, to mend Matters in the Beginning, but, in reality, did _unrepairable_ Damage to _Blanch_, though considerable Services to _Betty_. The Neighbours all around thought they were thriving apace, and began to envy their Greatness. The Reason of which was, that he always took care to have the _Girls_ well dressed, especially when they went a _visiting_, and sent Word before-hand (for he was d----d proud) that all the World should _Cap_ to them as they passed along. He stinted them in every thing else, but _spent_ all he could _rap_ and _run_ to make them _fine_. _Betty_ was _bashful_, and kept pretty much at home; but when _Blanch_ went _abroad_, she made a _flaming_ Appearance, _held_ up her Head among the _Highest_, and _insulted_ the _Proudest_ with her _Braveries_.

But all the while Things were but _uncomfortable_ at home, though she made such a _tearing Figure_ when abroad. Nothing to be had for Farms, by reason the Soldiers put _in_ and _out_ as they pleased. No _Leets_ or _Manor Courts_ were minded. No _taxing_ for _Repairs_ and _Bounds_, but the Soldiers _taxed_ for _Contingencies_ as much Money as they could hear any one had. So that the _Tenants_ found themselves in a worse _Pickle_ than ever they had been under the Management of a _Steward_. They longed for Courts and _Inquests_, and to have every thing set on the old Bottom again.

They heard of a _poor Boy_, a Son of the late _Steward_'s, who had run away from the _Lands_ the Time his Father was hanged, and was now grown up to Years of Discretion. As he had _bit_ a good while on the Bridle, they thought he might be tamed, more careful than his _Father_, and do them more Justice and Kindness. They brought him home in a _Hurry_; and, as it's natural to run from one Extreme to another, were sure they were all _made_ when they got him into the _Stewardship_.

It must be owned, he was a pleasant, good-humoured Fellow as ever broke Bread, civilly behaved, and by no means wanted Capacity for the Business. But he was _idle_ to a Degree, followed W----ng and Horse-racing; and provided he could borrow Money enough from the _Tenants_, or get _Presents_ from the _Neighbours_, to treat his Wenches and buy them _Top-knots_, never heeded how _Accounts_ were settled, how he held the _Courts_, or how he paid the Servants. Farm-houses went to decay, and Strangers forestalled the Markets. Few People, however, could find in their Heart to hate him. They had a Love for him, though he was daily undoing them: For it was always _their Humour_ to like a _boon Companion_; and instead of crossing his Prodigality, they followed his Example, wh----ed it away from the highest to the lowest, revelled and caroused for _dear Blood_, and were never better pleased than when the last Penny was a going. It became a _Fashion_ to be Bankrupt; to be Rich, was to lose all Credit; and to be Just, was the Mark of a Scoundrel.

But though the _elder Sister_ was well-nigh undone by him, he did a good Turn by _Betty_, and sent one of his _Cousins_ to take care of her Concerns, who had a good Farm of his own under her, and was well-beloved over the whole Estate. He kept _Leet_ and _Court-Baron_, presented Vagabonds at the Sessions, and gave Rewards for apprehending _Out-laws_. He set the Tenants to Work, _lived constantly among them_, and looked himself into every thing. _Betty_ began to thrive, and was less expensive to her _Sister_, who had wasted huge Sums to keep her Head above Water. She stuck to Business, and prospered mainly, 'till the _Steward_'s Brother got himself into the Place, who played H----ll with every thing, and brought the two Sisters to the Brink of Ruin.

He was rash, senseless, obstinate, and ill-minded; none of the Neighbours would _deal_ with him, or the _Tenants_ trust him, as there was no believing one Word he said, or promise that he made; for he had taken an Oath when he was young never to speak Truth. He began his Vagaries by putting the _Curate_ in the _Stocks_, for refusing to teach a new _Catechism_ of his _own Invention_. He entered into a Plot to secure the _Elder Sister_ in the House of Correction, and make her do Penance in the Church, under Pretence of Carnal Conversation. He agreed to sell _Betty_ to a Cousin of his, a great Lord in the Neighbourhood, who longed to have her for a Waiting-woman to his Wife. So the _Tenants_ made short Work with him, rose one and all, and sent him a-packing to his Cousin, where he was fain to be a Serving-man, since he could not send _Betty_ to be a Serving-maid.

Both the _Sisters_ took an Oath never more to have a _Steward_ again, and to abolish the very Name from among them, with a reserve to his Daughters, who had married abroad, and were good sort of Women, in their Way.

Here it was that _both the Sisters_ had their Affairs put on a sure and lasting Footing. The Rights of the _Tenants_ were narrowly examined, and all pretended Powers of the Steward abolished by a Rule on the _Court Manor_ Books. There was, indeed, some Difficulty in bringing it about, and a power of Money laid out on the Occasion. But it was well bestowed had it been twice as much.

There was a _Stripling_ among the neighbouring _Fens_, who had married a Daughter of the _Steward_'s, and had got the best Estate there by the Diligence of his _Ancestors_, who were the principal _Engineers_ in _draining_ and _banking_ the Country. They had often borrowed Money from _Blanch_ to carry on the Work, to _stem_ the Water when the _Fen-men_ were in despair, and prevailed on her to send a strong _Posse_ of her Tenants to keep off some malicious Neighbours, who would ever and anon be _boring_ Holes in the _Dikes_, and endangered the Overflowing of all the Land they had gained. If ever these _wretched People_ shewed any thing that looked like _Gratitude_, it was to the Family of their _Engineers_; and this young Man improved it to his own Advantage, and that of _Blanch_, whom he acknowledged the Preserver of the _Fen-men_, who deserved Preservation on no other Account than to make them _Pack-horses_ and _Carriers_. They were, indeed, a middle Species between Men and Brutes, and chiefly compounded of the latter. But this young _Adventurer_ had got the Ascendant over them, and, as we ordinarily say of vicious Horses, had made the D----l come out of them. He _ringed_ them by the Nose, and _bled_ them with the _Spur_, and so throughly _broke_ them (for he was a special Horseman) that they never kicked or plunged when he was _in the Saddle_; but, as the Nature of Beasts is, became the fonder of him the rougher he handled them.

When he understood that _Blanch_ and her _Sister_ were so hampered and _Tyrannically_ treated by the _Steward_, he came to their Assistance, supplied them with Money, which he raised from the _Fen-men_, and fairly set them free from his Oppression and Rapine, reversed his _Grants_, cancelled his sham Leases, restored Possessions, _Leets_ and _Manor-Courts_, made up _Fences_ for the Tenants, and so strongly secured their _Copyholds_, that there is no likelihood they will ever be _ousted_ or much _disturbed_ again. And, to crown all the Services he had done the two Sisters, he _recommended_ them, before he parted, to the Care of a _neighbouring Lord_, a Cousin of his own, and a _right honest Man_, who proved a Father to _them_ and their People, defended their _Rights_, and secured their _Properties_.

And yet _Blanch_ could never rightly like the _Fen-man_, as she called him, though he had done so much for her. She could not comport herself with his Manners and his Humour, hated the Servants he brought with him, complained they were too costly to her, though she kept them sparingly, and even quarrelled (so exceptious are Women) to the Cut of their Cloaths, and the Colour of their _Liveries_.

But _Betty Ireland_ had more Gratitude than her _Sister_, adored him while he stayed with her, and to this Day _remembers_ him as her _great Deliverer_, the Protector of her Life, and the Founder of her Fortune.

She, indeed, had double Obligations, as her Condition was more helpless than her _Sister_'s, and she had more severely felt the _Tyranny_ of the _Steward_, who, because she could not so readily complain of him, had first _stripped_ her of all she had, and then sold her to Bondage. But both _Sisters_ ought surely to reflect, that all the Happiness, and all the Security they have since enjoyed, has been owing to the _Friendships_ he procured them, when he put them under the Protection of _his Cousins_; and that he has effectually banished the _Stewards_ thereby, who would doubtless otherwise be meddling with their Affairs, and use them worse than ever they did before, as coming _in without Leave_, they would act without Controul.

But maugre all these Considerations, _Blanch_ was glad when he left her, and ready to leap out of her Skin for joy. She thought of nothing but Diversions, spent her _Time_ and _Money_ in _visiting_ and _dressing_, ransacked the Globe to set off her Person, and, it must be owned, she never looked handsomer in her Life. Wherever she went, she was adored as an Angel, surrounded by admiring Throngs, and Thousands hanging on her _Look_.

But all this was empty Pageantry and too expensive Glory. She ran herself in Debt to uphold this Appearance, mortgaged her _Estate_, and bartered her _Stock_, for the vain Applause of flattering Knaves, and scoundrel _Tradesmen_. It was Time to pull in, and keep a Hank in the Hand. She saw her Folly, and doffed her _Gear_. It was better _go plain_ than run in Debt for Finery; and enough she had to do to pay the Debts she had contracted in her _Fit of_ Vanity.

_Betty_ all the while was minding Business at home, and her Affairs prospered amain. Her _Tenants_ became industrious, and her _Estate_ improved; yet she never thought herself sufficiently _secure_ till she got under the new _Protection_ her _Deliverer_ had provided. Her Situation is particular. She has a strange Mixture of People on her Estate, who are always at Daggers drawing with one another, and a mighty Hindrance to her Business. They are _Whites_, _Blacks_, and _Black_ and _White_. The _Whites_ only are allowed to be _Land-holders_; but the _last_, by hiding half the Face when they converse with her, pass for _Whites_, and make good their _Titles_. The first are dreadfully maligned by the _Blacks_, who are unhappily the more numerous, _lay old Claims_ to her _Lands_, and are ever watching for an Opportunity to make a _Riot_, and take forcible Possession. 'Till now they were too much favoured by her _Sister_, which checked the Industry of her Farmers.

But when they found they had nothing to fear, either at home or abroad, they began in earnest to improve _their Concerns_, as they were sure they were working for themselves, and in no Danger of being dispossessed, by Virtue of _chimerical_ Claims, and _Antediluvian Proprietors_.

The _Blacks_, indeed, immediately made a _Riot_ on this new Settlement, but could not get Possession; and, lately, a _young Jackanapes_ pretended a _Right_ to be _Steward_ to _both Sisters_, by Virtue of a _Patent_ he had got from the last _Steward_, as if he had a Right to dispose of a _Place_ he had been turned out of himself. He came on the Lands, however, with a _bloody-minded_ Crew of _skirtless_ Vagabonds, drove off the Cattle, robbed the _Hen-roosts_, and _swaggered_ at so _unmerciful_ a Rate, that _Blanch_ was frightened out of her Senses, and was fain to _send_ for a Dram of _Gin_ to restore her Spirits. But if she was frightened, her _Guardian_ was not, and had a _Month's Mind_ to find out the _Varlet_ in Person, and tread him under his Feet. But as he could not leave the _Hall-house_ where the _Court was sitting_, he sent a _Lad_ of his own to take Account of him, who did the _Business tightly_. He was a _well-mettled Blade_, and _Steel_ to the _Back_. He came up with him at the Corner of a Farmer's Yard, where he gave him and his _Desperados_ a wofull Drubbing, kicked him i'the A----e, _soused_ him in the _Horse-pond_, which he swam over to save his Bacon, and looked so miserably scared in his Passage, that it's sure he'll never _try the Ford_ again.

For a good while before this Alarm happened (which proved nothing but a _Bugbear_) both the _Sisters_ had a fair Opportunity of minding their Concerns, and getting above the World. _Blanch_ might have paid her Debts, and had Money to the fore; but it was ever her Misfortune to be _ill-served_ by almost all she employed. Never, sure, had Lady so _unhandy_ a Pack about her, and, indeed, it was impossible it could well be otherwise; for she did not chuse her _Servants_ because they were _fit_ for this, or that _Office_, but because they asked, and would have it, or be horribly out of Humour else, would make a Noise and _Uproar_ at every _Court-Leet_, terrify the _Tenants_ at every _Ale-house_, with strange Stories of Designs on their _Copy-holds_, and wicked _Plots_ just ready to begin; 'till they turned their Heads, and set them madding. So that the poor Lady was fain to _take them in_, to keep Peace at Home, and to pay them Wages for not doing her Business. The Consequence of which was, she had _Clerks_ could neither write or read; Book, and Cash-keepers, that could not _count_ or cast up, or ever heard of a _Ballance_ in their Lives. And so ridiculous was her Compliance in this Point, that she had once a Lady to curry her Horse, and a _Fishmonger_ for a _Grass Bailiff_.

'Tis true, she would often change her Servants, but not a _Barrel the better Herring_. If she got one, by chance, knew any thing of his Business, the _rest_ never left boddering her 'till they had him out. It should never be said they demeaned themselves so much as to serve with one, who would spoil every thing by his _Rashness_, and disgrace the Service by his _Ignorance_. Now, by _Rashness_ they meant _resenting Insults_ and _Injuries_ done their Lady; and by _Ignorance_, not knowing how to _buy_ and _sell_, and live by the _Loss_. So that, all Things considered, it were a Marvel her Affairs should be in better Plight than they are, or her Debts be paid with more Ease and Expedition.

_Betty_, in the mean time, is come to an opulent Fortune, has her Rents well paid, and her Farms daily improving, and would improve ten times more, if her _Sister_ could see her own Advantage so far, as to give her that Encouragement she is daily giving to _Strangers_, who give her nothing in Return but their Envy and Ill-will. But as it is, _Betty_'s in a good Way, and makes the most of a bad Market. And since she must not work for her _Sister_, she works for herself.

It had been a Custom of hers to buy every thing she wanted from her _Sister's Tenants_ and _Tradesmen_, though they used her abominably, and put off upon her the worst Goods they had. If the Farmer had damaged Hops, he sold them to _Betty Ireland_; if his Malt was blinked, away it went to her; and the _Pothecary_ thought his decayed Drugs good enough for _Betty_, and instead of burning them, laid them by for her, as tho' she were not a Christian, or had the same Inside as her Sister.