upwards of sixteen feet long, and more in bulk, so that they could not weigh less than a ton weight. The shape of their body differs little from the sea-dogs, or seals, but they have another sort of skin, a head much bigger in proportion, and very large mouths, monstrous big eyes, and a face like that of a lion, with very large whiskers, the hair of which is stiff enough to make tooth-pickers. These creatures come a-shore to ingender, the latter end of June, and stay till the end of September; during which time they lie on the land, and are never observed to go to the water, but lie in the same place above a musquet-shot from the waterside, and have no manner of sustenance all that time, that he could ob

serve.

I took notice of some, that lay a week without once offering to move out of the place, whilst I was there, till they were disturbed by us; but we saw few, in comparison of what, he informed us, he did, and that the shore was all crouded full of them, a musquet-shot into the land. I admire how these monsters come to yield such a quantity of oil; their hair is short and coarse, and their skin thicker, than the thickest ox-hide I ever saw. We found no land-bird on the island, but a sort of black-bird with a red breast, not unlike our English blackbird, and the humming-bird of various colours, and no bigger than a large humble-bee. Here is a small tide, which flows uncertain, and the spring-tide flows about seven feet.

This is the account given by himself to the captain of the ship, as will be attested by several merchants and captains upon the Exchange, who have conversed with him: In which relation, the Divine Providence of God may be visibly seen, first, in throwing him upon the desolate island, and, next, in supporting him under such an affliction, whilst the ship, which he left, soon after perished in the sea, and few of the company escaped: All which singular acts of providence, that conspired in his preservation, he wholly and piously ascribes to the infinite goodness and mercy of God; to whom all honour and glory be given, now and evermore.

THE ROYAL GAMESTERS;

OR,

THE OLD CARDS NEW SHUFFLED,

FOR A

CONQUERING GAME.

The following piece needs ro comment, much less any apology for its republication; seeing that the old times, in which it was first penned, are become new, and the same game is begun again among the powers and states of Europe, by the ambitious and treacherous views and attempts of France and Spain.

Germany. FRE we to play this match prepare, know first, who together are.

Holland. Let England deal the cards about,

The four knaves play, the rest stand out.
Prussia. France is a gamester, and must fall,
Else odds will beat the devil and all.
What I have won, I'll venture still,
I'll give you nothing but the deal.
England. Play fair then, and it is agreed,

France.

The two black knaves, against the red.
The kings shall hold another set,
And the four queens shall sit and bet.
The knaves of France and Spain are black,
'Tis Germany must hold the pack.

Germany. Give me the cards, the deal is mine;
Diamonds are trumps, who bets this time?

Holland. I'll hold ten thousand livres by,

'Gainst France and Spain, the reason why;
Because the odds is ten to one,

They'll certainly be both undone.

Savoy. I'll take you up, with you I'll lay,

That France and Spain will hold you play.

Denmark. I'll nothing bet on either side;
Portugal. Nor I, until I see them try❜d.
Bavaria. I know on which side I would bet,
But will not tell my mind as yet;

Sweden. Nor I, but still will neuter stand,

And do them service under-hand.

Poland. One single game with Swedes I'll try,

I'll make the smooth-fac'd youth comply.

Venice. Go on and prosper all, say I.

The First Game, 1702.

Germany held good cards, and play'd 'em well,
Got some by tricks, and honours, the first deal.
The second deal, France held the cards, and then,
The game seem'd two to one, for France and Spain,
But, in a little time, they turn'd again:

For fortune now old Lewis' side forsakes,
England won all, and Holland drew the stakes.

The Second Game, 1703.

The second game, Bavaria took their parts,
And the first deal turn'd up the king of hearts;
Got the court cards and trumps into his power,
And put the slip upon the emperor.
And well it was for France he serv'd him so,
For Lewis else had quickly been brought low;
Germany fretted thus to see it go.

England still play'd its part, and won some tricks,
And fairly brought the game up eight to six.
But Germany had no good cards to play,
And by ill fortune gave the game away.
Savoy did now from France and Spain divide,
And ventur'd all on the contrary side.

Loses some stakes, but England lends him more,
And Portugal does for that same side declare.

The Third Game, 1704.

But vex'd to see the business done by halves,
Holland and England took the cards themselves.
Germany laid his last stake down at play,
While all the stress upon the dealers lay,
France cut the cards, and Hoiland led the way.
The first deal from the cards Bavaria lost,
And fear'd that now his great designs were cross'd.
Holland dealt next; France the first trick did get,
But England by the honours won the set.
Bavaria, ruin'd, threw the cards away,
And had not left another cross to play.

}

}

The Fourth Game, 1705.

France to the last stake brought, and Spain the same, But Germany revok'd and spoil'd the game:

Which made the other gamesters swear,

He did not play upon

the square.

England chang'd sides, and took the Dutch again,
While Portugal play'd single hand with Spain.
But after many deals, and mighty cost,
Between them both, there was but little lost.
Now England deals about, for the last stake,
And had a hand that made Monsieur quake:
But, when the set to a conclusion came,
Holland lost dealing, and quite baulk'd the game.

The Conquering Game, 1706.

England deals next, and France is fain,
To lend a losing stake to Spain.
Savoy bets all; France threatens hard,
To take from him his leading card;
But England all the rest restore,
And tell him, they will lend him more.
Now on all sides the stakes are down,
And Spain plays briskly for the crown:
And Portugal some bets doth lay,
Which England does, and Holland pay.
The first deal, Spain three tricks doth lose,
Which doth old Lewis much confuse.
France shuffles next, more stakes does bet,
And threatens hard to win the set,
E're Germany his cards can sort,
While Venice laughs, and likes the sport.
England says nothing all the while,
But plays such cards makes Holland smile.
France wins a stake or two at first,

And Swedes wou'd back him, if they durst:
But Poland holds him to't as yet,

And hopes to gain his late lost bet.
France with his best court-cards begins,
While Spain lose faster than he wins.
The set grows warm; brisk play is shewn,
And Savoy lays his last stake down.
But Germany, with trumps supply'd,
Soon turns the game o'th' t'other side.
France with his ace of hearts doth join,
But England plays the King and Queen.
Old Lewis vex'd, yet looking grave,
With speed throws down another knave,
nd questions not the game to save.

}

While Portugal, with anger then,
Plays down another single ten:

At which the gamesters seem'd to smile,
And stood amaz'd a little while:

But, when he some excuse did make,
They pass'd it by, as a mistake.
Venice at last for Holland bets,
And holds ten-thousand pounds o'th set.
France offers now to part the stakes,
And Spain the self same proffer makes :
But England will to neither stand,
For all the honour's in their hands.
France plays a trump about to try,
In whose hand, all the rest did lie:
Which he soon finds unto his cost,
When Spain, perceiving all was lost,

Throws down his cards, and gives the set for gone,
Bavaria takes it up, and plays it on.

But England trumps about, and so the game is won.
France seizes on those stakes he'd made from Spain,
But Germany recovers all again.

Thus ends the game which Europe has in view,
Which by the stars may happen to be true.

REASONS

HUMBLY OFFERED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,

FOR PASSING A BILL

For preventing Delays and Expences, in Suits in Law and Equity. London, printed, and are to be sold by John Morphew, near Stationers-hall, 1707. Quarto, containing twenty-two pages.

THE

HE unavoidable expence, as well as unnecessary delay, in the prosecution of suits in the courts of law and equity, especially in the latter, are become so exorbitantly great and burthensome to the subject, that they may justly be ranged among our first-rate grievances. It must be granted by every man of common observation, that the methods of proceeding in our courts, designed for speedy justice, are fully ripe for a regulation, when a passive submission to injuries, unless of a very high nature, is much more for the advantage of the injured person, than