the lones being considered as private property, the corporation had
only regard to the middle portion of the street--that which I have
said was named the crown of the causey.

The effect of this separation of interests in a common good began to
manifest itself, when the pavement of the crown of the causey, by
neglect, became rough and dangerous to loaded carts and gentlemen's
carriages passing through the town; in so much that, for some time
prior to my second provostry, the carts and carriages made no
hesitation of going over the lones, instead of keeping the highway
in the middle of the street; at which many of the burgesses made
loud and just complaints.

One dark night, the very first Sunday after my restoration to the
provostry, there was like to have happened a very sore thing by an
old woman, one Peggy Waife, who had been out with her gown-tail over
her head for a choppin of strong ale. As she was coming home, with
her ale in a greybeard in her hand, a chaise in full bir came upon
her and knocked her down, and broke the greybeard and spilt the
liquor. The cry was terrible; some thought poor Peggy was killed
outright, and wives, with candles in their hands, started out at the
doors and windows. Peggy, however, was more terrified than damaged;
but the gentry that were in the chaise, being termagant English
travellers, swore like dragoons that the streets should be indicted
as a nuisance; and when they put up at the inns, two of them came to
me, as provost, to remonstrate on the shameful condition of the
pavement, and to lodge in my hands the sum of ten pounds for the
behoof of Peggy; the which was greater riches than ever the poor
creature thought to attain in this world. Seeing they were
gentlemen of a right quality, I did what I could to pacify them, by