always lurking thereabout, who might have brought me to the
_Fleet_ for being too _Nimble_, besides, I was wonderfully
apprehensive of receiving some unwelcome _Huggings_ from the
_W....n_ there; therefore with a step and a stride I soon got
over _Fleet-ditch_, and (as in Justice I ought) I prais'd the
_Bridge_ I got over. Being a _Batchelor_, and not being
capable to to manage a Bridewell you know. I had no Business
near _St. Brides_, so kept the right handside, designing to
_Pop_ into the _Alley_ as usual; but fearing to go thro'
there, and _harp_ too much on the same _String_, it gave an
_Allay_ to my Intention, and on I went to _Shoe-lane_ end but
there meeting with a _Bully Hack_ of the Town, he wou'd have
shov'd me down, which my Spirit resenting, tho' a _brawny
Dog_, I soon _Coller'd_ him, fell Souse at him, then with his
own Cane I _strapped_ till he was force to _Buckle_ too, and
hold his _Tongue_, in so much he durst not say his _Soul_ was
his own, and was glad to pack of at _Last_, and turn his
_Heels_ upon me: I was glad he was gone you may be sure, and
_dextrously_ made a _Hand_ of my _Feet_ under the
_Leg-Tavern_; but the very Thoughts of _Fetter-Lane_ call'd to
mind some Passages, which made me avoid the _Passage_ at the
end of it, (next to the Coffee House you know) so I soon
whip'd over the way, yet going along two wooden _Logger-heads_
at _St. Dunstan's_ made just them a damn'd Noise about their
_Quarters_, but the sight of me made perfectly _Hush_ in a
_Minute_; now fearing to goe by _Chance-a wry-Lane_, as being
upon the _Watch_ my self and not to be _debarr'd_ at
_Temple-Bar_; I stole up _Bell-Yard_, but narrowly escap'd
being _Clapper-claw'd_ by two Fellows I did not like in the
Alley, so was forc'd to goe round with a design to _Sheer-off_