they flung, leaving Mrs. Bull no time to reply. No stone was left
unturned to frighten John from his composition. Sometimes they
spread reports at coffee-houses that John and his wife were run mad;
that they intended to give up house, and make over all their estate
to Lewis Baboon; that John had been often heard talking to himself,
and seen in the streets without shoes or stockings; that he did
nothing from morning till night but beat his servants, after having
been the best master alive. As for his wife, she was a mere
natural. Sometimes John's house was beset with a whole regiment of
attornies' clerks, bailiffs, and bailiffs' followers, and other
small retainers of the law, who threw stones at his windows, and
dirt at himself as he went along the street. When John complained
of want of ready-money to carry on his suit, they advised him to
pawn his plate and jewels, and that Mrs. Bull should sell her linen
and wearing clothes.

* Talk of peace, and the struggle of the party against it.
** The endeavours made use of to stop the Treaty of Peace,
*** Reflections upon the House of Commons as ignorant, who know
nothing of business.



CHAPTER XIII. Mrs. Bull's vindication of the indispensable duty
incumbent upon Wives in case of the Tyranny, Infidelity, or
Insufficiency of Husbands; being a full Answer to the Doctor's
Sermon against Adultery.*

* The Tories' representation of the speeches at Sacheverel's trial.