friends to-morrow, and then the blow would rest upon him; which he would
prevent, and desired Dryden to let him have his boy to bring him notice
which way Sir H. Bellasses goes. By and by he is informed that Sir H.
Bellasses's coach was coming: so Tom Porter went down out of the
Coffee-house where he stayed for the tidings, and stopped the coach, and
bade Sir H. Bellasses come out. "Why," says H. Bellasses, "you will not
hurt me coming out, will you?"--"No," says Tom Porter. So out he went,
and both drew: and H. Bellasses having drawn and flung away his scabbard,
Tom Porter asked him whether he was ready? The other answering him he
was, they fell to fight, some of their acquaintance by. They wounded one
another, and H. Bellasses so much that it is feared he will die: and
finding himself severely wounded, he called to Tom Porter, and kissed him,
and bade him shift for himself; "for," says he, "Tom, thou hast hurt me;
but I will make shift to stand upon my legs till thou mayest withdraw, and
the world not take notice of you, for I would not have thee troubled for
what thou hast done." And so whether he did fly or no I cannot tell: but
Tom Porter shewed H. Bellasses that he was wounded too: and they are both
ill, but H. Bellasses to fear of life. And this is a fine example; and H.
Bellasses a Parliament-man too, and both of them most extraordinary
friends! Among other discourse, my cozen Roger told us a thing certain,
that the Archbishop of Canterbury; that now is, do keep a wench, and that
he is as very a wencher as can be; and tells us it is a thing publickly
known that Sir Charles Sidley had got away one of the Archbishop's wenches
from him, and the Archbishop sent to him to let him know that she was his
kinswoman, and did wonder that he would offer any dishonour to one related
to him. To which Sir Charles Sidley is said to answer, "A pox take his
Grace! pray tell his Grace that I believe he finds himself too old, and is
afraid that I should outdo him among his girls, and spoil his trade." But
he makes no more of doubt to say that the Archbishop is a wencher, and
known to be so, which is one of the most astonishing things that I have