“ Coming one day to ’Squire Portman’s house at Blandford, in the character of a rat catcher with a heir cap on his head, a buff girdle about his waist, a little box by his side, and a tame rat in his hand, he goes boldly up to the house where he had been well known before, and meeting the ’squire, person Bryant, and one Mr Pleydell of Milbourn and some other gentlemen, he asked them, if they had any rats to kill? Do you understand the business well, says the ’squire. ”

“ The Tiverton scholars had command of a fine cry of hounds, which gave Carew a frequent opportunity of exercising his beloved employment, and getting acquainted with John Martin, Thomas Coleman, and John Escott young gentlemen of the best rank and fortune. One day a farmer came to the school and complained of a deer, with a collar round his neck, that he had seen running about his grounds and had done him much damage, desiring them to hunt it down and kill it ”

“ The reader will no doubt wonder to hear of the ceremonials and oaths among gypsies and beggars but that will cease on being informed, that these people are subject to a form of government and laws peculiar to themselves, and pay due obedience to one who is stiled their King; to which honour Carew, in a short time arrived, after having by many acts proved himself worthy of it. The substance of them are these; Strong love and mutual regard for each member in particular, and the whole community in general ”

“ He never was more happy than when he was engaged in some adventure; therefore he was always very diligent to enquire when any accident happened, especially fire, to which he would immediately repair, and getting information of the causes, names, traces, and circumstances of the unhappy sufferers, he would assume one of them, and burning some part of his clothes, by way of demonstration, run to some place distant, pass for one of them, gain credit ”

“ Thus accoutred, he comes to Mr Pleydell’s door, and pinching one of the brats, set it a roaring; this gave the alarm to the dogs, who came out with open mouths so that the whole company was soon alarmed. Out came the maid saying Carry away the children, good woman, they disturb the ladies, God bless their ladyships I am the poor unfortunate grandmother or these helpless infants, whose mother and all they had were burnt at the dreadful fire at Kirton, and hope the good ladies for Gods sake will bestow something on the poor famishing, starving infants. ”

“ Having obtained all he could from this stratagem, he then became a plain honest farmer, whose grounds had been overflowed and cattle drowned; his dejected countenance and mournful tale, together with a wife and seven helpless infants being partakers of his misfortunes, gained him both pity and profit. ”

“ Being thus initiated into the ancient society of gypsies, who take their name from Egypt, a place well known to abound in learning, and whose inhabitants travelled about from place to place to communicate knowledge to mankind. --Carew did not continue long in it before he was consulted in important matters, particularly Madam Musgrove, of Monkton, near Taunton. ”

“ His parents did every thing to render home agreeable to him: but the uncommon pleasure he had enjoyed in the community he had left, their simplicity, freedom, sincerity. mirth, and frequent change of habitation, and the secret passages of the honour he has since arrived at, sickened and palled all other diversions, and at last prevailed over his filial duty ”