DOCTER LEWS,

GIVE me leaf to tell you, methinks you mought employ your talons better, than to encourage servants to pillage their masters.

I find by Gwyllim, that Villiams has got my skin; for which he is an impotent rascal. He has not only got my skin, but, moreover, my butter-milk to fatten his pigs; and, I suppose, the next thing he gets, will be my pad to carry his daughter to church and fair: Roger gets this, and Roger gets that; but I’d have you to know, I won’t be rogered at this rate by any ragmatical fellow in the kingdom. And I am surprised, docter Lews, you would offer to put my affairs in composition with the refuge and skin of the hearth. I have toiled and moyled to a good purpuss, for the advantage of Matt’s family, if I can’t safe as much owl as will make me an under petticoat. As for the butter-milk, ne’er a pig in the parish shall thrust his snout in it, with my good-will. There’s a famous physician at the Hot Well, that prescribes it to his patience, when the case is consumptive; and the Scots and Irish have begun to drink it already, in such quantities, that there is not a drop left for the hogs in the whole neighbourhood of Bristol. I’ll have our butter-milk barrelled up, and sent twice a-week to Aberginny, where it may be sold for a halfpenny the quart; and so Roger may carry his pigs to another market. I hope, Docter, you will not go to put any more such phims in my brother’s head, to the prejudice of my pockat, but rather give me some raisins (which hitherto you have not done) to subscribe myself

Your humble servant,
TAB. BRAMBLE.