The Lives and Portraits of Remarkable Characters, Drawn from the Most Authentic Sources, Volume 1

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Page 180 - Hobson kept a stable of forty good cattle, always ready and fit for travelling; but when a man came for a horse, he was led into the stable, where there was great choice, but he obliged him to take the horse which stood next to the stable door; so that every customer was alike well served according to his chance; and every horse ridden with the same justice; from whence it became a proverb when what ought to be your election was forced upon you, to say, Hobson's choice.
Page 180 - He lived in Cambridge ; and, observing that the scholars rid hard, his manner was to keep a large stable of horses, with boots, bridles, and whips, to furnish the gentlemen at once, without going from college to college to borrow, as they have done since the death of this worthy man.
Page 38 - I know you have an intention to murder me, and if you are ready to do it, let me beg that it be done here without giving yourself the trouble to take me on board.
Page 148 - You have lived longer than other men, what have you done more than other men ?' He replied, ' I did penance when I was an hundred years old.
Page 28 - I am determined to take the best means to discover the lady most liberal in her esteem, by giving her fourteen days more to make her quickest steps towards matrimony, from the date of this paper until eleven o'clock the next morning ; and as the contest evidently will be superb, honourable, sacred, and lawfully affectionate, pray do not let false delicacy interrupt you in this divine race for my eternal love, and an infant baronet.
Page 169 - Although some of his astrological judgments did fail, more particularly those concerning himself, he being no way capable of such preferment as he ambitiously desired ; yet I shall repeat some other of his judgments, which did not fail, being performed by conference with spirits. My mistress went once unto him, to know when her husband, then in Cumberland, would return, he having promised to be at home near the time of the question; after some consideration, he told her to this effect :
Page 69 - What perils youthful ardor would pursue, That boiling blood would carry thee too far, Young as thou wert in dangers, raw to war! O curst essay of arms, disastrous doom, Prelude of bloody fields, and fights to come!
Page 169 - Margery,' for so her name was, ' thy husband will not be at home these eighteen days ; his kindred have vexed him, and he is come away from them in much anger : he is now in Carlisle, and hath but three-pence in his purse.
Page 180 - ... according to his chance, and every horse ridden with the same justice : from whence it became a proverb, when what ought to be your election was forced upon you, to say,
Page 166 - Lambeth with a very good report of the neighbourhood, especially of the poor, unto whom he was charitable. He was a person that in horary questions (especially thefts), was very judicious and fortunate ; so also in sicknesses, which indeed was his masterpiece. In resolving questions about marriage he had good success ; in other questions very moderate.

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