Transcribed from the early 1800’s J. Evans and Sonedition ,
THE
TRUE HISTORY
OF THE
Kentish Lawyer;
WITH ANACCOUNT OF THE
EXTRAORDINARY MARRIAGE
OF HIS SON.
LONDON:
Printed and sold by J. Evans and Son, Long-lane;
sold also by F. Collins, 60, Paternoster-Row; and
J. Nisbet, 15, Castle-street, Oxford-street.
PRICE ONEPENNY.
p. 2THEKENTISH LAWYER.
Old Mr. Studley was a lawyer inKent, of about £400 a year. He was a great enemy togodliness. His son, in his youth, seemed to follow in thesame steps, till the Lord, who had separated him from the womb,called him by his grace as follows:—The young man was atLondon, and being drunk in some company, and going in the nighttowards his lodging, fell into a cellar, and in the fall wasseized with horror, and thought he fell into hell at thattime. It pleased God he took little harm by the fall, butlay there some hours in a drunken drowse; his body being heatedwith what he had drank, and his soul awakened, he thought he wasactually in hell. After he was come to himself, and gothome into Kent, he became serious, betook himself to read, andstudy the Scriptures, and of much prayer, which at length hisfather perceived, and fearing he would turn puritan, was troubledand dealt roughly with him, making him dress his horses, which hehumbly and willingly submitted to. And when, at that time,his father p.3perceived he sat up late at night, reading his Bible, hedenied him candle-light; but being allowed a fire in his chamber,he used to lie along and read by the fire-light; and said, thatwhile he was dressing his father’s horses in his frock, andwhen reading by the fire, he had those comforts from the Lord,and joys that he had scarce experienced since. His fatherseeing these means ineffectual, resolved to send him into France,that by the manners of that country, his melancholy temper mightbe cured. He went, and being at his own disposal, by theLord’s guiding him, he placed himself in the house of agodly protestant minister; and between them, after they wereacquainted, there grew great endearment. Great progress hemade in speaking the language; and his father expecting anaccount from the gentleman with whom he lived, of his proficiencyin speaking French, he sent it to him; but soon after he hadorders to return home; and (the father directing it, or heintreating it) the landlord, with whom he had lived, came intoEngland with him, and both were made very welcome at hisfather’s house, he not knowing that he was aminister. At last the father caught the French gentlemanand his son at prayers together, and was angry; paid him what wasdue to him, and sent him away. Then his father having aninterest wi