The Burning Shame; OR Covent-Garden Morning Frolic.  
Being an Account of some Odd and Humorous Pranks which were played off Yesterday Morning between Three Persons of Fortune and Peg Tear'em a Washerwoman.  
THAT merry Monarch King Charles the Second, was not only highly delighted with the mad Pranks of the Earl of Rochester and other Courtiers, but often made one himself in their humorous Adventures; but of all their Tricks none came up to this, which is as follows. Three Gentlemen of high Rank, in a frolicksome Humour, met with a poor Washerwoman under the little Piazza in Covent-Garden about three o'Clock in the Morning, who was going to a Day's Work; 'sBlood, Jack, says one, let's see if this Woman has not got Run-goods about her and immediately began to rummage her lower Apartments. Says Margery, I assure you, gentlemans, you will find nothing there but what has been fairly Entered; and if you will but put your Noses to it, you will be convinced that I carry a wholesome British Commodity about me. We'll not take your Word, you Slut, says they, and immediately one of them Gauged the Cask. Upon his declaring all was Right, they concluded among themselves to make Margery amends for the Affront they had put upon her, in disputing the Goodness of her Ware. They said so good a Thing ought to be properly ornamented, and turning Margery's Smock and Petticoat over her Head, tied them close over it; they than hung her Candle and Lantern in a String just before Margery's Dumb-Glutton, and in that manner marched in Triumph with her to Bloomsbury Square, and knocked at the Gentleman's Door she was going to, standing at a Distance to see the Event of their Frolic. The first that came to the Door was a West-Country Maid-Servant, who seeing so strange a Sight, and taking it for an Apparition, immediately fainted away. The rest of the Women-Servants being afraid to go to the Door, prevailed on a blundering Irish Footman to go to the Spectre, and speak to it. Teague coming up, and seeing so odd a Figure, cries out, O hu! by Jesus, but this is not an Irish Ghost! I never saw before I was born an Apparition with a Candle and Lantern stuck in her Ace! In the Name of Jesus who are you? Nobody but poor Margery, the Washerwoman, eries th● poor Creature; and for God's Sake desire the Maids to help to undo me, and then I'll tell you how I've been served. Teague bursting into a Fit of Laughter, runs and tells the Maids who it was; By Heavens, says he, but they have made a Pudding-bag of her Petticoats to boil her Head in; and they have cut a great Gash in her Belly and tied it round with a Counsellor's Periwig. Upon my Conscience but it is true; and they have hung a lighted Candle and Lantern before it, because nobody should see it, agra.  
After a deal of Laughter on all sides, they untucked Margery, and on examining her Pockets she found they had robbed her of her Pocket Gin-bottle; but to comfort her for her Loss, they left in the room of it three fine Handkerchiefs, with a Guinea in each, which Margery thinks a charming Recompense for their Fun.