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about a month after her marriage, one of her neighbours leaving her doors carleſly open, had a ſmock and petticoat ſtolen away, while ſhe was telling a goſſip's tale of an hour long, at the next door, where ſhe went to fetch fire, which misfortune much troubled her: ſhe made her moan to mother Shipton, who did not go about like our little ſilly conjur ors with their ſchemes and figures, to give a blind deſription of they know not whom; but roundly told her ſuch a one by name had ſtolen the things, adding, that ſhe would make her reſtore them with ſhame to her; and ſo indeed ſhe did, for the market-day, before all the people, the woman could not avoid putting on the ſmock over her clothes, and the petticoat in her hand, and ſo marched through the croud in the market-place where the other was, by Mother Shiptons's directions, io receive them ſinging theſe words.—
I ſtole my neighbour's ſmock and coat, I am a thief and here I ſhew'.
So when ſhe came to the owner, ſhe pulled off the ſmock and petticoat, and gave her them with a reverend courteſy, aſked her pardon, and ſo departed.
