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considerable wealth。
〃The same disposition of mind which in princes is called ambition
is in subjects named faction。 To this temper I was greatly
addicted from my youth。 I was； while a boy； a great partisan of
prince John's against his brother Richard； during the latter's
absence in the holy war and in his captivity。 I was no more than
one…and…twenty when I first began to make political speeches in
public； and to endeavor to foment disquietude and discontent in
the city。 As I was pretty well qualified for this office； by a
great fluency of words； an harmonious accent； a graceful
delivery； and above all an invincible assurance； I had soon
acquired some reputation among the younger citizens； and some of
the weaker and more inconsiderate of a riper age。 This；
co…operating with my own natural vanity； made me extravagantly
proud and supercilious。 I soon began to esteem myself a man of
some consequence； and to overlook persons every way my superiors。
〃The famous Robin Hood； and his companion Little John； at this
time made a considerable figure in Yorkshire。 I took upon me to
write a letter to the former； in the name of the city； inviting
him to come to London； where I assured him of very good
reception； signifying to him my own great weight and consequence；
and how much I had disposed the citizens in his favor。 Whether
he received this letter or no I am not certain； but he never gave
me any answer to it。
〃A little afterwards one William Fitz…Osborn； or； as he was
nicknamed； William Long…Beard； began to make a figure in the
city。 He was a bold and an impudent fellow； and had raised
himself to great popularity with the rabble； by pretending to
espouse their cause against the rich。 I took this man's part；
and made a public oration in his favor； setting him forth as a
patriot； and one who had embarked in the cause of liberty： for
which service he did not receive me with the acknowledgments I
expected。 However； as I thought I should easily gain the
ascendant over this fellow； I continued still firm on his side；
till the archbishop of Canterbury； with an armed force； put an
end to his progress： for he was seized in Bowchurch； where he
had taken refuge； and with nine of his accomplices hanged in
chains。
〃I escaped narrowly myself； for I was seized in the same church
with the rest； and； as I had been very considerably engaged in
the enterprise； the archbishop was inclined to make me an
example； but my father's merit； who had advanced a considerable
sum to queen Eleanor towards the king's ransom； preserved me。
〃The consternation my danger had occasioned kept me some time
quiet； and I applied myself very assiduously to my trade。 I
invented all manner of methods to enhance the price of fish； and
made use of my utmost endeavors to engross as much of the
business as possible in my own hands。 By these means I acquired
a substance which raised me to some little consequence in the
city； but far from elevating me to that degree which I had
formerly flattered myself with possessing at a time when I was
totally insignificant； for； in a trading society； money must at
least lay the foundation of all power and interest。
〃But as it hath been remarked that the same ambition which sent
Alexander into Asia brings the wrestler on the green； and as this
same ambition is as incapable as quicksilver of lying still； so
I； who was possessed perhaps of a share equal to what hath fired
the blood of any of the heroes of antiquity； was no less restless
and discontented with ease and quiet。 My first endeavors were to
make myself head of my company； which Richard I had just
published； and soon afterwards I procured myself to be chosen
alderman。
〃Opposition is the only state which can give a subject an
opportunity of exerting the disposition I was possessed of。
Accordingly； king John was no sooner seated on his throne than I
began to oppose his measures； whether right or wrong。 It is true
that monarch had faults enow。 He was so abandoned to lust and
luxury； that he addicted himself to the most extravagant excesses
in both； while he indolently suffered the king of France to rob
him of almost all his foreign dominions： my opposition therefore
was justifiable enough； and if my motive from within had been as
good as the occasion from without I should have had little to
excuse； but； in truth； I sought nothing but my own preferment； by
making myself formidable to the king； and then selling to him the
interest of that party by whose means I had become so。 Indeed；
had the public good been my care； however zealously I might have
opposed the beginning of his reign； I should not have scrupled to
lend him my utmost assistance in this struggle between him and
pope Innocent the third； in which he was so manifestly in the
right； nor have suffered the insolence of that pope； and the
power of the king of France； to have compelled him in the issue；
basely to resign his crown into the hands of the former； and
receive it again as a vassal； by means of which acknowledgment
the pope afterwards claimed this kingdom as a tributary fief to
be held of the papal chair； a claim which occasioned great
uneasiness to many subsequent princes； and brought numberless
calamities on the nation。
〃As the king had； among other concessions； stipulated to pay an
immediate sum of money to Pandulph； which he had great difficulty
to raise； it was absolutely necessary for him to apply to the
city； where my interest and popularity were so high that he had
no hopes without my assistance。 As I knew this； I took care to
sell myself and country as high as possible。 The terms I
demanded； therefore； were a place； a pension； and a knighthood。
All those were immediately consented to。 I was forthwith
knighted； and promised the other two。
〃I now mounted the hustings； and； without any regard to decency
or modesty； made as emphatical a speech in favor of the king as
before I had done against him。 In this speech I justified all
those measures which I had before condemned； and pleaded as
earnestly with my fellow…citizens to open their purses； as I had
formerly done to prevail with them to keep them shut。 But； alas！
my rhetoric had not the effect I proposed。 The consequence of my
arguments was only contempt to myself。 The people at first
stared on one another； and afterwards began unanimously to
express their dislike。 An impudent fellow among them； reflecting
on my trade； cried out； 'Stinking fish；' which was immediately
reiterated through the whole crowd。 I was then forced to slink
away home； but I was not able to accomplish my retreat without
being attended by the mob； who huzza'd me along the street with
the repeated cries of 'Stinking fish。'
〃I now proceeded to court； to inform his majesty of my faithful
service； and how much I had suffered in his cause。 I found by my
first reception he had already heard of my success。 Inste