THE MEMOIRS O F CAPT. JOHN CREICHTON; From his own MATERIALS. Drawn up and digested by Dr. J. SWIFT, D. S. P. D. Firft printed in the Year 1731. L 2 THE PRINTER's ADVERTISE MEN T. WHEN Dr. Swift was at Sir Arthur Acheson's at Markethill in the county of Armagh, an old gentleman was recommended to him, as being a remarkable cavalier in the reigns of Charles II., James II. and William III. who had behaved with great loyalty and bravery in Scotland during the troubles of thofe reigns, but was neglected by the government, although he deferved great rewards from it. As he was reduced in his circumstances, Dr. Swift made him a handsome prefent; but said at the fame time, "Sir, this trifle cannot fupport you long, and your friends may grow tired of "6 you; therefore I would have you contrive fome : "honeft means of getting a fum of money, fuffi"cient to put you into a way of life of supporting yourself with independency in your old age.' To which Captain Creichton (for that was the gentleman's name) anfwered, "I have tired all my "friends, and cannot expect any fuch extraordina ་་ ་ ry favours." Then Dr. Swift replied, "Sir, I "have heard much of your adventures; that they "are fresh in your memory; that you can tell "them with great humour; and that you have ta"ken memorandums of them in writing," To which L 3 which the Captain faid, "I have; but no one can "understand them but myself." Then. Dr Swift rejoined," Sir, get your manufcripts, read them to me, and tell me none but genuine ftories, and "then I will place them in order for you, prepare "them for the prefs, and endeavour to get you a fubfcription among my friends, as you may "do among your own. The Captain, foon after, waited on the Dean with his papers, and related many adventures to him; which the Dean was fo kind as to put in order of time, to correct the style, and make a fmall book of, intituled, The MEMOIRS OF CAPTAIN JOHN CREICHTON. A fubfcription was immediately fet on foot, by the Dean's Intereft and recommendation, which raised for the Captain above two hundred pounds, and made the remaining part of his life very happy and cafy. TO THE READ É THE R. HE author of thefe Memoirs, Captain John Creighton, is ftill alive, and refides in the northern part of this kingdom. He is a very honeft and worthy man, but of the old ftamp; and, it is probable, that fome of his principles will not relifh very well in the prefent difpofition of the world. His Memoirs are therefore to be received like a pofthumous work, and as containing facts, which very few alive, except himself, can remem ber: Upon which account, none of his generous fubfcribers are, in the leaft, anfwerable for many opinions relating to the public, both in church andflate, which he feems to juftify; and, in the vin. dication of which, to the hazard of his life, and the lofs of his fortune, he spent the most useful part of his days. Principles, as the world goes, are little more than fashion, and the apoftle tells us, that the Fashion of this world paffeth away. We read with pleasure the memoirs of feveral authors, whose party we difapprove, if they be written with nature and truth. Curious men are defirous to fee what can be faid on both fides; and even the virulent flat relation of Ludlow, though written in the fpirit of rage, prejudice, and vanity, doth not want its advocates. This inclines me to think, that the Memoirs of Captain Creichton may not be unacceptable to the curious of every party; because, from my knowledge of the man, and the teftimony of feveral confiderable perfons, of different political denominations, I am confident, that he hath not |