MEMO IR S

OF

Capt. JOHN CREICHTON.

From his own MATERIALS.

Drawn up and digested by

Dr. J. SWIFT, D. S. P. D.

First Printed in the Year 1731.

ADVERTISEMENT.

WH HEN Dr. Swift was at Sir Ar

thur Achefon'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 prebut faid at the fame time, " Sir, "this trifle cannot fupport you long, and your friends may grow tired of you; "therefore I would have you contrive fome boneft means of getting a fum of money Sufficient 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) answered, "I have tired all my friends, and cannot expect any fuch ex

fent ;

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traordinary

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traordinary favours." Then Dr. Swift replied, "Sir, I have heard much of your adventures; that they are fresh in your cr memory; that you can tell them with great humour; and that you have taken "memorandums of them in writing." To 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 press, 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 bim; which the dean was fo kind as to put in order of time, to correct the ftyle, and make a fmall book of, entitled, The MEMOIRS OF CAPTAIN JOHN CREICHTON. A fubfcription was immediately fet on foot, by the dean's intereft and recommendation, which raifed for the captain above two hundred pounds, and made the remaining part of his life very happy and eafy.

ΤΟ

REA, DE R.

TH

HE author of these memoirs, capt, John Creichton, is still 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 some of his principles will not relish 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 remember: Upon which account, none of his generous fubfcribers are, in the leaft, answerable for many opinions, relating to the publick, both in church and ftate, which he feems to justify, and in the vindication of which, to the hazard of his life, and the loss 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 passeth away.

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