To conclude, take this as an infallible Maxime, that the worst of Creditors are either very rich, or very poor men. The rich man can stay for his money, and so will have all or none; the poor will have no pity, nor indeed can he, since the debt may be all he is worth.
_How he insinuated himself into the acquaintance of all he thought he could prey upon, and what tricks he used to build his interest upon their ruine._
How can that _Tyrant_ flourish in his Commonwealth, when the foundation of his Reign was built on the Sepulchre of the right and lawful Heir he murther’d? And how can that man prosper, whose rise he rear’d from other mens ruines? Such was I, who having oftentimes been gulled by Knaves, turned Knave my self, and did as greedily hunt after such I could make a prey of, (to repair the damages I had sustain’d by others) as the devil doth after Usurers souls, being on their death-beds, resolving to live like a Bandite on the spoil. Like an old Souldier having been beaten to the world, (or indeed more properly, beaten by the world) I began to summon up all my senses and my idle brains to a strict account, how to get that up again, my riot and folly had spent; and thinking I had no way to recover my self, but by what ruined me, I did cast about me, and fished after this manner. I prepared my lines, provided baits, and made ready my hooks, which had such constant and firm barbs, that after I had struck a Gudgeon in the gills, I was sure to hold him, though I suffer’d him to play a little in the stream. The Flouds I daily frequented, were either the Temple, Ordinaries, Play-houses, Cock-pits, Brothels, or Taverns, leaving no place unsearch’d, wherein there might be any thing worthy a Bait. If such I found, like a shadow I was never from his heels, but followed him close, especially if he was a young Country-Gentleman, whom his father had sent up to see fashions in the Citie: and rather then he should go out as raw as he came in, I failed not to season him in one of the Cities Powdering-Tubs. First, I made it my business to know what his father allowed him; then would I study his natural disposition and inclination, and accordingly sute my self to him, so that by my behaviour towards him, he should look upon me to be his _Masculine Sweet-heart_, his bosom-friend, and that like _Hippocrates_ twins we must needs live and die together. Having accordingly by much sweat and industry adapted and fitted him to my humour and purpose, and wrought him to such a soft and waxen temperature, that I could make what impression I pleased on him, I brought him acquainted with some of my accomplices, who all vail’d bonnet to him, invited him from Tavern to Tavern, not letting him expend a peny; or if he wanted money, I would supply him with four or five pound. This Innocent (not having yet scented the Citie-air) all this while thinks himself in _Elysium_, fancying he enjoys more delights then the _Turks Paradise_ affords; and withal imagineth himself not a little graced, to be entertained among such seeming Gallants. For my Rogues (give me the liberty to call them so) lookt on it as the greatest piece of policie to wear good cloaths, though their pockets were worse furnished then a Chandlers box, that seldom hath any greater money in it, then Two-pence, Three-pence, Groats, _&c._ Sometimes my Cully did meet with some that knew me, who would advise him to have a care of me, and not to keep me company, for I was a dangerous person, and in the end would be his ruine. Whereas it was but to little purpose: for when youth is in its full vigour, and height of desire, neither wholesome counsel, nor lamentable examples, will give them warning of their future destruction. Still I continued my seeming respects and kindnesses to him, which I onely intended as the _Præludium_ or Prologue to that Play which was to come after: for my Country _Cock-brain_ being honeyed with these sweet delights, thought that whatever he could return, was notable to give an answerable satisfaction. Watching a fit opportunity, (when he was well warm’d with Wine) then would I perswade him, (which was no difficult matter) to be bound with me for so much, _&c._ which I promised I would repay at the day, without putting him to any inconvenience: but he knew not, that what I borrowed for an hour, I borrowed for an age. When I could squeeze no more juyce out of him, then I left him to the mercy of his Creditors, to be dealt withal as the Popinjay in the Fable, who being summoned to appear with the rest of the winged Tribe, before their King the Eagle, borrowed of all the finer sort of birds feathers to adorn him, and make him appear splendid before his Soveraign.
