would maintain me, I enquired for one, and setled my self, as you shall hear in the next Chapter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: _The Extravagant Prentices with their Lasses at a Taverne Frollick._] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------- CHAP. XVIII. _He being now come to_ London, _puts himself Prentice to a Taylor; he gets acquaintance with Prentices of all sorts, is with them at their Tavern-frolicks: he is employed by a Scrivener to make Cloathes for a Wench, he goes with him to her, and returning, the Scrivener promises him an account of that Trade._ Being now come to _London_, I was resolved not to be idle, but settle my self to some one Trade, that I might be able to get a living; and having already had tryal of several, at first a _Barber-Surgeon_, then a _Tapster_, a _Cook_, a _Lock-smith_, _Taylor_, _Baker_, and _Plaisterer_; and being still forced for some reason or other to leave them all, did now resolve to fix upon one that should do my business, and whereby I might at all times, and in all places, be able to live by my hands, for Lands I had none. I considered of all the Trades I had already been a practitioner in, and many others, none suited so well with my humour, as that of a Taylor; wherefore I sought for several Masters, but they were all unwilling to take me for less than seven years, it being the custom of _London_ that none can be bound for less time, nor be made a Free-man till they have served so long. I was unwilling to bind my self on those tearms, knowing my temper was variable, and did believe, I should not hold out to serve such a tearm: but after several enquiries and tryals, I did light upon a Master, who was willing to take me for five years, only this I perswaded him to do in regard I already had a good hand in working, and being industrious in my imployment, so that though I was bound for seven years, yet I had a Writing under my Masters hand, that the last two years I should dispose of my self as I pleased, and yet he could make me a Free-man at seven years end.