being there present look’d on it, and liked it so well, that he agreed to lend 400_l._ upon it: This at first would not please the Gentleman, because he pretended he was to pay 500_l._ but the value of the Lease being counted and reckoned at no more than 600_l._ he was contented at my Masters perswasions to accept of 400_l._ upon that security, and my Master promised him to furnish him with a 100_l._ more on his Bond of another person, a friend of his. Thus this business was made up, and assignment or mortgage being made of this Lease, the money was paid, and my Master as I soon understood, had 350_l._ thereof, and the Gentleman 50_l._ and I was likewise rewarded with twenty shillings, which the Gentleman gave me. Thus said the Scrivener, was my Master first beginnings in Cheating, which indeed was but small to these many great ones, which he soon after acted; of which you shall have an account in the next Chapter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------- CHAP. XX. _He discourses of several of his Masters Cheats, whereby he gets his Estate._ With this Stock of 350_l._ my Master set up all his _Knaveries_, and being unwilling to venture it all in one bottom, he lent a 100_l._ of it in small sums to House-keepers, which they paid again by the week, and gave him at least 40_l._ _per Cent._ for the use of it; for if he lent five pound, they paid it by five shillings _per_ week, and had but four pound ten shillings for their money, and my Master making the Bond in another mans name, he had commonly five shillings, and sometimes ten shillings for _Procuration_, and sometimes I had a shilling or two: thus did he dispose of some. Others he lent upon _Bommeree_, which was thus: If he lent ten pound, he was to have fifteen pound for it on such a day, or the return of such a ship, which should first happen; and though there was no such ship in the world came home, yet the time would come, and then it must be paid; and this being counted an adventure, he could take what interest he pleased, as it is customary with Merchants to venture upon _Bottomrie_; that is, on the bottom or keel of the ship and then for security of payment of the money, though the ship should miscarry, they are wont to insure it at the Insurance-Office; but my Master needed no such charge or trouble for insuring any ship, for he was sure the day would come, though the ship never did; and thus did he make forty or fifty pound in the hundred: but he being once bit and sued in equity, afterwards took a more strict course, for he seldom lent any money thus, but he would include in the Condition of the Bond a warrant to confess a Judgement, upon default of payment: and to be sure when the time came, and the money not paid, he filed his Bond, which was warrant to confess Judgement, and thereby obtained a _Scieri facias_, to take