But to my purpose: a young Gentleman coming out of _Norfolk_ to see the City, and finding so many (beneath him in estate) gallant it so much above him, he grew very melancholy: hapning to be in his company, and indifferently well acquainted with him, I askt him the cause of his sadness? after I had prest him very much, he ingeniously confest the true original of his pensiveness. Pish, said I, is that all? let me alone to effect what you desire; neither shall you wait longer than the morrow. Leaving my Gentleman, away I went to a person fit for my purpose, and gave him an account of my business: glad he was, thankt me for my pains, promising me a reward, and would needs have me to a Tavern to consult this affair. Having concluded every thing, I repaired the next day to my Gentleman, who over-joyed to see me was impatient to know whether his wishes were consummated. Come along with me, said I, and we will try what we can do. I have bin very importunate with the Mercer, but as yet I cannot mollifie him; it may be your presence may do much. Finding him in the shop, I called him aside, and told him this was the Gentleman. My young Gentleman, that would be a Gallant presently, fell aboard him, and (with much fervencie and protestations) he woo’d the Mercer to credit him for 30 _l._ worth of Commodities. I call’d him aside, saying, What will 30 _l._ worth do? take up 100 _l._ worth; and what you use not, I’ll dispose by sale, to furnish your Pockets with money. He thankt me kindly for my advice, and returned to the Mercer, who askt him, If he should credit him with so much, what security would he propound? This struck my young Gentleman as mute as a Cods-head. The Mercer perceiving he had nothing to say, plaid the _Rope-maker_, being extreme _backward_ to trust him: Bonds he refused, Judgements he would not hear of, Statutes he scorned: for, said he, Gentlemen of late have found out so many tricks to cozen their Creditors, (I by the same means having had several Collops cut from the body of my estate) that I will not credit any more: whereas he spake this only to grinde the blunt appetite of my _Commodity-taker_ into a _sharper edge_, and make him more greedy of his own ruine; imitating in this a cunning and deceitful, though petulant and wanton Curtezan, who is nice when a sick-brain’d young Gallant importunes her to admit of his amorous kindness, only to make him more fierce upon his own confusion: holding him off like a Fencer, a month or two, that he may come up the more roundly to her purpose. But to the matter. My Gentleman being as it were denied, I seconded him thus: Sir, you know not what you do in refusing to credit this Gentleman; he is his fathers heir, a man of a vast estate, and very aged: This his son is about a very great Match, a rich heiress; and though he hath not money for the present, yet let him have an hundred pounds worth of _Commodities_, you need not doubt your payment; and it