will do him at this present a thousand pounds worth of good. The Mercer began to hearken to this, and protested to my _Green-goose_ that he would be glad to do any a pleasure, so as not to injure himself; that if he could but possess him with a belief that he should have his money in six months, he would freely let him have 100 _l._ worth of what he pleased. The yong Gentleman protested it, and I warranted it; and the Mercer (though seemingly loth) condescended, upon this Proviso still, that he should procure some man else to be bound with him, as good as himself: for, said he, we are all mortal, and not having a lease of our lives, we may die before to-morrow; where then is my 100 _l._? Signior Unthrift is once more put to his _non-plus_; but at length he fell to intreat me to do it, who would not by any means; and so we parted. He would not let me rest for two or three days together; so that at last, provided he would give me 10 _l._ I agreed; and so we went again to the Mercer, and entring into Bonds, we had the _Commodities_. Having made my yong Gentleman an absolute Gallant, I went to sell what was left, of which I made 40 _l._ but I made my Gallant to be contented with 30. alledging, that when goods came once to be sold, they will not yeild the moiety of what they cost, though new: and out of that 30_l._ I had my 10 _l._ for suretyship. Thus I perswaded him to be very well satisfied. He revels about, whilst I was contriving to leave him as bare of means as brains. Now doth my Mercer dream of nothing but his pay-day, which he hoped would be broken. The time being expired, and my young Novice not minding it, the Mercer invited him to a dinner in _Fish-street_. Dinner being almost ended, for a third course came up a couple of _Sergeants_ stewed with _Mace_, who arrested him at the suit of the founder of the feast. Not procuring Bail, he was carried to the Counter, where he lay some time. His friends hearing of it, endeavour’d to get him out, by suing out an _Audita querela_. My Mercer hearing of that, advised with me what was best to be done. Agree, said I, with some Officer in the Exchequer, and turn the debt over to the King, pretending you owe him so much money: for the Chancery will not or cannot allow any thing in such a case against his Majesty. He so doing, did his business for the present. Thus have I read, when Jews have bought a red-hair’d boy, at first they cloath him in silks, ravishing him with all the delights that can be thought on, never have Musick from his ears, or Banquets from his taste; and thus use him, till they see he is plump, fat, & fit for their purpose: but when the poor boy least thinks of his imminent ruine, he is taken by a brace of slaves, and tyed up by the heels, so beaten by degrees to death with Cudgels, purging the rankest poyson out of his mouth, and making Mumy of his flesh. I shall leave it to the Reader to make application. In short, I perswaded the Mercer to take a Bond of