The scourge of corruption. Or A crafty knaue needs no broker. Written by Anthony Nixon

How certaine Searchers made prey of a Fellow, that hid vncustomd goods in a priuate place of the Shippe, and how cunningly they wrought vpon him.

THey haue an order amongst them at London, that no Merchandise must be carried out of the Land, til it be customd, as they tearme it. Now to the maintaining of this decrée, are certain Searchers appointed: and any such vnwarranted goods, by their authority and place, they may seiz to the Princes vse, & part to themselues. A∣mongst many other, one honest fellow going to Sea, and willing to make the most he could of his small stock, had be∣stowed to the value of som twenty pounds, euen al he had, and because he would not goe to the cost to customett, hid it in a priuate place of the ship, and intended to stand to the curtesie of the Searchers: So it chanced, a Searcher more in hope of som smal Bribe, then any care of his duty, came aboord, and found this vncustomd commodity, and as his

Office warranted, might haue seised it to the Princes vse, but the owner acquainted with their dealing, came, and put a couple of French crownes in his hand, which so daz∣led his sight, that he winckt at his small fault, and depar∣ted: but marke the profound knauery of this fellow, hée was no sooner a shore, but the first man hee met was a fellow officer of his, to whom he imparted this news, and halfe his gain, vrging him to goe aboord the same ship, and in such a place he should finde a forfeit commodity, and ex∣cept he would giue him the better consideration, he should (as hee might by his Office) seise it to the Princes vse, which tooke effect: for the poor fellow, rather then he would hazard the whole stocke, was content to giue the second Searcher fiue pounds, for which hee was content this custome of the countrey should be broke, and the Prince robd of his due, but mark how this fellow was rewarded, A third searcher came, sent by the meanes of the other, and without more words tooke it cleane away, and in stéed of conuerting it to'th Kings vse, sold it amongst themselues. He was well enough serued (answered all) that for a pri∣uate commodity would goe about to wrong the state pub∣lique, but they were worthy all punishment possible, that being Officers, and sworne to doe equity, should attempt to doe such a notable péece of vilany, that may bring them to the Gallows their lawfull inheritance, without the spée∣dier amendment.