The English rogue described, in the life of Meriton Latroon, a witty extravagant Being a compleat discovery of the most eminent cheats of both sexes. Licensed, January 5. 1666.

CHAP. XLV.

How he coaeened a rich Usurer, and a young Trades∣man.

BEing resolved to go and look out some of my Consorts to rejoyce together for my good

success in my advantagious revenge, I met with an old comrade that had lately heav'd a Booth, Anglise broken open a Shop, who told me he had a quan∣tity of good comodities, & desired me to put them off for him, knowing that I dealt in Brokeage in goods indirectly come by: I promis'd him I would. The next day he delivered what he had into my hands, I instantly carried them to an old Usurer that would grasp at any thing, telling him I only desired to Mort-gage them for such a time, request∣ing to lend me fifty pounds thereon. He looking upon them to be thrice the value of that sum, lent me freely the quantity of mony propounded, & in my sight took the Goods and laid them in a place next his Bed-chamber. The same day I met with this friend, who demanded of me whether I had done his business? No, not yet (said I) it will be to morrow first: However let us drink a glass of wine, which he readily consented to. Having drank pret∣ty smartly, he could not contain himself (so power∣ful are the operations of Wine, as it frequently makes a man divulge that which carrieth in it ine∣vitable ruine) I say he told me whose Shop it was he rob'd, and at what time. I seem'd to take little notice then, though I intended to make good use of it. Parting with him, I went streight way to the per∣son rob'd, & told him that accidentally I was in∣form'd of his late loss, and that my intent of com∣ing was out of a principle of honesty, to assist him in the recovery of what was stollen from him. But before I acquainted him with any thing I required of him a Bond of 10 •…•…. if I helpt him to his Goods; which he granted me. I advised him to get the Lord chief Justices warrant, which he did, and

taking some friends with him, I directed them where they should go, and in what place they should find them. He would have had me gone with him, but that I excused my self, alledging it would be inconvenient. Taking a Constable with them, they went & found what they sought for ac∣cording to my direction, which they seiz'd, leaving the old man to condole his loss, which had been no great matter had not his life lain in his Purse.

Having thus carried on my mischievous contri∣vances with continued impunity; the next I fell on was a young Merchant, to whom I went genti∣ly habited, with a foot-boy waiting at my heels. I lookt out several Commodities, and laid them a∣side, assuring him that I would e're long lay out a considerable parcel of money with him. We dis∣cours'd upon the price, & in the conclusion closed. The next day I appointed the Goods to be sent home to my House, and in the interim desired him to go along with me, and accept of what poor ac∣commodation my habitation would afford him, under the pretence of being better acquainted, but my design was to raise in him a good opinion of me, for I had one room (especially) very richly hung with costly Furniture. My motion was enter∣tained, and away we went, where I treated him nobly; the next day the Commodities were sent in with his Servant, who expected his money, but I pretended that my Cashier was abroad, and so de∣sired him to call the next morning; he did, but then I was not to be spoken with. Thus he did so often till the young man was weary. At last the Master himself came, who met me just as I was go∣ing out; who had not the patience to ask for his

money, but presently railed most bitterly, calling me cheat, knave, &c. and that he would not put himself to the trouble of posting me up, but would have a Warrant for me instantly.

Being gone, I was as nimble as himself, having a couple of my Emissaries ready for him against his return. It was not long before he came strut∣ting with a Constable. Perceiving him coming, I sent my two friends out with their Warrant, and putting it into the Constables hand, charged him in the Kings name to execute it upon such a one, meaning the Merchant; who dared not deny it, but carried him before a Justice, before whom my two Rogues swore flat felony, and so was commit∣ted. Sending for friends, they advised him to make an end thereof. Whereupon I was much solici∣ted; and upon consideration I consented to cause my friends to forbear prosecution.

As yet I have not fully unbowell'd the huge bulk of my villany, that hath proved so burden∣some to the world, and destructive to so many Fa∣milies; wherefore give me leave a little farther to anatomize my own vicious nature, and I shall so lay open the ulcers and sores of my impostumed machinations, apparent to the sight of every one, that the most Ospray and Owl-eyed spectator shall confess there never was a more necessary and commodious discovery revealed.

Brother, said I, for so I must call you now, your flagitious deeds claiming that title, & must be com∣pell'd I see to give you superiority, the upperhand, for I am confident the line of other mens inven∣tions never sounded the Sea of a more deep and dreadful mischief. When I consider how power∣ful

and imperious vice is of late grown; and what horrid facts are committed every where by licen∣tious and wicked men that swarm in all places: I admire that the Fabrick of the Earth is not con∣tinually palsyed by Earth-quakes, since there is a Creator above that oversees such actions. That the Earth her self (though an indulgent Mother) doth not receive into her Womb her off-spring, and therein for shame hide them: that the air is not choaked with Froggs, and that black pitchy mists do not perpetually masque the face of Hea∣ven, and leave the World in obscurity; and that the Sun doth not hide his face from seeing such enormous crimes blacker then is the Eclipse of his countenance: and lastly, that the Sea is not turn∣ed to blood to put us in mind of the cruel and re∣morseless usages of one another; our kindness being commonly attended with discourtesies of a Vermilion hue. Thus Brother you see I am sensible of my miscarriages, but want the power to regu∣late my life. I would have proceeded, but that I found this discourse grated in his ears; wherefore I desired him to prosecute his story, which he did in this manner.