Proteus redivivus, or, The art of wheedling or insinuation obtain'd by general conversation and extracted from the several humours, inclinations, and passions of both sexes, respecting their several ages, and suiting each profession or occupation / collected and methodized by the author of the first part of the English rogue.

CHAP. IX. The Countrey-Attorney, Pettifogger, and other Law-Hangers-on.

THE Inns of Court are the General Rendez-vouz of young Gentlemen from all parts of England, some whereof are not more noted for their Ex∣traction, as for their Education, excellent Parts and Learning; yet as the purest floure hath some bran, so these refined Wits are not without the mixture of tal∣kative, impertinent, trifling and debautch∣ed persons;

Here it is that you may see in a Winter-Tearm, at Dinner-time, in their Halls, a drowsie Company of formal fellows,

stand purring over a fire, who after a long and painful study, of thirty years have attained to the wonderful and gainful ••rt of speaking non∣sense, with the greatest confidence in the world, and when they walk, to carry their eyes and noses directly before them, not daring to turn their weighty noddles on either side, for fear of for∣feiting their Gravity. There are another brood of men, who start from the Desk; and snatch up a Gown, and having first in their infancy been swadled and nursed up in rags of paper, are at riper years (somtimes out of Poverty) put Clerks to Attorneys, from whence, without the least taste of University-Learning, they advance, swell'd with Presumption, and full of ignorance and impudence, to the Barr; profit and lucre then becomes the only subject of their conversa∣tion; Gain gives motion to all their actions' and that also is the end of all their Arguments, whilst Reason and Honesty are oft made Factors to their avarice; if ever you have occasions that force you to make use of these Persons, or to seek any favour from them, they expect from you the greatest attendance and submissions; but where money is to be gotten, they on the contrary will be as base and servile in their flatteries; how repugnant soe're this is, you must dispose your self,

(if you intend, as well as they,

to act the Wheedle advantageously) and when

your thoughts are at strife about it, call it a sub∣mission to necessity and occasion.

Vide L' Art du Complair, elegantly translated, and called The Art of Complaisance. Lord, one would wonder some of these Upstarts should so strut it in Gown and other Finery, since their ancient beginning was but a blew Coat, and as I have been told, the Wearers thereof stood at the Hall-Gate, as Plying Water-men at the Stairs; And as the one cries to Lon∣don-hay, the other cry'd (seeing any approach) D'ye want a Pleader, d'ye want a Pleader? My young Attorney, newly hatcht under a Law∣yer, and whilst but pen-feather'd, nests for himself, and either practices in anothers name for half-fees (which he makes whole by act∣ing too as a Sollicitor) or else by the hoorded pence of an indulgent Mother, purchases an Office, two Desks, and a quire of paper, with a pint of Ink, and an hundred of Quills, and a Pen-Knife true set, set him up; his Office shall be lined with green, and the wood adorned with Taffarels and carved work, his shelves fill'd with paper and parchment, and a Practice of Piety lies not more certainly in a Brothel, as The Statutes at large, or some Folio Law-book in his win∣dow; These in time purchase him an App••en∣tice or two, with a considerable sum, and his

success in two or three common Causes pro∣claim him an able Attorney; this procures him Clients, more then he can mind, and they produce him money, more then he knows well what to do with, and having gotten a wife with a good estate, minds the Tavern more than the Court.

Some of them have the smatch of a Scho∣lar, and yet use Latin very hardly, and lest it should accuse them, cut it off in the midst, and will not let it speak out; and fearing that his Hand-Writing should prove Traitor to his actions, it is as difficult to be under∣stood as his countenance, which always looks sollicitous, (unless disordered by some liberal Treat, it matters not at whose cost, whether Plaintiff or Defendant, so that it brings in Grist to the Mill, and benefit from both sides) I say, to amuse the ignorant his looks seem careful, importing much hast and dispatch, whilst he only waits for an Habeas Corpus to delay the Suit for three Tearms, and that he may not be suspected as idle or little employ∣ed, he is never to be seen without his Hands full of business, that is, of paper: to illu∣strate what I have said, I must not omit the insertion of this Example. B was Arrested at the suit of A, B advised with an Attorney what to do, not having Bail, he

replied, Give me my Fee, and I'le appear for you, and save you the trouble of Bail: The Tearm following, a Declaration is Filed against the Defendant, who thereupon consults his At∣torney, and he cries nothing, but Give me my Fee, and I'le defend it; He delays the Suit till next Tearm, at which time he must plead, and then calls on his Client for money to that end and purpose, besides his own Fee afresh; the Assize coming on, the Cause proceeds to Aniall; then cries the Attorney again, Give me my Fees for Counsel and charge of the Court, and I'le defend it; At the Trial, a Ver∣dict passeth for the Plaintiff. Oh! What must be done now, cries the Defendant? Then says the Attorney, The Declara∣tion is nought, I'le move the Court this next Tearm in Arrest of Judgment. The Motion being made, the Court confirms Judgment; And Execution thereupon is coming out; What shall we do now? cries the Defendant, We are lost, undone, quite undone: Not so yet, cries the Attorney; Give me my Fee, and I'le bring a Writ of Errour, and keep off Execution two or three Tearms. But now observe, the Er∣ror is at length argued, and Judgement affirmed thereupon for the Plaintiffe,

with increase of Costs, for the Delay, no Er∣rour being found in the Proceedings, the poor Defendant, at his Wits-ends, not knowing what to do, with a face more miserable then the first lines of an Humble Petition, asks his Attorney, What he shall do now? Hast any moneys, cries the Attorney? If so, we will get an Injunction, and bring it into Chancery. Here it may be the Cause hangs three or four Tearms; at length, no Equity being found, the Complainants Bill is dismiss'd with Cost al∣lowed to the Defendant; hereupon the Cli∣ent, willing to purchase more Advice, asks, What must be done now? the Attorney having no more delays to make advantage of, with a shrug in much haste, cries, There's no more to be said, Go pay the Knave his money, he's a Rascal, and I'm satisfied. Thus Hudibras in Rhime Burlesque.

So Lawyers, lest the Bear Defendant, And Plaintiff Dog should make an end on't, Do stave and tail with Writs of Errour, Reverse of Judgements, and Demurrer, To let'em breath a while, and then Hoop-and so set 'em on again.

But to proceed, I say his face seems as in∣tricate as the most winding Cause, and talks

of nothing but Statutes, Presidents, Reports' and the Lord knows what, as if the first time he had mooted, was when he was in Hanging Sleeves, and that from that time he had fed on nothing but what a Judge had Cook'd for his learned Stomach, whereas he had no other Porridge-pot but his Ink-horne, which could not boyle him sustenance, but for the fewel of his deluded Clients. All his actions, words, and gestures are very stiff, and affectedly con∣strained, his conversation is obstinate, and full of Contradiction, and contrary to the pliable Complaisant wheedle, grows rich by strise and wrangling. What a man of worship is he, when living in a Country Village. all fear him, but few love him, the dread of him so aws some spirits, that they are at a treble charge to fence their own grounds, lest leave∣ing open any gap, it should give him an inlet to take possession of their Land, whilest o∣thers wear out more shooes and hob nails by scraping at him, in one Twelve-month, then would conveniently serve them in their ne∣cessary labours for seven years; the business he creates to set himself on work, will not give him leave to think of his Conscience; and when the Tearm is ended, and the time of his life is expiring, he minds not Dooms∣day, hoping still, according to his wonted

course, he hath a trick to reverse Judge∣ment.

I would say more of these Practicers of the Law, but that their ways are past finding out, as to what is already spoken. I would be willingly understood aright, I do not any ways reflect or throw disgrace upon the glorious Profession of the Law, which hath in all Ages raised so many eminent Persons to the first Honours of the Realm, and have left their Posterities en∣grafted in the Nobility, but on such whose matchless impudence and ignorance, yet Kna∣very, have by their specious pretences, and indirect illegal courses, ruin'd by insinuation, onely for self-ends or 'malice, thousands of Families. It is now time to make Hue and Cry after a worser sort of Vermin, and a Ca∣terpillar that is far more dangerous, a meer Blood-hound, Cannibal, or Man-eater, who not content to feed on humane flesh, till he; hath made Dice of his bones, but will swal∣low an estate at a Morsel; one who when he hath put a man upon the Rack, and hath tormented him even to death, will then deli∣ver him to the Lawyer for Exeeution.

Some call him modestly Sollicitor, a name not inglorious, and did his actions merit that ap∣pellation, I should not grudge it him, it being

an employ (Honestly managed) that deserves reputation in the World. And is so abso∣lutely necessary, that I know not what the middle, nay most sort of people unskilful in the Law can doe without it: It is not he that is the subject of my present discourse, but the Splitter, a pittiful Pettifogging fellow, it may be one that can neither Write, nor Read, or one, who living unbeloved, and selling Ale, not knowing how to Wheedle custome to his house, but by Splitting of causes, gives out how knowing he is in the Law, and lest his own word should not pass (as I wonder how it should) he is never without his Bribed A∣vouchers, both at home and abroad to Justify his Honesty, as well as Excellency of parts, though the meerest Ignoramus in the Uni∣verse, and no matter so he get but money, for which like, the Golden Calf, he is worship∣ed, or Sir Revrenced by the Vulgar.

If the Splitters Law-knowledge brooded and hatched in one Gaol, and receiv'd its incre∣ment from many more, he proves a Cock∣atrice, and kills, or maims in fallibly at first sight; He knows all the Windings and turns of a Prison, and by pretending liberty to others, by the Machines of his own mischievous brain, at last procures his own, and being out speaks of nothing but fire

and sword against his quondam- Keepers for pretended abuses, and having his legs at li∣berty he will not let a cause of note escape him; from Court-proceedings he gleans somthing to advise others about, he hardly knows what, yet tells them his judgment in that particular is infallible, and so deludes his Hearers, not on a sudden, but by degrees, that he may not lessen his expected benefit.

Should I characterize him to the full, I must anatomize the Devil, but since it is impossible, I shall only enumerate some of those cheats he frequently Commits.

Frequenting the Courts (as Ravens do Carrion) and getting into the acquaintance of Attorneys, or their servants, he by them informs himself who are sued to an Outlaw∣ry, either for Debt in the Court of Common-Pleas, and somtimes for other Causes of Action, or in the Crown-Office, for Contempts, &c. ha∣ving learned their names, under pretence of belonging to either Court, he writes a Note to this effect; Sir, I am an Attorney or Solli∣citor belonging to a Court, wherein you are sued unknown, and will be Outlaw'd, if you please to content the Bearer, and gratifie Prae nonitus for this civility, I will for a small matter bring you off, &c. venienti occurrite morbo; The Par∣ty hereupon mistaking this Knave, and by

this Action thinking him a very honest man, not only gratifies him for the present, but al∣so employs him for the future, so long, till by woful experience he finds his former kindness was but a Decoy to ensnare him by it.

Knavery is so implanted in his Nature, that he cannot forbear cheating the dearest friend that entrusts him, and circumventing every one he deals with, that hath more ho∣nesty then himself, betraying them sor any small advantage that may accrew thereby. He frequently takes money on both sides, and will advise the Defendant against his Plaintiff-Client; In short, his Roguery and crafty Projects are so many, that they will swell into a large Folio, were but the tith of them described, wherefore I shall on∣ly add some few that were lately practised by a pretended Sollicitor, a fellow I might name, but that the Pillory first, and then the Gallows next have made him known to all.

At the first he was a Scriveners Clerk, and having learned to engross an Indenture, he began to peep into his Masters Actions, and so emproved his Knavery by those Presi∣dents, that in a little time he excell'd him in all villany imaginable. A little before the last dreadful Gontagion, he took a Shop, or

an Office of Deceipt, in which he acted a thousand Rogueries, by forging Leases, Bonds, &c. and the better to effect his designes, he had variety of knights of the Post at his command; but who the Devil dub'd these clip'd forlorn dregs of Mortality by the name of knights, and for what cause I know not; fellows that will swear any thing: however they came by the title it matters not much, but certainly Proteus was their father, which I Conjecture from the several Long∣lane Shapes, and dresses they appear in, for sometimes they are in a Canoni cal Garb, some∣times they seem as Countrey Gentlemen, at other times like Doctors, Sober Citizens, or Serving men, as the thing to be sworn to Requires: Hea∣ven certainly can never entertain them, since Perjury is the only crime punishable among the Gods; one very well observes that they are an apparent argument for the Excellency of man, above Angels, Corruptio optima est pessima, therefore are men so much the more excellent than Angels, by how much they the more Currup ion of man-kind are worse than De∣vils. Mistaking the true meaning, and in∣tention of that pleasant Philosopher Epicurus, they place their chief, nay, only happiness in this world, and think they live well, when they eat and drink well, and never think themselves in the Road to Heaven, but when their heads

ride post on a pottle of Canary.

Ram-Ally, and the walks they as constantly Visit, as the Rooks do the Trees, and are sel∣dom absent, but at feeding time, or doing mischief, to which they are so accustomed, that they dream of nothing else, and to still Conscience (if they have any) force them∣selves to believe the mortality of the Soul, otherwise they would never sell their Salvation so cheap, half a crown a time, come as often as you please. This Generation of Vipers were of great use to this Scrivener, Pettisogger or what other name you will call him by (for you cannot call him bad enough) and when he came with these pernicious Finishing Tools, to compleat a Title, there was no resistance, the case being mace so plain. Then might a man see, without the help of Necromancy, or Black Art, the strange motions of Terra Firma, out of one family into another. Mountains without the help of faith removed out of one mans possession, into the possession of another. Should a man be so wicked as to aime at the life of a man, and acquaint them with the de∣signe, they will out-do a revengful Italian in his subtle Poysons, doing his work so Gently, and so legally, that he shall get repute by the Prosecution. They will swear that such a one being asleep, they saw his soul go out of his mouth, booted and Spurd, take horse, ride

to such a place, do such a Murther, Commit such a Felony, or act such and such Treasons; now because, as one saith, it is so hard a mat∣ter to punish a false oath, without discoura∣ging a true one; such as padd on the Road, though the Robbery be not twenty shillings shall be hanged, and these Villains (sons of Belial) that strike at the root of life, estate and fortune, shall only be Pilloried, or lose their ears, which they value no more then the sensless earth in parting with a pair of Mushroms; insignificant pieces of flesh, which they hold, made in opposition to the great Maxime in Philosophy, that Nature does nothing in vain, as being of no use in the body of man.

This Rascal was seldom without a Guard of those Fanizaries at his heels, especially in Tearm-time, who Pimp so cordially for the Devil, as if they thought him to be Dispo∣ser of all Inheritances, as Lord of the World. They have made a Feoffment of their souls, with livery and seisin to Satan, only taking a short Lease back again, and therefore are re∣solved to make all people they have to deal with turn Tenants to their Landlord: And if a Councellor or Attorney chance to take their Fee, What Villanies must he not con∣ceal? what Treacheries? what Forgeries is

he not bound to be privy to? what Defen∣ces must he not make of injustice and wrong? what the worst of actions must he not strive to palliate and daub over with the Fucus of forced Eloquence, quite contrary to the di∣ctates of either Reason or Conscience? Those that have Calculated their Nativity, banish them from the society of men, as the most dangerous and treacherous persons in the world, and wander, finding it so threatned, by the stars, that no more of them are hang'd, there being no crime in the world that more deserves it.

When he went to Drink with any single Gen∣tleman, who came to him about some concern, he still ordered it so, that two of his knights should come and inquire for him, where he was, and having taken good notice of the Gentleman, Drink a glass. And pretending business, be gone again, the same day the Scrivener draws a Bond, making the Person become obliged to him in so much, he not knowing of it, and these two Rogues set their hands unto it. Most commonly he made the party Drunk before he did it. And when the (Bond came dueSued and Recovered) by such like practices he became so Notorious, that none would come near his Shop, so that he was forced to shut up, and thereupon turnd

Sollicitor, as he cald himself, and then had more an Oar in every mans Boat then before; but the Sickness encreasing he could do little, how∣ever he was not idle, for every day he took his Rounds, visiting his friends and acquaintance, for the sick he made their Wills, and in them put in his own, never failing to go a snack with the surviving Relations; besides, such was the Mortality, that every day not on∣ly help'd him to a Last Will and Testament, but the opportunity of helping others to Hus∣bands and Wives, for which somtimes he re∣ceived a considerable gratuity; where they all died out of the house he made himself sole Executor, and swept away all; nay, I have been informed that the Rogue frequent∣ly fed the Nurses where any thing was to be had, to hasten the Diseased in their Journey to Eternity.

Such was his success in all these villainous Enterprises, that he grew very rich, and be∣ing single, made an addition to his fortune, by marrying a young Gentlewoman with a considerable sum left her by her Parents, who all died of the Pestilence; in three weeks time he buried her, and was married again to a rich Widow that day seven night; In short, and in truth, he buried five Wives in nine weeks: This may seem strange, but

upon enquiry you will find at that time, that several, in three months, were married twice or thrice, by which means such Ministers who stayed in London, and durst look Death in the face, got as much by Marriages as others did by Burials.

The heat of the Contagion being much a∣bated, he took a larger uncontrouled freedom to range abroad, seeking (like the Devil) whom he might devour; and as the Devil would have it, a Widow (well stricken in years) fell into his clutches, a Gentlewoman who had lived creditably in the World, but falling to decay, took a house in a conveni∣ent place, and had no other dependance than upon Lodgers; and that she might be capa∣citated for the reception of the better sort, she furnished her house in a very splendid manner, supplying her want of money by credit; but her Lodgers, though sure, yet being slow Pay-Masters, her Creditors se∣verely dun'd her for money, and fearing an Arrest, advised with this Knavish Sol∣licitor, who knowing what debts she had abroad, and how well stockt she was at home, promised to procure her fifty pounds, or an hundred on good security; but she telling him she knew not how to do it, he whis∣pers her in the ear, pretending much kindness,

and in short, assures her it was not convenient to trouble her friends in this business, and that she need not, so she would sign a War∣rant of Attorney to be friend the Lender, and give him Procuration-money, which was more then the use came to, however she consen∣ted, and meeting the next day in order to seal∣ing, there was but fifty pound in money pro∣duced, the other fifty was in commodities, as braided stuffs, silks, and fashion-ribbons, &c. prized higher then they were sold for at first, however seeing she could not have the money without them, being pincht at that time for money, and over-perswaded by her treacherous friend, she confess'd Judgment with a Defeazance, for six months, as she thought, whereas it was unlimited; the Sol∣licitor had for his pains twelve-pence in the pound presently for the whole hundred, though half goods, and the Villain, his Ac∣complice, in a short time after seized on all she had, to her utter ruine, for that slender sum, for which, if for nothing else, Old Nick may pick his bones hereafter:

This was another thing he frequently practiced, if any of his acquaintance dyed, or others he could hear of, whose Relations durst not Administer on his Estate, but leave all to the Creditors, then would he be sure

to make himself a principal Creditor by a forged Bond, or otherwise, and thereupon sue out Letters of Administration, and sweep∣ing all away wipe the Nose of those to whom the Deceased was really indebted. One time above the rest he cheated his greatest Confi∣dent and best friend he then had living, after this manner. A Gentleman bought some houses in the City, and being uninhabited, empowered the Splitter to let them by Lease and Fine, he being not able to do it himself for some time, by reason of some extraordina∣ry business which called him away into the Countrey, and would detain him thereabout a month or two; This faithless Trustee, as soon as the Gentleman was gone, pretended the houses were his own, and by his plausible carriage smooth wheedling tongue, and other knacks of designed Roguery, he so far insi∣nuated into the belief of a well-meaning Shop-keeper, that he perswaded him to take a Lease from him of one of the biggest houses, paying him an hundred pound Fine, the Rent being but small, and had been a real good penniworth, had the Title been good; Ha∣ving succeeded so well in his first Enterprize, he made all the haste he could to put off the rest, not mattering the Rent, so that he could advance the Fine, and so brought about his

business, that just as he had let all the houses with Fines in his own name, the right owner of them Returned. By his Spies he had intel∣ligence thereof, and therefore in time absconds himself. The Gentleman not finding his Trustee, went to the Tenants and demanded by what power and Authority they inhabited those dwellings. They readily satisfyed him by shewing their Leases, and telling him what Fines they had payd. The right Landlord by this means saw that his Friendship was not only abused, but that they were also knavishly cheat∣ed of their moneys, and to be short, told them the whole Truth of every thing, which they not believing, he was forced to eject them all. Leaving them to the law, to require satis∣faction of their Impostor Landlord. If any should have chanced to nap him; he would have served them as hundreds before, ne∣ver left them till ruine had fallen on them, for by Fob-Actions, Indictments, Infor∣mations, Swearing, Forswearing, and the like, he so impoverish'd them, that as they were reduced thereby to a condition inca∣pable of helping themselves, so it lay not in the power of their pocket to prejudice or hurt him much, and so force from them a Confession, that they had better to

have sate down with their first loss, than to struggle for their amends. And had they known what a Conscience he had that scru∣pled nothing for advantage. with Instru∣ments that never stumbled at an Oath, it had been the best course they could have taken.

Getting the better still of those that con∣tended with him, got him the general re∣putation of a very shrewd knowing man, so that if any intricate Controversie, Re∣ference or Law-suit arose among his neigh∣bours, he was the only person pitcht on to arbitrate the difference, and was well paid for his pains, having purse and paunch so cram'd, they must disgorge.

That his cloathes might speak him a man of worth, as well as his lying, flattering and de∣ceitful tongue, he garb'd himself very splendid∣ly, and when he walk'd abroad to perpetrate some notorious piece of Roguery, he had al∣ways two of his perjur'd Rascals with him fol∣lowing him as his Attendants. One day as he past by a lovely Seat, newly built in the Sub∣urbs, a sudden stratagem came into his head, and his fancy strongly perswaded him, that he might with ease make himself Master thereof: Having consulted a while with his hellish Cabal

and laid down his Plot (at which he was al∣ways nimble) he caused one of his pretended servants to go and knock at the Gate, and know whether the Gentleman the Master of the House was within; it was done according∣ly, and the Master hapning to be at home, came out himself to know who it was would speak with him; This impudent Splitter here upon advanced, and passing a Complement or two, told him his business, that it was only to see the inside of that house, whose outward parts ap∣peared so lovely to his eye; the Gentleman mistrusting not so good a garb, kindly invited him in, and having shewed him what he could, civilly treated him; In fine, this gawdy Split∣ter desired one favour more, and that was, to have leave to take a Model or Draught of the house, for no other reason, then that being a∣bout to build a house, he was so well plea∣sed with that Structure, that he much desired to have one built as like it as he could; the Request being granted they parted; but not many days before he came again with a House-Carpenter, whom he had pre-informed that he was about buying of an house in such a place, and that he would have his judgment in it, enjoyning him silence, lest talking should be the loss of a bargain. Arriving at the place they are entertain'd civilly as before, and

he like a Person of Quality. The Carpenter in Paper took the Dimensions of the house exactly, with its buttings and boundings, and having been well satisfied for his pains was dis∣mist. This Cheat coming to London, drew a Leaf by that Paper as from this Gentleman, with a considerable Fine mentioned therin, to have bin at delivery, but the Rent not worth a naming; & to make good the bargain, those two Rogues his pretended Servants were Witnesses therun∣to: shortly after he demanded possession, but the Gentleman thereupon thinking him in a fro∣lick laugh'd hearrilv; but this demand proved in the end not the subject of a Comedy, for he was immediately sued, and at Trial his two Witnesses, with what the Carpenter could say in that behalf, cast the poor Gentleman, who hearing what a very Rogue this Sollicitor was, first Arrested Judgement, and afterwards by Friends persuasions and by threats brought him to a Composition. Examples of this kind, I verily believe, I could nominate five hun∣dred, besides what already I have discovered in the First Part of the English Rogae or Witty Extravigant; these already recited are suffi∣cient to manifest what a deal of mischief the worser sort of Sollicitors or Splitters do in City and Countrey; and therefore I think it was wisely done of James of Arragon, who banished

Semeng Rada a great Pettifogger, for being fa∣mous only for cunning querks and quillets in the Law; but better did Galeatius of Milan, who hanged another for his excellent Art in mul∣tiplying Law-suits; and indeed the multipli∣cation of these fellows proves a greater Plague to this Kingdom, then Lice with other Vermin to the Egyptians.

One word to the Attorneys of Westminster and Guild-Hall, and I have done. Though in the head of this Chapter, an Attorney is men∣tioned, yet I mean none of you, but such as are (conscious to your selves) of some unjust pro∣ceedings therein conteined; it is the Ignorant Knavish Countrey-Attorney that I have had a fling at all this while, or some beardless Fops, who fluttering up and down Presumptuously, as∣sume that Creditable name, that the Boys may be thought men of understanding, many where∣of are only fit to make a noise at a Court of Py-Pouder, louder than the Jack-Puddings in Bar∣tholomew-Fair, and yet are bold to tread other Courts too often, where they as frequently make Combinations against their Clients, and though not seldom they take exo••bitant Fees, they have a trick to let go Judgment on Default.

It cannot be expected that in this well-go∣verned Kingdom, Law-suits should be as little in use as they were in the well-regulated Com∣mon-wealth

of the Lacedemonians seldom heard, but I could wish it were so order'd here as it was by Charles the Ninth of France, who to prevent needless and numberless Suits of law, ordered that whosoever Commenced a Suit should deposite such a sum with the Judge, to receive it back a∣gain if his cause were good, or forfeit it if the same prov'd frivolous; people then would grow weary of wurrying one another; Places in the Hall and Compters would not then be sold at such dear, nay, excessive rates, nor would there be such variety of Juries, as Farriers have shooes, fitting all sizes ready at hand, according as they are bespoke: Whereas now men have not their Offices for nothing but pay soundly for them, and therefore must lick themselves whole out of poor mens necessities, certainly sale of Offices is the greatest wrong can be done in a Common-Wealth.