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THE Scrivener being already ingeniously dissected, in a Character not long since Printed, I shall forbear Killing him a∣gain, but only give you a short Account of some remarkable Passages in his Life and Conversation.
Upon his first starting into the World, ha∣ving but little moneys in his hands of his own, or others, being but a young man,
and moneyed men fearful of trusting him, he is forced to employ what he hath by him to the best advantage; and like an honest man that intends to thrive in this World, though he be damn'd for it for ever in the VVorld to come, he first tries how widely his Conscience will stretch, and, if he finds it hide-bound, he will pinch it with his teeth, as a Shoomaker his leather, but that he will make it give way. Ha∣ving gotten the Conquest over that, he begins to feed on the Poor, as the Great Eater of Kent did on Offals, by lending them petty sums, and receive it again by so much per week: if four∣ty shillings were the sum to be lent, the Bor∣rower had but five and thirty, and out of that paid twelve pence for the Bond, which money must be paid each week, by twelve pence for every pound. If the Sum were any thing considerable, though he had the money by him, yet he would make use of his accu∣stomed delays, though he knew the Borrower responsible, and would not part with a far∣thing, till he had made enquiry after that he knew as well as any man could tell him; and in the end must have Procuration for his own money, and if Continuation be required, he shall pay sauce for it. Though the Law al∣lows but six per Cent. yet he knows several ways to make forty, by making in the first
place a Bond, which shall be due to a Confident of his, a Prisoner in the Kings Bench, and reco∣vering the penalty at Common-Law, leaves the poor Debtor to sue for relief in Chancery one that is a Prisoner; By lending half-money, half goods in the next place, fifty pounds in money, and fifty pounds in goods, which shall not be worth much above fifteen: By lend∣ing in the next place, fifty pound to a person, who shall become bound with one of his ac∣quaintance for one hundred, who is going be∣yond-sea, to whom he shall give privately a discharge, and the other shall be left to pay the money: And lastly, (not to trouble you with more instances) by taking Judgements, or Warrants of Attorney, and for a little money sweep away three times the value in commodi∣ties, to the utter ruine of many Families. A Mort-gage is a sweet gain to him; what a fine Bill of Charges will he reckon: Fifteen shillings for two or three days Horse-hire to view the estate, for his expences in the Journey eighteen shillings, though he did eat nothing but Bread and Cheese all the time he was out, so much for his pains, so much for loss of time, and so much for expedition; all which must be deducted out of what is to be received, and if the money be not duely paid,
he infallibly seals a Lease of Ejectment, and en∣ters on the Premisses, and (to make as sure of it as he can) he presently passes it over to ano∣ther, one of his Confederates; and do so order the business between them, that the Borrower, shall find but little satisfaction in a Suit of Chancery.
To be short, the Tricks and Wheedles of a Scrivener are so many, that they are innume∣rable. How many devices hath he in Last Wills and Testaments, not only altering the minde of the Testator, but many times ma∣king himself Executor? How many Knavish Partialities does he use in Lease? What be∣nefit does he not make by Arbitrations, by drawing up an Award, making it void or ob∣liging to whom he pleases; by Counter-Bonds and Letters of Attorney, by putting in his use for my use? Lastly, consider his dexterity and ability in counterfeiting Bonds, by which and other indirect means he hath gotten a plentiful estate, to live pleasantly here, to be miserable hereafter.