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. III. The Ordinary Town shift.

THere are several sorts of ordinary Town-shifts, but since it will be too tedious to particula∣rize them, I shall include them all under this ge∣neral head; the Vulgar or ordinary Town-shift. It is a fellow that pretends to greatness of birth, and to back the reputation he would force from thence, gives a large account of his rich Relati∣ons, who shall live too remote for any one to in∣quire into them. Yet if any one is desirous to know his extraction, he need not trouble himself any farther than to examine his Name, and he shall know the Parish wherein the crue! Whore his Mother bare him, by his bearing the same Name of the Patron of that Church.

Some of these ordinary Town-shifts come out of the Country, who not daring to live there longer (their rogueries being so generally known) hoof it to London, who by the way, for food sake, are any ones Servants that will imploy them, and for want of that must go supperless to their bed of straw, and glad they lye so well. Coming to London their happy stars (it may be) directs them to an Inn, where immediately for some emi∣nent

parts, they commence Boot-Ketchers, from thence they proceed gradually to under Hostlers; whilst in that employ, some one may be observed by his Mistress to have good features and well limb'd, who (out of pity to the strip∣pling, whom for the kindling love she bears him, thinks him better born than he is) removes him from the Stable to be a Chamberlain, and intrust∣ing him with the sheets, hath a months mind to lye in a Bed of his making. By so unexpected a favour, and not able to manage this fortune, he grows Proud, Insolent, and Talkative, for which he is kickt out of doors, and meeting with a debaucht City Rambler, (a Renegado from his Trade, and one who is resolv'd to be wicked, maugre all the good counsel of Master and Relations) he finds him a fit Instrument of Mischief to joyn with, and so they become both sworn Brethren in Iniquity, and joyning with others of the same stamp, make up a Corpo∣ration of Divelism, and act according to the Hellish Precepts which their Grand Master di∣ctates to them. To add to the number of these Miscreants, some broken Credit-crackt-fellow steps in among them, whom all other means hath failed, and now resolves to live by his shifts; a needy fellow cashir'd out of all civil company; for the World hath flung him off, and he would willingly be reconciled unto it, but

wants some wealthy Arbitrators to decide the controversie between them. He may be fitly compared to one drowning, who fastens upon any thing that is next at hand, and if he must sink, whatever he lays hold on shall down with him. Amongst other of his Shipwracks, he hath haply lost Shame, and this want supplies him; for by his confidence, or impudence rather, he will shuffle himself into any company, and what he cannot do by fair means, he will effect (if he can) by foul; if his Wheedling perswasions, and crafty insinuations produce not their desired effects, he then applies himself to threats and violence; by the one he frightens some Fops into an humour to do him a kindness, by the other he compels them. That little wit he hath, he imploys to the utmost advantage; for as his Life is a daily invention, so his Meat, Drink, Lodg∣ing, Cloaths, and all that belongs to him, are the Products of his Stratagems. When he wants mony, his borrowings are like Subsidies, and desires the loan of mony, according to the quality of the person, or what he hath about him; and rather than be totally denied, he will accept of the loan of a shilling, though his re∣quest be twenty; he borrows so often, that few of his acquaintance but are his Creditors, and they fear, and shun him in the conclusion, as much as if they were indebted to him. They

know his Wheedling tricks so well, that they dare not shew him any countenance, for fear of re∣newing acquaintance; at first, finding him a good fellow, and Complaisant Companion, they never lookt further till experience taught them what he drove at, interest, which (though never so small) should not escape him; if towards din∣ner time he find but a good look, which promises his welcome, he becomes their half boarder, and haunts the threshold so long till he forces good natures to a quarrel, and yet know not how to be rid of him, like the poor Scholars thred∣bare Cloak, a long hanger-on, and being willing to be rid on't, walking in Moor-fields dropt it in one of the Quarters, and then ran from it as fast as he could; but the people at sight hereof cry'd out to him, d'ye hear, Sir, d'ye hear, Sir, you have left your Cloak behind: which made him with regret return and take it up again.

Much more might be said of his Character in general, but designing brevity I shall supply in some nature what is deficient in his particular Wheedles following.