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Old Charter Magistrates Hypocrisie, with an Instance of their Deceit and Cheat amongst themselves, at their General High-Court of Injustice to others.
An eminent Merchant in Boston, who is said to have erected the Town-House at his own charge, besides several other considerable Gifts to publick Uses, he kept an honest sober young Man to sell his Merchandize, and its like some∣what differing in Judgment from their Priests way of Worship; he through a mistake sold a Bridle for some∣thing more than was allowed by these Rulers for men to advance on the Shilling; and being complained of was fined a great Sum of Money, and besides was ordered to stand one hour in a publick Place with the Bridle in his Chaps; and the Fine was divided amongst the Magistrates, as one of them testified, who being out of Court at the time when the Division was made, was by his Brethren in Iniquity defrauded of his share, who was so offended at the same, that he openly complained of the Wrong he had received by his Brethren in this matter.
Obs. You may perceive, that these Old Charter-men had strange kind of Laws, whereby to enrich themselves and impoverish others, as is already proved by their aforesaid unrighteous Laws, so also by this it appears to agree with the same. That no Merchant must advance more than 4 d. profit in the Shilling, for Goods from England, by means of which Law their Cloathing and Necessaries were to them, & all of their way, at a cheap rate; for themselves were only Merchants of Law, and their Priests Merchants of that which they call their Gospel; which Law is their Wills, and their