_How he insinuated himself into the acquaintance of all he
thought he could prey upon, and what tricks he used to
build his interest upon their ruine._
How can that _Tyrant_ flourish in his Commonwealth, when the foundation
of his Reign was built on the Sepulchre of the right and lawful Heir he
murther’d? And how can that man prosper, whose rise he rear’d from other
mens ruines? Such was I, who having oftentimes been gulled by Knaves,
turned Knave my self, and did as greedily hunt after such I could make a
prey of, (to repair the damages I had sustain’d by others) as the devil
doth after Usurers souls, being on their death-beds, resolving to live
like a Bandite on the spoil. Like an old Souldier having been beaten to
the world, (or indeed more properly, beaten by the world) I began to
summon up all my senses and my idle brains to a strict account, how to
get that up again, my riot and folly had spent; and thinking I had no
way to recover my self, but by what ruined me, I did cast about me, and
fished after this manner. I prepared my lines, provided baits, and made
ready my hooks, which had such constant and firm barbs, that after I had
struck a Gudgeon in the gills, I was sure to hold him, though I suffer’d
him to play a little in the stream. The Flouds I daily frequented, were
either the Temple, Ordinaries, Play-houses, Cock-pits, Brothels, or
Taverns, leaving no place unsearch’d, wherein there might be any thing
worthy a Bait. If such I found, like a shadow I was never from his
heels, but followed him close, especially if he was a young
Country-Gentleman, whom his father had sent up to see fashions in the
Citie: and rather then he should go out as raw as he came in, I failed
not to season him in one of the Cities Powdering-Tubs. First, I made it
my business to know what his father allowed him; then would I study his
natural disposition and inclination, and accordingly sute my self to
him, so that by my behaviour towards him, he should look upon me to be
his _Masculine Sweet-heart_, his bosom-friend, and that like
_Hippocrates_ twins we must needs live and die together. Having
accordingly by much sweat and industry adapted and fitted him to my
humour and purpose, and wrought him to such a soft and waxen
temperature, that I could make what impression I pleased on him, I
brought him acquainted with some of my accomplices, who all vail’d
bonnet to him, invited him from Tavern to Tavern, not letting him expend
a peny; or if he wanted money, I would supply him with four or five
pound. This Innocent (not having yet scented the Citie-air) all this
while thinks himself in _Elysium_, fancying he enjoys more delights then
the _Turks Paradise_ affords; and withal imagineth himself not a little
graced, to be entertained among such seeming Gallants. For my Rogues
(give me the liberty to call them so) lookt on it as the greatest piece
of policie to wear good cloaths, though their pockets were worse
furnished then a Chandlers box, that seldom hath any greater money in
it, then Two-pence, Three-pence, Groats, _&c._ Sometimes my Cully did
meet with some that knew me, who would advise him to have a care of me,
and not to keep me company, for I was a dangerous person, and in the end
would be his ruine. Whereas it was but to little purpose: for when youth
is in its full vigour, and height of desire, neither wholesome counsel,
nor lamentable examples, will give them warning of their future
destruction. Still I continued my seeming respects and kindnesses to
him, which I onely intended as the _Præludium_ or Prologue to that Play
which was to come after: for my Country _Cock-brain_ being honeyed with
these sweet delights, thought that whatever he could return, was notable
to give an answerable satisfaction. Watching a fit opportunity, (when he
was well warm’d with Wine) then would I perswade him, (which was no
difficult matter) to be bound with me for so much, _&c._ which I
promised I would repay at the day, without putting him to any
inconvenience: but he knew not, that what I borrowed for an hour, I
borrowed for an age. When I could squeeze no more juyce out of him, then
I left him to the mercy of his Creditors, to be dealt withal as the
Popinjay in the Fable, who being summoned to appear with the rest of the
winged Tribe, before their King the Eagle, borrowed of all the finer
sort of birds feathers to adorn him, and make him appear splendid before
his Soveraign. After he was dismiss’d, he proudly flutter’d up and down
the woods with his borrow’d gallantry; which made the little Titmouse,
Wren and Hedge-sparrow adore him. They to whom he was obliged for his
gallantry, hearing thereof, demanded again their own, and so deplum’d
him, whereby he seem’d ten times worse then those small birds that
lately did admire him. Such Popinjays are they, who borrow of every
Citizen, to make themselves shew glorious in the worlds eye; but when
the Creditors shall come and claim their own, and get it, they will seem
more foul, then lately they did fair. So various and villanous were the
pranks I committed every day, that I was forced now, like an Owl, to
appear onely by night in the Citie. If I did at any time transgress that
custom, I did then like the dogs of _Egypt_, which when they come to
drink of the river _Nilus_, lap here and there, not daring to stay long
in one place, for fear the Crocodiles that lie lurking within the banks,
should pull them into the Current: so did I, skulking here and there,
first to one Tavern, and then, not daring to stay longer there, shifting
to another. But to proceed.