A _King_ and a _Rich Subject_.
A Certain Prince that had a very wealthy overgrown Subject, found it
convenient to make a Traitor of him, provided it could but handsomly
be brought about: So the Man was taken into Custody, and the _King_’s
_Evidence_ produced against him for _Consults_ at this Place, and at
that, against the Life of the King, and the Peace of the Government; and
for Receiving, Comforting, and Abetting the Enemies of the Crown. The
Man had the Character of a very Loyal Person, and People were almost
at their Wits end, to hear of so horrid an Accusation against him. But
the Witnesses Swore Home, and one of them Extremely Positive, that if
his House at that very Instant were but narrowly Search’d for Men and
Arms, they would find such a Provision, that the Modern Discoveries at
_Tichbourn_ and _Flixham_, were Nothing to’t. The pretended Criminal
began now to Moralize upon the Story, and so away goes he to His Majesty;
casts himself at his Feet, and promises that if he might but have as
Ample a Pardon as other Witnesses to _Consults_ have had before him, he
would shew him the very Bottom of the Plot. I cannot deny, says he, but
I have a great many of the Enemies of your Royal Crown and Dignity at
this time Conceal’d in my House; and if your Majesty shall be pleased to
appoint any Person to make Seizure of them, they shall be immediately
Delivered up. So the Prince Order’d a Squadron of his Guards, and a
Trusty Officer in the Head of ’em, to go along with him. The Gentleman
led them very Frankly to his Coffers, and shew’d them his Treasure. These
are the Traytors, says he, that you are to take care of, and pray be
pleas’d to _see that they may be kept in safe Custody till they shall be
Deliver’d by Due Course of Law_.
The MORAL.
_We may gather from hence, that Riches are many times but a Snare to us;
and that Money makes many a Man a Traitor: But if a Body will Compound at
last with his Estate to save his Life, when he has nothing left him, he
may be at Rest. For a Certificate of Poverty is as good as a Protection._