_He being now come to_ London, _puts himself Prentice to a Taylor; he
gets acquaintance with Prentices of all sorts, is with them at their
Tavern-frolicks: he is employed by a Scrivener to make Cloathes for a
Wench, he goes with him to her, and returning, the Scrivener promises
him an account of that Trade._
Being now come to _London_, I was resolved not to be idle, but settle my
self to some one Trade, that I might be able to get a living; and having
already had tryal of several, at first a _Barber-Surgeon_, then a
_Tapster_, a _Cook_, a _Lock-smith_, _Taylor_, _Baker_, and
_Plaisterer_; and being still forced for some reason or other to leave
them all, did now resolve to fix upon one that should do my business,
and whereby I might at all times, and in all places, be able to live by
my hands, for Lands I had none. I considered of all the Trades I had
already been a practitioner in, and many others, none suited so well
with my humour, as that of a Taylor; wherefore I sought for several
Masters, but they were all unwilling to take me for less than seven
years, it being the custom of _London_ that none can be bound for less
time, nor be made a Free-man till they have served so long. I was
unwilling to bind my self on those tearms, knowing my temper was
variable, and did believe, I should not hold out to serve such a tearm:
but after several enquiries and tryals, I did light upon a Master, who
was willing to take me for five years, only this I perswaded him to do
in regard I already had a good hand in working, and being industrious in
my imployment, so that though I was bound for seven years, yet I had a
Writing under my Masters hand, that the last two years I should dispose
of my self as I pleased, and yet he could make me a Free-man at seven
years end.
My Master was not only a Taylor, but kept a Brokers shop, wherein he
sold all sorts of Clothes new and old: He lived in one of the
principallest Streets in the City, and was in good esteem with his
neighbours, who were all persons of some quality, not of the meaner
sort, but substantial Tradesmen, as _Gold-smiths_, _Grocers_,
_Drugsters_, _Scriveners_, _Stationers_, &c. and I (being now well
fitted with Clothes, and having my pockets pretty well lined with money
which I had still kept by me) was a fit and welcome Companion to the
best sort of Apprentices, in whose society I did soon insinuate my self,
and having money to spend equal with the best, I came acquainted with a
whole Gang of such Blades, that all my former knowledge was nothing in
comparison to what I soon experimented from them; for their Masters
being of the wealthiest sort of Citizens, and keeping Countrey-houses at
_Newington_, _Hackney_, _Stepney_, &c, they often had opportunity in
their absence to meet, and keep their Club or general Randezvous, which
was commonly every other night, at one of the Taverns near adjoyning:
and my Master (who did well enough understand that I was frequently
abroad, and in what Company I spent my time) did not in the least oppose
or contradict me therein; for I soon found that these young Jovial
Blades, though Apprentices, yet they were my Masters best Customers, for
there was none of them but had a Sute or two of Clothes _A la mode_,
which commonly lay at our house, which they put on when they had any
frollick out of Town, either at _Christmas_, _Easter_, or _Whitsontide_,
or at any other time, when they pretending some urgent occasions, they
would give their Masters the slip.
Thus was I one of the Gang, and had liberty to be with them so often as
I pleased, by the connivance of my Master, whose profit consisted in my
acquaintance with them; for I soon brought him some new Customers, out
of whom he could squeez good store of money for making their Clothes,
and sometimes he made three or four Sutes at a time, yet had no money
for his pains, but he was satisfied otherwise in Commodities, which were
more to his profit; for the Mercer paid his Bill in Stuffs, the Draper
in Cloth, and the rest either in other good Commodities which they had
of their Masters, or with which they were furnished by their Companions.
When any of them intended a new Sute for himself, Friend, or Mistress,
it was but summoning the Brethren of the Club together, and then the
Mercer brought his Stuffs or Silks, the Milliner Buttons, Ribbons, and
Lynings, for which they had in exchange such other Commodities as the
others could produce: there was only two Trades that had little or no
Commodities to exchange, and that was the Scrivener and Bookseller, and
therefore I wondred from whence they should get to be so fine as the
rest; but I observed what they wanted in Wares, was supplyed in Money,
which was a Commodity would command every thing else. How they should
get this Money I knew not, for I could not imagine that in making of
Bills and Bonds the Scrivener could cheat his Master of much money, or
that the Bookseller could sell many books by the by, and put the money
in his own pockets, for I knew they were not so vendible a Commodity as
Cloath, Silk, _&c._
But one evening we being at our general Rendezvous, where we had good
wine, and better company, being attended by two or three Suburbian
Females, who were the Doxies of our Comerades. The Scrivener (having the
finest out-side, being in his private Sute of Apparel, and having his
pockets well lined with _Maslin_ of Gold and Silver) took occasion to
court one of the Women not only publickly, but privately; and though she
were till then a stranger to him, yet he won her from her other Friend,
and to enduce her to be kind to him, he called me to him, and ordered me
to provide her a new gown, and peticoat, of flowred Tabbee, and
immediatly calling to our Mercer who served us all, gave him as much
money as the Silk was worth, and all the engagement he desired from the
_Bona Roba_, was that he might have the first taking up of the peticoat,
and then if she liked her old sweet-heart best she might afterwards use
her pleasure, either in admitting him or t'other to her embraces, or
either of them as she pleased, to this they all three agreed, and the
Mercer who took about four pound for Silk was ordered (by a general
vote) to spend forty shillings of the money for that present reckoning,
and all the rest went scotfree, and after a lusty cup of wine, some
dishes of meat, and fidlars, they for that time broke up their meeting.
This liberallity, or rather prodigallity of the Scrivener put me into
some confusion, and very desirous I was to know how he gained so much
money, wherefore I speedily procured the apparrel to be made, and
delivered it to him to his content, I so highly pleased him that he
desired me to go with him to the Ladies lodging who was to wear it. I
accordingly waited on him thither, and she receiving him with much
chearfulness accepted it; it was soon put on, and it was not long before
they retired out of the room wherein I was, into an other; where I
suppose she was so curteous as to permit him not only to take up the
peticoat, and somewhat else to his liking: but to dispose of her at his
pleasure, for they stay’d together neer an hour. Neither was I left
alone: but had the old Matron of the house, and a young _Bona Roba_ to
accompany me, where we were not idle, but made the bottles of Sack, and
Stepony fly for it: when their business was over (and ours almost done,
for we had so ply’d the liquor that our noddles were fuller of wine than
wit) they briskly entred the room where we were, and without any coyness
fell stoutly to drinking; for seeing us neer thirty one, they with full
bowls quickly put us out, so that I was enforced to go to sleep, which I
supposed I did for about three hours, and then awaking I found my
Gallants wanting; but I believe they were not all at that time idle; for
upon inquiry, and search, I found them in an other chamber together,
where I suppose she had fully performed the agreement for her cloaths to
the content of the Scrivener, who now after a fresh bottle of wine, and
payment of the reckoning which was no small one, hearty farewels given,
and taken of his Mistress, her companion, and the Matron, we left that
house, and taking coach ordered the Coach-man to drive to the next
Tavern to my Master, where we called for a room, wine, and a fire, he
gave me an Angel for my dayes service, and shifting himself put on his
ordinary, and gave me his best cloathes to lay up at my Masters, wishing
me to acquaint him that I had been in his company, and that would be
sufficient for my excuse: I thanked him for his kindness, and Civility,
and told him that his bounty had so tyed me to him, that I should at all
times be joyful if I might serve him: As for my bounty, said he, I shall
for the future be more free to you, and for mony you shall not want; for
I am alwayes in capacity to furnish my friends, having the command of a
great deal of cash, which I know well enough how to order to my own
advantage, and it is but reason that I should dispose of some as well as
my Master; for it is in my power to strip him of the greatest part of
his estate, and ruine him in his credit. I being inquisitive after
secrets, desired him to tell me how that Trade (which I supposed, only
consisted in the making a few small writings) could be so profitable: To
this he answered, that indeed it was true, they made not many writings,
but dealt in much money, and his Master had an extraordinary way; for
(persued he) if my Master wants two or three thousand pound, he can
quickly command it, though he began with nothing, and indeed had every
Bird her feather, he hath no estate: But he hath such slights, wayes,
and confederates, that he can do what he listeth: He hath one piece of
Brass hath yielded him two thousand pound: that is much, said I, and
there must be more in your Trade than I can imagine, and I would be very
glad to be acquainted with some of your Mysteries, and since you have
promised me your friendship, whatever you shall relate to me, shall be
surely and safely closeted up in my breast, and shall never by me be
offered to your prejudice, and it may be some of my advice in your
affairs may be profitable; for I have had much more experience in the
world than you imagine. This discourse, and some other arguments which I
used, induced him to give me a relation of many passages of his life:
But much of the _Knaveries_ of that mysterious Trade, which discourse he
began to me in this manner.
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