_The Relater and several others of the Clubbing-Prentices assist the
Drugster in putting off of some of his Commodities; he gives them
gratuities, and relates a notable Cheat by his Master put upon an
Iron-monger._
In this manner did we spend our time; and though our Masters gained more
money, and dayly increased their Estates, yet we enjoyed the greater
pleasure in each others society: and now we being all acquainted with
one anothers ways, assisted each other in all things, and there was no
want for ourselves or Wenches, who were often at our meetings, and
assisted in our mirth.
I remember one evening, a young man, a Drugster, who was one of our
Club, told us that we must all of us assist him in a matter he was
about, and he should not only gain a good opinion of his Master, but we
should have a Piece or two to spend; we hearing there was convenience
and profit, agreed together, soon consented to do our utmost, and
therefore desired him to acquaint us with the matter: he thereupon told
us, that his Master had lately bought a parcel of Drugs of two or three
sorts, which did cost him about 1000_l._ in hopes of great gain, for
they were at double the price that he would afford his at; but they
being too much for one mans sale, he offered to sell good part of them
to some of the Trade; but they refused to buy, unless they might have
them cheaper then he was willing to afford them, pretending that they
had no need of that Commodity, being sufficiently furnished with the
same; although we were very certain that they could have none of it,
there being none to be had in all _London_, till of late my Master
bought this parcel that came from beyond Sea: Now my Master being
desirous to sell his Commodity, hath considered of a way how to make his
brother-Drugsters come to him, and pray him to sell it to them at his
price; that way is thus:
He hath desired me to get some of my acquaintance to go to most of the
Drugsters in and about _London_, and pretending to be Apothecaries and
others that need those Commodities, to enquire for them, and bespeak
quantities thereof; and then he knows, that not being able of themselves
to furnish them, they will repair to him, and give him his price. Oh!
said the Bookseller, have you learned that trick? I am very well
acquainted with this manner of trade; for we commonly use this slight to
sell our Books: for when we have printed a Book that we doubt will not
sell without preferring, and more ado than ordinary, then we not onely
Title it upon Posts, put it into News-books, and use several other ways
to make it famous; but we sometimes send several of our acquaintance and
friends to most Booksellers shops to inquire for this new Book; and they
coming so one after another, at length Master Bookseller is perswaded to
buy some of them; nay, sometimes, the more to encourage the Booksellers
to buy some quantities, we allow our friends to lay out some moneys with
them, and buy several of them; and so the Bookseller will commonly, if
he sell one or two, buy six or a dozen; and by this means our moneys
come in again with profit. Well, reply’d the Drugster, this course must
we take with these Drugs, or else they may prove a very Drug to my
Master; for he hath served some of our Trade so many tricks already,
that they are very cautious how they deal with him; but this trick of
sending friends to ask for a Commodity he hath often used, neither did
he learn it of the Bookseller: but there happened an extraordinary
chance sometime since, and from that experience he hath taken this
course.
For there was a person who is used to make Syringes, which Chirurgions
and others use to squirt withal in several Distempers; and this man
being out of imployment, made a great quantity of them, and laid them by
him; but not knowing how to dispose of them, he bethought him of this
way of sending some friends to inquire for them: and so well did he
manage his business, that by employing persons to enquire of Drugsters
and Apothecaries for them, he not onely sold all he had made by him, but
in less than a quarter of a year, he took above 200_l._ for this
Commodity: and this my Master took notice of, and I suppose made a
president of, and now resolves upon the same course to put off his
Drugs; wherefore I desire your utmost assistance herein, and I shall
when you please spend a Piece or two in a Collation. All our
Club-fraternity agreed on this, and promised to be active here: and thus
resolving on our next time of meeting, we parted.
I for my part, the next day accoutring my self in a Country
Gentile-garb, went to several Drugsters, and asked for several Drugs,
whose names I had gotten; but amongst all, I more earnestly desired a
good quantity of those that were to be thus put off, telling them I was
a Country-Apothecary, and should call three or four days after again,
and lay out a considerable sum of money with them. I having done this
for my part, and the rest of our associates having been as diligent, we
meeting three days after together, our Drugster told us, that his Master
had sold all his Commodities to very great profit; and therefore, said
he, This Collation, and each of you a Crown more to buy Gloves, is my
Masters charge, and he desires you to accept thereof; which we
accordingly did, being glad we had done so good service to him and his
Master.
I understanding by this, that there were tricks and cheats in this Trade
as well as others, was desirous to be acquainted with the manner of
their Trading; and he being but a Novice, told me, he could not tell me
much of it, but he was very sensible that there was much knavery in that
Mystery, in mixing and sophisticating their Drugs, and getting the
spirits of some of them away, and renewing it in others, as served to
their profit: and, pursued he, I have one trick whereby my Master gets
some money in a year; for it being customary to give a Pipe of Tobacco
to any one that comes into the Shop, and desires it, I give them of that
which is very good; and they liking thereof, and the price, commonly buy
of the same, and sometimes a quantity, desiring it may be still of the
same they have tasted; the which I promise to do, and before their eyes
take it out of the same box; but the knack of it is this, it is for all
that a different and worser sort of Tobacco; for the Tobacco that I gave
them as a taste, is onely placed in one corner of the box for that
purpose, and so it goes off, as if it were all of the same; and
sometimes we put off a whole Roll of Tobacco in the same manner: for the
outside-roll is of good Spanish right, but all the inner-part is
Mundungoes, worth a groat a Cart-load.
But this is nothing to what ways my Master hath; and he lately exercised
his wits to a pretty profitable account, and thus it was: My Master
among other sorts of Drugs, had bought a quantity of Dragons-bloud,
being pieces of wood, dipped, as is supposed, or rather pretended, in
Dragons-bloud; and this is good in Physick, and for other uses: this
Commodity not proving very good, my Master had a great desire to put it
off, but could not get any body to buy of it: he had been not only with
Drugsters, but also with some Iron-mongers to sell it, for they use it
about their Locks, and other Iron-work, to keep them from rust; but no
person was willing to deal with him about it. My Master had a Neighbour
that was an Iron-monger, whom he had a great desire to deal withal; but
he being a wary young man, and hearing that my Master was a snap,
refused all dealing with him: and some words passed that displeased my
Master, and therefore he resolved to be avenged; and thereupon having
designed his business, with the help of two Confederates, he thus puts
it in execution.
He gave a small quantity of this Dragons-bloud to one of his
Confederates, who having full instructions, went to the Iron-mongers
house, and seeing him standing at the door, asked him if he wanted not
some of that Commodity, shewing the same to him: No, said the
Iron-monger. I was informed, said the man, that you sometimes deal in
it, and was recommended by a friend to come to you; and if you please to
deal with me, I shall use you very kindly. To this the Iron-monger
replyed, that he needed not any of it. But, said the other, I suppose
you sell of it to others sometimes, and may therefore do me a courtesie,
and your self too, for I have not a shop to sell it in, and am a
stranger; wherefore, if you please, I shall leave this parcel with you,
and you putting it on your stall may happen on a Customer, which if you
do, I can furnish you with more; and thus you, without laying out any
money, may get some profit. The Iron-monger hearing of this, and
conceiving the man to be honest and harmless, consented to his desire,
entertained the condition and the goods, and enquired further of the
price; the man telling him that he understood it was worth three
shillings _per_ pound, but he would willingly take two shillings eight
pence, because he might have profit; and telling him that he would call
on him in a weeks time: and they at this time parted.
And thus the Iron-monger having received the Commodity, put some of it
out every day on his Stall, till at length a man coming by, and seeing
that to lye there, and the Master of the shop at the door, asked him the
price thereof; the Iron-monger told him three shillings _per_ pound. The
Customer desired to look further into it, desiring to know how much he
had of it; Truely, said the Iron-monger, I cannot tell, but I suppose,
if we agree, I can furnish you with a good quantity. Why, said the
Customer, I will give you two shillings eight pence _per_ pound for it,
if you have 500 _lib._ of it. Well, said the Iron-monger, call here a
day or two hence, and I will resolve you, and it is like we may deal
together: Thus at present they parted. But he came again the next day,
and the day following, pretending great earnestness to buy the
Commodity: in the mean time the Iron-monger waited and watched narrowly
to see and speak with the man that left it there, but could not meet
with him, for he stayed away on purpose; and this Customer that came to
buy was likewise the other of my Masters Confederates, and sent by him
for that purpose. At length the Iron-monger standing at his door, saw
the man who left the Dragons bloud passing by his door, and called to
him, and then discoursed seriously with him about the matter, as, what
would be his lowest price, and what quantity he had? To both these
Questions he answered, He would take two shillings six pence; and the
quantity he had was 500 _lib._ The Iron-monger hearing this, and
resolving now to deal, told him, that he thought it was too dear; but if
he would take two shillings four pence, he thought he might buy all his
quantity. To this the Seller replyed, That it was too cheap; but taking
all, and paying him ready mony, he would do it. The Iron-monger replyed,
That ready money was two months: but, said he, If I deal, you shall have
half down at the delivery, and the other half at three months: to this
they both agreed. But the Iron-monger being cautious, would not at
present fully conclude, referring the ending the Bargain to two days, in
the mean time resolving to see if his Customer came that was to buy; and
then enquiring the name and habitation of the Seller, they parted.
Long had not the Iron-monger waited, but his buying Customer came by,
and as earnestly as formerly desired to buy the Commodity; the which now
the Iron-monger agreed to sell at two shillings eight pence _per_ pound,
and to be paid at weighing; and that he might be sure of his Customer,
he takes ten shillings in part of payment, and appoints two days thence
to finish the bargain. Thus did the Iron-monger reckon to gain 500
Groats, which is 8_l._ 3_s._ 4_d._ Besides, he was resolved to have all
ready money, and to pay but half; but he reckoned without his Host, as I
shall presently tell you: for the Seller of the Dragons-bloud coming the
next day, finished his bargain, delivered his Commodity, received his
money, and took a Bill from the Iron-monger for the moiety of his money
to be paid in three months. But now the Iron-monger had the Commodity,
he might go look for a Customer; for he that left the ten shillings came
no more, and the Commodity lay still on his hands; at which he was
fretted, but could not help himself.
My Master having thus managed this affair by these two Confederates,
received the mony, and had the Bill assigned to him, giving both his
Confederates something for their pains.
He having thus done the Iron-monger’s business, was not contented with
the profit alone, but was resolved to vex him; and therefore when he
passed by his shop, he asked him if he would buy any Dragons-bloud. No,
said the other, I can sell you some. I’ll buy, said my Master; but when
he saw it, and heard the price, he told him, No, he could sell him as
good as that for 12 _d. per_ pound. At this the Iron-monger was more
vexed; but not knowing how to help himself, was forced to rest
contented; at length the three months came, and then my Master was
resolved to shew all his anger, and vex the Iron-monger more, and
therefore went himself to demand the money that was due: the Iron-monger
answered him, that he owed him none: Whereupon he produced his bill, and
a Letter of Attorney; and then he too late perceived how he had been
served. For my Master told him, that now he would be even with him, for
refusing to deal with him, and abusing him. The other said, it was a
cheat, and he would make him bring out the party that bought it, giving
him ten shillings in part of payment. That shall I do quickly, said my
Master, but it will be small to your gain: and then told him the name of
the man, and that he was not worth a farthing, and a Prisoner in the
Kings-bench. At this the Iron-monger being much more vexed then before,
told my Master that he would not pay him, and bid him take his course;
the which he did the next morning, and arresting him, soon brought the
case to a tryal, and having an absolute bill for payment of the money,
cast the Iron-monger; who advising with his Lawyers, went to
_Westminster_ for a _Writ of Error_, which he gained: but when he came
back with it, thinking to stop Execution, he found that he came too
late; for my Master doubting some such business, never left till he
served the Execution, so that when the poor Iron-monger came back with
his _Writ of Error_, he found the Bayliffs and my Master in his shop, in
possession of his goods; and he being out of Moneys at present, was
forced to let my Master have all his Dragons-bloud again at twelve pence
_per_ pound, and so in that and other Commodities paying his Debt and
Charges, and giving each other general Releases (which my Master
earnestly insisted on, and without which my Master would do nothing, the
Iron-monger being in a strait) they made an end of this bargain: and now
the Iron-monger, when he came to a second reckoning of his bargain,
found, that instead of getting 8_l._ 3_s._ 4_d._ he had lost 33_l._
3_s._ 4_d._ besides all his Cost; and my Master thus having gained by
his Commodity, sold it since to another for one shilling six pence _per_
pound. And this, said the Drugster, is but one of my Masters ways to get
money.
This young fellow had taken a great deal of pains to discover every
particular of his Masters late bargain: from what he had related, I
concluded the Master to be a very cunning practitioner in the Mysterious
Art of _Knavery_, and therefore I was desirous to be acquainted with
him; and knowing that he was but a young man himself, and also desirous
of acquaintance, I found no great difficulty to attain to my desires,
which I soon after accomplished, as I shall relate to you in the next
Chapter.
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