CHAP. I. Of Induſtry, and Trade in General.

THE happineſs and welfare of all People ariſes, by having or acquiring, through ſome Induſtry or other, ſuch convenien­cy of Lively-hood, as may not only keep them from Want and Poverty, but render them plea­ſant and ſociable to one another; this holds both in private Perſons and Families, and alſo in Bodies Politick: that they may be able to grow and flouriſh, at leaſt bear up againſt the Malignity of Enemies, and adverſe Fortune.

Now Money being the common receipt, and ſtan­dard of all the World, as to commerce and commu­nity one with another, that Nation that hath moſt Money, or Goods Money-worth, muſt needs be moſt ſubſtantial and wealthy.

And Money is gotten either naturally, by digging it out of the Mines, or elſe by Trade and Manufa­ctury, ſupplying thoſe which have Money with ſuch things as they want: and ſo fetching of it to us by Merchandiſe. They firſt way we want, the having of it in the Mine, and therefore muſt have recourſe to2 the ſecond, of Trade, Manufacture, and things Mo­ney-worth.

Wherefore we ought to furniſh our ſelves, within our ſelves, of as many needs of life as may be, by Manufactures, and all Huſbandries whatſoever, that our Country will make or bear, and want as few as we can, ſo ſhall leſs Money ſerve our turn, and yet we have ſtore of Money by making and producing thoſe things that draw in Money continually.

But Money is chiefly gain'd by Trade and making ſtore of Manufactures, which other Nations want; and improving of our Ground with variety of Huſ­bandry Commodities, and to furniſh them with ſuch of our Productions; for we ought to ſupply our ſelves within our ſelves, that we need few Foreign things, and make as many Commodities at home as poſſible, that Foreigners want, and ſo export it to them.

For England is properly a Nation of Trade, and extreamly well ſituated for Commerce, and the Inhabitants Ingenious, and fit for it, if encouraged: alſo furniſht within it ſelf with ſtore of Materials, which are the grounds of Trade.

But being an Iſland, and independent from our Neighbours, the leſs War, and more Peace we have, the better; for Conqueſt of unprofitable Countries help us not, but hinder us; are chargeable, and waſte our People: Our buſineſs is to keep at unity with our ſelves, and enjoy a free Trade; keeping only ſome Forts and Iſlands in profitable Places, whereby we become Maſters of Trade.

Alſo ſuch Laws might be made and contrived for the encouragement of Trade and Manufactures, that without coſt or charge Induſtry would increaſe, ma­ny particular Arts riſe of themſelves, and Riches be produced of courſe. The chief things that promote3 Trade, and make it flouriſh, are, that it be free, Naturalization, Populacy, Comprehenſion, freedom from Arreſts, certainty of Property, and freedom from Arbitrary power, ſmall Cuſtoms; all conveniency and advantages for Trading People; Loans of Intereſt, publick places of Charity for all wanting and diſtreſſed People, and alſo Imployments ready for all perſons that want it: The more ſtrict alſo Laws are againſt grand Vices, the more Seriouſneſs, Learning, and Trade will flouriſh.

It would be for the advantage of Trade, that what­ever Apprentice had ſerved his time in one Corpora­tion, ſhould be free of any.

CHAP. II. Directions for the well managing a Trade.

THE firſt is, Depute not another to do that buſi­neſs which thou thy ſelf canſt effect; for he that hath a Mouth of his own, muſt not ſay to another blow: nor is it probable that another ſhould concern himſelf in thy affairs as thy ſelf, who feeling where the Shoe wrings thee, art not only more active by the preſent ſmart, but more ſenſible to which part to apply a Remedy. And if thoſe whom thou em­ployeſt be negligent, thy buſineſs is undone; if dili­gent, thy buſineſs in a ſhort time becomes theirs; and like the Mayors of the Palace in France, and the Sultans in Egypt, they ſet up for themſelves, and thruſt out their Maſters, while they mind their eaſe4 and give up their Affairs to be managed by others And to give you a clear ſight how much this matter doth concern you: I'ill tell you a true Story, and leave you to think on't. There was a Gentleman in Surrey that had Land worth two hundred Pounds per annum; which he kept in his own hands? but running out every year, he was neceſſitated to ſell half of it to pay his Debts, and Lett the reſt to a Far­mer for One and Twenty Years. Before that Term was expired, the Farmer one Day bringing his Rent, ask'd him if he would ſell his Land? Why, ſaith he, would you buy it? if it pleaſe you, ſaith the Farmer. How? ſaith he, that's ſtrange! Tell me how this comes to paſs, That I could not live upon twice as much, though 'twere my own; and your upon the one half thereof, though you have paid Rent for't, are able to buy it? O Sir, ſaith the Farmer, but two words made the difference; you ſaid Go, and I ſay Come. What's the meaning of that? ſaith the Gentleman. Replies the Farmer; You lay in Bed, or took your pleaſure, and ſent others about your Buſi­neſs: And I roſe betimes and ſaw my Buſineſs done my ſelf.

And therefore to this we may well add the conſi­deration of that old Engliſh Proverb;

And that other to the ſame purpoſe:

For doubtleſs, thoſe young Men who muſt build up their own Fortunes, had need be early at it. It5 being not only true, Aurora Muſis Amica, but as true that for all Buſineſs, and in all Countries the Sun riſeth in the Morning, Occaſion then combining her Head, and putting the Lock of ſucceſsful Opportu­nity into your hand. And therefore Solomon is ſo poſitive, that the Sluggard ſhall be clothed with Rags. And a more unthrifty Generation the World ſurely ſcarce ever knew, than thoſe our Days afford, who ſit up to play till Midnight, and lye in Bed till Noon the next Day; who give ſo large an evidence what conſequences follow thence; being as bare of Money for the moſt part, as the Lybian Deſarts of Water­ſprings, or he that is broke of Friends.

In the next place, be not adviſed to engage in too many Buſineſſes, leſt ſome Irons burn; nor in too great Affairs, leſt thy loſs prove irreparable: Re­membring that in a great River Fiſh is to be found; but then take heed you be not drown'd: For great Undertakers are like Forelorn Hopes; Aut Caeſar, aut Nullus: and in deſperate Caſts, 'tis very great odds if they trhow not Ams Ace. And on the other hand, many Buſineſſes are like the King of Spains Do­minions, that lye ſo far aſunder, the charge of kee­ping them eats out the profit. So that there are very few who thus engage themſelves, but have by experi­ence found, That Man diſquieteth himſelf in vain. I once my ſelf, to my no ſmall loſs, had concerns with a perſon involv'd in much buſineſs, of whom it may ſeem that Speech was not meant, In the ſweat of thy brows thou ſhalt eat bread; for he ſweat till he was ready to ſtarve, working himſelf by a World of Buſi­neſs out of many Thouſands, till at laſt he was ne­ceſſitated to take harbour in a Priſon.

But certainly, as 'tis an happineſs to have our buſi­neſs within our reach, ſo is it no leſs to be our ſelves6 without the reach of buſineſs, I mean to be ſo much in our own power, as not to be perplext with our concerns, but do our duty in that way wherein God's provi­dence hath placed us with all our might, and leave the whole ſucceſs to him that doth diſpoſe all things as he will, and frequently effects things happy for us, by thoſe very means which did moleſt and grieve us. Thus is the priſon made a ſtep to raiſe up Joſeph to be Lord of Egypt; and ſo Rome's burning by the Gauls, was but the demoliſhing of Shepherds Cottages, that they might be chang'd into much more ſtately and mag­nificent Structures. So that in truth, we know not what we ſhould be pleaſed at moſt, or troubled, what to refuſe or what deſire: When our Wiſhes many times do prove our Ruine; and as the Satyriſt ob­ſerved.

For our Proſperity not ſeldom doth undo us; and 'tis the peculiar praiſe of Veſpatian, that he only, of all the Princes that went before him, was the better for reigning. And I think we can hardly parallel him with any that came after him, unleſs it be our Henry the Fifth. 'Tis therefore excellent, and much more conducing to our Peace, to entertain Occurrents with indifference, as in uncertainty to give our judg­ment of them, whether they're good or hurtful to us: (And like the Hollanders, who though the greateſt Traders in the World, and moſt induſtrious, yet Starda ſaith of them, and he an Enemy, That what­ſoever Gain or Loſs befalls them, they paſs it by with ſuch a little ſence of joy or grief; Vt alienis in­tereſſe non ſua curare credas, You'ld think they were7 but only Lookers on of others buſineſs, and not con­cerned in it as their own.

Let me offer this alſo to your practice, that you be cunning and honeſt; which agrees with our Sa­viours Directions, Be ye wiſe as Serpents, and innocent as Doves; for that cunning which hath no reſpect to Right, is like dealing i•Fire-works, or working in a Mine, whereby the Enemy is not always endama­ged, but the Wiſe are often taken in their own Craf­tineſs. If Men be diſpoſed like that Roxelana, to be wittily wicked, the Devil that old Serpent and Deceiver, will furniſh them with Arts; but he com­monly deals with them as he doth with Witches, with whom he always plays a ſlippery trick, in the Concluſion; and they whoſe whole Life was but a Cheat, are cheated themſelves moſt miſerable at the laſt. For in the obſervation which I have made, I never knew any of theſe Craft-maſters that in the winding up of their Affairs came out as they went in; but like the ſubtil Chymiſts, with their Policies and Tricks, when they look for Gold, are blown up in Duſt, or like the Politick Count S. Paul, in the time of Lewis the Eleventh, who ſpun ſo fine a Thread of ſubtil Con­trivances between: that King and Charles the Warlike Duke of Burgundy, that while he was truſted nei­ther by the one nor the other; the end of his Cun­ning was his own Confuſion. When on the other hand, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is Peace. GOD giving his Bleſſing to the Honeſtly-wiſe, and proſpering thoſe Deſigns; which like the quiet Herd, lye in the Pail of Integrity, when that Rambling Deer, whom no Fence of Equity holds, is in continual fear, and proves a lean poor Raſcal.

CHAP. III. Directions to young Shopkeepers, and others Tradeſmen, about their ſetting up in the World when they come out of their Apprentiſhips.

MY Firſt Advice to you, as to this is, That you look upon this Buſineſs, as that which de­ſerves much Avice. There being; not a few, who by their haſte and precipitation in this affair, have ruined their fortunes: and while they have been weary of being Servants, have made themſelves in a ſhort time perpetual Slaves to indulgence and want. For if having once ſet up, you then miſ­carry, it proves like blaſting of a young Sprout, which if if not thereby utterly killed, yet becomes ſo checkt and dejected, that it never attains a freſh and flouriſhing condition after. It concerns you therefore to look before you leap, and not to be in­duced by the Name of a Maſter, and a Shop, to ſkip into that in haſte, from whence you will be ſhortly•urned out with ſhame.

It hath been obſerved, that they ſeldom prove well; who ſet up young; that Age being for the moſt part precipitate, and forwarder to do, than to conſider, and alſo apt to pre-occupy the ſucceſs of things, by a too promiſing hope: and like young Setters, to ſet an Haunt inſtead of a Covie; where­by they are many times groſly abuſed, and err at ſuch a rate, as admits of (only if any; yet) a dif­ficult recovery. Whereas thoſe that like bobbed9 Partridges have been ruft in the Net of deception; by what they have obſerved at others charge, are much more wary and cautious, of being again tra­panned. Beſides, Age doth give a natural alloy, like a Bartholomew-dew, cooling the immoderate heat and raſhneſs of younger years.

It is therefore taken notice of, that young Men do then proſper beſt, when they have either ſerved as Journey men unto ſome wary Stagers; or have the happineſs to be taken in as Partners unto ſuch, whereby, as Bears by their grown Cubs, they are taught to catch the Prey with the greateſt cleverneſs and certainty, and with the leaſt hazard.

'Tis not amiſs here alſo to admoniſh you, that great Rents have very often broke the back of young beginners; who before they could get acquaintance, and gain cuſtom to defray the charge of ſo great ex­pence, are drain'd dry, to the very vital Blood, and experienc'd, like a Candle for want of Fat, to feed the the Fire on't: Conſider therefore, that Omne prin­cipium eſt debile; and the ſtrongeſt Man was at firſt but Punctum tacens, ſuch a ſmall matter as could hard­ly be diſcerned; and 'tis wiſdom to diſpoſe all thy projects in a proportion to that infirmity: For he that arms himſelf beyond his own dimenſions, is in­cumbred with his own Furniture, and commonly falls the more ridiculous ſubject of others ſcorn and triumph. Be therefore adviſed to begin warily, having as the firſt, ſo the laſt game to play; and as one jeſted, it being all one, and one all; it concerns you ſo to diſpoſe it, as may admit of the leaſt hazard.

Nor is it leſs good counſel to begin low, according to the advice of the Country-man, to eat your brown Bread firſt: If there were no other reaſon, at leaſt, becauſe 'tis ſhameful to come lower. And experi­ence10 tells us, that the Bullock which hath been fed with Hay, will almoſt ſtarve before it will be kept withſtraw: for though there be nothing more eaſie than to come down, ſo there's nothing more difficult than to bring our minds to it.

But further, as thoſe ſtructures which are raiſed higheſt, have always their foundations laid loweſt; ſo you can hardly inſtance in any great eſtate, whoſe beginning was not with ſuch a providence, as conſulted for mean things. And this doubtleſs may be rendred as the principal cauſe, ſo that very few of thoſe prove ſucceſsful, who have been furniſh'd cut into the World plentifully by their friends: for building thereupon with too much confidence, they ſet out at ſuch a rate, as before they have run far, breaks their Wind; whereas they who come forth un­der-hatcht, conſcious of their own infirmity, ride with a ſtrait hand, and if they were wiſe; put not into a gallop, till their Wind be well rack'd: and by that means prove of good Spur-mettle to the laſt.

And therefore do not ſettle thy ſelf in a great Houſe, for it is much better the Houſe would be too little for a day, than too big for a year; there being not on­ly the inconvenience of much Repair (for a great body muſt be plentifully maintained) but there is a kind of inclination which it begets of coſtlineſs and expence, when the mind runs upon the knack of U­niformity, and the Spaniſh Faſhion is thought ugly, with the huge Doublet and ſcanty Breeches. Beſides, a great Houſe muſt have great Furniture; and the Coſtlineſs of Houſholdſtuff is as great a Vanity as can lightly come under your Conſideration; for Money laid out in this reſpect, is not only buried without profit, but is diminiſh'd da•ly; for Houſholdſtuff is dear to buy, and cheap to ſell, and herein, if in11 any thing, you may quickly bring a Noble to Nine­pence. And there is another inconvenience in't; for this expence doth uſually befall the young Begin­ners, when the Wives portion is newly received, and the Bride that ſo lately was, muſt be humour'd in Houſholdſtuff correſponding to the Wedding-Clothes; though then Money in the Purſe be as ne­ceſſary as Blood in the Veins: and to be laviſh of that in the furniſhing of an Houſe, where it lies dead and turns to no profit, is like the humour of Tavern­keepers, who hang out a brave Sign on the out-ſide that coſt many pounds, and have Wine within would poyſon an Horſe; whereas were that Money laid out on choice Liquor, the good Wine would need no Buſh.

CHAP. IV. The Rules to be obſerved by all Tradeſmen, in the fair and honeſt Buying and Selling of Commodities.

EVery man knoweth, that in the buying and ſelling of Commodities, there is an eſtimation and price demanded and agreed upon between both Parties ac­cording to a certain equality in the value of things, permuted by a true reaſon grounded upon the com­modious uſe of things: So that Equality is nothing elſe but a mutual voluntary eſtimation of things made in good order and truth, wherein Inequality is not ad­mitted or known. And the ſeller is to ſell his Wares according to the common eſtimation and courſe, at12 ſuch time as he ſhall think convenient, unleſs it be for Victuals or Munition, wherein neceſſity compelleth him to ſell for the general good, by the interpoſition of the Magiſtrates, by whoſe authority he can obſerve no time, but muſt ſell, taking a reaſonable gain for the ſame: for the eſtimation is alſo the greater upon ſuch occasions and accidents, when the ſelling of a thing is not according to the goodlineſs of the nature of the thing, but rather according to the uſefulneſs of it to Mankind: and therein the condition of the thing is to be conſidered, which may decay and be ſubject to corruption in quantity, quality, and ſubſtance, or which is not ſubject thereunto.

True it is, That there can be no rule preſcribed or taught how to buy and ſell, which is lawful and un­lawful, or juſt and unjuſt, by any wiſe man whatſo­ever; becauſe the Children of this Age are wiſer than the Children of Light in their Generation and Calling. Which is the cauſe that ſome Divines having written hereof, do proceed with great moderation, obſer­ving that the transferring of things from one owner to another, is effected five manner of ways by private perſons.

1. Firſt by Donation, which is altogether of free gift, according to the ſaying recorded, Luke 16. Mutuum date, nihil inde ſperantes.

2. By Permutation, Do ut des, I give becauſe you ſhould give; as the Proverb is,

3. By Emption, or buying of things.

4. By Vendition, or ſelling of things.

5. By actual mutation, or mutual giving or lending of monies.

And in buying and ſelling of things there are required eleven neceſſary conditions: Firſt, a conſent in the ſelling: Secondly a power to ſell, the like in the buyer: Thirdly and Fourthly, conſent and pow­er: Fifthly and Sixthly, ſome conditions on either ſide, agreeing in the transferring of the thing. : Se­venthly, that the ſame be honeſt: Eighthly, alſo law­ful: Ninthly and Tenthly, to be without unreaſona­ble conditions, to buy and ſell the ſame again: Ele­venthly, that it be an abſolute irrevocable bargain. And herein is the Law of Nature to be regarded and obſerved, Quod tibi fieri non vis, alteri ne feceris, or do as you would be done to. Yet if I have occaſion to buy that which another is about to buy, it is lawful and juſt for me to buy the ſame.

But to avoid ſuſpition in ſelling juſtly or unjuſtly, three things are required. Firſt, the Buyer to be ex­pert in the Commodities he buyeth. Secondly, that he be not too needy, or conſtrained to buy. And Thirdly, that perſwaſive reaſons be omitted, which cauſe the party to buy dearer.

The Civilians (affirming that probality to prove the eſtimation of a thing is ſufficient, whether it be more or leſs worth) do admit that a man may ſell dearer unto an expert man, that unto a ſimple man; and to ſell dearer than the thing is worth by common eſtimation, is adjudged by them to be always unjuſt: as alſo to uſe reaſons and inducements to ſell Wares the dearer; neither is the ſeller to demand or expect any thing above the price agreed upon, and in treat­ing hereof they make large diſcourſes, which I do o­mit to handle, for the reaſons aforeſaid.

Buying and ſelling ſay they, is done two manner of ways. Firſt, that the thing be ſo bought, that all power of pretence be avoided, which is giving a thing14 at a certain price for a thing: Secondly, that the thing ſold be as a gift for that price, which in ſubſtance may be ſaid to be a plain abſolute and lawful bar­gain, ſold as we ſay, in open Market or Shop, in­ſomuch that there be not a Curtain to hide the Com­modity ſo bought and ſold: Howbeit in all Fairs and Markets in the parts beyond the Seas, a Tradeſman•Shop and a Merchants Warehouſe is taken to be pub­lick and open at the appointed times.

They have alſo determined, that a ſeller may not demand a greater price for the forbearance of his payment of ſatisfaction of the thing, but he may well diminiſh the price, if the buyer do ſatifie him the ſooner, and before the time of payment, by way of an­ticipation, which nevertheleſs reſteth in his own pow­er to accept thereof, or to expect the time. But this is commonly done, not by abating of the price of the Com­modity, becauſe Money hath made a certainty of the total ſum of the ſaid Commodity, but by allowance or deduction of the Intereſt of the ſaid Money, for the time to come and unexpired, according as they make their agreement of the price of Intereſt.

To conclude, the premiſes touching, buying and ſelling, we find, that no man in ſelling any Wares is bound to declare, whether any quantity of the like Wares are to be had or expected, when he ſelleth.

CHAP. V. The Compleat Houſe-keeper, or Directions to all Trades­men, for the well and cheap ordering their Domeſtick Affairs; that they may the better thrive in their Callings.

AND the firſt ſhall be to avoid thoſe hangers on, that are the Flies which attend the Fleſh of others Tables, and requite you with their Maggots;15 ſuch as your Chare-women, and men at a call, who make it their work to rob you under a finer notion than that of plain ſtealing; or at beſt, like thoſe Beg­gars who give you an half-farthing Wand, that they may receive your two pence. Such as theſe ſhall your Servants have to ſerve their turn with a wet fing­er; and pay them largely, not with their own Mo­ther; but your Meat: which if you connive at, they praiſe you highly, and you are their very good Ma­ſter: and when they have undone you, ſhall do you this kidneſs, to ſay 'tis pity, For you were no Bodies Foe but your own.

Yet think not much to be free in the relief of thoſe you know to be poor, and labour with induſtry to get their own Livings: For Alms to the idle, is like Greaſe to a Cart-Wheel, which makes it go round the eaſier, but ſtill upon the ſame Axle; whereas ſupply to thoſe who are wanting, yet laborious, or impo­tently neceſſitous, is a debt due to their want; yet of that nature, that while we pay what is their due, God accepts it as a Loan, and hath put himſelf under an Obligation to make Repayment. And truly I have obſerved, that while I have known many undo themſelves with riotous Houſe-keeping, entertaining needleſs Gueſts and Idle Bellies; I could never yet meet with any, who could ſay, he was the poorer, nay not the richer, for ſuch Acts of Charity as were done to the Needy: But that ſuch diſtributions, like the Loaves of our Saviour among the four thouſand, leave behind them more baſkets of Fragments, for the Heirs to give away, than the principal was in quantity, which the Father ſo expended.

Yet let me tell you, 'tis no wiſdom to make your Servants your Almoners; and allow them the liberty of diſpoſing your Charity; for one hand to give is e­nough16 in a Purſe. And that Charity is the beſt which hath the Spirit of diſcerning; and like that Boy gives Hony to the Bees, but hath a Whip to drive away the Drones.

Be here adviſed too, not to be given to the hu­mour of coſtly entertainments. For I have often ſeen that men of that fancy have inverted the Kallen­der, and have found their Faſts after their Feſtivals; who, when they have ſpent all, have been as wel­come to their Gueſts, as a former Wives old Clothes to a new married Bride. Beſides, the Obligation which you lay by your Coſt on thoſe which are en­tertained, is for the moſt part as far below it, as the Church of St. Faith's is beneath Paul's Steeple. For the moſt at ſuch encounters are more concern'd to cenſure your expence, then acknowledge your kindneſs and generally jeer at ſome things you might fail in, rather than fairly accept what you courteouſly intended.

But the entertainment of great Perſons is a greater vanity: For ſuch think they oblige you, in doing you the honour to eat up vour Cheer; which to them which fare ſumptuouſly every day, is ſcarce look't upon as extraordinary; ſo that inſtead of accepting your civility, they reſent it as an affront that it was no richer; and what ſhall be indeed profuſion in you, will be lookt upon but as the Wrens piſſing in the Sea to them.

But what I have here ſaid of entertainment, I in­tend not of ſuch as are accidentally Gueſts, Perſons that come to viſit in kindneſs: For unto ſuch as theſe entertainment is due, and ought to be free, and pro­portioned to the quality of the Perſons concerned, with that heartineſs and plenty, as may abundantly ſpeak for you, that they are welcome: And in very17 deed, ſuch intercourſes as theſe, are neceſſary to pre­ſerve a mutual Friendſhip, and keep alive the remem­brance, or that Kindred and Relation, which other­wiſe, like unremoved Legs, would grow into the Earth which at firſt begat them.

But what Houſe ſoever you keep when Friends are with you, let your ordinary and private fare be never coſtly; but ſuch, as though the beſt in its kind, yet plain and wholſome; to fortifie Nature, and nouriſh, not to tickle the Palate: For the Bit that one eats makes no Friend: For to pleaſe the dainty Tooth, is an ex­penſive humour, and doubles that charge which Houſe-keeping bringeth; while the ſauce is more than the Meat; and 'tis as dear to Cook a Diſh, as to pro­vide it. And verily the vanity of ſome deſerves our wonder, who are of that Heliogabalian Stomach, to which nothing doth reliſh which is not dear, and fan­cy Fiſh moſt when fartheſt from ſhore; then onely loving Peaſe, when they are ſcarce to be had; and Cherries when they are ty'd on Sticks.

In buying proviſions be your own Caterer, where­in at leaſt you may have this convenience, that you may pleaſe your ſelf. Beſide, however faithful your Servant may be, ſo that he lets down no gnats with­out a ſtrain, you cannot expect that he ſhould part with your Coyn, with that care and difficulty as you would your ſelf, whoſe dayly feeling how mech pro­viſion doth pinch, makes wary, and hard to be drawn to expence.

But be chiefly advis'd not to run on the Score; for you may be aſſured, that with great advantage you may take up Money at Uſe to pay ready down: For there's none of them all, but reckons how they forbear, and will be ſure to be allow'd, not only becauſe they muſt ſtay for their Money, but truſt; there being no­thing18 ſo certain in the World, as that which is pre­ſent. You will alſo find that a true Proverb, That the beſt, is beſt cheap: For beſides that in fleſh, there is much the leſs quantity of Bones for the weight, where they are covered almoſt twice of the thick­neſs: in all other things you'll find much the leſs waſte, becauſe that which is the good goes down without Scraps, while parings and refuſe go a great way in what is not: Servants making no ſcruple to caſt that to the Dogs, which they are ſoon apt to think is not good enough for themſelves.

Be you alſo aſſur'd, that the beſt of Servants muſt be over-lookt: for it is rare to find thoſe, who will not make waſte: And as it is fit they ſhould have to the full, their Meat being a great part of the wages of their work; So are there few, but do labour un­der fulneſs of Bread; and none that conſider of what they would be glad, when they come to keep a poor houſe of their own.

In your buying Proviſions, you'll find it the beſt to go to their Fountains; for the farther from thence, ſo much the dearer. There being no ſecond hand, but ſo licks his own fingers, as what while he hath his gains, the Commodity is inhanc'd; and that which is his livelihood, muſt be what you give more than he paid.

'Tis alſo beſt to buy by the great: All Chapmen complying much ſooner for much than for a little; their gains by ſo much the more conſiderable, and their put off the greater. But then muſt your Ex­penditor be wary, and ſo give out the ſtore which you have provided, as remembring the place to ſpare, is never at the bottom; beſides, the much more ea­ſineſs to lurch the greater quantities, where a little taken is not diſcern'd: for which cauſe, it is not ſafe19 to truſt a Servant at an whole heap; there being very few of that Integrity, as then to keep their hands from picking, when none can witneſs that they did prevari­cate; or if they be ſuch, it is not ſafe to tempt with opportunity.

CHAP. VI. Of the Trude of LONDON.

TO go about to demonſtrate the great neceſſity and benefit of Trade in General, in a Common­wealth or City, were but (In re non dubia, uti ora­tione non neceſſaria) in a matter which is undoubted to uſe a needleſs Harangue; it being certain, that Wealth and Riches (which are acquired by Traf­fick and Induſtry) are Subſidia Belli, & Ornamenta Pacis, the Supports of War, and Ornaments of Peace; by which the wants of one place are ſupply­ed by the plenty of another, and the indigence of the Poor, relieved by employments from the Rich; there being ſuch a general dependance of one Cal­ling upon another, from the higheſt to the loweſt, that they cannot well ſubſiſt without the mutual aid of each other; in which is manifeſt the infinite Wiſ­dom of the Sovereign Diſpoſer of all things, who has order'd Humane Affairs to ſo due and regular a ſubordination to each other, and ſo neceſſary a Con­catenation among themſelves, that by a perfect Sym­metry, or Simphony of Parts, they conclude in a perfect Harmony, of general good to Mankind; which Superlative Bleſſing ſhould be improved to mutual Advantage, and the Glory of the Supream Author of it.

CHAP. VII. Of the Corporations of London.

THE other Traders in London are divided into Companies or Corporations; who are as ſo ma­ny Bodies Politick. Of theſe there are Twelve cal­led the chief Companies, and he that is choſen Lord Mayor, muſt be free of one of theſe Companies, which are,

• 1. Mercers,
• 2. Grocers,
• 3. Drapers,
• 4. Fiſhmon­gers,
• 5. Goldſmiths,
• 6. Skinners,
• 7. Merchant-Tay­lors,
• 8. Haberdaſhers,
• 9. Salters,
• 10. Ironmongers,
• 11. Vintners,
• 12. Clothworkers.

And if it happen that the Lord Mayor Elect, is of any other Company, he preſently removes to one of the Twelve. All theſe Companies have Aſſembly-places, called Halls, which are ſo many Baſilikes, or ſtately and ſumptuous Palaces, worthy to be view'd by all Strangers. It hath been the Cuſtom of our Kings, to Honour ſome of theſe Com­panies by taking their Freedom thereof; and the preſent King was pleaſed to be made Free of the Company of Grocers, and the preſent Prince of Orange was not long ago made Free of the Company of Drapers.

Each Company or Myſtery hath a Maſter annu­ally choſen from among themſelves, and other ſub­ordinate Governers, called Wardens or Aſſistants, Theſe do exactly correſpond with the general Go­vernment of the City, by a Lord Mayor, Aldermen ▪ and Common-Council, who are ſelected out of theſe ſeveral Companies: ſo excellent a harmony there is in this Government.

Theſe Corporations, or Bodies-Politick, have all their ſtately ſpacious Halls (as was ſaid) with Clerks and other Miniſterial Officers, to attend them when they meet to conſult about the Regulation of their reſpective Societies, and for promoting publick Good, and advancement of Trade and Wealth; as alſo when they meet at their ſumptu­ous and ſplendid Feaſts. And in this London ſur­paſſeth all other Cities.

CHAP. VIII. The Oath of a Freeman of London.

YE ſhall Swear, That ye ſhall be good and true to our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second, and to the Heirs of our ſaid So­vereign Lord the King. Obeyſant and Obedi­ent ye ſhall be to the Mayor and Miniſters of this City, the Franchiſes and Cuſtoms thereof, ye ſhall maintain, and this City keep harmleſs in that which in you is. Ye ſhall be contri­butary to all manner of Charges within this City, as Summons, Watches, Contributions, Tax­es, Tallages, Lot and Scot, and to all Charges, bearing your part as a Freeman ought to do. Ye ſhall colour no Foreigners Goods, under, or in your Name, whereby the King, or this Ci­ty might or may loſe their Cuſtoms or Advan­tages. Ye ſhall know no Foreigner to buy or ſell any Merchandize with any Foreigner with­in this City or Franchiſe thereof, but ye ſhall warn the Chamberlain thereof, or ſome Miniſter22 of the Chamber. Ye ſhall implead or ſue no Freeman out of this City, whilſt ye may have Right and Law within the ſame City. Ye ſhall take none Apprentice, but if he be Free-born, (that is to ſay) no Bondmans Son, nor the Son of any Alien, and for no leſs term than for ſe­ven years, without fraud or deceit: and with­in the firſt Year ye ſhall cauſe him to be In­rolled, or elſe pay ſuch Fine as ſhall be rea­ſonably impoſed upon you for omitting the ſame, and after his terms end, within conveni­ent time (being required) ye ſhall make him Free of this City, if he have well and truly ſer­ved you. Ye ſhall alſo keep the Kings Peace in your own Perſon. Ye ſhall know no Ga­therings, Conventicles, or Conſpiracies made a­gainſt the Kings Peace, but ye ſhall warn the the Mayor thereof, or lett it to your Power. All theſe Points and Articles ye ſhall well and truly keep, according to the Laws and Cu­ſtoms of this City to your power: So God you help, &c.