Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2016 11:33:20 GMT
CHAP. LXXIII.
Of Paymasters.
PAymasters are little better than Merchants; a Thieving Generation of Men, and most com∣monly of servile Dispositions, Mercenary, and letting out themselves for Hire; rude and sloathful, but bold and impudent, knowing little but what concerns their own Trade, that is to say, Writing and Casting Ac∣count: but their chief study is an ordinary method of Stealing, somewhat more ingenious than the Common
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road of Thieving. And therefore of all men living, they are the most given to Filching Wealth by their Fingers Ends, with which they tell Thousands and Millions: which Fingers of theirs are so Birdlim'd, and stuck with so many infinite Hooks, that there is no Money, a thing so light, fugitive and slippery as an Eel or a Serpent, but if they touch it, it sticks so close to 'um, that it cannot be pull'd away. In this they are to be accompted less mischievous, that they only Prey upon the Treasuries of Kings and Princes, and then, that what they Steal from them, they liberally con∣sume in Whoring, Gaming, Banqueting, Building, Horses, Doggs and Plays. Or if they prove Older and Wiser, yet the Sons they leave behind 'um are such, that whatever their Fathers have heap'd together by Perju∣ry, Rapine and Theft, they in a short time scatter and lavish away in Gluttony and Riot, Whores, Hounds, Horses, fine Cloathes, and whatsoever Pleasures else their Luxury prompts 'um to. Nor is this all, for these Paymasters take Use-Money, delaying Payment in hope of Bribes, buying Debentures, holding in with the Captains, counterfeiting Original Bonds, opening Let∣ters and sealing 'um again, washing and counterfeit∣ing Money, and therefore very familiar with Al∣chymists, many of 'um Alchymists themselves; or if they want Wit, great favourers at least of the Art. Now whereas Cicero is of Opinion, That Merchan∣dizing, if a man drive a great and plentiful Trade, Importing many Commodities, and those not idle and unprofitable, is not much to be discommend∣ed; and that Merchants and Paymasters were to be commended, if knowing when they had enough, they would then retire into the Country to Husband and till their Lands; therefore let us now consider what may be thought of Agriculture.
Of Paymasters.
PAymasters are little better than Merchants; a Thieving Generation of Men, and most com∣monly of servile Dispositions, Mercenary, and letting out themselves for Hire; rude and sloathful, but bold and impudent, knowing little but what concerns their own Trade, that is to say, Writing and Casting Ac∣count: but their chief study is an ordinary method of Stealing, somewhat more ingenious than the Common
Page 242
road of Thieving. And therefore of all men living, they are the most given to Filching Wealth by their Fingers Ends, with which they tell Thousands and Millions: which Fingers of theirs are so Birdlim'd, and stuck with so many infinite Hooks, that there is no Money, a thing so light, fugitive and slippery as an Eel or a Serpent, but if they touch it, it sticks so close to 'um, that it cannot be pull'd away. In this they are to be accompted less mischievous, that they only Prey upon the Treasuries of Kings and Princes, and then, that what they Steal from them, they liberally con∣sume in Whoring, Gaming, Banqueting, Building, Horses, Doggs and Plays. Or if they prove Older and Wiser, yet the Sons they leave behind 'um are such, that whatever their Fathers have heap'd together by Perju∣ry, Rapine and Theft, they in a short time scatter and lavish away in Gluttony and Riot, Whores, Hounds, Horses, fine Cloathes, and whatsoever Pleasures else their Luxury prompts 'um to. Nor is this all, for these Paymasters take Use-Money, delaying Payment in hope of Bribes, buying Debentures, holding in with the Captains, counterfeiting Original Bonds, opening Let∣ters and sealing 'um again, washing and counterfeit∣ing Money, and therefore very familiar with Al∣chymists, many of 'um Alchymists themselves; or if they want Wit, great favourers at least of the Art. Now whereas Cicero is of Opinion, That Merchan∣dizing, if a man drive a great and plentiful Trade, Importing many Commodities, and those not idle and unprofitable, is not much to be discommend∣ed; and that Merchants and Paymasters were to be commended, if knowing when they had enough, they would then retire into the Country to Husband and till their Lands; therefore let us now consider what may be thought of Agriculture.