YOur great Wisdom must necessarily inform you , that Trade is the strength of this Nation , and the Myne from whence the Treasure of this City springs ; and that Justice and Honesty among men , is the Life of Trade , and security against Frauds the great encouragement thereunto : I do therefore humbly offer to your Consideration , whether the great abounding of Cheats among us be not an evident signe of a defect of that security which is necessary herein ; and do not call upon you , who are the Repairers of our Breaches , to make the fence stronger .

And Sirs , the great abounding of this sort of men among us , and their many wicked practises to the ruine of thousands , and great discouragement of Trade , is a thing so notoriously known , and the Instances are so numberless , that I shall not divert your thoughts long from your business of a higher Nature and greater Consequence , by relating many stories : only give me leave to mention Four , that in the space of one year ( being a person of little business , and a small trade ) I my self have been concern'd in .

The first , of three men that gave themselves out as Security for Monies to several Scriveners in the City . One of them a man that had visible to the world , between 5 and 600 l. per annum in good houses : A second drove a considerable trade , and had Land both in Possession and Reversion : The third kept a great Brew-house , and had so good a Repute for honesty and Estate among his Neighbours , that I have heard he was had in nomination for a Common-councel-man . These three took up , at the same time when I gave them Credit , 11 or 1200 l. upon their joynt Bonds ; and are now all three broke , two of them cannot be heard of , the other takes sanctuary in the Temple : and a Statute of Bankrupt having been since executed upon them all three , it plainly appears that at the time they took up this 1200 l. ( and would have had five times more if they could ) they were 5000 l. worse than nought ; whereby it is evident their taking up this money was perfect Robbery . The second , of one that having by pretences of honesty and industry , married a Relation of a poor woman that used my house , made her an instrument to my Wife to borrow money on a Mortgage of Land in the Country to put him in stock to set up his Trade , which in meer Charity ( he being represented for an industrious man ) I lent him , whereas it appear'd afterward his writings were all forged , and I lost every peny of my money .

The third , of a Merchant that conspired with a Trades-man that had broke before , that the said Trades-man should go buy several Commodities as a Country-Gentleman for friends in the Country , and have the Sellers unto this Merchant's house to receive their money , pretending he had ordered money into the said Merchant's hands out of the Country to that purpose . When they came , they were had into the Merchant's Counting-house , he sitting in great state : the Country-Gentleman desires him to pay the person he brought so much money , for Commodities bought , out of what he received yesterday for him out of the Country . The Merchant pretends a disappointment by the Carriers falling short of money , and that he feared he would not pay it till next week : whereat the Gentleman fumes very much ; desires the Merchant to deposite so much money for so short a time , and he should have money of him twice as long : which the Merchant ( pretending great disbursments at present ) declines , but profers his Note at ten days , promising withal , that if the Gentleman's money came to his hands next day , they should have it . The deluded Trades-men seeing this Merchant live in a fair house , and in a good port , venture to take his Note : but before the ten days be expired , my Merchant takes all his goods , and by night leaves his house and his Creditors to seek him and their money if they could tell where .

The fourth of a young man , whom I had known the whole time of his Apprentiseship to be a diligent and laborious person , and in good Repute with his Master and all men : and afterwards I let him a conveniencie in my own house for his work ( which related to the Trade I drive ) where he behaved himself so well for two or three years , that he obtained the consent of an ingenious and vertuous young Gentlewoman of a good Family ( who sojourned with us ) and of all her Relations , and marri'd her ; and afterwards took a Shop and traded in a hopeful way , being ( to all mens apprehensions ) very industrious , and to his Wife most loving ; but being secretly wicked in heart ( without any necessity or provocation ) he improves all this fair show to get money to Interest of his own and Wives Relations , and money and goods of several other persons ; and having gather'd all together , at a designed time sends his Wife into the Country , promising to come to her at a certain day ; and gave out to all men , that he was going to her at the same day ; but writes her word that extroardinary business falling out , he could not come to her until a week after ; by which means she thinking he had been at home , and his Family and Friends that he was with her , he had the opportunity of a whole weeks time to go with his Booty out of the reach of his Creditors , and cannot be heard of since .

These Instances of so many Cheats happening to so inconsiderable a person , in so short a time , may convince your Honours of the great abounding thereof in this City during your Converse , wherein ( this giving occasion to the discourse ) you will hear of so many of the like nature , that they will even ●ire your patience ; whereby I find many of my own acquaintance , and others that are men of Reason , so far discouraged , that they think leaving off all Trade , and living sparingly on what they have , for fear of being cheated of all .

Having thus represented the State of this matter to your Honours , I do earnestly beseech your grave consideration , whether the Laws against this Villany , which are already Established among us , be not too milde for the Hainousness thereof ; especially being so much exceeded in Severity by the Laws of other Nations about us : and if so , I shall pray to God to direct your hearts to the provision of such stricter Laws as may be effectual to redress this great Grievance . That for your fidelity to the trust reposed in you by those you represent , and for your wisdome and industry in serving your Generation in this and many other beneficial Designes , both we that are present , and the Generation to come , may ( with severence ) rise up and call you Blessed .