THE DEVIL and BROKER OR A CHARACTER OF A PAWN BROKER IN A MERRY DIALOGUE.  
With their manifold frauds and deceits discovered.  

With allowance  
Roger L'Estrange.   
LONDON, Printed for J. C. 1677.   

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A PAWN-BROKER AND A COUNTRY-BUMKIN.  
A Certain North-Country-Man by name John Plugg, supposing himself to be a man of excellent parts, resolves to spend no more of his precious time in his own Country, but intends to see the Metropolis of England, (of which he had heard much fame) not doubting but that his superabounding wit would make room for his entertainment, and as soon as he had got out of sight of his Habitation, he supposeth himself to be a mighty Traveller indeed, and after some time spent in this long and most dangerous Journey, he escapes safe to London, which place he thinks (if possible) is Heaven upon Earth, and thereupon swears he'll never return into his own Country more, and now he considers which way he might dispose of himself according to his merit, his blood being inflamed for an honourable employment and not willing to undervalue his parts, he resolves to turn Merchant, but when he understands that he must cross the Sea or else could not be on that employment, swears he'll avoid drowning in the salt-waters, and unless he could sail and traffic on dry ground it's no trade for him, but afterwards meeting with a man of an excellent function by Trade a Pawn-broker (forsooth) now they begin to discourse the matter roundly, how, and which way a man of parts might advance himself. The Pawn-broker tells John Plugg that if he will take his advice, and give him but a small sum of money (not exceeding twenty Pounds) he would make him free of the best Trade in London, and that he would put him into a way and make him understand the whole matter in a short time: this fancy tickled John's brains till they itched again with desire to begin the trade, well, they agree in the matter, and now John is no bauble to be played withal.  John Plugg, 
Tell me what my trade must be, a Pawn-broker, a Pawn-broker, and what's that? you must tell me how Is't come to be Master of Arts in that Trade.  Pawn. 
Well, have but a little patience and I'll make you to understand (if you'll be but diligent) how to cheat both friend and foe, young and old, rich and poor, and that completely too, you must receive and resett all manner of goods that are brought to you, and if they are worth five Pounds you must say that they are not worth forty shillings, and that you will not lend above thirty on them, and if they do not believe you, than you must swear stoutly that what you have said is true.  John, 
Is't warrant you the first Northern Oath which Is't swear will crack one of your London Dale boards of an inch thick.  Pawn. 
I confess it will be worst with you at first, for after you have been a little while at the Trade, you'll learn to say and swear any thing, for we of that Trade are as ready at it as a Vintner's Boy is at filling a glass of Wine, and for every Pound which you lend out you must have sixpence a Month which is thirty Pounds per annum, interest in the Hundred.  John, 
what no more?  Pawn, 
Now I love you for that very saying.  John, 
well is this all?  Pawn, 
No, this is but, the plain dealing part in our Trade, when you take in any Goods, you must have something for entering their names, and if they fetch them away the next day, you must be paid a month's Interest.— But with what Goods must I deal withal?  Pawn, 
With all sorts, both with men's  and women's , with Bed and with Bolster, with Pot and with Pan and every thing.  Jobn, 
And may I not wear the  when I have them in my keeping.  Pawn, 
Yes and let them out too,  John, 
That's well, then Is't quickly have a new Suit, and I will tell you how I will wear them, I'll have a three cornered cap, and being that I am a wise man and a good Scholar, for I have learned my hornbook over and over again, and for aught I know Is't be taken for a Lord Judge, and I'll have a ledder Doublet, a black Coat, a blue pair of Breeches and a yellow  of Stockings and who can tell what Trade I am on then, and I will have a pair of ruffles, and a great pair of sleeves, and a Presbyterian band, and then if I should meet with Old-Nick in a corner, he would never suspect me to be a Pawn-broker; so now I am ready for my Shop, I am a complete person without doubt.  Pawn, 
No. but hold, you have not half learned your Trade yet.  John. 
why, what's wanting now?  Pawn, 
you must be of a strong constitution, and whet your tongue well before you begin, that it may cut out a hundred double Oaths before it be taken off the edge, for you must swear with the Knight of the Post, lie with the petty fogging Solicitor, and pretend with the quack Doctor.  John, 
These are hard words but ist tell you what I can do, I can pretend as much honest as any man and perform as little, and I can swear a hundred oaths in half a quarter of an hour, and for lying let me alone.  Pawn, 
Well now I see you will quickly be fit for our Trade,  John, 
but how'st I do for a Shop, that will be large enough? for a little Shop will not hold a large Conscience, I mean such a Conscience as Pawn-brokers have, and this Trade will make it to retch like a leadder sack when it is filled with good Ale, well Is't be promoting the trade daily, and in a short time I am sure to be Lord-Mayor, but pray you Mr. Broker may I not say and do what I will in my own Shop.  Pawn, 
Yes I tell you you may say and do any thing what you please, for you cannot offend the Law, nor wrong your Conscience in this Trade, for we observe neither.  John, 
I believe you have told me the truth now, and for that very cause I doubt not but a blessing will lie at your Threshold, if you can but open the door and let it in,— and now honest John gins his Trade he's ready to uncase every body that passeth by saying, what do you lack? will you pawn your doublet or your breeches? at last comes a Countryman whose name is Slash, with a suit of  to pawn, John fingers him into the Shop, and strikes a bargain with him presently, and no sooner is slash gone out of the Shop, but John gins to unsheathe, puts on slash his  and views himself in a Looking-glass, and after he had admired himself, swears that the tailor was a rare workman without doubt or else he could never have made a suit so fit for his body and never took measure of him, and now he drives on the trade briskly, but shortly after comes slash to redeem his , John says  
Sir I have been very careful of your , insomuch that they were never out of my sight, nor day off my back since I had them, and therefore I hope you'll give me something more than ordinary for my great care.—  Slash, 
Sirrah I'll have you before a Justice to make me satisfaction for the wrong you have done me.—  John 
cots'owns have me before a Justice, I care not for that for you cannot trouble me for it is part of my Trade, I have my liberty to get what I can any way.— John Plugg is taken before a Justice.  John, 
what has your Lord Justice to say to me?—  Justice, 
What Trade are you of?  John, 
and please your Lord Justice I am an honest Trade.  Justice, 
But what Trade is't?  John, 
Your Lordship needs not question me any further for I never could lie in my life, but to affirm my words to be true I will tell you, and I am sure that my Trade will vouch for my honesty, I am a Pawn-broker.  Justice, 
well I find now that you are not only a liar but an absolute cheat and an extortioner too,  John 
no and please your Lord Justice I am not, for I take but thirty Pounds per annum interest in the hundred and some small gains besides.  Justice, 
but what say you did you wear this man's  when they were in your keeping?  John, 
Yes yes, and please your Lord Justiceship, that I did all the while I had them in my—  Justice 
Then it seems you are an absolute cheat indeed and deserve little better than hanging,  John, 
O no, and please your Lord Justice to let me speak for myself and Is't come well enough off I warrant you, your Lordship cannot trouble me that I am sure of, for I can neither offend the Law nor my own Conscience in this Trade, and I am made free (to get gains any way) by the act of palm broker's Parliament, and would your Lord Justice have me to rebel and break lawl and customs which have been so long kept and observed but besides that slash wore my money, and why should not I wear his : and now pray you my Lord Justice let me go about my business what have you to say to me now? I knew that I should come of bravely at last,  Justice, 
Nay but hold Sirrah, you are not to come of so bravely as you suppose, you have done with your tale, but I have not done with you yet,  John, 
Why what would your Lordship do with me if you might have your will?  Justice, 
Nay Sirrah I will have my will and I'll send you to Bridewell,  John, 
And what's that and please your Lord? Justice, a place to whip and beat you. O no good my Lord Justice, do not send me there, for I do not love to be beaten, Good my Lord Justice all these rogues Brokers thither and let me escape for this fact that I have committed is nothing amongst their greater Knaveries. O this Rogue Broker hath spoilt a man of brave worth: the Justice seeing the poor man in such earnest, pardons him, away he goes towards his own Country with a perplexed mind to think that this Trade was come to this in so short a time, he prays for the Justice, but curseth the Broker and swears that he'll never come to London more.  
What Tradesman is like to this  
That careth not a straw,  
What ever he does  
he feareth not the Law,  
Made free by Parliament  
not in Westminster Hall  
But of Pawn-Broakers chief of cheats all.  
Now unknown Trade far thee well,  
Thy Shop with poor men is esteemed Hell.  
FINIS