The Knavish MERCHANT (Now turned Warehouseman) CHARACTARIZED OR A severe Scourge, for an unjust, cruel, and unconscionable Adversary  
By Philadelphus Verax a Cordial friend to his honest (though injuriously oppressed) acquaintance Thomas Crocker Merchant.  17. 2 Sam. 23. 
Now when Achitophel saw his Counsel was not followed [took not effect] he saddled his Ass, and arose and went home into his City, and set his household in order, and hanged himself.  Foelix quem faciunt aliena paricula cautum. 

Printed The second month of the next year  
That Tyrants ceased to domineer.    

The Knavish MERCHANT (now turned Warehouseman) CHARACTARIZED  

TH' Accrostick of these lines, if you read out,  
In them to find a knave, you need not doubt.   

Repute and liberty while I enjoyed.  
I met a knave at last who both destroyed  
Cheated me of the one, the other blasted;  
Heaped wrongs upon me whilst my patience lasted.  
At length I did resolve for to oppose,  
Right against wrong, and all his pranks disclose,  
Deceitful Villian! had I been ware,  
No feigned friendship should have been my snare.  
Ever here after let all men take heed,  
Avoid him if they do intent to speed.  
Varlets discovered make a wise man wary  
Even fools prove fearful when they once miscarry.   
The Case,  
In Anno 1655 john Crocker English Merchant in Cadiz did by Bill of Lading (which is recited verbatim in the last page) consign unto his brother Thomas Crocker Merchant (amongst other goods) 19 pieces of Sherry Sack; all for his own proper account, the which by their account of sales amounted unto neat 101. l. 1s. 6d. sterling which in conformity to the said John's order was accordingly disposed of.  
But so it is, that one Richard Neave (a pretended Signee, unto Andrew Beasley a runagate Roman Catholic) (through knavish ignorance) did about five years' last passed pretend an interest in the aforesaid Wines, and for them commen●ed a suit in the Court of Admiralty against one james Marshal of Exeter, the Assign of the said Thomas; in which suit the said Neave durst not proceed to Trial as the Proctor Mr. Cheek doth positively affirm.  
Notwithstanding which the said Neave (with whom the said Thomas Crocker n●ver had the least dealing) did about November last, cause the said Thomas to be Arrested upon an action of the Case for three hundred Pounds: unto which the said Thomas Crocker then procured Bail, which the said Neave perceiving before the acceptance of Bail than tendered (whereby to hinder him of being Bailed, he being a stranger in London) maliciously and on set purpose to procure his mine, caused to be entered in several Persons Names (unknown to the said Thomas Crocker) several Actions amounting to the value of about 6000. l. (a thing too too commonly practised in and about London to the horrid shame of the Government thereof) by which means many Merchants of repute, and divers others (especially those of meaner capacities) have been ruined and utterly undone, as to expectation of all future preferments. As is sufficiently apparent in this Gentleman's (Tho. Crockers) case, who was most disgracefully Arrested & taken off the public Exchange, & thrown into the Loathsome Counter from whence with great expense of Money; he removed himself by Habeas Corpus to the Fleet, where he still remains Prisoner.  
But the said Neave perceiving the intent of the said Thomas Crocker to remove himself (having had some notice of the same, and minding nothing but perverse mischief) went about to hinder his removal, to which end he would have entered an Action against the said Thomas in the Lord Mayor's Court to have it charged at the Counter, which he knew very well would not only put the said Crocker to a longer stay in that Prison, but also a great deal more extradorinary expense of Money, but the causes being returned, and the body gone, before he could effect this design he missed his aim. Such diabolical and Devilish practices (as I am credibly informed) are usual with the Citizens of London which the very Turks and Infidels would abhor, and punish with no less than death.  
That by reason of such and so many great Actions no friends will become engaged for him, so that in the Fleet he is enforced to remain close Prisoner, even so may the most innocent suffer (if they want friends) and if such abominable Cheats be tolerated (for so they are not being punished) more Families will hereafter be destroyed (as too many already have by such practices) then did the late War consume.  
Whether to ruin the said Thomas Crocker by this means or not, was the intent of the said Neave, is out of Question, or whether the said Neave did this not only upon that score, but also in disobedience to his Majesty's gracious pleasure is a Question. That Neave could not be ignorant of what preferment Mr. Crocker was likely to have, by the gift of his Royal grace the Duke of York, is the Question. Which Question last proposed he could not but know, and in knowing that, he knows that Mr. Crocker lost not only an honourable but profitable employment, in his Majesty's service beyond the Seas.  
Now that the world may take notice of the honest intention of the said Thomas Crocker, and that they may see the damnable absurdity of the said Neave, let them observe this one thing, (viz.) that the said Thomas Crocker, knowing the justness of his cause, not only at the time of his first being arrested, but many times since his being imprisoned, hath offered to come to an Arbitration, have all differences referred betwixt them, offering security to stand to the Award of such Arbitrators, as shall indifferently be elected and chosen, one or two of each part. But the said Neave being a cross base and ill conditioned fellow, refuses this proposition, and contrary to his promise to Sir john Colleton Knight and Baronet, will not refer the differences aforesaid. But now as formerly he gives only this for answer, that he will declare, etc. If such be the laws and practices of the Londoners, God send me to live amongst Indians, Turks and jews.  
For prevention of such hellish practices, it were to be wished, that there were a Court Merchant erected in England, as is usual in other Countries where Trade is most encouraged, (which I hear for many years passed in former Parliaments hath been endeavoured, but hindered especially by the Lawyers) such Villainies would not be practised. But to corrupt offices and officers, this will be but false doctrine because it will hinder the hellish grist coming to their Mill. This practice for the sake of particular gain hath been too long used, and those that are concerned will cry up their Diana, old customs though never so wicked, for which detestible practices (if not speedily remedied by authority) God will certainly visiet, who hath threatened that for three Transgressions and for four, he would not turn away the punishment of Moab, because they sold the needy for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; and the practice of our times nearly resembling their Cruelty, (whose punishment is threatened in the same Chapter) who inhumanly burned the bones of their Brothers into lime.  
But to return to Neave, lest (that for two or three Terms) the malicious custom he forget, I hope this short caution will mind him which might have been swelled into a larger volume with a particular list of his knaveries, and that it will prove a sufficient admonition to all such who heretofore have dealt with the said Neave, how hereafter they trust him, or keep company with him. Nor do I doubt but in short time to see his knavery so far detected, by all men, that they will avoid his & kick him (and all that are of his Religion) out of their company. And that every one may be forwarn'd, and so forearmed, the knaves lodging is at present in St. Thomas Appostles, though without question such deal as these, will shortly reduce him (when every bird hath his own feathers) to the retired life of a close Prisoner, or to a more wand'ring life of a Fugitive Vagabond.  
Thus much a Cordial friend to the greatly wronged and oppressed (Thomas Crocker) in his vindication thought good to commit to public view, that the World may see the Villainous malice of his unjust Adversary (I had almost said unparallelled, but that as it is said before, it is too common in London to meet with such practices) against whom he questions not but to recover good damages at law, and to have his case become a precedent of unjust oppression at the sitting of the next Parliament, in hopes that the remedy will not there prove worse than the disease, as hath been usual in most of the late Parliaments, who like Godfathers and Godmothers (at their first sitting) used to promise much, but in conlusion performed little or nothing to the verifing of the old English proverb, whilst the grass grows the Horse starves.  
Let Neave therefore for the present take this in part of payment, for his inhuman, unatural, unchristian, unconscionable, unjust, incharitable and unmerchantlike proceed. Which seven rare imperfections and qualifications, like the seven Planets, have a continual motion in, and reign over him which being valued each of them at 1000 l. may and no otherwise will make up the pretended sums against Crecker, with a complete knave to boot, from whom, and such as he is, Good Lord deliver every honest man.  

Copia.  
SHipped by the Grace of God in good order, and well conditioned, by me John Crocker, in and upon the good Ship called the Fortune of Topsam, whereof is Mr. (under God for this present Voyage,) Walter Furler. and now riding at Anchor in the Bay of Cadiz, and by God's grace bound for Topsam (To say) nineteen Hogsheads of Sherries Wine, and four barrels of Raisins for my account being marked and numbered as in the Margin; And are to be delivered in the like good order and well conditioned at the aforesaid Port of Topsam (the dangers of the Seas only excepted) unto Thomas Crocker or his Assigns, he or they paying fraught for the said goods, with Primage and Avarage accustomed. In witness whereof the Master or Purser of the said Ship hath affirmed three bills of Lading, all of this tenor and date, the one of which three being accomplished, the other two to stand void, and so God send the good ship to her desired Port in safety, Amen.  
Walter Furler. Dated the 23 of November, 1655.   
Brother Thomas.  
GOd sending you well at Topsam, pray see the Vesse● discharged, and for what goods I have aboard dispose thereof which is four Barrels of Reisons and nineteen hogsheads of Sheries Sack, & one hundred and eighty dozen of Cork, and what Salt she may have and Orringes and Lemons. And after all if you can fit her out in time to come here against the Lent with Piltchards, so that you can come before the end of january and bide of and send a boat a shore to Mr. George Andrews, and consign the Ship and goods to Mr. Andrews. And if not, follow further order. So in hast I Rest Your  
loving Brother john Crocker. Dated in Cadiz the 23 of November 1655.  
Postscript.  
And be sure you draw up the Account of the Ship before you come for England, and charge the freight for the goods a board, and if the Bills of lading should not appear for what is a board, desire the Master to take care to deliver it to my father. So I Rest and God send you a good Voyage.  
For Mr. Thomas Crocker Merchant