Or, The Plain-Dealers Prayer for a Registry. THE COUNTRY MAN.s. CASE UNCASED plenty peace emblematic figure holding cornucopia and olive branch ●●●●her bank for the poor trades man▪ ●●●●arwell griping broker depiction of bank pray Sir Register this honest deed. A Register will make us all god send one His honest Register your Scribble will not do . t.will balance them and you their is no jncumbrance on it i Council had upon it nine -- Mortgages are passed now or a sale at last the d●●ill take. t. for if that be we are undone believe him What he saith j'll bite thou both in faith knaves Acre nine times Mortgaged to fool Acre morg morg morg morg Morgdg morg morg morg morg the Corners only free for our Trader city excellent policy map with mortgaged plots knaus hall take this Mortgaged and 'tis Wright or j'll be hanged Amen depiction of manor house 〈…〉 grainery for the poor and Needy 〈…〉 sent Relief for landlord and tenant depiction of granery labourer farmer trades man free holder j'll deal no longer Would i ne'er had seen ye for oh the Money i hau● lost between ye pay my note on sight 〈◊〉 When the devils blind then honest banker Continual improcuration good sin stay delays and demurers fees and erors This Indenture made in the year 16 the splitters hospital Who keeps a key himself to let in all he trades with Remember the poor depiction of hospital AND is the Bill Committed, Heaven be praised, So let all true and loyal English say; This to the highest pitch their hopes have raised, Of being happy in an honest way: Thanks to our worthy Patriots, Be their Name Ever Recorded in the Book of Fame. Nor can they be forgot, our Children shall Proclaim them blessed, when they look back and see How bad Men brought their Fathers into thrall; Plunging them headlong into misery.— When Egypt's Locust made them Egypt's Slaves, Betraying all their Fortunes unto Knaves. Then 'twas in vain for them to Blow or Sow, To rise up early, or to lie down late, When none his dearbought Pennyworth did know, But like an Almanac that's out of Date Their Purchase proved; a Prior Mortgage shall Eject the Cullied Buyer out of all. This was the fate most commonly of those That trusted to Conveyance, Oath, or Deed; For by the Law the Fox no Title knows, Nor did the way of Banking better speed, To them who did with Paper-Credit meet; Their Bags were made their Money's Winding-sheet. Such was the madness of that madder Age, Men stood amazed, knew not what to do, If by Complaint they thought their grief t' assuage, 'Twas but increased, and often laughed at too; Nor did their loss and misery stop here, They're Jailed at last for buying Wit so dear. This made the Money-monger hide his Gold, For want of Credit, that might Currant run, Lest he might share in others fate, when old; Therefore resolves it shall not see the Sun. This quickly brought Consumption to all Trade And many a thousand Bankrupt was made. Whence Beggary ensued in every place, To every Parish did a Charge become, And others desperate, devoid of Grace, Anticipate their Life, the Gallows some: Nor could you step without your Doors but see Objects of pity, Souls in misery. Hither we have digressed from the way We first were in, to let you understand How we by folly have been led astray, Or madness rather throughout the Land: What doth remain, is, ere it be too late, To find a Mean, which may amend our fate. This in the judgement of all sober Men, Will be this long desired Registry, Upon whose Fund none can be cheated when They trade, or trust on that Security: Which if it pass as it is now committed, The Just are double blest, the Knaves outwitted. In the Book called England's Improvement by Sea and Land, Printed in the Tear, 1676. To tell the Nature of this Project here, Is but to hold a Candle to the Sun; Since 'tis to admiratic a done elsewhere, By such an Author never yet outdone; Whose public Spirit, for his Country's good, The Jaws of Death and Envy hath withstood. Yet for to gratify those honest minds Who never saw that Book, 'tis fit from hence Some satisfaction they in part do find; Both of its Use, and of its Consequence: The want of which, hath been the Traders bane, So being had will set them right again. First in abundance 'twill increase all Trade; The Rich, the Poor, will all be gainers by it; Witness our Neighbours who have trial made, There's not a Man that can, or will deny it: For he that doth the Town of Taunton know, Is well convinced that in Fact 'tis so.— Their Mannor-Lands under a Registry, Not only hath advanced them, but hath made Plenty of Money, which their wants supply, The very Life and Sinews of all Trade, By which their Poor are by their Labours fed, Not one that's fit to work that asketh Bread. If this be so, as so in truth it is,— What's the Obstruction 'tis not so elsewhere? Is it because Men love to do amiss, Or does old Custom plead a Habit there? Neither's of force to keep them down, would rise, But rather Ignorance hath shut their Eyes. Then be persuaded, try for once Conclusion, Dare to be honest, 'tis best Policy; All other Projects have but wrought Confusion, Affix your Lands but in a Registry: This honest Credit answer will your End, Sooner, and cheaper than the Scribblers Friend. This brings out all the Money unemployed, Which now in Corners hoarded up doth lie; The Borrower shall never be denied, If he have aught within the Registry: For none will keep his Money in his Chest When 'twill be safer here, with Interest. The very Servants will their Wages bring, Which they most dearly earn, but can't augment; And 'midst their greatest drudgery will sing, When they have Lodged it to their hearts content. Both John and Joan will lay up all they may, Where't may be doubled 'gainst a Rainy-day. Nor is that all, when once abroad 'tis talked, That Margery and Nell have here a Stock; They then will pass for Housewives, Moneyed Folk, And Sweethearts will apace unto them flock; Whence they may pick and choose, and Husbands take, Will love them dearly for their Money's sake. But above all, from hence will flow a Bank Of Lumber-Credit, will the Tradesman raise; Whose Art and Study's only for a Rank Of Egypt's Taskers, they do wear the Bays Of all his Labours, and the Artist's gains Are only Bread and Water for his pains. This they pretend, because they bear a stock, Which the poor Tradesman can by no means do, Nor never shall he by your bit and knock, When all his profit doth redound to you. But here's a Salve that cure will this Sore, He shall have Money on't to pay his Score. The honest Farmer also here will find Relief and Credit when the Market's dull, His Landlord may be needy, or unkind, His Rent is wanting, though his Barns are full. Money he hath not, sell to loss he's loath, Engage it here, and so 'twill answer both. This will prevent the Lawless Massy Bill, Pretending Law, though in a Tyrant's hand, And keep us quiet sore against their will, Who swarm like Fleshflies all about the Land: A sort of Vermin haunting every Village, That do their Food from Country People pillage. The Widow also, and the Fatherless, Whose Fortune's often left i'th' hands of trust, By his default are oft made Penny-less; And then poor Souls they all a-begging must. Thus ere the good Man's cold within his Grave, His Child's ruined by this Trustee Knave. The Registry will hinder this abuse Done to poor Infants when their Friends are gone, If but inserted here unto their use, 'Twill be secured unto every one. Hark, and be wise, ye tender Fathers all, Prevent the Cheats may on your Children fall. Here could I add above an hundred more That would be happy by this honest Deed; For every one I named there's a score Would find relief and comfort at their need: Defending thousands from the Prisons ill, And with cheap Bread the hungry Bellies fill. Therefore in brief acquit yourselves like those True Englishmen who Virtue did imbrance, No longer be a Prey unto your Foes, But let them know you're of that Noble Race That scorn such Actions might dishonour bring Unto themselves, their Country, or their King. Now to conclude, let all of loyal mind Humbly beseech the King and Parliament, That of their goodness they would be so kind To pass this Act our Ruins may prevent, Grant England may a Registry but have, None need to fear the doubledealing Knave. LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1678. And are to be sold by John Oliver in the Old-Baily, over against the George near Ludgate.