ttempt to carry on business by its
means alone. It should only be considered as an aid to capital. Those
who, without capital, endeavour to set up in business by means of
credit, or, when capital is exhausted, attempt to struggle on by means
of credit alone, will, in general, only have a life of anxiety and
dispeace for their pains.]

CHAPTER XXV

OF THE TRADESMAN'S PUNCTUAL PAYING HIS BILLS AND PROMISSORY NOTES UNDER
HIS HAND, AND THE CREDIT HE GAINS BY IT

As I said that credit is maintained by just and honourable dealing, so
that just dealing depends very much upon the tradesman's punctual
payment of money in all the several demands that are upon him. The
ordinary demands of money upon a tradesman are--

I. Promises of money for goods bought at time.

II. Bills drawn upon him; which, generally speaking, are from the
country, that is to say, from some places remote from where he lives.
Or,

III. Promissory notes under his hand, which are passed oftentimes upon
buying goods: bought also at time, as in the first head.

IV. Bonds bearing interest, given chiefly for money borrowed at running
interest.

1. Promises of money for goods bought at time. This indeed is the
loosest article in a tradesman's payments; and it is true that a
tradesman's credit is maintained upon the easiest terms in this case of
any other that belongs to trade; for in this case not one man in twenty
keeps to his time; and so easy are tradesmen to one another, that in
general it is not much expected, but he that pays tolerably well, and
without dunning, is a good man, and in credit; shall be trusted any
where, and keeps up a character in his business: sometimes he pays
sooner, sometimes later, and is accounted so good a customer, that
though he owes a great deal, yet he shall be trusted any where, and is
as lofty and touchy if his credit be called in question, as if he paid
all ready money.

And, indeed, these men shall often buy their goods as cheap upon the
credit of their ordinary pay, as another man shall that brings his money
in his hand; and it is reasonable it should be so, for the ready-money
man comes and buys a parcel here and a parcel there, and comes but
seldom, but the other comes every day, that is to say, as often as he
wants goods, buys considerably, perhaps deals for two or three thousand
pounds a-year with you, and the like, and pays currently too. Such a
customer ought indeed to be sold as cheap to, as the other