ther _just gone out_: one Day he is _indisposed_, and
_rested badly_, and another Day _better_, but _sees no Company_; and
have these constant regular Intermissions of _Sickness_ and _Health_
for three or four Months together.

Sometimes _Credit_ has indeed been given in these Cases, but then they
have known, and been pretty sure of their Men. A Gentleman, who had
many times met with these _Put-offs_ at the Door of a Nobleman, came
one day to the Porter with two Half-Crown Pieces, chinking them from
one Hand to the other, upon which his Lordship happened to be _at
home_. Having got his Pass to him, and done his Business, he return'd
thro' the Hall with the Money in his Pocket, smiling upon the Porter,
who he had thus decently deceiv'd.

A Widow, who had once sold a Fan of Half a Guinea Price to a Person of
Quality, the Porter refused to let her go out of the Door without
paying _her Fee_, and kept her in durance. She desired to know his
Demands; he told her, a Shilling: Upon this, she gave him a Crown,
bidding him give her Change, which he did. It happen'd to be a Brass
Piece, which he not perceiving, the Woman got out in haste, to avoid
being detected; but when she came to look on her Money, she found the
Fellow had given her four Leaden Shillings in the change of it.

The Duties of Tonnage and Poundage, which the _Upper Servants_, as
they call themselves, have imposed upon Tradesmen who serve the
Families that entertain them, are very far from being thought
sufficient and satisfactory. For besides a Butcher, Poulterer, or
Fishmonger's being at the constant beck of the Clerk to a Kitchin, or
the Groom of a Chamber, to follow him to a Tavern in the Morning, and
bring something that's _pretty_, to compose a Breakfast for two or
three hungry Fellows out of Business, as he shall have in his Company,
they must, I say, moreover learn the Art of Brewing, and keep
constantly a Cup of good nappy Ale in their Houses, to entertain the
Cook, and all the other Gentry of the Kitchen, when they shall please
to make a _Visit_. A Tradesman must lend his Money, pass his Word,
stand Bail for Arrests, and Sponsor at Christenings, and now and then
be a Surety to the Parish for a Bastard Child. He must do all this,
and a great deal more, or else every thing he furnishes shall be
found fault with: They shall tell him what application has been made
by others for the Custom, what pains they have taken to defeat it, and
how often they are fo