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an old man in good cloathing, who saluted ⟨him⟩, and demanded the cause of his melancholy, and why he walked so solitary. At ⟨first⟩ he refused to tell him, as thinking he ⟨could⟩ do him no good; but the other urging it, promised to assist him if he wanted ⟨any⟩ thing: he said, I am in want. I want ⟨fine⟩ cloaths as I used to have; I want money ⟨to⟩ buy food, pay debts, redeem my mortgag’d ⟨land⟩, and many things more; can you help me to enough to do it? I can, said the old man, on one condition. What’s that? said the gentleman; if it be any thing tolerable ⟨I⟩ shall not refuse it; for I cannot be well worse, or in greater hardship than I am now. Why, said the other, the matter is not so much; you shall only oblige yourself when I have furnished you with money to do all you have named, and you have paid every one you owe a farthing to, to become obedient to me, and be disposed of at my pleasure. Now the young man taking him for an Usurer, and very rich, supposed this obligation was only a fetch to marry his daughter, or some kinswoman of his, which he could be well contented to do, not doubting to have a good portion, and therefore scrupled not to do as he desired. Upon this he bid him meet him the next morning, about the same time, when he would have the writing ready; and on signing he should have the money. So
