Prodigal. I perceive you are all very ambitious of having the Preheminence; but to be plain with you, there’s no body deserves it but my self:  For talk what you will, it is but prating to no purpose.  You know the old Prover, Talk is but Talk, but ’tis Money buys Land; and I am sure ’twas only for Money to supply you withal, that I have sold mine.  And therefore when you have all said what you can, what wou’d you all do, if I didn’t help you to Money?  If I and such as I forsake your House, you may go Hang your selves.  ’Tis I that Satisfies the Whore, and pay the Fees of both the Pimp and Pander.  And for you, Mrs. Bawd, what’er your layings out are, your comings in are chiefly from my hands; for you have neither House nor Lands to secure you; but ’tis upon my Purse, that you depend; and I am he that keeps you all alive.  And since I am at all this cost, it is just that it should be acknowledged, and that you all should own me for your Master.  Your own Interest speaks for me, and therefore I need say the less.

The Prodigal having made an end, they all agreed that it was best for them to hang together, since their Interest was all the same:  And therefore each of them should keep their several Stations; and acknowledge the Bawd for their Mistress, and the young Spend-Thrift for their Benefactor.

* * * * *

CHAP.  III.

    How a Young Woman, by the help of an Old Bawd_, Enjoy’d her Lover and
    Deceiv’d her Husband._

Having already given you the Character of a Bawd, and shown you her Plea for Preheminence in the Art of Wickedness, I now come to shew you by what famous Atcheivements she comes to deserve it.  And when you have seen her cunning in Contriving, and her Patience in Suffering; you must readily acknowledge she is one that spares no Pains to be Superlatively Wicked.

In the West of England there lived not long since an Ancient Gentleman to whom Providence had been very propitious, in blessing him with a fair Estate, so that he wanted for no outward Accommodations that might make his Life as happy as he cou’d desire:  This Gentleman, being an Old Batchelor, had more Wealth than Wisdom, and Desire to Act, than Ability to perform.  For nothing would serve his turn but a Wife; and she must be a Young one too; for tho’ he was an Old Man yet he had young Inclinations, and fancies himself as brisk at Three-score and Ten, as when he was but Thirty:  You may easiely imagine a Man of his Estate cou’d not be long without several Offers when his mind was known:  For Wealth has so many Charms in it, that it often blinds the Eyes of Parents, and makes them mistake their true Interest, with respect to the Disposal of their Children; which consists not so much in being married to Rich Husbands, as to those that are suitable for them.  The Beautiful young Daughter of a Decay’d Gentleman was offer’d to this Old Letcher, who being sensible