THe wages of sin is death, and the way to Live long is to live holy; a sad but true Example we have here before our eyes. At Horsely­down lately lived one Frost, by Trade a Broker, who having raised his fortune very much in a little time, not honestly, but sinfully: his Conscience being like the rest of the Trade, as large as the Kings High-way, made it his business to gull and cheat all that came neer him or had any thing to do with him: instances of his hellish practises might be here recited, but I shall give you but a few which are as followeth.

First, I am informed that he hath been the oc­casion of undoing many poor Families which have been driven to straights for want of sale for their goods, and having great families to maintain were forst either to borrow money for a Week, pay­ing for a Week three shillings in the pound, u­sing of it, and if they brought it not at the very Day he would arrest them, or demand unrea­sonably, for their breach of promise, and by his threats get five or ten shillings out of these poor souls, that had more need have had so much given to them, and if they left any thing upon pawn, he did in like manner, retaining their goods for less then a quarter the worth of them, because they had not money to fetch them on the very Day they promised: and further, he would when any dyed that useth to deal with him, though they owed him never a Farthing, to wright down so much delivered to such a man, and would make the poor widdows pay it, many poor Fatherless [Page 2] children are bound to curse him: he would make false bands fifty pound deep, when persons have been dead, though they owed him nothing.

But I proceed to his takening, the manner was as followeth.

This Frost was one that frequented one Mr. A. Bovvling-green at R [...]driff four or five Days in a VVeek, and there he was observed by a gentle­man that used the green, to bett very much, and was often a changing of money, and it was ob­served that he put the money that he changed or won in one pocket, and that which was clipt he took out of the other pocket: sometimes he was observed to put away forty shillings at a time, this being his practice for a considerable time: several of the Gentlemen that had won money of him, and changed money with him observed that always they had such money of him, spoke to Mr. A. about it, and told him of such a Man they had so much clipt money that they were afraid to put it off for fear they should be apprehended for clipping of it; vvhereupon this Mr. A. Mr. of the Bovvling-green, acquaints one Mr. D. at the Tovver, and Mr. D. gave Mr. A. a guiny to change with Mr. Frost, vvho accordingly did the next time Frost came to the green, vvho gave him Eighteen shillings and sixpence in clipt Half-crowns of old King Charles coyn: D. having received this clipt money quickly takes a guard and goes to seek for to apprehend Frost, being come neer Horsly-Down, gets one S. H. of St. Barmonsey, and desires him to assist him in the takeing of a suspitious per­son; [Page 3] avvay they go to Frosts house, and knock­ing at the Door, comes William Griffin his Ser­vant vvho vvas hired for a year, they demand en­trance, and charged him vvith treason, he flyes in a doors and shuts them out, they get a fledge and break open the Door, vvhere they found one B. a Butcher, which was formerly accused for the same fact, standing Just within the door with a drawn sword in his hand, he made an attempt at the first, but there being a strong guard soon secu­red him, and presently came Mr. Frost, running out of his garden in his shirt; as he was comming in a doors their drapt a shilling out of his Draw­ers, this they found to be clipt: now they march up stairs, where they see many things that were suspicious; Mr. D. demands the Key of the Closet, he said it was below, he would go fetch it, but I will go with you says D. no sooner were they come down, but they found 8 pound of old King Charles coyn, with the Keys, and looking under the table they find a great Drawer for to hold a great pair of Sheers, and also some clippings, and looking into the Closet, there they found waits, smoothing stones, and several other things tending to the same purpose, and some of the filings and clippings vvas melted down, and some unmelted; now they have good grounds to ap­prehend him, so they take him and carry him before a Justice, and upon the examination of the witness, Mr. D. attested these things; and one Mr. VV. that is now a the Prisoner at Marshalses, & a bill found against him last assizes, ordered by Mr. Frost, or some of his con­cerns, purposely to take off him from being a witness [Page 4] against him, and continues still prisoner, but this said VV. did swear that he saw the same Frost a clipping, he being sent for to Mr. Frost, house, which is neer Jamaco house at Redriff upon business of paying and receiving of money for Mr. Frost, this said W. was ad­mitted up stairs, where he found Mr. Frost a cliping, and his man a filing; he said he saw them work about a quarter of an hour.

And another time he came and found Mr. Frost, and William his Man a Melting of Clipings in the Melting Pots, which was shown in the Court: some of his Clippings he sent to one Mr. G. a Goldsmith in Southwark, neer the meal-market, and other to Mr. G. in St. [...]oolis-street, some were bought, and other Returned, he saying he bought it of Our-Land­ishmen, being Spanish-money he melted it down: several of the Witnesses, at least Ten in number, who seeing and receiving sums of money, and In­quiring one of another, they found that Sixteen, or Eighteen shillings in the pound was Clipt money, this they swore against him in open Court, June 17. 1675. Where he was Arraigned for Treason: his Indictment being Read, he pleaded not guilty: But upon strict examination of the Wit­nesses, the Jury brought him in guilty: where­upon Sentance was past against him; he seemed to be very much cast down, and dejected: though all the time of his Imprisonment he hath lived very wickedly, spending his time in drinking and gaming, and swearing, not considering the Short­ness of his life; the very day he was condemned, he plaid at Tables in the morning, and seemed [Page 5] not to be concerned at all, till the Judges came whose Names were as followeth.

• Sir Thomas Twisdale Knight and Barron Knight.
• Sir Richard Rainsford Knight.
• Sir Edward Thorlon Knight.
• Sir Iohn Howel Knight, Recorder of the City of London.

The Iudges being come, as great a throng of people as could have been, had it been an Assize for the whole Circuit.

Frost was immediately brought forth, who no sooner perceived the Iudges, but his Brazon-face begins to gather paleness, and his hands and all his body shake, he that before seemed not to fear death, now is ready to dye for fear.

When the Sentance was past upon him, he said he must submit to the Iudgement of the Iury.

He did not seem penitent at all, and little hopes there can be that he will; he that hath been so wicked in all his practices all his life; but God is all-sufficient, to whom, let us all like Christians, put up our prayers for him, who as yet cannot pray for himself; let us be earnest with God for his poor soul, that soul and body may not both Dye together.

With Frost was try'd his Man, by name VVilliam [Page 6] Griffin, his Indictment being for Clipping, upon his Examination, he was found not Guilty, and so Cleared.

Now let this be a warning to all Brokers, how they grind the face of the poor, for you may see, that sin brings shame. The ill effects of sin appears in Frost, who got an estate, but not honestly, and it thrived with him according; he was not contented with his unreasonable gains in his trade, but like a Rabel to the King, as well as to his Maker, Clipps, and Filles his Majesties Coyn, and liv'd to suck the sweetness of this sin, 'tis thought some years, but God would not suffer him to rain in his sin any longer, and now he may see if sin be not an unprofitable thing. If he had lived honestly he might have lived many years, but his wicked practices hath now brought him to open shame, and to just Condemna­tion of Death; and let us leave him vvhere sin hath brought him, to prepare for his journey to the other World, his time being very short in this; On Wed­nesday next 'tis Reported he vvill be executed at Kennington gallows, where he will not want Eyes to behold him, and I pray God they may not want hearts to pray for him: may his sad end be a warning to o­thers, and it will be the joy of his heart, who wisheth nothing more then that you would be careful to fear God, and honour the King, and then you may expect a blessing and to fill up the number of your days.