Mr. Positive, a Draper in Covent Garden.
Mr. Squander, an Oilman in Fleet-street.
Mr. Pert, a Tobacconist, ditto.
Mr. Captious, a Milliner in Paternoster-Row.
Mr. Feeble, a Coffeeman near the Change.
Mr. Altrick, a Merchant in Gracechurch-street.
Mr. Haughty, a Vintner by Grays-Inn, Holborn.
Mr. Jealous, a Cutler at Charing-Cross.
Mr. Peevish, a Bookseller in St. Paul’s Church-yard.
Mr. Spilbook, near Fleet-bridge.
Mr. Noysie, a Silkman upon Ludgate-hill.
Mr. Finical, a Barber in Cheapside.
Cl. of Ma. Squire Lottery, alias Royal-Oak Lottery, you stand Indicted by the Name of Squire Lottery, alias Royal-Oak Lottery, for that you the said Squire Lottery, not having the Fear of God in your Heart; nor weighing the Regard and Duty you owe, and of right ought to pay to the Interest, Safety, and Satisfaction of your Fellow-Subjects; have from time to time, and at several times, and in several places, contrary to the known Laws of this Kingdom, under the shadow and coverture of a Royal Oak, propagated, continued, and carried on a most unequal, intricate, and insinuating Game, to the utter ruin and destruction of many thousand Families: And that you the said Squire Lottery, alias Royal-Oak Lottery, as a common Enemy to all young People, and an inveterate Hater of all good Conversation and Diversion, have, for many years last past, and do still continue, by certain cunning Tricks and Stratagems, insidiously, falsely, and impiously, to trepan, deceive, cheat, decoy, and entice divers Ladies, Gentlemen, Citizens, Apprentices, and others, to play away their Money at manifest Odds and Disadvantage. And that you the said Squire Lottery, alias Royal-Oak Lottery, the more secretly and effectually to carry on and propagate your base, malicious, and covetous Designs and Practices, did, and do still encourage several lewd and disorderly Persons, to meet, propose, treat, consult, consent, and agree upon several unjust and illegal Methods, how to ensnare and entangle People into your delusive Game; by which means you have, for many years last past, utterly, intirely, and irrecoverably, contrary to all manner of Justice, Humanity, or good Nature, despoiled, depraved, and defrauded, an incredible number of Persons of every Rank, Age, Sex, and Condition, of all their Lands, Goods, and Effects; and from the Ruins of multitudes built fine Houses, and purchased large Estates, to the great scandal and reflection on the Wisdom of the Nation, for suffering such an intolerable Impostor to pass so long unpunished. What say’st thou, Squire Lottery, art thou guilty of the aforesaid Crimes, Cheats, Tricks, and Misdemeanours thou standest Indicted of, or not Guilty?
Lottery. Not Guilty. But, before I proceed to make my Defence, I beg I may be permitted the assistance of three or four learned Sharpers to plead for me, in case any Matter of Law arise.
This being assented to, the Managers of the Prosecution made their speeches in support of the Charge, and called Captain Pasthope.
1st Man. Sir, Do you know Squire Lottery, the Prisoner at the Bar?
Pasthope. Yes, I have known him intimately for near forty years; ever since the Restoration of King Charles.
1st Man. Pray will you give the Bench and Jury an Account what you know of him; how he came into England, and how he has behaved himself ever since.
Pasthope. In order to make my Evidence more plain, I hope it will not be judg’d much out of form, to premise two or three things.
1st Man. Mr. Pasthope, Take your own method to explain yourself; we must not abridge or direct you in any respect.
Pasthope. In the years 60 and 61, among a great many poor Cavaliers, ’twas my hard fate to be driven to Court for a Subsistence, where I continued in a neglected state, painfully waiting the moving of the Waters for several months; when at last a Rumour was spread, that a certain Stranger was landed in England, that in all probability, if we could get him the Sanction of a Patent, would be a good Friend to us all.