Chapter II: Part 2

4. _A true discovery of the Conduct of Receivers and Thief-Takers,
in and about the City of London, &c., &c. London_, 1718.

This pamphlet is "design'd as preparatory to a larger Treatise, wherein shall be propos'd Methods to extirpate and suppress for the future such villanous Practices." It is by "Charles Hitchin, one of the Marshals of the City of London."

I now take leave of Harman, with a warm commendation of him to the reader.

[Header: PARSON HABEN'S _SERMON ON THIEVES_.]

The third piece in the present volume is a larky Sermon in praise of Thieves and Thievery, the title of which (p. 93, below) happened to catch my eye when I was turning over the Cotton Catalogue, and which was printed here, as well from its suiting the subject, as from a pleasant recollection of a gallop some 30 years ago in a four-horse coach across Harford-Bridge-Flat, where Parson Haben (or Hyberdyne), who is said to have preached the Sermon, was no doubt robbed. My respected friend Goody-goody declares the sermon to be 'dreadfully irreverent;' but one needn't mind him. An earlier copy than the Cotton one turned up among the Lansdowne MSS, and as it differed a good deal from the Cotton text, it has been printed opposite to that.

Of the fourth piece in this little volume, _The Groundworke of Conny-catching_, less its reprint from Harman, I have spoken above, at p. xiv. There was no good in printing the whole of it, as we should then have had Harman twice over.

* * * * *

The growth of the present Text was on this wise: Mr Viles suggested a reprint of Stace's reprint of Harman in 1573, after it had been read with the original, and collated with the earlier editions. The first edition I could not find, but ascertained, with some trouble, and through Mr W. C. Hazlitt, where the second and third editions were, and borrowed the 3rd of its ever-generous owner, Mr Henry Huth. Then Mr Hazlitt told me of Awdeley, which he thought was borrowed from Harman. However, Harman's own words soon settled that point; and Awdeley had to precede Harman. Then the real bagger from Harman, the _Groundworke_, had to be added, after the Parson's Sermon. Mr Viles read the proofs and revises of Harman with the original: Mr Wood and I have made the Index; and I, because Mr Viles is more desperately busy than myself, have written the Preface.

[Header: MR PAYNE COLLIER'S WORK AND ALTERATIONS.]

The extracts from Mr J. P. Collier must be taken for what they are worth. I have not had time to verify them; but assume them to be correct, and not ingeniously or unreasonably altered from their originals, like Mr Collier's print of Henslowe's Memorial, of which Dr Ingleby complains,[38] and like his notorious Alleyn letter. If some one only would follow Mr Collier through all his work--pending his hoped-for Retractations,--and assure us that the two pieces above-named, and the Perkins Folio, are the only things we need reject, such some-one would render a great service to all literary antiquarians, and enable them to do justice to the wonderful diligence, knowledge, and acumen, of the veteran pioneer in their path. Certainly, in most of the small finds which we workers at this Text thought we had made, we afterwards found we had been anticipated by Mr Collier's _Registers of the Stationers' Company_, or _Bibliographical Catalogue_, and that the facts were there rightly stated. [Header: PRINT THE STATIONERS' REGISTERS.] That there is pure metal in Mr Collier's work, and a good deal of it, few will doubt; but the dross needs refining out. I hope that the first step in the process may be the printing of the whole of the Stationers' Registers from their start to 1700 at least, by the Camden Society,--within whose range this work well lies,--or by the new Harleian or some other Society. It ought not to be left to the 'Early English Text' to do some 20 years hence.

F. J. FURNIVALL.

_29 Nov., 1869._

P.S. For a curious Ballad describing beggars' tricks in the 17th
century, say about 1650, see the Roxburghe Collection, i. 42-3, and
the Ballad Society's reprint, now in the press for 1869, i. 137-41,
'_The cunning Northerne Beggar_': 1. he shams lame; 2. he pretends
to be a poor soldier; 3. a sailor; 4. cripple; 5. diseased; 6.
festered all over, and face daubed with blood; 7. blind; 8. has had
his house burnt.

FORETALK TO NEW SHAKSPERE SOCIETY'S REPRINT (1880).

THOMAS HARMAN'S Will (p. xiv, above) I couldn't find at Doctors'
Commons when I searcht for it, though three John-Harman wills of his
time turnd up.

The print of the Stationers' Registers calld for above, has since
been produc't by Mr. Arber, to whose energy we are all so much
indebted for such numbers of capital texts; and the book only needs
an Index to be of real use. The entries on p. ii, vi, vii, above,
are in Arber's _Transcript_, i. 157, 334, 345. (See too i. 348,
369.[39]) The Hunterian Club, Glasgow, reprinted, in 1874, S.
Rowland's _Martin Mark-all_ (p. xvi, above) from the text of 1610,
in its handsome edition of all Rowlands's works.

As connected, more or less, with the Vagabonds of London, I add,
opposite, a copy of the curious cut of the notorious Southwark
brothel, 'Holland's Leaguer' in 1632, on which Mr. Rendle has
commented in his "Bankside, Southwark," _Harrison_, Part II. p.
ix-x, and the site of which is shown on the left of our first plan
from Roque's Map, _ib._ p. 67*.

The Brothel is shown, says Mr. Ebsworth, (_Amanda Ballads_, 1880, p.
507*), fortified and sentried, as kept by a Mrs. Holland, before
1631. "The picture was frontispiece of a quarto pamphlet,
'_Holland's Leaguer; or, an Historical Discourse of the Life and
Actions of Donna Britanica Hollandia, the Arch Mistris of the wicked
women of Eutopia: wherein is detected the notorious sinne of
Pandarisme_,' etc., sm. 4to. printed by A. M. for Richard Barnes,
1632....

"Holland's Leaguer claimed to be an island out of the ordinary
jurisdiction. The portcullis, drawbridge, moat, and wicket for
espial, as well as an armed bully or Pandar to quell disagreeable
intruders, if by chance they got admittance without responsible
introduction, all point to an organized system. There were also the
garden-walks for sauntering and 'doing a spell of embroidery, or
fine work,' _i.e._ flirtation; the summer-house that was
proverbially famous or infamous for intrigues, and the river
conveniently near for disposal of awkward visitors who might have
met with misadventure.

[Header: FORETALK TO REPRINT OF 1880.]

"Shackerly Marmion's 'excellent comedy,' _Holland's Leaguer_, 1632,
was reprinted in 1875, in William Paterson of Edinburgh's choice
series, _Dramatists of the Restoration_. The fourth act gives an
exposure of the Leaguers' garrison, where riot, disease, and robbery
are unchecked. Thus _Trimalchio_ says,

'I threw thy _Cerberus_ a sleepy morsel,
And paid thy _Charon_ for my waftage over,
And I have a golden sprig for my _Proserpina_.
_Bawd:_ Then you are welcome, Sir!'

"Yet before long the visitors are shouting 'Murder! Murder!'

'They have spoiled us
Of our cloaks, our hats, our swords, and our money.
My brother talked of building of a score, [_i.e._ "_Tick it._"]
And straight they seized our cloaks for the reckoning.'"

"The long-credit system did not suit at that establishment, where
the health and lives of visitors were uninsured. The Proprietress
had early declared the free list to be entirely suspended:

'I'll take no tickets nor no future stipends.
'Tis not false titles, or denominations
Of offices can do it. I must have money.
Tell them so. Draw the bridge.'--(Act iv. sc. 2.)"

FOOTNOTES:

[1] _Liber Vagatorum: Der Betler Orden_: First printed about 1514. Its first section gives a special account of the several orders of the 'Fraternity of Vagabonds;' the 2nd, sundry _notabilia_ relating to them; the 3rd consists of a 'Rotwelsche Vocabulary,' or 'Canting Dictionary.' See a long notice in the Wiemarisches Jahrbuch, vol. 10; 1856. Hotten's _Slang Dictionary_: Bibliography.

[2] See the back of his title-page, p. 2, below.

[3] _as well_ and _and as well_ not in the title of the 1575 edition.

[4] Compare the anecdote, p. 66, 68, 'the _last_ sommer. Anno Domini, 1566.'

[5] 'now at this seconde Impression,' p. 27; 'Whyle this second Impression was in printinge,' p. 87.

[6] Mr J. P. Collier (_Bibliographical Catalogue_, i. 365) has little doubt that the verses at the back of the title-page of Harman's _Caveat_ were part of "a ballad intituled a description of the nature of a birchen broom" entered at Stationers' Hall to William Griffith, the first printer of the _Caveat_.

[7] Cp. Kente, p. 37, 43, 48, 61, 63, 66, 68, 77, &c. Moreover, the way in which he, like a Norfolk or Suffolk man, speaks of _shires_, points to a liver in a non -_shire_.

[8] In _Martin Mark-all, Beadle of Bridewell_, 1610, quoted below, at p. xvii.

[9] Compare his 'ride to Dartforde to speake with a priest there,' p. 57.

[10] "John Harman, Esquyer, one of the gentilmen hushers of the Chambre of our soverayn Lady the Quene, and the excellent Lady Dame Dorothye Gwydott, widow, late of the town of Southampton, married Dec. 21, 1567." (Extract from the register of the parish of Stratford Bow, given in p. 499, vol. iii. of Lysons's _Environs of London_.)

[11] Philipott, p. 108. Henry Harman bore for his arms--Argent, a chevron between 3 scalps sable.

[12] Of whose daughters, Mary married John, eldest son of Wm. Lovelace, of Hever in Kingsdown, in this county; and Elizabeth married John Lennard, Prothonotary, and afterwards _Custos Brevium_ of the Common Pleas. See Chevening.

[13] See Robinson's Gavelkind, p. 300.

[14] She was of consanguinity to Abp. Chicheley. _Stemm. Chich._ No. 106. Thomas Harman had three daughters: Anne, who married Wm. Draper, of Erith, and lies buried there; Mary, who married Thomas Harrys; and Bridget, who was the wife of Henry Binneman. _Ibid._

[15] In the first edition of Holinshed (1577) this chapter is the 5th in Book III. of Harrison's _Description_.

[16] Not in ed. 1577.

[17] _thorow_ in ed. 1577.

[18] _piteous_ in ed. 1577.

[19] _lament_ in ed. 1577.

[20] The remainder of this paragraph is not in ed. 1577.

[21] Not in ed. 1577.

[22] Compare _Harman_, p. 48.

[23] The 1577 ed. inserts _horrible_.

[24] The 1577 ed. reads _fifty_.

[25] The 1577 ed. reads 22, which is evidently an error.

[26] For these words the 1577 ed. reads _gather_.

[27] The above list is taken from the titles of the chapters in Harman's _Caueat_.

[28] Not in the 1577 ed.

[29] These words are substituted for _which they disfigure to begg withal_ in the 1577 ed.

[30] The 1577 ed. inserts _bearwards_.

[31] Not in 1577 ed.

[32] These three sentences are not in 1577 ed.

[33] Hazlitt's _Hand Book_, p. 241.

[34] Leader of the Choir. Captain of the Company.

[35] Where at this day the Rogues of the North part, once euerie three yeeres, assemble in the night, because they will not be seene and espied; being a place, to those that know it, verie fit for that purpos,--it being hollow, and made spacious vnder ground; at first, by estimation, halfe a mile in compasse; but it hath such turnings and roundings in it, that a man may easily be lost if hee enter not with a guide.

[36] Of the above passages, Dekker speaks in the following manner:--"There is an Vsurper, that of late hath taken vpon him the name of the Belman; but being not able to maintaine that title, hee doth now call himselfe the Bel-mans brother; his ambition is (rather out of vaine-glory then the true courage of an experienced Souldier) to haue the leading of the Van; but it shall be honor good enough for him (if not too good) to come vp with the Rere. You shall know him by his Habiliments, for (by the furniture he weares) he will be taken for a _Beadle of Bridewell_. It is thought he is rather a Newter then a friend to the cause: and therefore the Bel-man doth here openly protest that hee comes into the field as no fellow in armes with him."--_O per se O_ (1612 edit.), sign. A. 2.

[37] We quote from four out of the five tracts contained in the volume. The title of the tract we do not quote is '_Hanging not Punishment enough_,' etc., London, 1701.

[38] To obviate the possibility of mistake in the lection of this curious document, Mr E. W. Ashbee has, at my request, and by permission of the Governors of Dulwich College (where the paper is preserved), furnished me with an exact fac-simile of it, worked off on somewhat similar paper. By means of this fac-simile my readers may readily assure themselves that in no part of the memorial is Lodge called a "player;" indeed he is not called "Thos. Lodge," and it is only an inference, an unavoidable conclusion, that the Lodge here spoken of is Thomas Lodge, the dramatist. Mr Collier, however, professes to find that he is there called "Thos. Lodge," and that it [the Memorial] contains this remarkable grammatical inversion;

"and haveinge some knowledge and acquaintaunce of him as a player,
requested me to be his baile,"

which is evidently intended to mean, _as I had some knowledge and acquaintance of Lodge as a player, he requested me to be his baile_. But in this place the original paper reads thus,

"and havinge of me some knowledge and acquaintaunce requested me to
be his bayle,"

meaning, of course, _Lodge, having some knowledge and acquaintance of me requested me to be his bail_.

The interpolation of the five words needed to corroborate Mr Collier's explanation of the misquoted passage from Gosson, and the omission of two other words inconsistent with that interpolation, may be thought to exhibit some little ingenuity; it was, however, a feat which could have cost him no great pains. But the labour of recasting the orthography of the memorial must have been considerable; while it is difficult to imagine a rational motive to account for such labour being incurred. To expand the abbreviations and modernize the orthography might have been expedient, as it would have been easy. But, in the name of reason, what is the gain of writing _wheare_ and _theare_ for "where" and "there;" _cleere_, _yeeld_, and _meerly_ for "clere," "yealde," and "merely;" _verie_, _anie_, _laie_, _waie_, _paie_, _yssue_, and _pryvily_, for "very," "any," "lay," "way," "pay," "issue," and "privylie;" _sondrie_, _begon_, and _doen_ for "sundrie," "began," and "don;" and _thintent_, _thaction_, and _thacceptaunce_ for "the intent," "the action," and "the acceptaunce"?--p. 14 of Dr C. M. Ingleby's '_Was Thomas Lodge an Actor? An Exposition touching the Social Status of the Playwright in the time of Queen Elizabeth._' Printed for the Author by R. Barrett and Sons, 13 Mark Lane, 1868. 2_s._ 6_d._

[39] i. 270: A ballett intituled _Tom Tell Truth_, A.D. 1565; and i. 307, 'an interlude, _the Cruell Detter_ by Wager,' licenst to Colwell in 1565-6.

_THE Fraternitye of Vacabondes._

As wel of ruflyng Vacabondes, as of beggerly, of women as of men, of
Gyrles as of Boyes, with _their proper names and qualities_.

With a description of the crafty company of =Cousoners and
Shifters=.

[P] Wherunto also is adioyned =the .xxv. Orders of Knaues=, otherwyse
called =a Quartern of Knaues=. _Confirmed for euer by Cocke Lorell._

( * )

[P] +The Vprightman speaketh.+

[P] Our Brotherhood[40] of Vacabondes,
If you would know where dwell:
In graues end Barge which syldome standes.
The talke wyll shew ryght well.

[P] +Cocke Lorell aunswereth.+

[P] Some orders of my Knaues also
In that Barge shall ye fynde:
For no where shall ye walke I trow,
But ye shall see their kynde.

* * * * *

[P] Imprinted at London by Iohn Awdeley, dwellyng in little Britayne
streete without Aldersgate.

1575.

*[leaf 1b.]* [P] _The Printer to the Reader._

THis brotherhood of Vacabondes,
To shew that there be such in deede
Both Iustices and men of Landes,
Wyll testifye it if it neede.
For at a Sessions as they sat,
By chaunce a Vacabond was got.

[P] Who promysde if they would him spare,
And keepe his name from knowledge then:
He would as straunge a thing declare,
As euer they knew synce they were men.
But if my fellowes do know (sayd he)
That thus I dyd, they would kyll me.

[P] They graunting him this his request,
He dyd declare as here is read,
Both names and states of most and least,
Of this their Vacabondes brotherhood.
Which at the request of a worshipful man
I haue set it forth as well as I can.

FINIS.

*[leaf 2]* [P] The =Fraternitye of Vacabondes= both rufling and
beggerly, =Men and women, Boyes and Gyrles=, wyth their proper names
and qualities.

Whereunto are adioyned =the company of Cousoners and Shifters=.

[P] AN ABRAHAM MAN.

AN Abraham man is he that walketh bare armed, and bare legged, and fayneth hym selfe mad, and caryeth a packe of wool, or a stycke with baken on it, or such lyke toy, and nameth himselfe poore Tom.

[P] A RUFFELER.

A Ruffeler goeth wyth a weapon to seeke seruice, saying he hath bene a Seruitor in the wars, and beggeth for his reliefe. But his chiefest trade is to robbe poore wayfaring men and market women.

[P] A PRYGMAN.

A Prygman goeth with a stycke in hys hand like an idle person. His propertye is to steale cloathes of the hedge, which they call storing of the Rogeman: or els filtch Poultry, carying them to the Alehouse, whych they call the Bowsyng In, & ther syt playing at cardes and dice, tyl that is spent which they haue so fylched.

[Header: AWDELEY. THE FRATERNITY OF VACABONDES.]

[P] A WHIPIACKE.

A Whypiacke is one, that by coulor of a counterfaite Lisence (which they call a Gybe, and the seales they cal Iarckes) doth vse to beg lyke a Maryner, But hys chiefest trade is to rob Bowthes in a Faire, or to pilfer ware fro_m_ staules, which they cal heauing of the Bowth.

[P] A FRATER.

A Frater goeth wyth a like Lisence to beg for some Spittlehouse or Hospital. Their pray is co_m_monly vpo_n_ *[leaf 2b.]* poore women as they go and come to the Markets.

[P] A QUIRE BIRD.

A Quire bird is one that came lately out of prison, & goeth to seeke seruice. He is co_m_monly a stealer of Horses, which they terme a Priggar of Paulfreys.

[P] AN VPRIGHT MAN.

An Vpright man is one that goeth wyth the trunchion of a staffe, which staffe they cal a Filtchma_n_. This man is of so much authority, that meeting with any of his profession, he may cal them to accompt, & co_m_maund a share or snap vnto him selfe, of al that they haue gained by their trade in one moneth. And if he doo them wrong, they haue no remedy agaynst hym, no though he beate them, as he vseth co_m_monly to do. He may also co_m_maund any of their women, which they cal Doxies, to serue his turne. He hath y_e_ chiefe place at any market walke, & other assembles, & is not of any to be co_n_troled.

[P] A CURTALL.

A Curtall is much like to the Vpright man, but hys authority is not fully so great. He vseth commonly to go with a short cloke, like to grey Friers, & his woman with him in like liuery, which he calleth his Altham if she be hys wyfe, & if she be his harlot, she is called hys Doxy.

[P] A PALLIARD.

A Palliard is he that goeth in a patched cloke, and hys Doxy goeth in like apparell.

[P] AN IRISHE TOYLE.

An Irishe toyle is he that carieth his ware in hys wallet, as laces, pins, poyntes, and such like. He vseth to shew no wares vntill he haue his almes. And if the good man and wyfe be not in the way, he procureth of the ch[i]lldre_n_ or seruants a fleece of wool, or the worth of xij.d. of some other thing, for a peniworth of his wares.

*[leaf 3]* [P] A IACK MAN.

A Iackeman is he that can write and reade, and somtime speake latin. He vseth to make counterfaite licences which they call Gybes, and sets to Seales, in their language called Iarkes.

[P] A SWYGMAN.

A Swygman goeth with a Pedlers pack.

[P] A WASHMAN.

A Washman is called a Palliard, but not of the right making. He vseth to lye in the hye way with lame or sore legs or armes to beg. These me_n_ y_e_ right Pilliards wil often times spoile, but they dare not co_m_playn. They be bitten with Spickworts, & somtime with rats bane.

[P] A TINKARD.

A Tinkard leaueth his bag a sweating at the Alehouse, which they terme their Bowsing In, and in the meane season goeth abrode a begging.

[P] A WYLDE ROGE.

A wilde Roge is he that hath no abiding place but by his coulour of going abrode to beg, is commonly to seeke some kinsman of his, and all that be of hys corporation be properly called Roges.

[P] A KITCHEN CO.

A Kitchin Co is called an ydle runagate Boy.

[P] A KITCHEN MORTES.

A Kitchin Mortes is a Gyrle, she is brought at her full age to the Vpryght man to be broken, and so she is called a Doxy, vntil she come to ye honor of an Altham.

[P] DOXIES.

Note especially all which go abroade working laces and shirt stringes, they name them Doxies.

[P] A PATRIARKE CO.

A Patriarke Co doth make mariages, & that is vntill *[leaf 3b.]* death depart the maried folke, which is after this sort: When they come to a dead Horse or any dead Catell, then they shake hands and so depart euery one of them a seuerall way.

[P] THE COMPANY OF COUSONERS AND SHIFTERS.

[P] A CURTESY MAN.

A Curtesy man is one that walketh about the back lanes in London in the day time, and sometime in the broade streetes in the night season, and when he meeteth some handsome yong man clenly apareled, or some other honest Citizen, he maketh humble salutatio_n_s and low curtesy, and sheweth him that he hath a worde or two to speake with his mastership. This child can behaue him selfe manerly, for he wyll desire him that he talketh withall, to take the vpper hand, and shew him much reuerence, and at last like his familier acquaintaunce will put on his cap, and walke syde by syde, and talke on this fashion: Oh syr, you seeme to be a man, and one that fauoureth men, and therefore I am the more bolder to breake my mind vnto your good maistership. Thus it is syr, ther is a certaine of vs (though I say it both taule and handsome men of theyr hands) which haue come lately from the wars, and as God knoweth haue nothing to take to, being both maisterles and moniles, & knowing no way wherby to yerne one peny. And further, wher as we haue bene welthely brought vp, and we also haue beene had in good estimatio_n_, we are a shamed now to declare our misery, and to fall a crauing as common Beggers, and as for to steale and robbe, (God is our record) it striketh vs to *[leaf 4]* the hart, to thinke of such a mischiefe, that euer any handsome man should fall into such a daunger for thys worldly trash. Which if we had to suffise our want and necessity, we should neuer seeke thus shamefastly to craue on such good pityfull men as you seeme to be, neither yet so daungerously to hasarde our liues for so vyle a thing. Therefore good syr, as you seeme to be a handsome man your selfe, and also such a one as pitieth the miserable case of handsome men, as now your eyes and countenaunce sheweth to haue some pity vppon this my miserable complainte: So in Gods cause I require your maistershyp, & in the behalfe of my poore afflicted fellowes, which though here in sight they cry not with me to you, yet wheresouer they bee, I am sure they cry vnto God to moue the heartes of some good men to shew forth their liberality in this behalfe. All which & I with them craue now the same request at your good masterships hand. With these or such like words he frameth his talke. Now if the party (which he thus talketh withall) profereth hym a peny or .ii.d. he taketh it, but verye scornfully, and at last speaketh on this sorte: Well syr, your good will is not to be refused. But yet you shall vnderstand (good syr) that this is nothing for them, for whom I do thus shamefastly entreate. Alas syr, it is not a groate or .xii.d. I speake for, being such a company of Seruiters as wee haue bene: yet neuertheles God forbid I should not receiue your ge_n_tle offer at this time, hoping hereafter through your good motions to some such lyke good gentleman as you be, that I, or some of my fellowes in my place, shall finde the more liberality. These kind of ydle Vacabondes wyll go commonly well appareled, without *[leaf 4b.]* any weapon, and in place where they meete together, as at their hosteryes or other places, they wyll beare the port of ryght good gentlemen, & some are the more trusted, but co_m_monly thei pay them w_i_t_h_ stealing a paire of sheetes, or Couerlet, & so take their farewell earely in the morning, before the mayster or dame be sturring.

[P] A CHEATOUR OR FINGERER.

These commonly be such kinde of idle Vacabondes as scarcely a man shall discerne, they go so gorgeously, sometime with waiting men, and sometime without. Their trade is to walke in such places, where as gentelmen & other worshipfull Citizens do resorte, as at Poules, or at Christes Hospital, & somtime at ye Royal exchaunge. These haue very many acquaintaunces, yea, and for the most part will acquaint them selues with euery man, and fayne a society, in one place or other. But chiefly they wil seeke their acquaintaunce of such (which they haue learned by diligent enquiring where they resort) as haue receyued some porcioun of money of their friends, as yong Gentlemen which are sent to London to study the lawes, or els some yong Marchant man or other kynde of Occupier, whose friendes hath geuen them a stock of mony[41] to occupy withall. When they haue thus found out such a pray, they will find the meanes by theyr familiarity, as very curteously to bid him to breakefast at one place or other, where they are best acquainted, and closely amonge themselues wil appoint one of their Fraternity, which they call a Fyngerer, an olde beaten childe, not onely in such deceites, but also such a one as by his age is painted out with gray heares, wrinkled face, crooked back, and most commonly lame, as it might seeme with age, *[leaf 5]* yea and such a one as to shew a simplicity, shal weare a homely cloke and hat scarce worth .vi. d. This nimble fingred knight (being appointed to this place) co_m_meth in as one not knowen of these Cheatours, but as vnwares shal sit down at the end of the bord where they syt, & call for his peny pot of wine, or a pinte of Ale, as the place serueth. Thus sitting as it were alone, mumblyng on a crust, or some such thing, these other yonckers wil finde some kind of mery talke with him, some times questioning wher he dwelleth, & sometimes enquiring what trade he vseth, which co_m_monly he telleth them he vseth husbandry: & talking thus merely, at last they aske him, how sayest thou, Father, wylt thou play for thy breakfast with one of vs, that we may haue some pastime as we syt? Thys olde Karle makyng it straunge at the first saith: My maysters, ich am an old man, and halfe blinde, and can skyl of very few games, yet for that you seeme to be such good Gentelmen, as to profer to play for that of which you had no part, but onely I my selfe, and therefore of right ich am worthy to pay for it, I shal with al my hart fulfyl your request. And so falleth to play, somtime at Cardes & sometime at dice. Which through his cou_n_terfait simplicity in the play somtimes ouer counteth himself, or playeth somtimes against his wyl, so as he would not, & then counterfaiteth to be angry, and falleth to swearing, & so leesing that, profereth to play for a shillyng or two. The other therat hauing good sport, seming to mocke him, falleth againe to play, and so by their legerdemane, & cou_n_terfaiting, winneth ech of them a shilling or twain, & at last whispereth the yong man in the eare to play with hym also, that ech one might haue a fling at him. *[leaf 5b.]* This yong ma_n_ for company falleth againe to play also with the sayd Fyngerer, and winneth as the other did which when he had loste a noble or .vi. s. maketh as though he had lost al his mony, and falleth a intreating for parte thereof againe to bring him home, which the other knowing his mind and intent, stoutely denieth and iesteth, & scoffeth at him. This Fingerer seeming then to be in a rage, desireth the_m_ as they are true gentlemen, to tarry till he fetcheth more store of money, or els to point some place where they may meete. They seeming greedy hereof, promiseth faithfully and clappeth handes so to meete. They thus ticklyng the young man in the eare, willeth him to make as much money as he can, and they wil make as much as they can, and co_n_sent as though they wil play booty against him. But in the ende they so vse the matter, that both the young man leeseth his part, and, as it seemeth to him, they leesing theirs also, and so maketh as though they would fal together by the eares with this fingerer, which by one wyle or other at last conueyeth him selfe away, & they as it were raging lyke mad bedlams, one runneth one way, an other an other way, leauing the loser indeede all alone. Thus these Cheatours at their accustomed hosteries meete closely together, and there receiue ech one his part of this their vile spoyle. Of this fraternity there be that be called helpers, which commonly haunt tauernes or alehouses, and co_m_meth in as men not acquainted with none in the companye, but spying them at any game, wil byd them God spede and God be at their game, and will so place him selfe that he will shew his fellow by sygnes and tokens, without speech commonly, but sometime with far fetched *[leaf 6]* wordes, what cardes he hath in his hand, and how he may play against him. And those betwene the_m_ both getteth money out of the others purse.

[P] A RING FALLER.

A Ryng faller is he that getteth fayre copper rings, some made like signets, & some after other fashio_n_s, very faire gylded, & walketh vp and down the streetes, til he spieth some man of the country, or some other simple body whom he thinketh he may deceaue, and so goeth a lyttle before him or them, and letteth fall one of these ringes, which when the party that commeth after spieth and taketh it vp, he hauing an eye backward, crieth halfe part, the party that taketh it vp, thinking it to be of great value, profereth him some money for his part, which he not fully denieth, but willeth him to come into some alehouse or tauerne, and there they will common vpon the matter. Which when they come in, and are set in some solitary place (as commonly they call for such a place) there he desireth the party that found the ring to shew it him. When he seeth it, he falleth a entreating the party that found it, and desireth him to take money for his part, and telleth him that if euer he may do him any frendship hereafter he shal commaund him, for he maketh as though he were very desirous to haue it. The symple man seeing him so importune vpon it, thinketh the ring to bee of great valure, and so is the more lother to part from it. At last this ring faller asketh him what he will geue him for his part, for, saith he, seeing you wyl not let me haue the ring, alowe me my part, and take you the ring. The other asketh what he counteth the ring to be worth, he answereth, v. or vi. pound. No, saith he, it is not so much worth. *[leaf 6b.]* Well (saith this Ringfaller) let me haue it, and I wyll alow you .xl. s. for your part. The other party standyng in a doubt, and looking on the ryng, asketh if he wyll geue the money out of hand. The other answereth, he hath not so much ready mony about him, but he wil go fetch so much for him, if he wil go with him. The other that found the ring, thinking he meaneth truly, beginneth to profer him .xx. s. for his part, sometymes more, or les, which he verye scornfullye refuseth at the first, and styl entreateth that he might haue the ring, which maketh the other more fonder of it, and desireth him to take the money for his part, & so profereth him money. This ring faller seing y^{e} mony, maketh it very strau_n_ge, and first questioneth with him wher he dwelleth, and asketh him what is his name, & telleth him that he semeth to be an honest man, and therfore he wil do somwhat for friendships sake, hoping to haue as friendly a pleasure at his hand hereafter, and so profereth hym for .x. s. more he should haue the ryng. At last, with entreatye on both partes, he geueth the Ring faller the money, and so departeth, thinkyng he hath gotten a very great Iewell. These kynde of deceyuing Vacabondes haue other practises with their rings, as somtimes to come to buy wares of mens Prentesies, and somtimes of their Maisters, and when he hath agreed of the price, he sayth he hath not so much money about him, but pulleth of one of these rings of from his fyngers, and profereth to leaue it in pawne, tyl his Maister or his friendes hath sene it, so promising to bring the money, the seller thinking he meaneth truly, letteth him go, and neuer seeth him after, tyll perhaps at Tyburne or at such lyke place. Ther is another kinde of *[leaf 7]* these Ring choppers, which co_m_monly cary about them a faire gold ring in deede, and these haue other counterfait rings made so lyke this gold ring, as ye shal not perceiue the contrary, tyl it be brought to y^{e} touchstone. This child wyl come to borow mony of the right gold ring, the party mistrusting the Ring not to be good, goeth to the Goldsmith with the partye that hath the ryng, and tryeth it whether it be good golde, and also wayeth it to know how much it is worth. The Goldsmith tryeth it to be good gold, and also to haue hys ful weight like gold, and warenteth the party which shall lend the money that the ring is worth so much money according to the waight, this yoncker comming home with the party which shall lend the money, and hauing the gold ring againe, putteth vp the gold ring, and pulleth out a counterfaite ring very like the same, & so deliuereth it to the party which lendeth the money, they thinking it to be the same which they tryed, and so deliuereth the money or sometimes wares, and thus vily be deceiued.

FOOTNOTES:

[40] _Orig._ Brothethood.

[41] _Orig._ mony.

[P] _THE_ .XXV. =Orders of Knaues=, _otherwise called_ =a quarterne of
Knaues=, _confirmed for euer by Cocke Lorell_.

1 TROLL AND TROLL BY.

TRoll and Trol by, is he that setteth naught by no man, nor no man by him. This is he that would beare rule in a place, and hath none authority nor thanke, & at last is thrust out of the doore like a knaue.

2 TROLL WITH.

Troll with is he _tha_t no man shall know the seruaunt from y^{e} Maister. This knaue with his cap on his head *[leaf 7b.]* lyke Capon hardy, wyll syt downe by his Maister, or els go cheeke by cheeke with him in the streete.

3 TROLL HAZARD OF TRACE.

Troll hazard of trace is he that goeth behynde his Maister as far as he may see hym. Such knaues commonly vse to buy Spice-cakes, Apples, or other trifles, and doo eate them as they go in the streetes lyke vacabond Boyes.

[Header: AWDELEY. THE .XXV. ORDERS OF KNAUES.]

4 TROLL HAZARD OF TRITRACE.

Troll hazard of tritrace, is he that goeth gaping after his Master, looking to and fro tyl he haue lost him. This knaue goeth gasyng about lyke a foole at euery toy, and then seeketh in euery house lyke a Maisterles dog, and when his Maister nedeth him, he is to seeke.

5 CHAFE LITTER.

Chafe Litter is he that wyll plucke vp the Fether-bed or Matrice, and pysse in the bedstraw, and wyl neuer ryse vncalled. This knaue berayeth many tymes in the corners of his Maisters chamber, or other places inconuenient, and maketh cleane hys shooes with the couerlet or curtaines.

6 OBLOQUIUM.

Obloquium is hee that wyll take a tale out of his Maisters mouth and tell it him selfe. He of right may be called a malapart knaue.

7 RINCE PYTCHER.

Rince Pytcher is he that will drinke out his thrift at the ale or wine, and be oft times dronke. This is a licoryce knaue that will swill his Maisters drink, and brybe his meate that is kept for him.

8 JEFFREY GODS FO.

Jeffery Gods Fo is he, that wil sweare & maintaine *[leaf 8]* othes. This is such a lying knaue that none wil beleue him, for the more he sweareth, y_e_ les he is to be beleued.

9 NICHOL HARTLES.

Nichol Hartles is he, that when he should do ought for his Maister hys hart faileth him. This is a Trewand knaue that faineth himselfe sicke when he should woorke.

10 SIMON SOONE AGON.

Simon soone agon is he, that when his Mayster hath any thing to do, he wil hide him out of the way. This is a loytring knaue that wil hide him in a corner and sleepe or els run away.

11 GRENE WINCHARD.

Greene Winchard is he, that when his hose is broken and hange out at his shoes, he will put them into his shooes againe with a stick, but he wyll not amend them. This is a slouthfull knaue, that had leauer go lyke a begger then cleanly.

12 PROCTOUR.

Proctour is he, that will tary long, and bring a lye, when his Maister sendeth him on his errand. This is a stibber gibber Knaue, that doth fayne tales.

13 COMMITOUR OF TIDINGES.

Commitour of Tidings is he, that is ready to bring his Maister Nouels and tidinges, whether they be true or false. This is a tale bearer knaue, that wyll report words spoken in his Maisters presence.

14 GYLE HATHER.

Gyle Hather is he, that wyll stand by his Maister when he is at dinner, and byd him beware that he eate no raw meate, because he would eate it himselfe. This is a pickthanke knaue, that would make his Maister *[leaf 8b.]* beleue that the Cowe is woode.

15 BAWDE PHISICKE.

Bawde Phisicke, is he that is a Cocke, when his Maysters meate is euyll dressed, and he challenging him therefore, he wyl say he wyll eate the rawest morsel thereof him selfe. This is a sausye knaue, that wyl contrary his Mayster alway.

16 MOUNCH PRESENT.

Mounch present is he that is a great gentleman, for when his Mayster sendeth him with a present, he wil take a tast thereof by the waye. This is a bold knaue, that sometyme will eate the best and leaue the worst for his Mayster.

17 COLE PROPHET.

Cole Prophet is he, that when his Maister sendeth him on his errand, he wyl tel his answer therof to his Maister or he depart from hym. This tittiuell knaue commonly maketh the worst of the best betwene hys Maister and his friende.

18 CORY FAUELL.

Cory fauell is he, that wyl lye in his bed, and cory the bed bordes in which hee lyeth in steede of his horse. This slouthfull knaue wyll buskill and scratch when he is called in the morning, for any hast.

19 DYNG THRIFT.

Dyng thrift is he, that wil make his Maisters horse eate pies and rybs of beefe, and drinke ale and wyne. Such false knaues oft tymes, wil sell their Maisters meate to their owne profit.

20 ESEN DROPPERS.

Esen Droppers bene they, that stand vnder mens wales or windowes, or in any other place, to heare the *[leaf 9]* secretes of a mans house. These misdeming knaues wyl stand in corners to heare if they be euill spoken of, or waite a shrewd turne.

21 CHOPLOGYKE.

Choplogyke, is he that when his mayster rebuketh him of hys fault he wyll geue hym .xx. wordes for one, els byd the deuils Pater noster in silence. This proude prating knaue wyll maintaine his naughtines when he is rebuked for them.

22 VNTHRIFTE.

Vnthrift, is he that wil not put his wearing clothes to washing, nor black his owne shoes, nor amend his his (_sic_) own wearing clothes. This rechles knaue wyl alway be lousy: and say that hee hath no more shift of clothes, and slaunder his Maister.

23 VNGRACIOUS.

Vngracious, is he _tha_t by his own will, will heare no maner of seruice, without he be compelled therunto by his rulers. This Knaue wil sit at the alehouse drinking or playing at dice, or at other games at seruice tyme.

24 NUNQUAM.

Nunquam, is he that when his Maister sendeth him on his errand he wil not come againe of an hour or two where he might haue done it in halfe an houre or lesse. This knaue will go about his owne errand or pastime and saith he cannot speede at the first.

25 INGRATUS.

Ingratus, is he that when one doth all that he can for him, he will scant geue him a good report for his labour. This knaue is so ingrate or vnkind, _tha_t he considreth not his frend fro_m_ his fo, & wil requit euil for good & being put most in trust, wil sonest deceiue his maister.

_FINIS._

* * * * *

*[leaf 9b.]* Imprinted at London by Iohn Awdely dwelling in
little Britaine streete without Aldersgate.

[Decoration]

[Original in Bodleian Library, 4^o. R. 21. Art. Seld.]

=A Caueat or Warening=, FOR COMMEN CVRSETORS VVLGARELY CALLED
=Vagabones, set forth by Thomas Harman, Esquiere, for the utilite
and proffyt of his naturall Cuntrey. Augmented and inlarged by the
fyrst author here of.=

_Anno Domini. M.D.LXVII._

[P] _Vewed, examined, and allowed, according vnto the Queenes Maiestyes
Iniunctions._

[P] =Imprinted at London, in Fletestrete, at the signe of the Falcon,
by= _Wylliam Gryffith_, =and are to be sold at his shoppe in Saynt
Dunstones Churche yarde, in the West. Anno Domini. 1567.=

[The Bodley edition of 1567 omits 'or Warening' in line 1, and 'Anno
Domini. 1567.' at foot; and substitutes 'Newly Augmented and
Imprinted' for 'Augmented ... here of', line 6.]

[Header: HARMAN. THE EPISTLE.]

*[leaf 2]*

[P] To the ryght honorable and my singular good Lady, Elizabeth Countes of Shrewsbury, Thomas Harman wisheth all ioye and perfite felicitie, here and in the worlde to come.

AS of Auncient and longe tyme there hath bene, and is now at this present, many good, godly, profitable lawes and actes made and setforthe in this most noble and floryshynge realme, for the reliefe, succour, comforte, and sustentacion of the poore, nedy, impotent, and myserable creatures beinge and inhabiting in all parts of the same; So is there (ryghte honorable and myne especyall good Lady) most holsom estatutes, ordinances, and necessary lawes, made, setforth, and publisshed, for the extreme punishement of all vagarantes and sturdy vacabons, as passeth throughe and by all parts of this famous yle, most idelly and wyckedly: and I wel, by good experience, vnderstandinge and consideringe your most tender, pytyfull, gentle, and noble nature,--not onelye hauinge a vygelant and mercifull eye to your poore, indygente, and feable parishnores; yea, not onely in the parishe where your honour moste happely doth dwell, but also in others inuyroninge or nighe adioyning to the same; As also aboundantly powringe out dayely your ardent and bountifull charytie vppon all such as commeth for reliefe vnto your luckly gates,--