THE Groundwork of Coney-catching, the manner of their Pedlers-French, and the means to understand the same, with the cunning slights of the Counterfeit Cranke.  
Therein are handled the practices of the Visitor, the fetches of the Shifter and Rufflar, the deceits of their Doxes, the devices of Priggers, the names of the base loitering Losels, and the means of every Blacke-Art man's shifts, with the reproof of all their devilish practices.  
Done by a justice of Peace of great authority, who hath had the examining of divers of them.   

To the gentle Readers Health.  
GEntle Reader, as there hath been divers books set forth, as warnings for all men to shun the crafty coossening sleights of these both men and women that have termed themselves Connycatchers: so amongst the rest, bestow the reading over of this book, wherein thou shalt find the groundwork of Coney-catching, with the manner of their Canting speech, how they call all things in their language, the horrible coossening of all these lose varlets, and the names of them in their several degrees.  

First The Visitor.  
2. The Shifter,  
3. The Rufflar.  
4. The Rogue.  
5. The wild Rogue.  
6. A prigger of Prauncers.  
7. a Pallyard.  
8. A Frater.  
9 An Abraham man.  
10. A freshwater mariner, or Whipiacke.  
11. A counterfeit Cranke.  
12. A Dommerar.  
13. A drunken Tinkar.  
14. A Swadder or peddler.  
15. A jarkeman & Patrico.  
16. a demander for glimmer.  
17. The bawdy Basket.  
18. An Autem Mort.  
19 A walking Mort.  
20. A Doxe.  
21. A Dell.  
22. Kinchin Mort.  
23. A Kinchin Co.   
All the●e playing their coossening in their kind are here set down, which never yet were disclosed in any book of Coney-catching.   

A new kind of shifting sleight, practised at this day by some of this Coney-catching crew, in Inns or vittailing houses but especially in Fairs or Markets, which came to my hands since the imprinting of the rest.  
WHereas of late divers coossening devices and devilish deceits have been discovered, whereby great inconveniences have been eschewed which otherwise might have been the utter overthrow of divers honest men of all degrees. I thought this amongst the rest not the least worthy of noting, especially of those that trade to Fairs and Markets, that thereby being warned, they may likewise be armed, both to see the deceit, and shun the danger. Those shifters will come unto an Inn or vittailing house, that is most used in the town, and walk up and down, and if there come any gentleman or other to lay up either cloak sword, or any other thing worth the having, than one of this crew taketh the marks of the thing or at least the token the party giveth them: anon after he is gone, he likewise goeth forth, and with a great countenance cometh in again to the maid or servant, calling for what another left: if they doubt to deliver it, than he frets, and calls them at his pleasure, and tells them the marks and tokens: having thus done, he blames their forgetfulness, and gives them a couple of pence to buy them pings, bidding them fetch it strait, and know him better the next time, wherewith they are pleased, and he possessed of his prey. Thus one got a bag of Cheese the last Sturbridge Fair, for in such places (as a reclaimed fellow of that crew confessed) they make an ordinary practice of the same.   

TO THE READER.  
Here I set before thee (good Reader) the lewd lows●e language of these loitering lusks, and lazy lorrels, wherewith they buy and sell the common people as they pass through the country. Which language they term peddlers French, an unknown tongue to all but to these bold beastly bawdy beggars and vain Vagabonds, being half mingled with English when it is familiarly talked, and first placing things by their proper names, as an Introduction to this peevish speech.  

Nab, a head.  
Nabchet, a hat or cap.  
glaziers, eyes.  
a smelling chete, a nose.  
'gan, a mouth.  
a prattling chete, a tongue.  
Crashing chetes teeth.  
Hearing chetes, ears.  
Fambles, hands.  
a fambling chete a ring on thy hand.  
quaroms, a body  
prat, a buttock.  
stamps, legs.  
a caster, a cloak.  
a togman, a cote.  
a commission, a shir●▪  
drawers, hoson.  
stampers, shoes.  
a mufling chete, a nap 1●.  
a belly chete, an a●erne.  
dudes, clothes.  
a lag of dudes, a buck of clothes.  
a state or states, a sheet or sheets.  
Lybbege, ● bed.  
Bung, a purse.  
Lower, money.  
Mint, gold.  
a board, a shilling  
half a board, six pence.  
Flag, a groat.  
a win, a penny.  
a make, a halfpenny.  
bows, drink.  
been, good.  
beneship, very good.  
quire, nought.  
a gage, a quart pot.  
a Skew, a cup.  
pannam, bread.  
cassan, cheese.  
param, milk.  
lap, butter milk or whey.  
pek, meat.  
poplars, ●orrage.  
ruff pek, baken  
a grunting chete or a patricoes kinchen, a pig.  
a cackling chete a cock or capon.  
a margery prater, a hen.  
a Roger or tib of the buttery, a Goose.  
a quaking chete, or red shank, a duck or a drake.  
grannam, corn.  
a lowing chete, a Cow.  
a bleating chete, a calf or sheep.  
a prancer, a horse  
Autem, a church.  
Solomon, an altar or mass.  
Patrico, a priest.  
nosegent, a Nun.  
a gibe, a writing.  
a jarke, a seal.  
a ken, a house.  
a stauling ken, a house that will receive stolen ware.  
a bousing ken, an alehouse.  
a Lypken, a house to lie in.  
a lybbeg, a bed.  
glymmar, fir.  
Rom bouse, wine  
lage, water.  
a skipper, a barn.  
strommell, straw.  
a gentry cofes ken a noble or gentleman's house.  
a gyger, a door.  
bufe, a dog.  
the lightmen. the day.  
the dark man's. the night.  
Rome vile. London.  
dews a vile. the Country.  
Rome mort. the Queen.  
a gentry cofe. a noble or gentleman.  
a gentry mort. A noble or gentlewoman.  
the choir cuffin, the Iustice● of peace.  
the harman b●eek the Constable.  
the harman's, the stocks.  
Quierkin, a prison house.  
quyr cramprings bolts or fetters.  
tryning, harging.  
chats, the gallows  
the high pad, the high way.  
the ruffmen, the woods or bushes  
a smelling chete, a garden or orchard  
crassing chetes. apels peers or any other fruit.  
to nip a boung, to cut a purse.  
To scour the crampringes. to were bolts or fetters.  
to have a bough, to rob or risse a booth.  
to cly the gerke, to be whipped.  
to cut beule, To speak gently.  
to cut been whyddes, to speak or give good words  
to cut choir whiddes, to give evil words or evil language.  
to cut, to say.  
to tower, to see.  
to bows, to drink  
to maund, to 〈◊〉 or require.  
to stall, to make or ordain.  
to cant, to speak.  
to mill a Ken, to rob a house.  
to prygge, to ride.  
to dup the gyger to open the door  
to couch a hogshead, to lie down and sleep.  
to nyggle, to have to do with a woman carnally  
stow you, hold your peace.  
b'ing a waste, go you hence.  
to the ruffian, to the devil.  
the ruffian cly thee the devil take thee   

The upright Cough canteth to the Rogue The upright man speaketh to the Rogue.  Vprightman. 
Bene Lightmen to thy quarromes in what lipkin hast thou liped in this darkemans, whether in a libbeg or in the strumell.  
God morrow to thy body, in what house hast thou line in all night whether in a bed, or in the straw.  Rogue. 
I couched in a hogshead in a Skipper this darkmans.  
I laid me down to sleep in a barn this night.  Vprightman. 
I tower the strummel trine upon the nabchet and Togman.  
I see the straw hang upon thy cap and coat.  Rogue. 
I say by the Solomon I will lage it of with a gage of been house then cut to my nose watch.  
I swear by the mass I will wash it off with a quart of good drink then say to me what thou wilt.  Vprightman. 
Why hast thou any lower in thy bonge to bouse.  
Why hast thou any money in thy purse to drink.  Rogue. 
But a flag, a win and a make.  
〈…〉 halfpenny.  Vprightman. 
Why where is the ken that hath the been house.  
Where is the house that hath the good drink.  Rogue. 
A bene morte here by at the sign of the prancer.  
A good wife here by at the sign of the horse.  Vprightman. 
I cut it is quire house, I bousd a flag the last darkmans.  
I say it is a small and naughty drink, I drank a groat there last night,  Rogue. 
But house there aboard and thou shalt have benshyp,  
But drink there a shilling, and thou shalt have very good.  
Tower ye, yonder is the ken, dup the giger and mand that is beneshyp.  
See you yonder is the house, open the door, & ask for the best.  Vprighman. 
This is as good as Rome house.  
This drink is as good as wine?  
Now I tower that been house makes nase nabes.  
Now I see that good drink makes a drunken head.  
Maund of this Morte what been peck is in her ken.  
Ask of this wife what good meat she hath in her house.  Rogue. 
She hath a cackling Chete, a grunting chete ruff peck cassan, and popelars of yarum.  
She hath a Hen, a Pig, Baken, Cheese, & Milk porridge  Vprightman. 
That is beneship to our watch,  
That is very good for us.  
Now we have well bousd, let us strike some chete.  
Now we have well drunk, let us steal some thing.  
Yonder dwelleth aquier cuffen it were beneship to mill him  
Yonder dwelleth a hoggish and churlish man, it were w● done to rob him.  Rogue. 
Now b'ing we a waist to the pad the Ruffmen is by.  
Nay let us go hence to the high way the woods is at han●  Vprightman. 
So may we happen on the harman's, and clye the jarke, or to the quierken, and scour quire cramprings, and so to tryon the chates.  
So we may chance to sit in the stocks, or be whipped, or had to prison house, and there be shackled with bolts and fetters, and then to hang on the Gallows.  Roge. 
Gerry 'gan the Ruffian clye thee.  
A turd in thy mouth the Devil take thee.  Vprightman. 
What stowe you been cofe and cut benar whydds & b'ing we to Rome vile to nyp a bounge, so shall we have lower for the bousing ken, and when we b'ing back to the deusevyle, we will fylche some duds of the Ruffmen or mill the ken for a lage of duds.  
What hold your peace good fellow and speak better words, and go we to London to cut a purse, than we shall have money for the alehouse, and when we come back again into the country, we will steal some linen clothes of hedges, or rob some house for a buck of clothes.  
By this little ye may wholly and fully understand their untoward talk and pelting speech, mingled without measure, and as they have begun of late to devise some new terms for certain things: so will they in time after this, and devise as evil or worse. This language now being known and spread abroad, yet one thing more I will add unto, not meaning to English the same, because I learned it of a shameless Doxe, but for the phrase of speech I set it forth only.  
There was a Patrico and a nosegent, he took his jockam in his famble and a wapping he went, he dockt the Dell he pryg to prance, he byngd a waist into the darkemans, he fylch the Cofe without any filch man.    

THE GROUNDWORK of Coney-catching.  

The Visitor.  
AN honest youth not many years since, servant in this City, had leave of his master at whitsuntide to see his friends who dwelled some fifty miles from London. It happened at a Country wake, his mother and he came acquainted with a precise scholar, that under colour of strict life, hath been reputed for that he is not: he is well known in Paul's Churchyard, and hath been lately a visiting in Essex (for so he presumes to term his cozening walks: and therefore we will call him here a Visitor. This honest seeming man must needs (sith his journey lay to London) stay at the young man's mothers all the holy days: where as on his desert he was kindly used: at length, the young man having received his mother's blessing, with other his friends gifts amounting to some ten pounds, was to this hypocrite as to a faithful guide committed, and toward London they ride: by the way this Visitor discourses how excellent insight he had in Magic, to recover by Art any thing lost or stolen. Well to saint Albon they reach, there they sup together, and after the carousing of some quarts of wine they go to bed where they kindly sleep, the Visitor slily, but the young man sound: Short tale to make out of his bedfellows sleeve, this Visitor conveyed his twenty Angels besides some other odd silver, hide it closely, and so fell to his rest. Morning comes, up get this couple, immediately the money was missed, much ado was made the Chamberlain with sundry other servants examined, and so hot the contention, that the goodman for the discharge of his house was sending for a Constable to have them both first searched, his servants Chests after. In the mean time the Visitor calls the young man aside, and bids him never grieve but take horse, and he warrants him ere they be three miles out of town to help him to his money by Art, saying. In these Inns ye see how we shall be out faced, and being unknown, how ever we be wronged get little remedy: the young man in good hope desired him to pay the reckoning, which done together they ride. Being some two miles from the town, they ride out of the ordinary way: there he tells this youth, how unwilling he was to enter into the action, but that it was lost in his company, and so forth. Well a Circle was made, wondrous words were used, many muttring made at length he cries out, under a green turf, by the East side of an Oak, go thither, got thither: this thrice he cried so ragingly as the yvong man guessed him mad, and was with fear almost beside himself. At length pau●●ng quoth this Visitor heard ye nothing cry. Cry said the young man, yes you cried so as for twice ten pound I would not hear ye again. Then quoth he, 'tis all well, if ye remember the words: the young man repeated them. With that this shifter said, Go to the furthest Oak in the high way towards S. Albon, and under a green turre on the hither side lies your money, and a note of his name that stole it. Hence I cannot stir till you return, neither may either of our horses be untied for that time, run ye must not▪ but keep an ordinary pace. Away goes the young man gingerly, and being out of sight, this copesmate takes his cloke●ag, wherein was a fair suit of apparel, and setting spurs to his horse was ere the Novice returned rid clean out of his view The young man seeing himself so cozened, made patience his best remedy, took his horse and came to London, where yet it was never his luck to meet this visitor.   

A Shifter.  
A Shifter not long since going ordinarily booted, got leave of a Carrier to ride on his own hackney a little way from London, who coming to the ●une where the Carrier that night should lodge, honestly set up the horse, and entered the hall, where were at one table some three and thirty clothiers, all returning to their several countries. Using as he could his courtesy, and being Gentlemanlike attired, he was at all their instance placed at the upper end by the hostess. After he had a while eaten he fell to discourse with such pleasance, that all the table were greatly delighted therewith. In the midst of supper enters a noise of musicians, who with their instruments added a double delight. For them he requested his hostess to lay a shoulder of mutton and a couple of capons to the fire, for which he would pay, & then moved in their behalf to gather. Among them a noble was made, which he fingering, was well blest, for before he had not a cross, yet he promised to make it up an angel. To be short, in comes the reckoning, which (by reason of the fine fare & excess of wine amounted to each man's half crown. Then he requested his hostess to provide so many possets of sack as would furnish the table, which he would bestow on the Gentlemen, to requite their extraordinary costs: & ●estingly asked if she would make him her deputy to gather the reckoning she granted and he did so: and on a sudden (feigning to hasten his hostess with the possets) he took his cloak, and finding fit time he slipped out of doors, leaving the guests and their hostess to a new reckoning, & the musicans to a good supper, but they paid for the sauce. This test some untruly attribute to a man of excellent parts about London but he is slandered: the party that performed it hath scarce any good quality to live. Of these sort & could set down a great number, but I leave you now unto those which by Master Harman are discovered.    

THE GROUNDWORK of Coney-catching.  

A Rufflar.  
THE Rufflar, because he is first in degree of this odious order, and is so called in a statute made for the punishment of Vacabonds, in the xxvii. year of K. Henry the eight late of most famous memory: he shall be first placed as the worthiest of this unruly rabblement. And he is so called when he goeth first abroad, either he hath served in the wars, or else he hath been a servingman, and weary of well doing, and shaking off all pain, doth choose him this idle life and wretchedly wanders about the most shires of this realm. And with stout audacity, he demandeth where he may be bold, and circumspect enough, as he seethe cause to ask charity, ruefully and lamentably, that it would make a flinty heart to relent, and pity his miserable estate, how he hath been maimed & bruised in the wars, and peradventure some will show some outward wound, which he got at some drunken fray, either halting of some privy wound festered with a fiery flankard. For be well assured that the hardiest soldiers be either slain or maimed, or if they escape all hazards, and return home again, if they be without relief of their friends, they will surely desperately rob and steal, and either shortly be hanged, or miserably die in prison: for they be so much ashamed and disdain to beg or ask charity, that they will as desperately fight for to live and maintain themselves, as manfully and valiantly they ventured themselves in the Prince's quarrel. Now these Rufflars, the outcasts of serving-men, when begging or craving fails, than they pick and pilfer from other inferior beggars that they meet by the way, as Rogues, Pallyards, Mortes, and Doxes. Yea if they meet with a woman alone riding to the market, either old man or boy that he well knoweth will not resist, such they ●●itch and spoil. These Rufflars after a year or two at the furthest become upright men, unless they be prevented by twined hemp●.  
I had of late years an old man to my tenant, who customably a great time went twice in the week to London, either with fruit or with peascods, when time served therefore: And as he was coming homeward on Blackheath, at the end thereof next with Shooter's hill, he overtook two Rufflars, the one mannerly waiting on the other as one had been the master, and the other the man, or servant carrying his masters Cloak, this old man was very glad that he might have their company over the hill, because that he had made a good market, for he had seven shillings in his purse, and an old angel, which this poor man had thought had not been in his purse, for he willed his wife over night to take out the same angel, and lay it up until his coming home again, And he verily thought that his wife had so done which indeed forgot to do it, Thus after salutations, had this master Rufflar entered into communication with this simple old man who riding softly beside them, commoned of many matters. Thus feeding this old man with pleasant talk, until they were on the top of the hill, where these Rufflars might well behold the Coast about them clear: Quickly steps unto this poor man, and taketh hold on his horse bridle, and leadeth him into the wood, and demandeth of him what and how much money he had in his purse. Now by my troth quoth this old man you are a merry gentleman, I know you mean not to take away any thing from me but rather to give me some if I should ask it of you. By and by this servant thief, casteth the cloak that he carried on his arm about this poor man's face, that he should not mark or view them, with sharp words to deliver quickly that he had and to confess truly what was in his purse. This poor man then all abashed yielded, and confessed he had but just seven shillings in his purse and the troth is he knew of no more, This old angel was fallen out of a little purse into the bottom of a great purse. Now this seven shillings in white money they quickly found, thinking in deed that there had been no more, yet farther groping and searching found this old angel. And with great admiration this gentleman thief began to bless him saying, Good Lord what a world is this, how may (quoth he) a man believe or trust in the same, see you not (quoth he) this old knave he told me that he had but seven shillings, and here is more by an angel, what an old knave and a false knave have we here quoth this Rufflar? Our Lord have mercy on us, will this world never be better, and therewith went their way, and left the old man in the wood doing him no more harm. But sorrowfully sighing this old man returning home declared his misadventure, with all the words and circumstances above showed. Whereat for the time was great laughing, and this poor man for his losses among his loving neighbours well considered in the end.   

A Upright man. cap. 2.  
A Upright man the second in sect of this unseemly sort must be next placed, of these rainging rabblement of rascals some be serving men, artificers, and labouring men traded up to, husbandry: These not meaning to get their living, with the sweat of their face but casting of all pain, will wander after their wicked manner, through the most shires of this realm.  
As Somerset shire, Will shire, Bark shire, Oxford shire, Harforde shire, Middelsex, Essex, Suffolk▪ Norfolk, Sussex, Surry, and Kent, as the chief and best shyers' of relief. Yea not without punishment, by ●ockes whippings, and imprisonment in most of these places, above said: Yet not with standing they have so good liking in their lewd lecherous loyteringe, that full quiclye all their punishments is forgotten. And repentance is never thought upon, until they climb three tres with a ladder: These unruly rascals in their roylinge, disperse themselves, into several companies, as occasion serveth, sometimes more and sometime less. As if they repair to a poor husbandman's house, he will go alone or one with him and stoutly demand his charity, either showing how he had served in the wars, and their maimed, either that he seeketh service, and saith he would be glad to take pain, for his living, although he meaneth nothing less: If he be offered any meat or drink, he utterly refuseth scornfully, and will nought but money and if he espy young pigs or poultry, he well noteth the place, & then the next night or shortly after, he will be sure to have some of them, which they bring to their stauling dens, which is their tippling houses, as well known to them according to the old proverb (as the beggar knows his dish.) For you must understand every tippling ale house will neither receive them or their wares but some certain houses, in every shire especially for that purpose, where they shallbe better welcome to them than honester men. For by such have they most gain, and shall be conveyed either into some fit out of the way, or other secret corner not common to any other▪ and thither repair at accustomed times their harlots, which they term morts, and Doxes not with empty hands, for they be as skilful in picking, riffling & ●●ching as the upright men, and nothing inferior to them in all kind of wickedness, as in other places hereafter they shallbe touched. At these aforesaid pelting peevish places and ●nmannerly meetings, O how the pots walk about, their ta●ling tongues talk at large: they bowl and bows one to another, and for the time bousing belly cheer. And after their roisting recreation, if there be not room enough in the house, they have clean straw in some barn or back house near adjoining▪ where they couch comely together as it were dog and bitch, and he that is hardiest may have his choice, unless for a little good manners, some will take their own that they have made promise unto, until they be out of sight, and according to the old adage (out of mind▪) Yet these upright men stand so much upon their reputation, as they will in no case have their women walk with them, but separate themselves for a time a month or more and meet at fairs or great markets, where they pilfer & steal from staules, shops or booths. At these fairs the upright men use commonly to lie, and linger in high ways & by-lanes, some pretty way or distance from the place, by which ways they be assured that company passeth still to and fro: and there they will demand with cap in hand and comely courtesy, the devotion and charity of the people: they have been much whipped at fairs. If they ask at a stout yeoman's or farmer's house his charity, they will go strong, as some three or four in a company, where for fear more than good will they often have relief. They seldom or never pass by a justices house, but have by ways, unless he dwell alone, & be but weakly manned, thither will they also go strong after ask subtle sort, as with their arms bound up with a kercher or list, having wrapped about the same filthy clothes, or their legs in such sort be wrapped halting downright: not unprovided of good cudgels, which they carry to sustain them, and (as they feign) to keeps dogs from them, when they come to such good gentlemen's houses. If any search be made, or they suspected for pilfering of clothes, off hedges, or breaking of houses, which they commonly do, when the owners be either at the market, at the church, or otherwise occupied about their business, or rob some s●●ly man or woman by the high way, as many times they do. Then they hie them into woods, great thickets, and other rough corners, where they lie lurking three or four days together, & have meat and drink brought them by their Mortes and Doxes: and while they thus lie hidden in covert, in the night they be not idle, neither (as the common saying is) well occupied: for then as the wily Fox creeping out of his den seeketh his prey for poultry, so do these for linen and any thing else worth money, that lieth about or near a house as sometime a whole buck of clothes carried away at a time. When they have a greater booty than they can carry away quickly to their stawling ken, as is abovesaid. They will hide the same for three days in some thick covert, and in the night time carry the same like good water Spaniels to their foresaid boutes, to whom they will discover where or in what places they had the same, where the marks shall be picked out clean, and conveyed craftily far off to sell, if the man or woman of the house want money themselves. If these upright men have neither money nor wares, at these houses they shall be trusted for their victuals, if it amount to twenty or thirty shillings. Yea if it fortune any of these upright men, to be taken and suspected or charged with felony or petty bribery, done at such a time or place, he will say he was in his hosts house. And if the man or wife of that house be examined by an officer, they boldly vouch, that they lodged him ●●ch a time, whereby the truth cannot appear. And if they chance to be retained into service through their lamentable words with any wealthy man: they will tarry but a small time, either robbing his master, or some of his fellows. And some of them useth this policy, that although they travail into all these shires abovesaid, yet will they have good credit, especially in one shire, where at divers good Farmer's houses they be well known, where they work a month in a place or more, and will for that time behave themselves very honestly and painfully, and may at any time for their good usage have work of them: and to these at a dead lift or last refuge, they may safely repair unto and be welcome, when in other places, for a knack of knavery that they have played they dare not tarry. These upright men will seldom or never want, for what is gotten by any Mort or Dox, if it please him, he doth command the same. And if he meet any beggar, whether he be sturdy or impotent, he will demand of him whether he was ever stalled to the Rogue or no: if he say he was, he will know of whom, and his name that stalled him. And if he be not learnedly able to show him the whole circumstance thereof, he will spoil him of his money, or of his best garment if it be worth any money, and have him to the bousing ken, which is, to some tippling house next adjoining, & layeth there to gauge the best thing that he hath for twenty pence or two shillings, this man obeyeth for fear of beating. Then doth this upright man call for a gage of bows, which is a quart, pot of drink, and powers the same upon his piled pate, adding these words. IG. ●. do stall thee W. C. to the Rogue, and that from henceforh it shall be lawful for thee to Cant▪ that is to ask or beg for thy living in all places. Here you see that the upright man is of great authority▪ For all sorts of beggars are obedient to his hests, and surmounteth all others in pylfring and stealing. ¶ I lately had standing in my well house, which standeth on the back side of my house, a great cawdron of copper being then full of water, having in the same half a dozen of pewter dishes, well marked, & stamped with the conizance of my arms, which being well noted when they were taken out were set a side the water powered out, and my caudrens taken away, being of such bigness that one man unless he were of great strength was not able far to ca●● the same. Not withstanding the same was one night within this two years, conveyed more than half a mile from my house, into a common or heath. And there bestowed in a great ●irbushe. I then immediately the next day, sent one of my men to London & there gave warning in Southwark, Kent street, and Barines●e street, to all the Tinkers there dwelling, that if any such cauldron came thither to be sold, the bringer thereof should be stayed, and promised twenty shillings for a reward, I gave also intelligence to the watermen that kept the Ferries that no such vessel should be either conveyed to London, or into Essex, promising the like reward, to have understanding thereof. This my doing was well understood in many places, so that fear of espying so troubled the conscience of the stealer, that my cauldron lay untouched in the thick firbush more than half a year after, which by a great chance was found by hunters for Coneys, for one chanced to run into the same bush where my cauldron was, and being perceived one thrust his staff into the same bush, and hit my cauldron a great blow, the sound whereof did cause the man to think and hope that there was some great treasure hidden, whereby he thought to be the better while he lived. ●nd in further searching he found my cauldron, so had I the same again vnlo●ked for.   

A Hooker or Angler. Cap. 3.  
THese hooker's or Anglers be perilous and most wicked knaves and be derived or proceed forth from the upright men, they commonly go in f●ize jerkins and galley s●ops, pointed beneath the knee, these when they practise their pilfering it is all by night, for as they go a day tunes from house to house, to demand charity, they vigilantly mark where or in what place they may attain to their prey, casting their eyes up to every window well noting what they see there, whether apparel, or linen, hanging near unto the said windows, and that will they be sure to have the next night following, for they customably carry with them a staff of five or six foot long, in which within one inch of the top thereof is a little hole bored through, in which hole they put an iron hook, and with the same they will pull unto them suddenly any thing that they may reach therewith, which hook in the day time, they covertly carry about them, and is never seen or pulled forth till they come to the place where they do their feat: such have I seen at my house & have oft had speech with them, and have handled their staves not then understanding to what use or intent they served although I had and perceived by their speech and behaviour great sign of evil suspicion in them, they will either lean upon their staff to hide the hole thereof when they have any speech with you or hold their hand upon the hole, and what stuff either woollen or linen they thus get, they never carry the same forthwith to their sta●●●g ●ens, but hides the same a three days in some secret corner, and after conuaies the same to their houses abovesaid, where their Host or Host giveth them money for the same, but half the value that it is worth, or else their Doxes shall a far of sell the same at the like houses. I was credibly informed that a Hooker came to a Farmers' house in the night, and putting aside a draw window of a low Chamber, the bed standing hard by the said window, in which lay three persons a man and two big boys, this Hooker with his staff pulled off their garments which lay upon them for warmth, with the coverlet and sheet, and left them lying a sleep naked saving their shirts, and had away all clean, and never could understand where it became. I verily suppose that when they were well waked with cold, they surely thought that Robin good fellow (according to the old saying) had been with them that night.   

A Rogue. Cap. 4.  
A Rogue is neither so stout or hardy as the upright man: Many of them will go faintly, and look piteously, when they see, either meet any person, having a cloth as white as my shoes tied about their head, with a short staff in their hand, halting although they need not, requiring alms of such as they meet, or to what house they shall come. But you may easily perceive by their colour, that they carry both health and hypocrisy about them, whereby they get gain, when others want that cannot fame and dissemble. Others there be that go sturdy about the Country, and fameth to find out 〈◊〉 ●ther of h●●, dwelling within some part of the shire, either 〈◊〉 he hath a letter to deliver to some honest householder, do ●g out of another Shire, and will show you the same 〈…〉, with the superscription to the party he speaketh 〈…〉 shall not suspect him to run idly about the Country, 〈◊〉 have they this shift, they will carry a certificate 〈…〉 about them from some justicer of the peace, with his hand and seal unto the same, how he hath been whipped and punished for a vagabond according to the laws of this Realm, and that he must return to C. where he was borne or last dwelled, by a certain day limited in the same, which shall be a good long day. And all this famed, because without fear they would wickedly wander, and will renew the same, where or when it pleaseth them: for they have of their affinity that can write and read: These also will pick and steal as the upright men, and hath their women and meetings at places appointed, and nothing to them inferior in all kind of knavery. There be of these Rogues Curtais wearing short Cloaks, that will change their apparel, as occasion serveth. And their end is either hanging▪ which they call trining in their language, or die miserably of the pocks.  
There was not long Athens two Rogues that always did associate themselves together and would never separate themselves unless it were for some especial causes, for they were sworn brothers, and were both of one age and much like of favour, these two traveling into East-kent resorted unto an Ale house there being wearied with traveling, saluting with short curtes●e when they came into the house such as they saw sitting there, in which company was the parson of the parish and calling for a pot of the best ale, sat down at the table's end, the liquor pleased them so well, that they had not upon pot▪ and sometime for a little good manner would drink and offer the cup to such as they best fancied, and to be short, they sat out all the company, for each man departed home about their business. When they had well refreshed themselves, than these rowsie rogues requested the goodman of the house with his wife to fit down and drink with them, of whom they inquired what priest the same was and where he dweit, than they faming that they had an uncle a priest, and that he should dwell in these parts, which by all presumptions it should be he, and that they came of purpose to speak with him, but because they had not seen him sithence they were six years old, they durst not be bold to take acquaintance of him until they were farther instructed of the truth, and began to inquire of his name and how long he had dwelled there, and how far his house was off from the place they were in: the good wife of the house, thinking them honest men without deceit because they so far inquired of their kinsman was but of a good zealous natural intent, showed them cheerfully that he was an honest men and well-beloved in the parish, and of good wealth, and had been there resident fifteen years at the least: but saith she, are you both brothers: yea surely said they, we have been both in one belly, and were twins mercy God quoth this foolish woman it may well be, for ye are not much unlike & went unto her hall window, calling these young men unto her, and looking out thereat, pointed with her fingar, and showed them the house standing alone, no house near the same by a quarter of a ●●le, that said she is your uncles house: nay saith one of them he is not only mine uncle, but my Godfather also: it may well be quoth she, nature will bind him to be the better to you: well quoth they, we be weary, and mean not to trouble our uncle to night, but to morrow God willing we w●ll see him and do our duty. But I pray you doth our uncle occupy husbandry, what company hath he in his house? Alas saith she, but one old woman and a boy, he hath no occupying at all: tush quoth she, you be mad men, go to him this night for he hath better lodging for you than I have, and yet I speak foolishly against my own profit, for by your tarrying here I should gain the more. Now by my troth quoth one of them, we thank you good hostess for your wholesome counsel, and we mean to do as you will us, we will pause a while, and by that time it will be almost night, & I pray you give us a reckoning: so mannerly paying for that they took, they bade their host and hostess farewell with taking leave of the cup marching merely towards this Parson's house, which they viewed well round about and passed by two bowshots off into a young wood, where closely they lay consulting what they should do until midnight: quoth one of them of sharper wit and subtler than his fellow to the other, thou seest that this house is stone walled about, and that we cannot well break into any part thereof, thou seest also that the windows be thick of mullions, that there is no creeping in between, wherefore we must of necessity use some policy when strength will not serve. I have a horselocke here about me saith he▪ and this I hope shall serve our turn: so when it was about twelve of the clock they came to the house, and lurked near unto his chamber window, the dog of the house barked a good, that with their noise this Priest waketh out of his sleep, and began to cough and hem, than one of these rogue's steps forth nearer the window, and maketh a rueful and pitiful noise requiring for Christ's sake some relief for the hungry and thirsty, and was like to lie without the d●●res all night and starve for cold, unless he were relieved by him with some small piece of money. ●here dwellest thou quoth the Parson? ● las sir saith this rogue, I have small dwelling, and have come out of my way, and if I should go to any town at this time of night, they would set me in the stocks and punish me Well quoth this pitiful Parson, away from my house, or lie in some of my outhouses until morning, and hold here is a couple of pence for thee. A God reward you said this rogue, and in heaven may you find it. The Parson openeth his window, and thrusteth out his arm to give his alms to this rogue that came whi●ing to receive it, and quickly taketh hold of his hand, and calleth his fellow to him who was ready at hand with the horselocke, and clappeth the same about the wrist of his arm, where the mullions stood so close together for strength, that for his life he could not pluck in his arm again, and made him believe unless he would at the least give them three pounds, they would smite off his arm from the body: so that this poor Parson, in fear to lose his hand, called up the old woman that lay in the fit over him, and willed her to take out all the money he had, which was four marks, saying it was all the money he had in his house, for he had lent six pounds to one of his neighbours not four days before. Well quoth they, M. Parson if you have no more, upon this condition we will take of the lock, that you will drink twelve pence to morrow for our sakes at the alehouse where we found you, and thank the good wife for the good cheer she made us, he promised faithfully so to do, so they took of the lock, and went their ways so far ere it was day, that the Parson could never have any understanding more of them. Now this Parson sorrowfully slumbering that night between fear and hope, thought it was but folly to make two sorrows of one, he used contentation for his remedy, not forgetting in the morning to perform his promise, but went betimes to his neighbour that kept ●ipling, and asked angrily where the same two men were that drank with her yesterday. Which two men quoth this good wife? the strangers that came in when I was at your house with my neighbours yesterday: what your nephews quoth she. My nephews quoth the Parson, I trow thou art mad, nay by God quoth this good wife, as sober as you, for they told me faithfully that you were their uncle, but in faith are ye not so indeed, for by my troth they are strangers to me, I never saw them before. O out upon them, quoth the Parson, they be false thieves, and this might they compelled me to give them all the money in my house. Benedicite quoth this good wife, and have they so indeed? as I shall answer before God, one of them told me beside that you were Godfather to him, and that he trusted to have your blessing before he departed. What did he quoth this Parson? a halter bless him for me: me thought by your countenance, you looked so wildly when you came in quoth this good wife, that something was amiss. I use not to jest said the Parson in so earnest a matter. Why all your sorrows got with it said the good wife, sit down, and I will fill a fresh pot of Ale shall make you merry again. Yea said the Parson, fill in, and give me some meat, for they made me swear and promise them faithfully that I should drink twelve pence with you to day. What did they quoth she, now by the mass they be merry knaves, I warrant you they mean to buy no land with the money: but how could they come into you in the night, your doors being shut fast your house is very strong. Then he showed her all the whole circumstance, how he gave them his alms out at the window, they made such lamentable cry that it pitied him at the heart: for he saw but one when he put his hand out at the window. Be ruled by me said the wife: wherein quoth the Parson? by my troth never speak more of it, when they shall understand of it in the parish, they will but laugh you to scorn. Why then quoth this Parson, the devil go with it, and there an end,   

A wild Roge. Cap. 5.  
A Wild Rogue is he that is borne a Rogue, he is more subtle, and more given by nature to all kind of knavery than the other, as beastly begotten in barn or bushes, and from his infancy traded in treachery, yea and before ripeness of years doth permit, wallowing in lewd lechery, but that is counted no sin. For this is their custom, that when they meet in a barn at night every one getteth a make to lie withal although there chance to be twenty in a company, as there is sometimes more, and sometimes less: for to one man that goeth abroad, there are at the least two women, which never make it strange when they be called, although she never knew him before. Then when the day doth appear, he rouses himself, and shakes his ears, and away goes wandering where he may get aught to the hurt of others. Yet before he skippeth out of his couch, and departeth from his darling, if he like her well▪ he will appoint her where to meet him shortly after, with a warning to work warily for some chetes, that their meeting might be the merrier.  
¶ Not long sithence a wild Rogue chanced to meet a poor neighbour of mine, who for honesty and good nature surmounteth many. This poor man riding homeward from London, where he had made his market, this rogue demanded a penny for God's sake to keep him a true man. This simple man beheld him well, seeing him of tall parsonage, and a good quarter staff in his hand, it much pitied him as he said to see him want, for he was well able to serve his Prince in the wars. Thus being moved in pity, he looked in his purse to find out a penny, and in looking for the same, he plucked out eight shillings in sliver and raked therein to find a single penny, and at the last finding one, doth of●er the same to this wild rogue: but he seeing so much money in this simple man's hand, being stricken to the heart with a covetous desire, bid him forthwith deliver all that he had, or else he would with his staff beat out his brains. For it was not a penny would now quench his thirst seeing so much as he did, thus swallowing his spittle greedily down, spoiled this poor man of all the money that he had, and leapt over the hedge into a thick wood, and went his way as merely, as this good simple man came home sorrowfully. I once rebuking a wild rogue because he went idly about, he showed me that he was a beggar by inheritance, his Grandfather was a beggar, his father was one, and he must needs be one by good reason.   

A Prigger of Prauncers. Cap. 6.  
A Prigger of Prauncers, be horse stealers, for to prigge signifieth in their language to steal, & a Prancer is a horse, so being put together the matter is plain. These go commonly in jerkins of leather or white freeze, & carry little wands in their hands, and will walk through grounds and pastures to search & see horses meet for their purpose. And if they chance to be met and asked by the owners of the ground what they do there, they feign strait that they have lost their way and desire to be instructed the best way to such a place. These will also repair to gentlemen's houses, and ask their charity, and will offer their service: and if you ask them what they can do, they will say that they can keep three or four Geldings, and wait upon a Gentleman. These have also their women, that walking from them in other places, mark where and what they see abroad, and show these Priggars thereof when they meet, which is within a week or two. And look where they steal any thing, they convey the same at the least threescore miles off the place.  
¶ There was a Gentleman a very friend of mine, riding from London homeward into Kent, having within three miles of his own house business, who alighted off his horse, and his man also, in a pretty village where divers houses were, and looked about him where he might have a convenient person to walk his horse, because he would speak with a Farmer that dwelled on the backside of the said village, little above a quarter of a mile from the place where he lighted, and had his man to wait upon him, as it was meet for his calling: espying a beggar there standing, thinking the same to dwell there, charging this pretty prigging person to walk his horse well, and that they might not stand still for taking of cold, and at his return (which he said should not be long) he would give him a penny to drink, and so went about his business. This pelting Priggar proud of his prey, walketh his horse up and down till he saw the gentleman out of sight, and leaps into the saddle, and away he goeth a main. This Gentleman returning, and finding not his horses, sent his man to the one end of the village and he went himself unto the other end, and inquired as he went for his horses that were walked and began somewhat to suspect, because neither he nor his man could see or find him. Then this gentleman diligently inquired of three or four town dwellers there, whether any such person, declaring his stature, age, apparel, with so many lineaments of his body as he could call to remembrance. And una voce all said that no such man dwelled in their street, neither in the parish that they knew of, but some did well remember that such a one they saw there lurking and huggering two hours, before the gentleman came thither, but he was a stranger unto them. I had thought quoth this gentleman he had here dwelled, and so being not far from home, he marched mannerly in his boots, I suppose at his coming home he sent such ways as he suspected or thought meet to search for this Prigger, but hitherto he never heard any tidings again of his Palfreys. I had the best gelding stolen out of my pasture which & had going amongst others while this book was first a printing.   

A Palliard. Cap. 7.  
THese Palliards he called also Clapperdogens, these go with patched Cloaks, and have their Morts with them, which they call wives, and if he go to one house to ask his alms, his wife shall go to another, for what they get, as bread, cheese, malt, and wool, they sell the same for ready money, for so they get more tha● if they went together, although they be thus divided in the day yet they meet ●●●pe at night. If they chance to come to some gentleman's house standing alone, and be demanded whether they be man and wife, and if he perceive that any doubteth thereof, her showeth them a testimonial with the ministers name and others of the same parish, naming a parish in some shire far distant from the place where he showeth the same. This writing he carrieth to salve that sore: There be many Irish men that go about with counterfeit licenses, and if they perceive you will straightly examine them, they will immediately say they can speak no English.  
¶ Further understand for troth that the worst and wickedest of all this beastly generation are scarce comparable to these prating Pallyards: All for the most part of these will either lay to their legs an herb called Sperewort, either Arsenic, which is called Ba●s●ane. The nature of this Sperewort will raise a great blister in a night upon the soundest part of his body, and if the same be taken away it will dry up again and do no harm. But this Arsenic will so poison the same leg or sore, that it will ever after be incurable, this do they for gain and to be pitied, the most of these that go about ●e Welshmen.   

A Frater. Cap. 8.  
SOme of these Fraters will carry black boxes at their girdle, wherein they have a brief of the Queen's majesties letters patents given to such a poor spittle house for the relief of the poor there, which brief is a copy of the letters patents, & utterly feigned, if it be in paper or in parchment without the great seal. Also if the same brief be in print, it is also of authority: for the Printers will see and well understand before it come in press, that the same is lawful. Also I am credibly informed that the chief Proctors of many of these houses, that seldom travel abroad themselves but have their factors to gather for them, which look very slenderly to the impotent and miserable creatures committed to their charge, and die for want of cherishing whereas they and their wives are well crammed & clothed, and will have of the best. And the founders of every such house, or the chief of the parish where they be, would better see unto these Proctors, that they might do their duty, they should be well spoken of here, and in the world to come abundantly therefore rewarded. I had of late an honest man, and of good wealth, repaired to my house to common with me about certain affairs, I invited him to dinner, and dinner being done. I demanded of him some news of these parties where he dwelled. Thanks be to God sir (saith he) all is well and good now. Now (quoth I) this same now declareth that some things of late hath not been well. Yes sir (quoth he) the matter is not great, I had thought I should have been well beaten, within this seven night, how so (quoth I) Marry sir said he. I am Constable for fault of a better, & was commanded by the justicer to watch. The watch being set, I took an honest man one of my neighbours with me, and went up to the end of the town as far as the Spittle house, at which house I heard a great noise, and drawing near stood close under the wall▪ and this was at one of the clock after midnight, where I heard swearing, prating, and wagers laying, and the port apace walking, and forty pence gauged upon a match of wrestling, pitching of the Bar, and casting of the Sledge. And out they go in a fustian fun●e into the backside, where was a great Axletree, and there fell to pitching of the Bar, being three to three. The moon did shine bright, the Constable with his neighbour might see and behold all that was done. And how the wife of the house was roasting of a Pig while they were in their match. At the last they could not agree upon a cast, whereupon they fell at w●rdes, and from words to blows. The Constable and his fellow runs unto them to part them, and in the parting licks a dry blow or two. Then the noise increased, the Constable would have had them to the stocks, the wife of the house runs out with her goodman to entreat the Constable for her guests, and leaves the pig at the fire alone. In cometh two or three of the next neighbours, being waked with this noise, & looking round about the house, they could find nothing therein but the pig well r●sted, and carrieth the same away with them spit and all, with such bread and drink also as stood upon the Table. When the goodman and the goodwife of the house had entreated and pacified the Constable, showing unto him that they were Proctors and Factors all of Spittle houses, and that they tarried there but to break their fast, and would ride away immediately after, for they had far to go, and therefore meant to ride so early. And coming into their house again, and finding the Pig with bread and drink all gone, made a great exclamation, for they knew not who had the same.  
¶ The Constable returning, and hearing the lamentable words of the good wife, how she had lost both meat and drink and saw it was so indeed, he laughed in his sleeve, and commanded her to dress no more at unlawful hours for any of her guests: for he thought it better bestowed upon those smell feasts his poor neighbours, than upon such sturdy lubbers. The next morning betimes the spit and the pots were both set at the spittle house door for the owner. Thus were these Spittle Factors beguiled of their breakfast, while one of them did well beat an other: and by my troth (quoth this Constable) I was glad in my heart when I was rid of them.  
Why quoth I, could they cast the bar and ●ledge well? I will tell you sir ●quoth he) you know there hath ●eene many games this summer, I think verily, that it s●●ne of these Lu●bars had been there, and practised amongst others, I believe they would have carried away the best games: For they were so strong and sturdy, that I was not able to stand in their hands. Well ●quoth I) at these games you speak of, both legs and arms be tried. Yea (quoth this officer they be wicked men. I have seen some of them sithence with clouts bound about their legs, and halting with their staff in their hands, wherefore some of them (by God) be nought all.   

A Abraham man. Cap. 9  
THese Abraham men, be those that fame themselves to have been mad, and have been kept either in Bethlehem, or in some other prison a good time, and not one amongst twenty that ever came in prison for any such cause: yet will they say how piteously and most extremely they have been beaten and dealt withal. Some of these be merry and very pleasant, they will dance and sing, some others be as cold and reasonable to talk withal. These beg money, or when they come at a Farmer's house they will demand either Bacon, cheese, or wool, or any thing that is worth money▪ and if they espy small company within, they will with fierce countenance demand somewhat, where for fear the maids will give them largely to be rid of them.  
¶ If they may conveniently come by any cheat, they will pick and steal, as the upright man or Rogue, poultry, or linen, and all women that wander, be at their commandment. Of all that ever I saw of this kind, one naming himself straddling, is the craftiest and most dissemblingest knave. He is able with his tongue and usage, to deceive and abuse the wisest man that is: And surely for the proportion of his body, with every member there unto appertaining, it cannot be amended. But as the proverb is (God hath done his part.) This straddling saith, he was the Lord Sturtons' man, and when he was executed, for very pensiveness of mind he fell out of his wit, and so continued a year after and more and that with the very grief and fear▪ he was taken with a marvelous palsy, that both head and hands will shake, when he talketh with any, and that apace or fast, whereby he is much pitied, and getteth greatly. And if I had not demanded of others both men and women, that commonly walketh as he doth, and known by them, his deep dissimulation, I never had understood the same. And thus I end with these kind of vagabonds.   

A Fresh Water Mariner or Whipiacke. Cap 10.  
THese Freshwater Mariners, their ships were drowned in the plain of Salisbury: These kind of Caterpillars, counterfeit great losses, on the sea, these be some Western men, and most be Irish men. These will run about the country with a counterfeit licence, feigning either ship wrack, or spoiled by Pirates, near the coast of Cornwall or Devonshyre and set a land at some haven town there, having a large & formal writing as is abovesaid, with the names and seals, of such men of worship at the least four or five as dwelleth near or next to the place where they feign there landing. And near to those shires will they not beg, until they come into Wilshyre Hamshyre, Barkeshyre, Oxfordshyre, Harfordshyre▪ Middelsex, and so to London, and down by the river to seek for their ship and goods that they never had, them pass they through Surrey, Sussex, by the sea costs and so into Kent, demanding alms to bring them home to their country.  
¶ Some time they counterfeit the seal of the Admiralty, I have divers times taken away from them their licences, of both sorts, with such money as they have gathered, and have confiscated the same to the poverty nigh adjoining to me. And they will not be long without another. For at any good town they will renew the same. Once with much threatening and fair promises, I required to know of one company who made their licence, & they swear that they bought the same at Portsmouth of a Mariner there, and it cost them two shillings, with such warrants to be so good and effectual, that if any of the best men of law, or learned about London should peruse the same, they were able to find no fault therewith, but would assuredly allow the same.  
●ight man Blunt.  
The counterfeit Cranke. Nicolas Geninges.  

These two pictures, lively set out▪  
One body and soul, God send him more grace:  
This monstruous dissembler▪ a Cranke all about,  
Uncomely coveting, of each to embrace,  
Money or wares, as he made his race,  
And sometime a Mariner, and a servingman:  
Or else an artificer, as he would feign then.  
Such shifts he used, being well tried.  
Abandoning labour, till he was espied:  
Conding punishment, for his dissimulation,    

A counterfeit Cranke, cap. 11.  
THese that do counterfeit the Cranke, be young knaves and young harlots, that deeply dissemble the falling sickness. For the Cranke in their language, is the falling evil, I have seen some of these with fair writings & testimonials, with the names & seals of some men of worship in Shropshyre, and in other Shiers far off, that I have well known, and have taken the same from them. Many of these do go without writings, and will go half naked, and look most piteously, And if any clothes be given them, they immediately sell the same, for wear it they will not, because they would be the more pitied, and wear filthy clothes on their heads, and never go without a piece of white soap about them, which if they see cause or present gain, they will privily convey the same into their mouth, and so work the same there, that they will foam as it were a Bort, & marvelously for a time torment themselves, and thus deceive they the common people, and gain much. These have commonly their harlots as the other.  
Upon Alhallon day in the morning last, Anno Domini. 1566. or my bo●ke was half printed, before I stirred there came early in the morning a Counterfeit Cranke, under my lodging at the white Friars within the cloister, in a little yard or court where about lay two or three great Ladies, being without the liberties of London, whereby he hoped for the greater gain, this Cranke there lamentably lamenting, and pitifully crying to be relieved, declared to divers there his painful and miserable disease, I being risen and not half ready heard his doleful words rueful mournings, hearing him name the falling sickness, thought assuredly to myself that he was a deep dissembler, so coming out on a sudden, and beholding his ugly and irksome attire, his loathsome and horrible countenance, it made me in a marvelous perplexity, what to think of him whether it were feigned or truth, for after this manner went he, he was naked from the waist upward, saving he had an old jerkin of leather, patched & that was lose about him, that all his body lay out bare, a filthy foul cloth he ware on his head, being cut for the purpose, having a narrow place to put his face out with a baver made to truss up his beard, & a string that tied the same down close about his neck, with an old felt hat, which he still carried in his hand, to receive the charity & devotion of the people, for that would he hold out from him▪ having his face from the eyes downward, all smerd with fresh blood, as though he had new fallen, & been tormented with his painful pangs, his apparel being all be r●●d with dirt & ●●●th as though he had wallowed in the mire, surely the sight was monstrous and terrible. I called him unto m● and demanded of him what he ailed. A good master quoth he I have the grievous and painful disease called the falling sickness why quoth I, how cometh thy jerkin, hose, and hat so bewrayed, with dirt and mire and thy s●inne also. A good master I fell down on the backside here in a foul lane hard by the water side, and there I lay almost all night, and have bled almost all the blood out in my body, it rained that morning very fast, and while I was thus talking with him, a poor honest woman that dwelled there by, brought him a fair linen cloth, and bid him wipe his face therewith, and there being a tub standing full of rain water, offered to give him some in a dish, that he might make himself clean, but he refused the same, why dost thou so quoth I, A sir (saith he) if I would wash myself, I should fall to bleeding a fresh again, and then I should not stop myself: these words made me the more to suspect him. Then I asked of him where he was borne what his name was, how long he had this disease & what time he had been here about London and in what place. Sir saith he, I was borne at Leycester, my name is Nicholas genning's, and I have had this falling sickness eight years, and I can get no remedy for the same, for I have it by kind, my father had it and my friends before me, and I have been these two years here about London, and a year and a half in Bedlam: why wast thou out of thy wits quoth I? yea sir that I was▪ What is the Keeper's name of the house: his name is quoth he, john Smith. Then quoth I, he must understand of thy disease it thou hadst the same for the time thou wast there: he knoweth it well, yea not only he but all the house beside quoth this Cranke, for I came thence but within this fortnight, I stood so long reasoning the matter with him, that I was a cold, and went into my chamber and made me ready, and commanded my servant to repair to Bedlam, and bring me true word from the keeper there, whether any such man hath been with him as prisoner, having the disease aforesaid, and gave him a note of his name and the keepers also. My servant returning to my lodging, did assure me that neither was there ever any such man there, neither yet any keeper of any such name, but he that was there keeper sent me his name in writing, affirming that he letteth none departed from him unless he be set away by his friends, and that none that came from him begged about the City. Then sent I for the Printer of this book, and showed him of this dissembling Crank, and how I had sent to Bedlam to understand the truth, and what answer I received again, requiring him that I might have some servant of his to watch him faithfully that day, that I might understand truly to what place he would repair at night, and thither I promised to go myself to see their order, and craved him to associate me thither. He gladly granted my request, and sent two ●oyes that both diligently and vigilantly accomplished the charge given to them and found the same Cranke about the Temple, whereabout the most part of the day he begged, unless it were about twelve of the clock, that he went on the backside of Clement's Inn without Temple bar, into a lane that goeth to the fields, there he renewed his face again with fresh blood, which he carried about him in a bladder, and daubed on fresh dart upon his jerkin, hat, and hosen, & so came back again to the Temple, and sometime to the waterside, and begged of all that passed by, the boys beheld how some gave groats, some six pence, some gave more, for he looked so ugly and irksomely, that every one pitied his miserable case that beheld him. To be short, there he passed all the day till night approached, and when it began to be somewhat dark, he went to the waterside, and took a Scholar and was set over the water into S. George's fields, contrary to my expectation, for I had thought he would have gone into Holborn, or to S. Giles in the field: but these boys with Argus and Lynx's eyes, set sure watch upon him and the one took a boat and followed him, and the other went back to tell his master.   

A Dommerar. Cap. 12.  
THese Dommerars are lewd and most subtle people, the most part of these are Welsh men, and will never speak, unless they have extreme punishment, but will gape, and with a marvelous force will hold down their tongues doubled, groaning for your charity, and holding up their hands full piteously so that with their deep dissimulation they get very much. There are of these many, and but one that I understand of hath lost his tongue in deed. Having on a time occasion to ride to Dartford to speak with a Priest there, who maketh all kind of conserves very well, and useth stilling of waters. And repairing to his house I found a Dommerar at his door, and the Priest himself perusing his licence, under the seals and hands of certain worshipful men, had thought the same to be good and effectual. I taking the same writing, and reading it over, and noting the seals, found one of the seals like unto a seal that I had about me, which seal I bought besides Charing cross, so that I was out of doubt it was none of the gentlemen's seals that had subscribed. And having understanding before of their peevish practices, made me to conceive that all was forged and nought, I made the more hast home for well I witted that he must of force pass through the parish where I dwelled, for there was no other way for him. And coming homeward, I found them in the town according to my expectation, where they were stayed, for there was a Pallyard associate with the Dommerar & partaker of his gains, which Pallyard I saw not at Dartford. The stairs of them was a gentleman called Chain, and a servant of my Lord Keepers called Woslestow▪ which was the chief causer of the staying of them, who being a surgeon, & cunning in his science, had seen the like practices, and as he said, had caused one to speak afore that was dumb. I chanced to come at the beginning of the matter: Sir (q. this surgeon) I am bold here to utter some part of my cunning, I trust quoth he, you shall see a miracle wrought anon: for I once made a dumb man speak. Quoth I, you are well met, and somewhat you have prevented me, for I had thought to have done no less before they had passed this town: for I well know their writing is feigned, and they deep dissemblers. The Surgeon made him gape, and we could see but half a tongue. I required the Surgeon to put his finger in his mouth and to pull out his tongue, and so he did notwithstanding he held strongly a pretty while, at the length he plucked out the same, to the great admiration of the beholders: yet when we saw his tongue he would neither speak, nor yet could hear. Quoth I to the Surgeon, knit two of his fingers together, and thrust a stick between them, and rub the same up and down a little while, and for my life he speaketh by and by. Sir quoth this Surgeon, I pray you let me practise another way, I was well contented to see the same. He had him into a house, and tied a halter about the wrists of his hands, and hoist him over a beam, and there did let him hang a good while: at the length with very pain, he required for God's sake to let him down: so he that was both deaf and dumb, could in short time both hear and speak. Then I took the money I could find in his purse, and distributed the same to the poor people dwelling there, which was xv. pence halfpenny, being all that we could find. That done, and this merry miracle madly made, I sent them with my servant to the next justicer, where they preached on the pillory for want of a pulpit and were well whipped, and none did bewail them.   

A drunken Tinkar. Cap. 13.  
THese drunken Tinkers, called also Prigs, be beastly people, and these young knaves be the worst: they never go without their Doxes, and if their woman have any thing about them, as apparel or linen that is worth the selling, they lay● the same to gauge, or sell it outright for been bouse at their bousing ken, and full soon will they be weary of them, and have a new. When they happen to work at any good house, their Doxes linger alooft, and tarry for them in some corner, and if he tarrieth long from her, than she knoweth he hath work, and walketh near, and sitteth down by him. For besides money he looketh for meat and drink for doing his dame pleasure. For if she have three or four holes in a pan, he will make as many more for speedy gain. And if he see any old Kettle, cha●er, or Pewter dish abroad in the yard where he works, he quickly snappeth the same up, and into the budget it goeth round▪ and thus they live with deceit.  
¶ I was credibly informed by such as could well tell, that one of these tippling Tinkars with his dog, rob by the high way four Pallyards and two Rogues, six persons together, & took from them above four pound in ready money, and hid him after in a thick wood a day or two, and so escaped untaken. Thus with picking and stealing, mingled with a little work for a colour, they pass their time.   

A Swadder oe peddler. Cap. 14.  
THese Swadders and peddlers be not all evil, but of an indifferent behaviours these stand in great awe of the upright men, for they have often both wares and money of them, but forasmuch as they seek gain unlawfully against the laws & statutes of this noble Realm, they are well worthy to be registered amongst the number of vagabonds: and undoubtedly I have had some of them brought before me when I was in commission of the peace, as malefactors for bribery and stealing. And now of late it is a great practice of the Upright man, when he hath gotten a booty, to bestow the same upon a packefull of wares, and so goeth a time for his pleasure, because he would live without suspicion.   

A jarkeman and a Patrico, Cap. 15.  
FOrasmuch as these two names, a jarkeman and a Patrico be in the old brief of vagabond, & set forth as two kinds of evil doers, you shall understand that a jarkeman hath his name of a jarke, which is a seal in their language, as one should make writings and set seals for licences and passports. And for truth there is none that goeth about the country of them, that can either write so good and fair a hand, or indite so learnedly as I have seen and handled a number of them: but have the same made in good towns, as what cannot be had for money (as the proverb saith) Omnia venalia Romae, and many hath confessed the same to me. Now also there is a Patrico, and not a Patriarcha, which in their language is a Priest that should make marriages till death departed, but they have no such I am well assured, for I put you out of doubt that not one amongst a hundred of them are married, for they take lechery for no sin, but natural fellowship and good liking love, so that I will not blot my book with these two that be not.   

The groundwork A demander for glimmer. Cap. 16.  
THese Demanders for glimmer be for the most part women, for glymmar in their language is fire: these go with famed licences and counterfeited writings, having the hands and seals of such Gentlemen as dwelleth near to the place where they feign themselves to have been burnt, and their goods consumed with fire. They will most lamentably demand your charity, and will quickly shed salt tears they be so tender hearted. They will never beg in that Shire where their losses (as they say) was. Some of these go with states at their backs, which is a sheet to lie in a nights. The upright men be very familiar with these kind of women, and one of them helpeth another.  
¶ A demander for glymmar came unto a good town in Kent, to ask the charity of the people, having a feigned licence about her▪ that declared her misfortune by fire done in Somersetshire, walking with a Wallet on her shoulders, wherein she put the devotion of such as had no money to give her, that is to say Maite, wool, bacon, bread and cheese▪ and always as the same was full, so was it ready money to her when she emptied the same, wheresoever she traveled. This harlot was (as they term it) snout fair, and had an Upright man or two always attending on her watch (which is on her person) and yet so circumspect that they would never be seen in her company in any good town, except it were in small villages where typling houses were, either traveling together by the high ways: but the truth is, by report she would weekly be worth six or seven shillings, with her begging and bitcherie. This glimmering Mort repairing to an Inn in the said town, where dwelled a widow of fifty winter old of good wealth, but she had an unthrifty son, whom she used as a Chamberlain to attend guests when they repaired to her house. This amorous man beholding with ardent eyes this glimmering glauncer was presently piteously pierced to the heart, and sewdly longed to be clothed under her livery, and bestowing a few fond words with her, understood strait, that she would be easily persuaded to liking lechery, and as a man mazed, mused how to attain to his purpose, for he had no money. Yet considering with h●mselfe that wares would be welcome where money wanteth, he went with a wanton to his mother's chamber, and there seeking about for add ends, at length found a little whistle of silver that his mother did use customably to wear on, and had forgot the same for haste that morning, and offers the same closely to this mannerly Marian, that if she would meet him on the backside of the town, and courteously kiss him without constraint, she should be mistress thereof and it were much better, well saith she you are a wanton, and beholding the whistle, was farther in love there with, then ravished with his person, and agreed to meet him presently and to accomplish his fond fancy: to be short & not tedious, a quarter of a mile from the town he merrily took measure of her under a bawdy bush (so she gave him that she had not) and he received that he could not, and taking leave of each other with a courteous kiss, she pleasantly passed forth on her journey, and this untoward liquorous Chamberlain repaired homeward. But ere these two Turtles took their leave the good wife had miss her whistle, and sent one of her maidens into her Chamber for the same and being long sought for, none could be found, her mistress hearing that diligent search was made for the same, and that it was taken away, began to suspect her unblessed babe, and demanded of her maidens whether none of them saw her son in her Chamber that morning, and one of them answered that she saw him not there, but coming from thence: then had she enough for well she witted that he had the same, and sent for him, but he could not be found. Then she caused her Hostier, in whom she had better affiance for his truth, and yet not one amongst twenty of them but have well left their honesty (as I hear a great sort say) for to come unto her, which attended to know her pleasure, got seek out saith she my untoward son, and bid him come speak with me: I saw him go out saith he half an hour sithence on the backside, I had thought you had sent him of your errand, I sent him not quoth she go look him out.  
¶ This hollow Ostler took his staff on his neck and trudged out apace that way he saw him before go, and had some understanding by one of the maidens that his mistress had her whistle stolen, and she suspected her son for it: he had not gone far but he espied him coming homeward alone, and meeting him demanded where he had been. Where have I been quoth he and began to smile, by the mass thou hast been at some bawdy banquet, thou hast even told truth quoth this Chamberlain, surely quoth this ostler, thou hadst the same woman that begged at our house to day with a licence for the harms she had by fire, where is she quoth he, she is almost a mile by this time quoth this Chamberlain, where is my mistress whistle quoth this Ostler, for I am well assured that thou hadst it, and I fear me thou hast given it to that harlot Why is it miss quod the Chamberlain, yea quod the Ostler and showed him all the whole circumstance what was both said and thought on him for the thing. Well I will tell thee quoth this chamberlain, to be plain with thee I had it in deed, and have given the same to this woman, and I pray thee make the best of it, & help now to excuse the matter, and yet surely and thou wouldst take so much pains for me as to overtake her for she goeth but softly and is not yet far of and take the same from her, & I willbe ever thy assured friend. Why then go with me quoth this hostler, nay in faith quoth this chamberlain what is freer than gift, and I had pretty pastime for the same, hadst thou so quoth this ostler now by the mass and I will have some to, or I will lie in the dust ere I come a gain. Passing with haste to overtake this paramour within a mile from that place where he departed he overtook her, having an upright man in her company a strong & a sturdy vagabond, some what amazed was this hostler to see one familiarly in her company, for he had well hoped to have had some delicate dalliance as his fellow had, but seeing the matter so fall out, and being of good courage, & thinking to himself that one true man, was better than two false knaves, and being on the high way, thought upon help if need had been, by such as had passed to and fro. Demanded fiercely the whistle that she had even now of his fellow, why husband quoth she, can you suffer this wretch to slander your wife, avaunt varlet quoth this upright man and let's drive withal his force at the ostler, & after half a dozen blows he strikes his staff out of his hand, and as this hostler stepped back to have taken up his staff a gain, this glimmering Morte flings a great stone at him, & strak him on the head, that down he falls with the blood about his cares, and while he lay thus amazed the upright man snatches away his purse, wherein he had money of his mistresses, as well as of his own, and there let him lie & went away with speed, that they were never heard of more. When this dry beaten hostler was come to himself, he faintly wandered home, and creepeth into his couch, and rests his idle head, his mistress hard that he was come in, and laid him down on his bed▪ repaired strait unto him, & asked him what he ailed, and what the cause was of his sudden lying on his bed, what is the cause quoth this hostler, your whistle your whistle, speaking the same piteously three or four times, why fool quoth his mistress take no care for that, for I do not greatly way it, it was worth but three shillings four pence, I would it had been burnt for four years agone: I pray thee why quoth his mistress, I think thou art mad, nay not yet quoth this ostler but I have been madly handled if you knew all, why what is the matter quoth his mistress? and was the more desirous to know the cause: & you will forgive my fellow & me. I will show you, or else I will never do it, she made him presently faithful promise that she would: then saith he, send for your son home again which is a shamed to look you in the face, I agree there to saith she, well than quoth this hostler your son hath given the same Morte that begged here, for the burning of her house, a whistle, and you have given her five shillings in money, and I have given her ten shillings of my own: why how so quoth she, than he sadly showed her of his mishap, with all the circumstances that you have heard before, and how his purse, was taken away, and xv. shillings in the same, whereof v. shillings was her money, and x. shillings his own money, is this true quoth his mistress, I by my troth quoth this ostler and nothing greves me so much, neither my beating neither the loss of my money, as doth my evil & wretched luck: why what is the matter quoth his mistress? your son sayeth this ostler had some cheer and pastime for that whistle, for he lay with her, and I have been well beaten, and have had my purse taken from me, and you know your son is merry & pleasant, & can keep no great counsel & then shall I be mocked & laughed to scorn in all places, when they shall hear how I have been served. Now out upon you knaves both quoth his mistress and laughs out the matter, for she saw it would not otherwise prevail.   

The Bawdy Basket. cap. 17.  
THese Bawdy baskets be also women, that go with baskets and Capcases on there arms, wherein they have Laces, pins, needles, white inkell, and round silk girdles of all colours. These will buy conneyskinns, & steal linen clothes off hedges. And for these trifles they will procure of maiden servants, when their mistress or dame is out of the way, either some good piece of beef, baken, or cheese, that shallbe worth xii. pence: for ij. pence of there toys. And as they walk by the way, they often gain some money with their instrument, by such as they suddenly meet withal. The upright men have good acquaintance with these, & will help and relieve them when they want. Thus they trade there lives in lewd loathsome lechery. Amongst them all is but one honest woman, & she is of good years, her name is jone messenger, I have had good proof of her, as I have learned by the true report of divers There came to my gate the last summer. 1566. a man much deformed and burnt in the face, blear eyed, and lame of one of his legs that he went with a crouch, I asked him where he was borne & where he dwelled last, & told him thither he must repair and be relieved and not to range about the Country, and seeing some cause of charity, I caused him to have meat and drink, and when he had drunk I demanded of him whether he was never spoiled of the upright man or Rogue, yes that I have quoth he and not this seven years (for so long I have gone abroad) I had not so much taken from me, nor so evil handled as I was within these four days, why how so quoth I? in good faith sir quoth he, I chanced to meet with one of these bawdy baskets which had an upright man in her company, and as I would have passed quietly by her, man saith she to her make, do you not see this ill-favoured windshaken knave, yes quoth the upright man, what say you to him, this knave oweth me two shillings for wares that he had of me half a year ago, I think it well saith the upright man, sirrah saith he, pay your debts: saith this poor man I own her none, neither did I ever bargain with her for any thing, and as I am well advised, I never saw her before in all my life, mercy God quoth she, what a lying knave is this, and if he will not pay you husband beat him surely, and the upright man gave me three or four blows on my back and shoulders, and he would have beaten me worse had I not given him all the money in my purse which was just fourteen pence: why saith the bawdy basket hast thou no more? then thou owest me ten pence still, and be well assured I will be paid the next time I meet with thee. And so they let me pass by them: I pray God save and bless me and all other in my case from such wicked persons: why whither went they then quoth I? into East-Kent, for I met with them on this side of Rochester: I have divers times been attempted but I never lost much before this unhappy time. Well quoth I thank God for all, and repair home into thy native Country.   

A Autem Mort.  
THese Autem Morts be married women, for Autem in their Language is a Church, so she is a wife married at the Church, and they be as chaste as a Cow which goeth to Bull every moon, with what Bull she careth not. These walk most times from their husband's company a month or more together, being associate with another as honest as herself. These will pilfer clothes off hedges, some of them go with children of ten or twelve years old, and if time and place serve for their purpose, they will send them into some house at the window to steal and rob, which they call in their language, Milling of the ken, and will go with wallets on their shoulders and slates at their backs, there is one of these Autem Mortes she is now a widow of fifty years old, her name is Alice Milson, she goeth about with a couple of great boys, the youngest of them is about twenty years of age, and these two lie with her every night and she lieth in the mids, she saith that they be her children, but beetleheaded be the babes borne of such an abominable belly.   

A walking Mort. cap. 19  
THese walking Morts be not married these for their unhappy years doth go as an Autem Mort, and will say their husbands died either at Newhaven, Ireland, or in some service of the Prince. These make laces upon staves and purses that they carry in their hands, & white vallance for beds. Many of these hath had and have children: when these get aught, either with begging bichery or bribery, as money or apparel, they are quickly shaken out of all by the upright men. Wherefore this policy they use, they leave their money with some trusty friend or other being householders either man or wife, sometime in one shire, and then in another as they travel: this have I I known that 4. s. or 5. s. yea, 10. s. left in a place, and the same will they come for again within one quarter of a year, or sometime not in half a year, yet it is to little purpose, for if they buy them any garments either linen or woollen they are taken from them and worse given them, or else none at all.  
¶ The last Summer An. 1565. being in familiar talk with a walking Mort, that came to my gate, I learned by her what I could for my purpose, and then I rebuked her for her lewd life and beastly behaviour, declaring to her what punishment was prepared for her in the world to come. God help me quoth she how should I live, none will take me into service, but I labour in harvest time honestly. I think but a while with honesty quoth I. Shall I tell you, the best of us all may be amended, but yet I did one good deed within this twelvemonth, but i● words of it, and you shall hear all. So it be necessary to be kept secret it shall lie under my feet. What mean you by that said she? why never to discover it to any, She began to smile, saying if it were disclosed to any by me, she swore never to tell me any thing hereafter, and began thus. The last Summer said she being great with child, and traveling into East-kent by the sea-coast, and lusting greatly after Oysters and muscles and having gathered many, opened them and eat them up, till at last seeking after more, I slipped into a hole up to the waist and stuck fast in mud, so that if the tide had come I had been drowned: but espying a man far off, cried out as loud as was in my power for help, he heard me, and repaired as fast to me as he could, being come I required for god's sake his help, and whether it was with striving and forcing myself out, or for joy I had of his coming to me. I had a great ●uller in my face & looked red & well cou●●ered. And to be p●me with you he liked me so well (as he said) that I should there lie s●l, & I would not grant him, that he might lie with me. ●nd by my troth I will not what to answer I was in such a perplexetie, for I knew the man well, he had a very honest woman to his wife & was of some wealth & on the other side, 〈◊〉 I were not holp out I should there have perished, and I granted him that I would obey to his will, than he plucked me out. And because there was no convenient place near hand, I required him that I might go wash myself & make me some what cleanly, and I would come to his house and lodge all night in his barn, whither he ●●ght repair to me & accomplish his desire, but let it not be quoth she before nine of the clock at night for the● there willbe ●●all stirring: And I may repair to the town q. she to warm & dry myself, for this was about two of clock in the after none, do so quoth he for I must be busy to look out my cattle here by before I can come home. So I went away from him & glad was I, & why so quoth I? because quoth she his wife my good dame is my very friend, & I am much be holding to her. And she had done me so much good ere this, that I was loath to harm her any way, why so quoth I? what and it had been any other man & not your good dames husband. The matter had been the less quoth she. Tell me I pray thee quoth I who was the father of thy child she studied a while, & said that it had a father but what was he quoth I? Now by my troth I know not quoth she, you bring me out of my matter so you do, well say on quoth I, than I departed strait to the town & came to my dames house. And showed her of my misfortune, also of her husband's usage in all points & that I showed her the same for good will & bid her take better heed to her husband, and to herself, so she gave me great thanks & made me good cheer and bid me in any case that I should be ready at the barn at the time and hour we had appointed for I know well quoth this good wife my husband will not break with thee. And one thing I warn thee that thou give me a watch word a loud when he goeth about to have his pleasure of thee, & that shallbe fie fo● shame fie and I will be hard by you, with help. But I charge thee keep this secret until all be finished, & hold saith this good wife here is one of my petticoats I give thee. I thank you good dame q. I, and I warrant you I will be true & trusty unto you, So my dame left me sitting by a good fire with meat and drink & other good cheer, and then she went strait and repaired unto her gossipes dwelling thereby, and as I did after understand she made her moan to them what a lecherous husband she had, and how that she could not have his company for harlots, & that she was in fear to take some filthy disease of him, he was so common a man, having little respect whom he had to do with all, and q. she now there is one at my house a poor woman that goeth about the country that he would have had to do withal wherefore good neighbours & loving gossyps as you love me and as you would have help at my hand another time, devise some remedy to make my husband a good man, that I may live in some safety without disease, & that he may save his soul that God so dearly bought. And after she had told her tale they cast there per●●ng eyes all upon her, but one stout dame amongst the rest had these words. As your patiented bearing of troubles, your honest behaviour among us your neighbours, your tender & pitiful heart to the poor of the parish, doth move us to lament your case, so the unsatiable carnality of your faithless husband doth instigate & st●r us to devise and invent some speedy redress for your cause & the amendment of his life: Wherefore this is my counsel & you will be ruled by me. I say to you all, unless it be this wife who is chiefly touched in this matter I have the next cause, for he was in hand with me not long a go, & if company had not been present which was by chance, he had I think forced me, for often he hath been tempting me, & yet have I sharply said him nay, therefore let us assemble into the place where he hath appointed to meet this gyllot that is at your house & lurk in some corner till he begone abou● his business, And then me thought I hard you say that you had a watch w●●de, at which word we will all step forth being five of us besides you, for you shallbe none because it is your husband, but get you to bed at your hour. And we will carry each of us a birchen rod in our laps, & we will all be muffled for knowing, & see that you go home & acquaint the Mo●te with the matter for we must have her help to hold, for always four must hold & two lay on. Alas saith this good wife, he is too strong for you all, I would be loath for my sake you should receive harm at his han●: fear you not q. these stout women let her not give the witch word until his breeches be about his legs: And I trow we all will be with him to bring before he have ●ey●●re to pluck them up again, than they all with one voice agreed to the matter that the way she had devised was most convenient and fittest to accomplish such a matter withal, so she went home but before she departed from her gossips she showed them at what hour they should priui●y come in on the backside & there to tarry their good hour, so by that time she came in it was almost night and found the walking Mort still sitting by the fire, and declared to her all this new devise abovesaid, which promised faithfully to fulfil to her small power as much as they had devised, within a quarter of an hour after in cometh the good man who said that he was about his cattle, why who have we here wife sitting by the fire, and if she have eat and drunk send her into the barn to her lodging for this night, for she troubleth the house, even as you will husband saith his wife, you know she cometh once in two years into these quarters. Then he called to his wife for his supper sitting down very pleasant, nothing understanding of the banquet that was prepared for him after supper, and according to the proverb (that sweet meat will have sour sauce) thus when he was well refreshed, and his spirits revived, he entered into familiar talk with his wife of many matters how well he had spent that day to their great profits, saying some of his cattle were like to be drowned in the ditches, driving other of his neighbours cattle out that were in his pastures, and mending his fences that were broken down. Thus profitably he had consumed the day, nothing talking of his helping the walking Mort out of the mire, neither of his request nor yet of her promise. Thus feeding her with friendly fantasies consumed two hours and more. Then feigning how he would see in what case his horses were in and how they were dressed, repaired covertly into the barn, where as his friendly foes lurked privily, unless it were this mannerly Mort, that comely couched on a bottle of straw. What are you come q. she? by the mass I would not for a hundred pound that my dame or any of your house knew you were here. No I warrant thee saith this good man they be all safe enough at their work, and I will be at mine anon He lay down by her, and strait would have had to do with her, nay fie saith she this order is unseemly, if you lie with me you shall surely untruss you, and put down your hosen for that way is most easiest and best, sayest thou so quoth he, now by my troth agreed, And when he had untrussed himself he began to assault the unsatiable fort: why quoth she that was without shame, saving for her promise, are you not ashamed: never a whit saith he, lie down quickly. Now lie for shame fie, saith she aloud, which was the watchword: wherat these five furious sturdy muffled gossips flings out, taking sure hold of him, plucking his hosen down lower, & binding them about his feet, then binding his hands, & knitting a handkerchief about his eyes that he should not see, they laid him on until they were windless: be good saith this Mort unto my master for the passion of God, and laid on as fast as the rest, and still ceased not to beat him till the blood burst plentifully out in most places, than they let him lie still bound, with this exhortation, that he should from that time forth know his own Wife from other men's, and that this punishment was but a fleabiting in respect of that which should follow, if he amended not his manners. Thus leaving him blowing and foaming for pain and melancholy that he could not be revenged of them, they vanished away and had this Mort with them, safely conveying her out of the town. Soon after cometh into the barn one of the good man's boys to fet some hay for his horse, who finding his master fast bound and grievously beaten with rods, was suddenly abashed, and would have run out to call for help, but his master bid him unbind him, and make no words thereof, for I will be revenged well enough, yet after better advise he thought it meeter to let the same pass, than (as the proverb is) to awake a sleeping dog. And by my troth (quoth this walking Morte) I come now from that place, and was never there since this part was played, which is somewhat more than a year: and I hear a very good report of him now, that he loveth his Wife well, and liveth honestly: now tell me was not this a good act. It was prettily handled quoth I, is this all? yea quoth she, here is the end.   

A Doxe. Cap. 20.  
THese Doxes be broken and spoiled of their maidenhead by the upright men, and then they are called Doxe, & not afore: afterward she is common for any that will use her, as h● more is a common name to all men. Such as be fair and somewhat handsome, keep company with the walking Morts▪ & are ready always for the upright men, and chief maintained by th●●t the other inferior sort will resort to noble men's places, & gentlemen's houses, standing at the gate, or lurking on the backside in some out house, or under some hedge or thicket, expecting their prey, which is, for the uncomely company of some courteous gest that will refresh them with meat and some money, where exchange is made ware for ware: this bread and meat they use to carry in their great hosen, so that these beastly bribing breeches serve many times for bawdy purposes. I chanced not long since familiarly to commune with a Doxe that came to my gate, and surely a pleasant harlot, and not so pleasant as witty, and not so witty as void of all grace and goodness, I found by her talk that she had passed her time lewdly eighteen years in walking about. I thought this a necessary instrument to attain some knowledge by, and before I would grope her mind, I made her both to eat and drink well: that done, I promised her some money if she would open and discover to me such questions as I would ask of her, & never to bewray her, nor disclose her name. And you should saith she▪ I were undone: fear not that quoth I, but I pray thee say nothing but truth. I will not q. I: Then first tell me quoth I, how many upright men and Rogues dost thou know, or hast thou known and been conversant with, & what their names be: she paused a while, and demanded of him why he did ask. For nothing else said I, but to know them when they come to my gate. Now by my troth quoth she then are you never the near, for all my acquaintance for the most part are dead. Dead quoth I, how died they, for want of cherishing, or of painful diseases? Then she sighed and said they were hanged. What all quoth I, and so many walk abroad as daily I see? By my troth said she, I know not past six or seven by their names and named them to me. When were they hanged quoth I? Some seven years ago, some three years, and some within this fortnight, and declared where they were executed, which I knew well to be true by the report of others. Why q. I, did not this fearful sight much grieve thee for thy time long and evil spent. I was sorry quoth she, for some of them were loving men: for I lacked not when they had it, and they wanted not when I had it, and divers of them I never did forsake till the gallows parted us. O merciful God quoth I, and began to bless me. Why do you so quoth she? alas you know that every one must have a living. Other matters I talked of, but this now may suffice to show the Reader as it were in a glass the bold beastly life of these Doxes. For such as have gone any time abroad, will never forsake their trade to die therefore, I have had good proof thereof. There is one a notorious harlot of this affinity, called Bess Bottomley, she hath but one hand, and she hath murdered two children at the least.   

A Dell. Cap. 21.  
A Dell is a young wench able for generation, and not yet broken by the upright man. These go abroad young, either by the death of their parents, and no body to look unto them, or else by some sharp mistress that they serve, do run out of service, or else she is naturally borne one, and then she is a wild Dell: these are broken very young, when they have been lain withal by the upright men, than they be Doxes and no Dells. These wild Dells being traded up with their monstrous mothers, must of necessity be as evil or worse than their parents, for neither we gather grapes from green briars, neither figs from thistles: but such buds, such blossoms: such evil seed sown, well worse being grown.   

A Kinching Morte. Cap. 22.  
A Kinching Mort is a little Girl, the Morts their mother's carry them at their backs in their slates, which is their sheets, and brings them up savagely till they grow to be ripe, and soon ripe, soon rotten.   

A Kinching Co. Cap. 23.  
A Kinching Co is a young boy, traded up to such peevish purposes as you have heard of other young imps before, that growing to years, are better to hang than to draw forth.   

They. usage in the night. Cap. 24.  
NOw I think it not unnecessary to make the Reader understand, how and in what manner they lodge a nights in barns and backhouses, and of their usage there, for as much as I have acquainted them with their orders and practices in the day time: The arch and chief walkers that hath walked a long time, whose experience is great, because of their continual practice, I mean all Morts and Doxes, for their handsomeness and diligence for making of their couches. The men never trouble themselves with that thing, but takes the same to be the duty of the wife. And she shuffels up a quantity of straw or hay into some pretty corner of the barn, where she may conveniently lie, and well shaketh the same, making the head somewhat high, and drives the same upon the sides till it be like a bed, than she layeth her wallet or some other little pack of rags or scrip under head in the straw, to bear up the same, and layeth her petticoat or cloak upon and over the straw, so made like a bed, and that serveth for the blankets than she layeth her slate, which is her sheet upon that, if she have no sheet (as few of them go with out) than she spreadeth some large clouts or rags over the same, and maketh her ready, and layeth her drowsily down. Many will pull off their smocks, and lay the same upon them in stead of their upper sheet, and all her other pelt and trash upon her also, but many lie in their smocks: and if the rest of her clothes in cold weather be not sufficient to keep her warm, than she taketh straw or hay to perform the matter. The other sort that have no slates, but tumble down, and couch a hogshead in their clothes, these be still lousy and shall never be without ver● unless they put off their clothes, and lie as is abovesaid. If the upright man come in where they lie, he hath his choice, and creepeth in close by his Doxe, the Rogue hath his leavings. If the Morts or Doxes lie or be lodged in some farmer's barn, and the door be either locked or made fast to them, then will not the upright man press to come in unless it be in barns & out houses standing alone, or some distance from houses, which be commonly known to them. As S. Quintens, three Cranes in the Vintrey, S. Tybbes, and Knapsbury, These four be within one mile compass near unto London. Then have you four more in Middlesex: Draw the pudding out of the fire, in Harrow on the hill parish, the Cross ●e●es in Cranford parish, S. julian's in Chistleworth parish, the house of pity in North hall parish. These are the chief houses near about London, where commonly they resort unto for lodging, and may repair thither freely at all times. Sometime shall come in some Rogue, some picking knave, a nimble Prigge, he walketh in softly on nights when they be at rest and plucketh of as many garments as be aught worth, that he may come by, and may easily carry, and runneth away therewith, and maketh port sale at some convenient place of theirs▪ that some be soon ready in the morning for want of their Casters and Togemen: where in stead of blessing, is cursing: in place of praying, pestilent prating, with odious oaths and terrible threatenings. The upright men have given all these nick names to the places abovesaid. Yet have we two notable places in Kent, not far from London: the one is between Detford and Rothered, called the kings Barn, standing alone, that they haunt commonly: the other is Ketbroke, standing by Black heath half a mile from any house. There will they boldly draw the latch of the door, and go in when his family be at supper, and sit down without leave, and eat and drink with them, and either lie in the hall by the fire all night, or in the Barn, if there be no room in the house for them. If the door be either bolted or locked, and be not opened unto them when they will, they will break the same open to his further cost. And in this barn sometime do lie forty upright men with their Doxes together at one time. And this must the poor Farmar suffer, or else they threaten to burn him, and all that he hath.   
FINIS.