THE devil's CABINET Broke Open: OR A NEW DISCOVERY OF THE highway THIEVES. BEING A SEASONABLE Advice of a Gentleman lately converted from them, to Gentlemen and Travellers to avoid their villainies. TOGETHER With a Relation of the Laws, customs, and subtleties, of housebreakers, pickpockets, and other Mecanick Caterpillars of this NATION. As also, The Apprehension and Imprisonment of the hangman of the City of London.  Tending much to the Safety of all Honest People. 
LONDON: Printed for Henry Marsh, at the Crown in Paul's churchyard, 1658.   

The Publisher unto the Reader.  
Discreet Reader,  
I Have oft times Ruminated in my Retired Contemplation, how fitly man might be compared to a flower, which as it produces honey, so doth it poison; the one being a Cordial nourisher, the other a Contagious destroyer of man's nature, yet both the radice of one original: The metaphor is easily digested to an ordinary apprehension; man's nature being so prone and apt to yield to almost every attractive motion that attempts to draw it, & is so far from being a permanent Jewel, that it may be said to be an uncertain momentary nothing; which who so discreetly reads, the ensuing Treatise, cannot but witness: and will surely find the Spider of unbridled vanity had sucked so much poison from that eye pleasing, but sense offending, flower, (given over to work vanity) that had not that sacridlyingenuous Be, of a converting goodness extended to the assistance of that precious flower his soul, probability concludes that the Salamander & Spider of impiety had doubtless extinguished the fire, and converted to poison the honey that lay treasured there, and so made an object of pity of him whom Charity in joins me to suppose a happy subject of mercy. And truly as to a flower, so to a chameleon may man fitly be alluded, that can assume any shape but white: intimating that though we could become lewd and licentious, either to riot or rage, yet not we but it must be somewhat Heavenly that makes our scarlet Transgressions white as snow, innocent & righteous. And since the holy Spirit lays down this as an assertion, that more were converted by precedent then precept, I am confidentto presuppose that whoso reads considerately the ensuing lines will readily acknowledge this to be a precedent for Conversion, and a Precept for Conviction, of such as stand either in, or well affected to, those Impieties.  
And as I cannot but much condemn the past part of his life being dishonest, so must I of necessity commend his resolution to become a new man for the future, the residue of the time he hath to live: And that the world may receive benefit by it, as well as himself, therefore hath he solidly and pertinently laid open the mystery of their iniquity. And since that God himself hath said, there is joy in Heaven over every sinner that repents, God forbid but that which makes Heaven rejoice should exhilarate us, and so make the earth to be lifted up in mirth and triumph for that act of blessedness.  
And as I commend him and joy for him, so I do heartily wish that it may occasion more joy, by working powerfully on them that shall peruse it, that so his joy might be their joy, and that the joy of us all; that so with the Bee we may suck honey out of the stinking Hemlock, and be included in that Maxim, Foelix quem faciunt aliaena pericula cautum.  
I do also much commend the nobleness of his spirit, that having deserved of his Country to die thinks himself unworthy in the same to live, and so freely exiles himself, that having wronged her by his abuses, he may show his willingness to requite her, and regain his own lost honour, by writing in bloody Characters the heroic evidences of a manly spirit on the carcases of her enemies; and as it is his seemingly earnest endeavours, let it be our real care and labour to fly from evil to do good, and thereby attain what follows, To live for ever.  
Farewell.   

The Author to the Reader, wisheth health and happiness hear and hereafter.  
Dear countrymen and Friends,  
BEfore I appear to be judged by your discretion, know I appeal to Mercy not to Justice, the one may give me life, though the other require my death; and the sin-pardoning God of mercy give me a heart that may live answerable to what I now profess, and to abominate what heretofore I have practised, and let Charity expiate what either may condemn me or displease you; and look not on me as an impious Saul, and therein a persecutor of the innocent, though I must readily confess I have deserved it, but as another, a converted Paul, which I humbly pray I may live worthy of, that so if I should meet with my old Companions and they upbraid me with what I was, I may answer with a Holy man to him, Such a one as thou art was I once, but such a one as I am wilt thou scarce ever be. And Charity being a Christians proper ornament, nay the crown of his virtues, I hope to find your Christianity in pardoning my past Offences, which with joy I find Heaven hath remitted: For now remains Faith and Hope (both which are sweet to my soul) and Charity, but the greatest of these is Charity; since then all remain, they are of use, and their use is to refresh the soul, and if the soul than a soul, & so mine.  
And if your expectations make you inquisitive to know the Cause of my appearing in Print, let your patience lead you to peruse the Discourse itself, and the Introduction will satisfy your curiosity. I could enlarge on that subject were there any necessity for it, but my endeavours centure in a desire not to write much, but to be brief and pertinent; and to that extends what I have there expressed, which I judge sufficient, and then to add were superfluous, though I readily acknowledge it seems to me necessary to explain the original Cause that led me to that Licentious Course of life, but that were to open a wide wound in the credits of those to whom I owe my education, when that time may be better spent to heal my own; but in a word, it was their too tender love that supplied my youthful fancy with such a redundancy of coin, that prompt me on to such exorbitant prodigality, that my estate, though competent to maintain me in credit, was too little to supply my immoderate extravgancies, which custom and Company had wedded me unto. I had a purpose some months since, to have done what now I have accomplished, but some contradicting fancies smothered these intentions for a time, till being engaged in an out Land employment, I determined when my fate should send me to the Seas, to send a small Tract to the press, that so when I went into foreign Nations abroad, this might undertake a trasicking voyage at home, to the commodity of my native Nation.  
And I am bold to think no man will wonder at my obscure concealing of myself, since to own the Subject might reflect disparagement, not only on me but on my Family, for gladly could I embrace the shame, being sensible of my own deserts: So that though Heaven hath been gracious to forget, I desire still to remember my own unworthiness, not for aught, but that thereby I may be humbled, and God glorified that in mercy hath showed mercy, which the Lord grant unto us all Grace here, that we may have Glory hereafter.  
Farewell. From on shipboard in the Downs, September 20. 1657.   

A NEW DISCOVERY OF THE highway thief's. BEING A seasonable advice of one lately converted from them, to gentlemen and Travellers to avoid their villainy, &c.  

THE PROLOGUE.  
THey who look either for a fine phrase, or a sublime lofty strain from me, will come as far short of their expectation, as he that seeks for happiness in this transitory World; my theme and my aim being only truth, not curiosity, makes me rather industrious to benefit by Instruction, then pleasant by delighting the fancy with rhetoric; But as my miscarriages have rendered me odious in my own sight, so in sincerity I shall endeavour to make myself hateful in the eyes of my misdemeanours, by showing its nakedness to the World, that so I hating it, it may also abominate me, and inveterate enmity rend our late amity to a perpetual discord, and I become an example to others to steer their action by a scale of piety, lest doing otherways, expose them as it did me to the greatest exigent Imaginable, which divine providence having snatched me from, I intended by its assistance to become a friend to my Country, by being an enemy to my late Company and Courses, which were obnoxious and exorbitant, which when I embraced in the arms of an undaunted resolution, I thought those my dishonest courses legitimate, and far more noble than the esteemed babe of baseness, and sneaking way of borrowing, arguing thus though inconsistent with honour, that it was far better taking of a purse by violence from a stranger, then borrowing not intending to pay, and so with a compliment to rob my Friends, and familiar acquaintance, when the former was usually repaid by the Country being lost on the road, so that many were better able to bear, contributing to my wants, than one or two, or a few: when and to which I neither promise, nor with a thousand oaths swore to repay them, as they that borrow most usually do: thus I was, and others are, poor wretches deluded by Satan, who tells the Quarrellor that to affront a meek Man is noble, and the Envious, that revenge is sweet, representing sin in its false dress, that so it may neither be unpleasing to the Cautious, nor terrible to the fearful, but conformable to every disposition.  
But the better to stifle and overcome these temptations, let us consider first that every action hath its proper end, if it be good, the end will be answerable, for the end though it come last, it is first proposed, and guideth the whole course, thence it is that I giving the reins of my actions to deboistness, had well-nigh ended in destruction here, which leads to a greater hereafter, these serious thoughts hereof in my restraints fixed a conviction on my conscience, that the end of sin cannot be happy, because there remaineth some thing to come after it, which the spirit of truth saith is death, the due wages of sin, and it is want of the thoughts of the end, that makes the end of so many, wretched; The Epicure thinks the only means to make him happy, is to indulge to sensuality, and pleasures taken up at any rate, and the Drunkard imagines it consisteth in abundance of wine, like Bonosus, of whom it was said, he was not born to live, but lived to toss a pot, who being out-drank by one, he looked on it as an infamy, and therefore hanged himself for vexation, of whom it was then said in derision, there hangs a Tankard, and no man, here is the way, and the end.  
Secondly, that after an expiration of life, there is another being to be expected, an eternal state, the happiness or wretchedness whereof consists in the former consideration, a due weighing, that all our actions centre in a good end, which end is an eternal state, the consequence of this opened my eyes to see the vanity of my villainy and youthful exorbitancies; In so much that true conviction of spirit, and no self end, or interest, or hope of favour hath prompt me on to this discovery, but my wounded conscience that makes me fear the displeasure of a Deity, more than death, knowing in my retired thoughts, that it's my duty towards God, and my Country, to unfold those secrets that may ruin violence, and preserve indemnified innocency, I shall therefore unlock the door, and show you the deceiveing ways, acts and offences of the highway counsels, being of that horrid nature, that they deserve the punishment both of body and soul.   

CHAP. II. An absolute Defiance of all those that follow my former lewd Courses.  
NOW you licentious Rebels that would be deemed Knights of the Road, I detest your actions, for which I have showed my reason before; I begin my discovery, then since your deceit must be divulged, pluck of your Beards, visards, Hoods, Parches, Wens, Mufflers, and false periwigs, all unnatural, together with those other disguises, that obscure the due proportion of your faces, that I may make known unto the world and let them see, whether you possess so much grace as may make you blush at the repetition, of the vileness of your ways, the which I fear you want, which conjecture ariseth by the experience of my own former hardness of heart when it was my own case; which in ordinate gracelessness I so much commiserate in my mind, that I could with joy deposit my blood to extenuate your transgression & that they might be no more; but sound reason tells me I may be far more advantageous in serving of my native nation if I live, by showing them your baseness and instructing them how to avoid the danger of the same, that so Travellers may be secure and such as have an inclining fancy to your practice may by the unworthiness of the art be dissuaded from a closure with your wickedness, who ever therefore casts an affectionate eye upon this highway business as a course belonging to a Gentleman, shows himself to be ignoble, and is certianly blind, it being clearly speculative to every discerning eye as not only base in itself, but infamous in its end, which ought to be regarded in every undertaking. It is in part admitted, that a Gentleman by birth and education destituted of means and action too, may by the haughtiness of his spirit be lifted up to disdain, want as a Tyrant, that may through its oppression make him rebel, & so cause him to attempt this art though void of honour, when no nobler an employment presents him with a maintenance, but now when employments in the sports of Mars his fiery blows affords both maintenance and honour in the excercise of arms, against our nations foes, 'tis more becoming them though stained in their reputations, to endeavour their by the deeds of martial power to snatch the wreath of honour out of victories hands in the field of proud Belona; then in disgrace and infamy to besot their spirits in the arms of wanton Venus at home, though I am deeply sensible that the major part of the professors of this mystery & villainy, are so frequently apt to glory in that which truly is their shame, supposing themselves to be the best of men who are the worst of villains, because they are styled Captains & lieutenants by the drawers of the Inns when its likely they are but lately rose from that doglike life of lackeys like the fool that is proud of his own wit, because another in derision Ironically says he is wondrous wise.   

CHAP. III. The Oath every young thief takes when he is admitted into the brotherhood, with other the Orders at the investation of him with that honour of one of the Knights of the Road.  
MOst disconsolate is the state of that man, that believes not that their is a God, but far more wretched is his condition that knowing and believing there is a deity, shall un-God in his mind & to himself the Trinity, by worshipping the devil, and men's actions best speakeing their hearts, we may conclude of those that they are all diabolical, all having erred, & there is none righteous no not one; for fearing that their actions were not sinful enough to conjoin a oneness between them and the devil; this is their practice at their first admittance they confer an Oath of such foul stuff, as if with more than a threefould cord, which is not easily broken, they would tie themselves to sin by their perjury, like him, that swears to be true to falsehood (which implies an impossibility) by reading a charge of secrecy that what ever misfortune happens to cloud their freedom by rendering them as an object to Justice and the Law, they shall conceal their complices to the death, or against any other jeopardy what so ever, burying in oblivion not only his confederates, but also the manner of his entrance into that accursed way, and further they proceed to swear him, that if the Judges should further press you on to a discovery of particulars, than you must cunningly create some men in your fancy, devising not only names, but to each man a particular feature, as such a beard, such a nose, such eyes, and such hair, such a stature, such an age, cunningly finding to each a dwelling and possession; provided you be sure to place them at a distance far enough, and then before inquiry be made, the danger of your trial will be past, and it may be your pretended discovery may purchase favour from the bench for discovering of such a one as was never thought on before; how if you are examined why and how you fell into these courses; you must tell them that you came up to London, or some other eminent place, with an intent to go to service, but before you could provide yourself, you had spent all your money, here fetching a great sigh, looking very, sad confessing that necessity constraining you to it to supply your wants, you fell into these wicked courses, which will make them think you are a poor young man newly drawn aside, and so cause them to take pity of your condition; then must you promise never to commit the like offence: but if their mercy extend to the remission of your guilt, it shall not only wrest you from the due punishments of the Law, but from the prosecution of your past evils, that so as you escape the one, you will also forsake the other, this is the only way being in jeopardy to acquit you from those afflictions incident to the like offences by the justice of an imparcial Law, & by these means you will not only qualify the guilt of it, but have liberty to fall to your old courses, nor must conscience trouble you, but dispense with every impiety, and glory in the greatest iniquities; thus in all kind of goodness they are slack, but apt and readily prone to do evil with a kind of eagerness and delight, having resolved to grow old in the most exquisite practice of vice.   

CHAP. IV. The order prescribed, or the charge given by the eldest thief, to the rest before they attempt.  
AS every proceeding hath its aim and end, so hath their undertakings its aim to do evil, to rob and steal, & to spoil the innocent, its end to conviction and punishment and these to extremes also, its mean degrees of carriage for being admitted, & that admittance graced or rather insatiated in villainy, they receive those precepts that may advantage their designed wickedness; for Satan having led them by the hand unto that place which experience concludes as most commodious for their purpose, they retire and lie in wait in some by-place most advantageous and least suspicious, which yields the eye the prospect of the road, to strictly view the booties, that others misfortunes may enrich theirs, and the honest man's loss be their gain, and then the oldest thief as they repair to their stations pleads the precepts of his experience, and as an arch Ingen of the devil, draws every advantage that may promote his cause to the longest extent in this due order following, ye that are sworn Knights of the road be ruled by me, whose long experience makes me able to command, and my love to you willing to instruct you, thus must you place your masks and chin-cloth & fit it at a moment to disguise your faces, thereby to blind the intellects of such as by constraint pay tribute to your wants, who then can know & with considerate heed directly swear you are the men, when these artificial visards, are withdrawn, & so the visible tokens vanish that might inform men's knowledge what you are, and that your words may have a different sound, alter the utterance of your speech by putting pebbles in your mouths, that so as your habit, face & hair obscure your discovery, your speech reputed undisguisable, may darken and not give light to your discovery, & then ingeniously contrive a watch word to yourselves that may occasion no suspicion, as what's a Clock, a question common in almost every mouth, which being named, let every man fall to his proper work, those that are strongest at the grasp, let them seize first, always duly observing this, to catch the bridle with your left hand, and with the right, seize on your sword, for your just guard, and if they do resist, the one prevents their flight, the other cuts his courage, the weaker sort whose charge is to bid stand, and so confront the horse's head, present them with a pistol fit for to discharge, if they deny delivering of their purse, so that either by consent, if not constraint, enforce them to yield.   

CHAP. V. The manner of their assault, with their Courage in and after the Action.  
THus being in readiness, let one cry arm, arm my Comrades. Whilst he is talking thus, a prize comes by or in their sight, if up the Hill they meet him, if down, they bid you follow close at their heels, where each having singled out his choice, which he likes to deal with, the coast being clear, they fall up to their close order, and side by side they jointly seize their prize, where sometimes the baseness of some spirits, make them unworthy of what they are, men; for when nature hath bestowed the full proportion of their limbs, to make them of the largest manly size, yet so base is their spirits, so different are the qualities of men, that no sooner the word deliver is let loose, but they are supprised so with fear, that like babes, they cry and tremble before there is any weapon drawn to affright them, and ofttimes their purses are as poor as their courages, which makes thieves resolute and desperate to the like attempts again, when occasion offers a trial, but then on the contrary, to their praise, I speak it, that some in comparison to those taller men, are pygmies, yet of so undaunted resolution and unrefistible courage, that neither threats of death or torture can dull the edges of their courageous spirits, but that before they'll yield to men, they'll stoop to death; but when power and might subdues them to the Robbers basest will, than they withdraw unto a secret place, and search the secret parts where money use to lie, with so strict care, that sooner may they quoin, then save one penny for their need, where if they find some gold by chanes, quilted for more security, they call them villains, and dishonest men, because they seek to save what is their own, which they call cozenage, at which the poor Traveller cries he is utterly undone, because he loses then his whole estate, and by his means, endeavours to move their stony hearts, but it is impossible to mollify those Flints with tears, or move those Adimants with sighs or groans, whose consciences sleep fast in villainy, never moved at a poor man's loss or straits, but prompt for the desire of unlawful gain, to act the parts of fiends not, men; nor doth your business centur in those wrongs, but higher swell, ofttimes exchanging horses with a jest, that it's no robbery, desperately engaging them thus robbed, to swear they shall not follow you by hew and cry, or by means of a general rising of the towns adjacent; and so robbed, rifled, and amazed you leave them wrapped in woes, and haste away to secure yourselves, where every Crow that flies, exstracts a fear, and every calf or colt that stirs or makes the brushes rush, seems to your fearful fancy, a Constable to apprehend you for your theft, which sets your wits upon the tenters of the most severest exigents, I speak not at a giusse, but what I know, for lately when a Robbery was done, a strong confusion rose by so small means, as cannot but engage the serious to admire the timerity of their dejected minds, for an owl who to gain shelter from the troubles of the uncouth days, when all the airy tribe wandering, flock to him, screened now in the obscure retired residence of a hollow tree, no sooner was he got into his den, but between discontent and joy, he seemed to rend his hollow residence with fatal whoops, and much amazing screeks which infused such a terror in their distrustful minds, that whips, switches and spurs were set on furious exercise to out-speed the wind in their quick flight, for fear those hollows were voices of the country men, following them in their great hasty speed, to save themselves, thus doth a continual fear attend their motion; Insomuch that they fear very shadow of themselves, till some by-Inn, affords a shelter to your baseness, where you fall to a division of your spoils, but here you appear in your colours, by acting a cheat to your Robbery, and play the double Thieves, first rob honest men, and then yourselves, with bloody oaths cheating your bosom friends, reserving the best part unto yourselves, from those you dare abuse, and to defend your justness, dam yourselves to the lowest region of the worst of places: thus have I often found your perjury; sad it is to do wickedly, but most desperate to load on sin, with the weight of another.   

CHAP. VI. The unblessedness of their gains, and how soon they spend what they thus unlawfully get.  
THat which is founded on an unjust and unsound, principal, can have no good or substantial being or continuance, and that which is punished by fraud and deceit is wasted as likely with a blast, as it was gotten unjustly with abuses, so that it matters not whether it be little or much that is gotten, since the quality destroys the quantity being purchased with fin and sometimes that sin died with blood, and as saith the proverb, il-goten goods never prospers, nor can they ever thrive who like rolling stones, are always moving from place to place, but as the devil was your frined in enterprising your wretched act, so are you his vessels in spending in adoration of him what you have gained, so that to have much is to as little purpose, as for a man to thatch his dwelling house with snow which the beams of Phoebus, dissolves in drops, for Inns and Taverns, those common sinks of sin, that know our wicked ways in large our biles to sink our coin in their unbotomed pouches, who knowing our wicked ways presume we dare not cavile, lest all prove ill for us, so that if right considered we rob for them not for ourselves, and as with sin we purchased what we had, so they with cozenage rob us, leaving remediless our wrongs that live by fraud, to make them swim in wealth, so thrifty is their way that on the ruins of the country they do subsist, which makes them rich in plenty, as we penurious through our want of coin spent in excess; for some I know who had a trible part of all we gained, as being Master of us all, and yet his gains oft-times came short to countervail his forced expense and prodigality, yet was he wary if I truly view him in his station, lest too much vapouring should occasion suspicion, whence I conclude that want of a blessing on our continual practised trade, which is accursed, made all to vanish as if it had never been, he only suffering us to rain till we were fit for the scourge of his wrath, who spares long to see if grace will work its proper end, conversion: as ever blessed be his name it hath on me, but if in stead of contrition, there appearness of heart, than God, let's lose Justice to execute due vengeance on the actors of such hellish deeds: First apprehension, next imprisonment, than conviction than last of all, to conclude the tragical interlude of your exorbitances, comes the period of your life by a shameful death which the law extracts as a due debt we owe to Justice.   

Hearty dissuasions with my best endeavours to reclaim them. BOOK II.  

CHAP. I. The misery of an imprisoned estate, which must be the first step of satisfying the Law.  
LIberty, that rich inheritance of all that are born to live, and live to die, as it is the sweetest of enjoyment next that imperial gem of health, so the want thereof, next to sickness, must needs be of all other the most bitter, since then to be confined unto the confines of a jail is to be in part unmanned what and how great is that wretchedness that is occasioned by a want not only of liberty, but a continual dread of a shameful death, and that made more terrible by the unavoidable expectation of an eternal imprisonment, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing, of Teeth with flames of unquenchable fire for ever more; for like the pitcher that though it go often to the well, yet comes it broken home at last: o then forsake this life, lest the prison become your Inn, and the terror of that place full of tortures are so exsasperated by the imagination of a noble mind, that hell itself cannot contain more exquisite woes & pains, a continuance whereof wear sufficient to punish all offences, if the law dispensed with that debt due to Justice the life of the offenders: for you no sooner enter here but a thousand vices in a hundred licentious wretched souls surround you, where sighing is their air, their comfort coldness, and their fooddispair, & when the keeper with the grim aspect of his stern cuntenance makes you tremble with the fear of a new martyrdom, whilst the insulting rascal on the tiptoes of his pride, screws his ill-favoured face to a stern frown, which so dejects the spirit of the imprisoned slaves, that the contrition of their looks seems to implore his smiles whose devilish heart having renounced remorse casts a defiance in their piteous face, and not there unquiet hours only do taste the gall of bitterness but the sweet minutes of their rest, if that rude place afford them any, are frighted with your cares or some rude noise of beastly creatures from whose drunken voices comes unwelcome sounds, oaths, cursing the Stars, the Earth, and all that's represented to his thoughts blaspheming God, banning Angels, and their creditors, reviling fate, in that he is heir only to fortune's frowns, and to be sure, if only a small spark of wickedness came with him to this worldly hell, you accomplish the highest exigent of shame before you come to shake hands and part, and grow a subtle Artist in the devil's Trade of sin. Most in consistant then is the fond practice of the vulgar sort who say, a prison will reclaim the faults of youth, when 'tis most true they do precipitate their utter over throw, for ill examples purge not sin, but adulterate the will that is pron to folly, so that the prisoners living deaths are feeling monuments of wretchedness, and yet are only prologues to those tragedies, your ore throws record in characters of blood this will instruct you what it is to die not unto nature, but far worse to a perpetual infamy.   

CHAP. II. By showing them how much they are mistaken in other men's opinions of them.  
MEN may be witty yet not wise, subtle yet not discreet, as it fareth with most of you, who think, though vainly, that by attempting deeds ignoble will purchase you esteem, renown, and honour in the popular, vulgar eye, as if to act base villainy were the way to be admired, not scorned, as though the actions you have done, are such as have contracted amity with honour, and so engaged Men in Authority to protect your lives, that in despite of Law you must survive; so from the jail unto the gallows, in a presumptuous safety you are sent careless of danger, where justice tells you your conceits are vain, as are your lives, expenses and ungodly trade, for men whose judgements steer by piety, justly condemn your sin, and pity you for charity, not your desert, and since my sincere endeavour hath thus discovered you and your disguise, besure they'll know your tricks to well to be entrapped by you, since your feigned worths are obvious cheats, and faint protectors of your wickedness, cease, and give over those acts of fiends not men, which makes you as much the effigies of Satan, as God created you the Image of Himself.   

CHAP. III. By putting them in mind of their wicked and cursed ends, (which they fondly and foolishly jest at, as also their reward in the World to come.  
GOD concludes him cursed, and man most miserably wretched that hangs upon a Tree, which besides the shame that attends you and your posterity, the death itself might with the cursedness of it, dissuade you to put a period to the practice of that great wickedness, in which consists the violation of a command, and so a breaking of the whole Law, neither dies not your shame with your body, but your Family though never so Noble, suffers a wrent in their honour, by partiscipating of the Infamy you suffer, which for some ages rest died with scandal, although never so much innocent of the crime, & yet those senseless caitiffs who inherit this death by their transgressions, laugh at this heavy curse, as at a sport, and call it pleasure to be pluck to heaven in a string, and thus by the power of Satan are they prompt onwards to laugh at their own ruin, whilst what affrights others with an apprehension of horror, doth rather move them with a kind of pleasing joy to delight themselves, who think the more they become conformable to the devil, the nearer they approached happiness, but the same weakness that leads you on in confidence to those so groundless hopes, may prompt you one step farther to presume, as I found mercy, so may you from God and men, I wish to you the glorious grace I found, but pray consider a particular, cannot Compose a general, one Swallow makes no summer, & know that if mercy did extend to wave heavens and earth's wrath from me, yet grace twice offended, triples the vengeance of a severe just judge, and for your sufferings here by death, that's but a taste of those highly bitter and everlasting sorrows that are reserved in store, for such as defile their lives with so great sin, as makes heaven execute the heat of wrath wrath, as the due merit of your heinous sin; which to prevent, there is only one means left, and that's contrition; if there remain yet any sparks or likelihood of grace, though but so much as may occasion one good thought: and if that unto sin you have not made a lasting league of servitude, behold your fact with a relenting eye of pity: thereby to purchase ease and comfort to your sad despairing souls: then happy men, not that you have been base, but that from sin you have retired to sanctity. Times never past to mend, better late than never; for he that delights to persevere in sin, not being able to appeal to Christ, and to his merits, but with a willing greediness lays hold on his damnation. And if no sense of things secular can convict those hardened hearts, if not a temporal, yet an eternal death must needs move sense of danger; the one is but breath, the other endless everlasting pain, which ere it be ended is still renewed in burning lakes of brimstone that never die, but burn with cruel tortures for each heinous sin; where howls and hollow groans adds to the eternal weight of misery, when frosts, fires, drownings, sulphur, and other the worst of punishment attend their wretched souls: this is the sad period of your ways, which if it work not its desired end, I'll cease to labour to persuade you more. But on the contrary, if I cannot convert you, I could willingly convict you: and here I could name both you, and your abode, but that you have no constant residence, but for a night in some by-road, and so away, either into the West, or North, or sometimes into the South: And as your dwellings you change, so do you every day your names; so that in shape, in being, place and name, you change with every day, like the mutable chameleon, but never into white Innocency: And thus to inform, were but to put in doubt the Inquisitive, and not at all enlighten to your due apprehension.   

CHAP. IV. An Ingenuous discovery of them to each discerning eye, by infallible tokens how to know them on the Road, and if robbed, how surely to tract them.  
THe uncertainty of your attire, and various disguises, with your nonresidence, and changible names, makes me uncapable to do what I would; therefore I will do what I can, and in every lineament so pourtract you and your carriages to every man that seriously shall peruse this Treatise, that with ease, not difficulty, he may know you as you ride, and by that means enable him to provide for his own security; or if by you robbed, let him but observe my directions and he need not question to apprehend you, when your sense of dangers is past, and you in your thoughts secure. You shall have it may be two or three of them overtake you, & pretend if they feared your strength, that they were lately affronted in the Wood by eight or ten stout fellows; but they beat the rogues, and made them fly to save themselves, and seal this with strong oaths, and by your answer sound your spirits whether valiant or no; which if they find apt to be daunted, than they wait an opportunity to act their roguery on you; and it may be sometimes they boast in drink, what they have done to others, as now to you; and as a reward for what unwillingly you lend to them, they'll pretend to give you a word that shall protect you from the like affront again far better than your sword; as, Round-de-la-vera-hay, The Moon shines bright, or the like; but these are cheats, and no securing powers: It's true, when we were ready to seize a prize, & spied a friend, or other company coming near, we used some such words, to bid our company forbear a while for our own safeties sake, which honest Travelersignorant of any wrong, suspected nothing, whilstwe by these knew what we had to do, but else those words we valued not, for prize and nothing else could satisfy our minds that fought for money; therefore never believe them; but observe, dear countrymen my better rules for your security, which for your sakes I'll take the honest pains to write in plain-wise, not deceitfully.    

BOOK III. Plain, instructions for the honest Traveller, that he may pass in safety on the way.  

CHAP. I. What he is to take heed unto before be begin his Journey.  
DEar countrymen that travel on the Road, the past-part of my wicked life having been consumed in sin, and that sin maintained by the spoil of Passengers; I seeing the wretchedness of that state, find how much I am bound to satisfy the debt I owe you, to the uttermost of my power, which reaches to no more satisfactory an act, then good advice how to avoid the dangers of the road, and what I speak herein is the issue of my long sinful experience; as thus, when you carry a charge about you, let secrecy conceal your money, and the time of your departure in your breast, for 'tis a custom no less common than indiscreet; when you undertake a journey, to blaze that undertaking amongst your reputed friends, who out of seeming love, drink healths to your good Journey, and your safe return; this gloss of friendship expiates the least mistrust of wrong or thought of Ill, when by those means I have often known a Son betray his Father, a Brother his Brother, and one friend another; in condescending and complotting with some thieves who for his giving notice of the prize, shares one quarter, or more, of that gain he so betrays; when but for this fond humour they had not been discovered and waylaien; and which is worst, sometimes you choose a guard to succour you, and to take your part, in whom you trust, who oft doth bring you into danger, without the least suspicion on your part; for when they bid you stand, he'll draw as in a valiant rage, and with some one appointed for that use, hack swords, whilst another threatens his death; if he stand on those terms of seeming honour: you seeing his false danger fear his death, & bid him yield, which he though willing seems loath to do: nay more, he knowing well which way they fled, will send the Hue and cry another way; and if you suppose you know any of them that did the robbery, and do hit right, he persuades you, that whilst they fought his disguise fell off, and therefore he marked him, and knows 'tis not the man, and with pensive look he will lament your bad hap: and thus your bosom friend betrays you.   

CHAP. II How to carry themselves in their inn.  
IT is as common a custom, as a cunning policy in thieves, to place Chamberlains in such great Inns where Cloathiers and graziers use to lie; and by their large bribes to infect others, who were not of their own preferring; who noting your purses when you draw them, they'll gripe your cloak-bags, and feel the weight, and so inform the Master thieves of what they think, and not those alone, but the Host himself is oft as base as they, if it be left in charge with them all night; he to his roaring guests, either gives item, or shows the purse itself, who spend liberally; in hope of a speedy recruit: and all this is occasioned by want of discretion in managing your business for the best; therefore be secret, and let little be made known to those that watch to do you wrong.   

CHAP. III showing the danger of travelling on the Sabbath day.  
HE that expects a blessing from the Father of blessings above, must so behave himself in the eyes of Heaven, whilst on earth, that he must live here, as if he were there already; and the only way so to do, is to steer our actions by God's command, which saith, Keep holy my Sabbath-day, in which we ought to remember God's rest from labour, and rest ourselves from sin; for when we come short of this, God's love and protection goes so far beyond us, that we can feel no joy in that dark night which is out of his presence; which made Moses say, Except thou O God go along with us, let us not go hence: thence it, is that few which travel on this day, escape the hands of thieves; for they know none ride at that time, but on great and urgent business and that can scarce be done without great store of Coin; so that if they once are seen, they sure are robbed immediately: and though the country are enjoined to pay what you shall lose by day, yet not on this; because it is a day of rest; and as you are remediless, being robbed so helpless before, for there is no company to aid the honest Traveller as at other times.   

CHAP IV. How to know a Thief from an honest man.  
Be sure on the Road to associate with none but such as you find inclined rather to leave your company, then keep it; for such as press to be near you, though against your will, are very dangerous: but I'll presently inform you how to know if they be thieves or not. Take occasion to make some stay, than note whether they stay, or keep their pace, or else alight and go on foot that you may overtake them; follow some half an hour after a slow pace, and if you overtake them, take heed, for that's the surest symptom of a Thief: The other usual marks of thieves be these, which as you ride you may discern so plain, that you need not doubt the truth of what you think. They muffle their faces with their cloaks, or else their cloak or coat hides all their clothes; they have a handkerchief or scarf, which with their hand they'll rear up to their eyes, over their faces just when they bid you stand. And if by occasion of my discovery they leave off this, that you may miss your observation: besure so soon as they come somewhat near you, fix your eye full in their face, and you shall see them turn their faces on one side which if they do, then keep you distantce, ride from them; and mark whether their face and beards agree together, & are not counterfeit: and above all things shun him that rides in a Mountier-Cap; and such as whispers oft, and are inquisitive after your business; or what your employments are, for 'tis to know what you have about you.   

CHAP V. showing how dangerous it is to grow familiar with any stranger upon the Way.  
WHen you take your journey whither the occasion calls you with a friend, you pass not far before your company is increased by a third: when there is two to one, there is no fear of him being alone, before you call him fellow-traveller, and joy in his company, and he in yours: but before you have rid 10 miles together on your way he overtakes some three more of his Company, than he shakes and tremble, and seems afraid; and cries, Directly friends we are forelaid; if ye have Charge about you, let me know't, we'll fight it out; if we have nought to lose, we were best yield: By these like words he'll quickly find whether the prize be rich; and whilst you thought there had been three to three, there's four to two: If they find you armed, than one who they find fittest for the work, they clothe in Russet, like a Country-bore, in his high-shoos, with twists of Hay instead of Boots, a goad in his hand, riding aside upon a saddle made of a wisp of straw, who rides cheek by jowl with you, and causes mirth by his most simple talk; you not so much as think he is capable of hurt: but when he hath brought you into their snare, he seizes one, and your new fellow-traveller the other, the rest come in, and then it is in vain to strive, for nothing less than your money will ransom you out of their hands.   

CHAP VI. How, when, and where to ride.  
THose so many prodigious ways to rob the Innocent, bids every man be wary how, and when he rides, and where: if he have any charge about him, let me advise you not to ride by day, but by night; but for those base sheep-stealing puny rogus, that hazard their necks for a Noble, I am unacquainted with their actions; therefore I do not undertake to show their deceits; but for those Cutters on the road, I can assure you, you are free from any horseman whatsoever: for 'tis their rule, that surely none by night will ride that are worth robbing. Next, they must keep civil hours, for fear that through mistrust they are apprehended; therefore it's their chief care to take their Inn betimes: and more, they hardly dare adventure in the dark, because they cannot see either your dangerous defences, or their own advantages, or spy pistols or other private weapons: and you have time your money to convey from them, and divers other advantages the day denies; but since this is ordained for rest, I can say no more, but 'tis my best advice, to keep yom from the dangers of the road: and 'tis a general rule with high-way-men, to keep their station upon the greatest roads, that of those number which pass by, they may select such as they think are richest prize: but on your petty roads, where scarc any use to pass; they never use to come: there you may pass secure: which I advise you choose if possible you can, rather than on great reads. But 'tis a foolish custom you have gotten, when you ride by any place that commonly speaks danger, you bustle up together side by side, which is most commonly your overthrow: but take my counsel here, when e'er you ride in fear, especially, ride far asunder, a butts length at least, and then be sure they will never attempt to rob you, when your straggling order will give some of you leave undoubtedly to escape, and to raise the country in their pursuit: Besides, their Company is set in several parties, when should you ride in a cluster, they will surely sally out; and seize their purchase; when if they should fall upon a straggling party, before they can do any thing it's strange but rescue comes, which easily will make the Cutters fly.   

CHAP. VII. If he be beset.  
I Have thus traced them in every meander of their sinful courses, whereby to discover them to you, that you may avoid them; it shall be my next work to instruct you how to behave yourself if unhappily you are beset; Look not as if amazed about, as if you hoped for rescue, this incourages them to height of resolution; but look as stern as they, and so, as if to fear you were a stranger, and make your brow the throne of rage and fury; and this is the readiest and most certain way to save your money, and your reputation too; for they fighting with a guilty conscience within, and without against a country-law and Justice, right and equity, which I speak by experience, if nobly you resist, will make the most undaunted spirit of them all stoop to discouragement; for I have known them that of themselves have been of so unresistible a resolution, that they durst outbrave the roaring Canon to the mouth, and scorn to stoop to baseness; yet in this act, when men have but seemed to resist, they have shook and trembled, even to a remorse of their wickedness; for though they swear to shoot you if you yield not, 'tis but to fright you, for they dare not do it, because they know that murder never escapes the hand of heavens just punishment, and by thus doing oftentimes thieves may be taken, and so others freed by their apprehension from the like danger you were in, and by this act you will gain honour and repute.   

CHAP. VIII. By telling them of a fault most Travellers are guilty of, if thieves assault them.  
YOur meanest hearts submit too soon, and ofttimes yield almost before they bid you stand, and then wish they may escape, that so the Hundred may repair your loss, if they are not apprehended by the Hue and cry, and unworthily you ofttimes add to, and if not double the sum, knowing the Hundred will be glad for to compound; and so you cozen both the country and the thieves, and to convince them that you fought like men, you cut and slash your clothes, and swear they did it in the fight who robbed them; when yet ten to one your blows were tears, crying for life, and then bid them take all; but these ignoble spirits I hate, and by my work intend no love to them, but to the nobler sort.   

CHAP. ix.. If by chance he be unawares surprised, how to behave himself.  
BUt if by your own negligence, and the frowns of fate, the pleasure of your journey be eclipsed and clouded by a sudden surprisal, blame not me, who endeavour if you please to hinder those accidents if you be careful, else the fault's your own; Yet let me still advise you what to do if you see no hopes but you must yield, strive not at all when 'tis too late, but give the fairest words you can, racking your finest wits to please their ear; and most devoutly wish you had more money to supply their wants, and with a kind of cheerfulness deliver some, and so perhaps they'll let you pass without further to do; but if they make an offer, seem to yield freely to it: then will they fist you soundly, but do not hold your hand upon your money, but seem to be a stranger unto fear, and that will vanish their suspicion of a greater sum; for when I have took so much as pleased me well, I have by mens' fear had grounds to think that they had more, and so by laying my hand upon their arm or thigh, or near where it lay hid, they would cry out, they were undone, when I as yet found nothing more, but by their temerity have been encouraged to make a stricter search, and found considerable sums that secretly lay hid, when if they had been discteer, they had been secure and safe from me.   

CHAP. X. Being robbed, how to follow them, which way to set Heu-and-ery, how to coast, and where to find the thieves.  
IF you have lost your wealth, their is no help; but to endeavour to surprise the thieves by strict pursuit: therefore be wary, and follow with all speed, I you obtain your wish: and seize the rogues that lately seized you. But be careful, as it becomes you to follow undiscerned, lest they lay Ambuscadoe to surprise your liberty, and it subdue to bonds; for if they see you in your chase, the foremost he'll slip into some by place, when you suppose no ill, ride on: but when you do draw nigh, they sally, and secure you in strong bonds, where fast bound they leave you, and then he that comes next releases you; to him you tell your adverssfates, and say they left the road, but whither they went you know not how to tell, but admit me to your counsel, and I'll tell you how to shun their escape; and by example the surest Shool-Master, I shall direct you what to do in this: as suppose in Coal-brook-road you lost your purse, the thieves to uxbridge-road or Stanes will surely ride and not fail to take up their lodging, there for that night this is most certain, and the soundest precept in their law, and truly for invention, the wittiest secret that I e'er knew or heard, and stands with reason, therefore let reason guide you to secure these thieves if they have robbed you: for they know full well none use to travel from road to road: no not the Hue-and-cries they never cross the passages, but go straight along; so that by this close way they rest at pleasure, and are gone again before the lazy Hue and cry salutes them with an alarum, nay, and with grief I speak it, some silly fellow newly crept into office searches and inquires, and by authority seizes poor Travellers, as far from wrong as they from wit and knowledge, thinking by this false apprehension to get credit, and be esteemed double-diligent, when they poor harmless souls, now under hold, though free from guilt, do ofttimes lose their lives for what they never were once so much as privy to; therefore to regulate this error, and that you may avoid the like, take my advice, and then I hope you'll find and secure the right offender: and so to do, with all possible speed scour the next great Road, not straight before, but either on the right hand, or on the left; and if you miss them, then conclude they are sheltered in some Inn which you have past, and therefore observe my good advice, and you shall surely find and apprehend them, as thus; If you have missed them, set some careful Spies with a sufficient assistance near at hand, and be confident you'll see them come that way without the least apprehension of fear; and if (because I have betrayed the secrets of their Trade) they leave this use, I am sure neither their wit, nor the devil's assistance, can ever devise the like again; and I seriously protest, I see no way for them to fly with fafety, or the least hope to escape: But this observe, that if they light of any considerable sum, than they rid that night to their rendezvous in the city of London, which is too sure a shelter for them; but with a real heart to fright them from that way, who I cannot draw from it with advice, I will pursue them hither with the best instructions for their apprehension; but observantly take notice, for here is as eminent an example of their subtlety as any ever the devil enriched their knowledge with; for if you are robbed in the Eastern quarter, pursue them not in the direct road to London with Hue and cry, for by some other way they are fled; therefore hast to the city, and in Westminster, Holborn, the Strand, and Common-garden search speedily, for there they are. If Northward they light on you, then to Southwark, the bankside, or Lambeth they are gone, and so of the West and South; and when you find them, seize all you find, for they are all Companions that are together.  
Thus they always do contrive to take those places where they may most seemingly be safe from dangers of pursuits, and in thus doing as I have showed you, they think the city is between them and the Hue and cry, and they secure; and so before the search comes to them, as it seldom goes so far, they have time enough to stay, and then be gone. Thus have I laid such a form of Instructions for the Hue and cry, as if observed, they cannot escape his hands.   

CHAP XI. An extraordinary Charge the country usually put themselves unto, which is both needless and hurtful.  
Custom, that Mother of absurdities, hath not only Tolerated, but naturalised a practice, which though well intended, is not only unnecessary in a discreet eye: but hurtful, as shall be made manifest; for where any robbery is committed, the Hundred commonly puts a watch immediately to guard that place where it is done. Which verifies the old Proverb used in derision of the like acts: To shut the stable-door when the Steed is lost: 'tis not to be imagined that ever the Thief should come to make a needless breach to thank the Groom for feeding of the beast so well, and rubbing, dressing, and looking to him with honest care: for just so it must needs fare with them that should ignorantly come to the same place where they seized their prize, knowing this custom to be in use, but say they should come there, and at that time the watch is sat; I really protest, I ever held that road that had a watch upon it, to be the surest and best place for purchase. For first the honest travellers supposes it impossible for them to be robbed, being guarded thus, which makes him careless to secure himself, because they fear not; whilst alas! the thieves do what they list, and freely pass, and the watch men ne'er the wiser; for they stand on that place commanded for their station, and move not from it, when 'tis indifferent with the thieves when he lays hold on what he looks for, his booty, which where he singled it out, all places are alike to him, and so fewer as good as that: so that the coast be clear in sight; and when he hath done the deed, he may securely pass the watch, who cannot discern or know him from another man, but lets him pass for honest. For I never passed them, but they gave me civil language: 'tis true, they bid me have a special care I was not robbed, when in truth it was my trade to plunder others: but then suppose they had examined me, I would have answered them with such respect and civil language, and praise the work they stood to do, that they could not suspect me; and I have known some of my fellow Cutters, that when examined, have carried themselves with that discretion, that to encourage them to be careful in their place, hath thrown twelvepence, or a half-crown piece but newly borrowed, where they never mean to pay, that they have promised to drink his honest health. Nay, suppose they should suspect me and my company, alas! they are poor silly old men, that are decrepit, weak, and altogether unable to make resistance, and good for nothing but to loiter there; for I have seen a dozen such stand all together with Halberds, Pikes, Pitchforks, and Clubs, amazed and frighted, not daring to stir to rescue them that were distressed; whilst we before their faces have bid men stand; assaulted, surprised, and rifled such as we liked; when we had done it, and were upon the gallop, than they faintly cry, thieves, thieves: Stop them, stop them; when none but Trees and Hedges that heard their clamours: and I have known some that by way of parley have grown familiar with them, and watched opportunity, and seized and bound them hand and foot; then in a ditch have charged them on their lives to lay so quiet that none may hear them: and then like a safe guard, set to preserve the traveller from wrong, with the watchmen's bills have stood with confidence till booty come that way, and then made bold as with authority to stop and hold such as they think have coin, and on pretence of search for what was lately lost upon the way: if they find purchase worth the taking, seize it and be gone: so that a watch doth hurt, not good. But if you needs will have it so, choose lusty able men, resolved and yonug, arm them with bows and arrows, Muskets, or good Carbines, or Fowling-pieces, and with a horse or two let them coast up and down: this may do good, that they may not be so abused as I have shown, but if occasion be, may follow on to purpose; and this is my advice proceeding from experience.   

CHAP. XII. Divers Instructions for the innkeeper, how to know Thieves from his honest Guests.  
THus have I traced them from their first entrance to their action, and from their action to their flight, and I hope therein given so clear light to those that desire their apprehension, that yet may occasion either their Conversion, or Imprisonment, and that their Conviction; and having spoke sufficiently unto the Travilor to be careful in his carriage in each particular: Give me leave to add a word unto the honest innkeeper, that so he may discern between the honest Travilor and the Thief, which I shall perform in a word; which to do, let him make it his chiefest care not to wink at such dishonesty for hope of gain, lest that sweet be imbittered by futer trouble and disgrace: therefore let thy respects, who ever thou art that reads in this, be leveled at honesty more than gain, knowing that a certain little with a godly peace of contentment, is a greater gain, and a higher happiness, than an uncertain deal with a terror of conscience. And to discover them is easy, if you observe my Rules.  
First, let the Ostler observe and he shall discern their extraordinary curiosity about their Horses, they must be strangely dressed, and as strangely fed, with mashes, bread, and mingled provender, and that in an unusual quantity; and if he wonder at this, they cannot forbear but praise their Tricks, and show how by their good abilities they do deserve it, and sometimes they will boast their worthy services will soon repay the cost, or some dark words to that effect, that are palpable grounds for to suspect them; and then they will ask, whose Horse is that, and what is the owner, that stands there? what function is their Master? what manner of men? whither they travel, how far, and when? So by his answer they surmise which will be the richest purchase.  
And, secondly, if you note their cloak-bags, they are empty, only they carry them to make a show.  
And then thirdly, when the Chamberlain has ushured them to their Chamber, he straight is sent away; but let him harken, and if they are surely Thieves, 'tis ten to one, but they fall to share what prize they have got that day, and let him pry narrowly into their Chamber and he shall see them share as well as hear the money, and every one shall take what is his lot; this they never defer, if they have had any purchase, lest he that hath the purse should cheat the rest: this done, they hug each other, and then they knock in haste, complaining at his negligence that should attend, and call for Sack, and then they want my Hosts company, whom with the highest strain of compliment they salute and bid him welcome; but if my Host mark their discourse, he may conjecture much, and know what men they are, as also by the saucy carriage of their men; and if their several Names you do inquire, enjoin your servants to do the like, and you shall soon perceive they have more Names than one a piece; and when they are at supper let some one hastily knock at your gate, and bid him that attends observe their carriage then, and he shall see them start, as in a fearful maze, and stare each other in the face with ghastly looks, and if you are in the Chamber, ask what Officers are those? who do they look for? Or if forth from them, ask aloud that they may hear, what would Mr. Constable have? who doth he seek? or what is the Constable mad to knock so hastily, or the like: and if they seem much frighted, bid them not fear, none shall come up or offer him that wrong to search his house, so to disparage him, for he has no guests but honest Gentlemen, and if they command him, he will use his authority that none shall enter; there by this you may pry into their private thoughts so far, that they will confess something, and reply, they shall be much engaged for your succour, and then you may use your own discretion.  
And you may see by their needless stay, their disregard of time, what they expect, for they but bait to stand and gaze what purchase they can see go by, and when they have spied a likely money booty pass by them, they pretend immediate business calls them to be gone.  
And when they come to take up inn to lodge, they commonly come in divided, and come in several companies, to frustrate the Hue and Cry as to their number: besides if one part be surprised the other may escape; and when the residue comes in, they seem as strangers, and of mine Host they will inquire what their Companions are, and what countrymen, whether he know them, and if they find he hath a jealousy or suspect either of them, they will presently will some business to be gone with speed: but if for honest Travilers you take them, as it is like you may, in your kitchen they do meet by seeming chance, they as mear strangers one another salute, and drinking there together ere they part they become familiarly acquainted and conclude to sup together, when if you mark them well you shall find by their behaviour that they are not strangers but bosom friends, there they embrace, rejoice, and praise their plot, and laugh at mine Host, that he suspect them not. The fairest inns they usually frequent, presuming that they will not so much disparage mine Host, as to make search among his guests, which commonly are persons of account.  
Thus have I laid open their devices and deceits, that so the honest Traveller may escape their hand, and they fall into the hands of justice, thereby endeavouring to repair the wrongs my Country hath suffered, by endeavouring to prevent others from living in the like sin, and so subvert sin that would raise its own dominion by their fall and ruin; to which end that it may become effectual, the Lord assist my endeavours to discover, and others by this discovery to apprehend them, and that apprehension expose them to the Law of justice, if they reject the Law of mercy.   

Some very material Relations of certain passages, concerning those who are less noble in their way of villainy than the Cutters on the road, known by the Names of Housebreakers and Night-robbers, with many of their devices laid open, by a friend to honesty, and an enemy to their deceit.  
BEing by a serious consideration convinced how advatagious to a public good, the discovery of every evil is, and finding that of Robberies to be of the greatest magnitude, my own thoughts prompt me on readily to set a helping hand to the writing out of so eminent an evil, as that practised by such as make a trade of sin, whose wages is death, if once subjected to Law and Justice, and to the stopping of that Torrent whose streams produce a double prejudice; Destruction to him that robs whose gain in the end is loss, and no small damage to him that is robbed, who oft times is thereby undone: Therefore I shall endeavour to put a period to both, by in deavoring to discomfeit the first, and instruct the other, so far forth as the best of my inquisitive search can accomplish, either by report or History; and so to do, I shall first present unto your perusal, what my ears presented unto my intellects the last Sessions in the Old Bayly, concerning a Robbery acted within the County of Middlesex, which when providence led me thither one afternoon, I heard there Examined before that Court of Judicary, which was thus.   

The most subtle craft of a notable thief, in Robbing a house in Shoreditch, in October 1657.  
ON the Wednsday before the said Robbery was done, came unto the house of an ancient couple (whose many past careful years had competently provided for their age) two or three stout lusty fellows to drink a cup of bear (for the said aged people kept a kind of a vitling house) whose then in tentions without question, were either to act, or to prepare for action of a Robbery there, as the people did in part mistrust, but seeing no advantage answerable to their desires for that time they departed; and on the Friday next following, they came again, diligently noting all particulars, and viewed with so strict an observation the strength of the house, and asked some such doubtful questions, that the people's jealousies became downright fears, or rather assurances, that they intended evil, but their just fears made them so observantly to heed their carriages, that no opportunity could crown them with their wished for advantages, who seeing it impossible to effect any thing at that time, they departed also; but here observe the subtlety of those villains, as they went forth either to make water, or as they departed, they took an occasion to mark on the outside of the doorpost whether the bolts and locks wear within, that so thereby they might exactly know where the greatest strength of the door lay, that thereby with the more privity and less difficulty they might force it open; and so on the Sunday following, about midnight, they came and effected their wicked purpose, forced the doors, came to their bedside, swore to have either their blood or their money, and so took about a hundred pounds in money, plate, and Jewels, and went their way; having first sworn the aged people not to pursue them at that time.  
By this may people learn to be cautious of such as they suspect, and to be careful to fortify their habitations with competent strength; and if they are lone people, like those, not to keep such sums or goods of value in their house.   

Some of the Laws and customs of the City Thieves, laid open to the ingenious Readers, who may thereby be enabled to avoid their villainy.  
ANd for those that are of this function, they are Governed by Laws and Orders, as an historian of that fraternity relateth. First, they have a Captain or Superior, whom all Thieves observantly obey, and he is the cunningest and oldest of that Trade; who appoints each man his station and Robbery, reserving the wisest for the most desperate and most dangerous thefts, which their Law makes them submit unto, not passing his limits, nor undertaking greater matters than he is capable of: every novice is first tried before he is employed, and then according to his inclination and ability, he is put in office of a stafadours, grumet, hobgoblin, or mullets, that are such as are conveyed into men's houses in packs or hogsheads, or the like; and these Laws are always observed amongst them, they never fall out one with another unless feignedly to avoid suspicion: they must not go two twice together into one Tavern or Alehouse above once in ten days, neither must they go two of them together through the City, or to speak familiarly together when they meet: and every one is to carry his private badge, whereby the Society may know what he is when they meet him; the Robbers bear always a glove hanging and made fast by one finger, the Cheats button their doublets by intercession one buttoned and the next unbuttoned, the staffadours always struck their moustaches every three or four steps, the Cutpurses have a little white mark in their hatbands, &c. They have their certain meeting places on every Saturday night, to give an account of each exploit, the manner and the purchase of it, and that they divide amongst themselves according to their several shares: and the meeting place of late hath certainly been at the house of the common Hangman of the City of London, near or in Goldenlane, for there on a Saturday was apprehended several, some known and others propably suspected to be Thieves, where they were on notice given apprehended, and with the Executioner committed unto safe custody, who on examination the last Sessions was either favoured and so under bail set at liberty, or else pardoned and so acquitted for that Fact, to see if he will mend. Thus have I endeavoured to set before the eyes of the world their deceits, that so they may with the more ease be either avoided or apprehended, and so surrendered unto the hands of Justice: I heartily wish, that whoso reads may profit by it one way or other, to the edification of honesty.    
FINIS.