HINDS ELDER BROTHER, OR The Master Thief DISCOVERED Being a notable pithy Relation of the Life of Major THOMAS KNOWLS his many Exploits Escapes, and witty Robberies.  
Jan. 30th.  
Hind.  
Knowls.  
Imprinted at London by John Clows An. Dom. 1651. 1652   

Hinds Elder Brother, or the Master-Thief discovered, being a pithy relation of the life of Major Thomas Knowls, his many escapes, cheats, and witty Robberies.  

Of his Birth and Education.  
THe greatest certainty of the place of his Birth, is to most uncertain, he not being able to give any exact account by reason his Parents died so much in his minority, but left to the care of some friends in Lealand Parish in Lancashire, which care of theirs extended itself to nothing more than how to be rid of him, which he to their desires effected in the age of fourteen coming here to London, where he had not been many days a mendicant, but he is entertained by Punteus the Mountebank, who then was newly come into England.   

Of his serving the Mountebank  
HE had not long been with the Mountebank (but a witty rogue) he was so dexterous grown in his profession, that he added much to the Sale of his Master's Antidotes, by his witty Jests, Boufoonish behaviour, and nimble vaulting, so that he became chief man to Punteus, and who is the Gentleman now, but Mr. Johan a pudding.   

Of his curing an Usurer of the Toothache.  
A Rich Usurer being much tormented with the Toothache and not willing to be at too much Charge in procuring his Ease, came to Mr. Punteus his Lodging, thinking to have his cure for little or nothing, (by reason that Punteus drew many poor men's teeth that were afflicted out of charity) and enquiring for the French Doctor of the Maid of the house, she presently goes up to the Chamber, where she finds Knowls and his Comrade fitting themselves with false Beards, and Antic apparel for the next days show, she acquaints them, that there was an Usurer at the door to speak with their Master, and as she thought by the muffling of his Chaps to have some Remedy for his teeth, whereupon Knowls cries out to his Comrade, a prize, now off with this party coloured Coat, Give me my Master's Gown, fasten m● on that black Beard, stand bare, and keeping your countenance call up the Usurer, up comes the Patient relates his malady, and as a poor man invokes a remedy, which Knowls out supposed Punteus, says he will apply his best skill for God's sake, and setting the Usurer down, views his tooth, and says I shall do the cure, but you must have a little patience, for it is a very forked one; his man employed his time so well, that whiles Knowls pulled out the tooth, he pulled out of his pocket a Cat's skin Purse with twenty nine pounds, two Rings, and a Watch. The Cure being effected, Knowls demands something for his pains, the Usurer replies, (the Maid being by) with an Oath that he had not one penny, nor the value about him of one farthing, nay says Knowls, since you swear before witness, I am content, God speed you well, and so departs my Usurer, little thinking Knowls had been so well paid.  

Knowls thought this Robbery was but just,  
To rob the man that no body would trust,  
Who for to save a little of his Pelf,  
Before witness, basely forswears himself,  
This was the cause that he ne'er came  
Back unto Knowls, his money lost to claim,  
Being overcome with perjury and shame.    

How Knowls rob the Scotch Commissioners, when they lay at Somerset House.  
KNowls having a great desire to finger some of the Scoth Commissioners money, by reason he had heard they had received abundance, though for a little desert, either in them or their Army. He plots many ways, but none takes effect; at last he takes a shoulder Trumpet, flings it under his Cloak, he being in black, very neat, more like a Scotch Laird then a Trumpeter, and away he marches to the Gate, where he finds several Trumpeters, Waits, and others at Push a Pike with the Porter, who valiantly defended himself in the behalf of his Lairds Pouch, Knowls makes his approach, saying, how now honest Porter, What are these fellows, Fools or Fiddlers? O my Saul are they, quoth the Porter, wad year good worship speak widow my Lord, yes quoth Knowls, I have affairs of importance to communicate to thy Lord; marry and ye e'en shall ple●se year good worship to gang along widow me, so with that, in enters Knowls with the Porter, who goes and acquaints his Lord, the Lord Lowden, that there was a Gentleman to speak with his Honor. Lowden comes into the ●ining Room; where he finds Knowls attending: who addresses himself unto my Lord Commissioner, saying, my Lord, I am Master Trumpeter to the Navy, under the Command of Earl of Warwick and being sent hither to furnish the Fleet with Trumpets, I am charged by the Earl who lies now upon the Downs to salute your Honours, in troth Sir, replies Lowden, I am e'en blithe to hear his Lordship is in good health, calling to his Porter, saying, Saundy, gar Jeamy give this Gentleman forty Shillings, and with a Congee departs into his Chamber, the Servants being affrighted at the unwelcome Guest they had brought their Lord, some runs one way some another, leaving Knowls alone in the dining room, who in a moment dismantles the cupboard of a large quantity of Plate being fled before the Porter or Jeamy could come with the forty shillings, who upon their finding the plate gone, cried out to a woeful Tune O Black day, the false Lown has beguiled us awe, little witted I I quoth the porter, that his Worship was a piper: the Dell blaw's Bags, mi Live gene, but the tumults continued so long amongst the Bullies, that Knowls had convenient time to escape.  

Thus witty Knowls did borrow plate,  
O those which cozened King and State.  
The one they sold, the others thought to cheat,  
But now repent, since they are sound●y beat,    

How Knowls left his Majer the Mountebank, turned Cutter and rob Hind.  
KNowls having a desire no longer to be a servant, if he could devise any how to live a Master, and having gained a pretty sum under the Mountebank, he takes his leave of him, and resolves to live a brother of the Blade, huyes him a pretty highway Nag, a good Sword and Case of private Pistols (away goes my Friend to the Road) and now Gentlemen beware your Portmantles) many exploits our Mounsieur Abbot plays, for so he is called now) in Lincoln shire Nottingham and other places, and one night coming into the Lion Inn at Worship, eight miles from Mansfield, the Ostler takes his Horse, he passes under the notion of a Grazier, and is by the said Hostler set to Hind (for one that was possessed with a good round sum) that night they supped together, being ignorant one of the others Calling, the next day in Welbeck Forest Hind overtakes our Mounsieur, claps a plstol to his breast, wishing him immediately to deliver his purse, or life and purse together, Knowls seeing death at the Collar of his Doublet, wisely replies, in faith Sir, I have a sum of money about me, which I do not value near comparable with my life, therefore here take it, delivering to Hind a leather Bag, with fourscore and odd pounds in it, and Sir, believe me, Since you have done so gallantly, as to adventure a●●●● upon me I swear to you, I will never prosecute you, therefore, never eat me, wheresoever you see me, and riding on together, a little along the Forest, he says, being in discourse, I pray Sir tell me one t●ing, Hind replying, said he would, then says Knowls, pray you had you any thing in that pistol you clapped to my Breast, or did you it to affright me, nay says Hind, God damn me, it is charged with a Brace of Bullets, and thereupon slaps off his pistol, which Knowls perceiving, claps one of his to Hinds throat, saying, now return back my money with wh●t addition you can make of your own, or by Jove you die, so he dismantled Mr. Hind of all his money riding away crying, farewell younger Brother.  
Thus Hind which knew the cutting Trade so well,  
Was robbed by Knowls who did him fare excel  
In th' highway arts, and in the padding skill,  
For Hind's in Newgate, and Knowls at freedom still   

How Knowls being brought a Prisoner in the Habit of a Parson to White Hall made his Escape.  
KNowls being taken by one of the Thieftakers about this Town, was brought to White Hall, and there upon the Guard secured that night, the next day secured in a Chamber, having two Soldiers Sentries upon him, shortly after being examined, he was asked what made him assume that Habit, being he could neither write nor read, he replied the rather because he thought no man would suspect an illiterate man in such a Coat, and after some questions he was remanded back to the said Custody, where after liberally giving all sorts of Liquors to the two Soldiers his Guard, he seeing them in a merry mood, thus began to speak, dear Comrades and fellow Soldiers, you may perceive, this is only through malice, that I am here a Prisoner, Since I have never done any thing against the State, yet there is one thing vexeth me to the Soul, what is that Master answered the Soldiers, marry quoth Knowls, I have fifty pounds in the hands of the man that keepeth the Leg in the palace yard, and I would willingly give ten pounds to a good fellow, that I had it here, one of the Soldier's replies, Sir I will fetch it you with a good will, nay nay, says Knowls, that cannot be, for he will not give it to any body but myself, yet I can tell you what we may do, one of you put on my Habit here, and I will put on your Red Coat and Bandeliers, the other take his Musket, and go along with me, and so in less than half an hour, we will be back with the money, and I will give you five pounds apiece for your pains, the matter being thus carried, you can no ways be found in blame, this conceit takes, away marches Knowls and one of the Soldiers, the other lies down upon the bed in his Parson's weed, they march to Westminster, come into the Leg, call for a pot of Ale, which is brought them, Knowls he demands for the Master of the House, who comes immediately, he takes him aside, whispers him in the Ear, thrusting half a Crown in his hand, saying, Sir, I would not that my Comrade should know I have any money, but whilst we drink, pay yourself out of this, and saying, shall it be so carried, the man of the House not suspecting any thing, replyies aloud, you shall you shall Sir, and so departs the Room, Knowls turns to the Soldier, come Brother, let us drink one half dozen, and by that time the money will be told out, further saying, truly this man of the House is a very honest man, now by that time they had drunk four or five pots, the Soldier gins to ask why the Master of the House came not his way, Knowls having the Pot of Ale in his hand, suddenly flings the pot violently in the soldier's face, knocking him down, crying aloud, Villain dost thou say, my Captain is a Coward, I would have thee know, I have so much of a soldier in me, that I'll die before I hear my Officer abused, but I'll have the Corporal to fetch thee to the Guard with a Pox, and so running out of the house, before the soldier recovered Knowls had crossed the water, and so clearly escaped.  

Let Knowls his slippery trick example be  
To all those Guards which love a fee,  
Lest he may chance to have the same reward  
For coveting Coin as had this foolish Guard,  
The one in Parson's weeds the Gauntlet run,  
The other being Cashiered was quite undone.    

How Knowls being Captain of the pioneers to the Scotch Army escaped from Worcester.  
KNowls having Command of the Pioneers at Worcester, upon their being routed he calls to him one of the Countrymen which he had pressed for a pioner not many days before, and one whom he had noted to be a monstrous silly fellow, saying, alas for you poor hearts, for you will have no quarter, the enemy saves none but officers, upon which words the fellow was ready to sink, but Knowls says come courage, give me thy Pickax and Cassock, and here take my Sword, Buff Coat, and Hat, and I will run for it, for I am lighter of foot than thou art, whereupon they change and by that means Knowls escapes the Parliaments forces entering the Town, some Troops enters the house where this Country man was who presently cries out, save my life Gentlemen, for I am Major Knowls, Captain of the pioneers, I quoth the soldier I will give you quarter, but I will pay your skin for a tumbling rogue, and knocked him sound, stripped him naked, and turned him amongst the rest of the prisoners.  

THus Reader, in this small Epitome,  
Some Acts of famous Kmowls I have showed thee,  
Which if considered rightly thou wilt find,  
In witty pranks he far exceeds our Hind:  
And as from murder he was always free,  
So stands he clear from all base Treachery  
Towards any of the Pad or cutting Trade,  
As being now the only knight o'th' Blade;  
Of many a Gang he is the sole survivor,  
So of many a feat he hath been the main contriver;  
Then let Hind and Guzman both submit  
To active Knowls for valour shifts and wit.    
FINIS.