A Caveat for Cutpurses.  
With a warning to all purse-carriers: Showing the confidence of the first, and the carelessness of the last; With necessary admonitions for them both, left the Hangman get the one, and the Beggar take the other.  
To the tune of, Packington's pound.  
 
 

My masters and friends and good people draw near  
and look to your purses for that I do say.  
And though little money in them you do bear,  
it cost more to get then to lose in a day:  
you oft have been told  
both the young and the Old,  
and bidden beware of of the Cutpurse so bold:   

Then if you take heed not, free me from the curse  
Who both give you warning, for and the Cutpurse  
Youth, youth thou hadst better been starved by thy Nurse  
Then live to be hanged for cutting a purse.   

It hath been upbraided to men of my Trade,  
that offtentimes we are the cause of this crime,  
Alack and for pity, why would it be said  
as If they regarded or places or time,  
Examples have been  
Of some that were seen  
of Westminster hall yea the pleaders between:   

Then why should the Judges be free from this curse,  
More than my poor self is for cutting the Purse  
Youth youth, etc.   

At Worster, 'tis known well and even in the jale,  
a knight of good worship did there show his fa●●  
Against the foul sinners in zeal for to rail,  
and so lost, ipso facto, his purse in the place:  
Nay once from the Seat  
Of judgement so great!   

a judge there did lose a fair purse of Velvet,  
Oh Lord for thy mercy how wicked or worse  
Are those that so venture their necks for a purse!  
Youth youth, &c,   

At Plays and at Sermons, and at the Sessions,  
'tis daily their practice such booty to make,  
Yea under the Gallows at Executions,  
they stick not the stare-abouts' purses to take,  
Nay one without grace  
At a better place  
at Court and in Christmas, before the King's fa●●   

Alack then for pity must I bear the curse,  
That only belong to the cunning Cutpurse  
Youth youth thou hadst better been starved by th● 〈◊〉  
Then live to be hanged for cutting a pu●●.   
 
 

But oh! you vile Nation of Cutpurses all,  
Relent and repent, and amend and be sound  
And I now that you ought not by honest men's fall  
advance your own fortunes to die above ground.  
And though you go gay  
In Silks as you may  
It is not the highway to Heaven as they say   

Repent then repent you for better for worse  
And kiss not the Gallows for cutting a purse  
Youth youth thou hadst better been starved by thy Nurse  
Then live to be hanged for cutting a purse.   

The Players do tell you in Bartholomew Fair  
what secret consumptions and Rascals you are,  
For one of their Actors it seems had the fate  
by some of your Trade to be fleeced of late,  
Then fall to your prayers  
You that are waylayers,  
they're fit to chouse all the world, that can cheat Players   

For he hath the Art, and no man the worse,  
Whose cunning can pilfer the pilferers purse.  
Youth youth etc.   

The plain Country man that come staring to London  
if once you come near him he quickly is undone,  
For when he amazedly gazeth about  
one treads on his toes and the other pulsed out,  
Then in a strange place  
Where he knows no face,  
his money is gone 'tis a pitiful case.   

The Devil of hell in his trade is not worse  
Than Gilter, and Diver, and Cutter of purse,  
Youth etc.   

The poor servant maid wears her purse in her placket  
A place of quick féelling and yet you can take it,  
Nor is she aware that you have done the feat  
Until she is going to pay for her meat.  
Then she cries and rages  
Amongst her Baggages,  
and swears at one thrust she hath lost all her wages   

For she is engaged her own to disburse,  
To make good the breach of the cruel Cutpurse  
Youth etc.   

Your eyes and your fingers are nimble of growth.  
But Dun many times he hath been nimbler than both  
Yet you are deceived by many a slut,  
But the Hangman is only the Cutpurses cut,  
It makes you to vex  
When he bridles your necks  
and then at the last what becomes of your tricks   

But when you should pray, you begin for to curse  
The hand that first showed you to slash at a purse,  
Youth, etc.   

But now to my hearers this Counsel I give,  
And pray friends remember it as long as you live,  
Bring out no more cash in purse pocket or wallet,  
Then one single penny to pay for the Ballet,  
For Cutpurse doth shroud  
Himself in a Cloud,  
there's many a purse hath been lost in a crowd   

For he's the most rogue that doth crowd up & curses  
Who first cries my Masters beware of your purses.  
Oh youth thou hadst better been starved by thy Nurse  
Then live to be hanged for cutting a purse.    

Printed for W. Gilbertson.