Woodcut illustration of three men in cloaks and hats, standing beside a fire.   

The Life and Death OF Griffin Flood Informer. Whose cunning courses, churlish manners, and troublesone Informations, molested a number of plain dealing people in this City of London.  
Wherein is also declared the murder of John Chipperford Vintner, for which fact the said Griffin Flood was pressed to death the 18. day of january last past.  
 Woodcut illustration of an execution, showing the condemned man being pressed to death; he is staked to the ground while two executioners heap planks and weights upon his body.  
LONDON, Printed for I. T. and are to be sold at the sign of the Bible without New-gate. 1623.   

The Life and Death of Griffin Flood Informer.  

Of the bad condition, foul speeches, and ill demeanour of Griffin Flood, and how he became first to be an Informer.  
NOW first to make a character or description of this Griffin Flood. He was a fellow of mean birth, rude bringing up, ill instructed in either learning or good manners, harsh in speech, and churlish in condition, full of quarrels, stubborn and unruly, and in brief, of a most debauched condition, as by the sequel may appear.  
But omitting these, and to come to particulars: he was in his younger dayes bound prentice with a Currier or Dresser of leather; in which time of his service he picked such quarrels among his fellow seruants, and followed them with such cunning, as they being overawed with his shameless lying, were forced to submit to whatsoever he pleaded against them, in so much that sometimes they were fain to buy their peace with their purses. And thus by his cunning informations of falshoods to his Master and Mistris, in which he commonly prevailed, he learned to tread the first step to this troublesone course of life, now name an Informer, where after being made a free-man of this City, he followed the same ways, and became a great troubler of diuers other seruants and apprentices dwelling near him, where if he found any that he knew, either in tavern, Alehouse, Bowling-alley, or Play-house, or else going abroad in service time, when they should haue been at the Church to the service of God with their masters, he would be sure to pick some feeling of money from them, or make it known to the displeasure of their parents or masters; all which these poor seruants and apprentices would do before their names and credits should come in question.   

Of the manner of his informations against Tapsters, Hostlers, chamberlains, and such like.  
AFter this, entering further into this kind of life, and perceiving some small gain to come thereby, he began to haunt Alehouses, inns, Hosteries, Cellars, and such like, where if he found either foreign Tapster, ostler, chamberlain, or any other party that was no free-man of this City; to him would he privately come, and thus make his gloze; My friend( quoth he) you being no freeman, but live here by sufferance under your master, I understand that there be certain Informers which I know, that mean to trouble and sue you by action, and bring you in question for the wronging of the customs of this City, wherein no man must make his living by way of trading, but such as haue served seven yeares an apprentice, or else made free-man by adoption or purchase; now if you will( quoth Flood) prevent this trouble and be my cliant, I will for a small matter defend you from the same, and clear you from all Informers whatsoever, for I am an enemy to all such knaves whose purpose is to wrong such honest meaning men as you are, for my conscience draws me to it, and I will prove honest therein. The poor country fellow being thus honeyed and loathe to leave his masters service, hath Flood down into the cellar, makes him drink, lends him money, and becomes so pliable to his conditions, that he is lead up and down as with a twine thread, till a part of his means fals into this Floods purse; but no longer penny, no longer pater noster, the fellow grows weary, and is no longer able to feed Floods desires, but leaves him off, and submits himself to the trial of his action, where Flood as a cunning jack on both sides, follows him so close, that after much money spent, he is forced to forsake his service, and to leave the City, and the master of the same foreigner, is likewise brought to composition to be rid of this crafty Informer.   

Another way of information that Flood used against foreigners and such like.  
THis Flood also comes to another fellow being no free-man, where after the like conference as before, he takes vpon him, with the mans consent to bring him into action, and so to preuens all others of the like, declares against him by writ, and so it hangs in Court many yeares vnfollowed by Flood for a monthly stipend received from the fellow thus sued: and so all other Informers were prevented for bringing him in question; for one of them by order of Law cannot take anothers case in hand. And thus Flood to his great benefit, dealt with many poor people in London.   

How he troubled an honest Ale-wife not far from Cripplegate: and how finely she requited him.  
THere was an honest Alewife, whose name and dwelling I omit, not far from Cripplegate, well known and reputed of among her neighbors, who kept in her house good lodging and orderly diet for entertainment of strangers and wayfaring men. Amongst others that resorted to her house, there was a foreign Tailor, a very poor man, who ran more on the score for lodging and diet, then he was able to pay, therefore to come out of her debt, he desired to work out the same, either in making new apparel, or mending of old: whereupon this Alewife put an old petticoat of hers to mend, which got the poor man but sixe-pence. Which matter this Flood having notice of, warned both her and her husband into the Court for setting this foreigner on work: where, do what either he or she could, it cost them forty shillings, and so came home without any other comfort, for Flood had shared his part of the money, of which he made no little brags amongst his Companions; but it fell out after a certain time this Flood came again to the said Alewifes house, thinking to find out another like prise, where casting his knavish eye up and down, he espied the good wife run down into the Cellar with a black Pot or two,( measures contrary to the Cities custom) after follows Flood, and thinking to attach them, the woman having a ready wit, and now thinking to be revenged, caught up a Pewter quart Pot, and lustily laid it vpon Floods pate, and most grievously broken both his head and face, and withall cried out with a loud voice, Oh help, murder, murder, the noise being heard not only up into the house but abroad into the streets, caused many people come running in, and enquiring the matter, shee with feigned tears cried out he would haue rauish● her and forced her against her will, and that she to defend herself had with a Pewter pot broke his face, whereupon all the beholders knowing Flood to bee a very knave, and believing the woman by her tears to tell true, called for a Constable, who carried both Flood and the Alewife before a Iustice, where she standing stiffly in her accusation, he was committed to Prison, where he lay with his broken pate and face, until such time as he had given the woman a good sum of money in composition for the supposed wrong he had done her.   

How Flood churlishly handled two Informers, and of his hatred against all Firken-men.  
AFter this, Flood becoming a little kinder to poor Ale-wiues, and using much to resort to a Cookes house a widow, which often gave him a breakfast to stay his knavish stomach; whereupon( as the divell is good to some body) so this Flood stood close to this woman in courtesy, and promised to defend her from all actions whatsoever; for indeed as then there were a couple of Informers had her in chase, and by no means could shee bee rid of them; for commonly they came once a month to her house and got money of her: but it so happened whilst Flood was talking with this woman, that these two aforesaid Informers came to her house, according to their accustomend manner, which Flood perceiving, and being a little Potshaken, took up a broome-staffe and fell a bumbasting them, and being all together by the ears down in the kennel, Flood like a cunning knave all begraueld and bedurtied his own face, crying out they would murder him, and by that means so cunningly used the matter that his fellowknaues were carried both to the Counter, whilst he being the third and worst, escaped imprisonment. But now mark the iest, as they were going to Prison, there comes by a lusty lubberly Firkenman, bearing out drink to his Customers, a familiar friend and acquaintance of one of these Informers thus beaten,& hearing of these wrongs done by Flood, falls vpon him and most bravely behangs him,& so amongst the tumult of people gets him away unknown, and leaves Flood behind with the amends in his own hands, seeking for he could not tell whom: whereupon in mortal hatred, he sought revengement against all Firken-men; and for this one mans sake vowed to bee a plague to all the rest, and so after that there could not bee a Firken-man step out of doors, but he would be on their iackes, especially all those that were foreigners, insomuch, were he but in the shape of a Firken-man, it was enough for him to set his knavish wit on work: by this means many of them were enforced to buy their freedoms, to their great charges. Others, that were of the poorer sort, he with his cunning-fram'd Actions affrighted from London, where they lived as before in much poverty.   

How he troubled a poor Sheere-grinder, for relieving his own father.  
FLood still following these pitiless courses, came vpon a time to a Sheere-grinders shop, where he saw a very poor Country old man turning the ston, which old man was the Sheeregrinders own father, and in love to his son took that pains to save him from hiring one to do the same work, all this Flood noted, and with a harsh and commanding language, said, my friend, quoth he, how darest thou bee so bold as to set a foreigner on work, knowing that Flood stands here as a witness; I tell thee I will make thee repent it: these, and such like threatening words not onely amazed the poor Sheare-grinder, but much grieved the old man: but to bee short, in question was he brought, and censured by Order to give satisfaction to Flood for his Information, and the old man was discharged from any further labour therein; but lay vpon his poor son to be kept in charity: and thus was the cruelty of this Flood expressed to his shane and disgrace.   

How his harsh and churlish dealing caused a poor Flaxe-maid to hang herself.  
I Must not here omit his harsh dealing against a poor Flaxe-maid in London, who after she had served twelve yeares prentice, and wearied with that servitude, took shop for herself, and set up; of which Flaxe-maid when Flood had notice, he came unto her, from whom he oftentimes got much money, and still to buy her own quietness,( being not free but a foreigner) provided still for his cunning bribery, and had still her money in readiness, so long, that in time shee grew weary of him, and not able to hold out any longer, shee revealed it unto a friend of hers, who counseled her to get her freedom, which shee might easily do, having served twelve yeares prentice, which counsel shee followed, and was made free of a worshipful Company, but not of the City, which was thought sufficient for a womans security to follow Flaxe-dressing. Hereupon Flood perceiving his wonted benefits to fail, hammered in his knavish pate another trick of Information against her; so watching his time, he espied a Country Chapman buying a certain parcel of flax of her, and giuing her some earnest thereof, as Flood took hold of by witness, he presently took possession thereof, as goods foreign bought and foreign sold, and recovered them by way of Action, which was a great hindrance both to the Flaxe-maid, and to the country Chapman: but to be short, the maid was still haunted with the Informations of this Flood, which drove her( as some reported) to such a melancholy, that shee took no comfort in her business, and as it was known afterward, shee hanged herself in her own girdle: the cause I will not say was Floods, but let such as understood the manner of her life and carriage, in discretion, judge and censure thereof rightly.   

How Flood troubled an honest man onely for asking him a question.  
THe debauched carriage of this Flood was such, that if any but gazingly looked vpon him, he would be sure to pick quarrels with him, and if he used not his speeches with advisement, this Flood would take advantage on his words, for the least occasion was sufficient for him to make an action of, whose troublesone courses are verified as followeth: There was an honest man, belonging to Blackwall-hall, who as he stood in Guild-hall yard, saw Flood come forth with a pair of Taylors shears in his hand, of whom this man demanded what they cost; why fellow( quoth Flood) in a clownish manner, Dost thou think I stolen them. Why no( quoth the other) yet I may ask a question: A question( quoth Flood) I pray thee what art thou? I am a man( quoth he.) A man( said Flood) I will haue money from thee then. Money from me?( quoth the other) do thy worst, I care not for thee, and such like were the words that passed betwixt them, and so they departed. But within a while after, Flood brought this honest man in question about the Statute for buildings, which was about a little shop that he kept to sell flax in, not, as Flood alleged, so sufficiently plastered with lime and hair, of which he made such a long declaration to the Court, that he so puzzled the man, that he knew not well how to answer the same: and though Flood little prevailed in his svit, yet by his harsh roaring language, and foul words which he so clamoured against this honest man, that for quietness sake he was forced to give some satisfaction to be rid of him.   

How Flood deceived an Officer, and cunningly made him arrest his own master.  
VPon a time this Flood comes to one of the Cities officers, and tells him he hath a Writ to serve vpon a free-man for setting a foreigner on work, of which this Officer was glad to hear of, and thinking thereby to get money, as he had oftentimes before so done by Floods means, goes with him; where coming together to a worshipful Gentlemans of this City, they found a foreign painter, new colouring the Gentlemans house walls, which Gentleman( to speak truly) a worshipful Knight, though not name, seeing Flood and the other Officer in the yard, comes forth and demanded what news: mary( quoth Flood) here is a Writ to serve on your Worship for maintaining foreigners, and thereupon gives the same to the Officer to do his duty; at which the Officer looks very blank, considering it was his own Master on whom he should serve it, yet notwithstanding according to his oath so done it was, and his Master was forced to compound with Flood: who after took a pride in such treacherous actions, making himself merry at the Officer, whom he had cunningly brought to arrest his own master.   

Of Floods ingratitude for a Dutch Chandlers benevolence to him lying in the counter.  
THis Flood, in acting of many of these his arch knaveries, was at length outstripped by a fellow cunninger then himself, and being overthrown in an action, and condemned in a round sum of money, for want of sureties was laid in the counter; where lying in prison in much necessity, there was a Dutch Chandler, I will not say dwelling near unto Newgate, that in pitty oftentimes sent him much relief, as meat and drink from his own table both at dinner and supper, and now and then some small pieces of money to comfort him, with an intent after his imprisonment to draw him to his friendship, and that Flood should be a trusty staff to defend him from all informations that any other Informer should haue against him, for commonly these Dutch Chandlers are much troubled with those kind of people, and therefore this Flood he purchased to make his pillar to lean on: This passed on, and many courtesies were sent to him lying in prison by the Dutch Chandler, which were all as butter melted in the sun; for after when Flood had got his liberty, and followed again his former courses of life, this Dutch Chandler was the first man he brought in action, and for all his forepast favours received at his hands, he was the party he made most prise of.   

How Flood came to search a Tauerue in service time, and how finely the Vintner requited him.  
FLood growing malicious against a Tauernekeeper of London, whose name I omit, came vpon a Sabbath day in service time, and brought the Church-wardens to his house, where finding certain good fellowes taking their mornings draft, fought to haue him presented: but the Vintner having a ready wit, wrought as cunning a trick to bring both Flood and the Churchwardens into the same trespass; so the foresaid Tauernekeeper seeing himself fallen into the danger of the Law, said as followeth; Master Churchwardens, and you Master Flood, I pray you be good unto me, I am a young beginner, and a little trouble will much hinder me, therefore I pray you stand my good friends, and inkindnesse take a cup of wine, and withall called for a slice of roast beef, which the plain dealing Church-wardens well accepted of, and witha● Flood being a hungry fellow, was nor behind in the famed given breakfast; which being finished, quoth Flood, this shall not serve your turn, for I must haue money from you, and it is not your bribing breakfast shall satisfy my turn, Why knave, replied the Vintner, Thou art as doope in the fault as I, or any of these my customers, for the Churchwarders and thyself also haue both eaten and drunk here in my house in sernice time, of which I now take witness, therefore do thy worst, I care not for thee: At which words Flood grew a little pacified, and was contented to let the Vintner go vnpresented for that time, and ever after those Churchwardens much favoured the said tavern.   

How Flood out braved a Citizen with a read nose.  
VPon a time Flood being railing and roaring in Guild-hall, as his manner was, a Citizen who had a read nose, a very substantial man, rebuked him, calling him brazen faced fellow to be so audacious in so reverent a place as that was. Brazen faced fellow( quoth Flood) if your copper nose Sir were set on my brazen face it would make a very rich show, which words not onely daunted the Citizen, but made him filently pass away much abashed. For rogue, rackall, slave, and runagate, were as common in Floods mouth, as how do you sir to a man of curtsy.   

Of his churlish keeping the walks in Moore fields.  
TO speak yet further of churlish condition, he was chosen( being fit for a troublesone office) to oversee the walks in Moore fields, and like the pinner of Wakefield to prevent the intercourse of people over the graffe, and not to suffer them to make other paths beside the walks. To which office being chosen, he got him a sturdy brown bill, and like a valiant champion intercepted all inroads over the Fields, savouring neither old nor young, rich nor poor, Gentleman or other, in such sort that he had many roaring combats, and much mischief was done by his harsh behaviour, where he not onely broke many a man pate, but se● tenter hooks under the rails, whereby sundry people( stooping under the rails) tore their cloaks, bands and apparel, and so spoiled their clothes in such sort, that he was not without many bitter curses, and now and then he caused sundry of the ruder& vnrulier sort of people to sit in the stocks, for their stubborness in crossing the walks. And many other pranks he there played, which though he were not ashamed to act, you modesty forbids me relate: in which he shewed himself rather a beast then a man, so far he forgot Christianity and honestly, that he lost all humanity: and for that cause he was very deservedly put from that means, which had been sufficient( if honestly used) to haue maintained a man to live well vpon.   

Of his shameless bragging and boasting of base conditions.  
never was there( I think) the like audacious and shameless fellow living in this city, nor any of a more impudent carriage before his betters, for to some, to whom he was far unequal would he most vpbraidingly say with a full mouth, what, know you not Criffin Flood? bring I not the most milk to your pail? is it not I that bring sacks to your 〈…〉 you Goissin Flood( by his Informations) shall make men quake furthermore, to my knowledge I saw him once stand in the middle of Guild-hall, with his arms akembow on both sides, with a number of people about him, where he being not ashomed, beastingly said, I think in my conscience I am the veriest knave in all England, and when I am butted, this shall bee my Epitaph: 

Here lieth Griffin Flood full low in his grave,  
Which lived a Rascall and died a knave.     

Of his manners and troublesone carriage in the time of his imprisonment.  
return wee now to his imprisonment in Newgate, where since his coming thither, the other prisoners haue been so troubled with his railing language, that the, accounted him rather a monster then a man, and such quarrels he bread amongst them, that they many times fell together by the ears, so that day nor night could they bee quiet for him, for what with his cursing, banning, roaring, and blaspheming, he shewed himself rather an Atheist then a Christian, and little remorse of conscience possessed him, and all his former offences ●ame little to his remembrance, especially these petty abuses before rehearsed; but the main groued of his imprisonment, which was for the murder of John Chipperfield Vintener, something terrified him, and a little troubled his Conscience; 〈…〉 heavy on a murtherers soul, and the reuenge there of hourly thunders in his cares; so by this Flood was it here verified; for vpon a night in New-gate as he lay in his bed, in his dream a fearful vision appeared unto him, which was( as he thought) the ghastly shape of the man he had murdered, with a bleeding wound in his breast gaping wide open, threatening as it were a speedy revengement, at which Flood in his sleep cried out most fearfully, the divell, the divell pursues me, help, help, he will tear me in pieces, with such like words of tertor and amazement, that many of the Prisoners affrighted rose from their sleeps, and came to pacify him in this his distracted agony: for such were his fits in New-gate, and so distempered was his brain, that he continued there in great discontent without any patience.   

Of a reuenge certain Tapsters took vpon him in New-gate.  
A Man he was, that few loved, neither in Prison nor without, and therefore came many thither to vex and torment him: amongst the rest in a merry vain came certain Tapsters to him in Prison, belike some which he had wronged by his troublesone informations, who in stead of comforts brought him flowers and in stead of reliefs gave him griefs; for every one called for his Can of beer, saying to him in mockage, here Mr. Flood, I drink to you, here Mr. Flood, a health to you, and such like severally, each of them tossing off his beer, giuing him onely the empty Cans, but therein never a drop of drink, whereupon Flood grew so enraged, that he enstil'd them with no better then slaves and Rogues, and for their sakes vowed a reuenge( if ever at liberty) against all other Tapsters.  
And to put the same in practise, he presently sent for a debtor of his which was a Tapster, that owed him a certain sum of money, which fellow in pitty, by reason of his imprisonment brought him a part thereof, thinking therewith in that his extremity to content him; but Flood as his churlish custom ever was, so kept he his old order, and would not receive less then his whole debt; whereupon the fellow goes his ways and bids him recover it by action: which Flood with a stern look threatened to do, but afterward considering how his case stood, and how that( in prison) he lay much impoverished, sent for some part of his money before promised. Not so, quoth the Tapster, for I am otherwise minded; returning him this answer, according to the proverb: 
He that will not while he may,  
When he would he shall haue nay.   
So was it with Flood, when he might haue lived well, and in good government, the want of grace and serving God, cut him off with a nay, where then being tempted by the devill, he ran himself so deep into the danger of the law, that his life answered it with an untimely death.   

How after all these his troublesone courses of life, he was for a murder pressed to death.  
NOw to come to the last period of his shane and devilish manners, in an agony of wrath( furthered on by Satan) he most wickedly stabbed a Constable, and withall a Vintner both at one time, whereof the Vintner, after he had long lain languishing, died as a man murdered by wilful violence, for which this Flood was atached, imprisoned, arraigned, and put to trial, but by no persuasions would he commit himself to the Law, but most obstinately stood to the severe iustice of the Bench, who according to custom, censured him to the press, where he received his deserts, by being bruised in terrible manner to a most fearful death: whose execution was performed in the pressing yard at Newgate, vpon the 18. of january this present year.  
FINIS.