THere be requisite effectually to act the art of Conny-catching. thrée seuerall parties, the Setter, the Uerser, and the barnacle. The na­ture of the Setter, is to draw anie person fa­miliarly to drinke with him, which person they call the conie, and their method is accor­ding to the man they aime at: if a gentleman, marchant, or apprentice, the cony is the more easily caught, in that they are soone induced to plaie, and therefore I omit the circumstance which they vse in catching of them. And because the poore countrie farmer or yeoman is the mark which they most of all shoote at, who they know comes not empty to the Terme. I will discouer the meanes they put in practise to bring in some honest, simple, and ignorant mē to their purpose. The coni-catchers apparelled like honest ciuel Gentlemen, or good fellowes, with a smooth face, as if butter would not melt in their mouths, after dinner when the clients are come from Westminster hall, and are at leasure to walke vp and downe Pauls, Fléet stréet, Holborne, the strond, and such common han­ted places, where these coos [...]ing companions attend onely to spie out a pray, who as they sée a plaine countrie felow wel and cleanly apparelled, either in a coat of home spū ru [...]et, or of fréeze as the time requires, and a side pouch at his side, there is a co­nie, saith one. At that word out slies the Setter, & ouertaking the man begins to salute him thus: sir, God saue you, you are welc [...]me to London, how doth all our friends in the countrie, I hope they be all in health? The countrie man seeing a man so curteous he knows not, halfe in a brown studie at this strange salutation, perhaps makes him this answere: syr al our frends in the countrie are wel, thankes be to God, but truly I knowe you not, you must pardon me. Why sir, saith the setter, gessing by his tongue what countrie man he is, are ye not such a coun­tryman? if he saie yes [...] then he creeps vpon him closely, if he say no, then straight the setter comes ouer him thus. In good sooth syr, I know you by your face, and haue bin in your companis [Page] before, I praie you (if without offence) let me craue your name and the place of your abode. The simple man straight [...]els him where he dwels, his name, and who be his next neighbors and what countrie Gentlemen dwell about him. After he hath ler­ned all of him, then he comes ouer his fallows kindly, sir, thogh I haue bin somwhat bold to be inquisitiue of your name, yet hold me excused, for I tooke you for a friend of mine, but since by mistaking I haue made you slacke your busines, wele drink a quart of wine or a pot of ale together, if the foole bee so readie as to go, then the conie is caught, but if hee smackes the setter, and smels a rat by his clawing, and will not drinke with him, then awaie goes the setter, and discourseth to the verser y^t name of the man, the parish he dwels in, and what Gentlemen are his néere neighbors, with that awaie goes he [...] and crossing the man at some turning, méets him full in the face, & gréets him thus. What goodman Barton, how fare all our friends about you? you are wel met, I haue the wine for you, you are welcome to towne. The poore Countrie man hearing himselfe named by a man he knows not, maruels, and answeres that he knows him not, and craues pardon. Not mee g [...]dman Barton, haue you forgot me? why I am such a mans kinsman, your neighbor not farre off, how doth this or that good Gentleman my friend? good Lord that I should be out of your remembrance, I haue bin at your house diuerse times. Indéed syr, saith the Farmer, are you such a mans kinsman, surely syr if you had not challenged ac­quaintance of me, I shoulde neuer haue knowen you, I haue cleane forgotten you, but I know the good gentleman your co­syn well, he is my verie good neighbor. And for his sake sayth the verser, wele drinke ere we parte, happily the man thankes him, & to the wine or ale they go, then ere they part they make him a conie, and so feret claw him at cards, that they leaue him as bare of monie as an ape of a taile. Thus haue the filthie fel­lowes their subtill fetches, to drawe on poore men [...]o fall into their coosning practises. Thus like consuming moths of y^e com­monwealth, they praie vpon the ignorance of such plain soules as measure all their owne honestie, not regarding either con­science, or the fatall reuenge thats threatned for such idle and [Page] licentious persons, do but imploy al their wi [...]s to ouerthrow such as with their handy thrift satisfie their harty thirst: they preferring cosenage before labor, and chusing an idle practise before an honest forme of good liuing. Wel, to the method a­gaine of taking vp their conies. If the poore countrimā smoke them stil, and wil not stoup vnto either of their lures: then one, either the verser, or the setter, or some of their crue, for there is a fraternitie betwixt them, steps before the cony as he goeth, & lets drop twelue pence in the high way, that of force the conny must see it. The countriman spying the shilling, maketh not daintie, for quis nisi mentis inops oblatum respuit au­rum, but stoupeth very mannerly and taketh it vp: then one of the conny catchers behind crieth halfe part, and so chalengeth [...]alfe of his finding, the countriman content offreth to change the mony, nay faith frend saith the verser, tis il luck to kéepe found mony, wele go spend it in a pottle of wine, or a breake­fast, dinner or supper, as the time of day requires: if the cony say he wil not, then answeres the verser, spend my part: if stil the cony refuse, he taketh halfe and away. If they spy y^• coun­triman to be of a hauing and couetous mind, then haue they a further policie to draw him on: another that knoweth the place of his abode, méeteth him and saith, sir, wel met. I haue run hastely to ouertake you, I pray you dwel you not in Dar­bishire, in such a village? yea marry do I frend saith the cony, then replies the verser, truely sir I haue a sute to you, I am going out of towne, and must send a letter to the parson of your parish, you shal not refuse to doe a stranger such fauor, as to carry it him, haply, as men may in time meet, it may lye in my lot to do you as good a turn, and for your paines I will geue you xii.d. The poore cony in meer simplicity saith, sir, Ile do so much for you with al my hart, where is your letter? I haue it not good sir redy written, but if I may intreat you to step into some tauern or alehouse, wele drink the while, and I wil write but a line or two: at this the conny stoupes, and for gréedines of the mony, and vpon courtesie goes with the setter vnto the tauern [...] As they walke they meet the verser, and then they all three go into the tauern together.

See Gentlem [...]n what great Logicians these conny cat­chers [Page] be, that haue such rhetoricall perswasions to induce the poore countriman to his confusion, and what variety of vila­nie they haue to strip the poor farmer of his mony. Wel, ima­gine the cony is in the tauern [...] then [...]its down the verser, say­ing to the setter, what sirrha, wilt thou geue me a quart of wine, or shal I geue thée one? wele drinke a pint saith the set­ter, and play a game at cards for it [...] respecting more the sport, then the losse, content qd. the verse [...], go cal for a paire, & while he is gone to fetch them, he saith to the cony, you shall sée me [...] fetch ouer my yong master for a quart of wine finely, but this you must do for me when I cut the cards, as I wil not cut a­boue fiue of, mark then of al the greatest pack which is vnder­most, and when I bid you cal a card for me, name that, & you shal sée wele make him pay for a quart of wine straight: tru­lie saies the cony, I am no great plaier at cards, neither doo wel vnderstand your meaning: why qd. he it is thus. Ile play at mumchance, or decoy, he shal shuffle the cardes and ile cut, now eyther of vs must cal a [...]ard, you shal cal for me, & he for himselfe, and whose card comes [...]rst winnes, therefore when I haue cut the cards, then mark the nethermost of the gr [...]atest heape that I set vpon the cards which I cut off, and euer call that for me. O now saith the cony I vnderstand you, let me a­lone, I warrant you ile fit your turn, with that in comes the Setter with his cards, asking at what game they shal playe, why saith the verser at a new game called mumchance, that hath no policie nor knauerie, but plaine as a pikestaffe, you shal shufle [...] and ile cut, you shal cal a card, and this honest man a stranger almost to vs both, shal cal another for me, & which [...]f our cards comes first shal win: content saith the setter, that is but méer hazard, so be shufles the cards, and the verser cuts off some four cards, and then taking vp the heape to set vpon them, geueth the cony a glance of the bottom card of that heap and saith, now sir, cal for me. The cony to blinde the setters eyes, asketh as though he were not made priuie to the gam [...], what, shal I cut? what carde saith the verser? why what yo [...] wil, either hart, spade, club or diamond, cotecard or other. O is it so saith the conny, why then you shal h [...]ue the four of harts which was the card he had a gl [...]unce of [...] and saith the setter [Page] (holding the cards in his hand and turning vp the vppermost, as if he knew not wel [...]he game) ile hau [...] the knaue of trumps, nay saith the verser there is no trump, you may cal what carde you wil: then saith he il [...] haue the ten of spades, with that he draws [...] and the four of harts comes first: wel saith the setter, tis but ha­zard, mine might haue come as wel as yours, fiue is vp, I [...]eare not the set: so they shuffle and cut, but the verser winnes. Well [...]aith the setter, no butler wil cleaue on my bread: what not on [...] draught among fiue, Drawer a fresh pint, ile haue another bout with you: but sir I beleue, saith he to the cony, you sée some card, that it goes so crosse with me. I saith the c [...]ny, I hope you think not so of me, tis but hazard and chaunce, for I am a meere stran­ger to the game, as I am an honest man I neuer saw it before.

Thus this simple cony closeth vp smoothly to take the ver­sers part, only for greedi [...]es to haue him win the wine: wel qd. the setter, then ile haue one cast more, and to it they goe, but hee loseth al, and begins to chafe in this manner: were it not quoth he, that I care not for a quart of wine, I could sweare as many othes for anger, as there be haires on my head, why should not my luck be as good as yours, and fortune fauor mee as well as you? what not one cald card in ten cuts, ile forsweare the game for euer. Chafe not man qd. the verser, sith we haue your quarte of wine ile shew you the game, and therewith discourseth all to him, as if he were ignorant of it. The setter, as simply as if the Knaue were ignorant [...]aith, ye marry I thought so, you must needs win whē he knowes what card to call. I might play long inough before I got a set. Truly qd. the cony tis a pretty game, for its not possible for him to lose that cuts the cardes, the other that shufles may lose S. Peters cope if he had it. Wel, ile carry this home with me into the countrie, and win many a potte of al [...] with it. A fresh pint saith the verser, and then wele away: but seeing sir you are going homewarde, ile learn you a tricke worth the noting, that shal win you many a pot in the winters nights: with that he culs out [...]he [...]our Knaues, and prickes one in the top, one in the midst, and one in the bottom. Now sir saith he, you see these three Knaues ppparantlie, thrust them downe with your hand, and cut where you wil, and though [...]hey be so farre asunder, il [...] make them all come together. Lets see that I pray you saith the cony, me thinks tis impossible. So the verser [Page] drawes, and al the thrée knaues come in one heap: this he dooth once or twice, then the cony wonders at it, and offers a pinte of wine to be taught it. Nay saith the verser ile do it for thankes, and therfore mark where you haue taken out the four knaues, lay two together aboue, and draw vp one of them that it maybe seen, then prick the other in the midst, and the third in y^e bottom, so whē any cuts, cut he neuer so warily, 3. knaues must of force come together, for the bott [...]m knaue is cut to lie vpon both the vpper knaues. I marrie saith the setter, but the three knaues you shewed come not together. True said the verser, but one a­mong a thousand mark not that, it requires a quick eye, a sharp wit, and a reaching head to spie at the first. Gramercie for this trick saith the cony, ile dominere with this amōg my neighbors Thus do the verser and the setter seem frendly to the Cony, of­fering him no shew of cosenage, nor once to drawe him in for a pint of wine, the more to shadow their villanie, but now begins the sport: as thus they sit tipling comes the Barnacle & thrustes open the dore, looking into the room where they are, and as one bashful steps back againe saying, I cry you mercie gentlemen, I thought a frend of mine had been here, pardon my boldnes: no harm saith the verser, I pray you drink a cup of wine with vs and welcome: in comes the barnacle, and taking the cup, drinks to the cony, and then saith, what at cards gentlemen? wer it not I should be offensiue to the companie, I would play for a pinte til my frend come I look for. Why sir saith the verser, if you wil sit down you shalbe taken vp for a quarte of wine: with al my heart saith the barnacle, what wil you play at, Primero, primo visto, Sant, one and thirtie, new cut, or what shalbe the game? Sir saith the verser I am but an ignorant man at cards, & you haue them at your fingers end, ile play with you at a game that hath no deceit, called mumchance at cards, and it is thus: you shal shufle, and ile cut, you shal cal one card, and this honest yeo­man shal cal another for me, and which of our cards comes first shal win, here you see is no deceit, and at this ile play. No truely saith the Conie, me thinkes there can be no great craft in this. Wel saith the barnacle for a pint of wine haue at you: so they play as before, fiue vp, and the verser winnes. This is hard luck saith the barnacle, and I beléeue the honest man spies some card in the bottom, therefore I will make this, alwaies to prick the [Page] bottom card: content saith the verser: and the cony to cloake the matter saith [...] sir, you offer me iniurie to think that I can call a card, when I neither touch them, [...]hufle, cut, nor draw them. Ah sir saith the barnacle, geue losers leaue to speake: wel, to it they go again, & then the barnacle knowing the çame best, by chop­ping a card winnes two of the fiue, but lets the verser win the set: then in a chaf [...] he sweareth tis but his il luck, and he can sée no deceit in it, therfore he wil play xii.d. a cut. The verser in cō ­tent, and wins ii. or iii. s. of the barnacle, whereat he chafes and saith, I came bether in an il houre, but ile win my monie again, or lose al in my purse, with that he draws out a purs with some thrée or four pound and claps on the boord: the verser asketh the conie secretlie by signes if he wil be his halfe, he saies yea, and straight séekes for his purse. The Barnacle shufles the cardes throwlie, and the verser cuts as before, the barnacle, when hee hath drawen one card saith, ile either winne something or lose something, therfore ile vie and reuie euerie card at my pleasure til either yours or mine come out, therfore xii.d. vpon this card, my card comes first. No saith the verser, and saith the Connie I durst laie xii.d. more. I hold it saith the barnacle: so they vi [...] and reuie til some ten shillings be on the stake: [...]nd then next comes foorth the versers card that the conie called, and so the barnacle los [...]th. This flesheth the conie, the swée [...]nes of gaine makes him [...]ro [...]ike, and none more redy to vie and reuie then he. Thus for thrée or four times the barnacle loseth. At last to whet on the conie he striketh his chopt card and winneth a good stake: away with the witch cries the barnacle, I hope the cards wil turne at last. Much thinks the conie, twas but a chance you askt so right one of the fiue that was cut off, there was fourtie to one on my side, and ile haue you on the lurch anon. So stil they vie & reuie and for once that the barnacle winnes, the conie gets fiue: at last when they mean to shaue the conie cleane of al his coine, th [...] barnacle chafeth, and vpon a pawn boroweth monie of the tap­ster, and sweares he will vie it to the vttermost. Then thus hé [...] chops his card to cros-bite the conie: he first looks on the bottom card, and shufles often, but stil kéeping that bottom card, which he knowes to be vppermost, then sets he downe the cards, and the verser to encourage the conie, cuts off but thrée cards, wher­of the barnacles card must needes be the vppermost. Then hée [Page] shewes the bottom card of the other heap cut off to the connie, & sets it vpō the barnacles card which [...]e knowes, so that of [...]orc [...] the card that was laid vpermost must c [...]me foorth first, and then the barnacle cals that card. They draw a card, and they y^e bar­nacle vies, and the countriman vies vpon him: for this is y^e law [...] as oft as one vies or reuies, the other must sée it, els hee looseth the stake. Wel at last the barnacle plies it so, that perhaps hée vies more monie then the conie hath in his purse. Upon this the conie knowing his card is the third or fo [...]rth card, and that he hath fortie to one against the barnacle, pawnes his rings if he haue anie, his sworde, his cloake, or els what hee hath about him, to maintein the vie: and when he laughs in his sléene, thin­king he hath fléest the barnacle of all, then the barnacles carde comes foorth, and strikes such a cold humor to his heart, that hé [...] sits as a man in a traunce, not knowing what to doe, & sighing while his heart is redie to breake, thinking on the monie that he hath lost. Perhaps the man is very simple and patient, and whatsoeuer he thinkes, for feare goes his way quiet with his losse while the Connicatchers laugh and deuide the spoile, and being out of dores, poore man, goes to his lodging with a heauie heart, pensiue and sorowful, but too late, for perhappes his state did depend on that monie, and [...]o he, his wife and children, & his familie, are brought to extreame miserie. Another perhappes more hardie and subtle, smokes the connicatchers, and smelleth cosenage, and saith they shal not haue his monie so, but they answere him with braues, and though hee bring them before an officer, the Knaues are so fauoured, that the man neuer recoue­reth his monie, and he is let slip vnpunisht.

Thus are the poore conies robbed by these base minded Ca­terpillers: thus are seruingmen oft entised to play, and lose all: thus are prentises induced to be connies, and so are cosened of their masters monie: yea yong gentlemen, marchants, & other, are fetcht in by these damnable rakehels, a plague as ill as hell, which is, present losse of monie, and insuing miserie. A lamen­table case in England when such vipers are suffered to br [...]ede, and are not cut off with the sword of iustice. This enormity is not onlie in London, but now generallie dispersed through all England, in euerie Shire, Citie, and Towne of any receipt, and mani [...] complaintes are heard of their egregious cosenage. [Page] The poore farm [...] simplie going about his busines, or vnto his att [...]rneis chamber, is catcht vp and cosened of all: the seruing­man sent with his Lords treasu [...]e, loseth ofttimes most part to these wormes of the commonwealth: the prentise hauing his masters monie in charge, is spoiled by them, and from an ho­nest seruant, either driuen to run away, or to liue in discredite for euer. The gentlemā loseth his land, the marchant his stock, and al to these abhominable conicatchers, whose meanes is as il as their liuing, for they are al either wedded to whores, or so ad­dicted to whores, that what they get from honest mē, they spend in bawdie houses among harlots, and consume it as vainlie as they get it villanouslie. Their eares are of adamant, as pittiles a [...] they are trecherous, for be the man neuer so poore, they will not returne him one pennie of his losse. I remember a mery iest done of late to a welchman, who being a méer stranger in Lon­don, and not wel acquainted with the English tongue, chanced amongst certaine conicatchers, who spying the gentleman had monie, they so dealt with him, that what by signes and broken English, they got him in for a conie, and fléest him of euerie peny that he had, and of his sword: at last the man smoakt them, and drew his dagger vpon them at Ludgate, for therabout they had catcht him, and would haue stabd one of them for his mony, but people stopt him, the rather because they could not vnderstande him, though he had a card in one hand, and his dagger in the o­ther, saying as wel as he could, a card, a card, mon dien. In the mean while the conicatchers were got into pauls, and so away, The welchman folowed them séeking there vp and down in the church [...]til with his naked dagger and the card in his hand, the gentlemen maruele what he meant thereby: at last one of his countrimen met him, and enquired the cause of his choler, then he told him how he was cosened at cards, and robd of al his mo­nie, but as his losse was voluntarie, so his séeking for them was meere vanitie, for they were stept into some blind al [...]hous [...] to deuide the shares. Néere to S. Edmondsburie in Suffolk, there dweit an honest man a shoomaker, who hauing some xx. markes in his purse, long in gathering, and néerelie kept, came to the market to buy hides, and by chance fell amongst Conicat [...]hers, whose names I omit because I hope of their amendment. This paine Countriman draw [...]n in by these former deuises, was [Page] made a cony, & stript of his xx. mark, to his vn [...]ing: the Knaues scapt, and he went home a sorowful man. Soon after one of these co [...]icatchers was taken for a suspected person, and laid in Bury gaole [...] the sessions coming, and he produced to the bar, it was the poor shomakers fortune to be there, who séeing this rogne arrai­ned, was glad, and said nothing to him [...] looking what woulde be the issue of his appearance. At last he was brought before the Iustices to be examined of his life, and being demaunded what occupation he was, said none, what profession then are you of, & how liue you? Marrie quoth [...]e I am a gentleman, and liue of my [...]rends. Thats a lie qd. the shomaker, vnder correction of the worshipful of the bench, you haue a trade, and are by your art a conicatcher. A Conicatcher said one of the Iustices and smiled, is he a warriner felow, canst thou tel whose warren he kéepeth [...] No sir your worship mistaketh me, he is not a warriner, but a conicatcher. The bench, that neuer heard this name before, smi­led, attributing the name to the mans simplicitie, thought hée meant a warriner: which the poore man séeing, answered, y^e som [...] conies this felow caught were worth xx. mark a péece, for proofe qd. he. I am one of them, and so discourst the order of the art, and the basenes of the cosenage: wherupon the Iustices looking into his life, iudged him to be whipt: the shomaker desired he might geue him his paiment, which was granted. When he came to his punishment the shomaker laught saying, tis a mad worlde when poor Conies are able to beat their catchers: but hee lent him so frendlie lashes, that almost he made him pay an ounce of bloud for euery pound of siluer. Thus we sée how the generation of these vipers increase, to the confusion of many honest men, whose practises to my poor power I haue discouered and set out, with the vilainous s [...]eights they vse to intray y^e simple, yet haue they clokes for the rain, and shadows for their vilani [...]s, calling it by the name of art or law: as conicatching art, or conicatching law. And hereof it riseth, that like as law, when y^e term is truly considered, signifieth the ordinance of good men, established for y^e commonwelth, to represse vicious liuing, so these conicatchers turn the cat in the pan, geuing to vile patching shifts [...] an honest & godlie title, calling it by the name of a law, because by a mul­titude of hateful rules, as it were in good learning, they do ex­ercise their villani [...]s to the destructiō of sundry honest persons. [Page] Hereupon they geue their false conueyance the name of Conny­catching law, as there be also other lawes: as high law, sacking law, [...]gging law, cheting law, and barnardes law. If you mar­ [...]el at these misteries and queint words, consider, as carpenters haue many tearmes familiar inough to their prentises, that o­ther vnderstand not at all, so haue the connycatchers not with­out great cause, for a falshood once detected, can neuer compasse the desired effect. Therefore wil I presently acquaint you with the signification of the tearmes in a table. But leauing them til time and place, comming downe Turnmill stréet the other day, I met one whom I suspected a connycatcher, I drew him on to the tauern, and after a cup of wine or two, I talkt with him of the manner of his life, and tolde him I was sory for his frendes sake, that he tooke so bad a course as to liue vpon the spoyle of poore men, and specially to deserue the name of conny-catching, disswading him from that base kind of life, that was so ignomi­nious in the world, and so lothsome in the sight of God, Tut sir, quoth he, calling me by my name, as my religion is small, so my deuotion is lesse, I leaue God to be disputed on by diuines, the two ends I aime at, are gain & ease, but by what honest gaines I may get, neuer comes within the compasse of my thoughtes. Though your experience in trauell be great, yet in home mat­ters mine is more: yea I am sure you are not so ignorant, but you know that few men can liue vprightly, vnlesse they haue some prety way more then the world is witnes to to help them­selues withal. Think you some lawyers coulde be such purcha­sers if al their pleas were short, and their procéedinges iustice and conscience? that offices would be so dearely bought, and the buyer so soon enriched, if they counted not pillage an honest kinde of purchase? or think you that men of handy trades make all their commodities without falshood, when so many of them are become daily purchasers? nay what wil you more? who so hath not some sinister way to help [...] himselfe, but followeth his nose alwaies straight forward, may wel hold vp the head for a yeare or two, but the third he must needes sinke, and gather the winde into beggars hauen: therefore sir, cease to perswade me to the contrarie, for my resolution is to beat my wits, and busis my braines to saue and help me, by what meanes so euer I care not [Page] so I may auoid the danger of the law. Whereupon seeing this conny-catcher resolued in his forme of life, leauing him to his lewdnes I went away, wondering at y^e basenes of their mind [...], that would spende their time in such detestable sort. But no maruel, for they are geuen vp into a reprobate sence, and are in religion meere at heists, as they are in trade flat dissemblers, if I should spend many sheetes in deciphering their shifts, it were friuelous, in that they be many and ful of variety, for euery day they inuent new tricks, and such queint deuises as are secrete, yet passing da [...]gerous, that if a man had Argus eyes, hee coulde scant prie into th [...] bottom of their practises. Thus for the bene­fit of my countrie I haue briefly discouered the law of conycat­ching, de [...]ring all Iustices, if any such coseners light in your precinct, euen to vse summum ius against them, because it is the basest of all villanies. And that London prentices, if they chā [...] in such conycatchers company, may teach them London lawe, that is, to defend the poore men that are wronged, and learn the caterpillers the high way to newgate, where if Hind fauor thē with the heauies [...] [...] in the house, and geue them his vnkind­est entertainment, [...] doubt his other pety sinnes shall bee halfe pardoned for his labor: but I would it might be their fortune to happen into Nobles northward in white chappel, there in faith round Robin his dep [...] would make them, like wretches, feele the weight of his heau [...] fetters. And so desiring both honou­rable and worshipful, as wel Iustices as other officers, and all states, from the Prince to the begger, to rest professed enemies to these base-minded conny-catchers, I take my leaue.

1 High law

robbing by the highway [...]ide.

2 Sacking law

l [...]cherie.

Cheting law

play at false dice.

3 Cros-biting law

cosenage by wh [...]res.

4 Conycatching law

cosenage by cards.

5 Uersing law

cosenage by false gold.

6 Figging law

cutting of purses & picking of pockets.

[...] Barnards law

a drunken cosenage by cards.

• [Page]In high Lawe
  • The Théefe is called a High lawier.
  • He that setteth the Watch, a Scrippe [...]
  • He that standeth to watch, an Oake
  • He that is robd, the Martin
  • When he yeeldeth, stouping
• In sacking Law
  • The Bawd if it be a woman, a Pand [...]r
  • The Bawd, if a man, an Apple squire
  • The whoore, a Commoditie
  • The whoore house, a Trugging place
• In cheating law
  • Pardon me Gentlemen, for although no man could better then my selfe discouer this lawe and his tearmes, and the name of their Cheats, [...]arddice, Flats, Forgers, Langre [...]s, Gourds, Demies, and many other, with their nature. & the crosses and contraries to them vpon aduantage, yet for some speciall reasons, herein I will be silent.
• In Cros-biting lawe
  • The whoore, the Traffique
  • The man that is brought in, the Simpler
  • The villaines that take them, the Cros-biters
• In Coni-catch­ing law
  • The partie that taketh vp the Connie, the Setter
  • He that plaieth the g [...]ne, the Uerser
  • He that is coosned the Connie
  • He that comes in to them, the Barnackle
  • The [...]le that is wonne, Purchase
• In Uersing law
  • He that bringeth him in, the Uerser
  • The poore Countrie man, the Coos [...]
  • And the dr [...]nkard that comes in, the Suff [...]er
• In Figging law
  • The Cutpurse, a Nix
  • He that is halfe with him, the Snap
  • The knife, the Cuttle bo [...]ng
  • The picke pocket, a Foist
  • He that faceth the man, the Stale
  • Taking the purse, Drawing
  • Spying of him, Sm [...]aking
  • The purse, the Bong
  • The monie, the Shels
  • The Act doing, st [...]iking
• In Bernards lawe
  • He that fetcheth the man the Take [...]
  • He that is taken, the Co [...]
  • The la [...]ded man the Uerser
  • The dronken man the Barnard
  • And he that makes the fray, the Rutte [...]:

[Page]These quaint [...]ermes do these [...]ase arts vse to shado [...] their villanie withall for [...] mul [...]a la [...]ent qu [...] non patent, ob­scuring their filthie crafts with these faire colours, that the ignorant may not espie what their subtiltie is: but their end wil be like their beginning, hatcht with Cain, and consumed with Iadas: and so bidding them adue to the deuil, and you farewell to God, Iend. And now to the art of Cros-biting.

THe Cros-biting law is a publique profession of shame­les cosenage, nuxt with incestuous whoredomes, as [...] as was practised in Gomorha or Sodom, though not after the same vnnatural manner: for the method of their mis­chieuous art (with blushing chekes & trembling hart let it be spoken) is, that these villanous vipers, vnworthy the name of men, base roagues (yet why doe I tearme them so well) being outcasts from God, vipers of the world, and an excremental reuersion of sin, doth consent, nay constrayn [...] their wines to yeeld the vse of their bodies to other men, that taking them together, he may cros-bite the party of all the crownes he can presently make, and that the world may sée their monstrous practises, I wil briefly set down the manner.

They haue sundry praies that they cal simplers, which are men fondly and wantonly geuen, whom for a penalti [...] of their lust, they fleece of al that euer they haue: some marchants, prentices, seruingmen, gentlemen, yeomen, far­mers, and all degrees, and this is their forme: there are re­sident in London & the suburbes, certain men attir [...]d like Gentlemen, braue fellowes, but basely minded, who liuing in want, as their last refuge, fal vnto this cros-biting law and to maintein themselues [...] either marry with some stals whore, or els forsooth keep one as their frēd: and these per­sons be cōmonly men of the eight lawes before reh [...]ars [...]d: either high Lawiers, Uersers, N [...]ps, Conny-catchers, or [Page] such of the like fraternitie. These when their other [...]rades [...]ail, as the Cheater, when he hath no cosin to grime with his stop dice, or y^e high lawier, when he hath no set match to ride about, and the Nip when there is no tearme, faire, nor time of great assemblie, then to maintaine the maine chance, they vse the benefite of their wiues or friends, to the cros-biting of such as lust after their filthie enormi­ties: some simple men are drawen on by subtill meanes, which neuer in [...]ended such a bad matter. In summer e­uenings, and in the winter nightes, these traf [...]ckes, these common truls I meane, walke abroad either in the fields or str [...]tes that are commonly hanted, as stales to drawe men into h [...]ll, and a farre of, as attending applesquires, ce [...]taine cross-biters stand aloofe, as if they knew them not: now so many men so many affections. Some vn­ruly mates that place their content in lust, letting slippe the libertie of their [...]ies on their painted faces, f [...]ede vpon their vnchast beauties, till their hearts be set on fire: then come they to these minions, and court them with many sweet words: alas their loues needs no long sutes, for they are forthwith entertained, and either they go to the [...]a­uerne to s [...]ale vp the match with a pottle of Ipocras, or straight she carries him to some bad place, and there picks his pocket, or else the Cross-biters comes swearing in, & so out-face the dismaied companion, that rather then hee would be brought in ques [...]ion, he would disburse all that he hath present. But this is but an easie [...]osnage. Some other meeting with one of that profession in the street, wil question if she will drinke with him a pint of wine, theyr trade is neuer to refuse, and if for manners they doe, it is but once: & then scarce shall they be warme in the roome, but in comes a terrible fellow, with a side hair [...] & a [...]car [...] ­full beard, as though he were one of Polyphemus cut, & he comes frowning in & saith, what hast thou to do [...] base knaue-to carrie my sister or my wi [...]e to the tauern by his ownes you whore, tis some of your cōpanions, I wil haue [Page] you both before the Iustice, Deputie, or Constable, to bée examined. The poore seruingman, apprentise, farmer, or whatsoeuer he is, séeing such a terrible huffe snuffe, s [...]rea­ring with his dagger in his hand, is fearefull both of him and to be brought in trouble, and therfore speakes kindly and courteously vnto him, and desires him to be content he meant no harm. The whore, that hath teares at com­maund, fals a weeping, and cries him mercy. At this sub­mission of them both he triumphs like a bragard, and wil take no compassion: yet a last, through intreaty of other his companions comming in as strangers, hee is pacified with some forty shillings, and the poor man goes sorrow­ful away, sighing out that which Salomon hath in his prouerbs, A shameles woman hath hony in her l [...]ppes, and her throte as sweet as hony, her throte as soft as oyle: but the end of her is more bitter then Aloes, and her tongue is more sharp then a two edged sword, her feet go vnto death, and her steppes leade vnto hell.

Again these [...]ruls when they haue got in a no [...]ice, then straight they pick his purse, and then haue they their cros­biters redy, to whom they conuey the mony and so offer themselues to be searcht: but the poore man is so outfaced by these cros-biting Russians, that hee is glad to goe a­way content with his losse, yet are these easie practises. O might the Iustices send out spials in the night, they shold sée how these stréet walkers wiliet in rich garded gowns, queint periwigs, rufs of the largest size, quarter and halfe déep, gloried richly with blew starch, their cheekes died with surfuling water, thus are they trickt vp, and either walke like stales vp and down the stre [...]ts, or stande like the deuils Siquis at a tauern or alehouse, as if who shoulde say, if any be so minded to satisfie his [...]ilthie lust, to lende me his purse, and the deuil his soule, let him come in and be welcome. Now sir comes by a countrey farmer, walk­ing from his inne to perform some busines, and seeing such a gorgeous damzell, hee wondring at such a braue wench [Page] stand staring her on the face, or perhappes doth but cast a glance, and bid her good spéed, as plain simple swains haue their lustie humors as well as others: the trull straight beginning her exordium with a smile, saith? how now my friend, what want you, would you spe [...]e with anie body here? If the felow [...]aue anie bolde sp [...]it, perhaps he will offer the wine, & then he is caught, tis inough: in he goes, and they are chamberd: then sends she for her husband, or hir friend, and there either the farmers pocket is stript, or else the cros-biters fall vpon him, and threaten him with bride will and the law: then for feare he giues them all in his purse, and makes them some bill to paie a summe of monie at a certaine daie. If the poore Farmer bee bash­full, and passeth by one of these shamelesse strumpets, then will she verse it with him, and claime acquaintaunce of him, and by some pollicie or other fall aboord on him, and carr [...]e him into some house or other: if he but enter in at the doores with her (though the poore Farmer neuer kis [...] her) yet then the cros-biters, like vultures, will pray vpon his purse, and rob him of euerie pennie. If there bée anie yong gentleman that is a nouice and hath not séene theyr traines, to hi [...] will some common filth (that neuer knew loue) faine an ardent and honest affection, till she and her cros-biters haue verst him to the beggers estate. Ah gen­tlemen, marchants, yeomen and farmers, let this to you all, and to euery degr [...]e else, be a caueat to warn you from lust, that your inordinate desire be not a meane to impo­uerish your purses, discredit your good names, condemns your soules, but also that your wealth got with the sweat of your browes, or left by your parents as a patrimonie, shall be a praie to those coosning cros-biters [...] Some fond men are so farre in with these detestable trugs, that they consume what they haue vpon them, and find nothing but a Neapolitan fauor [...]or their labor. Reade the seuenth of Salomons prouerbs, and there at large view the descrip­tion of a shameles and impudent curtizan: yet is there an [Page] other kind of cros-biting which is most pestilent, and that is this. There liues about this to [...]ne certaine houshol­ders, yet méere shifters and coosners, who learning some insight in the ciuill law, walke abrode like parators, sum­ners and informers, beeing none at all either in office or credit, and they go spying about where any marchant, or marchants prentise, citizen, wealthie farmer, or other of credit, either accompany with anie woman familiarly, or else hath gotten some maide with child, as mens natures be prone to sin, straight they come ouer his fallows thus: they send for him to a tauerne, & ther open the matter vn­to him, which they haue cunningly larned out, telling him he must be presented to the Arches, & the scitation shalbe peremptorily serued in his parish church. The partie a­fraid to haue his credit crackt with the worshipfull of the Citie, and the rest of his neighbors, & grieuing highly his wife should heare of it, straight takes composition with this cosner for some twentie markes, nay I heard of forty pound cros-bitten at one time, & thē the cosning informer or cros-biter promiseth to wipe him out of the booke, & dis­charge him from the matter, when it was neither know­en nor pre [...]ented: so go they to the woman, and fetch her off if she be maried, and though they haue this grosse sum, yet oft times they cros-bite hir for more: nay thus to they feare citizens, prentises & farmers, that they find but any waie suspitious of the like fault. The cros-biti [...]g ba [...]ds, for no better can I tearme them, in that for lucre they conceale the sin, and smoother vp lust, do no! onely inrich themselues mightily thereby, but also discr [...]dite, hinder, and preiudice the court of the Arches, and the Officers belo [...]ging to the same. There are some pore blinde patch­es of that facultie, that haue their Tene [...]ents purchased, and th [...]ir plate on the boorde verie solemnly, who onely get their gaines by cros-biting, as is afore rehearsed. But leauing them to the deepe insight of such as be appointed with iustice to correct vice, againe to the [...]ue of my for­mer [Page] Cros-biters, whose sée simple to liue vpon, is nothing but the following or common, dishonest and idle truls and thereby maintaine themselues brane, and the strumpets in handsome furniture. And to end this act with an Englishe demonstration, ile t [...]ll you a prety tale of late performed in bishopsgatestreet: there was there fiue trafficques, prettie, but common hufwiues, that stood fast by a tauern dore, loo­king if some pray would come by for their purpose, anone the eldest of them [...] and most experienced in that law, named Mal B. spyed a master of a ship comming along. Here is a simpler quoth she, Ile verse him, or hang me. Sir sayd shee, God euen, what are you so liberall as to bestow on vs thrée good wenches that are drie, a pint of wine. In faith, fayr [...] women qd. he, I was neuer nygard for so much, and with that he takes one of them by the hande, and caries them all into the tauern, there he bestowed cheare and ipocras vpon them, drinking hard til the shot came to a noble, so that they three carousing to the Gentleman, made him somewhat tipsie, and the Et venus in vinis, ignis in igne fuit. Wel, night grewe on and hee woulde away, but this mistresse Mal B. stopt his iorney thus: gentleman qd. shee, this vndeserued fauor of yours makes vs so deepely beholding to you, that our abilitie is not able any way to make sufficient satisfa­ction, yet to shew vs kinde in what we can, you shall not deny me this request, to see my simple house before you goe. The gentleman a little whitled, consented and went with them so the shot was payd and away they goe: without the tauern dore stood two of their husbandes, I.B. and I.R. and they were made priuie to the practise. Home goes the Gen­tleman with these iolly huswiues stumbling, and at last hee was welcome to M. mals house, and one of the three went into a chamber, and got to bed, whose name was A.B. after they had chatted awhile, the Gentleman would haue beene gone, but shee tolde him that before he went hee shoulde see all the roomes of her house, and so ledde him vp into the chamber where the party lay in bed. Who is here sayd the [Page] gentleman: marry sayth mal a good pretty wench sir, and if you be not wel lie downe by her, you can take no harm of her: Dronkennes desires luste, and so the Gentleman be­gins to dally, and away goes she with the candle and at last he put off his clothes and went to bed: yet hee was not so dronke but hee could after a while remember his money, and féeling for his Purse all was gone, and three lynkes of his whistle broken off: the sum that was in his purse was in golde and siluer twenty nobles. And thus he was in a maze though his head were al laden, in comes I.B. the good man of the house, and two other with him, and he speaking somewhat loude, Peace Husband quoth shee, there is one in bed, speake not so loud. In bed, saith he, g [...]gs nownes, ile goe see, and so wil I saith the other: you shal not sayth hys wife, & stroue agaynst him, but vp he goes, he and his cros-biters with him, and séeing the gentleman in bed, out with his dagger, and asked what base villen it was that there sought to dishonest his wife: wel, hee sent one of them for a Constablt, and made the gentleman rise, who halfe drunk had that remembrance to giue faire words, and to intreate him to saue his credit: but no intreatie could serue, but to the Counter he must, and the Constable must be sent for: yet at last one of them intreated that the gentleman might be honestly vsed, and caried to a tauerne to talk of the mat­ter til a Constable came. Tut saith I. B. ile haue the law vpon him. But the base cros-biter at last stoupt, and to the Tauern they went, where the gentleman did laye hys whistle to pawne for money, and there bestowed as much of them as came to ten shillings, and sate drinking, and chatting, vntil the next morrow. By that the Gentleman had stolne a nap, it waxed day light, and then seeing him­selfe compassed with these cursed Cros-biters, and remem­bring his nights vsage, soberly smyling, demanded of them if they could tel who he was, the aunswered no: why then, quoth he, you base cosening Rogues you shal before we d [...] part: and with that drawing his sword, stayed them in the chamber, desiring that the Constable might be sent for: but [Page] this bra [...]e of his could not dismay M. Mall, for shee had biddden a sharper brunt before, witnes the time of her martirdome, when vpon her shoulders was engrauen the history of her whorish qualities: but she replying, swore, sith he was so lusty, her husband should not put it vp by no meanes. I will tel thée thou base cros-biting baud, quoth he, and you coosening companions, I serue a noble man, & for my credit with him, I refer met to the penaltie hée will impose on you, for by God I wil make you an example to all cros-biters ere I ends with you, I tel you villaines, I serue, and with that he nam [...]e his Lord. When the guilty whores and coseners heard of his credite and seruice, they began humbly to intreat him to be good to thē: then quoth he, first deliuer me my mony, they vpon that gladly gau [...] him all, and restored the linkes of his chaine. When hee had all, he smiled, and sware afresh that he would torment them for al this, that the seueritie of their punishment might be a [...]aueat to others to beware of the like coose­nage: and vppon that knock [...] with his foote, and sayde hee would not let them go til he had a constable. Then in ge­neral they humbled themselues, so recompencing the par­tie, that he agreed to passe ouer the matter, conditionallie beside, that they would pay the sixtéene shillinges h [...]e had spent in charges, which they also performed. The Gentle­man stept his way, and said, you may sée the olde prouerbe fulfilled, Fallere fallentem non est fraus. Thus haue I de­ciphered an odious practise not worthy to be named: and now wishing al, of what estate soeuer, to beware of filthy lust, and such damnable stale [...] as drawes men on to inor­dinate desires, and rather to spend their coine amongest honest companie, then to bequeath it to such base cros-bi­ters, as praie vpon men, like rauens vpon dead carcases, I end with this praier, that Cros-biting and Conny-cat­ching may be as little knowen in England, as the eating of swines flesh was amongst the Iewes. Farewel.

ALthough (courteous Readers) I did not put in amongst the lawes of c [...]se­ning, the law of Legering, which is a deceit that Colliars abuse the Com­monwealth withall, in hauing vnlawfull sacks, yet take it for a petty kind of craft or mysterie, as preiudiciall to the poore as any of the other two: for I omitted diuers other diuelish vices: as, the n [...]ture of the Lift, the black arte and the Curbing law, which is the filchers and theeues that come into houses or shops, and lift away any thing: or picklocks, or hookers at windowes, although they b [...] a [...] species and branches to the table be [...]ore rehearsed. But omitting them, againe to our law of Legering. Know therefore that there be inhabiting in and about Lon­don, ce [...]t [...]ine caterpillers (Coll [...]ers I should say) that terme themselues ( [...]mongest themselues) by the name of Legers, who for that the honourable, the L. Mayor of the city of London, and his officers, looke straitly to the measuring of coles, doe (to preuent the execution of his iustice) plant themselues in and about the Suburbs of London as Shordich, White chappel, Southwarke, and such places, and there they haue a house or yarde that hath a back g [...]te, because it is the more conuenient for their cosening purpose, and the reason is this: the Leger, the craftie Collier I mean, riseth very early in the morning, and either goeth towards Croyden, Whetstone, Greenewich or Romford, and there meeteth with Country colliers, who bring coles to serue the m [...]rket: there in a forestalling m [...]n [...]er, this Leger bargaineth with the country colliar for his coles, and payeth for them nineteen or twenty shillings at the most, but commonly fifteen or sixteen, and there is in the lode 36 sacks: so th [...]t they pay for euery couple about fourteen pence. Now hauing bought [...], euery sack conteyning full four bushels, he carryeth the countrey colliar home to his lege­ring place, and there at the [...]ack gate causeth him to vnloade, and, as they say, shoot the coles down. As soone as the country collier hath dispatcht and is gone, the leger (who hath three or foure hired men vnder him) bringeth foorth his owne sacks, which [...]re long [...]nd narrow, holding at the most not three bushels so t [...]t i [...] the change of euery sack they gaine a bushel. Tush yet this were somewhat tollera­ble, although the gaine and [...]surie is m [...]strous, but this s [...]fficeth not, for they fill not these sacks full by farre, but put into them some tw [...] b [...]shels [...]nd a h [...]l [...]e laying in the mouth of the sack certaine choise coles, which they call [...]ill [...]s, to ma [...]e the sack shew faire though the re [...]t be al sm [...]ll willow cole, and h [...]lfe d [...]osse, Wh [...] they haue not thus halfe fill [...]d their sacks, but thrust co [...]les into them, that [...] they L [...]y vppermost is best-filled, to make the greater shew: then a tall [...] that is all ragd, and d [...]rty [...] his legs as though he c [...]me out of the countre [...] ( [...]or they du [...]ty their hose and shoo [...] vp [...]n purpose [...]o make themselues [...] country col­liars.) Thus with two s [...]cks a peec [...] they eyther go out at the back [...], or steale out at the street side, and so go vp and down the Suburbs, and sell their coles in summer for fourteen and sixteen pence the couple, and in winter for eighteen or twenty. The poore Cool [...]s and other Citizens that buy the [...], [...]nke they be coun­try Colliers that haue left som [...] coales of their load, and would gl [...]dly haue monie, supposing (as the Statute is) they be good and lawfull [...] thus o [...]s [...]ned by the Legers, and h [...]ue but two bushels and a halfe for foure bushels, and yet extremely rackt in the price, which is not onely a great hinderaunce to her Maiesties poore [Page] [...], but greatly preiudicial to the master colliers, that bring sacks and mea­sure out of the country. Then consider (gentle Readers) wh [...]t a kinde of cosenage these legets vse, that can make of thirty sacks, some fifty sixe, which I haue [...] with [...] eyes, for I haue set down with my pen how many turns they haue made of a load, and they made twenty eyght turnes, euery turne being two sacks: so that they haue gotten an intollerable gaine by their false measure. I could not be silent seeing this abuse, but thought to reueale it for my countries commoditie, and to geue light to the worshipfull Iustices, and other her Maiesties Officers in Midlesex, Surrey, and els-where, to looke to such a gross [...] cosenage as contrary to a direct sta­ [...]ute, dooth defraud and impouerish her Maiesties poore commons. Wel may the Honorable and W [...]rshipf [...]l of London flourish, who carefully looke to the Country coles, and if they find not four Bushels in euery sack [...] sel them to the poore as for­fet, and distribute the mony to such as haue need, burning the sacks, and honouring or rather dishonouring the pillery with the Colliers durty faces: And wel may the Honourable and Worshipful of the Suburbs liue and pr [...]sper, if they looke in iustice to these Legers, who deserue more punishment then the Statute [...]ppoynts them, which is whipping at a carts tayle, or with fauer the pillerie. For fewel or fiering [...] being a thing necessary in a Common-wealth, and Charcole vsed more then any other, the poore not able to buy by the load, are fayn to get in their fire by the sack, and so are greatly cosened by the retayle.

Seeing therefore the c [...]reful L [...]wes her Maiestie hath appoynted for wealth of her Commons, and succour of the poore, I would humbly intreat all her Maie­sties Officers to l [...]oke into the life of these legers, and root them out, that the poor [...] feel n [...]t the b [...]t [...]en of their vnconscionable gaynes. I heard with mine eares a poore woman of Shordi [...]h who h [...]d bought coles of a Leger, with weeping teares complaine, and r [...]yle against him in the streete, in her rough eloquence calling hi [...] cose [...]ing knaue, s [...]ying, Tis no m [...]ruel villen (quoth she) if men compare you col­liers to the deuil, seeing your consciences are worser then the deuils: for he takes none but those soules whom God h [...]tes, and you vndoe the poore whom God doeth loue.

Wh [...]t is the matter good wise (quoth I) that you vse such inuectiue worde [...] ag [...]inst the Collyar. A c [...]lli [...]r sir (quoth she) he is a thee [...]e, and a robber of the common people. He tel you sir, I bought of a Country collyer two sacks for thir­tee [...] pence, and I bought of this knaue three sacks, which cost me 22. pence: & sir [...] when I measured both their sacks, I had more in the two sacks by 3 pecks, then I had in the three. I would (quoth she) my neighbours would ioyne with [...]e in [...] supplication, and by God I would kneele before the Queene, and intreat that such c [...]sening Colliers [...]ght not only be punished with the bare pillery (for they haue such black faces that no man knowes them agayne, and so are they c [...]relesse) but that they might leaue their eares behind them for a forfet: and if that would not mend them, th [...]t Bull with a fayre halter might root them out of the world, that liue in the world by such grosse and dishonest cosenage. The Collier hearing this, w [...]nt smiling away, because he knew his li [...]e was not lookt into, and the woman wept for anger that she had not some one by that might with iustice reuenge her quarrell.

There be also certaine Colliers th [...]t bring coles to London in Barges, & they be called Gripers, to these comes the Leger, and bargains with him for his coles, and [Page] sels by retale with the li [...]e cosenage of sacks as I rehearsed before. But these mad Legers (not content with this monstrous game) do besides mix among their other sacks o [...] coles, store of s [...]ruff [...] dust and small cole, to their great aduantage. And for proofe hereof, I will recite you a matter of trueth, lately perfourmed by a Cooke [...] wi [...]e vpon a cosening Collier.