CHAP. I.

WHen all the World was but one King­dome, One language through all the world at the beginning all the People in that King­dome spake but one language. A man could trauell in those dayes neither by Sea nor land, but he mett his Country-men & none others.

Two could not then stand gabling with strange ton­gues, and conspire together (to his owne face) how to cut a third mans throat, but he might vnderstand them. There was no Spaniard (in that Age) to Braue his enemy in the Rich and Lofty Castilian: no Romaine Orator to plead in the Rethoricall and Fluent Latine: no Italian to court his Mistris in the swéete and Amo­rous Thuscane [...] no French-man to parley in the full and stately phrase of Orleans: no Germaine to thunder out the high and ratling Dutch: the vnfruitfull crabbed Irish, and the Uoluble significant Welch, were not then so much as spoken of: the quick Scottish Dialect (sister to the [...]nglish) had not then a tongue, neither were the stringes of the English spéech (in those times) vntyed. [Page] When she first learn'd to speake, it was but a broken language: the singlest and the simplest Words flowed from her vtterāce: for she dealt in nothing but in Mono­sillables, (as if to haue spoken words of greater length would haue crackt her Uoice) by which meanes her Eloquence was poorest, yet hardest to learne, and so (but for necessity) not regarded amōgst Stran̄gers. Yet after­wards those Noblest Languages lent her Words and English toung comparable to the best. phrazes, and turning those Borrowings into Good hus­bandry, shée is now as rich in Elocution, and as aboun­dant as her prowdest & Best-stored Neighbors.

Whilst thus (as I said before) there was but one Alphabet of Letters, for all the world to Read by all the people that then liued, might haue wrought vpon one péece of worke in countries farre distant a sunder, with­out mistaking one another, and not néeding an interpre­ter to runne betwéene them. Which thing Nymrod (the first Idolater,) perceiuing, and not knowing better how to imploy so many thousand Milliōs of Subiects as bow­ed before him: a fire of Ambition burn'd within him, to climbe vp so high that hee might sée what was done in heauen: And for that purpose, workmen were summo­ned from all the corners of the Earth, who presētly were set to Build the Tower of Babell. But the Maister­workemā of this Great Vniuerse, (to check the Insolēce Building of Babell. of such a Sawcie builder) that durst raize vp Pynnacles, equall to his owne (aboue) commanded the selfe-same Spirit that was both bred in the Chaos and had main­teind it in disorder, to bee both Surueyor of those workes and Comptroller of the Labourers. This Messenger was called Confusion. It was a Spirit swift of sight, & faithfull of seruice. Her lookes wilde, terrible and incon­stant. Confusion des­cribed. Her attire, carelesly, loose, and of a thousand seue­rall coulors. In one hand shée grip'd a heape of stormes with which (at her pleasure) she could trouble y^e waters: In the other she held a whip, to make three Spirits that drew her, to gallop fastes before her: the Spirits names [Page] were Treason, Sedition & War, who at euery time w [...] they went abroad, were ready to set Kingdomes in vproare. She roade vpon a Chariot of Clownes, w [...] was alwayes furnished with Thunder, Li [...]htning, Winds, Raine, Haile-stones, Snow, & all the other Ar­tillery belonging to the seruice of Diuine Vengeance: & when she spake, her Voyce sounded like the roaring of many Torrents, boystrously strugling together: for be­twéene her Iawes did she carry 1000000. Tongues.

This strāge Linguist, stepping to euery Artificer that was there at worke, whispred in his eare whoses lookes Beginning of languages. were there vpon (presently) [...] with a strange distrac­tion: and on a suddaine whilst euery man was speaking to his fellow, his language altred and no man could vn­derstand what his fellow spake. They all stared one vpon another, yet none of them all could tell wherefore so they stared Their Tongues went, and their hands gaue action to their Tongues: yet neither words nor action were vnderstood. It was a Noise of a thousand sounds, and yet the sound of the noise was nothing. Hée that spake, knew hée spake well: and he that heard, was madde that the other could speake no better. In the end they grew angry one with another, as thinking they had mocked one another of purpose. So that the Mason was ready to strike the Bricklayer, the Bricklayer to beats out the braines of his Labourer: the Carpenter tooke vp his Axe to throw at the Caruer, whilst the Caruer was stabbing at the Smith, because hee brought him a Hāmer when he should haue made him a Chizzell. He that cal­led for Timber, had Stones laide before him: & when one was sent for Nailes, he fetcht a Tray of Mortar.

Thus Babell should haue béene raized, and by this meanes Babell fell. The Frame could not goe forward, the staffe was throwne by, the workemen made holly­day. Euery one packd vp his tooles to be gone, yet not to goe the same way that he came but glad was he, that could méete another, whose spéech hee vnderstood for to [Page] what place soeuer he went, others (that ran madding vp and downe) hearing a man speake like themselues, fol­lowed onely him: so that they who when the worke be­gan were all countrimen, before a quarter of it was fini­shed, fled from one another, as from enemies & strāgers: And in this maner did Men at the first make vp natiōs: thus were words coynd into Languages, & out of those Languages haue others beene molded since, onely by the mixture of nations, after kingdomes haue béen subdued. But I am now to speake of a People & a Language, of both which (many thousands of yeares since that Wonder wrought at Babell) the world till now neuer made mention: yet confusion neuer dwelt more amongst any Creatures. The Bell-mā (in his first Voyage which The Bell­ma [...]s first booke. he made for Discoueries) found them to bée sauages, yet liuing in an Iland very tēpera [...]e, fruitfull, full of a No­ble Nation, and rarely gouerned. The Lawes, Māners and habits of these Wild-men, are plainly set downe, as it were in a former painted Table. Yet least happily a stranger may looke vpon this second Picture of them, who neuerbeheld The first, it shall not bée amisse (in this place) to repeate ouer againe the Names of all the Tribes into which they Diuide themselues, both when they Serue abroad in the open fields, and when they lye in garrison within Townes & walled Citties.

• Rufflers.
• Vpright-men.
• Hookers, alias Anglers,
• Roagues.
• Wilde Roagues.
• Priggers of Prancers.
• Paillards.
• Fraters.
• Prigges.
• Swadders.
• Curtalls.
• Irish Toyles.
• Swigmen.
• Iarkmen.
• Patricoes.
• Kinchin-Coes.
• [Page] Abraham-men,
• Mad Tom alias of Bedlam
• Whip-Iackes.
• Counterfet Crankes.
• Dommerats.
• Glymmerers.
• Bawdy-Baskets.
• Autem Morts.
• Doxies.
• Dells.
• Kinchin-Morts.

Into thus many Regiments are they now deuided: but in former times (aboue foure hundred yeares now past) they did consist of fiue Squadrons onely.

viz.

• 1 Cur [...]ors, alias Vagabondes.
• 2 Faytors.
• 3 Robardsemen.
• 4 Draw-latches.
• 5 Sturdy Beggars.

And as these people are strange both in names and in their conditions, so doe they speake a Language (proper only to thēselues) called canting, which is more strange. Of canting. Howlong, By none but the souldiers of These tottred bandes is it familiarly or vsually spoken, yet within lesse then foure­scorce yeares (now past) not a word of this Lāguage was knowen. The first Inuentor of it, was hang'd, yet left he apt schollers behind him, who haue reduced that into Methode, which he on his death-bed (which was a paire of gallowes) could not so absolutely perfect as he desired.

It was necessary, that a people (so fast increasing, & so Canting ha [...] bin vsed. The first can­ter hanged. daily practising new & strange Villanies, should borrow to themselues a spéech, w^e (so neere as they could (none but themselues should vnderstand: & for that cause was this Language, (which some call Pedlers Frēch,) Inuē ­ted, to th'intent that (albeit any Spies should secretly How canting grevv to be a language. steale into their cōpanies to discouer th [...]) they might frée­ly vtter their mindes one to another, yet auoide y^e dāger. The Language therefore of canting, they study euen from their Infancy, that is to say, from the very first houre, that they take vpon them the names of Kinchin Coes, tillthey are grown Rufflers, or Vpright-men, which are the highest in degrée amongst them.

[Page] This word canting séemes to bee deriued from the la­tine verbe (canto) which signifies in English, to sing, or to make a sound with words, thats to say to speake. And very aptly may canting take his deriuatiō a cantando, from singing, because amongst these beggerly consorts that can play vpon no better instruments, the language of canting is a k [...]de of musicke, and he that in such as­semblies can c [...]nt best, is counted the best Musitian.

Now as touching the Dialect or phrase it selfe, I sée not that it is grounded vpon any certaine rules; And no mer­uaile if it haue none, for sithence both the Father of this new kinde of Learning, and the children that study to speake it after him, haue beene from the beginning and stil are, the Breeders and Norishers of albase disorder, in their liuing and in their Manners: how is it possible, they should obserue any Method in their speech, and especialy in such a Language, as serues but onely to vtter discour­ses of villanies?

And yet (euen out of all that Irregularity, vnhansom­nesse, & Fountaine of Barbarisme) do they draw a kinde of forme: and in some wordes, (aswell simple as com­pounds) retaine a certaine salte, tasting of some wit and some Learning. As for example, they call a cloake (in the canting tongue) a Togeman, and in Latin, Toga signi­fies a gowne, or an vpper garment. Pannam is bread: & Panis in Lattin is likewise bread, cassan is cheese, and is a worde barbarously coynd out of the substātiue caseus which also signifies chéese. And so of others.

Then by ioyning of two simples, doe they make almost all their compounds. As for example: Nab (in the can­ting The Dialect of canting. tongue) is a head, & Nab-cheate, is a hat or a cap, Which word cheate beeing coupled to other wordes, stands in verry good stead, and dees excellent seruice: For a Smelling cheate, signifies a Nose: a Prat-ling chete, is a tongue. Crashing chetes, are teeth: Hearing chetes are Eares: Fambles are Hands: and therevpon a ring is called a Fābling chete. A Muffling chete, signi­fies [Page] a Napkin. A Belly chete, an Apron▪ A Grunting chete, A Pig: A Cackling Chete, a Cocke or a Capon: A Quacking chete, a duck: A Lowghing chete, a Cow: A Bleating chete, a Calfe, or a Shee [...]e: and so may that word be marryed to many others besides.

The word Coue, or Cofe, or Cuffin, signifies a Man, a Fellow, &c. But differs something in his propertie, according as it meetes with other wordes: For a Gen, tleman is called a Gentry Coue, or Cofe: A good fellow is a Bene Cofe: a Churle is called, a Quier Cuffin; Qui­er signifies naught, and Cuffin (as I said before) a man: and in Canting they terme a Iustice of peace, (because he punisheth them belike) by no other name then by Quier cuffin, that is to say a Churle, or a naughty man. And so, Ken signifiing a house, they call a prison, a Qui­er ken, thats to say, an ill house.

Many peeces of this strange coyne could I shew you, but by these small stampes, you may iudge of the greater.

Now because, a Language is nothing els then heapes of wordes, orderly wouen and composed together: and that (within so narrow a circle as I haue drawne to my selfe) it is impossible to imprint a Dictionarie of all the Canting phrases: I wil at this time not make you surfet on too much, but as if you were walking in a Garden, you shall openly pluck here a flower, and there another, which (as I take it) will be more delightfull then if you gathered them by handfulls.

But before I lead you into that walke, stay and heare a Canter in his owne language, making [...], albeit (I thinke) those charmes of Poesie which (at the first) made the barbarous tame, and brought them to ciuil [...]y, can (vpon these sauage Monsters) worke no such won­der. Yet thus he singes (vppon demaund whether any of his own crue did come that way) to which he answers, yes (quoth he)

THE BEL-MANS SECOND Nights walke. CHAP. 2

IT was Terme-time in hel (for you must vnderstand, a Lawyer liues there aswell as heere:) by which meanes don Lucifer (being the iu­stice Qui fixit le­ges [...] at (que) [...]efixit. for that Countie, where the Brimstone mines are) had better dooings and more rapping at his gates, then all the Doctors & Em­pericall Quack-saluers of ten cit­ties haue at theirs in a great plague-time. The hal where these Termers were to try their causes, was very large A description of the Hall where matters are tryed in He [...]l. and strongly built, but it had one fault: it was so hot that people could not indure to walk there: Yet to walke there they were compelled, by reason they were drawne thi­ther vppon occasions, and such iustling there was of one another, that it would haue grieued any man to be in the thronges amongst em. Nothing could bee heard but noise, and nothing of that noise be vnderstood, but that Hinc exaudir gemitus, &c it was a sound as of men in a kingdome, when on a sud­daine it is in an vprore. Euery one brabled with him that he walked with, or if he did but tell his tale to his Councell, he was so eager in the verry deliuery of that tale, that you would haue sworne he did brabble: and The iudge of the court, Haec Rhada­man [...]us babe [...] durissima regna; Castigat (que) dit (que) dolos, subig [...] (que) [...], &c. such gnashing of teeth there was when aduersaries met together, that the fyling of ten thousand Sawes cannot yeeld a sound more horrible. The Iudge of the Court had a diuelish countenance, and as cruell hee was in pu­nishing those that were condemned by Lawe, as hée was crabbed in his lookes, whilst he sat to heare their tryals. [Page] But albeit there was no pittie to be expected at his hands, yet was he so vpright in iustice, that none could euer fasten bribe vppon him, for he was ready and wil­ling to heare the cries of all commers. Neither durst any Pleader (at the infernall Barre) or any officer of the Court, exact any Fee of Plaintiffes, and such as complained of wrongs and were opprest: but onely they [...]. paide that were the wrong dooers, those would they sée dambd ere they should gette out of their fingers, such fellowes they were appointed to vexe at the very soule.

The matters that here were put in sute, were more then could bee bred in twentie Uacations, yet should a man be dispatched out of hand. In one Terme he had The customes and condition of the court. his Iudgement, for heare they neuer stand vppon Re­turnes, but presently come to Triall. The causes deci­ded here are many; the Clients that complaine many; the Counsellors (that plead till they be hoarse,) many; the Attornies (that runne vp and downe,) infinite; the Vnde nunquā quum semel venit potuit e [...]uerti. Clarkes of the Court, not to be numbred. All these haue their hands full; day and night are they so plagued with the bawling of Clients that they neuer can rest.

The Inck where-with they write, is the blood of Con­iurers: they haue no Paper, but all thinges are engros­sed in Parchment, and that Parchment is made of Scri­ueners skinnes flead off, after they haue beene puni [...]ed for Forgerie: their Standishes are the Scu [...]s of Usu­rers: their Pennes, the bones of vnconscionable Bro­kers, and hard-hearted Creditors, that haue made dice of other mens bones, or else of periured Excecutors and blind Ouer-séeers, that haue eaten vp Widdowes and Orphanes to the bare bones: and those Pennes are made of purpose without Nebs, because they, may cast Inck but slowly, in mockery of those who in their life time were slowe in yeelding drops of pitty.

Would you know what actions are tried here? I wil What matters are tryed be­fore the Di­uell. but turne ouer the Recordes, and read them vnto you as they hang vppon the Fyle.

[Page]The Cou [...]er is sued heere, and condemned for Ryots.

The Soldier is sued heere and condemned for murders

The Scholler is sued here & condemned for He [...]ezies.

The Citizen is sued here and condemned for the city­fins.

The Farmer is sued heere vpon Penal Statutes, and condemned for spoyling the Markets. [...] Qui (que) arm [...] secuti impia. [...] Epulae (que) ante eraparatae-furiarum maxima iux [...] accubat, & manibus pro­hibet contin­gere mens [...].

Actions of batterie are brought against Swaggerers, and heere they are bound to the peace.

Actions of Waste are brought against drunkards and Epicures, and heere they are condemned to begge at the Grate for one drop of colde water to coole their tongues, or one [...] of breade to stay their hunger, yet are they denyed it.

Harlots haue processe sued vpon them heere, and are condemned to Howling, to Rottennesse and to Stench. No Actes of Parliament that haue passed the Heauen Upper­house, can be broken, but here the breach is punished, and that seuerely, and that suddenlly: For here they stand vp­pon no demurres; no Audita-Queraela can heere be got­ten, no writs of Errors to Reuerse Iudgement: heere is no flying to a court of Chancery for relee [...], yet euerie one —Exercentur Pae [...]s, eternū ­ (que) malorum. Supplicia ex­pend [...] that comes heather is serued with a Sub-poena. No, they deale altogether in this Court vpon the Habeas Corpus, vpon the Capias, vppon the Ne exeat Regneum, vpon Rebellion, vppon heauie Fines (but no Recoueries) vpon writers of Out-lary, to attache the body for euer, & last of all vppon Executions, after Iudgement, which be­ing seru'd vpon a man is his euerlasting vnd [...]oing.

Such are the Customes and courses of proceedings in the Offices belonging to the Prince of Darknesse. These hot dooings hath he in his Terme-times. But vpon a day when a great matter was to be tryed betweene an Eng­lishman and a Dutchman, which of the two were the fowlest Drinkers, and the case being a long time in ar­guing, by reason that strong euidence came in re [...]ling on both sides, (yet it was thought that the English-man [Page] would carry it away, and cast the Dutchman) on a sud­den all was staid by the sound of a horne that was heard at the lower end of the Hall. And euerie one looking back (as wondring at the strangenesse) too me room was cride and made through the thickest of the crowde, for a cer­taine spirit in the likenesse of a post who made away on a little leane Nagge by to the Bench where Iudge Rad a­manth with his two grim Brothers (Minos and Aeacus) sat. This spirit was an intelligencer sent by Belzebub of Batharum into some Countries of Christēdome, to lye there as a spie, [...]had brought with him a packet of letters from seuerall Leigiars, that lay in those Countries, for the seruice of the Tartarian their Lord and Maister, which packet being opened, all the Letters, (because they concernd the generall good and state of those lowe Coun­tries in Hell) were publikely reade. The contents of [...]ranci Reg [...]. that Letter stung most, and put them all out of their law­cases, were to this purpose.

THat whereas the Lord of Fiery Lakes, had his Mi­nisters A letter against the Bel-man in all kingdomes aboue the earth, whose Of­fices were not onely to winne subiects of other Princes to his obedience, but also to giue notice when any of his owne sworn houshold, or any other that held league with him should reuolt or flye from their duty & allegiance: as also discouer from time to time all plots, conspiracies, machinations, or vnderminings, that skold be laid (albeit they that durst lay them should dig deepe enough) to blow vp his great Internall cittie: so that if his Horned Regi­ment were not suddenly mustred together, and did not lustely bestirre their clouen stumps, his Territories weld be shaken, his dominions left in time vnpeopl'd, his for­ces look'd into, and his authoritie which hee held in the world, contemned & laughed to scorne. The reason was, y^t a certaine fellow. The Childe of Darkenes, a common The Belman Night-walker, a man that had no man to waite vppon him but onely a Dog, one that was a disordered person, [Page] and at midnight would beate at mens doores, bidding them (in meere mockerie) to look to their candles when they themselues were in their dead sleeps: and albeit he was an Officer, yet he was but of Light-carriage, being knowne by the name of the Bell-man of London, had of late not only drawne a number of the Deuils owne kin­dred into question for their liues, but had also (only by the help of the lanthorn & candle) lookt into the secrets of the best trades that are taught in hell, laying them open to the broad eye of the world, making them infamous, edi­ous, and ridiculous: yea, and not satisfied with dooing this wrong to his diuellship, very spitefullye hath hee set them out in print, drawing their pictures so to the life, that now a horse-stealet shall not shew his head, but a balter with the Hang-mans noose is ready to bee fastned about it: A Foyst nor a Nip shall not walke into a Fayre or a Play-house, but euerie cracke will cry looke to your pur­ses: nor a poore common Rogue come to a mans doore, but he shall be examined if he can cant? If this Baulling fellow therefore haue not his mouth stop'd, the light An­gels that are coynd below, will neuer bee able to passe as they haue done, but be naild vp for counterfeits, Hell will haue no dooings, and the deuill be no-body.

This was the lyning of the Letter, and this Letter draue them al to a Non-plus, because they knew not how to answere it. But at last aduice was taken, the Court brake vp, the Tearme was adiourn'd, (by reason that the Hell-houndes were thus Plagu'd) and a common coun­sell in hell was presētly called how to redres these abuses.

The Sathanicall Sinagogue beeing set, vp startes the Father of Hell and damnation, and looking verrie terri­bly with a paire of eies that stared as wide as the mouth gapes at Bishops-gate, fetching foure or fiue deep sighes (which were nothing else but the Smoke of fire & brim­stone boyling in his stomacke, and shewed as if hee were taking tobacco, which be often times does) tolde his chil­dren & seruāts (& the rest of the citizens that dwelt wich­in [Page] the freedome of Hel, and sat there before him vpon na­row low formes) that they neuer had more cause to lay their heads together, and to grow pollititians. Hee and they all knew, that from the Corners of the earth, some did euerie houre in a day creepe forth, to come and serue him: yea, that many thousands were so be witched with H [...]c omnis turba. his fauours, and his rare partes, that they would come running quick to him, his dominions (he said) were great and full of people: Emperors and Kings, (in infinit num­bers) were his slaues: his court was ful of Princes: if the world were deuided (as some report) but into three parts Innum [...]rae ge [...] [...] populi (que) two of those three were his: or if (as others affirme) into foure parts, almost three of that foure had hee firme foo­ting.

But if such a fellow as a treble voic'd Bel-man, should be suffered to pry into the infernal Misteries, & into those Black Acts which command the spirits of the Déep, & ha­uing sucked what knowledge he can from them, to turne it al into poison, & to spit it in the verie faces of the profes­sors, with a malicious intent to make them appeare vgly and so to grow hatefull and out of fauor with y^e world: if such a coniurer at midnight should dance in their circles and not be driuen out of them, hell in a few yeares would not bee worth the dwelling in. The great Lord of Limbo did therefore commaund all his Blacke Guard that stood about him, to bestirre them in their places, and to defend the Court wherein they liued: threatning (besides) that his cursse, & all the plagues of stinking hel shold fall vpon Grauco [...]entis [...]. his officers, seruants, and subiects, vnlesse they either ad­uiz'd him, how, or take some speedy order themselues to punish that saucy intelligencer, the Bel-man of London. Thus he spake and then sat.

At last, a foolish Deuill rose vp, and shot the bolt of his aduice, which flew thus farre, That the Blacke-dogge of New-gate should againe bee let loose, and a farre off, follow the Balling Bel-man, to watch into what pla­c [...]s hee went, and what deedes of darkenesse (euerie [Page] night) hee did. Hinc risus! The whole Syniodicall as­sembly, fell a laughing at this Wise-acre, so that neither he nor his blacke-Dogge durst barke any more.

Another, thinking to cleaue the verrie pinne with his arrow, drew it home to the head of Wisdome (as he ima­ginde) and yet that lighted wide too, But thus shot his Counsell, that the Ghosts of all those theeues, Cheaters, and others of the damned crew, (who by the Bel-mans discouerie, had bene betraied, were taken and sent west­ward) should bee fetched from those fields of Horror, where euerie night they walke, disputing with Doctor Story, who keepes them company there in his corner Cap: & that those wry-neck'd spirits should haue charge giuen them to haunt the Bel-man in his walkes, and so fright him out of his wittes. This Deuill for all his roaring, went away neither with a Plaudite, nor with a hisse: Others step'd vp, some pronouncing one verdict some another: But at the last, it beeing put into their Diuelish heads, that they had no power ouer him far­ther then what shold be giueu vnto them, it was conclu­ded and set downe as a rule in Court, that some one strange spirit, [...] could transport himselfe into all shapes, should bee sent vppe to London, and scorning to take reuenge vppon so meane a person as a Bel-ring­er, should thrust himselfe into such companyes, (as in a warrant to bee signed for that purpose) should bee no­minated: and beeing once growne familiar with them, hee was to worke and winne them by all possible meanes to fight vnder the dismall and blacke collours of the Grand Sophy, (his Lord and Master:) the fruite that was to grow vppon this tree of euill, would bee greate, for it should bee fit to bee serued vp to Don Lucifers Ta­ble, as a new banqueting Dish, sithence all his other meates, (though they fatted him well) were grown stale

Hereupon Pamersiell the Messenger was called, a pasport was drawne, signed and deliuered to him, with certaine instruments how to carry himselfe in this tra­uell. [Page] And thus m [...]ch was openly spoken to him by word of mouth.

Fly [...] Pamersi [...]l with speede to the great and populous citie in the West: winde thy selfe into all shapes: bee a Dogge (to fawne) a Dragon (to confound) bee a Dou [...] (seeme innocent) bee a Deuill (as thou art) and shew that thou art a Iorniman to hel. Build rather thy nest amōgst willowes that bend euerie way, then on tops of Oakes, whose hearts are hard to be broken: Fly with the Swal­low, close to y^e earth, when stormes are at hand, but keep company with Birdes of greater tallants, when the weather is cleere, & neuer leaue them till they looke like Rauens: creepe into bosom [...] that are buttond vp in sattin and there spred the wings of thine infection: make euerie head thy pillow to leane vpon, or vse it like a Mill, onely to grinde mischiefe. If thou meetst a Dutchman, drinke with him: if a Frenchman, stab: if a Spaniard, betray: if an Italian poyson: if an Englishman doe all this.

Haunt Tauerns, there thou shalt [...] yrodigalls: pay thy two-pence to a Player, in his gallerie maist thou sitte by a Harlot: at Ordinaries maist thou dine with silken fooles: when the day steales out o [...] [...]orld, thou shalt meete rich drvnkards, vnder wel [...] gownes search for threescore in the hundred, hugge those golden villaines, they shine bright, and will make a good shew in hell, shriek w^e a cricket in the brew-house, & watch how they coniure there: Ride vp and downe Smith-field, and play the Iade ther [...]: Uisit prisons, and teach Iaylors how to make nets of Iron there: binde thy selfe Prentice to the best trades: but if thou canst grow extreame ritch in a very short time, (honestly) I banish thee my kingdome, come no more into hell, I haue red thee a lecture, follow [...] it, farewell.

No sooner was farwell spoken, but the spirit to whom all these matters were giuen in charge, vanished: the clo­ [...]en footed Orator arose, and the whole assembly went a­bout their damnable businesse.

Gul-groping.
Chap. 3

THe Diuels foote-man was very nimble of his héeles (for no wilde-Irish man could out-runne him, and therefore in a few houres, was he come vp to Lon­don: the miles betweene Hell and any place vpon earth being shorter then those betweene London and Saint Albones, to any man that trauels from thence thither, or to any Lackey that comes from hence hether on the De­uils errands: but to any other poore soule, that dwells in those low contries, they are neuer at an end, and by him are not possible to bee measured.

No sooner was he entred into the Cittie, but hee met with one of his Maisters daughters called Pride, drest like a Matchants wife, who taking acquaintance of him, and vnderstanding for what hee came, tolde him, that the first thing hee was to doe, hee must put himselfe in good cloathes, such as were sutable to the fashion of the time, for that here, men were look'd vppon onely for their out­sides: he that had not ten-pounds-worth of wares in his shop, would carry twentie markes on his back: that there were a number of sumpter-borses in the citty, who cared Aus [...]rimur cultu; Gemmis aure (que) tegnu­tur omnia. not how coursely they fed, so they might were gay trap­pings: pea, that some pied fooles, to put on satin and vel­uet but foure daies in the yeare did often-times vndoe themselues, wiues and Children euer after. The spirit of the Deuils Buttry hearing this, made a legge to Pride for her counsell, and knowing by his owne experience that euerie Taylor hath his bell to himselfe, vnder his Shop-board, (where he dammes new Sattin) amongst them he thought to finde best welcome, and therefore in­to Burchin-lane hee stalkes verie mannerly, Pride go­ing along with him, and taking the vpper hand.

[Page] No sooner was he entred into the rankes of the Lin­nen Burchin lane described. Taylors at first were cal­led L [...]n. Armorers. serieants Armorers, (whose weapons are Spanish needles) but he was most terribly and sharpely set vppon euerie: prentice boy had a pull at him: he feared they all had bin Serieants, because they all had him by the back: neuer was poore deuil so tormented in hell, as he was amongst them: he thought it had bene Saint Thomas his day, & that he had bene called vpon to be Constable: there was such balling in his eares: and no strength could shake them off, but that they must shews him some suites of ap­parell, because they saw what Gentlewoman was in his company (whom they all knew) Seeing no remedie, into a shop he goes, was fitted brauely, and beating the price, found the lowest to be vnreasonable, yet paide it, and de­parted, none of them (by reason of their crowding about him befor) perceiuing what customer they had met with, but now the Taylor spying the deuill, suffered him to go, neuer praying that he wold know the shop another time, but looking round about his ware-house if nothing were missing, at length he found that he had lost his cōscience: yet remembring himselfe, that they who deale with the diuel, can hardly keepe it, he stood vpon it the lesse.

Of Ferreting.
CHAP. IIII.

HUnting is a noble, a manly, & a healthfull exercise, it is a very true picture of warre, nay it is a war in it selfe, for engines are brought into the field, stratagems are contriued, ambushes are laide, onsets are giuen, al­ [...]arums struck vp, braue incounters are made, fierce as­sailings are resisted by strength, by courage, or by pollicy: the enemy is pursued, and the Pursuers neuer giue ouer till they haue him in execution: then is a Retreate soun­ded, then are spoiles diuided, then come they home wea­ried, but yet crowned with honor & victory. And as in bat­tailes there be seuerall maners of fight: so in the pastime of hunting, there are seuerall degrées of game. Seme hunt [Page] the Lion, and that shewes as when subiects rise in Hunting of the Lyon &c Armes against their King: Some hunt the Vnicorne for the treasure on his head, and they are like couetous men, that care not whome they kill for riches: some hunt the Sp [...]tted Panther and the freckled Leopard, they are such as to inioy their pleasures, regard not how blacke an infamy stickes vpon them: All these are barbarous & vnnaturall Huntsemen, for they range vp and downe the Deserts, the Wildernes, and inhabitable Mountaines. Others pursue the long liued Hart, the couragious Stag or the nimble footed Deere: these are the Noblest Hunting of the Bucke. hunters, and they exercise the Noblest game: these by following the Chace get strength of body, a frée and vndisquieted minde, magnanimity of spirit, alacri­ty of heart and an vnwearisomnesse to breake through the hardest labours: their pleasures are not insatiable but are contented to be kept within limits, for these hunt within Parkes inclosed, or within bounded Forrests. The hunting of the Hare teaches feare to be bould, and puts simplicity so to her shifts, that she growes cun­ning Hunting of the Hare. and prouident: the turnings and cresse windings that she makes, are embleames of [...] [...]fes vncertainty: when she thinkes she is furdest from danger, it is at he héeles, and when it is nerest to her, the hand of safety de­fends her. When she is wearied and has runne her race, she takes her death patiently, onely to teach man, that he should make himselfe redy, when the graue gapes for him.

All these kinds of hunting are abroad in the open De magno praeda petenda grege. field, but there is a close citty hunting onely within the walls, that pulles downe Parkes, layes open forrests, destroies Chaces, woundes the Déere of the land, and make such hauocke of the goodliest Heards, that by their wills, (who are the rangers,) none should be left a liue but the Rascalls: This kinds of hunting is base, and ig­noble, It is the meanest, yet the most mischieuous, & it is called Ferreting. To behold acourse or two at this, did the light horseman of Hell one day leape into the saddle.

Fawlconers.

HVnting and Hawking are of kin, and therefore it is fit they should kéepe company together: Both of them are noble Games, and Recreations, honest and healthful, Hawking. yet they may so be abused that nothing can be more hurt­full. In Hunting, the Game is commonly still before you, or [...]'th hearing, and within a little compasse: In Haw­king [Page] the game flies farre off, and oftentunes out of sight: A Couple of Rookes therefore (that were birds of Facies non om­ [...] [...], nec diuers at a men the last feather) conspired together to leaue their nest in the Citty, and to flutter abroad, into the countrie: Upon two leane hac [...]eies were these two Doctor doddipols horst, Ciuilly suited, that they might carry about them some badge of a Scholler.

The diuels Ranck-ryder, that came from the last Cit­ty-hūting, vnderstanding that two such Light-horsemen, were gon a Hawking, posts after and ouer-takes them. After some ordinary high-way talk, he begins to question of what profession they were? One of them smyling scorn­fully in his face, as thinking him to be some Gull, (and [...]indeed such fellowes take all men for Gulles who they Qui nisi quod ipsifaciunt, nihil rectum putant. thinke to be beneath them in quallitie) tolde him they were Falconers. But the Fore that followed them see­ing no properties, (belonging to a Falconer) about them smelt knauery, took them for a paire of mad rascals, & ther­fore resolued to see at what these Falconers would let flie.

Iacks of the Clock-house.
Chap. 6

THere is another Fraternitie of wandring Pilgrims who merrily call themselues Iackes of the Clocke-house, and are verry neere allyed to the Falconers that went a Hawking before. The Clarke of Erebus set downe their names too in his Tables, with certain bréefe notes of their practises: and these they are.

The Iacke of a Clocke-house goes vppon Screws, and his office is to do nothing but strike: so does this noise, (for they walke vp and downe like Fi [...]lers) trauaile with Motions, and whatsoeuer their Motions get them, is called striking.

Those Motions are certaine Collections, or wittie Inuentions, some-times of one thing, and then of an other (there is a new one now in [...]ime, in praise of the Vnion) And these are fairely written and engrossed in Uell [...]m, Parcheme [...], or Royall paper, richly adorned [Page] with compartiments, and set out with letters both in gold and in vations coullo [...]s.

This labour being taken, the Maister of the Motion hearkens where such a Nobleman, such a Lord, or such a Knight lyes, that is liberall: hauing found one to his liking, The Motion (with his Patrons name fairely texted out, in manner of a Dedication,) is presented before him: he receiues it, and thinking it to be a work onely vndertaken for his sake, is bounteous to the gi­uer, esteeming him a Scholler, and knowing that not without great trauaile, hee hath drawne so many little [...]gling streames into so faire and smoothe a Riuer: whereas the Worke is the labour of some other (copied out by stealth) be an impudent ignorant fellow, that runnes vp and downe with the Transcripts, and euery Ale-house may haue one of them (hanging in the basest drinking roome) if they will bee but at the charges of writing it out. Thus the liberallitie of a Nobleman, or of a Gentleman is abused: thus learning is brought into scorne and contempt: Thus men are cheated of their bountie, giuing much for that (out of their free mindes) which is common abroad, and put away for base prices. Thus villanie some-times walkes alone, as if it were giuen to Melancholly, and some-times knaues tie them-selues in a knot, because they may be more merry, as by a mad sort of Comrades whome I see leaping into the Saddle, anon it will apeare.

Rancke Riders,
Chap. 7.

THere is a troope of Horsemen, that runne vp and downe the whole kingdome, they are euer in a gal­lop, their businesse is weightie, their iournies many, [Page] their expences greate, their Innes rustie where, their lands no where: they haue onely a certaine Fr [...]e-holde cald Tyborne (scituate neere London, and many a faire paire of Gallowes in other Countries besides,) vppon which they li [...]e verie poorely fill they dye, and dye for the moste part wickedly, because their liues are villanous and desperate. But what [...]ce so euer they runne, there they end it there they set vp their rest, there is their last baste, whether soeuer their [...]ourney lyes. And these horse-men haue no other names but ranck Riders.

To furnish whome foorth for any iourney, they must haue Kiding sutes cut out of these foure peeces.

• 1 The Inne-kéeper or Hackney-man, of whome they haue horses, is cald A Colt.
• 2 He that neuer alights off a rich Farmer or country Gentleman, till he haue drawne money from him, is cal­led The Snaffle.
• 3 The money so gotten, is The Ring
• 4 He that feedes them with mony is called The pro­uander.

These Ranck-riders (like Butchers to Rumford mar­ket) sildome goe vnder sire or seauen in a company, and these Careeres they fetch. Their pursses being warm­ly lined with some purchase gotten before, and they thē ­selues well booted and spur'd, and in reasonable good out­sides, arriue at the fairest Inne they can choose, either in Westminster, the Strand, the Cittie, or the Suburbes. Two of them who haue cloathes of purpose to fitte the play, carrying the shew of Gentlemen: the other a [...] their partes in blew coates, as they were their Seruingmen, though indeede they be all fellowes. They enter all dur­ted The manner of Brideling a colt. or dustied (according as it shall please the high way to vse them) and the first bridle they put into the Colts mouth (thats to say the Inkeepers) is at their comming in to asks alowde if the footeman begone backe with the horses? tis answered yes, Heere, the Ranck-riders lye three or foure daies, spending moderately enough, yet a­abating [Page] not a penny of any reckoning to shew of what house they came: in w^t space their counterfeit followers learne what country-man the maister of the house is, where the Hostlars and Chamberlaines were borne, and what other countrie Gentlemen are guests to the Inne? which lessons being presently gotten by heart, they fal in studdy with the Generall rules of their knauerie: and those are, first to giue out, that their Maister is a Gentle­man of such and such meanes, in such a shire (which shall be sure to stand farre enough from those places where a­ny of the house, or of other guests were borne,) that hee is come to receiue so many hundred poundes vppon land which he hath solde, and that hee meanes to Inne there some quarter of a yeare at least.

This Brasse money passing for currant through the house, hée is more obserued and better attended, is wor­shipped at euerie word: and the easier to breake and bridle the Colt, his Worship will not sit downe to Din­ner or supper, till the Maister of the house be placed at the vpper end of the boord by him.

In the middle of Supper, or else verie earely in the fol­lowing morning, comes in a counterfeit footeman, swea­tingly, deliuering a message that such a Knight hath sent for the head-Maister of these Rancke-ryders, and that hee must bee with him by such an houre, the iourney being not aboue twelue or foureteene miles. Upon de­liuerie of this message: (from so deere and noble a friend) he sweares and chafes, because all his horses are out of Towne, curseth the sending of them backe, offers any money to haue himselfe, his couzen with him, and his mē but reasonably horst. Mine host being a credulous Asse, suffers them all to get vppe vpon him, for hee prouides them horses either of his owne (thinking his Guest to be a man of great accompte; and beeing loath to loose him, because hee spends well) or else sendes out to hire them of his neighbours, passing his word for their forth­comming [Page] with in a day or two, Up they get and away Gallopour Ranck-riders, as far as the poore Iades can carry them.

The two daies being ambled out of the worlde, and perhaps three more after them, yet neither a supply of Horse-men or Foote-men, (as was promised) to be set eye vppon. The lamentable In-keeper (or Hac [...]ney man, if he chance to be Sadled for this iourney too) loose their Colts teeth, and finde that they are made olde arrant Iades: Search, then runnes vp and downe like a Con­stable halfe out of his wittes (vppon a Shroue-tuesday) and hue and cry followes after, some twelue or foure­teene miles off, (round about London) which was the farthest of their iourney as they gaue out. But (alas!) the horses are at pasture foure score or a hundred miles from their olde mangers: they were sould at some blinde drunken theeuish faire, (there beeing enow of them in company to saue themselues, by their Toll-booke,) the Seruing-men cast off their blew-coates, and cried All fellowes: the money is spent vpon wine, vpon whores, vpon fidlers, vpō fooles (by whom they wil loose nothing) and the tyde beeing at an ebbe, they are as ready to pra­ctise their skill in horse-manship to bring Coltes to the saddle in that Towne, and to make Nags run a race of three-score or a hundred miles of from that place, as before they did from London.

Moone men.
CHAP. VIII.

A Moone-man signifies in English, a mad-man, be­cause the Moone hath greatest domination (aboue any other Planet) ouer the bodies of Frantick persons. But these Moone-men (whose Images are now to be carued) are neither absolutely mad, not yet perfectely in their wits) Their name they borrow from the Moone, because as the Moone is neuer in one shape two nights together, but wanders vp & downe Heauen, like an An­ticke, so these changeable-stuffe-companions neuer tary one day in a place, but are the onely, and the onely base Ronnagats vpon earth. And as in the Moone there is a man, that neuer stirres without a bush of thornes at his backe, so these Moone-men lie vnder bushes, & are indéed no better then Hedge creepers.

They are a people more scattred then Iewes, and more hated: beggerly in apparell, barbarous in conditi­on, beastly in behauior: and bloudy if they meete aduā ­tage. A man that sees them would sweare they ha [...] all the yellow Iawndis, or that they were Tawny Moores What a moone man is, bastardes, for no Red-oaker man caries a face of a more [Page] filthy complexion, yet are they not borne so, neither has the Sunne burnt them so, but they are painted so, yet they are not good painters neither: for they do not make faces, but marre faces. By a by name they are called Gipsies, they call themselues Egiptians, others in moc­kery call them Moone-men.

If they be Egiptians, sure I am they neuer discended from the tribes of any of those people that came out of the Land of Egypt: Ptolomy (King of the Egiptians) I warrant neuer called them his Subiects: no nor Pharao before him. Looke what difference there is betwéene a ciuell cittizen of Dublin & a wilde Irish Kerne, so much difference there is betwéene one of these counterfeit Egiptians and a true English Begger. An English Roague is iust of the same liuery.

They are commonly an army about foure-score cong, yet they neuer march with all their bagges and His orde [...] in marching on foote or ser­uing open horse. baggages together, but (like boot-halers) they forrage vp and downe countries, 4. 5. 026. in a company. As the swi­zer has his wench and his Cocke with him whē he goes to the warres, so these vagabonds haue their harlots with a number of litle children following at their héeles: which young brood of Beggers, are sometimes caried (like so many gréene geese aliue to a market) in payres of panieres, or in dossers like fresh-fish from Rye y^e comes on horsebacke, (if they be but infants.) But if they can stradle once, then aswell the shee-roagues as the hee-roagues are horst, seauen or eight vpon one iade, strong­ly pineond, and strangely tyed together.

One Shire alone & no more is sure stil at one time, to haue these Egiptian lice swarming within it, for like flockes of wild-géese, they will euermore fly one after another: let them be scattred worse then the quarters of a traitor are after hées hang'd drawne and quartred, yet they haue a tricke (like water cut with a swoord) to come together instantly and easily againe: and this is their pollicy, which way soeuer theformost [...] anckes lead, [Page] they sticke vp small boughes in seuerall places, to euery village where they passe, which serue as ensignes to waft on the rest.

Their apparell is od, and phantasticke, tho it be neuer so full of rents: the men weare scarses of Callico, or any other base stuffe, hanging their bodies like Morris-dan­cers, His Furniture with bels, & other toyes, to intice the coūtrey people to flocke about them, and to wounder at their fooleries or rather rancke knaueryes. The women as ridicu­lously attire them-selues, and (like one that plaies, the Roague on a Stage) weare rags, and patched filthy mantles vpermost, when the vnder garments are han­some and in fashion.

The battailes these Out-lawes make, are many and His manner of night. very bloudy. Whosoeuer falles into their hands neuer escapes aliue, & so cruell they are in these murders, that nothing can satisfie thē but the very heart bloud of those whom they kill. And who are they (thinke you) that thus go to the pot? Alasse! Innocent Lambs, Shéep, Calues, Pigges, &c. Poultrie-ware are more churlishly handled by them, thē poore prisoners are by kéepers in the counter it'h Poultry. A goose comming amongst them learnes to be wise, that hee neuer wil be Goose any more. The bloudy tragedies of al these, are only acted by y^e Womē, who carrying long kniues or Skeanes vnder their man­tles, do thus play their parts: The Stage is some large Heath: or a Firre bush Common, far from any houses: Upō which casting them-selues into a King, they inclose the Murdered, till the Massacre be finished. If any pas­senger come by, and wondring to sée such a cōiuring cir­cle kept by Hel-hoūdes, demaund what spirits they raise there? one of the Murderers steps to him, poysons him [...] sweete wordes and shifts him off, with this lye, y^e one of the womé is falne in labour. But if any mad H [...]let hea­ring this, smell villanie, & rush in by violence to sée what the taw [...]y Diuels are dooing: thē they excuse the fact, lay the blame on those that are the Actors, & perhaps (if they [Page] see no reme [...]e) deliuer them to an officer, to be had to punishment: But by the way a rescue is utely laid and very valiantl [...] (tho very villanously) do they fetch them off, a guard them.

The Cabbines where these Land-pyrates lodge in the night, are the Out-ba [...]es of Farmers & Husband-men, (in some poore Uillage or other) who dare not deny them, for feare they should ere morning haue their thatched houses burning about their eares: inthese Ba [...]nes, are hoth their Cooke-roomes, their Supping P [...]ors and their Bed-chambers: for there they dresse after a beastly manner: what soeuer they purchast after a théeu [...]h fashion: sometimes they eate Uenison, & haue Grey houndes that kill it for thē, but if they had not, they are Houndes them-selues & are damnable Hunters af­ter flesh: Which appeares by their vgly-fac'd queanes that follow them: with whom in these barnes they lie, as Swine do together in Hogsties.

These Barnes are the beds of Incests, Whoredomes Adulteries, & of all other blacke and deadly-damned Im­pi [...]ies; His qualities w [...]st he lies intrenched. here growes the Cursed Tree of Bastardie, that is so fruitfull: here are writtē the Bookes of al Blasphe­mies, Swearings & Curses, y^t are so dreadfull to be read. Yet the simple country people will come running out of their houses to gaze vpō them whilst in the meane time one steales into the next Roome, and brings away what­soeuer hee can lay hold on. Upon daies of pastime & liber­tie, they Spred them-selues in smal companies amōgst What peeces of desperate seruice hee ventures vpō the Uillages: and when young maids & batchelers (yea sometimes old doting fooles, that should be beatē to this world of villanies, & forewarn others) do flock about thē, they then professe shil in Palmestry, & (forsooth) can tel fortunes which for the most part are infallibly true, by reason that they worke vppon rules, which are groūded vpon certainty: for one of them wil tel you that you shal shortly haue some euill luck fal vpon you, & within halfe an houre after you shal find your pocket pick'd, or your [Page] purse cut. These are those Egiptian Grashoppers that eate vp the fruites of the Earth, and destroy the poore corne fieldes: to sweepe whose swarmes out of this king­dome, there are no other meanes but the sharpnes of the most infamous & basest kinds of punishment. For if the vgly body of this Monster be suffred to grow & fatten it selfe with mischiefs and disorder, it will haue a neck so Sine [...]y & so brawny, that the arme of y^e law will haue much ado to strike of y^e Head, sithence euery day the mē ­bers of it increase & it gathers new ioints & new forces by Priggers, Anglers, Cheators, Morts, Yeomens Daughters (that haue taken some by blowes, & to auoid shame, fall into their Sinnes: and other Seruants both men & maides that haue beene pil [...]erers, with al the rest of that Damned Regiment, marching together in y^e first Army of the Bell-man, who running away from theyr own Coulours (w^t are bad ynough) serue vnder these, being the worst. Lucifers Lansprizado that stood aloof to behold the mustrings of these Hell-hoūds took delight to see them Double their Fyles so nimbly, but held it no pollicy to come neere thē (for the Diuell him-selfe durst scarce haue done that.) Away therefore hee gallops, knowing that at one time or other they would all come to fetch their pay in Hell.

The infection
Chap. IX.

THe Infernall Promoter béeing wearied w^e riding vp & downe the Country, was glad when he had got­ten the Citty ouer his head, but the Citty being not able to hold him within the freedome, because he was a For­reiner, the gates were sette wide open for him to passe through, & into the Suburbes hee went. And what saw hee there? More Ale-houses than there are auernes in all Spayne & Fran [...]e Are they so dry in the Suburb [...]? Yes, pockily dry. What saw he besides?

[Page] Hée saw the dores of notorious Carted Bawdes, (like Hell gates) stand night and day wide open, with a paire of Harlots in Taffata gownes (like two painted posts) Noctes atque a [...]e patet l [...] ­ [...] Dills. garnishing out those dores, beeing better to the house then a Double signe: when the dore of a poore Artificer (if his child had died but [...] one Tokē of death about him) was close ram'd vp and Guarded for seare others should haue beene infected: Yet the plague that a Whore-house layes vpō a Citty is worse, yet is laughed at [...]f not laugh ed at, yet not look'd into, or if look'd into, Wincked at.

The Trades [...]an hauing his house lockd vp, looseth his customers, is put from worke and vndone: whilst in the meane time the strumpet is set on worke and maintain'd (perhaps) by those that vndee the other: giue thankes O wide mouth'd Hell! laugh Lucifer at this Dance for ioy all you Diuells.

Belz. b [...]b keepes the Register booke, of al y^e Bawdes, Panders & Curtizans: & hee knowes, that these Subutb sinners haue nolandes to liue vpon but their legges: eue­ry prentice passing by them, can say, There sits a whore: Without putting them to their booke, they will sweare so much themselues: if so, are not Counstables, Church-wardens, Bayliffes, Beadels & other Officers, Pillars and Pillowes to all the villanies, that are by these com­mitted? Are they not parcell-Bawdes to winck at such damned abuses, considering they haue whippes in their owne handes, and may draw bloud if they please? Is not the Land-lord of such rentes the Graund-Bawde? [...]f the Dore Kéeping mistresse of such a house of sinne, but his Under-Bawd? sithence hee takes twenty pounds [...] euery year [...], for a vaulting schoole (which frō no Artificer liuing by the hardnesse of the hand could bee worth fiue pound.) And that twenty pound rent, hé knowes must bée prest out of petticoates:) his money smells of sin: the very siluer lookes pale, because it was earned by lust.

How happy therefore were Citties if they had no Sub­urbes, sithence they serue but as caues, where monsters [Page] are bred vp to deuowre the Citties them-selues? Would the Diuell hire a villaine to spil bloud? there he shall finde him. One to blaspheme? there he hath choice. A Pan­dar that would court a matron at her praiers? hées there. A cheator that would turne his owne father a begging? Hées there too: A harlot that would murder her new­borne Infant? Shée lies in there.

What a wretched wombe hath a strumpet, which being (for the most part) barren of Children, is notwithstāding the onely Bedde that breedes vp these serpents? vpō that one stalke grow all these mischiefes. Shee is the Cocka­trice that hatcheth all these egges of euills. When the Diuell takes the Anatomy of all dānable sinnes, he lookes onely vpon her body. Whe she dies, he sits as her Coro­ner. When her soule comes to hell, all shunne that there, as they flie from a body struck with the plague here. She hath her dore-kéeper, and she herselfe is the Diuells chā ­ber-maide. And yet for all this, that shée's so dangerous and detestable, when she hath croak'd like a Rauē on the Eues, then comes she into the house like a Doue. When her villanies (like the mote about a castle) are rancke, thicke, and muddy, with standing long together, then (to purge herself) is she dreind out of the Suburbes (as though her corruption were there left behind her (and) a [...] a cleere streame) is let into the Citty.

Of Ginglers.
CHAP. X.

AT the end of fierce battailes, the onely Rendeuouz for lame souldiers to retire vnto, is an Hospitall: and at the end of a long Progresse, the onely ground for a tyred Ia [...]e to runne in, is some blind country faire, where he may be sure to be sold, To these Markets of vnwholesome Horse-flesh, (like so many Rites to féede vpon Carion) do [...] all the Horse-coursers (that roost about the Citty) flie one after another. And whereas in buying all other commodities, men striue to haue the best, how great so euer the price be, onely the Horse-courser is of a baser minde, for the woorst hors-flesh (so it be cheape) does best goe downe with him. He cares for nothing but a fayre out-side, and a hansome shape (like those that hyre whores, (though there be a hundred diseases within: he (as the other) ventures vpon thē all.

The first lesson therefore that a Horse-courser takes out, when he comes to one of these Markets, is to make choyce of such Nags, Geldings, or Mares, especially, as are fatte, fayre, and well-fauor'd to the eye: and because men delight to behold beautifull coullors, and that some coulours are more delicate (euen in beasts) then others are, he will so néere as he can, bargaine for those horses that haue the daintiest complexion: as the Milke-white, the Gray, the Dapple-Gray, the Cole blacke with his proper markes (as t [...]e white starre in the forehead, the [Page] white héele, &c.) or the bright Bay, with the like proper markes also. And the goodlier proportion y^e beast carries or the fayrer markes or coulour that hee beares, are or ought to bee watch-words as it were to him that after­wards buyes him of the horse-courser, that he bee not coozend with an ouer-price for a bad peny-worth, because such Horses (belonging for the most part to Gentlemen) are seldome or neuer solde away, but vpon some fowle quallty, or some incurable disease, which the Beast is falne into. The Best coulours are therefore the best Cloakes to hide those faults that most disfigure a Horse: and next vnto coulour, his Pace doth often-times de­ceiue and goe beyond a very quick Iudgement.

Some of these Horse-hunters, are as nimble Knaues in finding out the infirmities of a Iade, as a Barber is in drawing of téeth: and albeit (without casting his water) hee does more readily reckon vp all the Aches, Crampes, Crickes, and whatsoeuer disease else lyes in his bones: and for those diseases seemes vtterly to dis­like him, yet if by looking vpon the Dyall within his mouth, he finde that his yeares haue struck but fiue, sixe, or seauen: and that he prooues but young, or that his dis­eases are but newly growing vpon him, if they be out­ward, or haue but hayre and skin to hide them, if they bee inward, let him sweare neuer so damnably, that it is but a Iade, yet he will be sure to fasten vpon him.

So then, a Horse-courser to the Merchant, (that out of his sound iudgement buyes the fairest, the best-bred, and the noblest Horses, selling them againe for breede or seruice, with plainnesse and honesty.) is as the Chea­tor to the faire Gamester: hee is indeed a meere Iadish Nonopolitane, and deales for none but tyred, taited, dull and diseased horses. By which meanes, if his pic­ture The picture of a Horse-courser. bee drawne to the l [...]e, you shall finde euery Horse-courser for the most part to bee in quality a coozener, by profession a knaue, by his running a Uarlet, in fayres a Hagling Chapman, in the Citty a Cogging dissembler, [Page] and in Smith-field a common forsworne Uillaine. Hee will sweare any thing, but the faster hee sweares, the more danger tis to beleeue him: In one forenoone, and in selling a Iade not worth fiue Nobles, will hee forsweare himselfe fifteene times, and that forswearing too shall bee by Equiuocation. As for example, if an ignorant Chap­man comming to beate the price, say to the Horse-courser your nagge is verie olde or thus many yeares olde, and reckon ten or twelue; hee claps his hand presently on the buttocke of the beast, and praies he may bee damb'd if the Horse be not vnder fiue, meaning that the horse is not vnder fiue yeares of age, but that he standes vnder fiue of his fingers, when his hand is clap'd vppon him. These Horse-coursers are called Iynglers, and these Iynglers hauing laide out their money on a company of Iades at some drunken fayre, vp to London they driue them, and vppon the Market day into Smithfield brauely come they prauncing. But least their Iades should shew too many horse trickes in Smith-field, before so greate an Audience as commonly resort thither, their maisters doe therefore Schoole them at home after this manner.

Iacke in a Box.
Chap. II

HOw many Trees of Euill are growing in this coū ­trie? Terra malos homines nunc­e [...]ucat. how tall they are? how Mellow is their fruit? and how greedily gathered? so much ground doe they take vp, and so thickly doe they stand together, that it sée­meth a kingdom can bring forth no more of their nature, yes, yes, there are not halfe so many Riuers in Hell, in Noxia mille medis Lacerae­bitur vmbra. which a soule may saile to damnation, as there are Black Streames of Mischiefe and Villany (besides all those which in our Now-two Ueyages, we haue ventured so many leagues vp, for discouerie) in which thousandes of people are continually swimming, and encrie minute in danger vtterly to be cast away.

The Horse-Courser of hell, after he had durtyed him­selfe Abuses of race-running glanced at. with ryding vp and downe Smithfield and hauing his beast vnder him, gallopped away amaine to beholde a race of fiue myles by a couple of Running-Horses, vp­pon whose swiftnesse great summes of money were laide in wagers. In which Schoole of Horse-manshippe (wherein for the moste part none but Gallants are the Studients) hee construed but strange Lectures of A­buses: he could make large Comments vppon those that are the Runners of those Races, and could teach others how to loose fortie or fiftie pound pollitickly in the fore­noone, and in the after noone (with the selfe-same Gel­ding) to winne a thousand markes in fiue or sire miles riding. Hee could tell how Gentlemen are fetch'd in and made younger brothers, and how your new Knight comes to be a Couzen of this Race. He could drawe the true pictures of some fellowes, that dyet these Running-Horses, [Page] who for a bride of fortie or fiftie shillings can by a false Dye make their owne Maisters loose a hundred pound a race. He could shew more craftie Foxes in this wilde-goose chase thē there are white Foxes in Russia, & more strange Horse-trickes plaide by such Riders, then Bankes his curtall did euer practise (whose Gamballs of the two, were the honester.

But because this sort of Birdes haue many feathers to loose, before they can feele any colde, he suffers them to make their owne flight, knowing that prodigalls doe but iest at the stripes which other mens rods giue them, and neuer complaine of smarting till they are whip'd with their owne.

In euerie Corner did he finde Serpents ingendering: vnder euerie roofe, some impyetie or other lay breeding: Vix sunt homi­nes hoc nomine dignis, quā (que) lu [...] lae [...]s feritati [...] habēt but at last perceining that the most part of men were by the sorcerie of their own diuelish conditions transformed into Wolues, and being so changed, were more brutish & bloody, then those that were Wolues by nature: his spleene leap'd against his ribbes with laughter, and in the height of that ioy resolued to write the villanies of the world in Folio, and to dedicate them in priuate to his Lord and Maister, because hee knew him to bee an open­handed patron, albeit he was no great louer of schollers.

But hauing begunne one picture of a certaine strange Beast, (called Iacke in a Boxe) that onely (because the Cittie had giuen money already to see it) hee finished: and in these colours was Iack in a Boxe drawn. It hath the head of a man (the face well bearded) the eyes of a Iacke in a Box described. Hawke, the tongue of a Lap-wing, which saies heere it is, when the nest is a good way off: it hath the stomacke of an Estrich, and can disgest siluer as easily, as that Bird dooth Yron. It hath the pawes of a Beare in­stead of handes, for whatsoeuer it fastneth vppon, it holdes: From the middle downe-wardes, it is made like a Grey-hound, and is so swift of foote, that if it once get the Start of you, a whole Kennel of Hounds [Page] cannot ouertake it. It loues to hunt dry-foote, and can Scent a Traine in no ground so well as the Cittie, and yet not in all places of the Cittie. But he is best in Scen­ting betweene Ludgate and Temple-barre: and tis thought that his next hunting shall bee betweene Lum­bard-streete and the Gold smithes Rowe in Cheape­side: Thus much for his out ward parts, now you shall haue him vnrip'd, and see his inward.

This Iacke in a Boxe, or this Deuill in mans shape, wearing (like a player on a Stage) good cloathes on his His exercise backe, comes to a Golde-smithes Stall, to a Drapers, a Haberdashers, or into any other shop where he knows good store of siluer faces are to be seene. And there draw­ing foorth a faire new box, hammered all out of Siluer Plate, hee opens it, and powres foorth twentie or forty Twentie-shilling-peeces in New-golde. To which heape of Worldly-Temptation, thus much hee addes in words, that either he him-selfe, or such a Gentleman (to whom he belongs) hath an occasion for foure or fiue daies to vse fortie pound But because he is verie shortly, (nay he knowes not how suddenly) to trauaile to Venice, to Ierusalem or so, and would not willingly be disfurnished of Golde, he dooth therefore request the Cittizen to lend (vpon those Forty twenty shilling peeces) so much in white money (but for foure, fiue or sixe daies at most) and for his good-will he shall receiue any reasonable satisfac­tion. The Cittizen (knowing the pawne to be better thē siriens fugien­tia captat Flumina: quid rides? mutat [...] nomine, de Te Fabula narra­tur a Bond) powres downe fortie pound in siluer, the other drawes it, and leauing so much golde in Hostage, march­eth away with Bag and Baggage.

Fiue daies being expited, Iacke in a box (according to his Bargaine) being a man of his word comes againe to the Shop or stall (at which hee angles for fresh Fish) and there casting out his line with the siluer hooke, thats to say, pouring out the forty pound which hee borrowed, The Citizen sends in, or steps himselfe for the Boxe with the Golden deuill in it: it is opened, and the army of an­gels [Page] being mustred together, they are all found to bee there. The Box is shut agen and set on the Stall, whilst the Cittizen is telling of his money: But whilst this musicke is sounding, Iacke in a Boxe actes his part in a dumb shew thus; hee shifts out o his fingers another Boxe of the same mettall and making, that the former beares, which second Boxe is filled onely with shillings & being p [...]zed in the hand, shall seeme to cary the weight of the former, and is clap'd down in place of the first. The Citizen in the meane time (whilst this Pit-fall is made for him) telling the fortie poundes, misseth thirtie or for­tie shillinges in the whole summe, at which the Iacke in a Boxe starting backe (as if it were a matter strange vnto him) at last making a gathering within himselfe) for his wits, hee remembers (he saies) that hee laid by so much money as is wanting (of the fortie poundes to dis­patch some businesse or other, and forgot to put it into the Bag again [...], notwithstanding, hee intreates the Ci­tizen, to keepe his golde still, hee will take the white money home to fetch the rest, and make vp the Summe, his absence shall not bee aboue an houre or two: before which time he shall bee sure to heare of him, and with this the little Diuell vanisheth, carrying that away with him, which in the end will send him to the Gallowes, (thats to say his owne golde,) and fortie pound besides of the Shop-keepers, which hee borrowed, the other bée­ing glad to take forty shillings for the whole debt, and Multa potenti­bus desunt multa. yet is soundly box'd for his labour.

This Iacke in a boxe, is yet but a Chicken, and hath laide verie few Egges, if the Hang-man doe not spoyle it with treading, it will prooue and excellent Henne of the Game. It is a knot of Cheators but newly tyed, they are not yet a company. They flie not like Wilde-Geese (in flockes) but like Kites (single) as loath that any should share in their pray. They haue two or thrée names, (yet they are no Romaines, but errant Rogues) for some-times they call themselues Iacke in a boxe, [Page] but now that their infantrie growes strong, and that it is knowne abroad, that they carrie the Philoso­phers stone [...]bout them, and are able of fortie shillings to make fortie pound, they therefore vse a deade March, and the better to cloake their villanies, doe put on these Masking suites: viz.

• 1. This art or sleight of changing golde into siluer, is called Trimming.
• 2. They that practise it, terme them-selues Sheepe­shearers.
• 3 The Gold which they bring to the Cittizen, is cald Iasons Fleece.
• 4 The siluer which they pick vp by this wandring, is White-wooll.
• 5 They that are Cheated by Iacke in a Boxe, are called Bleaters.

Oh Fleete-streete, Fleete-streete! how hast thou bene trimd, washed, Shauen and Polde by these deere and damnable Barbers? how often hast thou mette with these Sheep-shearers? how many warme flakes of wooll haue they pulled from thy Back? yet if thy Bleating can make the flockes that graze nere vnto thee and round about thee, to lift vp thy eyes, and to shunne such Wolues and Foxes, when they are approaching, or to haue them worryed to death before they sucke the blood of others, thy misfortunes are the lesse, because thy neighbours by them shall be warned from danger.

Many of thy Gallants (O Fleete-streete) haue spent hundreds of poundes in thy presence, and yet neuer were so much as drunke for it: but for euerie fortye pound that thou layest out in this Indian commoditie (of gold) thou hast a Siluer Boxe bestowed vpon thee, to carry thy Tobacco in, because thou hast euer loued that costlye and Gentleman-like Smoak. Iacke in a Boxe hath thus plaide his part. There is yet another Actor to step vpon the stage, and he seemes to haue good skil in Cosmography for he holdes in his hand a Map, wherein hee hath layde [Page] downe a number of Shires in England, and with small How to tra­uule without charges. pricks hath beaten out a path, teaching how a man may easily, (tho not verry honestly) trauell from Country to Country, and haue his charges borne; and thus it is.

He that vnder-takes this strange iourney, layes his first plotte how to be turned into a Braue man, which he findes can be done by none better then by a trusty Tai­lor: working therefore hard with him, till his suite be granted, Out of the Cittie, beeing mounted on a good gelding, he tides vpon his owne bare credit, not caring whether [...]e trauell to meete the Sunne at his Rysing or at his going downe. He knowes his Kitchin smokes in euery Countie, and his table couered in euery Shire. For when he comes within a mile of the Towne, where hee meanes to catche Quas [...]es, setting Spurres to his horse, away he gallops, with his cloake off (for in these Beseigings of Townes hee goes not armd with any (his Hatte thrust into his Hose, as if it were lost, and onely an emptie paire of Hangers by his side, to shew that hee has bene disarmed. And you must note, that this Hot spurre does neuer set vppon any places but onely such, where hee knowes (by intelligence) there are store of Gentlemen, or wealthy Farmers at the least. Amongst whome when hee is come, hee tels with distracted lookes, and a voice almoste breathlesse, how many Uillaines set vppon him, what golde & siluer they tooke from him, what woods they are fled into, from what part of Englād he is come, to what place he is go­ing, how farre he is from home, how farre from his ior­nies end, or from any Gentleman of his acquaintance, and so liuely personates the lying Greek (Synon) in tel­ling a lamentable tale: that the mad Troianes (the Gen­tlemen of the towne, beleeuing him, & the rather because he carries the shape of an honest man in shew, and of a Gentleman in his apparrell) are liberall of their purses, lending him money to beare him on his iourney, to pay which he offers either his bill or bond (naming his lodg­ing [Page] in London) or giues his word (as hées a Gentleman, which they rather take, knowing the like misfortūe may be theirs at any time.

And thus with the feathers of other birdes, is this Monster stuck, making wings of sundry fashions, with which he thus basely flies ouer a whole kingdom. Thus doth he ride from Towne to Towne, from Citty to City as if he were a Lād-lord in euery shire and that he were to gather Rents vp of none but Gentlemen.

There is a Twin-brother to this False galloper, and hee cheats Inne-keepers onely, or their Tapsters, by learning first what Country-men they are, and of what kindred: and then bringing counterfeit letters of com­mendations from such an Uncle, or such a Coozen (wher­in is requested, that the Bearer thereof may bee vsed kindely) hee lyes in the Iune till he haue fetcht ouer the Maister or Seruant for some mony (to draw whome to him he hath many bookes) and when they [...]ang fast enough by the Gills, vnder water Our Sharke diues, and is neuer seene to swimme againe in that Riuer.

Uppon this Scaffold, also might be mounted a num­ber Trauelling Emperickes, of Quack-saluing Empericks, who ariuing in some Country towne, clappe vp their Terrible Billes, in the Market-place, and filling the Paper with such horrible names of diseases, as if euery disease were a Diuell, and that they could coniure them out of any Towne at their pleasure. Yet these Beggerly Mountibancks are meate Coozeners, and haue not so much skill as Horsele [...]es. The poore people not giuing money to them to be cured of any infirmities, but rather with their money buying worse infirmities of them:

Uppon the same post, doe certain stragling Scribling Writers deserue to haue both their names and them-selues strowling schoole-maister. hung vp, insteed of those faire tables which they hang vp in Townes, as gay pictures to intice Schollers to them: the Tables are witten with sundry kindes of hands, but not one finger of those hands (not one letter [Page] there) drops from the Penne of such a false wandring Scribe. He buyes other mens cunning good cheape in London, and sels it deere in the Country. These Swal­lowes bragge of no qualitie in them so much as of swift­nesse. In foure & twenty houres, they will worke foure and twenty wonders, and promise to teach those, that know no more what belongs to an A. then an Asse, to bee able (in that narrow compasse) to write as faire and as fast as a country Uicar, who commonly reads all the Townes Letters.

But wherefore doe these counterfeit Maisters of that Noble Science of Writing, kéepe such a florishing with the borrowed weapons of other Mens Pennes? onely for this to gette halfe the Birdes (which they striue to catch) into their hands, thats to say, to bee payde halfe the money which is agréed vpon for the Scholler, and his nest being halfe fild with such Gold-finches, he neuer stayes till the rest be fledge, but suffers him that comes next, to beate the bush for the other halfe. At this Caréere the Ryder that set out last from Smith▪field, stop'd: and alighting from Pacolet (the horse that carried him) his next iourney was made on foote.

The Bel-mans second Night-walke. Chap. XII.

SIr Lancelot of the infernall Lake, or the Knight Errant of Hell, hauing thus (like a yong country gentleman) gone round about the Citty, to see the sights not onely within the walles but those also in the Subburbes, was glad when hee sawe [...] hauing put on the vizard that Hell lends Indu [...]a nigris vest [...]bus, c [...] rum insil [...] Nox her (cald darkenes to leap in to her Coach) because now he knew he should meete with other strange birdes [Page] and beasts fluttring from their nests, and crawling out of their dennes. His prognostication held currant, and the foule-weather (which hee fore-told,) fell out accord­ingly. For Candle-light ha [...] scarce opend his eye (to looke at the Citty like a gunner shooting at a marke,) but fearefully (their feet trembling vnder thē) their [...]es suspitiously rouling from euery nooke to nooke round Nectis & ere [...] [...] [...]nies sunt Dolu [...], Metus, Mise­ria, Fr [...], [...], &c. [...] Lib. 3 De Nat. D [...]o­tum. about them, & their heads (as if they stood vppon oyled shrewes) still turning back behinde them, came créeping out of hollow-trées, where they lay hidden, a number of couzning Bankrupts in the shapes of Owles, who when the Marshall of light, the sunne, went vp and downe to search the Citty, durst not stir abroad, for feare of [...]éeing houted at and followed by whole flockes of vndon cre­ditors.

But now when the stage of the world was hung in blacke, they ietted vppe & downe like proud Tragedians O what thankes they gaue to Darknesse! what [...] veren­da, verenda, &c. songes they balladed out in praise of Night, for bestowing vpon them so excellent a cleake wherein they might so safely walke muftled! Now durst they, as if they had beene Constables, rappe alowd at the dores of those to whom they owed most money, & braue them with hie wordes, tho they payd them not a penny.

Now did they boldly step into some priuiledged Ta­uerne, and there drinke healthes, dance with Harlets, & pay both Drawers and Fidlers after mid-night with o­ther mens money, & then march home againe fearelesse of the blowes that any showlder-clapper durst giuethē. Out of another Nest flew certaine Murderers and Theeues in the shapes of Skreech-owles, who, being set on by the Night, did beate with their bold and vēturous fatall wings at the very dores whereas, informer times, their villanies had entred.

Not farre frō These, came crawling out of their bushes a company of graue & wealthy Lechers in the shapes of Glowe-wormes, who with gold, Iyngling in their [Page] pockets, made such a shew in the night, that the dores of Common Brothelryes flew open to receiue them, the in s [...]piens in munera v [...]nit adultor, Praebuit ipsa sinus. Nec polisti metuunt De [...] [...]ec [...] ­cere Deo [...] opi­nor. the day time they durst not passe that way, for seate that noted Curtizans should challenge them of acquaintance, or that others should laugh at them to see white heads growing vpon greene stalkes.

Then came forth certaine infamou [...] earthy minded Creatures in the shapes of Snailes, who all the day time hyding their heads in their shells, lea [...] b [...]ies should w^e two fingers point at them for liuing b [...]ly vpō the pro­stitutiō of their wiues bodies, cared not now, before can­dle-light, to shoote out their largest & longest Hornes.

A number of other monsters, like These, were seene (as the sunne went downe) to venture from their dēnes, only to ingender with Darknesse: but candle-lights eye­sight growing dimmer & dimmer, and hée at last falling starke blind, Lucifers Watch-man went strumbling vp and down in the darke.