COck Watt, as I am priua • ly knowne, & commonly cald by knaues, theeues and con • catchers but more properly named C • ck W • r • who giues warning to Court, citie and country.

Haue amongst you then, for the forefront of my name Cock, know I am so titled & discouered by it, in y• place where I keep my twinkling 〈◊〉 , as distinctly as your likely horse by his white star in y• forehead, your wāton wench, by her black patch worne on the side of her browe your house of iniquitis, by little cakes and lesse cans, and your perfect tuddlecap by his red nose And not vnproperly n • ither, 〈◊〉 called Cock, for about that time when the last 〈◊〉 takes his farewell of the ensuing day and that earely bird, the morning • herauld giues his wakefull sum • ōs to the darke clouds (vnder whose canopie, théeues, baud • s, and strumpets doe their hatefu • l actiuities) to disport themselues from the desired day by whose cheerefulnes, the honest laborer reioycingly, eates his bread got by the sweate of his browes, doe I like a cand • e at his halfe going out, in that stilnesse of ho • res, making my soueraignty amongst the monstrous thée • es and murtherers, and my pa • lac • a prison • creeping vp the wall, from side to side, and roofe to roofe, appeare.

So much for the character of my name Cock, now for my name, and nature of my name Watt, or Wary, thus: know y• I am neuer seene to make my visitation and nigh •• progr • sse, to the terrifying of some, and comfort of other: that either in my Iourney see me • or the next morning heare of me: but about thr •• dayes before the sessions or 〈◊〉 when comming into the prison. I finde for seuerall offences, plenty of offenders, some lying on hard 〈◊〉 -beds, but the most 〈◊〉 on harder bordes▪ some with course 〈◊〉 and thinne couerings, the rest in 〈◊〉 of a 〈◊〉 barle • , or other couer • ure, heauy Irons, some 〈◊〉 lawyers, some for walking on the padd, some hor • est • a •• rs, • ome mi • s, some foy ••• , some stals, some I • glers, some 〈◊〉 , some morts some li •• s, some d • coy • s, all cunning 〈◊〉 and cosoning quea • s, and of all these, wh •• they are, and their seuerall course of 〈◊〉 , in their due places.

Where bone •• reader thou shalt perceiue, how easily thou 〈◊〉 be deceiued, bow the goods 〈◊〉 , be ready to accuse, nay euen to I • dite thy guiltlesse ser • ants, be suspitious of thy Children, and onely by the di • elish sleights of many, who 〈◊〉 with a fairer glosse of brauery, honest show of behauiour, or priuat 〈◊〉 : feede like drones vpon thy labours, and 〈◊〉 like vipers in the common wealth.

But for my power and benefit of arriuall in your prison; know I most comm • nly appeare on the side of a wall, and from thence cary my selfe about in as swift a motion, as water glides from a spring, from bed to bed, and b •• rde to boorde, onely at the head of euery pris • ner, I make a seuerall stay: And as it 〈◊〉 giuen mee by diuine power▪ I draw from each particular▪ the certaine continuance of his life to succeede, and whether at the following sessions or Assises, they shall bee c •• demned to suffer their deserued and shamefull death or not.

At first I make my seate vppon the • eade, where resting a whi • e, I suddenly start from thence vp to the roofe, and downe againe vppon the face, in as quick motion as lightning, when as if I had then receiued, by certaine Intelligence, whether the party I haue • oothed on, shall bee executed or not, I thus to the Iudgement of any who are then waking make it euident.

For vppon my returns, the prisoner I haue made tryall of, shall shortly 〈◊〉 , about his head and face, like a lampe neare 〈…〉 I make a 〈◊〉 twinkling and goe out. But it hath pleased GOD, his present Imprisonment hath beene layed vppon him, as a 〈◊〉 and mercifull correction, for his future amendment and to instruct him, that as this certaine to vnhonest pleasure, is begot a compa •• on repentance, so to vnlawf • ll actions, doth become this succ • ssion, a shamefull death on 〈◊〉 or the rest, that for that time are preserued, my light saileth not, but 〈◊〉 and descends from one to another: (whome I finde lying, as they haue liued, like sw • e) but decayeth not one any but such onely whome shortly the Lawe shall condemne, and the speedy execution thereof, cut off.

While thus then, I continue my visitation, know that to th ••• to whome for that moment I am visible, the horror of thunder, mixt with the • lashes of affrighting lightning, dreadfull to Beasts, terrible to Man, putting him in minde, that in such a minut, and by such m ••• ngers, the worlde shall determine and euery sinner shall bee cald to a strict account, wherein the best shall be found short of their reckoning, as I say, the remembrance of that hower, begets not a more earthquake in the bosomes of the wretched, then doth my light (beeing no more in show, then a starre by vs) increase in my beholder: for in what ra • cke of the seauen deadly • inn • s so euer his conscienc • doth witnesse against him, that his prisoned life hath marcht in, seeing my light, for the same foot ••• ps, extinct vppon another, hee expects the like due rewards is desc • nd vppon him selfe.

And in this terror of his, the plagues here is euery seuerall sinne, are as visible in the eyes of his soule, • s they were then thrusted in Hell, for the corruption of his bodie.

If hee haue beene as proud as a Player that feedes on the fruite of diuine poetry, (as swine one 〈◊〉 ) that 〈◊〉 from the noble O •• of their •• ndes, and in the least Win • er of prosperitie, will not stick to make their •• ye, in that bo • ome which of late 〈◊〉 them, in an hower 〈…〉 like this, they shall with trembling remember (what in the height of their vaineglory they presumptuously forgot) that though they are in their fulst of rankor, fatted vp like a Bore in his trunck that eates vp all is brought vnto him, yet are they stil but swines flesh, that the damnedst shew, will not eate a bit one, nay the Diuels themselues thought them the fittest r ••• es, vnder which to keepe their Court in, semper excipimus, and that a minuit will come perhaps in this moment, when they shall be like Tantalus in hell, to gape after their old fodder, but get none of it or in such an howre as this, when either I or death shall visit them they shall euidently perceiue it was their pride which is the peruerter of all vertue, taught them to thinke, themselues wise, but prou'd fooles, instructed them to despise learning, scorne pouerty, mew at desert, yea and that merit, which from starke Asses, which they naturally were, made their fit momusses worthy to be laught at, yet remembers them withall in their best prosperity, they are but like the flower sparagus, that growes out of euery mans dunge, and contemned of euery man.

If hee haue beene as enuious as a serpent, enemie to all mankinde, and hath giuen as many pricks, to the destruction of a mans life, & reputation, as a taylor, stitches in his clothes; for this long tongue and tooth'd maleuole, (that lookes as desperately on the prosperity of any, as your vsurer on a yong heire, greedy to deuoure him) hath not the feathers of his birdboults glewed on onely with backbitings, calumnies, and slanderous reproaches which onely contummate the credyt, but he hath as many shapes besides, as Proteus, and like Signior don spaniardo, who in fight, aymeth all at the hart, or your northerne fencer, in playing his prise, who sticks your marke fairer vpon his own brest yet sends his stoccado cleanly into your bosome, so will hée vpon any occasion of reuengement shift himselfe into seuerall suites of Apparell, into a mans dish, his drinke his nosegay, his any thing he has an excellent wardrop too, change of garmēts, and not beholding either to his mercer, marchant or taylors Booke (as I hope most of our gallants are) for a penny. O enuy thou forerunner of murther (as a great mans sumpter-horse who makes shew before that his Maisters comming after) •• sit thy 〈◊〉 , wash thine e • es that lookes flaming like the ceaselesse fire of the Glashouse, doe not vse to grate thy iawes, nor haue the continuall hartburning at other mens happinesse, but by y• misery which these feele, by beholding of me repent thy life, and reforme thy condition, for know it seemes to them in the instāt, they are tórne by Diuels in the shapes of dogs, in that bl ••• & read kingdome, for béeing so dogged to mankinde, twixt whom and them there was a christian affinity here vpon earth.

If he haue béene as letherous as a mountaine goate, and to kéepe his effeminacy in repaire, and make his desires perpetuall, hath beene at cost to maintaine his monethly bathes, somentations, electuaries, and to cherish his loy • es in high 〈◊〉 , hath had his Culle •• es of dissolued pearle, and bruis • amber, 〈◊〉 , cocksparrows, braines of larks, lambst ••• all the earths chiefest vyan • s, to r •• lenish his pleasures, and p • mper vp his rancknesse in this minut, by me his • essenger, hee is remembred, all is vanity: And begins to reckon with him selfe, how miserable man is, whose body is preserued from the plenty and cheefest of the land, and by the delicatest store of the sea, yet thus nourisht and nusled vp, not as all other creatures or for man y• nobler person, but for wormes the very dregs and ••• all of the earth▪ and as he hath liued licentiously like a g • ate, so his skin bathed, rubd, sterket nay perhaps painted for that purpose, shall then like a goate be tand not to make spruce spanish leather, fit for wanton Ladies shooes, but to make gloues for friends, (like Salamanders skins) able to resist the heate of the low country: for though they are farre from the Sunne, they alwaies liue in the fire, and the best • ffice their hides can be put to • is to make pumps for Proserpin, gra •• d Pluto King of Lecyfrs Concubine.

And as of these • so insues to all the rest, such as by drunkennesse, haue made their bodies like dry fats, and their fac •• like a shriefes post of seuerall colours or swearers, whose oaths fly out at their mouths, like smoake out of a chimney, that de •• les all the way it passes, or lyers, and such commōly are theeues: for lying and stealing, or as inseperable companions, in sinfull society, as a théef • and a receiuer, and indeede all sinners of what condition so euer, are at the sight of me, struck with a suddaine and violent remorce, reckon vp their liues, and make themselues Iudges of themselues in these offences, wherein their conscince giues • estimonie against them, that they are guilty, and in 〈◊〉 present horror, they s • eme in minde to ta • e the vpright Iustice and punishment which they know, long before this they haue deserued.

Well, hauing brought these that behold me into this ague, you walking spirit will 〈◊〉 them in their 〈◊〉 , and returne to the rest, whom wée left 〈◊〉 •• ely by the way, I could wish that I had that su •• erance in the Citie, that I progresse once a moneth, about the Goale, I then durst vndertake, you should soone heare of more charity, and fewer cuckolds, find-lesse houses▪ & more hospitality, not so many promises, but more payment, not so many Foles rich, and so many wise Beggers, nothing should be amisse, all should b •• amended, or your Cock Wach would walke the sinfull round like a Sentin • ll, and the sinners should swet • ort.

But to them whom I left sléeping, not like the rest of good men, wherein they find comfortable recreation after their carefull labours, but like the sléeps of • illayns: For somnia bonoru • meliora quam malorum. So I finde these not in sound sléepes, but distressed flūbers, troubled dreams, visited with stairings, grones and passions, and afflicted in minde, as they are persecuted in bodie, one that went drunke to bed ouer night, hee réeles in his sléepe, and sweares to begin at the last halfe pot, where he left in the morning, others that haue béene • * soysts, all or the most part of their time, and thriued well in the profession, and now lately drawne into some other action, as they call it, as to breake a house, or to lift a cup from a Uinteuers red barre, to be 〈◊〉 for it at the black barre in the old bayly, he curses his education, complaines of the destynies, malignes his starres, and concludes thus, what a villon was I, to leaue my old trade, meaning picking of pockets, to vsurpe and • eale into an othermans mysterie, 〈…〉 namely house-breaking, or what other waies; I heretofore haue liued well by mine owne, and that which I was brought vp in, drawne forty or fifty pound for mee and my punck, in one tearme, out of a rum coues • ung, (so called in their canting vse of spéech) (and as much as to say in ours, a rich chuffes purse) and now after in my many escapes, common bale, the helpe to many a venterous thée • e, a plague of all Ill lucks, I must ride Crowee as much as to say, beha • ged for a trifle, & in the bitternesse of his passion, breakes out thus, may all they take another mans trade vpon them, neuer spéede better.

Here you must vnderstand euery man kéepes his own trade, among théeues as orderly, as they of the twelue companies, as he that is a vintner, is a vintener and no more, so he that is a pick-pocket, is a pickpocket and no more: and so of the rest, yet in the end, closes vp his elegie, beeing sung 〈◊〉 his dreame, with this resolution, well I haue seene the worst, tis but halfe a • howres hanging, twill saue mee halfe a yé • res drinking, twoo turnes, the knot vnder the eare, and a wry mouth will doe it▪ let me sweete hart, (speaking by his mort) haue a white sh •• te tyed about mee, and my black wrought Cap on my head, my nosegay in my hand, tis but the way, which many a good fellow has gone before, and welcome death, when she perhaps, then present with him, as if their soules did •• mpathise in one, answeres dialogue wise to him, making vp her protestations with • thes enowe, no doubt of it, his will see will s •• performed, nay for his sake, she will neuer loue none of his 〈◊〉 more neuer come vp newgate staires, nay for euer will be a stranger to the Ile of man, in remembrance of him.

Well, suppose the Sessions past, our dreamer awake, and caried in a cart to haue a corner of Docter Stories cap, whē she once s • ing him gone, makes no doubt but he has borne a noose wt him, will hold him fast enough from comming back, & straight she forgets her promises, neuer to haue more friends, nay ten to one, neuer takes care to see him buried, y• hath brought himselfe to the gallows for her, but rather studies, where and how, she may get money to bee drunke with a new loue, and in fresh fild cups, make vp a new combination between thē, thus like water men, that shift their fares, from one landing place to waite for another, so doe these morts euery sessions shift their sutors, they dispatch o • e at Newgate stares, & a Noble to a groate, they take vp another betwixt that and Tiburne.

Yet shall it not be Impertinent, that I Cock Watt, your new discouerer, make euident, what vse these kinde of people draw from these she creatures, 〈…〉 . both abroad and in prison, first know, that your thée • es trauelling mort, is partly a setter of rob beries, partly a théefe her 〈◊〉 , but alwaies a receiuer of whats • euer is •• lne and brought vnto her: for which fellonies, if him whom she cals her hus • and, chance to be apprehended, she tross in his businesse, labours his aduersarie to be good to him, & suffer him to be bayld • ut, you shall want no teares, no knéelings, no intercessions, no perswasions, that it is the first fact that euer the poore man her bedfellow fell into, and will you s • ke his bloud, that he was neuer in prison before, and will you bee his •• doing, when if you but search the record at Newgate, you sh • ll 〈◊〉 him to haue payd his garnish twentie times at least, but if it proue that at her Importunity you are mooued, and in pitty of her, spare her mates life.

Take this from me, it shall happen to you, as to an honest Iuror of this City not long since, who séeing a comely proper yong man stand i • dighted for a purse, and by his verdit giuen against him, • as to be hanged, in pity of his present youth, and hope of better grace to come, béeing at that time foreman of the Iury, so laboured with his a ••• tants, that for that fact hee was acquitted, who in recompēce presently vpon his discharge, paying his fées, came to the place where this Iuror was, and pickt his pocket, then i • poore Cock may not preuaile wt • ou t • spare none of them, learne this of Horras. Quo semel est Imbuta re • ens seruabit odorem Testa d •••

A 〈◊〉 vessell will neuer bee made swéete, and our english prouerbe is as true as old, saue a theefe from the gallowes, & heele hang you if hee can, and though these parties themselues will in person no more steale from you, yet imboul •• cd by your pitty they will be instruments, to intice others to worke you hurt, otherwise if shee findes you not moued at her Crocadiles teares, but according as iustice in y• case has prouided will prosecute against him, then fals she to rayling against you, abuses your 〈◊〉 • annes your children curs • s your procéedings, and if she haue a childe her selfe, brings it and sayes at your doore shee will leaue it, for you or the parish to bring vp, if by your meanes her hus •• nd perisheth, thinking thus to ouercome you with impudence, if shee could not doe by perswasion, they that haue had any trading know this to be true, then poore Cock leau • & euery man to his ow • e discretion, and will now tell how these shee b • asts behaue themselues abroade.

In the day time two of them neuer lesse, often more, w • lke vp and downe streets together with their handbaskets in their hands, so neate and decent in atire, that suspition it selfe cannot cease on them for other, then people of honest conuersatiō when vigilantly as thy passe along, they cast their eyes about, to obserue where, they can finde a shop furnished, but with one to giue attendance on customers, be it ma ••••• r, mistresse, or man, so but one they respect not, which taken note of, into that shop of what trade soeuer they wil enter, for these wil play small game before they will sit out, mary their chiefs venture is eyther with Mercers, Gouldsmiths, Linnen drayers, ha •• da • hers and such like (now a simple man would thinke these should bee credible people that thus loue to deale with the best • ) at first they demand for this, or that sort of wares, as rings, taffety, cambricks▪ hats, gloues, garters, or what soeuer the shoppe keepes 〈◊〉 of, much they desire to see but are contented with none, yet still requesteth you to turne about and reach h • r this thing or th •• thing, all which trouble is to no more purpose, but that 〈◊〉 your face is away from them, they may •• ke aduantage to 〈◊〉 somwhat away from you, which at that instanc • she that is • ext you failes not 〈◊〉 • ffect, and closely conuayes it to her that stands of fit purpose a prety way off, thus hauing the pray they fish for, she modestly dis • ikes your wares, sayes she is sory shee has troubled you, she will now make bold to see further, and if she cannot speed her selfe better, she will returne to you againe, a • d whilest she is vsing this complement, sh • e withall opens her basket, shakes and begins to gather vp her cloth •• , and you seeing no occasion of mistrust, the one, laying all meanes to free suspition opens to you, and the other standing aloofe and not comming neere your wares, kindly bids them welcome & so part, you to the making vp of your wares againe (and ten to one for that instant misse nothing) and they to make away that purchase, and by the like to prouide for more.

Thus is many an honest Cityzen robd, ten, nay perhaps, twentie times, vy the vildnes of this condition, and of long time mistrust nothing, but comming to cast vp his shop, findes his goods gone, and no acount to be made of them, he suspects his wife, distrusts his children, accuses his seruants, when these make pray of your endeuours, and consume your substance in as vild or vilder manner then they get it.

Another instruction learne, to auoyd these dangers by, at the coming in of two in this fashion, into your shop, though by your vigilance both in laying out & making vp of your wares, you are certaine there is nothing lost, yet of her that stands aloofe haue this foresight, that nothing lye within her reach, for while shee perceiues your eye to be diligent on her you are seruing, her eye is not idle to obserue what lyes at randome abroad, for thothey haue beene hole • olts of Hollād, peeces of Taffety, or Sattane probatum est, that many an honest man hauing had a care of y• o • e, haue beene by the other whom they mistrusted not in the meane time deceiued, for sometimes, they will not come in as of one aquaintance, but when she perceiues you busied with the other, and cals hard for such wares which she knowes you, haue, whē you as loth to loose a customer, intreat her but to slay a litle & you will attēd her straight, she • aies she will y• other whō you are seuing there prolonges the time, and shee walking about about till shee has plaid her prise, in fit opportunity takes h •• leaue and saies shee will come againe when you are 〈◊〉 more leysure, and so at one time giues you the list and the slip, straight retires home to her Copesmates, who neuer go • abroade vnles sometimes to be drunke but liue like • wl • s, wh • in the day are wondred at and seldome seene but by night, when your goods are deuided, and you the honour for your neglect iested at.

But if, as it is seldome they misse of their purpose, yet come they not home, without meanes to set some other pr • ie •• a foote, as by noting your dores sellors, windowes, casements, whether your seruants lye in your shop, and how they finde all things easily for entrance, or defensiue • against a burglary, y• next night, when, with two or thrée men and a boy, the purposed act, as shall be after reuealed in what manner is vndertooke.

These that thus steale, for there be of them, both men and women, are among them selues called running lifts, of which, there are that steale in another maner, and thus it is. If they perceiu • a Nobleman or gentlemans dore opē, they will straight without asking presse in, and so far vp, euen to the fairest lodgings where if by chance they are met by any, and resisted with this question, who would you speake withall, they haue either of these two answeres, for their reply, Pray you is not this such a Ge • tlemans house, who dwelleth within a •• re or two of, or is not such a gentleman within, whose lodging they know it is, & they themselues haue watcht his going out, but if as it often happeneth, they bee intercepted by none, what plate, apparell any thing of worth happens in their way▪ it is 〈◊〉 to their net: for in things that are trifles, these will not venter, as I will now tell you of a trick that happened to a gentleman of worth, nere Holborne, by one of this profession, and the shee théefe yet liuing, the more is the pitie.

This gentlewomans maide being vp earely in y• morning it was her chaunce to come out at the street doore,of li ••• to go into y• sellor to fetch coles or some other necessaries, she had presently to vse, wt this, she lift perceiuing, slept in & in an instant vp toward the chambers (hauing prouided at for the purpose, on her feet, a paire of cloth 〈◊〉 with pump soles, so far was she climde • til shee was at the chamber doore where the gentleman & his wife lay, as she suspected a sleep, for it was in the morning early, the maid • by this time was come out of the sellor, & going forwarde with her busines in the Citchen misdoubted nothing: while she list •• ng at the chamber doore if she could heare all quiet, in the end went in, but it was the gentlemans chaunce at this time to be awake, and perceiuing betweene two curtens the glance of a woman to passe by, closed his eyes of purpose & lay breathing as if he had slept soundly to note the euent, when shee thinking all safe opened a presse doore that stood in the roome, & in which was the whole encrease of the gentlemans plate, and began to • ather it out as charily, and with as much regard for bruising as it had bin her owne, first she filled this pocket, then y•, t • entother, took vp this vpper cote then a second, then a third, euen to her very smoke, which the gentlman perceiuing he thought like Bankes his horse, or the Baboones, or captaine Pold w • th his motion, shee would haue showne him some strange & monstrous • ight for his siluer & guilt before she had left him, at last hauing fild some eight or ten deep pockets, too many for an honest body to beare, made the gentlman thinke she had made them a purpose to carry his plate in, downe went all her co • es as the seuerall couers of them, and hauing now left no more in the c • bbord • but one faire bason and ewer out came that too, & being as charitably minded towards that as the rest, because it should not lie abroade and take cold, she g • ue it houseroome in her apron, which he that ought it percie • ing, said smilingly to himselfe, I see now that theeues haue no conscience, well she began to trusse vp her selfe, hoping for a boone voyage, & like a theefe as she came vp, to steale out of the chamber, mary better ballast by three or foure hundred pound then at her comming to that rode, when the gentleman stepping out of his bed • caught her by the arme, and cried halfe share in faith, for in this commody I haue playd a part and deserued it well, thankes bee to the Diuill, shee had scarce so much yet as to blush at it, but in bréefe, he cald for his neighbors, vpon whose comming, his goods béeing sound about her, she was caried before a Iustice, and from thence to prison, but whether of the gentlemans mercy, or what composition, I know not, (but money can do much) in three or foure daies, she outrun the kéepers, and was quit of her trouble, which makes poore Cock Watt to complaine, that such •• ld théeues should haue better luck then honester men, and for that I know, let them haue neuer somuch mercie shewed them, they are still like dogs, Redire ad vomitum, what though one Broker, who had his beginning from an inch of this profession, is now become an honest man, because he is rich, and a fréeholder, he yet must be no president for the rest, for might I haue beene her Iudge, shee should haue had her due, and • anst Derriks • ance in a hempen halter. I my selfe haue liued in the same state, when I was a creature on earth, wherein they remaine, and I know, their custome so vilde, and life so abhorred, that I had rather chuse with those, whom Circes transformed, to liue in the nature of bruit beasts, then to reassume my antient habite, and liue like them.

Another sort of these shee morts,of 〈◊〉 or monsters. I must Anatomise vnto you, who though their nature of stealing be alike, their maner of attēpting is different, yet their purpose one, & they are led Glimerers. Your Glimerer, shées vp in the morning betweene 5 or 6 of the clock, drest in her night attire her bodies and cotes scarce laced togither, her apron defusedly put on, & with a black brād in her hād, of the colour of her owne soule, which she caries vnder her apron, as if to kindle that, were her purposd busines, about stréete she goes, taking the like opportunity with the former, to goe into any house where she finds the doore open nay presumes further: If it be in the darkest winter mornings, to knock for admittance, if she but perceiue a light • when the mayd or man seruant, but most commonly y• mayd, comming to know her arrand, she desires to haue leaue to kindle her stick, which vsuall curtes • e bé • ing granted, in she goes into the kitchen • and while her stick lies in the fire, as if she were a seruant: newly come to some Gentleman or Citizen thereabouts (whome shee 〈◊〉 perfect to nominate) she begins with that goships chat, which is familiar and in vse amongst • atling houswiues, which is to discouer the humor, and manners of their maisters & mistresses, their forme of gouernment in their house, how they agrée, or disagrée, one with another, & in what order they must rub their roomes, wash, dresse meate, reckoning vp all the forme of her huswiferie, to kéepe her mistres 〈◊〉 quiet, (when as she seldome meets it otherwise) finding the other as ready to enquire and listen after nouelties, as she to offer, she begins to commend her cleanlines, and de • ence in keeping that house in so good order, praises the pillors of the building, the necessary contriuing of it, and offers her selfe to walke further into the next parlor, to haue more caus • to speake more in her commendation, when this mistru •• les soule, proud to heare her selfe praisde, & suspectlesse that she com •• for any other end but to kindle her sticke, keeps waitfull eye ouer her, but giues way to her presumption, which leaue giuen she has dispatcht that she came for in a twinckling, and neuer comes back empty handed, takes vp her sticke, giues some kinde farewell at parting, as I hope we shall meet at the Backehouse, or Market & be merry, or if you receiue on Palme sunday next, I would be glad to haue your company, & so with her new purchase departs, the maide she followes her busines, and not long after, riseth her maister and mistres, when shortly whatsoeuer the vulture had before made gripe of, is mist, the maide accused for it, and the maister and mistres angring against her, they saw themselues their goods but late last night when they went to bed, and of her they must know what is become of them, y• accused wretch she weepes, protests she knowes not, & vowes to her knowledge, nay she is certaine there came none in but such a gentlewomans maide, rehearsing her name, whose seruant she had named her selfe to be to kindle a brande, then whiles the maister • rets and is suspitious that his maide is a thee • e, the seruant is a ielous y• the maister or mistres haue béene théeues to themselues, & conuaide away their goods, with intent to defraud her of her wages, in y• end the gentlewomans house before named is enquired alter, and the seruant examined, and not found to haue beene in the others house, as the accused • had inferd, the suspition growes more strong: for the maister knowes his goods to be lost, findes his seruant whom he suspects to faile in her answere, & doubting no such • raudulent practise, as these drones haue inuented, imprisons his maide, • ay somtimes as in case of a fellon, proceeds in ordinary tryall against her, that were not our graue bench of Senators, Preleous, & Patrons of this comon wealth, carefull to distinguish betwixt partie and partie, the Lambe might oftentimes perish for the wolues rauenings. So this I hope then shall be sufficient for maisters to giue admonishment to their seruants to be warie ouer them that come to kindle sparkes.

By your leaue yet, and let your new discoueror wade a little further, and giue warning to Merchants wiues and women of the best sort, to learne how to preuent this fresh practise inuented to deceiue them.

There is a new company arising, though not yet halfe so many in maner, as y• fellowship of the Porters, & thus call themselues Reachers, they walke togeither Male and Female, and keepe house together like man and wife, they will haue you a house to dwell at about Endfield, Brainford, or any place within 6. 7. or 8. miles of London, but withall kéepe a priuat lodging for them selues to retire vnto, at one Brokers house or another in the suburbes, vpō the market daies these two come to towne▪ she attired like a comely country woman, in cleanly white linn • with a muster on her face, and in russet clothes outward signes of the countries honest simplicity, & in her mawnd or basket which she beares on her arme, lapt in a pure white cloth, some fine tidy pig, fat goose, yong kid, orh aunch of venison, indéed any prouision but of the daintiest, which eyther she can buy for her money, or more probably her mate may steale from any, in this neat maner lapt vp, the ware it selfe of the delicatest, able to entice any eye to haue a desire to buy of her, comes she to make her markets, when lingring in the towne, at on place of receist or other, as they want no shelter t •• l toward y• breaking vp of the market, which is much about y• houre when exchange time is held for the m • ting of our merchants, when thus cōiecturing, as very profitable it is, that at that time our worthiest citizens are from home, they goe into Milk-street, Bread-street, Lime-street, S. mary Axe, or the most priuiest places where they kept their residence to make their • enture, when she knocks at the doore, and demands of the seruant that comes whether her worshipfull good mistresse bee within, and whether it will be her pleasure, to buy of her, her goose, pig, kid, or whatsoeuer, when shewing it to the seruant, (and she can do no other but commend it,) she prayes her to expresse the purely of it to her mistres, that she may bargaine for it: For in truth sister, quoth she, we poore country folkes, dare not proffer any thing so dainty as this to the open view of the market, lest any one of spight, informe either the King, or my Lord Mayors officers thereof, and so our goods shall be taken from vs, we hauing not halfe the vallue returnd vs for recompence.

With this reasonable and honest seeming preuention, the maide knowing her mistres to be of the minde of all our Citizens gallant wiues, loth to let any dainties, or good thing go by from their owne tasts, which they either haue desire vnto, or may haue for money, though they pay neuer so deere & their husbands prooue bankerupts for it, wils her to come stand within the doore, which she indeede requests, left any Catch-pole or busy knaue should se her, and so her commodity be forfeited, being as it is held vnlawfull, the sale to be offered not at the market, well the maide goes vp to informe her mistres, (and withal takes the dainties along with her. whom she finds in her chamber, perhaps scarce redy, for tis growne a fashion amongst them to eate their breakfasts in their beds and not to be ready till halfe an houre after noone, about which time, their husbands are to returne from the Bursse and they make it their dinner time, now while the mayde is aboue, flattering her mistres (as flattery is a part of their worke, for why they haue their wages, with the delicasie of the offer and the cleanlines of the country woman, which brought it to be sold, the Fox beneath 〈…〉 what pray she can espy, to carry home to her den, whē 〈◊〉 hole piles of broad clothes, Cearses, or such like commodities, too burthensome for any one to suspect a lone woman could defra • d you of she straight beckens ouer her companion, who stands ready at an inch, & being a quicke good sturdey knaue, with a hand shifts a way one of them. This is no surmise, there is merchants in this towne, by the losse of commodities 20 • thicke can witnesse it well, by this time the gentlewoman has lik • that which was brought her, cals for, and commends the country womans cleanlinesse, bargaines with her at her owne rate, and requests shee may see her chap-woman on the like occasion, by this also has my porter, though without the badge of the porters Hall, brought his burthē to the Brokers house▪ where béeing once put in: tis an abisse too bottomlesse for any search to reach out againe. O your cloth is good ware, it may be cut out into seuerall garments, by this also my marchants come home, where soone taking note of his losse, it makes his wiues markets eate not half so sauery as they would haue done, yet in the end • ends for a cup of sack, and comforts himselfe with this, that I in his behalfe, would admonish theword, Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.

And this much for my order of lists,Of F • ys • s. which I hope shall be a caueat sufficient for courtiers, to haue a care of their chambers, gentlemen their lodgings, citzens their sho • s, chapmen to haue an eye at their faire, and by diligence, defend that hereafter which by these meanes heretofore hath béene their hinderance.

Now to our Foysts, alias, pickpocket, alias cutpurse, he has as many alias as a good gentleman of Wales▪ and indéede is as good a benefactor to the alehouse hee consists of an army of three strong▪ namely, foystes and snaps, his common wealth to liue in, or ground to encamp in, is the antient great grand father Powles, & all other little churches his children, besides Parish garden, or rather (places of more benefit) publick, & by your leaue priuat play houses Westminster hall is his good soyle, the dark entry going to the Six clarcks office, in chancary lau • his in the tearme time his deere and speciall good friend, London bridge his bountifull benefactor, all markets are his pur • eiors, and carefully prouide for him all faires his diligent factors, that bring him in his prouision in abundance, all pockets his exchequor, that are neuer shut against him, progr • sses his true paymaisters, though they pay seldome-in y• Court or cockpit, though the King himselfe be there, he dare incounter, he pri • e ••• ges no person, nor no place exempt with him, only the Exchange excepted, for saies he, where merchants méete, is no méeting for vs, If they once take vs, we are sure tog • to the old turn, for they are men deale all with great store of money, & very little mercy, the times when his skirmishes are hottest, is y• time when they run attilt, is the day the Lord Mayor takes his oath, a new play, or whē some great cause is hard at the Star Chamber, now for the person himselfe that dus pick the pocket, and his ministers about him that giue furtherance to the action.

Know at a new play, he is alwaies about the playhouse do • e, watches out of which side you draw your purse, & then gessing whether the lyning be worth the ventring, for that serues his turne, if hee see you buying of ware at any stall or shop, hee obserues when you pay fort, on which side you put your purse, and that serues him likewise, If in a throng he thus comes to knowledge whether your pocket be worth the sacking or no, If you be a man that once appeare likely to him, hee gathers iust behind, or on the side of you, and there clapping his hand easily on the place where the bottome of your pockets are, poyses them with all, and by the waight getteth how well they are ballast, if he bée a Countryman that comes from far to the tearme, or one that dwels not farre from London, or seruingman, such either to bestow money, if he walke without a cloake, as for the most part they will, two of them méete him at a corner▪ and only with streaking of their hands on his hose, gesse whether this bayle be worth the nibling at, nay perhaps at the first encounter, gaue it the draught, but this happens not alwaies the generall. Then thus.

When they haue once agréed, which is the Coue they will • asten on, if it be in a throng or gasing after any obiect to delight you, the stall he gets before you, and there he rings himselfe too & fro, while the foyst dooing as much behind, they both disquiet you, & the one picke your pocket. If they follow you in the stréet, and once know where the bung and the bit is, as much as to say, your purse and the money, out goes your stall before likewise, when comming at a corner, by which you must passe, being direct before you, stoopes of the sudden, as if to take vp somwhat, when the other as néere behinde you, as if hee were to passe by in hast, Ius • es you vppon to ther, and withall drawes your purse: Thus rather then fayle, will he follow you, and offer vpon you twice or thrice, if he misse at the first of his purpos • al this while, now you shall sée like a scout, he come after a loofe, watching, If any stranger were suspitious of you in the iusle, or the man himselfe, which if he finds and you before haue sped then comes he apace after you, and ere the man in that space, has time to miss • his purse, and come after you, he glides by the foyst, with these words, kinchen the coue toures, which is as much as, Fellow the man smokes or suspects you, when the foyst slips the purse either to him or the stall, & feares not to be searcht, nay vpon the challenge will so out-face the party: and stand vpon his credyt, beeing sure there is nothing to be found about him, and the rest gone: that the honest man is rather ready to aske him mercy then accuse him: and now I will tell you a prety tale of a foyst, whose unpudent euent happened at Charing Crosse, not long since.

Their liued a foyst in this Towne, whose gettings by the trade was so good, that he kept his punck, though he called her his wife: in none worse ware, then Taffeties and Ueluet of the best, and himselfe more like a rich knight, then a kua • ish Cutpurse: and indéed the comlinesse of his feature and faire behauiour, was so answerable to the brauery of his apparels, that it procurde him accesse into the worthiest places, nay oftentimes made him estéemed as a companion with the best, this fellow seing a good lusty Seruingman, & one hopefull to haue some purchase in his pocket would serue his turne, if he could get it, stept to him, and as he wisht gaue him a little Iustle: and withall, twicht 3 • out of his pocket, the seruingman, who but new before had • ought a peny worth of pares, and • pon this thrust, • lapping his r • and to his side and • ist his purse, stept after the loy • , and rouded him, what do you here gentleman? (for by his apparell he apear • d no lesse) though I put vp your iustle, I wold bee loath • o haue you put vp my purse, there is thrée pound in it, come let me hat it againe and no more words out, the pickpurse vpon this challenge began to reuile the honest fellow, calling him rogue, • laue, knaue, and I know not what, to charge a Gentleman, of my fashion with thy purse, as they were at these words, being spoke against a great faire House, where some great personage dwelt, comes me a Coatch whirring on the suddaine, and there made a stand, to discharge his burthen at that lodging, when as the Lady dismounted, the foyst béeing exceeding gallant, tooke occasion by the hand, stept to her, caught her by the arme, and lead her in, leauing the f • llow in a muse, whether he were awake, and might assertaine himselfe, he had lost his money or no.

The foyst by this time had brought in the Lady, where after some curtes • e discharged, stept to her, kist her and departed, leauing the gentlewoman in as strange wonder who it should bée had done her that present seruice, and blaming her memory y• she should forget in what place was begun their acquaintance. (when indéede her eies and his did neuer parle together before) yet gessing by his habite, he could be a man worthy of no lesse then that kindnesse, a kisse which she had receiued, she past it ouer.

By this time the foyst was come back to the seruingman, & roūdly began to tell him, that now he had brought in his honourable Aunt, he should know he had done him wrong, to charge him with his purse, he would fight with him, y• • ellow séeing him selfe thus outfaste out of himselfe, and holding it his best to proceede no further, replyed, It he had done him wrong, • r he was sory fort, but howsoeuer hee was sure thrée pound he had when 〈◊〉 ius • ed him, and hee was as sure twas hee ius • ed him, and withall answered the foyst, I am as sure thou presumptuously didst challenge me for it, and I am sure I will fight with thee.

The fellow halfe angred for the losse of his money, entertaind this offer: and into Tuttle fields they went where they had not changed past halfe a dussen thrusts, but the foyst had hurt him in the arme, and so they gaue ouer, but ere they parted, the foist puts his hand into his pocket, told out twenty shillings of his money, and speaking to the fellow, sayd that hee should see hee would proue himselfe a Gentleman, since he had but him, there was so much for him, & so sent him to the Chirurgio • s, the seruingman praysing his resolution and minde of a Gentleman, they so parted, the seruingman with thanks, and the foyst with this Impudent bost.

But now to the manner of the foysting of a pocket, the sharing of the money, and how honest men may auoide them. First know your pocket is drawne vp, that he may the easier come by your purse with two fingers, onely the fore-finger and the middle, and with that forke, he cetches hold not of the lining, nor on the side next your skin, but the other: for if hee should faste • on that ne • t your thigh, he were in danger you would feele him sooner then on the other. When hauing drawne your pocket vp, till he can reach your purse, it is then gon with the least twitch nay by this meanes of drawing, If your money be loose, they will turne you the case cleane out, and the bit, into their hands, now for the sharing of this bit, as they call it, your Stall is equall part with your foyst, if the foyst his none, which is shift some aside, ere they come to sharing, but your snap has his wages at their discretion.

For the manner to auoide them, though their cunning bee great, it is very easie, which is, if euer you take any, to hang them, and let not this composition preuaile with you, for that meane of compounding with the aduersarie, hath béene like an vsher to • enstole in this mysterie of cutting of purses, embol • ned many schollers, and increast their number, and also to bee gog • uernd by these instructions,

If béeing in a Crowd you perceiue a busy knaue, or cunnin • whore, (for wee haue shee foysts as well as hée) labouring and thrusting about you, how gallant so euer they bée in apparrell) and the male haue alwaies one side of his cloke cast ouer his shoulder, for thats the perfect badge to know a pick-pocket in a throng by, séeme either not at all to regarde him, till you take him in the trap, or else looke once or twise eagerly vpon him, then l •• ke away, and then léere at him, kéeping your hands downe on the • ide of your pockets, when presently he will perceiue himselfe to be smoked, or at least, in his guilty conscience suspect himselfe, and so shew from you, from whence you may take note of him for one o • the trade, and for that time are rid of a knaues company.

If going through the stréete, or standing at some Corner, your purse be attempted with a iustell, vpon the touch, haue this in remembrance straight to search, if you misse nothing, when, if you finde your purse wanting, spare not to apprehend him that iu • led you, and him that stood next before you, when though they will appeare to you to haue no acquaintance, you shall finde them a kinne in conuersation, when they come to Newgate.

Now if he haue mist his hold, and the snap that stood C • ntinell or comes after, perceiues you vppon the shoue together, to your pocket to féele for your money, then hastens he after you with his old lesson, kinchen the coue towres you, which is so • ufficient a warning he will not angle with you after.

Among the profession of theeuing, this kinde is held the ba • est, as your lawyer, whole course is so sufficiently knowne I shall neede to speake of, is held the worthiest, yet among them selues they reckon if the best, bosting thus of it, wee are not troubles in our venter, with luggage, as your millure quasi Breakehouse, and others are, which is dangerous to put away: But wee as soone as wee haue done our worke, we haue our money. 〈…〉

Thus hoping that this instruction will in Citie and country, fayers, and méetings, to kéepe honest mens money in their purses, and pickpockets, poore Cock VVatt will onely discouer a word or two of the mill, quasi breakhouse, and so go to bed, you Mill or breakhouse, to whome your broker is your onely vpholder, and merchant to transport his commodities, whereas all other théeues worke in the day, hee onely sleepes in the day and toyles in the night, there is of these as of Foysts and Lifts, both men and weomen, whose Instruments are either little Iron hookes, which are called picklocks, and they that vse thē termed Iunglers or a strong Iron barre made sharpe at one end, and they which trade with that, are called Mils, withall a boy to créepe in at a crushard or small hole, which they make or finde.

The time that they go forth, is about one or two a Clock in the morning, at which houre commonly the watches are discharged. They lightly set forth foure in number, of which the Boy is one, when if they haue in the day taken note of any casement, without a speere going vp in the middle, if there be either signe-post, or pent-house about, thither doe they vpp • n their hands and shoulders lift vp the Boy, who beeing brought vp for the purpose, presently créepes in, then two of them beneath go to stand Centinell at each end of the stréete, and the third waites to receiue whatsoeuer the Boy shall throw out.

If they breake a sellor or a shop window, they doe the like, but it alwaies followes not, that these burglaries haue a Boy: for somtimes they are all men, but then are they associated with an excelling iugler, a fellow that will pick you open a lock, as soone as a man will blow his nose, he has the power of Gun-pouder, he will blow them open, but not with halfe so much noyse. This fellow opens the dore, if not bolted on the inside, & makes easie entrance, who where euer they finde to the fullest burthen, they take away, the distribution whereof, this is some parte to the punck, and the rest to the Broker.

Now if this robbery shall extend to forty, fifty, or a hundred pound, If none of it be money, but apparrell or commodities she is so Imbusied away in the suddaine, so altered, so transported from one to another, that if the looser take not his theeues, within two or thrée daies, he shall find his goods bought & sold, metamorphosd into so manie seuerall shapes, and sold for so litle at the first, this little but their liues will bee his recompence, A plague of these Brokers, priuat buyers, priuie receiuers, saies Cock Watt, they haue giuen me c • use in time past to curse them my selfe, & my hart will not let me be sory for them. They make me theirs in England, then your owers, and Schullers dus land men vpon the Thames, Your Iuglers exercise besides, this is picking open the locks as partakers and chesse them, but those that kéepe Innes, & haue their riches in one ro • me haue a cut of them▪ for your other sort of mils I haue set downe the Characterie o • t, aduise all men whose shops & houses are not together, to let a seruant lie there: for they stand dangerous, such as haue low windowes, as though a story high without a spare, in the midst to all them, & if there be a paint-house vnder any window, to leaue nothing they respect there ouer-night, least they say they had it in the morning. And thus wishing the happinesse of honest men, and the end of théeues. Cock Watt bid • you. God • ight.