The first sort is called a Gilter.
THis Gilter is one that hath all sorts of Picklocks and false Keys to open any Locks both of Dores, Chests, Trunks and the like. There are several sorts that do creep to these sort of Thieves, as the Budge, the Lister, and the private Thieves, as when they see any locking up of moneys and they cannot get at it, then they go to one of these Gilters, and tell him that they know where he can get a prize if he will be real to them, whereupon he will swear that he will be as honest as Easter Newmans wife, and so these Gilters are seldome out of imployment, but the best Informers are the private Thieves which shall be discovered in order.
The way to prevent these Gilters, is to be careful that you let not any see your Chest, Trunk, or Boxes where your Treasure is, opened, nor see you put any thing into them, for opertunity makes thieves, and in so doing you will prevent the private Thief, who gives notice to the Gilter where he may get the prize: the Gilter very seldome goes but where he hath some notice. Secondly be sure you keep your outward door well bolted, and then he is prevented entring into your house, for he goes only with Picklocks.
The manner of those that go upon the Mill, which are called House-Breakers.
The second sort of theives are those that go upon the Mill, which are house-breakers, they are the most dangerous of all sorts, they have an instrument made about half a yard long, and almost as long over, which they call a Betty, which being chopt under a door, with a little help, it will make it fly off [Page 4] the hinges. There seldome goes less then three or four in at gang of these, and very seldome but where they are informed by the private Thieves: when they enter, they carry in one hand a dark Glim, and in the other a Poller, which is a dark Lanthorn and a Pistol, so they truck up the dancers, which is run up stairs and bind all in the house, and some they gagg, which they call faget and storm, so having made all sure, they rifle the house for yellow-boyes and pieces of white, which is Gold and Silver, and if they find none, they take the best bulleroyes or Lurryes they can find and pike off with them.
To prevent those that go upon the Mill.
You must be sure to keep your door well bolted, but let your bolts be to bolte at the topp of your door, for if it be bolted at the top, it will break the force of the Betty, so that they cannot open the dore with all the strength they can. Secondly put a plate over your hinges and it will do much good for the preventing of them, some may think that this is needless, but let them try it, and they will find it the best way to prevent those that go upon the Mill.
The manner of those that are called Glasiers.
The third sort of Thieves which are called Glasiers, are the right quarrel-pickers, they are a sort of cowardly thieves, they take out a pane of glass, and so go in at the window, and take what stands next them, and give it to one that stayes without to give him a watchword if there be any discovery, but if there be none, he will not stay long, for he is very fearful of the least noise that is, so having got out, he makes all the hast away to his fencing cins, where he will brag of his bold attempt and how he had like to been taken, which some of his concerns will seem glad that he escaped, which pleases well the humour of this glasier.
The way to prevent these Glasiers or Window-creepers.
Is to have shutters to your windows, for he will not venter to break them for fear of making a noise, so that if ye have shutters there is no work for these sort of Glasiers.
The fourth and fift sort is a Budge and Snudge.
A Budge and Snudge commonly go together, a Budge is one that goes loytering up and down the street, till he can find somebodies door open, then he runs in boldly, and if he be seen by any body, he craves pardon for being so bold, and sayes that he is mistaken in the house, and asks for somebody that lives next door, or somebody that did live there before, but if there be no body in the house, then they are so bold to take what stands next them and gives it to his Snudge, who snudges away with it to his fencing cins who buyes it for a small matter, so they sit down and never stir till they have spent it, according to the old Proverb, easily come, easily go, so they please themselves with a Song that sutes very well with their idle life,which most of them do find in the end, that do follow this course of life, yet no warning will serve. which is
The sixt and seventh sort of Theives which is a File and a Bulk
A File is a Pickpocket, a Bulk is his came-Rogue, who goes alwaies with the File, for he can do nothing without the File, therefore he is subject to the File, and must do what the File would have have him, so that the poor Bulk is beaten many times, for the File doth cause the Bulk to quarrel and fight, but he is not one thats to part them, for while they are a fighting he is busy in picking their pockets that stands to see them fight, or go about to part them: so having got what he can away he goes and leaves the Bulk to come off as well as he can. He seldome goes to Church, if he do, it is not to pray, but to watch his time to pick their pockets, as commonly they make more hast out of Church, then to Church, which they find to their sorrow. To prevent the File, keep out of a croud, and when your josled by any in the street, be very careful of them that are on the other side of you and mind not them that josle you for the File will never josle you.
A Lifter.
Is one that goes from shop to shop, pretending to buy, but it is to steal, they will cheapen several sorts of Goods as you sell till they have opportunity to convey away some of them into their Coats, which are turn'd up a purpose for their design, so they will buy several, and leave a shilling earnest for them, but [Page 7] never intend to fetch them. They are most women that go upon this design, and commonly they go two together, and when the Shop-keeper turns his back, one of them conveys what she can get, and so goes away, so the other pretends there's nothing that pleases her, so that if the Shop-keeper misseth any thing she will say, do you not know the maid that stood by me, and he answers no, why sure she is your maid, I see her carry it with her, sure you do but jest, whereupon he will grow angry, and it may be have her before a Justice, who will discharge her, unless he will swear against this Lifter, who being honest will be very careful how he swears.
A Tongue-Padder.
Is one that hath a fine Tongue, a quick Wit, and can speak several Languages, he is one that seldom speaks truth but gives himself to Romancing, so that he will tell you feigned story presently according to his desire; as if you be a talking of going into the Countrey, he understands by your discourse presently where you are a going, so he desires you to do him the favor to carry a Letter for him if you can, which none will deny; so having got a promise, he desires to know what time you will go, and by one means or other he will know the very hour. You must know that this Tongue-Padder is one which is called a Setter, so that he Pads them in Town and his Confederates upon the Road, which for his information he receives his share as well as if he had been with them. I remember a true Story of one of these sorts of Tongue Padds that was lame, who went always when he had done any Feat to their Randevouze, and he would be so just that he would not bate a Penny of his share, which when they were taken they discovered this Tongue-Padd, and going to the place of Execution, one of them turn'd back, and seeing him follow, he burst out to laughter, which the Minister correcting, said how can you laugh when you are a going to dye, (who said) I cannot forbear laughing to see the old Tongue-Pad come hopping after us for his Snack, I warrant he will not bate a Penny of his due.
[Page 8]Therefore when you are to go let not any stranger know where you are a going nor what charge, least you be discharged of it.
A Private Thiefe
Is one that hath been in some Prison and scaped a Scouring, who fearing that if they be taken again, it will cost them their Lives▪ therefore they do declare the danger they go in, therefore they tell them that they will look out for a Service, so they agree, but withal to come once a Month and see them and tell them how it fares with them, so they lay out for a service; if it be a Maid servant they commonly go to those that help people to Services, and pretend that they are just come out of the Countrey and want a service, but they would fain be in some Merchants house or some Gentlemans house, for they do not care to be with every dirty Slut, and if so be they can help them, they will not be ungrateful, so by that means they get into great Mens houses, where they carry themselves so demurely that they quickly get into favor, who no sooner sees where the Money is, but they go to their Comerogues and discover where it is and how they may come by it without this Private Thiefes being mistrusted; So they come and bind and gagg all in the house, and likewise this Private Theif.
In the next Part you shall have a fuller Discription.