their Bowsing In, and in the meane season goeth abrode a begging.
[P] A WYLDE ROGE.
A wilde Roge is he that hath no abiding place but by his coulour of
going abrode to beg, is commonly to seeke some kinsman of his, and all
that be of hys corporation be properly called Roges.
[P] A KITCHEN CO.
A Kitchin Co is called an ydle runagate Boy.
[P] A KITCHEN MORTES.
A Kitchin Mortes is a Gyrle, she is brought at her full age to the
Vpryght man to be broken, and so she is called a Doxy, vntil she come to
ye honor of an Altham.
[P] DOXIES.
Note especially all which go abroade working laces and shirt stringes,
they name them Doxies.
[P] A PATRIARKE CO.
A Patriarke Co doth make mariages, & that is vntill *[leaf 3b.]* death
depart the maried folke, which is after this sort: When they come to a
dead Horse or any dead Catell, then they shake hands and so depart euery
one of them a seuerall way.
[P] THE COMPANY OF COUSONERS AND SHIFTERS.
[P] A CURTESY MAN.
A Curtesy man is one that walketh about the back lanes in London in the
day time, and sometime in the broade streetes in the night season, and
when he meeteth some handsome yong man clenly apareled, or some other
honest Citizen, he maketh humble salutatio_n_s and low curtesy, and
sheweth him that he hath a worde or two to speake with his mastership.
This child can behaue him selfe manerly, for he wyll desire him that he
talketh withall, to take the vpper hand, and shew him much reuerence,
and at last like his familier acquaintaunce will put on his cap, and
walke syde by syde, and talke on this fashion: Oh syr, you seeme to be a
man, and one that fauoureth men, and therefore I am the more bolder to
breake my mind vnto your good maistership. Thus it is syr, ther is a
certaine of vs (though I say it both taule and handsome men of theyr
hands) which haue come lately from the wars, and as God knoweth haue
nothing to take to, being both maisterles and moniles, & knowing no way
wherby to yerne one peny. And further, wher as we haue bene welthely
brought vp, and we also haue beene had in good estimatio_n_, we are a
shamed now to declare our misery, and to fall a crauing as common
Beggers, and as for to steale and robbe, (God is our record) it striketh
vs to *[leaf 4]* the hart, to thinke of such a mischiefe, that euer any
handsome man should fall into such a daunger for thys worldly trash.
Which if we had to suffise our want and necessity, we should neuer seeke
thus shamefastly to craue on such good pityfull men as you seeme to be,
neither yet so daungerously to hasarde our liues for so vyle a thing.
Therefore good syr, as you seeme to be a handsome man your selfe, and
also such a one as pitieth the miserable case of handsome men, as now
your eyes and countenaunce sheweth to haue some pity vppon this my
miserable complainte: So in Gods cause I require your maistershyp, & in
the behalfe of my poore afflicted fellowes, which though here in sight
they cry not with me to you, yet wheresouer they bee, I am sure they cry
vnto God to moue the heartes of some good men to shew forth their
liberality in this behalfe. All which & I with them craue now the same
request at your good masterships hand. With these or such like words he
frameth his talke. Now if the party (which he thus talketh withall)
profereth hym a peny or .ii.d. he taketh it, but verye scornfully, and
at last speaketh on this sorte: Well syr, your good will is not to be
refused. But yet you shall vnderstand (good syr) that this is nothing
for them, for whom I do thus shamefastly entreate. Alas syr, it is not a
groate or .xii.d. I speake for, being such a company of Seruiters as wee
haue bene: yet neuertheles God forbid I should not receiue your ge_n_tle
offer at this time, hoping hereafter through your good motions to some
such lyke good gentleman as you be, that I, or some of my fellowes in my
place, shall finde the more liberality. These kind of ydle Vacabondes
wyll go commonly well appareled, without *[leaf 4b.]* any weapon, and in
place where they meete together, as at their hosteryes or other places,
they wyll beare the port of ryght good gentlemen, & some are the more
trusted, but co_m_monly thei pay them w_i_t_h_ stealing a paire of
sheetes, or Couerlet, & so take their farewell earely in the morning,
before the mayster or dame be sturring.
[P] A CHEATOUR OR FINGERER.
These commonly be such kinde of idle Vacabondes as scarcely a man shall
discerne, they go so gorgeously, sometime with waiting men, and sometime
without. Their trade is to walke in such places, where as gentelmen &
other worshipfull Citizens do resorte, as at Poules, or at Christes
Hospital, & somtime at ye Royal exchaunge. These haue very many
acquaintaunces, yea, and for the most part will acquaint them selues
with euery man, and fayne a society, in one place or other. But chiefly
they wil seeke their acquaintaunce of such (which they haue learned by
diligent enquiring where they resort) as haue receyued some porcioun of
money of their friends, as yong Gentlemen which are sent to London to
study the lawes, or els some yong Marchant man or other kynde of
Occupier, whose friendes hath geuen them a stock of mony[41] to occupy
withall. When they haue thus found out such a pray, they will find the
meanes by theyr familiarity, as very curteously to bid him to breakefast
at one place or other, where they are best acquainted, and closely
amonge themselues wil appoint one of their Fraternity, which they call a
Fyngerer, an olde beaten childe, not onely in such deceites, but also
such a one as by his age is painted out with gray heares, wrinkled face,
crooked back, and most commonly lame, as it might seeme with age, *[leaf
5]* yea and such a one as to shew a simplicity, shal weare a homely
cloke and hat scarce worth .vi. d. This nimble fingred knight (being
appointed to this place) co_m_meth in as one not knowen of these
Cheatours, but as vnwares shal sit down at the end of the bord where
they syt, & call for his peny pot of wine, or a pinte of Ale, as the
place serueth. Thus sitting as it were alone, mumblyng on a crust, or
some such thing, these other yonckers wil finde some kind of mery talke
with him, some times questioning wher he dwelleth, & sometimes enquiring
what trade he vseth, which co_m_monly he telleth them he vseth
husbandry: & talking thus merely, at last they aske him, how sayest
thou, Father, wylt thou play for thy breakfast with one of vs, that we
may haue some pastime as we syt? Thys olde Karle makyng it straunge at
the first saith: My maysters, ich am an old man, and halfe blinde, and
can skyl of very few games, yet for that you seeme to be such good
Gentelmen, as to profer to play for that of which you had no part, but
onely I my selfe, and therefore of right ich am worthy to pay for it, I
shal with al my hart fulfyl your request. And so falleth to play,
somtime at Cardes & sometime at dice. Which through his cou_n_terfait
simplicity in the play somtimes ouer counteth himself, or playeth
somtimes against his wyl, so as he would not, & then counterfaiteth to
be angry, and falleth to swearing, & so leesing that, profereth to play
for a shillyng or two. The other therat hauing good sport, seming to
mocke him, falleth againe to play, and so by their legerdemane, &
cou_n_terfaiting, winneth ech of them a shilling or twain, & at last
whispereth the yong man in the eare to play with hym also, that ech one
might haue a fling at him. *[leaf 5b.]* This yong ma_n_ for company
falleth againe to play also with the sayd Fyngerer, and winneth as the
other did which when he had loste a noble or .vi. s. maketh as though he
had lost al his mony, and falleth a intreating for parte thereof againe
to bring him home, which the other knowing his mind and intent, stoutely
denieth and iesteth, & scoffeth at him. This Fingerer seeming then to be
in a rage, desireth the_m_ as they are true gentlemen, to tarry till he
fetcheth more store of money, or els to point some place where they may
meete. They seeming greedy hereof, promiseth faithfully and clappeth
handes so to meete. They thus ticklyng the young man in the eare,
willeth him to make as much money as he can, and they wil make as much
as they can, and co_n_sent as though they wil play booty against him.
But in the ende they so vse the matter, that both the young man leeseth
his part, and, as it seemeth to him, they leesing theirs also, and so
maketh as though they would fal together by the eares with this
fingerer, which by one wyle or other at last conueyeth him selfe away, &
they as it were raging lyke mad bedlams, one runneth one way, an other
an other way, leauing the loser indeede all alone. Thus these Cheatours
at their accustomed hosteries meete closely together, and there receiue
ech one his part of this their vile spoyle. Of this fraternity there be
that be called helpers, which commonly haunt tauernes or alehouses, and
co_m_meth in as men not acquainted with none in the companye, but spying
them at any game, wil byd them God spede and God be at their game, and
will so place him selfe that he will shew his fellow by sygnes and
tokens, without speech commonly, but sometime with far fetched *[leaf
6]* wordes, what cardes he hath in his hand, and how he may play against
him. And those betwene the_m_ both getteth money out of the others
purse.
[P] A RING FALLER.
A Ryng faller is he that getteth fayre copper rings, some made like
signets, & some after other fashio_n_s, very faire gylded, & walketh vp
and down the streetes, til he spieth some man of the country, or some
other simple body whom he thinketh he may deceaue, and so goeth a lyttle
before him or them, and letteth fall one of these ringes, which when the
party that commeth after spieth and taketh it vp, he hauing an eye
backward, crieth halfe part, the party that taketh it vp, thinking it to
be of great value, profereth him some money for his part, which he not
fully denieth, but willeth him to come into some alehouse or tauerne,
and there they will common vpon the matter. Which when they come in, and
are set in some solitary place (as commonly they call for such a place)
there he desireth the party that found the ring to shew it him. When he
seeth it, he falleth a entreating the party that found it, and desireth
him to take money for his part, and telleth him that if euer he may do
him any frendship hereafter he shal commaund him, for he maketh as
though he were very desirous to haue it. The symple man seeing him so
importune vpon it, thinketh the ring to bee of great valure, and so is
the more lother to part from it. At last this ring faller asketh him
what he will geue him for his part, for, saith he, seeing you wyl not
let me haue the ring, alowe me my part, and take you the ring. The other
asketh what he counteth the ring to be worth, he answereth, v. or vi.
pound. No, saith he, it is not so much worth. *[leaf 6b.]* Well (saith
this Ringfaller) let me haue it, and I wyll alow you .xl. s. for your
part. The other party standyng in a doubt, and looking on the ryng,
asketh if he wyll geue the money out of hand. The other answereth, he
hath not so much ready mony about him, but he wil go fetch so much for
him, if he wil go with him. The other that found the ring, thinking he
meaneth truly, beginneth to profer him .xx. s. for his part, sometymes
more, or les, which he verye scornfullye refuseth at the first, and styl
entreateth that he might haue the ring, which maketh the other more
fonder of it, and desireth him to take the money for his part, & so
profereth him money. This ring faller seing y^{e} mony, maketh it very
strau_n_ge, and first questioneth with him wher he dwelleth, and asketh
him what is his name, & telleth him that he semeth to be an honest man,
and therfore he wil do somwhat for friendships sake, hoping to haue as
friendly a pleasure at his hand hereafter, and so profereth hym for .x.
s. more he should haue the ryng. At last, with entreatye on both partes,
he geueth the Ring faller the money, and so departeth, thinkyng he hath
gotten a very great Iewell. These kynde of deceyuing Vacabondes haue
other practises with their rings, as somtimes to come to buy wares of
mens Prentesies, and somtimes of their Maisters, and when he hath agreed
of the price, he sayth he hath not so much money about him, but pulleth
of one of these rings of from his fyngers, and profereth to leaue it in
pawne, tyl his Maister or his friendes hath sene it, so promising to
bring the money, the seller thinking he meaneth truly, letteth him go,
and neuer seeth him after, tyll perhaps at Tyburne or at such lyke
place. Ther is another kinde of *[leaf 7]* these Ring choppers, which
co_m_monly cary about them a faire gold ring in deede, and these haue
other counterfait rings made so lyke this gold ring, as ye shal not
perceiue the contrary, tyl it be brought to y^{e} touchstone. This child
wyl come to borow mony of the right gold ring, the party mistrusting the
Ring not to be good, goeth to the Goldsmith with the partye that hath
the ryng, and tryeth it whether it be good golde, and also wayeth it to
know how much it is worth. The Goldsmith tryeth it to be good gold, and
also to haue hys ful weight like gold, and warenteth the party which
shall lend the money that the ring is worth so much money according to
the waight, this yoncker comming home with the party which shall lend
the money, and hauing the gold ring againe, putteth vp the gold ring,
and pulleth out a counterfaite ring very like the same, & so deliuereth
it to the party which lendeth the money, they thinking it to be the same
which they tryed, and so deliuereth the money or sometimes wares, and
thus vily be deceiued.
FOOTNOTES:
[40] _Orig._ Brothethood.
[41] _Orig._ mony.
[P] _THE_ .XXV. =Orders of Knaues=, _otherwise called_ =a quarterne of
Knaues=, _confirmed for euer by Cocke Lorell_.
1 TROLL AND TROLL BY.
TRoll and Trol by, is he that setteth naught by no man, nor no man by
him. This is he that would beare rule in a place, and hath none
authority nor thanke, & at last is thrust out of the doore like a knaue.
2 TROLL WITH.
Troll with is he _tha_t no man shall know the seruaunt from y^{e}
Maister. This knaue with his cap on his head *[leaf 7b.]* lyke Capon
hardy, wyll syt downe by his Maister, or els go cheeke by cheeke with
him in the streete.
3 TROLL HAZARD OF TRACE.
Troll hazard of trace is he that goeth behynde his Maister as far as he
may see hym. Such knaues commonly vse to buy Spice-cakes, Apples, or
other trifles, and doo eate them as they go in the streetes lyke
vacabond Boyes.
[Header: AWDELEY. THE .XXV. ORDERS OF KNAUES.]
4 TROLL HAZARD OF TRITRACE.
Troll hazard of tritrace, is he that goeth gaping after his Master,
looking to and fro tyl he haue lost him. This knaue goeth gasyng about
lyke a foole at euery toy, and then seeketh in euery house lyke a
Maisterles dog, and when his Maister nedeth him, he is to seeke.
5 CHAFE LITTER.
Chafe Litter is he that wyll plucke vp the Fether-bed or Matrice, and
pysse in the bedstraw, and wyl neuer ryse vncalled. This knaue berayeth
many tymes in the corners of his Maisters chamber, or other places
inconuenient, and maketh cleane hys shooes with the couerlet or
curtaines.
6 OBLOQUIUM.
Obloquium is hee that wyll take a tale out of his Maisters mouth and
tell it him selfe. He of right may be called a malapart knaue.
7 RINCE PYTCHER.
Rince Pytcher is he that will drinke out his thrift at the ale or wine,
and be oft times dronke. This is a licoryce knaue that will swill his
Maisters drink, and brybe his meate that is kept for him.
8 JEFFREY GODS FO.
Jeffery Gods Fo is he, that wil sweare & maintaine *[leaf 8]* othes.
This is such a lying knaue that none wil beleue him, for the more he
sweareth, y_e_ les he is to be beleued.
9 NICHOL HARTLES.
Nichol Hartles is he, that when he should do ought for his Maister hys
hart faileth him. This is a Trewand knaue that faineth himselfe sicke
when he should woorke.
10 SIMON SOONE AGON.
Simon soone agon is he, that when his Mayster hath any thing to do, he
wil hide him out of the way. This is a loytring knaue that wil hide him
in a corner and sleepe or els run away.
11 GRENE WINCHARD.
Greene Winchard is he, that when his hose is broken and hange out at his
shoes, he will put them into his shooes againe with a stick, but he wyll
not amend them. This is a slouthfull knaue, that had leauer go lyke a
begger then cleanly.
12 PROCTOUR.
Proctour is he, that will tary long, and bring a lye, when his Maister
sendeth him on his errand. This is a stibber gibber Knaue, that doth
fayne tales.
13 COMMITOUR OF TIDINGES.
Commitour of Tidings is he, that is ready to bring his Maister Nouels
and tidinges, whether they be true or false. This is a tale bearer
knaue, that wyll report words spoken in his Maisters presence.
14 GYLE HATHER.
Gyle Hather is he, that wyll stand by his Maister when he is at dinner,
and byd him beware that he eate no raw meate, because he would eate it
himselfe. This is a pickthanke knaue, that would make his Maister *[leaf
8b.]* beleue that the Cowe is woode.
15 BAWDE PHISICKE.
Bawde Phisicke, is he that is a Cocke, when his Maysters meate is euyll
dressed, and he challenging him therefore, he wyl say he wyll eate the
rawest morsel thereof him selfe. This is a sausye knaue, that wyl
contrary his Mayster alway.
16 MOUNCH PRESENT.
Mounch present is he that is a great gentleman, for when his Mayster
sendeth him with a present, he wil take a tast thereof by the waye. This
is a bold knaue, that sometyme will eate the best and leaue the worst
for his Mayster.
17 COLE PROPHET.
Cole Prophet is he, that when his Maister sendeth him on his errand, he
wyl tel his answer therof to his Maister or he depart from hym. This
tittiuell knaue commonly maketh the worst of the best betwene hys
Maister and his friende.
18 CORY FAUELL.
Cory fauell is he, that wyl lye in his bed, and cory the bed bordes in
which hee lyeth in steede of his horse. This slouthfull knaue wyll
buskill and scratch when he is called in the morning, for any hast.
19 DYNG THRIFT.
Dyng thrift is he, that wil make his Maisters horse eate pies and rybs
of beefe, and drinke ale and wyne. Such false knaues oft tymes, wil sell
their Maisters meate to their owne profit.
20 ESEN DROPPERS.
Esen Droppers bene they, that stand vnder mens wales or windowes, or in
any other place, to heare the *[leaf 9]* secretes of a mans house. These
misdeming knaues wyl stand in corners to heare if they be euill spoken
of, or waite a shrewd turne.
21 CHOPLOGYKE.
Choplogyke, is he that when his mayster rebuketh him of hys fault he
wyll geue hym .xx. wordes for one, els byd the deuils Pater noster in
silence. This proude prating knaue wyll maintaine his naughtines when he
is rebuked for them.
22 VNTHRIFTE.
Vnthrift, is he that wil not put his wearing clothes to washing, nor
black his owne shoes, nor amend his his (_sic_) own wearing clothes.
This rechles knaue wyl alway be lousy: and say that hee hath no more
shift of clothes, and slaunder his Maister.
23 VNGRACIOUS.
Vngracious, is he _tha_t by his own will, will heare no maner of
seruice, without he be compelled therunto by his rulers. This Knaue wil
sit at the alehouse drinking or playing at dice, or at other games at
seruice tyme.
24 NUNQUAM.
Nunquam, is he that when his Maister sendeth him on his errand he wil
not come againe of an hour or two where he might haue done it in halfe
an houre or lesse. This knaue will go about his owne errand or pastime
and saith he cannot speede at the first.
25 INGRATUS.
Ingratus, is he that when one doth all that he can for him, he will
scant geue him a good report for his labour. This knaue is so ingrate or
vnkind, _tha_t he considreth not his frend fro_m_ his fo, & wil requit
euil for good & being put most in trust, wil sonest deceiue his maister.
_FINIS._
* * * * *
*[leaf 9b.]* Imprinted at London by Iohn Awdely dwelling in
little Britaine streete without Aldersgate.
[Decoration]
[Original in Bodleian Library, 4^o. R. 21. Art. Seld.]
=A Caueat or Warening=, FOR COMMEN CVRSETORS VVLGARELY CALLED
=Vagabones, set forth by Thomas Harman, Esquiere, for the utilite
and proffyt of his naturall Cuntrey. Augmented and inlarged by the
fyrst author here of.=
_Anno Domini. M.D.LXVII._
[P] _Vewed, examined, and allowed, according vnto the Queenes Maiestyes
Iniunctions._
[Illustration]
[P] =Imprinted at London, in Fletestrete, at the signe of the Falcon,
by= _Wylliam Gryffith_, =and are to be sold at his shoppe in Saynt
Dunstones Churche yarde, in the West. Anno Domini. 1567.=
[The Bodley edition of 1567 omits 'or Warening' in line 1, and 'Anno
Domini. 1567.' at foot; and substitutes 'Newly Augmented and
Imprinted' for 'Augmented ... here of', line 6.]
[Header: HARMAN. THE EPISTLE.]
*[leaf 2]*
[P] To the ryght honorable and my singular good Lady, Elizabeth Countes
of Shrewsbury, Thomas Harman wisheth all ioye and perfite felicitie,
here and in the worlde to come.
AS of Auncient and longe tyme there hath bene, and is now at this
present, many good, godly, profitable lawes and actes made and setforthe
in this most noble and floryshynge realme, for the reliefe, succour,
comforte, and sustentacion of the poore, nedy, impotent, and myserable
creatures beinge and inhabiting in all parts of the same; So is there
(ryghte honorable and myne especyall good Lady) most holsom estatutes,
ordinances, and necessary lawes, made, setforth, and publisshed, for the
extreme punishement of all vagarantes and sturdy vacabons, as passeth
throughe and by all parts of this famous yle, most idelly and wyckedly:
and I wel, by good experience, vnderstandinge and consideringe your most
tender, pytyfull, gentle, and noble nature,--not onelye hauinge a
vygelant and mercifull eye to your poore, indygente, and feable
parishnores; yea, not onely in the parishe where your honour moste
happely doth dwell, but also in others inuyroninge or nighe adioyning to
the same; As also aboundantly powringe out dayely your ardent and
bountifull charytie vppon all such as commeth for reliefe vnto your
luckly gates,--