Oxford.
_Fraternitye of Vagabondes._--It does not appear very clearly from the
wording of the query at p. 184. of your 12th number, whether the object
of your correspondent, "A. GRIFFINHOOF, JUN.," be to ascertain the fact
of the reprint in question having been published by Stace, or (having
ascertained that fact) to procure further information as to the
publisher. I cannot find any allusion to the work in the _Censura
Literuria_, (2nd ed. 1815), another instance of the absolute necessity
for exact references, the want of which you would do well in making a
ground of exclusion from your columns. However, on the chance of being
useful I send you an exact copy of the rubricated title-page of the
reprint, which is as follows:
"The Fraternitye of Vacabondes; As wel of ruflyng Vacabondes, as
of beggerley, of Women as of Men, of Gyrles as of Boyes, With
Their proper Names and Qualities. With a Description of the
Crafty Company of Cousoners and Shifters. Whereunto also is
adioined The XXV orders of Knaues, Otherwyse called A Quartern
of Knaues. Confirmed for euer by Cocke Lorell.--¶ The Vprightman
speaketh.
¶ Our Brotherhood of Vacabondes,
If you would know where dwell:
In grauesend Barge which syldome standes,
The talke wyll shew ryght well.
¶ Cocke Lorell answereth.
¶ Some orders of my knaues also
In that Barge shall ye fynde:
for no where shall ye walke I trow,
But ye shall see their knynde.
¶ Imprinted at London by John Awdely, dwellyng in little
Britayne Streete without Aldersgate. 1575.
Westminster: Reprinted for Machell Stace, No. 12, Little
Queen-Street, and R. Triphook, St. James's Street. 1813."
Those who are curious about Mr. Stace may consult Boaden on the
_Shakespeare Portraits_, p. 141., Wivell on do., p. 189., and
_Chaleographimania_, p. 16. 32. 95.