_Wherein he relates what manner of People they were in whose
Society he entered himself, division of their Tribes,
Manners, Customes, and Language._
As soon as I had resolv’d to travel the Country with them, they fitted
me for their company by stripping me, and selling my proper garments,
and cloathing me in rags, which they pinn’d about me, giving a stitch
here and there, according as necessity required. We used not when we
entered our _Libkin_ or Lodging to pull off our clothes; which had I
been forced to do, I could never have put them on again, nor any, but
such who were accustomed to produce _Order_ out of a _Babel of Rags_.
Being now _ale mode Taterdemallion_, to compleat me for their purpose,
with green Walnuts they so discoloured my face, that every one that saw
me, would have sworn I was the true Son of an _Egyptian_. Before we
marched on, let me give you an account of our Leaders, and the rancks we
were disposed in. Our chief Commander was called by the name of
_Ruffeler_, the next to him _Upright-man_, the rest in order thus:
_Hookers_, (alias) _Anglero_.
_Priggers of Prancers._
_Pallyards._
_Fraters._
_Prigges._
_Swaddlers._
_Curtals._
_Irish toyle._
_Swigmen._
_Jarkemen._
_Patri-Coes._
_Kitchin-Coes._
_Abram men._
_Whip-Jacks._
_Counterfeit-Cranks._
_Dommerars._
_Glymmerers._
_Bawdy-Baskets._
_Autem-Morts._
_Doxies._
_Dells._
_Kitchin-Morts._
We Muster’d above threescore old and young, and because we were too
great a company to March together, we were divided into three Squadrons.
The first Squadron that led the Van, was ordered by our Commander, to
stick up small boughs all the way they went, that we might know what
course they steer’d. For like Wild Fowl we fly one after another, and
though we are scattered like the _quarters_ of a _Traitor_, yet like
water when cut with a Sword, we easily came together again. As the
_Switzer_ hath his Wench and his Cock with him when he goes to Wars: or
like a _Scotch Army_, where every Soldier almost hath the _Geud Wife_ &
the _Bearns_ following him: So we had every one his _Doxie_ or Wench,
who carried at her back a _Lullaby-cheat_, & it may be another in her
Arms. When they are weary of carrying them, they take their turnes to
put them in a pair of Panniers, like green Geese going to Market, or
like Fish in Dossers coming from _Rye_. Where note, that each division
hath a small Horse or two, or else Asses to ease them of their burdens.
Some of us were clad Antickly with Bells and other toys, meerly to
allure the Country people unto us, which most commonly produced their
desired effects. In some places they would flock unto us, in great
quantities, and then was our time to make our Markets. We pretended an
acquaintance with the Stars (as having an alliance to the _Egyptian
Magi_, the founders of Astrologick Art) and that the Ministers of Fate
were our Familiars, and so possessing these poor ignorant people with a
belief, that we could tell their fortunes by inspection into either
hands or faces; whil’st we were seriously looking thereon, one of our
_diving Comrades_ pickt their pockets, or with a short sharp knife, and
a horn on the thumb _nipt_ their _bungs_. By asking the silly milk Maids
questions, we gathered from their own mouths the properest resolutions,
then they would admire, and in their admiration tremble to hear the
Truth proceed from the mouth of such as were strangers to their actions,
by which means, among some we gained a great respect, accompanied with
fear. Did not Astrologers make use of such stratagems, they could never
acquire so much repute among the judicious, as well as vulgar
capacities. And because it falls in so pat to my present purpose, I
shall beg so much patience from the Reader, as to give him a brief
account of some fallacies, some _Star-gazing Impostors_ use to work
their own ends, and delude credulous people. One whereof I knew, who
raised his credit (and since a considerable estate) upon the Basis of
good intelligence. He kept a servant, who constantly attended below for
the reception of such who came for satisfaction in the Astrological
Resolution of questions. This mans Office was to tell the Querent, _That
his Master was busie above, about some grand concern, but if the Person
would be pleased to wait a little while, till that business was
dispatched he questioned not but that his Master would render him a
satisfactory account of what he demanded_, adding farther (to infuse
into him faith, to credit what he said) _that though report had spoken
largely_, (and yet nothing but what this Artist hath merited) _yet all
came far short of his real desert, having done such stupendious things,
that must needs (without injustice) be commemorized to Eternity, and
admired by future ages_. In the mean time, this servant endeavoured to
pump out of the Proponent what he came about, which being understood, he
gave information to his Master, by so many times ringing of a Bell. This
Item being given, the Querent is called up, and before ever he can frame
his mouth to propound his question, this profound Artist prevents him,
saying, _I know what you come about Sir, (therefore save your self the
labour to tell me that which I know already) you have lost a Watch, a
Horse; or you would know how you shall prosper in such a business,
whither Marriage or an Imployment; or any such like common question_.
This makes the Artist to be wondered at; and then erecting a Scheme,
positively and surlily tells him what he must expect, and that he may
give answers more exactly concerning stolen goods, he was in constant
fee with _Thief-takers_, who from time to time, made him a report of
what persons were robbed, what the things were, and many times gave him
a description of the Fellon. By these practises men believed every word
he delivered to be an Oracle; so that his Chamber was daily so thronged
with the report of people, that in a short time his ambition pricked him
on to purchases, with the money he had gained thus fallaciously. One
story, very remarkable, I shall add, and then crave your pardon for this
my digression. One day a young Gentleman (but of a mean estate) came to
him, who was more credulous than wise, and more inquisitive then
prudent; and having not that wealth which his _prodigality_ required,
desired instructions what course he was best to steer to arrive at the
Port of his wishes and hopes: viewing him narrowly, he perceived him to
be a man of a sweet complexion, and a body well proportioned; and
therefore judged him a fit subject for Female fancies to work upon.
_Sir_, (said he) _I shall give you my best advice, but I shall crave
your patience for a little while; for a matter of this weight must not
precipitately be undertaken: wherefore if you please to see me to
morrow, what lies in me shall be at your service._ Being just gone it
happened that a _Stale Maid_, who had more money than beauty, & less
discretion than lechery, came to be resolv’d of him, _When she should be
married_: (for it seems by the sequel she could tarry no longer:)
viewing her well, (though she knew not him) he knew her to be wealthy,
and nearly related to persons of quality. _Madam_, (said he) _I shall
endeavour your satisfaction_; and so withdrew into his closet. Having
staid a while bringing out his Figure, and with much gravity looking
thereupon, he thus unridled the mysterious meaning of the Celestial
Bodies. _Madam, You never was much troubled with the importunate suits
of amorous Visitants_, (this he gathered from the deformity of her
Physiognomy) _they all knowing your indifferency to change your
condition, but upon considerable grounds; by which means you have almost
frustrated what the Stars have designed for you. I hope it is but
almost_, (said she) _not altogether_: for it troubled her very much to
hear she should leave the world without tasting the sweets of a married
life. _No_, (he replied) _for if to-morrow by four of the clock in the
Afternoon, you go into _Moor-fields_, & take a turn or two in the
_Userers-walk_, you shall there meet with a person rich & handsome, that
at first sight shall fall extreamly in love with you; slight him not,
neither deny him his conjugal proposal; if you do, it will be too late
to hope for an husband. You shall distinguish him from others by these
signs: His Complexion is fair, his Eye sharp and piercing, his Hair
flaxen, of a middle Stature._ Her joy had like to have transported her
beyond the bounds of modesty, which she could not conceal, but made it
appear in a pecuniary expression of her gratitude for such welcome
tidings; and so promising him to follow his counsel, she took her leave.
The next morning the young Gallant came, who had his lesson given him:
but before he went, he made him give a Bond of 200_l._ to be paid upon
the day of his marriage with that Gentlewoman; which he gladly consented
to, and paid that very sum within ten days after, for according to the
directions was given him, he met with that Gentlewoman describ’d to him,
as he had been before to her, who at the first sight of each other, was
incapable of containing themselves, but mutually embrac’d (after three
or four words past) as if he had been her (_quondam_) Dearly Beloved,
returned from some long Voyage, and went not to their respective
lodgings till their Marriage was consummated. But to return where I left
off.
Thus we rambled up and down the Countrey; and where the people demean’d
themselves not civil to us by voluntary contributions, their Geese,
Hens, Pigs, or any such mandible thing we met with, made us satisfaction
for their hide-bound injuries. Our revenge most commonly was very
bloody, and so merciless, that whatever fell into our hands, never
escaped alive, and in our murders so cruel, that nothing would satisfie
us but the very hearts-blood, of what we killed. The usual sacrifices of
our implacable revenge, were innocent Lambs, Sheep, Calves, _&c._ all
which we handled more severely than Prisoners are by Serjeants, when
they are not paid their unjust Demands; Fees, I should have said, but
that by experience I have found, they walk not according to the Rules of
ancient Constitutions, but are guided by the dictates of their insatiate
wills, which is their Law, which poor Prisoners must indulge, (though
they rack their slender credits, or pawn their Clothes) or else they
must expect less kindness from them, then a Condemned person about to be
tyed up by the Hang-man, who will stay till he is ready to be turned
off. A Goose coming among us, we have a trick to make him so wise, as
never to be a Goose again: But let the wisest use what tricks they can,
they never shall make some Serjeants honest men. We seize the prey, and
leave the Tragical part to our _Morts_ or women to act: the _Stage_ on
which they perform their parts, is either some large _Heath_, or
_Firze-bush-Common_, far from any House. This being done, and night
approaching, we repair to our Dormitories, or Houses of rest, which are
most usually Out-barns of Farmers and Husbandmen, which we make choice
of in some poor stragling Village, who dare not deny us, for fear ere
the morning they find their Thatcht Houses too hot to hold them. These
Barns serve us instead of Cook Rooms, Supping Parlours, and
Bed-Chambers: having Supt, (most commonly in a plentiful manner) we
cannot _Couch a Hogshead_, that is to say, sleep, without good store of
_Rum-booz_, that is, drink; and having sufficiently warm’d our brains
with humming Liquor, which our _Lower_ (Silver) shall procure; if our
deceitful _Maunding_ (Begging) cannot, we then sing a catch or two in
our own Language, of which we had good store; which for their bawdry I
omit: however, give me leave to instance one Canting Song, and I shall
wave the rest, being loath to tire you too much with one thing.
_Bing out bien Morts, and toure, and toure,
Bing out bien Morts, and toure;
For all your Duds are bing’d awast
The bien Cove hath the loure.
I met a Dell, I view’d her well,
She was benship to my watch;
So she and I did stall, and cloy,
Whatever we could catch.
This Doxie Dell can cut bien whids,
And wap fell for a win;
And prig and cloy so benshiply,
All the Deusea-vile within.
The boyle was up, we had good luck,
In frost for and in Snow:
When they did seek, then did we creep,
And plant in Ruffe-mans low.
To strawling Ken the Mort bings then,
To fetch loure for her cheats;
Duds & Ruffe-peck, Rombold by Harman beck,
And won by Maunders feats.
Ye Maunders all, stow what you stall,
To Rome Coves what so quire,
And wapping Dell, that niggles well,
And takes loure for her hire.
And Jybe well jerckt, teck rome confect,
For back by glymmar to Maund;
To mill each ken, let Cove bing then,
Through Ruff-mans, jague, or Laund,
Till Crampings quire tip Cove his hire;
And Quire Ken do them catch,
A Canniken, mill quire Cuffin,
So quire to ben Coves watch.
Bien Darkmans then, Bouse Mort and Ken,
The bien Coves bings awast,
On Chates to trine by Rome Coves dine,
For his long lib at last.
Bing’d out bien Morts and toure, and toure,
Bing out of the Rome vile bine,
And toure the Cove that cloyd your duds,
Vpon the Chates to trine._
Having even wearied ourselves with drinking and singing, we tumbled
promiscuously together, Male and Female in Straw, not confining our
selves to one constant Consort, we made use of the first that came to
hand; by which means incests and Adulteries became our pastimes. By this
means I grew weary of their practices, and therefore resolved to desert
them as soon as the first opportunity should offer it self, which was in
a short time; wherefore at the present I shall say no more of them, only
give me leave to give some small account of their Language. The first
Inventor of Canting, as I am informed, was Hanged about four score years
since: such _Gibberish_ was never heard of before; since which time,
there hath not been wanting such, who have taken pains in the
pollishing, refining, and augmenting that Language of the _Devils Imps_.
It is a confused invention of words; for its Dialect I cannot find to be
grounded on any certain Rules; and no wonder since the Founders and
Practicers thereof, are the chief Fathers and Nourishers of Disorder.
Yet even out of that Irregularity a man may observe some kind of form,
and some words do retain something of Scholarship, as _Togeman_, a Gown,
from _Toga_; _Pannam_, from _Panis_ Bread; _Cosan_, _Caseus_, Cheese.
The monosyllable _Cheat_; we use as a Relative, as _Nab_, a Head;
_Nab-cheat_, a Hat, _&c._ _Cove_ or _Cuffin_ is in general terms a Man;
but by adding _bien_, which signifies good or well, or _Quire_, which is
wicked or Knavish; you make the word _Cove_ signifie an _Honest man_, or
a _Justice of Peace_. Pardon the expression, for they call a Justice
_Quier Cuffin_; that is to say, as before mentioned, a wicked, knavish,
or foolish man. To conclude, I shall here insert this little Canting
Vocabulary Alphabetically,
_Avtem Mort_ │ A married Woman
_Abram_ │ Naked
_Abram Cove_ │ A Tatter demallion
_Autem_ │ A Church
_Bughar_ │ A Cur
_Bouse_ │ Drink
_Bousing Ken_ │ An Ale-house
_Borde_ │ A Shilling
_Boung_ │ A Purse
_Bien_ │ Good or well
_Benshiply_ │ Very well
_Benar_ │ Better
_Bing_ │ To go
_Bing a waste_ │ To go away
_Bube_ │ The Pox
_Bufe_ │ A Dog
_Bleating cheat_ │ A Sheep
_Belly cheat_ │ An Apron
_Betty_ │ An Instrument to break a door
_Bite the Peter or Roger_ │ Steal the Portmantle or Cloak-bag.
_Budge_ │ One that steals Cloaks
_Bulk and File_ │ The Pick-pocket and his mate
_Cokir_ │ A Lyar
_Cove_ ⎫│
⎬│ A Man
_Cuffin_ ⎭│
_Cuffin-Quire_ │ A Justice of Peace
_Cramprings_ │ Bolt or Shackles
_Chats_ │ The Gallows
_Canke_ │ Dumb
_Crackmans_ │ Hedges
_Calle_ ⎫│
_Togeman_ ⎬│ A Cloak
_Joseph_ ⎭│
_Couch_ │ To lye or sleep
_Couch a Hogshead_ │ To go to sleep
_Commission_ ⎫│
⎬│ A Shirt
_Mish_ ⎭│
_Cackling cheat_ │ A Chicken
_Cassan_ │ Cheese
_Crash_ │ To kill
_Crashing cheats_ │ Teeth
_Cloy_ │ To steal
_Cut_ │ To speak
_Cut bien whids_ │ To speak well
_Cut quire whids_ │ To speak evilly
_Confeck_ │ Counterfeit
_Cannakin_ │ The Plague
_Cly the Jerk_ │ To be whipt
_Clapperdogeon_ │ A Beggar born
_Culle_ │ A Sap-headed Fellow
_Dimber_ │ Pretty
_Damber_ │ Rascal
_Drawers_ │ Stockings
_Duds_ │ Goods
_Deusea-vile_ │ The Country
_Dommerar_ │ A Mad-man
_Darkmans_ │ Night or evening
_Doxie_ ⎫│
⎬│ A Wench
_Dell_ ⎭│
_Dock_ ⎫│
⎬│ To ——
_Wap_ ⎭│
_Deuswins_ │ Two pence
_Dup_ │ To enter.
_Earnest_ │ A part
_As tip me my Earnest_ │ Give me my part or share
_Frummagem_ │ Choakt
_Filch_ │ A Staff
_Ferme_ │ A Hole
_Fambles_ │ Hands
_Famble chears_ │ Rings or Gloves
_Fib_ │ To beat
_Flag_ │ A Groat
_Fogus_ │ Tobacco or Smoke
_Fencing Cully_ │ One that receives stollen goods
_Glymmer_ │ Fire
_Glaziers_ │ Eyes
_Grannam_ │ Corn
_Gentry-Mort_ │ A Gallant Wench
_Gan_ │ A Lip
_Gage_ │ A Pot or Pipe
_Grunting cheat_ │ A Sucking Pig
_Giger_ │ A Door
_Gybe_ │ Any Writing or Pass
_Glazyer_ │ One that goes in at the windows
_Gilt_ │ A Pick-lock
_Harmanbeck_ │ A Constable
_Harmans_ │ The Stocks
_Heave a Booth_ │ To rob an House
_Half bord_ │ Six pence
_Hearts ease_ │ A twenty shillings piece
_Jocky_ │ A Flayl, or mans Privities
_Jague_ │ A Ditch
_Jarke_ │ A Seal
_Ken_ │ An House
_Kinchin_ │ Little
_Knapper of Knappers_ │ A Sheep-stealer
_Kinchin Cove_ │ A little man
_Kate_ │ A Pick-lock
_Loure_ │ Money
_Lightmans_ │ Morning or Day
_Lib_ │ To tumble
_Libben_ │ An house to lie in
_Lage_ │ Water
_Libedge_ │ A Bed
_Lullabie-cheat_ │ A Childe
_Lap_ │ Pottage
_Lurries_ │ All manner of Cloaths
_Maunder_ │ To Beg
_Maunders_ │ Beggers
_Margery Prater_ │ An Hen
_Mill_ │ To steal
_Make_ │ An half-penny
_Mynt_ │ Gold
_Muffling cheat_ │ A Napkin
_Mumpers_ │ Gentile Beggars
_Milken_ │ One that Breaks houses
_Munns_ │ The Face
_Nab_ │ An head
_Nab-cheat_ │ An Hat
│⎧ To take
_Nab_ │⎨
│⎩ Or cheat
_Palliard_ │ One whose Father is a Beggar born
_Paplar_ │ Milk-Pottage
_Prats_ │ Thighs
_Prigg_ │ To Ride
_Peckidge_ │ Meat
_Pannam_ │ Bread
_Plant_ │ To lay or hide
_Prigging_ │ Riding
_Prancer_ │ An Horse
_Prating cheat_ │ A Tongue
_Peake_ │ Any Lace
_Pike on the Leen_ │ Run as fast as you can
_Perry_ │ Fearful
_Peter_ │ A Portmantua
_Prigger of Prancers_ │ An Horse-stealer
_Pad_ │ The Highway-man
_Plant your whids_ │ Have a care what you say
_Quarron_ │ A Body
_Quacking cheat_ │ A Duck
_Quier_ │ Wicked or Roguish
_Quier-Ken_ │ A Prison
_Quier-Mort_ │ A Pocky Jade
_Quier-Cove_ │ A Rogue
_Romboyle_ │ A Ward or watch
_Rome_ │ Gallant
_Rome-vile_ │ London
_Rome-Mort_ │ A Gallant Girl
_Ruffin_ │ The Devil
_Roger_ │ A Cloak-bagg
_Ridge-cully_ │ A Goldsmith
_Ruffler_ │ An over-grown Rogue
_Ruffe peck_ │ Bacon
_Rod-shanke_ │ A Mallard
_Rom-pad_ │ The High-way
_Rome-padders_ │ High-way-men
_Rome-Culle_ │ A Rich Coxcomb
_Swagg_ │ A Shop
_Sundge_ │ One that lies under the bed
│ to rob the house
_Shop-lift_ │ One that steals out of shops
_Stampers_ │ The shooes
_Stock-drawers_ │ Stockings
_Stamps_ │ Legs
_Scoure_ │ To wear
_Skew_ │ A Dish
_Slate_ │ A Sheet
_Strommel_ │ Straw or Hair
_Skepper_ │ A Barn
_Stow your whids_ │ Be wary
│⎧ A Brokers House, or an
_Stalling-Ken_ │⎨ House to receive stollen
│⎩ goods
_Smelling cheat_ │ A Garden
_Solomon_ │ The Mass
_Tour_ │ To look out
_Tout his muns_ │ Look in his face
_Track up the Dancers_ │ Go up the Stayres
_The Cul Snylches_ │ The Man eyes you
_Tip the Cole to Adam Tyler_ │ Give what money you pocket-pickt to
│ the next party, presently
_Tip the Mish_ │ Give the Shirt
_Tib o’ th’ Buttery_ │ A Goose
_Tip_ │ To give
_The Mort tipt me a wink_ │ The Whore gave me a wink
_Trine_ │ Tyburn
_Trining_ │ Hanging
_Tick-Rome_ │ A License
_Tres wins_ │ Three pence
_Win_ │ A Penny
_Wicher Cully_ │ A Silver-smith
_Yarum_ │ Milk
This much for a taste: I think it not worth my pains to insert all those
Canting words which are used; it is enough that I have here divulged
what words are most in use. Having now deserted this _Tawny_ Crew; I
resolved to betake my self to a new Trade; which you shall understand in
this following Discourse.