The old robbers, in the “good old times,” when purses were carried in
the hand or borne at the side, cut them away, and carried them off with
the contents, and hence they were called “cut-purses.” In the scarce
“History of Highwaymen,” by Smith, there is a story of a ludicrous
private robbery, from “the person” of a man, mistakenly committed by one
of these cut-purses. One of Shakspeare’s rogues, Autolycus, says, that
“to have an open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for a
cut-purse.” Of course, “pickpockets” are of modern origin; they “came
up” with the wearing of pockets.
* * * * *
~Garrick Plays~
No. XXXI.
[From the “Triumphant Widow,” a Comedy, by the Duke of Newcastle,
1677.]
_Humours of a Thief going to Execution._
_Officers._ Room for the prisoner there, room for the prisoner.
_Footpad._ Make room there; ’tis a strange thing a man cannot go to be
hanged without crowding for it.
_1st Fellow._ Pray, Sir, were not you a kin to one Hinde?[322]
_Footpad._ No; I had run faster away then.
_2d Fellow._ Pray, prisoner, before your death clear your conscience,
and tell me truly, &c.
(_all ask him questions about robberies._)
_Margery._ I am sure you had my Lady’s gilt caudle cup.
_Footpad._ Yes, and would have kept it; but she has it again, has she
not?
_James._ And the plate out of my buttery--
_Footpad._ Well, and had she not it again? what a plague would you
have? you examine me, as if you would hang me, after I am hanged.
Pray, officers, rid me of these impertinent people, and let me die in
quiet.
_1st Woman._ O lord! how angry he is! that shews he is a right
reprobate, I warrant you.
_Footpad._ I believe, if all of you were to be hanged, which I hope
may be in good time, you would not be very merry.
_2d Woman._ Lord, what a down look he has!
_1st Woman._ Aye, and what a cloud in his forehead, goody Twattle,
mark that--
_2d Woman._ Aye, and such frowning wrinkles, I warrant you, not so
much as a smile from him.
_Footpad._ Smile, quoth she! Tho’ tis sport for you, ’tis none for me,
I assure you.
_1st Woman._ Aye, but ’tis so long before you are hanged.
_Footpad._ I wish it longer, good woman.
_1st Fellow._ Prithee, Mr. Thief, let this be a warning to you for
ever doing the like again.
_Footpad._ I promise you it shall.
_2d Woman._ That’s well; thank you with all my heart, la! that was
spoken like a precious godly man now.
_1st Woman._ By my truly, methinks now he is a very proper man, as one
shall see in a summer’s day.
_Footpad._ Aye, so are all that are hanged; the gallows adds a great
deal of grace to one’s person.
_2d Woman._ I vow he is a lovely man; ’tis pity he should be taken
away, as they say, in the flower of his age.
_1st Officer._ Come, dispatch, dispatch; what a plague shall we stay
all day, and neglect our business, to hang one thief?
_2d Officer._ Pray, be hanged quickly, Sir; for I am to go to a Fair
hard by.
_1st Officer._ And I am to meet some friends to drink out a stand of
ale by and by.
_1st Woman._ Nay, pray let him speak, and die like a Christian.
_2d Woman._ O, I have heard brave speeches at this place before.
_Footpad._ Well, good people--if I may be bold to call you so--this
Pulpit was not of my chusing. I shall shortly preach mortality to you
without speaking, therefore pray take example by me, and then I know
what will become of ye. I will be, I say, your _memento mori_, hoping
you will all follow me.
_1st Fellow._ O he speaks rarely.
_2d Fellow._ Aye, does Latin it.
_Footpad._ I have been too covetous, and at last taken for it, and am
very sorry for it. I have been a great sinner, and condemned for it,
which grieves me not a little, that I made not my escape, and so I
heartily repent it, and so I die with this true confession.
_1st Woman (weeping)._ Mercy on him, for a better man was never
hanged.
_2d Woman._ So true and hearty repentance, and so pious.
_2d Fellow._ Help him up higher on the ladder. Now you are above us
all.
_Footpad._ Truly I desire you were all equal with me; I have no pride
in this world.
_1st Fellow._ Will you not sing, Sir, before you are hanged?
_Footpad._ No, I thank you; I am not so merrily disposed.
_Hangman._ Come, are you ready?
_Footpad._ Yes, I have been preparing for you these many years.
_1st Woman._ Mercy on him, and save his better part.
_2d Woman._ You see what we must all come to.
(_horn blows a reprieve._)
_Officer._ A reprieve! how came that?
_Post._ My Lady Haughty procured it.
_Footpad._ I will always say, while I live, that her Ladyship is a
civil person.
_1st Fellow._ Pish, what must he not be hanged now?
_2d Fellow._ What, did we come all this way for this?
_1st Woman._ Take all this pains to see nothing?
_Footpad._ Very pious good people, I shall shew you no sport this day.
* * * * *
[From “Mamamouchi,” a Comedy, by Edward Ravenscroft, 1675.]
_Foolish Lender._
_Debtor._ As to my affairs, you know I stand indebted to you.
_Creditor._ A few dribbling sums, Sir.
_Debt._ You lent ’em me very frankly, and with a great deal of
generosity, and much like a gentleman.
_Cred._ You are pleased to say so.
_Debt._ But I know how to receive kindnesses, and to make returns
according to the merits of the person that obliges me.
_Cred._ No man better.
_Debt._ Therefore pray let’s see how our accounts stand.
_Cred._ They are down here in my table book.
_Debt._ I am a man that love to acquit myself of all obligations as
soon----
_Cred._ See the memorandum.
_Debt._ You have set it all down.
_Cred._ All.
_Debt._ Pray read--
_Cred._ Lent, the second time I saw you, one hundred guineas.
_Debt._ Right.
_Cred._ Another time fifty.
_Debt._ Yes.
_Cred._ Lent for a certain occasion, which I did not tell you, one
hundred and fifty.
_Debt._ Did I not? that I should conceal any thing from my friend!
_Cred._ No matter.
_Debt._ It looks like mistrust, which is a wrong to friendship--
_Cred._ O Lord!
_Debt._ I am so ashamed!--for I dare trust my soul with you. I
borrowed it, to lend a person of quality, whom I employed to introduce
me to the King, and recommend to his particular favour, that I might
be able to do you service in your affairs.
_Cred._ O did you so? then that debt is as it were paid; I’ll cross it
out.
_Debt._ By no means; you shall have it, or I vow--
_Cred._ Well, Sir, as you please.
_Debt._ I vow I would ne’er have borrowed of you again, as long as you
lived--but proceed--
_Cred._ Another time one hundred--
_Debt._ O, that was to send into France to my wife to bring her over,
but the Queen would not part with her then; and since, she is fallen
sick--
_Cred._ Alas!
_Debt._ But pretty well recovered--
_Cred._ These four sums make up four hundred guineas--
_Debt._ Just as can be; a very good account. Put down two hundred
more, which I will borrow of you now; and then it will be just six
hundred: that is, if it will be no inconvenience to you--
_Cred._ Euh, not in the least--
_Debt._ It is to make up a sum of two thousand pounds, which I am
about to lay up in houses I have bought; but if it incommode you, I
can have it elsewhere--
_Cred._ O, by no means--
_Debt._ You need but tell me, if it will be any trouble--
_Cred._ Lord, Sir, that you will think so--
_Debt._ I know some will be glad of the occasion to serve me; but
these are favours only to be asked of special friends. I thought you,
being my most esteemed friend, would take it ill, if you should come
to hear of it, that I did not ask you first--
_Cred._ It is a great honour.