common field, extending between Chesterton and Cambridge, near the
little brook Sture, for about half a mile square, is noted for its
fair, which is kept annually on September 19th, and continues a
fortnight. It is surpassed by few fairs in Great Britain, or even in
Europe, for traffic, though of late it is much lessened. The booths
are placed in rows like streets, by the name[s] of which they are
called, as Cheapside, &c., and are filled with all sorts of trades.
The Duddery, an area of 80 or 100 yards square, resembles Blackwell
Hall. Large commissions are negotiated here for all parts of England
in _cheese_, woolen goods, wool, leather, hops, upholsterers’ and
ironmongers’ ware, &c. &c. Sometimes 50 hackney coaches from London,
ply morning and night, to and from Cambridge, as well as all the towns
round, and the very barns and stables are turned into inns for the
accommodation of the poorer people. After the wholesale business is
over, the country gentry generally flock in, laying out their money in
stage-plays, taverns, music-houses, toys, puppet-shows, &c., and the
whole concludes with a day for the sale of horses. This fair is under
the jurisdiction of the University of Cambridge.—_Walker’s Gazetteer_,
ed. 1801. See Index to Brand’s _Antiquities_.
[Footnote 39: Rot. Esch. ejus an, pt. 6.]
[Footnote 40: This lady was one of the daughters and co-heirs of
Sir Richard Walden, of this parish, Knt., and the Lady Margaret his
wife, who both lie buried in this church [of Erith]. He was, as I
take it, made Knight of the Bath in the 17th year of K. Henry VII.,
his estate being then certified to be 40_l._ per annum, being the
son of Richard Walden, esq. Sir Richard and Elizabeth his wife both
lie buried here. _MSS. Dering._]
[Footnote 41: Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 332.]
[Footnote 42: Harman’s dedication of his book to her was no doubt
written in 1566, and his 2nd edition, in both states, published
before the Countess’s death.]
[Footnote 43: Of pilgrims, and of whoremongers, say Brand and Sir
H. Ellis (referring to the _Hist. des Troubadours_, tom. i. p. 11,)
in _Brand’s Antiquities_, ed. 1841, i. 202. Chaucer makes him the
patron of hospitality, saying of the Frankeleyn, in the Prologue
to the _Canterbury Tales_, “Seynt Iulian he was in his contre.” Mr
Hazlitt, in his new edition of Brand, i. 303, notes that as early
as the _Ancren Riwle_, ab. 1220 A.D., we have ‘Surely they (the
pilgrims) find St. Julian’s inn, which wayfaring men diligently
seek.’]
{1}
_THE
Fraternitye of Vacabondes._
As wel of ruflyng Vacabondes, as of beggerly, 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.
¶ Wherunto also is adioyned
the .xxv. Orders of Knaues,
otherwyse called
a Quartern of Knaues.
_Confirmed for euer by Cocke Lorell._
( * )
¶ The Vprightman speaketh.
¶ Our Brotherhood[44] of Vacabondes,
If you would know where dwell:
In graues end Barge which syldome standes,
The talke wyll shew ryght well.
¶ Cocke Lorell aunswereth.
¶ 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 kynde.
¶ Imprinted at London by Iohn Awdeley, dwellyng in little
Britayne streete without Aldersgate.
1575.
[Footnote 44: _Orig._ Brothethood.]
{2}
[Sidenote: [leaf 1_b_.]]
¶ _The Printer to the Reader._
++THis brotherhood of Vacabondes,
To shew that there be such in deede
Both Iustices and men of Landes,
Wyll testifye it if it neede.
For at a Sessions as they sat,
By chaunce a Vacabond was got.
¶ Who promysde if they would him spare,
And keepe his name from knowledge then:
He would as straunge a thing declare,
As euer they knew synce they were men.
But if my fellowes do know (sayd he)
That thus I dyd, they would kyll me.
¶ They graunting him this his request,
He dyd declare as here is read,
Both names and states of most and least,
Of this their Vacabondes brotherhood.
Which at the request of a worshipful ma_n_
I haue set it forth as well as I can.
FINIS.
{3}
[Sidenote: [leaf 2]]
¶ _The_
Fraternitye of Vacabondes
both rufling and beggerly,
Men and women, Boyes and Gyrles,
wyth
their proper names and qualities.
Whereunto are adioyned
the company of Cousoners and Shifters.
¶ AN ABRAHAM MAN.
++AN Abraham man is he that walketh bare armed, and bare legged, and
fayneth hym selfe mad, and caryeth a packe of wool, or a stycke with
baken on it, or such lyke toy, and nameth himselfe poore Tom.
¶ A RUFFELER.
A Ruffeler goeth wyth a weapon to seeke seruice, saying he hath bene
a Seruitor in the wars, and beggeth for his reliefe. But his chiefest
trade is to robbe poore wayfaring men and market women.
¶ A PRYGMAN.
A Prygman goeth with a stycke in hys hand like an idle person. His
propertye is to steale cloathes of the hedge, which they call storing
of the Rogeman: or els filtch Poultry, carying them to the Alehouse,
whych they call the Bowsyng In, & ther syt playing at cardes and dice,
tyl that is spent which they haue so fylched. {4}
¶ A WHIPIACKE.
A Whypiacke is one, that by coulor of a counterfaite Lisence (which
they call a Gybe, and the seales they cal Iarckes) doth vse to beg lyke
a Maryner, But hys chiefest trade is to rob Bowthes in a Faire, or to
pilfer ware fro_m_ staules, which they cal heauing of the Bowth.
¶ A FRATER.
A Frater goeth wyth a like Lisence to beg for some Spittlehouse or
Hospital. Their pray is co_m_monly vpo_n_ [leaf 2_b_.] poore women as
they go and come to the Markets.
¶ A QUIRE BIRD.
A Quire bird is one that came lately out of prison, & goeth to seeke
seruice. He is co_m_monly a stealer of Horses, which they terme a
Priggar of Paulfreys.
¶ AN VPRIGHT MAN.
An Vpright man is one that goeth wyth the trunchion of a staffe, which
staffe they cal a Filtchma_n_. This man is of so much authority, that
meeting with any of his profession, he may cal them to accompt, &
co_m_maund a share or snap vnto him selfe, of al that they haue gained
by their trade in one moneth. And if he doo them wrong, they haue no
remedy agaynst hym, no though he beate them, as he vseth co_m_monly to
do. He may also co_m_maund any of their women, which they cal Doxies,
to serue his turne. He hath y_e_ chiefe place at any market walke, &
other assembles, & is not of any be co_n_troled.
¶ A CURTALL.
A Curtall is much like to the Vpright man, but hys authority is not
fully so great. He vseth commonly to go with a short cloke, like to
grey Friers, & his woman with him in like liuery, which he calleth his
Altham if she be hys wyfe, & if she be his harlot, she is called hys
Doxy.
¶ A PALLIARD.
A Palliard is he that goeth in a patched cloke, and hys Doxy goeth in
like apparell. {5}
¶ AN IRISHE TOYLE.
An Irishe toyle is he that carieth his ware in hys wallet, as laces,
pins, poyntes, and such like. He vseth to shew no wares vntill he haue
his almes. And if the good man and wyfe be not in the way, he procureth
of the ch[i]lldre_n_ or seruants a fleece of wool, or the worth of
xij.d. of some other thing, for a peniworth of his wares.
[Sidenote: [leaf 3.]]
¶ A IACK MAN.
A Iackeman is he that can write and reade, and somtime speake latin. He
vseth to make counterfaite licences which they call Gybes, and sets to
Seales, in their language called Iarkes.
¶ A SWYGMAN.
A Swygman goeth with a Pedlers pack.
¶ A WASHMAN.
A Washman is called a Palliard, but not of the right making. He vseth
to lye in the hye way with lame or sore legs or armes to beg. These
me_n_ y_e_ right Pilliards wil often times spoile, but they dare not
co_m_playn. They be bitten with Spickworts, & somtime with rats bane.
¶ A TINKARD.
A Tinkard leaueth his bag a sweating at the Alehouse, which they terme
their Bowsing In, and in the meane season goeth abrode a begging.
¶ 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.
¶ A KITCHEN CO.
A Kitchin Co is called an ydle runagate Boy.
¶ 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 y_e_ honor of an Altham. {6}
¶ DOXIES.
Note especially all which go abroade working laces and shirt stringes,
they name them Doxies.
¶ A PATRIARKE CO.
A Patriarke Co doth make mariages, & that is vntill [leaf 3_b_.] 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.
――――
¶ THE COMPANY OF COUSONERS AND SHIFTERS.
¶ 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 {7} 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 4 _b_.] 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.
¶ 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 {8} Poules,
or at Christes Hospital, & somtime at y_e_ 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[45] 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 {9} 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 5_b_.] 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.
[Footnote 45: _Orig._ mony.]
{10}
¶ 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 6 _b_.] 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 {11} 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.
{12}
¶ _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 7 _b_.] 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. {13}
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. {14}
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
8 _b_.] beleue that the Cowe is woode.
15 BAWDE PHISICKE.