The discouery of the Prigging Law or nature of horse stealing .

TO the effecting of this base villany of Prigging or horse stealing , ther must of necessity be two at the least , and that is the Priggar and the Martar . The Priggar is he that steales the horse , and the Martar is he that receiues him , and chops and chaungeth him away in any Faire , Mart , or other place where any good vent for horses is : and their methode is thus . The Priggar if he be a Launce man , that is , one that is already horst , then he hath more followers with him , and they ride like Gentlemen , and commonly in the fourme of Drouers , & so comming into pasture grounds or inclosures , as if they ment to suruey for Cattle , doe take an especiall and perfect view where Prankers or horses be , that are of worth , and whether they be trameld or no that is whether they haue horselocks or no , then lie they houering about till fit oportunity serue , and in the night they take him or them away , and are skilfull in the blacke Art , for picking open the tramels or sockes , and so make hast til they be out of those quarters . Now if the Priggars steale a horse in Yorkeshire , commonly they haue vent for him in Surrey , Kent , or Sussex , and their Martars that receiue them at his hand , chops them away in some blind Faires after they haue kept them a moneth or two , till the hue and cry be ceast and past ouer . Now if their horse be of any great valure and sore sought after , and so branded or eare markt , that they can hardlie sell him without extreame daunger , either they brand him with a crosse brand vppon the former , or take away his eare mark , and so keep him at hard meat til he be hole , or else sell him in Cornwall or Wales , if he be in Cumberland , Lincoln-shire , Northfolke or Suffolke , but this is if the horse bée of great valour and worthy the kéeping : Marry if he bee onely coloured and without brands , they will straight spotte him by sundry pollicies , and in a blacke horse , marke saddle spots , or starre him in the forehead and change his taile , which secretes Iomit least I shoulde giue too great a light to other to practise such lewd villanies . But againe to our Launce men Priggars , who as before I said , cry with the Lapwing farthest from their nest and from their place of residence , where there most abode is , furthest from thence they steal their horses , and then in another quarter as farre of they make sale of them by the Martars meanes , without it be som base Priggar that steales of méere necessity , and beside is a Trailer . The Trailer is one that goeth on foote , but meanely attired like some plaine gran of the Countrey , walking in a paire of bootes without spurres , or else without bootes , hauing a long staffe on his necke , and a blacke buckram bag at his backe , like some poore Client that had some writing in it , and there he hath his saddle , bridle and spurs , stirhops and stirhop leathers , so quaintly and artificially made that it may bee put in the slop of a mans hose , for his saddle is made without any tree , yet hath both cantle & boulsters , only wrought artificially of cloth and bombast , with foulds to wrap vp in a short roome , his stirhops are made with vices and gins that one may put them in a paire of gloues , and so are his spurres , and then a little white leather headstal and raines with a small Scotish brake or snaffle , all so feately formde , that as I said before they may be put in a buckram bag . Now this Trailer he bestrides the horse which he priggeth , and saddles and bridles him as orderly as if he were his own , and then carries him far from the place of his bréede , and there sels him . Oh will some man say , it is easier to steale a horse then to sell him , considering that her Maiesty and the honourable priuy Counsaile , hath in the last Act of Parliament made a strikt Statute for horse stealing , and the sale of horses , whose Prouiso is this : That no man may buy a horse vntould , nor the toule be taken without lawfull witnesses , that the party that selleth the horse is the true owner of him , vppon their oath and special knowledge , and that who buieth a horse without this certificate or proofe , shall be within the natue of Fellony , as well as the party that stealeth him . To this I aunswere that there is no Act , Statute , nor Lawe so strickt conueyed , but there be straight found starting holes to auoide it , as in this . The Priggar when he hath stollen a horse and hath agreede with his Martar , or with any other his confederate , or with any honest person to sell the horse , bringeth to the touler , which they call the rifler two honest men eyther apparelled like citizens , or plain countrey yeomen , and they not onely affirm , but offer to depose , that they know the horse to be his , vpon their proper knowledge , although perhaps they neuer saw man nor horse before , and these periurd knaurs be commonly old knightes of the post , that are soisted off from being taken for bale at the kings bench , or other places , and seeing for open periuries they are refused , there they take that course of life , and are wrongly called Querries , but it were necessarie and verie much expedient for the common-wealth , that such base roagues should be lookt into , and be punisht as well with the pillorie , as the other with the halter . And thus haue I reuealed the nature of Priggars , or horse-stealers briefly , which if it may profit , I haue my desire , but that I may recreate your mindes with a pleasant historie , marke the sequeale .

A pleasant storie of a horse-stealer .

NOt farre off from Tenro in Cornewall , a certaine Priggar , a horse-stealer being a lance-man , surueying the pastures thereaboutes , spied a fayre blacke horse without any white spot at all about him , the horse was so faire and lustie , wel proportioned , of a high crest , of a lusty countenance , well buttockt , and strongly trust , which set the Priggars téeth a water to haue him : well he knew the hardest happe was but a halter , and therefore hee ventered faire , and stoll away the prancer : and séeing his stomack was so good as his limmes , he kept him well , and by his pollicie seared him in the forehead , and made him spotted in the backe , as if he had béen saddle bitten , and gaue him a marke in both eares , whereas he had but a mark in one . Dealing thus with his horse , after a quarter of a yeere , that all hurly burly was past for the horse , hée came riding to Tenro to the market , and there offered him to be sold , the Gentleman that lost the horse , was there present , and looking on him with other Gentlemen , likte him passing well , and commended him : insomuch that he bet the prise of him , bargained , & bought him : and so when he was tould , and that the horsestealer clap him good lucke : Well my friend quoth the gentleman , I promise thée I like the horse the better , in that once I lost one as like him as might be , but that mine wanted these saddle spots , and this starre in the forehead . It may be so sir , said the Priggar , and so the Gentleman and he parted : the next day after , he caused a letter to be made , and sent the Gentleman word that he had his horse againe that he lost , onely he had giuen him a mark or two , and for that he was wel rewarded , hauing twentie marke for his labour . The gentleman hearing how he was coosened by a horse-stealer , and not onely robd , but mockt , let it passe till he might conueniently méete with him to reuenge it . It fortuned not long after , that this lanceman Priggar was brought to Tenro Gayle for some such matter , and indeede it was about a Mare that he had stolne : but as knaues haue friends , especially when they are well monied , he found diuers that spake for him , and who saide it was the first fault : and the party plaintife gaue but slender euidence against him , so that the iudge spake fauourably in hys behalfe : the gentleman as then sat in the bench , and calling to minde the Priggars countenance , howe hee had stolne his horse and mockt him , remembred hee had the letter in his pocket that he sent him , and therefore rising vp , spake in his behalf , and highly commended the man , and desired the iudges for one fault he might not be cast away , and besides , may it please you ( quoth hee ) I had this morning a certificate of his honestie and good behauiour sent me , and with that he deliuered them the letter , and the iudge and the rest of the bench smiled at this conceite , and askt the fellow if he neuer stoll a horse from that Gentleman : no quoth the Priggar , I knew him not : your honors mistakes me , said the gentleman he did but borrow a blacke horse of me , and markt him with a stare in the forehead , and askt twenty marke of me for his labour , and so discourst the whole matter : whereupon the quest went vpon him , and condemned him : and so the Priggar went to heauen in a string , as many of his facultie had done before .

The Vincents law , with the discouery therof .

THe Uincents Law is a common deceipt or cosenage vsed in Bowling-allies amongest the baser sort of people , that commonly haunt such leud and vnlawfull places : for although I will not discommend altogether the nature of bowling , if the time , place , persons , and such necessary circumstaunces be obserued : yet as it is now vsed , practised & suffred , it groweth altogether to the maintenance of vnthrifts that idlely and disorderly make that recreation a coosenage . Nowe the manner and forme of their deuise is thus effected the Bawkers , for so are the common haunters of the Alley termed , apparelled like very honest and substantial citizens come to bowle , as though rather they did it for sport then gains , & vnder that colour of carelesnes , doe shadow their pretended knauery : well to bowles they goe , and then there resort of all sortes of people to beholde them , some simple men brought in of purpose by som cosening companions to be stript of his crownes , others , Gentlemen or Marchants , that delighted with the sport , stand there as beholders to passe away the time : amongst these are certaine olde sokers , which are lookers on , and listen for bets either euen or odde , and these are called grypes : and these fellows will refuse no lay if the ods may grow to their aduantage , for the Gripes and the Baukers are confederate , and their fortune at play euer sorts according as the Gripes haue placed their bets , for the Bawker he marketh how the laies goes , and so throes his casting : so that note this , the bowlers cast euer booty , and doth win or loose as the bet of the Gripe doth lead them , for suppose seauen be vppe for the game , and the one hath three and the other none , then the vincent , for that is the simple man that stands by & is not acquainted with their cosenage , nor doth so much as once imagine that the Bawkers that carry such a countenaunce of honest substantiall men , would by any meanes , or for any gaines be perswaded to play booty . Well this vincent , for so the Cooseners or Gripes please to terme him seeing thrée to none , beginneth to offer ods on that side that is fairest to win : what ods saies the gripe ? thrée to one saies the vincent , no saies the Gripe it is more , and with that they come to foure for none , then the vincent offers to lay four to one , I take six to one saies the Gripe , I lay it saies the vincent , and so they make a bet of some six crownes , shillings , or pence as the vincent is of ability to lay , & thus will sundry take their ods of him : well then , the Bawkers ' go forward with their bowles , and winne another cast which is fiue , then the vincent grows proud , & thinks both by the ods and goodnes of the play , that it is impossible for his side to loose , and therfore takes and lais bets fréely , then the Bawkers fortune begin to change , and perhaps they come to thrée for fiue , and stil as their luck changes , diuersitie of bets growes on , til at last it comes to fiue and fiue , and then the Gripe comes vpon the vincent and offers him ods , which if the vincent take he looseth al , for vpon what side the Gripe laies , that side euer winnes how great soeuer the ods bee at the first in the contrary part , so that the cosenage grows in playing bootie , for the Gripe and the Bawker méet at night , & there they share what soeuer tearmage they haue gotten , for so they call the money that the poore vincent looseth vnto them : Now to shadow the matter the more , the bawker that winnes and is afore-hand with the game will lay franckely that hee shall win , and will bet hard and lay great ods , but with whom , either with them which play with him that are as crafty knaues as himselfe , or els with the Gripe , and this makes the poore vincent stoope to the blow , and to loose all the money in his purse : Besides , if any honest men that holdes themselues skilful in bowling , offer to play any set match against these common bawkers , if they feare to haue the woorse or suspect the others play to be better then theirs , then they haue a tricke in watering of the alley to giue such a moisture to the banke , that hee that offers to strike a bowle with a shoare , shal neuer hit it whilst he liues , because the moisture of the bank hinders the proportion of his aiming . Diuers other practises there are in bowling tending vnto coosenage , but the greatest is booty , and therefore would I wish al men that are carefull of their coine , to beware of such coseners , and non to come in such places , where a haunt of such hel-rakers are resident , & not in any wise to stoope to their bets , least hee bee made a vincent , for so manifest and palpable is their cosenage , that I haue séen men ston-blind offer to lay bets franckly , although they can sée a bowle come no more then a post , but onely hearing who plaies , and howe the olde Gripes make their laies : séeing then as the game is abused to a deceit , that is made for an honest recreation , let this litle be a caueat for men to haue an insight into their knauery .

A Table of the Lawes contayned in this second part .

1 Blacke arte . Picking of lockes . 2 Courbing Law . Hooking at windowes . 3 Vincents Law . Coosenage at Bowls . 4 Prigging Law . Horse stealing . 5 Lifting Law . Stealing of any parcels .

The discouery of the wordes of Art vsed in these Lawes . In blacke Art . The Pickelocke , is called a Charme . He that watcheth , a Stond . There engins , Wresters . Picking the lock , Farsing . The gaines gotten , Pelfrey . In Courbing Law . He that hooks , the Courber . He that watcheth , the Warpe . The hooke , the Courbe . The good , Snappings . The gin to open the windowe , the Trickar . In Lifting Law . He that first stealeth , the Lift. He that receiues it , the Markar . He that standeth without and carries it away , the Santar . The goods gotten , Garbage . In Vincents Law . They which play booty , the Bankars . He that betteth , the Gripe . He that is coosend , the Vincent . Gaines gotten , Termage . In Prigging Law . The horse stealer , the Priggar . The horse , the Prancar . The towling place , All-hallowes . The towler , the Rifler . The suerteis , Querris .

For the Foist and the Nip , as in the first Booke .

A pleasant tale of the Connie-chatchers .

NOt long since , certaine Exceter marchants came vp to London to traffick such wares as their Citty commodities affoords , & one of them whose name I conceale called maister F. hauing leasure at will , walked about the Citie to visite his friendes , and by chance mette with two or three conny-catchers ? amongst whome was one of his old and familiar acquaintance . This gentleman at that time taking the Setters office vpon him seeing such a fat Connie so fit for his purpose began to pitch his haie with this courteous and clawing gratulation . What maister F. ( quoth he ) welcome to London , and well are you mette ; I sée time may draw friends together , little did I thinke to haue séene you héere , but sith oportunitie hath granted me such a fauour to meete with such an vnlookt-for man , we le at the next Tauerne drinke a pint of wine together , to your welcome , and the health of our friendes . The Marchant hearing the gentleman ply him with such plausible entertainment : stoopt as a poore Connie , and granted to take his courtesie , and with them went the Uerser , a lustie fellow , well apparelled , and as smooth toonged as if euery worde came out of an Orators inckhorne : this iolly squire that plaied the Uerser , when hée came at the Tauerne doore , would needs drop away , and offered to be gone . : but the Setter said to him , nay I pray you sir stay , and drink with this friend of mine , for I haue not a more familiar acquaintance in Exeter : The Marchant simply also intreated him , and with few wordes he was satisfied , and as thrée of them went in together , and asked for a rounie , the boy shewed them vp into a chamber , and assoone as they came to the Uerser , hauing a payre of Cardes in his pocket , for they thought it too suspitious to call for a payre , stept to the window , and clapt his hand on the ledge , and laught , Gogs wounds ( quoth he ) a man can neither come into Tauerne , nor Alehouse , but he shall find a payre of Cardes in the window : Here hath béene some praying , and haue left their bookes behinde them . Boy ( quoth he ) throw me a couple of fagots on the fire , and set a pottle of Secke too , and burne it , and sir he sayes to the Setter , thou and I will play at Cardes who shall pay for it . Content saies the Setter , so you will plaie at a game that I can play at , which is called Mum-chance . I knowe it well , saies the Uerser : haue with you for a pottle of burnt Secke , and so to it they go , as before in my first part I describe it vnto you : the poore Marchant the simple honest Connie , calling the Card , well the Uerser lost , and at last they reueale the pollicie to the Conny , who wondered at the strange deuise , and solemnly swore it was impossible for him eyther to loose , or the other to winne : As thus they sat drinking the Setter shewed him diuers trickes at Cardes , to passe away the time , because theyr Barnacle staied ouer long , who at last , attiered like a Seruing-man , came and thrust open the doore , and saide , maisters by your leaue , I looke for a greyhound that hath broken my slip , & is run into this house . In faith friend , quoth the Setter , héere is none , nor did we see any : Then by your leaue gentlemen ( quoth he ) and sit you merrie , I had rather haue giuen fortie shillinges then haue lost the dog : Nay staie sir ( quoth the Uerser ) and drinke a cup of Secke with vs : at that the Barnacle came in , and courteously tooke it of them , and made sore lament for his dogge , saying , he durst scarse looke his maister in the face : but I hope ( quoth he ) he is run to the farmers house , where hee was brought vp , and therefore I le séeke him no where to day , with that he called for a pint of wine , to requite theyr courtesies withall , and the Uerser answered that they would take none of him as a gift , but if he would play for a pint or a quart hee should be welcome into their companie : at this he sate down , and said hee woulde , then they induced him to play at mum-chance , and the Conny cald the Card , so the Barnacle lost all , who being in a great chafe , curst his lucke , and the Cards , and offered to play thrée games , xii . pence : the Setter tooke him vp , and secretly askt the Cony if he would be his half , or play with him himselfe . In faith saies the marchant , I dare play with him , as long as fiue shillinges last , and so much I will venter : with that the Barnacle drew out a purse with some thrée or foure pence in it , and to this game they go , with vie and reuie till the Barnacle had lost all his money , then hee blasphemed the name of God mightily , and laide his sword and his cloke to pawne to the good man of the house , and borrowed money of it , to the value of some xx . shillings . The Conny smiled at this for he counted all his own , & winkt vpon the Uerser , and the Setter , againe they go to it , and they make fiue games for ten shillinges , and euery Card to be vied at the loosers pleasure , the Conny wonne three of them , and the Barnacle neuer a one : then he exclaimed against Fortune , and swore hee woulde make short worke , and of a ring he borrowed thirtie shillings more , and vied hard : wel that game he woon , and got so me twentie shillinges of the Conny , who thought it was but a chance , that coulde not hit in seuen yeares againe , and the next game they vied , and laied some fiue pound by on the belt , so that the vie and call , came to some seuen pound , then the Barnacle stroke in his chopt Card , and wipe the Connies mouth cleane for trobling his purse , with any of those crowns , yea he so handled the poore marchaunt , that of nine pound he had in his purse , these thrée base Conny-catchers left him neuer a penny , although he was sore nipt on the head , with this hard Fortune , yet he brookt it with patience , and litle suspected that his Countrey man the Setter had sifted him out of his money , and therefore druncke to him friendly , and tooke his leaue without smoaking them at all , and went quiet though discontent to his lodging . The Conny-catchers they shard the purchase , and went singing home as winners doe that haue leaue and leisure to laugh at the spoile of such wealthie and honest marchants . Not long after this , the cony chanced to come to my chamber to visit me for old acquaintance , where he found a book of Cony-catching new come out of the presse which when he had smilde at , for the strangenesse of the title : at last he began to reade it , and there saw how simplie hee was made a conny , and stript of hys crownes : with that he fetcht a great sigh , and sayd : sir , if I had séene this booke but two dayes since , it had saued me nine pound in my purse , and then hée rehearst the whole discourse , howe kindly hee was made a conny . Thus you may sée that these base conny-catchers spare not their owne acquaintance nor familiar friends : but like Uultures seek to pray vpon them , and like the Harpie , infectes that house wherein they harbour : so odious is their base and detestable kind of coosenage , that the very Nips , the cut-purses I meane , desire to smoake them , and haue them in as great contempt , as they themselues are despised of others : holding the conny-catcher for their inferiour : for say the Nips I disdaine to vse my occupation against any friend , or so drawe a purse from him that I am familiarly acquainted with : whereas the conny-catcher praieth moste vpon his countreymen and friendes , and at the first hand comes with a smiling face to embrace that man , whome presently he meanes to spoyle and coosen . Againe , the Nip vseth his knife , and if he sée a Boung lie faire , strikes the stroke , and venters his necke for it if he be taken , which is a certaine point ( say they ) of resolution , though in the basest degree : but the conny-catcher , like a coward keepes himself within compasse of lawe , as the picture of a faint hearted coosener : like a fawning curre wagges hys tayle vppon him , hee meanes most deadly to bite . then let this be a caueat for all men , and all degrees to take héede of such preiudiciall pesants : who like wormes in a nut eat the kernell , wherein they are bred , and are so venemous minded , that like the Uiper they desparage whomsoeuer they light on : I know I shall haue many braues vttered against me for this inuectiue : but so I may profit my countrimen I will hazard my selfe against their déepest villanies : and therefore sléeping neuer a whit the worse for their brauado , I commit such enemies of the flourishing Estate of England , to the consideration of the Iustices who I hope will looke into the loose life of bad , base , and dishonest caterpillers .

A pleasant Tale of a Horse , how at Vxbridge , hee coosened a Conny-catcher , and had like to brought him to his Neckuerse .

IT fortuned that not long since certaine Conny-catchers met by hap a Prancar or hors steale at Uxbridge , who took vp his inne wher those honest cruel lodged , & as one vice follows another , was as redy to haue a cast at cardes as he had a hazard at a horse , the Conny-catchers who supt with him , féeling him pliant to receiue the blow , began to lay the plot how they might make him stoope all the money in his purse , & so for a pint of wine drew him in at cards , by degrees as these rakehels do , Lento gradu , measure all things by minutes , he fell from wine to money , and from pence to pounds , that hee was stript of all that euer he had , as well Crownes , apparell , as Iewels , that at last to maintain the main and to checke v●…es with reuies he laide his horse in the hazard and lost him , when the Priggar had smoakt the game , and perceiued he was bitten of all the bite in his bung , and turned to walke penylesse in M●…rke lane , as the old prouerbe is , he began to chase , and to sweare , and to rap out goggs Nownes , and his pronouns , while at voluntarye he had sworne through the eight parts of speech in the Accidence , auowing they had coosened him both of his money and horse . Whereuppon the grosse Asse more hardy then wise , vnderstanding the Conny-catchers were gone , went to the Constable and made hue & cry after them , saying : They had robde him of his horse , at this the head Boroughs followed amaine , and by chaunce met with an other hue and cry that came for him that had stollen , which hue and cry was serued vpon the horse stealer , and at that time as farre as I can either coniecture or calculate , the Conny-catchers were taken suspicious for the same horse , and the rather for that they were found loose liuers & could yéeld no honest methode or meanes of their maintenance , vppon this for the horse they were apprehended , & bound ouer to the Sessions at Westminster , to aunswer what might be obiected against them in her maiasties behalf . Well the horse stealer brake from his keepers and got away , but the rest of the rascall crue ; the Conny-catchers I mean , were brought to the place of iudgement , and there like valiaunt youths they thrust twelue men into a corner , who founde them guiltlesse for the fact , but if great fauor had not bin showen they had ben condemned & burnt in the ears for rogues . Thus the horse stealer made hue & cry after the Conny catchers , and the man that had lost the horse he pursued the horse stealer , so that a double hue and cry passed on both sides , but the Cony-catchers had the worse , for what they got in the bridle they lost in the saddle , what they coosened at cardes had like to cost them their necks at the Sessions , so that when they were frée and acquited , one of the Conny-catchers in a merry vaine , said , he had catcht many Connies , but now a horse had like to caught him , and so déepely quoth he , that Miserere mei had like to haue beene my best mattins . Thus we may see Fallere fallentem non est fraus , euery deceipt hath his due , he that maketh a trap falleth into the snare him selfe , and such as couet to coosen all , are ●…rost them selues often times almost to the crosse , and that is the next neighbor to the gallows . Well Gentlemen thus I haue bewraied much and gotten little thankes , I mean of the dishonost sort , but I hope such as measure vertue by hir honours , will iudge of me as I deserue Marry the good men Conny-catchers , those base excrements of dishonesty , they in their huffes report they haue got one ( ) I will not bewray his name , but a scholler they say he is , to make an inuectiue against me , in that he is a fauourer of those base reprobates , but let them , him , and all know , the proudest peasant of them all , dare not lift his plumes in disparagement of my credit , for if he doe , I will for reuenge onely appoint the Iakes farmers of London , who shall caze them in their filthy vesselles , and carrye them as dung to manure the barrain places of Tibourne , and so for Conny-catchers an end .