WIthin these thrée yeare dwelled in Brodstreet within the Cittie of London a Chaundler , whose honest life , good conuersation , vpright dealing and christian zeale is yet manifestly to be knowen of the inhabitants wher he dwelled . Vnto this youngman in a winters euening repaired a tall young man of a commendable proportion of body , if inward guifts had accorded therunts :

This man entring this Chaundelers shoppe ( where the goodman was busie in his vocation ) & demaunded if he had any Nutmegges to sell , whereuppon after hee had séene the Nutmegges , demaunded the price , he asked the Chaundler if hée would buye a good bargaine of Nutmegges and other wares ? saying hée was lately come out of the Carick and had certaine commodities to sel which he had kept till than , but now wanting money and comming into arrorages , with his Ghoast where he soiurned , was constrained to sell all his merchandize or at least some of them to discharge his lodging : the Chaundler ready ( as all worldlings are ) to get : After certaine spéeches of bargaining , they grewe to a composition and absolute bargaine , and therupon this halter catcher desired the Chamdler to take a bagge or two with him , to put in the commodities for the easier carriage , and also to put sixtéene shillings in his pursse to pay the hoast if he would not let the wares to passe ( for so much hée said he was runne on the score ) The simple and plaine meaning Chaundler suspecting nothing lesse then cosenage tooke to his box and tooke out from other mony twentie and fiue shillings , and put it into an other pursse by it selfe , and so takeing the bagges marched all along from Breadstreet to Queen-hiue where this tibornesse growing sonne , entring into a dore ( fit as it séemeth his parpose ) desired the Chaundler to stay at the dore , till he tooke the bagges and filled them .

After some short space or time this new gates birde came again to the Chaundler sitting at the dore and there certifying him that his host and he had beene at some speeches and that he would not let him haue the Nutmegs vill he had his sixteene shillings , and therfore desired him to let him haue sixtéene shillings to pay him , and ther with deliuered him a thing wrapped vp in browne paper after the best fashon like to a peece of veluet which hee saide was ruft taffata this he left as gadge for the money till the Nutmegs came , the Chaundler meaning plaine simplicitie deliuered him his pursse with the fiue and twentie shillings saying take the pursse you know I put in so much money , pay him out sixtéene shillings , and keep the rest till we reckon .

Now the viliaine is gonne , and the Chaundler waiteth for his Gentleman at the doore some halfe bowre and more , and pereceiuing no likelyhood of his comming beganne to suspect some vnacqainted bargaine and theruppon vntied paper to see what merchandize was therein which being opened he found nought but taylors shreds artificialy placed and bound after the fashion of peeces of taffata . Imagine now that the Chaundler is in his dumps , and there leaue him a while meditating vpon the proffit of his bargaine .

The caterpiller in the meane space making haste you may be assured out of a falce back doore ( wherof there may be to many in London more is the pittie ) came home to the Chaundlers house againe , & he that before had veiwed each thing for his purpose , and had séene the bor out of which the chaundler had taken out the fiue and twentie shillings before , came to the chaundlers boy , and sayd sirra you must send your maister twelue shillings wanting twopence out of the bore that hath the ragge of white cloth in it : the marke of the cloth he saw in the box & at the quantitie of the money hee gessed .

The boy gaue small trust to his wordes , and replyed that hee knew no such box till he had him looke for the ragge and saide his master had sent a porter that was comming with nutmegs , which nutmegs his master charged should be laid out of sight in the back roome . Notwithstanding for all this the boy would not deliuer him any money , but when he was importunate vpon him he desired an other boy of one of the neighbours to come in and take so much money and to goe with the man to his master .

The matter concluded the neighbours boy had a xi . s . and x .d. and going foorth , this notorious cousener leads the boy into Saint Mary-axe to an other doore and bids the boy to staye hee would call the chaundler to him . Hée went in and stayed a while & came againe to the boy saying that the chaundler was so busie that hée would not come to him but desired that he would send it him in , willing him to stay and carry a bagge of nutmegges home with him : the boy simply deliuered the money and stayed an houre for the bagge of nutmegges but as yet can not they be heard of .

In the meane time the chaundler commeth home but how disposed ( God knoweth ) where he findeth himself two folde deceiued , to his greit no doubt , and more in my iudgement for the wiccednes of the man then for the losse of the money .

If this be not as notorious a knauerie as euer you heard off I refer it to your owne considerations .

How a woman consained a minister often groates .

A Minister who yet liueth godly disposed repayred vpon a day to Christs-Church in London to heare the Lecture and continued there during the set men . Afterwad departing thence , and comming into the open streat , vppon the suddain came a woman vnto him with open mouth and commaunded him to giue her her ring . What ring said the Minister ? the ring said she you tooke of my finger in the Church . Auaunt queane said the minister I haue nothing of thine and with that the woman made such exclamations in the streat , that the passengers gazed vpon them in such sorte that the Minister ashamed of such an hurly burly demaunded what her ring was worth , who answered that it was worth fortie pence , and therupon , hée drewe his pursie and gaue her tenne gretes to be rid of the filth .

An other .

WIthin these last twelue moneths euen at twy-light , an honest man and of good behauiour , came to enter London at Cripplegate , vnder which gate as hee passed , soddainly met him a study fellow who iustled him with his shoulder , & at that instant , vppon the other side of him , an other knaue confederate with the other supposing that he would minde she man that instled him , as indéed any man should doe , caught the fellowes cloke by the lap , and therwith turned himself round , in such sorte that the honest mans cloke was lapped the inside outward vppon the cony-catchers back , and hauing his pray , fled with swift héeles : the honest man , notwithstanding their iustling , remembred his cloke and theruppon cryed stoppe théefe , the other knaue that iust led him neuer stirred his feete but hearing the man cry shop théefe , drewe out his dagger and asked where , where , and by that time people gathered as the vsuall order , the honest man said that hee that had the dagger in his hand was he that iustled him but whether he was his associate that ran away with his cloke hee would not say . What a villaine is this queth the cony-catcher to make such an hurly burly , thou art a dissembling roague said he & take this for thy labour and therwith stroke the poore man vppon the head with his dagger , and by this meenes , left he his cloke and was also cruelly heaten .

An other .

ANd séeing I haue begunne with Clocke-catching , beholde an other knack of knauery , which was commited in Smithfeild at noone dayes . A certaine man walking or going in Smithfeild with a new cloke vpon his back , there came to him of Plutoes hel-hountes , demaunding what he might pay for his cloake : mary sir said the other , it cost me fiue nobles , truely saide the other it is woorth that : I pray you where bought you it ? at such a place said the other , and there you may haue of the very self same péece : at last the frauder desired the honest man that he might sée it vppon his back , if it were long enough , for him , who meaning nothing but plaine dealing , put the cloke vpon the others back and incontinent the théefe runneth away as fast as he might with the cloke , the true man cryed stoppe theefe stoppe théefe , and hee that was the théefe and ranne away , he cryed also stoppe theefe , stop theef , the men in the streat hearing both of them cry both one noate supposed that both they had runne after a third body , and could not tell whome to stay , so that in conclusion , the théefe past away stily with the cloke and so far as euer I could learne was euer heard of to this day .

An other .

ANd will yée yet heare straunger matters the trueth wherof is , and may with small labour be knowen .

At the Sun without Alders-gate not long since there supped certaine Gentlemen and seruingmen : There Chamber prepared and supper ready , they fat downe to meat , among whome came in also an other man booted and spurred and fat downe with them at the neither end of the Table , a méere Straunger to the rest , yet vnsuspected , for that euery one thought hée had beene some freind or acquaintance of some of the other , ( as well it might bee iudged ) where many are togither one thinking him to bee such a mans acquaintance , the other thinking him to be his freind , &c.

They passed their supper time in mirth and paid the reconing , among the which , this new found gue & orderly payde his share and hauing so done they sat talking till it was néer to eleuen of the clock at night and that all the companies were departed the Tauerne , except this vncouth guest watching his time left the companie & came to the bar where he found the boy that sat therin nodding a sleepe with money to the value of eight or tenne shilings , in his hand vnto whome came this prigger and with théeuish softly meanes assayes to take the money out of the boyes hand and did faindeed , the boy not fast in sleepe awaked , mist his money , search was made , the fellow not far was gonne from the barre : and theruppon had in suspition : hee denyeth the fact bothe with wordes , othes and gesture : inquirie was made of whose acquaintance he was , of them that supped togither and in conclusion hee was found a meere straunger to them all , and thereupon did serche bothe his sleeue , bosome and other places where might bee any possibilitie to hide any mony but all in vaine , it could not be found he stoode vppon his tearmes hee was a Gentleman , he was honest as the best &c. This made the companie muze till at the length one subtiller then the rest commaunded his bootes to be plucked of and in one of them they found the eight shilinges , manifested by tokens and his other to the value of fiue pounds .

An other .

BVt if you desire to heare a subtiller kinde of knauery and such a one as if it had not beene petie knauery for the small valuation of the thing defrauded , you might say it caried the vel away and it was thus .

A pore woman there was , ( yea shee yet liueth ) that vsed to to take kildeckins of beere of a brewer : this woman beeing a widow and hauing but few of meany could not well drink the kylderkin whilst it was good , and therfore a neighbour of hers came to her and called her by her name , saying neighbour , you are but few of houshold and I like a good husband fetch all my drinke at the alehouse if you think good I will fetch of you if I may haue so much for a peny , as I can haue at the alehouse , yes marry shall you said to the widow , why then quoth the other let my folkes hare héere when they come for it , and when they haue fetcher so much as commeth to twelue pence you shall haue money : content saith the widdow , and héerupon they departed , and the man sent day by day for béere till it came to eleuenpence , & then he lift fetching any more , and so it continued : In the end , the poore woman sent to him for money for her drink : money saide her good neighbour , why I awe you none , no quoth the widoowe I haue deliueret so much as commeth to eleuenpence : I confesse all that said he , but when is my day to pay ? marry saith shee , when I demaunded it , nay quoth he , my bargaine was to pay when it comes to tweluepence and not before . Thus the poore witow was beguiled .

An other .

IT may sée me néedlesse to write that which as yet is not buryed in the bosoms of obliuien that is how a cripple within these few yéeres within foure or fiue miles of London desired a passenger to help him vpon his horsse , who suposing it a deed of charitie to help him , & taking him in his armes the cripple wounded him to death , and robbed him and according to law was therfore executed .

An other .

AN Vsurer sometime there was who lent out much money and neuer twentie or thirtie yeares made any desperat debt . This vsurer had a man a young whely of this tigers kinde : apt to learn of his olde churle his master what might turne to his proffit : Yet notwithstanding , his master kept all his dealings close from his seruant , in so much , that the seruant séeing his master made no such debts as sometimes he did , demaunded of his master how hée could kéepe himselfe from banckroutes ?

The master kept him selfe a loose and would not be knowen of that secret to his seruant , till acenclusion was made that the seruant should bestowe a supper of his master at the tauerne to learn the secret . The supper was prepared , the master , seruant and other fréends supped and were merry : the master tolde the seruant that if he delt as he vsed to doe , he could make no euill debts , and that was that he should not take any mans bill , bond or woord but euer be sure of a good pawne woorth double or treble his mony in vsancce with a good bill of sale in open market . The supper ended , the olde seignior hauing well liquored himself & olde vesselles must needes leake , would néedes be gon to make water , nay saide the seruant then you will leaue vs : not so said the vsurer , if you think so keep my cloke , wheruppon he tooke his cloke & laid it to pawne at the barre for the shot & went his way . thus fraude was deceiued with deceit .

An other .

NOt thrée yéeres passed , it chaunced that a certaine man traueling towards North-hawton meet with an other man in a solitarie place wheras was none other but them twaine , the one of them commaunded the other to stay and to deliuer him his pursse for he wanted money , the other partie seemed willing , & said truly I haue but two shillinges , but seing it is so that thou wilt néedes haue it heere it is , and so gaue it him & departed . This party who had they pursse went forward , and he that lost the pursse séemed to goe forward an other way , but seeing opportunitie crossed ouer two or thrée closes or feildes till he came and met the other theefe againe , and then commaunding him to stay charged him to deliuer his pursse for he was a goodfellow wanted mony , and lately robbed and now must and would haue money : the other answered that he should haue none , and then after some spéeches they fell to grapling togither so long till the first théefe was contented to redeliuer the man his owne pursse and his two shillings , but the other was not so contented tooke from him his pursse wherein was seuen shillings and odde pence .

An other .

IT was credibly-reported that not far from the crosse in Cheapside in London vsed a Costermongers wife to sit with apples , who vsed for her better intising of customers to haue fortie or fistie shillinges in the pocket other white Apron , which because it was so directly before her a outpurse tooke great care how to cosin her of her mony ( which to an honest mans minde might séeme impossible to be brought to passe . ) The cut-pursses man had made made many assayes but could not preuaile & therefore the mastercut-purse being moned , tooke the matter vpon him , and takeing a cloake commonly called a spanish-cape ( such as Italians daylye vse ) it hath a hoode hanging downe the back , he put it about him and came to her where acter many speeches he bought a groates worth of pippins of her but not hauing canuenient carriage requested that shée would let some body carry them home with him . The woman making answere that she had no body but her selfe he then prayed her to put them into the hoore or cape of his cleake wher vppon he stooped downe with his hed and she putting in the apples he put his hand into her packet and by that meanes picked out her money a thing thought vnpossible .

An other .

IN a winters night ( some few yéeres past ) a boy about thirteen or foureteene yeares of age was sent with three or foure shirtebands , caffes and handkerchers therto according valued at foure pounds or there about , vnto a Gentleman lying about olde Fish-streat , who passing through some part of Waeling-streat vppon a suddain met him a woman demaunding his name his mothers name his dwelling and place wherto he was going , the boy folde her truely all these things and so she departed goin vnto another companion not far seated from her and tolde her mate all what so euer the boy had before declared : which done , this other cosoninge queane crossing ouer the streat came and met the boy calling him by his name , asking him whether he went and so foorth : the boy wondred how she knew him and said that he knew not her , no said she , I a well heard by thy mother at Bishopf-gate and I haue beene heerby of an err and and as I came along this streat at I spied a good shoulder of mutton in a Cookes shop but I cannot haue it vnder xiiii .d. because he and I fell out , I pray thée take this xii . pence , and goe and asue for one Harison a Cooke heer in : Watling streat and se if thou canst buy it , and thou and I will be mery togither with it & then goe home togither . The boy simply tooke the mony & left his bands & other things with the huswife & in the meane while , she went away with the clothes .

An other .

SEeing I haue spoke of Watling-streat , I meane to put you in minde of an odde iest ( if so I may tearme it ) committed in Fryday-strēat néere the said place , and thus it was .

Salters there as other traders vse to set out there wares vppon she stalles and such like places that men may see what they haue to sell . Amongst the rest one W. C. now liuing , set out halfe a firkin of sope vnder his stale vppon a barrel of pitch as the reporte goes , and so it long continued . One day aboue the rest , there passed by a man ( seruingman like ) who seeing the said half firkin ( without saying by your leaue ) tooke the half firkinne vnder his at me , and away he went . The owner knew nothing thereof , till one of the neighbours servants séeing the fact tolde him of it and he intentinent sent his seruant after him , who brought him to his master , and being asked why he stole it , defied them saying , hée came not into his house for any ware , but he found that half firkin in the Quéenes high way , and therfore hée tooke it vp .

An other :

AMong petie cosonage this may also be numbred . A Cuntrey man came into Fry day-streat before named and demaunded which was his way into Fryday-streat a naughtie minded fellow bad him turue at the next corner and he should be out of it by and by . The fillie suspecting no deceit did as he bad him & so was led amisss . And this petie cosonage is to common now a dayes more is the pittie .

An other .

AS notorious a cosonage as euer was heard dooth follow .

In Lecester towne dwelled sometimes a weauer who beeing a perfect workeman wanted not customers to set him on worke and among others one in the towne brought him some . thirtie or , fortie poundes of flaxen yarne to weaue , his woorke ended , hée brought home the cloth as the vsage is , and the goodwise partlie knowing how much might be be made of so much yarne and suspecting that he had stolne some of heer yarne , asked if he had brought home all her yarne , yea dame quoth he that I haue , but she ●●king as though she did not beléeue him , hee swore as God shoulde iudge him he had brought home euerie ha●●● to 〈…〉 and so he did in very déed , he brought home all and yet 〈◊〉 standing he beguyled her of two or thrée pounds in his 〈◊〉 ●réeches , but going away hee caryed it a way with him backe againe .

A wounder it is to sée what sleightes the diuell vseth to drawe men vnto him aswelmay be noted in this , for hée thought by this meanes to saue his oath though he neuer imagined that it was asault to deceiue such as put most confidence in him .

An other .

IN Melton Mobray dwelled a Caryer named K. who when first he vsed carrying , as he trauailed in the hiyh way , heard a woman ouer the hedge crying and making great mone for helpe , the man supposing if a good déed to help a woman distressed would haue left his companion and haue gone to the rescue of the woman : but his fellow traualler would not suffer him , shewing him what trecherie might he in such dissembling cryes , so he stayed a space , but yet hearing the importunate moane he saide that hée would ayde her what he might , and therupon leapt ouer the hedge , where presently one caught him by the throat , and had not rescue béene hée had both beene robbed and murthered .

An other .

IN Colm instreat in London oueragainst a Persumers stall , met thrée men or as may be suspected came thether of a set purpose and stoode in the open streat , within two or thrée yardes ( or there abouts ) of the stall and talked secretlie betwéene themselues , the Perfunter , his wife and seruaut busie in the shoppe , euen at noone dayes : yet one of the thrée hauing a small long wand in his hand as it should seeme hauing a crooked pinne in the end , filched away thrée or foure payre of glooues and went there way vntaken , yea not suspected of such filthy actions . This was doone within these twelue menethes .

An other .

ABout the same time also , a boy aged sixteene or there about , in structed by some miscreant , ( for such young yeares coulde not produce so mischeiuous a faction of themselues ) got a stick fashioned much like vnto those stickes which the boyes calles bandyes , and hauing the samel esmeered with lyme , came by a Goldsmiths sop in Foster-lane and vnder a pretence of knocking the sticke vpon stalles as be passed along at the last strooke his stick vpon a Gold-smiths bourde where a gilt spoone and other money , they knew not how much he got vpon his lymed stick . The spoone being waightie fell into the currant , and they had it againe , but what money was lost it is not knowen .

An other .

NOw for because our Countrey-men are slaundered not to be so vpright in conuersation nor so true dealers as straungers , and therfore we run thick and thrée folde to buy what soeuer commodities we want ( of them leauing our owne natiue Cuntreymen as an oprobris to the world aswell for cunning in actes and trades as also in vpright dealing , which sure is lamentable that wee should deecleane contrarie tonature and reason , euen all one to begger our selues and inrich others . I will by your patience showe you a most cunning peece of knauerie this one to serue insted of many examples . Neither is it inuented as false , but euen now by sufficient proofe to be verified at this present & thus it was .

A Gentlewoman of the cuntrey occasioned to buy her a gowne of taffata came into Cheap-side in London and sought the mercers shops vp and downe and could not finde a peece of taffata so good as she would haue had ( for women wil haue the best , if it be for their owne backs especially ( notwithstanding marking where the best was , came back againe and offered money for it , but not so much as the mercer would haue , wheruppon there was going and sending to and frs but the bargaine could not be made .

Thus they parted , Now in the meane while a Straunger a Dutchwoman as I wéene , comming to the mercers , vpon some busines noted there busines , noted there spéeches marked the goodnes of the taffata & considered the humor of the Gentle woman and theruppon bought the pecce of taffata of the mercer and sent it home to her owne house , and afterward wandring in Cheapside till she espied the Gentlewoman , went vnto her and said Gentlewoman , I vnderstand that you want a peece of very good riche taffata , if it please you to goe with me I will shewe you such an one as you neuer saw a better and all London can not match it : the Gentlewoman wonderfull glad went with her , saw it and liked it excéeding well , bought it and paide some two or thrée shillings in a yard déerer then she might haue had it before of an englishman . Well this is our shuttle nature , the parties are yet bothe pleased . The Gentlewoman passing along Cheap-side tolde the mercer of her good hap and therwithall shewed him the taffata with his owne mark and seale at the end thereof , and incontinent he tolde the Gentlewoman where shée bought it and in what place she dwelt , & how it was the same péece that she should haue bought of him : wherat the gentlewoman thus deceiued was out of measure astonied .

Many other like cosonages might be héere set downe as how the Trpe-wire was of late deceiued-which now in memorie : yea many others , but these may suffice only , I will note two or thrée adde sleightes or iests ands sprocéed to a further matter .

An other .

SOmetime a companie of prentices had apponted to méete at a Tauerne to breake their fast togither , an houre was set , who so came not at that houre was fined at a gallon of wine besides the losse of his breakfast . One aboue the rest , wanting excuse to to come abroade to méet his companions , the houre drew on , his master and mistresse bothe in the shop that he could not start , you would wounder what excuse he made : standing at the doore looking to his appointed place where his hart was , suddainly he ran out of the doores to his mates , stayed there some houre or more , and comming home to his master , enquired where he had beene ? and what was the cause of his suddaine running out of the shop ? sir said he , as I stoode at the dore I saw H , K. your olde debtor that hath ought you money this long time , and I haue followed him till now to sée him housed , and he is in such a place , & hée hath promised to come and agree with you before hée wil goe out of the Towke .

An other .

A Like to this is reported , that one Master H. in the Pultrie , hauing sundry Chapmen , one of them did owe him money a long season , and at last vnderstanding that his Debtour was in the Towne be commaunded his man to goe and demaund the debt , and if he make delay for the payment ( said the Master ) tell him from me that I suppose , he taketh no care to pay in my mony .

The seruant went and accomplished in each respect what his master gaue him in charge . When the Debtour heard him talk of care to pay his money , hée replyed , saying , dooth thy master thinke that I take care to pay his money ? no , no , hee is deceiued , tell him I tooke care & great care how to get the wareof thy master , now let thy master take care how to get his money , for I will take none to pay him .

An other .

AN honest man flitting or remoouing from the house where héeearst dwelled , wanting roume was constrained to sell a certaine bedstead . Now a young man readie to take a wife , vnderstanding thereof . desired a Ioyner a friend of his , to goe with him to sée the bedstead and to haue his counsaile in it for so much as hée him selfe knew not what such thinges were worth .

The Ioyner went with him , and after the sight , they grew to barganing , but the Ioyner would not suffer the other man to giue the price by fiue shillings and so departed .

Afterward the Ioyner resorteth againe to the house alone and buyeth the bed-slead for his owne proper vse , defrauding his freiud that put him in trust .

O most vnnaturall , diuelish and detestable action , whome shall a man repose his confidence in these our moste daungerous and troublesome dayes and tymes ? wherin eniquitie so deceitfully and arrogantly striueth to subiect and deceiue the simple and wel meaning : yea in so much , that the brother séeketh to greiue the brother , and freinds deale so vniust that it is hard to repose confidence in any . A thing to the good odious , but abhorred in the sight of God .

I haue thought good , because I haue published some actions which are alreadie imprinted to manifest ( according to the offenders confession at the Sessions house ) the reporte , ( in this my collection of false dealings and cosonages ( the notorious cosenage vsed to M. Mascall , which because it is already extant in print . I was the bolder to note it in this collection , to admonish others to beware of the like .

The most notorious cosenage that euer was heard of , how M. Mascall the Trype-wife was deceiued . Written as it was spoken by the Offendour before the Honorable at the Sessions-house .

MAscales wife supposed to be left rich at her husbands discease as it séemeth she was , had sundry & many suters amongst the which there was one Peeters a gentleman at the least ( for all be gentlemen now a dayes ) who oft and many times resorted to her house boying at the last to obtaine her good will but the widdowe carefull enough for her owne good could not by any waies be wun . Whereupon Peters perceiuing that drift as touching mariage to be in vaine determined to get some of her money by other meanes and therfore frequenting her house as before he studied to know the fashions of her house the disposition of her minde the vmber and names of her acquantance friends and so much and so many of her secrets as possiblie he might and therwith one Vaughen he went to a woman lying with out Bishops gate fitly instructed for such purposes and there asking for her they met with her husband and betwéene them thrée was great talke , & at the last they went to the taueren where after further spéech ther was a pinte of wine sent vnto the woman that should doe this feate : Not long after they either sent for her to the Tauerne orels they came home to her ( I know not whether ) but trueth it is , they tolde her what their meaning & determination was , & how that they had heard that shee was the only woman for their purpose : but shee made them answere that in so much as she had béene diuers times before my Lord A. for such tricks as this was , she durst not be séene in London : for if my Lord should sée me ( said shee ) he will hang me Then they encouraged her saying that shee shoulde goe in a Cuntrey womans gowne wherby she should not be suspected and she should say she came from a very freind of Mistresse Mascalls dwelling in Essex and in that letter should be commendations of her and so foorth .

When this woman had graunted her consent : Peeters began to certefie her of all that he had learned that was , how Mistresse Mascall had many sutors and how she loued a parchment seller in Parer noster row better then any of them , also hee tolde her that she had aring with fiue precious stones in it , which ring one dwelling vpon London bridge did weare vppon . Christmas day last past .

Hee tolde her also that there vsed to be séene straunge light or fire in the night in her house : as also how that the last time hée kissed her , her hat fell into the souce-tubbe and many other .

Now shée hauing all these ad vnguem ( like an olde beaten soldier ) would not goe till shée was also well instructed of the man from whome the letter should be supposed to come and therfore made the two Gentlemen to goe sée what fauour , what haire , what stature and condicion the man of Essex was of , least shée should be intrapped .

All things like an apt schollers tale learned by hart . Vaughen makes the letter in effect thus .

Mistresse Mascall after commendations &c. I pray you show the bearer heerof ( my speciall freind ) what fauour , frendship and curtesie you may for my sake , and so much the rather because she hath done me great pleasure it many things touching the art she professeth , and I doubt not but she will pleasure you the like if you haue any occasion : you may trust her as your self , wherfore I praye you doe for her , as you would doe for me if I were with you . I meane to be at London betweene this and Eastervppon vrgent busines that I haue , and then I meane to see you &c.

This letter after the foresaid forme being framed and sealed vp , the woman in her counerey like gowne taketh and goeth into S Nicholas-shambles , knocketh for M. Mascall and deliuereth the letter : M. Mascall calleth for a cup of béere for the messenger and in the meane time opening the letters and hauing read the contents taketh the woman by the hand and leadeth her vp into her house , and according to the folly of all simple women showeth her one roume , after an other , with all the braueries therof , and afterward to victualing and gossiping they goe by the fire , and there sit merely some season .

You may be well assured all this pleased the messenger right well , and now hauing growne into some familiaritie or acquaintance the effects of the letter were rehersed : as touching the fauor she had done to M. Freind in matters of her art , and so foorth : Whervppon the trustie Roger ( this messenger I meane ) began now to woorke her fact and desired M. Mascall to showe her her hand , which she forthwith did , and when she had looked in euerie place of her hand , she tolde her soone matters touching her husband deceased , and moreouer that she had many sutors , whereof some were good , and other that were naught , from which she diswaded her and gaue her counsaile to take héed of them .

You may haue many ( said shée ) but yet you loue a parchment seller in Pater noster row aboue the rest , and there is a Gentleman that is a sutor vnto you take héed of him said she for hee will deceiue you : what is he said M. Mas. mary quoth the other it is the Gentleman that the last time hée kissed you , he kissed you in such a place by the same token your hat fell into the souce-tubbe .

When M. Mascall heard that shee ( as most women light of beleife ) thought that shée then knew all things , and therevppon falling into further talke this cunuing woman asked if there was not some vnacoustomed or some straunge sights séene in the right time her house : Yes marry sayd mistris Mas. but doe you knowe the reason thereof sayd the other , no sayd mistèris Mas . except ther be some money hid in my house . There is money hid in very truth sayd this cunning woman and that good store : can you help me to it sayd mistris Mars . yea sayd the other and if you will swere to me that you will not make any christian body acquainted with it , then mistris Mas , as the woman confessed went to a bible that lay vp on the table and swore by the contents of it neuer to open it vnto any . You must vnderstand that the cunning Cosoner liked the falling out of these matters wundrous well for her purpose , and hauing now brought them euen to the very issue , procéeded in or the like order .

Mistresse Mascall if so be , you desire to haue this money that is hid in your house it behooueth you to haue bothe golde and siluer and iewels to present vnto the King of the Feries : I haue sayde the other , and therwith led her vp to her Chesis , and showed her bothe golde , siluer , golde-ringes and a chaine of golde .

Now when shée had séene these , among the rest shée espyed one ring which had fiue stones in it , this ring saide the Cosoner one vpon London-bridge did weare vpon Christmas day last , which was true indéede , and therefore M. Mascall hearing her say so , gaue the more credit vnto her woordes , supposing that shée knew all secrets .

Well these iewels , golde and siluer were brought downe and M. Mascall must put these into the Cosoners lap , with her right hand and there they must rest awhile .

Then shee must put them into M. Mascalls lappe with the like ceremonie , and then M. Mascall taking the foresaid things must goe into euerie reume and euery corner therof must knéele downe and say certaine prayers : which finished , shée must come and put the golde &c. into the cunning womans lap againe with her left hand and she receiuing the same must in like order as the other had done , goe and say prayers in euerie place as before .

All this brought to ripenes there must be a capon and a turkie bought to feast the king of Feries , but this must be doone some two dayes after , in the meane time this cunning woman must haue the custodie and kéeping of the money and ringes till two dayes be ended and in the means time she deliuered to M. Mas. a cloth with two things in it , into which cloth m. Mascall might not dare to looke into during two dayes , and thus the cunning woman departed with the ring , money & chaine leauing nought els but two little stones lapt in a cloth for the same .

Now if conetousnes had not ouermastered her shee had neuer béene taken but vnderstanding what plate that M. Mascall had shée hanged thereafter and therfore caused the forenamed Capon and turkey to be cut and mangled , the hed , féet and hart &c. to be cut off and euery corner of the table one to be laide . a candle burning , to be set also vpon the table , and all the plate set ther vppon as a present for the king of Feryes , then should they goe to the Tauerne with some of the cunning womans companions , and m , Mascall with them , and the cosoner should get some sure token from m. Mascall to come home for some thing and the Messeger by that token should bring away the plate , but this effecting not and suspition of cosoning arysing , this cunning woman was apprehended and laid in Newgate and beeing examined before the bench at Sessions house confessed these wordes or the like in effect .