Of the bad condition , foule speaches , and ill demeanor of Griffin Flood , and how he became first to be an Informer .

NOW first to make a character or description of this Griffin Flood . He was a fellow of meane birth , rude bringing vp , ill instructed in eyther learning or good manners , harsh in speach , and churlish in condition , full of quarrels , stubborne and vnruly , and in briefe , of a most debauched condition , as by the sequell may appeare .

But omitting these , and to come to particulars : he was in his yonger dayes bound Prentise with a Currier or Dresser of leather ; in which time of his seruice he picked such quarrels among his fellow seruants , and followed them with such cunning , as they being ouer-awed with his shamelesse lying , were forced to submit to whatsoeuer he pleaded against them , in so much that sometimes they were faine to buy their peace with their purses . And thus by his cunning informations of falshoods to his Master and Mistris , in which he commonly preuailed , he learned to tread the first step to this troublesome course of life , now named an Informer , where after being made a free-man of this City , he followed the same wayes , and became a great troubler of diuers other seruants and apprentises dwelling neere him , where if he found any that he knew , either in Tauerne , Alehouse , Bowling-alley , or Play-house , or else going abroad in Seruice time , when they should haue beene at the Church to the seruice of God with their masters , he would be sure to pick some feeling of money from them , or make it knowne to the displeasure of their parents or masters ; all which these poore seruants and apprentises would doe before their names and credits should come in question .

Of the manner of his informations against Tapsters , Hostlers , Chamberlaines , and such like .

AFter this , entring further into this kind of life , and perceiuing some small gaine to come thereby , he began to haunt Alehouses , Innes , Hosteries , Cellars , and such like , where if hee found either forraine Tapster , Hostler , Chamberlaine , or any other party that was no free-man of this City ; to him would he priuately come , and thus make his glose ; My friend ( quoth he ) you being no freeman , but liue here by sufferance vnder your master , I vnderstand that there be certaine Informers which I know , that meane to trouble and sue you by action , and bring you in question for the wronging of the customes of this City , wherein no man must make his liuing by way of trading , but such as haue serued seuen yeares an apprentise , or else made free-man by adoption or purchase ; now if you will ( quoth Flood ) preuent this trouble and be my cliant , I will for a small matter defend you from the same , and cleare you from all Informers whatsoeuer , for I am an enemy to all such knaues whose purpose is to wrong such honest meaning men as you are , for my conscience drawes me to it , and I will proue honest therein . The poore country fellow being thus honied and loath to leaue his masters seruice , hath Flood downe into the cellar , makes him drinke , lends him money , and becomes so pliable to his conditions , that he is led vp and downe as with a twine threed , till a part of his meanes fals into this Floods purse ; but no longer peny , no longer pater noster , the fellow growes weary , and is no longer able to feed Floods desires , but leaues him off , and submits himselfe to the triall of his action , where Flood as a cunning Iacke on both sides , followes him so close , that after much money spent , hee is forced to forsake his seruice , and to leaue the City , and the master of the same forraigner , is likewise brought to composition to be rid of this crafty Informer .

Another way of information that Flood vsed against forraigners and such like .

THis Flood also comes to another fellow being no free-man , where after the like conference as before , he takes vpon him , with the mans consent to bring him into action , and so to preuens all others of the like , declares against him by writ , and so it hangs in Court many yeares vnfollowed by Flood for a monethly stipend receiued from the fellow thus sued : and so all other Informers were preuented for bringing him in question ; for one of them by order of Law cannot take anothers case in hand . And thus Flood to his great benefit , dealt with many poore people in London .

How he troubled an honest Ale-wife not farre from Cripplegate : and how finely she requited him .

THere was an honest Alewife , whose name and dwelling I omit , not farre from Cripplegate , well known and reputed of among her neighbors , who kept in her house good lodging and orderly diet for entertainment of strangers and wayfaring men . Amongst others that resorted to her house , there was a forraigne Tailor , a very poore man , who ran more on the score for lodging and dyet , then he was able to pay , therefore to come out of her debt , he desired to work out the same , either in making new apparell , or mending of old : whereupon this Alewife put an old peticoat of hers to mend , which got the poore man but sixe-pence . Which matter this Flood hauing notice of , warned both her and her husband into the Court for setting this forraigner on worke : where , doe what eyther he or she could , it cost them forty shillings , and so came home without any other comfort , for Flood had shared his part of the money , of which he made no little brags amongst his Companions ; but it fell out after a certaine time this Flood came againe to the said Alewifes house , thinking to find out another like Prize , where casting his knauish eye vp and downe , hee espied the good wife run downe into the Cellar with a blacke Pot or two , ( measures contrary to the Cities custome ) after followes Flood , and thinking to attach them , the woman hauing a ready wit , and now thinking to be reueng'd , caught vp a Pewter quart Pot , and lustily laid it vpon Floods pate , and most grieuously broke both his head and face , and withall cryed out with a loud voyce , Oh help , murther , murther , the noyse being heard not only vp into the house but abroad into the streets , caused many people come running in , and inquiring the matter , shee with fained teares cryed out hee would haue rauish● her and forst her against her will , and that she to defend her selfe had with a Pewter pot broake his face , wherevpon all the beholders knowing Flood to bee a very knaue , and beleeuing the woman by her teares to tell true , called for a Constable , who carried both Flood and the Alewife before a Iustice , where she standing stiffely in her accusation , he was committed to Prison , where hee lay with his broken pate and face , vntill such time as he had giuen the woman a good summe of money in composition for the supposed wrong hee had done her .

How Flood churlishly handled two Informers , and of his hatred against all Firken-men .

AFter this , Flood becomming a little kinder to poore Ale-wiues , and vsing much to resort to a Cookes house a Widdow , which often gaue him a breakfast to stay his knauish stomacke ; wherevpon ( as the Diuell is good to some body ) so this Flood stood close to this woman in courtesie , and promised to defend her from all actions whatsoeuer ; for indeed as then there were a couple of Informers had her in chase , and by no meanes could shee bee rid of them ; for commonly they came once a moneth to her house and got mony of her : but it so hapned whilst Flood was talking with this woman , that these two aforesaid Informers came to her house , according to their accustomed manner , which Flood perceiuing , and being a little Potshaken , tooke vp a broome-staffe and fell a bumbasting them , and being all together by the eares downe in the kennell , Flood like a cunning knaue all begraueld and bedurtied his owne face , crying out they would murther him , and by that meanes so cunningly vsed the matter that his fellowknaues were carried both to the Counter , whilst hee being the third and worst , escaped imprisonment . But now marke the iest , as they were going to Prison , there comes by a lusty lubberly Firkenman , bearing out drinke to his Customers , a familiar friend and acquaintance of one of these Informers thus beaten , & hearing of these wrongs done by Flood , falls vpon him and most brauely behangs him , & so amongst the tumult of people gets him away vnknowne , and leaues Flood behind with the amends in his owne hands , seeking for hee could not tell whom : wherevpon in mortall hatred , he sought reuengement against all Firken-men ; and for this one mans sake vow'd to bee a plague to all the rest , and so after that there could not bee a Firken-man step out of dores , but hee would be on their iackes , especially all those that were forrainers , insomuch , were hee but in the shape of a Firken-man , it was enough for him to set his knauish wit on worke : by this meanes many of them were inforced to buy their Freedomes , to their great charges . Others , that were of the poorer sort , hee with his cunning-fram'd Actions affrighted from London , where they liued as before in much Pouerty .

How he troubled a poore Sheere-grinder , for relieuing his owne father .

FLood still following these pittilesse courses , came vpon a time to a Sheere-grinders shop , where he saw a very poore Country old man turning the stone , which old man was the Sheeregrinders own father , and in loue to his sonne took that paines to saue him from hiring one to doe the same worke , all this Flood noted , and with a harsh and commanding language , said , my friend , quoth hee , how darest thou bee so bold as to set a Forreiner on worke , knowing that Flood stands here as a witnesse ; I tell thee I will make thee repent it : these , and such like threatning words not onely amazed the poore Sheare-grinder , but much grieued the old man : but to bee short , in question was hee brought , and censured by Order to giue satisfaction to Flood for his Information , and the old man was discharged from any further labour therin ; but lay vpon his poore sonne to be kept in charity : and thus was the cruelty of this Flood expressed to his shame and disgrace .

How his harsh and churlish dealing caused a poore Flaxe-maid to hang her selfe .

I Must not here omit his harsh dealing against a poore Flaxe-maid in London , who after she had serued twelue yeares Prentise , and wearyed with that seruitude , tooke shop for her selfe , and set vp ; of which Flaxe-maid when Flood had notice , hee came vnto her , from whom hee oftentimes got much money , and still to buy her owne quietnesse , ( being not free but a forreiner ) prouided still for his cunning bribery , and had still her money in readinesse , so long , that in time shee grew weary of him , and not able to hold out any longer , shee reuealed it vnto a friend of hers , who counselled her to get her freedome , which shee might easily doe , hauing serued twelue yeares Prentise , which counsell shee followed , and was made free of a worshipfull Company , but not of the City , which was thought sufficient for a womans security to follow Flaxe-dressing . Hereupon Flood perceiuing his wonted benefits to faile , hammer'd in his knauish pate another trick of Information against her ; so watching his time , hee espyed a Country Chapman buying a certaine parcell of Flaxe of her , and giuing her some earnest thereof , as Flood tooke hold of by witnesse , hee presently tooke possession thereof , as goods forreine bought and forreine sold , and recouer'd them by way of Action , which was a great hinderance both to the Flaxe-maid , and to the Countrey Chapman : but to be short , the maid was still haunted with the Informations of this Flood , which draue her ( as some reported ) to such a melancholly , that shee tooke no comfort in her businesse , and as it was knowne afterward , shee hang'd her selfe in her owne girdle : the cause I will not say was Floods , but let such as vnderstood the manner of her life and carriage , in discretion , iudge and censure thereof rightly .

How Flood troubled an honest man onely for asking him a question .

THe debauched cariage of this Flood was such , that if any but gazingly lookt vpon him , hee would be sure to picke quarrels with him , and if he vsed not his speeches with aduisement , this Flood would take aduantage on his words , for the least occasion was sufficient for him to make an action of , whose troublesome courses are verified as followeth : There was an honest man , belonging to Blackwall-hall , who as he stood in Guild-hall yard , saw Flood come forth with a payre of Taylors sheares in his hand , of whom this man demanded what they cost ; why fellow ( quoth Flood ) in a clownish manner , Dost thou thinke I stole them . Why no ( quoth the other ) yet I may aske a question : A question ( quoth Flood ) I pray thee what art thou ? I am a man ( quoth he . ) A man ( said Flood ) I will haue money from thee then . Money from me ? ( quoth the other ) doe thy worst , I care not for thee , and such like were the words that passed betwixt them , and so they departed . But within a while after , Flood brought this honest man in question about the Statute for buildings , which was about a little shop that he kept to sell flaxe in , not , as Flood alledged , so sufficiently plastered with lime and haire , of which he made such a long declaration to the Court , that he so pusled the man , that he knew not well how to answer the same : and though Flood little preuailed in his suit , yet by his harsh roring language , and foule words which he so clamoured against this honest man , that for quietnesse sake he was forced to giue some satisfaction to be rid of him .

How Flood deceiued an Officer , and cunningly made him arrest his owne master .

VPon a time this Flood comes to one of the Cities officers , and tels him he hath a Writ to serue vpon a free-man for setting a forraigner on worke , of which this Officer was glad to heare of , and thinking thereby to get money , as hee had oftentimes before so done by Floods meanes , goes with him ; where coming together to a Worshipfull Gentlemans of this City , they found a foraine painter , new colouring the Gentlemans house wals , which Gentleman ( to speake truly ) a Worshipfull Knight , though not named , seeing Flood and the other Officer in the yard , comes forth and demanded what newes : Marry ( quoth Flood ) here is a Writ to serue on your Worship for maintaining forraigners , and thereupon giues the same to the Officer to doe his duty ; at which the Officer lookes very blancke , considering it was his owne Master on whom he should serue it , yet notwithstanding according to his oath so done it was , and his Master was forced to compound with Flood : who after tooke a pride in such trecherous actions , making himselfe merry at the Officer , whom hee had cunningly brought to arrest his owne master .

Of Floods ingratitude for a Dutch Chandlers beneuolence to him lying in the Compter .

THis Flood , in acting of many of these his arch knaueries , was at length outstripped by a fellow cunninger then himselfe , and being ouerthrowne in an action , and condemned in a round sum of money , for want of sureties was laid in the Compter ; where lying in prison in much necessity , there was a Dutch Chandler , I will not say dwelling neere vnto Newgate , that in pitty oftentimes sent him much reliefe , as meat and drinke from his owne table both at dinner and supper , and now and then some small peeces of money to comfort him , with an intent after his imprisonment to draw him to his friendship , and that Flood should be a trusty staffe to defend him from all informations that any other Informer should haue against him , for commonly these Dutch Chandlers are much troubled with those kind of people , and therefore this Flood he purchased to make his pillar to leane on : This passed on , and many courtesies were sent to him lying in prison by the Dutch Chandler , which were all as butter melted in the Sunne ; for after when Flood had got his liberty , and followed againe his former courses of life , this Dutch Chandler was the first man he brought in action , and for all his forepassed fauours receiued at his hands , he was the party hee made most prize of .

How Flood came to search a Tauerue in seruice time , and how finely the Vintner requited him .

FLood growing malitious against a Tauernekeeper of London , whose name I omit , came vpon a Sabbath day in Seruice time , and brought the Church-wardens to his house , where finding certaine good fellowes taking their mornings draught , fought to haue him presented : but the Vintner hauing a ready wit , wrought as cunning a trick to bring both Flood and the Churchwardens into the same trespasse ; so the foresaid Tauernekeeper seeing himselfe fallen into the danger of the Law , sayd as followeth ; Master Churchwardens , and you Master Flood , I pray you be good vnto me , I am a young beginner , and a little trouble will much hinder me , therefore I pray you stand my good friends , and inkindnesse take a cup of wine , and withall called for a slice of rost beefe , which the plaine dealing Church-wardens well accepted of , and witha● Flood being a hungry fellow , was nor behind in the fame giuen breakfast ; which being finished , quoth Flood , this shall not serue your turne , for I must haue money from you , and it is not your bribing breakfast shall satisfie my turne , Why knaue , replied the Vintner , Thou art as doope in the fault as I , or any of these my customers , for the Churchwarders and thy selfe also haue both eaten and drunke here in my house in sernice time , of which I now take witnesse , therefore doe thy worst , I care not for thee : At which words Flood grew a little pacified , and was contented to let the Vintner goe vnpresented for that time , and euer after those Churchwardens much fauoured the said Tauerne .

How Flood out braued a Citizen with a red nose .

VPon a time Flood being railing and roring in Guild-hall , as his manner was , a Citizen who had a red nose , a very substantiall man , rebuked him , calling him brazen fac'd fellow to be so audacious in so reuerent a place as that was . Brazen fac'd fellow ( quoth Flood ) if your copper nose Sir were set on my brazen face it would make a very rich show , which words not onely daunted the Citizen , but made him filently passe away much abashed . For rogue , rackall , slaue , and runnagate , were as common in Floods mouth , as how doe you sir to a man of courtsie .

Of his churlish keeping the walkes in Moore fields .

TO speake yet further of churlish condition , he was chosen ( being fit for a troublesome office ) to ouersee the walkes in Moore fields , and like the Pinder of Wakefield to preuent the intercourse of people ouer the graffe , and not to suffer them to make other paths beside the walkes . To which office being chosen , he got him a sturdy browne bill , and like a valiant champion intercepted all inrodes ouer the Fields , sauouring neyther old nor young , rich nor poore , Gentleman or other , in such sort that he had many roring combats , and much mischiefe was done by his harsh behauiour , where he not onely brake many a man pate , but se● tenter hookes vnder the Railes , wherby sundry people ( stooping vnder the Railes ) tore their cloakes , bands and apparel , and so spoiled their cloathes in such sort , that he was not without many bitter curses , and now and then hee caused sundry of the ruder & vnrulier sort of people to sit in the stockes , for their stubbornesse in crossing the Walkes . And many other pranckes hee there plaid , which though he were not ashamed to act , you modesty forbids me relate : in which he shewed himselfe rather a beast then a man , so farre he forgat Christianity and honestly , that he lost all humanitie : and for that cause hee was very deseruedly put from that meanes , which had beene sufficient ( if honestly vsed ) to haue maintained a man to liue well vpon .

Of his shamelesse bragging and boasting of base conditions .

NEuer was there ( I thinke ) the like audacious and shamelesse fellow liuing in this Citie , nor any of a more impudent carrage before his betters , for to some , to whom hee was farre vnequall would he most vpbraidingly say with a full mouth , what , know you not Criffin Flood ? bring I not the most milke to your payle ? is it not I that bring sacks to your 〈…〉 you Goissin Flood ( by his Informations ) shall make men quake furthermore , to my knowledge I saw him once stand in the middle of Guild-hall , with his armes akembow on both sides , with a number of people about him , where hee being not ashomed , beastingly said , I thinke in my conscience I am the veriest knaue in all England , and when I am buried , this shall bee my Epitaph : Here lyeth Griffin Flood full low in his graue , Which liued a Rascall and died a Knaue .

Of his manners and troublesome carriage in the time of his imprisonment .

REturne wee now to his imprisonment in Newgate , where since his comming thither , the other prisoners haue beene so troubled with his railing language , that the , accounted him rather a monster then a man , and such quarrels hee bred amongst them , that they many times fell together by the eares , so that day nor night could they bee quiet for him , for what with his cursing , banning , roaring , and blaspheming , hee shewed himselfe rather an Atheist then a Christian , and little remorse of conscience possessed him , and all his former offences ●ame little to his remembrance , especially these petty abuses before rehearsed ; but the maine groued of his imprisonment , which was for the murther of Iohn Chipperfield Vintener , something terrified him , and a little troubled his Conscience ; 〈…〉 heauy on a murtherers soule , and the reuenge there of hourely thunders in his cares ; so by this Flood was it here verified ; for vpon a night in New-gate as hee lay in his bed , in his dreame a fearfull vision appeared vnto him , which was ( as hee thought ) the ghastly shape of the man hee had murthered , with a bleeding wound in his brest gaping wide open , threatning as it were a speedy reuengement , at which Flood in his sleepe cryed out most fearefully , the Diuell , the Diuell pursues me , helpe , helpe , hee will teare me in pieces , with such like words of tertor and amazement , that many of the Prisoners affrighted rose from their sleepes , and came to pacifie him in this his distracted agonie : for such were his fits in New-gate , and so distempered was his braine , that he continued there in great discontent without any patience .

Of a reuenge certaine Tapsters tooke vpon him in New-gate .

A Man he was , that few loued , neither in Prison nor without , and therefore came many thither to vexe and torment him : amongst the rest in a merry vaine came certaine Tapsters to him in Prison , belike some which hee had wronged by his troublesome informations , who in stead of comforts brought him flours and in stead of reliefes gaue him griefes ; for euery one called for his Can of beere , saying to him in mockage , heere Mr. Flood , I drinke to you , heere Mr. Flood , a health to you , and such like seuerally , each of them tossing off his beere , giuing him onely the empty Cans , but therein neuer a drop of drinke , wherevpon Flood grew so inraged , that he enstil'd them with no better then Slaues and Rogues , and for their sakes vow'd a reuenge ( if euer at liberty ) against all other Tapsters .

And to put the same in practice , hee presently sent for a debtor of his which was a Tapster , that owed him a certaine sum of money , which fellow in pitty , by reason of his imprisonment brought him a part thereof , thinking therewith in that his extremity to content him ; but Flood as his churlish custome euer was , so kept hee his old order , and would not receiue lesse then his whole debt ; whereupon the fellow goes his wayes and bids him recouer it by action : which Flood with a sterne looke threatned to doe , but afterward considering how his case stood , and how that ( in prison ) hee lay much impouerished , sent for some part of his money before promised . Not so , quoth the Tapster , for I am otherwise minded ; returning him this answer , according to the Prouerbe : He that will not while he may , When he would he shall haue nay .

So was it with Flood , when he might haue liued well , and in good gouernment , the want of grace and seruing God , cut him off with a nay , where then being tempted by the deuill , hee ranne himselfe so deepe into the danger of the law , that his life answered it with an vntimely death .

How after all these his troublesome courses of life , he was for a murther pressed to death .

NOw to come to the last period of his shame and deuillish manners , in an agony of wrath ( furthered on by Satan ) he most wickedly stabbed a Constable , and withall a Vintner both at one time , whereof the Vintner , after he had long lyen languishing , died as a man murthered by wilfull violence , for which this Flood was atached , imprisoned , arraigned , and put to tryall , but by no perswasions would he commit himselfe to the Law , but most obstinately stood to the seuere iustice of the Bench , who according to custome , censured him to the Presse , where he receiued his deserts , by being bruised in terrible manner to a most fearfull death : whose execution was performed in the pressing yard at Newgate , vpon the 18. of Ianuary this present yeare .

FINIS .