THe land of Theuingen is a Countrey bordering vpon the famous and thrice renouned CitieSignifying a close & strong place to keepe Treasure in. Gaza­philatium: it is a Countrie vast, ful of desarts and thick woods: and although the land be mightily replenished with al sorts of nations and people, yet is it turned to no vse at al, neither for pasture nor arable, but only améere wildernesse, it hath béene a Countrey inhabited from the beginning, although not discouered so plainly heretofore as of late daies; people from all Countries daily resort [Page] and flocke thither for case and quietnesse, as the Prodi­torians, Curtatoriences, Vacabundi Piratorij, Iesuites, Seminacies, and generally all of the Popes Sectaries, all murderers, out-lawes and fugitiues, Banckrouts and Brokers to the diuels grace, Parasits, day sléepers, and generally all that haue fought in defence of Lecheri­tania: These are naturally giuen and inclined to idle­nesse and lazie liues, insomuch that it commeth to passe, that being hungry they will steale one from another, and often cut one anothers throates: They neuer take paines for any thing they haue, and yet they haue all thinges without money. Their Béere is of that force, and so mightie, that it serueth them in steade of meate, drinke, fire, and apparrell, which they learne of their neighbour Drinktalians to brew: And they haue the praise aboue all other, farre beyond the Darbalians, the Labourinvaynalians or the Pymlyconians.

The City Ga­zaphilacium.Close vpon this Countrey East-ward, is situate a goodly, faire, and most rich Citie, called, as I said be­fore Gazaphilacium: this Citie is very strongly defen­ced, for it is inuironed about with a wall of Siluer bea­ten out with the hammer; and yet for all this, the Inha­bitants are very couetous, and fearefull to lose that which they haue got together. And for that it is so rich and opulent; all the whole world are daylie plot­ting how to supprize the same, sometimes with polli­cie, and sometimes by force: but aboue all the rest, they are troubled and pestered with the Theuengers that they are forced day and night to kéepe continuall watch and yet for all that, doe what they can, they are so pilled and robbed by them, vpon the Sea Coasts called Mare Discontentaneum, that often times they are driuen into great extasies and perplexities.

The people Melancholy.These are altogether bent to Malancholy, and giuen much to be malecontent, for that the Sea Mare Discon­tentaneum floweth often ouer the banckes of this Coun­trey [Page] at euery full Moone; as also because this land being full of Créekes and small Riuers, which runne out and in this Sea, and the Inhabitants vsing to liue there­of; hauing little or no other water for their sustenance and contentation, dooth so worke within their bodies, such a distemperature, that thereof procéedeth a maruei­lous lumpishnesse and melancholy blockishnesse in their willes and dispositions, some to cruell murthers, others to plot Treasons, some to burne houses, and others to runne mad for reuenge; so that the Inhabitants round about them are wonderfully plagued with them, as theNot so much with the recited misde­meanors, as in cousening and deceiuing them of Victu­als, and Beere, which by long running on the Score, of­ten is seene. Eatealians, theNot so much with the recited misde­meanors, as in cousening and deceiuing them of Victu­als, and Beere, which by long running on the Score, of­ten is seene. Drunkalians,Making faire promises but no deedes. Lecheritanians, and especially the Foolianders, who oftentimes are cousened and cheated of so much siluer and riches in an houre, as they haue béene gathering and raking together in tenne yeares before.

They are of a strange Religion, for they feare neither God nor y^e diuel: their first father wasWhich is as much to say, the remem­brance of our great Grand­father Caine who was a run­nagate, for kil­ling his bro­ther Abel. Caine, frō whence procéeded the race of Runagates, for after that Caine had murdred his brother, I suppose hee ran away out of his natiue country into this new found land to hide himself, wherin he liued some few yéeres & died, whose posterity from age to age haue possessed the same. And at this day there is a monument, called in times past Canabels Now called Canabello quafi, Can and a bel: Because Cans with bels are there alto­gether vsed, such a one is in Hounsdich with vs, but it is a Polony Shoe with a Bel, that will not be left for ten pound, be­cause he hath it by inheri­tance: But Ingle-bels at the vpper end of Whit-crosse-street, comes very neere this Countrey fashion. Py­ramides; to blot out the remembrance of which, they haue inuented long Cannes and stone pottes, in forme of that monument, still retayning she forme, but altering the matter or substance.

They haue an imperiall seate of blacke and brit­tle substance, and therefore subiect to mouldering, as fast therfore as that consumes away, there are work­men daily appointed to maintain and repaire the same: there are 7. Subperbranes. wise Mast. of his councell, the wisest wherof once in foure & twenty houres, declares himselfe openly [Page] a notorious foole by custome: all their councell plotting and deuising is to surprise that goodly Citie Gazaphila­tium: their minds are as braue as Caesars, for their wils must stand for lawes: they are possest with a very hu­merous disposition of flattery, for they will looke you in the face smilingly, and in the meane time picke your pocket: And for their apparell they are so phantasticke, that to day they will goe in a sute of Sattin, and to mor­row in tottered ragges, to day a pound, and to morrow nere a penny.

Their Lan­guage.They haue a language among themselues, composed of omnium gatherum; a glimering whereof one of late daies hath endeuoured to manifest, as farre as his Au­thour is pleased to be an intelligencer; The substance whereof, he leaueth for those that will dilate thereof, en­ough for him to haue the praise, other the paines, not­withstanding Harmans ghost continually clogging his conscience with Sic vos non vobis.

Vpon their banners they display an Owle in an Iuy trée with this Motto procéeding out of his mouth, desertis desertus. Their houses are made cursary like our Coaches with foure whéeles that may be drawne from place to place, for they continue not long in a place: and although this Countrey be their owne by inheritance, yet now it is peopled and inhabited by the Eatealians, Drunkalians, and people of other nations, who do dwel and haue increased marueilously since the late discouery of this Countrey by Master I.H. Yea sometimes like to the Snaile they carry their houses about them,The fashion of their Houses. like good husbands which are made and tempered of such fine stuffe, that when they are hungry they may féede thereof; insomuch oftentimes it comes to passe, that hauingeaten vp their lodging, they are faine to lie in the strubble for want of featherbeds.

They aboue all other people obserue that auncient commaund: Care not for to morrow, for to morrow will [Page] care for it selfe; imitating the men of the olde world, who taking vpon them the habite of pilgrims and Fryars, earry neither wallet nor scripp, nor yet oftentimes any money in their purses.

Knaues-borow plaine.In a large and spatious plain called Knaues-borough plaine, doth Don-Purloyningo kéepe his Court, which many men of sundry nations and trades haue desired to sée and to behold; who when they haue had their desire, and remained but some small time there, haue so fashio­ned themselues to the manners and conditions of those people, that many haue from thenceforth turned Turks, smelled of the Countrey, and sauored of their detestable and vitious kinde of life all their daies after: and most of your trauellers hitherto are your vaine and curious Taylors, Myliners, Tyrewoman, Semsters, S. Martin obseruants, Shuttle-cocke and Farthingal makers, and twenty other occupations, who to fill the world full of vanities and toyes, care not whither they trauell, so they may finde out new fashions and fooleries to cousen and deceiue the whole Countrey againe.

Diuers villages▪In this plaine are situate diuers petty villages and hamlets, as Filchington, Foystham, Nymington, Lift­ington, Swearinghampton, the great and the little. These townes at first were made to entertaine and lodge all such Trauellers as came to sée that auncient seate of Don-Purloyningo, who were so named, as the Pharoes in Egypt, the Ptolomeys in Gréece, the Ce­sars in Rome. Now people strangers finding the Coun­trey very pleasant to inhabite, take vp their aboade and content themselues there to liue and die. The end of their trauell is not so much for curiosity, necessity or pleasure, as for their experience and learning: The rea­die high way to this pallace; and the chiefe places of a­boade and lodging in this iourney, I will bréefely set downe as fitting most directly for the Latitude of great Britaine, and generally for the whole world.

The first day then that they leaue their owne natiue Countrey, & begin to enter the Dominions of Don-Pur­loyningo, they passe along a very faire Meddow, passing pleasant to the eye, which is in the confines and vtter­most part of Foolania the lesse: but after halfe a daies iourney, they come to bogs and quagmyres, much like to them in Ireland, of which vnlesse they be very care­full, they may quickly slippe vp ouer head and eares in myre.

The first daies iourney.Hauing past the pikes of the first daies danger, they enter into a goodly faire Pallace, but inhabited by few, hauing this superscription ouer the gates, A Ethiopen la­uas, whereupon our English Trauellers call it the La­bour-in-Vaine: here many at the first are purposed to re­maine and abide: but séeing the place very spatious and without any Inhabitants, and vsed onely as a Tap-house for Trauellers, they take it for their lodging the first night, and away they hast in the morning forward on their iourney.

The second day after thrée or foure myle, they ascend very high and craggy Mountaines,The second dayes iourney farre passing the Clée or Mauluern hils in Wales, wher when they come downe againe, at the foote of these hilles standeth yet at this day, the Image of the Vicar of Saint Fooles, to which euery passenger before hee can passe, must offer vpon his knées for his passe and safe conduct through the Country of Foolania the great (Thirty Bord).

In the middle of this Countrie is built a very faire Citie called (Vanita) beautifull to the eye, but of no per­manence, for it is built after such a slight manner,The City Va­nita. that they are faine to re-edifie their houses, walls, and Tem­ples euery yeare a new: This Citie is gouerned by a woman called Madona Instabilita, Madona Insta­bita. Noting the se­uen deadly sinnes. sitting vpon an Impe­riall Throne, farre excellent beyond the seate of Rome, she weares vpon her head seuen Imperiall Diadems: she is of that power and command, that she makes the [Page] proude Pope to be at her obeysance: yea and so rules in his Dominions that his land is altogether gouerned by her and her Councell.

Their Citie walles séeme to be made of chaungeable Taffety, their houses of painted papers, of sundry cul­lours; they are busied all day about nothing but inuen­ting of new fashions, of Tires, garments, behauiours,The cities description, & the fashions of the people there. spéeches, wordes, and Othes: In their apparell phanta­sticall; their hats sometime of the Italian blocke, ano­ther while of the French, and another time of the Spa­nish: their Dublets with great bellies with the Duch­men, and small skirts; sometimes with small skirts, and sléeues seamed, and quartered, as if they were to put on Armour of proofe, to fight vnder the bloody ensigne of the Duke of Shordich: their hose sometimes Spanish, like to Ship mens hose, and sometimes close to the but­tocke like the Venetian galligascoigne: Lord, it would aske a whole Reame of paper to discribe their fashions; It were tedious likewise to speak of the variety of their Shooes, and of their Shooe-strings, Garters, Cuffes, Ruffes, Hat-bands, and all things they weare, not one moneth, nay scarse a wéeke doe they continue in one fa­shion: for their liues they are dissolute in behauiour, A­pish, doggish, and Swinish, according to the disposition of their bodies, flattering in spéech, deceitfull in words, and in Oathes not a diuell can surpasse them: In all sin they abound, because with them they haue a toleration, like to Rome, Omnia Venalia Romae. Our gallants in England come most néere them in fashions and beha­uiour: too néere them, more is the pittie. Through this Citie thou maiest passe along, but sée thou tarry not long there, onely marke them and their fashions, as superfici­ally as thou art able, least too much desiring their com­pany, thou art forced in the end to crie out thus: O paine thou art compaine too nigh.

The Fountain Tribulamenti Fons.Among the rest, this is to be noted, that in the midst [Page] of this City there issueth out of the earth, a spring in great abundance, which is walled about with Marble, and serueth the Inhabitants to bathe and wash them­selues, much like to our bathes here in Europe, onely it is of another operation: The people there call this bath Tribulamenti fons; & it runneth from thence with a swift course along the fieldes and wayes with a thousand tur­nings and wyndings, vntill it come to a stéepe promon­tory, that ouerlooketh all the countrey of Theuingen, Lecheritania, and the rest, and there maketh so great and violent a fall, that it spreadeth it selfe, and runneth round about the Countries by diuers small créekes and Riuers, where méeting with other small Springs of the same nature, run altogether, as by one consent into the Sea called Mare Discontentaneum.

The third dayes iourney.Leauing this City as well as you can, you passe a whole day along towards Theuingen, crossing this Ri­uer twenty times ouer strait and narrow bridges, vntil you come to this stéepe and high Mountaine before spo­ken of: vpon the edge whereof, dwelleth an old Hermit called father Aduisall, a man aged and of long continu­ance, and therefore well experienced in the world: a ha­ter of flattery, and a louer of truth. As soone as you come to that place, this new wel-willer of yours will straight be in hand with you to know from whence you came, whither you meane to goe in so dangerous a place, and in méere loue and pitty wil be Inquisitiue how you durst trauell without a warrant from the Magistrate of your Countrey, perswading you by all meanes, to returne back, and not venture your life in so dangerous a Coun­trey as that is, telling you that fewe returne backe the same men they were, when they first entred that land, but that some returne maymed and lame, others sicke of one disease or other, and others of frenzie and madnesse, so contaminat a place, so loathsome the manners, so de­spised a Countrey, that a man vnlesse he were halfe be­sides [Page] himselfe would neuer once desire to beholde that place. Thus, and to this effect will he speake, and many good perswasions will this good old man vse, and many motiues he will vrge you with to retire, but all in vain, for when men féele the Reines of liberty on their necks, and may take a course without controlement, such, whose lust is law, and whose will must not be control­ed for a world, little regarding all wise admonitions or sayings of the aged, doe with the vntamed Colt, and fat fedde Stéede, let flie their héeles into the ayre,Dictis tamen ille repugnat▪ Pro­positum{que} petit Flagrat{que} cupi­dine currus. and with the extrauagant and erring libertine run headlong into a thousand eminent dangers: then when the blacke Ore hath trod vpon their féete, and haue béene well bea­ten with their owne rodde, in the end they come home by wéeping crosse, and crie Pecaui, when their ambitious conceits gaines them nought but this, to comfort them in their destruction, that when by their aspiring braine, they haue procured their owne ouerthrow:Hic situs est Phaeton currus auriga patern: Quem si non tenuit, magnis tamen excidit ausis. men may say after their deaths, this fellow carried a braue minde and shot at mighty matters.

But to returne, leauing father Aduisall with his good aduise behinde, and following vice now before you, you must downe this hill (you néede no helpe downe) at the bottome whereof, you shall be at a trice. And albeit it be tenne dayes iourney vp, yet so is the stéepnes thereof, that you shall be conueyed to the bottome in halfe an ho­wer: at the foote of this Mountaine are two great port wayes, the one on the right hand,Two port waies. leading to the Coun­tryes of Lecheritania, Drunkalia and Eatealia, and the other on the left hand, leading toward Theuingen and the neighbour Countries thereabout. To leaue the right hand way for such as haue trauelled thither to discourse on,Temple of Ve­nus and her picture. we wil take our iourney toward Don Purloyningoes Pallace: this onely by the way; about tenne myles from the foote of this hill in Lecheritania standeth the Tem­ple of Venus, and there is the goodly picture of Venus fra­med [Page] of Siluer, naked in her Chariot, drawne by two Swannes and two Doues, her head bound with myr­tle leaues, a burning starre on her breast, a Globe re­presenting the earth in her right hand, and thrée golden Apples in her left, behinde her were the thrée Graces back to backe, hand in hand, and Apples in their hands: not farre off that place, is likewise to be séene the Storie of Venus her originall, liuely painted out, how Saturne de­priued his father Caelus, of those partes which were fit­test for generation, and throwing them into the Sea by wonderful power, La. Venus was made, the blood wher­of falling short, sell into the land of Theningen. which Countrey we are now about; of which sprange fierce, hote, and cruell people, with which at this day the land is mightily replenished and pestered.

The originall of these peop­ple.Concerning the originall and beginning of these peo­ple, Historiographers doe differ and disagrée: Leo He­breus out of the auncient Poet Pronapides, reports that Demogorgon perceiued that a dangerous and perniti­ous tumult was bréeding in the bowels of Chaos: wher­fore of very loue and pitie, he stretched out his hand and opened her womb, whence presently issued forth a most deformed issue called Litigium, which no sooner appeared but presently it bred brabbles, and made such a foule sturre, that it waxed proude, and stroue so mount vp to heauen: but Demogorgon soreséeing what would ensue, threwe him downe with his necke forward into this Countrey.

But others more likely, report that they came of Nep­tune and Iphimedea, which very well may be, for Nep­tunes brood is furious and vnruely, by reason of the su­perabundant store of vnbridled humors, and Iphimedea is nothing else but an obstinate and selfe-wil'd conceit, and desire; grounded in the minde, and not remoueable: such are your idle vagabonds, that after war wil betake themselues to no honest course of life to liue in, but bee [Page] robbers by the high waies, cousoners and cony-catchers, that liue by their wits, and wil not betake them to honest trades, but especially seditious & rebellious subiects in a Common-wealth, schismatical and hereticall seducers in the Church, as Brownists, Papists, Iesuites and such like. And for this cause as there was a Schoole erected for villaines in times past called Cacademica Lycaon, so called because hee was the first that did violate the lawes of truce, and league, by killing and sacrificing vn­to Iupiter a certaine hostrage, sent from the Molessi, whereof came the fable, that he set mans flesh before. Iu­piter, to trie whether he were a God or no: So the Pope now hath erected another, because this was not large enough called (Sattani Senatus) wherein is taught the arte of stabbing, poysoning, betraying, periury, treason in all degrées, blowing vp and consuming by Gun-pow­der, Wichcraft and Sorcery, Sodemytry and Bugge­rie, torments for innocents. And in truth for the archieu­ing and bringing to passe of all mischiefe: so that now if any be so minded to murder his Prince, Father or Mother, friend, wife or any else, he shalbe here protected, holpen backt, encouraged, and pardons graunted for them and their children for euer.

The fourth dayes Iourney fearefull sights and Monsters.After a daies iourney, you shall come into desarts and solitary Woodes, wherein you shall sée very strange and fearefull sights, and apparitions: there will appear to you monsters that haue faces and bodies comelylike to women, ready to allure and entice you with them, but their lower partes are vgly and deformed, hauing vpon their handes and féete sharpe clasping clawes, that if they once graspe you, you shall hard­ly escape their clutches. And if they seaze on you, they wil bring you out of the way, through distraught and seare, vntill you méete another company more horrid and terrible: Their Haire all [Page] of crawling snakes, their garments down to the héeles, close girt with a snakie girdle, serpents in the one hand and firebrands in the other, their eyes, face, and téeth portending malice and vengeance. these are the mini­sters of death, they dwell in darke dennes thereabout, their office is to bring such passengers as trauell that way to a most vnspeakeable horryd denne, out of which procéedes so noysome an exhalation, that birds as they flie ouer the same are poysoned with the very breath and ayze thereof.Auernus▪ This is that place which in the old world was called Auernus, round about which, and at the en­trance of which Caue, Virgill 6. Aenead. placeth a rable­ment, as woe, vengeance, wrath, sickenes, old age, feare, famine, penury, death, labour, sléepe, warre, discord and such like: in the midst of this Caue, is seated an Imperi­all Throane, whereon sittes the blacke Prince with a crowne on his head, a Scepter in his hand, and his great dogge Cerberus betwéene his féete, fawning on those that to leaue this way, if thou be wise, take héede of the first insinuating flatterers, leaue their pretended friendship and kéepe on thy way.

In this Country nothing is worthy of praise or com­mendation, for in all this solitary trauelling, you shall finde no comfort, but the skriching of Owles, croking of Ratiens, and such vncoth and balefull Ecchoes, the best part of your foode will be hearbe Rue, a bitter hearbe to féede on: but after when you haue better looked into your liues and carriages, you wil cal it herb-grace, your drinke is altogether of the water of that Countrey, cal­led throughout Aqua discontentanea.

The fift dayes Iourney.After two or thrée daies thus trauelling, you shall come into a faire plaine, called Knaues-borough plaine, wherein Don Purloyningo kéepes his Court; you shall at the first be made very welcome, yet so that they will narrowly spie into your carriage and behauiour: And [Page] although they pretend neuer so greate loue and friend­shippe vnto you, yet will they not sticke to cousen and deceiue you if they can, of all you haue.

And thus much for the description of the state and si­tuation of Theuingen, with the nature and disposition of the people there inhabiting. And now to giue ouer this tedious Iourney, you shall heare the protection of Don Purloyningo, sent to Corporall Fize, chiefe comman­der of Rogues, and his Assistantes. The Copy whereof is as followeth.

AT what time King Henry the sixt of famous memo­rie bare rule ouer the Britanes, there was one Iohn Mendal (alias Iack Cade) an Irish man,29. K.H. 6. that named himselfe by the name of Iohn Mortimer, cousen to the Duke of Yorke, whereupon hee gathering together a great company out of Kent, assured and perswaded them, that the enterprise he tooke in hand, was both ho­nourable to God and the King, and profitable to the whole Realme: the Kentish men moued with these per­swasions and other faire promises, marched to blacke heath, where they lay for a month pilling the Countrey round about.

At the same time, which was about one thousand foure hundred and fiftie, two vnruly fellowes (the one named Blewbeard, the other Hugh Roberts) which were lately come ouer from France, who had béen souldiers vnder the Duke of Somerset and the Earle of Shrewsbury in the winning and loosing of Constance, Guysons, Roane [Page] and diuers other Cities in France: the which Blew­beard in a Commotion, shortly after he came ouer, being made their Captaine,Roberts the first Com­mander. before he had attempted any thing at all, was taken and executed: But Roberts kéeping in Kent, gathered a number of Rakehels and Vagabonds together to the number of an hundred in that Countrey, to whom likewise masterlesse men after they heard of his fame, came cluttering on heapes, so that he had in a short space to the number of fiue hundred followers.

These sturdie Vagabonds ioyning with Iacke Men­dall in this rebellion, march toward London, and enter Southwarke, and there lodged at the white Harte for a night or two, prohibiting al from Rape, robery and mur­der, the more to allure the hearts of the people to fauour his enterprise. After, they come into London, and there they play Rex. and returne backe into Southwarke a­gaine, where, after many conflicts betwéene them and the Citizens, the Kings pardon was proclaimed: at which hearing, the poore people were so glad, and so rea­dy to receiue it, that without bidding farewell to their Captaines, withdrew themselues euery man towards his owne home.

Iack Mendall despairing of succours, and fearing the reward of his lewd dealings, fled away into the woods. But Proclamation made, that whosoeuer could bring Iacke aliue or dead to the King, should haue a thousand Markes for his paines, was after slaine by a Gentleman in Kent, and so brought to the King.

But Roberts kept himselfe in the woods closely a long time after, although not with so great a company as he had before, and there liued by robbing and spoyling in the night, and kept themselues close in all the day. And thus by the space of a twelue moneth, they passed their time in villany, robbing and spoyling the Country peo­ple of their poultry, pigges and other sustenance, where­with they sustained themselues and their families. In [Page] which time he set downe lawes and customes to be kept and obserued among them, and to kéepe them in awe and fashion, who are prone of themselues to liue out of all rule and fashion.

• 1 First he appointed that of euery thing that they got, he had first the taking and leauing of the best thereof at his pleasure.
• 2 That if any of their fellowes could not purchase any victuals or necessities for foode that night, that then they shold be in cōmons with the rest the day following.
• 3 That no robbery or violence bee vsed vpon any man within foure miles of the wood, or the place of their aboade.
• 4 That none be so hardy, as to run to the wood for succor or reléefe, after he hath perpetrated any thing, lest that hugh and crie follow, and so discrie the whole com­pany.

Thus after a yeare and vpward was spent by them in this sort, they brake vp their Campe, and Proclamati­on was made, to méete there in that place euery thrée yeares for a memoriall, if they then liued: In the meāne time they spread themselues abroad in the Countrey, some remaining there, others trauelling North-ward, and ioyne themselues with the Duke of Yorke, and ge­nerally in all Commotions and rebellions. These in me­mory of there first acquaintance and loue to their new found Captaine, called themselues by the name of Ro­berts-men, as the seruants of Hugh Roberts their Com­maunder.

This Roberts liued rouing vp & down the country for the space of ten years: in which time he kept his Court daies as himselfe listed, and in which time there came to him diuers new followers, and as some decay­ed and died, some hanged & dead of the poxe (for to that end they all come) so others succéeded in their places.

In the first yeare of Edward the fourth, this Roberts in [Page] the warres against Henry the sixt in the North partes (who was deposed) was there slaine, besides 36776. per­sons all Englishmen.

Hereupon presently (their late Captaine now dead) all that were left aliue of this company, hye themselues to their wonted place of méeting, where, by the generall assent, they chose one (Ienkin Cowdiddle) to bee their ring-leader.

This Ienkin Cowdiddle was a man giuen much to swearing, drunkennesse and lechery:Ienkin Cow­diddle. 2. he was neuer out of England as souldier or traueller, but from his first be­ginning he continued a wandring rogue, he was stout of stomacke, audacious and fierce, hee was knowne to all the damned crew for a boone companion, and therefore chosen as fittest for their Captaine: hee first ordained, that none were so hardy as to haue the vndooing of a maid wanderer, or any thing to do with her, vnlesse first she were brought to him to be broken vp, or to some of his assignes, that could obtain the same of him by friend­ship or bribery.

Hee commaunded likewise that all beggers should spend all their gettings in the day past,A Custome. in good Béere or Ale at night, or at the fardest by saterday night: and if any were found or knowne to haue aboue two pence half peny in his purse on munday morning, he shold for­feit a dousen of béere, to any whatsoeuer of their compa­ny would challenge it. He exercised his commaund about tenne yeares, vntill the time that the great rebel­lion and vprore was in the Western parts, as Summer­setshire, Wilshire, Dorset-shire and Cornewall, about the crowning of Prince Edw. son to K. H. 6. who had béen all this while in France: and this fell out about the 11. yeare of Edw. 4. then this Ienkin Cowdiddle accompanied with 300. tottered knaues,Edw. 4.11. yeer 1471. ioyned in battell against the K. with the westerne men, in which battell at Teuxbury he was slaine, and buried there with the rest of the dead bodies.

The battel ended, these Robert-men (for so they were termed a long time after) hye them to their Kandauow, their vsuall and knowne place,Spising 3. and there with the full consent of the whole company, They chose one Spysing to be his successour.

And now when as the feast and solemnizing of this new made squire was newly ended, news was brought to this Spising, how that one Thomas Neuell sonne to Fankenbridge (who had béene at Sea as a Pirate, and robbed diuers Merchants) was newly arriued in Eng­land, and got a great company of Marriners out of all parts of the land, and many traytors and misgouerned people to follow him, whereunto as fitly for his turne this Spising accompanies and enters into league and fa­miliarity, besides diuers also forth of other Countries that delighted in theft and robberies.

And now his strength encreased daily, for hauing bin at Callice, and brought from thence into Kent many e­uill disposed persons, he began to gather his power in that Country, meaning to attempt some great and wic­ked enterprise against King Edward and his Kingdome, but his quarrell he pretended, was to haue King Henry the sixt out of the Towre, and to restore him to his Scep­ter againe. Thus accompanied with seuentéene thou­sand men, they marched into London by shippes which lay betwéene Blacke wall and Redriffe: and then came Spising with his hand at Algate, who behaued them­selues stoutly, that they wan the Bulwarke there, and draue the Citizens backe within the Port cullis, and en­tred the gate with them to the number of a dousen; but some of them were slaine with the fall of the Port cullis, that was let downe vpon them to kéepe the residue out: but those that were within the wals was suddenly dis­patcht.

To be short, at last the Bastard was vanquished and vtterly dispaired; for hearing the King comming with [Page] thirtie thousand men, durst stay no longer, but brake vp and dispersed themselues some one way, and some ano­ther. The Bastard with his Mariners and such rebels, robbers & wicked persons, as sought nothing but spoile, got them to Ship-board as fast as they could. Those that were left behinde, and those of Spysings company lurked a day or two about the Contrey secretly in woods, vn­till they thought the coastes to be clear, and after met at their wonted place, where they, as merry as pot and canne passe their time in villany and robbery.

This Spising was a man giuen to voluptuousnesse, pleasure, and delight in Bowsing and Venery: He or­dered, that euery one that professed himselfe a Wande­rer, and taking vpon him the occupation of begging, shal be stauled to the order of rogues; that is,A Custome. hee shall bee brought to the chiefe Commander then being, and there he shall shew the cause of his going abroad, and what Countrey man he is: which done, he payes a dousen of béere as a fine for his fréedome and Instaulment, and so is permitted to liue and die a rogue: but if he be borne a rogue: that is, if his Grandfather were one, so that con­sequently he must be one also, such a one shall bee fréely discharged from such enstaulement, as being made frée by his fathers copie. This Spising about the first yeare of King Edward the fift, committed a robbery and murder (néere High-gate in Middlesex) where after he fledde and tooke sanctuary at Westminster,K. Edw. 5.3, 1483. for these places in that time were wonderfully abused by wicked men: rable­ments of Théeues, Murderers and Traytors would thither flocke when they had atchieued any villany, vn­thrifts ryot and runne in debt vpon boldnesse of these places, rich men runne thither with poore mens goods; there they build and there they spend, and bid their cre­ditors goe whistle, mens wiues runne thither with their husbands plate, and say they dare not abide with their husbands, for feare of beating: Theeues bring in thi­ther [Page] their stolne goods, and there liue vpon them vntill al is spent, and when nothing is left, they againe in the night range abroad to séeke other booties: there they de­uise new plots to rob and kill, and then to come in again at their pleasure: so those places did not only giue them safegard for their villanies, but a license also to do more. Such a one was this Spysing for a yeare or two before he was hanged; for being taken the second time at Wom­burne in Stafford shire, for killing a man in a drunken humour, was presently apprehended, and carried to the Goale, and after hanged all saue the head: he Dominée­red about eleuen yeares.

Not long after, when certaine newes was blased a­broad of their Captaines confusion, they chose a nota­ble swaggering rogue called Puffing Dicke, to reuell o­uer them,Puffing Dicke the fourth. who plaid reuell rout with them indéede: in this Squire there were no villanies left vnattempted, but he was still at the one end.

He first gaue termes to robbers by the high way, that such as robbe on horse-backe were called high lawy­ers,2. Sorts of robbers by the way. The first sort. and those who robbed on foote, he called Padders: the difference of these two sorts of villanes is this.

The first sort are called Gent. robbers or théeues; and these ride on horses well appointed, and goe in shew like honest men: the other robbe on fooke, and haue no other helpe but a paire of light héeles and a thicke woode, Concerning the first sort, that delight in the credite of a high Lawyer, that with their swords fréeboote abroad in the countrey like Cauileroes on horse-backe, are com­monly such men, that eyther are younger brethren, who being brought vp in idlenesse and gaming, when their friends are dead, do fall to this kind of life to maintaine the maine chance: others againe being left well by their friends, hauing no gouernement of themselues, but ban­queting with Whores, and making late suppers, doe greatly impouerish and begger themselues: and when [Page] all is spent after this manner, and their money wasted like snow against the Sunne: they for their Vltimum re­fugium, as forced to vndertake this wretched and abhor­red profession, robbing honest poore men, and taking all their money from them, yea and often more then is their owne, to the vtter vndoing of their poore man, his wife and children for euer, who when they haue it, wast it as vain­ly as they wickedly purchast it. And others, that hauing béene souldiers when they come from the warres, ey­ther by breaking vp of the Campe, or by running away from their colours to sée their friends, or what way soe­uer, cannot betake themselues to any honest trade of life, but louing to liue in idlenesse, betake themselues to rob­bing and stealing, vntill they be taken and carried west­ward there to make their rehersall.

These fellowes first that they may not be knowne, be­speake and get such artificial beards and heads of haire, that although you ride, dine, and sup with them from day to day, you shall not be able to discerne them, nor e­spie their falshood. And in this practise all their villany consists: for I haue heard and partly know a high-way lawyer rob a man in the morning, and hath dined with the martin or honest man so robbed the same day at an Inne being not descried, nor yet once mistrusted or su­spected for the robbery.

Their knauery is on this manner; they haue alwaies good geldings and trusty, which they can make Cur­tailes when they list, and againe set too large tailes, hanging to the fetlockes at their pleasure, yea and so ar­tificially, that it shall not be perceiued or spied of the Ostler that dresseth them: besides they haue clokes Tor­mosant, as they call them, made with two out-sides, that weare them howsoeuer the right side will bee alwaies outward: now their artificiall beards and heads of haire withall, will make them séeme to dance in a net a long time ere they be espied. Now how easie it is for [Page] them to escape all dangers, all Hues and Cries, it may easily be perceiued, for the complexion of the man, and his beard, the garments that he weares, and the making of his horse, thrée things which are the especiall markes whereby notice is taken to make enquiry: which being chaunged and altered, they may escape as safely as they did the robbery.

The other sort of robbers, that hauing no meanes to relieue them, in stead of swift courses to eschue danger, flie away vpon their trustie tenn-toes into woodes and close places, there to continue vntill Hue and Crie bee past: these fellows we are counterfeit beards and heads of haire, as the other sort doe, vsing not many words, but Stand and deliuer: some will haue curst and man kind Masties following them, to further and helpe them in this enterprise: some vnder the name of the vpright man or souldier as they goe through townes, begge the chari­table deuotion of people, they will goe also strongly with thrée or foure in a company to a farme house, where of­tentimes they are relieued more for feare then deuotion: but when they can come in place where they may con­ueniently take a purse, it shall goe hard but that they will eyther win the horse or loose the saddle▪ although their hardy aduenture be paid home with a cracke of the best ioynt they haue after.

The first cou­soner at dice.But to returne againe to Puffing Dicke; this diuell incarnate, as he was bold to attempt any wicked enter­prise, so he wanted not wit first to lay the plot to atchieue it, and to bring it to passe. He vsed first the cousenage at dice, and to inuent for that purpose false dice, whereby he got much money. But as it was ill got, so was it as ill spent in all manner of vice that could bee named, wherein he excelled all before him: yet this by the way, it is reported of him, that he was frée from murder, and commanded, that whosoeuer vnder his conduct, was so cruell as to murder any man or woman in the attempt [Page] of robbing them, should forthwith be discouered to be ap­prehended: he likewise ordered that all high lawyers, padders, Lifts, Foists, Cheaters or Cony-catchers,A Custome. shal not presume to purchase any landes or reuenues, nor whord vp their money to the hinderance of good fellow­ship, maintenance of good natured damsels, and im­peachment of the fraternity: but that they shall hearti­ly spend it, among good company and fellowes, such as themselues are, and as they came lightly by it, so lightly to let it flie: he was a man crafty and bolde, yet he died miserably; for after he had commanded now fully eight years, he had the pyning of the Poxe and Neapolitane Scurffe. And here an end of Puffing Dicke.

Lawrence Crosbiter 5. The first in­uenter of crosbiting.In his place was chosen by the consent of the rable­ment, one not much inferiour in vice to the former, but in regard of manhood a méere crauant, called Lawrence Crosbiter, or long Lawrence. This Lawrence had béene brought vp all his daies a Seruing-man, and now being about fiftie or thrée score, at what time Seruingmen are past the best, and commonly grow lasie, was cast out of seruice, and so was faine to liue among the wicked, sometimes a stander for the padder, sometimes a verser for the cony-cacher, somtimes a stale for a foyst, but most commonly an Apple-squire for a trudging house: he first vsed that art which now is named Crosbiting, and from whose name, this damned art (Crosbiting) tooke her first call, as of Lawrence Crosbiter that first inuented the same. The manner in breefe is thus: Some base rogue without the feare of God or man, that kéepeth a whore as a friend, or marries one to be his maintainer, consents or constraines those creatures to yéelde the vse of their bodies to other men, that so taking them together, they may strip the leacher of all the money in his purse or that he can presently make.

He commaunded about sixe yeares, and then as he li­ued in filthinesse, so was his end, for it was reported that [Page] his bowels were eaten out with the poxe, whilst he was yet aliue, so miserable was the end of this wretch.

All these sixe yeares that this Lawrence liued in his controulment, he durst neuer be so hardy as once to aide Perken VVarbeck, in the attempting of the Crowne: so slauish was his mind, and giuen to cowardize, for all the time that he bare rule among his companions, which was from 1491. vntil 1497. did Perkin VVarbeck assay to win the kingdom, fayning himselue to bee the Duke of Yorke, son to K. Edw. 4. deceased: to the bringing to passe of which deuise, he assayed many waies, plotted diuers deuises, and attempted mighty matters, and yet all in vaine, for after almost sixe yeares (all which time he was busied about this enterprise) he was taken prisoner, af­ter he had taken Sanctuary at Bewdly not farre from Southampton.

To set down the whole story of this Perkin Warbeck it would be long, & besides from the matter now in hand: but because the sequell of the story a little concerneth vs, I will bréefely runne it ouer: and thus it was.

Perkin War­beck his pede­gree.He was a man base of stocke, a Flemin by birth, and prouoked to faine himselfe the sonne of K. Edward 4. by the Duches of Burgony, sister to King Edward 4.

He first went into Ireland out of Fraunce, to entice the Irish to rebell, after called backe by the French King to goe against King Henry the seuenth then inua­ding Fraunce: after this he lands in Kent, purposing to prooue the people, how they were affected towards him: hereupon hee sends some of his men out of the Shippes to know their minds: but they were sudden­ly taken by the Sheriffe of Kent, and railed in ropes like horses in Carts, were adiudged most to be hanged; but Perkin hoysts vp his sails at these tydings,Sayles into Scotland and marries the Kings kinse­woman. & away sailes he again into Ireland, where he staies not long, being a place not sit for his turne, the people being poore & naked, he sayles into Scotland, where after a smooth long Ora­tion, [Page] to the King hee is royally entertained by the said King: afterward the King to perswade the world y^e all was true, espouseth the La. Katharine, He goes a­gainst Engl. daughter to Alex­ander Earle of Huntley his nigh kinseman, to him: then go they both against England, wasting all Northumber­land, & committing many outrages and enormities:Retyres. but when they saw no aid to come from England they retire; after Perkin (vpon the truce betwéen England and Scot­land) with his wife saile into Ireland again:After into Cornewall. from thence cuts ouer into Cornwal, wher he gathered to him aboue 3000. persons, all promising him to take his part, and fol­low him till death.

His three Councellors.First then by the aduise of his Councellours, Iohn Heron Mercer, a Bankrout, Richard Skelton a Taylor, and Iohn Asteley a Scriuener, they assay the winning of Exeter, where for lacke of Munition for Warre, and Ordnance to breake open the Gates, they endeuoured by casting of stones,They assay to win Exet. lifting with I­ron barres, and kindling of fires vnder the Gates, to bring to passe their purpose: much a doo there was heere about this enterprise: But when hee heard the King comming with his power, hee remooues to Taunton, and the King after him:He takes San­ctuary at Bewdley. vppon this hee flies to Bewdley, and there takes Sanctuary, but after péeldes himselfe to the mercy of the King, who being deliuered to the Kings Guard carefully to be kept, not­withstanding escapeth, and thought to get ouer into Flanders: but the Sea coasts being all laid that he could not passe, he was in a great perplexity, came backe to the Prior of Shéene besides Richmond, and there in­treats the Prior, euen for Gods sake to beg his life of the King: The K. at the request of the Prior pardoned him, but was set in the stocks at Westminst. hal doore a whole day, & so like wise y^t next day was he set on a Scaffold at the Standard in Cheapside, with many mocks & reui­lings cast against him: being now in hold again by false [Page] perswasions and great promises corrupted his kéepers, and would haue fledde away, but his purposes being knowne,Executed at Tyburne. he was at last apprehended, taken, and executed at Tiburne, he and his kéepers. And this is the end of Perkin Warbecke: Lawrence Crosbiter now dead, and Perkin VVarbecke, with two of his Councellors Hearne and Asteley, fledde to Sanctuary: it booted not the com­pany to stay there,1497. but their chiefe leaders fledde, euerie one threw away his armour as people amazed, and be­take themselues to their heeles: among the rest Skelton a notable knaue, one of Perkins Councellors before menti­oned,H. 7.13. being well knowne among the Rascalitie, was led to the wonted place of méeting, and there solemnely was stawled a rogue, and made their generall.

This Skelton was sometimes a Taylor in Taunton in Sommerset shire,Skelton 6. who being blowne downe with an vnfortunate blast, was forc't and ready for any Commo­tion or rebellion: he was of a proude and haughty dispo­sition: he liued in this new Gouernment vntill about the fourth yeare of King Henry the right, which was in the yeare 1501.

This fellow among other decrées and orders confir­med this: That if any one vsing the necessary helpe of his crutches (although indéede hee hath not any néede or vse of them,A custome. but onely to deceiue people therewith) shall at any time forsake them for a time, either to runne for a wager with another, or to play at nine holes, loggets or bowles, or any other game, so that he be séene and mar­ked by some that haue séene him else-where with his crooches halting, and by them so challenged for a coun­terfeit rogue, he shall forfeite for euery such offence two dousen of béere, as a fine for disgracing so ancient a trade as peregrination.

After him succéeded by the Generall Councell, one Cocke Lorrell, Cock Lorrell 7 K. H. 8.4.1511. the most notorious knaue that euer liued: by trade he was a Tinker, often carrying a panne and a [Page] hammer for a shew: but when he came to a good booty, he would cast his profession in a ditch, and play the pad­der and then would away, and as hee past through the towne, would crie, Ha you any worke for a Tinker. To write of his knaueries, it would aske a long time: I re­ferre you to the old manuscript, remayning on record in maunders hall.

This was he that reduced and brought in forme the Catalogue of Vagabonds or quarterne of knaues called the fiue and twentie orders of knaues:The quarters of knaues made by Cock Lorrell. but because it is extant and in euery mans shop, I passe them ouer.

And now about this time, when as warres abroade, and troubles domesticall were ended, swarmed in euery part of the land these Caterpillers, like slies against a plague: in the northerne partes another sort of Vaga­bonds (at the diuels-arse-a-peake in Darbishire) began a new regiment,Aegyptians, calling themselues by the name of Egip­tians: These were a sort of rogues, that liued and do yet liue by cousening and deceit, practising the arte called le­gerdemaine, or fast and loose, whereby they got to them­selues no small credite among the Countrey people by their déepe dissembling and deceitfull practises, féeding the common people wholly addicted and giuen to no­uelties, toyes and new fangles, delighting them with the strangenesse of the attire of their heads, and practi­sing palmistry to such as would know their fortunes.

The first that inuented this new fellowship was one Giles Hather: he carried about with him his whore cal­led (Kyt Calot) which was termed the Quéene of Egip­ties:Kyt Calot. they goe alwaies neuer vnder an hundred men or women, causing their faces to be made blacke, as if they were Egyptians: they wander vp and down the Coun­try as it pleaseth them best, with their horses to carry their bastards and baggage after them: and when they come into any countrey towne, they pittifully cousen the [Page] poore countrey girles, both of money, siluer and the best linnen onely in hope to heare their good fortunes tould them.

Read of these in the first pagAfter a certaine time that these vp-start Lossels had got vnto a head; the two chiefe Commaunders of both these regiments met at the Diuels-arse-a-peake, there to parle and intreate of matters that might tend to the establishing of this their new found gouernment: and first of all they thinke it fit to deuise a certaine kinde of language,Canting, when brought vp. to the end their cousenings, knaueries and vil­lanies might not be so easily perceiued and knowne, in places where they come: And this their language they spunne out of thrée other tongues, viz. Latine, English, and Dutch: these thrée especially, nothwithstanding some few words they borrowed of the Spanish and French. They also gaue names to such persons of their company according to the kind of life that he vndertooke: as for ex­ample, A common begger or rogue, they termed a Clap­per-dudgeon, one that counterfeited the falling sicknes, they termed him a counterfeit Cranke, for Cranke in their language is the falling sickenesse, and so Counter­feit Cranke is the false falling sickenesse: and so of the rest.

This Cocke Lorrell continued among them longer then any of his predecessours before him, or after him: for he ruled almost two and twentie yeares, vntil the yeare An. Dom. 1533. and about the sixe and twenty yeare of K. Henry the eight.

1 He made among other,Orders. these Statutes among them, that whosoeuer he be, that being borne and bred vp in the trade of maunding, nipping and foisting for the space of tenne years, and hath not the right dexterity in his fingers to picke a pocket, but is faine to cloy his fellowes, and cowarly to demand scrappage; such a one is to be knowne and brought hither to be fined for his [Page] faint-heartednesse: and it such a one after venter and be taken vpon the first fault, let him know, that he is going the high way to perdition without pitty, as a iust pu­nishment for his folly, that he betooke himselfe so soone to the occupation.

2. Item, We thinke it méet that none eate meat, as Pigges, Capons, Géese or such like, vnlesse he purchase it by priuie pilfery and cleanely conueyance, neither shal they be merry in euery Bowsing Ken or Alehouse as they list, but in some odde out-house remote from dwel­lers: a Stawling ken that is knowne of purpose to be trusty, yea and that in the night too, least they be notifi­ed and suspected, to the scandalizing of the profession: neither shall they be merry out of measure, least by their extraordinary noyses, the Constable and Watch men take them, and so carry them to ward, as a iust punish­ment for their presumptuous and vnordinate procéed­ings: for which some of late daies haue wofully felt the smart.

Captaine Giles Hather first beganne in Anno Domini one thousand fiue hundred twenty and eight: concerning whom, there is nothing made mention of, but of his cou­sonage and deceit, for these kinde of people liued more quietly and out of harme in respect of the other sort, ma­king themselues as strangers, and would neuer put forth themselues in any tumult or Commotion, as the other sort did: but what vice they exercised not one way, they were not inferiour to them in the like, or ra­ther worse another way; so that what betwéene them both, they were two pestiferous members in a Com­mon-wealth: but I will leaue them both, and pray for a prosperous winde to bring my Barke to the wished port of her desire, which is to be fauoured and well liked of in your sight: which if good fortune fauour me so much, I shall be bouldened once more to play the Merchant ven­turer: [Page] at whose second arriuall I will present you with things more strange, not farre fetcht but déerely bought, and wherein, if license may be permitted, I will procéed and set downe the successours from Cocke Lorrell vntill this present day, and who at this day beares the greatest sway amongst them.

FINIS.