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ONIV.DF 

TORONTO 

...:,,_.. 


THE  EOGUES  AND  VAGABONDS 


OF 


SHAKSPERE'S   YOUTH. 


PRESENTED 
TO   HIS   FELLOW   MEMBERS   OF 


BY 


P.  J.  FURNIVALL. 


ROXBURGHE   AND   BAGFORD   BALLAD  WOODCUTS   OF   BAGGARS,    &C., 

here,  and  on  the  backs  of  the  Title-pages  too. 


OF 


DESCRIED     BY 

Jn.  AWDELEY  in  his  Fraternitye  of  Vacabondes,  1561-73, 

Tlios.  HARMAN  in  his  Caueat  for  Common  Cursetors,  156"-73, 

and  in  The  GroundivorJce  of  Conny-catching,  1592. 


EDITED    BY 

EDWARD  VILES  &  F.  J.  FURN1VALL 

IN   1869  FOR   THE   EARLY  ENGLISH  TEXT  SOCIETY, 

AND   NOW    REPRINTED. 


PUBLISHT    FOR 


J&eto  Sfjafespere  Socutg 

BY  K   TRUBNER  &  CO.,  57,  59,  LUDGATE  HILL, 
LONDON,  E.G.,  1880. 


<8erie0  VI.  No.  7. 

BUNG  AY  :     CLAY   ANT)   TAYLOR,    THE    CHAUCEIl   PRESS. 


FORETALK. 


THE  550  copies  of  this  Book  that  I  hand  over  to  the  Society  towards  making 
up  its  issue  for  this  year,  1880,  are  but  a  token  of  repentance  for  my  oversight 
:in  ordering  Part  II.  of  my  edition  of  Stubbes's  Anatotnie  to  be  sent  out  last 
year,  when  there  was  no  money  to  pay  for  it,  instead  of  keeping  it  back 
for  this  year.  Not  being  able  to  afford  a  fresh  book,  I  can  only  offer  this 
reprint  of  an  old  one,  which  was  used  in  part  by  Harrison  in  his  Description 
of  England,  I.  218-219,  and  which  I  have  always  intended  should  form  one  of 
our  ShaJtspere1  s-England  Series.  (My  Captain  Cox,  or  Laneham's  Letter  on 
the  Kenilworth  Festivities  in  1575  (Ballad  Soc.),  should  form  another,  when 
money  can  be  found  for  it.) 

Thomas  Barman's  Will  (p.  xiv,  below)  I  couldn't  find  at  Doctors'  Commons 
when  I  searcht  for  it,  though  three  John-Harman  wills  of  his  time  turnd  up. 

The  print  of  the  Stationers'  Registers  calld  for  at  p.  xxvi,  has  since  been 
produc't  by  Mr.  Arber,  to  whose  energy  we  are  all  so  much  indebted  for  such 
numbers  of  capital  texts  ;  and  the  book  only  needs  an  Index  to  be  of  real  use. 
The  entries  on  p.  ii,  vi,  vii,  below,  are  in  Arber's  Transcript,  i.  157,  334,  345. 
(See  too  i.  348,  369.f)  The  Hunterian  Club,  Glasgow,  reprinted,  in  1874, 
S.  Rowlands's  Martin  Mark-all  (p.  xvi,  below)  from  the  text  of  1610,  in  its 
handsome  edition  of  all  Rowlands's  works. 

As  connected,  more  or  less,  with  the  Vagabonds  of  London,  I  add,  overleaf, 
a  copy  of  the  curious  cut  of  the  notorious  Southwark  brothel,  '  Holland's 
Leaguer  \  in  1632,  on  which  Mr.  Rendle  has  commented  in  his  "  Bankside, 
Southwark,"  Harrison,  Part  II.  p.  ix-x.,  and  the  site  of  which  is  shown  on 
the  left  of  our  first  plan  from  Roque's  Map,  ib,  p.  67*. 

The  Brothel  is  shown,  says  Mr.  Ebsworth,  (Amanda  Ballads,  1880,  p.  607*), 
fortified  and  sentried,  as  kept  by  a  Mrs.  Holland,  before  1631.  "  The  picture 
was  frontispiece  of  a  quarto  pamphlet,  '  Holland's  Leaguer  ;  or,  an  Historical 
Discourse  of  the  Life  and  Actions  of  Donna  Britanica  Hull  idia,  the  Arch 
Mistris  of  the  wicked  women  of  Eutopia  :  wherein  is  detected  the  notorious 
sinne  of  Pandarisme,'  etc.,  sm.  4to.  printed  by  A.  M.  for  Richard  Barnes, 
1632.  .  .  . 

"  Holland's  Leaguer  claimed  to  be  an  island  out  of  the  ordinary  jurisdiction. 
The  portcullis,  drawbridge,  moat,  and  wicket  for  espial,  as  well  as  an  armed 
bully  or  Pandar  to  quell  disagreeable  intruders,  if  by  chance  they  got 
admittance  without  responsible  introduction,  all  point  to  an  organized  system. 
There  were  also  the  garden-walks  for  sauntering  and  'doing  a  spell  of 
embroidery,  or  fine  work,'  i.  e.  flirtation ;  the  summer-house  that  was  pro- 
verbially famous  or  infamous  for  intrigues,  and  the  river  conveniently  near  for 
disposal  of  awkward  visitors  who  might  have  met  with  misadventure. 

"  Shackerly  Marmion's  '  excellent  comedy,'  Holland's  Leaguer,  1632,  was 
reprinted  in  1875,  in  William  Paterson  of  Edinburgh's  choice  series,  Dramatists 
of  the  Restoration.  The  fourth  act  gives  an  exposure  of  the  Leaguers'  garri- 
son, where  riot,  disease,  and  robbery  are  unchecked.  Thus  Trimalchio  says, 

'  I  threw  thy  Cerberus  a  sleepy  morsel, 
And  paid  thy  Charon  for  my  waftage  over, 
And  I  have  a  golden  sprig  for  my  Proserpina. 
Bawd :    Then  you  are  welcome,  Sir  ! ' 

f  i.  270  :  A  ballett  intituled  Tom  Tell  Truth,  A.D.  1565  ;  and  i.  307,  '  an  interlude, 
the  Cniell  Detter  by  Wager,'  licenst  to  Colwell  in  1565-6. 


FORETALK    TO    REPRINT    OF    1880. 


"  Yet  before  long  the  visitors  are  shouting  c  Murder !    Murder  1' 

'  They  have  spoiled  us 

Of  our  cloaks,  our  hats,  our  swords,  and  our  money. 
My  brother  talked  of  building  of  a  score,  [i.  e.  "  Tick  it."] 
And  straight  they  seized  our  cloaks  for  the  reckoning.'  " 

"  The  long-credit  system  did  not  suit  at  that  establishment  where  the  health 
and  lives  of  visitors  were  uninsured.  The  Proprietress  had  early  declared  the 
free  list  to  be  entirely  suspended  : 

*  I'll  take  no  tickets  nor  no  future  stipends. 
'Tis  not  false  titles,  or  denominations 
Of  offices  can  do  it.     I  must  have  money. 
Tell  them  so.     Draw  the  bridge.'— (Act  iv.  sc.  2.)  " 


0| 


BY  JOHN  AWDELEY 

(LICENSED  IN  1560-1,  IMPEINTED  THEN,  AND  IN  1565) 
FROM   THE   EDITION    OF    1575    IN    THE   BODLEIAN   LIBRARY. 

Caiteat  m  Harming  for  dDoimen  Cursors 

iralpwlj  aM  f  aplMTO 
BY  THOMAS  HAKMAN  ESQUIERE, 

FROM  THE  3RD  EDITION  OF  1567,  BELONGING  TO  HENRY  HUTH,  ESQ. 

COLLATED   WITH   THE   2ND   EDITION    OF    1567   IN   THE   BODLEIAN 

LIBRARY,    OXFORD,    AND   WITH   THE   REPRINT   OF   THE 

4TH   EDITION    OF    1573. 


in  H$mm  at  Cfmfos  anlr  Cjrietarjr 
BY  PARSON  HABEN  OR  HYBERDYNE, 

FROM  THE  LANSDOWNE  MS.  98,  AND  COTTON  VESP.  A.  25. 


THOSE  PARTS  OF 

(tonitorte  rf  C0tttt{-ofc|r8j  (ed.  1592) 

THAT  DIFFER  FROM  BARMAN'S  CAUEAT. 


EDITED   BY 

EDWARD  YILES  &  F,  J,  FURNIYALL 


LONDON: 

PUBLISHED  FOE  THE   EAKLY  ENGLISH  TEXT  SOCIETY, 
BY  K  TRUBKER  &  CO.,  60,  PATERNOSTER  ROW. 

MDCCCLXIX. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


AWDELEY'S  Fraternity*,  not  plagiarized  from,  but  pub- 

lished 'a  fewe  yeares'  before,  Barman's  Caueat  ...  i 

HARMAN'S  Caueat  :  two  states  of  tlie  2nd  edition.     The 

latter,  now  called  the  3rd  edition,  is  reprinted  here          ...  v 

Piraters  from  Harman  :  Bynnyman,  and  Gr.  Dewes                ...  vi 

Short  account  of  Thomas  Harman    ...           ...           ...         ...  vii 

HAEEISON'S  quotation  of  Harman,  and  his  account  of  English 

Vagabonds,  and  the  punishments  for  them          ...           ...  xi 

TJie  Groundmorlte  of  Conny  -catching  is  a  reprint  of  Harman's 

Caveat,  with  an  Introduction     ...           ...           ...           ...  xiv 

DEKKEE'S  Belman  of  London  :  its  borrowings  from  Harman  xiv 
S.  ROWLANDS'S  Martin,  Mark-all  shows  up  Dekker,  and  has 

new  Cant  words             ...          ...           ...           ...          ...  xvi 

DEKKEE'S  I/ant  horn  and  Candle-light  borrows  from  Har- 

man :  Canting  Song  from  it      ...           ...           ...           ...  xix 

The  Caterpillars  of  this  Nation  anatomized              ...           ...  xxi 

A  Warning  for  Housebreakers        ...           ...           ...           ...  xxi 

Street  Robberies  considered  ...  ...  ...  ...  xxii 

Parson  HABEN'S  or  HYBERDYNE'S  Sermon  in  Praise  of 

Thieves  and  TJiievery  ...          ...          ...          ...          xxiv 

Shares  in  the  present  work         ...         ...         ...          ...          xxiv 

1.  ^fotoleg's  Jratermtge  of  %wahoxto&,  with  fyt  .xxb.  <$rb,erg  0f 

Sworn  (p.  12-16)        ...............         1-16 

2.  Jparman's  Caw-eat  or  iEarremttg  far  Commw  €bmtau  bul- 

garelg  .called  iagafomea  ...............       17-91 

3.  Uars0tt  HJshw's  (or  pgkrbgne's)  ^^rmoit  in  Braise  of 

f^ieo^  anb  Sljwoerg    ...............       92-95 

4.  fy\t  (Hro«nbojorK  of  Cxmng-eaUjprtg  :  those  parts  that  are 

not  reprinted  from  Harman's  Caueat  ......      96-103 

5.  ntax       ......  ......    104-111 


PREFACE. 


IP  the  ways  and  slang  of  Vagabonds  and  Beggars  interested 
Martin  Luther  enough  to  make  him  write  a  preface  to  the  Liber  Vaga- 
torum1  in  1528,  two  of  the  ungodly  may  be  excused  for  caring,  in 
1869,  for  the  old  Rogues  of  their  English  land,  and  for  putting 
together  three  of  the  earliest  tracts  about  them.  Moreover,  these 
tracts  are  part  of  the  illustrative  matter  that  we  want  round  our  great 
book  on  Elizabethan  England,  Harrison's  Description  of  Britain,  and 
the  chief  of  them  is  quoted  by  the  excellent  parson  who  wrote  that 
book. 

The  first  of  these  three  tracts,  Awdeley's  Fraternitye  of  Vaca- 
bondes,  has  been  treated  by  many  hasty  bibliographers,  who  can  never 
have  taken  the  trouble  to  read  the  first  three  leaves  of  Harman's 
book,  as  later  than,  and  a  mere  pilfering  from,  Harman's  Caueat.  ]Sro 
such  accusation,  however,  did  Harman  himself  bring  against  the 
worthy  printer-author  (herein  like  printer-author  Crowley,  though  he 
was  preacher  too,)  who  preceded  him.  In  his  Epistle  dedicatory  to 
the  Countes  of  Shrewsbury,  p.  20,  below,  Harman,  after  speaking 
of  '  these  wyly  wanderers,'  vagabonds,  says  in  1566  or  1567, 

There  was  a  fewe  yeares  since  a  small  breefe  setforth  of  some  zelous 
man  to  his  countrey, — of  whom  I  knowe  not, — that  made  a  lytle  shewe 
of  there  names  and  vsage,  and  gaue  a  glymsinge  lyghte,  not  sufficient 
to  perswade  of  their  peuishe  peltinge  and  pickinge  practyses,  but  well 
worthy  of  prayse. 

1  Liber  Vagatorum  :  Der  Hetler  Orden :  First  printed  about  1514.  Its 
first  section  gives  a  special  account  of  the  several  orders  of  the  '  Fraternity  of 
Vagabonds  ; '  the  2nd,  sundry  notabilia  relating  to  them  ;  the  3rd  consists  of  a 
'  Eotwelsche  Vocabulary,'  or  '  Canting  Dictionary.'  See  a  long  notice  in  the 
Wiemarisches  Jahrbuch,  vol.  10  ;  1856.  Hotten's  Slang  Dictionary  :  Biblio- 
graphy. 


ii  AWDELEY'S  FRATERNITTE  OF  VACABONDES. 

This  description  of  the  *  small  breefe,'  and  the  '  lytle  shewe '  of 
the  *  names  and  vsage,'  exactly  suits  Awdeley's  tract ;  and  the  '  fewe 
yeares  since '  also  suits  the  date  of  what  may  be  safely  assumed  to 
be  the  first  edition  of  the  Fraternitye,  by  John  Awdeley  or  John 
Sampson,  or  Sampson  Awdeley, — for  by  all  these  names,  says  Mr 
Payne  Collier,  was  our  one  man  known : — 

It  may  be  disputed  whether  this  printer's  name  Avere  really  Sampson, 
or  Awdeley  :  he  wag  made  free  of  the  Stationers'  Company  as  Sampson, 
and  so  he  is  most  frequently  termed  towards  the  commencement  of  the 
Register  ;  but  he  certainly  wrote  and  printed  his  name  Awdeley  or 
Awdelay  ;  now  and  then  it  stands  in  the  Register  '  Sampson  Awdeley.' 
It  is  the  more  important  to  settle  the  point,  because  ...  he  was  not 
only  a  printer,  but  a  versifier,1  and  ought  to  have  been  included  by 
Ritson  in  his  Bibliographica  Poetica.  (Registers  of  the  Stationers'  Com- 
pany, A.D.  1848,  vol.  i.  p.  23.) 

These  verses  of  Awdeley's,  or  Sampson's,  no  doubt  led  to  his 
*  small  breefe '  being  entered  in  the  Stationers'  Eegister  as  a  'ballett' : 

"  1560-1.    Ed.  of  John  Sampson,  for  his  ly cense  for  pryntinge 
of  a  ballett  called  the  description  of  vakaboundes  ....  iiijd. 

"  [This  entry  seems  to  refer  to  an  early  edition  of  a  very  curious  work, 
printed  again  by  Sampson,  alias  Awdeley,  in  1565,  when  it  bore  the 
following  title,  '  The  fraternitie  of  vacabondes,  as  well  of  rufling  vaca- 
bones  as  of  beggerly,  2  as  well  of  women  as  of  men,  2  and  as  well  of 
gyrles  as  of  boyes,  with  their  proper  names  and  qualityes.  Also  the 
xxv.  orders  of  knaves,  otherwise  called  a  quartten  of  knawes.  Con- 
firmed this  yere  by  Cocke  Lorel.'  The  edition  without  date  mentioned 
by  Dibdin  (iv.  564)  may  have  been  that  of  the  entry.  Another  im- 
pression by  Awdeley,  dated  1575  [which  we  reprint]  is  reviewed  in  the 
British  Bibliographer,  ii.  12,  where  it  is  asserted  (as  is  very  probable, 
though  we  are  without  distinct  evidence  of  the  fact)  that  the  printer 
was  the  compiler  of  the  book,  and  he  certainly  introduces  it  by  three 
six-line  stanzas.  If  this  work  came  out  originally  in  1561,  according 
to  the  entry,  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  was  the  precursor  of  a  very 
singular  series  of  tracts  on  the  same  subject,  which  will  be  noticed  in 
their  proper  places.]" — J.  P.  Collier,  Registers,  i.  42. 

As  above  said,  I  take  Harman's  'fewe  yeares' — in  1566  or  7 — to 
point  to  the  1561  edition  of  Awdeley,  and  not  the  1565  ed.  And  as  to 
Awdeley's  authorship, — what  can  be  more  express  than  his  own  words, 

1  See  the  back  of  his  title-page,  p.  2.  below. 
2  as  well  and  and  as  well  not  in  the  title  of  the  1575  edition. 


AWDELEY'S  FRATERNITYE  OF  VACABONDES.  iii 

p.  2,  below,  that  what  the  Vagabond  caught  at  a  Session  confest  as  to 
'  both  names  and  states  of  most  and  least  of  this  their  Yacabondes 
brotherhood,'  that, — '  at  the  request  of  a  worshipful  man,  I  ['  The 
Printer,'  that  is,  John  Awdeley]  have  set  it  forth  as  well  as  I  can.' 

But  if  a  doubt  on  Awdeley's  priority  to  Harman  exists  in  any 
reader's  mind,  let  him  consider  this  second  reference  by  Harman  to 
Awdeley  (p.  60,  below),  not  noticed  by  the  bibliographers :  "  For- 
as-much  as  these  two  names,  a  larkeman  and  a  Patrico,  bee  in  the 
old  briefe  of  vacabonds,  and  set  forth  as  two  kyndes  of  euil  doers, 
you  shall  vnderstande  that  a  larkeman  hath  his  name  of  a  larke, 
which  is  a  seale  in  their  Language,  as  one  should  make  viritinges  and 
set  seales  for  lycences  and  pasporte,"  and  then  turn  to  Awdeley's 
Fraternitye  of  Vacabondes,  and  there  see,  at  page  5,  below : 

^f   A   IACK    MAN. 

A  lackeman  is  he  that  can  write  and  reade,  and  sometime  speake  latin. 
He  vseth  to  make  counterfaite  licences  which  they  call  Gybes,  and  sets  to 
Seales,  in  their  language  called  larkes.  (See  also  '  A  Wlripiacke,'  p.  4.) 

Let  the  reader  then  compare  Harman's  own  description  of  a 
Patrico,  p.  60,  with  that  in  '  the  old  Briefe  of  Vacabonds,'  Awdeley, 
p.  6: 

Awdeley.  Harman. 

If  A  PATRIARKE  Co.  there  is  a  PATRICO  .  .  . 

A  Patriarke  Co  doth  make  ma-  whiche  in  their  language  is  a  priest, 
riages,  &  that  is  vntill  death  that  should  make,  manages  tyll 
depart  the  maried  folke.  death  dyd  depart. 

And  surely  no  doubt  on  the  point  will  remain  in  his  mind,  though, 
if  needed,  a  few  more  confirmations  could  be  got,  as 

Awdeley  (p.  4).  Harman  (p.  44). 

^  A  PALLIARD.  ^f  A  Pallyard. 

A  Palliard  is  he  that  goeth  in  a  These  Palliardes . .  go  with  patched 

patched  cloke,   and   hys   Doxy  clokes,  and  haue  their  Morts  with 

goeth  in  like  apparell.  them. 

We  may  conclude,  then,  certainly,  that  Awdeley  did  not  plagiarize 
Harman ;  and  probably,  that  he  first  published  his  Fraternitye  in 
1561.  The  tract  is  a  mere  sketch,  as  compared  with  Harman's 
Caueat,  though  in  its  descriptions  (p.  6 — 11)  of  'A  Curtesy  Man,' 


IV 


BARMAN'S  CAUEAT:  THE  EAELY  EDITIONS. 


1  A  Cheatour  or  Fingerer,'  and  '  A  Bing-Faller '  (one  of  whom  tried 
his  tricks  on  me  in  Gower-street  about  ten  days  ago),  it  gives  as  full 
a  picture  as  Harman  does  of  the  general  run  of  his  characters.  The 
edition  of  1575  being  the  only  one  accessible  to  us;  our  trusty  Oxford 
copier,  Mr  George  Parker,  has  read  the  proofs  with  the  copy  in  the 
Bodleian. 

Let  no  one  bring  a  charge  of  plagiarizing  Awdeley,  against  Har- 
man, for  the  latter,  as  has  been  shown,  referred  fairly  to  Awdeley's 
'  small  breefe '  or  '  old  briefe  of  vacabonds,'  and  wrote  his  own  "  bolde 
Beggars  booke"  (p.  91)  from  his  own  long  experience  with  them. 


Harman's  Caueat  is  too  well-known  and  widely  valued  a  book 
to  need  description  or  eulogy  here.  It  is  the  standard  work  on  its 
subject, — c  these  rowsey,  ragged,  rabblement  of  rakehelles'  (p.  19) — 
and  has  been  largely  plundered  by  divers  literary  cadgers.  No  copy 
of  the  first  edition  seems  to  be  known  to  bibliographers.  It  was 
published  in  1566  or  1567, — probably  the  latter  year,1 — and  must  (I 
conclude)  have  contained  less  than  the  second,  as  in  that's  '  Harman 
to  the  Reader,'  p.  28,  below,  he  says  '  well  good  reader,  I  meane  not 
to  be  tedyous  vnto  the,  but  haue  added  fyue  or  sixe  more  tales, 
because  some  of  them  weare  doune  whyle  my  booke  was  fyrste  in 
the  presse.'  He  speaks  again  of  his  first  edition  at  p.  44,  below,  '  I 
had  the  best  geldinge  stolen  oute  of  my  pasture,  that  I  had  amongst 
others,  whyle  this  boke  was  first  a  printynge;'  and  also  at  p.  51, 
below, '  Apon  Alhol!enday  in  the  morning  last  anno  domini  1566,  or 
my  booke  was  halfe  printed,  I  meane  the  first  impression.1  All 
Hallows'  or  All  Saints'  Day  is  November  1. 

The  edition  called  the  second2,  also  bearing  date  in  1567,  is  known 
to  us  in  two  states,  the  latter  of  which  I  have  called  the  third  edition. 
The  first  state  of  the  second  edition  is  shown  by  the  Bodleian  copy, 
which  is  '  Augmented  and  mlarged  by  the  fyrst  author  here  of,'  and 
has,  besides  smaller  differences  specified  in  the  footnotes  in  our 
pages,  this  great  difference,  that  the  arrangement  of  '  The  Names  of 

1  Compare  the  anecdote,  p.  66,  68,  'the  last  sommer,  Anno  Domini,  1566.' 

2  '  now  at  this  seconde  Impression,'  p.  27  ;  *  Whyle  this  second  Impression 
\vas  in  prin tinge,'  p.  87. 


BARMAN'S  GAUEAT:  THE  TWO  STATES  OF  THE  2ND  EDITION.      v 

the  Ypright  Men,  Koges,  and  Pallyards '  is  not  alphabetical,  by  the 
first  letter  of  the  Christian  names,  as  in  the  second  state  of  the  second 
edition  (which  I  call  the  third  edition),  but  higgledy-piggledy,  or,  at 
least,  without  attention  to  the  succession  of  initials  either  of  Christian 
or  Sur-names,  thus,  though  in  three  columns : 

^f  VPRIGHT  MEN. 

Eichard  Brymmysh.  Kobert  Gerse. 

John  My  liar.  Gryffen. 

Wei  arayd  Richard.  Richard  Barton. 

John  Walchman.  John  Braye. 

"Wylliaw  Chamborne.  Thomas  Cutter. 

Bryan  Medcalfe.  Dowzabell  skylfull  in  fence. 

[&c.] 

^f   ROGES. 

Harry  Walles  with  the  little  mouth.  Lytle  Robyn. 

John  Waren.  Lytle  Dycke. 

Richard  Brewton.  Richard  lones. 

Thomas  Paske.  Lambart  Rose. 

George  Belbarby.  Harry  Mason. 

Humfrey  Warde.  Thomas  Smithe  with  the  skal  skyn. 

[&c.] 

^[  PALLYARDS. 

Nycholas  Newton  carieth  a  fayned     Edward  Heyward,  hath  his  Morte 
lycence.  following  hym  Whiche  fayneth 

Bashforde.  ye  crank. 

Robart  Lackley.  Preston. 

Wylliarn  Thomas.  Robart  Canloke. 

[&c.] 

This  alone  settles  the  priority  of  the  Bodley  edition,  as  no  printer, 
having  an  index  alphabetical,  would  go  and  muddle  it  all  again,  even 
for  a  lark.  Moreover,  the  other  collations  confirm  this  priority.  The 
colophon  of  the  Bodley  edition  is  dated  A.  D.  1567,  'the  eight  of 
January;'  and  therefore  A.  D.  1567-8. 

The  second  state  of  the  second  edition — which  state  I  call  the 
third  edition — is  shown  by  the  copy  which  Mr  Henry  Huth  has, 
'with  his  never-failing  generosity,  lent  us  to  copy  and  print  from.  It 
omits  'the  eight  of  January,'  from  the  colophon,  and  has  'Anno 
Domini  1567  '  only.  Like  the  2nd  edition  (or  2  A),  this  3rd  edition 
(or  2  B)  has  the  statement  on  p.  87,  below :  '  Whyle  this  second  Im- 


vi     BARMAN'S  CAVEAT:  THE  TWO  STATES  OF  THE  2ND  EDITION. 

pression  was  in  printinge,  it  fortuned  that  Nycholas  Blunte,  who 
called  hym  selfe  Nycholan  Gennyns,  a  counterefet  Cranke,  that  is 
spoken  of  in  this  booke,  was  fonde  begging  in  the  whyte  fryers  on 
Newe  yeares  day  last  past,  Anno  domini  .1567,  and  commytted  vnto 
a  offescer,  who  caried  hym  vnto  the  depetye  of  the  ward,  which  com- 
mytted hym  vnto  the  counter ;'  and  this  brings  both  the  2nd  and  3rd 
editions  (or  2  A  and  2  B)  to  the  year  1568,  modern  style.  The  4th 
edition,  so  far  as  I  know,  was  published  in  1573,  and  was  reprinted 
by  Machell  Stace  (says  Bohn's  Lowndes)  in  1814.  From  that  reprint 
Mr  W.  M.  Wood  has  made  a  collation  of  words,  not  letters,  for  us 
with  the  3rd  edition.  The  chief  difference  of  the  4th  edition  is  its  ex- 
tension of  the  story  of  the  '  dyssembling  Cranke,'  Nyeholas  Genings, 
and  'the  Printar  of  this  booke'  Wylliam  Gryffith  (p.  53-6,  below), 
which  extension  is  given  in  the  footnotes  to  pages  56  and  57  of  our 
edition.  We  were  obliged  to  reprint  this  from  Stace's  reprint  of  1814, 
as  our  searchers  could  not  find  a  copy  of  the  4th  edition  of  1573  in 
either  the  British  Museum,  the  Bodleian,  or  the  Cambridge 
University  Library. 

Thus  much  about  our  present  edition.  I  now  hark  back  to  the 
first,  and  the  piracies  of  it  or  the  later  editions,  mentioned  in  Mr  J. 
P.  Collier's  Registers  of  the  Stationers1  Company,  i.  155-6,  166. 

"  1566-7  Ed.  of  William  Greffeth,  for  his  lycense  for  printinge  of 
a  boke  intituled  a  Caviat  for  commen  Corsetors,  vulgarly  called 
Vagabons,  by  Thomas  Harman iiijd. 

"  [No  edition  of  Harman's  '  Caveat  or  Warning  for  common  Cursetors,' 
of  the  date  of  1566,  is  known,  although  it  is  erroneously  mentioned  in 
the  introductory  matter  to  the  reprint  in  1814,  from  H.  Middleton's  im- 
pression of  1573.  It  was  the  forerunner  of  various  later  works  of  the 
same  kind,  some  of  which  were  plundered  from  it  without  acknowledg- 
ment, and  attributed  to  the  celebrated  Robert  Greene.  Copies  of  two 
editions  in  1567,  by  Griffith,  are  extant,  and,  in  all  probability,  it  was 
the  first  time  it  appeared  in  print :  Griffith  entered  it  at  Stationers'  Hall, 
as  above,  in  1566,  in  order  that  he  might  publish  it  in  1567.  Harman's 
work  was  preceded  by  several  ballads  relating  to  vagabonds,  the  earliest 
of  which  is  entered  on  p.  42  [Awdeley,  p.  ii.  above].  On  a  subsequent 
page  (166)  is  inserted  a  curious  entry  regarding  '  the  boke  of  Rogges,' 
or  Rogues.] 

"  1566-7.     For  Takynge  of  Fynes  as  foloweth.     Ed.  of  Henry 


PIRATERS    OF    HARMAN S    CAUEAT.  vil 

Bynnyman,  for  his  fyne  for  undermy[n]dinge  and  procurynge,  as  moche 
as  in  hym  ded  lye,  a  Copye  from  wylliam  greffeth,  called  the  boke 
of  Eogges iij8. 

"  [This  was  certainly  Harman's  '  Caveat  or  Warning  for  Common 
Cursetors  ' ;  and  here  we  see  Bynneman  fined  for  endeavouring  to  under- 
mine Griffith  by  procuring  the  copy  of  the  work,  in  order  that  Bynne- 
man might  print  and  publish  it  instead  of  Griffith,  his  rival  in  business. 
The  next  item  may  show  that  Gerard  Dewes  had  also  printed  the  book, 
no  doubt  without  license,  but  the  memorandum  was  crossed  out  in  the 
register.] 

"  Also,  there  doth  remayne  in  the  handes  of  Mr  Tottle  and  Mr 
Gonneld,  then  wardens,  the  sonune  of  iij11.  vij8.  viijd.,  wherto  was  Ee- 
cevyd  of  garrad  dewes  for  pryntinge  of  the  boke  of  Eogges  in  a° 
1567 if.  vj8.  viijd. 

"  [All  tends  to  prove  the  desire  of  stationers  to  obtain  some  share  of 
the  profits  of  a  work,  which,  as  we  have  already  shown,  was  so  well  re- 
ceived, that  Griffith  published  two  editions  of  it  in  1567.]  " 

The  fact  is,  the  book  was  so  interesting  that  it  made  its  readers 
thieves,  as  '  Jack  Sheppard '  has  done  in  later  days.  The  very  wood- 
cutter cheated  Harman  of  the  hind  legs  of  the  horse  on  his  title, 
prigged  two  of  his  prauncer's  props  (p.  42). 

To  know  the  keen  inquiring  Social  Eeformer,  Thomas  Harman,  the 
reader  must  go  to  his  book.  He  lived  in  the  country  (p.  34,  foot), 
in  [Crayford]  Kent  (p.  30,  p.  35),  near  a  heath  (p.  35),  near  Lady 
Elizabeth  Shrewsbury's  parish  (p.  19),  not  far  from  London  (p.  30, 
p.  35)  ;  (  he  lodged  at  the  White  Friars  within  the  cloister '  (p.  51), 
seemingly  while  he  was  having  his  book  printed  (p.  53),  and  had  his 
servant  there  with  him  (ib.) ;  '  he  knew  London  well'  (p.  54,  &c.) ; 
and  in  Kent  'beinge  placed  as  a  poore  gentleman,'  he  had  in  1567, 
*  kepte  a  house  these  twenty  yeares,  where  vnto  pouerty  dayely 
hath  and  doth  repayre,'  and  where,  being  kept  at  home  *  through 
sickenes,  he  talked  dayly  with  many  of  these  wyly  wanderars,  as  well 
men  and  wemmen,  as  boyes  and  gyrles,'  whose  tricks  he  has  so 
pleasantly  set  down  for  us.  He  did  not,  though,  confine  his  inter- 
course with  vagabonds  to  talking,  for  he  says  of  some,  p.  48, 

^  Some  tyme  they  counterfet  the  scale  of  the  Admiraltie.  I  haue 
diuers  tymes  taken  a  waye  from  them  their  lycences,  of  both  sortes, 


Vill 


STATUS    AND    CHARACTER    OF    THOMAS    HARMAN. 


wytli  suche  money  as  they  haue  gathered,  and  haue   confiscated  the 
same  to  the  pouerty  nigh  adioyninge  to  me.  p.  51-6. 

Our  author  also  practically  exposed  these  tricks,  as  witness  his 
hunting  out  the  Cranke,  Nycholas  Genings,  and  his  securing  the 
vagabond's  13s.  and  4d.  for  the  poor  of  Newington  parish,  p.  51-6 ; 
his  making  the  deaf  and  dumb  beggar  hear  and  speak,  p.  58-9  (and 
securing  his  money  too  for  the  poor).  But  he  fed  deserving  beg- 
gars, see  p.  66,  p.  20. 

Though  Harman  tells  us  '  Eloquence  haue  I  none,  I  neuer  was 
acquaynted  with  the  Muses,  I  neuer  tasted  of  Helycon'  (p.  27-8), 
yet  he  could  write  verses — though  awfully  bad  ones :  see  them  at 
pages  50  and  89-91,  below,  perhaps  too  at  p.  26  l ; — he  knew  Latin — 
see  his  comment  on  Cursetors  and  Vagabone,  p.  27 ;  his  una  voce,  p. 
43 ;  perhaps  his  '  Argus  eyes,'  p.  54  ;  his  omnia  venalia  Home,  p, 
60  ;  his  homo,  p.  73  ;  he  quotes  St  Augustine  (and  the  Bible),  p.  24 ; 
&c. ; — he  studied  the  old  Statutes  of  the  Eealm  (p.  27) ;  he  liked  pro- 
verbs (see  the  Index) ;  he  was  once  '  in  commission  of  the  peace,'  as 
he  says,  and  judged  malefactors,  p.  60,  though  he  evidently  was  not  a 
Justice  when  he  wrote  his  book;  he  was  a  ( gentleman,'  says  Har- 
rison (see  p.  xii.  below) ;  '  a  Justice  of  Peace  in  Kent,2  in  Queene 
Marie's  daies,'  says  Samuel  Eowlands ; 3  he  bore  arms  (of  heraldry), 
and  had  them  duly  stamped  on  his  pewter  dishes  (p.  35) ;  he  had 
at  least  one  old  'tennant  who  customably  a  greate  tyme  went 
twise  in  the  weeke  to  London,  (over  Blacke  Heathe)  eyther  wyth 
fruite  or  with  pescoddes '  (p.  30) ;  he  hospitably  asked  his  visitors  to 
dinner  (p.  45) ;  he  had  horses  in  his  pasture,4  the  best  gelding  of 
which  the  Pryggers  of  Prauncers  prigged  (p.  44) ;  he  had  an  un- 
chaste cow  that  went  to  bull  every  month  (p.  67,  if  his  ownership  is 
not  chaff  here)  ;  he  had  in  his  '  well-house  on  the  backe  side  of 

1  Mr  J.  P.  Collier  (Bibliographical  Catalogue,  i.  365)  has  little  doubt  that 
the  verses  at  the  back  of  the  title-page  of  Harman's    Caveat  were  part  of 
"  a  ballad  intituled  a  description  of  the  nature  of  a  birchen  broom  "  entered  at 
Stationers'  Hall  to  William  Griffith,  the  first  printer  of  the  'Caveat. 

2  Cp.  Kente,  p.  37,  43,  48,  61,  63,  66,  68,  77,  &c.     Moreover,  the  way  in 
which  he,  like  a  Norfolk  or  Suffolk  man,  speaks  of  shires,  points  to  a  liver  in 
a  non  -shire. 

8  In  Martin  Mark-all,  Beadle  of  Bridewell,  1610,  quoted  below,  at  p.  xvii. 
*  Compare  his  « ride  to  Dartforde  to  speake  with  a  priest  there,'  p.  57. 


STATUS   AND    CHARACTER   OF   THOMAS   HARMAN.  IX 

his  house,  a  great  cawdron  of  copper'  which  the  beggars  stole  (p. 
34-5)  ;  he  couldn't  keep  his  linen  on  his  hedges  or  in  his  rooms, 
or  his  pigs  and  poultry  from  the  thieves  (p.  21) ;  he  hated  the 
'rascal  rabblement '  of  them  (p.  21),  and  'the  wicked  parsons 
that  keepe  typlinge  Houses  in  all  shires,  where  they  haue  succour 
and  reliefe ' ;  and,  like  a  wise  and  practical  man,  he  set  himself  to 
find  out  and  expose  all  their  'vndecent,  dolefull  [guileful]  dealing, 
and  execrable  exercyses'  (p.  21)  to  the  end  that  they  might  be 
stopt,  and  sin  and  wickedness  might  not  so  much  abound,  and 
thus  '  this  Famous  Empyre  be  in  more  welth,  and  better  florysh,  to 
the  inestymable  joye  and  comfort '  of  his  great  Queen,  Elizabeth,  and 
the  '  vnspeakable  .  .  reliefe  and  quietnes  of  minde,  of  all  her  fayth- 
full  Commons  and  Subiectes.'  The  right  end,  and  the  right  way  to 
it.  We've  some  like  you  still,  Thomas  Harman,  in  our  Victorian 
time.  May  their  number  grow  ! 

Thus  much  about  Harman  we  learn  from  his  book  and  his 
literary  contemporaries  and  successors.  If  we  now  turn  to  the  his- 
torian of  his  county,  Hasted,  we  find  further  interesting  details 
about  our  author:  1,  that  he  lived  in  Crayford  parish,  next  to 
Erith,  the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury's  parish;  2,  that  he  inherited 
the  estates  of  Ellam,  and  Maystreet,  and  the  manor  of  Mayton  or 
Maxton ;  3,  that  he  was  the  grandson  of  Henry  Harman,  Clerk  of 
the  Crown,  who  had  for  his  arms  '  Argent,  a  chevron  between  3 
scalps  sable,'  which  were  no  doubt  those  stampt  on  our  Thomas's 
pewter  dishes ;  4,  that  he  had  a  '  descendant,' — a  son,  I  presume — 
who  inherited  his  lands,  and  three  daughters,  one  of  whom,f  Bridget, 
married  Henry  Binneman — ?not  the  printer,  about  1565-85  A.D.,  p. 
vi-vii,  above. 

Hasted  in  his  description  of  the  parish  of  Crayford,  speaking  of 
Ellam,  a  place  in  the  parish,  says  : — 

"In  the  16th  year  of  K.  Henry  VII.  John  Ellam  alienated  it  (the 
seat  of  Ellam)  to  Henry  Harman,  who  was  then  Clerk  of  the  Crown,1  and 

1  "John  Harman,  Esquyer,  one  of  the  gentilmen  hushers  of  the  Chambre 
of  our  soverayn  Lady  the  Quene,  and  the  excellent  Lady  Dame  Dorothye 
Gwydott,  widow,  late  of  the  town  of  Southampton,  married  Dec.  21,  1557." 
(Extract  from  the  register  of  the  parish  of  Stratford  Bow,  given  in  p.  499, 
vol.  iii.  of  Lysons's  Environs  of  London. 


x  THOMAS  HARMAN'S  FAMILY  AND  ESTATES. 

who  likewise  purchased  an  estate  called  Maystreet  here,  of  Cowley  and 
Bulbeck,  o£  Bulbeck- street  in  this  parish,  in  the  20th  year  of  King 
Edward  IV.1  On  his  decease,  William  Harman,  his  son,  possessed  both 
these  estates.2  On  his  decease  they  descended  to  Thomas  Harman,  esq., 
his  son  ;  who,  among  others,  procured  his  lands  to  be  disgavelled,  by  the 
act  of  the  2  &  3  Edw.  VI.3  He  married  Millicent,  one  of  the  daughters 
of  Nicholas  Leigh,  of  Addington,  in  the  county  of  Surry,  esq.4  His  de- 
scendant, William  Harman,  sold  both  these  places  in  the  reign  of  K. 
James  I.  to  Kobert  Draper,  esqr." — History  of  Kent,  vol.  i.  p.  209. 

The  manor  of  Maxton,  in  the  parish  of  Hougham  "  passed  to  Hob- 
day, and  thence  to  Harman,  of  Crayford ;  from  which  name  it  was  sold 

by  Thomas  Harman  to  Sir  James  Hales William  Harman  held 

the  manor  of  Mayton,  alias  Maxton,  with  its  appurtenances,  of  the  Lord 
Cheney,  as  of  his  manor  of  Chilham,  by  Knight's  service.  Thomas  Har- 
man was  his  son  and  heir  :  Rot.  Esch.  2  Edw.  VI." — Hasted's  History  of 
Kent,  vi.  p.  47. 

"  It  is  laid  down  as  a  rule,  that  nothing  but  an  act  of  parliament 
can  change  the  nature  of  gavelkind  lands  ;  and  this  has  occasioned 
several  [acts],  for  the  purpose  of  disgavelling  the  possessions  of  divers 

gentlemen  in  this  county One  out  of  several  statutes  made  for 

this  purpose  is  the  3rd  of  Edw.  VI." — Hasted's  History  of  Kent,  vol.  i.  p. 
cxliii. 

And  in  the  list  of  names  given, — taken  from  Robinson's  Gavelkind 
— twelfth  from  the  bottom  stands  that  of  THOMAS  HARMAN. 

Of  Thomas  Barman's  aunt,  Mary,  Mrs  William  Lovelace,  we  find : 
"John  Lovelace,  esq.,  and  William  Lovelace,  his  brother,  possessed  this 
manor  and  seat  (Bayford-Castle)  between  them  ;  the  latter  of  whom 
resided  at  Bayford,  where  he  died  in  the  2nd  year  of  K.  Edward  VI., 
leaving  issue  by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  William  Harman,  of 
Crayford,  seven  sons.  .  .  .  " — Hasted's  History  of  Kent,  vol.  ii.  p.  612. 

The  rectory  of  the  parish  of  Deal  was  bestowed  by  the  Arch- 
bishop on  Roger  Harman  in  1544  (Hasted,  vol.  iv.  p.  171). 

Harman-street  is  the  name  of  a  farm  in  the  parish  of  Ash  (Hasted, 
vol.  iii.  p.  691). 

1  Philipott,  p.  108.     Henry  Harman  bore  for  his  arms — Argent,  a  chevron 
between  3  scalps  sable. 

2  Of  whose  daughters,  Mary  married  John,  eldest  son  of  "Wm.  Lovelace,  of 
Hever  in  Kingsd'own,  in  this  county ;  and  Elizabeth  married  John  Lennard, 
Prothonotary,  and  afterwards  Gustos  Brevium  of  the  Common  Pleas.     Se« 
Chevening. 

3  See  Kobinson's  Gavelkind,  p.  300. 

4  She  was  of  consanguinity  to  Abp.  Chicheley.     Stemm.  CTiicJi.  No.  106. 
Thomas  Harman  had  three  daughters  :  Anne,  who  married  Wm.  Draper,  of 
Erith,  and  lies  buried   there  ;    Mary,  who  married  Thomas  Harrys  j  and 
Bridget,  who  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Binneman.     Ibid. 


HAERISON    ON   ENGLISH   VAGABONDS   IN    1577-86   A.D.  xi 

The  excellent  parson,  William  Harrison,  in  his  'Description  of 
England,'  prefixed  to  Holinshed's  Chronicles  (edit.  1586),  quotes 
Harman  fairly  enough  in  his  chapter  "  Of  prouision  made  for  the 
poore,"  Book  II,  chap.  10.1  And  as  he  gives  a  statement  of  the 
sharp  punishment  enacted  for  idle  rogues  and  vagabonds  by  the 
Statutes  of  Elizabeth,  I  take  a  long  extract  from  his  said  chapter. 
After  speaking  of  those  who  are  made  *  beggers  through  other  mens 
occasion,'  and  denouncing  the  grasping  landlords  '  who  make  them 
so,  and  wipe  manie  out  of  their  occupiengs,'  Harrison  goes  on  to 
those  who  are  beggars  '  through  their  owne  default'  (p.  183,  last  line 
of  col.  1,  ed.  1586) : 

"  Such  as  are  idle  beggers  through  their  owne  default  are  of  two 
sorts,  and  continue  their  estates  either  by  casuall  or  meere  voluntarie 
meanes  :  those  that  are  such  by  casuall  means  2  are  in  the  beginning  2 
iustlie  to  be  referred  either  to  the  first  or  second  sort  of  poore  2  afore 
mentioned2  ;  but,  degenerating  into  the  thriftlesse  sort,  they  doo  what 
they  can  to  continue  their  miserie  ;  and,  with  such  impediments  as  they 
haue,  to  straie  and  wander  about,  as  creatures  abhorring  all  labour  and 
euerie  honest  excercise.  Certes,  I  call  these  casuall  meanes,  not  in  re- 
spect of  the  originall  of  their  pouertie,  but  of  the  continuance  of  the 
same,  from  whence  they  will  not  be  deliuered,  such3  is  their  owne 
vngratious  lewdnesse  and  froward  disposition.  The  voluntarie  meanes 
proceed  from  outward  causes,  as  by  making  of  corosiues,  and  applieng 
the  same  to  the  more  fleshie  parts  of  their  bodies  ;  and  also  laieng  of 
ratsbane,  sperewort,  crowfoot,  and  such  like  vnto  their  whole  members, 
thereby  to  raise  pitifull4  and  odious  sores,  and  rnooue  2the  harts  of2  the 
goers  by  such  places  where  they  lie,  to  5yerne  at5  their  miserie,  and 
therevpon 2  bestow  large  almesse  vpon  them.6  How  artificiallie  they 
beg,  what  forcible  speech,  and  how  they  select  and  choose  out  words  of 
vehemencie,  whereby  they  doo  in  maner  coniure  or  adiure  the  goer  by 
to  pitie  their  cases,  I  passe  ouer  to  remember,  as  Judging  the  name  of 
God  and  Christ  to  be  more  conuersant  in  the  mouths  of  none,  and  yet 
the  presence  of  the  heuenlie  maiestie  further  off  from  no  men  than  from 
this  vngratious  companie.  Which  maketh  me  to  thinke,  that  punish- 
ment is  farre  meeter  for  them  than  liberalitie  or  almesse,  and  sith  Christ 
willeth  vs  cheeflie  to  haue  a  regard  to  himselfe  and  his  poore  members. 

"  Vnto  this  nest  is  another  sort  to  be  referred,  more  sturdie  than  the 
rest,  which,  hauing  sound  and  perfect  lims,  doo  yet,  notwithstanding 

1  In  the  first  edition  of  Holinshed  (1577)  this  chapter  is  the  5th  in  Book 
III.  of  Harrison's  Description. 

*-'  Not  in  ed.  1577.  *  tliororo  in  ed.  1577. 

4  piteous  in  ed.  1577.  5~5  lament  in  ed.  1577. 

6  The  remainder  of  this  paragraph  is  not  in  ed.  1577. 


Xll 


HARRISON    ON   ENGLISH   VAGABONDS    IN    1577-86    A.D. 


sometime  counterfeit  the  possession  of  all  sorts  of  diseases.  Diuerse 
times  in  their  apparell  also  l  they  will  be  like  seruing  men  or  laborers  : 
oftentimes  they  can  plaie  the  mariners,  and  seeke  for  ships  which  they 
neuer  lost.2  But,  in  fine,  they  are  all  theeues  and  caterpillers  in  the 
commonwealth,  and,  by  the  word  of  God  not  permitted  to  eat,  sith  they 
doo  but  licke  the  sweat  from  the  true  laborers'  browes,  and  beereue  the 
godlie  poore  of  that  which  is  due  vnto  them,  to  mainteine  their  excesse, 
consuming  the  charitie  of  well-disposed  people  bestowed  vpon  them, 
after  a  most  wicked  3  and  detestable  maner. 

"  It  is  not  yet  full  threescore  4  yeares  since  this  trade  began  :  but 
how  it  hath  prospered  since  that  time,  it  is  easie  to  iudge  ;  for  they  are 
now  supposed,  of  one  sex  and  another,  to  amount  vnto  aboue  10,000 
persons,  as  I  haue  heard  reported.  Moreouer,  in  counterfeiting  the 
Egyptian  roges,  they  haue  deuised  a  language  among  themselues,  which 
they  name  Canting  (but  other  pedlers  French) — a  speach  compact  thirtie 
yeares  since  of  English,  and  a  great  number  of  od  words  of  their  owne 
deuising,  without  all  order  or  reason  :  and  yet  such  is  it  as  none  but 
themselues  are  able  to  vnderstand.  The  first  deuiser  thereof  was 
hanged  by  the  necke, — a  iust  reward,  no  doubt,  for  his  deserts,  and  a 
Thomas  common  end  to  all  of  that  profession.  A  gentleman,  also,  of 
Harman.  iate  hath  taken  great  paines  to  search  out  the  secret  practises 
of  this  vngratious  rabble.  And  among  other  things  he  setteth  downe 
and  describeth  5  three  and  twentie5  sorts  of  them,  whose  names  it  shall 
not  be  ainisse  to  remember,  wherby  ech  one  may  6  take  occasion  to  read 
and  know  as  also  by  his  industrie  6  what  wicked  people  they  are,  and 
what  villanie  remaineth  in  them. 

"  The  seuerall  disorders  and  degrees  amongst  our  idle  vagabonds  : — 

1.  Rufflers.  8.  Fraters. 

2.  Yprightmen.  9.  Abrams. 

3.  Hookers  or  Anglers.  10.  Freshwater  mariners,  or  Whip- 

4.  Roges.  11.  Dummerers.  [iacks. 

5.  Wild  Roges.  12.  Drunken  tinkers. 

6.  Triggers  of  Prancers.  13.  Swadders,  or  Pedlers. 

7.  Palliards.  14.  larkemen,  or  Patricoes. 

Of  Women  kinde — 

1.  Demanders  for  glimmar,  or  fire. 

2.  Baudie  Baskets. 

3.  Mortes. 

4.  Autem  mortes. 

5.  Walking  mortes. 

'Not  in  ed.  1577.  2  Compare  Harman,  p.  48. 

3  The  1677  ed.  inserts  horrible. 

4  The  1577  ed.  reads  fifty. 
8-5  The  1577  ed.  reads  22,  which  is  evidently  an  error. 

«-«  For  these  words  the  1577  ed.  reads  gather. 
7  The  above  list  is  taken  from  the  titles  of  the  chapters  in  Hannan's  Caueat. 


6.  Doxes. 

7.  Delles. 

8.  Kindling  Mortes. 

9.  Kinching  cooes.7 


HARBISON    ON    ENGLISH   VAGABONDS    IN    1577-86    A.D.  xiii 

"  The  punishment  that  is  ordeined  for  this  kind  of  people  is  verie 
sharpe,  and  yet  it  can  not  restreine  them  from  their  gadding  ;  wherefore 
the  end  must  needs  be  martiall  law,  to  be  exercised  vpon  them  as  vpon 
theeues,  robbers,  despisers  of  all  lawes,  and  enimies  to  the  common- 
wealth and  welfare  of  the  land.  What  notable  roberies,  pilferies, 
murders,  rapes,  and  stealings  of  yoong1  children,  2  burning,  breaking  arid 
disfiguring  their  lims  to  make  them  pitifull  in  the  sight  of  the  people,2 
I  need  not  to  rehearse  ;  but  for  their  idle  roging  about  the  countrie,  the 
law  ordeineth  this  maner  of  correction.  The  roge  being  apprehended, 
committed  to  prison,  and  tried  in  the  next  assises  (whether  they  be  of 
gaole  deliuerie  or  sessions  of  the  peace)  if  he  happen  to  be  conuicted  for 
a  vagabond  either  by  inquest  of  office,  or  the  testimonie  of  two  honest 
and  credible  witnesses  vpon  their  oths,  he  is  then  immediatlie  adiudged 
to  be  greeuouslie  whipped  and  burned  through  the  gristle  of  the  right 
eare,  with  an  hot  iron  of  the  compasse  of  an  inch  about,  as  a  manifesta- 
tion of  his  wicked  life,  and  due  punishment  receiued  for  the  same.  And 
this  iudgement  is  to  be  executed  vpon  him,  except  some  honest  person 
woorth  flue  pounds  in  the  queene's  books  in  goods,  or  twentie  shillings 
in  lands,  or  some  rich  housholder  to  be  allowed  by  the  iustices,  will  be 
bound  in  recognisance  to  reteine  him  in  his  seruice  for  one  whole  yeare. 
If  he  be  taken  the  second  time,  and  proued  to  haue  forsaken  his  said 
seruice,  he  shall  then  be  whipped  againe,  bored  likewise  through  the 
other  eare  and  set  to  seruice  :  from  whence  if  he  depart  before  a  yeare 
be  expired,  and  happen  afterward  to  be  attached  againe,  he  is  con- 
demned to  suffer  paines  of  death  as  a  fellon  (except  before  excepted) 
without  benefit  of  clergie  or  sanctuarie,  as  by  the  statute  dooth  appeare. 
Among  roges  and  idle  persons  finallie,  we  find  to  be  comprised  all 
proctors  that  go  vp  and  downe  with  counterfeit  licences,  coosiners,  and 
such  as  gad  about  the  countrie,  vsing  vnlawfull  games,  practisers  of 
physiognomic,  and  palmestrie,  tellers  of  fortunes,  fensers,  plaiei'S,3 
minstrels,  iugglers,  pedlers,  tinkers,  pretensed 4  schollers,  shipmen, 
prisoners  gathering  for  fees,  and  others,  so  oft  as  they  be  taken  without 
sufficient  licence.  From  5  among  which  companie  our  bearewards  are 
not  excepted,  and  iust  cause :  for  I  haue  read  that  they  haue  either 
voluntarilie,  or  for  want  of  power  to  master  their  sauage  beasts,  beene 
occasion  of  the  death  and  deuoration  of  manie  children  in  sundrie  coun- 
tries by  which  they  haue  passed,  whose  parents  neuer  knew  what  was 
become  of  them.  And  for  that  cause  there  is  and  haue  beene  manie 
sharpe  lawes  made  for  bearwards  in  Germanic,  wherof  you  may  read 
in  other.  But  to  our  roges.5  Each  one  also  that  harboreth  or  aideth 
them  with  meat  or  monie,  is  taxed  and  compelled  to  fine  with  the 
queene's  maiestie  for  euerie  time  that  he  dooth  so  succour  them,  as  it 

1  Not  in  the  1577  ed. 

2~2  These  words  are  substituted  for  which  they  disfigure  to  beggr  withal  in 
the  1577  ed. 

3  The  1577  ed.  inserts  bearwards.  *  Not  in  1577  ed. 

5~5  These  three  sentences  are  not  in  1577  ed. 


XIV  THE  GROUNDWORKS  OF  CONNY-CATCHING,    1592. 

shall  please  the  iustices  of  peace  to  assigne,  so  that  the  taxation  exceed 
not  twentie  shillings,  as  I  haue  beene  informed.  And  thus  much  of  the 
poore,  and  such  prouision  as  is  appointed  for  them  within  the  realme  of 
England." 

Among  the  users  of  Barman's  book,  the  chief  and  coolest  was  the 
author  of  The  groundivorke  of  Conny-catching,  1592,  who  wrote  a 
few  introductory  pages,  and  then  quietly  reprinted  almost  all  Har- 
man's  book  with  an  '  I  leaue  you  now  viito  those  which  by  Maister 
Harman  are  discouered'  (p.  103,  below).  By  this  time  Harmanwas 
no  doubt  dead. — Who  will  search  for  his  Will  in  the  Wills  Office  1 
— Though  Samuel  Eowlands  was  alive,  he  did  not  show  up  this  early 
appropriator  of  Harman's  work  as  he  did  a  later  one.  As  a  kind  of 
Supplement  to  the  Caueat,  I  have  added,  as  the  4th  tract  in  the 
present  volume,  such  parts  of  the  Groundworke  of  Conny-catching  as 
are  not  reprinted  from  Harman.  The  Groundworks  has  been  attri- 
buted to  Robert  Greene,  but  on  no  evidence  (I  believe)  except 
Greene's  having  written  a  book  in  three  Parts  on  Conny-catching, 
1591-2,  and  'A  Disputation  betweene  a  Hee  Conny-catcher  and  a 
Shee  Conny-catcher,  whether  a  Theafe  or  a  Whore  is  most  hvrtfull 
in  Cousonage  to  the  Common-wealth,'  1592.1  Hearne's  copy  of  the 
Groundworke  is  "bound  up  in  the  2nd  vol.  of  Greene's  Works,  among 
George  III.'s  books  in  the  British  Museum,  as  if  it  really  was 
Greene's. 

Another  pilferer  from  Harman  was  Thomas  Dekker,  in  his  Bel- 
man  of  London,  1608,  of  which  three  editions  were  published  in  the 
same  year  (Hazlttt).  But  Samuel  Rowlands  found  him  out  and 
showed  him  up.  From  the  fifth  edition  of  the  Belman,  the  earliest 
that  our  copier,  Mr  W.  M.  Wood,  could  find  in  the  British  Museum, 
he  has  drawn  up  the  following  account  of  the  book : 

The  Belman  of  London.     Bringing  to  Light  the  most  notorious  Villanies 
that  are  now  practised  in  the  Kingdome.     Profitable  for    Gentlemen, 
Lawyers,  Merchants,  Citizens,  Farmers,  Masters  of  Housholds,  and  all 
sorts  of  Servants  to  mark,  and  delightfull  for  all  Men  to  Reade. 
Lege,  Perlege,  Relege. 

The  fift  Impression,  with  new  additions.     Printed  at  London  by  Miles 
Flesher.  1640. 

1  Hazlitt's  Hand  Boolt^  p.  241. 


THOMAS  DEKKER'S  BELMAN  OF  LONDON,  1608.  xv 

On  the  back  of  the  title-page,  after  the  table  of  contents,  the 
eleven  following  '  secret  villanies '  are  described,  severally,  as 

"  Cheating  Law  Bernard's  Lawe. 

Vincent's  Law.  The  black  Art. 

Curbing  Law.  Prigging  Law. 

Lifting  Law.  High  Law. 

Sacking  Law.  Frigging  Law. 

Five  lumpes  at  Leape-frog." 

After  a  short  description  of  the  four  ages  of  the  world,  there  is  an 
account  of  a  feast,  at  which  were  present  all  kinds  of  vagabonds. 
Dekker  was  conveyed,  by  '  an  old  nimble-tong'd  beldam,  who  seemed 
to  haue  the  command  of  the  place,'  to  an  upper  loft, '  where,  vnseene, 
I  might,  through  a  wooden  Latice  that  had  prospect  of  the  dining 
roome,  both  see  and  heare  all  that  was  to  be  done  or  spoken.' 

'The  whole  assembly  being  thus  gathered  together,  one,  amongest 
the  rest,  who  tooke  vpon  him  a  Seniority  ouer  the  rest,  charged  euery 
man  to  answer  to  his  name,  to  see  if  the  lury  were  full : — the  Bill  by 
which  hee  meant  to  call  them  beeing  a  double  lug  of  ale  (that  had  the 
spirit  of  Aquavitce  in  it,  it  smelt  so  strong),  and  that  hee  held  in  his  hand. 
Another,  standing  by,  with  a  toast,  nutmeg,  and  ginger,  ready  to  cry  Vous 
avez  as  they  were  cald,  and  all  that  were  in  the  roorne  hauing  single  pots 
by  the  eares,  which,  like  Pistols,  were  charged  to  goe  off  so  soone  as  euer 
they  heard  their  names.  This  Ceremony  beeing  set  abroach,  an  Oyes  was 
made.  But  he  that  was  Eector  Chory  (the  Captain  of  the  Tatterdemalions) 
spying  one  to  march  vnder  his  Colours,  that  had  neuer  before  serued  in 
those  lowsie  warres,  paused  awhile  (after  hee  had  taken  his  first  draught, 
to  tast  the  dexterity  of  the  liquor),  and  then  began,  lustice-like,  to 
examine  this  yonger  brother  vpon  interrogatories.' 

This  yonger  brother  is  afterwards  '  stalled  to  the  rogue ; '  and  the 
'Rector  Chory1'  instructs  him  in  his  duties,  and  tells  him  the  names 
and  degrees  of  the  fraternity  of  vagabonds.  Then  comes  the  feast, 
after  which,  '  one  who  tooke  vpon  him  to  be  speaker  to  the  whole 
house,'  began,  as  was  the  custom  of  their  meeting,  'to  make  an 
oration  in  praise  of  Beggery,  and  of  those  that  professe  the  trade,' 
which  done,  all  the  company  departed,  leaving  the  l  old  beldam '  and 
Dekker  the  only  occupants  of  the  room. 

'  The  spirit  of  her  owne  mault  walkt  in  her  brain-pan,  so  that,  what 
with  the  sweetnes  of  gaines  which  shee  had  gotten  by  her  Marchant 

1  Leader  of  the  Choir,  Captain  of  the  Company. 


XVI  SAMUEL   ROWLANDS'S   MARTIN  MARK-ALL. 

Venturers,  and  what  with  the  fumes  of  drinke,  which  set  her  tongue  in 
going,  I  found  her  apt  for  talke  ;  and,  taking  hold  of  this  opportunity, 
after  some  intreaty  to  discouer  to  mee  what  these  vpright  men,  rufflers 
and  the  rest  were,  with  their  seuerall  qualities  and  manners  of  life, 
Thus  shee  began.' 

And  what  she  tells  Dekker  is  taken,  all  of  it,  from  Harman's 
book. 

Afterwards  come  accounts  of  the  five  '  Laws '  and  five  jumps  at 
leap-frog  mentioned  on  the  back  of  the  title-page,  and  which  is 
quoted  above,  p.  xv. 

Lastly  '  A  short  Discourse  of  Canting,'  which  is,  entirely,  taken 
from  Harman,  pages  84 — 87,  below. 

As  I  have  said  before,  Dekker  was  shown  up  for  his  pilferings 
from  Harman  by  Samuel  Eowlands,  who  must,  says  Mr  Collier  in  his 
Bibliographical  Catalogue,  have  published  his  Martin  Mark-all, 
Beadle  of  Bridewell,  in  or  before  1609, — though  no  edition  is  known 
to  us  before  1610, — because  Dekker  in  an  address  '  To  my  owne 
Nation '  in  his  Lanthorne  and  Candle-light,  which  was  published  in 
1609,  refers  to  Eowlands  as  a  'Beadle  of  Bridewell.'  'You  shall 
know  him,'  (says  Dekker,  speaking  of  a  rival  author,  [that  is,  Samuel 
Eowlands]  whom  he  calls  '  a  Usurper ')  '  by  his  Habiliments,  for  (by 
the  furniture  he  weares)  hee  will  bee  taken  for  a  Beadle  of  Bride- 
well.1 That  this  '  Usurper '  was  Eowlands,  we  know  by  the  latter's 
saying  in  Martin  Mark-all,  leaf  E,  i  back,  'although  he  (the  Bel-man, 
that  is,  Dekker)  is  bold  to  call  me  an  vsurper  ;  for  so  he  doth  in  his 
last  round.' 

"Well,  from  this  treatise  of  Eowlands',  Mr  Wood  has  made  the 
following  extracts  relating  to  Dekker  and  Harman,  together  with 
Eowlands's  own  list  of  slang  words  not  in  Dekker  or  Harman,  and 
'the  errour  in  his  [Dekker's]  words,  and  true  englishing  of  the 
same : ' 

Martin  Mark-all,  Beadle  of  Bridewell;  his  defence  and  Answere  to  the 
Belman  of  London,  Discouering  the  long-concealed  Originall  and  Regiment 
of  Rogues,  when  they  first  began  to  take  head,  and  how  they  haue  suc- 
ceeded one  the  other  successiuely  vnto  the  sixe  and  twentieth  yeare  of  King 
Henry  the  eight,  gathered  out  of  the  Chronicle  of  CracJceropes,  and  (as 
they  terme  it)  the  Legend  of  Lossels.  By  S\amuel\  R\pwlands\. 


SAMUEL    EOWLANDS'S    MARTIN  MARK-ALL.  XVli 

Orderurit  peccare  boni  virtutis  amore, 
Orderunt  peccare  mali  formidine  poense. 

London 
Printed  for  lohn  Budge  and  Richard  Bonian.     1610. 

*  Martin  Mark-all,  his  Apologie  to  the  Bel-man  of  London.     There 
hath  been  of  late  dayes  great  paines  taken  on  the  part  of  the  good  old 
Bel-man  of  London,  in  discouering,  as  hee  thinks,  a  new-found  Nation 
and  People.     Let  it  be  so  for  this  time  :  hereupon  much  adoe  was  made 
in  setting  forth  their  Hues,  order  of  lining,  method  of  speech,  and  vsuall 
meetings,   with    diuers    other    things   thereunto    appertaining.     These 
volumes  and  papers,  now  spread  euerie  where,  so  that  euerie  lacke-boy 
now  can  say  as  well  as  the  proudest  of  that  fraternitie,  "  will  you  wapp  for 
a  wyn,  or  tranie  for  a  make  ?  "  The  gentle  Company  of  Cursitours  began 
now  to  stirre,  and  looke  about  them  ;  and  hauing  gathered  together  a 
Conuocation  of  Canting  Caterpillars,  as  wel  in  the  North  parts  at  the 
Diuels   arse    apeake,1    as  in  the    South,  they  diligently  enquired,  and 
straight  search  was  made,  whether  any  had  reuolted  from  that  faithles 
fellowship.     Herupon  euery  one  gaue  his  verdict :  some  supposed  that 
it  might  be  some  one  that,  hauing  ventured  to  farre  beyond  wit  and 
good  taking  heede,  was  fallen    into  the  hands  of  the  Magistrate,  and 
carried  to  the  trayning  Cheates,  where,  in  shew  of  a  penitent  heart,  and 
remoarse  of  his  good  time  ill  spent,  turned  the  cocke,  and  let  out  all : 
others  thought  it  might  be  some  spie-knaue  that,  hauing  little  to  doe, 
tooke  vpon  him  the  habite  and  forme  of  an  Hermite  ;  and  so,  by  dayly 
commercing  and  discoursing,  learned  in  time  the  mysterie  and  knowlege 
of  this  ignoble  profession  :    and  others,  because  it  smelt  of  a  study, 
deemed  it  to  be  some  of  their  owne  companie,  that  had  been  at  some 
free-schoole,  and  belike,  because  hee  would  be  handsome  against  a  good 
time,  tooke  pen  and  inke,  and  wrote  of  that  subiect ;  thus,  Tot  homines, 
tot  sententice,  so  many  men,  so  many  mindes.  And  all  because  the  spight- 
full  Poet  would  not  set  too  his  name.     At  last  vp  starts  an  old  Caco- 
demicall  Academicke  with  his  frize  bonnet,  and  giues  them  al  to  know, 
that  this  iuvectiue  was  set  foorth,  made,  and  printed  Fortie  yeeres  agoe. 
And  being  then  called,  '  A  caueat  for  Cursitors,'  is  now  newly  printed, 
and  termed, '  The  Bel-man  of  London,'  made  at  first  by  one  Master  Har- 
man,  a  lustice  of  Peace  in  Kent,  in  Queene  Marie's  daies, — he  being  then 
about  ten  yeeres  of  age.'     Sign.  A.  2. 

*  They  (the  vagabonds)  haue  a  language  among  themselues,  com- 
posed of  omnium  gatherum;  a  glimering  whereof,  one  of  late  daies  hath 
endeuoured  to  manifest,  as  farre  as  his  Authour  is  pleased  to  be  an  in- 

1  Where  at  this  day  the  Rogues  of  the  North  part,  once  euerie  three  yeeres, 
assemble  in  the  night,  because  they  will  not  be  scene  and  espied  ;  being  a 
place,  to  those  that  know  it,  verie  fit  for  that  purpos, — it  being  hollow,  and 
made  spacious  vnder  ground ;  at  first,  by  estimation,  halfe  a  mile  in  compasse  ; 
but  it  hath  such  turnings  and  roundings  in  it,  that  a  man  may  easily  be  lost  if 
hee  enter  not  with  a  guide. 


SAMUEL   ROWLANDS' S    MARTIN  MARK-ALL. 

telligencer.  The  substance  whereof  he  leaueth  for  those  that  will  dilate 
thereof ;  enough  for  him  to  haue  the  praise,  other  the  paines,  notwith- 
standing Harmarfs  ghost  continually  clogging  his  conscience  with  Sic 
Vos  non  Vobis.' — Sign.  C.  3  back. ' 

'  Because  the  Bel-man  entreateth  any  that  is  more  rich  in  canting, 
to  lend  him  better  or  more  with  variety,  he  will  repay  his  loue  double, 
I  haue  thought  good,  not  only  to  shew  his  errour  in  some  places  in  set- 
ting downe  olde  wordes  vsed  fortie  yeeres  agoe,  before  he  was  borne,  for 
wordes  that  are  vsed  in  these  dayes  (although  he  is  bold  to  call  me  an 
vsurper  (for  so  he  doth  in  his  last  round),  and  not  able  to  maintayne  the 
title,  but  haue  enlarged  his  Dictionary  (or  Master  Harman's)  with  such 
wordes  as  I  thinke  hee  neuer  heard  of  (and  yet  in  vse  too)  ;  but  not  out 
of  vaine  glorie,  as  his  ambition  is,  but,  indeede,  as  an  experienced  souldier 
that  hath  deerely  paid  for  it :  and  therefore  it  shall  be  honour  good 
enough  for  him  (if  not  too  good)  to  come  vp  with  the  Reare  (I  doe  but 
shoote  your  owne  arrow  back  againe),  and  not  to  haue  the  leading  of 
the  Van  as  he  meanes  to  doe,  although  small  credite  in  the  end  will  re- 
dound to  eyther.  You  shall  know  the  wordes  not  set  in  eyther  his 
Dictionaries  by  this  marke  §  :  and  for  shewing  the  errour  in  his  words, 
and  true  englishing  of  the  same  and  other,  this  marke  ^F  shall  serue 
§  Abram,  madde 

§  He  maunds  Abram,  he  begs  as  a  madde  man 
IF  Bung,  is  now  vsed  for  a  pocket,  heretofore  for  a  purse 
§  Budge  a  beake,  runne  away 
§  A  Bite,  secreta  mulierum 
§  Crackmans,  the  hedge 
§  To  Castell,  to  see  or  looke 
§  A  Roome  Cuttle,  a  sword 
§  A  Cuttle  bung,  a  knife  to  cut  a  purse 
§  Chepemans,  Cheape-side  market 

5F  Chates,  the  Gallowes  :  here  he  mistakes  both  the  simple  word,  be- 
cause he  so  found  it  printed,  not  knowing  the  true  originall  thereof, 
and  also  in  the  compound  ;  as  for  Chafes,  it  should  be  Cheates, 
which  word  is  vsed  generally  for  things,  as  Tip  me  that  Cheate, 
Giue  me  that  thing  :  so  that  if  you  will  make  a  word  for  the 
Gallons,  you  must  put  thereto  this  word  treyning,  which  signifies 

1  Of  the  above  passages,  Dekker  speaks  in  the  following  manner  : — "  There 
is  an  Vsurper,  that  of  late  hath  taken  vpon  him  the  name  of  the  Belman  ;  but 
being  not  able  to  maintaine  that  title,  hee  doth  now  call  himself e  the  Bel-mans 
brother ;  his  ambition  is  (rather  out  of  vaine-glory  then  the  true  courage  of  an 
experienced  Souldier)  to  haue  the  leading  of  the  Van  ;  but  it  shall  be  honor 
good  enough  for  him  (if  not  too  good)  to  come  vp  with  the  Here.  You  shall 
know  him  by  his  Habiliments,  for  (by  the  furniture  he  weares)  he  will  be 
taken  for  a  Beadle  of  Bridewell.  It  is  thought  he  is  rather  a  Newter  then  a 
friend  to  the  cause  :  and  therefore  the  Bel-man  doth  here  openly  protest  that 
hee  comes  into  the  field  as  no  fellow  in  armes  with  him." — O  per  se  0  (1612 
edit,),  sign.  A.  2. 


MARTIN  MARK-ALL.    LANTHORNE  AND  CANDLE-LIGHT.  xix 

hanging  ;  and  so  treyning  cheate  is  as  much  to  say,  hanging  things, 
or  the  Gallous,  and  not  Chates. 

§  A  fflicke,  a  Theefe 

§  Famblers,  a  paire  of  Gloues 

§  Greenemans,  the  fields 

§  Gilkes  for  the  gigger,  false  keyes  for  the  doore  01  picklockes 

§  Gracemans,  Gratious  streete  market 

§  lockam,  a  man's  yard 

§  Ian,  a  purse 

§  lere,  a  turd 

§  Lugges,  eares 

§  Loges,  a  passe  or  warrant 

§  A  Feager  of  Loges,  one  that  beggeth  with  false  passes  or  counterfeit 

writings 

§  Numans,  Newgate  Market 
^[  Nigling,  company  keeping  with  a  woman  :  this  word  is  not  vsed 

now,   but  wapping,  and  thereof  comes  the  name  wapping  marts, 

whoores. 

§  To  plant,  to  hide 

<[[  Smellar,  a  garden  ;  not  smelling  cheate,  for  that 's  a  Nosegay 
§  Spreader,  butter 
§  Whittington,  Newgate. 

"  And  thus  haue  I  runne  ouer  the  Canter's  Dictionary  ;  to  speake 
more  at  large  would  aske  more  time  then  I  haue  allotted  me  ;  yet  in 
this  short  time  that  I  haue,  I  rneane  to  sing  song  for  song  with  the 
Belman,  ere  I  wholly  leaue  him."  [Here  follow  three  Canting  Songs.] 
Sign.  E  1,  back — E  4. 

"  And  thus  hath  the  Belman,  through  his  pitifull  ambition,  caused 
me  to  write  that  I  would  not :  And  whereas  he  disclaims  the  name  of 
Brotherhood,  I  here  vtterly  renounce  him  &  his  fellowship,  as  not  de- 
sirous to  be  rosolued  of  anything  he  professeth  on  this  subiect,  knowing 
my  selfe  to  be  as  fully  instructed  herein  as  euer  he  was." — Sign.  F. 

In  the  second  Part  of  his  Belman  of  London,  namely,  his 
Lantlwrne  and  Candle-ligJit,  1609,  Dekker  printed  a  Dictionary  of 
Canting,  which  is  only  a  reprint  of  Harman's  (p.  82-4,  below).  A 
few  extracts  from  this  Lanthorne  are  subjoined  : 

Canting. 

"  This  word  canting  seemes  to  bee  deriued  from  the  latine  verbe 
canto,  which  signifies  in  English,  to  sing,  or  to  make  a  sound  with 
words, — that  is  to  say,  to  speake.  And  very  aptly  may  canting  take  his 
deriuatiow,  a  cantando,  from  singing,  because,  amongst  these  beggerly 
consorts  that  can  play  vpon  no  better  instruments,  the  language  of 
canting  is  a  kind  of  musicke  ;  and  he  that  in  such  assemblies  can  cant 


XX 


DEKKER'S  LANTHORNE  AND  CANDLE-LIGHT. 


best,  is  counted  the  best  Musitian." — DekJcer's  Lanthorne  and  Candle-light, 
B.  4.  back. 

Specimen  of  "  Canting  rithmes" 

"  Enough — with  bowsy  Coue  maund  Nace, 
Tour  the  Patring  Coue  in  the  Darkeman  Case, 
Docked  the  Dell,  for  a  Coper  meke 
His  wach  shall  feng  a  Frounces  Nab-chete, 
Cyarum,  by  Salmon,  and  thou  shalt  pek  my  lere 
In  thy  Gan,  for  my  watch  it  is  nace  gere, 
For  the  bene  bowse  my  watch  hath  a  win,  &c." 

Decker's  Lanthorne,  &c.,  C.  1.  back. 

A  specimen  of  "  Canting  prose,"  with  translation,  is  given  on 
the  same  page. 

Dekker's  dictionary  of  Canting,  given  in  Lanthorne  and  Candle- 
light, is  the  same  as  that  of  Hannan. 

"  A  Canting  Song. 

The  Ruffin  cly  the  nab  of  the  Harman  beck, 

If  we  mawn'd  Pannam,  lap  or  Ruff-peck, 

Or  poplars  of  yaruin  :  he  cuts,  bing  to  the  Ruffmans, 

Or  els  he  sweares  by  the  light-mans, 

To  put  our  stamps  in  the  Harmans, 

The  ruffian  cly  the  ghost  of  the  Harman  beck 

If  we  heaue  a  booth  we  cly  the  lerke. 

If  we  niggle,  or  mill  a  bowsing  Ken 

Or  nip  a  boung  that  has  but  a  win 

Or  dup  the  giger  of  a  Gentry  cofe's  ken, 

To  the  quier  cuffing  we  bing, 

And  then  to  the  quier  Ken,  to  scowre  the  Cramp  ring, 

And  then  to  the  Trin'de  on  the  chates,  in  the  lightmans 

The  Bube  and  Ruffian  cly  the  Harman  beck  and  harmans. 

Thus  Englished. 

The  Diuell  take  the  Constable's  head, 

If  we  beg  Bacon,  Butter-inilke,  or  bread, 

Or  Pottage,  to  the  hedge  he  bids  vs  hie 

Or  sweares  (by  this  light)  i'  th'  stocks  we  shall  lie. 

The  Deuill  haunt  the  Constable's  ghoast 

If  we  rob  but  a  Booth,  we  are  whip'd  at  a  poast. 

If  an  ale-house  we  rob,  or  be  tane  with  a  whore, 

Or  cut  a  purse  that  has  inst  a  penny,  and  no  more, 

Or  come  but  stealing  in  at  a  Gentleman's  dore 

To  the  lustice  straight  we  goe, 

And  then  to  the  layle  to  be  shakled  :  And  so 


CATTERPILLERS  ANATOMIZED.      WARNING  FOR  HOUSEKEEPERS,     XXI 

To  be  hang'd  on  the  gallowes  i'  th'  day  time :  the  pox 
And  the  Deuill  take  the  Constable  and  his  stocks." 

Ibid.  C.  3.  back. 

Kichard  Head  (says  Mr  Hotten),  in  his  English  Rogue,  described 
in  the  Life  of  Meriton  Latroon,  a  Witty  Extravagant,  4  vols.  12mo., 
1671-80,  gave  "  a  glossary  of  Cant  words  '  used  by  the  Gipsies ' ;  but 
it  was  only  a  reprint  of  what  Decker  had  given  sixty  years  before," 
and  therefore  merely  taken  from  Harman  too.  '  The  Bibliography 
of  Slang,  Cant,  and  Vulgar  Language '  has  been  given  so  fully  at  the 
end  of  Mr  Hotten's  Slang  Dictionary,  that  I  excuse  myself  from 
pursuing  the  subject  farther.  I  only  add  here  Mr  Wood's  extracts 
from  four  of  the  treatises  on  this  subject  not  noticed  by  Mr  Hotten 
in  the  1864  edition  of  his  Dictionary,  but  contained  (with  others)  in 
a  most  curious  volume  in  the  British  Museum,  labelled  Practice  of 
Robbers, — Press  Mark  518.  h.  2., — as  also  some  of  the  slang  words  in 
these  little  books  not  given  by  Harman  l : 

1.  The  Catterpillers  of  this  Nation  anatomized,  in  a  brief  yet  notable 
Discovery  of  House-breakers,  Pick-pockets,  &c.  Together  with  the  Life  of 
a  penitent  High-way -man,  discovering  the  Mystery  of  that  Infernal  Society. 
To  which  is  added,  the  Manner  of  Hectoring  and  trapanning,  as  it  is  acted 
in  and  about  the  City  of  London.  London,  Printed  for  M.  H.  at  the  Princes 
Armes,  in  Chancery -lane.  1659. 

Ken  =.  miller,  house-breaker 

lowre,  or  mint  =  wealth  or  money 

Gigers  jacked  =.  locked  doors 

Tilers,  or  Cloyers,  equivalent  to  shoplifters 

Joseph,  a  cloak 

Bung-nibber,  or  Cutpurse  =  a  pickpocket. 


2.  A  Warning  for  Housekeepers  ;  or,  A  discovery  of  all  sorts  of  thieves 
and  Robbers  which  go  under  theee  titles,  viz. — The  Gilter,  the  Mill,  the 
Glasier,  Budg  and  Snudg,  File-lifter,  Tongue-padder,  The  private  Theif. 
With  Directions  how  to  prevent  them,  A  Iso  an  exact  description  of  every  one 
of  their  Practices.  Written  by  one  who  was  a  Prisoner  in  Newgate. 
Printed  for  T.  Newton,  1676. 

Glasiers,  thieves  who  enter  houses,  thro'  windows,  first  reinouing  a 
pane  of  glass  (p.  4). 

1  We  quote  from  four  out  of  the  five  tracts  contained  in  the  volume.  The 
title  of  the  tract  we  do  not  quote  is  '  Hanging  not  Punishment  enough,"1  etc., 
London,  1701. 


XX11  WARNING  FOB  HOUSEKEEPERS.     STREET  ROBBERIES. 

The  following  is  a  Budg  and  Snudg  song : — 
"  The  Budge  it  is  a  delicate  trade, 
And  a  delicate  trade  of  fame  ; 
For  when  that  we  have  bit  the  bloe, 
We  carry  away  the  game  : 
But  if  the  cully  nap  us, 
And  the  lurres  from  us  take, 
0  then  they  rub  us  to  the  whitt, 
And  it  is  hardly  worth  a  make. 
But  when  that  we  come  to  the  whitt 
Our  Darbies  to  behold, 
And  for  to  take  our  penitency, 
And  boose  the  water  cold. 
But  when  that  we  come  out  agen, 
As  we  walk  along  the  street, 
We  bite  the  Culley  of  his  cole, 
But  we  are  rubbed  unto  the  whitt. 
And  when  that  we  come  to  the  whitt, 
For  garnish  they  do  cry, 

Mary,  faugh,  you  son  of  a  wh 

Ye  shall  have  it  by  and  by. 

But  when  that  we  come  to  Tyburn, 

For  going  upon  the  budge, 

There  stands  Jack  Catch,  that  son  of  a  w 

That  owes  us  all  a  grudge 

And  when  that  he  hath  noosed  us 

And  our  friends  tips  him  no  cole 

0  then  he  throws  us  in  the  cart 

And  tumbles  us  into  the  hole." — (pp.  5,  6.) 

On  the  last  page  of  this  short  tract  (which  consists  of  eight  pages) 
we  are  promised : 

"  In  the  next  Part  you  shall  have  a  fuller  description." 


3.  Street  Robberies  considered  ;  The  reason  of  their  being  so  frequent^ 
with  probable  means  to  prevent  'em:  To  which  is  added  three  short 
Treatises — 1.  A  Warning  for  Travellers;  2.  Observations  on  House- 
breakers ;  3.  A  Caveat  for  Shopkeepers.  London,  J.  Roberts,  [no  date] 
Written  by  a  converted  Thief. 

Shepherd  is  mentioned  in  this  book  as  being  a  clever  prison 
breaker  (p.  6).  There  is  a  long  list  of  slang  words  in  this  tract. 
The  following  are  only  a  few  of  them : 

Abram,  Naked  Chive,  a  Knife 

Betty,  a  Picklock  Clapper  dudgeon,  a  beggar  born 

Bubble-Buff;  Bailiff  Collar  the  Cole,  Lay  hold  on  the 
Bube,  Pox  money 


STREET  ROBBERIES  CONSIDER'D. 


XX111 


Cull,  a  silly  fellow 

Dads,  an  old  man 

Darbies,  Iron 

Diddle,  Geneva 

Earnest,  share 

Elf,  little 

Fencer,  receiver  of  stolen  goods 

Fib, to  beat 

Fog,  smoke 

Gage,  Exciseman 

Gilt,  a  Picklock 

Grub,  Provender 

Hie,  booby 

Hog,  a  shilling 

Hum,  strong 

Jem,  Ring 

Jet,  Lawyer 

Kick,  Sixpence 

Kin,  a  thief 

Kit,  Dancing-master 

Lap,  Spoon-meat 

Latch,  let  in 

Leake,  Welshman 

Leap,  all  safe 

Mauks,  a  whore 

Mill,  to  beat 

Mish,  a  smock 

Mundungus,  sad  stuff 

Nan,  a  maid  of  the  house 


Nimming,  stealing 

Oss  Chives,  Bone-handled  knives 

Otter,  a  sailor 

Peter,  Portmantua 

Plant  the  Whids,  take  care  what 

you  say 
Popps,  Pistols 
Rubbs,  hard  shifts 
Rumbo  Ken,  Pawn-brokers 
Rum  Mort,  fine  Woman 
Srnable,  taken 
Smeer,  a  painter 
Snafflers,  Highwaymen 
Snic,  to  cut 
Tattle,  watch 
Tic,  trust 
Tip,  give 
Tit,  a  horse 
Tom  Pat,  a  parson 
Tout,  take  heed 
Tripe,  the  belly 
Web,  cloth 
Wobble,  to  boil 
Yam,  to  eat 
Yelp,  a  crier 
Yest,  a  day  ago 
Zad,  crooked 
Znees,  Frost 

Zouch,  an  ungenteel  man 
&c.,  a  Bookseller 


Nap,  an  arrest 

"  The  King  of  the  Night,  as  the  Constables  please  to  term  themselves, 
should  be  a  little  more  active  in  their  employment ;  but  all  their  busi- 
ness is  to  get  to  a  watch  house  and  guzzle,  till  their  time  of  going  home 
comes."  (p.  60.) 

"  A  small  bell  to  Window  Shutters  would  be  of  admirable  use  to  pre- 
vent Housebreakers."  (p.  70.) 


4.  A  true  discovery  of  the  Conduct  of  Receivers  and  Thief-Takers,  in 
and  about  the  City  of  London,  &c.,  &c.  London,  1718. 

This  pamphlet  is  "  design'd  as  preparatory  to  a  larger  Treatise, 
wherein  shall  be  propos'd  Methods  to  extirpate  and  suppress  for  the 
future  such  villanous  Practices."  It  is  by  "  Charles  Hitchin,  one  of 
the  Marshals  of  the  City  of  London." 

I  now  take  leave  of  Harman,  with  a  warm  commendation  of  him 
to  the  reader. 


XXIV 


PARSON  HABEN'S  SERMON  ON  THIEVES. 


The  third  piece  in  the  present  volume  is  a  larky  Sermon  in 
praise  of  Thieves  and  Thievery,  the  title  of  which  (p.  93,  below) 
happened  to  catch  my  eye  when  I  was  turning  over  the  Cotton 
Catalogue,  and  which  was  printed  here,  as  well  from  its  suit- 
ing the  subject,  as  from  a  pleasant  recollection  of  a  gallop  some  30 
years, ago  in  a  four-horse  coach  across  Harford-Bridge-Flat,  where 
Parson  Haben  (or  Hyberdyne),  who  is  said  to  have  preached  the 
Sermon,  was  no  doubt  robbed.  My  respected  friend  Goody-goody 
declares  the  sermon  to  be  '  dreadfully  irreverent ; '  but  one  needn't 
mind  him.  An  earlier  copy  than  the  Cotton  one  turned  up  among 
the  Lansdowne  MSS,  and  as  it  differed  a  good  deal  from  the  Cotton 
text,  it  has  been  printed  opposite  to  that. 

Of  the  fourth  piece  in  this  little  volume,  The  Groundworks  of 
Conny-catcMng,  less  its  reprint  from  Harman,  I  have  spoken  above, 
at  p.  xiv.  There  was  no  good  in  printing  the  whole  of  it,  as  we 
should  then  have  had  Harman  twice  over. 


The  growth  of  the  present  Text  was  on  this  wise :  Mr  Yiles 
suggested  a  reprint  of  Stace's  reprint  of  Harman  in  1573,  after  it  had 
been  read  with  the  original,  and  collated  with  the  earlier  editions. 
The  first  edition  I  could  not  find,  but  ascertained,  with  some  trouble, 
and  through  Mr  H.  C.  Hazlitt,  where  the  second  and  third  editions 
were,  and  borrowed  the  3rd  of  its  ever-generous  owner,  Mr  Henry 
Huth.  Then  Mr  Hazlitt  told  me  of  Awdeley,  which  he  thought  was 
borrowed  from  Harman.  However,  Harman's  own  words  soon 
settled  that  point ;  and  Awdeley  had  to  precede  Harman.  Then 
the  real  bagger  from  Harman,  the  Groundworks,  had  to  be  added, 
after  the  Parson's  Sermon.  Mr  Yiles  read  the  proofs  and  revises 
of  Harman  with  the  original :  Mr  Wood  and  I  have  made  the  Index ; 
and  I,  because  Mr  Yiles  is  more  desperately  busy  than  myself,  have 
written  the  Preface. 

The  extracts  from  Mr  J.  P.  Collier  must  be  taken  for  what  they 
are  worth.  I  have  not  had  time  to. verify  them ;  but  assume  them  to 
be  correct,  and  not  ingeniously  or  unreasonably  altered  from  their 
originals,  like  Mr  Collier's  print  of  Henslowe's  Memorial,  of  which 


MR  PAYNE  COLLIER'S  WORK  AND  ALTERATIONS.  xxv 

Dr  Ingleby  complains,1  and  like  his  notorious  AUeyn  letter.  If  some 
one  only  would  follow  Mr  Collier  through  all  his  work — pending  his 
hoped-for  Ketractations, — and  assure  us  that  the  two  pieces  above- 
named,  and  the  Perkins  Folio,  are  the  only  things  we  need  reject, 
such  some-one  would  render  a  great  service  to  all  literary  anti- 
quarians, and  enable  them  to  do  justice  to  the  wonderful  diligence, 
knowledge,  and  acumen,  of  the  veteran  pioneer  in  their  path.  Cer- 
tainly, in  most  of  the  small  finds  which  we  workers  at  this  Text 
thought  we  had  made,  we  afterwards  found  we  had  been  anticipated 
by  Mr  Collier's  Registers  of  the  Stationers'  Company,  or  Biblio- 
graphical Catalogue,  and  that  the  facts  were  there  rightly  stated. 

1  To  obviate  the  possibility  of  mistake  in  the  lection  of  this  curious  docu- 
ment, Mr  E.  W.  Ashbee  has,  at  my  request,  and  by  permission  of  the  Governors 
of  Dulwich  College  (where  the  paper  is  preserved),  furnished  me  with  an  exact 
fac-simile  of  it,  worked  off  on  somewhat  similar  paper.  By  means  of  this  fac- 
simile my  readers  may  readily  assure  themselves  that  in  no  part  of  the  me- 
morial is  Lodge  called  a  "  player ;  "  indeed  he  is  not  called  "  Thos.  Lodge," 
and  it  is  only  an  inference,  an  unavoidable  conclusion,  that  the  Lodge  here 
spoken  of  is  Thomas  Lodge,  the  dramatist.  Mr  Collier,  however,  professes  to 
find  that  he  is  there  called  "  Thos.  Lodge,"  and  that  it  [the  Memorial]  contains 
this  remarkable  grammatical  inversion ; 

"  and  haveinge  some  knowledge  and  acquaintaunce  of  him  as  a  player, 

requested  me  to  be  his  baile," 

which  is  evidently  intended  to  mean,  as  I  had  some  knowledge  and  acquaint- 
ance of  Lodge  as  a  player,  Jie  requested  me  to  be  Ms  baile.  But  in  this  place 
the  original  paper  reads  thus, 

"and  havinge  of  me  some  knowledge  and  acquaintaunce  requested  me 

to  be  his  bayle," 

meaning,  of  course,  Lodge,  having  some  knowledge  and  acquaintance  of  me, 
requested  me  to  be  his  bail. 

The  interpolation  of  the  five  words  needed  to  corroborate  Mr  Collier's 
explanation  of  the  misquoted  passage  from  Gosson,  and  the  omission  of  two 
other  words  inconsistent  with  that  interpolation,  may  be  thought  to  exhibit 
some  little  ingenuity ;  it  was,  however,  a  feat  which  could  have  cost  him  no 
great  pains.  But  the  labour  of  recasting  the  orthography  of  the  memorial 
must  have  been  considerable ;  while  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  a  rational  motive 
to  account  for  such  labour  being  incurred.  To  expand  the  abbreviations  and 
modernize  the  orthography  might  have  been  expedient,  as  it  would  have  been 
easy.  But,  in  the  name  of  reason,  what  is  the  gain  of  writing  wheare  and 
theare  for  "where"  and  "there;"  cleere,  yeeld,  and  tneerly  for  "clere," 
"  yealde,"  and  "merely ;  "  verie,  anie,  laie,  waie,  paie,  yssue,  and  pryvily,  for 
"  very,"  "any,"  "  lay,"  "  way,"  "  pay,"  "  issue,"  and  "  privylie ;  "  sondrie,  begon, 
and  doen  for  " sundrie,"  "began,"  and  "don;"  and  thintent,  thaction,  and 
thacceptaunce  for  "the  intent,"  "the  action,"  and  "the  acceptaunce"? — p.  14 
of  Dr  C.  M.  Ingleby's  'Was  Thomas  Lodge  an  Actor  ?  An  Exposition  touching 
the  Social  Status  of  the  Playwright  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth'  Printed 
for  the  Author  by  R.  Barrett  and  Sons,  13  Mark  Lane,  1868.  2s.  Gd. 


XXVI 


PRINT  THE  STATIONERS'  REGISTERS. 


That  there  is  pure  metal  in  Mr  Collier's  work,  and  a  good  deal 
of  it,  few  will  doubt;  but  the  dross  needs  refining  out.  I  hope 
that  the  first  step  in  the  process  may  be  the  printing  of  the  whole 
of  the  Stationers'  Registers  from  their  start  to  1700  at  least,  by  the 
Camden  Society, — within  whose  range  this  work  well  lies, — or  by 
the  new  Harleian  or  some  other  Society.  It  ought  not  to  be  left 
to  the  *  Early  English  Text'  to  do  some  20  years  hence. 


29  Nov.,  1869. 


F.  J.  FURNIVALL. 


P.S.  For  a  curious  Ballad  describing  beggars'  tricks  in  the  17th  century, 
say  about  1650,  see  the  Eoxburghe  Collection,  i.  42-3,  and  the  Ballad  Society's 
reprint,  now  in  the  press  for  1869,  i.  137-41,  « The  cunning  Northerne  Beggar"1 : 
1.  he  shams  lame  ;  2.  he  pretends  to  be  a  poor  soldier;  3.  a  sailor  ;  4.  cripple  ; 
5.  diseased  ;  6.  festered  all  over,  and  face  daubed  with  blood  ;  7.  blind ;  8.  has 
had  his  house  burnt. 


NOTES. 

p.  vii.  ix,  p.  19,  20.  Elizabeth,  Countess  of  Shrewsbury,  and  her  parish. 
The  manor  of  Erith  was  granted  to  Elizabeth,  Countess  of  Shrewsbury, 
by  Henry  VIII.  in  the  36th  year  of  his  reign,  A.D.  1544-5.  The  Countess 
died  in  1567,  and  was  buried  in  the  parish  church  of  Erith.  "  The 
manor  of  Eryth  becoming  part  of  the  royal  revenue,  continued  in  the 
crown  till  K.  Henry  VIII.  in  his  36th  year,  granted  it  in  fee  to  Elizabeth, 
relict  of  George,  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  by  the  description  of  the  manor, 
of  Eryth,  alias  Lysnes,  with  all  its  members  and  appurts.,  and  also  all 
that  wood,  called  Somersden,  lying  in  Eryth,  containing  30  acres  ;  and  a 
wood,  called  Ludwood,  there,  containing  50  acres  ;  and  a  wood,  called 
Fridayes-hole,  by  estimation,  20  acres,  to  hold  of  the  King  in  capite  by 
knight's  service.1  She  was  the  second  wife  of  George,  Earl  of  Shrews- 


1  Rot.  Esch.  ejus  an,  pt.  6, 


NOTES   TO    HARMAN,    ETC.  XXVU 

bury,  Knight  of  the  Garter,1  who  died  July  26,  anno  33  K.  Henry  VIII.,2 
by  whom  she  had  issue  one  son,  John,  who  died  young ;  and  Anne, 
married  to  Peter  Compton,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  Wm.  Compton,  Knt.,  who 
died  in  the  35th  year  of  K.  Henry  VIII.,  under  age,  as  will  be  mentioned 
hereafter.  Elizabeth,  Countess  of  Shrewsbury,  in  Easter  Term,  in  the 
4th  year  of  Q.  Elizabeth,  levied  a  fine  of  this  manor,  with  the  passage 
over  the  Thames  ;  and  dying  in  the  tenth  year  of  that  reign,  anno  1567,3 
lies  buried  under  a  sumptuous  tomb,  in  this  church.  Before  her  death 
this  manor,  &c.,  seem  to  have  been  settled  on  her  only  daughter  Anne, 
then  wife  of  Wm.  Herbert,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  and  widow  of  Peter 
Compton,  as  before  related,  who  was  in  possession  of  it,  with  the  passage 
over  the  Thames,  anno  9  Q.  Elizabeth." — Hasted's  History  of  Kent,  vol. 
i.  p.  196. 

p.  ix.  In  Lambarde's  Perambulation  of  Kent  (edit.  1826),  p.  66,  he 
mentions  "  Thomas  Harman"  as  being  one  of  the  "  Kentish  writers." 

Lambarde,  in  the  same  volume,  p.  60,  also  mentions  "  Abacuk  Har- 
man "  as  being  the  name  of  one  "  of  suche  of  the  nobilitie  and  gentrie, 
as  the  Heralds  recorded  in  their  visitation  in  1574." 

There  is  nothing  about  Harman  in  Mr  Sandys's  book  on  Gavelkind, 
&c.,  Consuetudines  Cantice.  To  future  inquirers  perhaps  the  following 
book  may  be  of  use  : 

"  Bibliotheca  Cantiana  :  A  Bibliographical  Account  of  what  has  been 
published  on  the  History,  Topography,  Antiquities,  Customs,  and  Family 
History  of  the  County  of  Kent."  By  John  Russell  Smith. 

P.  1,  12.  The  .xxv.  Orders  of  Knaues. — Mr  Collier  gives  an  entry  in 
the  Stationers'  Registers  in  1585-6  :  "  Edward  White.  Rd.  of  him,  for 
printinge  xxiju  ballades  at  iiijd  a  peece — vij8  iiijd,  and  xiiij.  more  at 

ijd  a  peece  ij8  iiijd ix8  viijd  "  And  No.  23  is  "  The 

xxvtie  orders  of  knaves."— Stat.  Reg.  ii.  207. 

p.  22.  The  last  Duke  of  Buckingham  was  beheaded. — Edward  Stafford, 
third  Duke  of  Buckingham,  one  of  Henry  VIII's  and  Wolsey's  victims, 
was  beheaded  on  Tower  Hill,  May  17,  1521,  for  'imagining '  the  king's 
death.  ('  The  murnynge  of  Edward  Duke  of  Buckyngham '  was  one  of 
certain  '  ballettes '  licensed  to  Mr  John  Wallye  and  Mrs  Toye  in  1557-8, 
says  Mr  J.  P.  Collier,  Stat.  Reg.  i.  4.)  His  father  (Henry  Stafford)  be- 
fore him  suffered  the  same  fate  in  1483,  having  been  betrayed  by  his 
servant  Bannister  after  his  unsuccessful  rising  in  Brecon. — Percy  Folio 
Ballads,  ii.  253. 

1  This  lady  was  one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heirs  of  Sir  Richard  "Walden, 
of  this  parish,  Knt.,  and  the  Lady  Margaret  his  wife,  who  both  lie  buried  in 
this  church  [of  Eritb].     He  was,  as  I  take  it,  made  Knight  of  the  Bath  in  the 
17th  year  of  K.  Henry  VII.,  his  estate  being  then  certified  to  be  40Z.  per 
annum,  being  the  son  of  Eichard  Walden,  esq.     Sir  Richard  and  Elizabeth  his 
wife  both  lie  buried  here.     MSS.  Daring. 

2  Dugd.  Bar.  vol.  i.  p.  332. 

3  Harman's  dedication  of  his  book  to  her  was  no  doubt  written  in  1566, 
and  his  2nd  edition,  in  both  states,  published  before  the  Countess's  death. 


XXViii  NOTES    TO    HARMAN,    ETC. 

p.  23.  Egiptians.  The  Statute  22  Hen.  VIII.  c.  10  is  An  Acte  con- 
cernyny  Egypsyans.  After  enumerating  the  frauds  committed  by  the 
"  outlandysshe  people  callynge  themselfes  Egyptians,"  the  first  section 
provides  that  they  shall  be  punished  by  Imprisonment  and  loss  of  goods, 
and  be  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  8  Hen.  VI.  c.  29.  "  de  medietate 
linguae."  The  second  section  is  a  proclamation  for  the  departure  from 
the  realm  of  all  such  Egyptians.  The  third  provides  that  stolen  goods 
shall  be  restored  to  their  owners  :  and  the  fourth,  that  one  moiety  of  the 
goods  seized  from  the  Egyptians  shall  be  given  to  the  seizer. 

p.  48, 1.  5.  The  Lord  Sturtons  man  ;  and  when  he  was  executed.  Charles 
Stourton,  7th  Baron,  1548—1557: — "Which  Charles,  with  the  help  of 
four  of  his  own  servants  in  his  own  house,  committed  a  shameful 
murther  upon  one  Hargill,  and  his  son,  with  whom  he  had  been  long  at 
variance,  and  buried  their  Carcasses  50  foot  deep  in  the  earth,  thinking 
thereby  to  prevent  the  discovery ;  but  it  coming  afterwards  to  light,  he 
had  sentence  of  death  passed  upon  him,  which  he  suffer' d  at  Salisbury, 
the  6th  of  March,  Anno  1557,  4  Phil.  &  Mary,  by  an  Halter  of  Silk,  in 
respect  of  his  quality." — The  Peerage  of  England,  vol.  ii.  p.  24  (Lond,, 
1710). 

p.  77.  Saint  Quinten's.  Saint  Quinten  was  invoked  against  coughs, 
says  Brand,  ed.  Ellis,  1841,  i.  196. 

p.  77.  The  Three  Cranes  in  the  Vintry.  "  Then  the  Three  Cranes' 
lane,  so  called,  not  only  of  a  sign  of  three  cranes  at  a  tavern  door,  but 
rather  of  three  strong  cranes  of  timber  placed  on  the  Vintry  wharf  by 
the  Thames  side,  to  crane  up  wines  there,  as  is  afore  showed.  This 
lane  was  of  old  time,  to  wit,  the  9th  of  Richard  II.,  called  The  Painted 
Tavern  lane,  of  the  tavern  being  painted." — Stow's  Survey  of  London, 
ed.  by  Thorns,  p.  90. 

"  The  Three  Cranes  was  formerly  a  favourite  London  sign.  With 
the  usual  jocularity  of  our  forefathers,  an  opportunity  for  punning  could 
not  be  passed ;  so,  instead  of  the  three  cranes,  which  in  the  vintry  used 
to  lift  the  barrels  of  wine,  three  birds  were  represented.  The  Three  Cranes 
in  Thames  Street,  or  in  the  vicinity,  was  a  famous  tavern  as  early  as  the 
reign  of  James  I.  It  was  one  of  the  taverns  frequented  by  the  wits  in 
Ben  Jonson's  time.  In  one  of  his  plays  he  says  : — 

'  A  pox  o'  these  pretenders !  to  wit,  your  Three  Cranes,  Mitre  and  Mer- 
maid men !  not  a  corn  of  true  salt,  not  a  grain  of  right  mustard  among 
them  all ! ' — Bartholomew  Fair,  act  i.  so.  1. 

"  On  the  23rd  of  January,  166^  Pepys  suffered  a  strong  mortification 
of  the  flesh  in  having  to  dine  at  this  tavern  with  some  poor  relations. 
The  sufferings  of  the  snobbish  secretary  must  have  been  intense  : — 

'  By  invitation  to  my  uncle  Fenner's,  and  where  I  found  his  new 
wife,  a  pitiful,  old,  ugly,  ill-bred  woman  in  a  hatt,  a  mid- wife.  Here 
were  many  of  his,  and  as  many  of  her,  relations,  sorry,  mean  people;  and 
after  choosing  our  gloves,  we  all  went  over  to  the  Three  Cranes  Taverne  ; 


NOTES   TO    HARMAN,    ETC.  XXIX 

and  though  the  best  room  of  the  house,  in  such  a  narrow  dogghole  we 
were  crammed,  and  I  believe  we  were  near  40,  that  it  made  me  loath  my 
company  and  victuals,  and  a  very  poor  dinner  it  was  too.' 

"  Opposite  this  tavern  people  generally  left  their  boats  to  shoot  the 
bridge,  walking  round  to  Billingsgate,  where  they  would  reenter  them." 
— Hotten's  History  of  Signboards,  p.  204. 

p.  77.  Saynt  lulyans  in  ThystellwortJi  parish.  '  Thistleworth,  seo 
Isleworth,'  says  Walker's  Gazetteer,  ed.  1801.  That  there  might  well 
have  been  a  St  Julyan's  Inn  there  we  learn  from  the  following  extract : 

"  St.  Julian,  the  patron  of  travellers,  wandering  minstrels,  boatmen,1 
&c.,  was  a  very  common  inn  sign,  because  he  was  supposed  to  provide 
good  lodgings  for  such  persons.  Hence  two  St  Julian's  crosses,  in 
saltier,  are  in  chief  of  the  innholders'  arms,  and  the  old  motto  was : — 
'  When  I  was  harbourless,  ye  lodged  me.'  This  benevolent  attention  to 
travellers  procured  him  the  epithet  of  *  the  good  herbergeor,'  and  in 
France  '  bon  herbet.'  His  legend  in  a  MS.,  Bodleian,  1596,  fol.  4,  alludes 
to  this  : — 

'  Therfore  yet  to  this  day,  thei  that  over  lond  wende, 
They  biddeth  Seint  Julian,  anon,  that  gode  herborw  he  hem  sende  ; 
And  Seint  Julianes  Pater  Noster  ofte  seggeth  also 
For  his  faders  soule,  and  his  moderes,  that  he  hem  bring  therto.' 

And  in  '  Le  dit  des  HeureuxJ  an  old  French  fabliau  : — 

'  Tu  as  dit  la  patenotre 
Saint  Julian  a  cest  matin, 
Soit  en  Roumans,  soit  en  Latin ; 
Or  tu  seras  bien  ostile.' 

In  medieval  French,  IShotel  Saint  Julien  was  synonymous  with  good 
cheer. 

' Sommes  tuit  vostre. 

Par  Saint  Pierre  le  bon  Apostre, 
L'ostel  aurez  Saint  Julien,' 

says  Mabile  to  her  feigned  uncle  in  the  fabliau  of  '  Boivin  de  Provins  ;  ' 
and  a  similar  idea  appears  in  '  Cocke  Lorell's  bote,'  where  the  crew,  after 
the  entertainment  with  the  '  relygyous  women '  from  the  Stews'  Bank, 
at  Colman's  Hatch, 

*  Blessyd  theyr  shyppe  when  they  had  done, 
And  dranke  about  a  Saint  Julyan's  tonne.' 

Hotten's  History  of  Signboards?  p.  283. 

"  Isleworth  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time  was  commonly  in  conversation, 

1  Of  pilgrims,  and  of  whoremongers,  say  Brand  and  Sir  H.  Ellis  (referring 
to  the  Hist,  des  Troubadours,  torn.  i.  p.  11,)  in  Brand's  Antiquities,  ed.  1841, 
i.  202.  Chaucer  makes  him  the  patron  of  hospitality,  saying  of  the  Frank- 
eleyn,  in  the  Prologue  to  the  Canterbury  Tales,  "  Seynt  Julian  he  was  in  his 
contre."  Mr  Hazlitt,  in  his  new  edition  of  Brand,  i.  303,  notes  that  as  early 
as  the  Ancren  Riwle,  ab.  1220  A.D.,  we  have  '  Surely  they  (the  pilgrims)  find 
St.  Julian's  iun,  which  wayfaring  men  diligently  seek.' 


XXX 


NOTES   TO   HARMAN,    ETC. 


and  sometimes  in   records,  called  Thistle  worth." — Lysons'  Environs  of 
London,  vol.  iii.  p.  79. 

p.  77.  Mothered:  ? ftotherhithe. 

p.  77.  The  Kynges  Same,  betwene  Detforde  and  Bothered,  can  hardly 
be  the  great  hall  of  Eltham  palace.  Lysons  (Environs  of  London,  iv.  p. 
399)  in  1796,  says  the  hall  was  then  used  as  a  barn  ;  and  in  vol.  vi.  of 
the  Archceologia,  p.  367,  it  is  called  "  King  John's  Barn." 

p.  77.  Ketbroke.  Kidbrooke  is  marked  in  large  letters  on  the  east 
of  Blackheath  on  the  mordern  Ordnance-map;  and  on  the  road  from 
Blackheath  to  Eltham  are  the  villages  or  hamlets  of  Upper  Kidbrooke 
and  Lower  Kidbrooke. 

"  Kedbrooke  lies  adjoining  to  Charlton,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
London  Road,  a  small  distance  from  Blackheath.  It  was  antiently 
written  Cicebroc,  and  was  once  a  parish  of  itself,  though  now  (1778  A.D.) 
it  is  esteemed  as  an  appendage  to  that  of  Charlton." — Hasted's  History 
of  Kent,  vol.  i.  p.  40. 

p.  100.  Sturlridge  Fair.  Stourbridge,  or  Sturbich,  the  name  of  a 
common  field,  extending  between  Chesterton  and  Cambridge,  near  the 
little  brook  Sttire,  for  about  half  a  mile  square,  is  noted  for  its  fair,  which 
is  kept  annually  on  September  19th,  and  continues  a  fortnight.  It  is 
surpassed  by  few  fairs  in  Great  Britain,  or  even  in  Europe,  for  traffic, 
though  of  late  it  is  much  lessened.  The  booths  are  placed  in  rows  like 
streets,  by  the  name[s]  of  which  they  are  called,  as  Cheapside,  &c.,  and 
are  filled  with  all  sorts  of  trades.  The  Duddery,  an  area  of  80  or  100 
yards  square,  resembles  Blackwell  Hall.  Large  commissions  are  ne- 
gotiated here  for  all  parts  of  England  in  cheese,  woolen  goods,  wool, 
leather,  hops,  upholsterers'  and  ironmongers'  ware,  &c.  &c.  Sometimes 
50  hackney  coaches  from  London,  ply  morning  and  night,  to  and  from 
Cambridge,  as  well  as  all  the  towns  round,  and  the  very  barns  and 
stables  are  turned  into  inns  for  the  accommodation  of  the  poorer  people. 
After  the  wholesale  business  is  over,  the  country  gentry  generally  flock 
in,  laying  out  their  money  in  stage-plays,  taverns,  music-houses,  toys, 
puppet-shows,  &c.,  and  the  whole  concludes  with  a  day  for  the  sale  of 
horses.  This  fair  is  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge.— Walker's  Gazetteer,  ed.  1801.  See  Index  to  Brand's  Antiquities. 


THE 

Fraternitye  of  Vacabondes. 

As  wel  of  ruflyng  Vacabondes,  as  of  beggerly,  of 
women  as  of  men,  of  Gyrles  as  of  Boyes, 

with. 
their  proper  names  and  qualities. 

With  a  description  of  the  crafty  company  of 

Couscmers  antr  Shifters. 

1F  Wherunto  also  is  adioyned 

tfje  .$&.  ®rte  of 

otherwyse  called 

a  Quartern  of 

Confirmed  for  euer  ly  Cocke  Lorell. 

(   *   ) 

1T    The  Vprightman  speaketh. 

f  Our  Brotherhood1  of  Vacabondes, 

If  you  would  know  where  dwell : 
In  graues  end  Barge  which  syldome  standes, 
The  talke  wyll  shew  ryght  well. 

1T    Cocke  Lorell  aunswereth. 

IT  Some  orders  of  my  Knaues  also 
In  that  Barge  shall  ye  fynde : 
For  no  where  shall  ye  walke  1  trow, 
But  ye  shall  see  their  kynde. 


1T  Imprinted  at  London  by  lohn  Awdeley,  dwellyng  in  little 

Britayne  streete  without  Aldersgate. 

1575. 

1  Orig.  Brothethood. 
1 


[ieafi&.]  The  Printer  to  the  Reader. 


fTlHis  brotherhood  of  Yacabondes, 
-*-     To  shew  that  there  be  such  in  deede  : 
Eoth  Justices  and  men  of  Landes, 
Wyll  testifye  it  if  it  neede. 

For  at  a  Sessions  as  they  sat, 
By  chaunce  a  Yacabond  was  got. 

1T  Who  promysde  if  they  would  him  spare, 
And  keepe  his  name  from  knowledge  then : 
He  would  as  straunge  a  thing  declare, 
As  euer  they  knew  synce  they  were  men. 
But  if  my  fellowes  do  know  (sayd  he) 
That  thus  I  dyd,  they  would  kyll  me. 

1T  They  graunting  him  this  his  request, 
He  dyd  declare  as  here  is  read, 
Both  names  and  states  of  most  and  least, 
Of  this  their  Yacabondes  brotherhood. 
Which  at  the  request  of  a  worshipful  maw 
I  haue  set  it  forth  as  well  as  I  can. 


Deaf  2]  IF   The 

of 

both  railing  and  beggerly, 

JEen  anti  teamen,  JSages  antr  ffigrles, 

wyth 
their  proper  names  and  qualities. 

Whereunto  are  adioyned 

tfje  compang  of  dougonerg  anti  Sfjtfter^. 

IT   AN    ABRAHAM   MAN. 

AN"  Abraham  man  is  lie  that  walketh  bare  armed,  and  bare  legged, 
and  fayneth  hym  selfe  mad,  and  caryeth  a  packe  of  wool,  or  a 
stycke  with  baken  on  it,  or  such  lyke  toy,  and  nameth  himselfe  poore 
Tom. 

IF    A    RUFFELER. 

A  Euffeler  goeth  wyth  a  weapon  to  seeke  seruice,  saying  he  hath 
bene  a  Seruitor  in  the  wars,  and  beggeth  for  his  reliefe.  But  his 
chiefest  trade  is  to  robbe  poore  wayfaring  men  and  market  women. 

^T   A    PRYGMAN. 

A  Prygman  goeth  with  a  stycke  in  hys  hand  like  an  idle  person. 
His  propertye  is  to  steale  cloathes  of  the  hedge,  which  they  call 
storing  of  the  Rogeman  :  or  els  filtch  Poultry,  carying  them  to  the 
Alehouse,  whych  they  call  the  Bowsyng  In,  &  ther  syt  playing  at 
cardes  and  dice,  tyl  that  is  spent  which  they  haue  so  fylched. 


4  AWDELEY.       THE    FRATERNITY   OP   VACABONDES. 

IT   A   WHIPIACKE. 

A  Whypiacke  is  one,  that  by  coulor  of  a  counterfaite  Lisence 
(which  they  call  a  Gybe,  and  the  seales  they  cal  larckes)  doth  vse 
to  beg  lyke  a  Maryner,  But  hys  chiefest  trade  is  to  rob  Bowthes  in 
a  Faire,  or  to  pilfer  ware  from  staules,  which  they  cal  heauing  of  the 
Bowth. 

IT    A   FRATER. 

A  Frater  goeth  wyth  a  like  Lisence  to  beg  for  some  Spittlehouse 
or  Hospital.  Their  pray  is  commonly  vpon  [leaf  25.]  poore  women  as 
they  go  and  come  to  the  Markets. 

11   A    QUIRE   BIRD. 

A  Quire  bird  is  one  that  came  lately  out  of  prison,  &  goeth  to 
seeke  seruice.  He  is  commonly  a  stealer  of  Horses,  which  they  terme 
a  Priggar  of  Paulfreys. 

IF   AN    VPRIGHT   MAN. 

An  Ypright  man  is  one  that  goeth  wyth  the  trunchion  of  a  staffe, 
which  staffe  they  cal  a  Filtchmarc.  This  man  is  of  so  much  author- 
ity, that  meeting  with  any  of  his  profession,  he  may  cal  them  to 
accompt,  &  commaund  a  share  or  snap  vnto  him  selfe,  of  al  that  they 
haue  gained  by  their  trade  in  one  moneth.  And  if  he  doo  them 
wrong,  they  haue  no  remedy  agaynst  hym,  no  though  he  beate  them, 
as  he  yseth  commonly  to  do.  He  may  also  commaund  any  of  their 
women,  which  they  cal  Doxies,  to  serue  his  turne.  He  hath  ye 
chiefe  place  at  any  market  walke,  &  other  assembles,  &  is  not  of  any 
to  be  cowtroled. 

IT   A   CURTALL. 

A  Curtail  is  much  like  to  the  Ypright  man,  but  hys  authority  is 
not  fully  so  great.  He  vseth  commonly  to  go  with  a  short  cloke, 
like  to  grey  Friers,  &  his  woman  with  him  in  like  liuery,  which  he 
calleth  his  Altham  if  she  be  hys  wyfe,  &  if  she  be  his  harlot,  she  is 
called  hys  Doxy. 

IT    A    PALLIARD. 

A  Palliard  is  he  that  goeth  in  a  patched  cloke,  and  hys  Doxy 
goeth  in  like  apparell. 


AWDELEY.       THE   FRATERNITY   OP   VACABONDES.  5 

IF   AN    IRISHE   TOYLE. 

An  Irishe  toyle  is  lie  that  carieth  his  ware  in  hys  wallet,  as  laces, 
pins,  poyntes,  and  such  like.  He  vseth  to  shew  no  wares  vntill  he 
haue  his  almes.  And  if  the  good  man  and  wyfe  be  not  in  the  way, 
he  procureth  of  the  ch[i]Udrew  or  seruants  a  fleece  of  wool,  or  the 
worth  of  xij.d.  of  some  other  thing,  for  a  peni worth  of  his  wares. 

[leaf  8.]  IF   A    IACK  MAN. 

A  lackeman  is  he  that  can  write  and  reade,  and  somtime  speake 
latin.  He  vseth  to  make  counterfaite  licences  which  they  call  Gybes, 
and  sets  to  Seales,  in  their  language  called  larkes. 

IT   A   SWYGMAN. 

A  Swygman  goeth  with  a  Pedlers  pack. 

IF    A    WASHMAN. 

A  "Washman  is  called  a  Palliard,  but  not  of  the  right  making. 
He  vseth  to  lye  in  the  hye  way  with  lame  or  sore  legs  or  armes  to 
beg.  These  men  ye  right  Pilliards  wil  often  "times  spoile,  but  they 
dare  not  complayn.  They  be  bitten  with  Spickworts,  &  somtime  with 
rats  bane. 

1F   A   TINKARD. 

A  Tinkard  leaueth  his  bag  a  sweating  at  the  Alehouse,  which 
they  terme  their  Bowsing  In,  and  in  the  meane  season  goeth  abrode 
a  begging. 

1F    A    WYLDE    ROGE. 

A  wilde  Eoge  is  he  that  hath  no  abiding  place  but  by  his  coulour 
of  going  abrode  to  beg,  is  commonly  to  seeke  some  kinsman  of  his, 
and  all  that  be  of  hys  corporation  be  properly  called  Eoges. 

IF   A    KITCHEN  CO. 

A  Kitchin  Co  is  called  an  ydle  runagate  Boy. 

IF   A  KITCHEN   MORTES. 

A  Kitchin  Mortes  is  a  G-yrle,  she  is  brought  at  her  full  age  to  the 
Vpryght  man  to  be  broken,  and  so  she  is  called  a  Doxy,  vntil  she 
come  to  ye  honor  of  an  Altham. 


G  AWDELEY.       THE    FRATERNITY    OP    VACABONDES. 

IF    DOXIES. 

Note  especially  all  which  go  abroade  working  laces  and  shirt 
stringes,  they  name  them  Doxies. 

IF   A    PATRIARKE    CO. 

A  Patriarke  Co  doth  make  manages,  &  that  is  vntill  [leafs&j 
death  depart  the  maried  folke,  which  is  after  this  sort :  When 
they  come  to  a  dead  Horse  or  any  dead  Catell,  then  they  shake  hands 
and  so  depart  euery  one  of  them  a  seuerall  way 


IF  THE  COMPANY  OF  COUSONERS  AND  SHIFTERS. 

IF   A  CURTESY   MAN. 

A  Curtesy  man  is  one  that  walketh  about  the  back  lanes  in 
London  in  the  day  time,  and  sometime  in  the  broade  streetes  in  the 
night  season,  and  when  he  meeteth  some  handsome  yong  man  clenly 
apareled,  or  some  other  honest  Citizen,  he  maketh  humble  saluta- 
tions and  low  curtesy,  and  sheweth  him  that  he  hath  a  worde  or  two 
to  speake  with  his  mastership.  This  child  can  behaue  him  selfe 
manerly,  for  he  wyll  desire  him  that  he  talketh  withall,  to  take  the 
vpper  hand,  and  shew  him  much  reuerence,  and  at  last  like  his 
familier  acquaintaunce  will  put  on  his  cap,  and  walke  syde  by  syde, 
and  talke  on  this  fashion  :  Oh  syr,  you  seeme  to  be  a  man,  and  one 
that  fauoureth  men,  and  therefore  I  am  the  more  bolder  to  breake 
my  mind  vnto  your  good  maistership.  Thus  it  is  syr,  ther  is  a  cer- 
taine  of  vs  (though  I  say  it  both  taule  and  handsome  men  of  theyr 
hands)  which  haue  come  lately  from  the  wars,  and  as  God  knoweth 
haue  nothing  to  take  to,  being  both  maisterles  and  moniles,  &  know- 
ing no  way  wherby  to  yerne  one  peny.  And  further,  wher  as  we 
haue  bene  welthely  brought  vp,  and  we  also  haue  beene  had  in  good 
estimation,  we  are  a  shamed  now  to  declare  our  misery,  and  to  fall 
a  crauing  as  common  Beggers,  and  as  for  to  steale  and  robbe,  (God  is 
our  record)  it  striketh  vs  to  [leaf  4]  the  hart,  to  thinke  of  such  a 
mischiefe,  that  euer  any  handsome  man  should  fall  into  such  a 


AWDELEY.       THE   FRATERNITY    OF   VACABONDES.  7 

daunger  for  thys  worldly  trash.  Which,  if  we  had  to  suffise  our 
want  and  necessity,  we  should  neuer  seeke  thus  shamefastly  to  craue 
on  such  good  pityfull  men  as  you  seeme  to  be,  neither  yet  so  daunger- 
ously  to  hasarde  our  Hues  for  so  vyle  a  thing.  Therefore  good  syr, 
as  you  seeme  to  be  a  handsome  man  your  selfe,  and  also  such  a  one 
as  pitieth  the  miserable  case  of  handsome  men,  as  now  your  eyes 
and  countenaunce  sheweth  to  haue  some  pity  vppon  this  my  miser- 
able complainte  :  So  in  Gods  cause  I  require  your  maistershyp,  &  in 
the  behalfe  of  my  poore  afflicted  fellowes,  which  though  here  in  sight 
they  cry  not  with  me  to  you,  yet  wheresouer  they  bee,  I  am  sure 
they  cry  vnto  God  to  moue  the  heartes  of  some  good  men  to  shew 
forth  their  liberality  in  this  behalfe.  All  which  &  I  with  them  craue 
now  the  same  request  at  your  good  masterships  hand.  With  these  or 
such  like  words  he  frameth  his  talke.  Now  if  the  party  (which  he 
thus  talketh  withall)  profereth  hym  a  peny  or  .ii.d.  he  taketh  it,  but 
verye  scornfully,  and  at  last  speaketh  on  this  sorte :  Well  syr,  your 
good  will  is  not  to  be  refused.  But  yet  you  shall  vnderstand  (good 
syr)  that  this  is  nothing  for  them,  for  whom  I  do  thus  shamefastly 
entreate.  Alas  syr,  it  is  not  a  groate  or  .xii.d.  I  speake  for,  being 
such  a  company  of  Seruiters  as  wee  haue  bene  :  yet  neuertheles  God 
forbid  I  should  not  receiue  your  gentle  offer  at  this  time,  hoping 
hereafter  through  your  good  motions  to  some  such  lyke  good  gentle- 
man as  you  be,  that  I,  or  some  of  my  fellowes  in  my  place,  shall 
finde  the  more  liberality.  These  kind  of  ydle  Yacabondes  wyll  go 
commonly  well  appareled,  without  [leaf  4  6.]  any  weapon,  and  in 
place  where  they  meete  together,  as  at  their  hosteryes  or  other  places, 
they  wyll  beare  the  port  of  ryght  good  gentlemen,  &  some  are  the 
more  trusted,  but  commonly  thei  pay  them  with  stealing  a  paire  of 
sheetes,  or  Couerlet,  &  so  take  their  farewell  earely  in  the  morning, 
before  the  mayster  or  dame  be  sturring. 

IF   A    CHEATOUR    OR   FINGERER. 

These  commonly  be  such  kinde  of  idle  Yacabondes  as  scarcely  a 
man  shall  discerne,  they  go  so  gorgeously,  sometime  with  waiting 
men,  and  sometime  without.  Their  trade  is  to  walke  in  such  places, 
where  as  gentelmen  &  other  worshipfull  Citizens  do  resorte,  as  at 


8 


AWDELEY.       THE   FEATEENITY   OF    VACABONDES. 


Poules,  or  at  Christes  Hospital,  &  somtime  at  ye  Koyal  exchaunge. 
These  haue  very  many  acquaintances,  yea,  and  for  the  most  part  will 
acquaint  them  selues  with  euery  man,  and  fayne  a  society,  in  one 
place  or  other.  But  chiefly  they  wil  seeke  their  acquaintaunce  of 
such  (which  they  haue  learned  by  diligent  enquiring  where  they  re- 
sort) as  haue  receyued  some  porcioun  of  money  of  their  friends,  as 
yong  Gentlemen  which  are  sent  to  London  to  study  the  lawes,  or  els 
some  yong  Marchant  man  or  other  kynde  of  Occupier,  whose  friendes 
hath  geuen  them  a  stock  of  mony *  to  occupy  withall.  "When  they 
haue  thus  found  out  such  a  pray,  they  will  find  the  meanes  by  theyr 
familiarity,  as  very  curteously  to  bid  him  to  breakefast  at  one  place 
or  other,  where  they  are  best  acquainted,  and  closely  amonge  them- 
selues  wil  appoint  one  of  their  Fraternity,  which  they  call  a  Fyn- 
gerer,  an  olde  beaten  childe,  not  onely  in  such  deceites,  but  also  such 
a  one  as  by  his  age  is  painted  out  with  gray  heares,  wrinkled  face, 
crooked  back,  and  most  commonly  lame,  as  it  might  seeme  with  age, 
[leaf  5]  yea  and  such  a  one  as  to  shew  a  simplicity,  shal  weare  a 
homely  cloke  and  hat  scarce  worth  .vi.  d.  This  nimble  fingred 
knight  (being  appointed  to  this  place)  commeth  in  as  one  not 
knowen  of  these  Cheatours,  but  as  vnwares  shal  sit  down  at  the  end 
of  the  bord  where  they  syt,  &  call  for  his  peny  pot  of  wine,  or  a 
pinte  of  Ale,  as  the  place  serueth.  Thus  sitting  as  it  were  alone, 
mumblyng  on  a  crust,  or  some  such  thing,  these  other  yonckers  wil 
finde  some  kind  of  mery  talke  with  him,  some  times  questioning 
wher  he  dwelleth,  &  sometimes  enquiring  what  trade  he  vseth,  which 
commonly  he  telleth  them  he  vseth  husbandry  :  &  talking  thus 
merely,  at  last  they  aske  him,  how  sayest  thou,  Father,  wylt  thou  play 
for  thy  breakfast  with  one  of  vs,  that  we  may  haue  some  pastime  as 
we  syt  ?  Thys  olde  Karle  makyng  it  straunge  at  the  first  saith :  My 
maysters,  ich  am  an  old  man,  and  halfe  blinde,  and  can  skyl  of  very 
few  games,  yet  for  that  you  seeme  to  be  such  good  Gentelmen,  as  to 
prefer  to  play  for  that  of  which  you  had  no  part,  but  onely  I  my 
selfe,  and  therefore  of  right  ich  am  worthy  to  pay  for  it,  I  shal  with 
al  my  hart  fulfyl  your  request.  And  so  falleth  to  play,  somtime  at 
Gardes,  &  sometime  at  dice.  Which  through  his  couwterfait  simplicity 

1  Orig.  raony 


AWDELEY.       THE   FKATERNITY   OF   VACABONDES.  9 

in  the  play  somtimes  ouer  counteth  himself,  or  playeth  somtimes 
against  his  wyl,  so  as  he  would  not,  &  then  counterfaiteth  to  be 
angry,  and  falleth  to  swearing,  &  so  leesing  that,  proferethto  play  for 
a  shillyng  or  two.  The  other  therat  hauing  good  sport,  seming  to 
mocke  him,  falleth  againe  to  play,  and  so  by  their  legerdemane,  & 
counterfaiting,  winneth  ech  of  them  a  shilling  or  twain,  &  at  last 
whispereth  the  yong  man  in  the  eare  to  play  with  hym  also,  that 
ech  one  might  haue  a  fling  at  him.  [leaf  5  6.]  This  yong  marc  for 
company  falleth  againe  to  play  also  with  the  sayd  Fyngerer,  and  win- 
neth as  the  other  did  which  when  he  had  loste  a  noble  or  .vi.  s. 
maketh  as  though  he  had  lost  al  his  mony,  and  falleth  a  intreating 
for  parte  thereof  againe  to  bring  him  home,  which  the  other  know- 
ing his  mind  and  intent,  stoutely  denieth  and  iesteth,  &  scoffeth  at 
him.  This  Fingerer  seeming  then  to  be  in  a  rage,  desireth  fhem  as 
they  are  true  gentlemen,  to  tarry  till  he  fetcheth  more  store  of  money, 
or  els  to  point  some  place  where  they  may  meete.  They  seeming 
greedy  hereof,  promiseth  faithfully  and  clappeth  handes  so  to  meete. 
They  thus  ticklyng  the  young  man  in  the  eare,  willeth  him  to  make 
as  much  money  as  he  can,  and  they  wil  make  as  much  as  they  can, 
and  consent  as  though  they  wil  play  booty  against  him.  But  in  the 
ende  they  so  vse  the  matter,  that  both  the  young  man  leeseth  his 
part,  and,  as  it  seemeth  to  him,  they  leesing  theirs  also,  and  so  maketh 
as  though  they  would  fal  together  by  the  eares  with  this  fingerer, 
which  by  one  wyle  or  other  at  last  conueyeth  him  selfe  away,  &  they 
as  it  were  raging  lyke  mad  bedlams,  one  runneth  one  way,  an  other  an 
other  way,  leaning  the  loser  indeede  all  alone.  Thus  these  Cheatours 
at  their  accustomed  hosteries  meete  closely  together,  and  there  re- 
ceiue  ech  one  his  part  of  this  their  vile  spoyle.  Of  this  fraternity 
there  be  that  be  called  helpers,  which  commonly  haunt  tauernes  or 
alehouses,  and  co7^meth  in  as  men  not  acquainted  with  none  in  the 
companye,  but  spying  them  at  any  game,  wil  byd  them  God  spede 
and  God  be  at  their  game,  and  will  so  place  him  selfe  that  he  will 
shew  his  fellow  by  sygnes  and  tokens,  without  speech  commonly,  but 
sometime  with  far  fetched  [leaf  6]  wordes,  what  cardes  he  hath  in 
his  hand,  and  how  he  may  play  against  him.  And  those  betwene 
them  both  getteth  money  out  of  the  others  purse. 


10 


AWDELEY.       THE    FRATERNITY    OF   VACABONDES. 


IT    A   RING    FALLER. 

A  Ryng  faller  is  he  that  getteth  fayre  copper  rings,  some  made  like 
signets,  &  some  after  other  fashions,  very  faire  gylded,  &  walketh  vp 
and  down  the  streetes,  til  he  spieth  some  man  of  the  country,  or 
some  other  simple  body  whom  he  thinketh  he  may  deceaue,  and  so 
goeth  a  lyttle  before  him  or  them,  and  letteth  fall  one  of  these 
ringes,  which  when  the  party  that  commeth  after  spieth  and  taketh 
it  vp,  he  hauing  an  eye  backward,  crieth  halfe  part,  the  party  that 
taketh  it  vp,  thinking  it  to  be  of  great  value,  profereth  him  some 
money  for  his  part,  which  he  not  fully  denieth,  but  willeth  him  to 
come  into  some  alehouse  or  tauerne,  and  there  they  will  common 
vpon  the  matter.  Which  when  they  come  in,  and  are  set  in  some 
solitary  place  (as  commonly  they  call  for  such  a  place)  there  he  desir- 
eth  the  party  that  found  the  ring  to  shew  it  him.  When  he  seeth 
it,  he  falleth  a  entreating  the  party  that  found  it,  and  desireth  him 
to  take  money  for  his  part,  and  telleth  him  that  if  euer  he  may  do 
him  any  frendship  hereafter  he  shal  commaund  him,  for  he  maketh 
as  though  he  were  very  desirous  to  haue  it.  The  symple  man  seeing 
him  so  importune  vpon  it,  thinketh  the  ring  to  bee  of  great  valure, 
and  so  is  the  more  lother  to  part  from  it.  At  last  this  ring  faller 
asketh  him  what  he  will  geue  him  for  his  part,  for,  saith  he,  seeing 
you  wyl  not  let  me  haue  the  ring,  alowe  me  my  part,  and  take  you 
the  ring.  The  other  asketh  what  he  counteth  the  ring  to  be  worth, 
he  answereth,  v.  or  vi.  pound.  No,  saith  he,  it  is  not  so  much 
worth,  [leaf  66.]  Well  (saith  this  Ringfaller)  let  me  haue  it,  and  I 
wyll  alow  you  .xl.  s.  for  your  part.  The  other  party  standyng  in  a 
doubt,  and  looking  on  the  ryng,  asketh  if  he  wyll  geue  the  money 
out  of  hand.  The  other  answereth,  he  hath  not  so  much  ready 
mony  about  him,  but  he  wil  go  fetch  so  much  for  him,  if  he  wil  go 
with  him.  The  other  that  found  the  ring,  thinking  he  meaneth  truly, 
beginneth  to  profer  him  .xx.  s.  for  his  part,  sometymes  more,  or  les, 
which  he  verye  scornfullye  refuseth  at  the  first,  and  styl  entreateth 
that  he  might  haue  the  ring,  which  maketh  the  other  more  fonder  of 
it,  and  desireth  him  to  take  the  money  for  his  part,  &  so  profereth 
him  money.  This  ring  faller  seing  ye  mony,  maketh  it  very  straurcge, 
and  first  questioneth  with  him  whor  he  dwelleth,  and  asketh  him 


AWDELEY.       THE   FRATERNITY   OF   VACABONDES.  11 

what  is  his  name,  &  telleth  him  that  he  semeth  to  be  an  honest 
man,  and  therfore  he  wil  do  somwhat  for  friendships  sake,  hoping  to 
haue  as  friendly  a  pleasure  at  his  hand  hereafter,  and  so  profereth 
hym  for  .x.  s.  more  he  should  haue  the  ryng.  At  last,  with  entreatye 
on  both  partes,  he  geueth  the  King  faller  the  money,  and  so  depart- 
eth,  thinkyng  he  hath  gotten  a  very  great  lewell.  These  kynde  of 
deceyuing  Vacabondes  haue  other  practises  with  their  rings,  as  som- 
times  to  come  to  buy  wares  of  mens  Prentesies,  and  somtimes  of  their 
Maisters,  and  when  he  hath  agreed  of  the  price,  he  sayth  he  hath  not 
so  much  money  about  him,  but  pulleth  of  one  of  these  rings  of  from 
his  fyngers,  and  profereth  to  leaue  it  in  pawne,  tyl  his  Maister  or 
his  friendes  hath  sene  it,  so  promising  to  bring  the  money,  the  seller 
thinking  he  meaneth  truly,  letteth  him  go,  and  neuer  seeth  him  after, 
tyll  perhaps  at  Tyburne  or  at  such  lyke  place.  Ther  is  another  kinde 
of  [leaf  7]  these  Eing  choppers,  which  commonly  cary  about  them  a 
faire  gold  ring  in  deede,  and  these  haue  other  counterfait  rings  made 
so  lyke  this  gold  ring,  as  ye  shal  not  perceiue  the  contrary,  tyl  it  be 
brought  to  ye  touchstone.  This  child  wyl  come  to  borow  rnony  of 
the  right  gold  ring,  the  party  mistrusting  the  Eing  not  to  be  good, 
goeth  to  the  Goldsmith  with  the  partye  that  hath  the  ryng,  and 
tryeth  it  whether  it  be  good  golde,  and  also  wayeth  it  to  know  how 
much  it  is  worth.  The  Goldsmith  tryeth  it  to  be  good  gold,  and  also 
to  haue  hys  ful  weight  like  gold,  and  warenteth  the  party  which  shall 
lend  the  money  that  the  ring  is  worth  so  much  money  according  to 
the  waight,  this  yoncker  comming  home  with  the  party  which  shall 
lend  the  money,  and  hauing  the  gold  ring  againe,  putteth  vp  the 
gold  ring,  and  pulleth  out  a  counterfaite  ring  very  like  the  same,  & 
so,  deliuereth  it  to  the  party  which  lendeth  the  money,  they  thinking 
it  to  be  the  same  which  they  tryed,  and  so  deliuereth  the  money  or 
sometimes  wares,  and  thus  vily  be  deceiued. 


12 


1T  THE 

.xxv.  (Drirns  0f 

otherwise  called 

a  quarterne  of  Itnaueg, 

confirmed  for  euer  by  Cocke  Lor  ell. 


1    TROLL   AND    TROLL   BY. 

TEoll  and  Trol  by,  is  lie  that  setteth  naught  by  no  man,  nor 
no  man  by  him.     This  is  he  that  would  beare  rule  in  a  place, 
and  hath  none  authority  nor  thanke,  &  at  last  is  thrust  out  of  the 
doore  like  a  knaue. 

2    TROLL   WITH. 

Troll  with  is  he  thai  no  man  shall  know  the  seruaunt  from  ye 
Maister.  This  knaue  with  his  cap  on  his  head  Oaf7&.]  lyke  Capon 
hardy,  wyll  syt  downe  by  his  Maister,  or  els  go  cheeke  by  cheeke 
with  him  in  the  streete. 

3  TROLL  HAZARD  OP  TRACE. 

Troll  hazard  of  trace  is  he  that  goeth  behynde  his  Maister  as  far 
as  he  may  see  hym.  Such  knaues  commonly  vse  to  buy  Spice- 
cakes,  Apples,  or  other  trifles,  and  doo  eate  them  as  they  go  in  the 
streetes  lyke  vacabond  Boyes. 


AWDELEY.       THE  .XXV.  ORDERS   OF    KNAUES.  13 

4    TROLL   HAZARD    OF  TRITRACE. 

Troll  hazard  of  tritrace,  is  lie  that  goeth  gaping  after  his  Master, 
looking  to  and  fro  tyl  he  haue  lost  him.  This  knaue  goeth  gasyng 
about  lyke  a  foole  at  euery  toy,  and  then  seeketh  in  euery  house 
lyke  a  Maisterles  dog,  and  when  his  Maister  nedeth  him,  he  is  to 
seeke. 

5    CHAFE   LITTER. 

Chafe  Litter  is  he  that  wyll  plucke  vp  the  Fether-bed  or  Matrice, 
and  pysse  in  the  bedstraw,  and  wyl  neuer  ryse  vncalled.  This 
knaue  berayeth  many  tymes  in  the  corners  of  his  Maisters  chamber, 
or  other  places  inconuenient,  and  maketh  cleane  hys  shooes  with  the 
couerlet  or  curtaines. 

6  OBLOQUIUM. 

Obloquium  is  hee  that  wyll  take  a  tale  out  of  his  Maisters  mouth 
and  tell  it  him  selfe.  He  of  right  may  be  called  a  malapart  knaue. 

7    RINCE   PYTCHER. 

Eince  Pytcher  is  he  that  will  drinke  out  his  thrift  at  the  ale  or 
wine,  and  be  oft  times  dronke.  This  is  a  licoryce  knaue  that  will 
swill  his  Maisters  drink,  and  brybe  his  meate  that  is  kept  for  him. 

8   JEFFREY   GODS   FO. 

Jeffery  Gods  Fo  is  he,  that  wil  sweare  &  maintaine  [leaf  8]  othes. 
This  is  such  a  lying  knaue  that  none  wil  beleue  him,  for  the  more  he 
sweareth,  ye  les  he  is  to  be  beleued. 

9    NICHOL   HARTLES. 

Nichol  Hartles  is  he,  that  when  he  should  do  ought  for  his 
Maister  hys  hart  faileth  him.  This  is  a  Trewand  knaue  that  faineth 
himselfe  sicke  when  he  should  woorke. 

10    SIMON   SOONE   AGON. 

Simon  soone  agon  is  he,  that  when  his  Mayster  hath  any  thing 
to  do,  he  wil  hide  him  out  of  the  way.  This  is  a  loy  tring  knaue  that 
wil  hide  him  in  a  corner  and  sleepe  or  els  run  away. 


14  AWDELEY.       THE  .XXV.  ORDERS    OF    KNAUES. 

11    GRENE    WINCHARD. 

Greene  Winchard  is  he,  that  when  his  hose  is  broken  and  hange 
out  at  his  shoes,  he  will  put  them  into  his  shooes  againe  with  a 
stick,  hut  he  wyll  not  amend  them.  This  is  a  slouthfull  knaue, 
that  had  leauer  go  lyke  a  begger  then  cleanly. 

% 

12    PROCTOUR. 

Proctour  is  he,  that  will  tary  long,  and  bring  a  lye,  when  his 
Maister  sendeth  him  on  his  errand.  This  is  a  stibber  gibber  Knaue, 
that  cloth  fayne  tales. 

13   COMMITOUR   OP   TIDINGES. 

Commitour  of  Tidings  is  he,  that  is  ready  to  bring  his  Maister 
Kouels  and  tidinges,  whether  they  be  true  or  false.  This  is  a  tale 
bearer  knaue,  that  wyll  report  words  spoken  in  his  Maisters  presence. 

14  GYLE  HATHER 

Gyle  Hather  is  he,  that  wyll  stand  by  his  Maister  when  he  is  at 
dinner,  and  byd  him  beware  that  he  eate  no  raw  meate,  because  he 
would  eate  it  himselfe.  This  is  a  pickthanke  knaue,  that  would  make 
his  Maister  [leaf  a  6.]  beleue  that  the  Cowe  is  woode. 

15    BAWDE   PHISICKE. 

Bawde  Phisicke,  is  he  that  is  a  Cocke,  when  his  Maysters  meate 
is  euyll  dressed,  and  he  challenging  him  therefore,  he  wyl  say  he  wyll 
eate  the  rawest  morsel  thereof  him  selfe.  This  is  a  sausye  knaue, 
that  wyl  contrary  his  Mayster  alway. 

16    MOUNCH    PRESENT. 

Mounch  present  is  he  that  is  a  great  gentleman,  for  when  his 
Mayster  sendeth  him  with  a  present,  he  wil  take  a  tast  thereof  by 
the  waye.  This  is  a  bold  knaue,  that  sometyme  will  eate  the  best 
and  leaue  the  worst  for  his  Mayster. 


AWDELEY.   THE  .XXV.  ORDERS  OF  KNAUES. 


15 


17    COLE   PROPHET. 

Cole  Prophet  is  he,  that  when  his  Maister  sendeth  him  on  his 
errand,  he  wyl  tel  his  answer  therof  to  his  Maister  or  he  depart 
from  hym.  This  tittiuell  knaue  commonly  maketh  the  worst  of  the 
best  betwene  hys  Maister  and  his  friende. 

18  CORY   FAUELL. 

Cory  fauell  is  he,  that  wyl  lye  in  his  bed,  and  cory  the  bed  hordes 
in  which  hee  lyeth  in  steede  of  his  horse.  This  slouthfull  knaue  wyll 
buskill  and  scratch  when  he  is  called  in  the  morning,  for  any  hast. 

19  DYNG  THRIFT. 

Dyng  thrift  is  he,  that  wil  make  his  Maisters  horse  eate  pies  and 
rybs  of  beefe,  and  drinke  ale  and  wyne.  Such  false  knaues  oft 
tymes,  wil  sell  their  Maisters  meate  to  their  owne  profit. 

20   ESEN    DROPPERS. 

Esen  Droppers  bene  they,  that  stand  vnder  mens  wales  or  win- 
dowes,  or  in  any  other  place,  to  heare  the  [leaf  9]  secretes  of  a 
mans  house.  These  misdeming  knaues  wyl  stand  in  corners  to  heare 
if  they  be  euill  spoken  of,  or  waite  a  shrewd  turne. 

21    CHOPLOGYKE. 

Choplogyke,  is  he  that  when  his  mayster  rebuketh  him  of  hys 
fault  he  wyll  geue  hym  .xx.  wordes  for  one,  els  byd  the  deuils  Pater 
noster  in  silence.  This  proude  prating  knaue  wyll  maintaine  his 
naughtines  when  he  is  rebuked  for  them. 

22    VNTHRIFTE. 

Vnthrift,  is  he  that  wil  not  put  his  wearing  clothes  to  washing, 
nor  black  his  owne  shoes,  nor  amend  his  his  (sic)  own  wearing 
clothes.  This  rechles  knaue  wyl  alway  be  lousy  :  and  say  that  hee 
hath  no  more  shift  of  clothes,  and  slaunder  his  Maister. 

23  VNGRACIOUS. 

Vngracious,  is  he  that  by  his  own  will,  will  heare  no  maner  of 
seraice,  without  he  be  compelled  therunto  by  his  rulers.  This  Knaue 


16  AWDELEY.   THE  .XXV.  ORDERS  OF  KNAUES. 

wil  sit  at  the  alehouse  drinking  or  playing  at  dice,  or  at  other  games 
at  seruice  tyme. 

24  NUNQUAM. 

JSTunquam,  is  he  that  when  his  Maister  sendeth  him  on  his  errand 
he  wil  not  come  againe  of  an  hour  or  two  where  he  might  haue 
done  it  in  halfe  an  houre  or  lesse.  This  knaue  will  go  about  his 
owne  errand  or  pastime  and  saith  he  cannot  speede  at  the  first. 

25  INGRATUS. 

Ingratus,  is  he  that  when  one  doth  all  that  he  can  for  him,  he  will 
scant  geue  him  a  good  report  for  his  labour.  This  knaue  is  so  in- 
grate  or  vnkind,  thai  he  considreth  not  his  frend  from  his  fo,  &  wil 
requit  euil  for  good  &  being  put  most  in  trust,  wil  sonest  deceiue  his 
maister. 

FINIS. 


Iieaf9&.]  Imprinted  at  London  by 

lohn  Awdely  dwelling 
in  little  Britaine  streete 
without  Aldersgate. 


'Original  in  Bodleian  Library,  4".  R.  21.  Art.  Seld.] 


1T 


FOR  COMMEN  CVRSE- 

TOES  WLGAKELY  CALLED 

,  aet  fortlj  %  Cjjonras  jparmmr, 

for  %  fafilite  anfr  pr0%t  of  ^is  ttafxtrall 

anb  inlargeb  %  %  %at  author  ^w  0f. 
Anno  Domini.  M.D.LXVII. 


examined,  and  allowed,  according  vnto  the 
Queenes  Maiestyes  Iniunctions. 


^T  Jwprittteb  at  $0nb0n,  in  ffltiwtntt,  at  tjxe  gigiu  0f  ijje 
r,  Jjg  Wylliam  Gryffith,  anb  aw  t0  frje  so!0  at  |jis  s^pe  in 
^agnt  Jpwnst0njes  ^^ttrt^e  garbe,  in  t^«  Witxt. 
3i-nn0  J0ntini.  1567. 

[The  Bodley  edition  of  1567  omits  'or  "Warening'  in  line  1,  and  'Anno  Domini.  1567.'  at 
foot ;  and  substitutes  '  Newly  Augmented  and  Imprinted '  for  'Augmented . . .  here  of, 
line  6.] 

2 


HARMAN.       THE    EPISTLE.  19 


[leaf  2] 

IF  To  the  ryght  honorable  and  my  singular  good  Lady,  Elizabeth 
Countes  of  Shrewsbury,  Thomas  Harman  wisheth  all  ioye  and 
perfite  felicitie,  here  and  in  the  worlde  to  come. 

AS  of  Auncient  and  longe  tyme  there  hath  bene,  and  is  now  at 
this  present,  many  good,  godly,  profitable  lawes  and  actes 
made  and  setforthe  in  this  most  noble  and  floryshynge  realme, 
for  the  reliefe,  succour,  comforte,  and  sustentacion  of  the 
poore,  nedy,  impotent,  and  myserable  creatures  beinge  and 
inhabiting  in  all  parts  of  the  same ;  So  is  there  (ryghte  hon- 
orable and  myne  especyall  good  Lady)  most  holsom  estatutes,  ordi- 
nances, and  necessary  lawes,  made,  setforth,  and  publisshed,  for  the 
extreme  punishement  of  all  vagarantes  and  sturdy  vacabons,  as  pass- 
eth  throughe  and  by  all  parts  of  this  famous  yle,  most  idelly  and 
wyckedly :  and  I  wel,  by  good  experience,  vnderstandinge  and  con- 
sideringe  your  most  tender,  pytyfull,  gentle,  and  noble  nature, — not 
onelye  hauinge  a  vygelant  and  mercifull  eye  to  your  poore,  indygente, 
and  feable  parishnores  ;    yea,  not  onely  in  the  parishe  where  your 
honour  moste  happely  doth  dwell,  but  also  in  others  inuyroninge  or 
nighe  adioyning  to  the  same;  As  also  aboundantly  powringe  out  dayely 
your  ardent  and  bountifull  charytie  vppon  all  such  as  commeth  for  re- 
liefe vnto  your  luckly  gates, — 

I  thought  it  good,  necessary,  and  my  bounden  dutye,  to  acquaynte 
your  goodnes  with  the  abhominable,  wycked,  and  detestable  behauor 
of  all  these  rowsey,  ragged  rabblement  of  rakehelles,  that — vnder  the 
pretence  of  great  misery,  dyseases,  and  other  innumerable  calamites 


20  HARMAN.       THE    EPISTLE. 

whiche  they  fayne — through,  great  hipocrisie  do  wyn  and  gayne  great 
almes  in  all  places  where  they  wyly  wander,  to  the  vtter  deludinge  of 
the  good  geuers,  deceauinge  and  impouerishing  of  all  such  poore  hous- 
holders,  both  sicke  and  sore,  as  nether  can  or  maye  walke  abroad  for 
reliefe  and  comforte  (where,  in  dede,  most  mercy  is  to  be  shewed). 
And  for  that  I  (most  honorable  Lady),  beinge  placed  as  a  poore  gen- 
tleman, haue  kepte  a  house  these  twenty  yeares,  where  vnto  pouerty 
dayely  hath  and  doth  repayre,  not  without  some  reliefe,  as  my  poore 
callinge  and  habylytie  maye  and  doth  extende  :  I  haue  of  late  yeares 
gathered  a  great  suspition  that  all  should  not  be  well,  and,  as  the 
prouerbe  saythe,  "  sume  thinge  lurke  and  laye  hyd  that  dyd  not 
playnely  apeare ; "  for  I,  hauinge  more  occation,  throughe  sickenes, 
to  tary  and  remayne  at  home  then  I  haue  bene  acustomed,  do,  by  my 
there  abyding,  talke  !and  confere  dayly  with  many  of  these  wyly 
wanderars  of  both  sortes,  as  well  men  and  wemmen,  as  boyes  and 
gyrles,  by  whom  I  haue  [leaf  2,  back]  gathered  and  vnderstande  their 
depe  dissimulation  and  detestable  dealynge,  beinge  maruelous  suttle 
and  craftye  in  there  kynde,  for  not  one  amongst  twenty  wyll  discouer, 
eyther  declare  there  scelorous  secretes  :  yet  with  fayre  flatteringe 
wordes,  money,  and  good  chere,  I  haue  attained  to  the  typ  by  such 
as  the  meanest  of  them  hath  wandred  these  xiii.  yeares,  and  most 
xvi.  and  some  twenty  and  vpward,2  and  not  withoute  faytbfull  pro- 
messe  made  vnto  them  neuer  to  discouer  their  names  or  any  thinge 
they  shewed  me  ;  for  they  would  all  saye,  yf  the  vpright  men  should 
vnderstand  thereof,  they  should  not  be  only  greuouslye  beaten,  but 
put  in  daunger  of  their  lyues,  by  the  sayd  vpright  men.  There 
was  a  fewe  yeares  since  a  small  breefe  setforth  of  some  zelous 
man  to  his  countrey,  of  whom  I  knowe  not,  that  made  a  lytle  shewe 
of  there  names  and  vsage,  and  gaue  a  glymsinge  lyghte,  not  suffi- 
cient to  perswade  of  their  peuishe  peltinge  and  pickinge  3  practyses, 
but  well  worthy  of  prayse.  But  (good  madame),  with  nolesse 
trauell  then  good  wyll,  I  haue  repayred  and  rygged  the  Shyp  of 
knowledge,  and  haue  hoyssed  vp  the  sayles  of  good  fortune,  that 

1  leaf  2  b.     Bodley  edition  (B). 

2  The  severe  Act  against  vagrants,  Ed.  VI.,  c.  3,  was  passed  in  1648,  only 
19  years  before  the  date  of  this  2nd  edition. 

3  The  1573  edition  reads  pynking 


HARMAN.      THE   EPISTLE.  21 

she  maye  safely  passe  aboute  and  through,  all  partes  of  this  noble 
realme,  and  there  make  porte  sale  of  her  wyshed  wares,  to  the 
confusion  of  their  drowsey  demener  and  vnlawfull  language,  pyl- 
fring  pycking,  wily  wanderinge,  and  lykinge  lechery,  of  all  these 
rablement  of  rascales  that  raunges  about  al  the  costes  of  the  same, 
So  thai  their  vndecent,  dolefull  dealing  and  execrable  exercyses. 
may  apere  to  all  as  it  were  in  a  glasse,  that  therby  the  lusticers 
and  Shreeues  may  in  their  circutes  be  more  vygelant  to  punishe 
these  malefactores,  and  the  Counstables,  Bayliffes,  and  bosholders,1 
settinge  asyde  all  feare,  slouth,  and  pytie,  may  be  more  circomspect 
in  executing  the  charg  geuen  them  by  the  aforesayd  lusticers. 
Then  wyll  no  more  this  rascall  rablement  raunge  about  the  countrey. 
Then  greater  reliefe  may  be  shewed  to  the  pouerty  of  eche  parishe. 
Then  shall  we  kepe  our  Horses  in  our  pastures  vnstolen.  Then 
our  lynnen  clothes  shall  and  maye  lye  safelye  one  our  hedges 
vntouched.  Then  shall  we  not  haue  our  clothes  and  lynnen  hoked 
out  at  our  wyndowes  as  well  by  day  as  by  night.  Then  shall  we 
not  haue  our  houses  broken  vp  in  the  night,  as  of  late  one  of  my 
nyghtbors  had  and  two  great  buckes  of  clothes  stolen  out,  and 
most  of  the  same  fyne  Lynnen.  Then  shall  we  safely  kepe  our 
pigges  and  poultrey  from  pylfring.  Then  shall  we  surely  passe  by 
2  the  hygh  waies  leading  to  markets  and  fayres  vnharmed.  Then 
shall  our  Shopes  and  bothes  be  vnpycked  and  spoyled.  Then  shall 
these  vncomly  companies  be  dispersed  and  set  to  labour  for  their 
lyuinge,  or  hastely  hang  for  [leaf  3]  their  demerites.  Then  shall  it 
incourrage  a  great  number  of  gentle  men  and  obhers,  seing  this  secu- 
ritie,  to  set  vp  houses  and  kepe  hospitalytie  in  the  countrey,  to  the 
comfort  of  their  nighboures,  releife  of  the  poore,  and  to  the  amende- 
ment  of  the  common  welth.  Then  shall  not  sinne  and  wickednes  so 
much  abound  among  vs.  Then  wil  gods  wrath  be  much  the  more 
pacified  towards  vs.  Then  shall  we  not  tast  of  so  many  and  sondry 
plages,  as  now  dayely  raigneth  ouer  vs.  And  then  shall  this  Famous 
Empyre  be  in  more  welth  and  better  florysh,  to  the  inestymable  ioye 
and  comfort  of  the  Quenes  most  excelent  maiestye,  whom  god  of  his 

1  So  printed  in  both  1567  editions.     1573  reads  JiousTiolders ;  but  Bors- 
holders  is  doubtless  meant.  2  leaf  3.  B. 


22  HARMAN.       THE    EPISTLE. 

infinyte  goodnes,  to  his  great  glory,  long  and  many  yeares  make  most 
prosperously  to  raygne  ouer  vs,  to  the  great  Felycitye  of  all  the  Peres 
and  Nobles,  and  to  the  vnspeakable  ioye,  releife,  and  quietnes  of 
minde,  of  all  her  faythfull  Commons  and  Subiectes.  Now,  me 
thinketh,  I  se  how  these  peuysh,  peruerse,  and  pestilent  people 
begyn  to  freat,  fume,  sweare,  and  stare  at  this  my  booke,  their  lyfe 
being  layd  open  and  aparantly  paynted  out,  that  their  confusion 
and  end  draweth  one  a  pase.  Where  as  in  dede,  if  it  be  well 
waied,  it  is  set  forth  for  their  synguler  profyt  and  co?7imoditie,  for  the 
sure  safegard  of  their  lyues  here  in  this  world,  that  they  shorten 
not  the  same  before 1  their  time,  and  that  by  their  true  labour  and 
good  lyfe,  in  the  world  to  com  they  may  saue  their  Soules,  that 
Christ,  the  second  person  in  [the]  Trinytie,  hath  so  derely  bought  vfith 
his  most  precious  bloud  :  so  that  hereby  I  shall  do  them  more  good 
then  they  could  haue  deuised  for  them  selues.  For  behold,  their 
lyfe  being  so  manyfest  wycked  and  so  aparantlye  knowen,  The  hon- 
orable wyl  abhore  them,  The  worshipfull  wyll  reiecte  them,  The 
yemen  wyll  sharpely  tawnte  them,  The  Husband  men  vtterly  defye 
them,  The  laboryng  men  bluntly  chyde  them,  The  wemen  with  a  loud 
exclamation 2  wonder  at  them,  And  all  Children  with  clappinge 
handes  crye  out  at  them.  I  manye  times  musing  with  my  selfe  at 
these  mischeuous  misliuers,  merueled  when  they  toke  their  oryginall 
and  beginning ;  how  long  they  haue  exercised  their  execrable  wan- 
dring  about.  I  thought  it  meete  to  confer  with  a  very  old  man  that 
I  was  well  acquaynted  with,  whose  wyt  and  memory  is  meruelous  for 
his  yeares,  beinge  about  the  age  of  fourescore,  what  he  knewe  when  he 
was  yonge  of  these  lousey  leuterars.  And  he  shewed  me,  that  when 
he  was  yonge  he  wayted  vpon  a  man  of  much  worshyp  in  Kent,  who 
died  immediatly  after  the  last  Duke  of  Buckingham  was  beheaded : 
at  his  buryall  there  was  such  a  number  of  beggers,  besides  poore 
housholders  dwelling  there  abouts,  that  vnneth  they  mighte  lye  or 
stande  aboute  the  House :  then  was  there  [leaf  s,  back]  prepared  for 
them  a  great  and  a  large  barne,  and  a  great  fat  oxe  sod  out  in 
Furmenty  for  them,  with  bread  and  drinke  aboundantly  to  furnesh 
out  the  premisses  ;  and  euery  person  had  two  pence,  for  such  was  the 
1  Printed  "  Irfore  "  2  reclamation.  B. 


HARM  AN.       THE   EPISTLE.  23 

dole.  When  Night  approched,  the  pore  housholders  repaired  home 
to  their  houses  :  the  other  wayfaring  bold  beggers  remained  alnight 
in  the  barne ;  and  the  same  barne  being  serched  with  light  in  the 
night  by  this  old  man  (and  then  yonge),  with 1  others,  they  tolde 
seuen  score  persons  of  men,  euery  of  them  hauing  his  womaw,  except 
it  were  two  wemen  that  lay  alone  to  gether  for  some  especyall  cause. 
Thus  hauing  their  makes  to  make  mery  withall,  the  buriall  was  turned 
to  bousing  and  belly  chere,  morning  to  myrth,  fasting  to  feasting, 
prayer  to  pastyrne  and  pressing  of  papes,  and  lamenting  to  Lechery. 
So  that  it  may  apere  this  vncomly  company  hath  had  a  long  contin- 
uance, but  then  nothinge  geuen  so  much  to  pylferinge,  pyckinge,  and 
spoyling  ;  and,  as  far  as  I  can  learne  or  vnderstand  by  the  examina- 
tion of  a  number  of  them,  their  languag — which  they  terme  peddelars 
Frenche  or  Canting — began  but  within  these  xxx.  yeeres,2  lytle 
aboue ;  and  that  the  first  inuenter  therof  was  hanged,  all  saue  the 
head ;  for  that  is  the  fynall  end  of  them  all,  or  els  to  dye  of  some 
filthy  and  horyble  diseases :  but  much  harme  is  don  in  the  meane 
space  by  their  continuance,  as  some  x.,  xii.,  and  xvi.  yeares  before 
they  be  consumed,  and  the  number  of  them  doth  dayly  renew.  I 
hope  their  synne  is  now  at  the  hyghest ;  and  that  as  short  and  as 
spedy  a  redresse  wylbe  for  these,  as  hath  bene  of  late  yeres  for  the 
wretched,  wily,  wandering  vagabonds  calling  and  naming  them  selues 
Egiptians,  depely  dissembling  and  long  hyding  and  couering  their 
depe,  decetfull  practises, — feding  the  rude  common  people,  wholy 
addicted  and  geuen  to  nouelties,  toyes,  and  new  inuentions, — 
delyting  them  with  the  strangenes  of  the  attyre  of  their  heades,  and 
practising  paulmistrie  to  such  as  would  know  their  fortunes  :  And,  to 
be  short,  all  theues  and  hores  (as  T  may  well  wryt), — as  some  haue 
had  true  experience,  a  number  can  well  wytnes,  and  a  great  sorte  hath 
well  felte  it.  And  now  (thankes  bee  to  god),  throughe  wholsome 
lawes,  and  the  due  execution  thereof,  all  be  dispersed,  banished,3  and 
the  memory  of  them  cleane  extynguished ;  that  when  they  bee  once 
named  here  after,  our  Chyldren  wyll  muche  meruell  what  kynd  of 
people  they  were :  and  so,  I  trust,  shal  shortly  happen  of  these. 

1  The  1573  edition  reads  and 
2  The  1573  edition  here  inserts  the  word  or  8  vanished.  B. 


24  HARMAN.       THE   EPISTLE. 

For  what  thinge  doth,  chiefely  cause  these  rowsey  rakehelles  thus  to 
continue  and  dayly  increase  I  Surely  a  number  of  wicked  parsons 
that  keepe  typlinge  Houses  in  all  shires,  where  they  haue  succour 
and  reliefe ;  and  what  so  euer  they  bring,  they  are  sure  to  receaue 
money  for  [leaf*]  the  same,  for  they  sell  good  penyworthes.  The 
byers  haue  the  greatest  gayne ;  yea,  yf  they  haue  nether  money  nor 
ware,  they  wylbe  trusted ;  their  credite  is  much.  I  haue  taken  a 
note  of  a  good  many  of  them,  and  wil  send  their  names  and  dwell- 
ing-places to  such  lusticers  as  dwelleth  nere  or  next  vnto  them,  that 
they  by  their  good  wisdomes  may  displace  the  same,  and  auctoryse 
such  as  haue  honesty.  I  wyl  not  blot  my  boke  with  their  names, 
because  they  be  resident.  But  as  for  this  fletinge  Fellowshyp,  I 
haue  truly  setforth  the  most  part  of  them  that  be  doers  at  this  pre- 
sent, with  their  names  that  they  be  knowene  by.  Also,  I  haue 
placed  in  the  end  therof  their  leud  language,  calling  the  same  pedlers 
French  or  Canting.  And  now  shal  I  end  my  prologue,  makinge  true 
declaration  (right  honorable  Lady)  as  they  shal  fall  in  order  of  their 
vntymelye  tryfelinge  time,  leud  lyfe,  and  pernitious  practises,  trusting 
that  the  same  shall  neyther  trouble  or  abash  your  most  tender, 
tymerous,  and  pytifull  Nature,  to  thinke  the  smal  mede  should  growe 
vnto  you  for  such  Almes  so  geuen.  For  god,  our  marcifull  and  most 
louing  father,  well  knoweth  your  hartes  and  good  intent, — the  geuer 
neuer  wanteth  his  reward,  according  to  the  sayinge  of  Saynt  Au- 
gustyn :  as  there  is  (neyther  shalbe)  any  synne  vnpunished,  euen  so 
shall  there  not  be  eny  good  dede  vnrewarded.  But  how  comfortably 
speaketh  Christ  our  Sauiour  vnto  vs  in  his  gospel  ("  geue  ye,  and  it 
shalbe  geuen  you  againe  ") :  behold  farther,  good  Madam,  that  for  a 
cup  of  colde  water,  Christ  hath  promised  a  good  reward.  Now  saynt 
Austen  properly  declareth  why  Christ  speaketh  of  colde  water,  be- 
cause the  poorest  man  that  is  shall  not  excuse  him  selfe  from  that 
cherytable  warke,  least  he  would,  parauenture,  saye  that  he  hath 
neyther  wood,  pot,  nor  pan  to  warme  any  water  with.  Se,  farther, 
what  god  speaketh  in  the  mouth  of  his  prophet,  Esaye,  "  breake  thy 
bread  to  him  that  is  a  hongred  ; "  he  sayth  not  geue  him  a  hole  lofe, 
for  paraduenture  the  poore  man  hath  it  not  to  geue,  then  let  him  geue 
a  pece.  This  much  is  sayd  because  the  poore  that  hath  it  should  not 


HARMAN.       THE   EPISTLE.  25 

be  excused  :  now  how  much  more  then  the  riche  1    Thus  you  se,  good 

madam,  for  your  treasure  here  dispersed,  where  nede  and  lacke 

is,  it  shalbe  heaped  vp  aboundantly  for  you  in  heauen, 

where  neither  rust  or  moth  shall  corupt  or  destroy 

the  same.     Ynto  which  tryumphant  place,  after 

many  good,  happy,  and  fortunat  yeres  pros- 

perouslye  here  dispended.  you  maye  for 

euer  and  euer  there  most  ioyfully 

remayne.     A  men. 

\\FIN18. 


2G 


IIARMAN.       THE    EPISTLE. 


Thre  things  to  be  noted 
A  staff,  a  beesom,  and 


all  in  their  kynde 
wy  th,  that  wy  11  wynd« 


IT  A  beesome  of  byrche,  for  babes  very  feete,1 

A  longe  lastinge  lybbet  for  loubbers  as  meete 
A  wyth  to  wynde  vp,  that  these  wyll  not  keepe 
Bynde  all  up  in  one,  and  vse  it  to  sweepe 


[This  page  is  printed  at  the  back  of  the  title  page  in  Bodley  edition.] 


HARMAN.       TO    THE   READER.  27 

IT     THE   EPISTLE   TO    THE   READER.  [leaf  5] 

AL  though,  good  Reader,  I  wright  in  plain  termes — and  not  so 
playnly  as  truely — concerning  the  matter,  meaning  honestly 
to  all  men,  and  wyshe  them  as  much  good  as  to  myne  owne 
harte ;  yet,  as  there  hathe  bene,  so  there  is  nowe,  and  hereafter  wylbe, 
curyous  heds  to  finde  fauttes  :  wherefore  I  thought  it  necessary,  now 
at  this  seconde  Impression,  to  acquaynt  the  with  a  great  faulte,  as 
some  takethe  it,  but  none1  as  I  meane  it,  callinge  these  Vagabonds 
Cursetors  in  the  intytelynge  of  my  booke,  as  runneres  or  rangers 
aboute  the  countrey,  deriued  of  this  Laten  word  (Curro) :  neither  do 
I  wryght  it  Cooresetores,  with  a  duble2  oo ;  or  Cowresetors,  with  a  w, 
which  hath  an  other  signification :  is  there  no  deuersite  betwen  a 
gardein  and  a  garden,  maynteynaunce  and  maintenance,  Streytes  and 
stretes  1  those  that  haue  vnderstanding  knowe  there  is  a  great  dyffer- 
ence :  who  is  so  ignorant  by  these  dayes  as  knoweth  not  the  meaning 
of  a  vagabone  ?  and  yf  an  ydell  leuterar  should  be  so  called  of  eny 
man,  would  not  he  thmk  it  bothe  odyous  and  reprochefull  1  wyll  he 
not  shonne  the  name  1  ye,  and  where  as  he  maye  and  dare,  with  bent 
browes,  wyll  reueng  that  name  of  Ingnomy :  yet  this  playne  name 
vagabone  is  deryued,  as  others  be,  of  Laten  wordes,  and  now  vse 
makes  it  commen  to  al  men;  but  let  vs  loke  back  four  .C.  yeres 
sithens,  and  let  vs  se  whether  this  playn  word  vagabon  was  vsed  or 
no.  I  beleue  not,  and  why  ?  because  I  rede  of  no  such  name  in  the 
old  estatutes  of  this  realme,  vnles  it  be  in  the  margente  of  the  booke, 
or  in  the  Table,  which  in  the  collection  and  pryntinge  was  set  in  ; 
but  these  were  then  the  commen  names  of  these  lend  leuterars, 
Faytores,  Robardesmen,  Drawlatches,  and  valyant  beggares.  Yf  I 
should  haue  vsed  suche  wordes,  or  the  same  order  of  wryting,  as  this 
realme  vsed  in  Kynge  Henry  the  thyrd  or  Edward  the  fyrstes  tyme, 
oh,  what  a  grose,  barberous  fellow  [leaf  5,  back]  haue  we  here  !  his 
wryting  is  both  homely  and  darke,  that  wee  had  nede  to  haue  an 
interpretar :  yet  then  it  was  verye  well,  and  in  short  season  a  great 
change  we  see.  well,  this  delycat  age  shall  haue  his  tyme  on  the 

1  The  1573  ed.  reads  not. 
8  This  word  is  omitted  in  the  1573  ed. 


28  HARM  AN.       TO    THE    READER. 

other  syde.  Eloquence  haue  I  none ;  I  neuer  was  acquaynted  with 
the  muses ;  I  neuer  tasted  of  Helycon.  But  accordinge  to  my  playne 
order,  I  haue  setforth  this  worke,  symplye  and  truelye,  with  such 
vsual  words  and  termes  as  is  among  vs  wel  known  and  frequented. 
So  that  as  the  prouerbe  saythe,  "  all  though  truth  be  blamed,  it  shal 
neuer  be  shamed."  well,  good  reader,  I  meane  not  to  be  tedyous  vnto 
the,  but  haue  added  fyue  or  sixe  more  tales,  because  some  of  them 
weare  donn  whyle  my  booke  was  fyrste  in  the  presse ;  and  as  I 
truste  I  haue  deserued  no  rebuke  for  my  good  wyll,  euen  so  I  desyre 
no  prayse  for  my  payne,  cost,  and  trauell.  But  faithfullye  for  the 
proffyt  and  benyfyt  of  my  countrey  I  haue  don  it,  that  the  whole 
body  of  the  Eealme  may  se  and  vnderstand  their  leud  lyfe  and  per- 
nitious  practisses,  that  all  maye  spedelye  helpe  to  amend  that  is 
amysse.  Amen  saye  all  with  me. 


Finis 


HAEMAN.       A   RUFFLER.  29 

1f    A   RUFFLER.       Ca.   I.1  Deaf 6] 

THE  Rufflar,  because  lie  is  first  in  degre  of  this  odious  order : 
And  is  so  called  in  a  statute  made  for  the  punishment  of 
Vacabonds,  In  the  xxvij.  yeare  of  Kyng  Henry  the  eight,  late 
of  most  famous  memory :  Hee  shall  be  first  placed,  as  the 
worthiest  of  this  vnruly  rablement.  And  he  is  so  called  when 
he  goeth  first  abroad ;  eyther  he  hath  serued  in  the  warres,  or 
els  he  hath  bene  a  seruinge  man ;  and,  weary  of  well  doing,  shakinge 
of  all  payne,  doth  chuse  him  this  ydle  lyfe,  and  wretchedly  wanders 
aboute  the  most  shyres  of  this  realme.  And  with  stout  audacyte, 
2  demaundeth  where  he  thinketh  hee  maye  be  bolde,  and  circomspecte 
ynough,  as  he  sethe  cause  to  aske  charitie,  rufully  and  lamentably, 
that  it  would  make  a  flyntey  hart  to  relent,  and  pytie  his  miserable 
estate,  howe  he  hath  bene  maymed  and  broused  in  the  warres ;  and, 
parauenture,  some  wyll  shew  you  some  outward  wounde,  whiche  he 
gotte  at  some  dronken  fraye,  eyther  haltinge  of  some  preuye  wounde 
festred  with  a  fylthy  firy  flankard.  For  be  well  assured  that  the 
hardist  souldiers  be  eyther  slayne  or  maymed,  eyther  and3  they 
escape  all  hassardes,  and  retourne  home  agayne,  if  they  bee  without 
reliefe  of  their  friends,  they  wyl  surely  desperatly  robbe  and  steale, 
and  4  eyther  shortlye  be  hanged  or  miserably  dye  in  pryson ;  for  they 
be  so  much  ashamed  and  disdayne  to  beg  or  aske  charity,  that  rather 
they  wyll  as  desperatlye  fight  for  to  lyue  and  mayntayne  them 
selues,  as  manfully  and  valyantly  they  ventred  them  selues  in 
the  Prynces  quarell.  Now  these  Rufflars,  the  out  castes  of  seruing 
men,  when  begginge  or  crauinge  fayles,  then  they  pycke  and  pylfer, 
from  other  inferiour  beggeres  that  they  meete  by  the  waye,  as 
Roages,  Pallyardes,  Mortes,  and  Doxes.  Yea,  if  they  meete  with  a 
woman  alone  ridinge  to  the  market,  eyther  olde  man  or  boye,  that 
hee  well  knoweth  wyll  not  resiste,  such  they  filche  and  spoyle. 
These  rufnars,  after  a  yeare  or  two  at  the  farthest,  become  vpryght 
men,  vnlesse  they  be  preuented  by  twind  hempe. 

1  The  chapters  are  not  noted  in  the  Bodley  ed. 

2  The  1573  ed.  here  inserts  the  word  he 

8  1573  reads  if  4  1573  has  or 


30  HARMAN.       A   RUFFLER. 

( I  had  of  late  yeares  an  old  man  to  my  tennant,  who  custom- 
( ably  a  greate  tyme  went  twise  in  the  weeke  to  London,  eyther 
wyth  fruite  or  with  pescodes,  when  tyme  semed  therefore.  And  as 
he  was  comminge  homewarde  on  blacke  heathe,  at  the  end  thereof 
next  to  shotars  hyl,  he  ouer  tooke  two  rufflars,  the  one  manerly  way  t- 
ing  on  the  other,  as  one  had  ben  the  maister,  and  the  other  the  man 
or  seruant,  [leaf  e,  back]  caryinge  his  maisteres  cloke.  this  olde  man  was 
verye  glad  that  hee  might  haue  their  company  ouer  the  hyl,  because 
that  day  he  had  made  a  good  market;  for  hee  had  seuen  shyl- 
linges  in  his  purse,  and  a  nolde  angell,  which  this  poore  man  had 
thought  had  not  bene  in  his  purse,  for  hee  wylled  his  wyfe  ouer 
night  to  take  out  the  same  angell,  and  laye  it  vp  vntyll  his  comminge 
home  agayne.  And  he  verely  thought  that  his  wyfe  had  so  don, 
whiche  in  dede  for  got  to  do  it.  Thus  after  salutations  had,  this 
maister  rufflar  entered  into  communication  with  this  simple  olde 
man,  who,  ridinge  softlye  beside  them,  commoned  of  many  matters. 
Thus  fedinge  this  old  man  with  pleasaunt  talke,  vntyll  they  weare 
one  the  toppe  of  the  hyll,  where  these  rufflares  might  well  beholde 
the  coaste  about  them  cleare,  Quiclye  stepes  vnto  this  poore  man, 
and  taketh  holde  of  his  horse  brydell,  and  leadeth  him  in  to  the 
wode,  and  demaundeth  of  him  what  and  how  much  money  he  had 
in  his  purse.  "  Now,  by  my  troth,"  quoth  this  old  man ;  "  you  are 
a  merrye  gentle  man.  I  knowe  you  meane  not  to  take  a  waye  anye 
thinge  from  me,  but  rather  to  geue  me  some  if  I  shoulde  aske  it  of 
you."  By  and  by,  this  seruant  thiefe  casteth  the  cloke  that  he  caried 
on  his  arme  about  this  poore  mans  face,  that  he  should  not  marke  or 
vew  them,  with  sharpe  words  to  delyuer  quicly  that  he  had,  and  to 
confesse  truly  what  wTas  in  his  purse.  This  poore  man,  then  all 
abashed,  yelded,  and  confessed  that  he  had  but  iust  seuen  shyllinges 
in  his  purse;  and  the  trouth  is  he  knew  of  no  more.  This  old 
angell  was  falen  out  of  a  lytle  purse  into  the  botome  of  a  great  purse. 
Now,  this  seuen  shyllings  in  whyte  money  they  quickly  founde, 
thinkinge  in  dede  that  there  had  bene  no  more ;  yet  farther  groping 
and  searchinge,  found  this  old  angell.  And  with  great  admiration, 
this  gentleman  thyefe  begane  to  blesse  hym,  sayinge,  "good  lorde, 
what  a  worlde  is  this !  howe  maye  "  (quoth  hee)  "  a  man  beleue 


HARMAN.       A    VPRIGHT    MAN.  31 

or  truste  in  the  same?  se  you  not"  (quoth  he)  "this  old  knaue 
tolde  me  that  he  had  but  seuen  shyllings,  and  here  is  more  by  an 
angell :  what  an  old  knaue  and  a  false  knaue  haue  we  here ! "  quoth 
this  rufflar ;  "  oure  lorde  haue  mercy  on  vs,  wyll  this  worlde  neuer  be 
better  ? " — and  there  with  went  their  waye.  And  lefte  the  olde  man 
in  the  wood,  doinge  him  no  more  harme.  But  sorowfully  sighinge, 
this  olde  man,  returning  home,  declared  his  misaduenture,  with  all 
the  words  and  circumstaunces  aboue  shewed.  Wherat,  for  the  tyme 
was  great  laughing,  and  this  poore  man  for  his  losses  among  his 
louing  neighboures  well  considered  in  the  end. 

IT      A    VPRIGHT    MAN.       Ca.   2. 

[leaf  7j    A      Vpright ]  man,  the  second  in  secte  of  this  vnsemely  sorte, 

\    must  be  next   placed,  of  these  rainginge  rablement  of 

L  JL  rascales ;  some  be  seruing  men,  artificers,  and  laboryng 

men  traded  vp  in  husbandry.      These   not   miiidinge  to  get  their 

lyuinge  with  the  swete  of  their  face,  but  casting  of  all  payne,  wyll 

wander,  after  their  wycked  maner,  through  the  most  shyres  of  this 

realm, — 

( As  Sommerset  shyre,  "Wylshire,  Barke  shyre,  Oxforde  shyre, 
(  Harfordeshyre,  Myddilsex,  Essex,  Suflblke,  Nbrthfolke,  Sussex, 
Surrye,  and  Kent,  as  the  cheyfe  and  best  shyres  of  reliefe.  Yea, 
not  with  out  punishment  by  stockes,  whyppinges,  and  imprison- 
ment, in  most  of  these  places  aboue  sayde.  Yet,  not  with  standinge 
they  haue  so  good  lykinge  in  their  lewed,  lecherous  loyteringe,  that 
full  quiclye  all  their  punishmentes  is  2  for  gotten.  And  repentaunce 
is  neuer  thought  vpon  vntyll  they  clyme  three  tres  with  a  ladder. 
These  vnrewly  rascales,  in  their  roylynge,  disperse  them  selues  into 
seuerall  companyes,  as  occation  serueth,  sometyme  more  and  somtyme 
lesse.  As,  if  they  repayre  to  a  poore  husbandmans  house,  hee  wyll 
go  a  lone,  or  one  with  him,  and  stoutely  demaund  his  charytie, 
eyther  shewing  how  he  hath  serued  in  the  warres,  and  their  maymed, 
eyther  that  he  sekethe  seruice,  and  saythe  that  he  woulde  be  glad  to 
take  payne  for  hys  lyuinge,  althoughe  he  meaneth  nothinge  lesse. 

1  Printed  "  vpreght."     vpright  in  Bodley  ed. 
2  1573,  T)e 


32  HARMAN.       A   VPEIGHT   MAN. 

Yf  he  "be  offered  any  meate  or  drynke,  lie  vtterlye  refusethe  scorne- 
fully,  and  wyll  nought  but  money ;  and  yf  he  espye  yong  pyges  or 
pultry,  he  well  noteth  the  place,  and  they  the  next  night,  or  shortly 
after,  hee  wyll  be  sure  to  haue  some  of  them,  whyche  they  brynge  to 
their  stawlinge  kens,  which  is  their  typplyng  houses,  as  well  knowen 
to  them,  according  to  the  olde  prouerbe,  "  as  the  begger  knowes  his 
dishe."  For  you  must  vnderstand,  euery  Typplyng  ale  house  wyll 
neyther  receiue  them  or  their  wares,  but  some  certayne  houses  in  euery 
shyre,  especially  for  that  purpose,  where  they  shalbe  better  welcome 
to  them  then  honester  men.  For  by  such  haue  they  most  gayne,  and 
shalbe  conuayde  eyther  into  some  loft  out  of  the  waye,  or  other  secret 
corner  not  commen  to  any  other ;  and  thether  repayre,  at  accustomed 
tymes,  their  harlots,  whiche  they  terme  Mortes  and  Doxes, — not  with 
emty  hands ;  for  they  be  as  skilfull  in  picking,  riffling,  and  filching 
as  the  vpright  men,  and  nothing  inferior  to  them  in  all  kind  of  wyck- 
ednes,  as  in  other  places  hereafter  they  shalbe  touched.  At  these 
foresayde  peltinge,  peuish  places  and  vnmannerly  metinges,  0  !  how 
the  pottes  walke  about !  their  talking  tounges  talke  at  large.  They 
bowle  and  bowse  one  to  another,  and  for  the  tyme  bousing  belly 
chere.  And  after  there  ruysting  recreation,  [leaf  7,  back]  yf  there  be 
not  rome  ynough  in  the  house,  they  haue  cleane  strawe  in  some 
barne  or  backehouse  nere  adioyning,  where  they  couch  comly  to 
gether,  and  l  it  were  dogge  and  byche  ;  and  he  that  is  hardyste  maye 
haue  his  choyse,  vnlesse  for  a  lytle  good  maner ;  some  wyll  take 
there  owne  that  they  haue  made  promyse  vnto,  vntyll  they  be  out  of 
sight,  and  then,  according  to  the  old  adage,  "  out  of  minde."  Yet 
these  vpright  men  stand  so  much  vpon  their  reputation,  as  they  wyl 
in  no  case  haue  their  wemen  walke  with  them,  but  seperat  them 
selues  for  a  tyme,  a  moneth  or  more.  And  mete  at  fayres,  or  great 
markets,  where  they  mete  to  pylfer  and  steale  from  staules,  shoppes, 
or  bothes.  At  these  fayres  the  vpryght  men  vse  commonly  to  lye 
and  lingar  in  hye  wayes  by  lanes,  some  prety  way  or  distaunce  from 
the  place,  by  which  wayes  they  be  assured  that  compeny  passeth 
styll  two  and  fro.  And  ther  they2  wyll  demaund,  with  cap  in  hand 
and  comly  curtesy,  the  deuotion  and  charity  of  the  people.  They 
1  1573,  as  *  the.  B. 


HARMAN.       A   VPRIGHT    MAN.  33 

haue  ben  mucli  lately  whipped  at  fayrs.  Yf  they  aske  at  a  stout 
yemans  or  farmars  house  his  charity,  they  wyll  goe  strong  as  thre  or 
foure  in  a  company.  Where  for  feare  more  then  good  wyll,  they 
often  haue  reliefe.  they  syldome  or  neuer  passe  "by  a  Justices 
house,  but  haue  by  wayes,  vnlesse  he  dwell  alone,  and  but  weakely 
manned  ;  thether  wyll  they  also  go  strong,  after  a  slye,  suttle  sorte,  as 
with  their  armes  bounde  vp  with  kercher  or  lyste,  hauinge  wrapte 
about  the  same  filthy  clothes,  either  their  legges  in  such  maner  be- 
wrapped  halting  down  right.  Not  vnprouided  of  good  codg[e]ls, 
which  they  cary  to  sustayne  them,  and,  as  they  fayne,  to  keepe 
gogges1  from  them,  when  they  come  to  such  good  gentlemens  houses. 
Yf  any  searche  be  made  or  they  suspected  for  pylfring  clothes  of 
hedgges,  or  breaking  of  houses,  which  they  commonly  do  when  the 
owners  bee  eyther  at  the  market,  church,  or  other  wayes  occupyed 
aboute  their  busines, — eyther  robbe  some  sely  man  or  woman  by  the 
hye  waye,  as  many  tymes  they  do, — Then  they  hygh  them  into  wodes, 
great  thickets,  and  other  ruffe  corners,  where  they  lye  lurkinge  thre  or 
foure  dayes  to  gether,  and  haue  meate  and  drinke  brought  them  by 
theyre  Mortes,  and  Doxes ;  and  whyle  they  thus  lye  hydden  in 
couert,  in  the  night  they  be  not  idle, — nether,  as  the  common  saying 
is,  "  well  occupyed ; "  for  then,  as  the  wyly  foxe,  crepinge  out  of  his 
den,  seketh  his  praye  for  pultery,  so  do  these  for  lynnen  and  any 
thinge  els  worth  money,  that  lyeth  about  or  near  a  house.  As  som- 
tyme  a  whole  bucke  of  clothes  caryed  awaye  at  a  tyme.  When  they 
haue  a  greatter  booty  then  they  maye  cary  awaye  quickly  to  their 
stawling  kendes,  as  is  aboue  sayd,  They  wyll  hyde  the  same  for  a 
thre  dayes  in  some  thicke  couert,  and  [leaf  8]  in  the  night  time  carye 
the  same,  lyke  good  water  Spanlles,  to  their  foresayd  houses.  To 
whom  they  wyll  discouer  where  or  in  what  places  they  had  the  same, 
where  the  markes  shalbe  pycked  out  cleane,  and  conuayed  craftely 
fare  of,  to  sell.  If  the  man  or  woman  of  the  house  want  money 
them  selues.  2  If  these  vpright  men  haue  nether  money  nor  wares,  at 
these  houses  they  shalbe  trusted  for  their  vitales,  and  it  amount  to 
twentye  or  thirty  shyllings.  Yea,  if  it  fortune  any  of  these  vpright 
men  to  be  taken,  either  suspected,  or  charged  with  fellony  or  petye 

1  dogges.  B.  '  1573  inserts  and 

3 


34  HARMAN.       A   VPRIGHT   MAN. 

brybrye,  don  at  such,  a  tyme  or  such  a  place,  he  wyll  saye  he  was  in 
his  hostes  house.  And  if  the  man  or  wyfe  of  that  house  be  ex- 
amined by  an  officer,  they  boldelye  vouche,  that  the[y]  lodged  him 
suche  a  tyme,  whereby  the  truth  cannot  appeare.  And  if  they 
chaunce  to  be  retained  into  seruice,  through,  their  lamentable  words, 
with  any  welthy  man,  They  wyll  tary  but  a  smale  tyme,  either  robbing 
his  maister  or  som  of  his  fellowes.  And  some  of  them  vseth  this 
polocye,  that  although  they  trauayle  into  al  these  shyres,  aboue  said, 
yet  wyl  they  haue  good  credite,  espiciallye  in  one  shyre,  where  at 
diuers  good  farmars  houses  they  be  wel  knowen,  where  they  worke  a 
moneth  in  a  place  or  more,  and  wyll  for  that  time  behaue  them  selues 
very  honestly  and  paynfully  ;  And  maye  at  any  tyme,  for  their  good 
vsage,  haue  worke  of  them ;  and  to  these  at  a  ded  lyft,  or  last 
refuge,  they  maye  safely  repayre  vnto  and  be  welcom,  When  in  other 
places,  for  a  knacke  of  knauery  that  they  haue  playd,  thei  dare  not 
tary.  These  vyright  men  wil  sildom  or  neuer  want ;  for  what  is 
gotten  by  anye  Mort,  or  Doxe,  if  it  please  him,  hee  doth  comaunde 
the  same.  And  if  he  mete  any  begger,  whether  he  be  sturdye  or 
impotent,  he  wyll  demaund  of  him,  whether  euer  he  was  stalled  to 
the  roge  or  no.  If  he  saye  he  was,  he  wyll  know  of  whom,  and  his 
name  thai  stalled  hym.  And  if  he  be  not  learnedly  able  to  shewe 
him  the  whole  circumstaunce  thereof,  he  wyll  spoyle  him  of  his 
money,  either  of  his  best  garment,  if  it  be  worth  any  money,  and 
haue  him  to  the  bowsing  ken,  Which  is  to  some  typpling  house  next 
adioyninge  ;  and  laieth  their  to  gage  the  best  thing  that  he  hath  for 
twenty  pence  or  two  shyllinges  :  this  man  obeyeth  for  feare  of  beat- 
ing. Then  doth  this  vpright  man  call  for  a  gage  of  bowse,  whiche  is 
a  quarte  pot  of  drinke,  and  powres  the  same  vpon  his  peld  pate,  adding 
these  words : — "  I.  G.  P.  do  stalle  thee  W.  T.  to  the  Eoge,  and  that 
from  hence  forth  it  shall  be  lawefull  for  the  to  Cant " — that  is,  to 
aske  or  begge — "  for  thy  lining  in  al  places."  Here  you  se  thai  the 
vpright  man  is  of  great  auctorite.  For  all  sortes  of  beggers  are 
obedient  to  his  hests,  and  surmounteth  all  others  in  pylfring  and 
stealinge.  IT  I  lately  had  standinge  in  my  [leaf  s,  back]  well  house, 
which  standeth  on  the  backeside  of  my  house,  a  great  cawdron  of 
copper,  beinge  then  full  of  water,  hauinge  in  the  same  halfe  a  doson 


HARM  AN.   A  HOKER,  OR  ANGGLEAR.  35 

of  pewter  dyshes,  well  marked,  and  stamped  with  the  connizance  of 
my  armes,  whiche  being  well  noted  when  they  were  taken  out,  were 
set  a  side,  the  water  powred  out,  and  my  caudren  taken  awaye,  being 
of  such  bygnes  that  one  man,  vnlesse  he  were  of  great  strength,  was 
not  able  far  to  cary  the  same.  Not  withstandinge,  the  same  was  one 
night  within  this  two  yeares  conuayed  more  then  half  a  myle  from 
my  house,  into  a  commen  or  heth,  And  ther  bestowed  in  a  great  fir- 
bushe.  I  then  iinmediatly  the  next  day  sent  one  of  my  men  to 
London,  and  there  gatie  warning  in  Sothwarke,  kent  strete,  and 
Barmesey  streete,  to  all  the  Tynckars  there  dwelling, — That  if  any 
such  Caudron  came  thether  to  be  sold,  the  bringar  therof  should  be 
stayed,  and  promised  twenty  shyllings  for  a  reward.  I  gaue  also  in- 
telligence to  the  water  men  that  kept  the  ferres,  that  no  such  vessel 
should  be  ether  conuayd  to  London  or  into  essex,  promysing  the  lyke 
reward,  to  haue  vnderstanding  therof.  This  my  doing  was  well 
vnderstand  in  many  places  about,  and  that  the  feare  of  espyinge  so 
troubled  the  conscience  of  the  stealer,  that  my  caudoren  laye 
vntouched  in  the  thicke  firbushe  more  then  halfe  a  yeare  after, 
which,  by  a  great  chaunce,  was  found  by  hunteres  for  conneys  ;  for 
one  chaunced  to  runne  into  the  same  bushe  where  my  caudren  was, 
and  being  perceaued,  one  thrust  his  staife  into  the  same  bushe,  and 
hyt  my  caudren  a  great  blowe,  the  sound  whereof  dyd  cause  the 
man  to  thinke  and  hope  that  there  was  some  great  treasure  hidden, 
wherby  he  thought  to  be  the  better  whyle  he  lyued.  And  in  farther 
searching  he  found  my  caudren ;  so  had  I  the  same  agayne  vnloked 
for. 

IT      A    HOKER,    OR    ANGGLEAR.       Cap.  3. 

THese    hokers,    or    Angglers,    be    peryllous    and    most   wicked 
knaues,  and  be  deryued  or  procede  forth  from  the  vpright 
men;  they  commenly  go  in  frese  ierkynes  and  gaily  slopes, 
poynted  benethe  the  kne  ;  these  when  they  practise  there  pylfringe, 
it  is  all  by  night ;  for,  as  they  walke  a  day  times  from  house  to 
house,  to  demaund  charite,  they  vigelantly  marke  where  or  in  what 
place  they  maye  attayne  to  there  praye,  casting  there  eyes  vp  to 
euery  wyndow,  well  noting  what  they  se  their,  whether  apparell  or 
linnen,  hanginge  nere  vnto  the  sayde  wyndowes,  and  that  wyll  they 


36  HARMAN.   A  HOKER.   A  ROGE. 

be  sure  to  haue  the  next  night  Mowing  ;  for  they  customably  carry 
with  them  a  staffe  of  v.  or  vi.  foote  long,  in  which,  within  one 
ynch  of  the  tope  therof,  ys  a  lytle  hole  bored  through,  [leaf  9]  in 
which  hole  they  putte  an  yron  hoke,  and  with  the  same  they  wyll 
pluck  vnto  them  quickly  any  thing  thai  they  may  reche  ther  with, 
which  hoke  in  the  day  tyme  they  couertly  cary  about  them,  and  is 
neuer  sene  or  taken  out  till  they  come  to  the  place  where  they  worke 
there  fete  :  such  haue  I  sene  at  my  house,  and  haue  oft  talked  with 
them  and  haue  handled  ther  staues,  not  then  vnderstanding  to  what 
vse  or  intewt  they  serued,  although  I  hadde  and  perceiued,  by  there 
talke  and  behauiour,  great  lykelyhode  of  euyll  suspition  in  them  : 
they  wyl  ether  leane  vppon  there  staffe,  to  hyde  the  hole  thereof, 
when  they  talke  with  you,  or  holde  their  hande  vpon  the  hole  j  and 
what  stuffe,  either  wollen  or  lynnen,  they  thus  hoke  out,  they  neuer 
carye  the  same  forth  with  to  their  staulyng  kens,  but  hides  the  same 
a  iij.  daies  in  some  secret  corner,  and  after  conuayes  the  same  to  their 
houses  abouesaid,  where  their  host  or  hostys  geueth  them  money  for 
the  same,  but  halfe  the  value  that  it  is  worth,  or  els  their  doxes 
shall  a  farre  of  sell  the  same  at  the  like  houses.  I  was  credebly  in- 
formed that  a  hoker  came  to  a  farmers  house  in  the  ded  of  the  night, 
and  putting  back  a  drawe  window  of  a  low  chamber,  the  bed  standing 
hard  by  the  sayd  wyndow,  in  which  laye  three  parsones  (a  man  and 
two  bygge  boyes),  this  hoker  with  his  staffe  plucked  of  their  garments 
which  lay  vpon  them  to  kepe  them  warme,  with  the  couerlet  and 
shete,  and  lefte  them  lying  a  slepe  naked  sauing  there  shertes,  and 
had  a  way  all  clene,  and  neuer  could  vnderstande  where  it  became. 
I  verely  suppose  that  when  they  wer  wel  waked  with  cold,  they 
suerly  thought  that  Robin  goodfelow  (accordiiige  to  the  old  saying) 
had  bene  with  them  that  night. 

11     A  ROGE.     Cap.  4. 

ARoge   is   neither   so   stoute   or   hardy   as   the   vpright    man. 
Many  of  them  will  go  fayntly  and  looke  piteously  when  they 
see,  either  meete  any  person,  hauing  a  kercher,  as  white  as  my 
shooes,  tyed  about  their  head,  with  a  short  staffe  in  their  hand, 
haltinge,  although  they  nede  not,  requiring  almes  of  such  as  they 


HARMAN.       A   ROGE.  37 

oieete,  or  to  what  house  they  shal  com.  But  you  may  easely  per- 
ceiue  "by  their  colour  that  thei  cary  both  health  and  hipocrisie  about 
them,  wherby  they  get  gaine,  when  others  want  that  cannot  fayne 
and  dissemble.  Others  therebee  that  walke  sturdely  about  the  couw- 
trey,  and  faineth  to  seke  a  brother  or  kinsman  of  his,  dwelling 
within  som  part  of  the  shire ; — ether  that  he  hath  a  letter  to  deliuer 
to  som  honest  housholder,  dwelling  out  of  an  other  Shyre,  and  will 
shewe  you  the  same  fayre  sealed,  with  the  superscription  to  [leaf  9,  back] 
the  partye  he  speaketh  of,  because  you  shall  not  thinke  him  to  runne 
idelly  about  the  countrey  ;• — either  haue  they  this  shyfte,  they  wyll 
cary  a  cirtificate  or  pasport  about  them  from  som  lus'ticer  of  the 
peace,  with  his  hand  and  seale  vnto  the  same,  howe  hee  hath  bene 
whipped  and  punished  for  a  vacabonde  according  to  the  lawes  of 
this  realme,  and  that  he  muste  returne  to  .T.,  where  he  was  borne  or 
last  dwelt,  by  a  certayne  daye  lymited  in  the  same,  whiche  shalbe  a 
good  longe  daye.  And  all  this  fayned,  bycause  without  feare  they 
woulde  wyckedly  wander,  and  wyll  renue  the  same  where  or  when  it 
pleasethe  them  j  for  they  haue  of  their  affinity  that  can  wryte  and 
read.  These  also  wyll  picke  and  steale  as  the  vpright  men,  and  hath 
their  women  and  metinges  at  places  apoynted,  and  nothinge  to  them 
inferiour  in  all  kynde  of  knauery.  There  bee  of  these  Roges 
Curtales,  wearinge  shorte  clokes,  that  wyll  chaunge  their  aparell,  as 
occation  seruethe.  And  their  end  is  eyther  hanginge,  whiche  they 
call  trininge  in  their  language,  or  die  miserably  of  the  pockes, 

f  There  was  not  long  sithens  two  Eoges  that  alwaies  did  associate 
them  selues  together,  and  would  neuer  seperat  them  selues,  vnles  it 
were  for  some  especiall  causes,  for  they  were  sworn  brothers,  and 
were  both  of  one  age,  and  much  like  of  favour :  these  two,  trauelinge 
into  east  kent,  resorted  vnto  an  ale  house  there,1  being  weried  with 
traueling,  saluting  with  short  curtisey,  when  they  came  into  the 
house,  such  as  thei  sawe  sitting  there,  in  whiche  company  was  the 
parson  of  the  parish ;  and  callinge  for  a  pot  of  the  best  ale,  sat  downe 
at  the  tables  ende :  the  lykor  liked  them  so  well,  that  they  had  pot 
vpon  pot,  and  sometyme,  for  a  lytle  good  maner,  would  drinke  and 
offer  the  cup  to  such  as  they  best  fancied ;  and  to  be  short,  they  sat 

1  1573  omits. 


38  HARMAN.       A   ROGE. 

out  al  the  company,  for  eche  man  departed  home  aboute  their 
busines.  When  they  had  well  refreshed  them  selues,  then  these 
rowsy  roges  requested  the  good  man  of  the  house  wyth  his  wyfe  to 
sit  downe  and  drinke  with  them,  of  whome  they  inquired  what  priest 
the, same  was,  and  where  he  dwelt :  then  they  fayninge  that  they 
had  an  vncle  a  priest,  and  that  he  should  dwel  in  these  partes,  which 
by  all  presumptions  it  should  be  he,  and  that  they  came  of  purpose 
to  speake  with  hym,  but  because  they  had  not  sene  hym  sithens  they 
were  sixe  yeares  olde,  they  durst  not  be  bold  to  take  acquayntance 
of  him  vntyl  they  were  farther  instructed  of  the  truth,  and  began  to 
inquier  of  his  name,  and  how  longe  he  had  dwelt  there,  and  how 
farre  his  house  was  of  from  the  place  they  were  in  :  the  good  wyfe  of 
the  house,  thynkinge  them  honest  men  without  disceit,  because  they 
so  farre  enquyred  of  their  kinseman,  was  but  of  a  good  zelous  natur- 
all  intent,  shewed  them  cherefully  that  hee  Deaf  10]  was  an  honest 
man  and  welbeloued  in  the  parish,  and  of  good  welth,  and  had  ben 
there  resident  xv.  years  at  the  least ;  "  but,"  saith  she,  "  are  you  both 
brothers?"  "yea,  surely,"  said  they,  "we  haue  bene  both  in  one 
belly,  and  were  twinnes."  "  Mercy,  god  ! "  quoth  this  folish  woman ; 
"  it  may  wel  be,  for  ye  be  not  much  vnlike," — and  wente  vnto  her 
hall  windowe,  callinge  these  yong  men  vnto  her,  and  loking  out 
therat,1  pointed  with  her  fingar  and  shewed  them  the  house  stand- 
ing alone,  no  house  nere  the  same  by  almoste  a  quarter  of  a  myle ; 
"that,"  sayd2  she,  "is  your  vncles  house."  "Nay,"  saith  one  of 
them,  "  he  is  not  onely  my  vncle,  but  also  my  godfather."  "  It  may 
well  be,"  quoth  she,  "nature  wyll  bind  him  to  be  the  better  vnto 
you."  "  Well,"  quoth  they,  "  we  be  weary,  and  meane  not  to  trouble 
our  vncle  to-night ;  but  to-morowe,  god  willinge,  we  wyll  see  him 
and  do  our  duty :  but,  I  pray  you,  doth  our  vncle  occupy  husbandry  ? 
what  company  hath  he  in  his  house."  "  Alas  ! "  saith  she,  "  but  one 
old  woman  and  a  boy,  he  hath  no  occupying  at  al :  tushe,"  qiioth 
this  good  wyfe,  "you  be  mad  men;  go  to  him  this  night,  for  hee 
hath  better  lodging  for  you  then  I  haue,  and  yet  I  speake  folishly 
against  my3  own  profit,  for  by  your  taring4  here  I  should  gaine  th& 
more  by  you."  "  Now,  by  my  troth,"  quoth  one  of  them,  "  we  thanke 
1  1573  omits.  2  saith.  B.  8  1573,  myne  *  tarying.  B. 


HAEMAN.       A   ROGE.  39 

you,  good  hostes,  for  your  liolsome  councell,  and  we  meane  to  do  as 
you  wyll  vs  :  we  wyl  pause  a  whyle,  and  by  that  tyme  it  wylbe  almost 
night ;  and  I  praye  you  geue  vs  a  reckeninge," — so,  manerly  paying 
for  that  they  toke,  bad  their  hoste  and  hostes  farewell  with  takinge 
leaue  of  the  cup,  marched  merelye  out  of  the  dores  towardes  this 
parsones  house,  vewed  the  same  well  rounde  about,  and  passed  by 
two  bowshotes  of  into  a  younge  wodde,  where  they  laye  consultinge 
what  they  shoulde  do  vntyll  midnight.  Quoth  one  of  them,  of 
sharper  wyt  and  subtyller  then  the  other,  to  hys  fellowe,  "thou  seest 
that  this  house  is  stone  walled  about,  and  that  we  cannot  well  breake 
in,  in  any  parte  thereof ;  thou  seest  also  that  the  windowes  be  thicke 
of  mullions,  that  ther  is  no  kreping  in  betwene :  wherefore  we  must 
of  necessytie  vse  some  policye  when  strength  wil  not  serue.  I  haue 
a  horse  locke  here  about  me,"  saith  he ;  "and  this  I  hope  shall  serue 
oure  turne."  So  when  it  was  aboute  xii.  of  the  clocke,  they  came  to 
the  house  and  lurked  nere  vnto  his  chamber  wyndowe  :  the  dog  of  the 
house  barked  a  good,  that  with  they1  noise,  this  priest  waketh  out 
of  his  sleepe,  and  began  to  cough  and  hem :  then  one  of  these  roges 
stepes  forth  nerer  the  window  and  maketh  a  ruful  and  pityful  noise, 
requiring  for  Christ  sake2  some  relief e,  that  was  both  hongry  and 
thirstye,  and  was  like  to  ly  with  out  the  dores  all  nighte  and  starue 
for  colde,  vnles  he  were  releued  by  him  with  some  small  pece  of 
money.  "  Where  dwellest  thou  V  quoth  this  parson.  "Alas!  sir," 
saithe  this  roge,  "  I  haue  smal  [leaf  10,  backj  dwelling,  and  haue.  com  out 
of  my  way ;  and  I  should  now,"  saith  he,  "go  to  any  towne  no  we  at 
this  time  of  night,  they  woulde  set  me  in  the  stockes  and  punishe 
me."  "Well,"  quoth  this  pitifull  parson,  "away  from  my  house, 
either  lye  in  some  of  my  out  houses  vntyll  the  morning,  and  holde, 
here  is  a  couple  of  pence  for  thee."  "A  god  rewarde  you,"  quoth 
this  roge ;  "  and  in  heauen  may  you  finde  it."  The  parson  openeth 
his  wyndowe,  and  thrusteth  out  his  arme  to  geue  his  almes  to  this 
Eoge  that  came  whining  to  receiue  it,  and  quickly  taketh  holde  of  his 
hand,  and  calleth  his  fellowe  to  him,  whiche  was  redye  at  hande  with 
the  horse  locke,  and  clappeth  the  same  about  the  wrest  of  his  arme, 
that  the  mullions  standing  so  close  together  for  strength,  that  for  his 
1  So  printed.  Bodley  ed.  has  the  2  sakes.  B. 


•40  HARMAN.       A   ROGE. 

life  he  could  not  plucke  in  his  arme  againe,  and  made  [him  beleue, 
vnles  he  would  at  the  least  geue  them  .iii.  li.,  they  woulde  smite  of 
his  arme  from  the  body.  So  that  this  poore  parson,  in  feare  to  lose 
his  hand,  called  vp  his  olde  woman  that  lay  in  the  loft  ouer  him, 
and  wylled  her  to  take  out  all  the  money  he  had,  which  was  iiij. 
markes,  which  he  saide  was  all  the  money  in  his  house,  for  he  had 
lent  vi.  li.  to  one  of  his  neighbours  not  iiij  daies  before.  "  Wei," 
quoth  they,  "  master  parson,  if  you  haue  no  more,  vpon  this  con- 
dicion  we  wil  take  of  the  locke,  that  you  will  drinke  .xij.  pence  for 
our  sakes  to-morow  at  the  alehouse  wher  we  found  you,  and  thank 
the  good  wife  for  the  good  chere  she  made  vs."  He  promised  faith- 
fully that  he  would  so  do ;  so  they  toke  of  the  locke,  and  went  their 
way  so  farre  ere  it  was  daye,  that  the  parson  coulde  neuer  haue  any 
vnderstanding  more  of  them.  Now  this  parson,  sorowfully  slumber- 
ing that  night  betwene  feare  and  hope,  thought  it  was  but  folly  to 
make  two  sorrowes  of  one ;  he  vsed  contentacion  for  his  remedy,  not 
forgetting  in  the  morning  to  performe  his  promise,  but  went  betims 
to  his  neighbour  that  kept  tiplinge,  and  asked  angerly  where  the 
same  two  men  were  that  dranke  with  her  yester  daye.  "  Which  two 
men  ? "  quoth  this  good  wife.  "  The  straungers  that  came  in  when  I 
was  at  your  house  wyth  my  neighbores  yesterday."  "What !  your 
neuewes?"  quoth  she.  "My  neuewesT'  quoth  this  parson;  "I 
trowe  thou  art  mad."  "  N&y,  by  god  ! "  quoth  this  good l  wife,  "  as 
sober  as  you ;  for  they  tolde  me  faithfully  that  you  were  their  vncle : 
but,  in  fayth,  are  you  not  so  in  dede  ?  for,  by  my  trouth,  they  are 
strau[n]gers  to  me.  I  neuer  saw  them  before."  "  0,  out  vpon 
them!"  quoth  the  parson;  "they  be  false  theues,  and  this  night 
thei  compelled  me  to  geue  them  al  the  money  in  my  house." 
"  Benedicite  ! "  quoth  this  good  wife,  "  and  haue  they  so  in  dede  ?  as 
I  shall  aunswere  before  god,  one  of  them  told  me  besides  that  you 
were  godfather  to  him,  and  that  he  trusted  to  haue  your  blessinge 
before  he  departed."  "What!  did  he?"  quoth  this  parson;  "a 
halter  blesse  him  for  [leaf  11]  me  ! "  "  Me  thinketh,  by  the  masse,  by 
your  countenance  you  loked  so  wildly  when  you  came  in,"  quoth 
this  good  wife,  "  that  somthing  was  amis."  "  I  vse  not  to  gest," 
1  Omitted  in  1573. 


HARMAN.       A   WYLDE   ROGE.  41 

quoth  this  parson,  "  when  I  speake  so  earnestly."  "  Why,  all  your 
sorrowes  goe  with  it,"  quoth  this  good  wife,  "  and  sitte  downe  here, 
and  I  will  fil  a  freshe  pot  of  ale  shall  make  you  mery  agayne." 
"Yea,"  saith  this  parson,  "fill  in,  and  geue  me  some  meat;  for  they 
made  me  sweare  and  promise  them  faithfully  that  I  shoulde  drinke 
xii.  pence  with  you  this  day."  "  What !  dyd  they  1 "  quoth  she ; 
"  now,  by  the  mary  masse,  they  be  mery  knaues.  I  warraunt  you  they 
meane  to  bye  no  land  with  your  money ;  but  how  could  they  come 
into  you  in  the  night,  your  dores  being  shut  fast?  your  house  is 
very  stronge."  Then  this  prason1  shewed  her  all  the  hole  circum- 
stance, how  he  gaue  them  his  almes  oute  at  the  wyndowe,  they2 
made  such  lamentable  crye  that  it  pytied  him  at  the  hart ;  for  he 
sawe  but  one  when  he  put  oute  his  hand  at  the  windowe.  "  Be 
ruled  by  me,"  quoth  this  good  wyfe.  "  Wherin1? "  quoth  this  parson. 
"  By  my  troth,  neuer  speake  more  of  it :  when  they  shal  vnderstand 
of  it  in  the  parish,  they  wyll  but  laugh  you  to  skorne."  3"  Why, 
then,"  quoth  this  parson,  "  the  deuyll  goe  with  it," — and  their  an 
end.3 

IF      A   WYLDE   ROGE.       Cap.  5. 

A  Wilde  Roge  is  he  that  is  borne  a  Eoge :  he  is  a  more  subtil 
and  more  geuen  by  nature  to  all  kinde  of  knauery  then  the 
other,  as  beastely  begotten  in  barne  or  bushes,  and  from  his 
infancye  traded  vp  in  trechery;  yea,  and  before  ripenes  of  yeares 
doth  permyt,  wallowinge  in  lewde  lechery,  but  that  is  counted 
amongest  them  no  sin.  For  this  is  their  custome,  that  when  they 
mete  in  barne  at  night,  euery  one  getteth  a  make 4  to  lye  wythall, 
and  their  chaunce  to  be  twentye  in  a  companye,  as  their  is  sometyme 
'more  and  sometyme  lesse :  for  to  one  man  that  goeth  abroad,  there 
are  at  the  least  two  women,  which  neuer  make  it  straunge  when  they 
be  called,  although  she  neuer  knewe  him  before.  Then  when  the 
day  doth  appeare,  he  rouses  him  vp,  and  shakes  his  eares,  and  awaye 
wanderinge  where  he  may  gette  oughte  to  the  hurte  of  others.  Yet 
before  he  skyppeth  oute  of  hys  couche  and  departeth  from  his 
darling,  if  he  like  her  well,  he  will  apoint  her  where  to  mete  shortlye 

1  so  printed.  2  the.  B. 

8-3  Why end.    B.  omits.  4  1573  reads  mate 


42  HARMAN.       A   PRYGGER   OP   PRAUNCERS. 

after,  with  a  warnings  to  worke  warely  for  some  chetes,  that  their 
meting  might  be  the  merier. 

IT  Not  long  sithens,  a  wild  roge  chaurcced  to  mete  a  pore  neigh- 
bour of  mine,  who  for  honesty  and  good  natur  surmouwteth  many. 
This  poore  man,  riding  homeward  from  London,  where  he  had  made 
his  market,  this  [leaf  11,  back]  roge  demaunded  a  peny  for  gods  sake, 
to  kepe  him  a  true  man.  This  simple  man,  beholding  him  wel,  and 
sawe  he  was  of  taule  personage  with  a  good  quarter  staife  in  his 
hand,  it  much  pitied  him,  as  he  sayd,  to  se  him  want ;  for  he  was 
well  able  to  serue  his  prince  in  the  wars.  Thus,  being  moued  with 
pytie,  and 1  loked  in  his  pursse  to  finde  out  a  penye ;  and  in  loking 
for  the  same,  he  plucked  oute  viii.  shyllinges  in  whyte  money,  and 
raked  therin  to  finde  a  single  peny ;  and  at  the  last  findinge  one, 
doth  offer  the  same  to  this  wylde  roge  :  but  he,  seinge  so  much  niony 
in  this  simple  mans  hand,  being  striken  to  the  hart  with  a  couetous 
desire,  bid  him  forth  wyth  delyuer  al  that  he  had,  or  els  he  woulde 
with  his  staffe  beat  out  his  braynes.  For  it  was  not  a  penye  would 
now  quench  his  thirst,  2seing  so  much  as  he  dyd2  :  thus,  swallowinge 
his  spittell  gredely  downe,  spoyled  this  poore  man  of  al  the  money 
that  he  had,  and  lept  ouer  the  hedge  into  a  thicke  wode,  and  went 
his  waye  as  merely  as  this  good  simple  man  came  home  sorowfully. 
I  once  rebuking  a  wyld  roge  because  he  went  idelly  about,  he 
shewed  me  that  he  was  a  begger  by  enheritance — his  Grandfather 
was  a  begger,  his  father  was  one,  and  he  must  nedes  be  one  by  good 
reason. 

IT      A   PRYGGER   OF   PRAUNCERS.       Cap.  6. 

APrigger  of  Prauncers  be  horse  stealers ;  for  to  prigge  signifieth 
in  their  language  to  steale,  and  a  Prauncer  is  a  horse  :  so 
beinge  put  together,  the  matter  is3  playne.     These  go  com- 
monly in  lerkins  of  leatherr,  or  of  white  frese,  and  carry  litle  wands 
in  their  hands,  and  will  walke  through  grounds  and  pastures,   to 
search  and  se  horses  meete  for  their  purpose.     And  if  thei  chaurcce 
to  be  met  and  asked  by  the  owners  of  the  grounde  what  they  make 
there,  they  fayne  strayghte  that  they  haue  loste  their  waye,  and  de- 

1  omitted  in  1573. 
2~2  seing dyd.     B.  omits.  8  1573,  was 


HARHAN.       A    PRYGGER   OF    PRAUNCERS.  43 

syre  to  be  enstructed  the  beste  waye  to  such  a  place.  These  will 
also  repayre  to  gentlemeiis  houses  and  aske  their  charitye,  and  wyll 
offer  their  seruice.  And  if  you  aske  them  what  they  can  do,  they 
wyll  saye  that  they  can  kepe  two  or  thre  Geldinges,  and  waite  vppon 
a  Gentleman.  These  haue  also  their  women,  that  walkinge  from 
them  in  other  places,  marke  where  and  what  they  see  abroade,  and 
sheweth  these  Priggars  therof  when  they  meete,  which  is  with  in  a 
weeke  or  two.  And  loke,  where  they  steale  any  thinge,  they  conuay 
the  same  at  the  least  thre  score  miles  of  or  more. 

IF  There  was  a  Gentleman,  a  verye  friende  of  myne,  rydyng  from 
London  homewarde  into  Kente,  hauinge  with  in  three  myles  of  his 
house  busynesse,  alyghted  of  his  horse,  and  his  man  also,  in  a  pretye 
[leaf  12]  vyllage,  where  diueres  houses  were,  and  looked  aboute  hym 
where  he  myghte  haue  a  conuenient  person  to  walke  his  horse,  be- 
cause hee  would  speake  with  a  Farmer  that  dwelt  on  the  backe  side 
of  the  sayde  village,  lytle  aboue  a  quarter  of  a  myle  from  the  place 
where  he  lighted,  and  had  his  man  to  waight  vpon  him,  as  it  was 
mete  for  his  callinge  :  espying  a  Pryggar  there  standing,  thinking  the 
same  to  dwell  there,  charging  this  prity  prigginge  person  to  walke 
his  horse  well,  and  that  they  might  not  stande  styll  for  takyng  of 
colde,  and  at  his  returne  (which  he  saide  should  not  be  longe)  he 
would  geue  hym  a  peny  to  drinke,  and  so  weiite  aboute  his  busines. 
This  peltynge  Priggar,  proude  of  his  praye,  walkethe  his  horse1  vp 
and  downe  tyll  he  sawe  the  Gentleman  out  of  sighte,  and  leapes  him 
into  the  saddell,  and  awaye  he  goeth  a  mayne.  This  Gentleman  re- 
turninge,  and  findinge  not  his  horses,  sent  his  man  to  the  one  end  of 
.the  vyllage,  and  he  went  himselfe  vnto  the  other  ende,  and  enquired 
as  he  went  for  his  horses  that  were  walked,  and  began  some  what  to 
suspecte,  because  neither  he  nor  his  man  could  se  nor  find  him. 
Then  this  Gentleman  deligentlye  enquired  of  thre  or  foure  towne 
dwellers  there  whether  any  such  person,  declaring  his  stature,2  age, 
apparell,  with  so  many  linaments  of  his  body  as  he  could  call  to 
remembraunce.  And,  "  vna  voce,"  all  sayde  that  no  such  man  dwelt 
in  their  streate,  neither  in  the  parish,  that  they  knewe  of ;  but  some 
did  wel  remember  that  such  a  one  they  saw  there  lyrkinge  and  hug- 
1  horses.  B.  2  Printed  statute 


44  HARM  AN.       A    PALL  YARD. 

geringe  two  houres  before  the  Gentleman  came  thether,  and  a 
straunger  to  them.  "I  had  thoughte,"  quoth  this  Gentleman,  "he 
had  here  dwelled," — and  marched  home  manerly  in  his  "botes  :  farre 
from  the  place  he  dwelt  not.  I  suppose  at  his  comming  home  he 
sente  suche  wayes  as  he  suspected  or  thought  me"ete  to  searche  for 
this  Prigger,  but  hetherto  he  neuer  harde  any  tydinges  agayne  of  his 
palfreys. — I  had  the  best  geldinge  stolen  oute  of  my  pasture  that  I 
had  amongst  others  whyle  this  boke  was  first  a  printinge. 

IF      A   PALLYARD.       Cap.  7. 

THese  Palliardes  be  called  also  Clapperdogens  :  these  go  with 
patched  clokes,  and  haue  their  Morts  with  them,  which  they 
cal  wiues ;  and  if  he  goe  to  one  house,  to  aske  his  almes,  his 
wife  shall  goe  to  a  nother:  for  what  they  get  (as  bread,  cheese, 
malte,  and  woll)  they  sell  the  same  for  redy  money ;  for  so  they  get 
more  and  if  they  went  together.  Although  they  be  thus *  deuided 
in  the  daie,  yet  they  mete  iompe  at  night.  Yf  they  chaunce  to  come 
to  some  gentylmans  house  standinge  Deaf  12,  back]  a  lone,  and  be  de- 
maunded  whether  they  be  man  and  wyfe,  and  if  he  perceaue  that 
any  doubteth  thereof,  he  sheweth  them  a  Testimonial  with  the  minis- 
ters name,  and  others  of  the  same  parishe  (naminge  a  parishe  in  some 
shere  fare  distant  from  the  place  where  he  sheweth  the  same).  This 
writing  he  carieth  to  salue  that  sore.  Ther  be  many  Irishe  men  that  goe 
about  with  courcterfeate  licenses ;  and  if  they  perceiue  you  wil  straytly 
examen  them,  they  will  immediatly  saye  they  can  speake  no  Englishe. 
IT  Farther,  vnderstand  for  trouth  that  the  worst  and  wickedst  of 
all  this  beastly  generation  are  scarse  comparable  to  these  prating 
Pallyardes.  All  for  the  most  parte  of  these  wil  either  lay  to  their 
legs  an  herb  called  Sperewort,  eyther  Arsnicke,  which  is  called 
Eatesbane.  The  nature  of  this  Spereworte  wyll  rayse  a  great  blister 
in  a  night  vpon  the  soundest  part  of  his  body ;  and  if  the  same  be 
taken  away,  it  wyl  dry  vp  againe  and  no  harme.  But  this  Ars- 
nicke will  so  poyson  the  same  legge  or  sore,  that  it  will  euer  after  be 
incurable :  this  do  they  for  gaine  and  to  be  pitied.  The  most  of 
these  that  walke  about  be  Walchmen/ 

1  Printed  this 


HARMAN.       A   FEATER.  45 

IT      A   FRATER.       Cap.  8. 

SOme  of  these  Fraters  will  cary  blacke  boxes  at  their  gyrdel, 
wher  in  they  haue  a  briefe  of  the  Queenes  maiesties  letters 
patentes,  geuen  to  suche1  poore  spitlehouse  for  the  reliefe  of 
the  poore  there,  whiche  briefe  is  a  coppie  of  the  letters  patentes,  and 
vtteiiy  fained,  if  it  be  in  paper  or  in2  parchment  without  the  great 
seale.  Also,  if  the  same  brief  be  in  printe,3  it  is  also  of  auctoritie. 
For  the  Printers  wil  see  and  wel  vnderstarcd,  before  it  come  in 
presse,  that  the  same  is  lawfull.  Also,  I  am  credibly  informed  that 
the  chiefe  Proctors  of  manye  of  these  houses,  that  seldome  trauel 
abroad  them  selues,  but  haue  their  factors  to  gather  for  them,  which 
looke  very  slenderly  to  the  impotent  and  miserable  creatures  com- 
mitted to  their  charge,  and  die  for  want  of  cherishing ;  wheras  they 
and  their  wiues  are  wel  crammed  and  clothed,  and  will  haue  of  the 
best.  And  the  founders  of  euery  such  house,  or  the  chiefe  of  the 
parishe  wher  they  be,  woulde  better  see  vnto  these  Proctors,  that 
they  might  do  their  duty,  they  should  be  wel  spoken  of  here,  and  in 
the  world  to  come  abouwdantly  therefore  rewarded.  I  had  of  late  an 
honest  man,  and  of  good  wealthe,  repayred  to  my  house  to  common 
wyth  me  aboute  certeyne  affaires.  I  inuited  the  same  to  dinner,  and 
dinner  beinge  done,  I  demaunded  of  hym  some  newes  of  these4  parties 
were  hee  dwelte.  "Thankes  be  to  God,  syr,"  (saith  he)  ;  "all  is 
well  and  good  now."  "Now  !"  (quoth  I)  "this  same  'nowe'  [leans] 
declareth  thai  some  things  of  late  hath  not  bene  wel."  "  Yes, 
syr,"  (qiioth  he)  "  the5  matter  is  not  great.  I  had  thought  I  should 
haue  bene  wel  beaten  within  this  seuenth  night."  "How  so1?" 
(quoth  I).  "  Mary,  syr,"  sayd  he,  "  I  am  Counstable  for  fault  of  a 
better,  and  was  commaunded  by  the  lusticer  to  watch.  The  watch 
being  set,  I  toke  an  honest  man,  one  of  my  neighbors,  with  me,  and 
went  vp  to  the  ende  of  the  towne  as  far  as  the  spittle  house,  at 
which  house  I  heard  a  great  noyse,  and,  drawing  nere,  stode  close 
vnder  the  wall,  and  this  was  at  one  of  the  clocke  after  midnight. 

1  B.  inserts  a  2  B.  omits  in 

1  Probably  the  reason  why  "  in  print "  came  to  be  considered  synonymous 
•with  "  correct."     See  2  Gent,  of  Verona,  act  ii.  sc.  1,  175. 
4  tJwse.  B.  5  B.  omits  the 


46  HARMAN.       A    FRATER. 

Where  he  harde  swearinge,  pratinge,  and  wagers  laying,  and  the  pot 
apase  walkinge,  and  xl.  pence  gaged  vpon  a  matche  of  wrastling, 
pitching  of  the  barre,  and  casting  of  the  sledge.  And  out  they  goe, 
in  a  fustian  fume,  into  the  backe  syde,  where  was  a  great  Axiltrye,1 
and  there  fell  to  pitching  of  the  barre,  being  thre  to  thre.  The 
Moone  dyd  shine  bright,  the  Counstable  with  his  neighboure  myght 
see-  and  beholde  all  that  was  done.  And  howe  the  wyfe  of  the 
house  was  rostinge  of  a  Pyg,  whyle  her  gestes  were  in  their  matche. 
At  the  laste  they  coulde  not  agree  vpon  a  caste,  anot  fell  at  wordes, 
and  from  wordes  to  blowes.  The  Counstable  with  his2  fellowe 
runnes  vnto  them,  to  parte  them,  and  in  the  partinge  lyckes  a  drye 
blowe  or  two.  Then  the  noyse  increased ;  the  Counstable  woulde 
haue  had  them  to3  the  stockes.  The  wyfe  of  the  house  runnes  out 
with  her  goodman  to  intreat  the  Counstable  for  her  gestes,  and 
leaues  the  Pyg  at  the  fyre  alone.  In  commeth  two  or  three  of  the 
next  neighboures,  beinge  waked  wyth  this  noise,  and  into  the  house 
they  come,  and  fynde  none  therein,  but  the  Pygge  well  rosted,  and 
carieth  the  same  awaye  wyth  them,  spyte  and  all,  with  suche  breacle 
and  drinke  also  as  stoode  vpon  the  table.  When  the  goodman  and 
the  goodwyfe  of  the  house  hadde  intreated  and  pacified  the  Coun- 
stable, shewinge  vnto  him  that  they  were  Proctors  and  Factores  all 
of  Spyttell  houses,  and  that  they  taryed  there  but  to  breake  theyr 
fast,  and  woulde  ryde  awaye  immediatelye  after,  for  they  had  farre  to 
goe,  and  therefore  mente  to  ryde  so  earlye.  And  comminge  into  their 
house  agayne,  fyndinge  the  Pygge  wyth  bread  and  drincke  all  gonne, 
made  a  greate  exclamation,  for  they  knewe  not  who  had  the  same. 

1T  The  Counstable  returning  and  hearinge  the  lamentable  wordes 
of  the  good  wyfe,  howe  she  had  lost  both  meate  and  drinke,  and 
sawe  it  was  so  in  deede,  hee  laughed  in  his  sleue,  and  commaunded 
her  to  dresse  no  more  at  vnlawfull  houres  for  any  gestes.  For  hee 
thought  it  better  bestowed  vppon  those  smell  feastes  his  poore  neigh- 

1     Castynge  of  axtre  &  eke  of  ston, 
Sofere  hem  J?ere  to  vse  non  ; 
Bal,  and  barres,  and  suche  play, 
Out  of  chychesorde  put  a-way. — 

Myrc,  p.  11,  1.  334-7  (E.  E.  T.  Soc.  1868) 
2  Printed  7its  3  to  to.  B. 


HARMAN.       A    ABRAHAM    MAN.  47 

boures  then  vppon  suche  sturdye  Lubbares.  The  nexte  mornynge 
betymes  the  [leaf  is,  back]  spitte  and  pottes  were  sette  at  the  Spittle 
house  doore  for  the  owner.  Thus  were  these  Factours  begyled 
of  theyr  breakefast,  and  one  of  them  hadde  well  beaten  an  other ; 
"  And,  by  my  trouth,"  (quoth  thys  Counstable)  "  I  was  gladde  when 
I  was  well  ryd  of  them."  "  Why,"  quoth  I,  "  coulde  the[y]  caste 
the  barre  and  sledge  well?"  "I  wyll  tell  you,  syr,"  (quoth  hee) 
"  you  knowe  there  hath  bene  maiiye  games  this  Sommer.  I  thinke 
verely,  that  if  some  of  these  Lubbars  had  bene  there,  and  practysed 
amongest  others,  I  beleue  they  woulde  haue  carryed  awaye  the  beste 
games.  For  they  were  so  stronge  and  sturdye,  that  I  was  not  able  to 
stande  in  their  handes."  "Well"  (quoth  I)  "at  these  games  you 
speake  of,  both  legges  and  armes  bee  tryed."  "  Yea,"  quoth  this 
offycer,  "  they  bee  wycked  men.  I  haue  seene  some  of  them  sithens 
wyth  cloutes  bounde  aboute  theyr  legges,  and  haltynge  wyth  their 
staffe  in  their  handes.  Wherefore  some  of  theym,  by  GOD,  bee 
nought  all." 

If      A    ABRAHAM    MAN.       Cap.   9. 

THese  Abrahom  men  be  those  that  fayne  themselues  to  haue 
beene  mad,  and  haue  bene  kept  eyther  in  Bethelem  or  in 
some  other  pryson  a  good  tyme,  and  not  one  amongst  twenty 
that  euer  came  in  pryson  for  any  such  cause :  yet  wyll  they  saye 
howe  pitiously  and  most  extreamely  they  haue  bene  beaten,  and 
dealt  with  all.  Some  of  these  be  merye  and  verye  pleasant,  they 
wyll  daunce  and  sing;  some  others  be  as  colde  and  reasonable  to 
talke  wyth  all.  These  begge  money ;  eyther  when  they  come  at 
Farmours  howses  they  wyll  demaunde  Baken,  eyther  cheese,  or 
wooll,  or  any  thinge  that  is  worthe  money.  And  if  they  espye  small 
company  within,  they  wyll  with  fierce  countenaurcce  demaurcd  some 
what.  Where  for  feare  the  inaydes  wyll  geue  theym  largely  to  be 
ryd  of  theym. 

IF  If  they  maye  conuenyently  come  by  any  cheate,  they  wyl 
picke  and  steale,  as  the  v[p]right  man  or  Roge,  poultrey  or 
lynnen.  And  all  wemen  that  wander  bee  at  their  commaunde- 
mente.  Of  all  that  euer  I  saw  of  this  kynde,  one  naminge  him 
selfe  Stradlynge  is  the  craftiest  and  moste  dyssemblyngest  Knaue. 


48  HABMAN.       A   WHIPIACKE. 

Hee  is  able  wyth  hys  tounge  and  vsage  to  deceaue  and  abuse  the 
wysest  man  that  is.  And  surely  for  the  proporcion  of  his  body, 
with  euery  member  there  vnto  appertayninge,  it  cannot  be  a  mended. 
But  as  the  prouerbe  is  "  God  hath  done  his  part."  Thys  Stradlyng 
sayth  he  was  the  Lord  Sturtons  man ;  and  when  he  was  executed, 
for  very  pensiuenes  of  rnynde,  [leaf  u]  he  fell  out  of  his  wytte,  and 
so  continued  a  yeare  after  and  more ;  and  that  with  the  very  greefe 
and  feare,  he  was  taken  wyth  a  marueilous  palsey,  that  both  head 
and  handes  wyll  shake  when  he  talketh,  with  anye  and  that  a  pase 
or  fast,  where  by  he  is  much  pytied,  and  getteth  greately.  And  if 
I  had  not  demaunded  of  others,  bothe  men  and  women,  that  com- 
monly walketh  as  he  doth,  and  knowen  by  them  his  deepe  dis- 
simylation,  I  neuer  hadde  vnderstand  the  same.  And  thus  I  end 
wyth  these  kynde  of  vacabondes. 

IT      A    FRESHE   WATER    MARINER    OR   WHIPIACKE.       Cap.   10. 

flHHese  Freshwater  Mariners,  their  shipes  were  drowned  in  the 
*•  playne  of  Salisbery.  These  kynde  of  Caterpillers  counterfet 
great  losses  on  the  sea ;  these  bee  some  Western  men,  and  most  bee 
Irishe  men.  These  wyll  runne  about  the  countrey  wyth  a  counterfet 
lycence,  fayninge  either  shypwracke,  or  spoyled  by  Pyrates,  neare 
the  coaste  of  Cornwall  or  Deuonshyre,  and  set  a  lande  at  some  hauen 
towne  there,  hauynge  a  large  and  formall  wrytinge,  as  is  aboue  sayd, 
with  the  names  and  seales  of  suche  men  of  worshyppe,  at  the  leaste 
foure  or  fiue,  as  dwelleth  neare  or  next  to  the  place  where  they  fayne 
their  landinge.  And  neare  to  those  shieres  wyll  they  not  begge, 
vntyll  they  come  into  Wylshyre,  Hamshyre,  Barkeshyre,  Oxford- 
shyre,  Harfordshyre,  Middelsex,  and  so l  to  London,  and  downe  by 
the  ryuer  to  seeke  for  their  shyppe  and  goods  that  they  neuer  hade  : 
then  passe  they  through  Surrey,  Sossex,  by  the  sea  costes,  and  so 
into  Kent,  demaunding  almes  to  bring  them  home  to  their  country. 
^[  Some  tyme  they  counterfet  the  seale  of  the  Admiraltie.  I 
haue  diuers  tymes  taken  a  waye  from  them  their  lycences,  of  both 
sortes,  wyth  suche  money  as  they  haue  gathered,  and  haue  confiscated 
the  same  to  the  pouerty  nigh  adioyninge  to  me.  And  they  wyll  not 
1  Omitted  in  1573. 


HAKMAN.      A   WHIPIACKE.  49 

beelonge  with  out  another.  For  at  anye  good  towne  they  wyll 
renewe  the  same.  Once  wyth  muche  threatninge  and  faire  promises 
I  required  to  knowe  of  one  companye  who  made  their  lycence.  And 
they  sweare  that  they  bought  the  same  at  Portsmouth,  of  a  Mariner 
there,  and  it  cost  them !  two  shillinges  ;  with  such  warrantes  to  be  so 
good  and  efectuall,  that  if  any  of  the  best  men  of  lawe,  or  learned, 
aboute  London,  should  peruse  the  same,  they  weare  able  to  fynde  no 
faute  there  with,  but  would  assuredly  allow  the  same. 

1  him  (sf  c).  B. 


50 


HARMAN.      N.    BLUNT,   N.    GENYNGES. 


[leaf  U,  back] 


These  two  pyctures,  lyuely  set  out, 
One  bodye  and  soule,  god  send  him  more  grace. 

This  mounstrous  desembelar,  a  Cranke  all  about. 
Vncomly  couetinge,  of  eche  to  imbrace, 

Money  or  wares,  as  he  made  his  race. 
And  sometyme  a  marynar,  and  a  saruinge  man, 

Or  els  an  artificer,  as  he  would  fayne  than. 
Such  shyftes  he  vsed,  beinge  well  tryed, 

A  bandoninge  labour,  tyll  he  was  espyed. 
Conding  punishment,  for  his  dissimulation, 

He  sewerly  receaued  with  much  declination  2 


1  This  page  is  not  in  Bodley  ed. 


1573  reads  exclamation 


HARM  AN.       A   COUNTERFET    CRANKE.  51 

[leaf  15]  ^T      A   COUNTERFET    CRANKE.       Cap.  11. 

THese  that  do  counterfet  the  Cranke  be  yong  knaues  and 
yonge  harlots,  that  depely  dissemble  the  falling  sicknes.  For 
the  Cranke  in  their  language  is  the  falling  euyll.  I  haue 
seene  some  of  these  with  fayre  writinges  testimonial!,  with  the 
names  and  scales  of  some  men  of  worshyp  in  Shropshyre,  and  in 
other  Shieres  farre  of,  that  I  haue  well  knowne,  and  haue  taken  the 
same  from  them.  Many  of  these  do  go  without  writinges,  and  wyll 
go  halfe  naked,  and  looke  most  pitiously.  And  if  any  clothes  be 
geuen  them,  the[y] 1  immediatly  sell  the  same,  for  weare  it  they  wyll 
not,  because  they  would  bee  the  more  pitied,  and  weare  fylthy  clothes 
on  their  heades,  and  neuer  go  without  a  peece  of  whyte  sope  about 
them,  which,  if  they  see  cause  or  present  gaine,  they  wyll  priuely 
conuey  the  same  into  their  mouth,  and  so  worke  the  same  there, 
that  they  wyll  fome  as  it  were  a  Boore,  and  maruelously  for  a  tyme 
torment  them  selues  ;  and  thus  deceiue  they  the  common  people,  and 
gayne  much.  These  haue  commonly  their  harlots  as  the  other. 

Apon  Alhollenday  in  the  morning  last  Anno  domini.  1566,  or 
my2  booke  was  halfe  printed,  I  meane  the  first  impression,  there  came 
earely  in  the  morninge  a  Counterfet  Cranke  vnder  my  lodgynge  at  the 
whyte  Fryares,  wythin  the  cloyster,  in  a  lyttle  yard  or  coorte,  where 
aboutes  laye  two  or  thre  great  Ladyes,  beyng  without  the  lyberties  of 
London,  where  by  he  hoped  for  the  greatter  gayne ;  this  Cranke  there 
lamentably  lamentinge  and  pitefully  crying  to  be  releued,  declared  to 
dyuers  their  hys  paynfull  and  miserable  dysease.  I  being  rysen 
and  not  halfe  ready,  harde  his  dolfull  wordes  and  rufull  mornings, 
hering  him  name  the  falling  sicknes,  thought  assuredlye  to  my  selfe 
that  hee  was  a  depe  desemblar ;  so,  comminge  out  at  a  sodayne,  and 
beholdinge  his  vgly  and  yrksome  attyre,  hys  lothsome  and  horyble 
countinance,  it  made  me  in  a  meruelous  parplexite  what  to  thinke  of 
hym,  whether  it  were  fayned  or  trouth, — for  after  this  manner  went 
he  :  he  was  naked  from  the  wast  vpward,  sauyng  he  had  a  old 
lerken3  of  leather  patched,  and  that  was  lose4  about  hym,  that  all 
his  bodye  laye  out  bare ;  a  filthy  foule  cloth  he  ware  on  his  head, 
1  they.  B.  2  my  my.  B.  *  gyrken  (et  segg.).  B.  *  loose.  B. 


52    -  HAR1IAN.       A   COUNTERFET    CRANKE. 

being  cut  for  the  purpose,  hailing  a  narowe  place  to  put  out  his  face, 
with  a  bauer  made  to  trusse  vp  his  beard,  and  a  stryng  that  tyed  the 
same  downe  close  aboute  his  necke ;  with  an  olde  felt  hat  which  he 
styll  caried  in  his  hande  to  receaue  the  charytye  and  deuotion  of  the 
peeple,  for  that  woulde  he  hold  out  from  hym;  hauyng  hys  face, 
from  the  eyes  downe  ward,  all  smerd  with  freshe  bloud,  Deaf  15,  back] 
as  thoughe  he  had  new  falen,  and  byn  tormented  wyth  his  paynefull 
panges, — his  lerken  beinge  all  be  rayde  with  durte  and  niyre,  and 
hys  hatte  and  hosen  also,  as  thoughe  hee  hadde  wallowed  in  the 
myre  :  sewerly  the  sighte  was  monstrous  and  terreble.  I  called  hym 
vnto  me,  and  demaunded  of  hym  what  he  ayled.  "  A,  good  mais- 
ter,"  quoth  he,  "  I  haue  the  greuous  and  paynefull  dyseas  called  the 
falynge  syckenes."  "  Why,"  quoth  I,  "  howe  commeth  thy  lerken, 
hose,  and  hat  so  be  rayd  with  durte  and  myre,  and  thy  skyn  also  1 " 
"A,  good  master,  I  fell  downe  on  the  backesyde  here  in  the  fowle 
lane  harde  by  the  watersyde ;  and  there  I  laye  all  most  all  night, 
and  haue  bled  all  most  all  the  bloude  owte  in  my  bodye."  It  raynde 
that  morninge  very  fast ;  and  whyle  I  was  thus  talkinge  with  hym,  a 
honest  poore  woman  that  dwelt  thereby  brought  hym  a  fayre  lynnen 
cloth,  and  byd  hym  wype  his  face  therewyth;  and  there  beinge  a  tobbe 
standing  full  of  rayne  water,  offered  to  geue  hym  some  in  a  dishe 
that  he  might  make  hym  selfe  cleane  :  hee  refuseth l  the  same. 
"  Why  dost  thou  so  1 "  quoth  I.  "  A,  syr,"  sayth  he,  "  yf  I  shoulde 
washe  my  selfe,  I  shoulde  fall  to  bleedinge  a  freshe  againe,  and  then 
I  should  not  stop  my  selfe :  "  these  wordes  made  me  the  more  to 
suspecte  hym. 

Then  I  asked  of  hym  where  he  was  borne,  what  is  name  was, 
how  longe  he  had  this  dysease,  and  what  tyme  he  had  ben  here 
about  London,  and  in  what  place.  "  Syr/'  saythe  he,  "  I  was  borne 
at  Leycestar,  my  name  is  Nycholas  Genings,2  and  I  haue  had  this 
falling  sycknes  viij.  yeares,  and  I  can  get  no  remedy  for  the  same; 
for  I  haue  it  by  kinde,  my  father  had  it  and  my  friendes  before  me  ; 
and  I  haue  byne  these  two  yeares  here  about  London,  and  a  yeare 
and  a  halfe  in  betheleni."  "  Why,  wast  thou  out  of  thy  wyttes  ?  " 
quoth  I.  "  Ye,  syr,  that  I  was." 

1  refused.  B.  2  Gennins.  B. 


HARM  AN.       A   COUNTERFET    CRANKE.  53 

"What  is  the  Kepars  name  of  the  house?"  "Hys  name  is," 
quoth  hee,  "  John  Smith."  "  Then,"  quoth  I,  « hee  must  vnder- 
stande  of  thy  dysease ;  yf  thou  hadest  the  same  for  the  tyme  thou 
wast  there,  he  knoweth  it  well."  ."  Ye,  not  onely  he,  "but  all  the 
house  bee  syde,"  quoth  this  Cranke  ;  "  for  I  came  thens  hut  within 
this  fortnight."  I  had  stande  so  longe  reasoning  the  matter  wyth 
him  that  I  was  a  cold,  and  went  into  my  chamber  and  made  me 
ready,  and  commaunded  my  seruant  to  repayre  to  bethelem,  and 
bringe  me  true  worde  from  the  keper  there  whether  anye  suche  man 
hath  byn  with  him  as  a  prisoner  hauinge  the  dysease  aforesayd,  and 
gaue  hym  a  note  of  his  name  and  the  kepars  also  :  my  seruant, 
retorninge  to  my  lodginge,  dyd  assure  me  that  neither  was  there 
euer  anye  such  man  there,  nether  yet  anye  keper  of  any  suche 
name ;  but  hee  that  was  there  keper,  he  sent  me  hys  name  in  writ- 
ing, afferming  that  hee  letteth  no  man  depart  from  hym  vnlesse  he  be 
fet  a  waye  by  [leaf  is]  hys  freendes,  and  that  none  that  came  from 
hym  beggeth  aboute  the  Citye.  Then  I  sent  for  the  Printar  of  this 
booke,  and  shewed  hym  of  this  dyssembling  Cranke,  and  how  I  had 
sent  to  Bethelem  to  vnderstand  the  trouth1,  and  what  aunsweare  I 
receaued  againe,  requiringe  hym.  that  I  might  haue  some  seruant 
of  his  to  watche  him  faithfully  that  daye,  that  I  might  vnder- 
stand trustely  to  what  place  he  woulde  repaire  at  night  vnto,  and 
thether  I  promised  to  goe  my  selfe  to  see  their  order,  and  that  I 
woulde  haue  hym  to  associate  me  thether :  hee  gladly  graunted  to 
my  request,  and  sent  two  boyes,  that  both  diligently  and  vygelantly 
accomplisht  the  charge  geuen  them,  and  found  the  same  Cranke 
aboute  the  Temple,  where  about  the  most  parte  of  the  daye  hee 
begged,  vnlesse  it  weare  about  xii.  of  the  clocke  he  wente  on  the 
backesyde  of  Clementes  Ine  without  Temple  barre  :  there  is  a  lane 
that  goeth  into  the  Feldes ;  there  hee  renewed  his  face  againe  wyth 
freshe  blond,  which  he  caried  about  hym  in  a  bladder,  and  dawbed 
on  freshe  dyrte  vpon  his  lerken,  hat,  and  hoson. 

IT  And  so  came  backe  agayne  vnto  the  Temple,  and  sometyme  to 
the  "Watersyde,  and  begged  of  all  that  passed  bye  :  the  boyes  be- 
helde  howe  some  gaue  grotes,  some  syxe  pens,  some  gaue  more; 

1  trough.  B. 


54  HARMAN.      A   COUNTERFET    CRANKE. 

for  hee  looked  so  ougleie  and  yrksomlye,  that  euerye  one  pytied  his 
miserable  case  that  beehelde  hym.  To  bee  shorte,  there  he  passed  all 
the  daye  tyll  night  approched ;  and  when  it  began  to  bee  some  what 
dark,  he  went  to  the  water  syde  and  toke  a  Skoller,1  and  was  sette 
ou^f  the  Water  into  Saincte  Georges  feldes,  contrarye  to  my  expect- 
atian ;  for  I  had  thought  he  woulde  haue  gonne  into  Holborne  or  to 
Saynt  Gylles  in  the  felde  ;  but  these  boyes,  with  Argues  and  Lynces 
eyes,  set  sewre  watche  vppon  him,  and  the  one  tooke  a  bote  and  fol- 
lowed him,  and  the  other  went  backe  to  tell  his  maister. 

The  boye  that  so  folowed  hym  by  "Water,  had  no  money  to  pay 
for  his  Bote  hyre,  but  layde  his  Penner  and  his  Ynkhorne  to  gage 
for  a  penny ;  and  by  that  tyme  the  boye  was  sette  ouer,  his  Maister, 
wyth  all  celeryte,  hadde  taken  a  Bote  and  followed  hym  apase :  now 
hadde  they  styll  a  syght  of  the  Cranke,  wych  crossed  ouer  the 
felddes  towardes  Newyngton,  and  thether  he  went,  and  by  that  tyme 
they  came  thether  it  was  very  darke  :  the  Prynter  hadde  there  no 
acquaintance,  nether  any  kynde  of  weapon  about  hym,  nether  knewe 
he  2  how  farre  the  Cranke  woulde  goe,  becawse  hee  then  suspected 
that  they  dogged  hym  of  purposse  ;  he  there  stayed  hym,  and  called 
for  the  Counstable,  whyche  came  forthe  dylygentelye  to  inquyre  what 
the  matter  was  :  thys  zelous  Pryntar  charged  thys  offycer  [leaf  ie,  back] 
wyth  hym  as  a  malefactor  and  a  dessemblinge  vagabonde — the 
Counstable  woulde  haue  layde  him  all  night  in  the  Cage  that  stode  in 
the  streate.  "  Naye,"  saythe  this  pitifull  Prynter,  "  I  praye  you  haue 
him  into  your  house ;  for  this  is  lyke  to  be  a  cold  nyght,  and  he  is 
naked  :  you  kepe  a  vytellinge  house ;  let  him  be  well  cherished  this 
night,  for  he  is  well  hable  to  paye  for  the  same.  I  knowe  well  his 
gaynes  hath  byn  great  to  day,  and  your  house  is  a  sufficient  pryson  for 
the  tyme,  and  we  wil  there  serche  hym.  The  Counstable  agreed 
there  vnto :  they  had  him  in,  and  caused  him  to  washe  him  selfe : 
that  donne,  they  demaunded  what  money  he  had  about  hym.  Sayth 
this  Cranke,  "  So  God  helpe  me,  I  haue  but  xii.  pence,"  and  plucked 
oute  the  same  of  a  lytle  pursse.  "  Why,  haue  you  no  more  *?  " 
quoth  they.  "  No,"  sayth  this  Cranke,  "  as  God  shall  saue  my 
soule  at  the  day  of  iudgement."  "  We  must  se  more,"  quoth  they, 
1  1573  reads  skolloer  *  Omitted  in  1573  edit. 


HARMAN.       A   COUNTERFET    CRANKE.  55 

and  began  to  stryp  hym.  Then  he  plucked  out  a  nother  purse, 
wherin  was  xl.  pens.  "Toushe,"  sayth1  thys  Prynter,  "I  must  see 
more."  Saythe  this  Cranke,  "  I  pray  God  I  bee  dampned  both  body2 
and  soule  yf  I  haue  anye  more."  "  No,"  sayth  thys  Prynter,  "  thou 
false  knaue,  here  is  my  boye  that  dyd  watche  thee  all  this  daye,  and 
sawe  when  such  men  gaue  the  pdeses  of  sixe  pens,  grotes,  and  other 
money ;  and  yet  thou  hast  shewed  vs  none  but  small  money." 
When  thys  Cranke  hard  this,  and  the  boye  vowinge  it  to  his  face, 
he  relented,  and  plucked  out  another  pursse,  where  in  was  eyght 
shyllings  and  od  money ;  so  had  they  in  the  hole  thai  he  had 
begged  that  day  xiij.  shillings  iii.  8pens  halfepeny3.  Then  they 
strypt  him  starke  naked,  and  as  many  as  sawe  him  sayd  they  neuer 
sawe  hansommer  man,  wyth  a  yellowe  flexen  beard4,  and  fayre 
skynned,  withoute  anye  spot  or  greffe.  Then  the  good  wyfe  of  the 
house  fet  her  goodmans5  olde  clocke,  and  caused  the  same  to  be 
cast  about  him,  because  the  sight  shoulde  not  abash  her  shamefast 
maydens,  nether  loth  her  squaymysh  sight. 

( Thus  he  set6  downe  at  the  Chemnes  end,  and  called  for  a 
I  potte  of  Beere,  and  dranke  of  a  quarte  at  a  draft,  and 
called  for  another,  and  so  the  thyrde,  that  one  had  bene  sufficient 
for  any  resonable  man,  the  Drynke  was  so  stronge.7  I  my  selfe, 
the  next  morninge,  tasted  thereof;  but  let  the  reader  iudge  what 
and  howe  much  he  would  haue  dronke  and  he  had  bene  out  of 
feare.  Then  when  they  had  thus  wrong  water  out  of  a  flint  in 
spoylmg  him  of  his  euyl  gotten  goods,  his  passing  pens8,  and  net- 
ing  trashe,  The  printer  with  this  ofiecer  were  in  gealy  gealowsit 9, 
and  deuised  to  search  a  barne  for  some  roges  and  vpright  men,  a 
quarter  of  a  myle  from  the  house,  that  stode  a  lone  in  the  fieldes, 
and  wente  out  about  their  busines,  leaning  this  cranke  alone  with 
his  wyfe  and  maydens  :  this  crafty  Crawke,  espying  al  gon,  requested 
the  good  wife  that  [leaf  17]  hee  might  goe  out  on  the  backesyde  to 
make  water,  and  to  exonerate  his  paunche  :  she  bad  hym  drawe  the 
lache  of  the  dore  and  goe  out,  neither  thinkinge  or  mistrusting  he 

1  sayih  (nc).  B.          2  printed  dody         3~3  d.  ol.  B.         4  lede.  B. 
5  mans.  B.         °  1573  inserts  him;  sette  hym.  B.         7  1573  inserts  that 
8  pence.  B.  9  The  1573  edition  reads  ioly  ioylitie ;  gelotvsy.    B. 


56  HARMAN.       A    COUNTERFET^  CRANKE. 

would  haue  gon  awaye  naked  ;  but,  to  conclude,  when  hee  was  out, 
he  cast  awaye  the  cloke,  and,  as  naked  as  euer  he  was  borne,  he  ran 
away,  !  that  he  could  2  neuer  be  hard  of  3  againe. l  Now  3  the  next 
morning  betimes,  I  went  vnto  Newington,  to  vnderstarcd  what  was 
done,  because  I  had  word  or  it  was  day  that  there  my  printer  was ; 
ana  at  my  comming  thether,  I  hard  the  hole  circumstaunce,  as  I 
aboue  haue  wrytten ;  and  I,  seing  the  matter  so  fall  out,  tooke 
order  with  the  chiefe  of  the  parish  that  this  xiij.  shyllings  and 
iij.  4pens  halfpeny4  might  the  next  daye  be  equally  distributed,  by 
their  good  discrecions,  to  the  pouertie  of  the  same  parishe,5  and  so  it 
was  done. 

1  The  1673  edition  finishes  the  sentence  thus  : — "  ouer  the  fields  to  his  own 
house,  as  hee  afterwards  said." 

2  woulde.  B.  »-s  again  til  now.  B.  *-*  d.  ob.  B. 

6  The  1573  edition  continues  thus  : — "  wherof  this  crafty  Cranke  had  part 
him  selfe,  for  he  had  both  house  and  wife  in  the  same  parishe,  as  after  you 
shall  heare.  But  this  lewde  lewterar  could  not  laye  his  bones  to  labour,  hauing 
got  once  the  tast  of  this  lewd  lasy  lyfe,  for  al  this  fayr  admonition,  but  de- 
uised  other  suttel  sleights  to  maintaine  his  ydell  liuing,  and  so  craf  tely  clothed 
him  selfe  in  mariners  apparel,  and  associated  him  self  with  an  other  of  his 
companions  :  they  hauing  both  mariners  apparel,  went  abroad  to  aske  charity 
of  the  people,  fayning  they  hadde  loste  their  shippe  with  all  their  goods  by 
casualty  on  the  seas,  wherewith  they  gayned  much.  This  crafty  Cranke, 
f  earinge  to  be  mistrusted,  fell  to  another  kinde  of  begging,  as  bad  or  worse,  and 
apparelled  himselfe  very  well  with  a  f ayre  black  f reese  cote,  a  new  payre  of 
whyte  hose,  a  fyne  felt  hat  on  his  head,  a  shert  of  flaunders  worke  esteemed  to 
be  worth  xvi.  shillings  ;  and  vpon  newe  yeares  day  came  againe  into  the  why t 
Fryers  to  beg  :  the  printer,  hauing  occasion  to  go  that  ways,  not  thinking  of 
this  Cranke,  by  chaunce  met  with  him,  who  asked  his  charitie  for  Gods  sake. 
The  printer,  vewing  him  well,  did  mistrust  him  to  be  the  counterf et  Cranke 
which  deceuied  him  vpon  Alhollen  daye  at  night,  demaunded  of  whence  he  was 
and  what  was  his  name,  'Forsoth,'  saith  he,  'my  name  is  Nicolas  Genings, 
and  I  came  from  Lecester  to  seeke  worke,  and  I  am  a  hat-maker  by  my  occu- 
pation, and  all  my  money  is  spent,  and  if  I  coulde  get  money  to  paye  for  my 
lodging  this  night,  I  would  seke  work  to  morowe  amongst  the  hatters.'  The 
printer  perceiuing  his  depe  dissimulation,  putting  his  hand  into  his  purse,  seem- 
ing to  giue  him  some  money,  and  with  fayre  allusions  brought  him  into  the 
streete,  where  he  charged  the  constable  with  him,  affirminge  him  to  be  the 
counterfet  Cranke  that  ranne  away  vpon  Alholon  daye  last.  The  constable 
being  very  loth  to  medle  with  him,  but  the  printer  knowing  him  and  his  depe 
disceit,  desyred  he  mought  be  brought  before  the  debutie  of  the  ward,  which 
straight  was  accomplished,  which  whew  he  came  before  the  debuty,  he  de- 
maunded of  him  of  whence  he  was  and  what  was  his  name  ;  he  answered  as 
before  he  did  vnto  tJiQ  printer :  the  debutie  asked  the  printer  what  he  woulde 
laye  vnto  hys  charge  ;  he  answered  and  aleged  him  to  be  a  vagabond  and  depe 
deceyuer  of  the  people,  and  the  counterfet  Crank  that  ran  away  vpon  Al- 
hallon  day  last  from  the  constable  of  Newington  and  him,  and  requested  him 
earnestly  to  send  him  to  ward  :  the  debuty  thinking  him  to  be  deceiued,  but 


KARMAN.   A  DOMMERAE.  57 

IT   A  DOMMERAR.   Cap.  12. 

FTlHese  Dommerars  are  leud  and  most  subtyll  people :  the  moste 
part  of  these  are  Walch  men,  and  wyll  neuer  speake,  vnlesse 
I  they  haue  extreame  punishment,  but  wyll  gape,  and  with  a 
maruelous  force  wyll  hold  downe  their  toungs  doubled,  groning  for 
your  charyty,  and  holding  vp  their  handes  full  pitiously,  so  that  with 
their  deepe  dissimulation  they  get  very  much.  There  are  of  these 
many,  and  but  one  that  I  vnderstand  of  hath  lost  his  toung  in  dede. 
Hauing  on  a  time  occasion  to  ride  to  Dartforde,  to  speake  with  a 
priest  there,  who  maketh  all  kinde  of  conserues  very  well,  and  vseth 
stilling  of  waters  ;  And  repay  ringe  to  his  house,  I  founde  a  Dom- 
merar  at  his  doore,  and  the  priest  him  selfe  perusinge  his1  lycence, 
vnder  the  scales  and  hands  of  certayne  worshypfull  men,  had2  thought 
the  same  to  be  good  and  effectual!.  I  taking  the  same  writing,  and 

neuerthelesse  laid  his  cowmaundement  vpon  him,  so  that  the  printer  should 
beare  his  charges  if  he  could  not  iustifie  it ;  he  agreed  thereunto.  And  so  he 
and  the  constable  went  to  cary  him  to  the  Counter  ;  and  as  they  were  going 
vnder  Ludgate,  this  crafty  Cranke  toke  his  heeles  and  ran  down  the  hill  as  fast 
as  he  could  dryve,  the  constable  and  the  printer  after  him  as  fast  as  they 
coulde  ;  but  the  printer  of  the  twayn  being  lighter  of  fote,  ouertoke  him  at 
fleete  bridge,  and  with  strong  hand  caried  him  to  the  counter,  and  safely  deli- 
uered  him.  In  the  morow  the  printer  sent  his  boy  that  stripped  him  vpon  Al- 
halon  day  at  night  to  view  him,  because  he  would  be  sure,  which  boy  knew  him 
very  well :  this  Crank  confessed  unto  the  debuty,  that  he  had  hosted  the  night 
before  in  Kent  street  in  Southwarke,  at  the  sign  of  the  Cock,  which  thing  to  be 
true,  the  printer  sente  to  know,  and  found  him  a  Iyer ;  but  further  inquiring, 
at  length  found  out  his  habitation,  dwelling  in  maister  Hilles  rentes,  hauinge 
a  pretye  house,  well  stuffed,  with  a  fayre  ioyne  table,  and  a  fayre  cubbard 
garnished  with  peuter,  hauing  an  old  auncient  woman  to  his  wyf  e.  The  printer 
being  sure  therof,  repaired  vnto  the  Counter,  and  rebuked  him  for  his  beastly 
behaviour,  and  told  him  of  his  false  fayning,  willed  him  to  confesse  it,  and 
"  aske  forgivenes  :  he  perceyued  him  to  know  his  depe  dissimulation,  relented, 
and  confessed  all  his  disceit ;  and  so  remayning  in  the  counter  three  dayes, 
was  removed  to  Brydwel,  where  he  was  strypt  starke  naked,  and  his  ougly 
attyre  put  vpo/i  him  before  the  maisters  thereof,  who  wondered  greatly  at  his 
dissimulation :  for  which  offence  he  stode  vpon  the  pillery  in  Cheapsyde,  both 
in  his  ougly  and  handsome  attyre.  And  after  that  went  in  the  myll  whyle  his 
ougly  picture  was  a  drawing  ;  and  then  was  whypped  at  a  cartes  tayle  through 
London,  and  his  displayd  banner  caried  before  him  vnto  his  own  dore,  and  so 
backe  to  Brydewell  again,  and  there  remayned  for  a  tyme,  and  at  length  let 
at  libertie,  on  that  condiciora  he  would  proue  an  houest  man,  and  labour  truly 
to  get  his  liuing.  And  his  picture  remayneth  in  Bridewell  for  a  monyment." 
— See,  also,  post,  p.  89. 

1  of  his.  B.  z  which  jpriest  had.  B. 


58  HARMAN.       A   DOMMERAR. 

reading  it  ouer.  and  noting  the  scales,  founde  one  of  the  scales  like 
vnto  a  seale  that  I  had  aboute  me,  which  scale  I  bought  besides 
Charing  crosse,  that  I  was  out  of  doubte  it  was  none  of  those  Gen- 
tlemens  scales  that  had  sub[s]cribed.     And  hauing  vnderstanding 
before  of  their  peuish  practises,  made  me  to  conceaue  that  all  was 
forged  and  nought.     I  made  the  more  hast  home ;  for  well  I  wyst 
that  he  would  and  must  of  force  passe  through  the  parysh  where  I 
dwelt ;  for  there  was  no  other  waye  for  hym.   And  comminge  home- 
warde,  I  found  them  in  the  towne,  accordinge  to  my  expectation, 
where  they  were  staid ;  for  there  was  a  Pallyarde  associate  with  the 
Dommerar  and  partaker  of  his  gaynes,  whyche  Pallyarde  I  sawe  not 
at  Dartford.     The  stayers  of  them  was  a  gentleman  called 1  Chayne, 
and  a  seruant  of  my  Lord  Keepers,  cald  Wostestowe,  which  was 
[leaf  17,  back]  the  chicfe  causer  of  the  staying  of  them,  being  a  Surgien, 
and  cunning  in  his  science,  had  seene  the  lyke  practises,  and,  as  he 
sayde,  hadde  caused  one  to  speake  afore  that  was  dome  2.     It  was  my 
chaunce  to  come  at  the  begynning  of  the  matter.     "  Syr,"  (quoth 
this  Surgien)  "  I  am  bold  here  to  vtter  some  part  of  my  cunning. 
I  trust"  (quoth  he)  "  you  shall  se  a  myracle  wrought  anon.     For  I 
once  "  (quoth  he)  "  made  a  dumme  man  to  speake."     Quoth  I,  "you 
are    wel  met,   and  somwhat  you  haue  preuented  me ;    for  I  had 
thought  to  haue  done  no  lesse  or  they  hadde  passed  this  towne. 
For  I  well  knowe  their  writing  is  fayned,  and  they  depe  dissem- 
blers."    The  Surgien  made  hym  gape,  and  we  could  see  but  halfe 
a  toung.     I  required  the  Surgien  to  put  hys  fynger  in  his  mouth, 
and  to  pull  out  his  toung,  and  so  he  dyd,  not  withstanding  he  held 
strongly  a  prety  whyle  ;  at  the  length  he  pluckt  out  the  same,  to  the 
great  admiration  of  many  that  stode  by.     Yet  when  we  sawe  his 
tounge,  hee  would  neither  speake  nor  yet  could  heare.      Quoth  I  to 
the  Surgien,  "  knit  two  of  his  fyngers  to  gether,  and  thrust  a  sty  eke 
betwene  them,  and  rubbe  the  same  vp  and  downe  a  lytle  whyle,  and 
for  my  lyfe  hee  speaketh  by  and  by."      "  Sir,"  quoth  this  Surgien, 
"  I  praye  you  let  me  practise  and  3  other  waye."  I  was  well  contented 
to  see  the  same.     He  had  him  into  a  house,  and  tyed  a  halter  aboute 
the  wrestes  of  his  handes,  and  hoysed  him  vp  ouer  a  beame,  and 
1  cal-  (sic).  B.  2  dumme.  B.  8  So  printed,     an.  B. 


HARMAN.      A   PRYGGE.  59 

there  dyd  let  him  hang  a  good  while :  at  the  length,  for  very  paine 
he  required  for  Gods  sake  to  let  him  down.  So  he  that  was  hoth 
deafe  and  durne  coulde  in  short  tyme  both  heare  and  speake.  Then 
I  tooke  that  money  I  could  find  in  his  pursse,  and  distributed  the 
same  to  the  poore  people  dwelling  there,  whiche  was  xv.  pence  halfe- 
peny,  being  all  that  we  coulde  finde.  That  done,  and  this  merry 
myracle  madly  made,  I  sent  them  with  my  seruaunt  to  the  next 
lusticer,  where  they  preached  on  the  Pyllery  for  want  of  a  Pulpet, 
and  were  well  whypped,  and  none  dyd  bewayle  them. 

f      A   DRONKEN    TINCKAR.       Cap.  13. 

THese  dronken  Tynckers,  called  also  Prygges,  be  beastly  peo- 
ple, and  these  yong  knaues  be  the  wurst.  These  neuer  go 
with  out  their  Doxes,  and  yf  their  women  haue  anye  thing 
about  them,  as  apparell  or  lynnen,  that  is  worth  the  selling,  they 
laye  the  same  to  gage,  or  sell  it  out  right,  for  bene  bowse  at  their 
bowsing  ken.  And  full  sone  wyll  they  bee  wearye  of  them,  and 
haue  a  newe.  When  they  happen  one  woorke  at  any  good  house, 
their  Doxes  lynger  alofe,  and  tarry  for  them  in  some  corner ;  and  yf 
he  taryeth  longe  from  her,  then  she  knoweth  [leaf  is]  he  hath  worke, 
and  walketh  neare,  and  sitteth  downe  by  him.  For  besydes  money, 
he  looketh  for  meate  and  drinke  for  doinge  his  dame  pleasure.  For 
yf  she  haue  three  or  foure  holes  in  a  pan,  hee  wyll  make  as  many 
more  for  spedy  gaine.  And  if  he  se  any  old  ketle,  chafer,  or  pewter 
dish  abroad  in  the  yard  where  he  worketh,  hee  quicklye  snappeth 
the  same  vp,  and  in  to  the  booget  it  goeth  round.  Thus  they  lyue 
with  deceite. 

IF  I  was  crediblye  informed,  by  such  as  could  well  tell,  that 
one  of  these  tipling  Tinckers  with  his  dogge  robbed  by  the 
high  way  iiij.  Pallyards  and  two  Eoges,  six  persons  together,  and 
tooke  from  them  aboue  foure  pound  in  ready  money,  and  hide  him 
after  in  a  thicke  woode  a  daye  or  two,  and  so  escaped  vntaken. 
Thus  with  picking  and  stealing,  mingled  with  a  lytle  worke  for  a 
coulour,  they  passe  their  time. 


60  HARMAN.      A   SWADDER.      A   IARKEMAN   AND   A   PATRICO. 

IT      A    SWADDER,    OR   PEDLER.       Cap.   14. 

r  •  "iHese  Swadders  and  Pedlers  bee  not  all  euyll,  but  of  an 
indifferent  behauiour.  These  stand  in  great  awe  of  the 
JL  vpright  men,  for  they  haue  often  both  wares  and  money  of 
them.  But  for  as  much  as  they  seeke  gayne  vnlawfully  against  the 
lawes  and  statutes  of  this  noble  realme,  they  are  well  worthy  to  be 
registred  among  the  number  of  vacabonds  ;  and  vndoubtedly  I  haue 
hadde  some  of  them  brought  before  me,  when  I  was  in  commission 
of  the  peace,  as  malefactors,  for  bryberinge  and  stealinge.  And 
nowe  of  late  it  is  a  greate  practes  of  the  vpright  man,  when  he  hath 
gotten  a  botye,  to  bestowe  the  same  vpon  a  packefull  of  wares,  and 
so  goeth  a  time  for  his  pleasure,  because  he  would  lyue  with  out 
suspition. 

IT      A   IARKE   MAN,    AND    A   PATRICO.       Cap.   15. 

ER  as  much  as  these  two  names,  a  larkeman  and  a  Patrico, 
bee  in  the  old  briefe  of  vacabonds,  and  set  forth  as  two 
kyndes  of  euil  doers,  you  shall  vnderstande  that  a  larkeman 
hathe  his  name  of  a  larke,  which  is  a  seale  in  their  Language,  as  one 
should  make  writinges  and  set  scales  for  lycences  and  pasporte1. 
And  for  trouth  there  is  none  that  goeth  aboute  the  countrey  of  them 
that  can  eyther  wryte  so  good  and  fayre  a  hand,  either  indite  so 
learnedly,  as  I  haue  sene  and  handeled  a  number  of  them :  but 
haue  the  same  made  in  good  townes  where  they  come,  as  what  can 
not  be  hadde  for  money,  as  the  prouerbe  sayth  ("  Omnia  venalia 
Rome"),  and  manye  hath  confessed  the  same  to  me.  deaf  is,  back]  Now, 
also,  there  is  a  Patrico,  and  not  a  Patriarcho2,  whiche  in  their 
language  is  a  priest  that  should  make  mariages  tyll  death  dyd 
depart ;  but  they  haue  none  such,  I  am  well  assured  ;  for  I  put  you 
out  of  doubt  that  not  one  amo[n]gest  a  hundreth  of  them  are  maried, 
for  they  take  lechery  for  no  sinne,  but  naturall  fellowshyp  and  good 
lyking  loue :  so  that  I  wyll  not  blot  my  boke  with  these  two  that 
be  not. 

1  pasportes.  B.  2  Patriarch.  B. 


HARMAN.   A  DEMAUNDEB  FOB  GLYMMAR.  61 

f   A  DEMAUNDEB  FOB  GLYMMAB.   Cap.  16. 

THese  Demaunders  for  glymmar  be  for  the  moste  parte  wemen ; 
for  glymmar,  in  their  language,  is  fyre.  These  goe  with  fayned1 
lycences  and  counterfayted  wrytings,  hauing  the  hands  and 
seales  of  suche  gentlemen  as  dwelleth  nere  to  the  place  where  they 
fayne  them  selues  to  haue  bene  burnt,  and  their  goods  consumed 
with  fyre.  They  wyll  most  lamentable2  demaunde  your  charitie,  and 
wyll  quicklye  shed  salte  teares,  they  be  so  tender  harted.  They 
wyll  neuer  begge  in  that  Shiere  where  their  losses  (as  they  say)  was. 
Some  of  these  goe  with  slates  at  their  backes,  which  is  a  sheete  to 
lye  in  a  nightes.  The  vpright  men  be  very  familiare  with  these 
kynde  of  wemen,  and  one  of  them  helpes  an  other. 

IT  A  Demaunder  for  glymmar  came  vnto  a  good  towne  in  Kente, 
to  aske  the  charitie  of  the  people,  hauinge  a  fayned  lycens  aboute 
her  that  declared  her  misfortune  by  fyre,  donne  in  Somerset  shyre, 
walkinge  with  a  wallet  on  her  shoulders,  where  in  shee  put  the  de- 
uotion  of  suche  as  hadde  no  money  to  geue  her ;  that  is  to  saye, 
Malte,  woll,  baken,  bread,  and  cheese ;  and  alwayes,  as  the  same  was 
full,  so  was  it  redye  money  to  her,  when  she  emptyed  the  same, 
where  so  euer  shee  trauelede :  thys  harlot  was,  as  they  terme  it, 
snowte  fayre,  and  had  an  vpright  man  or  two  alwayes  attendinge  on 
her  watche  (whyche  is  on  her  parson),  and  yet  so  circumspecte,  that 
they  woulde  neuer  bee  seene  in  her  company  in  any  good  towne, 
vnlesse  it  were  in  smale  vyllages  where  typling  houses  weare,  eyther 
trauelinge  to  gether  by  the  hygh  wayes  ;  but  the  troth  is,  by  report, 
she  would  wekely  be  worth  vi.  or  seuen  shyllinges  with  her  begging 
and  bycherye.  This  glimmering  Morte,  repayringe  to  an  Ine  in  the 
sayde  towne  where  dwelt  a  wydow  of  fyftie  wynter  olde  of  good 
welth;  but  she  had  an  vnthryftye  sonne,  whom  she  vsed  as  a 
chamberlaine  to  attend  gestes  when  they  repared  to  her  house  :  this 
amerous  man,  be  holdinge  with  ardante  eyes  thys3  glymmeringe 
glauncer,  was  presentlye  pyteouslye  persed  to  the  hart,  and  lewdlye 
longed  to  bee  clothed  vnder  her  lyuerye;  and  bestowinge  [ieafi9]  a 

1  faynen.  B.  2  lamentably.  B. 

3  leJwlding  this.  B. 


62 


HARMAN.       A   DEMAUNDER    FOR    GLYMMAR. 


fewe  fonde  wordes  with,  her,  vnderstode  stray te  that  she  woulde  be 
easlye  perswaded  to  lykinge  lechery,  and  as  a  man  mased,  mused 
howe  to  attayne  to  his  purpose,  for l  he  hadde  no  money.  Yet  con- 
sideringe  wyth  hym  selfe  that  wares  woulde  bee  welcome  where 
money  wanted,  hee  went  with  a  wannion  to  his  mothers  chamber, 
and  there  sekinge  aboute  for  odde  endes,  at  length  founde  a  lytle 
whystell  of  syluer  that  his  mother  dyd  vse  customablye  to  weare  on, 
and  had  forgot  the  same  for  haste  that  morninge,  and  offeres  the 
same  closely  to  this  manerly  marian,  that  yf  she  would  mete  hym  on 
the  backesyde  of  the  towne  and  curteously  kys  him  with  out  con- 
straynt,  she  shoulde  bee  mystres  thereof,  and  it  weare  much  better. 
"  Well,"  sayth  she,  "  you  are  a  wanton ; "  and  beholdinge  the 
whystell,  was  farther  in  loue  there  with  then  rauysht  wyth  his 
person,  and  agred  to  mete  him  presently,  and  to  accomplyshe  his 
fonde  fancy : — to  be  short,  and  not  tedyous,  a  quarter  of  a  myle  from 
the  towne,  he  merely  toke  measure  of  her  vnder  a  bawdye  bushe ;  so 
she  gaue  hym  that  she  had  not,  and  he  receiued  that  he  coulde  not ; 
and  taking  leue  of  eche  other  with  a  curteous  kysse,  she  plesantly 
passed  forth  one  her  iornaye,  and  this  vntoward  lycorous  chamber- 
layne  repayred  home  warde.  But  or  these  two  tortylles  tooke  there 
leue,  the  good  wyfe  myssed  her  whystell,  and  sent  one  of  her 
maydenes  in  to  her  chamber  for  the  same,  and  being  long  sawght 
for,  none  coulde  be  founde  ;  her  mystres  hering  that,  diligent  search 
was  made  for  the  same ;  and  that  it  was  taken  awaye,  began  to  sus- 
pecte  her  vnblessed  babe,  and  demaunded  of  her  maydens  whether 
none  of  them  sawe  her  sonne  in  her  chamber  that  morning,  and  one 
of  them  aunswered  that  she  sawe  him  not  there,  but  comming  from 
thens :  then  had  she  ynough,  for  well  she  wyste  that  he  had  the 
same,  and  sent  for '  him,  but  he  could  not  be  founde.  Then  she 
caused  her  hosteler,  in  whome  she  had  better  affyaunce  in  for  his 
trouth, — and  yet  not  one  amongst  twenty  of  them  but  haue  well 
left  there  honesty,  (As  I  here  a  great  sorte  saye) — to  come  vnto 
her,  whiche  attended  to  knowe  her  pleasure.  "Goe,  seke  out," 
saythe  she,  "  my  vntowarde  sonne,  and  byd  hym  come  speake 
with  ine."  "  I  sawe  him  go  out,"  saythe  he,  "  halfe  an  houre 

1  but.  B. 


HARM  AN.      A   DEMAUNDER   FOR   GLYMMAR.  63 

sithens  one  the  backesyde.  I  hadde  thought  you  hadde  sent  him 
of  your  arrante."  "I  sent  him  not,"  quoth  she;  "goe,  loke  him 
out." 

If  This  hollowe  hosteler  toke  his  staffe  in  his  necke,  and  trodged 
out  apase  that  waye  he  sawe  him  before  go,  and  had  some  vnderstand- 
ing,  by  one  of  the  maydens,  that  his  mistres  had  her  whistell  stolen 
and  suspected  her  sonne;  and  he  had  not  gone  farre  but  that  he 
espyed  him  comming  homeward  alone,  and,  meting  him,  axed  where  he 
had  ben.  [leaf  19,  back]  "  Where  haue  I  bene  1 "  quoth  he,  and  began 
to  smyle.  "Now,  by  the  mas,  thou  hast  bene  at  some  baudy 
banquet."  "Thou  hast  euen  tolde  trouth,"  quoth  thys  chamber- 
layne.  "  Sewerly,"  quoth  this  hosteler,  "  thou  haddest  the  same 
woman  that  begged  at  our  house  to  day,  for  the,  harmes  she  had  by 
fyre:  where  is  she?"  quoth  he.  "She  is  almost  a  myle  by  this 
tyme,"  quoth  this  chamberlayne.  "  Where  is  my  mystres  whystell  ? " 
quoth  this  hosteler ;  "  for  I  am  well  assured  that  thou  haddest  it, 
and  I  feare  me  thou  hast  geuen  it  to  that  harlot."  "  Why !  is  it 
myssedl"  quoth  this  chamberlayne.  "Yea,"  quotJi  this  hosteler, 
and  shewed  him  all  the  hole  circumstaunce,  what  was  both  sayde 
and  thought  on  him  for  the  thing.  "  Well,  I  wyl  tell  the,"  quoth 
this  Chamberlayne.  "  I  wylbe  playne  with  the.  I  had  it  in  dede, 
and  haue  geuera  the  same  to  this  woman,  and  I  praye  the  make  the 
best  of  it,  and  helpe  nowe  to  excuse  the  matter,  and  yet  surely 
and  thou  wouldest  take  so  much  payne  for  me  as  to  ouer  take  her, 
(for  she  goeth  but  softly,  and  is  not  yet  farre  of)  and  take  the  same 
from  her,  and  I  am  euer  thyne  assured  freende."  "  Why,  then,  go 
with  me,"  quoth  this  hostler.  "  Nay,  in  faythe,"  quoth  this  Chamber- 
layne ;  "  what  is  frear  then  gift  ?  and  I  hadde  prety  pastime  for  the 
same."  "Hadest  thou  so?"  quoth  this  hosteler;  "nowe,  by  the 
masse,  and  I  wyll  haue  some  to,  or  I  wyll  lye  in  the  duste  or  I  come 
agayne."  Passing  with  hast  to  ouer  take  this  paramoure,  within  a 
myle  from  the  place  where  he  departed  he  ouertoke  her,  hauing  an 
vpright  man  in  her  company,  a  stronge  and  a  sturdye  vacabond : 
some  what  amased  was  this  hosteler  to  se  one  familiarly  in  her  com- 
pany, for  he  had  well  hopped  to  haue  had  some  delycate  dalyance, 
as  his  fellowe  hadde ;  but,  seinge  the  matter  so  fallout,  and  being  of 


64  HARMAN.       A   DEMACNDER   FOR   GLYMMAR. 

good  corage,  and  thinking  to  him  selfe  that  one  true  man  was  better 
then  two  false  knaues,  and  being  on  the  high  way,  thought  vpon 
helpe,  if  nede  had  bene,  by  such  as  had  passed  to  and  fro,  De- 
maunded  fersely  the  whistell  that  she  had  euyn  nowe  of  his  fellowe. 
"  Why,  husband,"  quoth  she,  "  can  you  suffer  this  wretche  to 
slaunder  your  wyfe  ? "  "  A  vaunt  verlet,"  quoth  this  vpright  man, 
and  letes  dryue  with  all  his  force  at  this  hosteler,  and  after  halfe l 
a  dosen  blowes,  he  strycks  his  staffe  out  of  his  hande,  and  as  this 
hosteler  stept  backe  to  haue  taken  vp  his  staffe  agayne,  his  glymmer- 
inge  Morte  flinges  a  great  stone  at  him,  and  strake  him  one  the  heade 
that  downe  hee  fales,  wyth  the  bloud  about  his  eares,  and  whyle  hee 
laye  this  amased,  the  vpright  man  snatches  awaye  his  pursse,  where 
in  hee  hadde  money  of  his  mystresses  as  well  as  of  his  owne,  and 
there  let  him  lye,  and  went  a  waye  with  spede  that  they  were  neuer 
harde  of  more.  When  this  drye  beaten  hosteler  was  come  to  him 
selfe,  hee  fayntlye  wandereth  home,  and  crepethe  in  to  hys  couche, 
and  restes  [leaf  20]  his  ydle  heade :  his  mystres  harde  that  hee  was 
come  in,  and  layde  him  downe  on  his  beade,  repayred  straight  vnto 
him,  and  aske  hym  what  he  ayled,  and  what  the  cause  was  of  his  so 
sudden  lying  one  his  bed.  "  What  is  the  cause  1 "  quoth  this 
hosteler ;  "  your  whystell,  your  whistel," — speaking  the  same 
pyteouslye  thre  or  foure  tymes.  "  Why,  fole,"  quoth  his  mystrisse, 
"  take  no  care  for  that,  for  I  doe  not  greatly  waye  it ;  it  was  worth 
but  three  shyllinges  foure  pens."  "  I  would  it  had  bene  burnt  for 
foure  yeares  agon."  "  I  praye  the  why  so,"  quoth  his  mystres ;  "  I 
think  thou  art  mad."  "Nay,  not  yet,"  quoth  this  hosteler,  "but  I 
haue  bene  madly  handlyd."  "  Why,  what  is  the  matter  ? "  quoth 
his  mystres,  and  was  more  desirous  to  know  the  case.  "  And  you 
wyl  for  geue  my  fellowe  and  me,  I  wyll  shewe  you,  or  els  I  wyll 
neuer  doe  it."  Shee  made  hym  presently  faithfull  promisse  that  shee 
woulde.  "  Then,"  saythe  hee,  "  sende  for  your  sonne  home  agayne, 
whyche  is  ashamed  to  loke  you  in  the  face."  "  I  agre  there  to," 
sayth  shee.  "  Well,  then,"  quoth  this  hosteler,  "  youre  sonne  hathe 
geuen  the  same  Morte  that  begged  here,  for  the  burninge  of  her 
house,  a  whystell,  and  you  haue  geuen  her  v.  shyllinges  in  money, 
1  Omitted  in  1573. 


HARMAN.      A  BAWDY   BASKET.  65 

and  I  haue  geuen  her  ten  shyllinges  of  my  owne."  "  Why,  howe 
so  ? "  quoth  she.  Then  he  sadly  shewed  her  of  his  myshap,  with  all 
the  circumstaunce  that  you  haue  harde  before,  and  howe  hys  pursse 
was  taken  awaye,  and  xv.  shyllinges  in  the  same,  where  of  v.  shyl- 
linges was  her  money  and  x.  shyllinges  his  owne  money.  "  Is  this 
true1?"  quoth  his  mystres.  "I,  by  my  trouth,"  quoth  this  hosteler, 
"  and  nothing  greues  me  so  much,  neyther  my  beating,  neither  the 
losse  of  my  money,  as  doth  my  euell  and  wreched  lucke."  "  Why, 
what  is  the  matter?"  quoth  his  mystres.  "Your  sonne,"  saythe 
this  hosteler,  "  had  some  chere  and  pastyme  for  that  whystell,  for  he 
laye  with  her,  and  I  haue  bene  well  beaten,  and  haue  had  my  pursse 
taken  from  me,  and  you  knowe  your  sonne  is  merrye  and  pleasaunt, 
and  can  kepe  no  great  councell ;  and  then  shall  I  bemocked  and 
loughed  to  skorne  in  all  places  when  they  shall  here  howe  I  haue 
bene  serued."  "Nowe,  out  vpon  you  knaues  both,"  quoth  his 
mystres,  and  laughes  oute  the  matter;  for  she  well  sawe  it  would 
not  other  wyse  preuayle. 

11      A   BAWDY   BASKET.       Cap.   17. 

THese  Bawdy  baskets  be  also  wemen,  and  go  with  baskets  and 
Capcases  on  their  armes,  where  in  they  haue  laces,  pynnes, 
nedles,  white  ynkell,  and  round  sylke  gyrdles  of  al  coulours. 
These  wyl  bye  corcneyskircs,1  and  steale  linera-  clothes  of  on  hedges. 
And  for  their  trifles  they  wil  procure  of  mayden  seruaunts,  whew 
[leaf  20,  back]  their  mystres  or  dame  is  oute  of  the  waye,  either  some  good 
peece  of  beefe,  baken,  or  cheese,  that  shalbe  worth  xij.  pens,  for  ii. 
"pens  of  their  toyes.     And  as  they  walke  by  the  waye,  they  often 
gaine  some  money  wyth  their  instrument,  by  such  as  they  sodaynely 
mete  w^ithall.     The  vpright  men  haue  good  acquayntance  with  these, 
and  will  helpe  and  relieue  them  when  they  want.     Thus  they  trade 
their  lyues  in  lewed  lothsome  lechery.      Amongest  them  all  is  but 
one  honest  woman,  and  she  is  of  good  yeares;  her  name  is  lone 
Messenger.     I  haue  had  good  proofe  of  her,  as  I  haue  learned  by  the 
true  report  of  diuers. 

1  Rabbitskins 
5 


66  HABMAN.       A   BAWDY   BASKET. 

i  There  came  to  my  gate  the  last  sommer,  Anno  Domini  .1566, 
{a  very  miserable  man,  and  much  deformed,  as  burnt  in  the 
face,  blere  eyde,  and  lame  of  one  of  his  legges  that  he  went  with  a 
crouche.  I  axed  him  wher  he  was  borne,  and  where  he  dwelt 
last,  and  shewed  him  that  thether  he  must  repaire  and  be  re- 
leutfd,  and  not  to  range  aboute  the  countrey ;  and  seing  some 
cause  of  cherytie,  I  caused  him  to  haue  meate  and  drinke,  and 
when  he  had  dronke,  I  demaunded  of  him  whether  he  was  neuer 
spoyled  of  the  vpright  man  or  Roge.  "  Yes,  that  I  haue,"  quoth 
he,  "  and  not  this  seuen  yeres,  for  so  long  I  haue  gon  abroad,  I  had 
not  so  much  taken  from  me,  and  so  euyll  handeled,  as  I  was  within 
these  iiij.  dayes."  "  Why,  how  so  ? "  quoth  I.  "  In  good  fayth, 
sir,"  quoth  hee,  "  I  chaunced  to  meete  with  one  of  these  bawdy  bas- 
kets which  had  an  vpright  man  in  her  company,  and  as  I  would 
haue  passed  quietly  by  her,  '  man,'  sayth  she  vnto  vnto  her  make, 
'  do  you  not  se  this  ylfauored,  windshakera  knaue  ? '  '  Yes,'  quoth 
the  vpright  man ;  'what  saye  you  to  him  ? '  '  this  knaue1  oweth  me 
ii.  shyllings  for  wares  that 2  he  had  of  me,  halfe  a  yere  a  go,  I  think 
it  well.'  Sayth  this  vpright  man,  '  syra,'  sayth  he,  '  paye  your  dets.' 
Sayth  this  poore  man,  '  I  owe  her  none,  nether  dyd  I  euer  bargane 
with  her  for  any  thinge,  and  as  this3  aduysed  I  neuer  sawe  her  before 
in  all  my  lyfe.'  '  Mercy,  god ! '  quoth  she,  '  what  a  lyinge  knaue  is 
this,  and  he  wil  not  paye  you,  husband,  beat  him  suerly,'  and  the 
vpright  man  gaue  me  thre  or  foure  blowes  on  my  backe  and  should- 
ers, and  would  haue  beat  me  worsse  and  I  had  not  geuen  hym  all 
the  money  in  my  pursse,  and  in  good  fayth,  for  very  feare,  I  was 
fayne  to  geue  him  xiiij.  pens,  which  was  all  the  money  that  I  had. 
c  Why,'  sayth  this  bawdy  basket,  '  hast  thou  no  more  1  then  thou 
owest  me  ten  pens  styll ;  and,  be  well  assured  that  I  wyll  bee  payde 
the  next  tyme  I  meete  with  thee.'  And  so  they  let  me  passe  by 
them.  I  praye  god  saue  and  blesse  me,  and  al  other  in  my  case, 
from  such  wycked  persons,"  quoth  this  poore  man.  "  Why,  whether 
went  they  then  1 "  quoth  I.  "  Into  east  Kent,  for  1  mete  with  them 
on  thyssyde  of  Rochester.  I  haue  dyuers  tymes  bene  atteinted,  but 

1  B.  inserts  sayth  she.  *  Omitted  in  1573.  8  1573  reads  lam 


HARM  AN.       A   AUTEM   MORT.       A   WALKING   MORT.  67 

I  neuer  loste  [leaf  21]  much  before.  I  thanke  god,  there  came  styll 
company  by  a  fore  this  vnhappy  time."  "  Well,"  quoth  I,  "  thanke 
God  of  all,  and  repaire  home  into  thy  natyue  countrey." 

11      A   AUTEM   MORT.      Cap.  18. 

THese  Autem  Mortes  be  maried  wemen,  as  there  be  but  a  fewe. 
For  Autem  in  their  Language  is  a  Churche ;  so  she  is  a  wyfe 
maried  at  the  Church,  and  they  be  as  chaste  as  a  Cowe  I 
haue,  thai  goeth  to  Bull  euery  moone,  with  what  Bull  she  careth 
not.  These  walke  most  times  from  their  husbands  companye  a 
moneth  and  more  to  gether,  being  asociate  with  another  as  honest  as 
her  selfe.  These  wyll  pylfar  clothes  of  hedges :  some  of  them  go 
with  children  of  ten  or  xii.  yeares  of  age ;  yf  tyme  and  place  serue 
for  their  purpose,  they  wyll  send  them  into  some  house,  at  the 
window,  to  steale  and  robbe,  which  they  call  in  their  language,  Mill- 
ing of  the  ken ;  and  wil  go  with  wallets  on  their  shoulders,  and 
slates  at  their  backes.  There  is  one  of  these  Autem  Mortes,  she  is 
now  a  widow,  of  fyfty  yeres  old ;  her  name  is  Alice  Milson :  she 
goeth  about  with  a  couple  of  great  boyes,  the  yongest  of  them  is 
fast  vpon  xx.  yeares  of  age ;  and  these  two  do  lye  with  her  euery 
night,  and  she  lyeth  in  the  middes  :  she  sayth  that  they  be  her  chil- 
dren, that  beteled  be  babes  borne  of  such  abhorninable  bellye. 

IT      A   WALKING   MORT.       Cap.  19. 

THese  walkinge  Mortes  bee  not  maryed  :  these  for  their  vn- 
happye  yeares  doth  go  as  a  Autem  Morte,  and  wyll  saye  their 
husbandes  died  eyther  at  I^ewhauen,  Ireland,  or  in  some  seruice 
of  the  Prince.  These  make  laces  vpon  staues,  and  purses,  that  they 
cary  in  their  hands,  and  whyte  vallance  for  beddes.  Manye  of  these 
hath  hadde  and  haue  chyldren :  when  these  get  ought,  either  with 
begging,  bychery,  or  brybery,  as  money  or  apparell,  they  are  quickly 
shaken  out  of  all  by  the  vpright  men,  that  they  are  in  a  maruelous 
feare  to  cary  any  thinge  aboute  them  that  is  of  any  valure.  Where 
fore,  this  pollicye  they  vse,  they  leaue  their  money  now  with  one  and 
then  with  a  nother  trustye  housholders,  eyther  with  the  good  man  or 
good  wyfe,  some  tyme  in  one  shiere,  and  then  in  another,  as  they 


68  HARMAN.       A   WALKING   MOET. 

trauell :  this  haue  I  knowne,  thai  iiij.  or  v.  shyllinges,  yea  x.  shyl- 
linges,  lefte  in  a  place,  and  the  same  wyll  they  come  for  againe  with- 
in one  quarter  of  a  yeare,  or  some  tyme  not  in  halfe  a  yeare  ;  and  all 
this  is  to  lytle  purpose,  for  all  their  peuyshe  [leaf  21,  back]  pollycy ; 
for  when  they  bye  them  lynnen  or  garmentse,  it  is  taken  awaye 
from  them,  and  worsse  geuen  them,  or  none  at  all. 

IT  The  last  Sommer,  Anno  domini  .1566,  being  in  familiare 
talke  with  a  walking  Mort  that  came  to  my  gate,  I  learned  by  her 
what  I  could,  and  I  thought  I  had  gathered  as  much  for  my  purpose 
as  I  desired.  I  began  to  rebuke  her  for  her  leud  lyfe  and-  beastly 
behauor,  declaring  to  her  what  punishment  was  prepared  and  heaped 
vp  for  her  in  the  world  to  come  for  her  fylthy  lyuinge  and  wretched 
conuersation.  "  God  helpe,"  quoth  she,  "  how  should  I  lyue  ?  none 
wyll  take  me  into  seruice ;  but  I  labour  in  haruest  time  honestly." 
"  I  thinke  but  a  whyle  with  honestie,"  quoth  I.  "  Shall  I  tell  you," 
qiioth  she,  "  the  best  of  vs  all  may  be  amended ;  but  yet,  I  thanke 
god,  I  dyd  one  good  dede  within  this  twelue  moftthes."  "  "Wherein?" 
qiioth  I.  Sayth  she,  "I  woulde  not  haue  it  spoken  of  agayne." 
"Yf  it  be  meete  and  necessary,"  quod.  I,  "it  shall  lye  vnder  my 
feete."  "  What  meane  you  by  that  1 "  quoth  she.  "  I  meane,"  quod 
I,  "to  hide  the  same,  and  neuer  to  discouer  it  to  any."  "Well," 
qiioth  she,  and  began  to  laugh  as  much  as  she  could,  and  sweare  by 
the  masse  that  if  I  disclosed  the  same  to  any,  she  woulde  neuer  more1 
tell  me  any  thinge.  "  The  last  sommer,"  quotJi  she,  "  I  was  greate 
with  chylde,  and  I  traueled  into  east  kent  by  the  sea  coste,  for  I 
lusted  meruelously  after  oysters  and  muskels2,  and  gathered  many, 
and  in  the  place  where  I  found  them,  I  opened  them  and  eate  them 
styll :  at  the  last,  in  seking  more,  I  reached  after  one,  and  stept  into 
a  hole,  and  fel  in  into  the  wast,  and  their  dyd  stycke,  and  I  had 
bene  drowned  if  the  tide  had  come,  and  espyinge  a  man  a  good  waye 
of,  I  cried  as  much  as  I  could  for  helpe.  I  was  alone,  he  hard 
me,  and  repaired  as  fast  to  me  as  he  might,  and  finding  me  their  fast 
stycking,  I  required  for  gods  sake  his  helpe  ;  and  whether  it  was  with 
stryuinge  and  forcing  my  selfe  out,  or  for  ioye  I  had  of  his  com- 
minge  to  me,  I  had  a  great  couller  in  my  face,  and  loked  red  and  well 
1  Omitted  in  1573.  2  mussels.  B. 


HARMAN.       A   WALKING   MORT.  69 

coullered.  And,  to  be  playne  with  you,  hee  lyked  me  so  well  (as  ho 
sayd)  that  I  should  there  lye  styll,  and  I  would  not  graunt  him,  that 
he  might  lye  with  me.  And,  by  my  trouth,  I  wist  not  what  to 
answeare,  I  was  in  such  a  perplexite ;  for  I  knew  the  man  well :  he 
had  a  very  honest  woman  to  his  wyfe,  and  was  of  some  welth ;  and, 
one  the  other  syde,  if  I  weare  not  holpe  out,  I  should  there  haue 
perished,  and  I  graunted  hym  that  I  would  obeye  to  his  wyll :  then 
he  plucked  me  out.  And  because  there  was  no  conuenient  place  nere 
hande,  I  required  hym  that  I  might  go  washe  my  selfe,  and  make  me 
somewhat  clenly,  and  I  would  come  to  his  house  and  lodge  all  night 
in  his  barne,  whether  he  mighte  repaire  to  me,  and  accomplyshe  hys 
desire, '  but  let  it  not  be/  quoth  she,1 '  before  nine  of  the  clocke  at 
nyghte  [leaf  22]  for  then  there  wylbe  small  styrring.  And  I  may  re- 
paire to  the  towne,'  quoth  she,2  '  to  warme  and  drye  my  selfe ' ;  for 
this  was  about  two  of  the  clocke  in  the  after  none.  '  Do  so,'  quoth 
hee ;  '  for  I  must  be  busie  to  looke  oute  my  cattell  here  by  before  I 
can  come  home.'  So  I  went  awaye  from  hym,  and  glad  was  I." 
"And  why  so?"  quoth  I.  "Because,"  quoth  she,  "his  wyfe,  my 
good  dame,  is  my  very  freend,  and  I  am  much  beholdinge  to  her. 
And  she  hath  donne  me  so  much  good  or  this,  that  I  weare  loth  nowe 
to  harme  her  any  waye."  "  Why,"  quoth  I,  "  what  and  it  hadde 
b£ene  any  other  man,  and  not  your  good  dames  husbande?"  "  The 
matter  had  bene  the  lesse,"  quoth  shee.  "Tell  me,  I  pray  the," 
quoth  I,  "  who  was  the  father  of  thy  chylde  1 "  She  stodyd  a  whyle, 
and  sayde  that  it  hadde  a  father.  "  But  what  was  hee  1 "  quoth  I. 
"  Nowe,  by  my  trouth,  I  knowe  not,"  quoth  shee  ;  "you  brynge  me 
out  of  my  matter  so,  you  do."  "  "Well,  saye  on,"  quoth  I.  "  Then  I 
departed  strayght  to  the  towne,  and  came  to  my  dames  house,  And 
shewed  her  of  my  mysfortune,  also  of  her  husbands  vsage,  in  all 
pointes,  and  that  I  showed  her  the  same  for  good  wyll,  and  byde  her 
take  better  heede  to  her  husbande,  and  to  her  selfe  :  so  shee  gaue  me 
great  thankes,  and  made  me  good,  cheere,  and  byd  me  in  anye  case 
that  I  should  be  redye  at  the  barne  at  that  tyme  and  houre  we  had 
apoynted ;  '  for  I  knowe  well,'  quoth  this  good  wyfe,  '  my  husband 
wyll  not  breake  wyth  the.  And  one  thinge  I  warne3  the,  that  thou 
1  Tie,  ed.  1573.  2  7,  ed.  1573.  *  warrant.  B. 


70  HARMAN.       A   WALKING   MORT. 

geue  me  a  watche  worde  a  loud  when  hee  goeth  aboute  to  liaue  his 
pleasure  of  the,  and  that  shall1  bee  "  fye,  for  shame,  fye,"  and  I  wyll 
bee  harde  by  you  wyth  helpe.  But  I  charge  the  keepe  thys  secret 
vntyll  all  bee  fynesed ;  and  holde,'  saythe  thys  good  wyfe,  '  here  is 
one, of  my  peticotes  I  geue  thee.'  'I  thanke  you,  good  dame,' 
quoth  I,  'and  I  warrante  you  I  wyll  bee  true  and  trustye  vnto 
you.'  So  my  dame  lefte  me  settinge  by  a  good  fyre  with  meate 
and  drynke  ;  and  wyth  the  oysters  I  broughte  with  me,  I  hadde  greate 
cheere  :  shee  wente  strayght  and  repaired  vnto  her  gossypes  dwelling 
there  by ;  and,  as  I  dyd  after  vnderstande,  she  made  her  mone  to 
them,  what  a  naughty e,  lewed,  lecherous  husbande  shee  hadde,  and 
howe  that  she  coulde  not  haue  hys  companye  for  harlotes,  and  that 
she  was  in  feare  to  take  some  fylthy  dysease  of  hym,  he  was  so 
commen  a  man,  hauinge  lytle  respecte  whome  he  hadde  to  do  with 
all ;  '  and,'  quoth  she, '  nowe  here  is  one  at  my  house,  a  poore  woman 
that  goeth  aboute  the  countrey  that  he  woulde  haue  hadde  to  doe 
withall ;  wherefore,  good  neyghboures  and  louinge  gossypes,  as  you 
loue  me,  and  as  you  would  haue  helpe  at  my  hand  another  tyme, 
deuyse  some  remedy  to  make  my  husband  a  good  man,  thai  I  may 
lyue  in  some  suerty  without  disease,  and  that  hee  may  saue  his  soule 
that  God  so  derelye  [leaf  22,  back]  bought.'  After  shee  hadde  tolde  her 
tale,  they  caste  their  persinge  eyes  all  vpon  her,  but  one  stoute  dame 
amongst  the  rest  had  these  wordes — '  As  your  pacient  bearinge  of 
troubles,  your  honest  behauiour  among  vs  your  neyghbours,  your 
tender  and  pytifull  hart  to  the  poore  of  the  parysh,  doth  moue  vs  to 
lament  your  case,  so  the  vnsatiable  carnalite  of  your  faithelesse  hus- 
bande doth  instigate  and  styre  vs  to  deuyse  and  inuent  some  speedy 
redresse  for  your  ease2  and  the  amendernent  of  hys  lyfe.  Wherefore, 
this  is  my  councell  and  you  wyll  bee  aduertysed  by  me  ;  for  3  I  saye 
to  you  all,  vnlesse  it  be  this  good  wyfe,  who  is  cheefely  touched  in 
this  matter,  I  haue  the  nexte  cause  ;  for  hee  was  in  hande  wyth  me 
not  longe  a  goe,  and  companye  had  not  bene  present,  which  was  by 
a  meruelous  chaunce,  he  hadde,  I  thinke,  forced  me.  For  often  hee 
hath  bene  tempering  4  with  me,  and  yet  haue  I  sharpely  sayde  him 

1  should.  B.  2  1573  reads  case  3  Omitted  in  1573. 

4  1573  reads  tempting 


HARMAN.       A   WALKING   MOBT.  71 

naye  :  therefore,  let  vs  assemble  secretly  into  the  place  where  hee 
hathe  apuynted  to  m6ete  thys  gyllot  that  is  at  your  house,  and  lyrke 
preuelye  in  some  corner  tyll  hee  begyn  to  goe  aboute  his  busines. 
And  then  me  thought  I  harde  you  saye  euen  nowe  that  you  had  a 
watche  word,  at  which  word  we  wyll  all  stepforth,  being  fiue  of  vs 
besydes  you,  for  you  shalbe  none  because  it  is  your  husbande,  but 
gette  you  to  bed  at  your  accustomed  houre.  And  we  wyll  cary  eche 
of  vs1  good  byrchen  rodde  in  our  lappes,  and  we  will  all  be  muffeled 
for  knowing,  and  se  that  you  goe  home  and  acquaynt  that  walking 
Morte  with  the  matter  j  for  we  must  haue  her  helpe  to  hold,  for 
alwaies  foure  must  hold  and  two  lay  one.'  'Alas  !'  sayth  this  good 
wyfe,  '  he  is  to  stronge  for  you  all.  I  would  be  loth,  for  my  sake 
you  should  receaue  harme  at  his  hande.'  '  feare  you  not,'  quoth  these 
stout  wemen,  '  let  her  not  geue  the  watch  word  vntyl  his  hosen  be 
abaut  his  legges.  And  I  trowe  we  all  wylbe  with  him  to  bring 
before  he  shall  haue  leasure  to  plucke  them  vp  againe.'  They  all 
with  on  voyce  ag[r]ed  to  the  matter,  that  the  way  she  had  deuised  was 
the  best :  so  this  good  wife  repaired  home ;  but  before  she  departed 
from  her  gossypes,  she  shewed  them  at  what  houre  they  should 
preuely  come  in  on  the  backsid,  and  where  to  tary  their  good  our : 
so  by  the  time  she  came  in,  it  was  all  most  night,  and  found  the  walk- 
ing Morte  still  setting  by  the  fyre,  and  declared  to  her  all  this  new 
deuyse  aboue  sayd,  which  promised  faythfully  to  full  fyll  to  her  small 
powre  as  much  as  they  hadde  deuysed :  within  a  quarter  of  an  oure 
after,  in  commeth  the  good  man,  who  said  that  he  was  about  his 
cattell.  "  Why,  what  haue  we  here,  wyfe,  setting  by  the  fyre  1  and 
yf  she  haue  eate  and  dronke,  send  her  into  the  barne  to  her  lodging 
for  this  night,  for  she  troubeleth  the  house."  "  Euen  as  you  wyll 
husbande,"  sayth  his  wyfe ;  "  you  knowe  she  commeth  once  in  two 
yeres  into  these  [leaf  23]  quarters.  Awaye,"  saythe  this  good  wyfe, 
"  to  your  lodginge."  "  Yes,  good  dame,"  sayth  she,  "  as  fast  as  I 
can:"  thus,  by  loking  one2  on  the  other,. eche  knewe  others  mynde, 
and  so  departed  to  her  comely  couche  :  the  good  man  of  the  house 
shrodge  hym  for  loye,  thinking  to  hym  selfe,  I  wyll  make  some  pas- 
tyme  with  you  anone.  And  calling  to  his  wyfe  for  hys  sopper,  set 
1  B.  inserts  a  2  won.  B. 


72  HARMAN.      A  WALKING   MORT. 

him  downe,  and  was  very  plesant,  and  dranke  to  his  wyfe,  and  fell 
to  his  mammerings,  and  mounched  a  pace,  nothing  vnderstanding  of 
the  bancquet  that1  was  a  preparing  for  him  after  sopper,  and  according 
to  the  prouerbe,  that  swete  meate  wyll  haue  sowre  sawce  :  thus,  whew 
he  w,as  well  refreshed,  his  sprietes  being  reuyued,  eiitred  into  fami- 
liare  talke  with  his  wife,  of  many  matters,  how  well  he  had  spent 
that  daye  to  both  there  proffytes,  sayinge  some  of  his  cattell2  were 
lyke  to  haue  bene  drowned  in  the  dyches,  dryuinge  others  of  his 
neyghbours  cattell  out  that  were  in  his  pastures,  and  mending  his 
fences  that  were  broken  downe.  Thus  profitably  he  had  consumed 
the  daye,  nothinge  talking  of  his  helping  out  of  the  walkinge  Morte 
out  of  the  myre,  nether  of  his  request  nor  yet  of  her  3  promisse. 
Thus  feding  her  with  frendly  fantacyes,  consumed  two  houres  and 
more.  Then  fayninge  howe  hee  would  se  in  what  case  his  horse 
were  in  and  howe  they  were  dressed,  Repaired  couertly  into  the 
barne,  where  as  his  free[n]dlye  foes  lyrked  preuely,  vnlesse  it  were 
this  manerly  Morte,  that  comly  couched  on  a  bottell  of  strawe. 
"What,  are  you  come?"  quoth  she;  "by  the  masse,  I  would  not 
for  a  hundreth  pound  that  my  dame  should  knowe  that  you  were 
here,  eyther  any  els  of  your  house."  "  No,  I  warrant  the,"  sayth 
this  good  man,  "  they  be  all  safe  and  fast  ynough  at  their  woorke, 
and  I  wylbe  at  mine  anon."  And  laye  downe  by  her,  and  stray ght 
would  haue  had  to  do  'with  her.  "Nay,  fye,"  sayth  she,  "I  lyke 
not  this  order :  if  ye  lye  with  me,  you  shall  surely  vntrus  you  and 
put  downe  your  hosen,  for  that  way  is  most  easiest  and  best." 
"  Sayest  thou  so?"  .quoth  he,  "now,  by  my  trouth  agred."  And 
when  he  had  vntrussed  him  selfe  and  put  downe,  he  began  to  assalt 
the  vnsatiable  4  fort  "  Why,"  quoth  she,  that  was  with  out  shame, 
sauinge  for  her  promes,  "  And  are  you  not  ashamed  1 "  "  neuer  a 
whyte,"  sayth  he,  "  lye  downe  quickely."  "  Now,  fye,  for  shame, 
fye,"  sayth  shee  a  loude,  whyche  was  the  watche  word.  At  the 
which  word,  these  fyue  furious,  sturdy,  muffeled  gossypes  flynges 
oute,  and  takes  sure  holde  of  this  be  trayed  parson,  sone  5  pluckinge 
his  hosen  downe  lower,  and  byndinge  the  same  fast  about  his  feete  ; 

1  B.  omits  that  2  B.  inserts  that  *  1573  reads  his 

*  B.  reads  vnsanable,  or  vnsaudble  5  1573  reads  some 


HARM  AN.       A   DOXB.  73 

then  byndinge  his  handes,  and  knitting  a  hande  charcher  about  his 
eyes,  that  he  shoulde  not  see ;  and  when  they  had  made  hym  sure 
and  fast,  Then  they  layd  him  one  vntyll  they  weare  windles.  "  Be 
good,"  sayth  this  Morte,  "  vnto  my  maister,  for  the  passion  of  God," 
[leaf  23,  back]  and  layd  on  as  fast  as  the  rest,  and  styll  seased  not  to 
crye  vpon  them  to  be"e  mercyfull  vnto  hym,  and  yet  layde  on  a  pace ; 
and  when  they  had  well  beaten  hym,  that  the  bloud  braste  plenti- 
f iillye  oute  in  most  places,  they  let  hym  lye  styll  bounde.  With 
this  exhortation,  that  he  shoulde  from  that  tyme  forth  knowe  his 
wyfe  from  other  mens,  and  that  this  punishment  was  but  a  flebyting 
in  respect  of  that  which  should  followe,  yf  he  amended  not  his 
manners.  Thus  leuynge  hym  blustering,  blowing,  and  fominge  for 
payne,  and  malyncolye  that  hee  neither  might  or  coulde  be  reuenged 
of  them,  they  vanyshed  awaye,  and  hadde  thys  Morte  with  them, 
and  safely  conuayde  her  out  of  the  towne  :  sone  after  commeth  into 
the  barne  one  of  the  good  mans  boyes,  to  fet  some  haye  for  his  horse. 
And  fyndinge  his  maister  lyinge  faste  bounde  and  greuouslye  beaten 
with  rodes,  was  sodenly  abashed  and  woulde  haue  runne  out  agayne 
to  haue  called  for  helpe ;  but  his  maister  bed  hym  come  vnto  hym 
and  vnbynd  hym;  "and  make  no  wordes,"  quoth  he,  "of  this.  I 
wylbe  reuenged  well  inoughe  ; "  yet  not  with  standinge,  after  better 
aduyse,  the  matter  beinge  vnhonest,  he  thought  it  meter  to  let  the 
same  passe,  and,  not,  as  the  prouerbe  saythe,  to  awake  the  sleping 
dogge.  "  And,  by  my  trouth,"  quoth  this  walkinge  Morte,  "  I  come 
nowe  from  that  place,  and  was  neuer  there  sythens  this  parte  was 
playde,  whiche  is  some  what  more  then  a  yeare.  And  I  here  a  very 
good  reporte  of  hym  now,  that  he  loueth  his  wyfe  well,  and  vseth 
hym  selfe  verye  honestly  e ;  and  was  not  this  a  good  acte  1  nowe,  howe 
saye  you  1 "  "  It  was  pretely  handeled,"  quoth  I,  "  and  is  here  all  1 " 
"Yea,"  quoth  she,  "here  is  the  ende." 

IF  A  DOXE.     Cap.  20. 

THese   Boxes   be  broken   and  spoyled  of  their  maydenhead   by 
the  vpright  men,   and  then  they  haue  their  name  of  Boxes, 
and  not  afore.     And  afterwarde  she  is  commen  and  indifferent  for 
any  that  wyll  vse  her,  as  homo  is  a  commen  name  to  all  men.     Such 


74  HABMAN.       A   DOXE. 

as  be  fayre  and  some  what  handsome,  kepe  company  with  the  walk- 
inge  Mortes,  and  are  redye  alwayes  for  the  vpright  men,  and  are 
cheifely  mayntayned  by  them,  for  others  shalbe  spoyled  for  their 
sakes  :  the  other,  inferior,  sort  wyll  resorte  to  noble  mens  places,  and 
gentlemens  houses,  standing  at  the  gate,  eyther  lurkinge  on  the 
backesyde  about  backe  houses,  eyther  in  hedge  rowes,  or  some  other 
thycket,  expectinge  their  praye,  which  is  for  the  vncomely  company 
of  some  curteous  gest,  of  whome  they  be  refreshed  with  meate  and 
some  money,  where  eschaunge  is  made,  ware  for  ware :  this  bread 
and  meate  they  vse  to  carrye  in  their  [leaf  24]  greate  hosen ;  so  that 
these  beastlye  brybinge  *  breeches  serue  manye  tymes  for  bawdye  pur- 
poses. I  chaunced,  not  longe  sithens,  familiarly  to  commen  with  a 
Doxe  that  came  to  my  gate,  and  surelye  a  pleasant  harlot,  and  not  so 
pleasant  as  wytty,  and  not  so  wytty  as  voyd  of  all  grace  and  goodnes. 
I  founde,  by  her  talke,  that  she"e  hadde  passed  her  tyme  lewdlye 
eyghttene  yeares  in  walkinge  aboute.  I  thoughte  this  a  necessary 
instrument  to  attayne  some  knowledge  by;  and  before  I  woulde 
grope  her  mynde,  I  made  her  both  to  eate  and  drynke  well ;  that 
done,  I  made  her  faythfull  promisse  to  geue  her  some  money,  yf  she 
would  open  and  dyscouer  to  me  such  questions  as  I  woulde  demaunde 
of  her,  and  neuer  to  bee  wraye  her,  neither  to  disclose  her  name. 
"  And  you  shoulde,"  sayth  she,  "  I  were  vndon : "  "  feare  not  that," 
quoth  I;  "but,  I  praye  the,"  quoth  I,  "say  nothing  but  trouth." 
"  I  wyll  not,"  sayth  shee.  "  Then,  fyrste  tell  me,"  quoth  I,  "  how 
many  vpright  men  and  Roges  dost  thou  knowe,  or  hast  thou  knowne 
and  byn  conuersaunt  with,  and  what  their  names  be  1 "  She  paused 
a  whyle,  and  sayd,  "  why  do  you  aske  me,  or  wherefore  3 "  "  For 
nothinge  els,"  as  I  sayde,  "  but  that  I  woulde  knowe  them  when 
they  came  to  my  gate."  "  Nowe,  by  my  trouth"  (quoth  she)  "then 
are  yea  neuer  the  neare,  for  all  myne  acquayntaunce,  for  the  moste 
parte,  are  deade."  "  Dead  ! "  quoth  I,  "  howe  dyed  they,  for  wante 
of  cherishinge,  or  of  paynefull  diseases?"  Then  she  sighed,  and 
sayde  they  were  hanged.  "  What,  all  1 "  quoth  I,  "  and  so  manye 
walke  abroade,  as  I  dayelye  see  1 "  "  By  my  trouth,"  quoth  she,  "  I 

1  Irylerlnge.  B. 


HARMAN.       A   DELL.  75 

knowe  not  paste  six  or  seuen  by  their  names,"  and  named  the  same 
to  me.  "  When  were  they  hanged  1 "  quoth  I.  "  Some  seuen  yeares 
a  gone,  some  three  yeares,  and  some  within  this  fortnight,"  and  de- 
clared the  place  where  they  weare  executed,  which  I  knewe  well  to 
bee  true,  by  the  report  of  others.  "  Why  "  (quoth  I)  "  dyd  not  this 
sorrowfull  and  fearefull  sight  much  greue  the,  and  for  thy  tyme  longe 
and  euyll  spent  ?  "  "I  was  sory,"  quoth  shee,  "  by  the  Masse ;  for 
some  of  them  were  good  louing  men.  For  I  lackt  not  when  they 
had  it,  and  they  wanted  not  when  I  had  it,  and  diuers  of  them  I 
iieuer  dyd  forsake,  vntyll  the  Gallowes  departed  vs."  "  0,  mercyfull 
God ! "  quoth  I,  and  began  to  blesse  me.  "  Why  blesse  ye  1 "  quoth 
she.  "  Alas !  good  gentleman,  euery  one  muste  haue  a  lyuinge." 
Other  matters  I  talked  of;  but  this  nowe  maye  suffice  to  shewe 
the  Reader,  as  it  weare  in  a  glasse,  the  bolde  beastly  lyfe  of  these 
Doxes.  For  suche  as  hath  gone  anye  tyme  abroade,  wyll  neuer  for- 
sake their  trade,  to  dye  therefore.  I  haue  hadde  good  profe  thereof. 
There  is  one,  a  notorious  harlot,  of  this  affinitye,  called  Besse 
Bottomelye ;  she  hath  but  one  hande,  and  she  hath  murthered  two 
children  at  the  least. 

[leaf  2i,  back]  f   A   DELL.       Cap.   21. 

A  Dell  is  a  yonge  wenche,   able  for  generation,  and  not  yet 
knowen  or  broken  by  the  vpright  man.     These  go  abroade 
yong,  eyther  by  the  death  of  their  parentes,  and  no  bodye  to 
looke  vnto  them,  or  els  by  some  sharpe  mystres  that  they 
serue,  do  runne  away  out  of  seruice ;  eyther  she  is  naturally  borne 
one,  and  then  she  is  a  wyld  Dell :  these  are  broken  verye  yonge ; 
when  they  haue  beene  lyen  with  all  by  the  vpright  man,  then  they 
be  Doxes,  and  no  Dels.     These  wylde  dels,  beinge  traded  vp  with 
their  monstrous  mothers,  must  of  necessytie  be  as  euill,  or  worsse, 
then  their  parents,  for  neither  we  gather  grapes  from  greene  bryars, 
neither  fygs  from  Thystels.     But  such  buds,  such  blosoms,  such 
euyll  sede  sowen,  wel  worsse  beinge  growen. 


76  HAEMAN.   A  KYNCHIN  MORTE,  ETC. 

IT  A  KYNCHIN  MORTE.     Cap.  22. 

AKynching  Morte  is  a  lytle  Gyrle :  the  Mortes  their  mothers 
carries  them  at  their  backes  in  their  slates,  whiche  is  their 
shetes,  and  bryngs  them  vp  sauagely1,  tyll  they  growe  to  be 
ryp'T,  and  soone  rype,  soone  rotten. 

IT  A  KYNCHEN  Co.     Cap.  23. 

A  Kynchen  Co  is  a  young  boye,  traden  vp  to  suche  peuishe  pur- 
•*•*•  poses  as  you  haue  harde  of  other  young  ympes  before,  that 
when  he  groweth  vnto  yeres,  he  is  better  to  hang  then  to  drawe 
forth. 

11  THEIR  VSAGE  IN  THE  NIGHT.     Cap.  24. 

NOw  I  thinke  it  not  vnnecessary  to  make  the  Reader  vnder- 
stand  how  and  in  what  maner  they  lodge  a  nights  in  barnes 
or  backe  houses,  and  of  their  vsage  there,  for  asmuch  as  I 
haue  acquaynted  them  with  their  order  and  practises  a  day 
times.     The  arche  and  chiefe  walkers  that  hath  walked  a 
long  time,  whose  experience  is  great,  because  of  their  continuinge 
practise,  I  meane  all  Mortes  and  Doxes,  for  their  handsomnes  and 
diligence  for  making  of  their  couches.     The  men  neuer  trouble  them 
selues  with  that  thing,  but  takes  the  same  to  be  the  dutye  of  th& 
wyfe.     And  she  shuffels  vp  a  quayntitye  of  strawe  or  haye  into 
some   pretye  earner  of  the  barne  [leaf  25]  where   she  maye  conue- 
nientlye  lye,  and  well  shakethe  the  same,  makinge  the  heade  some 
what  hye,  and  dryues  the  same  vpon  the  sydes  and  fete  lyke  abed : 
then  she  layeth  her  wallet,  or  some  other  lytle  pack  of  ragges  or 
scrype  vnder  her  heade  in  the  strawe,  to  beare  vp  the  same,  and 
layethe  her  petycote  or  cloke  vpon  and  ouer  the  strawe,  so  made  lyke 
a  bedde,  and  that  serueth  for  the  blancket.     Then  she  layeth  her 
slate,  which  is  her  sheete,  vpon  that ;  and  she  haue  no  she"ete,  as 
fewe  of  them  goe  without,  then  she  spreddeth  some  large  cloutes  or 
rags  ouer  the  same,  and  maketh  her  ready,  and  layeth  her  drouselye 
downe.     Many  wyll  plucke  of  their  smockes,  and  laye  the  same  vpon 
them  in  stede  of  their  vpper  sheete,  and  all  her  other  pelte  and 
1  B.  reads  safely 


HARM  AN.       DOXES   VSAGE   IN   THE   NIGHT.  77 

trashe  vpon  her  also ;  and  many  lyeth  in  their  smockes.  And  if  the 
rest  of  her  clothes  in  colde  weather  be  not  sufficient  to  kepe  her 
warme,  then  she  taketh  strawe  or  haye  to  performe  the  matter.  The 
other  sorte,  that  haue  not  slates,  but  toumble  downe  and  couche  a 
hogshead  in  their  clothes,  these  bee  styll  lousye,  and  shall  neuer  be 
with  out  vermyn,  vnlesse  they  put  of  theire  clothes,  and  lye  as  is  a 
boue  sayde.  If  the  vpright  man  come  in  where  they  lye,  he  hath 
his  choyse,  and  crepeth  in  close  by  his  Doxe :  the  Eoge  hath  his 
leanings.  If  the  Morts  or  Doxes  lye  or  be  lodged  in  some  Farmers 
barne,  and  the  dore  be  ether  locked  or  made  fast  to  them,  then  wyl 
not  the  vpright  man  presse  to  come  in,  Ynles  it  be  in  barnes  and 
oute  houses  standinge  alone,  or  some  distance  from  houses,  which  be 
commonly  knowne  to  them,  As  saint  Qnintens,  three  Cranes  of  the 
vintrey,  Saynt  Tybbes,  and  Knapsbery.  These  foure  be  with  in  one 
myle  compasse  neare  vnto  London.  Then  haue  you  iiij.  more  in 
Middlesex,  drawe  the  pudding  out  of  the  fyre  in  Harrow  on  the  hyll 
parish,  the  Grose  Keyes  in  Cranford 1  parish,  Saynt  lulyans  in 
Thystell  worth  parish,  the  house  of  pyty  in  Northhall  parysh.  These 
are  their  chiefe  houses  neare  about  London,  where  commonly  they 
resorte  vnto  for  Lodginge,  and  maye  repaire  thether  freelye  at  all 
tymes.  Sornetyme  shall  come  in  some  Eoge,  some  pyckinge  knaue, 
a  nymble  Prygge ;  he  walketh  in  softly  a  nightes,  when  they  be  at 
their  rest,  and  plucketh  of  as  many  garmentes  as  be  ought  worth  that 
he  maye  come  by,  and  worth  money,  and  maye  easely  cary  the  same, 
and  runneth  a  waye  with  the  same  with  great  seleritye,  and  maketh 
porte  sale  at  some  conuenient  place  of  theirs,  that  some  be  soone 
ready  in  the  morning,  for  want  of  their  Casters  and  Togemarcs. 
Where  in  steede  of  blessinge  is  cursing ;  in  place  of  praying,  pestelent 
prating  with  odious  othes  and  terrible  threatninges.  The  vpright 
men  haue  geuen  all  these  nycke  names  to  the  places  aboue  sayde. 
Y[e]t  haue  [leaf  25,  back]  we  two  notable  places  in  Kent,  not  fare 
from  London  :  the  one  is  betwene  Detforde  and  Bothered,  called  the 
Kynges  barne,  standing  alone,  that  they  haunt  commonly ;  the  other 
is  Ketbroke,  standinge  by  blacke  heath,  halfe  a  myle  from  anye 
house.  There  wyll  they  boldlye  drawe  the  latche  of  the  doore,  and 
1  1573  reads  Crayford. 


78  HAEMAN.       NAMES    OF   VPRIGHT   MEN. 

go  in  when  the  good  man  with  hys  famyly  be  at  supper,  and  syt 
downe  without  leaue,  and  eate  and  drinke  with  them,  and  either  lye 
in  the  hall  by  the  fyre  all  night,  or  in  the  barne,  if  there  be  no  rome 
in  the  house  for  them.  If  the  doore  be  eyther  bolted  or  lockt,  if  it 
be  not  opened  vnto  them  when  they  wyl,  they  wyl  breake  the  same 
open  to  his  farther  cost.  And  in  this  barne  sometyme  do  lye  xl. 
vpright  men  with  their  Doxes  together  at  one  time.  And  this  must 
the  poore  Farmer  suffer,  or  els  they  threaten  him  to  burne  him,  and 
all  that  he  hath. 


THE  NAMES  OF  THE  VPRIGHT  MEN,  EOGES,  AND 
PALLYAEDS. 

TTEre  followeth  the  vnrulye  rablement  of  rascals,  and  the  moste 
-*--*-  notoryous  and  wyckedst  walkers  that  are  lyuinge  nowe  at  this 
present,  with  their  true  names  as  they  be  called  and  knowne  by. 
And  although  I  set  and  place  here  but  thre  orders,  yet,  good  Reader, 
vnderstand  that  all  the  others  aboue  named  are  deriued  and  come 
out  from  the  vpright  men  and  Roges.  Concerning  the  number  of 
Mortes  and  Doxes,  it  is  superfluous  to  wryte  of  them.  I  could  well 
haue  don  it,  but  the  number  of  them  is  great,  and  woulde  aske  a 
large  volume. 

IT  UPRIGHT  MEN. 

A.1                                 D.  E. 

Antony  Heymer.  Dowzabell  skylfull  in  Edmund  Dun,  a  sing- 
Antony  lackeson.  fence-  inS man* 

Dauid  Coke.  Edward  Skiner,  alias 

B-                   Dycke  Glouer.  ^ed  Skinner. 

Burfet.                            Dycke  Abrystowe.  Edward  Browne. 
Bryan  medcalfe.             T.     . ,  --, ,        , 

Dauid  Edwardes.  F. 

C.  Dauid  Holand.  Follentine  Hylles. 

Core  the  Cuckold.         Dauid  lones.  Fardinando  angell. 

Chrystouer  Cooke.  Fraunces  Dawghtou. 

1  The  arrangement  in  Bodley  ed.  is  not  alphabetical. 


HARM  AN.       NAMES    OF   VPRIGHT   MEN.                                 79 

G. 

lohn  Geffrey.                                  K. 

Gryffin. 

lohn  Goddard.                                L 

Great  lohn  Graye. 

lohn  Graye  the  lytle.    Lennard  lust. 

George  Marrinar. 

lohn  Graye  the  great.  Long  Greene. 

George  Hutchinson. 

lohn    Wylliams    the  Laurence  Ladd. 

Laurence  Marshall. 

. 

lohn  Horwood,  a  maker 

Hary     Hylles,      alias 

of  wels  ;  he  wyll  take                   jyf 

Harry  godepar. 

halfe  his   bargayne 

Deaf  26]  Harry  Agglyn- 
tine. 

in  hand,  and  when                   N"- 
hee    hath   wrought  Nicolas  Wilson. 

Harry      Smyth,      he 
driueleth  whera   he 

ii.  or  iii.  daies,  he  AT  j  T>    • 
,-,               '  .,,    Ned  Barmgton. 
runneth  away  with 

his  earnest.    *             Ned  Wetherdon. 

speaketh. 
Harry  lonson. 

lohn  Peter.                    Bed  holmes. 

lohn  Porter.                                    Q 

I. 

lohn  Appowes. 

lames  Barnard. 

lohn  Arter. 

lohn  Myllar. 

lohn  Bates.                    Phyllype  Greene. 

lohn  "Walchman. 

lohn  Comes.                                   Q. 

lohn  Tones. 

lohn     Chyles,     alias                   -^ 

lohn  Teddar. 
lohn  Braye. 
lohn  Cutter. 

great  Chyles. 

T  T     T       ,    T         T    ,T    Eobart  Grauener. 
lohnLeuet;  hemaketh 

tappes  and  fausets.    Robart  Gerse. 
John  Louedall,  a  mais-  Eobart  Kynge. 

lohn  Bell. 

ter  of  fence.               Eobart  Egerton. 

lohn  Stephens. 

O 

lohn  Louedale.              Eobart   Bell,   brother 

lohn  Graye. 

lohn  Mekes.                       to  Iohn  Bel1- 

lohn  Whyte. 

lohn  Appowell.             Eobart  Maple. 

lohn  Eewe. 

lohn  Chappell.              Eobart  Langton. 

lohn  Mores. 

lohn  Gryffen.                 Eobyn  Bell. 

lohn  a  Farnando. 

lohn  Mason.                   Eobyn  Toppe. 

lohn  Newman. 

lohn   Humfrey,   with  Eobart    Brownswerd, 

lohn  Wyn,  alias  Wyl- 

the lame  hand.                he  werith  his  here 

liams. 

lohn  Stradling,   with        on^' 

lohn  a  Pycons. 

the  shaking  head.      Eobart  Curtes. 

lohn  Tomas. 

lohn  Franke.                  Eychard  Brymmysh. 

lohn  Arter. 

lohn  Baker.                    Eychard  lustyce. 

lohn  Palmer,  alias  Tod. 

lohn  Bascafeld.              Eychard  Barton. 

80                                         HAEMAN.       NAMES   OF   BOGES. 

Eychard  Constance. 

Thomas  Graye,  his  toes 

Wylliam  Chamborne. 

Eychard  Thomas. 

be  gonne. 

Wylliam  Pannell. 

Eychard  Cadman. 

Tom  Bodel. 

Wylliam  Morgan. 

Eychard  Scategood. 

Thomas  Wast. 

Wylliam  Belson. 

Eychard  Apryce. 
Eychard  Walker. 
Eychard  Coper. 

S. 
Steuen  Neuet. 

T. 

Thomas  Dawsorc  alias 
Thomas  lacklin. 
Thomas  Basset. 
Thomas  Marchant. 
Thomas  Web. 
Thomas  Awefeld. 
Thomas  Gybbins. 
Thomas  Lacon. 

Wylliam  Ebes. 
Wylliam  Garret. 
Wylliam  Eobynson. 
Wylliam  Vmberuile. 
Wylliam  Dauids. 
Wyll  Pen. 
Wylliam  lones. 
Wyll  PoweU. 

Thomas  Bulloke.   [leaf 

26,  back] 

Thomas  Bate. 
Thomas  Allen. 

Wylliam  Clarke. 
Water  Wirall. 

Thomas  Cutter. 

Y. 

Wylliam  Browne. 

Thomas  Garret. 

Water  Martyne.1 

Thomas  Newton. 

W. 

Wylliam  Grace. 

Thomas  Web. 

Welarayd  Eichard. 

Wylliam  Pyckering. 

EOGES. 

A. 

G. 

lohn  Elson. 

^    Arche  Dowglas,  a  Scot. 

George  Belberby. 

lohn  Eaynoles,  Irysh 

TO 

Goodman. 

man. 

-D. 

Blacke  Dycke. 

Gerard  Gybbin,  a  coun- 
terfet Cranke, 

lohn  Harrys, 
lames    Monkaster,    a 

C. 

counterfet  Cranke. 

H. 

lohn  Dewe. 

D. 

Dycke  Durram. 

HaryWalles,  with  the 
lytle  mouth. 

lohn  Crew,  with  one 
arme. 

Dauid  Dew  neuet,   a 
counterfet  Cranke. 

Humfrey  ward. 
Harry  Mason. 

lohn    Browne,    great 
stamerar. 

E. 

I. 

L. 

Edward  Ellys. 
Edward  Anseley. 

lohn  Warren, 
lohn  Donne,  with  one 

Lytle  Dycke. 
Lytle  Eobyn. 

E. 

legge. 

Lambart  Eose. 

-1  Omitted  in  1573  edit. 

HARMAN.       NAMES    OF   PALL  YARDS. 


81 


M. 

"More,   burnt    in    the 
hand.1 


Nicholas  Adames,  a 
great  stamerar.2 

Nycholas  Crispyn. 

Nycholas  Blunt  alias 
Nycholas  Gennings, 
a  counterfet  Cranke. 

Nycholas  Lynch. 

R. 

Rychard  Brewton. 

Ry  chard  Horwod,  well 
nere  Ixxx.  yeares 
olde  ;  he  wyll  byte 
a  vi.  peny  nayle  a 


sender  with  his 
teeth,  and  a  bawdye 
[leaf  27]  dronkard. 

Richard  Crane ;  he 
carieth  a  Kynchne 
Co  at  his  backe. 

Eychard  lones. 
Kaffe  Ketley. 
Robert  Harrison. 

S. 
'Simon  Kynge. 

T. 

Thomas  Paske. 
3  Thomas  Bere. 

Thomas  Shawnean, 
Irish  man. 


Thomas  Smith,  with 
the  skald  skyn.3 

W. 

"Wylliam  Carew. 
Wylliam  wastfield. 
Wylson. 

Wylliam  Gynkes,  with 
a  whyte  bearde,  a 
lusty  and  stronge 
man ;  he  runnetli 
about  the  countrey 
to  seeke  worke,  with 
a  byg  boy,  his  sonne 
carying  his  toles  as 
a  dawber  or  plays- 
terer,  but  ly  tie  worke 
serueth  him. 


B. 

Bashford. 

D. 

Dycke  Sehan  Irish. 
Dauid  Powell. 

Dauid  lones,  a  coun- 
terfet Crank. 

E. 

Edward  Hey  ward,hath 
his  Morte  following 
him,  which  fained 
the  Cranke. 


1F    PALLYARDS. 

Edward  Lewes,  a  dum- 
merer. 

H. 

Hugh  lones. 
I. 

lohn  Perse,4  a  counter- 
fet Cranke. 

lohn  dauids. 
lohn  Hanison. 

lohn  Carew. 

lames  Lane,  with  one 
eye,  Irish. 


lohn  Fysher. 
lohn  Dewe. 

lohn  Gylford,  Irish, 
with  a  counterfet 
lisence. 

L. 

Laurence  with  the 
great  legge. 

N, 

Nycholas  Newton,  cari- 
eth a  fained  lisence. 
Nicholas  Decase. 


1  Omitted  in  1573  ed.  2  Last  three  words  omitted  in  1673  ed. 

8  The  1573  ed.  arranges  these  names  in  the  following  order  : — 
.  Thomas  Beere. 

Irish  man. 
Thomas  Smith  with  the 

skalde  skin. 
Thomas  Shawneam. 
4  The  1573  ed.  reads  Persk 

6 


82  HARMAN.       PEDDELARS   FRENCHE. 

P.  Kichard  Thomas.  Thomas  Dauids. 

Prestoue.  Wylliam  Thomas. 

O 

T>  Wylliam   Coper  with 

^  ,     ,T     '  Sothgard.  theHarelyp. 

Eobart  Lackley.  ^ J™  Wyll  ^^  ^^  ft 

Eobart  Canloke.  Kincherc  mort  at  his 

Eichard  Hylton,  cary-  T.  back. 

eth     ii.     Kynchen  Wylliam  Bowmer. 

mortes  about  him.      Thomas  Edwards. 

There  is  aboue  an  hundreth  of  Irish  men  and  women  that  wander 
about  to  begge  for  their  lyuing,  that  hath  come  ouer  within  these  two 
yeares.  They  saye  the[y]  haue  beene  burned  and  spoyled  by  the 
Earle  of  Desmond,  and  report  well  of  the  Earle  of  Yrmond. 

1T  All  these  aboue  wryten  for  the  most  part  walke  about  Essex, 
Myddlesex,  Sussex,  Surrey,  and  Kent.  Then  let  the  reader  iudge 
what  number  walkes  in  other  Shieres,  I  feare  me  to  great  a  number, 
if  they  be  well  vnderstande. 

Deaf  27,  back]          aHere  followyth  their  pelting  speche.1 

HEre  I  set  before  the  good  Eeader  the  leud,  lousey  language  of 
these  lewtering  Luskes  and  lasy  Lorrels,  where  with  they 
bye  and  sell  the  common  people  as  they  pas  through  the 
countrey.     Whych  language  they  terme  Peddelars  Frenche, 
a  vnknowen  toung  onely,  but  to  these  bold,  beastly,  bawdy 
Beggers,  and  vaine  Vacabondes,  being  halfe  myngled  with 
Englyshe,  when  it  is  famyliarlye  talked,  and  fyrste  placinge  thinges 
by  their  proper  names  as  an  Introduction  to  this  peuyshe  speeche. 


Nab, 
a  head. 

a  pratling  chete, 
a  toimge. 

quaromes, 
a  body. 

Nabchet, 
a  hat  or  cap. 

Crashing  chetes, 
teeth. 

prat, 
a  huttocke. 

Glasyers, 

eyes. 

Hearing  chetes, 
eares. 

stampes, 
legges. 

a  smelling  chete, 
a  nose. 

fambles, 
handes. 

a  caster, 
a  cloke. 

gan, 
a  mouth. 

a  fambling  chete, 
a  rynge  on  thy  hand. 

a  togeman, 
a  cote. 

B.  omits. 


HARMAN.      PEDDELARS   FRENCHE.                                   83 

a  commission, 
a  shierte. 

quier,                             a  prauncer, 
nought.                                a  horse. 

drawers, 

a  gage,                            autem, 

hosen. 

a  quarte  pot.                        a  church. 

stampers, 

a  skew,                           Salomon, 

shooes. 

a  cuppe.                              a  alter  or  masse. 

a  mofling  chete, 
a  napkyn. 

pannani,1                         patrico, 
bread.                                  a  priest. 

a  belly  chete, 
an  apern. 

cassan,                            nosegent, 
cheese.                                 a  Nunne. 

dudes, 
clothes. 

yaram,2                          a  gybe, 
mylke.                                 a  writinge. 

a  lag  of  dudes, 
a  bucke  of  clothes. 

lap,                                 a  larke, 
butter  milke  or  whey.        a  scale. 

a  slate  or  slates, 

pear  28]  pek,                      a  ken, 

a  sheete  or  shetes. 

meate.                                 a  house. 

lybbege, 
-,    i 

poppelars,                       a  staulinge  ken, 

a  bed. 

porrage.                                a  house  that  wyll   re- 

bunge, 

ruff  pek,                               ceaue  stolen  ware' 

a  pursse. 

baken.                             a  bousing  ken, 

lowre, 
monye. 

mynt, 

,  .          ,    .                 a  ale  house. 
a  grunting  chete  or  a 
patricos  kynchen,      a  -Lypken, 
a  pyg^                                   a  house  to  lye  in, 

golde. 

T"       "Ul 

a  bord, 
a  shylling. 

a  cakling  chete,              a   J^®*' 
a  cocke  or  capon.                a  "edde< 

halfe  a  borde, 

a  margery  prater,             fvre.       ' 
a  hen. 

size  pence. 

Rome  bouse. 

flagg, 
a  groate. 

a  .Roger  or  tyb  of  the    vryne. 
buttery,                       j 

a  Goose.                            Ja°e/ 

a  wyn, 

water. 

a  penny. 

a  "make, 
a  halfepeny. 

a  quakinge  chete  or  a  a  skypper, 
red  shanke,                   a  barne. 
a  drake  or  ducke. 
strommell, 

bowse, 

grannam,                           strawe. 

drynke. 
bene, 

corne. 
a  gentry  cofes  kew, 
a  lownmge  chete,             A  noble  or  gentleinans 

good. 

a  Cowe.                                 house. 

benshyp, 

a  bletinge  chete,            a  gygger, 

very  good. 

a  calfe  or  sheepe.                 a  doore. 

1  The  1573  ed.  reads  Yannam, 

2  B.  rea 

is  yarmn.     The  1573  ed.  reads  Param 

HAEMAN.      ROGUES  :    THEIR  PELTING   SPECHE, 


bufe, 
a  dogge. 

the  lightmans, 
the  daye. 

the  darken)  ans, 
the  nyght. 

Rome  vyle, 
London. 

dewse  a  vyle, 
the  countrey. 

Rome  mort, 
the  Quene. 

a  gentry  cofe, 
a  noble  or  gentleman. 

a  gentry  morte, 
A  noble  or  gentle  woman. 

the  quyer  cuffyn,1 
the  lusticer  of  peace. 

the  harman  beck, 
the  Counstable. 

the  harmans, 
the  stockes. 

Quyerkyn, 
a  pryson  house. 

Quier  crampringes, 
boltes  or  fetters. 

tryninge, 
hanginge. 

chattes, 
the  gallowes. 


the  hygh  pad, 
the  hygh  waye. 

the  ruffmans, 
the  wodes  or  bushes. 

a  smellinge  chete, 
a  garden  or  orchard. 

crassinge  chetes, 

apels,   peares,  or   anye 

other  frute. 
to   fylche,  to    beate,   to 

stryke,  to  robbe.2 

to  nyp  a  boung, 
to  cut  a  pursse. 

To  skower  the  cramp- 
rings,  [leaf  28,  back] 
to  weare  boltes  or  fetters. 

to  heue  a  bough, 
to  robbe  or  rifle  a  boew- 
eth. 

to  cly  the  gerke, 
to  be  whypped. 

to  cutte  benle,3 
to  speake  gently. 

to  cutte  bene  whydds, 
to  speake  or  geue  good 
wordes. 

to  cutte  quyre  why  ddes, 
to  geue  euell  wordes  or 
euell  language. 

to  cutte, 
to  saye. 


to  towre, 
to  see. 

to  bowse, 
to  drynke. 

to  maunde, 
to  aske  or  requyre. 

to  stall, 
to  make  or  ordaine. 

to  cante, 
to  speake. 

to  myll  a  ken, 
to  robbe  a  house. 

to  prygge, 
to  ryde. 

to  dup  the  gyger, 
to  open  the  doore. 

to  couch  a  hogshead, 
to  lye  downe  and  sleepe. 

to  nygle, 

to  haue  to  do  with  a 
woman  carnally. 

stow  you, 
holde  your  peace. 

bynge  a  waste, 
go  you  hence. 

to  the  ruffian, 
to  the  deuell. 

the  ruffian  cly  the, 
the  deuyll  take  thee. 


IT  The  vpright  Cofe  canteth  to  the  Roge.4 

The  vpright  man  speaketh  to  the  Roge. 

VPRIGHTMAN.5 

Bene  Lightmans  to  thy  quarromes,  in  what  lipken  hast  thou 
lypped  in  this  darkemans,  whether  in  a  lybbege  or  in  the  strummell? 

1  custyn.  B. 

2  For  these  two  lines  printed  in  small  type,  the  1573  edition  reads, 

To  fylche 
to  robbe 
•  lenie.  B.  *  Roger.  B.  5  man.  B. 


HARMAN.       THE  VPRIGHT    COFE    CANTETH    TO    THE    ROGE.  85 

God  morrowe  to  thy  body,  in  what  house  hast  thou  lyne  in  all  night, 
whether  in  a  bed,  or  in  the  strawe  ? 

ROGE. 

I  couched  a  hogshead  in  a  Skypper  this  darkemans. 
I  layd '  me  downe  to  sleepe  in  a  barne  this  night. 

VPRIGHT   MAN.2 

I  towre  the  strummel  trine  vpon  thy  nabchet3  and  logman. 
I  see  the  strawe  hang  vpon  thy  cap  and  coate. 

ROGE. 

I  saye  by  the  Salomon  I  will  lage  it  of  with  a  gage  of  benebouse  ; 
then  cut  to  my  nose  watch. 

I  sweare  by  the  masse 4,  I  wull  washe  it  of  with  a  quart  of  good  drynke ; 
[leaf  29]  s  then  saye  to  me  what  thou  wylt. 

MAN.  Why,  hast  thou  any  lowre  in  thy  bonge  to  bouse  ? 
Why,  hast  thou  any  money  in  thy  purse  to  drinke  ? 

ROGE.  But  a  flagge,  a  wyn,  and  a  make. 

But  a  grot,  a  penny,  and  a  halfe  penny. 

MAN.  Why,  where  is  the  kene  that  hath  the  bene  bouse  ? 
where  is  the  house  that  hath  good  drinke  ? 

ROGE.  A  bene  mort  hereby  at  the  signe  of  the  prauncer. 
A  good  wyfe  here  by  at  the  signe  of  the  hors. 

MAN.  I  cutt  it  is  quyer  buose,  I  bousd  a  flagge  the  laste  dark 

mans. 

I  saye  it  is  small  and  naughty e  drynke.     I  dranke  a  groate  there 
the  last  night. 

EOGE.  But  bouse  there  a  bord,  and  thou  shalt  haue  beneship. 
But  drinke  there  a  shyllinge,  and  thou  shalt  haue  very  good. 

Tower  ye  yander  is  the  kene,  dup  the  gygger,  and  maund  that  is 
bene  shyp. 

Se  you,  yonder  is  the  house,  open  the  doore,  and  aske  for  the  best. 

1  laye.  B.  2  B.  omits  vpright.  8  nabcTies.  B. 

4  masst.  B.         5  This  leaf  is  supplied  in  MS.  in  Mr  Huth's  edition. 


86        HARM  AN.     THE  VPRIGHT  COFE  CANTETH  TO  THE  ROGE. 

MAN.  This  bouse  is  as  benshyp1  as  rome  bouse. 
This  drinke  is  as  good  as  wyne. 

Now  I  tower  that  bene  bouse  makes  nase  nabes. 
Now  I  se  that  good  drinke  makes  a  dronken  heade. 

Maunde  of  this  morte  what  bene  pecke  is  in  her  ken. 
Aske  of  this  wyf  e  what  good  meate  shee  hath  in  her  house. 

ROGE.  She  hath  a  Cacling  chete,  a  grunting  chete,  ruff  Pecke, 

cassan,  and  popplarr  of  yarum. 
She  hath  a  hen,  a  pyg,  baken,  chese  and  mylke  porrage. 

MAN.  That  is  beneshyp  to  our  watche. 
That  is  very  good  for  vs. 

Now  we  haue  well  bousd,  let  vs  strike  some  chete. 
Nowe  we  haue  well  dronke,  let  us  steale  some  thinge. 

Yonder  dwelleth  a  quyere  cuffen,  it  were  beneship  to  my  11  hym. 
Yonder  dwelleth  a  hoggeshe  and  choyrlyshe  man,  it  were  very  well  donne 
to  robbe  him. 

EOGE.  Nowe  bynge  we  a  waste  to  the  hygh  pad,  the  ruffmanes 

is  by. 
Naye,  let  vs  go  hence  to  the  hygh  waye,  the  wodes  is  at  hand. 

MAN.  So  may  we  happen  on  the  Harmanes,  and  cly  the  larke, 
or  to  the  quyerken  and  skower  quyaer  cramprings,  and  so  to  tryning 
on  the  chates. 

[leaf  29,  back]  So  we  maye  chaunce  to  set  in  the  stockes,  eyther  be  whypped, 
eyther  had  to  prison  house,  and  there  be  shackled  with  bolttes  and  fetters,  and 
then  to  hange  on  the  gallowes. 

Gerry  gan,  the  ruffian  clye  thee. 

A  torde  in  thy  mouth,  the  deuyll  take  thee. 

MAN.  What,  stowe  your  bene,  cofe,  and  cut  benat  whydds,  and 
byng  we  to  rome  vyle,  to  nyp  a  bong ;  so  shall  we  haue  lowre  for  the 
bousing  ken,  and  when  we  byng  back  to  the  deuseauyel,  we  wyll 
fylche  some  duddes  of  the  Buffemans,  or  myll  the  ken  for  a  lagge  of 
dudes. 

What,  holde  your  peace,  good  fellowe,  and  speake  better  wordes,  and  go 
we  to  London,  to  cut  a  purse  ;  then  shal  we  haue  money  for  the  ale  house,  and 

1  good  in  the  1573  ed. 


HARMAN.       NYCHOLAS   BLUNTED   TRICKS.  87 

when  wee  come  backe  agayne  into  the  country,  wee  wyll  steale  some  lynnen 
clothes  of  one1  hedges,  or  robbe  some  house  for  a  bucke  of  clothes. 

IF  By  this  lytle  ye  maye  holy  and  fully  vnderstande  their  vntowarde 
talke  and  pelting  speache,  mynglede  without  measure ;  and  as  they 
haue  begonne  of  late  to  deuyse  some  new  termes  for  certien  thinges, 
so  wyll  they  in  tyrne  alter  this,  and  deuyse  as  euyll  or  worsse.  This 
language  nowe  beinge  knowen  and  spred  abroade,  yet  one  thinge 
more  I  wyll  ad  vnto,  not  meaninge  to  Englyshe  the  same,  because  I 
learned  the  same2  of  a  shameles  Doxe,  but  for  the  phrase  of  speche 
I  set  it  forth  onely. 

There  was  a  proude  patrico  and  a  nosegent,  he  tooke  his  lockam 
in  his  famble,  and  a  wappinge  he  went,  he  dokte  the  Dell,  hee  pryge 
to  praunce,  he  byngd  a  waste  into  the  darke  mans,  he  fylcht  the 
Cofe,  with  out  any  fylch  man. 

f'Hyle  this  second  Impression  was  in  printinge,  it  fortuned 
that  Nycholas  Blunte,  who  called  hym  selfe  Nycholan 
Gennyns,  a  counterefet  Cranke,  that  is  spoken  of  in  this 
booke,  was  foiide  begging  in  the  whyte  fryers  on  Newe  yeares  day 
last  past,  Anno  domini  .1567,  and  commytted  vnto  a  offescer,  who 
caried  hym  vnto  the  depetye  of  the  ward,  which  commytted  hym 
vnto  the  counter ;  and  as  the  counstable  and  a  nother  would  haue 
caried  hym  thether,  This  counterfet  Cranke  ran  awaye,  but  one 
lyghter  of  fote  then  the  other  ouer  toke  hym,  and  so  leading  him 
to  the  counter,  where  he  remayned  three  days,  and  from  thence  to 
Brydewell,  where  before  the  maister3  he  had  his  dysgysed  aparell 
put  vpon  hym,  which  was  monstrous  to  beholde,  And  after  stode  in 
Chepesyde  with  the  same  apparil  on  a  scafold.4 

A  Stockes  to  staye  sure,  and  safely  detayne, 
Lasy  lewd  Leutterers,  that  lawes  do  offend, 

Impudent  persons,  thus  punished  with  payne, 
Hardlye  for  all  this,  do  meane  to  amende. 

1  The  1573  ed.  has  some 

2  Instead  of  "  the  same,"  the  1573  ed,  reads  that 

3  maister s.  B. 

4  This  paragraph  is  omitted  in  the  ed.  of  1573  ;  but  see  note,  ante,  p.  56. 


HARMAN.       THE    STOCKES. 


Fetters  or  shackles  serue  to  make  fast, 
Male  malefactours,  that  on  myschiefe  do  muse, 

Yntyll  the  learned  lawes  do  quite  or  do  cast, 
Such  suttile  searchers,  as  all  euyll  do  vse. 


HARMAN.       THE   ROGE's   END. 


89 


A  whyp  is  a  whysker,  that  wyll  wrest  out  blood, 
Of  backe  and  of  body,  beaten  right  well. 

Of  all  the  other  it  doth  the  most  good,, 
Experience  techeth,  and  they  can  well  tell. 


Uf30,bk] 


IT  0  dolefull  daye  !  nowe  death  draweth  nere, 
Hys  bytter  styng  doth  pearce  me  to  the  harte. 


90  HARMAN.       THE   COUNTERFET    CRANKE. 

I  take  my  leaue  of  all  that  be  here, 
Nowe  piteously  playing  this  tragicall  parte. 

Neither  stripes  nor  teachinges  in  tyme  could  conuert, 
wherefore  an  ensample  let  me  to  you  be, 

And  all  that  be  present,  nowe  praye  you  for  me. 


1  IT  This  counterfet  Cranke,  nowe  vew  and  beholde, 

Placed  in  pyllory,  as  all  maye  well  se  : 
This  was  he,  as  you  haue  hard  the  tale  tolde, 

before  recorded  with  great  suttylte, 
Ibused  manye  with  his  inpiete, 

his  lothsome  attyre,  in  most  vgly  manner, 
was  through  London  caried  with  dysplayd  banner.2 

1  B.  omits  this  stanza  and  has  inserted  the  following  lines  under  the  cut. 

Tnis  is  the  fygure  of  the  counterfet  Cranke,  that  is  spoken  of  in  this  boke 
of  Roges,  called  Nycholas  Blunt  other  wyse  Nycholas  Gennyngs.  His  tale  is 
in  the  xvii.  lefe  [pp.  55-6]  of  this  booke,  which  doth  showe  vnto  all  that  reades 
it,  woundrous  suttell  and  crafty  deseit  donne  of  and  by  him. 

2  This  verse  is  omitted  in  the  edition  of  1573  ;  also  the  wood-cut 
preceding  it. 


HARMAN.       CONCLUSION.  91 

Thus  I  conclude  my  bolde  Beggars  booke, 
That  all  estates  most  playnely  maye  see, 
As  in  a  glasse  well  pollyshed  to  looke, 
Their  double  demeaner  in  eche  degree. 
Their  lyues,  their  language,  their  names  as  they  be, 
That  with  this  warning  their  myndes  may  be  warmed, 
To  amend  their  mysdeedes,  and  so  lyue  vnharmed. 


FINIS. 


IT  Imprinted  at  London,  in  Fletestrete,  at  the  signe  of  the  Faulcon 
by  Wylliam  gryffith.     Anno  Domni.  1567. l 

1  B.  adds  'the  eight  of  January'.  (This  would  make  the  year  1568  accord- 
ing to  the  modern  reckoning.  Harman's  '  New  Yeares  day  last  past,  Anno 
domini  1567',  p.  86,  must  also  be  156|.) 


92 


mrnrn  in     mm  0f 
imtr 


[Lansdowne  MS.  98,  Zea/210.] 

A  sermon  made  "by  Parson  Haben  vppon  a  mold  hill  at  Hartely 
Eow,1  at  the  Comaundment  of  vij.  theves,  whoe,  after  they  had 
robbed  him,  Comaunded  him  to  Preache  before  them. 

I  Marvell  that  euerye  man  will  seme  to  dispraise  theverye,  and 
thinke  the  doers  thereof  worthye  of  Death,  when  it  is  a  thinge  that 
Cometh  nere  vnto  vertve,  and  is  vsed  of  all  men,  of  all  sortes  and  in 
all  countryes,  and  soe  comaunded  and  allowed  of  god  himselfe ; 
which  thinge,  because  I  cannot  soe  sapiently  shewe  vnto  you  a  2  soe 
shorte  a  tyme  and  in  soe  shorte  a  place,  I  shall  desire  you,  gentle 
theves,  to  take  in  good  parte  this  thinge  that  at  this  tyme  Cometh 
to  minde,  not  misdoubtinge  but  you  of  jour  good  knowledge  are 
able  to  ad  more  vnto  the  same  then  this  which  I  at  this  tyme  shall 
shewe  vnto  you.  ffirst,  fortitude  and  stoutnes,  'Courage,  and  boldnes 
of  stomacke,  is  Compted  of  some  a  vertue ;  which  beinge  graunted, 
Whoe  is  he  then  that  will  not  ludge  theves  vertuous,  most  stoute, 
most  hardye  1  I  most,  withoute  feare.  As  for  stealinge,  that  is  a 
thinge  vsuall : — whoe  stealeth  not?  fFor  not  only  you  that  haue 
besett  me,  but  many  other  in  many  places.  Men,  Woemen,  and 
Children,  Eiche  and  poore,  are  dailye  of  that  facultye,  As  the  hange 

1  MS  Rew.      Hartley  Row  is  on  the  South-Western  road  past  Bagshot. 
The  stretch  of  flat  land  there  was  the  galloping  place  for  coaches  that  had  to 
make  up  time. 

2  in 


93 


jjjenram  in     raiae  at 
mtfr 


[if/S.  Cott.  Vesp.  A  xxv.  Zea/  53.] 

A  sermon)  of  parson  Hyberdyne  which,  he  made  att  the  commande- 
mente  of  certen  theves,  after  thay  had  Robbed  hym,  besydes 
hartlerowe,  in  hamshyer,  in  the  feldes,  ther  standinge  vporc  a 
hyft  where  as  a  wynde  myll  had  bene,  in  the  presens  of  the 
theves  that  robbed  hym,  as  followithe. 

the  sermon  as  followethe 

I  greatly  merveft  that  any  man  wyft  presume  to  dysprase 
theverie,  and  thynke  the  dooeres  therof  to  be  woorthy  of  deathe,  con- 
syderinge  itt  is  a  thynge  that  cumithe  nere  vnto  vertue,  beinge  vsed 
of  many  in  att  contries,  And  commendid  and  allowed  of  god  hym 
selfe  j  the  which  thinge,  by-cause  I  cannot  compendiously  shew  vnto 
yow  at  soo  shorte  a  warnynge  and  in  soo  sharpe  a  wether,  I  shaft 
desyer  yow,  gentle  audiens  of  theves,  to  take  in  good  parte  thes 
thynges  that  at  thys  tyme  cumythe  to  my  mynde,  not  mysdowtynge 
but  that  yow  of  yowre  good  knowledge  are  able  to  add  mutch  more 
vnto  ytt  theft  this  which  I  shaft  nowe  vtter  vnto  yow.  ffyrst,  forti- 
tude, and  stowtnes  of  corage,  and  also  bowldnes  of  minde,  is  com- 
mendyd  of  sume  men  to  be  a  vertue ;  wTwch,  beinge  grawnted,  who 
is  yt  then  that  wyft  not  iudge  theves  to  be  vertused  1  for  thay  be  of 
aft  men  moste  stowte  and  hardy,  and  moste  w?'t7*owte  feare;  for 
thevery  is  a  thynge  moste  vsuatt  emonge  aft  men,  for  not  only  yow 
that  be  here  presente,  but  many  other  in  dyuerse  places,  bothe  men 
and  wemen  and  chyldren,  rytche  and  poore,  are  dayly  of  thys  facultye, 


94  PARSON  HABEN'S  SERMON.     LANDS.  MS.  98. 

man  of  Tiborne  can  testifye.  That  it  is  allowed  of  god  himselfe,  it 
is  euident  in  many  storyes  of  the  Scriptures.  And  if  you  liste  to 
looke  in  the  whole  Course  of  the  bible,  you  shall  finde  that  theves 
haue  bin  belovid  of  god .  ffor  lacobe,  when  he  Came  oute  of  Meso- 
potomia,  did  steale  his  vncles  lambes;  the  same  lacobe  stale  his 
brotner  Esawes  blessinge ;  and  that  god  saide,  "  I  haue  chosen  lacob 
and  refused  Esawe."  The  Children  of  Isarell,  when  they  came 
oute  of  Egippe,  didd  steale  the  Egippsians  lewells  and  ringes,  and 
god  comaunded  the[m]  soe  to  doe.  David,  in  the  dayes  of  Aheme- 
l[e]ch  the  preiste,  came  into  the  temple  and  stole  awaye  the  shewe 
bread ;  And  yet  god  saide,  "this  is  a  man  accordinge  to  myne  owne 
harte."  Alsoe  Christe  himsellfe,  when  he  was  here  vppon  earth,  did 
take  an  asse,  a  Colte,  which  was  none  of  his  owne.  And  you  knowe 
that  god  saide,  "  this  is  my  nowwe  sone,  in  whome  I  delighte." 

Thus  maye  you  see  that  most  of  all  god  delighteth  in  theves.  I 
marvell,  therefore,  that  men  can  despise  jour  lives,  when  that  you 
are  in  all  poynts  almost  like  vnto  Christe ;  for  Christ  hade  noe  dwell- 
inge  place, — noe  more  haue  you.  Christe,  therefore,  at  the  laste,  was 
laide  waite  for  in  all  places, — and  soe  are  you.  Christe  alsoe  at  the 
laste  was  called  for, — and  soe  shall  you  be.  He  was  condemned, — 
soe  shall  you  be.  Christe  was  hanged, — soe  shall  you  be.  He  de- 
scended into  hell, — so  shall  you.  But  in  one  pointe  you  differ.  He 
assendid  into  heaven, — soe  shall  you  never,  without  gods  mercye, 
Which  god  graunte  for  his  mercyes  sake  !  Toe  whome,  with  the  sowne 
and  the  holye  goste,  be  all  honowr  and  glory  for  euer  and  euer. 
Amen ! 

After  this  good  sermon  ended,  which  Edefied  them  soe 
muche,  Theye  hadd  soe  muche  Compassion  on  him,  That 
they  gave  him  all  his  mony  agayne,  and  vij  s  more  for 
his  sermon. 


PARSON  HTBERDYNE'S  SERMON.     MS.  COTT.  VESP.  A  25.         95 

as  the  hangman  of  tyboorne  can  testyfye  :  and  that  yt  is  allowed  of 
god  hym  selfe,  as  it  is  euydente  in  many  storayes  of  [the]  scriptures ; 
for  yf  yow  looke  in  the  hole  cowrse  of  the  byble,  yow  shall  fynde 
that  theves  haue  bene  beloued  of  gode ;  for  lacobe,  whan  he  came 
owte  of  Mesopotamia,  dyd  steale  his  vncle  labanes  kyddes ;  the  same 
lacobe  also  dyd  steale  his  brothe[r]  Esaues  blessynge ;  and  yett  god 
sayde,  "  I  haue  chosen  lacobe  and  refused  Esau."  The  chyldren  of 
ysraeft,  whaw  they  came  owte  of  Egypte,  dyd  steale  the  egiptians 
iewelles  of  syluer  and  gowlde,  as  god  co?wmawnded  them  soo  to  doo. 
Davyd,  in  the  days  of  Abiather  the  hygh  preste,  did  cume  into  the 
temple  and  dyd  steale  the  hallowed  breede ;  and  yet  god  saide, 
"  Dauid  is  a  man  euen  after  myne  owne  harte."  Chryste  hym  selfe, 
whan  he  was  here  on  the  arthe,  did  take  an  asse  and  a  cowlte  thai  was 
none  of  hys;  and  yow  knowe  that  god  said  of  hym,  "this  is  my 
beloued  soone,  in  whome  I  delighte."  thus  yow  may  see  that  god 
delightithe  in  theves.  but  moste  of  aft  I  marveft  thai  men  can 
dispyse  yow  theves,  where  as  in  alt  poyntes  almoste  yow  be  lyke  vnto 
christe  hym  selfe :  for  chryste  had  noo  dwellynge  place ;  noo  more 
haue  yow.  christe  wente  frome  towne  to  toAvne ;  and  soo  doo  yow. 
christe  was  hated  of  aft  men,  sauynge  of  his  freendes ;  and  soo  are 
yow.  christe  was  laid  waite  vpon  in  many  places ;  and  soo  are  yow. 
chryste  at  the  lengthe  was  cawght ;  and  soo  shaft  yow  bee.  he  was 
browght  before  the  iudges ;  and  soo  shaft  yow  bee.  he  was  accused ; 
and  soo  shaft  yow  bee.  he  was  condempned ;  and  soo  shaft  yow 
bee.  he  was  hanged  ;  and  so  shaft  yow  bee.  he  wente  downe  into 
heft ;  and  soo  shaft  yow  dooe.  mary  !  in  this  one  thynge  yow  dyffer 
.frome  hym,  for  he  rose  agayne  and  assendid  into  heauen ;  and  soo 
shaft  yow  neuer  dooe,  withowte  godes  greate  mercy,  which  gode 
grawnte  yow!  to  whome  with  the  father,  and  the  soone,  and  the 
hooly  ghoste,  bee  aft  honore  and  glorye,  for  euer  and  euer.  Amen  ! 

Thus  his  sermon  beinge  endyd,  they  gaue  hym  his  money  agayne 
that  thay  tooke  frome  hym,  and  ijs  to  drynke  for  hys  sermon. 

finis. 


{The  parts  added  to  BARMAN'S  CAUEAT  to  make] 
THE 

Groundworke  of  Conny-catching ; 

the  manner  of  their  Pedlers- French,  and  the  meanes 

to  understand  the  same,  with  the  cunning  slights 
of  the  Counterfeit  Cranke. 

Therein  are  handled  the  practises  of  the  Visiter, 

the  Fetches 
0f  %  Shifter  anfo  Rufflar,  %  fctttitalf J|ft  Boxes, 

of  Priggers,  tty  mm&  of  i^e  bust  lofgtering  |T0$jeIs, 
Ifejc  meanes  of  mn%  Blacke-Art-mans  shifts,  fai 
%  wproofe  of  all  t^eir  bbeUisg 

practises. 

bg  a  |«stite  of  J«ate  of  0r^at  atttjjoritib, 
je^aminm0  of  binars  of  %m. 


at  ITonbon:  bg  lohn  Banter  for  William  Barley,  anb  are  io 
be  solb  at  Jis  ^^fop  at  t^e  bpper  enb  of  Orations 
oner  Rgadnst  |Teaben-^all,  1.592. 


THE   GROUNDWORKS    OP   CONNY-CATCHING. 


99 


[leaf  2] 


To  the  gentle  Readers  health. 


Gentle  reader,  as  there  hath,  beene  diners  bookes  set  forth,  as 
warnings  for  all  men  to  shun  the  craftie  coossening  sleights  of  these 
both  men  and  women  that  haue  tearmed  themselues  Conny-catchers ; 
so  amongst  the  rest,  bestow  the  reading  ouer  of  this  booke,  wherin 
thou  shalt  find  the  ground-worke  of  Conny-catching,  with  the  manner 
of  their  canting  speech,  how  they  call  all  things  in  their  language, 
the  horrible  coossening  of  all  these  loose  varlots,  and  the  names  of 
them  in  their  seuerall  degrees, 


First,  The  Visiter. 

2.  The  Shifter. 

3.  The  Rufflar. 

4.  The  Rogue. 

5.  The  wild  Rogue. 

6.  A  prigger  of  Prauncers. 

7.  A  Pallyard. 

8.  A  Frater. 

9.  An  Abraham  man. 

10.  A  freshwater  Marriner,  or 

Whipiacke. 

11.  A  counter  fait  Granite. 


12.  A  Dommerar. 

13.  A  Dronken  Tiriltar. 

14.  A  Swadder,  or  Pedler. 

15.  A  larkeman  fy  Patrico. 

16.  A  demander  for  glimmar. 

17.  The  laudy  Basket. 

18.  An  Autem  Mort. 

19.  A  walldng  Mort. 

20.  A  Doxe. 

21.  A  Dell. 

22.  Kinchin  Mort. 

23.  A  Kinchin  Co. 


All  these  playing  their  coossenings  in  their  kinde  are  here  set 
downe,  which  neuer  yet  were  disclosed  in  anie  booke  of  Conny- 
catching. 


100  SHIFTERS   AT   INNS.       THE   VISITER. 

[leaf  2,  back]  A  new  kind  of  shifting  sleight,  practised  at  this  day  by 
some  of  this  Cony-catching  crue,  in  Innes  or  vitualliny 
houses,  but  especially  in  Faires  or  Markets, 
which  came  to  my  hands  since  the  im- 
printing of  the  rest. 

Whereas  of  late  diners  coossening  denises  and  denilish  deceites 
haue  beene  discouered,  wherby  great  inconueniences  haue  beene 
eschewed,  which  otherwise  might  hane  beene  the  vtter  ouerthrowe  of 
diners  honest  men  of  all  degrees,  I  thought  this,  amongst  the  rest, 
not  the  least  worthie  of  noting,  especially  of  those  that  trade  to 
Faires  and  Markets,  that  therby  being  warned,  they  may  likewise  be 
armed,  both  to  see  the  deceit,  and  shun  the  daunger.  These  shifters 
will  come  vnto  an  Inne  or  vittailing  house,  that  is  most  vsed  in  the 
towne,  and  walke  vp  and  downe ;  and  if  there  come  any  gentleman 
or  other,  to  lay  vp  either  cloke,  sword,  or  any  other  thing  woorth  the 
hauing,  then  one  of  this  crue  taketh  the  marks  of  the  thing,  or  at 
least  the  token  the  partie  giueth  them :  anone,  after  he  is  gone,  he 
likewise  goeth  forth,  and  with  a  great  countenance  commeth  in  againe 
to  the  mayde  or  seruant,  calling  for  what  another  left :  if  they  dpubt 
to  deliuer  it,  then  hee  frets,  and  calles  them  at  his  pleasure,  and  tels 
them  the  markes  and  tokens :  hauing  thus  done,  hee  blames  their  for- 
getfulnes,  and  giues  them  a  couple  of  pence  to  buy  them  pinnes, 
bidding  them  fetch  it  straight,  and  know  him  better  the  next  time, 
wherewith  they  are  pleasd,  and  he  possest  of  his  pray.  Thus  one 
gotte  a  bagge  of  Cheese  the  last  Sturbridge  Faire ;  for  in  such  places 
(as  a  reclaimd  fellow  of  that  crue  confessed)  they  make  an  ordinary- 
practise  of  the  same. 

[The  Pedler's  French  follows,  taken  word  for  word  from  Harman's 
book,  p.  82-7  above.] 

[leaf  5]  THE   VISITER. 

An  honest  youth,  not  many  yeares  since,  seruant  in  this  City,  had 
leaue  of  his  master  at  whitsontide  to  see  his  friends,  who  dwelt  some 
fifty  miles  from  London.  It  hapned  at  a  Country  wake,  his  mother 
and  hee  came  acquainted  with  a  precise  scholler,  that,  vnder  colour 
of  strickt  life,  hath  bin  reputed  for  that  hee  is  not :  hee  is  well 


THE   GROUNDWORKE    OF    CONNY-CATCHING.  101 

knowen  in  Paules  Churchyard,  and  hath  beene  lately  a  visiting  in 
Essex ;  for  so  he  presumes  to  tearme  his  cosening  walks  :  and  there- 
fore wee  will  call  him  here  a  Visiter.  This  honest  seeming  man 
must  needes  (sith  his  iourney  lay  to  London)  stay  at  the  yong  mans 
mothers  all  the  holy  daies  :  where  as  on  his  desert  hee  was  kindly 
vsed  ;  at  length,  the  young  man,  hauing  receiued  his  mother's  bless- 
ing, with  other  his  friendes  giftes,  amounting  to  some  ten  poundes, 
was  to  this  hypocrite  as  to  a  faithful  guide  committed,  and  toward 
London  they  ride  :  by  the  way  this  Visiter  discourses  how  excellent 
insight  he  had  in  Magick,  to  recouer  by  Art  anything  lost  or  stolne. 
"Well,  to  sant  Albons  they  reach ;  there  they  sup  together,  and,  after 
the  carowsing  of  some  quarts  of  wine,  they  go  to  bed,  where  they 
kindly  sleepe, — the  Yisiter  slily,  but  the  young  man  soundly.  Short 
tale  to  make — out  of  his  bed-fellow's  sleeue  this  Yisiter  conuaid  his 
twenty  Angels,  besides  some  other  od  siluer,  hid  it  closely,  and  so 
fell  to  his  rest.  Morning  comes — vp  gets  this  couple — immediately 
the  money  was  mist,  much  adoo  was  made ;  the  Chamberlaine  with 
sundry  other  seruants  examined ;  and  so  hot  the  contention,  that  the 
good  man,  for  the  discharge  of  his  house,  was  sending  for  a  Constable 
to  haue  them  both  first  searcht,  his  seruants  Chests  after.  In  the 
meane  time  the  Yisiter  cals  the  yong  man  aside,  and  bids  him  neuer 
grieue,  but  take  horse ;  and  he  warrants  him,  ere  they  be  three  miles 
out  of  towne,  to  helpe  him  to  his  money  by  Art,  saying : — "  In  these 
Innes  ye  see  how  we  shall  be  out-faced,  and,  beeing  vnknowne,  how 
euer  we  be  wrongd,  get  little  remedy."  The  yong  man,  in  good 
hope,  desired  him  to  pay  the  reckoning,  which  done,  together  they 
ride.  Being  some  two  miles  from  the  towne,  they  ride  out  of  the 
ordinary  way :  there  he  tels  this  youth  how  vnwilling  hee  was  to 
enter  into  the  action,  but  that  it  was  lost  in  his  company,  and  so 
forth.  Well,  a  Circle  was  made,  wondrous  words  were  vsed,  many 
muttrings  made  :  at  length  hee  cries  out, — "  vnder  a  greene  turfe,  by 
the  East  side  of  an  Oake ;  goe  thither,  goe  thither."  This  thrice  he 
cryed  so  ragingly,  as  the  yuong  man  gest  him  mad,  and  was  with 
feare  almost  beside  himself.  At  length,  pausing,  quoth  this  Yisiter, 
"  heard  ye  nothing  cry  1 "  "  Cry  !  "  said  the  yong  man,  "  yes ; 
[leaf  5,  back]  you  cride  so  as,  for  twise  ten  pound,  I  would  not  heare  ye 


102  A   SHIFTER   DESCRIBED. 

again."  "  Then,"  quoth  he,  "  'tis  all  well,  if  ye  remember  the 
words."  The  yong  man  repeated  them.  "With  that  this  shifter  said, 
"  Go  to  the  furthest  Oke  in  the  high-way  towards  S.  Albons,  and 
vnder  a  greene  turfe,  on  the  hither  side,  lyes  your  mony,  and  a  note 
of  •  his  name  that  stole  it.  Hence  I  cannot  stirre  till  you  returne ; 
neyther  may  either  of  our  horses  be  vntide  for  that  time  :  runne  yee 
must  not,  but  keepe  an  ordinary  pace."  Away  goes  the  yong  man 
gingerly  ;  and,  being  out  of  sight,  this  copesmate  takes  his  cloke-bag, 
wherein  was  a  faire  sute  of  apparel,  and,  setting  spurres  to  his  horse, 
was,  ere  the  Nouice  returned,  ridde  cleane  out  of  his  view.  The 
yong  man,  seeing  himselfe  so  coossened,  made  patience  his  best 
remedie,  tooke  his  horse,  and  came  to  London,  where  yet  it  was  neuer 
his  lucke  to  meet  this  visiter. 

A   SHIFTER. 

A  Shifter,  not  long  since,  going  ordinarily  booted,  got  leaue  of  a 
Carrier  to  ride  on  his  owne  hackney  a  little  way  from  London,  who, 
comming  to  the  Inne  where  the  Carier  that  night  should  lodge, 
honestly  set  vp  the  horse,  and  entred  the  hal,  where  were  at  one 
table  some  three  and  thirty  clothiers,  all  returning  to  their  seuerall 
countries.  Ysing,  as  he  could,  his  curtesie,  and  being  Gentleman- 
like attirde,  he  was  at  all  their  instance  placed  at  the  vpper  end  by 
the  hostesse.  After  hee  had  a  while  eaten,  he  fel  to  discourse  with 
such  pleasance,  that  all  the  table  were  greatly  delighted  therewith. 
In  the  midst  of  supper  enters  a  noise  of  musitions,  who  with  their 
instruments  added  a  double  delight.  For  them  hee  requested  his 
hostesse  to  laye  a  shoulder  of  mutton  and  a  couple  of  capons  to  the 
fire,  for  which  he  would  pay,  and  then  mooued  in  their  behalfe  to 
gather.  Among  them  a  noble  was  made,  which  he  fingring,  was  well 
blest ;  for  before  he  had  not  a  crosse,  yet  he  promist  to  make  it  vp 
an  angel.  To  be  short,  in  comes  the  reckoning,  which  (by  reason  of 
the  fine  fare  and  excesse  of  wine)  amounted  to  each  mans  halfe  crown. 
Then  hee  requested  his  hostesse  to  prouide  so  many  possets  of  sacke, 
as  would  furnish  the  table,  which  he  would  bestow  on  the  Gentlemen 
to  requite  their  extraordinary  costs  :  and  iestingly  askt  if  she  would 


THE   GROUNDWORKS   OP   CONNY-CATCHING.  103 

make  him  her  deputie  to  gather  the  reckoning ;  she  graunted,  and  he 
did  so :  and  on  a  sodaine,  (faining  to  hasten  his  hostesse  with  the 
possets)  he  tooke  his  cloke,  and,  finding  fit  time,  hee  slipt  out  of 
doores,  leaning  the  guestes  and  their  hostesse  to  a  new  reckoning, 
and  the  musitians  to  a  good  supper,  but  they  paid  for  the  sauce. 
This  iest  some  vntruly  attribute  to  a  man  of  excellent  parts  about 
London,  but  he  is  slandered :  the  party  that  performed  it  hath  scarce 
any  good  qualitie  to  Hue.  Of  these  sort  I  could  set  downe  a  great 
number,  but  I  leaue  you  now  vnto  those  which  by  Maister  Harman 
are  discouered. 

[Then  follows  Harman's  book,  commencing  with  a  Kuffelar,  p. 
29.  The  woodcut  of  Mcolas  Blunt  and  Nicolas  Geninges  (p.  50, 
above)  is  given,  and  another  one  representing  the  Cranke  after  he 
was  stripped  and  washed.  The  volume  ends  with  the  chapter 
"Their  vsage  in  the  night,"  p.  76-8  above, — the  woodcuts  and  verses 
at  the  end  of  Harman's  book  being  omitted  in  the  present  Ground- 
worke  of  Conny-catcliing.  The  last  words  in  the  latter  are,  "  And 
this  must  the  poore  Farmer  suffer,  or  els  they  threaten  to  burne  him, 
and  all  that  he  hath."] 


104 


INDEX. 


Abraham  men,  those  who  feign 
madness,  3 ;  one  of  them,  named 
Stradlynge,  'the  craftiest  and  moste 
dyssemblyngest  knaue,'  47 

Altham,  a  curtall's  wife,  4 
Arsenick,  to  make  sores  with,  44 
associate,  accompany,  53 
Autem,  a  church,  67,  83 

Mortes,  description  of,  67  ; 

as  chaste  as  Harman's  '  Cowe,'  67 
Awdeley,  lohn,  a  printer,  1 

Awdeley's      Vacabondes  ;     Har- 
man's references  to,  20,  60 
Axiltrye,  casting  of  the,  46 

baken,  bacon,  3 

baudy  banquet,  whoring,  63 

bauer,  1  band,  52 

Bawd  Phisicke,  a  cook,  14 

Bawdy  baskets,  description  of,  65  ; 
a  story  of  one  \vho,  with  an  upright 
man,  spoiled  a  poor  beggar  of  his 
money,  66 

beggar  by  inheritance,  42 

belly  chere,  food,  32 

belly  chete,  an  apron,  83 

benat,  better,  86 

bene,  good,  83 

bene  bowse,  good  drink,  59 

beneship,  very  well,  86 


benshyp,  very  good,  83,  86 
beray,  dung,  13;  dirty,  52 
beteled,  \  (betelled  is  deceived),  67 
Bethlem  Hospital,  52,  53 
Blackheath,  77 

bletinge  chete,  a  calf  or  sheep,  83 
Blunt,  Nicolas,  an  upright  man, 

50,  87 

bong,  purse,  84,  86 
booget,  a  bag,  59 
bord,  a  shilling,  83 

,  half  a,  sixpence,  83 


borsholders,  21,  n.,  superior  con- 
stables. See  HalliwelTs  Glossary. 

bottell,  bundle,  truss,  72 

Bottomelye,  Besse,  a  harlot,  75 

bousing  ken,  an  ale-house,  83 

bowle,  drink  bowls  of  liquor,  32 

bowse,  drink,  32,  83  ;  v.  to  drink, 
84 

braste,  burst,  73 

Bridewell,  57,  87 

broused,  bruised,  29 

bryberinge,  stealing,  60 

Buckes,  baskets,  21 

Buckingham,  Duke  of,  beheaded, 
22 

bufe,  a  dog,  84 

bung,  a  purse,  83,  84,  86 


INDEX. 


105 


buskill,  ?  bustle,  wriggle,  15 

bychery,  67 

bycherye,  whoring,  61 

byd,  pray,  15 

byng  a  waste,  go  you  hence,  84 

£akling  chete,  a  cock,  or  capon,  83 
can  skyl,  know,  8 
cante,  to  speak,  84 

Canting,  the  language  of  Vaga- 
bonds, 23  ;  list  of  words,  82-4 ; 
specimen  of,  84-6 

Capcases,  covers  for  caps,  small 
bandboxes,  65 

Capon  hardy,  12.  For  'capron 
hardy,' '  a  notable  whipster  or  twig- 
ger,'  a  bold  or  saucy  young  scamp. 
(See  the  Index  to  Caxton's  Book 
of  Curtesye,  E.  E.  T.  Soc.,  p.  54.) 

cassan,  cheese,  83 

caster,  a  cloak,  82 

casting  of  the  sledge,  46 

Caueat,  a  warning,  1 7 

Chafe  litter,  the  knave,  described, 

13 

chafer,  heating  dish,  59 
Charing  Cross,  58 
chattes,  the  gallows,  84,  86 
Chayne,  a  gentleman,  58 
Cheapside,  57,  87 
Cheatours,  ca^rd-sharpers  enticing 

young  men  to  their  hosteries,  win 

their  money  and.  depart,  7 
cheeke  by  cheeke  (now ;  by  jowl'), 

12 

chete,  animal,  83,  col.  2,  foot 
chetes,  things,  42 
Choplogyke,  description  of,  15 
Christ,  like  a  thief,  94,  95 
Christes  Hospital,  8 
Clapperdogens,  4  4.    See  Palliarcls. 
Clement's  Inn,  53 


clocke,  a  cloak,  55 

clyme   three   tres  with  a  ladder, 

to  ascend  the  gallows,  31 
cly  the  gerke,  to  be  whipped,  84 

Cole,  false,  15.  (See  Mr  E. 
Morris  in  Notes  and  Queries,  Oct., 
1869,  on  Coif  ox,  &c. 

Cole  Prophet,  description  of,  15 

commission,  a  shirt,  83 

Commitour  of  Tidings,  a  tell-tale, 
14 

common,  commune,  45 

conneys,  rabbits,  35 

conneyskins,  rabbitskins,  65 

connizance,  cognizance,  35 

Cornwall,  48 

Cory  fauell,  a  knave,  described, 
16 

couch  a  hogshead,  lie  down  and 
sleep,  77,  84 

Counterfet  Crankes,  description 
of,  51 ;  story  of  one  that  Harman 
watched,  51 ;  how  he  was  dressed, 
51 ;  his  refusal  to  wash  when  bid- 
den, 52 ;  gives  the  name  of  Genings, 
52  ;  said  he  had  been  in  Bethlehem 
Hospital,  52,  which  Harman  found 
to  be  a  lie,  53  ;  in  the  middle  of 
the  day  he  goes  into  the  fields  and 
renews  the  blood  on  his  face,  53  ; 
what  money  he  received,  53  ;  at 
night  he  goes  to  Newington,  where 
he  is  given  in  charge,  54;  the 
amount  of  his  gains,  55;  his 
escape,  55  ;  his  recapture,  56,  ft.', 
his  punishment,  57,  n. 

Cousoners,  cheaters,  1 

Crashing  chetes,  teeth,  82 

crassinge  chetes,  apples,  pears,  or 

any  other  fruit,  84 
Cross    Keys    Inn    in    Cranford 

(Middlesex)  or  Crayford  (Kent), 

77 

cuffen,  fellow,  86.     See  Quyer. 
Cursetors,    17  ',    explanation    of, 

27 


106 


INDEX. 


Curtal,  37 

Curtail,    one    who    is    next    in 
•     authority  to  an  upright  man,  4 
Curtesy  man,  described,  6 
cutte,  to  say,  84 
cut+6  bene  whydds,  speak  or  give 

good  words,  84 
cutte  benle,  speak  gently,  84 

cutte  quyre  whyddes,  give  evil 
words  or  evil  language,  84 

darkemans,  night,  84 

Dartford,  58 

David,  a  thief,  94,  95 

ded  lyft,  a ;  last  refuge,  34 

Dells,  rogues'  virgins,  described, 
75 

Demaunder  for  glymmar,  descrip- 
tion of,  61 ;  story  of  one  who  be- 
haved courteously  to  one  man  and 
uncourteously  to  another,  61 — 65 

Deptford,  77 

Desmond,  Earl  of,  82 

Devil's  Pater  noster,  15 

Devonshire,  48 

dewse  a  vyle,  the  country,  84,  86 

Dialogue,  between  upright  man 
and  rogue,  84—87 

dokte,  fornicated  with,  87 

Dommerar,  description  of,  57  j  of 
one  who  was  made  to  speak,  and 
afterwards  punished  on  the  pillory, 
58,59 

doson,  dozen,  34 

Doxes,  description  of,  4,  6,  73 

Draw-the-pudding-out-of-the-fire  ; 

a  beggars'  inn  at  Harrow-on-the- 

Hffl,  77 

drawers,  hosen,  83 
Drawlatches,  a  class  of  beggars,  27 

Dronken  Tinckar,  description  of, 
59 

drouselye,  drowsily,  76 


dudes,  cloths,  83 

dup  the  gyger,  open  the  door.  84 

Dyng-thrift,  description  of,  15 

Egiptians,  description  of,  23 

Esau,  a  thief,  94,  95 

Esaye,  Isaiah,  24 

Esen  Droppers,  eaves-droppers,  15 

exonerate,  empty  (one's  belly),  55 

factors,  tax-gatherers,  45 
fambles,  hands,  82  ;  famble,  87 

fambling  chete,  ring  on  the  hand, 

82 

Eay tores,  a  class  of  beggars,  27 
ferres,  35,  ferries 
Filtchman,  the   truncheon   of  a 

stao7,  4 

Fingerers,  7 — 9.     See  Cheatours. 
for  knowing ;  against,  to  prevent, 

being  recognized,  71 
flagg,  a  groat,  83,  85 
flebytinge,  73 

fletinge  Fellowshyp,  the  company 
of  vagabonds,  24 

Erater,  one  who  goes  with  a  licence 
to  beg  for  some  Spittlehouse  or 
Hospital,  but  who  usually  robs 
poor  women,  4  ;  description  of,  45 

Freshwater  Mariner,  description 
of,  48 

Furmenty,  22 

fustian  fume,  46 

fylche,  to  beat,  to  rob,  84 

fylthy  firy  flankard,  29 

fynesed,  finished,  70 

Fyngerer,  8,  9 

gage,  a  quart  pot,  83 

of  bowse,  a  quart  of  drink,  34 

gaily  slopes,  breeches,  35 
gan,  a  mouth,  82 


INDEX. 


107 


gealy  gealowsit,  good  fellowship. 
55 

gentry  cofes  ken,  a  noble  or  gentle- 
man's house,  83 

gentry  morte,  a  noble  or  gentle- 
woman, 84 

Genynges,  Mcolas,  a  counterfeit 

cranke,  50,  87 
gestes,  guests,  61 
Glasyers,  eyes,  82 

glimmeringe  morte,  a  woman  who 
travels  the  country  begging,  saying 
her  goods  have  been  burnt,  61 

glymmar,  fire,  61,  83 
grannam,  corn,  83 

Grauesend  barge,  a  resort  of  vaga- 
bonds and  knaves,  1 
graunt,  agree,  53 
greffe,  grief,  55 

Grene  Winchard,  description  of  a, 

14 
Groundworke  of  Conny-catcMng, 

97 
grunting  chete,  or  patricos  kynch- 

en,  a  pig,  83 

Grymth,  Wylliam,  a  printer,  17 
Gybe,  a  licence,  4 ;  a  writing,  83 
gygger,  a  door,  83,  85 
Gyle  Hather,  description  of,  14 
gyllot,  a  whore,  71 

Haben,  a  witty  parson,  92 
hande  charcher,  handkerchief,  72 
Harman  beck,  constable,  84 

Harman,  Thomas,  his  Caveat, 
17-91 ;  epistle  to  the  reader,  27 ; 
his  old  tenant,  30;  his  copper  cauld- 
ron stolen,  35  ;  recovered,  35  ;  no- 
tice to  tinkers  of  the  loss  of  his 
cauldron,  35 ;  his  gelding  stolen, 
44;  in  commission  of  the  peace,  60 ; 
paid  for  beggars'  secrets,  74 

Harmans,  the  stocks,  84 
Harrow-on-the-Hill,  inn  at,  77 


|  Hartley  Row  in  Hampshire,  92, 

|9o 
(  Hearing  chetes,  ears,  82 

heauing   of  the  bowth,  robbin^ 

the  booth,  4 
Helpers  of  rogues,  9 
Helycon,  28 

heue  a  bough,  rob  a  booth,  84 
Hill's,  Mr,  Rents,  57 

Mm  redundant :  leapes  him,  43, 
1.24 

Hoker,  or  Angglear,  description 
of,  35 ;  anecdote  of  one  who  took 
the  clothes  of  the  bed  in  which  3 
men  were  sleeping,  without  awak- 
ing them,  36 

Holborn,  54 

hollo  we  hosteler,  63 

horse  locke,  39 

hosen,  breeches,  71,  72 

hosted,  lodged,  57,  n. 

hosteries,  card-sharpers'  resorts,  9 

House  of  Pity,  inn  in  Northall, 

77 

hoyssed,  hoisted,  20 
huggeringe,  loitering,  43 
Hyberdyne,  a  parson,  93 
hygh,  hie,  33 
hygh  pad,  highway,  84 


Jacob,  a  thief,  94,  95 

larckeman,  a  maker  of  counterfeit 
licences,  5,  60 

larckes,  seals,  4 

larke,  a  seal,  83 

ich,  I,  8 

Jeffrey  Gods  Fo,  a  liar,  13 

Ingratus,  an  ungrateful  knave,  1 6 

in  printe,  meaning  *  correct,'  45 

lockam,  yard,  penis,  87 

iompe,  jump,  plump,  exactly,  44 


108 


INDEX. 


Irishe  toyle,  a  beggar,  5 
Irish  rogues,  44,  48 
Isleworth  (Thystellworth),  St  Ju- 
lian's, a  beggars'  inn  at,  77 
lusticers,  Justices,  21 

Karle,  a  knave,  8 

ken,  a  house,  83,  84,  86 

Kent,  a  man  of  worship  in,  death 

of,  22 
Kent,  mentioned,  37,  43,  48,  61, 

63,  66,  68,  77 
Kent  St,  Southwark,  57 

Ketbroke,  a   beggars'   inn,   near 

Blackheath,  77 
kinde,  nature,  52 
Kitchen  Co,  a  boy,  5,  76 

Morte,  a  girl,  5,  76 

Knapsbery  (inn  near  London),  77 
Knaues,  25  orders  of,  1 
,  quartern  of,  1 

Kynges   barne,   beggars'  inn    in 
Kent,  77 

lage,  water,  83 

lag  of  dudes,  a  bucke  of  clothes,  83 

lap,  butter,  milk,  or  whey,  83 

lasy  Lorrels,  82 

lecherous  husband  cured,  68-73 

Leicester,  56 

lewed  lecherous  loyteringe,  31 

lewtering  Luskes,  82 

licoryce  knaue,  a  drunkard,  13 

lightmans,  day,  84 

(Lincoln's  Inn)  Fields,  53 

London,  30,  42,  49 

lousey  leuterars,  vagabonds,  22 

lowhinge  chete,  a  cow,  83 

lowre,  money,  83,  85,  86 

Lubbares,  lubbers,  47 


luckly,  lucky,  19 

Ludgate,  57 

lybbege,  a  bed,  83 

lybbet,  a  stick,  26 

lykinge,  lustful,  21 

Lynx  eyes,   54.     (See  Index  to 

Ham  pole's  Pricke  of  Conscience.') 
Lypken,  a  house  to  lie  in,  83 

make,  halfpenny,  83 
make  (think)  it  strange,  41 
makes,  mates,  23 
mammerings,  mumblings.  72 
manerly  marian,  62 
margery  prater,  a  hen,  83 

Mariner,  one  at  Portsmouth  the 
maker  of  counterfeit  licences  for 
Freshwater  mariners,  49 

matche  of  wrastlinge,  46 
maunde,  ask  or  require,  84,  85 
Messenger,  lone,  an  honest  bawdy 

basket,  65 
Milling    of    the    ken,     sending 

children  into  houses  to  rob,  67 
moiling  chete,  a  napkin,  83 
mounched,  eat,  72 

mounch-present,  one  who,  being 
sent  by  his  master  with  a  present,, 
must  taste  of  it  himself,  14 

myll  a  ken,  rob  a  house,  84 
mynt,  gold,  83 

JSTab,  a  head,  82,  86 

Nabchet,  a  hat  or  cap,  82 

iiase,  drunken,  86 

Newhaven,  67 

Newington,  54,  56 

Mchol  Hartles,  a  coward,  13 

Northall,  beggars'  inn  at,  77 

nosegent,  a  nun,  83 

nouels,  news,  14 

Nunquam,  a  loitering  servant,  1(5 


INDEX. 


109 


nygle,  haue  to  do  with  a  woman 
carnally,  84 

nyp  a  boung,  to  cut  a  purse,  84= 

Obloquium,  a  malapert  knave,  13 
occupying,  holding  of  land,  38 
of,  off,  39 
oysters  of  East  Kent,  68 

Palliards,  description  of,  4,  44; 
doings  of,  44;  list  of  names  of,  81, 82 
pannam,  bread,  83 
Param,  milk,  83,  n. 
patrico,  a  priest,  6,  60 
paulmistrie,  fortune-telling,  23 
pecke,  meat,  86 

peddelars  Erenche.    See  Canting, 
pek,  meat,  83 

peld  pate,  head  uncovered,  34 
pelte,  clothes,  76 

peltinge,   ?  paltry,    contemptible, 
20 

Penner,  a  pen-case,  54 
pens,  pence,  55 
pickthanke  knaue,  14 
pillory  in  Cheapside,  57 
pitching  of  the  barre,  46 

pity:  it  pytied  him  at  the  hart, 
41 

poppelars,  porridge,  83 
porte  sale,  ?  quick  sale,  77 
Portsmouth,  49 
Ponies,  St  Paul's,  8 
prat,  a  buttocke,  82 
prating  knaue,  15 
pratling  chete,  a  tongue,  82 
prauncer,  a  horse,  83 

Prigger  of  Paulfreys,  a  stealer  of 

horses,  4 
Proctour,  a  liar,  14;  a  keeper  of 

a  spittlehouse,  45 


PROVERBS : 
although  Truth  be  blamed,  it  shall 

never  be  shamed,  28 
as  the  begger  knowes  his  dishe,  32 
don't  wake  the  sleeping  dog,  73 
God  hath  done  his  part,  48 
out  of  sight,  out  of  minde,  32 
swete  meate  wyll  haue  sowre  sawce, 

Prygge>  to  ride,  84 

Prygger  of  Prauncers,  description 
of,  42  ;  a  story  of  a  gentleman  who 
lost  his  horse  by  giving  it  in  charge 
for  a  short  time  to  a  '  priggar/  43 

Prygges,  tinkers,  59 

Prygman,  one  who  steals  clothes 
off  hedges,  and  a  robber  of  poultry,  3 

quakinge  chete,  or  red  shanke,  a 

drake  or  duck,  83 
quaromes,  a  body,  82 
Queen  Elizabeth,  21 
quier,  nought,  83 

Quier  crampringes,  bolts  or  fetters, 
84,  86 

Quire  bird,  one  lately  come  out  of 
prison,  4 

quyer  cuffyn,  justice  of  the  peace, 
84,86  ' 

Quyerkyn,  prison  house,  84,  86 

rabblement,  19 
rakehelles,  19 
Eatsbane,  44 
rechles,  reckless,  15 
rifflinge,  32 

Eince  pytcher,  a  drunkard,  13 
Eing  chopper,  description  of,  11 
faller,  description  of,  10 


Eobardesmen,  robbers,  27.  See 
William  of  Nassington's  description 
of  them  quoted  in  Notes  &  Queries 
by  F.  J.  F.,  1869  ,-  and  The  Vision 
of  Piers  Plowman,  ed.  Wright,  ii. 
506,  521. 


110 


INDEX. 


Robin  goodfelow,  36 
Rochester,  66 

Rogeman,   a   receiver  of   stolen 

clothes,  3 
Roger,  or  tyb  of  the  buttery,  a 

goose,  83 
Roges,  description  of,  36 ;  subject 

to   beastly  diseases,  37;    list   of 

names  of,  80,  81 

Rogues,  a  story  of  two,  who  made 
the  acquaintance  of  a  parson  at  an 
ale-house,  and  afterwards  went  to 
his  house  and  robbed  him,  37 

Rome  bouse,  wine,  83 

Rome  mort,  the  Queen,  84 

Rome  vyle,  London,  84 

Rothered  in  Kent,  77 

rowsey,  trough,  or  frowzy,  19 

Royal  Exchange,  8 

roylynge,  travelling,  31 

ruffe,  rough,  33 

Ruffeler,  a  robber  of  'wayfaring 

men  and  market  women/  3,  29  ; 

a  story  of  one  who  robbed  an  old 

man,   a  tenant  of  Harman's,  on 

Blackheath,  30 

ruffian  cly  the,  devil  take  thee,  84 
ruffian,  to  the,  84,  to  the  devil 
ruffmans,  woods  or  bushes,  84 
ruff  pek,  bacon,  83 
ruysting,  roystering,  32 

Salomon,  an  altar,  or  mass,  83 
sawght,  sought,  62 
Saynt  Augustyn,  24 
scelorous,  wicked,  20 
sewerly,  surely,  50 
Shifters,  1 

shotars  hyl,  Shooter's  Hill,  30 
Shreeues,  sheriffs,  21 

Shrewd  turne,  1  sharp  handling, 
hard  usage,  15 


Shrewsbury,  Elizabeth  Countess 

of,  Harman's  dedication  to,  19 
shrodge,  shrugged,  hugged,  71 

Simon    soone   agon,    a   loitering 

knave,  13 
skew,  a  cup,  83 

Skoller,    a    waterman    (and    his 

boat),  54 
skower  the  cramprings,  wear  bolts 

or  fetters,  84 
skypper,  a  barn,  83 

slates,  sheets  to  lie  in,  61,  76,  77, 

83 
small  breefe,  old  briefe  of  vaca- 

bonds,  meaning  Awdeley's  book,  20 
smell  feastes,  46 

smelling   chete,    a   nose,    82  j    a 

garden  or  orchard,  84 
snowte  fayre,  fair-faced,  61 
sod,  boiled,  22 
Somersetshire,  61 

soup,   chewed,  to  produce  foam- 
ing at  the  mouth,  51 
Spanlles,  spaniel-dogs,  33 
Spearwort,  44 
Spice-cakes,  12 

spitlehouse,  45 ;  row  in  a,  45 ; 
the  constable  wants  to  take  in  cus- 
tody the  roysterers,  46 ;  the  good 
wife  of  the  house  intreats  him  for 
her  guests,  and  while  so  doing  the 
next  door  neighbours  enter  the  kit- 
chen, and  steal  the  supper  that  she 
was  preparing,  46 

squaymysh,  squeamish,  55 

St.  George's  Fields,  54 

St.  Giles's  in  the  Fields,  54 

St.  Julian's  (inn  in  Thystellworth; 

Isleworth),  77 
St.  Quinten's  (inn  near  London), 

77 
St.  Tybbe's  (inn  near  London), 

77 
stall,  to  make  or  ordain,  84 


INDEX. 


Ill 


stalling  to  the  rogue,  ceremony  of, 

34 

stampers,  shoes,  83 
stampes,  legs,  82 

Statutes,  i.  Edw.  VI.  c.  iii,  p.  20,  ??,; 
xxvii.  Heii.  VIII.  for  punishment 
of  vagabonds,  29 

staulinge  ken,  a  house  that  will 

receive  stolen  wares,  32,  83 
stibber  gibber  knaue,  a  liar,  1 4 
stow  you,  hold  your  peace,  84 
Stradlynge,  an  Abraham  man,  47 
strommell,  straw,  83 
Sturton,  Lord,  48 
summer-games,  47 

surgeon,  who  strung  up  the  dumb 

rogue,  58-9 
Swadders  and  Pedlers,  description 

of,  60 
Swygman,  a  pedlar,  5 

tempering,  tampering,  70 
Temple  Bar,  53 

'  Thank  God  of  all,'  67  (cp. 
Shakspere's  'Thank  God  you  are 
rid  of  a  knave.'  Much  Ado,  iii.  3.) 

the,  thee,  55 

Thieves,  a  sermon  in  praise  of, 
92 

'  Three  trees,'  the  gallows,  31 

tickle  in  the  ear,  gammon,  9 

Tinkard,  a  beggar,  5 

tiplinge[house],  an  ale-house,  40 

tittiuell  knaue,  a  tale-bearer,  15 

togeman,  a  coat,  77,  82 

tortylles,  turtle-doves,  lovers,  62 

towre,  see,  84,  85 

trashe,  goods,  77 

trininge,  hanging,  the  end  of 
roges,  37,  84 

Troll  and  troll  by,  a  knave,  de- 
scribed, 12 


Troll  Hazard  of  Trace,  a  knave,  12 
Troll  Hazard  of  tritrace,  a  knave, 

13 

TroUwith,  a  knave,  12 
Truth,  proverb  as  to,  28 
tryninge,  hanging,  84 
twin'd  hempe,  rope  and  gallows, 

29  (cp.  Bulleynin  The  Babees  Book, 

p.  240-3) 

Two  Gent,  of  Verona,  45 
Tynckars,   Harman  sends  notice 

of  the  stealing  of  his  cauldron  to 

the,  35 

typ,  secret,  20 
typlinge  houses,  alehouses,  24 

Vacabonde — one  being  caught, 
and  brought  before  the  justices  of 
the  peace,  promised  to  tell  them 
the  names  and  degrees  of  his  fel- 
lows, on  condition  that  he  escaped 
punishment,  which  being  granted, 
he  fulfilled  his  promise,  and  Awde- 
ley  obtained  the  materials  for  his 
book,  2 

Vacabondes,  beggerly,  1 ;  ruflyng, 
1;  'theoldbriefe'of,  60 

Vagabondes,  their  vsage  in  the 
night,  76 

Vagabonds,  account  of  the  doings 
of,  at  the  funeral  of  a  man  of  wor- 
ship in  Kent,  22 

vagarantes,  19 

Vngracious,  a  man  who  will  not 
work,  15 

Vnthrift,  a  reckless  knave,  15 

vntrus,  to  undress,  72 

Vpright  man,  description  of,  1,  4, 
3,1 

Vpright  men,  list  of  the  names  of, 
78,  79,  80 

Vrmond,  Earle  of,  82 

walkinge  mortes,  description  of, 
67 ;  a  story  of  a  trick  that  one 
played  on  a  man  who  would  have 


112 


INDEX. 


had  to  do  with  her,  and  the  punish- 
ment he  received  instead,  67 — 73 

wannion,  a  curse,  62 

wappinge,  fornicating,  87 

Washman,  one  who  shams  lame- 
ness, sickness,  etc.,  5 

waste,  bynge  a ;  go  hence,  84,  86 

watch,  the  constable,  45 

watch  e,  person,  61 ;  our  watche, 
us,  86 

Welsh  rogues,  44,  57 

Whistle,  anecdote  of  the,  61-5 

Whipiacke,  a  robber  of  booths 
and  stalls,  4 

Whitefriars,  51,  56 

whydds,  words,  84,  86 

whystell,  whistle,  62 

whyte  money,  silver,  42 


wilde   roge,-  description   of,  41 ; 

story  of  one  robbing  a  man,  of  whom 

he  had  just  begged,  42 
wilde   roge's  reason  for  being  a 

beggar,  42 

windless,  out  of  breath,  73 
windshaken  knaue,  66 
woode,  mad,  14 
Wostestowe,   a    servant    of    the 

Lord  Keeper's,  58 
wyld  Dell,  description  of,  75 
wyn,  a  penny,  83 

yannam,  bread,  83,  n. 
yaram,  milk,  83 
yemen,  yeomen,  22 
ynkell,  tape,  65 


of 

A.D.   1577—1587- 


PART   III.     THE   SUPPLEMENT,  §  i. 


of  ISnglatrir 


SHAKSPERE'S  YOUTH. 


BEING 

THE    SECOND    AND    THIRD    BOOKS 


of  Britatne  anJr 


EDITED    FROM    THE 

FIRST  TWO  EDITIONS  OF  HOLINSHED'S  CHRONICLE,  A.D.  1577,  1587, 

BY 

FREDERICK  ].  FURNIVALL, 

FOUNDER  AND  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  NEW  SHAKSPERE  SOCIETY,  ETC. 


PART  III.     THE  SUPPLEMENT,  §  I  : 

FOUR  CHAPTERS  OF  HARRISON'S  FIRST  BOOK,  AND  EXTRACTS  FROM  CHURCHYARD,  1593,  1594,  AND 

JOHN  NORDEN.  1608;  WITH  A  CHROMO-FOTO-LITHOGRAF  OF  THE  ONLY  GENUINE  EARLIEST  FULL 

VIEW  OF  'OLD  LONDON  BRIDGE'  AS  SHAKSPERE  SAW  IT;  A  LARGE  VIEW  OF  'THE  BEAUTY  OF 

LONDON,'  AND  EDW.  VI'S  PROCESSION  FROM  THE  TOWER  TO  WESTMINSTER  IN  1547  ;    VIEWS 

OF  WEST  CHEPE  IN  1585,  AND  THE  PREACHING  AT  PAUL'S  CROSS  IN  l6*> ;  AND  AN  APPENDIX 

BY  W.  NIVEN,  ESQ.,  ON  'ENGLISH  HOUSES  IN  SHAKSPERE'S  TIME,'  WITH  4  ETCHINGS. 


PUBLISHT  FOR 

Sfyxkgym  Societg 

BY  N.   TRUBNER  &   CO.,   57,    59,   LUDGATE   HILL, 
LONDON,  E.G.,  1881. 


£tnet  VI.     fa.  8.  -0 


BUNGAY  :    CLAY   AND   TAYLOR,    THE   CHAUCER  PRESS. 


London  Bridge.         Bow  Church.  The  Standard.  Goldsmiths'  Row.     The  C 

THE  PROCESSION  OF  K.  EDWARD  VI,  FROM  THE 

Before  his  Co 


Cheapuie  :  "  The  Beauty  of  London?'  s/  f>a,,!'s 

'OWER  TO  WESTMINSTER,  ON  FEBRUARY  19TH,  1540-7, 

ation  on  February  zoth. 


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The    earliest    genuine     full     view,     from     a     unique    drawing    in     Pepys's     C| 
for     the     NEW     SHAKSPERE    SOCIETY,     1881,     b: 


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ITHWARK     GATE:     SEE     HARRISON'S     DESCRIPTION  OF    ENGLAND,     ed.     Furnivall.     Pt.  L    p.  li 

:tion     in     Magdalen     College,     Cambridge,     traced,  &    photo-chromo-lithograft 

Griggs,     Elm     House,     Hanover     St.     Peckham,  S.  E. 


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TEMPORARY  FORETALK  TO   HARRISON, 

PART   III. 

THE  Society  hasn't  money,  and  I  haven't  had  time,  to  finish  my 
Harrison  this  year.  The  First  Section  of  the  Supplement  therefore 
goes  out  as  it  is.  The  Second  Section  will,  I  hope,  follow  next 
year,  1882,  and  will  contain,  at  least,  Norden's  Map  of  Westminster, 
to  complete  his  'London/  issued  in  Harrison,  Part  I,  1877,  some 
fine  cuts  of  old  Cheshire  timber  houses  promist  me  by  Mr.  J.  P. 
Earwaker,  author  of  the  '  History  of  East  Cheshire]  some  Illustrative 
Extracts,  such  Notes  as  have  accumulated,  Hindwords,  and  an 
Index  to  the  whole  book.  I  sha'n't  try  to  make  the  Notes  full,  as 
my  Stubbes  Part  I  has  shown  that  many  Notes  stop  fresh  Reprints. 
The  prezent  Section  I  of  the  Supplement  to  Harrison  contains — i. 
The  four  generally-interesting  Chapters  of  the  worthy  Canon's  First 
Book  of  his  Description,  the  other  chapters  being  almost  wholly 
topographical;  2.  Extracts  (p.  167 — 173)  from  Churchyard's 
Challenge — on  the  duty  of  Landlords  staying  at  home  in  the 
country,  as  their  fathers  did,  and  helping  their  neighbours,  instead 
of  running  up  to  London  and  wasting  their  money  on  barmaids, 
fine  clothes,  gambling  and  riot ; — a  bit  from  Churchyard's  Mirror 
and  Manners  of  Men,  one  page  (174),  on  the  evils  of  the  time, 
1594;  and  then  several  pieces  from  John  Norden's  Surueyors 
Dialogue,  1608,  on  many  of  the  subjects  treated  by  Harrison  in  our 
Parts  I  &  II,  with  good  bits  about  the  causes  of  the  rise  in  Prices, 
and  the  ambition  of  every  class  to  get  into  the  one  above  it,  p. 
175;  on  the  'comfortable  smoke'  of  kitchens,  p.  178;  the  quick 
felling  of  oaks,  p.  184,  189 — Harrison's  bugbear,  Pt.  I,  p.  343; — 
the  new  roots,  Carrots,  being  grown,  p.  186  ;  the  duty  of  planting 
Apple-trees,  &c.,  and  making  Cider  and  Perry,  p.  188  ;  the  Iron- 
Furnaces  and  Glass- Kilns  in  the  Wealds  of  Kent,  Surrey,  and 


2t  MR.  NIVEN'S    PAPER.       EDWARD   Vl's    PROCESSION,    1547. 

Sussex,  p.  191  ;  the  Supply  of  Pond-Fish  to  London,  p.  192  ; 
London  street  and  stable  soil  being  taken  out  by  the  river,  p.  194; 
the  'Paradise'  of  England,  Tandean  in  Somersetshire,  p.  194,  &c. 
(See  the  list  of  the  Norden  subjects,  on  p.  174.) 

As  a  separate  Appendix — to  follow  Mr.  Rendle's  in  Part  II  on 
the  Globe  Theatre  and  the  Bankside,  Southwark — Mr.  W.  Niven, 
an  accomplisht  architect,  the  author  of  '  Old  Warwickshire  Houses] 
'  Old  Worcestershire  Houses]  &c.,  has  most  kindly  written  us  a  Paper 
on  '  English  Houses  in  Shakspere's  Time,'  with  a  most  valuable  list 
(p.  xlii)  of  the  principal  Houses  built  in  England  in  Sh.'s  Lifetime, 
their  material,  owners,  dates,  and  architects.  And  as  Mr.  Niven  is 
also  an  etcher,  and  has  himself  illustrated  his  own  books,  he  has 
been  good  enough  to  lend  us  four  of  his  plates — cutting  down  the 
Charlecote  one  to  our  size — that  we  may  print  from  them  copies  to 
realize  the  better  by  eye  what  he  has  told  us  in  words.  The  thanks 
of  all  of  us  are  due  to  Mr.  Niven  for  his  so  kind  help. 

But  before  the  Texts  describd  abuv,  cum  the  large  cuts.  To 
take  them  in  order  of  time  : — 

i.  The  Procession  of  Edward  VI  from  the  Tower  of  London, 
thro'  the  City,  to  Westminster,  on  the  day  before  his  Coronation 
(Feb.  20),  namely,  on  Febr.  19,  1546-7  (see  Stowe's  Annales,  1605, 
p.  1000).  This  is  from  the  contemporary  picture  formerly  in  the 
Great  Dining  Room  of  Cowdray  House,  Sussex,  burnt  with  that 
House  in  1793,  but  engrav'd  before  for  the  Society  of  Antiquaries 
on  a  grandly  large  scale,  publisht  by  them  in  May  1797,  and  now 
reduced  for  our  410  book  by  the  heliogravure  process  of  Dujardin, 
Paris. 

The  artist  has  uzed  the  frequent  license  of  his  craft  in  represent- 
ing the  Tower  as  so  close  to  London  Bridge,  and  Bow  Church — 
St.  Mary  le  Bow  with  its  central  turret x — in  the  same  line  as  the 
Bridge.  (His  fancy  Bridge  should  be  compar'd  with  the  real  one 
as  shown  by  the  colord  Pepys  lithograf.)  Bankside,  Southwark, 

1  Its  tower  had  a  turret  at  each  of  its  4  corners,  and  from  each  turret 
sprang  a  flying  buttress  which  supported  a  fifth  and  higher  turret  in  and 
abuv  the  centre  of  the  tower :  see  cuts  of  it  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine, 
vol.  xciii,  pt.  2,  p.  305  ;  Allen's  London  (1828),  vol.  iii,  plate  opposite 
p.  433  ;  and  Thornbury's  Old  and  New  London  (Cassell's),  i.  337. 


EDWARD   Vl's    PROCESSION,    1547.       PLAN    OF   WEST   CHEPE,  1586.       $t 

is  more  or  less  of  a  vision,  tho  St.  Saviour's  Church  stands  nearly 
in  its  right  place.  The  enclos'd  building  North  of  the  Tower,  in  the 
left  hand  corner  of  the  plate,  may  be  ment  for  Bassings  Hall. 

When  once  started  in  West  Chepe,  and  past  Bow  Church,  we 
come  to  the  Standard  shown  on  the  right  of  the  De  la  Serre  view 
of  1638  in  our  Part  II;  and  then  we  see  the  Beauty  of  London 
(p.  7*  Part  II),  Goldsmith's  Row,  in  all  its  glory  of  carvd  front, 
drap't  balcony,  gold-cupt  display,  and  the  young  King,  Protestant 
England's  hope,  under  his  canopy  borne  by  four  nobles  on  horse- 
back, just  before  the  beautiful  Eleanor  Cross,  that  looks  more 
dumpy  in  De  la  Serre 's  view.  (The  goldsmiths  stand  at  their 
doors  inviting  the  King  to  cum  in.)  Thence  along  Chepe — lined 
on  the  North  by  Citizens  in  their  guilds  and  livery — the  procession 
passes  under  what  is,  I  suppose,  a  triumfal  arch  (with  a  balcony  at 
top)  at  the  corner  of  Old  Change  (and  not  the  Paul's  Gate  shown 
in  our  West-Cheap  cut  of  1585),  round  the  Cathedral  which  stands 
for  St.  Paul's,1  and  then  thro  Lud  Gate,  along  the  fore-shortend 
Fleet  Street,  thro  Temple  Bar,  and  along  the  Strand  or  river-bank, 
leaving  Charing  Cross  on  the  right,  down  Whitehall,  to  Westminster 
Palace  and  Hall  in  the  distance. 

Newgate  Street  is  nearly  in  the  same  line  as  Chepe;  Alders- 
gate  Street  (with  St.  Martin's  le  Grand)  is  the  next,  east  of  it; 
then  comes  Gutter  Lane,  opposite  Paul's  Gate ;  while  east  of 
that,  near  the  Eleanor  Cross,  is  Wood  St.  Tiure  are  men  on  the 
roofs  of  the  Chepe  houses,  as  in  De  la  Serre's  view ;  and  also  in 
the  Gallery  of  St.  Paul's  Steeple.  Considering  the  great  reduction 
of  our  print  from  the  large  size  of  the  Antiquaries'  engraving,  I 
am  very  well  satisfied  with  it. 

2.  Next  in  date,  1585,  comes  a  heliogravure  of  Wilkinson's  copy 
of  R.  Treswell's  View  and  Plan  of  West  Chepe,  showing  the  houses 
much  lower  than  in  either  the  Edw.  VI  or  De  la  Serre  view,  but 
giving  the  old  Church  of  '  St.  Mich  ell  in  ye  querne,'  that  is,  the 

1  A  tall  steeple  is  right,  as  the  original  steeple  was  not  struck  by 
lightning  till  June  4,  1560  :  Harrison  Fore-words,  Pt.  I,  p.  liv.  Stowe's 
Spaniard  is  not  shown.  He  \valkt  on  a  rope  from  the  Steeple  to  the 
Dean's  Gate,  and  "tumbled  and  plaied  many  pretty  toies,  whereat  the 
king  and  the  nobles  had  good  pastime." 


4t     THE    COLOURD    PEPYS   VIEW   OF   OLD    LONDON    BRIDGE,    AB.   1600. 

Corn-market,1  at  the  end  of  Paternoster  Row,  with  *ye  lytle  cundit,' 
its  taps  south  and  east,  and  its  famous  hoopt  pots  to  draw  water 
into  :  these,  water-carriers  bore  to  the  citizens'  houses.  See  the 
extract  from  Rathgeb,  in  Harrison  Forewords,  Part  I,  p.  Ixxxvi. 

3.  I  can't  give  any  exact  date  to  our  fine  Chromo-Foto-litho- 
graf  of  the  colourd  View  of  the  Western  front  of  OLD  LONDON 
BRIDGE,  on  vellum,  in  Pepys's  fine  Folio  collection  of  views,  &c., 
"London  and  Westminster,  I.  246,  247,  C.,"  in  his  Library  at 
Magdalen  College,  Cambridge.  It  must  be  after  Sept.  1579  when 
the  South wark  Tower  was  finisht,  and  the  Traitors'  heads  were 
remov'd  to  it,2  which  had  theretofore  stood  on  the  Tower  at  the 
Northern  end  of  the  Drawbridge,  on  the  site  of  which  Nonesuch 
House  was  built. 

It  must  be  after  1584  when  the  last-nam'd  house  was  probably 
erected.  It  must  be  before  the  fire  of  1632-3.  For  all  particulars 
concerning  the  old  Bridge,  I  refer  our  Members  to  the  best  author- 
ity, the  Chronicles  of  London  Bridge,  by  an  Antiquary  (James 
Tnomson),  in  the  Family  Library,  Tegg,  2nd  ed.  1839.  Possibly 
we  may  have  a  Paper  on  our  litho  in  my  next  Part  of  Harrison. 

The  Bridge  was  begun  in  1176,  and  finisht  A.D.  1209.  It 
had  at  first  20  arches  and  19  piers,  and  then,  as  in  our  View,  19 
arches,  and  18  piers  in  the  river-bed.3  One  of  each  must  have 
been  turnd  into  bank  on  the  London  side.  Between  the  Middle- 
sex shore  and  the  ist  pier  from  the  North  were  built,  in  1582, 
the  Water-works,  with  a  Tower  on  land,  and  undershot  wheels  in 
the  river,  for  supplying  Thames  St.,  New  Fish  St.,  Grasse  (or 
Gracechurch)  St.,  Leadenhall,  &c.  with  water.  On  the  Eighth 

1  "  In  ancient  records  it  is  called  St.  Michael  ad  Bladum,  i.  e.  at  the 
Corn  (which  posterity  has  corruptly  pronounced  Querne)  ;  because  at 
the  time  this  church  was  founded,  thereon  was   a  corn-market  that 
reached  up  from  it,  westward,  to  the  shambles,  or  flesh- market ;  from 
which  situation  it  was  sometimes  called  St.  Michael  de  Macello?  .  . 
—Allen,  iii.  575. 

2  From  this  fact  the  Southwark  Tower  was   afterwards   cald    the 
Traitors'  Gate. 

3  SeeN.  Hawksmore's  Short  Historical  Account  of  London  Bridge, 
1736.     Vertue  gives  I  more  arch  and  pier  :  see  Chronicles  of  L.  Bridge, 
p.  60- 1. 


OLD    LONDON    BRIDGE   AND    ITS    SPLENDID    '  NONSUCH    HOUSE.'      5t 

Pier  in  our  View — the  loth  in  Vertue's  list — was  the  Bridge  Chapel, 
dedicated  to  Thomas  a  Beket,  and  thence  cald  St.  Thomas  of  the 
Bridge — no  doubt  dear  to  Chaucer  and  all  Canterbury  pilgrims 
of  old  days.  This  pier  was  35  ft.  in  breadth  and  115  from  point 
to  point ;  whilst  the  building  itself  was  60  ft.  in  length,  by  20  ft. 
broad,  and  stood  over  the  parapet  on  the  Eastern  side  of  the  Bridge 
— see  it  sticking  out  on  the  East  or  top  side  of  our  View — leaving  a 
pathway  on  the  West,  about  a  quarter  of  the  breadth  of  the  Pier,  in 
front  of  the  Chapel.1 

On  the  1 2th  pier  in  our  drawing  from  the  North,  and  on  the  site 
of  the  Drawbridge  Tower  on  which  Traitors'  heads  were  in  earlier 
days  spiked,  was  built,  in  or  about  1584,*  what  Harrison  calls  "a 
pleasaunt  and  beautifull  dwelling  house,"  Pt.  I,  p.  Ivi,  and  Thomson, 
"  the  most  splendid  and  curious  building  which  adornd  London 
Bridge  at  this  time  . .  the  famous  NONESUCH  HOUSE,  so  called  because 
it  was  constructed  in  Holland,  entirely  of  wood,  and,  being  brought 
over  in  pieces,  was  erected  in  this  place  with  wooden  pegs  only, 
not  a  single  nail  being  used  in  the  whole  fabric.  It  stood  .  .  at 
the  Northern  entrance  of  the  Drawbridge  ;  and  its  situation  is  even 
yet  pointed  out  to  you  by  the  yth  and  8th  arches  of  London  Bridge, 
from  the  South wark  end,  being  still  called  the  Draw  Lock  and  the 
Nonesuch  Lock.3  On  the  London  side  of  the  Bridge,  the  None- 
such House  was  partly  joined  to  numerous  small  wooden  dwellings, 
of  about  27  feet  in  depth,  which  hung  over  the  parapet  on  each 
side,  leaving,  however,  a  clear  space  of  20  feet  in  the  centre ;  though, 
over  all  these,  its  carved  gables,  cupolas,  and  gilded  vanes,  majestic- 
ally towered.  .  .  Like  most  of  those  other  buildings,  this  cele- 
brated edifice  also  overhung  the  East  and  West  sides  of  the  Bridge  ; 
and  there  presented  to  the  Thames  two  fronts  of  scarcely  less  mag- 
nificence than  it  exhibited  to  Southwark  and  the  City ;  the  columns, 
windows,  and  carving,  being  similarly  splendid.  .  .  Its  Southern 
front  only,  however,  stood  perfectly  unconnected  with  other  erec- 
tions, that  being  entirely  free  for  about  50  ft.  before  it,  and  present- 

1  Chronicles  of  the  Bridge,  p.  61-2.     The  Chapel  is  fully  describ'd  in 
p.  61-8. 

2  Coventry  Accounts  :  "1585.     Paid  to  Durram  the  paynter,  to  bye 
Coulors  to  paynte  the  Vawte  at  the  Maiors  palace  .  .  in  oyle  Colers 
substancially,  the  greate  posts  in  jasper  Collur,  as  the  newe  house  on 
London  Bridge  ys"  .  .  Chronicles,  p.  254. 

3  This  is  right  by  our  View.     If  then  the  Bridge  had  originally  i 
more  arch  and  pier  than  our  View  shows,  they  must  have  been  taken  up 
on  the  North  or  London  side  by  the  Waterworks  or  somehow  else. 


6t        OLD    LONDON    BRIDGE,    AND    THE   TIDE    IN    SH.'S   LUCRECE. 

ing  the  appearance  of  a  large  building  projecting  beyond  the 
Bridge  on  either  side;  having  a  square  tower  at  each  extremity, 
crowned  by  short  domes,  or  Kremlin  spires,  whilst  an  antiquely- 
carved  gable  arose  in  each  centre.  The  whole  of  the  front,  too, 
was  ornamented  with  a  profusion  of  transom  casement  windows, 
with  carved  wooden  galleries  before  them;  and  richly  sculptured 
wooden  panels  and  gilded  columns  [see  the  gilt  capitals,  &c.  in  our 
View]  were  to  be  found  in  every  part  of  it.  In  the  centre  was  an 
arch,  of  the  width  of  the  Drawbridge,  leading  over  the  Bridge ;  and 
above  it,  on  the  South  side,  were  carved  the  Arms  of  St.  George,  of 
the  City  of  London,  and  those  of  Elizabeth,  France  and  England 
quarterly,  supported  by  the  Lion  and  Dragon." 

I  wonder  what  Shakspere  thought  of  it  as  he  crost  over  from 
the  Globe  to  London.  No  doubt  thought  it  grander  than  his 
Clopton  Bridge  at  Stratford,  but  perhaps  wisht  all  the  fine  buildings 
and  shops  were  cleard  off  so  that  he  coud  look  better  at  the  fine  old 
river  rushing  along,  and  sniff  the  fresh  breeze  cuming  up  from  the 
sea.  It  was  no  doubt  from  looking  over  this  Nonesuch  or  the  more 
Northern  gap  in  the  Bridge  houses,  that  he  got  his  238th  stanza  of 
Lucrece,  1.  1667 — 1673  : 

"  As  through  an  arch,  the  violent  roaring  tide 

Outruns  the  eye  that  doth  behold  his  haste, 
Yet,  in  the  eddy  boundeth,  in  his  pride, 
Back  to  the  strait  that  forst  him  on  so  fast ; 
In  rage  sent  out,  recall'd  in  rage,  being  past : 
Even  so  his  sighs,  his  sorrows  make  a  saw, 
To  push  grief  on,  and  back  the  same  grief  draw." 

The  Sterlings  which  stuck  out  beyond  the  Piers — and  were  probably 
added  for  strength's  sake  after  the  Bridge  was  made  and  built  on — 
kept  the  stream  in  such  narrow  bounds,  that  the  rush  thro  them  at 
low  tide  must  have  been  tremendous,  and  the  shooting  of  the  arches 
very  dangerous.  Norden's  view  of  the  Bridge  shows  a  boat  upset, 
and  its  occupants  in  the  water,  and  the  Chronicles  gives,  at  p.  172, 
an  account  of  the  capsizing  of  the  Duke  of  Norfolk's  barge  in  1428, 
from  the  Harleian  MS.  565,  leaf  87  back.  (See  Stovve's  Annales, 
1605,  p.  605:  30  persons  were  drownd.)  The  wherry  going  thro' 
the  Bridge  under  the  8th  arch  in  our  View,  seems  to  have  no  room 
for  its  sculls,  and  would  either  have  to  be  punted  along,  or  pusht  or 
towd  by  the  side  of  the  sterling :  compare  Norden's  view.  (The 
buckets  thrown  by  ropes  from  the  houses  to  get  water  under  the 


OLD    LONDON    BRIDGE  :     THE    SOUTHWARK    OR   TRAITORS*    GATE.       yt 

loth  and  nth  arches,  and  the  angler  on  the  i5th  sterling,  will  be 
noted,  as  also  that  the  artist  hasn't  put  any  pier  or  sterling  under  the 
eastern  side  of  the  houses  at  the  Bridge  gaps.) 

Well,  after  Nonesuch  House  cums  the  wooden  Drawbridge, 
still  raisable  in  Shakspere's  time  I  to  let  masted  or  big  boats  thro' ; 
and  then  the  solitary  walker  and  the  horse  and  cart  crossing 
Londonwards.  At  the  Southern  end  of  the  next  block,  and  separated 
from  the  Southwark  Tower  and  Gate  or  Traitors'  Gate  by  the  3rd 
arch  from  the  Southwark  side,  was  the  '  beautiful  and  chargeable 
piece  of  work,  and  having  all  its  fabric  above  the  Bridge  formed  of 
timber,'  which  Thomson  (Chronicles  of  L.  Br.,  p.  246-7,  250-1) 
describes  from  Stow  as  built  seemingly  at  the  same  time  as  the 
Southwark  Tower  or  Gate,  from  Aug.  28,  1577,  to  Sept.  1579.  He 
says,  "  The  structure  consisted  of  four  circular  turrets,  connected  by 
curtains,  and  surmounted  by  battlements,  containing  a  great  number 
of  transom  casements ;  within  which,  having  their  roofs  and  chim- 
neys rising  above  the  Tower,  were  several  small  habitations,  whilst 
beneath  was  a  broad  covered  passage  ;  the  building  itself  projecting 
considerably  over  each  side  of  the  Bridge,  the  width  of  the  carriage- 
way at  this  part  being  about  40  feet." — p.  250-1. 

On  the  Traitors'  Gate  are  14  heads,2  and  the  Tower  is  flankt  on 
each  side  by  buildings.  Then  cum  the  Southwark  Corn-Mills, 
built  in  or  about  1588,  Armada  year,  and  taking  up  the  last  two 
arches  on  the  Southern  side  of  the  Bridge ;  and  at  length  Bankside 
begins. 

1  It  seems  not  to  have  been  made  stationary  "  till  after  the  public- 
ation  of   the  last  ancient  edition  of    Stow's  Survey  in    1633,  fol." — 
Chronicles,  p.  331. 

2  There  were  pleasanter  things  as  well  to  see  on  the  Bridge,  besides 
the  shops,  &c.     In  1588,  when  Shakspere  may  have  been  in  London, 
Stow  says,  Annales,  1605,  p.  1259-1260: 

"  The  eight  of  September,  the  preacher  at  Paules  crosse  Ensignes  taken 
mooued  the  people  to  giue  God  thanks  for  the  ouerthrow  of  from  tke  span- 
our  enemies  the  Spaniards,  and  there  were  shewed  eleuen  ,hen^d»t 
ensignes  or  banners  taken  in  the  Spanish  ships  by  our  Paules  crosse. 
men  :  these  ensignes  were  set  vpon  the  lower  battlements  of  Paules 
Church,  before  the  preacher  and  the  audience,  (which  was  great,)  all 
sauing  one  streamer,  wherein  was  an  image  of  our  Lady,  with  her  sonne 
in  her  armes  &c,  and  this  was  held  in  a  mans  hand  ouer  the  pulpit. 
And  the  same  banners  were  on  the  next  morrow  hanged  on  London 
Bridge  towards  Southwarke,  where  then  was  kept  our  Lady  faire,  for  all 
beholders,  to  their  great  reioycing." 


8t 


THE    PEPYS    VIEW   OF    OLD    LONDON    BRIDGE. 


All  the  historical  and  other  cram  about  the  old  Bridge  I  must 
leave  readers  to  get  up  from  its  Chronicles  and  the  known  Histories 
of  London.  Ever  since  I  read  about  the  Pepys  view  of  it  in  Thomson 
— and  that  may  be  over  30  years  ago — I  wanted  to  see  it  and  have 
it  copied  ;  and  ever  since  I  saw  it,  some  13  years  ago,  my  desire  to 
get  it  reproduced  was  strengthend.  At  last,  thro  Mr.  A.  S.  B. 
Miller  of  the  Cambridge  University  Library,  and  the  Rev.  F. 
Gunton  of  Magdalen,  Pepys  Librarian,  a  chance  was  given  me. 
Photographing  was  tried,  but  the  old  vellum  and  the  faded  colours 
were  too  much  for  the  camera — tho  its  failure  was  not  so  complete 
as  in  the  attempt  to  take  the  Andrea  del  Sarto  picture  in  the  Pitti 
Palace  at  Florence,  which  inspired  Browning's  touching  poem  cald 
by  the  painter's  name. — There  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  send  Mr. 
Griggs's  son  up  to  Cambridge,  and  let  him,  in  the  few  hours  daily 
that  Mr.  Gunton  could  spare,  make  a  careful  facsimile J  of  the 
Pepys  drawing,  and  then  fotograf  that  on  to  the  stone,  and  print 
it  in  13  tints.  This  Mr.  Griggs  has  done,  and  he  and  we  may  be 
congratulated  on  the  result.  Our  warmest  thanks  are  due  to  Mr. 
Gunton  for  his  kindness,  and  to  Mr.  Miller  for  his  good  offices,  in 
thus  securing  the  publication,  for  the  first  time,  of  one  of  the  most 
eagerly  sought  for  and  valuable  representations  of  the  Old  Bridge, 
so  long  one  of  the  wonders  of  England,  which  Chaucer,  Shakspere, 
Milton,  Cromwell,  and  all  our  Worthies  must  have  crost,  and 
which  we  can  now  see  as  Shakspere  saw  it. 

The  original  is  rightly  describ'd  by  Thomson  (Chronicles,  p.  259) 
as  a  "  very  old  drawing  .  .  a  most  fair  and  interesting  view  of  the 
Western  side,  as  it  appeared  about  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  or  James 
I.,  delicately  drawn  with  a  pen,  slightly  shaded,  coloured  and 
gilded,  but  all  faded  by  tim2,  and  nearly  worn  out  by  having  been 
folded  in  two,  from  the  continual  friction  of  the  surfaces.  It 
measures  about  24.^  inches,  by  4!  inches ;  and  is  now  contained  in 
the  portfolio  marked  *  London  and  Westminster,  I.  246,  247,  C.' 
As  the  Bridge  is  represented  with  the  Northern  end  in  a  perfectly 
entire  state,  it  must  have  been  drawn  anterior  to  the  great  conflagra- 
tion which  destroyed  it  [the  N.  end]  in  1632-33.  .  .  From  the 
minute  and  careful  manner  in  which  it  is  drawn,  it  may  certainly  be 
esteemed  as  peculiarly  authentic." 

1  I  had  the  'rub'  on  the  3rd  arch  left  as  it  is,  and  the  top  and 
foot  lines  broken  at  the  fold  of  the  folio  volume  the  View  is  now  in. 


K.  JAMES    I    AT    BP.   KING'S    SERMON    AT    PAUL'S    CROSS,  1620.       9t 

Thinking  that  our  Members  would  like  an  unfolded  copy  of  this 
Pepys  view  of  the  Bridge,  either  to  frame  or  put  in  a  Portfolio,  our 
Committee  has  decided  to  post  a  copy  round  a  roller  to  every 
Member. 

4.  Last  cums  the  Pauls  Cross  view  of  1620,  engrav'd  for  Wilkin- 
son's Londinia  in  1811  from  one  part  of  the  very  quaint  and 
interesting  triptych  still  hanging  on  the  staircase  of  the  Antiquaries' 
grand  rooms  in  Burlington  House.  James  I,  with  his  Queen  on 
his  right,  and  their  son  Prince  Henry  on  his  left,  fronts  the  on- 
looker in  a  kind  of  pulpit  jutting  out  of  the  Gallery.  The  "un- 
steepled  Tower  [of  old  St.  Paul's],  and  incumberance  of  Houses, 
&c.  appear  on  the  back,  and  side  grounds ; "  and  the  inevitable 
dog,1  getting  lasht,  in  the  foreground.  Dr.  John  King,  Bishop  of 
London,  is  in  the  Cross-pulpit.  He  it  is  whose  York  sermons  on 
Jonah  in  1594  (publ.  1618)  contain  the  passage  (p.  36)  so  often 
cited  on  the  storms  and  pestilence  of  that  year,  as  confirming  the 
1594  date  of  the  play  (as  is  suppozed),  on  account  of  Titania's 
allusions  to  that  disastrous  season  and  '  progeny  of  evils '  in  her 
reproof  of  Oberon,  M.  N.  £>.,  II.  i.  87 — 114.  The  King's  visit  was 
to  hear  the  Sermon,  and  view  the  dilapidated  Church,  which  he  was 
anxious  to  have  repaird  and  resteepld.  But  his  zeal  came  to  nothing. 
He  appointed  a  Commission,  on  which  he  put  his  favourite  Inigo 
Jones,  whom  he  had  brought  from  Denmark.  Stone  was  collected, 
but  the  money  wanted  (=£'22,536)  was  not  raisd ;  and  finally 
James's  favorite,  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  borrowd  the  stone  for  his 
Strand  Palace ;  and  from  part  of  it  was  built  '  that  fine  water-gate 
still  existing  in  the  Thames  Embankment  Gardens.' — Thornbury, 
Old  and  New  London,  i.  245,  col.  2.  For  Latimer  and  all  the 
fillers  good  and  true — and  others  bad  and  false — of  the  Paul's 
Cross  pulpit,  the  tumults  there,  &c.,  and  the  history  of  the  old 
Cathedral,  I  refer  the  reader  to  his  London  books,  and  wish  him  a 
Happy  New  Year. 

F.    J.    FURNIVALL. 

3,  St.  George's  Square,  N.  W.,  Dec.  27,  1881 

1  He  always  went  to  church  in  old  days,  as  he  does  to  races  now.    See 
the  old  Churchwardens'  Accounts  for  turning  him  out. 


I  Of          MR.    PENROSE    ON    THE    PAUL'S    CROSS    VIEW    OF    1620. 

P.S.  Some  two  years  ago,  Mr.  F.  C.  Penrose,  the  architect  of 
St.  Paul's,  discoverd  the  site  of  Paul's  Cross  in  the  enclosure  on  the 
N.W.  of  the  Cathedral,  and  read  a  Paper  on  the  site  before  the  Soc. 
of  Antiquaries,  partly  with  reference  to  their  Picture  and  the  engrav- 
ing of  it.  As  Mr.  Penrose's  Paper  has  not  yet  been  publisht  in  the 
Archaologia,  he — being  one  of  our  set  of  Ragged-schoolers,  &c. 
under  the  late  F.  D.  Maurice — has  sent  me  the  following  remarks 
on  our  engraving  : 

"  It  does  not  give,  nor  does  it  pretend  to  give,  the  architecture 
of  old  St.  Paul's  accurately.  And  as  respects  the  situation,  it  shows 
a  greater  distance  between  the  Cross  and  the  Church  than  a  photo- 
graph from  the  same  general  point  of  view  would  show  it ;  but 
there  is  no  serious  fault  to  be  found  with  the  general  placing  of  the 
Cross." 


P.S.  As  to  the  Cross  in  Chepe,  p.  3f,  I  can't  make  out  whether 
it  was  pulld  down  and  rebuilt  in  1468,  or  only  repaird  and  perhaps 
alterd  :  the  latter,  I  suppoze  to  be  the  case.  As  to  1600,  Stow  says, 
Annales,  1605,  p.  1405  : 

"  The  Crosse  in  West  Cheape  of  London,  was  by  commaunde- 
Crosse  in  ment  °^ tne  Queene,  and  letters  from  her  Maiesties  honour- 
Cheape  able  counscll,  to  Sir  William  Rider,  then  Lord  Maior,  partly 
repayred.  repajrej^  ^g  Q\^  crosse  on  the  top  being  rotted,  was  taken 
downe,  a  new  Crosse  of  timber  was  framed  and  set  vp,  covered  with 
Lead,  and  guilded ;  the  body  of  the  Crosse  downe  ward,  was  clensed 
of  dust,  &c." 


u 


of 


A.D.   1577—1587- 


xxxiii 


APPENDIX    II. 


NOTES 
ON  ENGLISH  HOUSES  IN  SHAKSPERE'S  TIME. 

BY  W.   NIVEN, 

AUTHOR  OF    'OLD    WARWICKSHIRE  HOUSES,'   ETC. 

IN  considering  the  various  types  of  dwelling-house  such  as  Shak- 
spere  saw  around  him,  and  may  have  frequented,  we  can  hardly 
confine  ourselves  entirely  to  an  examination  of  the  architecture  of  his 
own  day  only.  His  was  a  period  of  great  change  and  progress  in 
house-building,  and  of  great  activity  in  the  practice  of  it,  owing  to  the 
prosperous  times  ;  but,  under  any  circumstances,  a  new  fashion  in 
building  cannot  be  established  suddenly,  and  the  great  change  that 
took  place  in  Elizabeth's  reign  was  more  observable  in  the  mansions 
of  the  great,  where  leading  architects,  fresh  from  Italy,  were  employed, 
than  in  the  mass  of  dwellings  throughout  the  country  ;  and  Shakspere 
was  probably  as  familiar  with  the  houses  and  other  buildings  of  the 
fifteenth  century  as  with  those  erected  in  his  own — in  the  same  way 
as,  at  the  present  day,  in  small  country  towns  particularly,  we  may 
find  more  dwellings  of  the  last  century,  or  older,  tban  of  our  own. 
Though  these  'notes,'  therefore,  are  intended  to  refer  mainly  to 
house-building  as  it  was  practised  in  Shakspere's  time,  we  must  glance 
briefly  at  the  older  structures  around  him,  and  note  the  advance  which 
was  made  in  domestic  comfort  and  convenience. 

Excluding  the  feudal  strongholds  from  our  list,  for  in  Shakspere's 
day  men  were  at  liberty,  as  has  been  said,  'to  sacrifice  strength  to 
convenience,  and  security  to  sunshine/  we  may  divide  the  dwellings 
of  the  day  into  five  classes  : — i.  The  great  mansion,  such  as  was  built 
by  a  few  of  the  wealthier  nobles,  or  for  the  occasional  residence  of 
the  sovereign,  of  which  class  B  ir^hley  may  be  mentioned  as  a  mag- 
nificent example.  2.  The  large  manor-house,  such  as  was  occupied  by 
the  larger  landed  proprietors.  3.  The  lesser  manor-house,  a  very 
numerous  class.  4.  The  farm-house.  5.  The  cottage. 

Of  the   dwellings  of  the  peasant,  very  lit:le  has  been  told  us  by 

HARRISON   II.  D 


XXXIV        NOTES    ON    ENGLISH    HOUSES    IN    SHAKSPERE  S    TIME. 

contemporary  writers,  and  cottages  of  that  time  were  so  devoid  of 
such  distinctive  '  detail '  by  which  archaeologists  recognize  more 
important  buildings,  that  it  is  difficult  to  put  a  date  upon  them  from 
their  own  evidence.  Great  improvement  seems  to  have  been  intro- 
duced into  these  humble  dwellings  in  Shakspere's  time,  for  Harrison,1 
writing  about  the  middle  of  Elizabeth's  reign,  tells  us  that  one  great 
change  noted  by  '  old  men  yet  dwelling  in  the  village  where  I  remaine 
....  is  the  multitude  of  chimnies  latelie  erected,  whereas  in  their 
yoong  daies  there  were  not  above  two  or  three,  if  so  manie,  in  most 
uplandish  towns  of  the  realme,  (the  religious  houses,  and  manour  places 
of  their  lords  alwaies  excepted  .  .  .)  but  ech  one  made  his  fire  against 
a  reredosse  in  the  hall,  where  he  dined  and  dressed  his  meat/  I  think 
we  may  suppose  that  Harrison  included  the  better  sort  of  cottages,  as 
well  as  yeomen's  houses,  in  this  description  ;  but  no  doubt  there  were  still 
in  every  village  many  miserable  huts  without  any  permanent  subdivision 
cf  their  internal  space,  and,  instead  of  a  properly-constructed  chimney 
corner  and  flue  in  masonry  or  brickwork,  nothing  but  a  hole  in  the  roof 
co  allow  the  smoke  to  escape.  Of  such,  happily,  no  examples  remain, 
but  the  better  class  of  cottage  of  that  time  may  still  be  seen.  Except 
where  stone  was  specially  abundant,  and  easily  worked,  these  were 
generally  built  of  timber,  and  the  '  panes '  or  panels  filled  in  with  lath 
and  plaster ;  generally  with  an  upper  floor  for  one  or  two  sleeping-rooms, 
lighted  by  small  dormer  windows  that  seemed  to  nestle  in  the  thatch. 
Such  cottages  must  be  familiar  to  all,  for  if  not  actually  of  the  date  we 
are  speaking  of,  as  many  are,  the  type  hardly  changed  till  our  own  day ; 
but  it  must  be  remembered  that  it  is  the  fittest  only,  and  most  substan- 
tial, that  have  been  preserved. 

The  yeoman's  house  and  farm-house  of  the  time  of  Elizabeth  and 
earlier  may  also  be  studied  from  existing  specimens,  but  this  class  has 
perhaps  undergone  more  alteration  in  succeeding  generations  than  any 
other.  The  better  class  of  them  contained,  generally,  a  hall,  which  was 
the  largest  room,  and  served  as  dining-room  both  for  the  family  and 
farm  servants,  and  was  entered  either  directly  through  the  outside  door, 
or  through  a  porch  ;  a  parlour,  often  entered  from  the  hall,  and  arranged 
with  some  regard  to  privacy ;  kitchen  and  other  offices  on  the  ground 
floor,  and  bed-chambers  above. 

Of  the  ordinary  manor-house  numerous  instances  remain  in  all  parts 
of  the  country.  They  have  frequently  been  converted  to  farms,  or 

1  Description  of  Britain e,  1577,  Book  II.  chap.  xii.  Reprinted  for  the  Society, 
1877.  Ed.  F.  J.  Furnivall. 


NOTES    ON    ENGLISH    HOUSES    IN    SHAKSPERE  S    TIME.          XXXV 

divided  into  cottages,  but  they  often  owe  their  preservation  to  this 
change  ;  for  when  they  have  remained  the  residence  of  their  owners,  it 
has  rarely  happened  that,  through  so  many  generations,  they  have 
escaped  being  enlarged  and  improved  out  of  all  recognition.  Houses  of 
this  class  built  during  Elizabeth's  reign  were  not,  as  a  rule,  fortified  in 
any  way.  The  necessity  for  such  protection  had  ceased,  and  though  we 
may  often  find  a  house  of  this  date  surrounded  by  a  moat,  it  will 
probaby  be  found  that  it  occupied  the  site  of  an  older  building.  The 
lesser  manor-house,  or  ordinary  hall-house,  often  consisted  only  of  a 
simple  parallelogram  under  one  roof,  which  was  perhaps  broken  by 
gablets  in  front ;  or  it  may  have  had  small  wings  at  its  extremities,  with 
a  projecting  porch  in  the  centre.  A  court-yard  was  often  enclosed  in 
front  of  the  house  by  walls,  with  an  arched  entrance  opposite  the  porch 
or  chief  entrance,  of  which  a  good  specimen  remains  at  Bredon's 
Norton,  co.  Worcester  ;  or  the  enclosure  was  partly  flanked  by  stabling 
or  other  outbuildings.  In  addition  to  the  rooms  contained  in  the  better 
sort  of  farm-house  and  esquire's  house,  there  were  here  often  a  private 
dining-room,  buttery,  pantry,  cellar,  state  bed-chamber,  and  frequently, 
upon  the  upper  floor,  a  long  and  narrow  gallery,  sometimes  partly  formed 
in  the  roof,  and  which  seems  to  have  been  used  for  exercise  and  games, 
and  was  a  delight  for  children  in  wet  weather.  Sometimes  they 
contained  a  family  portrait-gallery,  as  at  Stanford,  Worcester,1  and  in  the 
large  houses  the  gallery  was  developed  to  great  dimensions.  Of  the 
class  we  are  now  considering  there  is  a  good  instance  at  Meer  Hall,  near 
Droitwich,  a  timber  building.  Architectural  treatment  and  decoration 
become  more  noticeable  in  houses  of  this  class.  The  exterior  was 
generally  plain,  except  that  prominence  was  often  given  at  this  time  to 
the  entrance  doorway  or  porch  by  the  application  of  one  of  the  newly- 
imported  'orders.'  The  windows  were  stiil  divided  with  mullions  and 
transoms,  and  glazed  in  small  leaded  squares  or  lozenges,  with  coats  of 
arms  in  painted  glass  in  the  windows  of  some  of  the  chief  rooms.  Of 
the  internal  decoration  Harrison 2  tells  us  :  '  The  wals  of  our  houses  on 
the  inner  sides  in  like  sort  be  either  hanged  with  tapisterie,  arras  worke, 
or  painted  cloths,  wherin  either  diuerse  histories,  or  hearbes,  beasts, 
knots,  and  such  like  are  stained,  or  else  they  are  seeled  with  oke  of  our 
owne,  or  wainscot  brought  hither  out  of  the  east  countries,  whereby  the 
rooms  are  not  a  little  commended,  made  warme,  and  much  more  close 

1  In  this  instance  the  portraits  are  on  large  panels  lining  the  wall,  the  ladies  being 
on  one  side  the  room  and  the  men  on  the  other. 
8  Book  II.  chap.  xii.     P.  235  of  Reprint,  1877. 


XXXVI         NOTES    ON    ENGLISH    HOUSES    IN    SHAKSPERE  S    TIME. 

than  otherwise  they  would  be.'  Parlours  had  now  begun  to  be  carpeted 
in  good  houses,  a  luxurious  advance  from  the  rushes  with  which  the 
floors  had  formerly  been  strewn.  '  Tilles '  or  settles,  such  as  are  still 
found  in  farm-houses  and  country  inns,  seem  then  to  have  been  common 
fittings  in  many  rooms  in  houses  of  a  better  class.  A  fine  carved  one  is, 
or  was,  at  Combe  St.  Nicholas,  Somerset. 

Of  our  second  class,  the  large  manor-house,  a  volume  might  be  written, 
but  we  must  restrict  ourselves  to  some  brief  notes.  Several  specimens 
of  this  class  are  included  in  the  list  which  will  be  found  appended.  But 
first  let  us  refer  to  a  good  representative  house,  which  was  completed 
about  twenty-five  years  before  Shakspere  was  born.  In  the  History  and 
Antiquities  of  Hengrave,  by  John  Gage,  1822,  we  have  a  good  account 
of  the  hall  as  it  was  in  its  integrity,  and  he  prints  an  old  inventory  of 
the  different  rooms  and  their  contents.  It  was  begun  by  Sir  Thos. 
Kytson  about  1525  and  completed  1538,  and  was  of  quadrangular  form, 
the  court  being  entered  through  a  handsome  gate-house  flanked  by 
octagonal  turrets.  The  main  building  had  similar  but  smaller  turrets  at 
the  outside  angles,  and  was  crowned  with  a  battlement.  It  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  moat,  and  beyond  the  moat  was  formerly  an  outer  court, 
round  which  were  arranged  stables  for  the  *  horses  of  pleasure,'  and 
other  offices,  with  a  lodge  in  the  centre  for  keepers  and  falconers  ;  but 
this  outer  court  was  destroyed  in  the  seventeenth  century.  At  some 
distance  to  the  east  and  west  were  detached  buildings — the  dovecote,  the 
grange,  great  barn,  mill,  forge,  the  great  stable,  &c.,  separate  kennels 
for  the  hounds  and  spaniels,  and  mews  for  the  hawks.  A  cloister  or 
corridor  passed  round  three  sides  of  the  inner  court.  The  inventory 
above  referred  to  is  dated  1603,  and  includes  the  following  chief  rooms: 

pe  Hall.  pe  Closet  to  the  Chappell. 
„  Chamber  where  the  musicyons      „  Chappell  chamber. 

playe.  „  Gallerye  at  the  Tower. 

„  Create  chamber.  „  Long  Gallerye  over  y"  Dyning 
„  Dyning  chamber.  ch. 

„  Winter  Parlor.  „  Wardrope  (coats,  clokes,  &c.). 

-  „  Summer  Parlor.  „  Sadlers  shopp. 

„  Armorye.  „  Nether   Still    ho.  and    Upper 
„  Cheife  chamber.  Still  House. 

„  Chappell. 

The  gate -houses  of  Henry  VIII.'s  time  were  particularly  splendid. 

They  were  commonly  placed,  as  at  Hengrave,  in  the  centre  of  the  chief 

front,  and  were  often  ennobled  with  lofty  turrets,  both  on  the  outer  and 

inner  sides  of  the  front  building.     That  at  Coughton,  Warwick,1  is  a 

1  Illustrations  of  Old  Warwickshire  Houses,  1878,  by  W.  Niven. 


NOTES     ON    ENGLISH    HOUSES    IN    SHAKSPERE  S    TIME.         XXXVH 

fine  example.  In  Elizabeth's  reign,  as,  except  in  the  largest  mansions, 
the  quadrangular  form  was  very  generally  abandoned,  the  central  gateway 
in  the  main  building  became  unnecessary ;  but  instead  of  abolishing  the 
gate-house,  it  was  now  made  a  detached  building,  standing  in  front  of 
the  house,  at  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  yards  distance,  and  served  rather 
as  a  stately  lodge,  though  the  upper  floor  was  often  used  for  entertain- 
ments. The  finest  detached  gate-house  to  a  private  house  of  the  date  is 
perhaps  that  at  Tixall,  Stafford,  built  about  1580,  where  there  are  three 
floors,  the  building  being  decorated  outside  with  three  of  the  classic 
orders.  At  Charlecote  (see  the  accompanying  plate)  and  at  Westwood, 
near  Droitwich,  are  also  genuine  specimens  of  detached  gate-houses  of 
Shakspere's  day.  Though  not  meant  as  a  defence  against  a  more 
formidable  foe,  that  at  Charlecote,  with  the  sunk  fence  and  enclosing 
wall,  was  evidently  meant  to  keep  out  a  party  of  thieves  or  marauders, 
the  Avon  forming  a  natural  defence  on  the  other  side. 

Andrew  Boorde,  *  of  physicke  doctour,'  seems  to  have  been  a  sani- 
tary reformer  of  his  day,  and  about  1547  published  some  very  sensible 
advice  (which  does  not  seem  to  have  been  generally  acted  upon)  on 
house-building.1  The  arrangement  of  the  rooms  recommended  is  what 
we  commonly  find  :  '  Make  the  hall,'  he  says,  '  under  such  a  fashyon, 
that  the  parloure  be  anexed  to  the  hed  of  the  hall.  And  the  buttery  and 
pantry  be  at  the  howse  end  of  the  hall,  the  seller  under  the  pantry,  set 
somwhat  abase  ;  the  kytchen  set  abase  from  the  buttery  and  pantry, 
comynge  with  an  entry  by  the  wall  of  the  buttery,  the  pastry-howse  and 
the  larder-howse  annexed  to  the  kytchen.  Than  devyde  the  lodgynges 
by  the  cyrcuyte  of  the  quadryvyall  courte,  and  let  the  gate-howse  be 
opposyte  or  against  the  hall-dore  standynge  abase,  and  the  gate-howse 
in  the  mydle  of  the  fronte  entrynge  into  the  place  :  let  the  pryve  chamber 
be  anexed  to  the  great  chamber  of  estate,  with  the  other  chambers 
necessarye  for  the  buyldynge,  so  that  many  of  the  chambers  may  have  a 
prospecte  into  the  chappell.'  He  advised  that  the  stables,  slaughter- 
house, and  dairy  should  be  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  house ;  that 
there  should  be  a  fresh  spring  to  the  moat,  and  that  the  latter  should  be 
*  skowryd  and  kept  clene  from  mud  and  wedes.  And  in  no-wyse  let  the 
fylth  of  the  kytchyn  descende  into  the  mote.'  The  arrangement  of  the 
rooms  and  offices  for  a  large  house  recommended  by  Boorde  were 
mainly  carried  out  in  Shakspere's  days,  except  that  the  quadrangular 

1  Wt)t  Bofee  for  to  /  Icrne  a  man  to  fee  togsc  in  /  fcupltrpnge  of  fjts  fjotos*  for  / 
tfje  fjelti)  o(  tfje  feorfi?  antr  to  i)ol/to  quints  for  tf>c  ijcltf)  /  of  fns  souU  antJ  feotrg. 

(Another  edition  reprinted  by  the  E.  E.  Text  Soc.,  1870.    Edited  by  Mr.  Furnivall.) 


XXXVli'l         NOTES    ON    ENGLISH    HOUSES     IN    SHAKSPERE's    TIME. 

form,  with  one  or  more  inner  courts,  became  almost  confined  to  the 
largest  mansions.  The  chief  advances  made  were  in  increase  of  private 
family  rooms  and  bed-rooms,  and  notably  in  staircases,  which,  from  being 
generally  inconvenient  winding  stone  stairs,  were  now  constructed  of 
oak,  and  in  the  better  houses  made  spacious  and  handsome.  This 
development  of  the  staircase  naturally  resulted  from  the  growth  of  the 
upper  floors.  The  great  chamber,  or  withdrawing-room,  and  other  chief 
rooms  being  placed  on  the  first  floor,  necessitated  a  dignified  approach 
to  them.  The  chief  apartments  became  more  generally  decorated  than 
before.  Most  elaborate  chimney-pieces,  often  reaching  to  the  ceiling, 
occur,  and  the  highly-ornamented  panelled  ceilings,  which  are  so 
characteristic  of  the  time,  show  the  advance  that  was  made  in  plaster- 
work.  The  predominating  taste  or  affectation  for  Greek  and  Roman 
art,  and  the  classical  authors,  appeared  largely  in  the  decorations  of  the 
more  costly  houses.  A  series  of  busts  or  medallions  of  Roman  emperors 
were  frequently  introduced  in  a  facade,  and  in  the  panels  of  chimney- 
pieces,  and  elsewhere,  are  often  to  be  found  quaint  representations  both 
of  Biblical  and  classical  story. 

Of  the  largest  houses  and  royal  residences,  forming  Class  I.  of  our 
subdivision,  we  have,  of  course,  more  written  descriptions  and  drawings, 
contemporary  and  later,  than  of  any  others  ;  and  from  old  plans,  inven- 
tories, &c.,  we  are  able  to  see  how  the  various  rooms  were  appropriated. 
Two  or  three  of  the  most  notable  buildings  may  be  singled  out  for  special 
comment.  Audley  End,  Saffron  Walden  (begun  1603),  by  Bernard  Jansen, 
was  perhaps  the  most  extensive  of  them  all.  It  seems  to  have  been  con- 
structed with  a  view  of  eclipsing  everything  that  had  till  then  been 
attempted.  A  model  was  procured  from  Italy  at  a  cost  of  ,£500,  and  the 
total  cost  of  the  buildings  is  said  to  have  been  ;£  190,000.  An  excellent 
plan  and  view  of  the  place,  as  it  was  originally,  may  be  seen  in  Britton's 
Architectural  Antiquities,  Vol.  II.  The  main  building  (most  of  which 
still  remains)  was  arranged  round  a  court,  but  there  was  also  a  great  outer 
quadrangle,  which  was  first  entered  through  a  central  archway.  This 
great  court  (destroyed  by  Sir  John  Vanbrugh)  was  surrounded  by  buildings 
less  in  height  than  the  inner  court,  had  on  each  side  an  arcade,  and  at  the 
upper  end,  opposite  the  entrance,  a  paved  terrace,  whence  two  porches  led 
into  the  main  building.  On  the  garden  side  two  wings  projected,  one  of 
which  was  occupied  by  the  chapel.  The  gallery  was  226  feet  in  length. 
The  exterior  was  of  fine  wrought  stone,  with  columns,  &c.,  of  marble. 

Buckhurst,  Sussex,  built  by  the  Earl  of  Dorset,  and  long  destroyed,  was 
another  quadrangular  building  of  great  extent.  We  instance  this  because 


NOTES     ON    ENGLISH    HOUSES    IN    SHAKSPERE  S    TIME.         XXXIX 

there  is  an  interesting  autograph  plan  (preserved  in  the  Soane  Museum) 
by  its  architect,  Thorpe,  which  explains  how  the  various  rooms  were 
allotted.  This  had  not  the  stately  approach  of  Audley  End,  but  it  lay 
more  compactly,  and  contained  at  least  as  many  rooms.  There  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  &porte  cochere,  or  means  of  driving  into  the  quad- 
rangle. Included  within  the  house  were  a  tennis  court  and  three  small 
courts  for  light.  There  was  a  square  turret  at  each  external  angle,  and 
each  front  was  of  symmetrical  but  slightly  varying  design.  The  plan 
shows  the  old  arrangement  of  hall,  entered  from  the  porch  through  '  the 
screens,'  with,  on  the  other  side,  the  pantry,  buttery,  kitchen,  &c.,  'set 
abase ; '  and,  approached  from  the  upper  end  of  the  hall,  the  chapel, 
parlour,  great  chamber,  £c.,  the  chief  departure  from  the  old  plan  being 
that  the  withdra wing-room  was  upon  the  first  floor,  and  approached  by  a 
spacious  staircase.  But  the  most  striking  feature  in  the  plan  is  the 
number  of  separate  suites  of  rooms  set  apart  for  guests.  On  the  ground 
plan  alone  six  sets  of  rooms,  consisting  of  about  three  apartments,  with 
a  staircase  adjoining,  are  marked  on  the  plan  '  a  nobleman's  lodging,' 
and  three  other  large  rooms  '  officers'  lodgings.'  The  gallery,  occupying 
the  whole  length  of  the  terrace  front  above  some  of  these  suites,  seems 
to  have  been  planned  to  be  about  250  feet  long. 

Hatfield,  and  Holland  House,  Kensington,  may  be  mentioned  as 
good  instances  of  the  newer  plan,  where  the  quadrangle  was  abandoned 
and  the  general  plan  was  in  the  form  of  a  half  H  or  an  E.  In  the  latter  of 
these  houses  the  tendency  appears  to  reduce  the  hall  to  what  it  has  since 
become — a  passage  to  other  more  private  rooms,  the  entrance  doorway 
being  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  side,  as  also  at  Aston  Hall,  Warwick- 
shire, and  elsewhere,  instead  of  its  leading  into  the  screened-off  space  at 
the  lower  end  of  the  hall.  At  Hatfield  the  hall  was  planned  quite  on  the 
old  lines,  with  bay  at  the  dais  end,  and  is  fifty  feet  long,  and  thirty  wide. 

Elizabeth  made  additions  and  improvements  to  Windsor  Castle,  as 
a  contemporary,  Harrison,  tells  us  in  his  interesting  Description  of 
Britaine?  already  in  the  members'  hands.  '  After  him  '  (Edward  III.) 
1  diverse  of  his  successors  have  bestowed  exceeding  charges  upon  the 
same,  which  notwithstanding  are  farre  surmounted  by  the  queenes 
maiestie  now  living,  who  hath  appointed  huge  summes  of  monie  to  be 
emploied  upon  the  ornature  and  alteration  of  the  mould,  according  to 
the  form  of  building  used  in  our  daies  (which  is  more  for  pleasure,  than 
for  either  profit  or  safeguard). 

In  reviewing  the  general  character  of  the  English  Renaissance  of 
1  Book  II.  chap.  xv.  P.  269  of  Reprint,  1877. 


X  NOTES    ON    ENGLISH    HOUSES    IN    SHAKSPERfis    TIME. 

Elizabeth's  reign,  it  may  perhaps  be  truly  described  as,  artistically,  a 
bad  and  mongrel  style ;  but  if  the  style  were  bad,  some  very  able  archi- 
tects fortunately  practised  it,  and  have  left  us  many  remarkable  monu- 
ments of  their  skill.  The  Renaissance  wave,  which  took  its  origin  in 
Italy,  and,  travelling  to  France,  produced  that  elegant  and  sumptuous 
style  known  as  that  of  Franqois  premier,  moved  thence  rather  tardily  to 
England.  The  Gothic  tradition  here  was  not  quickly  abandoned,  and  it 
was  only  by  grafting  the  exotic  plant  upon  the  old  native  stock  that  a 
healthy  and  vigorous  growth  could  be  obtained.  Indeed,  during  the 
succeeding  reign,  there  was  a  decided  though  unsuccessful  attempt 
made  to  re-establish  the  dethroned  Gothic,  but  the  genius  of  Inigo  Jones 
then  carried  all  before  it,  and  enabled  him  to  supplant  all  former  styles 
with  his  latest  importations  from  Italy.  One  of  the  worst  faults  of 
Elizabethan  architecture  in  that  age  of  '  conceits '  was  caprice.  For 
instance,  John  Thorpe,  who  seems  to  have  had  the  largest  practice  of  his 
day,  has  left  us,  amongst  his  most  interesting  autograph  plans  (now  in 
the  Soane  Museum),  one  of  a  house  designed  for  himself,  the  general 
plan  of  which  was  determined  not  by  any  considerations  of  fitness  or 
convenience,  but  made  to  form  his  initials  I  T  in  two  blocks,  only 
connected  by  means  of  a  gallery,  or  covered  passage.1  Longford  Castle, 
Wilts,  is  of  triangular  form,  with  a  great  round  tower  at  each  external 
angle,  and  small  stair  turrets  in  the  inner  angles  of  the  central  court, 
considerable  ingenuity  being  shown  in  making  the  best  of  an  unneces- 
sarily awkward  plan.  An  amateur,  Sir  Thos.  Tresham,  built  a  lodge  at 
Rushton,  of  which,  not  only  the  plan,  but  every  feature,  was  designed  in 
the  form  of  an  equilateral  triangle  ;  and  another  house  in  the  same 
county,  Lyveden  New  Building,  which  was  in  the  form  of  a  Greek  cross. 
Perhaps,  however,  these  last  may  be  looked  upon  rather  as  the  results 
of  individual  eccentricity  than  characteristic  of  the  age.  A  very  frequent 
plan  for  the  chief  front  of  a  mansion  of  the  time  was  to  have  a  small 
projection  (generally  containing  the  porch)  in  the  centre,  and  boldly 
projecting  wings  at  the  two  extremities,  thus  forming  the  letter  E,  and  it 
has  been  commonly  supposed  that  this  form  was  chosen  out  of  compli- 
ment to  the  queen.  Whether  it  were  so  or  not,  it  is  undoubtedly  a  very 
effective  arrangement,  and  one  that  was  used  as  much  in  the  succeeding 
reign.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Elizabethan  architects  showed  great 

1  Upon  the  plan  is  written: 

'  Thes  2  letters  I  &  T 

ioyned  together  as  you  see, 
Js  ment  for  a  dwelling  house  for  me, 
John  Thorpe.' 


NOTES     ON    ENGLISH     HOUSES    IN    SHAKSPERE  S    TIME.  Xll 

invention  and  science  in  working,  not  only  in  a  new  style,  but  in 
leading  the  way  to  rui  nerous  domestic  refinements  hitherto  unknown, 
and  providing,  in  the  great  houses,  such  stately  suites  of  rooms  as 
have  hardly  been  surpassed  to  this  day.  In  re-modelling  buildings  of 
an  older  type,  and  adapting  them  to  the  new  mode  of  living  and 
entertaining,  they  also  displayed  great  ingenuity.  The  castles  of 
Kenilworth  and  Dudley,  to  mention  no  more,  are  good  instances  of 
their  skill  in  this  respect. 

In  considering  who  were  the  leading  architects  in  Shakspere's  time 
we  must  not  forget  the  great  influence  which  Lord  Bacon  and  Sir 
Henry  Wotton  exercised  on  the  public  taste  by  their  writings,  nor  the 
liberal  patronage  of  the  art  exercised  by  the  sovereigns — Elizabeth, 
and  especially  James — notwithstanding  the  foolish  enactments  they  both 
made  to  restrict  the  rapid  increase  of  costly  buildings  in  London,  and 
the  great  use  of  timber  in  building,  requiring  the  fronts  to  be  built  of 
brick  or  stone,  'as  well  for  decency  as  by  reason  all  great  and  well-grown 
woods  were  much  spent  and  wasted,  so  that  timber  for  shipping  became 
scarce  '  (2  James  I.).  In  addition  to  the  architects  included  in  the 
appended  list  who  practised  at  this  time,  may  be  mentioned  Richard 
Lea,  John  Shute,  painter  and  architect,  who  was  sent  by  the  Duke  of 
Northumberland  to  study  in  Italy,  and  who  published,  1563,  a  treatise  of 
the  principles  of  architecture  ;  Stickles,  who  was  practising  towards  the 
end  of  the  sixteenth  century  ;  Robert  Adams,  who,  for  a  time,  was  super- 
intendent of  the  royal  buildings  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  died  1595  ;T 
Rodolph  Simmons,  who  was  employed  upon  Trinity  and  other  colleges  at 
Cambridge  ;  Theodore  Havens,  who  designed  the  additions  to  Gonville 
for  Dr.  Caius,  and  other  work  in  a  rather  fantastic  style  at  Cambridge  ; 
and  Thomas  Holte,  of  York,  who  is  said  to  be  responsible  for  that 
elaborate  and  bizarre  work,  the  Schools  Tower  at  Oxford.  Lamentably 
little,  however,  is  known  of  the  architects  of  our  English  Renaissance, — 
nothing  more  than  the  mere  names  of  some  mentioned  here, — while, 
except  by  conjecture  or  the  slight  evidence  of  a  similarity  in  detail,  we 
do  not  know  to  whom  to  attribute  the  design  of  some  of  the  chief  works 
of  that  period.  The  alleged  identity  of  'John  of  Padua'  with  John 
Thorpe,  who  seems  to  have  designed  so  many  of  the  great  houses  of  that 
time,  has  not  been  proved  satisfactorily  nor  disproved.  And  so  much 
uncertainty  prevails  respecting  the  English  architects  anterior  to  Inigo 
Jones,  and  their  works,  that  we  trust  some  one  who  has  leisure  for  it 
may  undertake  thoroughly  to  investigate  this  almost  untrodden  ground. 
1  J.  Britton's  Architectural  Antiquities. 


A   LIST   OF   SOME   OF   THE   PRINCIPAL   HOUSES   BUILT 
IN    ENGLAND   DURING  SHAKSPERE'S   LIFETIME. 

\Brk.  =  Brick.     S.  =  Stone.] 


County 

Name  of  House 

Ma- 
terial 

Built  by 

~Be~- 
gun 

Apprx. 
date 

^Y« 
is  hi 

Architect 

Warwick        ,Charlecote 

Brk.  &  S 

Sir  Thos.  Lucy 

155 

... 

Porch  attributed 

to     '  John     of 

Padua'1 

M 

Ken  il  worth— 

Stone 

Earl  of  Leicester 

I565 

"Leicester's 

Buildings  " 

Worcester 

Westwood 

Brk.  &  S 

Sir  J.  Pakington 

... 

r.  Eliz. 

Gloucester 

Sudeley 

Stone 



I|72, 

1014,  & 

older 

Somerset 

Montacute 

Stone 

Sir  Edw.  Philips 

1580 

160 

Nettlecombe 

Stone 



1600 

Wilts 

Long'eat 

Stone 

Sir  John  Thynne 

1567 

1579 

Probably  Robert 

Smithson 

» 

Charlton 

Stone 

Sir  H.  Knevit 

r.  Jas.  I 

Front  said  to  be 

an  early   work 

Longford  2 

Freestone 

Sir  Thos.  Gorges 

... 

r59i 

of  Inigo  Jones 

&  Flint 

Hants 

Bramshill 

Brk.  &  S 

Ed.  Lord  Zouche 

1612 

Sussex 

Parham 

Stone 

Sir  T.  Bisshop 

159° 

M 

Buckhurst  (de- 

Thos. Sackville, 

r.  Eliz. 

... 

J.  Thorpe 

stroyed) 

Earl  of  Dorset 

Surrey 

T                     1 

Loseley 

Stone 

Wm.  More 

1562 

1568 

Middlesex 

Holland  House 

Brk.  &  S. 

Sir  Walter  Cope 

1607 

J.  Thorpe 

,, 

Somerset   House 

1567 

John  Thynne 

Kent 

(destroyed) 
Knole 

Stone 

Thos.  Sackville, 

chiefly 

Earl  of  Dorset 

r.  Jas.  I 

Franks 

L.  Bathurst 

1596 

M 

Charlton,    Wool- 

Brk!'& S. 

Sir  A.  Newton 

1607 

1612 

wich 

Essex 

Audley  End 

Stone 

Thos.  Howard, 

1603 

... 

1616 

Bernard  Jansen 

Earl  of  Suffolk 

Herts 

Theobalds  (de- 

Lord  Burghley 

1570 

... 

J.  Thorpe 

stroyed  1650) 

|| 

Hatfield 

Brk.  &  S 

Robert,  ist  Earl 

1611 

of  Salisbury 

Norfolk 

3xnead 

Brick 



... 

r.  Eliz. 

Northants 

Heydon 
fCirby  (ruinous) 

Brk.  &  S. 
Stone 

Lord  Hatton 

157° 

1584 

\.  Thorpe 

» 

Holdenby    (little 

Stone 

Sir  C.  Hatton 

1583 

... 

.  Thorpe 

remaining) 

it 

Rushton 

5tone 

Sir  T.  Tresham 

r.  Eliz. 

Sir  T.  Tresham 

» 

Burleigh 

Stone 

..ord  Treas.,  Wm. 

575 

587 

.  Thorpe 

Cecil,  Baron  oi 

B— 

» 

Castle  Ashley 

Stone 

583 

... 

589 

J.  Thorpe  (addi- 

tions by  Inigo 

Jones) 

Oxford 

Broughton 

Stone 

ram.  of  Fiennes 

pt.  Eliz. 

Notts 

Vollaston 

Stone 

SirF.Willoughby 

580 

588 

*..  Smithson 

Derby 

iardwicke 

Stone 

Countess  of 

59* 

Cheshire 

Crewe  (burnt 

Brk.  &  S. 

Shrewsbury 
Sir  R.  Crewe 

616 

down  1866) 

ii 

Srereton 

Brk.  &  S. 

Sir  W.  Brereton 

1586 

Sramshall 

Timber 

Wm.  Davenport 

1592 

Lancashire 

Speke 

Sir  Edw.  Norris 

r.  Eliz. 

Stony  hurst 

Stone 

Sir  R.  Sherburne 

596 

>; 

Astley 

Chiefly 

Robt.  Charnock 

1600 

Timber 

Stafford 

Jeaudesert 

Brk.  &  S. 

?hos.  Lord  Paget 

r.  Eliz. 

)} 

ngestre 

Brk.  &  S. 

... 

... 

1601 

. 

Jiddulph 

Stone 

Brands  Biddulph 

1580 

York 

Jurton  Agnes 

Brk.  &  S. 

Griffith  Family 

early  in 

Jas.  I. 

" 

Islington 
Temple  Newsam 

Brk.  &  S. 
Brk.  &  S. 

The  Queen 
Sir  Arth.  Ingram 

'•'•'. 

r.  Eliz. 
Jas.  I. 

4  John  of  Padua '  has  latterly  been  generally  supposed  to  be  identical  with  John  Thorpe. 
Longford  Castle,  alluded  to  in  Sir  Phil.  Sydney's  Arcadia. 


xlili 


THE   HOUSES   ILLUSTRATED. 

The  etchings  accompanying  this  paper  are  printed,  after  slight 
retouching,  from  four  of  the  plates  of  two  books  of  local  topography, 
viz.,  Old  Worcestershire  Houses,  1873,  and  Old  Warwickshire,  1878, 
the  purpose  of  which  was  to  illustrate  the  old  domestic  architecture 
generally  of  those  two  counties,  including  buildings  of  mediaeval 
date,  and  coming  down  to  about  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
the  special  aim  having  been,  without  excluding  important  houses,  to 
call  attention  to  some  little-known  examples,  and  to  others  that  were 
threatened  with  destruction,  or  were  already  ruinous.  The  views 
here  given  have  been  selected  from  these  two  collections  as  being  of 
about  Shakspere'  s  time,  and  still  standing,  not  far  from  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Stratford,  in  comparatively  unaltered  and  unrestored  condition. 
This  must  explain  any  deficiency  that  may  appear  in  them  as  houses 
representative  of  their  class  and  period. 

CHARLECOTE. 
i.  GENERAL  VIEW.    2.  THE  PORCH. 

The  present  house  at  Charlecote  seems  to  have  been  built,  or  begun, 
in  1 558  by  the  Sir  Thomas  Lucy,  who,  whether  or  not  he  were  the  original 
of  Justice  Shallow,  has  been  immortalized  by  popular  tradition  ;  and  it 
is  said  to  have  been  placed  upon  the  site  of  an  older  building,  of  which, 
so  far  as  I  am  aware,  nothing  remains.  Considerable  additions  were  made 
to  the  Elizabethan  house  in  1833,  including  a  large  library  and  dining- 
room.  This  is  one  of  the  very  numerous  houses  said  to  have  been 
honoured  with  a  visit  by  Elizabeth — in  1575,  on  her  way  to  Kenil worth. 

The  gate-house,  seen  in  the  fore-part  of  the  sketch,  has  already  been 
alluded  to.  It  is  built  of  red  brick,  with  stone  window-dressings,  quoins, 
&c.,  like  the  house  itself,  and  remains  in  its  original  condition.  The 
upper  floor  formed  one  room,  which  was  used  for  banqueting,  and  the 
porter  occupied  the  ground  floor.  Passing  through  the  archway,  a  large 
fore-court  with  terrace  walls  on  either  side  leads  to  the  house,  which 
consists  of  a  central  part  between  boldly-projecting  wings  with  angle 
turrets.  The  porch,  which  is  placed  slightly  to  the  left  of  the  centre,  is 
an  admirable  specimen  of  the  Renaissance  of  the  time.  It  is  attributed 
to  John  of  Padua  or  John  Thorpe.  The  front  of  it  is  of  fine  free-stone, 
and  the  detail  shows  a  combination  of  boldness  with  extreme  delicacy. 
The  lower  order  is  Ionic,  and  the  upper  Composite.  It  is  apparently  by  a 
different  architect  from  the  rest  of  the  house,  or  gate-house,  and  suggests 
its  having  been  added  from  the  designs  of  the  fashionable  architect  of  the 
day  shortly  after  the  completion  of  the  rest  of  the  house.  The  royal 


xV  THE    HOUSES    ILLUSTRATED. 

arms,  with  E.  R.,  are  carved  over  the  doorway,  in  the  spandrils  of  which 
are  the  initials  T.  L.  The  hall  is  of  its  old  proportions,  though  the 
windows  have  been  altered,  and  is  decorated  with  many  family  portraits. 
It  contains  a  sideboard  dated  1558,  and  amongst  other  choice  old  furni- 
ture is  a  suite  of  chairs,  couch,  and  cabinets  of  coromandel  wood  inlaid 
with  ivory,  said  to  have  been  given  by  Queen  Elizabeth  to  the  Earl  of 
Leicester  in  1575,  and  brought  here  from  Kenil worth. 

THE   HALL,    LITTLE   WOLFORD. 

This  is  situated  at  a  distance  of  about  thirteen  miles  from  Stratford* 
in  the  extreme  south  of  Warwickshire,  and  was  formerly  the  seat  of  the 
Ingrams,  but  now  used  as  a  school-house.  It  seems  to  have  consisted 
originally  of  a  central  portion,  of  stone,  in  which  the  hall  is  placed,  and 
two  wings,  of  which  the  ground  storey  was  stone  and  the  upper  part 
timber.  Only  one  wing  now  remains,  but  the  other  is  said  to  have 
closely  resembled  it.  The  porch  bears  the  date  1671,  being  of  a  later 
period  than  the  house  itself,  and  the  initials  ^  Af  with  the  arms  of 
Ingram.  The  hall  is  interesting  ;  it  has  an  open  timber  roof,  and 
retains  its  screen,  and  gallery  over  it.  There  is  a  late  Tudor  chimney- 
piece  with  a  coat  of  arms,  and  there  are  others  in  the  lower  windows,  and 
the  date  1557  occurs.  In  the  hall  is  a  piece  of  old  furniture  which  may 
be  formed  at  will  into  a  chair,  a  table,  or  a  cupboard,  and  is  said  to  have 
1  always  been  there.'  The  kitchen  lay  to  the  left — set  abase — and  was 
lighted  by  a  low  window  of  five  lights.  From  the  gallery  a  small  with- 
drawing-room  is  entered,  now  called  the  Nuns'  room — probably  for  no 
other  reason  except  that  some  pictures  of  nuns  have  long  hung  on  the 
walls.  Near  the  top  of  the  staircase  which  occupies  the  octagonal  turret 
shewn  on  the  plate,  is  an  archway  converted  into  a  window,  which 
formerly  led  into  the  upper  rooms  of  the  wing  now  destroyed. 

MANOR   HOUSE,    MIDDLE   LITTLETON. 

The  three  manors  which  gave  their  name  to  the  family  of  the 
Littletons,  anciently  of  Coulesdon  and  Frankley,  lie  closely  together  near 
Evesham,  at  from  eight  to  ten  miles  from  Stratford,  and  are  known  as 
North,  Middle,  and  South  Littleton.  According  to  the  county  historian/ 
the  manors  which  the  family  held  here  were  usually  allotted  to  the  widows 
for  their  jointures.  Sir  John  Littleton  sold  his  property  here  in  the  reign 
of  Elizabeth.  This  small  manor-house  is  now  a  farm.  It  has  a  good 
homely,  old-English  character  about  it,  and  is  well  preserved.  On  the 
ground  floor  were  hall  in  the  centre,  and  parlour  and  kitchen  on  either 
side  ;  and  an  oak  stair  led  to  the  two  floors  of  bed-rooms  above.  The 
masonry  is  of  a  plain  description,  without  any  detail  about  it  to  enable 
one  to  set  more  than  an  approximate  date  to  it  from  the  building  itself, 
but  it  may  safely  be  attributed  to  the  period  of  Shakspere's  life. 
1  Nash's  Hist,  of  Worcestershire. 


HARLECOTE     HA  L  L_77//^;  / 


PART  III.      SUPPLEMENT. 


FOUR  CHAPTERS  OF 

HARRISON'S    FIRST    BOOK, 


WITH   BITS  FROM 


CHURCHYARD,  NORDEN,  CORYAT, 
FYNES  MORISON,  ETC. 


HARRISON.— PART  III. 


I27 


SUPPLEMENT. 


EXTRACTS   FROM   HARRISON'S    FIRST   BOOK,  &c. 


1.  Chap.  1 8.  Of  the  aire,  foile,  and 

commodities  of  this  Hand,  p.  127. 

2.  Chap.  19.  Ofthefoure  high  <waies 

fometime  made  in  Britaine  by  the 
princes  of  this  Hand,  p.  151. 

3.  Chap.  20.  Of  the  generall  confti- 

tution  of  the  bodies  of  the  Britons, 
p.  149. 

4.  Chap.     24.     Of  the    maruels    of 

England,  p.  155. 


5.  Extracts  from, 

a.    Churchyard's  Challenge,   1593, 

p.  167,  and 

(3.    Manners  of  Men,  1594,  p.  173. 
y.    Norden's    Surveyors  Dialogue, 

1608,  p.  174. 
8.  Fynes  Moryson's  Itinerary,  1617, 

6.  Notes.  [p.  197. 

7.  Hindwords. 

8.  Index. 


Of  the  aire,  and  foyle,  [and  commodities] 

of l  this  Hand.1  [ieaf37,  ed.  i577.] 

Cap.  i8.2 

THe  aire   (for  the  moft  part)  throughout  the  {.Theatre of 
TI        i   •      /-     i  .  -  r  Britaine.} 

Hand  is  men,  as  by  realon  in  maner  of  con- 
tinuall  clouds,  is  reputed  to  be  groffe,  and 
nothing  fo  pleafant  as  that  is  of  the  maine.  Howbeit, 
as  they  which  affirme  thefe  things,  haue  onelie  refpecl: 
to  the  impediment  or  hinderance  of  the  funne  beames, 
by  the  interpolition  of  the  clouds  and  off  ingroffed  aire : 
fo  experience  teacheth  vs,  that  it  is  no  lefle  pure,  whole-  is  as  good  as 

any  other 

fome,  and  commodious,  than  is  that  of  other  countries,  land's, 
and  (as  Ccefar  himfelfe  hereto  addeth)  much  more  tem- 
perate in  fummer  than  that  of  the  Galles,  from  whom 
he  aduentured  hither.  Neither  is  there  anie  thing  found 
in  the  aire  of  our  region,  that  is  not  vfuallie  feene 
amongft  other  nations  lieng  beyond  the  feas.  Wherefore, 
we  muft  needs  confefle,  that  the  fituation  of  our  Hand  and  so  is  the 

situation  of  our 

(for  benefit  of  the  heauens)  is  nothing  inferiour  to  that  of  Hand, 
anie  countrie  of  the  maine,  where  fo  euer  it  lie  vnder 

!— i  Britaine  ed.  1577.         2  Chap.  13  (1st  Book),  ed.  1577. 
9  * 


128 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK  i. 


[The  soiled 


Is  very  fruitful, 


but  fitter  for 
grazing  than 
tilling. 


3  fourths  are 
pasture,  1  fourth 
arable. 


The  old  Britons 
were  nomads. 


[Criackt.] 


Some  Welsh 
land  is  as  good 
as  English.    No 
Scotch  is. 


the  open  firmament.  [And  this  Plutarch  knew  full 
well,  who  affirmeth  a  part  of  the  Elifian  fields  to  be 
found  in  Britaine,  and  the  lies  that  are  fituate  about  it 
in  the  Ocean.] 

The  foile  of  Britaine  is  fuch,  as  by  the  teftimonies 
and  reports  both  of  the  old  and  new  writers,  and  ex- 
perience alfo  of  fuch  as  now  inhabit  the  fame,  is  verie 
fruitfull ;  [and  fuch  in  deed  as  bringeth  foorth  manie 
commodities,  whereof  other  countries  haue  need,  and 
yet  it  felfe  (it  fond  niceneffe  were  abolifhed)  needleife 
of  thofe  that  are  dailie  brought  from  other  places. 
Neuertheletfe  it  is]  more  inclined  to1  feeding  and 
grafing,2  than  profitable  for  tillage,  and  bearing  of 
come  j  by  reafon  whereof  the  countrie  is  woonderfullie 
replenifhed  with  neat,  and  all  kind  of  cattell :  and  fuch 
ftore  is  there  alfo  of  the  fame  in  euerie  place,  that  the 
fourth  part  of  the,  land  is  fcarfelie  manured  for  the 
prouifion  and  maintenance  of  graine.  Certes  this 
fruitfulneife  was  not  vnknowne  vnto  the  Britons  long 
before  C&fars  time,  which  was  the  caufe  wherefore  our 
predeceffors  liuing  in  thofe  daies  in  maner  neglected 
tillage,  and  liued  by  feeding  and  grafing  onelie.  The 
grafiers  themfelues  alfo  then  dwelled  in  mooueable 
villages  by  companies,  whofe  cuftome  was  to  diuide  the 
ground  amongft  them,  and  each  one  not  to  depart  from 
the  place  where  his  lot  laie  [(a  thing  much  like  to  the 
Irifh  Criacht)]  till  by  eating  vp  of  the  countrie  about 
him,  he  was  inforced  to  remooue  further,  and  feeke  for 
better  pafture.  And  this  was  the  Britiih  cuftome  [as  I 
learne]  at  firft.  It  hath  beene  commonlie  reported, 
that  the  ground  of  Wales  is  neither  fo  fruitfull  as  that 
of  England,  neither  the  foile  of  Scotland  fo  bountifull 
as  that  of  Wales :  which  is  true,  for  corne  and  for  the 
moft  part3 :  otherwife,  there  is  lo  good  ground  in  fome 
parts  of  Wales,  as  is  in  England,  albeit  the  beft  of  Scot- 

»— J  but  yet  more  inclined  to  the.   1577.        2  of  the  cattle.    1677 . 
3  if  it  be  taken  for  the  most  part.  1577. 


CHAP.    XVIII.]  SOIL    AND    PRODUCTS.  129 

land  be  fcarfelie  comparable  to  the  meane1  of  either  of 
both.  Howbeit,  as  the  bountie  of  the  Scotifh  dooth 
faile  in  fome  refpect,  fo  dooth  it  furmount  in  other  j 
God  and  nature  hailing  not  appointed  all  countries  to 
yeeld  foorth  like  commodities. 

[But  where  our  ground  is  not  fo  good  as  we  would 
wifh,  we  haue  (if  need  be)  fufficient  helpe  to  cherim  For  manure,  we 

have  Dung, 

our  ground  withall,  and  to  make  it  more  fruitfull,  For 

beiide  the  compeft  that  is  carried  out  of  the  hufband- 

mens  yards,  ditches,  ponds,  doouehoufes,  or  cities  and 

great  tow  nes  :  we  haue  with  vs  a  kind  of  white  marie,  and  white  Marl, 

which  is  of  fo  great  force,  that  if  it  be  carl  ouer  a  peece  winch  lasts  eo 

of  land  but  once  in  three  fcore  years,  it  mall  not  need3 

of  anie  further  compelling.      Hereof  alfo  dooth  Plinie 

fpeake,  lib.  17.  cap.  6,  7,  8,  where  he  affirmeth  that  our  {.Marie^ 

marie  indureth  vpon  the  earth  by  the  fpace  of  fourefcord 

yeares  :  infomuch  that  it  is  laid  vpon  the  fame  but  once  Pliny  praises 

in  a  mans  life,  whereby  the  owner  mail  not  need  to 

trauell  twife  in  procuring  to  commend  and  better  his 

foile.     He  calleth  it  Marga,  and  making  diuerfe  kinds 

thereof,  he  finallie  commendeth  ours,  and  that  of  France,   and  the  French 

aboue  all  other,  which  lieth  fometime  a  hundred  foot 

deepe,  and  farre  better  than  the  fcattering   of  chalke  Marling  is 

vpon  the  fame,  as  the  Hedui  and  Pi6lones  did  in  his  chalking  land. 

time,  or  as  fome  of  our  daies  alfo  doo  praclife  :  albeit 

diuerfe  doo  like  better  to  carl  on  lime,  but  it  will  not  fo   Lime  is  usd 

too 

long  indure,  as  I  haue  heard  reported.] 

There  are  alfo  in  this  Hand  great  plentie  of  frem  Pientie  of  riuers. 
riuers  and  flreames,  as  you  haue   heard  alreadie,  and 
thefe  throughlie  fraught  with  all  kinds  of  delicate  fifh 
accuftomed  to  be  found  in  riuers.     The  whole  He  like- 
wife  is  verie  full  of  hilles,  of  which  fome  (though  not  /////«. 
verie  manie)  are  of  exceeding  heigth,  and  diuerfe  extend- 
ing themfelues  verie  far  from  the  beginning ;  as  we  may 
fee  by  Shooters  hill,  which  rifing  earl  of  London,  and  Shooters  nm  in 
not  farre  from  the  Thames,  runneth  along  the  fouth 
1  best.  2  orig.  nees. 


J30 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK  i. 


The  Cheviot 
Hills. 


[(*)  Here  lacks.} 
Cle  Hills. 


Chiltern  Hills. 


Down-grass  for 
sheep. 

Scotland  has 


quarries  and 

mines. 
Winds. 


Building* 

We  unluckily 
build  in  vallies, 
to  get  out  of 
the  wind. 


Foreigners  build 
on  hills, 


to  keep  cool. 


fide  of  the  Hand  weftward,  vntill  it  come  to  Cornewall.1 
Like  vnto  thefe  alfo  are  the  Crowdon  hils,  which  [though 
vnder  diuers  names  (as  alfo  the  other]  from  the  Peke) 
doo  run  into  the  borders  of  Scotland.  What  mould  I 
fpeake  of  the  Cheuiot  hilles,  which  reach2  twentie  miles 
in  length  ?  of  the  blacke  mounteines  in  Wales,  which 
go  from  (*)  to  (*)  miles  at  the  leaft  in  length  ?  [of  the 
Cle  hilles  in  Shropftiire,  which  come  within  foure  miles 
of  Ludlow,  and  are  diuided  from  fome  part  of  Worcefter 
by  the  Leme  ?]  of  the  Crames  in  Scotland,  and  of  our 
Chiltren,  which  are  eighteene  miles  at  the  leaft  from  one 
end  of  them3  [which  reach  from  Henlie  in  Oxfordfhire 
to  Dunftable  in  Bedfordfhire,  and]  are  verie  well  replen- 
ifhed  with  wood  [and  corne  ?]  notwithftanding  that  the 
mofl  part  yeeld  a  fweet  fhort  grafle,  profitable  for  fheepe. 
Wherein  albeit  they  of  Scotland  doo  fomewhat  come  be- 
hind vs,yet  their  outward  defecT:  isinwardlierecompenfed, 
not  onelie  with  plentie  of  quarries  (and  thofe  of  fundrie 
kinds  of  marble,  hard  ftone,  and  fine  alabafter)  but  alfo 
rich  mines  of  mettall,  as  {hall  be  mewed  hereafter. 

In  this  Hand  likewife  the  winds  are  commonlie  more 
ftrong  and  fierce,  than  in  anie  other  places  of  the  maine, 
[which  Cardane  alfo  efpied]  :  and  that  is  often  feene  vpon 
the  naked  hilles,4  not  garded  with  trees  to  beare  [and 
keepe]  it  off.  That  grieuous  inconuenience  alfo  inforceth 
our  nobilitie,  gentrie,  and  communaltle,  to  build  their 
houfes  in  the  vallies,  leauing  the  high  grounds  vnto 
their  corne  and  cattell,  leaft  the  cold  and  ftormie  blafts 
of  winter  fhould  breed  them  greater  annoiance :  whereas 
in  other  regions  each  one  defireth  to  fet  his  houfe  aloft 
on  the  hill,  not  onlie  to  be  feene  a  farre  off,  and  caft 
forth  his  beames  of  ftatelie  and  curious  workemanfhip 
into  euerie  quarter  of  the  countrie  j  but  alfo  (in  hot 
habitations)  for  coldnefle  fake  of  the  aire,  fith  the  heat  is 
neuer  fo  vehement  on  the  hill  top  as  in  the  vallie,  becaufe 
the  reuerberation  of  the  funne  beames  either  reacheth 
1  Corinwall  *  run  3  to  the  other,  of  all  which  some.  4  which  are. 


CHAP.    XVIII.]  SOIL    AND    PRODUCTS.  IJ I 

not  fo  farre  as  the  higheft,  or  elfe  becommeth  not  fo 
ftrong  as  when  it  is  reflected  vpon l  the  lower  foile.2 

But  to  leaue  our  buildings  vnto  the  purpoled  place  Husband™ 

amended. 

(which  notwithftanding  haue  verie  much  increafed,  I 
meane  for  curiofitie  and  coft,  in  England,  Wales,  and 
Scotland,  within  thefe  few  yeares)  and  to  returne  to  the 
foile  againe.  Certeinelie  it  is  euen  now  in  thefe  our  Our  soil  has 

improvd 

daies  growne  to  be  much  more  fruitfull,  than  it  hath  lately, 
beene  in  times  paft.    The  caufe  is  for  that  our  countrie- 
men  are  growne  to  be  more  painefull,  fkilfull,  and  care-   by  the  care  of 
full  through  recompenfe  of  gaine,  than  heretofore  they 
haue   beene:    infomuch  that   my  Synchrmi  or   time  my time- 
fellows  can  reape  at  this  prefent  great  commoditie  in  a 
little  roome  5  whereas  of  late  yeares,  a  great  compaffe 
hath  yeelded  but  fmall  profit,  and  this  onelie  through 
the  idle  and  negligent  occupation  of  fuch,  as   [dailie] 
manured  and  had  the  fame  in  occupieng.     I  might  fet 
downe  examples  of  thefe  things  out  of  all  the  parts  of 
this  Hand,  that  is  to  faie,  manie  of  England,  more  out 
of  Scotland,  but  moft  of  all  out  of  Wales :  in  which  two   especially  b 
laft  rehearfed,  verie  little  other  food  and  liuelihood  was 
woont  to  be  looked  for  (befide  flefh)  more  than  the 
foile  of  it  felfe,  and  the  cow  gaue  j  the  people  in  the   where  most  folk 

,.    .          .  ,    ,.        j.~  ,        ,.  ...          once  were 

meane  time  liuing  idelie,  diliolutehe,  and  by  picking  thieves. 
and  ftealing  one  from  another.   All  which  vices  are  now 
(for  the  moft  part)  relinquifhed,  fo  that  each  nation 
manureth  hir  owne  with  triple  commoditie,  to  that  it 
was  before  time. 

The  pafture  of  this  Hand  is  according  to  the  nature  Pasture. 
and  bountie8  of  the  foile,  whereby  in  moft  places  it  is 
plentifull,  verie  fine,  batable,  and  fuch  as  either  fatteth  it  is  mostly 

fine  and  rich. 

our  cattell  with  fpeed,  or  yeeldeth  great  abundance  of 
milke  and  creame :  whereof  the  yelloweft  butter  and 
fineft  cheefe  are  made.  But  where  the  blue  claie 
aboundeth  (which  hardlie  drinketh  vp  the  winters  water 
in  long  feafon)  there  the  graffe  is  fpearie,  rough,  and 
1  to  *  mountayne  3  fituation 


132 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK 


Our  best 
pasture  land  is 
in  Cardigan. 


It's  as  fertile  as 
Italy,  the 


Paradise  of  the 
World, 


and  the 
Sink  of  Hell. 


Medowes. 


Land-meads. 


The  grass  of 
Land-meads  is 
better  than  that 
of  Bottoms. 


verie  apt  for  buihes :  by  which  occafion  it  commeth1 
nothing  fo  profitable  vnto  the  owner  [as  the  other]. 
The  beft  pafture  ground  of  all  England  is  in  Wales,  &  of 
all  the  pafture  in  Wales  that  of  Cardigan  is  the  cheefe. 
I  fpeake  of2  [the  fame]  which  is  to  be  found  in  the 
mounteines  there,  where  the  hundred  part  of  the  grafle 
growing  is  not  eaten,  but  fuffered  to  rot  on  the  ground, 
whereby  the  foile  becommeth  matted,  and  diuerfe  bogges 
and  quicke  moores  made  withall  in  long  continuance : 
becaufe  all  the  cattell  in  the  countrie  are  not  able  to  eat 
it  downe.  [If  it  be  to  be  accompted  good  foile,  on 
which  a  man  may  laie  a  wand  ouer  night,  and  on  the 
morrow  find  it  hidden  and  ouergrowen  with  grafle :  it 
is  not  hard  to  find  plentie  thereof  in  manie  places  of  this 
land.  Neuertheles,  fuch  is  the  fruitfulnes  of  the  afore- 
faid  countie,  that  it  farre  furmounteth  this  proportion, 
whereby  it  may  be  compared  for  batablenefle  with  Italic, 
which  in  my  time  is  called  the  paradife  of  the  world, 
although  by  reafon  of  the  wickednefle  of  fuch  as  dwell 
therein  it  may  be  called  the  finke  and  draine  of  hell :  fo 
that  whereas  they  were  woont  to  faie  of  vs  that  our  land 
is  good  but  our  people  euill,  they  did  but  onlie  fpeake 
it  j  whereas  we  know  by  experience  that  the  foile  of 
Italie  is  a  noble  foile,  but  the  dwellers  therein  farre  off 
from  anie  vertue  or  goodnefle.] 

Our  medowes,  are  either  bottomes  (whereof  we  haue 
great  ftore,  and  thofe  verie  large,  bicaufe  our  foile  is 
hillie)  or  elfe  [fuch  as  we  call]  land  meads,  [and  borowed 
from  the  beft  &  fatteft  pafturages.]  The  firft  of  them 
are  yearelie  &  often  ouerflowen  by  the  rifing  of  fuch 
ftreames  as  pafle  through  the  fame,  or  violent  falles  of 
land-waters,  that  defcend  from  the  hils  about  them. 
The  other  are  feldome  or  neuer  ouerflowen,  and  that  is 
the  caufe  wherefore  their  grafle  is  fhorter  than  that  of 
the  bottomes,  and  yet  is  it  farre  more  fine,  wholefome, 
and  batable,  fith  the  haie  of  our  low  medowes  is  not 
1  becoraraeth  2  that 


CHAP.    XVIII.]  SOIL    AND    PRODUCTS.  133 

onelie   full  of  fandie  cinder,  which   breedeth   fundrie   The  hay  of  low 

f  ,    meadows  isn't 

difeafes  in  our  cattell,  but  alio  more  rowtie,  toggle,  and   so  good  as  that 

of  high  ones, 

full  of  flags,  and  therefore  not  fo  profitable  for  flouer 
and  forrage  as  the  higher  meads  be.  The  difference 
furthermore  in  their  commodities  is  great,  for  whereas 
in  our  land  meadowes  we  haue  not  often  aboue  one 
good  load  of  haie,  [or  peraduenture  a  little  more]  in  an 
acre  of  ground  [(I  vie  the  word  Carrucata  or  Carruca 
which  is  a  waine  load,  and,  as  I  remember,  vfed  by 
Plinie  lil.  33.  cap.  u.)]  in  l°w  meadowes  we  haue  though  you  get 

thrice  or  twice 

fometimes   three,  but   commonhe  two  or  vpward,  as  as  much  of  it. 
experience  hath  oft  confirmed. 

[Of  fuch  as  are  twife  mowed  I  fpeake  not,  fith  their  The  aftermath 

of  twice-mown 

later  math  is  not  fo  wholfome  for  cattell  as  the  firft  ;   lands  often  rota 

.  or  blows  cattle. 

although  in  the  mouth  more  pleafant  for  the  time  :  for 
thereby  they  become  oftentimes  to  be  rotten,  or  to 
increafe  fo  faft  in  bloud,  that  the  garget  and  other 
Jifeafes  doo  confume  manie  of  them  before  the  owners 
can  feeke  out  any  remedie,  by  Phlelotomie  or  otherwife. 
Some  fuperflitious  fooles  fuppofe  that  they  which  die  of  Superstitious 

3  fools  think  this 

the  garget  are  ridden  with  the  night  mare,  and  therefore  is  due  to  the 

Devil,  and-hang 

they  hang  vp  Hones  which  naturallie  haue  holes  in  them,   up  holey  stones 
and  mull  be  found  vnlooked  for;  as  if  fuch  a  ftone  were  with,  and 

leave  the  cattle 


an  apt  cockeihot  for  the  diuell  to  run  through  and  folace 

himfelfe  wit  hall,  whileft  the  cattell  go  fcotfree  and  are 

not  molefted  by  him.     But  if  I  mould  fet  downe  but 

halfe  the  toies  that  fuperftition  hath  brought  into  our  i  can't  set  down 

hulbandmens  heads  in  this  and  other  behalfes,  it  would  gammon. 

aike  a  greater  volume  than  is  conuenient  for  fuch  a  pur- 

pofe,  wherefore  it  mail  fuffice  to  haue  faid  thus  much  of 

thefe  things.] 

The  yeeld  of  our  corne-ground  is  alfo  much  after 
this  rate  folowing.  Through  out  the  land  (if  you  pleafe 
to  make  an  eftimat  thereof  by  the  acre)  in  meaue1  and 
indifferent  yeares,  wherein  each  acre  of  [rie  or]  wheat, 
well  tilled  and  dreffed,  will  yeeld  commonlie  [fixteene 


134 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK  i. 


The  yield  of  land 
is :  Wheat,  16  to 
20  bushels  an 
acre;  Barley,  36; 
Oats  4  or  5  qrs. 


Mixt  corn, 
Bulmong,  and 
Miscelin,  about 
the  same. 


In  Goshen,  in 
Egypt,  the  yield 
is  100-fold. 


Lately  we've 
taken  to  Hop- 
planting  in 
moory  land, 


and  we  beat  the 
Flemish  hops.. 


A  mau  by 


12  acres  of  hops 
has  cleard  133^ 
6*.  8d.  (A  mark 
was  13s.  4d.) 


or]  twentie  bufhels,anacre  of  barlie  fix1  andthirtiebufhels, 
of  otes  and  fuch  like  [foure  or]  fiue  quarters,  which  pro- 
portion is  notwithflanding  oft  abated  toward  the  north, 
as  it  is  oftentimes  furmounted  in  the  fouth.  Of  mixed 
corne,  as  peafon  and  beanes,  fowen  togither,  tares  and 
otes  (which  they  call  bulmong),  rie  and  wheat  [named 
mifcelin],  here  is  no  place  to  fpeake,  yet  their  yeeld  is 
neuerthelefle  much  after  this  proportion,  as  I  haue  often 
marked.  [And  yet  is  not  this  our  great  foifon  compar- 
able to  that  of  hoter  countries  of  the  maine.  But  of  all 
that  euer  I  read,  the  mcreafe  which  Eldred  Danus 
writeth  of  in  his  De  tmperie  ludceorum  in  Aethiopia 
furmounteth,  where  he  faith  that  in  the  field  neere 
to  the  Sabbatike  riuer,  called  in  old  time  Gofan,  the 
ground  is  fo  fertile,  that  euerie  graine  of  barleie  growing 
dooth  yeeld  an  hundred  kernels  at  the  leaft  vnto  the 
owner. 

Of  late  yeares  alfo  we  haue  found  and  taken  vp  a 
great  trade  in  planting  of  hops,  whereof  our  moorie 
hitherto  and  vnprofitable  grounds  doo  yeeld  fuch  plentie 
&  increafe,  that  their  are  few  farmers  or  occupiers  in 
the  countrie,  which  haue  not  gardens  and  hops  growing 
of  their  owne,  and  thofe  farre  better  than  doo  come 
from  Flanders  vnto  vs.  Certes  the  corruptions  vfed  by 
the  Flemings,  and  forgerie  dailie  pra6tifed  in  this  kind 
of  ware,  gaue  vs  occafion  to  plant  them  here  at  home . 
fo  that  now  we  may  fpare  and  fend  manie  ouer  vnto 
them.  And  this  I  know  by  experience,  that  fome  one 
man  by  conueriion  of  his  moorie  grounds  into  hop- 
yards,  wherof  before  he  had  no  commoditie,  dooth  raife 
yearelie  by  fo  little  as  twelue  acres  in  compafle  two 
hundred  markesj  all  charges  borne  toward  the  main- 
tenance of  his  familie.  Which  induftrie  God  continue! 
though  fome  fecret  freends  of  Flemings  let  not  to 
exclaime  againft  this  commoditie,  as  a  fpoile  of  wood, 
by  reafon  of  the  poles,  which  neuerthelefle  after  three 
1  two 


OHAP.     XVIII.]  SOIL    AND    PRODUCTS.  J^jJ 

yeares  doo  alfo  come  to  the  fire,  and  fpare  their  other 
fewell.] 

The  cattell  which  we  breed  are  commonlie  mch,  as   Catteii. 
for  greatneffe  of  bone,  fweetneffe  of  fleih,  and  other 
benefits  to  be  reaped  by  the  fame,  giue  place  vnto  none 
other  :  as  may  appeare  firft  by  our  oxen,  whofe  large-   our  Oxen  11 
neffe,  height,  weight,  tallow,  hides,  and  homes  are  fuch, 
as  none  of  anie  other  nation  doo  commonlie  or  may 
eafilie  exceed  them.     Our  fheepe  likewife  for  good  tail  So  '11  our  sheep, 
of  flefh,  quantitie  of  lims,  fineffe  of  fleece  [caufed  by 
their  hardneffe  of  pafturage,]  and  abundance  of  increafe 
(for  in  manie  places  they  bring  foorth  two  or  three  at 
an  eaning)  giue  no  place  vnto  anie,  more  than  doo  our  and  our  Goats. 
goates,  who  in  like  fort  doo  follow  the  fame  order,  and 
our  deere  come  not  behind.     As  for  our  conies,  I  haue  Our  Rabbits 
feene  them  fo  fat  in  fome  foiles,  efpeciallie  about  Meall   specially  at' 


and  Difnege,  that  the  greafe  of  one  being  weighed,  hath 
peifed  verie  neere  fix  or  feuen  ounces.  All  which 
benefits,  we  firft  refer  to  the  grace  and  goodneffe  of  God, 
and  next  of  all  vnto  the  bountie  of  our  foile,  which  he 
hath  !  indued  with  fo  notable  and  commodious  fruitful- 
nelfe.1 

But   as   I   meane  to  intreat  of  thefe  things  more   Unhappily  we 
largelie   hereafter,  fo  will   I   touch   in   this   place  one 
benefit  which  our  nation2  wanteth,  and  that   is  wine   Wine. 
the  fault  whereof  is  not  in  our  foile,  but  the  negligence 
of  our  countriemen  (efpeciallie  of  the  fouth  partes)  who 
doo  not  inure  the  fame  to  this  commoditie,  and  which 
by  reafon  of  long  difcontinuance,  is  now  become  vnapt 
to  beare  anie  grapes  3  [almoft  for  pleafure  &  fhadow, 
much  lefle  then  the  plaine]3  fields  or  feuerall  vineyards 
[for   aduantage  and  commoditie.]     Yet   of  late   time  Tho',  as  you 
fome  haue  affaied  to  deale  for  wine,  [as  to  your  lordfhip   Cobha'm,  some 
alfo  is  right  well  knowen.]     But  fith  that  liquor  when   tried  wine- 

growing, 

it  commeth  to  the  drinking  hath  bin  found  more  hard, 

1  —  *  so  plentifallye  indued  with  so  ample  and  large  commodities. 

2  Country.  »—  3  eyther  in  the  fielde. 


136" 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK    I. 


but  it 

.didn't  pay,  and 

so  they've  given 


But  i  can't 
vineT 


Certainly  they 
mtnesa  the  old 

wine-tithes,  the 


abbe  vin 

Smitiifi 
(which 


John  stow,  our 
quary,  says  is 

now  Portsoken 

Ward,  &c.), 


than  that  which  is  brought  from  beyond  the  fea,  and 
the  coft  of  planting  and  keeping  thereof  fo  chargeable, 
that  they  may  buie  it  far  better  cheape  from  other 

.  _ 

countries  :  they  naue  giuen  ouer  their  enterpnies  with- 
out anie  confi  deration,  that  as  in  all  other  things,  <b 
neither  the  ground  it  felfe  in  the  beginning,  nor  fuccefle 
of  their  trauell  can  anfwer  their  expectation  at  the  firft, 
vntill  fuch  time  as  the  foile  be  brought  as  it  were  into 
acquaintance  with  this  commoditie,  and  that  prouifion 
may  be  made  for  the  more  eafinefle  of  charge,  to  be 
imploied  vpon  the  fame. 

If  it  be  true,  that  where  wine  dooth  laft  and  indure 
well,  there  it  will  grow  no  worfe:  I  mufe  not  a  little 
wherefore  the  planting  of  vines  mould  be  neglected  in 
England.  That  this  liquor  might  haue  growne  in  this 
Hand  heretofore,  firft  the  charter  that  Prolus  the 
emperour  gaue  equallie  to  vs,  the  Galles,  and  Spaniards, 
is  one  fufficient  teftimonie.  And  that  it  did  grow  here, 
[befide  the  teftimonie  of  Beda  lil.  i.  cap.  i.]  the  old 

L 

notes  of  tithes  for  wine  that  yet  remaine  in  the  accompts 
of  fome  parfons  and  vicars  in  Kent,  [elfewhere,]  befides 
the  records  of  fundrie  futes,  commenfed  in  diuerfe 
ecclefiafticall  courts,  both  in  Kent,1  Surrie,  [&c  :]  alfo  the 
inclofed  parcels  almoft  in  euerie  abbeie  yet  called  the 
vineyardes,  may  be  a  notable  witnefle,2  [as  alfo  the  plot 
which  we  now  ca^  eaft  Smithfield  in  London  giuen  by 
Canutus  fometime  king  of  this  land,  with  other  foile 
there  about  vnto  certeine  of  his  knights,  with  the  libertie 
of  a  Guild  which  therof  was  called  Knighton  Guild. 
The  truth  is  (faith  lohn  Stow  our  countrie  man,  and 
diligent  traueller  in  the  old  eftate  of  this  my  natiue  citie) 

.    _.  .,  ,  . 

that  it  is  now  named  Port  loken  ward,  and  giuen  in 
time  paft  to  the  religious  houfe  within  Algate.  How- 
beit  firft  Otwell,  the  Archouell,  Otto,  &  finallie  Geffrie 
erle  of  Effex,  conftables  of  the  Tower  of  London,  with- 
held that  portion  from  the  laid  houfe,  vntill  the  reigne  of 
1  Kent  and  2  proofe 


CHAP.    XVIII.]  SOIL    AND    PRODUCTS.  137 

king  Stephan,  and  thereof  made  a  vineyard  to  their  great  which  was 
commoditie  and  lucre.    The  He  of  Elie  alfo  was  in  the 


firft  times  of  the   Normans  called  Le  He1  des  vignes.   The  lie  of  Ely 

And  good  record  appeereth,  that  the  bifh  op  there  had   lie  of  vines. 

yearelie  three  or   foure  tunne  at  the  leaft  giuen  him 

Nomine  decimce,  befide  whatfoeuer  otier-fumme  of  the 

liquor  did  accrue  to  him  by  leafes  and  other  excheats 

whereof  alfo  I  haue  feene  mention.]     Wherefore  our   it's  not  the  fault 

.    .  /-of  our  soil  that 

foile  is  not  to  be  blamed,  as  though  our  nights  were  lo  wine  isn't 
exceeding  fhort,  that  [in  Auguft  and  September]  the 
moone,  which  is  ladie  of  moifture,  &  chiefe  ripener  of 
this  liquor,  cannot  in  anie  wife  mine  long  inough  vpon 
the  fame:  a  verie  meere  toie  and  fable  right  worthie 
to  be  fupprefled,  [becaufe  experience  conuinceth  the 
vpholders  thereof  euen  in  the  Rhenifh  wines.] 

The  time  hath  beene  alfo  that  wad,  [wherwith  our    Woadandmad- 

/.-.,»,  i  der  sometime  in 

countrie  men  died  their  faces  (as  Ctejar  faith)  that  they    Engiande? 

might  feeme  terrible  to  their  enimies  in  the  field  (and 

alfo  women  &  their  daughters  in  law  did  ftaine  their   The  Britons 

staind  them- 

bodies  &  go  naked,  in  that  pickle  to  the  facrmces  of  selves  with 

woad. 

their  gods,  coueting  to  referable  therin  the  Ethiopians, 

as  Plinie  faith  li.  22.  cap.  i.)]  and  [alfo]  madder  haue 

beene  (next  vnto  our  tin  and  woolles)  the  chiefe  com- 

modities, and  merchandize  of  this  realme.     I  find  alfo  Rape  oyie. 

that  rape  oile  hath  beene  made  within  this  land.     But 

now  our  foile  [either]  will  [not  or  at   the  leaft  wife 

may  not]  beare  3either  wad  or  madder  3  :  [I  faie]  4not  we  don't  now 

that  the4  ground  is  not  able  fo  to  doo,  but  that  we  are   madder. 

negligent,  [afraid  of   the  pilling  of    our  grounds,]  and 

carelefle  of  our  owne  profit,  as  men  rather  willing  to 

buie  the  fame  of  others  than  take  anie  paine  to  plant 

them  here  at  home.   The  like  I  may  faie  of  flax,  which  Finxe 

by  law  ought  to  be  fowen  in  euerie  countrie-towne  in   ought  by  law  to 

England,  more  or  lefie  :  but  I  fee  no  fucceffe  of  that  throughout 

,     ,    r  i         K  r  i     •      •          i  England  ;  but  it 

good  and  wholeiome  law,0  nth  it  is  rather  contempt-   isn't. 
1  orig.  lie,      *  wad.  Madder.  Rape,  in  F.  J.  F.'s  copy,  ed.  1587. 
3  —  3  neyther  of  these  4  —  *  not  for  that  5  estatute 


138  THE    DESCRIPTION    OP    ENGLAND.  [fiOOK    I. 

uouflie  reie&ed  than  otherwife  dutifullie  kept  [in  anie 
place  of  England.] 
Number,  Some  faie  that  our   great    number   of  Iawes1fdoo 

Alteration, 

Dispensation,       breed  a  generall  negligence  and  contempt  of  all  good 

Example  of 

'     order  >  bicau^e  we  haue  fo  manie,  that  no  fubieft  can 


Wve°tcJf£a]ny  liue  witnout  tne  tranfgreffion  of  fome  of  them,  and  that 
the  often  alteration  of  our  ordinances  dooth  much  harme 
in  this  refpe&J1  which  (after  Arijlotle)  doth  feeme  to  carie 
fome  reafon  with  all,  [for  (as  Cornelius  Gallus  hath  :) 

'•  2-1  Euentus  varios  res  nouafemper  halet. 

But  verie  manie  let  not  to  affirme2,  that  3[the  greedie 
corruption  of  the  promoters  on  the  one  fide,  facilitie  in 
difpenfing  with  good  lawes,  and  firfi  breach  of  the  fame, 
in  the  lawmakers  &:  fuperiors,  &  priuat  refpe&s,  of  their 
eftablimment,  on  the  other,  are  the  greateft  caufes 
whie  the  inferiours  regard  no  good  order,  being 
'tmgi  alwaies  fo  redie  to  offend  without  anie  facultie  one 

magis  exemplo 

quam  cuipa  pec-    waie,  as  they  are  otherwife  to  prefume,  vpon  the  ex- 

care  solent. \ 

amples  of  their  betters  when  anie  hold  is  to  be  taken.]3 

But  as  in  thefe  things  I  haue  no  fkill,  fo  I4  wilh  that 

fh<midte°ensSt-  fewer  licences  for  the  priuat  commoditie  but  of  a  few 

fit  ofriidivlene"    were  granted  6[(n°t  that  thereby  I  denie  the  mainten- 

diiaia,  ance  Qf  tke  prer0gatiue  roiall,  but  rather  would  with 

all  my  hart   that  it   might   be   yet   more   honorablie 

1 — *  whereby  it  is  impossible  for  any  man  to  auoyde  theyr  trans- 
gression, is  one  great  cause  of  our  negligence  in  this  behalf  e.  Other 
affinne  that  the  often  alteration  of  our  ordinances  do  breed  this 
general  contempt  of  all  good  laws.  2  saye 

3— 3  that  facility  in  dispensation  with  them,  and  manifest  breche 
of  the  same  in  the  Superiours,  are  ye  greatest  causes  why  the 
inferiours  regarde  no  good  order,  beyng  allayes  ready  to  offende 
without  any  such  facultie  one  way,  as  they  are  to  presume  vpon  the 
example  of  the  higher  powers  another.  *  some 

6 — 6  &  this  they  say,  not  that  they  denie  ye  execution  of  the 
prerogatiue  royall,  but  woulde  wyth  all  theyr  hearts  that  it  might 
be  made  a  grievous  offence,  for  any  man  by  feeed  fryndeship  or 
otherwise,  to  procure  oughtes  of  the  Prince  (who  is  not  acquainted 
wyth  the  botome  of  the  estate  of  common  things)  that  may  be 
preiudiciall  to  the  weale  publike  of  his  country. 


CHAP.    XVIII.]  OLD    BRITONS.       SOIL.       VALLEYS.  139 

increafed)  &  that  euerie   one  which  by  feeed  friend- 

fhip  (or  otherwife)  dooth  attempt  to  procure  oughts 

from  the  prince,  that  may  profit  but  few,  and  proue  and  the  hurt  of 

hurtfull  to  manie,  might  be  at  open  affizes  and  feffions 

denounced  enimie  to  his  countrie  and  common-wealth 

of  the  land. 

[GlafTe  alfo  hath  beene  made  here  in  great  plentie  Glass,  scissors, 
before,  and  in  the  time  of  the  Romans  -,  and  the  faid 
fraffe  alfo,  befide  fine  fciffers,  fheeres,  collars  of  gold  gold  and  silver 

jewel-work  were 

and  filuer  for  womens  necks,  crufes  and  cups  of  amber,   made  by  the 

'    old  Britons 

were  a  parcell  of  the  tribute  which  Augujlus  in  his  here. 

daies  laid  vpon  this  Hand.     In  like  fort  he  charged  the 

Britons  with  certeine  implements  and  veffels  of  iuorie 

(as  Strabo   faith.)     Wherby  it  appeereth   that  in  old 

time  our  countriemen  were  farre  more  induftrious  and  Theyworkt 

harder  than  the 

painefull  in  the  vfe  and  application  of  the  benefits  of  idler  fighting 

Saxons  and 

their  countrie,  than  either  after  the  comming  of  the  Normans. 
Saxons  or  Normans,  in  which  they  gaue  themfelues 
more  to  idleneffe  and  following  of  the  warres.]  5 

If  it  were  requifit  that  I  mould  fpeake  of  the  fundrie   of  Clay,  and 
kinds  of  moold,  as  the  cledgie  or  claie,  whereof  are  Earths. 
diuerfe  forts  (red,  blue,  blacke  and  white)  alfo  the  red 
or  white  fandie,  the  lomie,  rofellie,  grauellie,  chalkie 
or  blacke,  I  could  faie  that  there  are  fo  manie  diuerfe 
veines  in  Britaine,  as  elfe  where  in  anie  quarter  of  like 
quantitie  in  the  world.      Howbeit  this  I    muft    needs   Most  of  ours 
confeffe,  that  the  fandie  &  cledgie  doo  beare l  [great]   sand, 
fwaie:    but    the   claie   moft    of    all,   as   hath    beene, 
and  yet  is  alwaies  feene  &  felt  through  plentie  and 
dearth  of  corne.  For  if  this  latter  [(I  meane  the  claie)]   in  dry  seasons 
doo  yeeldhir  full  increafe  [(which  it  dooth  commonlie   ™»ii;  in  wet 

ones,  nothing, 

in  dne  yeares  for  wheat)]  then  is  there  generall  plentie  : 
wheras  if  it  faile,  then  .haue  we  fcarfitie,  according  to 
the  old  rude  verfe  fet  downe  of  England,  but  to  be  vnder- 
ftood  of  the  whole  Hand,  as  experience  dooth  confirme : 

1  the  greatest  ('  the  greatest/  also  F.  J.  F.'s  copy  of  ed.  1587.) 


I40 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK 


and  we  sing 
'  wellaway  ! ' 


Vallies. 


The  vales  of 
White  Horse, 


Whitehart, 
Ringdale,  «fec., 
as  I/eland  says. 


Fennes. 


Some  are  from 
10  to  30  miles 
long:  the 
Girwies  60. 


Ely  fen  is  7 
miles  square. 
Its  folk  may  cut 
and  burn 
turves. 


When  the  f and  doothferue  the  claie 
Then  may  wejing  well  awaie; 
But  when  the  claie  doothferue  thefandt 
Then  is  it  merle  with  England. 

I  might  here  intreat1  of  the  famous  vallies  in  England, 
of  which  one  is  called  the  vale  of  White  horfle,  another 
of  Eouemam,  2[commonlie  taken  for  the  granarie  of 
Worcefterftiire,]2  the  third  of  Ailefbirie  that  goeth  by 
Tame,  the  rootes  of  Chilterne  hils,3  to  Donftable, 
Newport  panell,  Stonie  Stratford,  Buckhingham, 
Birftane  parke,  &c.  Likewife4  of  the  fourth  of  Whitehart 
or  Blackemoore  in  Dorfetfhire.  [The  fift  of  Ringdale 
or  Renidale,  corruptlie  called  Kingtaile.,  that  lieth  (as 
mine  author  faith)  vpon  the  edge  of  Essex  and  Cam- 
bridgefhire,]  and  alfo  the  Marfhwood  vale  :  but  for  fo- 
much  as  I  know  not  well  their  feuerall  limits,  I  giue 
ouer  to  go  anie  further  in  their  defcription.6  In  like  fort 
it  mould  not  be  amifTeto  fpeake  of  our  fennes,6  [although 
our  countrie  be  not  fo  full  of  this  kind  of  foile  as  the 
parties  beyond  the  feas,  to  wit,  Narbon,  &c :  and  thereto 
of]  other  pleafant  botoms,  the  which  are  not  onelie  indued 
with  excellent  riuers  and  great  ftore  of  [corne  and]  fine 
fodder  for  neat  and  horfles  in  time  of  the  yeare  (where- 
by they  are  exceeding  beneficiall  vnto  their  owners) 
but  alfo  of  no  fmall  compafle  and  quantitie  in  ground. 
For  fome  of  our  fens  are  well  knowen  to  be  either  of 
ten,  twelue,  fixteene,  twentie,  or  thirtie  miles  in  length, 
that  of  the  Girwies  yet  pafling  all  the  reft,  which  is  full 
60  (as  I  haue  often  read.)  [Wherein  alfo  Elie  the 
famous  He  ftandeth,  which  is  feuen  miles  euerie  waie, 
and  wherevnto  there  is  no  accefle  but  by  three  causies, 
whofe  inhabitants  in  like  fort  by  an  old  priuilege  may 
take  wood,  fedge,  turfe,  &c  5  to  burne :  likewife  haie 
for  their  cattell,  and  thatch  for  their  houfes  of  cuftome, 

1  intreat  also 

2  — 2  noted  to  be  twelue  or  thirteene  miles  in  compasse, 

3  and  so  to  *  And  likewise 

*  description  at  this  time  6  and  other 


CHAP.    XIX.]  HIGHWAYS.  IiJI 

and  each  occupier  in  his  appointed  quantitie  through  out 
the  He  5  albeit  that  couetoufneffe  hath  now  begun 
fomewhat  to  abridge  this  large  beneuolence  and  com- 
moditie,  afwell  in  the  faid  He  as  moft  other  places  of 
this  land] 

Finallie,  I  might  difcourfe  in  like  order  of  the  large 
commons,  laid  out  heretofore  by  the  lords  of  the  foiles  [Commons.] 
for  the  benefit  of  fuch  poore,  as  inhabit  within   the 
compafle  of  their  manors.     But  as  the  [true  intent  of 
the  giuers  is  now  in  moft  places  defrauded,  in  *o  much 
that  not  the  poore  tenants  inhabiting  vpon  die  fame,   Not  poor 
but  their  landlords  haue  all  the  commoditie  and  ffaine.  landlords,  get 

all  the  gain  of 

lo  thej  traciation  of  them  belongeth  rather  to  the  em  now. 
fecond  booke.  Wherfore  l  I  meane  not  at  this  prefent 
to  deale  withall,  2but  referue  2  the  fame  wholie  vnto  the 
due  place  whileft  I  go  forward  with  the  reft  5  [fetting 
downe  neuerthelefle  by  the  waie  a  generall  commend- 
ation of  the  whole  Hand,  which  I  find  in  an  ancient 
monument,  much  vnto  this  effect. 

Ilia  quidem  longb  Celebris  fplendore,  t-eata,  Two  old  praise* 

Glebis,  latte,fauis,fupereminet  infula  cun&is,  of  England. 

Quas  regit  ille  Deus,fpumanti  cuius  ab  ore 

Prqfluit  oceanus,  &c.     And  a  little  after. 

Tejlis  Lundoniaratibus,  Wintonia  Baccho, 

Herefordia  grege,  Worcejlriafrugeredundans, 

Bat  ha  lacu,  Salabyraferis,  Cantuaria  pifce, 

Eboracafyluis,  Excejlria  clara  metal  Us, 

Norwicum  Dacis  hybernis,  Cejlria  Gallis, 

Cicejlrwn  JVorivagenis,  Dunelmia  prcep'mguis, 

Tejlis  Lincolnia  gens  infinita  decor e, 

Tejlis  Eliformofa  litu,  Doncastria  vifu,  &c. 

i  so  a — 2  reserving 


HARRISON.— PART  III.  10 


142 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK  i. 


Some  folk  say 
the  Saxons 
made  our  Four 
High  Ways. 


But  they  are 
weak  in  the 
knees, 


and  if  I'd  space, 
I'd  show  em 
that 


the  Romans 
made  these 
Ways. 


It's  said  that 
Duiiwallon,  b.c. 


Of  the  foure  high  waies   fometime 

made  in  Britaine  by  the  princes 

of  this  Hand.1 

Chap,  ip.2 

THere  are,  which  indeuoring  to  bring  all  things 
to  their  Saxon  origin  all,  doo  affirme,  that  this 
diuifion  of  waies,  (whereof  we  now  intreat) 
fliould  apperteine  vnto  fuch  princes  of  that  nation  as 
reigned  here,  lince  3  the  Romanes  gaue  vs  ouer :  [and 
herevpon  they  inferre,  that  Wattling  llreet  was  builded 
by  one  Wattle  from  the  eaft  vnto  the  weft.]  But  how 
weake  their  coniectures  are  in  this  behalfe,  the  antiquitie 
of  thefe  ftreetsit  felfeihall  eafilie  declare,  whereof  fome 
parcelles,  after  a  fort,  are  alfo  fet  downe  by  Antoninus  ; 
and  thofe  that  haue  written  of  the  feuerall  iournies  from 
hence  to  Rome :  although  peraduenture  not  in  fo  direct 
an  order  as  they  were  at  the  firft  eftablifhed.  For  my 
part,  if  it  were  not  that  I  defire  to  be  fhort  in  this  behalfe, 
I  could  with  fuch  notes  as  I  haue  alreadie  collected  for 
that  purpofe,  make  a  large  confutation  of  diuerfe  of 
their  opinions  concerning  thefe  pafiages,  [and  thereby 
rather  afcribe  the  originall  of  thefe  waies  to  the  Romans 
than  either  the  Britim  or  Saxon  princes.]  But  lith  I 
haue  fpent  more  time  in  the  tra&ation  of  the  riuers  than 
was  allotted  vnto  me,  [and  that  I  fee  great  caufe  (not- 
withftanding  my  late  alledged  fcruple)  wherfore  I  mould 
hold  with  our  Galfride  before  anie  other  5]  I  will 
omit  at  this  time  to  difcourfe  of  thefe  things  as  I  would, 
and  faie  what  I  maie  for  the  better  knowledge  of  their 
courfes,  proceeding  therein  as  followeth. 

Firft  of  all  I  find,  that  Dunwallon  king  of  Britaine, 

about  483  yeares  before  the  birth  of  our  fauiour  Jems 

Chrift,  feeing  the  fubieds  of  his  realme  to  be  in  fundrie 

wife  opprefled  by  theeues  and  robbers  as  they  trauelled 

i  Lande  a  Chap.  12.  *  sith 


CHAP.    XIX.]  KOADS.  143 

to  and  fro ;  and  being  willing  (fo  much  as  in  him  laie) 
to  redrefTe  thefe  inconueniences,  caufed  his  whole  king- 
dome  to  be  furueied  j  and  then  commanding  foure 
principall  waies  to  be  made,  which  mould  leade  fuch  as  bad  4  great 

Highways  made 

trauelled  into  all  parts  thereof,  from  fea  to  fea,  he  gaue  from  sea  to  sea, 
fundrie  large  priuileges  vnto  the  fame,  whereby  they  be- 
came fafe,  and  verie  much  frequented.     And  as  he  had 
regard  herein  to  the  fecuritie  of  his  fubiects,  fo  he  made 
fharpe  lawes  grounded  vpon  iuftice,  for  the  fuppreffion  of 
fuch  wicked  members  as  did  offei  violence  to  anie  traueler  and  protected 
that  mould  be  met  withall  or  found  within  the  limits 
of  thofe  paflages.     How  [and]   by  what  parts  of  this 
Hand  thefe  waies  were  conueied  at  the  firft,  it  is  not  But  no  tracks 

.of  these  ways 

fo  wholie  left  in  memorie :  but  that  fome  queftion  is  are  now  known; 

mooued  among  the   learned,  concerning  their  ancient 

courfes.    Howbeit  fuch  is  the  fhadow  remaining  hitherto 

of  their  extenfions,  that  if  not  at  this  prefent  perfe6tlie, 

yet  hereafter  it  is  not  vnpoflible,  but  that  they  may  be 

found  out,  &  left  certeine  vnto  pofteritie.     It  feemeth 

by  Galfride,  that  the  faid  Dunwallon  did  limit  out  thofe 

waies  by  dooles  and  markes,  which  being  in  fhort  time  their  bounds  are 

altered  by  the  auarice  of  fuch  irreligious  perfons  as  dwelt   been  mov'd, 

and  their  soil 

neere,  and  incroched  vpon  the  fame  (a  fault  yet  iuftlie   encroacht  on. 

to  be  found  almoft  in  euerie  place,  [euen  in  the  time  of 

our   molt    srratious   and    fouereigne    Ladie   Elizabeth,   (Even  now  land- 

0  lords  lessen 

'vherein  the  lords  of  the  foiles  doo  vnite  their  fmall   commons 

occupieng,   onelie  to  increafe  a  greater  proportion  of 

rent ;  and  therefore  they  either  remooue,  or  giue  licence 

to  erect  fmall  tenements  vpon  the  high  waies  fides  and 

commons ;  wherevnto,  in   truth,  they  haue  no  right :   on  them<) 

and  yet  out  of  them  alfo  doo  raife  a  new  commoditie)] 

and  queftion  mooued  for  their  bounds  before  Belinus  his 

fonne,  he,  to  auoid  all  further  controuerfie  that  might   Beljf^s  hjdft 

from  thencefoorth  infue,  caufed  the  fame  to  be  paued   broad-  pavdt 

with  hard  ftone  of  eighteene  foot  in  breadth,  ten  foot  in 

depth,  and  in  the  bottome  thereof  huge  flint  ftones  alfo 

to  be  pitched,  leaft  the  earth  in  time  mould  fwallow  vp 


i44 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK  i. 


made  fresh  acts 
against  robbers. 


These  4  ways 
are  the  Fosse, 
Watling,  Erm- 
ing,  and  Ike- 


The  Fosse  runs 
from  Totness 


to  Bristol, 
Tetbury, 

Cireucester, 


Coventry  and 
Lincoln* 


his  workemanfhip,  and  the  higher  ground  ouer-grow 
their  riling  crefls.  He  indued  them  alfo  with  larger 
priuileges  than  before,  protefling  that  if  anie  man 
whofoeuer  fhould  prefume  to  infringe  his  peace,  and 
violate  the  lawes  of  his  kingdome  in  anie  maner  of 
wife,  neere  vnto  or  vpon  thofe  waies,  he  mould  fuffer 
fuch  puniihment  without  all  hope  to  efcape  (by  freend- 
fhip  or  mercie)  as  by  the  ftatutes  of  this  realme  latelie 
prouided  in  thofe  cafes  were  1  due  vnto  the  oifendors. 
The  names  of  thefe  foure  waies  are  the  Fofle,  the 
Gwethelin  or  Watling,  the  firming,  and  the  [Ikenild.]2 
The  Foffe  goeth  not  directlie  but  flopewife  ouer  the 
greateft  part  of  this  Hand,  beginning  at  Dotneife  or  Tot- 
nefle  in  Deuonfhire,  where  Brute  fomtime  landed,  or 
(as  Ranulphus  faith,  which  is  more  likelie)  at  the  point 
of  Cornwall,  though  the  eldeft  writers  doo  feeme  to 
note  the  contrarie.  From  hence  it  goeth  thorough  the 
middle  of  Deuonfhire  &  Summerfetfliire,  and  commeth 
to  Briftow,  from  whence  it  runneth  manifeftlie  to 
Sudberie  market,  Tetburie,  and  fo  foorth  holdeth  on  as 
you  go  almoft  to  the  midde  waie  betweene  Glocefter 
and  Cirnecefter,  (where  the  wood  faileth,  and  the 
champeigne  countrie  appeareth  toward  Cottefwald) 
ftreight  as  a  line  vntill  you  come  to  Cirnecefter  it  felfe. 
Some  hold  opinion  that  the  waie,  which  lieth  from 
Cirnecefter  to  Bath,  (hould  be  the  verie  Fofle  $  and  that 
betwixt  Cirnecefter  and  Glocefter  to  be  another  of  the 
foure  waies,  made  by  the  Britons.  But  ancient  report 
grounded  vpon  great  likelihood,  and  confirmed  alfo  by 
fome  experience,  iudgeth  that  moil  of  the  waies  crofted 
ech  other  in  this  part  of  the  realme.  And  of  this  mind 
is  Leland  alfo,  who  learned  it  of  an  abbat  of  Cirnecefter 
that  Ihewed  great  likelihood  by  fome  records  thereof. 
But  to  proceed.  From  Cirnecefter,  it  goeth  by  Chep- 
ingnorton  to  Couentrie,  Leircefter,  Newarke,  and  fo 
to  Lincolne  ouerthwart  the  Watlingftreet :  where,  by 
1  are  2  Ychenild 


CHAP.    XIX.]  ROADS.  145 

generall  confent  of  all  the  writers  (except  Alfred  of 
Beuerleie,  who  extendeth  it  vnto  CathnerTe  in  Scotland) 
it  is  faid  to  haue  an  end. 

The  Watlingftreet  [begun  (as  I  faid)  by  Dunwallo,    Watting  strtet 
but  finimed  by  Gutheline,  of  whome  it  is  dire6tlie  to  be 
called    Gutheline  ftreet,    though   now   corrupted   into 
Watlingftreet,]  beginneth  at   Douer  in  Kent,  and  fo  to^J™Dover 
ftretcheth  through  the  middeft  of  Kent  vnto  London, 
and  fo  foorth  (peraduenture  by  the  middeft  of  the  citie) 
vnto  Verolamium  or  Werlamcefter,  now  faint  Albons,  StAiban's, 
where,  in  the  yeare  of  grace,  one  thoufand  fiue  hundred 
thirtie  &  one,  the  courfe  thereof  was  found  by  a  man 
that  digged   for  grauell  wherwith  to  mend  the  high 


waie.     It  was  in  this  place  eighteenc  foot  broad,  and  where,  in  1531 

A.D.  its  stones 

about  ten  foot  deepe,  and  ftoned  in  the  bottome  [in  fuch   could  be  8een» 

wife]  as  [I  haue  noted]  afore,  and  peraduenture  alfo  on 

the  top  :  but  thefe  are  gone,  and  the  reft  remaine  equall 

in  moft  places,  [and  leuell]  with  the  fields.    The  yelow 

errauell  alfo  that  was  brought  thither  in  carts  two  thou-  and  its  yellow 

gravel  quite 

fand   yeeres   patted,  remained   there    fo  frefh   and   fp  fresh- 

ftrong,  as  if  it  had  beene  digged  out  of  the  natural) 

place  where  it  grew  not  manie  yeeres  before.     From 

hence  it  goeth  hard  by  Margate,  leauing  it  on  the  weft 

fide.     And  a  little  by  fouth  of  this  place,  where  the 

priorie  flood,  is  a  long  thorough  fare  vpon  the  faid  TheWatling 

Street  then  runs 

ftreet,  meetly  well  builded  (for  low  houfing)  on  both 

fides.     After   this  [it   proceedeth  (as  the  chronicle  of 

Barnwell  faith)  to  Caxton,  and  fo  to  Huntingdon,  &  to  Caxton  and 

then  forward,  ftill  winding  in  and  out  till]  it  not  onelie 

becommeth  a  bound  vnt»  Leicefterfhire  toward  Lugbie, 

but  alfo  parTeth  from  Caftleford  to  Stamford,   and  fo  Stamford. 

foorth  by1  weft  of  Marton,  which  is  [but]  a  mile  from 

Torkefeie. 

Here  by  the  waie  I  muft  touch  the  opinion  of  a 
traueller  of  my  time,  who  noteth  the  faid  ftreet  to  go 
another  waie,  infomuch  that  he  would  haue  it  to  crofle 

i  by  the 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK   i. 


(I  don't  think  it 
went  by  Ather- 
ston,  tho'  the 
Fosse  may  have 
done  so.) 


Thence,  as 
Leland  says,  to 


Pomfret, 


Aberford, 


York, 

and  Borough- 
bridge. 


(Maiden  Castle 
was  on  the  side 
of  Watling  St.) 


the  third  Auon,  betwixt  Newton  and  Dowbridge,  and 
fo  go  on  to  Binford  bridge,  Wibtoff,  the  High  crofie,  and 
thence  to  Atherfton  vpon  Ancre.  Certes  it  may  be, 
that  the  Fofle  had  his  courfe  by  the  countrie  in  fuch 
fort  as  he  defcribeth  j  but  that  the  Watlingftreet  mould 
pafle  by  Atherfton,  I  cannot  as  yet  be  perfuaded. 
Neuerthelefle  his  coniecture  is  not  to  be  mifliked,  fith 
it  is  not  vnlikelie  that  three  feuerall  waies  might  meet 
at  Alderwaie  (a  towne  vpon  Tame,  beneath  Salters 
bridge)  for  I  doo  not  doubt  that  the  faid  towne  did 
take  his  name  of  all  three  waies,  as  Aldermarie  church 
in  London  did  of  all  three  Maries,  vnto  whom  it  hath 
beene  dedicated  :  but  that  the  Watling  ftreet  mould  be 
one  of  them,  the  compare  of  his  paflage  will  in  no  wife 
permit.  And  thus  much  haue  I  thought  good  to  note 
by  the  waie.  Now  to  retume  againe  to  Leland,  and 
other  mens  collections. 

The  next  tidings  that  we  heare  of  the  Watling-ftreet, 
are 1  that  it  goeth  thorough  [or  neere  by]  the  parke  at 
Pomfret,  as  the  common  voice  [alfo]  of  the  countrie 
confirmeth.  Thence  it  paifeth  haftilie  ouer  Caftelford 
bridge  to  Aberford,  which  is  fiue  miles  from  thence, 
and  where  are  moft  manifeft  tokens  of  this  ftreet  2(and  his 
broad  creft)  [by  a  great  waie  togither,  alfo]2  to  Yorke,  to 
Witherbie,  and  then  to  Borowbridge,3  where  on  the  left 
hand  thereof  flood  certeine  monuments,  or  pyramides  of 
ftone,  fometimes  placed  there  by  the  [ancient]  Romanes. 
Thefe  ftones  (faith  Leland)  ftand  eight  miles  weft  from 
Bowis,  and  almoft  weft  from  Richmond  [is]  a  little 
thorough  fare  called  Maiden  caftell,  lituate  [apparantlie] 
vpon  the  fide  of  this  ftreet.  And  here  is  one  of  thofe 
pyramides  or  great  round  heapes,  which  is  three  fcore 
foot  compaffe  in  the  bottome.  There  are  other  alfo  of 
leffe  quantities,  and  on  the  verie  top  of  ech  of  them  are 

i  is 

2_a  way  and  his  broad  crest, — B.  Mus.  copy,  1587.     (The  text 
above  is  from  F.  J.  F.'s  copy.) 

3  Borowbrig 


CHAP.    XIX.]  ROADS.  147 

fharpe  flones  of  a  yard  in  length ;  but  the  greateft  of  all 

is  eighteene  foot  high  at  the  leaft,  from  the  ground  to 

the  verie  head.     He  addeth  moreouer,  how  they  fland 

on   an  hill  in  the  edge  of  Stanes  moore,  and  are  as 

bounds   betweene    Richmondfhire,    and   Weftmerland. 

But  to  proceed.     This  ftreet  lieng  a  mile  from  Gilling, 

and  two  miles  from  Richmond  commeth  on  from  Borow- 

bridge  to  Catericke,  eighteene  miles ;  that  is,  twelue  to   Thence  to 

Leuing,  &  fix  to  Catericke  j  then  eleuen  miles  to  Greteie 

or  Gritto,  fine  miles  to  Bottles,  eight  miles  to  Burgh 

on  Stanes  moore,  foure  miles  from  Applebie,  and  flue  Appieby, 

to  Browham,  where  the  faid  ftreet  commeth  thorough  Brougham, 

Winfoll  parke,  and  ouer  the  bridge  on  Ciemouth  and 

Loder,  and  leaning  Perith  a  quarter  of  a  mile  or  more   west  of  Penrith, 

on  the  weft  fide  of  it,  goeth  to  Carleill  feuenteene  miles  Carlisle, 

from  Browham,  which  hath  beene  fome  notable  thing. 

Hitherto  it  appeareth  euidentlie,  but  going  from  hence 

into  Scotland,  I  heare  no  more  of  it,  vntill  I  come 

to  Cathneife,  which  is  two  hundred  and  thirtie  miles  and  Caithness. 

or  thereabouts  out  of  England. 

The   firming   ftreet,  which  fome  call  the   Lelme,   Ermingstreet 
ftretcheth  out  of  the  eaft,  as  they  faie,  into  the  fouth- 
eaft,  that  is,  from  Meneuia  or  S.  Dauids  in  Wales  vnto  runs  from  St. 

David's  to 

Southampton,  whereby  it  is  fomewhat  likelie  indeed  that  Southampton, 
thefe  two  waies,  I  meane  the  Fofle  and  the  Erming, 
thould  meet  about   Cirnecefter,  as   it   commeth  from 
Glocefter,  according  to  the  opinion  concerned  of  them  and  meets  the 

Fosse  near 

in  that  countrie.  Of  this  waie  I  find  no  more  written,  Cirencester. 
and  therefore  I  can  faie  no  more  of  it,  except  I  fhould 
indeuor  to  driue  awaie  the  time,  in  alleging  what  other 
men  fay  thereof,  whofe  minds  doo  fo  farre  difagree  one 
from  another,  as  they  doo  all  from  a  truth,  and  therefore 
I  giue  them  ouer  as  not  delighting  in  fuch  dealing. 

The  Ikenild  or   Rikenild  began  fomewhere  in  the 
fouth,   and   fo   held   on   toward    Cirnecefter,   then   to 
Worcefter,   Wicombe,    Brimcham,    Lichfield,   Darbie,   ^ethofthe 
Chefterfield  $  and  crofting  the  Watlingftreet  fomewhere 


I48 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK    1. 


It  was  nam'd 
from  the  Icones 


who  dwelt  in 
Stafford  or 
Worcester. 


Our  present 
Roads  in  Clay 
counties  are 


bad  in  winter. 


The  common 
folk  have  to 
work  at  em  6 
days  a  year. 


But  in  the  6 
days,  hardly  2 
real  days'  work 
is  done. 


How  roads  get 
rotten. 


The  side  ditches 
and  water- 
courses are  not 
kept  clear ; 


in  Yorkemire,  ftretched  foorth  in  the  end  vnto  the  mouth 
of  the  Tine,  where  it  ended  at  the  maine  fea,  as  mofl 
men  doo  confefle.  I  take  it  to  be  called  the  Ikenild, 
oecaufe  it  pafled  thorough  the  kingdome  of  the  Icenes. 
For  albeit  that  Leland  &  other  following  him  doo  feeme 
to  place  the  Icenes  in  Norffblke  and  Suffolke ;  yet  in 
mine  opinion  that  can  not  well  be  doone,  fith  it  is 
manifeft  by  Tacitus,  that  they  laie  neere  vnto  the 
Silures,  and  (as  I  gelfe)  either  in  Stafford  and  Worcefter 
[fhires],  or  in  both,  except  my  conie&ure  doo  faile  me. 
The  author  of  the  booke,  intituled  Eulogium  hi/ioriarum, 
doth  call  this  ftreet  the  Lelme.  But  as  herein  he  is 
deceiued,  fo  haue  I  dealt  withall  fo  faithfullie  as  I  may 
among  fuch  diuerfitie  of  opinions ;  yet  not  denieng  but 
that  there  is  much  confufion  in  the  names  and  courfes 
of  thefe  two  latter,  the  difcufling  whereof  I  muft  leaue 
to  other  men  that  are  better  learned  than  I.1 

[Now  to  fpeake  generallie  of  our  common  high 
waies  through  the  Englifh  part  of  the  He  (for  of  the 
reft  I  can  faie  nothing)  you  (hall  vnderftand  that  in  the 
claie  or  cledgie  foile  they  are  often  verie  deepe  and 
troublefome  in  the  winter  halfe.  Wherfore  by  au- 
thoritie  of  parlement  an  order  is  taken  for  their  yearelie 
amendment,  whereby  all  forts  of  the  common  people 
doo  imploie  their  trauell  for  fix  daies  in  fummer  vpon 
the  fame.  And  albeit  that  the  intent  of  the  ftatute  is 
verie  profitable  for  the  reparations  of  the  decaied  places, 
yet  the  rich  doo  fo  cancell  their  portions,  and  the  poore 
fo  loiter  in  their  labours,  that  of  all  the  fix,  fcarcelie 
two  good  days  works  are  well  performed  and  accom- 
pliihed  in  a  parifti  on  thefe  fo  neceffarie  affaires.  Be- 
fides  this,  fuch  as  haue  land  lieng  vpon  the  fides  of  the 
waies,  doo  vtterlie  neglecl:  to  dich  and  fcowre  their 
draines  and  water-courfes,  for  better  auoidance  of  the 
winter  waters  (except  it  may  be  fet  off  or  cut  from  the 
meaning  of  the  ftatute)  whereby  the  ftreets  doo  grow 
1  This  is  the  end  of  Cap.  12  in  1577  ed. 


CHAP.    XIX.]  THE    BRITONS.  149 

to  be  much  more  gulled  than  before,  and  thereby  verie 
noifome  for  fuch  as  trauell  by  the  fame.  Sometimes 
alfo,  and  that  verie  often,  thefe  daies  works  are  not 
imploied  vpon  thofe  waies  that  lead  from  market  to 
market,  but  ech  furueior  amendeth  fuch  by-plots  &  each  surveyor 

gets  his  own 

lanes  as  feeme  beft  for  his  owne  commoditie,  and  more  lanes  mended 

instead  of  the 

ealie  pafTage  vnto  his  fields  and  paftures.     And  whereas  highways; 

in  fome  places  there  is  fuch  want  of  ftones,  as  thereby 

the  inhabitants  are  driuen  to  feeke  them  farre  off  in  other 

foiles  :  the  owners  of  the  lands  wherein  thofe  ftones  are 

to  be  had,  and  which  hitherto  haue  giuen  monie  to 

haue  them  borne  awaie,  doo  now  reape  no  fmall  com- 

moditie by  raifing  the  fame  to  exceffiue  prices,  whereby   very  high  prices 

.          are  chargd  for 

their  neighbours  are  driuen  to  gneuous  charges,  which    stones  ; 

is  another  caufe  wherefore  the  meaning  of  that  good 

law  is  verie  much  defrauded.     Finallie,  this  is  another 

thing  likewife  to  be  confidered  of,  that  the  trees  and 

bufhes  growing  by  the  ftreets  fides  5  doo  not  a  little   the  roadside 

keepe  off  the  force  of  the  funne  in  fummer  for  drieng   bushes  are  not 

vp  of  the  lanes.     Wherefore  if  order  were  taken  that   Sfd  kepTback  ; 

their  boughs  mould  continuallie  be  kept  mort,  and  the 

bufhes  not  fuffered  to  fpread  fo  far  into  the  narrow 

paths,  that  inconuenience  would  alfo  be  remedied,  and 

manie  a  flough  proue  hard  ground   that  yet  is  deepe   or  many  a 

and  hollow.     Of  the  dailie  incroching  of  the  couetous   hard  road. 

vpon  the  hie  waies  I  fpeake  not.     But  this  I  know  by 

experience,  that  wheras  fome  ftreets  within  thefe  fiue 

and  twentie  yeares  haue  beene  in  moft  places  fiftie  foot   within  25  years, 

old  50-foot  roads 

broad    according   to   the   law,   whereby   the    traueller   have  been 


might  either  efcape  the  theefe,  or  fhift  the  mier,  or 

pafle  by  the  loaden  cart  without  danger  of  himfelfe  and 

his  horfle  -t    now   they  are   brought  vnto   twelue,   or  to  12,  20,  or  26. 

twentie,   or  fix   and  twentie   at   the  moft,   which   is 

another  caufe  alfo  whereby  the  waies  be  the  worfe,  and 

manie  an  honeft  man  encombred  in  his  iourneie.     But 

what  fpeake  I  of  thefe  things  whereof  I  doo  not  thinke 

to  heare  a  iuft  redreffe,  becaufe  the  error  is  fo  common, 


'5° 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK   i. 


and  the  profit  of    and   the  benefit   thereby   fo   fweet   and  profitable   to 

it  to  the  land-  . 

thieves  great.        manie,  by  men  houfes  and  cotages  as  are  railed  vpon 
the  fame.] 


Our  folk  are 
tall,  strong, 
fair,  and  bold. 


But  some  shire 
men  differ : 


the  Sedbury  and 
Pokington  folk 
have  bigger 
noses  and  heads 
than  other 
men's. 


Englishmen's 
bravery  has 
always  been 
admird  by 
foreigners. 


Of  the  generall  conftitution  of  the 
bodies  of  the  Britons. 

Chap.  20. l 

SUch  as2  are  bred  in  this  Hand  are  men  for  the 
moft  part  of  a  good  complexion,  tall  of 
ftature,  ftrong  in  bodie,  white  of  colour,  and 
thereto  of  great  boldneffe  and  courage  in  the  warres. 
[As  for  their  generall  comelineffe  of  perfon,  the  telti- 
monie  of  Gregorie  the  great,  at  fuch  time  as  he  faw 
Englifli  captiues  fold  at  Rome,  {hall  eafilie  confirme 
what  it  is,  which  yet  dooth  differ  in  fundrie  mires  and 
foiles,  as  allb  their  proportion  of  members,  as  we  may 
perceiue  betweene  Herefordfhire  and  Eifex  men,  or 
Cambridgefhire  and  the  Londoners  for  the  one,  and 
Pokington  and  Sedberrie  for  the  other  j  thefe  latter 
being  diftinguifhed  by  their  nofes  and  heads,  which 
commonlie  are  greater  there  than  in  other  places  of  the 
land.  As  concerning  the  ftomachs  alfo  of  our  nation 
in  the  field,  they  haue  alwaies  beene  in  fouereigne 
admiration  among  forren  princes  :]  for  fuch  hath  beene 
the  eftimation  of  our  fouldiers  from  time  to  time,  fince 
our  Ifle  hath  beene  knowne  vnto  the  Romans,  that 
wherefoeuer  they  haue  ferued  in  forren  countries,  the 
cheefe  brunts  of  feruice  haue  beene  referued  vnto3 
them.  Of  their  conquefts  and  bloudie  battels  woone 
in  France,  Germanic,  and  Scotland,  our  hiftories  are 
full :  &  where  they  haue  beene  ouercome,  the  victorers 
themfelues  confelfed  their  victories  to  haue  beene  fo 
deerelie  bought,  that  they  would  not  gladlie  couet  to 

i  This  is  Cap.  14,  Bk.  I,  in  ed.  1577.  a  Those  that 

8  for 


CHAP.    XX.]  THE    BRITONS.  1^1 

ouercome  often,  after  fuch  difficult  maner.    In  martiall 

proweffe,    there   is    little   or   no    difference   betweene   Scotchmen  also 

are  as  brave : 

Engliflimen  and  Scots  :  for  albeit  that  the  Scots  haue 
beene  often  and  verie  greeuouflie  ouercome  by  the 
force  of  our  nation,  it  hath  not  beene  for  want  of  man- 
hood on  their  parts,  but  through  the  mercie  of  God 
mewed  on  vs,  and  his  iuftice  vpon  them,  lith  they 
alwaies  haue  begun  the  quarels,  and  offered  vs  meere  ^e^°tJgWays 
iniurie  with  great  defpite  and  crueltie.  quarrels  with 

Leland  noting  fomewhat  of  the  conflitution  of  oar 
bodies,  faith  thefe  words  [grounding  (I  thinke  vpon 
Arijlotle,  who  writeth  that  fuch  as  dwell  neere  the 
north,  are  of  more  courage  and  ftrength  of  bodie  than 
fkilfulneffe  or  wifdome.)]  The  Britons  are  white  in 
colour,  ftrong  2  of  bodie,  [and  full  of  bloud,]  as  people 
inhabiting  neere  the  north,  and  farre  from  the  equinoc-  North> 
tiall  line,  where  [the  foile  is  not  fo  fruitfull,  and  there- 
fore the  people  not  fo  feeble  :  whereas]  contrariwife 
fuch  as  dwell  toward  the  courfe  of  the  funne,  are  letie 
of  ftature,  weaker  of  bodie.  more  [nice,  delicate,]  feare-  while  Southern 

folk  are  weaker 

full  by  nature,  blacker  in  colour,  &  fome  fo  blacke  in   and  darker, 
deed  as  anie  crow  or  rauen.     Thus  faith  he.     How. 
beit,  as  thofe  [which  are  bred  in  fundrie  places  of  the 
maine,]  doo  3  come  behind  vs  in  conflitution  of  bodie,  fo 
[I  grant,  that]   in  pregnancie  of  wit,   nimbleneffe  of  j^d  craftier,  I 
limmes,  and  politike  inuentions,  they  generallie  exceed 
vs :  notwithftanding  that  otherwife  thefe  gifts  of  theirs  ^S^L 
doo  often   degenerate  into  meere  fubtiltie,  inflabilitie,   tw  Angit' 
vnfaithfulnelfe,  &  crueltie.      [Yet  Alexander  ab  Alex- 
andra is  of  the  opinion,  that  the  fertilefl  region  dooth 
bring  foorth  the  dulleft  wits,  and  contrariwife  the  harder 
foile  the  finefl  heads.     But  in  mine  opinion,  the  mofl  The  richest  soil 

brings  forth  the 

fertile  foile  dooth  bring  foorth  the  prouder!  nature,  as  we   proudest  nature. 
may  fee  by  the  Campa?iians,  who  (as  Cicero  alfo  faith) 
had  Penes  eosipfum  domicilium  fuperlia.    But  nether  oi 
thefe  opinions  do  iuftlie  take  hold  of  vs,  yet  hath  it 
1  and  strong  *  these  men  doe 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK 


Alexander 
thinks  we're 
stupid  because 
the  sun  doesn't 
bake  our  brains 
enough. 


But  that's  not 
likely. 


[Non  visedvir- 
tute,  non  armis 
sed  ingenio,  vin- 
cuntur  Angli.] 


But  thank  God 
we've  thrasht 
the  frenchmen 
worse  than  they 
have  us. 


pleafed  the  writers  to  faie  their  pleaiures  of  vs.]  And 
for  that  we  dwell  northward,1  we  are  commonlie  taken 
by  [the]  forren  hiftoriographers,2  to  be  men  of  great 
ftrength  and  little  politic,  much  courage  and  fmall 
(hift,  [bicaufe  of  the  weake  abode  of  the  funne  with 
vs,  whereby  our  braines  are  not  made  hot  and  warmed, 
as  Pachymerus  noteth  HI.  3  :  affirming  further,  that 
the  people  inhabiting  in  the  north  parts  are  white  of 
colour,  blockilh,  vnciuill,  fierce  and  warlike,  which 
qualities  increafe,  as  they  come  neerer  vnto  the  pole  j 
whereas  the  contrarie  pole  giueth  contrarie  gifts,  black- 
nefTe,  wifdome,  ciuilitie,  weakenefle,  and  cowardife : 
thus  faith  he.  But  alas,  how  farre  from  probabilities  or 
as  if  there  were  not  one  and  the  fame  conclufion  to  be 
made  of  the  conftitutions  of  their  bodies,  which  dwell 
vnder  both  the  poles.  For  in  truth  his  assertion 
holdeth  onelie  in  their  perfons  that  inhabit  neere  vnto 
and  vnder  the  equinoctiall.  As  for  the  fmall  tariance  of 
the  funne  with  vs,  it  is  alfo  confuted  by  the  length  of 
our  daies.  Wherefore  his  reafon  feemeth  better  to 
vphold  that  of  Alexander  al  Alexandra  afore  alledged, 
than  to  prooue  that  we  want  wit,  bicaufe  our  brains  are 
not  warmed  by  the  tariance  of  the  funne.]  And  thus 
[alfo]  dooth  Comineus  burden  vs  after  a  fort  in  his 
hiftorie,  [and  after  him  BodinusJ]  But  thanked  be  God, 
that  all  the  wit  of  his  countriemen,  [if  it  may  be  called 
wit,]  could  neuer  compafTe  to  doo  fo  much  in  Britaine, 
as  the  ftrength  and  courage  of  our  Englimmen  (not 
without  great  wifedome  and  forecaft)  haue  brought  to 
paffe  in  France.  [The  Galles  in  time  paft  contemned 
the  Romans  (faith  Ccefar)  bicaufe  of  the  final  nefle  of 
their  ftature  :  howbeit,  for  all  their  greatnefle  (faith  he) 
and  at  the  firft  brunt  in  the  warres,  they  fhew  them- 
felues  to  be  but  feeble,  neither  is  their  courage  of  any 
force  to  Hand  in  great  calamities.]  Certes  in  accufing 
our  wifedome  in  this  fort,  he  dooth  (in  mine  opinion) 
1  "We  therefore  dwelling  neere  the  North  3  and  others 


CHAP.    XX.]  THE     BRITONS.  1^3 

increafe  our  commendation.     For  if  it  be  a  vertue  to   We  deal  with 

deale  vprightlie  with  finglenefle  of  mind,  fincerelie  and  frankly  and 

plainlie,  without  anie  [fuch]  fufpicious  fetches  in  all  our 

dealings,    [as    they   commonlie    practife    in    all    their 

affaires,]  then   are  our   countrimen   to   be  accompted 

[wife  and]  vertuous.      But  if  it   be  a  vice  to   colour 

craftinefle,  fubtile   practifes,    doublenefie,    and   hollow   The  French  are 

behauiour,  with  a  cloake  of  policie,  amitie  and  wife-   vicious, 

dome :  then  are  Comment  and  his  countrimen  *  to  be 

reputed  vicious,  [of  whome  this  prouerbe  hath  of   old 

time  beene  vfed  as  an  eare  marke  of  their  difiimulation,  break  faith  and 

..  laugh  at  you, 

Galli  ridendojidemfrangunt.\ 

How  thefe  latter  points  take  hold  in  Italic,  I  meane 
not  to  difcufle.  How  they  are  dailie  pra&ifed  in  manie 
places  of  the  maine,  &r  he  accompted  moft  wife  and 
politike,  that  can  moil  of  all  diflemblej  here  is  no 
place  iuftlie  to  determine  (neither  would  I  wifh  my 
countrimen  to  learne  anie  fuch  wifedome)  but  that  a 
king  of  France  could  faie  j  Qui  nefcit  difsimulare,  nefcit  hold  that  lying 

r  -.     ,     ,  is  needful  for 

regnare,  [or  viuere,\  their  owne  hiftones  are  teltimomes  living, 
fufficient.  [Galen,  the  noble  phyfician,  transferring  the 
forces  of  our  naturall  humors  from  the  bodie  to  the 
mind,  attributeth  to  the  yellow  colour,  prudence  5  to 
the  blacke,  conftancie;  to  bloud,  mirth ;  to  phlegme, 
courtelie  :  and  which  being  mixed  more  or  lefle  among 
themfelues,  doo  yeeld  an  infinit  varietie.  By  this  means 
therefore  it  commeth  to  pafle,  that  he  whofe  nature 
inclineth  generallie  to  phlegme,  cannot  but  be  courteous  :  We  incline  to 

phlegm,  are 

which  ioined  with  ftrength  of  bodie,  and  finceritie  of  strong  and 

sincere, 

behauiour  (qualities  vniuerfallie  granted  to  remaine  fo 

well  in  our  nation,  as  other  inhabitants  of  the  north) 

I  cannot  fee  what  may  be  an  hinderance  whie  I  ihould 

not  rather  conclude,  that  the  Britons  doo  excell  fuch  as   and  excel  other 

dwell  in  the  hoter  countries,  than  for  want  of  craft  and   natlon8' 

fubtilties  to  come  anie  whit  behind  them.     It  is  but 

vanitie  alfo  for  fome  to  note  vs  (as  I  haue  often  heard 


'.54 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK 


We  arc  not  bar- 
barous, 
because  we 
think  little 
of  shedding 
blood. 


We'll  stand  to 
our  tackle  to 
the  last  drop  of 
oxir  blood. 


As  to  French 
bravery, 


don't  trust  a 
Frenchman's 
account  of  him- 
self. 


We  treat 
strangers  well, 


and  give  em  the 
same  privileges 
as  ourselves 


At  60  we  begin 
to  get  old, 


and  friends  say 
'  God  speed  you 
well,'  to  us, 


in  common  table  talke)  as  barbarous,  bicaufe  we  fo  little 
regard  the  {bedding  of  our  bloud,  and  rather  tremble 
not  when  we  lee  the  liquor  of  life  to  go  from  vs  (I  vfe 
their  owne  words.)  Certes  if  we  be  barbarous  in  their 
eies,  bicaufe  we  be  rather  inflamed  than  appalled  at  our 
wounds,  then  are  thofe  obie&ors  flat  cowards  in  our 
iudgement :  fith  we  thinke  it  a  great  peece  of  manhood 
to  ftand  to  oar  tackling,  vntill  the  laft  drop,  as  men  that 
may  fpare  much  bicaufe  we  haue  much :  whereas  they 
hatting  leffe  are  afraid  to  lofe  that  little  which  they  haue : 
as  Frontinus  alfo  noteth.  As  for  that  which  the  French 
write  of  their  owne  manhood  in  their  hiftories,  I  make 
little  accompt  of  it :  for  I  am  of  the  opinion,  that  an 
Italian  writing  of  his  credit ;  A  papift  intreating  ot 
religion,  a  Spaniard  of  his  meekenefle,  or  a  Scot  of  his 
manhood,  is  not  to  be  builded  on ;  no  more  is  a  French- 
man to  be  trufted  in  the  report  of  .his  owne  affaires, 
wherein  he  dooth  either  diifemble  or  exceed,  which  is  a 
foule  vice  in  fuch  as  profelfe  to  deale  vprightlie.  Neither 
are  we  fo  hard  to  ftrangers  as  Horace  wold  feeme  to 
make  vs,  fith  we  loue  them  fo  long  as  they  abufe  vs 
not,  &  make  accompt  of  them  fo  far  foorth  as  they 
defpife  vs  not.  And  this  is  generallie  to  be  verified,  in 
that  they  vfe  our  priuileges  and  commodities  for  diet, 
apparell  and  trade  of  gaine,  in  fo  ample  manner  as  we 
our  felues  enioy  them :  which  is  not  lawfull  for  vs  to 
doo  in  their  countries,  where  no  flranger  is  fuffered  to 
haue  worke,  if  an  home-borne  be  without].  But  to 
proceed  with  our  purpofe. 

With  vs,  [although  our  good  men  care  not  to  Hue 
long,  but  to  liue  well,]  fome  doo  liue  an  hundred  yeers, 
verie  manie  vnto  foure  fcore  :  as  for  three  fcore,  it  is 
taken  but  for  our  entrance  into  age,  fo  that  in  Britaine 
no  man  is  faid  to  wax  old  till  he  draw  vnto  threefcore, 
[at  which  time '  God  fpeed  you  well '  commeth  in  place ; 
as  Epaminondas  fometime  faid  in  mirth,  affirming  that 
vntill  thirtie  yeares  of  age, '  You  are  welcome  '  is  the  belt 


CHAP.    XX.]  MARVELS.  155 

falutation  j  and  from  thence  to  threefcore,  *  God  keepe   [Salutations 

f          i          /-  .'i/i          /-  •       <  /-i     j  /•        j     according  to  our 

you  :     but  after  threefcore,  it  is  beft  to  faie,  '  God  fpeed  ages.  Brit.  MUS. 

.     copy,  ed.  1587  ; 

you  well  :     for  at  that  time  we  begin  to  grow  toward  not  in  F.  J.  F.'S 

J         .  ,     copy.] 

our  lourmes  end,  whereon  mame  a  one  haue  vene  good 

as  we  get 

leaue  to  go.]  Thefe  two  are  alfo  noted  in  vs  (as  things 
apperteining  to  the  firme  conftitutions  of  our  bodies) 
that  there  hath  not  beene  feene  in  anie  region  fo  manie 
carcaffes  of  the  dead  to  remaine  from  time  to  time  Corpses  don't 

rot  fast  here, 

without  corruption  as  in  Britaine  :  and  that  after  death 
by  ilaughter  or  otherwife,  fuch  as  remaine  vnburied  by 
f  oure  or  fiue  daies  togither,  are  ealie  to  be  knowne  and  but  can  be 

reoognizd  after 

difcerned  by  their  freends  and  kindred  ;  whereas  Tacitus  *  or  5  days. 

and   other  complaine  of  fundrie  nations,  faieng,  that 

their   bodies   are    Tarn  fluidce  fuljlantice,  that  within 

certeine  houres  the  wife  ihall  hardlie  knowhir  hufband, 

the  mother  hir  fonne,  or  one  freend  another  after  theii 

liues   be  ended.      [In   like  fort  the  comelineffe  of  our   Our  comeliness 

continues  long. 

liuing  bodies  doo  continue  from  midle  age  (for  the 
moft)  euen  to  the  laft  gafpe,  fpeciallie  in  mankind. 
And  albeit  that  our  women  through  bearing  of  children  Englishwomen 

.....  .  after  40  are  not 

doo  after  fortie  begin  to  wrinkle  apace,  yet  are  they  so  wretched- 
not  commonlie  fo  wretched  and  hard  fauoured  to  looke  French  ones. 
vpon  in  their  age,  as  the  French  women,  and  diuerle 
of  other   countries  with  whom    their   men  alfo    doo 
much  participate  ;  and  thereto  be  fo  often  waiward  and 
peeuim,  that  nothing  in  maner  may  content  them.] 

I  might  here  adde  fomewhat  alfo  of  the  meane 
ftature  generallie  of  our  women,  whofe  beautie  com-   The  beauty  of 
monlie  exceedeth  the  faireft  of   thofe  of  the  maine,   ^^^ 
their   comlineffe   of    perfon   and   good   proportion   of  continental 
limmes,  moft  of  theirs  that  come  ouer  vnto  vs  from   women- 
beyond  the  feas.     [This  neuertheleffe  I  vtterlie  miflike 
in  the  poorer  fort  of  them,  for  the  wealthier  doo  lildome 
offend  herein  :  that  being  of  themfelues  without  com- 
petent wit,1  they  are  fo  carelefle  in  the  education  of  But  our  poorer 


women 


1  competent  wit,  F  J.  F.'s  copy,  1587  :  gouernement,  Brit.  Mus. 
copy.     (Other  slight  differences  occur.) 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK    I. 


neglect  their 
children's 
education 
shamefully, 


and  don't  cor- 
rect them  in 
their  youth. 


their  children  (wherein  their  hulbands  alfo  are  to  be 
blamed)  by  means  whereof  verie  manie  of  them  neither 
fearing  God,  neither  regarding  either  maners  or  obe- 
dience, doo  oftentimes  come  to  confufion,  which   (if 
anie  correction  or  difcipline   had  beene  vfed   toward 
them  in  youth)  might  haue  prooued  good  members  of 
their  common-wealth  &  countrie,  by  their  good  feruice 
and  induftrie.]     I  could  make  report  likewife  of  the 
naturall  vices  and  vertues  of  all  thofe  that  are  borne 
within  this  Hand,  but  as  the  [full]   tra6tation  herof 
craueth  a  better  head  than  mine  to  fet  foorth  [the 
•fame,]  fo  will  I  giue  place  to  other  men  that 
lift  to  take  it2  in  hand.     Thus  much 
therefore  of  the  conftitutions  of 
our  bodies :  and  fo  much 

may  fuffice. 

******** 


Lies  about  the 
Wonders  of 
England. 


Men  who've 

written  for  lucre 
have  lied  too. 


s 


Of  the  maruels   of 
England. 

Chap.  24.3 

Uch  as  haue  written  of  the  woonders  of  our 
countrie  in  old  time,  haue  fpoken  (no  doubt) 
of  manie  things,  which  deferue  no  credit  at 
all :  and  therefore  in  feeking  thankes  of  their  pofteritie 
by  their  trauell  in  this  behalfe  5  they  haue  reaped  the 
reward  of  iuft  reproch,  and  in  fteed  of  fame  purchafed 
vnto  themfelues  nought  elfe  but  meere  difcredit  in  their 
better  [and  more  learned]  treatifes.  The  like  commonlie 
happeneth  alfo  to  fuch,  as  in  refpect  of  lucre  doo  publifh 
vnprofitable  and  pernicious  volumes,  wherby  they  doo 
confume  their  times  in  vaine,  and  in  manifold  wife 
become  preiudiciall  vnto  their  common  wealths.  For 

1  thereof.  2  the  same  (B.  M.  copy,  1587,  omits  '  take '). 

3  This  is  Cap.  18,  Book  2,  in  1577  ed. 


CHAP.    XXIV.]  MARVELS  IjJ^ 

my   part1    [I    will  not    touch  anie   man   herein   par- 

ticularlie,  no  not   our    Demetrius,   of  whom  Plutarch   So  has  our 

fpeaketh  in  his  oracles  (if  thofe  bookes  were  written  by 

him,  for  fome  thinke  that  Plutarch  neuer  wrote  them, 

although  Eufebius  lib.   4.   cap.  8.   dooth  acknowledge 

them  to  be  his)  which  Demetrius  left  fundrie  treatifes   Demetrius,  in 

his  treatises  on 

behind  him.  conteining  woonderfull  things  collected  of  the  Wonders  of 

Britain. 

our  Hand.  But  fith  that  in  my  time  they  are  found  to 
be  falfe,  it  fhould  be  far  vnmeet  to  remember  them  anie 
more  :  for  who  is  he  which  will  beleeue,  that  infernall 
fpirits  can  die  and  giue  vp  their  ghofts  like  mortall  men  ?  Who  can  believe 

his  story  about 

though  Saxo  feeme  to  content  vnto  him  in  this  behalfe.   an  iie  beyond 

Britain : 

In  fpeaking  alfo  of  the  out  lies,  he  faith  thus :  Beyond 

Britaine  are  manie  defolate  Hands,  whereof  fome  are 

dedicated  to  the  Gods,  fome  to  the  noble  Heroes.    I 

failed  (faith  he)  by  the  helpe  of  the  king  vnto  one  that 

laie  neere  hand,  onelie  to  fee  and  view  the  fame,  in 

which  I  found  few  inhabitants,  and  yet  fuch  as  were 

there,  were  reputed  and  taken  for  men  of  great  pietie 

and  holineffe.     During  the  time  alfo  that  I  remained 

in  the  fame,  it  was  vexed  with  great  florme  and  tempeft,   that  a  great 

which  caufed  me  not  a  little  to  doubt  of  my  fafe  returne. 

In  the  end,  demanding   of   the  inhabitants  what  the 

caufe  fhould  be  of  this  fo  great  and  fudden  mutation  of 

the  aire  ?  they  anfwered,  that  either  fome  of  the  Gods,   was  causd  by 

or  at  the  leaft  of  the  Heroes  were  latelie  deceafed :  for   God  or  Hero? 

as  a  candle  (faid  they)  hurteth  none  whileft  it  burneth, 

but  being  flenderlie  put  out,  annoieth  manie  with  the 

filthie  fauour :  fo  thefe  Gods,  whileft  they  liued,  were 

either  not  hurtfull,  or  verie  beneficiall  to  mankind  j  but 

being  once  deceaffed,  they  fo  mooue  the  heauens  and 

aire,  that   much  mifcheefe  dooth  infue  eftfoones  vpon 

the  fame. 

Being  alfo  inquifitiue  of  the  ftate  of  other  lies  not   Demetrius  was 
farre  off,  they   told  him   further,  how  there  was  one   about  Saturn 

lying  in  &  dtJcid. 

hard  by,  wherin   Saturne  being  ouertaken  with  a  dead 
1  part  therefore 

HARRISON— PART    III.  11 


'58 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


BOOK    I. 


sleep,  and 
Briareus  watch- 
ing him. 


Gervase  of  Til- 
bury too  tells  a 
foolish  tale 


about  Wandle- 
bury  Hills, 


of  a  Spirit 
that  'ud  tilt 
with  men :  how 


Osbert  of  Barn- 
well 


chargd  and 
uuhorst  the 
Spirit, 


drove  him  away, 


and  carrid  off 
his  black  horse, 


which,  as  soon 
as  day  came, 
broke  away,  and 
was  never  more 
heard  of.    Also 


how  Osbert  was 
wounded,  and 
his  steel  boots 
were  full  of 
blood. 


fleepe,  was  watched  by  Briareus  as  be  laie,  which  Saturne 
alfo  had  manie  fpirits  attending  vpon  him  in  fundrie 
functions  and  offices.  By  which  reports  it  is  eaiie  to 
conceiue,  with  what  vaine  ftuffe  that  volume  of 
Demetrius  is  interlaced.  But  of  fuch  writers  as  we 
haue  too  too  manie,  fo  among  the  faid  rable  Geruaje  of 
Tilberie  is  not  the  leaft  famous,  a  man  as  it  were  euen 
fold  to  vtter  matters  of  more  admiration  than  credit  to 
the  world.  For  what  a  tale  telleth  he  in  his  De  otto 
imperiali,  of  Wandleburie  hilles,  that  lie  within  fight  & 
by  fouth  of  Cambridge  (where  the  Vandals  incamped 
fometime,  when  they  entered  into  this  Hand)  and  of  a 
fpirit  that  would  of  cuftome  in  a  moone  mine  night  (if 
he  were  chalenged  and  called  therevnto)  run  at  tilt  and 
turneie  in  complet  armor  with  anie  knight  or  gentle- 
man whomfoeuer,  in  that  place  :  and  how  one  Oibert  of 
Barnewell,  hearing  the  report  thereof,  armed  himfelfe, 
and  being  well  mounted,  rode  thither  alone  with  one 
efquier,  and  called  for  him,  who  foorthwith  appeared  in 
rich  armour,  and  anfwered  his  chalenge,  fo  that  running 
togither  verie  hercelie,  they  met  with  fuch  rigor,  that 
the  anfwerer  was  ouerthrowne  and  borne  downe  to  the 
ground.  After  this  they  bickered  on  foot  fo  long,  till 
Ofbert  ouercame  and  draue  him  to  flight,  who  departed, 
leaning  his  horife  behind  him,  which  was  of  huge 
flature,  blacke  (as  he  faith)  of  colour,  with  his  furniture 
of  the  fame  hue,  and  wherevpon  he  feized,  giuing  him 
vnto  his  page,  who  caried  him  home,  and  there  kept 
him  till  it  was  neere  daie,  during  which  fpace  he  was 
feene  of  manie.  But  when  the  daie  light  began  to 
mew  it  felfe  fomewhat  cleere,  the  beaft  flamped  and 
fnorted,  and  foorthwith  breaking  his  raine,  he  ran  awaie, 
and  was  no  more  heard  of  to  his  knowledge  in  that 
countrie.  In  the  meane  feafon  Oflbert  being  verie  faint, 
and  waxing  wearie  (for  he  was  fore  wounded  in  the 
thigh,  which  either  he  knew  not  of,  or  at  the  leaftwife 
diifembled  to  know  it)  caufed  his  leg-harnefTe  or  fteele- 


CHAP.     XXIV.]  MARVELS.  JCQ 

bootes  to  be  pulled  off,  which  his  freends  faw  to  be  full 
of  bloud  fpilled  in  the  voiage.  But  let  who  fo  lift  be- 
leeue  it,  nth  it  is  either  a  fable  deuifed,  or  fome  diue- 
lifh  illufion,  if  anie  fuch  thing  were  doone.  And  on 
mine  owne  behalfe ,]  hauing  (I  hope)  the  feare  of  God  But  as  I  fear 

.     ,  .  -     ;  God,  IshaU 

berore  my  eies,  1  purpofe  here  to  let  downe  no  more  tell  you  only  the 

than  either  I  know  my  ielfe  to  be  true,  or  am  crediblie 

informed  to  be  to,  by  fuch  godly  men,  as  to  whom 

nothing  is   more  deare  than  to  fpeake  the  truth,  and 

not  anie  thing  more  odious  than  to  difcredit l  themfelues 

by   lieng.     In  writing   therefore   of   the  woonders   of  Foure  woonders 

England,  I  find  that  there   are  foure  notable  things,   * 

which  for  their  rareneffe  amongft  the  common  fort, 

are  taken  for  the  foure  miracles  and  woonders  of  the 

land. 

The  firft  of  thefe  is  a  vehement  and  ftrong  wind,   I.  A  strong 
which    iffueth  out  of   the2  hilles  called  the  Peke,  fo   the  Peak, 
violent  and  ftrong,  that  [at]  certeine  times  if  a  man  doo 
caft  his  cote  or  cloake  into  the  caue  from  whence  it   which 'U  blow  a 
iffueth,  it  driueth  the  fame  backe  againe,  hoiling  it  aloft   cave. 
into  the  open  aire  with  great  force  and  vehemencie.V 
Of  this  allb  Giraldus  fpeaketh. 

The   fecond  is  the  miraculous  ftanding  or   rather   II.  stonehenge. 
hanging  of  certeine  ftones  vpon  the  plaine  of  Salifburie, 
whereof  the  place  is  called  Stonehenge.     And  to  faie 
the  truth,  they  may  well   be  woondered  at,  not  onelie 
for  the  manner  of  pontion,  whereby  they  become  verie 
difficult  to  be  numbred,  but  allb  for  their  greatneffe  & 
ftrange 3  maner  of  lieng  of  fome  of  them   one  vpon   Some  of  the 
another,  which  feemeth  to  be  with  fo  tickle  hold,  that   slabs  are  so 

'tickle 'of  their 

few  men  go  vnder  them  without  feare  of  their  prefent  hold  that  men 

hardly  dare 

ruine.      How   and   when   thefe    ftones   were   brought  walk  under  em 
thither,  as   yet  I   can  not   read;    howbeit   it  is   moft 
likelie,  that  they  were  raifed  there  by  the  Britons,  after 
the  flaughter  of  their  nobilitie  at  the  deadlie  banket, 
which  Hengift  and  his  Saxons  prouided  for  them,  where 

1  defile  2  certaine  3  strong 

11  * 


i6o 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK  i. 


They're  sup- 
posd  to  have 
been  brought 
from  Ireland. 


III.  Chedder- 
hole. 


There's  no  end 
to  it. 


IV.  Dispersion 
of  clouds  on 
certain  Western 
hills. 


Eock  of  Barrie, 


in  a  cleft  of 
which  you  can 
hear  smiths' 
forges  at  work. 


they  were  alfo  buried,  and  Vortigerne  their  king  appre- 
hended and  led  avvaie  as  captiue.  I  haue  heard  that  the 
like  are  to  be  feene  in  Ireland ;  but  how  true  it  is  as 
yet  I  can  not  learne.  The  report  goeth  alfo,  that  thefe 
were  broght  from  thence,  but  by  what  {hip  on  the 
fea,  and  cariage  by  land,  I  thinke  few  men  can  [fafelie] 
imagine. 

The  third  is  an  ample  and  large  hole  vnder  the 
ground,  which  fome  call  Career  Acoli,1  but  in  Englifh 
Chedderhole,  whereinto  manie  men  haue  entred  & 
walked  verie  farre.  Howbeit,  as  the  paflage  is  large 
and  nothing  noifome  :  ib  diuerfe  that  haue  aduentured 
to  go  into  the  fame,  could  neuer  as  yet  find  the  end  of 
that  waie,  neither  fee  anie  other  thing  than  pretie  riuerets 
and  ftreames,  which  they  often  crofted  as  they  went  from 
place  to  place.  This  Chedderhole  or  Chedder  rocke  is 
in  Summerfetfhire,  and  thence  the  faid  waters  run 
till  they  meet  with  the  fecond  Ar  2  that  rifeth  in  Owkie 
hole. 

The  fourth  is  no  lefle  notable  than  anie  of  the 
other.  For  weftward  vpon  certeine  hilles  a  man  mail 
fee  the  clouds  gather  togither  in  faire  weather  vnto 
a  certeine  thickneffe,  and  by  and  by  to  fpread  them- 
felues  abroad  and  water  their  fields  about  them,  as 
it  were  vpon  the  fudden.  The  caufes  of  which  difper- 
fion,  as  they  are  vtterlie  vnknowne :  fo  manie  men 
conie6ture  great  ftore  of  water  to  be  in  thofe  hilles,  & 
verie  neere  at  hand,  if  it  were  needful  to  be  fought  for. 

Befides  thefe  foure  maruelles,  there  is  a  little  rockie 
He  in  Aver  Barrie  (a  riueret  that  falleth  into  the  Sauerne 
fea)  called  Barrie,  which  hath  a  rift  or  clift  next  the 
firft  more  5  wherevnto  if  a  man  doo  laie  his  eare,  he 
mall  heare  fuch  noifes  as  are  commonlie  made  in  fmiths 
forges,  to  wit,3  clinking  of  iron  barres,  beating  with 
hammers,  blowing  of  bellowfes,  and  fuch  like :  whereof 
the  fuperftitious  fort  doo  gather  manie  toies,  as  the 


1  Eoli 


aye 


CHAP.    XXIV.]  MARVELS.  l6l 

gentiles  did  in  old  time  of  their  lame  god  Vulcans  pot. 

The  riuer  that  runneth  by  Chelter  changeth  hir  chanell   Chester  River, 

which  changes 

euene   moneth  :  the  came  whereof  as  yet  I  can  not  its  channel 

every  month. 

learne ;  neither  dooth  [it]    fwell  by  force  of  anie  land 

floud,  but  by  fome  vehement  wind  it  oft  ouer-runneth 

hir  banks.     In  Snowdonie  are  two  lakes,  whereof  one  Snowdon  Lakes. 

beareth  a  moouable  Hand,  which  is  carried  to  and  fro   One  bears  a 

moveable  iland ; 

as  the  wind   bloweth.     The  other  hath  three  kinds  of  the  other  has 

fish  with  only 

fifties  in  it,  as  eeles,  trowts,  and  perches :  but  herein  one  eye- 

refteth  the  woonder,  that  all  thofe  haue  but  one  eie  a 

peece  onelie,  and  the  lame  fituate  in  the  right  fide  of 

their  heads.     And  this  I  find  to  be  confirmed  [alfo]  by 

authors :  There  is  a  well  in  the  forreft  of  Gnarefborow,   Petrifying  Well 

at  Knaresbro', 

whereof  the  faid  forreft  dooth  take  the  name  j  which 

[water,  befide  that  it  is  cold  as  Stix,l  in  a  certeine  period   which  turns 

leaves,  frogs, 

of  time  knowne,  conuerteth  wood,  flefli,  leaues  of  trees,    &c-,  into  stone 

and  mofle  into  hard  ftone,  without  alteration  or  changing   shape. 

of  fhape.     The  like  allo  is  leene  there  in  frogs,  wormes, 

and  fuch  like  liuing  creatures  as  fall  into  the  fame,  and 

find  no  readie  iflue.     Of  this  fpring  alfo  Leland  writeth 

thus :  A  little  aboue  March  (but  at  the  further  banke  Leland  saw  near 

the  Nid  in 

of  Nide  riuer  as  I  came)  I  faw  a  well  of  wonderfull   Yorkshire  a 

Dropping  Well 

nature  called  Dropping  well,  becaufe  the  water  thereof 
diftilleth  out  of  great  rockes  hard  by  into  it  continuallie, 
which  is  fo  cold,  and  thereto  of  fuch  nature,  that  what 
thing  foeuer  falleth  out  of  thofe  rocks  into  this  pit,  or 
srroweth  neere  thereto,  or  be  caft  into  it  by  mans  hand,  that  turnd  into 

stone  all  things 

it  turneth  into  ftone.     It  may  be  (faith  he)  that  fome  cast  into  it. 

fand  or  other  fine   ground  iflueth  out  with  this  water 

from    thefe   hard    rocks,    which    cleaning  vnto    thofe 

things,  giueth  them  in  time  the  forme  of  ftones  &c. 

[Neere  vnto   the   place   where   Winburne   monafterie   Petrifying  wells 

fometimes  flood,  alfo  not  farre  from   Bath  there  is  a  near  Bath. 

faire  wood,  whereof  if  you  take  anie  peece,  and  pitch 

it  into  the  ground  thereabouts,  or  throw  it  into    the 

water,  within  twelue  moneths  it  will  turne  into  hard 

ftone.]    In  part  of  the  hilles  eaft  foutheaft  of  Alderleie,  a    Aiderley  stones 


1 62 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK  i. 


like  cockles  and 
big  oysters. 


A  Cornish  Cave, 


where  thinga 
look  gilded. 


Gloucester  oaks 
with  stony    . 
roots. 


Any  stake  '11 
take  root  there. 


Silchester  corn, 


which  Leland 
Bays  is  fine  till 
it's  ready  to  cut, 
and  then  goes 
to  nothing. 


Caves  near 
Brougham, 


with  room s,  &c., 

cut  out  of  the 
rock. 


Other  rooms  in 
rocks. 


mile  from  Kingfwood,  are  Hones  dailie  found,  perfedlie 
fafhioned  like  cockles  and  mightie  oifters,  which  fome 
dreame  haue  1  lien  there  euer  fince  the  floud.  In  the 
clifts  betweene  the  Blacke  head  and  Trewardeth  baie 
in  Cornwall,  is  a  certeine  caue,  where  things  appeare 
like  images  guilded,  on  the  fides  of  the  fame,  which  I 
take  to  be  nothing  but  the  mining  of  the  bright  ore  of 
coppar  and  other  mettals  readie  at  hand  to  be  found 
there,  if  anie  diligence  were  vfed.  Howbeit,  becaufe  it 
is  much  maruelled  at  as  a  rare  thing,  I  doo  not  thinke 
it  to  be  vnmeet  to  be  placed  amongft  our  woonders. 
Maifter 2  Guife  had  of  late,  and  ftill  hath  (for  aught 
that  I  know)  a  manor  in  Glocefterfhire,  where  certeine 
okes  doo  grow,  whofe  rootes  are  verie  hard  ft  one.  And 
befide  this,  the  ground  is  fo  fertile  there  (as  they  faie) 
that  if  a  man  hew  a  ftake  of  anie  wood,  and  pitch  it 
into  the  earth,3  it  will  grow  and  take  rooting  beyond 
all  expectation.  [Siluecefter  towne  alfo  is  faid  to 
conteine  fourefcore  acres  of  land  within  the  walles, 
whereof  fome  is  corne-ground  (as  Leland  faith)  and  the 
graine  which  is  growing  therein  dooth  come  to  verie 
good  perfection  till  it  be  readie  to  be  cut  downe  :  but 
euen  then,  or  about  that  time  it  vanifheth  away  & 
becommeth  altogither  vnprofitable.]  Is  it  any  woonder 
(thinke  you)  to  tell  of  fundrie  caues  neere  to  Brow- 
ham,  on  the  weft  fide  of  the  riuer  Aimote,  wherein 
are  halles,  chambers,  and  all  offices  of  houfhold  cut 
out  of  the  hard  rocke  ?  If  it  be,  then  may  we  increafe 
the  number  of  maruels  verie  much  by  a  rehearfall  of 
other  alfo.  For  we  haue  manie  of  the  like,  as  one 
neere4  faint  Alfaphs  vpon  the  banke  of  Elwie,  and 
about  the  head  of  Vendrath  Vehan  in  Wales,  whereinto 
men  haue  often  entred  and  walked,  and  yet  found 
nothing  but  large  roomes,  and  fandie  ground  vnder 
their  feet,  and  other  elfe-where.  But  fith  thefe  things 


1  to  haue 


grounde        *  nere  as  if  to 


CHAP.     XXIV.]  MARVELS.  163 

are  not  ftrange,  I  let  them  alone,  and  go  forward  with 
the  reft. 

In  the  parim  of  Landfarnam  in  Wales,  and  in  the  in  Landfamam 
fide  of  a  ftonie  hill,  is  a  place  wherein  are  foure  and  cut  in  the  side 

of  a  hill. 

twentie  feats  hewen  out  of  the  hard  rockes  j  but  who 

did  cut  them,  and  to  what  end,  as  yet  it  is  not  learned. 

As  for  the  huge  fl one  that  lieth  at  Pember  in  Guitherie  Pember  stone, 

parim,  and  of  the  notable  carcafle  that  is  affirmed  to  said  to  be  under 

lie  vnder  the  fame,  there  is  no  caufe  to  touch  it  here  : 

yet  were  it  well  doone  to  haue  it  remoued,  though  it 

were    but  onlie  to   fee  what    it  is,  which  the  people 

haue  in   fo   great   eftimation   &   reuerence.     There   is  A  Pool  in  Loch 

Taw 

alfo  a  poole  in  Logh  Taw,  among  the  blacke  moun- 
teins  in  Brecknockfhire,  where  (as  is  faid)  is  the  head 
of  Taw  that  commeth  to  Swanfeie,  which  hath  fuch  a 
propertie,  that  it  will  breed  no  fifh  at  all,  &  if  anie  be  kills  ail  fish  put 

r  into  it. 

caft  into  it,  they  die  without  recouerie  :  [but  this  perad- 
uenture  may  grow  throgh  the  accidentall  corruption 
of  the  water,  rather  than  the  naturall  force  of  the 
element  it  felfe.l  There  is  alfo  a  I'm1  in  Wales,  which  in  A  Lin  in  Wales, 

f          ,  r  .    .     „    with  red  trout 

the  one  fide  bearetn  trowts  lo  red  as  iamons,  and  in  *  on  one  side,  and 

white  on  the 

the  other,  which  is  the  wefterlie  fide,  vene  white  and  other, 
delicate.      [I  heare   alfo  of  two  welles  not  far  from  2Weiisnear 

Landien, 

Landien,  which  ftand  verie  neere  togither,  and  yet  are 

of  fuch  diuerfitie  of  nature,  that  the  one  beareth  fope,   1  bearing  soap, 

the  other  not 

and  is  a  maruellous  fine  water  j  the  other  altogither  of 
contrarie  qualities.  Which  is  not  a  litle  to  be  mufed  at, 
confidering  (I  faie)  that  they  participate  of  one  foile, 
and  rife  fo  nigh  one  to  another.  I  haue  notice  giuen  me  A.  stone  near 

St.  Davids 

moreouer  of  a  ftone  not  farre  from  faint  Dauids,  which 
is  verie  great,  as  a  bed,  or  fuch  like  thing :  and  being 
raifed  vp,  a  man  may  ftirre  it  with  his  thumbe :  but  can  be  moved 

by  a  man's 

not  with  his  moulder  or  force  of  his  whole  bodie.l  thumb,  but  not 

by  his  body. 

There  is  a  well  not  farre  from  ftonie  Stratford,  which 
conuerteth  manie  things  into  ftone  ^  and  an  other  in 
Wales,  which  is  faid  to  double  or  triple  the  force  of  anie 
1  Linne  2  on 


i64 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK  i. 


Wells  in  Stony 
Stratford  and 
Wales  for 
tempering  tools. 
A  Welsh  well 
inland,  that 
ebbs  and  flows 
twice  a  day, 
as  the  sea  flows 
and  ebbs. 


Winifred's  Well 
grows  sweet- 
scented  moss. 


Intermittent 

streams  at 


Henley,  Croy- 
don,  <fec, 


Ijangley  Park, 
Kent. 


Hell-kettles. 


There  are 

3  Devil's  Kettles 

at  Darlington, 


where  spirits 
are  said  to  have 
been  heard  to 
yell. 


edge  toole  that  is  quenched  in  the  fame.  In  Tegenia, 
a  parcell  of  Wales,  there  is  a  noble  well  (I  meane  in 
the  pariih  of  Kilken)  which  is  of  maruellous  nature, 
[and  much  like  to  another  well  at  Seuill  in  Spaine :] 
for  although  it  be  fix  miles  from  the  fea,  it  ebbeth  and 
floweth  twife  in  one  daie ;  alwaies  ebbing  when  the  fea 
dooth  vfe  to  flow,  and  in  flowing  likewifewhen  the  fea 
dooth  vfe  [to]  ebbe  j  wherof  fome  doo  fable,  that  this 
well  is  ladie  and  miftrerfe  of  the  ocean.  Not  farre 
from  thence  alfo  is  a  medicinable  fpring  called 
Schinant  of  old  time,  but  now  Wenefrides  well,  in  the 
edges  whereof  dooth  breed  a  verie  odoriferous  and 
delectable  moffe,  wherewith  the  head  of  the  fmeller  is 
maruellouflie  refrefhed.  Other  welles  [and  water- 
courfes]  we  haue  like  wife,  which  at  fome  times  burft 
out  into  huge  ftreames,  though  at  other  feafons  they 
run  but  verie  foftlie,  whereby  the  people  gather  fome 
alteration  of  eftate  to  be  at  hand.  [And  fuch  a  one 
there  is  at  Henleie,  &  an  other  at  Croidonj  &  fuch  a 
one  alfo  in  the  golden  dale  belide  Anderne  in  Picardie, 
whereof  the  common  fort  imagine  manie  things.] 
Some  of  the  greater  fort  alfo  giue  ouer  to  run  at  all  in 
fuch  times,  wherof  they  conceiue  the  like  opinion. 
[And  of  the  fame  nature,  though  of  no  great  quantitie, 
is  a  pit  or  well  at  Langleie  parke  in  Kent,  whereof  (by 
good  hap)  it  was  my  lucke  to  read  a  notable  hiftorie  in 
an  ancient  chronicle  that  I  faw  of  late.]  What  the 
foolifli  people  dreame  of  the  hell  Kettles,  it  is  not 
worthie  the  rehearfall ;  yet  to  the  end  the  lewd  opinion 
concerned  of  them  may  grow  into  contempt,  I  will  faie 
thus  much  alfo  of  thofe  pits.  There  are  certeine  pits, 
or  rather  three  little  pooles,  a  mile  from  Darlington, 
and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  diftant  from  the  Thefe  banks 
which  the  people  call  the  Kettles  of  hell,1  or  the  diuels 
Kettles,  as  if  he  fhould  feeth  foules  of  nnfull  men  and 
women  in  them.  They  adde  alfo,  that  the  fpirits  haue 
oft  beene  heard  to  crie  and  yell  about  them,  with 

1  Kettes 


CHAP.    XXIV.]  MARVELS.  165 

other  like  talke  fauoring  altogether  of  pagan  infidelitie. 

The  truth  is,  and  of  this  opinion   alfo  was  Cutbert 

Tunftall  [late]   bifhop  of  Durham,   [a  man   (notwith- 

ftanding  the  bafenefle  of  his  birth,  being  begotten  by 

one  Tunftall  vpon  a  daughter  of  the  houfe  of  the  Com- 

mers,  as  Leiand  faith)  of  great  learning  and  Judgement,]    These  Heli- 

that  the  cole-mines  in  thofe  places  are  kindled,  or  if  really  burnt-out 

coal-mines. 

there  be  no  coles,  there  may  a  mine  of  fome  other 

vn&uous  matter  be  fet  on  fire,  which  being  here  and 

there  confumed,  the  earth   falleth   in,  and    fo   dooth 

leaue  a  pit.     Indeed  the  water  is  now  and  then  warme 

(as  they  faie)  and  beiide  that  it  is  not  cleere  :  the  people 

fuppofe   them  to  be  an  hundred  fadam  deepe.     The 

biggeft  of  them  alfo  hath  an  iflue  into  the  Thefe, l  [as 

experience  hath  confirmed.     For  doctor  Bellowes  alias 

fields    made   report,   how  a  ducke  marked   after  the 

faihion  of  the  duckes  of  the  bifhoprike  of  Durham, 

was  put  into  the  fame  betwixt  Darlington  and  Thefe 

banke,    and   afterward    feene   at   a    bridge   not    farre 

from  matter  Clereuax  houfe.     If  it  were  woorth  the 

noting,  I  would  alfo  make  relation  of  manie  wooden 

crofles  found  verie  often  about  Halidon,  whereof  the   Haiidon  Crosses, 

old  inhabitants  conceiued   an  opinion  that  they  were   supposd  to 

.  have  fallen 

fallen  from  heauen  :  whereas  in  truth,  they  were  made   from  heaven, 

but  really  dropt 

and  borne  by  king  Ofwald  and  his  men  in  the  battell   by  K.  Oswald 

and  his  men. 

wherein  they  preuailed  fometimes  againft  the  Britilh 
infidels,  vpon  a  fuperftitious  imagination,  that  thofe 
croifes  Ihould  be  their  defenfe  and  mield  againft  their 
aduerfaries.  Beda  calleth  the  place  where  the  faid 
field  was  fought,  Heauen  field  ;  it  lieth  not  far  from  the 
Pictifti  wall,  and  the  famous  monafterie  of  Hagulftad. 
But  more  of  this  elfwhere.  Neither  will  I  fpeake  of  the  The  little  wiiets 

i  r  TI  i  <•   of  which  folk 

little  hillets  feene  in  manie  places  ot  our  He,  whereof  talk  nonsenses, 
though  the  vnfkilfull  people  babble  manie  things:  yet  are 
they  nothing  el  fe  but  Tumuli  or  graues  of  former  times, 

1  Not  in,  but  instead — But  ynough  woonders  lest  I  doe  seeme 
to  be  touched  in  thys  description,  &  thus  much  of  the  hel  Kettles. 
1577. 


1 66 


THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    BRITAINE. 


[BOOK   i. 


The  herb, 
Moonwort,  that 
opens  locks  on 
horses'  feet :  it 
grows  in  Tothill 
Fields. 


Our  Chemists 
make  it  of  more 
virtue  than  fern 
seed. 


Tideswell  in 
Derbyshire,  40 
miles  off  the 
sea,  yet  ebbs 
and  flows  with 
it. 


Of  Tideswell, 
Derbyshire. 


as  appeareth  by  fuch  tooms  and  carcaffes  as  be  daily  found 
in  the  fame,  when  they  be  digged  downe.  The  like  fond 
imagination  haue  they  of  a  kind  of  lunarie,  which  is  to 
be  found  in  manie  places,  although  not  fo  well  knowen 
by  the  forme  vnto  them,  as  by  the  effect  thereof,  be- 
caufe  it  now  and  then  openeth  the  lockes  hanging  on 
the  horfes  feete  as  hit  vpon  it  where  it  groweth  in  their 
feeding.  Roger  Bacon  our  countrieman  noteth  it  to 
grow  plentiouflie  in  Tuthill  fields  about  London.  I 
haue  heard  of  it  to  be  within  compafTe  of  the  parifh 
where  I  dwell,  and  doo  take  it  for  none  other  than  the 
Sfera  Cauallo,  whereof  Mathiolus  and  the  herbarifts 
doo  write,  albeit  that  it  hath  not  beene  my  lucke  at 
anie  time  to  behold  it.  Plinie  calleth  it  Aethiopis  :  and 
Aelianus,  Oppianus,  Kyramis,  and  Trebius  haue  written 
manie  fuperftitious  things  thereof,  but  efpeciallie  our 
Chymifts,  who  make  it  of  farre  more  vertue  than  our 
fmiths  doo  their  feme  feed,  whereof  they  babble  manie 
woonders,  and  prate  of  fuch  effects  as  may  well  be  per- 
formed indeed  when  the  feme  beareth  feed  which  is 
commonly  Ad  calendas  Grcecas,  for  before  it  will  not 
be  found.  But  to  proceed.]  There  is  a  well  in 
Darbielhire  called  Tidefwell  [(fo  named  of  the  word 
tide,  or  to  ebbe  and  flow)]  whofe  water  often  feemeth 
to  rife  and  fall,  as  the  fea  which  is  fortie  miles  from  it 
dooth  vfuallie  accuftome  to  ebbe  and  flow.  And 
hereof  an  opinion  is  growen  that  it  keepeth  an  ordinarie 
courfe  as  the  fea  dooth.  Howbeit,  fith  diiierfe  are 
knowne  to  haue  watched  the  fame,  it  may  be  that  at 
fometimes  it  rifeth,  but  not  continuallie  j  and  that  it  fo 
dooth  I  am  fully  perfuaded  to  beleeue.  But  [euen] 
inough  of  the  woonders  [of  our  countrie,]  leaft  I  doo 
feeme  by  talking  longer  of  them,  woonderouflie  to 
ouerfhoot  my  felfe,  and  forget  how  much  dooth  reft 
behind  of  the  defcription  of  my  countrie.  [As  for  thofe 
that  are  to  be  touched  of  Scotland,  the  defcription  of 
that  part  mail  in  fome  part  remember  them.] 


5.   EXTRACTS    FROM   CHURCHYARD, 
NORDEN,  FYNES  MORISON,  &c 


{From  Churchyards  '  CHALLENGE]  Wolfe,  1593,  pp.  110—117. 
Grenville  Libra  ry,  11247.] 

A  Difcourfe  of  Gentlemen  lying  in  London, 

that  were  better  keepe  houfe  at  home  in 

their  Countrey. 


I  Mufe  why  youth,  or  age  of  gentle  blood, 

Borne  vnto  wealth,  and  worldly  worfhip  heere: 

In  London  long,  confumes  both  land  and  good, 

That  better  were,  at  home  to  make  good  cheere.          4 

In  London  ftill,  they  finde  all  vittells  deere, 

Hoi  ft  vp  a  height,  to  bring  our  purfes  low, 

And  fend  men  home,  with  empty  bags  yee  know.        7 

The  ftreetes  with  fields,  may  neuer  matched  be, 

For  all  fweete  aire,  at  will  abroad  we  finde : 

What  is  it  then,  in  London  that  they  fee. 

But  Countrey  yeeldes,  and  better  glads  the  minde.     1 1 

Perhaps  fome  fay,  the  people  are  fo  kinde : 

An'1  curteous  to,  in  ftately  ciuill  Towne, 

As  men  thereby,  wins  credite  and  renowne.  14 

Firft  for  they  feeme,  in  Citty  frefli  and  fine, 

Moft  gay  to  eie,  and  gallant  as  a  rofe : 

But  {hall  a  man,  for  pleafure  of  his  eien,  " 

And  pompe  or  pride,  of  painted  goodly  cloes, 

He  fees  abroad,  at  home  his  credite  lofe. 

Our  Elders  did,  not  fo  delight  in  tralhe, 

And  tempting  toyes,  that  brings  a  man  in  lam.  21 

For  when  they  came,  to  London  there  to  ftay, 
They  fent  fat  beeues,  before  them  for  their  ftore : 
And  went  fometimes,  a  mooting  all  the  way. 
With  all  their  traine,  and  houihold  that  is  more :        25 
Yet  were  they  not,  at  no  lelfe  charge  therefore : 


I     I  wonder  why 
rich  youth  stay  in 
London  where 
victuals  are  dear. 


London  streets 
can't  match  with 
the  fields. 


Perhaps  the 
people  are  kind 
and  courteous. 


They  seem  fresh 
and  gay ; 


1 8    but  will  a  man  for 
gay  clothing  lose 
his  credit  at 
home? 


Our  elders  sent 
fat  beef  before 
them  to  London, 
but  it  cost  them 
just  as  much. 


1 68 


They  didn't  tarry 
to  gamble  ; 


they  loved  plain 
robes : 


their  care  was  to 
keep  a  good 
house, 


and  spend  for 
virtue's  sake. 


CHURCHYARD'S  '  CHALLENGE/   1593. 

Kept  houfe  in  Ins,  and  fedde  the  poor  thereby, 

That  in  hard  world,  may  now  for  hunger  die.  28 

They  taried  not,  in  Towne  to  card  and  dice, 

Nor  follow  long,  lewd  lufts  that  lothfome  are: 

Which  breedes  rebuke,  and  fofters  fecrete  vice. 

And  makes  tame  birds,  to  fall  in  Satan's  fnare,  32 

They  loude  plaine  robes,  but  hated  purfes  bare, 

Made  much  of  men,  gaue  neighbors  beefe  and  bred, 

Yet  left  their  aires,  great  wealth  now  they  are  dead.  35 

Their  care  was  ftill,  to  keepe  good  houfe  and  name, 

Spend  they  might  fpare,yet  fpare  where  caufe  they  found, 

And  librall  be,  when  bounty  purchaft  fame. 

And  let  floud  runne,  where  water  did  abound.  39 

Rulde  all  with  wit,  and  wary  Judgement  found, 

Not  bent  in  braues,  great  hauocke  for  to  make. 

But  drawne  and  moude,  to  fpend  for  vertues  fake.      42 

They  gave  much   Gaue  much  to  poore,  that  craude  an  almes  at  gate, 

to  the  poor.  Kept  buttry  dpr^  for  ftraungers  open  ftiH  . 

Made  neighbours  eate,  that  earely  came  or  late, 
By  which  they  wonne,  the  Countreys  great  good  will,  46 
Could  ferue  the  Prince  with  coundit  men  and  fldll : 
With  their  owne  charge,  and  pors  a  rare  thing  now, 
That  feelde  is  feene,  with  loue  and  power  throw.       49 

They  raisd  no       They  raifd  no  rents,  to  make  the  tenant  whine, 
Nor  clapt  no  yoke  on  friendly  neighbours  necke : 
Nor  made  poor  folke,  find  fault  with  cutthroat  fine. 
But  had  the  hearts,  of  people  at  a  becke,  53 

As  we  haue  now,  our  feruants  vnder  checke. 

0  how  plaine  men,  would  follow  Landlord  than. 

Like  fwarmes  of  Bees,  when  any  warres  began.          56 

Yea  glad  was  he,  that  might  with  maifter  goe, 

Though  charge  and  wife,  he  left  at  home  behinde, 

In  this  fine  world,  the  manner  is  not  fo. 

Hard  handling  makes,  men  mew  another  minde,       60 

Then  loyall  loue,  made  mens  affeclion  blinde. 

Now  can  they  fee,  and  will  doe  what  they  lift. 

Caft  of  like  Hawkes,  come  when  they  pleafe  to  fift.  63 

What  change  finde  you,  yong  maifters  in  thefe  daies, 
What  hath  drawn  backe,  the  forward  minds  of  men : 
What  makes  fomtime,  preft  fouldier  run  his  waies. 
What  makes  this  world,  much  worfe  then  world  was  then, 

1  dare  not  now,  expreffe  the  caufe  with  pen.  68 
But  lay  your  hands,  vppon  your  breft  and  winke. 
And  you  mall  geffe,  what  of  thefe  thinges  I  thinke.   70 


rents, 


and  had  the 
people  with 
them, 


who  were  glad  to 
follow  them  to 
the  wars. 


What  a  change 
you  young 
masters  find  ! 


I  dare  not  say 
what  makes  the 
world  worse  now. 


CHURCHYARD'S  '  CHALLENGE/   1593. 


Gay  golden  robes,  and  garments  pownced  out, 
Sllke  laide  on  filke,  and  ftitched  ore  the  lame : 
Great  loife  and  play,  and  keeping  reuell  route, 
With  grofler  knackes,  I  lift  not  now  to  name,  74 

Hath  by  abufe,  brought  world  cleane  out  of  frame, 
And  made  them  rich,  and  prowd,  that  borne  were  bare. 
Yet  Hues  by  luft,  and  fale  of  paltry  ware.  77 

Our  fathers  wore,  good  frees  to  keepe  them  warme, 

And  kendall  greene,  in  fommer  for  a  mow : 

Might  better  to,  take  trifles  for  a  farme. 

Then  thefe  that  now,  in  filkes  and  veluets  goe,  81 

The  former  age,  made  tenants  duety  know : 

To  Landlords  all,  and  fo  their  cates  they  fold, 

As  much  for  lone  as  now  they  fell  for  golde.  84 

Now  is  the  cafe  and  cuftome  altered  cleane, 

The  tenant  he,  in  deede  will  part  from  nought : 

For  landlords  weale,  nor  lofe  by  him  a  beane, 

Nor  fell  him  thing,  that  is  not  dearely  bought,  88 

At  tenants  hand,  what  euer  may  be  fought, 

Beares  double  price,  as  though  the  farmer  might, 

Liue  on  himfelfe,  and  let  his  Landlord  light.  91 

This  breedes  contempt,  in  vafTall  paft  all  cry, 
And  makes  the  Lord,  racke  vp  his  rents  a  height: 
And  take  great  fines,  you  fee  wherefore  and  why. 
And  lode  the  backes  of  Farmers  with  great  weight.    95 
This  makes  wife  men,  vfe  many  a  craft  and  Height. 
To  punifh  churles,  and  pinch  them  neere  the  bone, 
That  doth  fmall  good,  yet  all  would  haue  alone.         98 

Why  plead  they  want,  where  plenty  is  great  ftore, 

And  God  hath  bleft,  the  earth  with  fruite  and  graine : 

They  fay  becaufe,  they  charged  are  fo  fore. 

To  pay  fuch  rent,  and  take  fuch  toile  and  paine.       102 

Well  well  there  doth,  a  fault  in  both  remaine. 

The  one  will  not,  let  nought  in  market  fall, 

The  other  ftill,  in  London  fpendeth  all.  105 

Like  one  that  flings,  more  water  in  the  feas, 

Or  cafts  away,  his  gold  where  it  is  loft : 

The  Gentleman,  is  feldome  well  at  eafe. 

Till  that  he  ride,  to  London  all  in  poft.  109 

And  vp  and  downe,  the  dice  and  cards  be  toft. 

When  he  a  while,  about  the  ftreets  doth  rome, 

He  borrowes  pence,  at  length  to  bring  him  home,    na 

O  faieth  the  boy,  or  girle  that  keepes  the  barre, 
This  man  is  free,  and  francke  where  ere  he  goes, 


Gay  clothing  and 
loose  living  have 
done  it. 


Our  fathers 
drest  in  frieze 
and  Kendal 
green. 

You  wear  silks 
and  velvets. 


Now  the  case  is 
alterd:  the 
tenant  sells  to 
the  landlord  at 
double  price. 


This  makes 
landlords  rack 
rents,  and  wise 
men  use  craft. 


There  are  faults 
on  both  sides. 


The  Gentleman 
is  seldom  at  ease 
till  he  rides  to 
London, 


where  he  is 
praisd  by 
barmaids  for 


170 


CHURCHYARD'S  '  CHALLENGE/   1593. 


his  liberality. 


Such  lads  were 
better  asleep  at 
home. 


What 

there  aw       " 

London  ! 


Expense,  debt, 
and  disgrace 
wait  on  all  these. 


And  fpends  as  much,  as  doth  a  man  of  warre, 

That  comes  from  fpoile,  and  conqueft  of  his  foes,     1  16 

Cries  fill  the  pot,  the  ebbing  water  flowes. 

The  chencks  are  here,  we  haue  inough  to  fpend, 

Set  all  agog,  vntill  bad  world  amend.  1  19 

O  Lord  how  foone,  a  man  is  ore  his  mooes, 

That  wades  and  fteps,  in  ftreame  or  water  deepe  : 

How  foone  from  towne,  in  countrey  we  haue  newes, 

That  fome  fpends  all,  for  they  can  nothing  keepe,    123 

If  fuch  lads  were,  at  home  in  bed  a  ileepe. 

Twere  better  fure,  then  lie  in  London  thus, 

Vppon  the  fcore,  or  like  banckrouts  iwus.  126 

fine  sights    Fine  (hops  and  fights,  fine  dames  and  houfes  gay, 
Fine  wares  fine  words,  fine  forts  of  meat  is  there, 
Yea  all  is  fine,  and  nothing  grolfe  they  fay. 
Fine  knaks  colts  much,  cofts  fpoils  vs  euery  where   130 
Spoile  is  a  worme,  that  wealth  away  will  weare, 
A  cancker  crept,  in  Court  for  fome  mens  crofle, 
That  eates  vp  lands,  and  breeds  great  lacke  and  lorTe.  133 

Expenfe  and  fpoile,  waits  hard  on  braueries  heeles, 

With  daily  debt,  and  daunger  of  difgrace  : 

A  crue  of  Dickes,  as  world  went  all  on  wheeles, 

With  fwaihing  Tom,  and  goodman  Maple  face,        137 

In  fundry  cloakes,  and  thred  bare  lineries  bace, 

That  neuer  ware,  ne  badge,  nor  figne  of  thrift. 

But  certaine  fignes  and  Ihowes  they  Hue  by  drift.      140 

And  in  the  necke,  of  al  this  retchles  band, 

Comes  thought  and  care,  in  fad  and  mourning  weeds, 

And  fore  forethinkes,  that  he  hath  fold  his  land. 

Or  laide  to  gage,  good  leafes  and  old  deedes.  144 

No  better  fruite,  we  reape  of  ill  fowne  feedes, 

But  heauy  fighes,  or  pricking  tbiftels  bare, 

That  doth  deftroy,  good  ground  where  ere  they  are.  147 

Spoile  brings  home  plagues,  to  wife  &  children  both, 

When  huiband  hath,  at  play  fet  vp  his  reft: 

Then  wife  and  babes,  at  home  a  hungry  goeth, 

(Thrice  euery  weeke)  where  feld  good  meat  is  dreft.  1^1 

With  nifty  broach,  the  houlhold  all  are  bleft. 

For  potched  egs,  in  good  howre  be  it  fpoke  : 

Muft  for  a  Ihift,  make  kitchin  chimney  fmoke.          154 

A  fine  deuife,  to  keepe  poor  kaett  in  health, 

A  pretty  toy,  to  mocke  an  Ape  withall  : 

No  matter  much,  though  wife  have  little  wealth. 

Shee  hath  for  neede,  a  mefle  of  creame  at  call,          158 


Then  come 
thought,  and 
care,  and  sighs. 


Wife  and  babes 
go  hungry  three 
times  a-week. 


A  device  to  keep 
poor  Kate  in 
health. 


CHURCHYARD'S  '  CHALLENGE/   1593. 


171 


A  trim  young  boy,  to  tofle  and  tirle  the  ball, 

A  cocke  a  hen,  and  pretty  pus  or  catte, 

And  at  a  pinch,  a  great  deale  more  then  that, 


161 


Milkmaids  fare 
as  well  as 
plowmen. 


Gay  gownes  and  geare,  God  wot  good  ftore  inough, 
And  faire  milke  maids,  as  dainty  as  a  Doe, 
That  fares  as  well,  as  bob  that  holds  the  plough, 
Yea  cheere  in  bowles,  they  haue  fometime  ye  know  : 
Sweete  whay  and  cruds,  a  bancket  for  a  Croe,  166 

Such  rule  fhee  keepes,  when  hulband  is  farre  of, 
Whiles  children  weeps,  that  feeds  on  hard  browne  lofe. 

Thinke  you  thefe  things,  nips  not  the  pye  croft  neere, 

And  rubs  the  gaule,  that  neuer  will  be  whole  : 

The  maifter  may,  keepe  reuell  all  the  yeere, 

And  leaue  the  wife,  at  home  like  filly  foule.  172 

What  recke  of  that,  who  lifts  may  blow  the  cole} 

Though  fome  doe  ftarue,  and  pine  away  with  want. 

Young  lufty  lads,  abroad  liues  all  anant.  1  75 

Some  come  to  Court,  to  breake  vp  houle  at  home, 
Such  keepes  a  cloake,  vntill  a  rainy  day  : 
Some  weaues  their  yarne,  and  cloth  in  other  loeme, 
At  tabling  houfe,  where  they  may  freely  play:  179 

Some  walk  to  Pauls,  wher  fome  maks  many  a  fray 
The  greateft  fumme,  are  fworne  to  fpend  and  fpoile, 
And  royot  runne,  at  large  in  euery  foile.  182 

Great  cheere  is  turnd,  at  home  to  empty  dime, 
Great  bounty  lookes,  like  barefoote  beggers  bag, 
Great  hardnes  brings,  to  boord  ne  fleih  nor  time, 
Great  haft  to  giue,  comes  limping  lame  and  lag.       186 
Great  ihew  men  make,  of  houfe  but  thats  a  brag. 
For  if  ten  daies,  at  home  they  keepe  great  fare, 
Three  months  abroad,  for  that  they  abfent  are.          189 

England  was  cald,  a  librall  countrey  rich, 

That  tooke  great  ioy,  in  fpending  beefe  and  bred  : 

In  deede  this  day,  the  countrey  fpendeth  mich, 

But  that  expenfe,  ftands  poore  in  little  ited:  193 

For  they  finde  nought,  where  hounds  and  hawks  are  fed, 

But  hard  colde  pofts,  to  leane  at  in  great  lacke  : 

Who  wants  both  foode,  and  clouts  to  cloth  their  backe. 

Almes  deedes  are  dead,  and  confcience  waxeth  cold,         Aim  deeds  are 
World  fcrats  and  fcrapes,  pluckes  neih  and  fell  from  bone, 
What  cunning  heads,  and  hands  can  catch  in  hold,  cold. 

That  couetous  mindes,  doth  feeke  to  weld  alone,      200 
The  poore  complaynes,  and  makes  a  greeuous  mone. 


The  master  may 
revel  all  the 
year,  and  leave 
the  wife  at  home 
to  starve. 


Some  come  to 
court ; 


some  gamble, 
some  quarrel  at 
Paul's. 


Great  cheer  is 
turnd  to  empty 
dishes  at  home. 


England  was 
calld  a  liberal 
country,  but 
now,  where 
hounds  are  fed, 
the  poor  lack. 


ain/his  fis?s 


i/a 


Spend  on ;  a 
reckoning  must 
come. 


I  wish  you  well, 
and  find  no  fault. 


To  you,  my 
friend,  none  of 
this  applies. 


CHURCHYARD'S  '  CHALLENGE/   1593. 

The  ritch  heares  all,  and  keepes  all  fafe  in  fift, 

As  all  were  his,  to  fpend  it  as  he  lift.  203 

Well  fpend  on  ftill,  a  reckning  muft  bee  made, 

When  hee  doth  call,  that  fendes  you  all  the  ftore : 

You  will  be  taught,  to  vie  another  trade, 

Or  in  the  end,  full  dearly  paie  therefore  207 

I  wim  you  well,  you  can  defire  no  more. 

Waie  all  my  wordes,  as  you  haue  reafon  ftill, 

I  find  no  fault,  but  fpeakes  this  of  good  will.  210 

And  you  deare  friend,  that  in  Rockfauage  dwell, 

For  whom  I  haue,  thefe  verfes  heere  fet  down : 

To  you  no  peece,  of  this  Difcourfe  I  tell, 

For  you  lie  not,  at  charge  fo  long  in  towne,  214 

As  others  doe,  that  are  of  like  renowne. 

Your  houfe  at  home,  you  hold  in  better  fort, 

Then  thoufands  doe,  the  world  doth  fo  report.          217 


FINIS. 


173 


EXTRACT    FROM    CHURCHYARD'S 
"MIRROR  AND   MANNERS    OF   MEN,"  1594. 

[Heere  follows  a  glance,  and  dash  with  a  pen, 
On  worlds  great  mischance,  and  manners  of  men.] 

\Auchinleck  press,  1816;  pressmark,  641.  i.  16.     Sign.  Z?2,  3,  back.] 


*  *  * 
"  Brauery  ftill  beggeth, 
Coras  from  Gods  bleffing, 
A  practice  of  late, 

Who  goes  from  court  gate, 
Landlords  lacks  lining 
They  looke  for  a  bee, 
Great  rents  runs  to  ruffs, 
Yong  heires  comes  after, 
Leafes  and  lordlhips, 
Old  auntient  dernaynes, 
The  Sun  puts  away, 
So  my  yong  mayfter, 
Hauock  runs  on  head, 
And  many  wants  bread, 
Muck  makes  men  mizers, 
The  lefle  do  they  fpend, 
Good  turns  are  fo  ftrang[e], 
The  beft  fort  do  rind, 
Makefhift  the  micher, 
Craft  rubs  out  a  life, 
With  muffling  of  cards, 
Both  money  and  time, 
Loffe  chafeth  the  mind, 
Breaketh  good  credit, 
Who  learns  not  to  cog, 
For  with  fine  foylling 

*  *  * 
Figboyes  with  a  windles, 
Darlings  do  dandle, 
Hellhounds  waxe  wyly, 
Driues  a-drift  daily, 

So  thoufands  are  fpoyled, 
When  that  with  full  bags, 
HAKRISON — FART  in. 


*  *  * 
where  fountaine  doth  run, 
vnto  the  warme  funne. 
the  thriftles  tryes  now, 
vnto  the  playne  plow.        4 
(what  pity  is  that) 

and  catch  but  a  gnat, 
and  hides  him  in  hafte, 
and  cryes  out  on  wall.        8 
are  drownd  in  gold  lace, 
confumes  a  great  pace, 
that  Father  did  get, 
drops  quickly  in  det.         12 
and  looks  not  behind, 
that  beares  a  good  mind, 
the  richer  they  are, 
and  worfe  will  they  fare." 
they  can  not  be  had,        17 
their  fortune  but  bad. 
thinks  not  of  amending, 
with  borrowing  and  lending, 
and  trotting  of  bones, 
are  loft  all  at  once.  22 

and  alters  the  cace, 
and  brings  great  difgrace. 
muft  leaue  off  to  play, 
men  catch  what  they  may. 

*  *  * 
drawes  Deer  to  the  bow, 
their  babes  even  fo.  28 
to  bite  eare  they  barke, 

by  cofenage  in  darke. 
before  they  fee  day, 
falfe  theeves  runs  away.   32 
12 


Bravery  still  begs 
amongst  plenty. 


Landlords  lack 
livings. 


Heirs  complain 
of  waste. 

Demesnes 
consume. 

Young  men  get 
into  debt. 

Many  want 
bread. 


Money  is  wasted 
in  gambling. 


Cheating  is  rife. 


Thousands  are 
pluuderd. 


174 


LIST  OF  EXTRACTS   FROM  JOHN   NORDEN'S 
"SURVEYORS  DIALOGUE,    1608." 

1.  The  Rise  of  Prices,  and  Farmers'  Extravagance,  p.  175. 

2.  On  Villains  or  Bondmen,  p.  176  (some  still,  in  1608,  p.  178  «.). 

3.  Of  Fine  Buildings.     The  Kitchens'  ' comfortable  Smoke',  p.  178. 

4.  Of  Common  Fields  and  Enclosures,  p.  179. 

5.  Of  License  in  putting-up  Cottages.     Folk  as  bad  as  'Saluages', 

p.  1 80. 

6.  Of  Mills,  and  Millers,  and  the  Custom  ' Socome\  and  Toll,  p.  180. 

7.  Of  the  Kinds  of  Wild  Fowl,  p.  182. 

8.  Of  the  Kinds  of  Mines  and  Quarries,  p.  182. 

9.  Of  Turfs,  Peats,  and  Furze,  p.  182. 

10.  Of  Slate-stones,  Black-Lead,  and  Ochre,  p.  183. 

11.  Of  Deer  and  Parks,  and  of  Warrens  of  Conies,  p.  184. 

12.  Of  Pawnage  for  Swine,  and  the  Scarcity  of  Oaks,  p.  184  (&  p.  189). 

13.  Of  Draining  the  Fens,  p.  185. 

14.  Of  Alder,  and  Fir  and  Oak  that  have  been  in  Shropshire  Bogs  since 

Noah's  Flood,  p.  186. 

15.  Of  Hops,  and  how  Carrots  are  being  grown,  p.  186. 

Of  the  benefit  of  growing  Hemp,  Mustard,  Flax,  and  Apple-Trees 

grown  on  '  Burgaines ',  p.  187. 

Of  Cider  and  Perry  from  Trees  in  Hedge-rows,  p.  188. 
Of  Kentishmen's  industry  in  planting  Apple  and  Cherry  Orchards, 

p.  1 88. 

16.  Of  the  Scarcity  of  Oaks,  and  Gentlemen  selling  their  Woods,  p.  189. 
How  the  Timber-Tree  Statutes  are  evaded,  p.  190. 

17.  Of  the   Iron-Furnaces   and   Glass-Kilns  in  the  Wealds  of  Kent, 

Surrey,  and  Sussex,  p.  191. 

1 8.  Of  Fish-Ponds,  and  the  supply  of  Fish  to  London,  p.  192. 

19.  Of  Manure  for  land  :  Moor-earth  or  * Murgion\  and  Avon-slub  or 

* Maiume\  p.  193. 
Of  London-street  and  -stable-soil  carried  by  river,  p.  194. 

20.  Of  the  Paradise  of  England,  Tandeane  in  Somersetshire,  p.  194. 

21.  Of  Heath,  Heather,  and  Ling,  p.  195. 

22.  Of  Hay-boot  and  Hedge-boot,  p.  196. 


EXTRACTS   FROM   JOHN  NORDEN'S 
"SURUEYORS    DIALOGUE,    1608." 

i.  The  Rife  of  Prices,  and  Farmers'  Extravagance,     p.  13-14. 

Sur.  To  mew  you  then  an  inftance,  looke  into  the 
Chronicle  in  the  time  of  Henry  the  lixt,  and  you  lhall 
finde,  that  a  quarter  of  Wheate  was  fold  at  Roy  (Ion  in  Wheat  at 

twelue  pence 

Hartford/hire  for  twelue  pence:  and  I  truft,  if  you  be  a  the  quarter. 
Farmer,  you  are  a  Corne-feller,  and  I  thinke,  if  a  man  offer  you 
thirty  times  as  much  for  a  quarter,  you  will  fay  it  is  better  worth. 

farm.  Was  it  poffible  that  Corne  was  then  and  there  fo  cheape, 
and  to  rife  fince  to  this  rate  ?  it  is  very  ftrange. 

Sur.  Not  at  all:  for  fince  there  grew  fuch  emulation  Rents  of 
among  Farmers,  that  one  would  outbid  another,  (which  in  prices  of 

things  grow 

the  beginning  was  little  feene)  it  grew  at  length,  that  he  together. 
that  bought  deare,  muft  fell  deare,  and  fo  grew  the  prices  of  things 
by  degrees  to  this  rate  as  now  they  be,  and  a  Farmer  gets  as  much 
by  his  Farme  now,  as  then  he  did. 

Farm.  You  erre  therein,  1  affure  you  :  for  elfe  could  Farmers 
keepe  as  good  houfes  &  hofpitality  now,  as  they  did  then,  and  alas, 
you  fee  how  vnable  they  be. 

Sur.  It  is  true,  and   the  reafon  is  manifefl :  for  where  in  thofe 
dayes  Farmers  and  their  wiues  were  content  with  meane  The  causes 
dyet.  and  bafe  attire,  and  held  their  children  to  fomeauftere  haue grown 

'  to  this 

gouernment,  without  haunting  Alehoufes,  Tauerns,  Dice,  extremity. 
Cards,  &  vaine  delites  of  charge,  the  cafe  is  altred  :  the  Hujlandman 
will  be  equal  to  the  Yoman,  the  Yoman  to  the  Gentleman,  the  Gentle- 
man to  the  Squire,  the  Squire  his  Superiour,  and  fo  the  reft,  euery 
one  fo  farre  exceeding  the  corruptions  held  in  former  times,  that  I 
will  fpeake  without  reprehenfion,  there  is  at  this  day  thirty  times  as 
much  vainely  fpent  in  a  family  of  like  multitude  and  quality,  as  was 
in  former  ages,  whereof  I  fpeake.  And  therefore  impute  not  the  rate 


J.   NORDEN    (1608)     ON    VILLAINS    OR    BONDMEN. 


of  grounds  to  a  wrong  caufe,  for  to  tell  you  truly,  both  Lord  and 
Tenant  are  guilty  in  it :  and  yet  they  may  be  both  content,  for  they 
are  as  the  Sea  and  the  Brookes  :  for  as  the  Riuers  come  from  the 
SP,A  <b  they  runne  into  the  Sea  againe. 

2.   On  Villains  or  Bondmen,     p.  77-9. 

Lord.  .  .  What  elfe  is  there  to  be  confidered,  touching  the  things 
incident  to  a  Manner  ? 

Sur.  Nothing  Sir,  that  I  now  remember :  but  a  matter  almoft 
Tenure  in  out  °^  v^"e»  a  tenure  called  FUlajicige :  that  is,  where  the 
miianage.  Tenants  of  a  Manner  were  Bondmen  and  Bondwomen,  the 
men  were  called  Villaines,  and  the  women  Neiffes. 

Lord.  It  hath  a  bafe  title:  A  Villaine  is  an  J opprobrious  name, 
howfoeuer  it  tooke  beginning.  tl  orig.  approbrious. 

Sur.  As  the  word  is  now  vfed  and  taken,  it  is  indeede  a  word  of 
great  difhonour :  but  the  time  hath  beene,  the  word  hath  bene  of  no 
fuch  difgrace.  And  it  is  now  but  as  the  thing  is  ment  by  the  fpeaker, 
and  taken  by  him  to  whom  it  is  fpoken  :  although  fome  fay,  that  a 
villaine  is  qua/I  feruus :  which  name  indeed  is  of  a  more  tolerable 
conftrucYion  in  our  common  fence,  then  is  now  the  name  of  villaine, 
vuiaine  quid,  which  is  indeed  no  more  then  villanus,  a  Ruftique  or 
Countriman,  which  word  is  in  fence  contrary  to  dues,  or  Oppidanus, 
but  that  fince  the  Conqueil  by  the  Normanes,  thefe  villaines  became 
bondmen :  for  where  the  Conquerour  came  and  preuailed  by  force, 
there  the  Countrey  people  became  Captiues  and  Slaues. 
But  Kent,  which  was  not  fubdued  by  the  fword,  but  by 
compolition,  retained  their  freedome  ftill,  as  did  alfo  many  Cities. 

Lord.  Why  then  mould  the  name  villaine  bee  fo  odious,  if  it 
fignifie  but  a  Countriman :  for  there  are  many  honeft,  ciuill,  and 
wealthy  Countrimen  ? 

Sur.  Becaufe  they  indured  vnder  that  name,  many  kindes  of 
feruitude  and  flauifti  labours,  vnder  their  Lords,  as  did  the  Ifraelites  in 
Egipt,  &  whatfoeuer  they  poffefled,  was  not  theirs,  but  the  Lords. 

Lord.  I  blame  not  any  man  then,  to  take  exceptions  at  the 
name :  for  hee  that  would  call  me  Villaine,  and  were  not,  I  thinke, 
ment  to  bring  me  into  like  thraldome :  but  I  thinke  there  be  not 
many  vnder  this  kinde  of  fervitude  at  this  day. 


Villains 
came  by  con- 
guest  bond- 
men. 


J.   NORDEN    (1608)     ON    VILLAINS     OR    BONDMEN.  IJJ 

Sur.  There  are  not  :  yet  there  be  as  many  Villani  as  in 


^ 

times  paft,  in   that  fence,  from  which  this  word  was  firfl  this  dale. 
deriued  :  which  as  I  fayd,  was  from  the  place  of  their  inhabiting  the 
Country,  and  country  villages  and  out-farmes.     And  a  man  may  be 
called  Villanus,  without  offence,  vnlelfe  it  be  fpoken  in  opprobrious 
fence  :  for  if  a  man  mould  afke  a  Scholler  howe  hee  would  call,  or 
what  adiunct  he  would  giue  vnto  a  man,   dwelling  in  a  Country 
village  or  houfe  :  hee  would  fay  hee  were  Villanus  or  Villaticus,  a 
man  belonging  to  a  village  or  to  fome  Country  houfe  or  Farme,  for 
Villa  fignifieth  a  village,  a  Farme  or  a  Houfe  out  of  a  towne.     Cuius 
ego  villam  contemplans  (fayth  Cicero)  '  whofe  Manner  or  Villa  signt- 
Farme  I  beholding.'    This  I  produce,  to  Ihewe  whence  the  house,  or 
word  Villaine  was  firfl  deriued.     But  the  word  at  this  day  Country. 
needes  not  to  be  fo  carped  at,  vnleife  the  party  do  the  feruice  of  that 
bafe  tenure,  which  vpon  the  conqueji  was  impofed  vpon  the  Country 
people  :  which  kinde  of  feruice  and  flauery,  thankes  bee  to  God,  is  in 
moil  places  of  this  Realme  quite  abolifhed,  &  worne  out  of  memory  : 
yet   fome  beare  the  marke,  both  in  their  ancient  &  new  Tenens 

,,      ,  natiuus  in  a 

copies,  by  this  word   Tenens  natiuus,  which  ngninetri    a  Copie,  a 

badge  of 

bond  tenant,  or  borne  of  the  bloud  :  &  yet  it  may  be,  their  bondage. 
ancefters  were  manumifed  long  agoe.  And  it  were  not  amifTe,  that 
{rewards  of  fuch  Courts,  wherein  fuch  copies  are  made,  would  be 
careful  in  making  their  copies  vpon  Surrender  of  fuch  a  Tenant. 
whofe  anceflers  euermore  pofTeffed  the  thing  he  furrenders  -,  for  when 
a  free  man  mall  take  fuch  a  copie,  vnder  the  name  of  Tenens  Natiuus, 
he  hath  wrong,  and  I  thinke  it  little  materiall,  if  the  word  were 
generally  omitted,  where  there  hath  bin  an  infranchifment  ;  for  the 
greateft  argument  for  the  continuance  is,  to  maintaine  the  antiquitie 
of  the  Manner,  and  me  thinkes  it  were  better  that  fuch  an  odious 
brand  were  cleane  wiped  and  razed  out  of  the  forehead  of  euery  mans 
inheritance  :  although  (no  doubt)  there  are  yet  fome  within  this 
Realme  without  manumiffion,  fewe  knowne,  but  more  concealed,  and 
fome  (no  doubt)  haue  bene  by  the  act  of  their  Lords  freed,  and  neither 
their  Lords  witting  of  it,  nor  the  Tenants  taking  prefent  aduantage  : 
for  if  the  Lord  buy  or  fell  with  his  bond  Tenant,  it  is  an  immediate 
infranchifment  of  the  Tenant  and  his  pofteritie.  And  fome  haue  vo- 
luntarily releafed  their  Tenants  of  fuch  a  flauerie.  An  aft  of  charitie. 


178      J.   NORDEN     (1608).      FINE    BUILDINGS.      COMFORTABLE    SMOKE. 

Ckaritie  to  Lord.  Truly  I  thinke  it  is  a  Chriftian  part  fo  to  doe : 

fmen. ""  for  feeing  we  be  nowe  all  as  the  children  of  one  father,  the 
feruants  of  one  God,  and  the  Subieds  to  one  King,  it  is  verie 
vncharitable  to  retaine  our  brethren  in  bondage :  fith,  when  we  were 
all  bond,  Chrift  did  make  vs  free.1 


3.  Fine  Buildings.     Comfortalle  Smoke,     p.  85. 

We  haue  in  our  dayes  many  and  great  buildings:  a  comly 
Many  chim-  ornament  it  is  to  the  face  of  the  earth.  And  were  it  not 

fieys  little 

fires.  that  the  fmoake  of  fo  many  chimneyes,  did  raife  fo  many 

duflde  cloudes  in  the  aire,  to  hinder  the  heate  and  light  of  the  Sunne 
from  earthly  creatures,  it  were  the  more  tolerable. 

Bayly.  Nay  truly,  I  will  excufe  that  fault,  the  fire  is  made  moft 
in  the  kitchin. 

Sur.  Then  it  befmoketh  not  the  hall,  as  old  worthie  houfes  did, 
whofe  kitchins  fmoake  fent  foorth  cloudes  of  good  meate,  and 
ihowres  of  drinke  for  the  poore. 

Bayly.  Yea,  Sir,  that  was  a  comfortable  fmoke  :  but  Tempora 
mutantur,  &  omnia  mutantur  in  illis :  no  earthly  thing  continueth 
conftant,  but  hath  his  change. 

Tenants  are  *  Howsoeuer  of  late  dayes  Tenants  stand  in  higher  conceits  of  their  free- 
now  in  con-  dome,  then  in  former  times,  if  they  looke  a  little  back  into  antiquity,  they 
Cfreemthen  sna^  see  l^at  Tenants  (for  the  most  part)  of  euery  Manner  in  England, 
informer  haue  ben  more  seruile  vnto  theyr  Lords,  and  in  greater  bondage  then 
times.  now  ^gy  aref  whom  the  fauourable  hand  of  time  hath  much  infranchised, 

and  it  can  not  be  altogether  euery  where  forgotten,  because  they  may  see  as  in  a 
Auncient  glasse,  the  picture  of  theyr  seruitude  in  many  auncient  custome  rolls,  and 
bondage.  in  the  copyes  of  theyr  owne  auncesters,  and  many  seruile  works  haue 
been  due  and  done  by  them,  and  in  many  places  yet  are,  though  the  most  are  now 
turned  into  money  :  but  neyther  theyr  infranchisements,  nor  the  conuersion  of  works 
into  rents  doe  so  farre  free  them,  but  that  they  still  owe  seruices  vnto  their  Lords,  in 
respect  of  their  tenures,  as  well  freeholders  as  customary  Tenants,  as  both  in  most  of 
their  copyes  and  deeds  is  expressed  by  these  words,  Pro  reditu  &  seruitiis  vnde  prius 
Euery  in-  debitls  &>  de  iure  consuetis,  which  proueth  their  tenures  in  a  sort  to  be 
irc°onditate  conditional! :  \\hich  condition,  if  it  be.  wilfully  broken  by  the  obstinate 
tionall.  carriage  of  any  such  Tenant,  he  indangereth  his  estate. — ib.  p.  35. 
Villaines,  [Inquire]  19  Whether  is  there  within  this  Mannor  any  villaine  or 

<&>  Nieffes.  niefe^  any  j,ondman  or  bond-woman :  if  there  be,  what  are  their  names, 
what  land  do  they  hold  and  keepe,  and  what  is  the  same  yeerly  woorth. 

Although  this  kind  of  tenure  be  in  manner  worne  out  of  vse,  yet  some  there  are  (no 
doubt)  though  conceiled  in  some  Mawnors,  neuer  infranchized,  or  manumized.  p.  105. 


J.   NORDEN    (1608)     ON    COMMONS    AND    ENCLOSURES.  179 

4.  Common  Fields  and  Enclofures.  p.  96-7. 
9  Alfo  you  are  to  prefent  the  names  of  all  your  common 
Jields :  and  howe  many  furlongs  are  in  euery  field,  and 
their  names,  and  the  common  meddowes,  and  their  names,  And 
what  beafts,  and  fheepe,  euerie  Tenant  ought  to  keepe  vpon  the 
fame,  when  the  corne  and  hay  is  off.  And  what  a  beaft  gate,  and 
(heep  gate  is  worth  by  yeere.  Alfo  at  what  time  your  fields  and 
common  meddowes  are  layd  open  :  and  howe  are  they,  or  ought 
to  be  vfed.  And  whether  is  it  law  full  for  the  Tenants,  to  inclofe  and 
part  of  their  common  fields  or  meddowes,  without  the  licence  of  the 
Lord,  and  confent  of  the  Tenants. 

This  Article  is  duly  to  bee  confidered,  firfl  in  fetting  downe 
in  certainty,  what  euery  man  is  to  keepe  vpon  the  fields,  and 
common  meddowes,  becaufe  iniury  is  daily  done  by  fome  of 
greateft  abilitie,  to  the  meaner  fort,  in  oppreffing  the  fields,  with 
a  greater  number  of  Cattle,  then  according  to  a  true  proportion 
will  fall  vnto  their  mare,  which  is  very  extortion,  and  a  punifh- 
ment  is  to  be  inflicted  vpon  the  offenders. 

Alfo  inclofures  of  common  fields,  or  meddowes  in  part,  by 
fuch  as  are  moft  powerfull  and  mighty,  without  the  Lords 
licence,  and  the  Tenants  affents,  is  more  then  may  be  permitted  : 
the  reafon  is,  that  the  reft  of  the  Tenants  haue  as  much  right  to 
euery  herbe,  and  grafle  within  the  fame,  when  the  corne  is  off, 
as  he  hath  that  enclofeth  the  fame. 

^ayly.  But  Sir,  if  they  lay  it  open  at  Lammas,  or  at  fuch 
time  as  cuftome  requireth,  I  think  he  doth  neither  Lord  nor 
tenants  wrong. 

Sur.  Yes  :  for  firft  he  depriueth  them  both  of  the  feed,  of  as 
much    as   his  hedges,   ditches    and    enclofures    take :    befides, 
whether  is  it  as  conuenient  for  pafle  and  repafle  for  cattle  at  one 
little  gappe  or  two,  as  when  there  is  no  eftopell  at  all } 
}$ayly.  You  like  not  inclofures  then. 

Sur.  I  do,  and  I  thinke  it  the  moft  beneficiall  courfe  that 
tenants  can  take,  to  increafe  their  abilities :  for  one  acre  inclofed, 
is  woorth  one  and  a  halfe  in  Common,  if  the  ground  be  fitting 
thereto  :  But  that  it  mould  be  generall,  and  that  Lords  {hould 
not  depopulate  by  vfurping  inclofures. 


l8o          J.   NORDEN   (1608)    ON    COTTAGES,  MILLS    AND    MILLERS. 

5.  Cottages,  and  Folk  far  from  Church,  p.  106-7. 
22  Whether  are  there  within  this  Manner,  any  new  erected 
Tenements  or  Cotages,  lames,  Walls,  Jheddes,  Houells,  Hedges,  Ditches, 
or  fuch  like  erected,  fet  vp,  or  made :  or  any  other  Watercourfes,  or 
Ponds,  digged  vpon  any  part  of  the  Lords  wafte,  without  the  Lords 
licence:  where  is  it,  and  by  whom  was  it  done,  and  by  whose 
licence,  and  vpon  what  consideration. 

The  ouermuch  libertie  of  too  many  newe  erections,  breedeth 
fundry  inconueniencies,  not  only  to  a  Manner,  and  the  Lord, 
and  Tenants  thereof,  but  to  a  whole  Commonwealth,  and  there- 
fore not  to  be  permitted  without  good  confideration  :  although 
is  it  moft  conuenient,  that  the  poore  mould  haue  melter  &  places 
to  fhroud  them  in,  if  they  be  found  honeft,  vertuous,  painfull, 
and  men  of  abilitie,  to  gaine  their  owne  and  their  families 
reliefe. 

But  it  is  obferued  in  fome  parts  where  I  haue  trauelled, 
where  great  and  fpacious  waftes,  Mountaines,  and  heathes  are, 
that  many  fuch  Cotages  are  fet  vp,  the  people  giuen  to  little  or 
no  kind  of  labour,  liuing  very  hardly  with  Oaten  bread,  fowre 
whay,  and  Gotes  milke,  dwelling  farre  from  any  church  or 
chappel,  &  are  as  ignorawt  of  God,  or  of  any  ciuil  courfe  of  life, 
as  the  very  Saluages  amongft  the  Infidels  in  maner,  which  is 
lamentable. 

6.  Mills  and  Millers,     p.  108-110. 

25  Whether  hath  the  Lord  of  this  Manner  any  cuftomarie 
CustomemiL  Water-mill,  Wind-mill,  Horfe-mill,  Griejl-mill,  Mault-mill, 
Walk-mil,  or  Fulling-mill.  Whether  is  there  within  this  Manner, 
any  other  Mil,  Iron-mil,  Furnace,  or  Hammer,  Paper-mill,  Sowing-mil, 
Shere-mil,  or  any  other  kind  of  Mill :  what  is  it  woorth  by  yeere, 
and  in  whofe  occupation  is  it  ? 

Where  fufficient  riuers,  brooks,  ftagnes,  ponds,  or  water- 
courfes  are,  there  are  commonly  fome  kinds  of  Mils,  or  other 
profitable  deuices,  that  humane  wit  and  inuention  hath  fet  vp 
for  neceflarie  vfesj  for  the  benefit  of  man,  and  for  the  Lords 
profit  of  the  Manner,  where  fuch  deuices  are  erected.  And  yet 
all  kinds  of  deuices  are  not  conuenient  in  all  places :  as  where 


J.   NORDEN   (1608)    ON    MILLS,  AND    CHEATING    MILLERS.          l8l 

no  Lead  or  Tinne  is,  there  is  no  need  of  the  vie  of  water,  to 
moue  a  wheele,  to  blow  the  fire  for  the  melting  &  trying 
thereof:  yet  there  may  be  like  vfe  for  Iron  oare :  and  where 
neither  of  them  is,  there  may  be  vfe  of  Walk-milles,  or  Fulling- 
milles ;  and  where  thofe  are  not,  yet  there  may  be  vfe  of  Corne- 
milles,  and  fuch  like.  And  in  fome  places  the  force  of  water- 
courfes  is  vfed,  to  raife  water  out  of  one  place  into  another, 
where  the  naturall  current  denyeth  the  comming,  and  mounting 
thereof :  with  infinite  other  deuices,  according  to  the  fituation  of 
the  place,  and  neceflitie  of  the  thing  required.  Which,  although 
they  be  not  all  Mils  to  grind  corne,  yet  may  they  bring  profit  to 
the. Lord,  which  is  the  thing  the  Surueyor  mould  couet,  not 
onely  to  obferue  what  is  alreadie,  but  muft  haue  alfo  fome  Judge- 
ment to  erect  fome,  if  the  water-courfe  will  conueniently  affoord 
the  fame. 

To  the  Corne-mils,  which  are  cuftome  milles,  doth  belong  a 
kind  of  duty  from  the  tenants,  that  is,  that  they  are  bound  to 
grind  their  corne  at  the  Lords  mill :  and  that  kind  of  cuftome  is 
called  Socome.  Soeome. 

Bayly.  Muft  a  cuftomary  tenant  of  a  Manner,  where  fuch  a 
mill  is,  be  forced  to  grind  al  the  corne  he  fpendeth  in  his  houfe, 
at  the  Lords  mill  ? 

Sur.  Of  neceflitie,  if  it  grow  vpon  the  Mannor  :  or  elfe  the 
Lord  may  amerce  him  for  his  default. 

Bayly.  What  if  he  be  forced  to  buy  it  in  the  market  ? 

Sur.  Surely  then  it  is  a  queftion,  whether  he  be  bound  to 
grind  it  there  or  not.  But  I  take  it,  he  is  at  his  liberty,  to  grind 
it  where  he  will,  euen  where  "he  finds  himfelf  beft  ferued.  For 
there  is  lond-Socome,  that  is,  where  the  tenant  is  bound  by 
cuftome,  and  loue-Socome,  where  he  grindeth  of  free-will. 

Bayly.  We  that  are  tenants  would  be  glad,  if  you  could  tell 
vs,  what  toll  our  Miller  may  take :  for  we  are  much  abufed  in 
it,  as  we  thinke,  &  becaufe  we  be  bound  by  cuftome,  we  cannot 
conueniently  leaue  the  mill,  and  yet  we  find  no  remedy  of  the 
millers  abufes. 

Sur.  As  Touching  Toll,  (which  word  commeth  of  the  verbe 
tollo,  to  take  away,  as  it  feemeth)  there  are  fo  many  differences, 


l82        J.   NORDEN    (1608)    ON    WILD    FOWL,  MINES,  PEAT,  AND    FURZE. 

by  grants  made  by  Lords  of  Manners,  that  the  certaintie  in 
generall  can  hardly  be  declared.  Some  Millers  take  a  twentith, 
fome  foure  and  twentith  part :  tenants  at  wil  ftmld  pay  a  lixteenth 
part,  and  a  bond  tenant  a  twelfth  part,  and  fome  are  toll-free. 
But  howfoeuer  the  toll  be,  feare  not,  the  Miller  will  be  no  lofer. 
And  for  his  abufes,  you  haue  your  remedie  in  the  Lords  Court, 
or  at  the  common  law. 

7.   Wild  Fowl.     p.  in. 

Fowling.  27  Whether  hath  the  Lord  of  the  Mannor  any  Fowling 

within  this  Mannor,  by  meanes  of  any  moores,  marines,  waters, 
brookes,  reedes,  or  fuch  like  :  as  of  Ducke,  Mallard,  Widgine,  Teale, 
Wild-geefe,  Bufterd,  Plouers,  Bitters,  Swans,  or  fuch  like  foule :  or 
any  woods  wherein  do  breed  any  Herinihoes,  Shouelers,  Storke,  or 
fuch  like :  or  any  Pibble,  Peach,  or  Sea-bank,  wherin  breed  fea-Pyes, 
Oliues,  Pewets,  or  fuch,  who  taketh  the  profit  of  them,  and  what 
are  they  woorth  by  yeere. 

8.  Mines  and  Quarries,     p.  112. 

Mines.  29  Whether  are  there  within  this  Mannor,  any  Tin- 

Quarries,  mines,  Lead-mines,  Copper -mines,  Cole-mines,  Quarryes  of 
Jlone  of  Marble,  Free-Jlones,  Mil-Jlones,  Lime-Jlones,  Grinding-Jlones, 
Marie,  or  Chalke-pits^/limie  or  moori/h  earth,  fit  for  foyling  of  land,  or 
any  Potters  clay,  clay  for  Bricke  or  Tile,  or  any  Fullers  earth,  or  any 
fand,  or  grauel-pits,  or  fuch  kind  of  commodities,  and  what  is  euery 
fuch  kind  woorth  to  the  Lord,  or  may  be  made  woorth  by  yeere. 

Thefe  are  cafualties,  and  feldome  or  neuer  at  all  happen  in 
any  Mannor,  and  few  Manners  but  haue  fome  or  one  of  them. 

9.   Turfs,  Peats,  and  Furze,     p.  112-114. 
T»rffes  3°  Whether  hath  the  Lord  of  the  Mawnor  any  Turjfs, 


andPeatcs.  p^^  Heath,  Broome,  Furze,  or  Flagge,  which  are,  or 
may  be  yeerely  fold  within  the  Mannor,  &  what  may  they  yeeld  the 
Lord  by  yeere. 

Thefe  things  are  not  in  euery  countrie,  much  lefle  in  euery 
Mannor  :  for  I  think  EJJex  can  affoord  little  of  them,  vnleffe  it 
be  of  Turffes  and  Peates,  if  they  were  fought  in  fome  low 


J.   NORDEN  (1608)    ON  TURF,  PEAT,  FURZE,  SLATES,  BLACK-LEAD.     183 

grounds,  in  fome  creeke  of  the  fea.  Northumberland,  Wejlmerland 
and  thofe  wild  fields,  yeeld  ftore  of  peates  and  turffes :  fo  doth 
York/hire  fome,  and  other  places,  many. 

¥>ayly.  What  meane  you  by  Turffes  and  Peates  ?  are  they 
not  heath  Turffs  you  meane  ? 

Sur.  There  are  heath-Turffes,  which  are  alfo  meant  in  this 
Article,  but  the  Turffe  and  Peate  is  of  another  kind  5  for  they 
are  taken  in  bogges,  and  fuch  rotten  grounds  as  cattle  cannot 
feed  vpon.  And  thofe  that  are  firft  cut  vp,  are  called  Turffes  of 
the  vpper  part,  and  fuch  as  are  taken  downward,  are  called 
Peates. 

Bayly.  How  meane  you  downward  ? 

Sur.  Vnder  the  firft  cut :  for  you  may  cut  a  fpeares  length 
deepe  in  fome  places  in  the  fummer  time,  and  that  kind  of  earth 
will  burn  very  excellently.  And  if  it  be  cut  neuer  fo  deepe, 
it  will  fill  againe  in  few  yeeres,  and  then  may  it  be  digged 
againe.  .  .  . 

Bayly.  You  fpake  of  Furze :  I  take  that  to  be  no  good 
fewell,  but  to  brew  or  bake  withall. 

Suruey.  Yes :  it  is  good  fire-wood  in  Deuonjhire  and 
Cornwal,  where  they  make  great  profite  in  venting  it  for  that 
vfe,  in  many  the  greateft  townes,  and  in  Excejier  efpecially. 

"Bayly.  Then  are  they  better  then  our  ordinary  Furzes  about  vs. 

Sur.  The  countrey  people  do  call  them  French  Furzes,1  they 
haue  a  very  great  ftalke,  and  grow  very  high,  and  their  prickle 
very  ftrong :  but  that  they  grow  thicke,  and  the  body  is  com- 
monly bare  to  the  toppe,  where  is  onely  a  greene  bufh  of  the 
tender  and  fmall  branches,  and  feldome  elfewhere,  fo  that  they 
eafily  make  them  into  Faggots. 

10.  Slate,  Black-Lead,  Ochre,     p.  114. 

31    Whether  is  there  within  the  Mannor  any  Slate-  Slate  stones. 
Jlones  for  tiling,  red  or  llacke  Lead,  or   Oker  for  marking  stones. 

flones. 

Thefe  kind  of   Slate  Hones  are  full  in   Cornwall,  and  the 

marking  ftones  moft  about  Darlyjhire,  and  thofe  parts. 
1  On  these  '  French  Furzes,'  see  also  p.  237  of  Norden's  book. 


184        J-   NORDEN   (1608).       DEER    AND    PARKS.        OAKS    SCARCE. 

ii.  Deer  and  Parks,  and  Conies,     p.  114-113. 

Deere.  32  What  Deere  hath  the  Lord  of  this  Mannor  in  his 

Parke,  red  and  fallow  :  how  many  of  Antler,  and  how  many  rafcall : 
who  is  Keeper,  and  what  is  his  Fee  by  yeere  :  whether  hath  he  any 
IVarren  of  Conies^  or  Hares,  who  is  Keeper  of  either  of  them,  and 
what  Fee  hath  he  by  yeere,  and  what  is  the  Warren  of  Conies  woorth 
by  yeere,  and  what  were  the  Parke  woorth  by  acre  to  be  let  by 
yeere,  if  the  Deere  were  deftroycd,  and  how  many  acres  is  there 
within  the  pale  ? 

A  Parke  for  Deere  is  more  for  the  pleafure  then  for  the 
profit  of  the  Lord,  or  Commonwealth,  and  yet  fit  that  Princes 
and  men  of  woorth  Ihould  maintaine  them  at  their  pleafures,  yet 
not  fo  fit,  that  euery  man  that  liked  fhould  maintaine  that  game, 
for  his  priuate  pleafure,  that  depriueth  a  Commonwealth  of 
more  neceffary  commodities.  But  men  of  late  are  growne  more 
confederate,  and  haue  difparked  much  of  this  kind  of  ground, 
and  conuerted  it  to  better  vfes.  As  for  warrens  of  Conies, 
Conies.  they  are  not  vnneceflarie,  &  they  require  no  rich 
ground  to  feed  in,  but  meane  pafture  and  craggy  grounds  are 
fittefl  for  them.  It  is  therefore  in  the  difcretion  of  a  good  and 
circumfpe6l  Surueyor,  to  aduife  his  Lord  how  to  difpofe  of  thefe 
things  for  his  befl  aduantage. 

12.  Pawnage.     Scarcity  of  Oaks  and  Timber,     p.  116-117. 
35  Whether  doth  the  Lord,  or  may  he  take  in   any  fwine  to 
Pawnage.      pawnage  yeerely  into   his  parke  or  woods,  what   is   the 
pawnage  woorth  by  yeere. 

^ayly.  Sir,  you  need  little  to  enquire  of  that,  for  Okes  and 
Beech  that  haue  bene  formerly  very  famous  in  many  parts  of 
this  kingdome,  for  feeding  the  Farmers  venifon,  are  fallen  to  the 
ground  and  gone,  and  their  places  are  fcarcely  knowne  where 
they  flood. 

Sur.  It  is  very  true :  and  it  is  pitty,  that  Lords  of  Manners 
haue  no  more  care  of  their  pofterities.  For  afluredly  there  will 
be  greater  want  of  timber  in  time  to  come  in  this  Realme,  then 
may  be  fupplyed  with  little  charge  from  any  part  elfe  whatfo- 
euer.  And  therefore  might  Lords  and  Farmers  eafily  adde  fome 


J.   NORDEN   (1608).        OAKS    SCARCE.       DRAINING    FENS.  l8$ 

fupply  of  future  hope,  in  fetting  for  euery  twenty  acres  of  other 
land,  one  acre  of  Acornes,  which  would  come  to  be  good 
timber  in  his  fonnes  age,  efpecially  where  there  is,  and  like  to  be 
more  want. 

Bayly.  The  courfe  were  good,  but  you  prefixe  too  fhort  a 
time  farre :  for  Okes  are  flow  of  growth,  and  it  will  be  long  ere 
they  come  to  be  timber. 

Sur.  I  know  in  Sujfolke,  where  in  twenty  yeeres  Acornes 
haue  yeelded  fruite,  already  nere  as  high,  as  a  fteeple  of  ordinary 
height. 

Bayly.  Truly,  it  is  pitty  it  were  not  enioyned  to  men  of 
abilitie  and  land  to  do  it.  But  I  thinke  men  imagine,  there  will 
be  timber  enough  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

13.  Draining  the  Fens.     p.  189-190. 

Bail.  .  .  But  there  is  much  land  in  England  loft  for  want  of  drain- 
ing, as  the  Fennes  and  low  grounds  in  Lincoln-mire,  Cam-  The  Fennes. 
bridg-lhire,  Northfolke,  and  other  places,  which  I  did  thinke  impoflible 
euer  to  be  made  dry,  by  the  art  or  induftry  of  man.  And  yet  as  I 
heare,  much  of  it  is  made  lately  firme  ground,  by  the  (kill  of  one 
Captaine  Louell,  and  by  M.  William  Englebert  an  excel- 
lent  Ingenor.  And  truly  it  is  much  to  their  owne  com- 
mendation,  and  to  the  common  good  of  the  inhabitants  neere.  But 
thefe  grounds  are  not  drained  by  fuch  meanes  as  you  fpeake  of. 

Sur.  Indeed,  the  draines  are  of  vnlike  quantitie,  but  like  in 
qualitie :  one  and  the  fame  rule  of  reafon  doth  worke  both  the  one 
and  the  other.  But  to  fay  truly  vnto  thee,  the  people  of  thofe 
countries  (efpecially  the  poorer  fort)  where  this  kind  of  publike 
benefite  is  thus  gotten,  had  rather  haue  the  want  by  their  Fathers 
error,  then  to  reape  good,  and  more  plenty  by  other  mens  art  and 
charge.  And  in  their  conceits  they  had  rather  catch  a  Pike,  then 
feede  an  Oxe. 

'Bayly.  They  are  either  very  vnwife,  or  very  wilful.  But  (no 
doubt)  authority  is  aboue  fuch  country  wilfulnefle,  and  doth  or  may 
inioyne  them,  for  the  common  weale,  to  confent  and  yeeld  all 
ayde  in  the  bunnefle.  But  if  they  will  needes  fifli  and  foole,  and 
refufe  rich  releefe,  we  will  leaue  them  to  their  wils,  till  reafon  in 


l86      J.  NORDEN  (1608).     FIR,  &C.  FROM    BOGS.     HOPS,  CARROTS,  &C. 


Firre  tree 

lien  in  the 

ground 

since  the 


themfelues,  or  compullion,  bring  them  to  a  more  generall  delire  of  fo 
great  a  bleffing 

14.  Alder,  Fir  and  Oak  from  Shropjhire  Bogs.     p.  191-2. 

Bayly.  .  .  [Alder]  is  alfo  good  to  make  the  foundations  of 
buildings,  in  riuers,  fennes,  and  {landing  waters,  as  alfo  piles  for  many 
purpofes  in  moorifh  and  wet  grounds. 

Sur.  It  is  true  :  this  kind  of  wood  is  of  greater  continuance  in 
Aider  good  watry  places,  then  any  other  timber  :  for  it  is  obferued, 

to  make 

piles.  that  in  thefe  places  it  feldome  or  neuer  rots. 

Bayly.  It  loued  the  water  and  moiflure  well  in  growing,  and 
therefore  it  brooketh  it  the  better,  being  laid  in  it.  But  I 
thinke  the  Firrc-tree  is  much  of  the  fame  nature  :  for  I 
haue  feene  infinite  many  of  them,  taken  out  of  the  earth 
in  a  moorifh  ground  in  Shroplhire,  betweene  the  Lordmips  of 
Ofweftry,  and  Elfemere,  which  (as  is  fuppofed)  haue  lien  in  the 
moift  earth  euer  fince  the  Floud,  and  being  daily  taken  vp,  the  people 
make  walking-ftaues  and  pikes  of  them,  firm  and  ftrong,  and  vfe  the 
chips  in  Head  of  candles  in  poore  houfes  :  fo  fat  is  the  wood  to  this 
day,  and  the  fmell  alfo  ftrong  and  fweet. 

Sur.  I  know  the  place  well,  where  I  faw  pales  made  of  an  Oke 
taken  out  of  the  fame  ground,  of  the  fame  continuance,  firme  and 
ftrong,  blacke  as  Ilony,  and  might  haue  fitly  been  employed  to  better 
vfes  :  and  I  take  it,  that  moft  wood  will  laft  long  vnder  the  earth, 
where  it  neuer  taketh  the  open  ayre.  But  the  wood  now  moft  in 
vfe  for  the  purpofes  abouefaid,  is  Alder  and  Elme. 

15.  Hops,   Carrots,    Hemp,    Mujlard,    Flax,    Apples,    Pears,    Cider, 
Perry,  Kentijh  Cherries,  &c.     p.  206-210. 

Hoppes.  Sur.  .  .  Your  lowe  &  fpungie  grounds  trenched,  is  good 

for  hopps,  as  S'tffblke,  Effex,  and  Surrie,  and  other  places  doe  find  to 
their  profit.  The  hot  and  fandy,  (omitting  graine)  is  good  for  carret 
Garret  roots,  rootes,  a  beneficiall  fruite,  as  Orford,  IpJ'wich,  and  many 
fea  townes  in  Suffblke  :  as  alfo  Inland  townes,  Berrie,  Frajningham, 
and  others  in  fome  meafure,  in  the  fame  mire,  Norwich  and  many 
places  in  Norfolke,  Colchejler  in  Effex,  Fulham,  and  other  places 
neere  London.  And  it  beginnes  to  increafe  in  all  places  of  this  Realme, 


J.   NORDEN   (1608).       CARROTS,  HEMP,  FLAX,    APPLES.  187 

where  difcretion  and  induftrie  fway  the  mindes  of  the  inhabitants : 
and  I  doe  not  a  little  maruaile,  that  hufbandmen  and  Farmers  doe 
not  imitate  this,  for  their  owne  families,  and  to  fell  to  theire  poore 
neighbors,  as  in  fome  places  they  begin,  to  their  great  profit.  I  haue 
alfo  obferued  in  many  places,  where  I  haue  had  occafion  to  trauaile, 
that  many  croftes,  toftes,  pightes,  pingles,  and  other  fmall  quillits  of 
land,  about  farme  houfes,  and  Tenements,  are  fuffred  to  lie  together 
idle :  fome  ouergrowne  with  nettles,  mallowes,  thirties,  wilde  tezells, 
anddiuers  other  vnprofitable  weedes,  which  are  fat  and  firtile  :  where 
if  the  farmer  would  vfe  the  meanes,  would  growe  fundry  Many  waste 
commodities,  as  hempe,  and  muftard  feede,  both  which  are  might  yeeU 

profite. 

fo  firong  enemies  to  all  other  fuperfluous,  and  vnprofitable  Hempe. 

Mustard- 

weedes,  as  they  will  not  fuffer  any  of  them  to  growe,  seed. 
where  they  are  fowne.  The  hempe  is  of  great  vfe  in  a  farmers 
houfe,  as  is  found  in  Suffolke,  Norfolke,  SuJJex,  Dorfet,  and  in  many 
places  in  Somerfet,  efpecially  about  Burport,  and  Lime,  where  the 
people  doe  find  by  it  great  aduantage,  not  only  for  cordage  for 
(hipping,  but  alfo  for  linnen,  and  other  neceflaries  about  a  houfe.  So 
is  alfo  thejlaxe,  which  is  alfo  fowne  in  many  places,  where  Fiaxe. 
good  hufwiues  endeuour  their  wits,  wills,  and  hands  to  that  com- 
modious and  profitable  courfe,  and  theflaxe  will  like  well  enough  in  a 
more  light  and  gentle,  and  leaner  foile,  then  the  hempe.  And  indeede 
there  is  not  a  place  fo  rude,  &  (p.  208)  vnlikely,  but  diligence  and 
difcretion  may  conuert  it  to  fome  profitable  end  :  and  among  many 
other  commodities,  I  maruaile,  men  are  no  more  forward  in  planting 
of  Apple  trees,  Peare  trees,  Crab-flockes,  and  fuch  like  Apple  trees. 
in  their  hedges,  betweene  their  fields,  as  well  as  in  Orchards :  a 
matter  praife  worthy,  and  profitable  to  the  planter,  and  to  the  com- 
mon wealth,  very  beneficiall. 

Eail.  Indeed,  I  haue  thought  vpon  this  kind  of  hufbandrie,  but 
I  haue  bene  preuented  of  mine  owne  defires,  by  a  preiudicate  conceit, 
that  thefe  fruites  would  redound  little  to  my  benefit,  for  that  I  think 
they  will  be  ftolen,  the  hedges  troden  downe,  and  the  trees  broken 
for  the  fruites  fake. 

Sur.  Negligence  may  eafily  find  excufe  :  but  this  objection  is 
friuolous  :  for  I  know  in  Kent,  Worcefterjhire,  ShropJIdre,  Glocejler- 
fhire,  Somerfet,  and  Deuon,  and  many  parts  in  Wales,  full  of  this 


l88       J.    NORDEN    (1608).       CIDER,    PERRY,    FRUIT    SOLD    AT    MARKET. 

commoditie,  euen  in  their  remote  hedge-rowes.  And  although  fome 
few  be  loft,  fith  the  reft  come  fo  eafily,  fo  fully,  and  fo  freely,  a  good 
mind  will  not  grudge  at  a  wayfaring  pafienger,  taking  for  his  refec- 
tion, and  to  qualifie  the  heete  of  his  trauell,  an  apple  or  a  peare :  for 
the  remnant  will  content  the  well  conditioned  owner.  For  I  haue 
knowne,  that  (all  the  ftolen  allowed)  the  fruite  thus  difperfedly 
planted,  haue  made  in  fome  little  Farmes,  or  (as  they  call  them  in 
Syder.  Perry,  thofe  parts)  Burgoincs,  a  tunne,  two,  three,  foure,  of  Syder, 
and  Perry,  which  kind  of  drinke  refembling  white  wine,  hath  with- 
out any  further  fupply  of  ale,  or  beere,  fufficed  a  good  houmolder 
and  his  family,  the  whole  yere  following,  and  fometimes  hath  made 
of  the  ouerplus  twenty  nobles,  or  ten  pounds,  more  or  lefle. 

Bay  lie.  This  furely  cannot  be  but  confeifed,  to  be  very  beneficiall, 
both  for  priuate  and  publike  weale.  And  I  myfelf  haue  noted,  thai 
Mld.[dtesex\  in  former  times,  hath  had  regard  to  this  kind  of  com- 
moditie :  for  many  Apple  trees,  Peare  trees,  Seruice  trees,  &  fuch  like, 
haue  bene  planted  in  the  fields  and  hedge-rowes,  efpecially  in  the  North 
and  Eaft  part  of  the  {hire,  as  alfo  in  the  South  part  of  Hartfordfhire, 
which  are  at  this  day  very  beneficiall  to  the  inhabitants,  both  for 
their  owne  vfe  and  releefe,  as  alfo  to  vent  diuers  wayes  at  London. 
But  the  trees  are  now  for  the  moft  part  very  ancient,  and  I  do  not 
fee  fuch  a  continuall  inclination  in  the  time  prefent,  to  continue  or 
increafe  this  benefite  for  the  vfe  of  pofteritie :  neither  did  I  euer 
know  much  Syder  or  Perry  made  in  thefe  parts,  neither  do  I  thinke 
they  haue  fufficient  (kill  or  meanes.  (p.  209.) 

Sur.  I  thinke  indeed,  little  Sider  is  made  there  :  fome  Perrie  there 
Kent.        is  here  and  there :  but  more  in  the  Weft  country  and  in 
Kenty.  a  place  vtry  fructiferous  of  that  kind  of  fruite. 

Eai.  Yet  is  there  not  fo  much  Syder  made,  for  all  the  great 
abundance  of  fruite,  as  there  might  be  but  in  the  Inland. 

Sur.  The  reafon  is,  becaufe  that  neere  'London,  &  the  Thames  fide, 
the  fruite  is  vented  in  kind,  not  only  to  the  Fruterers  in  grofle,  but 
by  the  country  wiues,  in  the  neereft  part  of  Kent,  Middlefex,  Effex, 
k  Surrey,  who  vtter  them  in  the  markets,  as  they  do  all  other 
vendible  things  elfe. 

Boy/y.  But  aboue  all  others,  I  thinke,  the  Kentifhmen  be  moft 
apt  and  induftrious,  in  planting  Orchards  with  Pippins  and  Cherries, 


J.  NORDEN   (1608).       THE    QUICK    DECREASE    OF    OAKS.  iBp 

efpecially  neere  the  Thames,  about  Feuermam,  &  Sittingburne. 
And  the  order  of  their  planting  is  fuch,  as  the  form  delighteth  the 
eye,  the  fruite  the  tafte,  and  the  walks  infinite,  recreate  the  bodie. 
Befides,  the  grafTe  and  herbage,  notwithflanding  the  trees,  yeldeth  as 
much  benefite,  in  manner,  as  if  there  were  no  trees  planted  at  all, 
efpecially  for  hay. 

1  6.  Scarcity  of  Oak.     Gentlemen  felling  their  Woods,     p.  210-213. 

Bayly.  .  .  But  furely,  I  hold  your  opinion  good  for  the  planting 
of  fruit  trees,  not  only  in  Orchards,  but  in  the  hedge-rowes  &•  fields  : 
for  I  thinke,  we  haue  of  no  tree  more  neceflarie  vfe. 

Sur.  It  is  true  in  refpecl  of  fruite.    But  in  other  relpe&s,  o^  Ash 
the  Oke,  Elme,  and  AJh,  are  more  precious.  andEime. 

Bayly.  Thefe  indeed  are  building  trees,  and  of  the  three,  the  Oke 
is  of  the  moil  requefl,  a  timber  moil  firme  and  moft  durable.  I  haue 
beene  no  great  traueller,  and  therefore  I  can  fpeake  little  of  the  increaie 
(p.  211)  or  decreafe  of  them,  other  then  in  the  places  where  I  am 
moft  refident,  and  where  my  ordinary  affaires  do  lye.  And  for  thofe 
parts,  I  can  fay,  that  they  increafe  not,  though  they  feeme  not  to  be 
wanted  :  for  you  fee  this  country  inclinable  to  wood  and  timber 
much  :  yet  within  thefe  twenty  yeeres  they  haue  bene  diminiihed 
two  parts  of  three  :  and  if  it  go  on  by  like  proportion,  our  children 
will  furely  want.  How  it  is  in  other  countries  I  know  not. 

Sur.  I  haue  feene  many  places  of  note  for  this  kind  of  com- 
modity, (for  fo  it  is,  howlbeuer  it  hath  bene  little  preferued)  and  I 
find,  that  it  hath  vniuerially  receiued  a  mortall  blow  within 


decayeth. 

the    time   of  my   memorie  :    ngtwithftanding   there    is    a  35-  Hen.  8. 
Statute  for  the  preferuation  and  maintenance  of  the  fame,  and  the 
fame  continued  to  this  day,  but  not  with  wimed  effect,  as  we  haue 
thereof  fpoken  before. 

Bail.  I  will  tell  you,  Sir,  carelelTe  Gentlemen,  that  haue 
Manners  and  Parkes  well  wooded,  left  them  by  their  carefull  aunceftors, 
that  would  not  ftrip  a  tree  for  gold,  are  of  the  mind  (as  it  feemeth) 
that  the  lhadow  of  the  high  trees  do  dazle  their  eyes,  they  cannot  lee 
to  play  the  good  hulbands,  nor  looke  about  them  to  fell  the  land, 
till  the  trees  be  taken  out  of  their  fight. 

Sur.  Can  you  breake  a  ieft  fo  boldly  vpon  men  of  woorth  ? 

HARRISON  -  PART    III.  13 


IpO         J.   NORDEN   (1608).       THE    TIMBER-TREE    ACTS     EVADED. 

Bail.  You  fee  as  well  as  1,  fome  do  it  in  earneit :  and  I  thinke 
Gentlemen  indeed,  it  is  partly  your  fault  that  are  Surueyors  :  for  when 
woods  too  Gentlemen  haue  funke  themfelues  by  rowing  in  Vanities 
boate,  you  blow  them  the  bladders  of  lauifhing  helps,  to  make  them 
fwim  againe  awhile,  counfelling  firft  to  cleere  the  land  of  (p.  212)  the 
wood,  (in  the  fale  whereof  is  great  abufe)  perfwading  them,  they  fhall 
fell  the  land  little  the  cheaper.  And  indeed  I  hold  it  prouidence, 
where  neceffitie  commands,  to  chufe  of  two,  the  lefler  euill :  namely, 
to  fell  part  of  a  fuperfluous  quantitie  of  wood,  where  the  remanent  will 
A  Surtieyor  feme  the  partie  in  vfe,  rather  then  the  land.  But  withal, 
frugaiitie.  it  is  the  part  of  a  good  Surueyor,  to  counfell  frugaiitie,  and 
a  fparing  fpending,  according  to  the  proportion  of  the  means  of  him 
he  trauels  for.  And  if  that  great  Emperour  Neceffitie  will  needes 
haue  hauocke,  fell  the  wood,  or  prize  it  fo,  as  he  that  buyes  the  land 
haue  not  the  wood  for  nought :  as  is  often  feene,  when  the  wood 
and  timber  fometimes  is  woorth  the  price  of  the  wood  and  land.  .  .  . 

(p.  213)  Bay  Lie.  I  remember  there  is  a  Statute  made,  35.  Hen. 
^'mlz'  8'  ^e  8-  and  the  i.  Eliz.  for  the  preferuation  of  timber  trees, 
Oake,  Alii,  Elme,  Afpe,  and  Beech:  and  that  12.  ftorers  and  ftandils 
fliould  bee  left  ftanding  at  euery  fall,  vpon  an  acre  :  but  mee  thinkes, 
this  Statute  is  deluded,  and  the  meaning  abufed :  for  I  haue  feene 
in  many  places  at  the  fals,  where  in  deed  they  leaue  the  number  of 
ftandils  and  more  5  but  in  ftead  they  cut  downe  them  that  were 
The  statute  preferued  before,  and  at  the  next  fall,  them  that  were  left 

abused 

to  anfwere  the  Statute,  and  yong  left  againe  in  their  fteads :  fo  that 
there  can  bee  no  increafe  of  timber  trees,  notwithfta/zding,  the  words 
of  the  Statute,  by  this  kind  of  referuation,  vnlefle  fuch  as  were  thus 
left,  were  continued  to  become  timber  trees  indeed  :  And  therefore 
it  were  not  amifle,  that  fome  prouifion  were  made,  to  maintain  the 
meaning  of  the  Statute  in  more  force  :  but  I  leaue  that,  to  fuch 
as  fee  more  then  I  fee,  and  haue  power  to  reforme  it. 

Sur.  It  is  a  thing  in  deed  to  bee  regarded,  for  indeed  there  is 
abufe  in  it. 

Bayly.  Surely  it  is,  efpecially  in  places  where  little  timber 
growes :  for  there  is  no  Country,  how  barraine  of  timber  foeuer,  but 
^w^d^nd  ^ath  V^e  °^  timber :  and  therefore,  if  neither  mens  owne 
'feare'd.  w^s>  feeing  the  im'inent  want,  nor  force  of  luftice  will 


J.   NORDEN  (1608).       IRON-FURNACES    AND    GLASS-KILNS.         Ipl 

mooue  and  worke  a  reformation,  he  may  fay  as  the  Prouerbe  is,  Le> 
them  that  Hue  longeft,  fetch  their  wood  farthejl. 

17.  Ii  on-Fur  -n  aces  and  Glafs-Kilns  in   the  Weaias  of  Kent,  Surrey, 
and  Suflex.     p.  213-215. 

Sur.  But  fome  Countries  are  yet  well  ftored,  and  for  the  abund- 
ance of  timber  &  wood,  were  excepted  in  the  Statute,  as  the  Welds  of 
Kent)  Suffex,  &  Surry,  (p.  214)  which  were  all  anciently  comprehended 
vnder  the  name  of  Holmes  dale.  There  are  diuers  places  Hoimesdaie. 
alfo  in  Darli/hire,  Chejhire  &  Shropjhire,  wel  woodded.  And  yet 
he  that  well  obferues  it,  and  hath  knowne  the  Welds  of  Suffex, 
Surry,  and  Kent,  the  grand  nurfery  of  thofe  kind  of  trees,  efpecially 
Oake,  &  Beech,  fhal  find  an  alteration  within  leffe  then  30.  Thirty  ye™ 

haue  con- 

yeres,  as  may  wel  ftrike  a  feare,  left  fewe  yeeres  more,  as  J^jlS'^ 
peftilent  as  the  former,  will  leaue  fewe  good  trees  ftanding  Umber- 
in  thofe  Welds.     Such  a  heate  iflueth   out  of  the  many  forges,  & 
furnaces,  for  the  making  of  Iron,  and  out  of  the  glafle 


kilnes,  as  hath  deuoured  many  famous  woods  within  the 

Great  -woods 

Welds  :  as  about  Burning/old,  Lopwood  Greene,  the  Minns,  wasted. 
Kirdford,  Petworth  parkes,  Ebernowe  Wa  flails,  Rufper,  Balcomle, 
Dalinglon  the  Dyker  :  and  fome  forefts,  and  other  places  infinite. 
Tantum  ceui  longingua  valet  mutare  vetuflas.  The  force  of  time,  and 
mens  inclination,  make  great  changes  in  mightie  things.  But  the 
croppe  of  this  commodious  fruit  of  the  earth,  which  nature  it  felfe 
doth  fowe,  being  thus  reaped  and  cut  downe  by  the  fickle  of  time, 
hath  beene  in  fome  plentifull  places,  in  regard  of  the  fuperfluous 
aboundance,  rather  held  a  hurtfull  weed,  then  a  profitable  fruit,  and 

therefore  the  wafting  of  it  held  prouidence,  to  the  end  Woods  de- 

stroyed for 
that  corne,  a  more  profitable  increafe,  might  be  brought  comes  sake. 

in,  in  ftead  of  it,  which  hath  made  Inhabitants  fo  faft  to  haften  the 
confufion  of  the  one,  to  haue  the  other.  But  it  is  to  be  feared,  that 
pofterities  will  find  want,  where  now  they  thinke  is  too  much. 
Virtutem  incolumem  odirnus,  fullatam  fero  fcepe  (jucerimus  inuidi. 
'  Things  that  wee  haue  too  common,  are  not  regarded  :  but  being 
depriued  of  them,  they  are  oft  times  fought  for  in  vaine.' 

Bay.    It  is  no   maruaile,  if  Suflex  and  other  places  you  fpeak 
orF,  be  depruied  of  this  benefit  :  for  I  haue  heard,  there  are,  or  lately 

T-* 


Ip2       J.   NORDEN   (1608).        SUSSEX    IRON-WORKS.       FISH-PONDS. 

140.  iron  were  in  Suffex,  neere  140.  (p.  215)  hammers  and  furnaces 
Sussex.  for  Iron,  and  in  it,  &  Surry  adioining,  3.  or  4.  glafTe  houfes  : 
the  hammers  and  furnaces  fpend,  each  of  them  in  euery  24.  houres, 
2.  3.  or  foure  loades  of  charr  coale,  which  in  a  yeere  amounteth  to 
an  infinit  quantitie,  as  you  can  better  account  by  your  Arithmatique, 
then  I. 

Sur.  That  which  you  fay,  is  true,  but  they  worke  not  all,  all  the 
yeere :  for  many  of  them  lacke  water  in  the  Summer  to  blowe  their 
bellows.  And  to  fay  truth,  the  confuming  of  much  of 
tne^"e  *n  tne  Weld,  is  no  fuch  great  preiudice  to  the  weale 
publike,  as  is  the  ouerthrow  of  wood  &  timber,  in  places 
where  there  is  no  great  quantitie :  for  I  haue  obferued,  that  the 
clenfing  of  many  of  thefe  welde  grounds,  hath  redounded  rather  to 
the  benefit,  then  to  the  hurt  of  the  Country :  for  where  woods  did 
grow  in  fuperfluous  abundance,  there  was  lacke  of  paflure  for  kine, 
and  of  arable  land  for  corne,  without  the  which,  a  Country  or  country 
farme  cannot  ftand,  or  be  releeued,  but  by  neighbour  helpes,  as  the 
Dowries  haue  their  wood  from  the  Weld.  Betide,  people  bred 
amongft  woods,  are  naturally  more  ftubborne,  and  vnciuil,  then  in 
the  Champion  Countries. 

18.  Fi/h- Ponds  and  London  F'ljli mongers,     p.  219-220. 

Fish-ponds  ^ur'  •  '  '  ^e  ^lat  kath  trauailed,  and  is  acquainted  with 

SEJjJiai  Suffex,  &  Surrie,  and  hath  obferued  this  commoditie,  may 
Sume.  £ncj  ^^  gent]emen,  and  others  able  in  thofe  parts,  will 
not  fuffer  fuch  a  convenient  place  as  this  for  the  purpofe,  to  lie 
vnprepared  for  this  vie :  &  the  fweetneffe  of  the  gaine  they  yearely 
make  of  it,  hath  bred  fuch  an  increafe  of  ponds  for  fifh,  as  I  thinke, 
thefe  two  mires  haue  more  of  them,  then  any  twenty  other  {hires  in 
England. 

Baylie.  That  were  very  much,  but  I  take  it,  the  making  of  them 
is  very  chargeable,  for  the  clenfing  and  digging,  the  ridding  of 
the  ftuffe,  and  making  the  head,  I  thinke  will  confume  a  greater 
charge,  then  many  yeeres  will  pay,  or  redeeme  againe,  as  I  fayd 
before. 

Sur.  That  which  commonly  commeth  out  of  thefe  kind  of 
places,  is  good  foile  for  other  lands,  and  will  of  it  felfe  quite  the  coft 


J.   NORDEN   (1608).       POND-FISH.       MURGION    AND    MAWME.        Jp3 

of  clenfing  and  carrying.  As  for  the  head  wherein  the  greateft 
charge  confifleth,  may  be  done,  for  a  marke  or  a  pound  a  pole  at  the 
mofr.,  but  where  there  is  good  fail  earth,  as  is  heere,  I  thinke  leffe 
will  doe  it.  This  pond  may  be  20.  pole  at  the  head,  few  fo  much  : 
and  after  2.  or  3.  yeres  being  well  ftored,  it  will  yeeld  requitall,  not  only 
for  domefticall  vfe,  but  to  be  vented  very  beneficially  :  for  the  Fifh- 
mongers  of  London  do  vie  to  buy  the  fifh  by  the  fcore  or  Fishmongers 
hundred,  of  a  competent  fcantling,  when  the  ponds  in  the  far  off. 
country  be  fewed,  and  bring  the/re  to  London  in  cafke,  20,  30,  40,  ^o 
miles,  and  vent  them  by  retaile  :  and  if  the  ponds  be  fo  (p.  220)  remote 
fro7?z  the  maine  Mart  London,  as  the  fifh  cannot  be  conueniently 
transferred,  other  confining  Cities,  townes,  &  inhabitants,  befides  the 
owners  priuate  families,  will  find  good  vfe  of  them  :  and  many  times 
alfo,  thefe  kinds  of  ponds  may  haue  fufficiewt  fal  of  water  Ponds 
for  corne  Mills,  fulling,  or  wake  Mills,  fyth  Mills,  and  for  Mills. 
Mills  of  other  kinds,  as  the  country  where  fuch  conuenient  places 
are,  may  require. 

19.  '  Murgion,  Mawme}  and  London-Jlreet  and  -Jlable-foil.    p.  229-30. 

Sur.  .  .  Many  difficulties  and  impediments  preuent  them  that  will 
neuer  be  good  huf  bawds  nor  thrifty.  But  fuch  as  mean  to  Hue  like 
men,  will  fhake  off  the  cold  with  trauell,  and  put  by  fleepe  by  their 
labor,  and  thinke  no  cofl  too  great,  no  labor  too  painefull,  no  way  too 
farre  to  preferue  or  better  their  eflates.  Such  they  be  that  fearch  the 
earth  for  her  fatnes,  and  fetch  it  for  fruites  fake.  Many  . 

J    Moore  earth 

fetch  Moore-earth  or  Murgion  from  the  riuer  betweene  Murgi°n- 
Colebrooke  and  Vxlridge,  and  carry  it  to  their  barren  grounds  in 
Buckingham/hire,  Hartford/hire,  and  Middlefex,  eight  or  ten  miles 
off.  And  the  grounds  whereupon  this  kind  of  foile  is  employed, 
will  indure  tilth  aboue  a  dozen  yeres  after,  without  further  fupply,  if 
it  be  thorowly  beflowed.  In  part  of  Hamjhire  they  haue  another 
kind  of  earth,  for  their  drie  "and  fandy  grounds,  efpecially  betweene 
Fordmglridge  and  Ringwood,  and  that  is,  the  flub  of  the  riuer  of 
Auon,  which  they  call  Mawme,  which  they  digge  in  the  Mawne. 
(hallow  parts  of  the  riuer  :  and  the  pits  where  they  digge  it,  will  in 
few  yeares  fill  againe  :  &  this  Mawme  is  very  beneficial  for  their  hot  and 
fandy  grounds,  arable  and  paflure.  And  about  Chrijlchurchfwineam, 


I O4  J.   NORDEN   (1608).       THE    PARADISE    OF    ENGLAND. 

and  vp  the  riuer  of  Stowre,  they  cut  and  dig  their  low  and 

Meddowes 

cut  and        beil  meddowes.  to   helpe   their  vpland  hot    and   heathie 

carted  into 

dry  grounds.  grounds.  And  now  of  late,  the  Farmers  neere  London, 
haue  found  a  benefite,  by  bringing  the  Scauengers  ilreet  foyle,  which 
being  mixed  as  it  is  with  the  ilone  cole  duil,  is  very  helpefull  to 
their  clay  ground :  for,  the  cole  duft  being  hot  and  drie  by  nature, 
qualifieth  the  iliffeneife  and  cold  of  the  foyle  thereabouts.  The  foyle 
London  soiie.  of  the  ilables  of  London,  efpecially  neere  the  Thames  fide, 
is  caried  Weilward  by  water,  to  Chelfey,  Fulham,  Batterfey,  Putney, 
and  thofe  parts  for  their  fandie  grounds. 

20.   The  Paradife  of  England,     p.  230. 

Bay.  I  was  once  in  Somerfetihire,  about  a  place  neere  Tanton, 
called  Tandeane,  I  did  like  their  land  and  their  husbandry  well. 
Tandeane,  Sur.    You  fpcake  of  the   Paradice  of  England:    and 

the  Paradice    .  r 

of  England,  indeed  the  huibandrie  is  good,  if  it  be  not  decayed,  fince 
rny  being  in  thofe  parts :  as  indeed  (to  be  lamented)  men  in  all  places 
giue  themfelues  to  too  much  eafe  and  pleafure,  to  vaine  expence, 
and  idle  exercifes,  and  leaue  the  true  delight,  which  indeed  mould  be 
in  the  true  and  due  profecution  of  their  callings :  as  the  artificer  to 
his  trade,  the  huibandman  to  the  plow,  the  gentleman,  not  to  what 
he  lift,  but  to  what  befits  a  gentleman,  that  is,  if  he  be  called  to 
place  in  the  commonweale,  to  refpect  the  execution  of  luftice  :  if  he 
be  an  inferior,  he  may  be  his  owne  Bayly,  and  fee  the  managing  and 
A  prouident  manuring  of  n^s  owne  reucnewcs,  and  not  to  leaue  it  to  the 
master.  difcretion  and  diligence  of  lither  fwaines,  that  couet  onely 
to  get  and  eate.  The  eye  of  the  idle  mailer  may  be  worth  (p.  231) 
two  working  feruants.  But  where  the  mailer  ilandeth  vpon  tearmes 
of  his  qualitie  and  condition,  and  will  refufe  to  put  (though  not  his 
hand)  his  eye  towards  the  plow,  he  may  (if  he  be  not  the  greater : 
for  I  fpeake  of  the  meaner)  gentlelize  it  awhile :  but  he  mall  find  it 
farre  better,  and  more  fweet  in  the  end,  to  giue  his  fellow  workmen 
a  congie  early  in  the  morning,  and  affably  to  call  them,  and  kindly  to 
incite  them  to  their  bufinefle,  though  he  foyle  not  his  fingers  in  the 
labor.  Thus  haue  I  feene  men  of  good  qualitie  behaue  them  to- 
wards their  people,  and  in  furueying  of  their  hirelings.  But  indeed 
it  is  become  now  contemptible  and  reprochfull,  for  a  meane  mailer 


J.   NORDEN    (1608).       WEST    SOMERSET.       HEATH    AND    HEATHER.        195 

to  looke  to  his  laborers,  and  that  is  the  reafon,  that  many  well  left, 
leaue  it  againe  before  the  time,  through  prodigalitie  and  improui- 
dence,  and  mean  men  induftrious  fteppe  in ;  and  where  the  former 
difdained  to  looke  to  his  charge,  this  doth  both  looke  and  labor,  and 
he  it  is  that  becomes  able  to  buy  that,  which  the  idle  and  wanton  are 
forced  to  fell.  Now  I  fay,  if  this  fweet  country  of  Tandeane,  and  the 
Wefterne  part  of  SomerfetJJiire  be  not  degenerated,,  furely,  as  their  land 
is  fruitfull  by  nature,  fo  do  they  their  beft  by  art  and  Goodhus- 
induftrie.  And  that  makes  poore  men  to  liue  as  well  by  a  the  West. 
matter  of  twenty  pounds  per  annum,  as  he  that  hath  an  hundred 
pounds. 

21.   Of  Heath,  Heather,  and  Ling.     p.  235-6. 

Sur.  .  .    Though  heathy  grounds  be  commonly  in  the  higheft  de- 
gree of  barrainefle,  yet  are  fome  more  in  the  meane  then  fome.    Some 
are  more  tractable  and  more  eafily  reduced  to  fome  vfe  then  others, 
and  therefore  hath  fundry  names.     Heath  is  the  generall  or  common 
name,  whereof  there  is  one  kind,  called  Hather,  the  other,  Hatker 
Ling.      And   of  thefe  particulars,  there  are   alfo  fundry  Lin£- 
kinds   diftinguifhed   by  their   feuerall   growth,  leaues,    ftalkes,    and 
flowers  :  as  not  far  from  Graues  end,  there  is  a  kind  of  Heath 

diners 

Hather  that  beareth  a  white  flowre,  and  is  not  fo  common  kinds. 
as  the  reft,  and  the  ground  is  not  fo  exceeding  barraine  as  fome  other, 
but  by  manurance  would  be  brought  to  profitable  tillage.  Some, 
and  the  moft,  doth  beare  a  purple  or  reddifh  flowre,  as  in  the  Forejl 
of  fFlndfore,  and  in  Sujfolke,  and  fundry  other  places ;  and  this  kind 
is  moft  common,  and  groweth  commonly  in  the  worft  ground.  In 
the  North  parts,  vpon  the  Mountaines  and  Fells,  there  is  a  kind  of 
Ling,  that  beares  a  berry :  euery  of  thefe  hath  his  peculiar  earth  wherein 
it  delighteth.  Some  in  fandy,  &  hot  grounds,  as  betweene  Wilford 
bridge,  and  Snape  bridge  in  Suffolke.  And  that  is  bettered  efpecially, 
and  the  heath  killed  beft  and  fooneft,  by  (p.  236)  good  fat  marie. 
Some  in  grauelly  and  cold  earth,  and  that  is  hard  to  be  cured,  but 
with  good  liable  dung.  But  there  is  a  kind  of  heathie  Heathy 

ground 

ground,  that  feemeth  altogether  vnprofitable  for  tillage,  vtfrvjltaNt 
becaufe  that  the  grauell  &  clay  together,  retaineth  a  kind  of  black 
water,  which  fo  drenched  the  earth,  &  caufeth  fo  much  cold,  as  no 


196  J.   NORDEN   (1608).        OF    HAY-BOOT    AND    HEDGE-BOOT. 

husbandry  can  relieue  it :  yet  if  there  be  chalk-hils  nere  this  kind  of 
earth,  there  may  be  fome  good  done  vpon  it :  for  that  onely  or  lime 
will  comfort  the  earth,  drie  vp  the  mperfluous  water  and  kill  the 
heath.  But  the  fandy  heathie  ground  is  contrarily  amended,  as  I 
told  you,  with  fat  marie  and  that  it  is  commonly  found  necre  thefe 
heathie  grounds,  if  men  were  prouident  and  forward  to  feeke  for  it. 

.      22.   Of  Hay-loot  and  Hedge-loot,    -p.  238-9. 

Bay.  What  meane  you  by  hay  loote  :  I  haue  read  it  often  in 
Leafes,  and  I  promife  you,  I  did  euer  take  it  to  be  that  which  men 
commonly  vfe  in  hay  time,  as  to  make  their  forkes  and  tooles,  and 
lay  in  forne  kind  of  lofts  or  hay  tallets,  as  they  call  them  in  the  Weil, 
that  are  not  boorded  :  and  is  not  that  the  meaning  ? 
Hay  boot,  &ur.  I  take  it  not:  it  is  for  hedging  fluffe,  namely,  to 

what  it  u.     make  a  ^ad  hedge  or  raile,  to  keeo  cattle  from  corne  or 
grafTe  to  be  mowne. 
Hedge-boote  ¥tayly.     What  difference  is  there  betweene  hay-loote 

andhay-boote> 

the  difference,  and  hedge-loote  ? 

Sur.  Some  there  is :  for  a  hedge  implieth  quick-fet  and  trees  : 
but  a  hay  a  dead  fence,  that  may  be  made  one  yeere,  and  pulled  downe 
another,  as  it  is  common  vpon  the  downes  in  many  countries  where 
men  fow  their  corne,  in  vndefenced  grounds,  there  they  make  a  dead 
hay  next  fome  common  way  to  keepe  the  cattle  from  the  corne. 

Baylie.  If  that  be  the  difference,  we  haue  fome  vfe  of  it  alfo  in 
this  country,  but  we  want  it  much,  as  you  fee,  by  the  lying  of  our 
hedges. 

Sur.  I  fee  the  hedges  lye  very  vnhufbandly :  a  true  note  of  few 
good  hulbands  :  for  he  that  will  fuffer  his  hedges  to  lye  open,  and 
his  houfes  vncouered,  neuer  put  a  good  huibands  hand  to  his  head. 
Quicke-fet  hedges  are  most  commendable,  for  they  increafe  &  yeeld 
Dead  hedges  profit  and  fupply,  to  repaire  decayed  places  :  but  dead 
hedges  or  hayes  deuoure  and  fpend,  and  yet  are  feldome 
fecure. 


PR 
2888 
L6 

ser  .6 
no.  7-9 


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