This is almost the first book which professes. to give any account of the canting language of thieves and vagabonds: as such, a specimen or two will, I presume, be acceptable.

"THE CURBING LAW.

The Blacke Art and the Curbing Law are grounded both upon the selfe same positions: for the Blacke Art teaches how to breake open a locke; the Curbing Law, how to hooke goods out of a window: they both are workers in iron, both are begotten in idlenesse, both live by villany, and both die by infamy. A Smith is the maker and setter up of these two trades: the Hangman is the utter undooer of them. This Curbing Law spreads itself into foure maine branches.

He that hookes is called the Curber,

He that plays the spy is the Warpe,
The hooke is the Curbe.

The goods are called Snappings.

The gin to open the window is the Tricker.

The office of the Curber is, for the most part, betimes in the mornings, at the discharging of a watch, to be up more early than a noyse of shrugging fidlers; and the husbandry which he followes is, in the day time to watch what shoppes or windowes stand fittest for his trade, which if he finde easily to be opened, then the Cony is in the pursute without much fretting:

but if he must take paines for his living, out come his Trickers, and then as if he were a brother of the Blacke Art, doth he with these iron engines cut a bar of iron in sunder, in such sort, that scarce the standers by shall heare him. The window being thus open, and that he hath good hope to meete with fat snappings or rich purchase, the Warp bustles to play his part, and watches with cats eyes in the darke, looking (like one asquint, or as if he stood tood to catch hares) two waies, one to spye who comes, the other to note what comes out at a window; to carry which away, he is furnished with a long cloake. But first must the Curber play his prize, and that is with an iron about nine feet in length, at whose end, being crooked, are three lynes, turned contrary, so that they catch every way, if any snappings be within their reach. This hooke or curb is made with joynts like an angling rodde, and in the day time is conveyed into the forme of a truncheon, and worne like a walking staffe till night, when it is put to doe other service.

Whatsoever the Curber with his angle fishes for and takes, the Warp beares it away, and he delivers it either to a broker or some bawd (for they all are of one feather) of which receivers they have as present money for it as if they traded with merchants. There is then belonging to this faculty a Diver, and he is just in the nature of a

Curber,

Curber, for as the one practices his villany with a hooke, so the Diver works his jugling feats by the helpe of a boy (called (called a Figger) when he thrusts in at a casement, being so well studied that he hath the principles of the Blacke Art, and can picke a locke, if it be not too much crossewarded: this Figger delivers to the. Diver what snappings he finds in the shop or chamber."

In another part of the work the author informs us, that some of these thieves have their instruments "from Italy, made of steele; some are made here in England by smiths that are partners and partakers in their villanous occupations."

LANTHORN AND CANDLE LIGHT.

"LANTHORN AND CANDLE LIGHT: Or, the Bell-Mans Second Nights Walke. In which he brings to light a Erood of more strange Villanies than ever were till this Yeare discovered.

Decet novisse malum, fecisse nefandum.

The second Edition, newly corrected and amended.

Printed for John Busby." The date torn out.

Black Letter.

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This

This appears to be a continuation of the former work, and certainly is no less curious. It is inscribed "To the verry worthy Gentleman, Francis Musician of Peckam."

From this Tract I transcribe the Canters Dictionary, which they who please may compare with the more modern one, by Grose.

Autem-a church.

Autem-mort-a married woman.

Boung-a purse (or pocket, S. R.)
Bordea shilling.

Bowse drinke.

Bowsing Ken-an ale house.

Bene-good.

Beneship-very good.

Bufe-a dogge.

Bing a wast-get you hence.
Caster a clocke.

A Commissier—a shirt.

Chates the gallowes (cheates, S. R.)

To cly the jerke-to be whipped.

To cutt-to speake.

To cutt bene-to speake gently.

To cutt bene whiddes-to speake good wordes. To cutt quier whiddes to give evill language. To cant-to speake.

To couch a hogshead-to lye downe a sleepe. Drawers-hosen,

Dudes

Gybe a writing.

-

Glymmer-fire.
Gigger-a doore.

Gentry mort--a gentlewoman.

Gentry Cofes Ken-a noblemans house.

Harman bek-a constable.

Harmans-the stockes.

Heave a bough-rob a boothe.

Jarke-a seale.

Ken-a house.

Lage of Dudes-a bucke of clothes.

Libbege-a bed.

Lowre-money.

Lap-butter milke or whaye.

In a publication, entitled "Martin Mark-all, Beadle of Bridewell, his Defence and Answer to the Belman of London, by S. R. (Samuel Rowlands). 1610." I find the Canting Dictionary amended and enlarged,

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Libken