A notable discouery of coosenage Now daily practised by sundry lewd persons, called connie-catchers, and crosse-byters. Plainely laying open those pernitious sleights that hath brought many ignorant men to confusion. ... With a delightfull discourse of the coosenage of colliers. By R. Greene, Maister of Arts.

A PLEASANT DISCOVERIE of the cosenage of Colliars.

ALthough (courteous Readers) I did not put in amongst the lawes of c••se∣ning, the law of Legering, which is a deceit that Colliars abuse the Com∣monwealth withall, in hauing vnlawfull sacks, yet take it for a petty kind of craft or mysterie, as preiudiciall to the poore as any of the other two: for I omitted diuers other diuelish vices: as, the n••ture of the Lift, the black arte and the Curbing law, which is the filchers and theeues that come into houses or shops, and lift away any thing: or picklocks, or hookers at windowes, although they b•• a•• species and branches to the table be••ore rehearsed. But omitting them, againe to our law of Legering. Know therefore that there be inhabiting in and about Lon∣don, ce••t••ine caterpillers (Coll••ers I should say) that terme themselues (••mongest themselues) by the name of Legers, who for that the honourable, the L. Mayor of the city of London, and his officers, looke straitly to the measuring of coles, doe (to preuent the execution of his iustice) plant themselues in and about the Suburbs of London as Shordich, White chappel, Southwarke, and such places, and there they haue a house or yarde that hath a back g••te, because it is the more conuenient for their cosening purpose, and the reason is this: the Leger, the craftie Collier I mean, riseth very early in the morning, and either goeth towards Croyden, Whetstone, Greenewich or Romford, and there meeteth with Country colliers, who bring coles to serue the m••rket: there in a forestalling m••n••er, this Leger bargaineth with the country colliar for his coles, and payeth for them nineteen or twenty shillings at the most, but commonly fifteen or sixteen, and there is in the lode 36 sacks: so th••t they pay for euery couple about fourteen pence. Now hauing bought 〈◊〉〈◊〉, euery sack conteyning full four bushels, he carryeth the countrey colliar home to his lege∣ring place, and there at the ••ack gate causeth him to vnloade, and, as they say, shoot the coles down. As soone as the country collier hath dispatcht and is gone, the leger (who hath three or foure hired men vnder him) bringeth foorth his owne sacks, which ••re long ••nd narrow, holding at the most not three bushels so t••••t i•• the change of euery sack they gaine a bushel. Tush yet this were somewhat tollera∣ble, although the gaine and ••surie is m••••strous, but this s••fficeth not, for they fill not these sacks full by farre, but put into them some tw•• b••shels ••nd a h••l••e laying in the mouth of the sack certaine choise coles, which they call ••ill••••s, to ma••e the sack shew faire though the re••t be al sm••ll willow cole, and h••lfe d••osse, Wh•••• they haue not thus halfe fill••d their sacks, but thrust co••les into them, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they L••y vppermost is best-filled, to make the greater shew: then a tall 〈…〉〈…〉 that is all ragd, and d••rty 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his legs as though he c••me out of the countre•• (••or they du••ty their hose and shoo•• vp••n purpose ••o make themselues 〈◊〉〈◊〉 country col∣liars.) Thus with two s••cks a peec•• they eyther go out at the back 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or steale out at the street side, and so go vp and down the Suburbs, and sell their coles in sum¦mer for fourteen and sixteen pence the couple, and in winter for eighteen or twenty. The poore Cool••s and other Citizens that buy the••, ••••••nke they be coun∣try Colliers that haue left som•• coales of their load, and would gl••dly haue monie, supposing (as the Statute is) they be good and lawfull 〈…〉〈…〉 thus o••s••ned by the Legers, and h••ue but two bushels and a halfe for foure bushels, and yet extremely rackt in the price, which is not onely a great hinderaunce to her Maiesties poore

〈◊〉〈◊〉, but greatly preiudicial to the master colliers, that bring sacks and mea∣sure out of the country. Then consider (gentle Readers) wh••t a kinde of cosenage these legets vse, that can make of thirty sacks, some fifty sixe, which I haue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eyes, for I haue set down with my pen how many turns they haue made of a load, and they made twenty eyght turnes, euery turne being two sacks: so that they haue gotten an intollerable gaine by their false measure. I could not be silent seeing this abuse, but thought to reueale it for my countries commoditie, and to geue light to the worshipfull Iustices, and other her Maiesties Officers in Midlesex, Surrey, and els-where, to looke to such a gross•• cosenage as contrary to a direct sta∣••ute, dooth defraud and impouerish her Maiesties poore commons. Wel may the Honorable and W••rshipf••l of London flourish, who carefully looke to the Country coles, and if they find not four Bushels in euery sack•• sel them to the poore as for∣fet, and distribute the mony to such as haue need, burning the sacks, and honouring or rather dishonouring the pillery with the Colliers durty faces: And wel may the Honourable and Worshipful of the Suburbs liue and pr••sper, if they looke in iustice to these Legers, who deserue more punishment then the Statute ••ppoynts them, which is whipping at a carts tayle, or with fauer the pillerie. For fewel or fiering•• being a thing necessary in a Common-wealth, and Charcole vsed more then any other, the poore not able to buy by the load, are fayn to get in their fire by the sack, and so are greatly cosened by the retayle.

Seeing therefore the c••reful L••wes her Maiestie hath appoynted for wealth of her Commons, and succour of the poore, I would humbly intreat all her Maie∣sties Officers to l••oke into the life of these legers, and root them out, that the poor•• feel n••t the b••••t••en of their vnconscionable gaynes. I heard with mine eares a poore woman of Shordi••h who h••d bought coles of a Leger, with weeping teares complaine, and r••yle against him in the streete, in her rough eloquence calling hi•• cose••ing knaue, s••ying, Tis no m••ruel villen (quoth she) if men compare you col∣liers to the deuil, seeing your consciences are worser then the deuils: for he takes none but those soules whom God h••tes, and you vndoe the poore whom God doeth loue.

Wh••t is the matter good wise (quoth I) that you vse such inuectiue worde•• ag••inst the Collyar. A c••lli••r sir (quoth she) he is a thee••e, and a robber of the common people. He tel you sir, I bought of a Country collyer two sacks for thir∣tee•• pence, and I bought of this knaue three sacks, which cost me 22. pence: & sir•• when I measured both their sacks, I had more in the two sacks by 3 pecks, then I had in the three. I would (quoth she) my neighbours would ioyne with ••e in •• supplication, and by God I would kneele before the Queene, and intreat that such c••sening Colliers ••••ght not only be punished with the bare pillery (for they haue such black faces that no man knowes them agayne, and so are they c••relesse) but that they might leaue their eares behind them for a forfet: and if that would not mend them, th••t Bull with a fayre halter might root them out of the world, that liue in the world by such grosse and dishonest cosenage. The Collier hearing this, w••nt smiling away, because he knew his li••e was not lookt into, and the woman wept for anger that she had not some one by that might with iustice reuenge her quarrell.

There be also certaine Colliers th••t bring coles to London in Barges, & they be called Gripers, to these comes the Leger, and bargains with him for his coles, and

sels by retale with the li••e cosenage of sacks as I rehearsed before. But these mad Legers (not content with this monstrous game) do besides mix among their other sacks o•• coles, store of s••ruff•• dust and small cole, to their great aduantage. And for proofe hereof, I will recite you a matter of trueth, lately perfourmed by a Cooke•• wi••e vpon a cosening Collier.

How a Cookes wife in Lhndon did lately serue a Colliar for his cosenage.

IT chanced this summer that a load of coles came foorth of Kent to Billingsgate, and a leger bought them, who thinking to deceiue the citizens, as he did those in the Suburbs, furni∣shed himselfe with a couple of sacks, and comes vp S. Mary hil to s••ll them. A Cookes wife bargaynd with the Collier for his coles, and they agreed vpon fourteen pence for the couple: which done, he carried in the coles and shot them: And when the wi••e sawe them, and perceyuing there was scarce fiue bushels for eyght, shee cals a little girle to her, and bade her go for the Constable: for thou cosening rogue, quoth she, (speaking to the Collier) I will teach thee how thou shalt cos••n me with thy false sackes, howsoe∣uer thou doest others, & I will haue thee before my L. Mayor, with that she caught a spit in her hand, and swore if he offred to stirre, she would therewith broach him. At which word the col∣lier was amazed, & the feare of the Pillery put him in such a fright, that he sayd he would go to his bote, and returne againe to answere whatsoeuer she durst obiect against him, & for pledge thereof (quoth the Collier) keepe my sacks, your money, and the coles also. Whereupon the woman let him goe: but as soone as the Collier was out of dores, it was needelesse to byd him runne, for downe he gets to his Bote and away he thrustes from Billins∣gate, and so immediately went downe to Wapping, and neuer o••∣t••r durst returne to the Cookes wi••e, to demaund eyther money, sacks, or coales.

H•••• a flax••wi••e in London s••ru••d a coos••••ng Collier.

NOw Gentlemen by your leaue, and heare a merry iest. There was in the Suburbs of London a Flax-wife that wanted coles, and seeing a Lege•• come by with a couple of sacks, that had before deceiued her in like sort, cheped, bargaind and bought them, and so went in with her to shoote them in her Colehouse. As soone as she saw her coles, shee easily ghessed there was scarce sixe bushels, yet dissembling the matter, she payd him for them and bad him bring her two sacks more. The Collier went his way, and in the meane time the Flax-wife measured the coles, and there was iust fiue bushels & a peck. Hereupon she cald in her neighbors, being a company of women that be∣fore time had also been pincht in their coles, and shewed them the cosenage, and desired their aide to her in tormenting the Collier, which they promist to per∣forme: and thus it fell out. She conueyed them into a backe roome (some sixteen of them) euerie one hauing a good cudgell vnder her apron, straight comes the Collier and saith, Mistres here be your coles: welcome good Collier (quoth shee) I praie thee follow me into the backe side, & shoot them in another roome. The Collier was content and went with her, but as soone as he was in, the good wife lockt the doore and the Collier seeing such a ••••oup of wiues in the roome, was amazed, yet sayd, God speed you all shrewes: welcome (quoth one iolly Dame) being appointed by them all to giue sentence against hi••. who so soone as the Collier had sh•••• his sackes sayd: sirra Collier, knowe that we are heere all assem∣bled as a grand ••••••ie, to determine of thy villanies, for selling vs false sacks of coles, and know that thou art here indited vpon coosnage, therefore hold vp thy hand at the barre, and either saie guiltie or not guiltie, and by whom thou wilt be tried, for thou must 〈◊〉〈◊〉 condigne punishment for the same ere thou depart. The Collier who thought they had but iested, smiled and said, Come on, which of you shall be my iudge. M•••••••••• sir, quoth one iolly dame, that is I, and by GOD you knaue, you sha•••• ••inde I will pronounce sentence against you seuerely, if you bee found guiltie. When the Collier sawe they were in earnest, he sayd, Come, come, open the doore and let me go. With that fiue or sixe wiues started vp and fell vp∣pon the Collier, and gaue him a score of sound lambea••••es with their cudgels, and bad him sp••ake more reuerently to their principall. The Collier feeling it smart, was afraid and thought mirth and curtesie would be the best meane to make a∣mends for his villanie, and therefore sayd he would bee tried by the verdite of the smocke. Vpon this they paneld a Iurie, and the flax-wife gaue euidence; and be∣cause this vnaccustomed Iurie required witnes, she measured the co••les before the Collyers face, vpon which he was found guiltie, and she that sate as principall to giue iudgement vpon him, began as followeth.

Collier, thou art condemned heere by proofe of flat coosnage, and I am now appointed in Conscience to giue sentence against thee, beeing not onely mooued thereunto because of this poore woman, but also for the generall commoditie of my Countrie, and therefore this is my sentence: We haue no pillorie for thee, nor cart to whip thee at, but here I doe award that thou shalt haue as many bastina∣does as thy bones will beare, and then to be turned out of doores without sackes or monie. This sentence being pronounced, she rose vp, & gaue no respit of time for the execution, but according to the sentence before expressed, all the women fell vpon him, beating him extreamly, among whom he lent some lustie buffets, but might ouercomes right, and therefore Ne Hercules contra duos. The women so crusht him, that he was not able to lift his handes to his head, and so with a

broken pa••e or two he was paid, and like lacke drum, faire & orderly turned o••t of doores.

This was the reward that the Collier had, and I praie God all such Coll••ers may be so serued•• and that good wiue•• when they buy such sacks, may giue them su••h pa••ments, and ••hat the Honorable and Wors••ipfull of this land, may looke ••nto this grosse ••buse of Collyers, as well for charitie sake, as also for the benefite of the poore. And so wishing Colliers to a∣mend their deceitfull and dis∣ordred dealing•• here∣in, •• end.

FINIS.