The second part of conny-catching Contayning the discouery of certaine wondrous coosenages, either superficiallie past ouer, or vtterlie vntoucht in the first. ... R.G.

A true and merry Tale of a Knight, and a Tinker that was a pick-locke.

NOt far off from Bolton in the Mores, there dwelled an auncient Knight, who for curte∣sie and hospitallitie was famous in those partes: diuers of his Tenuantes making repaire to his house, offred diuers complaintes to him how their lockes were pickt in the night and diuers of them vtterly vndoon by that meanes, and who it should be they could not tell, onely they sus∣pected a Tinker that went about the Country and in all places did spend verye lauishlye: the Knight willing, heard what they exhibited, and promised both redresse and reuenge if he or they could learne out the man. It chanced not long after their com∣plaintes, but this ioilye Tinker (so experte in the black arte) came by the house of this Knight, as the olde gentleman was walking afore the gate and cryed for worke, the Knight •…•…raight coniecturing this should be that famous rogue that did so much hurt to his Tennantes, cald in and askt if they had any worke for the Tinker, the Cooke aunswered there was three or foure old Kettles to mend, come in Tinker, so this fellowe came in, laide downe his budget and fell to his worke, a black Iacke of beere for this Tinker sayes the Knight, I know tinkers haue drye soules: the Tinker he was pleasant and thankt him humblye, the Knight sate down by him and fell a ransacking his budget, and asked where∣fore

this toole serued and wherfore that, the tinker tolde him all, at last as he tumbled amongst his old brasse the Knight spyed three or fower bunches of pick-lockes, he turnd them ouer quickly as though he had not seene them and said, well tinker I war∣rant thou art a passing cunning fellow & well skild in thine occupacion by the store of tooles thou hast in thy budget: In faith if it please your worship quoth he, I am thankes he to God my craftes mai∣ster: I, so much I perceiue that thou art a passing cunning fellowe quoth the Knight, therefore let vs haue a fresh Iacke of beere and that of the best and strongest for the •…•…inker: thus he past away the time pleasantlye, and when he had done his worke he asked what he would haue for his paines? but two shillinges of your woorship quoth the Tinker, two shillinges sayes the Knight, alas Tinker it is too little, for & see by thy tooles thou art a passing cunning workeman, holde there is two shillinges come in sha•…•…t drinke a cup of wine before thou goest but I pra•…•… to•…•… tell me which way trauailest thou: faith sir quoth the Tinker all is one to me; I am not much out of my way whersoeuer I goe, but now I am going to Lanca•…•…er: I praye thee Tinker then quoth the K•…•…ight carry me a Letter to the Iaylor, for I sent in a fe•…•…lon thither the other day and I would send word to t•…•…e Iaylor he should take no bale for him, marry that I will in most dutifull manner quoth he and much more for your woorship then that: giue him a cup of wine quoth the Knight and sirrha (speaking to his Clarke) make a Letter to the Iaylor, but then he whisperd to him and bad him make a mittimus to send the Tinker to prison, the Clarke answered he knewe not his name, Ile

make him tell it thee him selfe sayes the Knight and therefore fall you to your pen: the Clarke began to write his mittimus, and the Knight began to aske what Countryman he was where he dwelt & what was his name, the Tinker tolde him all, and the Clarke set it in with this prouiso to the Iaylor that he should keep him fast bolted or else he would break awaye. Assoone as the mittimus was made, sealed and subscribed in forme of a Letter, the Knight took it and deliuered it to the Tinker and said, giue this to the cheefe Iaylor of Lancaster & here's two shil∣lings more for thy labour, so the Tincker tooke the Letter and the money and with many a cap & knee thanked the olde Knight and departed: and made haste til he came at Lancaster, and staid not in the town so much as to taste one cup of nappy ale, be∣fore he came at the Iailor, and to him very briskly he deliuered his letter, the •…•…ailor took it and read it and smilde a good, and said tinker thou art wel•…•…om for such a Knights sake, he bids me giue thee y^• best entertainement I may, I sir quoth the tincker the Knight loues me wel, but I pray you hath y^e cour∣teous gentlemā remembred such a poor man as I? I marry doth he tincker, and therofore sirra {quod}. he to one of his men, take the tinker in y^• lowest w•…•…rd clap a strong pair of bolts on his heeles, and a basil of 28. pound weight, and then sirra see if your pick locks wil serue the turne to bale you hence? at this the tinker was blank, but yet he thouhgt the •…•…ailor had but iested, but whē he heard the Mittimus, his hart was colde, and had not a word to say his con∣science accused, and there he lay while the next ses∣sions, and was hangd at Lancaster, and all his skil in the black art could not serue him.