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Courteous Reader:
YOu are not ignorant how little there is extant in Print of a way of speak∣ing, commonly known by the name of Cant∣ing, a Speech as confu∣sed, as the Professors thereof are disorderly dispos'd; and yet you know how much it is in use among some Persons, I mean, the more debauched and looser sort of people. I would
not advise any honest minded man, or one that valu•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 R••putation to run 〈…〉〈…〉 into a Rogues Company; but yet I know he can∣not avoid falling into their Company some times; if it should be your mishap, it will be a great convenience to you to have some knowledge of what is contained in this insu∣ing Treatise: In the first part you will know how to distinguish a Rogue from an honest Man, and what the Properties of a Villain are; in the later part you may acquaint your 〈◊〉〈◊〉, with so much Canting, ••s will give you to understand what they say, and what damn'd designs they are about.
The Canting-Dictionary English before Canting, and Canting before English is more compleat than any hath been publisht 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and I can assure 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the helps ex∣tant being so inconsidenable•• the pains I took in the Collection of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Words is unima ginable; however I shall not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my pains, if it may profit my Countrey-men, whose wel∣fare I have herein studied, and if this prove acceptable, I shall 〈…〉〈…〉 in deavon•• by labouring to serve you in some∣thing else of this nature. Fare well.
R. Head.