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A Character or Description of the Roguish Professors of that mysterious and Diabolical Gibberish called Cant∣ing.
UNdoubtedly there were Rogues and Villains before ever this speech was invented, for whilst the world was in swadling cloaths, we read of men that acted very horrid and vile pranks, such as for their infamy are so registred, as never to be for∣gotten whilst the world indures; and since evil example is more prevalent then good Precept, who knows but the wicked seeds of their lewd acti∣ons have been transimitted to posterity, by which means we have such an infinite increase of all man∣ner of Villany, the Actors whereof I verily believe are much more notorious then heretofore, show∣ing much more ingenuity in their Roguery than in ••imes past.
I shall begin to speak of the first I have read of, which were the Founders or first publick Professors of Canting, and I find their names male, thus re∣corded.
- ...An Ʋpright Man
- ...A Ruffler
- ...An Angler
- ...A Rogue
- ...A Prigger of Prancers
- ...A Palliard