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Priggers of Prancers.
PRiggers of Prancers, are Horse-stealers; for Prig is to Steal, and Prancer is an Horse; these Rogues seldome go without a light Briddle in their pockets, and a small pad Saddle, which they can easily carry in their breeches, and being in∣form'd by their Spies abroad where good horses run at Grass, in the dead of the night will take them up in a moment, and will as soon steal an Horse as another look over the Hedg. If they fear to be dis∣covered by the Field-keeper, then two or three of them will go together and boldly attack him, and having worsted him, bind and gag him, and so ef∣fect their purpose, and will be far enough off, by break of day, from being overtaken; the nearest Fair is then inquir'd after, where with all imagin∣able speed they sell their stoln Horses.
I have heard of some of these Priggers of Prancers that have been such notable Artists, as that they could change the colour of an Horses Cote, or make an artificial star in an Horses forehead, which should last a considerable while, by which means the eyes of the right Owner have been so blinded, that he knew not his own Horse when he saw him: Nay, when they have been confident that they have found their stoln Horse, and by several remarkable tokens are assured thereof; yet the artificial star in the forehead hath immediately spoiled that belief; and so have seen their own Horses sold before their own faces and toled, having always some notori∣ous Rogue as himself to vouch for him. This puts me in mind of a notable Story of a Serving-man,