The canting academy, or, The devils cabinet opened wherein is shewn the mysterious and villanous practices of that wicked crew, commonly known by the names of hectors, trapanners, gilts, &c. : to which is added a compleat canting-dictionary, both of old words, and such as are now most in use : with several new catches and songs, compos'd by the choisest wits of the age ...

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,

who was pickt up by a pack of Rogues in the stteets and drilled into a Tavern, where having drank ve∣ry high, they all took an opportunity to leave the Serving man for the Reckoning; this poor man finding himself pawn'd. and not having so much money to discharge the reckoning, watcht his op∣portunity, and so gave the house the slip also; three days after his Master appointed a dinner at this very Tavern, his man used all the argument he could for to divert him from it, alledging there was bad Wine, ill Attendance, and the like; but all would not prevail, but that thither he went ac∣cording to the appointed time; Dinner being on the Table, the Master of the House was invited up for the sake of his good company, being a very jol∣ly and facetious man, at whose approach the Ser∣ving-man knew not what to do. and had but one slender shift to keep him from being discovered, which he did by shutting one of his eyes as if he had been blind, and so continued keeping it shut whilst he serv'd at table; the Vintner stared him so much in the face that his Master took notice thereof, and askt him why he gazed so much on his man; your pardon Sir, said the Vintner, if I say that your man is as like a fellow that cheated me of an eighteen shilling reckoning as ever I saw in my life, and I would swear that he is the same but that this wants an eye, and the other had his sight perfect. At this the Master askt his man how he came to be thus suddenly blind, having lost an eye in less than an hours time; at which the man replied, being a no∣table crafty fellow, that if his Master would be pleased to forgive him, he would tell him the whole truth; his Master granted it, and hereupon the Serving-man inform'd him, how he had been de∣luded by a pack of Knaves, and how to secure him∣self,

was forced to make his escape; that to conceal himself from the Vintners knowledg he had found out that stratagem of winking with one eye; the Master was so well pleased with the story, that he pay'd the Vintner what was left to pay, and the Vintner was so well pleased to have reocived a debt so desperate, that he gave the Serving-man a crown, to help to open his eye again.

But our Priggers Metamorphosing of beasts is much more undiscoverable, by which means they frequently steal and safely sell other mens Horses; but let them have a care; the pitcher goes not so often to the well, but that it comes home broken at last.