Of Mumpers.
MƲmpers are both Male and Female, a Genti∣ler sort of Beggars, for they scorn to beg for food, but money or cloaths, the money they lay out to pamper the gut, and the cloaths they sell to re∣imburse the pocket.
The Male Mumper in the times of the late U∣surpation, was cloathed in an old t•rn Cassock be∣girt with a girdle, with a black cap, and a white one peeping out underneath; with a formal & 〈◊〉 countenance he steals up to a Gentleman and whis∣pers him softly in the ear, that he is a poor sequest∣red Parson, that he hath four small children with a siek wife, all ready to perish.
Sometimes he appaared in the habit of some de∣cayed Gentleman, and then he pretends what a great sufferer he hath been for his Majesty, but lately come our of Gaol, and not a penny to help himself.
Sometimes he appears with an apron before him, and a cap on his head, and begs in the rature of a Broken Tradesman, who having been a •ong time Page 80sick, hath spent all his remaining stock, and so weak he cannot work.
The Female Mumpers, with a torn black hood and scarfe, will go confidently to an house, and knock at the door, demanding to speak with the Mistress of the house, where after an Apology made for her boldness, she acquaints her how urgent her necessity is; having an husband very sick, with two small children, ready to give up the Ghost; that she was born a Gentlewoman, but marrying a∣gainst her friends consent, she was by them thrown off and disowned, and so by her husbands sikness reduced to this miserable condition.
Sometimes she appears as if big with child, and so begs cloaths or linnen to make clouts: She is very busie in the Palace-Ya•d in Terme-time; but if she be young, tollerably handsome, and she find Charity grow cold, she will endeavour to repair her pretended misfortune by night-walking.
There is yet one gentiler sort of Mumper than any yet named, of which qualification I never knew but two; these had their horses, and agreed be∣tween themselves as to their particular tidings. Their business was to inquire out among Book-sel∣lers small Treatises not long printed, yet unsaleable, of which they would buy a quantity of a sort for waste paper or little more, and having drawn up or caus'd to be drawn, a general Epistle Dedicatory, they left space at top to insert the name and dig∣nities of the Person they intended to dedicate the book unto, carrying Letters and Ink with them, which they speedily did print, and tollerably e¦nough for that purpose; the Epistle was printed before, so that they need add nothing but the name and dignities. I have heard them confess they had from the meanest Donor, thrice the value of what Page 81the book was sold for at first, and most commonly six-fold. Their travelling time was in the Summer, wherein they got so much to keep them drunk all the Winter, but they being deceased, I believe the Trade dyed with them.
