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 ...

The Reasons, or Causes, of their following this course of Life.

THey are a lazy and idle fort of people which cannot indure to take pains for an honest livelihood, but rather then labour, strole up and down all the Summer time in Droves or Compa∣nies, and by telling fortunes (that is, by deluding young Country wenches, and other foolish and credulous people) they pick up a great deal of Money, not onely what is freely given, but they will dextrously pick pocket whilst they are telling these simple people what shall hereafter befall them. For whilst one of these cunning Gypsies holds the hand, pretending to read therin strange things which shall come to pass, another secretly and nimbly dives into their pocket; what money is taken from thence, is instantly conveyed to ano∣ther, and so to a third, and by a fourth so cun∣ningly hid, that the strictest search shall never find it out. If you tax them therewith, they will make a thousand imprecations, oaths and protestations that they have none of it, wishing the ground may open and swallow them up if they meddled there∣with, yet if some perty reward be offered to the discoverer, or the severe lash produced, or sound∣ly threatned, whatever was lost shall be instantly restored.

I have heard when silver hatbands were in fashi∣on, ••h•• several of them were stoln off the hats of such who were so indiscreet as to inquire of these roguish Impostors what shall befall them, and by such means, that one would admire how it could be done, for whilst the Mother did earnestly look in the hand, the child at the back pin'd up with a skewer (after the Irish fashion) reaching over the Mothers head takes off the hatband; I am credibly informed that these childeren were taught to do it ••t two year old. Besides picking of pockets, they are very dextrous in stealing any thing that comes near their hands, either within doors or without, which they instantly convert into Money, and that into drink, of which they all share alike, all things being in common amongst them; this is it which makes them take such delight in this villainous way of living; in this following story you shall more fully understand their way.

In the Year one thousand six hundred seventy and one, I rode from London to visit some friends at Rochester, by the way I met with a crew of str••∣ling canting Gypsies, whilst I was busying my eyes about them with more curiosity than discretion, I was surrounded by them and so beset with them or every side, that I knew not what to think, having before moso many palpable symptomes of approach∣ing danger; however, I thought it prudence not to express any fear, and therefore undauntedly I demanded their business, and the reason of their thus thronging about me? Sir, said one, which seem'd to be the lustiest and most confident fellow of the whole Company, we come from a far cour∣try (speaking in a strange tone, and stranger Eng∣lish) and are the true children of the Wise men of the East, we are skil'd in the dark and secret my∣steries

of Nature, and suck'd from our Mothers breasts the knowledge of the stars, and can tell what hath or will befall mortals, by the lines in their hands; hereupon he desired me to let him look into my hand, and he would tell me things I should be glad and willing to understand. Whilst he was busying himself in telling me my fortunes, I with much earnestness observed his countenance, which methoughts I knew, notwithstanding its tawny dye; I view'd it again and again, and by often comparing the present lineaments of his face, with those my memory had formerly retained of him, I grew confident this man must be one of my former acquaintance. Having throughly view'd my hand, and seemingly taking some information from my face, he began to tell me some truths that I knew to be so, (for like a cunning Rogue he had not forgot me) though he would not take the least notice of me; and that I might not suspect him, he presently roved from the discourse of what he experimentally knew of me, and talk'd at random of I know not what; Having finished his predicti∣ons, instead of giving him a reward, I desired that I might see his hand, and in requital of the pains he had taken to tell me my fortune, I told him, I would tell him his; With some unwillingness he gave me his hand, and looking into it, after some pause, I spake after this manner: Sir, I can but reverence and admire you for your great skill, and must respect your person, in spight of the meaness of your apparel. What you have informed me with, for the most part is so true, that had you been my bosome and most familiar Friend, you could not have told me more; and that I may make proof of my knowledge in your mysterious art of divination, give me leave to tell you some things, the truth whereof your self shall be Judge of.

First, You are an English man, and have not one drop of Egyptian 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in you; the place of your na∣tivity was Excester, where you made some proficency in the learning at the Grammar School; but so noto∣rious arch and Roguish you grew, that before you arrived to sixteen years of age you had like to have been hanged twice. From this famous Western City, you were transmitted to London, where you had not ser∣ved above half the time of your Apprenticeship, be∣fore you had committed so many villanies, that Lon∣don was resolved to spew you out of your Native Country; for one fact (you wot of well) more noto∣rious than the rest, transported you to Virginia.

My skill in Palmestry, Physiognomy, and Astrolo∣gy, will not inform me more than what I have re∣lated: You know how you have behaved your self there, and since your return, and You and I both know what will become of you at last, if you do not shun this wicked and lazy course of life, and endea∣vour to live other wise.

Hereupon I clapt spurrs to my Horse, but could not stir one foot, for this sturdy Rogue had fast hold of my bridle Reins. Now did I think he would have hinder'd me from ever telling Fortunes more, but I was soon convinced to the contrary, when I saw in what humble manner he beseeched me to stay, that he might have a little time to dis∣course with me: I granted his request, and did so far prevail with me, as to lie that night at an house of his appointment.

Without much ceremony in taking leave of one the other, on I rid to the place appointed for our meeting, it being not many miles distant from the place where I met with this ragged crue of Tatter∣demallions, I got in four hours before Sunset: I might have been there sooner had it not been for

the obscurity of the place on which this stately Maunding Mansion, this Begging Dormitory stood, which I found out more by the description my Captain Gypsie gave me of it, than any other in∣formation I met with by the way.

Arriving at the house, with what tokens I brought with me, my reception was as kind as they could make it; and preparations were instantly made, not onely for my sake, but for the welcome of the Strolers they expected.

The house was not very splendid you may ima∣gine, yet large enough to contain three times tha Company. Whilst I was pensively sitting, think∣ing on what I had seen, and studying how I might divert my self till their coming, my Hosts daugh∣ter brought me some Ale, of which I had no soon∣er tasted, but I was forced to commend the good∣ness of it.

She was homely, yet cleanly clad, and very tall. The Father and Mother, what with age and arti∣ficial means they heretofore used to discolour their faces, look'd like the twins of a lecherous He-De∣vil, begotten on an overgrown age-ridden Lapland Witch; for it seems this pair of House-keepers had formerly used the trade of stroling and telling fortunes, but growing old and unable to travel, had by the assistance of the Brotherhood, erected this Fabrick for their reception.

The goodness of the Ale made me drink freely of it, and the liberty I took to indulge my appetite, made me as freely talk. This perswaded my Host and Hostess that they might take some freedom to, nor was the daughter therein a jot behind us; I might now properly say, we were as merry as so many Beggars: and that I might not want Musick to increase my mirth, the Father, Mother, and

Daughter did interchangably sing, but in such a language that I should never have understood what they sung, had they not been so kind to be their own interpreters. The songs which they sung in Canting I have added to this treatise.

I drank to so high a pitch, that I was forced to forsake my Company and betake my self to sleep, trusting them to do with me as they pleased, but awaking after two hours, and considering how foolishly I had done, I examined my pockets but found nothing missing, then turning my self about, there lay my untouch'd Bed-fellow, the Hosts daughter by my side, who tired with expectation was fallen asleep, it was unkindly done of me to slight the present my loving Landlady had sent me, and I could not but be troubled at the dissatis∣faction I read in the eyes and face of the poor fool'd and cheated Girl.

By that time, I got up, in came the Egyptian Prince, according to his hour, with his Concu∣bines children and the rest of his retinue, who were instantly conducted into the largest room in the house, commonly called the Hall, where eve∣ry one being seated, and store of booz and fogus, (Drink and Tobacco) brought them, I was ac∣quainted with their arrival, and of his Higness desire to have some conference with me.

I obey'd the Summons who upon my approach ar••s•• and welcom'd me into their Society: there were few complements past between us, instead thereof the brown bowl past often, none refusing their liquor, nay, these of four years old were taught 〈…〉〈…〉 the bottom of the cup; in an hours time the room and all in i•• became invisible, for no∣thing was to be seen, but the smoak that proceeded from their Pipes of an inch long.

The fury of this smoaking rage being somewhat abated, and having pretty well drench'd their Ve∣suvian throats, they began to sing their wild tunes: endeavouring to make harmony out of the greatest discord imaginable.

I would fain have had some discourse with my old acquaintance, but he desired me to defer it a little longer and hereupon he calls a lusty rogue to him, and comands him to sing a Canting song, which was made upon the Budge, that is, such who steal into houses in the night carrying off what next comes to their hands; of which tribe, as he told me, he was formerly one, which he desert∣ed for the continual hazard attending the Professers thereof, and betook himself to this, in which there is no great danger of life, only a fleaing of the skin now and then or so; and thus he sang.