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 Huff.

THe Huff heretofore usually kept his Whore, which upon a plotted occasion must acknow∣ledg her self his wife, who having drawn in some young man to lie with her, gives intelligence thereof to the Hector, who watcheth the minute, catcheth them in the act; and with threats and God knows what, frightens the young man into a compliance of recompencing the injury, either by present satisfaction or by a Bond or so forth; but this hath been so notoriously and commonly used, that this practice is obsolete and quite out of fash∣ion.

Ye•• still he hath a being, though his way of li∣ving be somwhat different, for now he at first sets up by taking a purse on the Road, which not only puts him in stock, but furnisheth him with good ap∣parel, that may qualifie him to keep Gentile Com∣pany, as occasion shall offer. He understands a Dye very well, and well he may; for, for some years that he was a Foot-boy, or so, there was not an hour in the day past in which he did not exercise his hand with the Dice, either for naughty half∣pence, or Coffee-pence when fortune smil'd, or else by himself, that he might the better cope with his livery Companions, Lace-coated Gamesters; besides, three parts of every nights dream is spent in Come at seven, what chance of the Dye is soon∣est thrown, in topping, slurring, palming, nap∣ping, with how to fix a Die for any purpose.

Practising thus, Sleeping and Waking, he be∣comes an excellent Proficient in all sorts of Game∣ing by which he endeavours to bubble all he meets

with, but if unkind Fortune by meeting with his match hath rob'd him of his Money, he knows where to borrow or steale an Horse with which he may rob the Travailer to Re-instock him∣self.

In short his Cloyster is a Bawdy-House, where all his devotions are tendered.

He is a Protector to all distressed Damsels cal∣led in our Vulgar Tongue Common Whores, and that he may put a better Gloss on the matter, calleth them Cozens, and swears he will Vindicate their (Stinking) reputations with the Hazard of his life, and that he may strike terror into the fearful; he will draw upon any slight occasion not with an intent to hurt, but to wipe off the suspition of being a Coward: for this he knows that the opinion of Valor is a good Protection to him that dares not use it.

In company there is no man more Exceptions and Cholerick, but seldom lets his anger swell into a quarrel; but hopes by his Huffing to blow over a sound Basting.

Yet if he discovers a Coward, he will not rest tell he hath found out some means to quarrel with him, and there must not be expected a reconcile∣ment, till the Gentleman hath given him satis∣faction with a Silver sword.

No man more constantly imployeth his Brains then this Bully-Huff; For his life is a dayly in∣vention, and each meal a Stratagem. When his Whores will not or cannot supply him, he bor∣rows of any that will lend him money, which some∣times is lent him, not so much expecting a re∣payment, as that he will never trouble them more.

To conclude with him, his Prayers are in the

morning that his Cheats may take effect that day, if not, that he may be Drunk before night; he sleeps with a Tobacco Pipe in his Mouth, and dreams of nothing but Villany; and when he dyes it is either on the Gallows, or like Hercules with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his Bones.