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THE GROVNDWORKE of Conny-catching.
The Visiter.
AN honest youth not many yeares since, seruant in this City, had leaue of his master at whitson∣tide to see his friends who dwelt some fifty miles from London. It hapned at a Country wake, his mother and hee came acquainted with a precise scholler, that vnder colour of strickt life, hath bin reputed for that hee is not: hee is well knowen in Paules Churchyard, and hath beene lately a visiting in Essex (for so he presumes to tearme his cosening walks: and therefore wee will call him here a Visiter. This honest seeming man must needes (sith his iourney lay to London) stay at the yong mans mothers all the holy daies: where as on his desert hee was kindly vsed: at length, the young man hauing receiued his mothers blessing, with other his friendes giftes amounting to some ten poundes, was to this hypocrite as to a faithful guide committed, and to∣ward London they ride: by the way this Visiter discourses how excellent insight he had in Magick, to recouer by Art any thing lost or stolne. Well to sant Albons they reach, there they sup to∣gether, and after the carowsing of some quarts of wine they go to bed where they kindly sleepe, the Visiter slily, but the young man soundly: Short tale to make out of his bedfellows sleeue, this Visiter conuaid his twenty Angels besides some other od siluer, hid it closely, and so fell to his rest. Morning comes, vp get this couple, immediately the money was mist, much adoo was made the Chamberlaine with sundry other seruants exa∣mined, and so hot the contention, that the goodman for the dis∣charge of his house was sending for a Constable to haue them both first searcht, his seruants Chests after. In the meane time the Visiter cals the yong man aside, and bids him neuer grieue but take horse, and he warrants him ere they be three miles out of towne to helpe him to his money by Art, saying. In these Innes ye see how we shall be out faced, and beeing vnknowne, how euer we be wrongd get litle remedy: the yong man in good hope desired him to pay the reckoning, which done together they ride. Being some two miles from the towne, they ride out of the ordinary way: there he tels this youth, how vnwilling hee was to enter into the action, but that it was lost in his company, and so forth. Well a Circle was made, wondrous words were vsed, many muttrings made at length hee cries out, vnder a ••reene turfe, by the East side of an Oake, goe thither, got thither: this thrice he cryed so ragingly as the yuong man gest him mad, and was with feare almost beside himself. At length pau••••ng quoth this Visiter heard ye nothing cry. Cry said the yong man, yes