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 Page [unnumbered] you cride so as for twise ten pound I would not heare ye again. Then quoth he, tis all well, if ye remember the words: the yong man repeated them. With that this shifter said, Go to the fur∣thest Oke in the high way towards S. Albons, and vnder a greene turre on the hither side lyes your mony, and a note of his name that stole it. Hence I cannot stirre till you returne, ney∣ther may either of our horses be vntide for that time, runne yee must not▪ but keepe an ordinary pace. Away goes the yong man gingerly, and being out of sight, this copesmate takes his cloke∣•ag, wherein was a faire sute of apparel, and setting spurres to his horse was ere the Nouice returned ridde cleane out of his view The yong man seeing himselfe so c••ssened, made patience his best remedie, tooke his horse and came to London, where yet it was neuer his lucke to meet this visiter.
A Shifter.
A Shifter not long since going ordinarily booted, got leaue of a Carrier to ride on his owne hackney a little way from London, who comming to the •une where the Carier that night should lodge, honestly set vp the horse, and entred the hal, where were at one table some three and thirty clothiers, al re∣turning to their seuerall countries. Vsing as he could his cur∣tes•e, and being Gentleman-like attirde, he was at all their in∣stance placed at the vpper end by the hostesse. After hee had a while eaten he fel to discourse with such pleasance, that all the table were greatly delighted therewith. In the midst of supper enters a noise of musitions, who with their instruments added a double delight. For them hee requested his hostesse to laye a shoulder of mutton and a couple of capons to the fire, for which he would pay, & then mooued in their behalfe to gather. Among them a noble was made, which he fingring, was well blest, for before he had not a crosse, yet he promist to make it vp an angel. To be short, in comes the reckoning, which (by reason of the fi•e fare & excesse of wine amounted to each mans halfe crown. Then hee requested his hostesse to prouide so many possets of sacke as would furnish the table, which he would bestow on the Gentlemen, to requite their extraordinary costs: & •estingly askt if she would make him her deputie to gather the reckoning she graunted and he did so: and on a sodaine (faining to hasten his hostesse with the possets) he tooke his cloke, and finding fit time hee slipt out of doores, leauing the guestes and their hostesse to a new reckoning, & the Musitians to a good supper, but they paid for the sauce. This test some vntruly attribute to a man of ex∣cellent parts about London but he is slandered: the party that performed it hath scarce any good qualitie to liue. Of these sort & could set downe a great number, but I leaue you now vnto those which by Maister Harman are discouered.
