The book of pretty conceits. Or, The green forest of youthful delights Being merry and pleasant to all such as delight in slights, tricks, stratagems, devises, and fancies. Natural and artifical inventions and conclusions. Experimented as well to profit and delight.

A pleasant Conceit, being a ready and sure way to catch a Pick-pocket.

A Gentleman being in a Throng in the Fair, had his purse pick'd out of his Pocket; he missing it, (as you could not blame him) was somewhat vext, but for the present could not help himself, but was not without hand∣some resolution to be revenged: To which purpose he bought two penny-worth of Fish∣hooks, and caused a taylor to sew them round about toward the upper part of his pockets, with the pooints of them downwards, and so the next day away he goes to the Fair again amongst the Throng, throwing his Cloak on one shoulder, seeming careless of his pockets wherein he had store of money: presently there was a Diver nibling at his Pockets: The Gentleman being wary, (perceived that the Fish had swallowed the hook) gave a jeck a∣side,

which caused the Hooks to catch hold of the Divers hand, and when he had him sure, he said, Fellow, what maketh thy hand in my Pocket? O good Sir, (replyed the Pick∣pocket) pardon me, I cannot pull it out: Come (saith the Gentleman softly to him, because no body should take notice) go along with me: so together they marched with his hand fast in the Pocket, (but covered with his Cloak) and to a Tavern lovingly they went together, where the Gentleman told him of the loss he had sustained the day be∣fore, and making of him to restore back his Mony: He cut out his Pocket and gave him his paw again. Surely this Pick-pocket had good store of picking work to get out those hooks before he could angle again.