Martin Mark-all, beadle of Bridevvell; his defence and answere to the Belman of London Discouering the long-concealed originall and regiment of rogues, when they first began to take head, and how they haue succeeded one the other successiuely vnto the sixe and twentieth yeare of King Henry the eight, gathered out of the chronicle of crackeropes, and (as they tearme it) the legend of lossels. By S.R.

MARTIN MARK-ALL his Apologie, to the Bel-man of London.

THere hath béen of late dayes great paines taken on the part of the good old Bel-man of London, in discouering as hée thinks, a new∣found Nation and People, Let it be so for this time: hereupon much adoe was made in setting forth their liues, order of liuing, method of spéech, and vsuall méetings, with diuers other things thereunto appertaining. These volumes and papers, now spread euerie where, so that euerie Iacke-boy now can say as well as the proudest of that fraternitie, (will you wapp for a wyn, or tranie for a make,) the gentle Company of Cursitours began now to stirre, and looke about them, and hauing gathered together a Conuoca∣tion of Canting Caterpillars, as wel in the North parts at the* 1.1 Diuels arse apeake, as in the South, They dili∣gently enquired, and straight search was made, whether any had reuolted from that faithles fellowship, herupon euery one gaue his verdict, some supposed that it might be some one, that hauing ventured too farre beyond wit and good taking héede was fallen into the hands of the Magistrate, and carried to the trayning Cheates, where in shew of a penitent heart, and remoarse of his good time ill spent, turned the cocke, and let out all: Others

thought it might be some spie-knaue, that hauing little to doe, tooke vpon him the habite and forme of an Hermite, and so by dayly commercing and discoursing learned in time the mysterie and knowlege of this ignoble prosessi∣on: and others because it smelt a of a study, déemed it to be some of their owne companie, that had béen at some frée-schoole, and belike because hée would be hand∣some against a good time, tooke pen and inke, and wrote of that subiect, thus, Tot homines, tot sententiae, so many men, so many mindes. And all because the spightfull Poet would not set too his name. At last vp starts an old Cacodemicall Academicke with his frize bonnet, and giues them al to know, that this inuectiue was set foorth, made, and printed aboue Fortie yéeres agoe. And being then called, A caueat for Cursitors, is now newly printed, and termed, The Bel-man of Lon∣don, made at first by one Master Harman a Iustice of Peace in Kent, in Quéene Maries daies, he being then a∣bout ten yéeres of age.

At this newes the whole Company of Clapperdudgi∣ons, were indifferently well resolued, yet their mindes were not fully satisfied, because they knew not by whom this booke was set out, hereupon for this time the Syna∣gogue of Sathan was dismissed, and the whole Regi∣ment of Raggamuffins betooke themselues to their v∣suall occupations, expecting that this villanous If wil∣ler of theirs, at one time or other, would be knowne and brought to light. Not long after, this peruerse perse∣cutor of poore Pilgrims, not content with the former iniurie done against them, but séeking by all meanes, to roote out and scatter them, if it were possible out of the land, raises new forces, and persecutes them, with fire, and sword, and deadly warre.

The furie and malice of the Bel-man once again bru∣ted abroad, and they not knowing the author of the first, now grow outragious, begin to curse with Bell, booke,

and candle: That if he were to be knowne, they would spare neither cost nor labour for the search, and enquirie of him forth.

Meane time the Rogues of the North, that had before met at the Diuels arse apeake, hearing of this vnexpec∣ted newes with rage inflamed, trot on their lustie ten∣toes, with bagge and baggage toward the Southerne Regiment, who being entertained with such welcomes and complements, as are vsed among themselues. They presently send to the Beadle of the Hall, to summon and warne, all of that Company and Fraternitie, to make his personal appearance at the Swan with fiue necks in Kings stréete as the fittest place to receiue so ignoble a Court of Crack-ropes.

The Congregation of Caterpillars gathered together, and the Court of Couzoners now set: vp starts a ragged ouer roasted Iacke of the Clocke house with his crutch in his hand, in stead of a Tip-staffe, makes thrée solemne O yes, which done with a fierie face, and filthy Throat, he proclaymes, as followeth.

All maner of people that were summoned to appeare here this day,* 1.2 before Corporall Fize chiefe Commander of the Regiment, and Corporation of good fellowes, and Maunders, let them draw néere, and giue their atten∣dance, for the Court is set.

As soone as euer the proclamation was ended, Lord, what a Companie of petitioners pressed to the barre to preferre their papers of miuries, that were offred and done among themselues, here one complaines that hée could not trauell safely, nor cary any money without danger of the vyright man and Tinker, but that they would robbe and spoyle them of all that was ought a∣bout them, here another that they could not quietly take their rast in the night, nor kéepe his Autem, or dorie sole vnto himselfe: but that the Ruffier, padder, or any vp∣right

man, would take them away perforce, and others that they could not conuerse, and kéepe company with those that they met, but that in the night they are sure to be Clyd in the night, by the Angler, or hooker, or such like pilferers that liue vpon the spoyle of other poore people. These were generally the effect of their petitions, but O, if a man were there to heare the noyse, the clamour, and bawling that was there amonge them, you would sure thinke, that all the dogges in Parish garden were broke loose, and came thither on purpose to yawle: yea, I think in my conscience, Cerberus that thrée-throat hor∣rible hel-hound neuer kept a more dolefull, nor horryd noyse, than those kennell of Clapperdugeons did at that time, but after that proclamation was made for silence, Corporall Fize chéefe Commander of that courte, began as followeth.

* 1.3My friends and fellowes, our méeting héere at this time is not to discusse and determine of matters be∣twéene partie and partie. But our assembly now is to finde out, Iudge, and determine of one that of late hath published two malitious and iniurious Pamphlets: concerning vs and our whole course of life. Therefore, I would request you forbeare vntill the Court haue ful∣ly finished and ended this matter: and if we haue any spare time afterward we will be ready to redresse any wronge, you, or any of you haue sustained. At this moti∣on the wind was calme, then they procéeded to call foorth the Graund Iurie, or Quest of Enquirie: who being called they did appeare, and then the charge was giuen them as followeth.

The names of the Graund Iurie, or Quest of en∣quirie of Crackropes.* 1.4

• ANthonie ap Hugh, the Aplesquire of Apesbury. Bartholmew Barfilching, the Bottlemaker of Bri∣stow.
• Christopher Chafelitter, the Chymneysweeper of Kno∣ctiuergos.
• Demetrius Dingethrist, the Dorsermaker of Dorneby.
• Edwin Euesdropper, the Eele-pie eater of Elton.
• Friskin Fitz-Fizler, my Lady Brache Gent. Vsher of Feuersham.
• Gregory Greenewinchard, the Gunfounder of Gog∣gleton.
• Haunce Haltersicke, the Harnismaker of Hornchurch.
• Iefferie Iobbernall, the Ierkin maker of Iorley.
• Kenericke Coleprophet, the Cockletaker of Canter∣burie.
• Leacherous Lowsicote, the Larke taker of Lalum.
• Martin Marke-a-knaue, the Milstone cutter of Mar∣bury.
• Nunquam Neuerthriue, the Nutcracker of Newberie.
• Owin Ouerthwart, the Onion seller of Ockingham.
• Peter Poundkarlicke, the Powchmaker of Pindle burie.
• Quinton Corrifauell, the quacksaluer of Quanton.
• Rowland Rinceprichard, the Ratcatcher of Ramsey.
• Stephen Stinck-a-pace, the Sowgelder of Stamford.
• Timothy Hol-hazard, of Tritrace, the Tilemaker of Tonbridge.
• Vincent Veriknaue, the Vintener of the Vintry.
• Wilkin wiredrawer, the Welsh wizard of Wickham.
• Hextus Sextus, the Sexton of Sexbury.
• Yanikin Yanner, the Yarne spinner of Yarmouth.
• Nicholas Chathorne, the bowsie bag bearer, or Clarke

• of the Snapsacke,

good men in nothing, but true in Vil∣lanie, stand néere and heare your charge.

* 1.5My Masters of the Iurie, and you my good friendes; the cause of our vnexpected and vnaccustomed méeting at this time is not vnknowen vnto you all, how an vp∣start pamphletmaker and a most iniurious and Satiri∣call Libeller hath of late dayes done as much as in him lieth: not onely to disgrace and defame our so auncient and long continuing profession: but also extirpe and o∣uerthrow all our customes, acts and ceremonies, which time out of minde haue béene accustomed, and now are daily in vse and custome among vs, The cause of this his muddie humour, I cannot guesse otherwise then this, that being wearie of his good name and reputation (if e∣uer he had any) is now contented to disburden himselfe thereof: and giues the whole world to vnderstand, that delighting in Rogerie more then honestie: he would shew himselfe to be little better then a tame Rogue. The mat∣ter that he busieth himselfe about, fauoureth onely ran∣cor and malice: The end whereat he aymeth, tendeth to death and desolation, subuersion of ourstate and fashion. And therefore my masters, it behooueth you as at all o∣ther times, so especially at this time, wisely and conside∣rately to way and ponder of this fact, for it is not an offence against one or two priuate men: but it toucheth the whole company in generall. And therfore a thing not to be passed slightly ouer, you therefore that haue the managing of this businesse, without whom wee of our selues can procéed in nothing, you being our right hand herein, bend all your care for the good of this little Com∣mon-wealth. And as you are elected and chosen to sub∣orne and vphold this small Regiment, so I pray you shew your selues, as I hope you will the true supporters and pillers of the same. But briefely to make an ende, because I purpose not to vse many words, you shall not

néed to enquire and search for the Author, or his name of this inuectiue, for he is knowen. And in his second Round as he calles it, hath set to his name: and therefore you may saue that labour, your charge is onely to finde of the slaunder and scandall comprised in the Indite∣ment, or no, if you finde him guiltie, you shall returne on the backe side of the Inditement that hee is guiltie, and so giue it in Court, that we may procéed against him accordingly: meane time because it is fit to procéed with equitie and iustice, and not to giue iudgement rashly and hastily against any man, before he haue made his Apologie, or purgation, our Purseuant shall bée spéedily sent to him to bring him before vs, that he may aunswere to the obiections and crimes layde against him.

* 1.6Straight was a stout sturdie and bigbone knaue sent in Embassage to Senior the Bel-man to appeare, who assoone as his message was deliuered (he néed d not to eb bid make haste) speedily hastens to the Belmans house, where he findes him at home by the fire side, mumbling a péece of bread and chéese. The Belman séeing this rude and vnmannerly fellow come in puffing, without any God spéed, was ready to choake for feare: but after they had parled on the matter, and deliuered his message, the Belman lockes fast his doore, and puts the key vnder the Still, and away they goe together toward the Court of Crackeropes. In the meane time the Iurie gaue vp their verdite, they made not a long haruest of a little corne, but suddenly they laid their knaues heads toge∣ther, and concluded that the Belman was guiltie of the slaunder comprised in the Inditement: and thereupon deliuered vp againe the Inditement into the Court; and so for that time they all departed to dinner. By this time the Gentlemen of the ragged order, had almost dined, and now come in all haste, the Belman and his kéeper,

who assoone as they were now come; word was carri∣ed in to the Masters of misrule, that the Belman was in the hall ready to auouch what he had published: At this word they all straight rose (although scarce well dined) as all moued with a couetous and gréedy desire to sée the confusion of the poore Belman.

As soone as the Benchers of the ragged Robes were set, in was called the Belman to make his Apologie, where after he had made his appearance, The chiefe commaunder of Crackropes began thus as followeth.

* 1.7Signior Belman, I maruell what madnesse hath be∣witched you, or what furie hath made you so fantasticke thus to raile on vs poore Vagrants, penilesse pilgrimes, hath your nightly watchings and continuall disorder of your braines so whorried your senses, that you can let flie at none other but on vs, poore forlorne wretches, that trouble you not, no not so much as once in seauen yeares.

Mee thinkes it should haue béene your part rather to haue tolde of domesticall affaires and houshold matters, what good rule is kept among your watch, how here one lies drunke when he should stand Sentinel, There ano∣ther lying along a sléepe vpon a bench complayning how his back akes, with carrying the Tankard and burthens in the day time; so that he were more fit to haue béene at home in bed a fléepe, then busied with any seruice for the City abroad at night, how you found this doore left open by Prentizes, either to let in their whores when their Masters be a sléepe, or to purloyn their Masters goods to maintaine their Trulls, here to finde out a Knaue pick∣ing open a locke by the helpe of his black Arte, and there in a Taylors stall hote luxurie making ryot. These and many more might you haue busied your braine about, and not thus scandalously and satirically to tyrannize o∣uer vs as your Crosbiters do ouer their Simplers.

No, no, Goodman Bel-man, though we are of the con∣temned sort, yet we haue supporters, and those that will fight in our quarrell were you neuer so strong.

But to the matter, surely you thinke you haue done a noble exploit, thus to descry and declare to the worlde our manner of liuing and customarie lawes, our Innes, feasts, and méetings: And that herein you haue done the part of a good subiect, thus to Anatomize and picture out such kinde of people as you terme base, that liue by the sweat of other mens browes (as you say.) This I sent your reason, In déede I will say as you say: But shall I tell you, your praise had béene much more the greater, if you had searched into the particular enormi∣ties, & palpable villanies committed daily in your City: Let vs poore folke liue as wee doe, we doe no man hurt but our selues, nor no mans foe but our owne, we haue nothing but what other men can spare, other mens lea∣uings are our refreshings, and if it were not for vs, much good meate would be in danger of Fly-blowing, or cast to dogges. If there bee any in our vocation or calling, that liue disorderly and out of compasse, what trade can you name that doe not the like. If wee sometimes lie with our neighbours wiues, is it not vsuall else-where? (nay herein by your fauour, we doe best paint out the fa∣mily of Loue, who doe not sticke but to haue all things in common:) If in bowsing we ouer-drinke our selues, doe not some of the best in your City do the like? If some make little conscience in lying, swearing, and stealing, I thinke fewe of your Trades-men goe frée: If then it be all one in City as in Countrey, among the rich as a∣mongst vs poore, and generally in all Trades and Oc∣cupations deceit and abuses, sith it is so that he that can∣not dissemble cannot liue: why then should you bee so spitefull goodman Saunshell to inueigh against vs poore soules aboue the rest, who of all others, in shifting are the most simplest soules in this ouer wise world.

But you good sir, like a Spider to entrappe onely the smallest flies, suffer the great ones to flie through, you scowre the ditch of a company of croaking frogs, when you leaue behinde you an infinite number of venomous Toades, you decypher and paint out a poore Rogue, or a Doxie that steale and rob hedges of a few ragged clothes (which you can make but petit larciney.) And neuer speake of those Vultures that ruine whole Lordships, and infect the common wealth, by their vallainous li∣uing to the discredit of some, and ill example to all.

Sir reuerence on your Mastership, good Mas Bel∣man, had you such a moate in your eie, that you could not sée those Fox-surd gentlemen, that harbour more de∣ceit vnder their dammaske cassockes, then is in all the poore Rogues in a countrey, Brokers I meane and Vsu∣rers, that like vultures prey vpon the simple, those that are moaths in a Common-wealth, liuing vpon the spoile of young gentlemen, as thirstie as a horse-léech, that will neuer leaue drinking vntill he burst: A Knaue that hath the interest in the leases of fortie bawdie houses, and a receiuer of lifts, and a dishonourable supporter of Cut∣purses, sléeping with his neighbours pledges all night in his bosome, and féeding vpon forfeits and penalties, as Rauens doe vpon carrion, one that is a bowzie bawdie miser, good for none but himselfe, and his trugge, the scumme of your seauen deadly sinnes, and an enemy to all good mindes.

What say you to these now, good Senior Bel-man, had you not béen better occupied to haue discouered, and layne open these kinde of Caterpillars then thus at Ran∣dum, to rayle on vs poore harmelesse Pilgrims, these are within your precinct and libertie, with whom you are dayly conuersant. But you will verifie the old saying, where the ditch is lowest, there men goe ouer thicke and thrée-fold: but it séemes you durst not make any menti∣on of these, because they bée your good Masters and Be∣nefactors,

but for my part I care for none of them, no more then they care for me.

The néerest to our profession that I knowe, you are most like to the whip-iacke, who (as you say) being an idle fellow, and a fresh-water souldier, neuer sayling further than Graues-end, will talke and prate of the low Countreys, of this battell, & that skirmish that he fought in, wheras indéed he neuer durst say so much as Boh to a Mouse, so you neuer going further out of town thē a far∣thing candle wil light, you will talke, & prate, & make a flourish of a number of things done both out of your precinct, and capacitie: say you are acquainted with all the damned Crew about the Citie, must it néeds follow that you haue the in-sight and myshery of our calling and prrofession likewise? No good sir, knowe you are wide by the length of your nose, yea, and so wide that you shall neuer know the full depth therof, vntill you haue vnder∣taken the sublime habite, and shape of a poore Pilgrim, and humble Heremite. And so Benedicite.

After this profound Drator had thus bespoken, license was granted to the Bel-man, to make his answere and purgation, where when he had cleared his throat with a hem, and made himselfe readie for that purpose, he pro∣céeded thus.

My Masters, and you that are héere present to heare* 1.8 mée, I take no care how to answere you, knowing my cause to be iust and honest, it hath béene euer knowne, that those that haue guilty consciences wil thinke, that e∣uery thing that is saidis spoken against themselues. And now I finde it too true, that it is not good medling with galled Iades, least they winch and kicke. For mine own part, what I haue saide I dare auouch, and I am sully resolued to stand to my tackling, come what tempest will. And since you haue giuen me leaue fréely to speak my mind without interruption, I will begin with your liues, and shew you how vilde and base it is before God

and the world. For I thinke there be none here but such as you call Maunders, Clapperdugeons, and a few Pad∣ders, and those of the meanest sort, al which I may right∣ly term you, & giue you this one name drowsie Drones, and lowsie Loyterers: and what is a Lopterer or Drone, nothing but a sucker of honie, a spoyler of corne, a de∣stroyer of fruit, a waster of mony, a spoyler of victuall, a sucker of blood, a breaker of good orders, a séeker of brawls, a queller of life, a Baseliske of a cōmon-wealth, which by companie and sight doth poyson a whole coun∣trey, and stayneth honest minds with the infection of his venome, and so draweth the Common-wealth to death and destruction, and such is the end of your liues & com∣manding: when we sée a great number of flies in a yéere, we iudg it like to be a great plague: and hauing so great a swarming of loytering vagabonds, & sturdie Rogues readie to brawle and swagger at euery mans dore, doth it not declare a greater infection readie to ensue.

Who therefore can otherwise déeme. But that this pestilence wherewith this our flourishing Common∣wealth is so plagued with, is aboue all other most pesti∣lent, yea and so pestiferous, that indeede there can bee no more hurtfull a thing to a wel gouerned estate: and therefore it is not onely most odious, but also pestilent in that it hath spotted the whole Countrey with such a staine and blot of idlenesse.

What say you to a number of Vagabonds, and stur∣dy Rogues that after the ouerthrow of the enemy, and breaking vp of the Campe, will swarme in euery corner of the Realme, and not only lie loytering vnder hedges, but also stand sturdely in Cities, and begge boldly at e∣uery doore, leauing labour which they like not, and follo∣wing Idlenesse which they should not? For after wars it is commonly séene that those that went out honest, re∣turne home againe like Roysters: and as they were brent to the warres bottome, they haue euer after all

their daies an vnsauory smacke thereof, and smell still towards day-sléepers and hedge-tréepers, purse-cutters, padders, quarrellers and blood-shedders.

Is it not séene commonly after wars, more robbing, théeuing, begging and murdering then before? and those to stand in high-waies to aske Almes, whom men are a∣frayd to say nay vnto honestly, least it be taken away from them violently, and haue more cause to suspect their strength, then to pittie their neede: men cannot safely ride in the high-way, vnlesse they ride stronge: worke is left at home vndone, and loyterers laze in the stréete, lurke in Ale-houses, and range in the high-waies: sturdy knaues play in Towns, and complaine of néede, whose filchman or staffe, if it be once warme in their hands, or sluggishnes bred in their bosome, they will ne∣uer be allured to worke, according to the saying that you haue among your selues (If you can Cant, you will neuer worke) shewing, that if they haue béene rogues so long, that they can Cant, they will neuer settle them∣selues to labour againe. And what more noysome beasts in a Common-wealth can there be, then you loy∣terers are? Diuers vermine destroy corne, kill pullen, and engines and snares are made for them: but for your selues, although you are made men that should haue reason, yet nothing will serue to bridle you, or kéepe you in compasse, vntill your neck be compassed with a With or Halter.

And what a griefe is it to an honest man, to labor tru∣ly in youth, and to gaine painefully by labour, where∣with to liue honestly in age, and to haue this (gotten in a long time) to be suddenly caught and rapt away by violence.

Here the Bel-man would haue said more, and scarce hither to could they refraine themselues, but with indig∣nation and choler, were ready to teare the poore Bel∣man in péeces amongst them; for the Sunne being in

Cancer, and the Midsomer Moone at full: their mindes were imbrued with such follies, and their heads carried away with such vanities, that as men of Athens, they would heare no man speake but themselues, and thought nothing well said, but what came out of their owne mouthes. But after the storme was past, and an O Yes was made for silence,* 1.9 in comes a Poste and Me∣ssenger in all hast from Don-Pourloyningo of Theuen∣gen, to the Masters and gouernours of this wicked Ra∣blement, in this fashion:

Roome my Masters, I bring you newes, not common tydings of olde matters, but an answere of your letters of complaint,* 1.10 sent to my Master Don-Pourloyningo: They came to his hands, he hath perused them, and sent you his generall protection, to defend you from the handes of the impatient and seuere people: now you may be of good comfort, and pull vp your hearts: if you offend againe, you néede feare no punishment, but swag∣ger till your guts cracke: you shall haue all at your own willes to the full: Nay, tis true as I tell you; if you wil not beleeue, you shall sée his letters of comfort and wri∣ting Consolatory, which he hath graunted in fauour to you: dispatch, get vp all your trumpery, for the shippes will be ready for you at the next winde. With that he pulled forth of his pocket the protection sent from Don Purloyningo, which followeth. But before we goe any further, you shall heare the Copie of the Letter, sent by them to this new found Knight: The Indorsement of which is thus.

To the thrise Renouned Potentate Don-Purloyningo, cheife Gouer∣nour of the Region of Theuingen.

CRéeping at your vnreuerend féete your Suppliants,* 2.1 the Gentlemen of the ragged Order. That where∣as in all places we are daily persecuted by all sortes of Officers, as Marshals, Beadles, Sergeants, Bayliffes, Constables, and such other officers, lying continually as spyes to entrappe and catch vs poore soules, as wee are following our callings in Markels, Faires, frayes, throngs, and assemblies, wherein heretofore we haue li∣ued reasonable well, though not with any great credite, yet voyde of suspition or apprehension: and being so ta∣ken, haue beene carried to places of correction, there wo∣fully tormented by Blew-coates, cowardly fellowes, that durst not let vs haue our hands at liberty; but without al humanity, haue so scourged vs, that flesh and blood could hardly endure it. And whereas our prede∣cessours before, for the good of this Common-wealth of ours, tooke great paines in deuising a new spéech or lan∣guage, to the end we might vtter our mindes fréely, and speake boldly without controulement one to another, which no doubt was a great helpe to vs and our prede∣cessours heretofore; yet such is the malice of some enui∣ous il-willer of ours, that hath we know not how, not onely discouered our maners and fashions, but also this our language and spéech, whereby we are often times ouer-hard, and taken and sent to prisons and tortures, and onely by our owne confessions, which we haue vtte∣red in this our language, and which haue truste vn∣to

vs boldly, as if wee had beene safe bolted in a Castle or strong hold. Now forasmuch as wee haue not any friend to whom we may haue accesse that will heare or tender our causes in these affaires, we know not whe∣ther to resort for aide, but to your good worshippe, who wee assure our selues loue and fauour vs, and will stretch your selfe to the vttermost of your power, for our enlargement and deliuerie from these perplexities by your mediation to Papa Belzebub the blacke Prince: for whose sake we haue endured many bitter stormes, cursings and reuylings contrarie to our expectation when we first began to practise our trade and occupa∣tion.

Besides the losse of many good booties, as siluer, plate, Iewels, apparrell and such like things, which when we haue fingred to doe vs credite, haue béene taken as wayfes to our great impouerishments, when wee haue béene driuen to yéelde to the officers, by which we find∣ing our selues to grow so weake in purse, dare hardly aduenture to get to discharge our daily consumations and expences: nay although we would, we cannot; for the very vulgar are growne so craftie, that we are kno∣wen so well as the beggar knowes his dish, although we dissemble our habites and estates neuer so much.

Therefore presuming you will vngratiously consider of our hardnesse, and spéedily fetch vs away from these places which in torture, as to vs more hote then hell: we lie thicke and thrée-fold vnder staules, bulkes and hedges, praying for your worship, whose good word we make no question of, knowing well the pitty remayning in your good head, and often extended in loue to vs, ex∣pecting your answere, we leaue you.

Yours in the basest fashion, The Derickmans,

Don Purloyningo at the receit of these wofull letters, hauing an extraordinary tender care ouer them, as be∣ing of one stock and kindred, hath first inuented a course for their transportation and conueyance into his Terri∣tories and Dominions, considering how they are likely to decrease, and their trade like to faile, through the pro∣ditions and betrayings of the people which are contrary to them, and of another sex, hath appointed them a place, set and being in the plante Country of Theuingen néere Knaues-borough plaine, for their more quiet and peace∣able liuing: which place, and whose manners I thinke good to describe, being that it was neuer heard of, vntill of late * daies; to the intent that such as shall by Don Purloyningo his Patent, haue right and title there,* 2.2 in the onfines of the same land, may make a preparado to haue passage when the winde shall sit faire for that place and voyage.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Where at this day the Rogues of the North part, once euerie three yeeres assemble in the night, because they will not be seene and espied, being a place to those that know it verie fit for that purpose, it being hol∣low, and made spacious vnder ground, at first by estimation halfe a mile in compasse, but it hath such turnings and roundings in it, that a man may easily be lost, if hee en∣ter not with a guide.
• * 1.2

  Corporall Fize.
• * 1.3

  Corporall Fize his speech to appease the tumult.
• * 1.4

  The Graund Inquest of Crackropes.
• * 1.5

  Corporall Fizehis charge to the Iurie.
• * 1.6

  A messenger sent to call the Bel-man.
• * 1.7

  Corporal Fize his Oration to the Belman.
• * 1.8

  The Belmans Answer and defence
• * 1.9

  A post from Don-Purloy∣ningo.
• * 1.10

  His Message to the Court of Crack∣ropes.
• * 2.1

  Corporall Fize his letter to Don Pur∣loyningo.
• * 2.2

  By M. I.H.