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.

The copie of the Commission and Graunt, sent from Don Purloyningo to Corporall Fize and his Assistants.

I Don Purloyningo, great Commander ouer the Pro∣uince of Theuingen, haue receiued diuers wofull and pittifull letters from sundry nations and people, but especially from those vnder the gouernment of Corporal Fize, chéefe commander of the poore persecuted Pilgrims in Europe, wherein they lay open to mee their wofull sorrowes, vexations, and troubles that they endure by sundry persons, in sundry places where they abide. Now forasmuch as it is not onely a Charity, to redresse their foresaid griefes, by sending for them into a Countrey where they shall be at quiet and hearts ease, but also a pleasure to people of better fashion, that cannot by any meanes disgest their idle and vntoward liues, which may proue hurtfull both to King and people: Be it there∣fore knowne, that I haue graunted to all persons what∣soeuer, that will take the benefite of this my Grant and Commission, frée leaue and license to come and inhabite

within my Countrey of Theuingen, and the profites of my land, to vse and enioy as fréely without contradicti∣on, as if they were there bred and borne.

Now for the more spéedie execution of the same, we command all Saylers as well within our Iurisdiction, as without, that they make present search for all olde Boates, Hoyes, Shippes and Barkes, which haue long rested to be ready for this voyage; and that all thinges be in a readinesse, to the end that when they are in a good minde, they may be gone, that neuer after any good land be troubled and combred with so filthy and noysom a people.

And that all Carmen, Cochmen, and Carters haue their charge in a readinesse at a day, that they may bee carried in pompe to the water sides: and that all Trum∣peters, Bagpipers, Fidlers and Drummers be ready with their musique to bring them onward of their iour∣ney. Moreouer we commaund all Iaylors to open their prison doores, and let them all out that meane to sée my Dominions, and that neuer hereafter they once suffer any to come within their hold or Iurisdiction: and fur∣ther vpon their departure we will all inuentions for pu∣nishments appointed for the torturing of such persons be immediately pulled downe, cut in péeces, and be made in Bon-fires, for ioy that the land is disburdened of so loathsome a people.

And further we expresly commaund that the Saylers and Marriners (because we know them to be hasty and surly) to vse them kindly, and not by any means to crosse them, least they take snuffe in the nose, and so fall toge∣ther by the eares: for they being very cholericke (as we haue heard) are subiect to disagréeing.

And that at their arriuall, they be presently placed e∣uery one according to his degrée, and that with quietnes they receiue the profites of my land, without the let of those, that haue béene dead fiue hundred yeares before.

Further that no man mocke or delude them, or so much as bid them farewell, for feare that a little famili∣arity cause them to haue a desire to remaine and tarry rather then to walke: but let them haue quiet passing, because they goe to a land better for their turnes, for they desire only ease, which there they shall haue, if once they can arriue and get to the borders thereof.

These our Letters and Commission now at your re∣quest graunted, our desire is, that you may doe well, if otherwise betyde you then well, looke to your selues, and vse your owne discretions; and so fare you well.

At this newes the whole fraternity of Vagabonds whooted for ioy, as glad at the heart to thinke what a swaggering and dominéering they should kéepe in this new foundland, and wherein they made account to be young Lords and Masters: so that the poore honest Bel∣man had license without any controlement or contradi∣ction to depart: and if he would spit out any more his malice against them, let him spit till hee were drye for them, for they would little regard what he did, and cared not two chips, because they were determined to trauell, and meant to be out of the walkes and dangers of the honest.

Now Gentlemen (by my troth) I could finde in my heart to haue spent a bottle of Ale, that you had béene there with me, to haue seene the concourse of these Cat∣terpillers, and heard the confused noyse of these couse∣ning Crack-ropes, singing, hollowing and whooping, dancing and whistling: at this time there you should haue seene one that had béene lame néere fortie yeares, and gone on his Crowches fiftéene to my knowledge, throw away his stilts, and daunce the round Morrice: there another that puttes on a foule cloth on his head counterfeiting the falling-sicknesse, throw it away in a corner, and falles to swagger with his Doxie: here an∣ther

with pitifull sore legges and armes to sée to, can now leape and wrastle as well as the best, and diuers with scalde pates and other diseases going before double in the stréetes, to cause and moue pitty, can now for ioy stand on their heads, fetch friskes about the house, pull one another by the eares: and indéede what did they not doe? none could perceiue but that they were all youth∣full and lusty.

* 1.1All tooke all pleasure, and all for ioy to be sayling.

Suppose now by this the greatest part of them are sayling on the blacke Sea, what will become of them, how they arriued, how entertained by the Inhabitants there, and of their prosperous voyage, you shall heare at the next boat-post. In the meane time, because the Bel∣man entreateth any that is more rich in canting, to lend him better or more with variety, he will repay his loue double: I haue thought good not only to shew his errour in some places in setting downe olde wordes vsed fortie yéeres agoe before he was borne; for wordes that are vsed in these dayes (although he is bold to call me an v∣surper (for so he doth in his last round) and not able to maintayne the title) But haue enlarged his Dictionary (or Master Harmans) with such wordes as I thinke hée neuer heard of (and yet in vse too) but not out of vaine glorie, as his ambition is, but indéede as an experienced souldier that hath déerely paid for it: and therefore it shall be honour good enough for him (if not too good) to come vp with the Reare (I doe but shoote your owne ar∣row backe againe) and not to haue the leading of the Van as he meanes to doe, although small credite in the end will redound to eysher.

You shall know the wordes not set in eyther his Dic∣tionaries by this marke §: and for shewing the errour in his words, and true englishing of the same and other, this marke ¶ shall serue.

• § Abram madde.

• § He maunds Abram. he begs as a madde man.
• Autem the Church.
• Autem mort, a married woman.
• ¶ Bung is now vsed for a pocket, heretofore for a purse.
• Boord a shilling.
• Halfe a Boord, fixepence.
• Bowse drinke.
• Bowsing ken, an Ale-house
• Ben good.
• Benship very good.
• Buffa a Dogge.
• Bing a wast, get you kence.
• § Budge a beake, runne away.
• § A Bite, secreta () mulierum.
• Caster a Clocke.
• § Crackmans the hedge.
• Comission a shirt.
• § To Castell, to sée or looke.
• § A Roome Cuttle, a sword.
• § A Cuttle bung, a knife to cut a purse.
• § Chepemans, Cheape-side market.
• To Cut, to tell or call.
• ¶ Cut me ben whids, tell me truth.
• ¶ To Cut quire whids, to lie.
• Crashing Cheates, Apples.
• ¶ Chates, the Gallowes: here he mistakes both the sim∣ple word, because he so found it printed, not knowing the true orginall thereof, and also in the compound; as for Chates it should be Cheates, which word is vsed generally for things, as Tip me that Cheate, Giue me that thing: so that if you will make a word for the Gallous, you must put thereto this word Treyning, which signifies hanging; and so Treyning Cheate is as much to say, hanging things, or the Gallous, and not Chates.
• Coue a man.

• ¶ Cowch a Hogshead, to lie downe and sléepe: this phrase is like an Alminacke that is out of date: now the duch word to slope is with them vsed, to sléepe, and lig∣gen to lie downe.
• § Crancke, the falling sickenesse: and thereupon your Rogues that counterfeit the falling sickenes, are cal∣led counterfeit Crancks.
• To Cly the Iarke, to be whipped.
• Drawers Hosen.
• Dudes Clothes.
• Darkemans the night.
• Dewsauell the Countrey.
• Dup the gigger, open the doore.
• § Afflicke a Théefe.
• Fambles hands.
• Fambling Cheates, Kings.
• § Famblers, a paire of Gloues.
• § To Filch, to beate.
• § A Filchman, a cudgell or staffe.
• Flag, a groate.
• § To Fence properly, to sell any thing that is stolne.
• § To Foyst, to picke a pocket.
• § A Feager of Loges one that beggeth with counterfeit writings.
• Glasiers, eyes.
• § Greenemans the fields.
• Gan a mouth.
• Gage a quart pot.
• Granam Corne.
• Glymmer Fire.
• Gigger a doore.
• § Gilkes for the gigger, false keyes for the doore or pick-lockes.
• § Gracemans, Gratious stréete market.
• Gentry mort, a Gentlewoman.
• Gentry Cous ken, a Gentlemans house.

• Harman becke the Constable.
• Harmons the stockes.
• § Iockam a mans yard.
• § Ian a purse.
• § Iere a Turd.
• Ken an house.
• Stawling ken, a house to receiue stolne goods, or a dwel∣ling house.
• § Lugges eares.
• Lagge of dudes, a bucke of clothes.
• § Loges a passe or warrant.
• § A Feager of loges, one that beggeth with false passes.
• Lybbeg a bedde.
• Lower money.
• Lybkin a house to lodge people.
• Lagge water or pisse.
• Lightmans the day.
• Mynt gold.
• The Muggill, the Beadle.
• Make an halfpenny.
• Maunding begging.
• § What maund doe you breake, what kind of begging vse you?
• § Ile myll your maund, Ile spoyle your begging.
• § To nip a Ian, to cut a purse.
• § Nab a head.
• § Nab cheate an hat.
• § Numans Newgate market.
• ¶ Nigling, company kéeping with a woman: this word is not vsed now, but wapping, and thereof comes the name wapping morts Whoores.
• Prat a Buttocke.
• § Your prat whids Romely, you fart lustily.
• ¶ Pecke meate, pecke is not meate but peckage, pecke is taken to eate or byte: as the Buffa peckes me by the stampes, the dogge bites me by the shinnes.

• Ruff peck Bacon.
• § Peckage meat or Scroofe scraps.
• § To Plant to hide.
• § Stow your whids and plant
• § The Coue of the ken can kant.
• Prauncer an horse.
• Prigging riding.
• Patrico a Priest.
• Pad a Way.
• § Padder an high-way robber or purse taker.
• § Quire, this word is alwayes taken in il sense for naught
• § Quire ken a prison house.
• § Quire bowse bad drinke.
• § VVhat a quire whidding keepe you, what a scolding kéep you?
• Quarroms the body, or armes, or backe.
• Roome vile a great towne, commonly taken for London.
• Roome bowse wine: this word is alwayes taken in the best sense, to shew a thing extraordinary or excellent.
• § Roome bowsin ken, a Tauerne.
• Roome mort a Quéene or Gentlewoman, and so Roome Coue a Gentleman.
• ¶ Ruffmans, not the hedge or bushes as heretofore: but now the eauesing of houses or roofes: Cragmans is now vsed for the hedge.
• Ruffian the diuell.
• § Scrappes, fatte and glorious bittes: sound blowes and bangings.
• § The muggill will tip you fat scraps and glorious bits, the Beadle will well bumbast you.
• Stampes legges.
• Stampers shooes.
• Slate a shéete.
• Scew a Cuppe or Glasse, a Dish or any thing to drinke in.
• Skipper a barne.

• ¶ Salomon the masse: Now when many doe presse the poore rogues so earnestly to sweare by the Salomon, doe not blame them though they refuse it; for although you know not what it meanes, yet they very well know: Many men I haue heard take this word Soloman to be the chiefe commander among the beggers; but to put them out of doubt, this is not he: marry there was one Solomon in K. HENRY the eights time that was a iol∣ly fellow among them, who kept his Court most an end at Foxe Hall at the vpper end of Lam beth (if it be true as their Records make mention) who was Succes∣sour to Cocke Lorrell: of him and his successors much is to bee spoken if licence may be graunted, and of whose Ruannagate race I could frame a whole trea∣tise: but here enough.
• § A Stander, he that stands sentinel vpon the Pad or high∣way to robbe.
• Stromell the straw.
• § Spreader butter.
• ¶ Smellar a garden, not Smelling cheate, for thats a Nose∣gay.
• § Treyning hanging.
• § Treyning cheate the gallous.
• § To tip to giue.
• § Tip a make ben Roome Coue, giue a halfepeny good Gentleman.
• To tower or Castell to sée.
• § To whid to speake.
• § A Winne a penny.
• § VVhittington Newgate.
• Yarrim pottage or milke.

And thus haue I runne ouer the Canters Dictiona∣ry, to speake more at large, would aske more time then I haue allotted me, yet in this short time that I haue, I meane to sing song for song with the Belman, ere I wholly leaue him.

* 1.2TOwre out ben morts & towre, Looke out ben morts & towre, For al the Roome coues are budgd a beake, And the quire coues tippe the lowre.

The quire coues are budgd to the bowsing ken, As Romely as a ball, But if we be spid we shall be clyd, And carried to the quirken hall.

Out budgd the Coue of the Ken, With a ben filtch in his quarr'me That did the prigg good to bingd in the Risome, To towre the Coue budge alar'me.

But now I will shew you what I heard at Knock-ver∣gos, drinking there a pot of English Ale, two Maunders borne and bred vp rogues wooing in their natiue lan∣guage.

* 1.3O Ben mort wilt thou pad with me, One ben siate shall serue both thee & me, My Caster and Comission shall serue vs both to maund, My bong, my lowre & fambling cheate Shall be at thy command.

O Ben Coue that may not be, For thou hast an Autem mort who euer that is she, If that she were dead & bingd to his long Libb, Then would I pad and maund with thee, And wap and for thee fibb.

O ben mort Castle out & Towre, Where all the Roome coues slopne that we may tip the lowre, Whē we haue tipt the lowre & fenc't away the duds Then binge we to the bowsing ken, Thats cut the Robin Hood.

But O ben Coue what if we be clyd, Long we cannot foist & nip at last we shal be spyed, If that we be spied, O then begins our woe, With the Harman beake out and alas, To VVhittington we goe.

Stow your whids & plant, and whid no more of that, Budg a beak the Crackmās & tip lowr with thy prat If treyning thou dost feare, thou ner wilt foist a Ian, Then mill, and wap and treine for me, A gere peck in thy gan.

As they were thus after a strange maner a wooing, in comes by chance a clapper dudgeon for a pinte of Ale, who as soone as he was spied, they left off their roguish poetry, and fell to mocke the poore maunder thus.

* 1.4The Clapper dugeon lies in the skipper, He dares not come out for shame, But when he binges out he dus budg to the Gigger, Tipp in my skew good dame.

And thus hath the Bel man through his pitifull am∣bition caused me to write that I would not: And wheras he disclaims the name of Brother-hood, I here vtterly renounce him & his fellowship, as not desirous to be re∣solued of any thing he professeth on this subiect, knowing

my selfe to be as fully instructed herein as euer he was. But hereof enough, if not more then enough: I meane now to shew the originall and beginning of these peo∣ple, when they began to gather to an head, and how they first came vp.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hoist vp say∣lors, the drum¦mers and pi∣pers are at hand, lay plancks, make ready, they come, they come: A iolly crue, God send they want no ship∣ping: A faire company I promise you, when they are all gone, we shal haue corn good cheape, Ware your purses hoe,
• * 1.2

  1. Canyzon.
• * 1.3

  2. Canyzon.
• * 1.4

  3. Canyzon.