and delightfull for men to reade.-Lege, Perlege, Relege.-1608.

Thieves falling out, true men come by their goods.-1615.›

English Villanies, seven severall times prest to death by the printers; but (still reviving againe) are now the eighth time (as the first) discovered by lanthorne and candle-light: and the help of a new cryer, called O-per-se O; whose loud voyce proclaims, to all that will hear him, another conspiracy of abuses lately plotting together, to hurt the peace of the kingdom; which the bell-man (because he ther went stumbling i'th’dark) could never see till now; and because a company of rogues, cunning canting gypsies, and all the scumme of our nation, fight under their tattered colours. At the end is a canting dictionary to teach their language, with canting songs. · A booke to make gentlemen merry, citizens warie, countrymen carefull; fit for justices to reade over, because it is a pilot by whom they may make strange discoveries.-London, 1638.

Bailey's and the new Canting Dictionary have also been consulted, with the History of Bamfield More Carew, the Sessions Papers, and

other modern authorities. As many of these terms are still professionally used by our present race of free-booters of different denominations, who seem to have established a systematical manner of carrying on their business, a knowledge of them may therefore be useful to gentlemen in the commission of the peace.

The second part, or burlesque terms, have been drawn from the most classical authorities; such as soldiers on the long march, seamen at the capstern, ladies disposing of their fish, and the colloquies of a Gravesend-boat.

Many heroic sentences, expressing and inculcating a contempt of death, have been caught from the mouths of the applauding populace, attending those triumphant processions up Holborn→ hill, with which many an unfortunate hero till lately finished his course; and various choice flowers have been collected at executions, as well those authorised by the sentence of the law, and performed under the direction of the sheriff, as those inflicted under the authority and inspection of that impartial and summary tribunal, called the Mob, upon the pickpockets, informers, or other unpopular criminals...

In the course of this work many ludicrous games and customs are explained, which are not to be met with in any other book: the succession of the finishers of the law, the abolition of the triumph or ovation of Holborn-hill, with the introduction of the present mode of execution at Newgate, are chronologically ascertained; points of great importance to both the present and future compilers of the Tyburn Chronicle.

To prevent any charge of immorality being brought against this work, the Editor begs leave to observe, that when an indelicate or immodest word has obtruded itself for explanation, he has endeavoured to get rid of it in the most decent manner possible; and none have been admitted but such as either could not be left out without rendering the work incomplete, or in some measure compensate by their wit for the trespass committed on decorum. Indeed, respecting this matter, he can with great truth make the same defence that Falstaff ludicrously urges in behalf of one engaged in rebellion, viz. that he did not seek them, but that, like rebellion in the case instanced, they lay in his way, and he found them.

xii

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

The Editor likewise begs leave to add, that if he has had the misfortune to run foul of the dignity of any body of men, profession, or trade, it is totally contrary to his intention; and he hopes the interpretations given to any particular terms that may seem to bear hard upon them, will not be considered as his sentiments, but as the sentiments of the persons by whom such terms were first invented, or those by whom they are used.

PREFACE

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

THE favourable reception with which this Book was honoured by the Public has encouraged the Editor to present a second edition, more correctly arranged, and very considerably enlarged. Some words and explanations in the former edition having been pointed out as rather indecent or indelicate, though to be found in Le Roux, and other Glossaries of the like kind, these have been omitted, softened, or their explanations taken from books long sanctioned with general approbation, and admitted into the seminaries for the education of youth-such as Bailey's, Miege's, or Philips's Dictionaries; so that it is hoped this work will now be found as little offensive to delicacy as the nature of it would admit.

A list is here added of such books as have been consulted for the additions.