being one day in a throng in the great Chamber was rudely thrust by these fellowes and while hee looked about to see whence that thrusting and violent motion proceeded one of them thrust his hand into his pocket and stole thence his purse which hee knew not till two houres after when he intending to have paid for some bookes which he had bought in the Gallerie of Booke-sellers missed it but could not on the sudden guesse at what time hee was so robbed by them what in this case to doe hee knew not nature had indued him with more wit then to chafe fume at that he could not remedy or by impatience for loosing a little to injure him who gave him all At last he being well acquainted with the craftinesse of the times he resolved to be revenged wherfore he being willing to requite them went to a Smith of whom he bespake a springe to put into his pocket which might shut of it selfe and suddenly catch whatsoever touched it The Smith being thorowly experienced in his Art made him one of the fairest and most ingenious pieces that could be devised and that with such Art and cunning that it far exceeded the manner of Morindors expression who having contented the Smith caused it to be placed in the same pocket from whence his purse was stollen having so done he walked in the Palace foure dayes but on the fift day he viewing the portraictures of the kings which are upon the Pillars in the Hall was perceived by the same cutpurse who incouraged by the easinesse of his first purchase he resolved to adventure again then drawing neere to him and watching his time when the people came thronging upon him out of the great Chamber he gently put his hand into his pocket but it no sooner entred but this spring disbanded so that where he thought to take he was taken Morindor who felt the springe disband seemed not to take notice of the Cutpurse but began to take his walke from the one side of the Hall unto the other thence into the great Chamber the Galleries of the Palace and so about the Cutpurse though unwilling was forced to follow him foot by foot for hee could not withdraw himselfe hee was so straitly fastened in the springe sometime Morindor taking a short turne would suddenly thrust away the Cutpurse as though he came too neere him then did the other with an humble countenance entreat him not to disgrace him further but to accept of some indifferent satisfaction from him To which Morindor seeming deafe continued on his walke so that it was not long before that many of the Palace perceived it who gladly flocked together to see him led after that sort At length Morindor having for a long time walked from place to place and by the shortnes of his turns lengthened the pains of the Cutpurse Hee turned himselfe and with a cholericke visage said unto him What makes you follow me step by step Master Theefe It was you Sir that stole away my purse and you shall deerly answer it At these words the other fell on his knees and begging pardon faithfully promised to restore it if hee would release him but Morindor would not take words for deeds but kept the Cutpurse thus shamefully imprisoned untill his Purse was brought unto him by one of the theeves Comrades who had thither accompanied him Thus was the deceiver deceived CHAP. XVIII The Story of Amboise la Forge a notable Cutpurse AMboise la Forge was brought up in Picardie and as he increased in yeers so did he in wickednesse he began with Pins and ended with Pounds which had weighed him downe to hell had not his present repentance and temporall punishment by Gods mercy prevented the eternall which we charitably conceive because as the one halfe of his life was spent in evill so the the other half was worn out in punishment The one you shall see in the beginning the other in the end of this ensuing History This young fellow being past his childish tricks as stealing Pins Points and the like begins his youthfull pranks thus He goes one night to a Farmors house and there having formerly noted where his Poultry usually roosted steales a Turkey two Capons foure Pullets which he having conveyed away by his Companion in evill he the same night breakes open a Bakers shop furnisheth himselfe with a sufficiency of Bread and afterwards passing by a Taverne and perceiving the Grates of the Cellar to be large made shift to wreath himselfe in where having found three or foure good Flaggons he fills them with Wine and having made himself frollike refills them The next morning hee goes early unto this Farmor Baker and Vintner and kindly invites them to dinner they wonder at his free entertainment and wish each of them that what they had lost the last night had been there likewise as more fitting for their bellies then for those Rogues that stole it On that condition replyed Amboise you would I beleeve forgive them their riot whereunto they cheerefully answered with all their hearts but said one of them farewell it what we have lost there wee have gained here T is true indeed said Amboise for what I stole from each of you your selves have among you eaten which I wish may do you much good at which words each of them tooke the more especiall notice of what they were entertained with and the Farmer found that he had the like Poultrie as he that night had lost and the Baker the like bread and the Vintner the like wine served in in the like Pots all which being considered they found that his words were in earnest and so they tooke them for they suddenly rising would have forsaken the room in the heat of choler but he perswades them that they could not eat their meat in better company imitating therein the young Greek who having perceived particular notice that his Citizens had lost the battell came into the market-place and proclamed that they had got the victory upon which false rumor he caused among the citizens a publike joy for three dayes but when the pitifull newes of their overthrow was brought by some souldiers fled from the battell every one was ready to kill this false messenger who had caused them to be filled with joy in a time when they had just cause to be drowned in tears and sorrows but he answered them that they had more cause to thanke him then to murmure against him because that he had changed their cause of discomfort into comfort and their mourning into a publike rejoycing But this first exploit of youth was nothing in respect of what he did after for it was not long before he came to one of the fairest women of the Parish and sought earnestly to entice her to lewdnesse but what he could not by faire words effect hee at last obtained upon the promise of twenty Crownes which he as then being not able to give compassed by
life at a deare rate and to that end he barricadoed himselfe within the house turning the Table and Stooles topsie turvie against the doore The newes being spread that little Iames was within the house made diverse people flock together to see the issue among others many of the Guard hastned thither and endeavoured by Ladders to enter through the Window but Little Iames having charged two Pistols and two Muskets with them watching his opportunity when their thoughts were at the highest humbled eleven of them to the ground his Wench at the same time charging as fast as hee discharged and by that last office testified the greatnesse of her courage and affection As for him he was so animated with rage and dispaire that he often thrust out his head at the Window endeavouring to hasten his assured death by the honourable blow of some Musket to eescape the dis-honour of the Gallowes The people assembled more and more and about an hundred persons had now encompassed the House armed with Muskets Pikes and Halberds little Iames after he had discharged divers shot at last fell into a scarcity of Bullets which being perceived some mounted upon the Ladders whilst others broke open the doores every one admired the desperate stoutnesse of this Theefe in resisting so many people but hee resisted in vain for his houre was then come yet would he not for a long time yeeld himselfe but would have killed himselfe had not his Wench hindred him at length the multitude entring he was forced to yeeld to the fury of the people who drag'd him to prison where hee lay not long before hee was condemned to bee broken on the Wheele The day of his death being spread abroad caused a multitude of people to be assembled in the place of execution every one wondring to see one so yong to have perpetrated halfe so many villanies Some pittied his youth others rejoyced to see him cut off so timely as for me I must confesse I was not a jot moved with pitty but was glad to see him punished according to his deserts Behold here the Life and death of this notorious Rogue whereby it may be considered how much it behooves Parents to chastise their children in their youth and not to suffer them to live in too great a liberty CHAP. XI The Story of Pallioly and his Choake-peare WE may compare youth to a young twigge whose tendernesse yeelds to the least motion and is easily bended either to the right or left hand being made fruitful or barren according to the industry or negligence of the Owner So is it with youth if he once findes the path of vertue by the care of his Parents he may be made continue and increase in the same but contrary acts produce contrary effects and wee cannot expect a greater comfort and joy from those that are vertuous then sorrow and griefe from those that continue in a vicious course of life I would therefore advise all Parents and Guardians to be exceeding carefull and wary in the education of their Children especially to beware of the poyson of ill example not suffering them to frequent the company of such as are debaucht for we naturally follow with eagernes those actions which we see authorized by former presidents Pallioly was a pretty well favoured youth a fit lodging to entertaine vertue as no doubt he would have done had not the over fond affection of his Father permitted him to make choice of those courses which are most opposite to vertue and best pleasing our sensuall appetites and inclination His ingenuity was such that had he beene trained up vertuously his wisdome might have made him as famous as his wit wrongly imployed hath now made him infamous he was borne neere unto Tholouse where he remained not long but out of a vaine curiosity and curious vanity he first forsaking his earthly father that hee might the better forget his heavenly betook himselfe towards Paris where he abode not long before his riot and excesse had wholly emptied his Purse of coyne and his wits being quickned by necessity he studied to supply his want by this following device Hee first makes a paire of hands of Wax and fastens them to his shoulders so artificially that he could when he pleased put them through his Cloak with these hee goes to the Church of S. Mederic where he understood that a great concourse of people would that day be by reason of a learned Man that then intended to preach being come into the Church hee espies a Gentlewoman with a silver Watch by her side who was praying in the body of the Church among many others who every minute expected the Preachers comming out of the Chancell by her he kneeles placing a Book on these his artificiall hands and seemes to fix his eyes on both The Gentlewoman wonders at his rudenesse in comming so neere her and conceives it to be only want of breeding in him she casts her eyes on him and sees him with a Book in his hand and praying modesty permitted her to look but not too earnestly to gaze on him she therefore without mistrust holds on her devotion and he his she hers to God and he his to the Devill as appeared by the sequell for while she at the elevation of the Host bowes downe to the ground and in humility kisseth it he nips off the Watch and having likewise hypocritically kissed the ground departed Not long after he goes to a Smith of his acquaintance a very skilfull man in his Trade and one wholly at his beck and gives him instruction how to make a kinde of Instrument in the likenesse of a little Bowle which by the helpe of small springs within it might open and inlarge it selfe so that being clapt into a mans mouth it could not be removed without the Key purposely made to that end this being finished according to his minde and brought unto him he termed a Choke-peare he might have termed it a Devils Peare for never was there a worse tasted fruit Eridas a rich Citizen dwelling about the Royall Exchange was the first who made triall how hard this Peare was of digestion for Pallioly knowing by common report that he was rich chose out his opportunity when all his houshold servants were busied in country affaires and none at home with him but one Lackey and then being accompanied with three or foure such spend-thrifs as himselfe he came to the house and boldly desired to speake with Eridas the Lackey supposing them to have been Gentlemen of worth by reason of their decent apparell went unto his Master and told him that there were some Gentlemen below that desired to speake with him but Eridas comming unto them and desiring to know their pleasure was taken aside by Pallioly who in no lesse brief then rough terms told him that they were poore Souldiers pinched by poverty whose wants must be releeved by his excesse that it was needlesse for him to endeavour resistance for
man of whom they so much talked One day being desirous to put one of his inventions in practise He being like a Tradesman apparelled came unto a rich Merchant named Syriander and told him that he understood that he returned much ware into the Countie of Burgundie to one Master Vernon a man with whom hee was well acquainted wherefore he having fained that hee had a Trunk full of Commodities to send to the same man signified that he should be much obliged unto him if hee would bee pleased to convay his also thither whereunto this Merchant little mistrusting his quality condiscended Rapignus having thus farre proceeded caused a Trunk to bee brought unto him so cunningly contrived that it might bee easily unlocked by one within he therefore causeth a little boy an Apprentice in his theeving trade to be put within it and having charged him upon his life not to speake or make any noise in the Trunk but about mid-night to come foorth and having opened the shop doores to give entrance to his companions he locked him therein and having so done he caused this Trunk to be brought to the house of Syriander who not doubting of what was inclosed therein received it and placed it in his shop Evening was already past and night the favourer of theeves had with her black mantle overspread the earth when this young Boy perceiving by the quietnesse of all things that the houshold servants were long before retired and therefore in all likelihood in a deep sleep gently opened the Trunk wherein he was inclosed but comming to the door found not the key therein as he expected at which being much perplexed he was about to give over his enterprize and to retire into his shell but he at length bethought himself of opening the shop windows which he performed with much dexterity none awaking at the noise and having let in his companions who there attended him every one furnished himself with a parcell of the best wares in the shop and so departed The theft was soon found out but it could not be known who the Actours were till four yeers after one of them being to be executed at the Greave for some other robberies confessed the fact and discovered his companions who were served in the same kinde CHAP. XVI The cunning escape of a Cheater out of prison IT is not long since a theef was brought into the Bishops Prison in Paris who had committed divers robberies among the rest he had but 15. dayes before stollen to the value of 100l. in jewels from a Goldsmith for the cōpassing wherof he practised this ensuing device He had formerly taken notice that there was in this Goldsmiths shop a small casket of Rings and Diamonds which he much desired the fingering of but being barren a long time of any invention whereby he might gain it at last he went unto a Joyner to whom hee gave directions for the making of a casket like unto that which the Goldsmith had which being made according to his minde he one day having perceived that there was at that time in the house but one servant and a little boy son to the Goldsmith entred into the shop carrying this Box under his cloke when he came in he desired them to shew him choice of Rings whereupon the patern of this new casket was presently fetcht but he perceiving that he could not easily bring to passe his intended project whilest that both of them were in the shop he delivered the boy a piece of gold to change and in the mean time causing the Box to be opened he cheapened the Rings and seeming to mislike of the price he desireth the servant to shew him others but whilest he turned his back to fetch them this fellow taking his opportunity suddenly exchanged Boxes putting his Box in the place of the other then faining that he could not tarry to look upon the other Rings in regard he promised to give a friend the meeting where he knew he was by that time expected he desired the Apprentice to keep the money which the other was not yet come with till he came again and so departed But he joyned not long in this cheat but within fifteen dayes after was taken and had no doubt at that time been executed had he not had some extraordinary means to escape as thus he sent a boy to one in the city an Abettour of his stollen goods to entreat him that he would make for him an Hare-Pie and accompany him at the eating of it which he mindfull of his former familiarity performed and having brought it to the Jayle where his friend was did there sup with him the Jaylor Having supped his friend called him aside and told him that the cause of bespeaking this Pie was to prevent any mistrust which the Jayler might have had had he not seen this he having so said proceeded to a second request which was to work his delivery out of this place by a plot which hee would suggest whereunto this Citizen promising his best endeavour he signified unto him that the only way for his escape was by sending unto him another Pie made like the former where in stead of flesh should put a long rope and some Picklock instruments which being made and sent according to his appointment he opened it and taking forth the things inclosed made so good use of them that hee the same night escaped but having escaped hee was the same night apprehended for a robbery suddenly committed after his departure out of prison and being brought to the same place was shortly after for this and his former robberies executed CHAP. XVII A Theefe caught in a trap A Certain Gentleman of Poictiers named Morindor came to Paris about the dispatch of some busines of importance which he had at Court and had brought with him store of moneys as well to discharge the expences of his journey as also to disburse for other particular occasions where being arrived another gentleman of his Countrey sent unto him by an expresse messenger to intreat him that he would be very carefull of a great suit which he had then depending in the great Chamber Morindor who would not disoblige his friend tooke this cause in hand and although he were somewhat hindered by his own particular occasions he notwithstanding ceased not to sollicite in his friends behalfe but whilest he passed and repassed thorow the Palace and that he thus sollicited both for his own and friends right he was perceived by two Cutpurses who resolved among themselves upon the first opportunity to shew him a trick of their activity and to that end they divers times drew neer him but durst not adventure a hand into his pocket by reason that he knowing that the Palace was alwayes frequented by such a base crew was very circumspect to avoid all such mischievous accidents but the subtilty and sleight of these Cutpurses surpassing his care and diligence he was at length surprised for he
this meanes He goes speedily to a rich Churle of the Parish and desired to know of him whether hee could help him to five Crownes in Gold for Silver whereunto he answered That he had so much but was loath to part with it whereupon la 〈◊〉 promised him two shillings on condition that hee would bring it to his lodging and let him have it in exchange for as much Silver as it came unto This Clowne thinking on the gaine which hee should make by the exchange condiscended to follow la Forge unto his lodging where the money being told out on a Table before two others of la Forge his Society he suddenly takes it up and casts down an acquittance of five Crownes in lieu of it and having so done departed The Country-fellow followed him and demanded his money but la Forge answered That he owed him long since that money and that now paying it hee had given him an acquittance for his discharge and desired to know what he would have more By this meanes he got the five Crownes and by those Crowns he attained even to the glutting of his lustfull desires for it was not long before he grew willing to surrender up that costly place to another yet it vexed him that he had parted with his mony on so light termes and bethinkes himselfe on a course how he might regain his 5 crowns so ill bestowed to that end he comes to his Lemman told her he was pursued for a small debt by a company of Sergeants and that he should be constrained either to pawne or sell a cloake worth foure or five pounds unlesse she would furnish him with five or six crowns he signifies that if shee would assist him hee would leave his cloke and ever rest indebted unto her she conceiving that she could not possibly loose any thing by the lending him the money as long as she had so good a pawne wished him to bring his cloke and hee should not fail to receive the money both which was done accordingly La Forge soone after had notice that this Gossip had invited some of her friends lately married to a feast thither hee comes and desires the husband of this dainty dame to help him to a cloke which his wife had borrowed for him when he went to the wedding of his invited guests The good man of the house answered hee heard not of it and for his part he had no use of it if his wife had borrowed it hee therefore asketh his wife whether she had borrowed any such cloke for him or not which she suspecting that he meant to cheat her of her cloke and money flatly denied even in his presence whereat la Forge being inraged deeply swore that she had it and therefore desired him that he would be pleased to looke in her trunke and hee made no doubt but that hee should there finde it the good man being amazed at the confidence of the theefe went and looked in her trunke according to his desire and there found to his great discontent and her disgrace what he there looked for the greatnesse of which discredit in the presence of her best friends so grieved that she pined away with extreme griefe After this he goes towards Paris and by the way overtaking a young Scholer going thither to see his friends he discoursed with him until he came to the corner of a great wood then he resolutely told him that either he must part with his suit of clothes or his life the poore young man soone made his choice and quickly gave his clothes that he might after live to enjoy others so this our rascall entered into Paris all new where he was not long but by reason of his many bold and impudent prancks he was thought fit to be chosen Captaine or Ringleader of the infamously famous crew of Cutpurses Cheaters and the like the which place that he might the better seeme to deserve he took upon him to cheat or by some other way to surprize one Messager a crafty fellow who could never bee circumvented by any although that divers of his predecessours had endeavoured with the hazard of their necks and some with their lives to have done it He having heard of the warinesse of this fellow began to consider with himselfe that he was not to be surprised by any ordinary way wherfore setting his wits on the tenter-hookes hee at length overreached him thus La Forge understanding that this Messager was accustostomed daily to go over the new Bridge he came thither very well apparelled long expected his comming at length hee perceived him viewing the Samaritane and the little garden below it whereupon he tooke occasion to give him the Bonjour and to entertaine him with other discourses concerning the affairs of the time Messager nothing suspecting him because of his rich apparell as they were in talke there draws neer unto them one of la Forges companions being very well acoutred and places himself on the other side of Messager La Forge seeing his companion come without whom he hoped not to effect any thing casts his eyes downe towards the river and wisheth them to take notice what a wondrous strong Boate there was that did not sinke with such an extreme weight of iron his companion who stood on the other side of Messager said unto him I pray pardon me sir if I say that you have a bad eye-sight for you mistake wood for iron that Boat is laden with Billets and not with Iron for it is impossible that it should beare so much Iron and not sinke Sir answered la Forge I thanke God my sight is very good and I know that there are some Boats laden with Faggots Billets or the like but that Boat which I point at with my finger being the second Boat from the banke is laden with Iron and I dare lay a good wager that that which I say is true Messager who saw plainly that the Boat was laden with Wood was silent yet smiled to himselfe at so great a mistake little dreaming whereunto their contestation tended At length their contention grew so hot that they seem'd like to have fallen from words to blowes in the end it came to a wager of ten Crownes which was deposited into the hands of Messager untill it were decided by a neerer view They having so done call unto them the Boat-man and enquire of him wherewith his Boat was laden hee answeres with Wood but la Forge the better to cover his intent would not beleeve the Boat-man but would passe from Boat to Boate the better to colour his intent by touching that which was the subject of his wager which having done he confessed that he had lost and seemed wonderfully discontented at his so great mistake the other laughing and winking on Messager told la Forge that being he had won his money he would bestow a Breakfast on him if he pleased to accept of it which motion being embraced by la Forge they both
market saying withall that he would not make two mishaps of one and that his Master would pay him againe The Citizen without any difficulty delivers him 20s. saying that that was all hee had about him and goes on his way with all speed supposing to finde his Farmer in great danger of death and little misdoubting of the deceit for Maillard had named unto him his grounds how and where they were seated and what store of Corne they were like to yeeld that yeer and many other particulars which he had learned at the Farmers owne house Maillard returnes and not contented with the twenty shillings hee had cheated of the Citizen resolves to doe the like to his wife he therfore makes all possible haste to the Citizens house where hee found the wife dressing her selfe and saith unto her Mistris your husbands worship hath sent me hither he is now with the Bone-setter who gives us good hope and assurance of the recovery of my Master hee desires your worship to send him twenty shillings to give the Chyrurgion in hand towards the Cure my Master will pay you assoone as his Corne is sold. The good woman being glad to hear that the Farmer was in good hope of recovery makes no scruple but delivers him twenty shillings so he departs the house and goes to his companions to whom he related his adventures but hee did not long glory in his wickednesse for the Goldsmith from whom he had cheated the Chalice chanced to espie him in Saint Germains Faire lying in wait to entrap others and by him was himself entrapped and for that and other the like cheats and robberies hee was broken upon the wheele as hee most justly deserved Divine Justice seldome suffering any long to escape who so unjustly lay hands on the goods of others and lead their lives as it were in deffiance of his Commandments who hath said Thou shalt not steale but shalt love thy neighbour as selfe and doe unto others as thou wouldest bee done unto CHAP. XXI The multiplicity of Theeves THe antiquity of theeves I have already spoken of I will now speake of the moderne and those daily conversant among us The Taylor steales demanding a third part of cloth more then needes to make a suit and when hee that causeth it to be made suspecting his honestie would bee present at the cutting of it out he troubles him and so dazles his sight with the often turning and winding the breadth and length of the piece that he makes his senses become dull with his long attention in the meane time the Taylor taking his opportunity casts the cloth into a false pleat under the sheares and so cuts it out as single when the piece is double whereby hee makes a great gaine besides what he extracts out of silver or gold Lace Buttons Silke and the like of which a good part hee condemnes to his Hell from whence there is no redemption The Weaver steales in demanding more Warp then the cloth requires weaving fifty yards in stead of fourty five and with the abundance of divers broken threds he makes one continued which is worth unto him the eighth part of what he robs The Shoemaker restores with his teeth that which he stole with his cutting knife biting and stretching the Spanish Leather to the end that out of what is given him to make one paire of shoes hee might gaine at least an upper leather unto himselfe and if the leather be his owne he puts therein a scurvie sole and sowes it with rotten threed to the end that it may weare out the sooner and hee gaine the more from his either simple or prodigall Customer The Physician and Chirurgion steale the one prescribing and the other applying medicines which may increase the disease to the end that prolonging the time of Cure they may increase their fees The Apothecary robs with a Qui for a Quo selling one Drug for another and taking that which is best cheape without considering what humor it should purge or what vertue the drug hath which he applieth by which he robs the Physitian of his reputation and the patient of his life and if by chance there is asked of him an oyle which he hath not hee will not faile to give some other instead of it that hee may not loose the credit of his shop The Merchant robs in taking extraordinary use and exceeding the just price of his Commodity and sometimes by writing downe in his booke a debt which hath beene already paid The Notarie and Clerke robs with an c. a whole inheritance for a little money will by false writing give away a mans life by a voluntary mistake writing guilty for not guilty The Lawyer and Atturney robs selling an hundred lies to their poore Clients making them beleeve that their Cause is good although they apparently see he hath no right to that he claimes And it often comes to passe that one Atturney agreeth with another to sell the right of the parties and divide the gain between themselves The Judge robs men of justice becomming passionate on the behalfe of that man who by some present hath beforehand corrupted him and violently wresting the text of Bartol and Baldus for his owne gaine The Grocer and such as sell by weight rob by nimbly touching with the little finger the tongue of the beame whereby he turnes the scale which way he pleaseth and so cheats the buyer of his weight The Booke-seller robs by selling an imperfect Booke for one perfect by recommending a Booke to his Customer for good which hee knowes to be dull and lies heavie on his hand and also by selling a Booke of an old Edition in the stead of a new The Vintner robs after divers sorts mingling and confounding one wine with another besides the water which hee puts in it and when the wine being often baptized hath lost his strength hee hangs in the vessell a little bag full of Cloves Pepper Juniper and other Drugs with which hee makes it yet seeme good and right The Butcher robbes blowing the pieces of flesh with a quill to make them seeme a great deale fairer and that they may yeeld more then they are worth The Perfumer robs by sophisticating the perfumes and by multiplying the muske with the burnt liver of a Cow the Amber with Sope and Sand and Civet with Butter The Scholer robs stealing from Saint Augustine and Aquinas c. the best of their workes and utters their doctrine as his owne seeming an Inventour of that hee is not Thus you see all rob and every Tradesman hath his way and particular craft for the deceitfull working of his owne ends CHAP. XXII A Facetious Relation of a Parisian theefe condemned to the Gallies at Marseilles SIr you may perhaps thinke that wee live disorderly without either Lawes or Discipline but you are therein mistaken for wee have first our Captaine or Superiour who ordaineth and disposeth what Thefts shall bee committed by whom and
reason of the noise much people were gathered about the place but my Comerade tendring my honour and safety and fearing the danger I was in hastened to a Cryer which hee found not farre off and procured him to cry that if any one had lost a Purse and Watch they should come to such an Inne and there they should heare of them and upon a reasonable recompence for the finding and the markes told hee would deliver them scarce had this good Italian heard the cry but he leaves me intreating me with great humility to pardon his rash censuring of mee which I did at the intreaty of those that were by and so left them He as swift as a Roe-bucke hastens to the Cryer tells him the making of his Purse and Watch and maketh it appeare that hee lost them but hee who had caused him to make the Cry was not to bee found And thus I narrowly escaped the danger that I ran into The Night-walkers are those who take their walke about the Towne towards the beginning of evening and finding some doore open they softly enter hiding themselves in some obscure place till midnight when they cast out at the windowes whatsoever they finde within the house I once adventured to doe the like but to my cost It happened that on an Holy-day after Evening Prayer going to seeke my fortune it was my ill lucke to spie a doore halfe open thorow the which putting my head I perceived that all my body might enter which having done I went along a Ladder unto a great Chamber very well furnished and being confident that I might lie safe under a bed which was therein untill the houshold was all retired to their rests I tooke that course after I had layen some foure houres on the ground I suddenly heard a noise of people comming up towards the Chamber and presently by the light of a Candle which they brought with them I espied the feet of two or three servants who covered a table with a great deale of care and as I found afterward to my cost it was there the Master of the house intended to sup The Table being furnished with divers sorts of meates foure or five persons sate them downe thereto besides Children that were in the house mingling their supper with divers Discourses I was at that time so affrighted that I verily thinke if the noise of them and their Childrens voyces had not hindered it they might easily have heard the shaking of my thighes one against another by ill luck there was a little Dog in the house which went up and downe gnawing those bones which were cast under the Table and one of the Children casting downe a Bone a Cat which watched at the end of the Table being more diligent then the Dog took it and ran with it from the Dog under the Bed the Dog runs after the Cat snarling at her and endeavours to take away the bone But the Cat by the helpe of her clawes so well defended her selfe that having given the Dog two or three scratches so angred him that they made a fearefull noise which made one of the Lackeys take up a Fire-shovell out of the Chimney and cast it so fiercely under the Bed that if it had hit my nose with the edge as it did my Breech with the handle it had taken it away cleane but with much adoe hee made the Cat go from under the Bed yet did the Dog remaine behind grumbling and barking with such eagernesse that neither cheering him nor threatning could appease him at which they who served at the Table being offended began to beat him and cast him almost into the fire leaving me as if I were breathing my last The confusion that the Dog wrought being ended there was another that began to increase in my guts with such violence by reason of the apprehension and feare that I was in that being constrained to sneeze thrice I could not but offend my Breeches twice These two noises meeting and by their conjunction augmenting caused those at the Table to arise and see what this was so that I was taken with the present offence and was subject to the rigour of their vengeance no Plea that I could make being sufficient to defend mee They stript me starke naked and binding my hands and my feet began to scorch mee with their Lights not without a great deale of laughter and scorne and having satisfied their fury they delivered mee into the hands of the Justice from whom I parted signed and sealed The Budgets are Theeves which runne themselves into divers inconveniencies and dangers for they sometimes cause themselves to bee inclosed in some Bale Hamper or Trunke as if they were some merchandise and to bee brought and left in some rich mans house to be convayed to some countrey Chapman to whom they fain they would send it to the end that in the night every one being asleepe hee may with his knife or key make way out and so rob the house which tricke I once acted to my great disgrace for a friend of mine faining that hee had foure Bales which hee desired to have conveyed into the countrey inclosed mee within one of them and having so done convayed them to a Goldsmiths shop to be there kept as for a friend of the Goldsmiths whom hee had named to him untill the Carrier arrived The Goldsmith little mistrusting any roguery to be intentended willingly received them into his house in regard that the time was not long that they were to trouble the house but it unfortunately happened that in the night when I thought to have performed my intended exploit three or foure Apprentices who had made a match to spend an houre or two in mirth entering the shop setled themselves some on one Bale and some on another and that wherein I was inclosed was not so free but that I soone felt a burden yet not so great but that I could indifferently well beare it but having drunke themselves merry they at the last betooke them to their rest which was no rest to me for whereas they were severed before they now made choice of that Bale wherein I was inclosed for their bed theron slept so profoundly that a man might have drawne them a mile from their Couch and not have wakened them At length being almost stifled with excessive waight I moved a little and perceiving the immobility of that which was on me I verely thought that they had put on me another Bale with which conceit and the extreame torment that I suffered I drew my knife and cut a hole through that wherein I was inclosed and made a large gash in the Buttocks of him who lay upon me whereupon he arose like Lightning and cry'd out unto the neighbours for help thinking that one of his companions wold have killed him the cry was so great that it not onely raised divers of the neighbours but also hastened the Officer who entring found the poor fellow