A new dictionary of the terms ancient and modern of the canting crew in its several tribes of gypsies, beggers, thieves, cheats, &c.: With an addition of some proverbs, phrases, figurative speeches, &c.

In its several TRIBES, OF Gypsies, Beggers, Thieves, Cheats, &c.

WITH An Addition of some Proverbs, Phrases, Figurative Speeches, &c.

Useful for all sorts of People, (especially Foreigners) to secure their Money and preserve their Lives; besides very Diverting and Entertaining, being wholly New.

By B. E. Gent.

LONDON, Printed for W. Hawes at the Rose in Ludgate-street, P. Gilbourne at the Corner of Chancery-lane in Fleet-street, and W. Davis at the Black Bull in Cornhill.

THE PREFACE.

Before I present the Reader, with the following Dictionary of the Beggers and Gypsies Cant, I think it not amiss to premise a few Words concerning the Beggers and Gypsies themselves, by way of an Historical Account, of the Antiquity of the one, and the Universality of the other.

It makes not a little for the Honour of the Beggers, that their Original according to some Accounts, is no less Ancient than that of Christianity it self; for in the Opinion of Charron, as the Slaves went off, the Beggers came in their Place. So much at least is granted, That the Jews who allow’d of Slaves, had no Beggers. What shall we say, but that if it be true, that the Emancipating or Freeing of Slaves was indeed the making of Beggers; it follows that Christianity which is daily employed in Redeeming Slaves from the Turks, Ransom’d no less than all at once from Pagan Slavery at first, at no dearer a Rate, than the Rent-charge of maintaining the Beggers, as the Price and Purchace of our Freedoms.

As for the Antiquity of the English Beggers, it may be observed, That the first Statute which makes Provision for the Parish-Poor, is no older than Queen Elizabeth; from which it may be fairly Collected, That they entred with us upon the Dissolution of the Abbeys, as with them abroad, upon the Delivery of the Slaves.

For the Gypsies, they and the Foul Disease have alike the Fate to run through a Geography of Names, and to be made free of as many Countries, as almost there are Languages to call them Names in; for as the French call the Pox, the Italian Disease, they again give it to the Spaniards, as these to the French; so the French call the Gypsies Boemie, or Bohemians, belike, because they made their first Appearance in Bohemia of any Part of Europe; the Italians Name them Zingari or Saracens, the Spaniards Ilanos as we Egyptians; whether it be, that the Italians give them the Turks, as the Spaniards give them the Moors, as being both the next Neighbors to each; I take not upon me to Determine, only it may be observed, betwixt the Complement of either kind, the Odds is no greater than this, of giving a Nation a Clap, or of laying a brood of Bastards at it’s Door.

Though Holland has no Beggers, if the Dutch themselves are not the greatest Beggers in the World; and Switzerland has no Thieves, if the Swiss who are altogether Soldiers, are not the greatest of Thieves. Yet, I say, neither the States that are without Beggers, nor the Cantons that are without Thieves, are notwithstanding either the one or the other, without Gypsies. So as what they want of Beggers and Thieves in point of Antiquity, the Gypsies claim above both, in point of Universality.

But though Gypsies are found in all Christian Countries, yet are they not in all Countries alike; their Nature and Genius being diverse, in proportion to the Countries amongst whom they Stroul; so that the same Question remains upon them, as is started of the Winds, as Universal Travellers as the Gypsies, that it seems a Doubt, Whether they partake more of the Nature of the Countries whence they rise, or of those through which they Pass?

Nor is it also new to meet the Beggers and the Proverbs together, for the Fashion is as old as Plautus, who puts the Proverbs and the Jests in the Mouth of his Slaves. And in the Character of Sancho Pancha, Cervantes has Trod in the same Steps; in the History of Don Quixot, Sancho being distinguished no less by his Proverbs, than his Asse. And between the Slaves and the Beggers, the Difference is no greater, than between Fathers and their Heirs.

If some Terms and Phrases of better Quality and Fashion, keep so ill Company, as Tag-Rag and Long-Tail; you are to remember, that it is no less then Customary, for Great Persons a broad to hide themselves often in Disguises among the Gypsies; and even the late L. of Rochester among us, when time was, among other Frolicks, was not ashamed to keep the Gypsies Company.

A NEW DICTIONARY.

Abram-cove, c. a Naked or poor Man, also a lusty strong Rogue.

Abram-men, c. the seventeenth Order of the Canting-crew. Beggers antickly trick’d up with Ribbands, Red Tape, Foxtails, Rags, &c. pretending Madness to palliate their Thefts of Poultrey, Linnen, &c.

Academy, c. a Bawdy-house, also an University or School to learn Gentleman-like Exercises.

Accutrements, c. fine rigging (now) for Men or Women, (formerly) only Trappings for Horses. Well accoutred, c. gentilly dress’d.

Acquests, and Acquisitions, the rights of Fortune purchased by Labour, Arts or Arms, oppos’d to Hereditary and Paternal.

Acteon, a Cuckold.

Acteon’d, Cuckolded, or made a Cuckold of.

Adam’s-ale, Water.

Adam-tiler, c. a Pick-pocket’s Camerade, who receives Stolen Money or Goods, and scowers off with them.

Addle-pate, one full of Whimsies and Projects, and as empty of Wit.

Addle-plot, a Martin-mar-all.

Adrift, loose. I’ll turn ye adrift, a Tar-phrase; I’ll prevent ye doing me any harm.

Affidavit men, Knights of the Post, Mercenary Sweaters for Hire, Inhabitants (formerly) of White Friers, now dispersed.

Aft and Abase, towards the Stern, or hinder Part of the Ship.

Aim, Endeavour or Design. To aim or level at a Mark, he has mist his Aim or End.

Air of a Song, the Tune.

Air of a Face or picture, the Configuration and consent of Parts in each.

Airy, Light, brisk, pleasant; also a Nest of Hawks; He is an Airy Fellow.

Alabaster, mixt by all the knavish Perfumers with the Hair-Powder they sell, to make it weigh heavy, being of it self very cheap, that their Gain may be the greater, found destructive to the Hair and Health.

Alsatia, White Friers.

Alsatia the higher, the same.

Alsatia the lower, the Mint in Southwark.

Alsatians, the Inhabitants, such as, broken Gentlemen, Tradesmen, &c. Lurking there.

Allay, the Embasing of a purer and finer Metal, by mixing it with an inferior or coarser Metal, as of pale Gold with a Silver-Allay, or of deep Gold with an Allay of Copper; also whatever is used to qualify what is bitter or nauseous in Compositions, as gilding of Pills, sweetning of Boluses, or Powders.

Aloft, above or over Head; also anciently an Upper-room or Garret, now more us’d in Compounds, as Cock-loft, Hay-loft, &c.