Part 3

[15] Me credant, _for_ me croyant.

[16] Morfie, _eat_.

[17] Ornion, _capon_.

[18] Morne, _mutton_.

[19] Oygnan, _for_ oignon.

[20] Artois blanchemin, _white bread_.

[21] Riflant chouart, _fiery penis_.

[22] Rive, _refers to coition_.

[23] Andrumelle gaudie, _jolly girl_.

[24] Ne ronce point du sabre, _do not lay the stick on_.

[25] Mion, _boy_, _waiter_.

[26] Gaulfarault, _master of a bawdy house_.

[27] Gergonant de tesis, _complaining of thee_.

[28] Journal, _pocket-book_.

[29] O flus, _or pack of cards_.

[30] N’empoupe ta fouillouse, _fill thy pocket_.

[31] N’embiant, _not travelling_.

[32] Rouillarde, _drinks_.

[33] De noir roupillant, _sleeping at night_.

[34] Gourde fretille, _thick straw_.

[35] Volant, _cloak_.

[36] Tortouse, _rope_.

SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

DIALOGUE BETWEEN A HEADMAN IN THE CANTING CREW AND A VAGABOND.

(_From Thomas Harman’s Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, vulgarly called Vagabones_, 1568.)

_Upright Man._ Bene Lightmans[37] to thy quarromes,[38] in what lipken[39] hast thou lypped[40] in this darkemans,[41] whether in a lybbege[42] or in the strummel?[43]

_Roge._ I couched a hogshead[44] in a Skypper[45] this darkemans.

_Man._ I towre[46] the strummel trine[47] upon thy nachbet[48] and Togman.[49]

_Roge._ I saye by the Salomon[50] I will lage it of[51] with a gage of bene bouse;[52] then cut to my nose watch.[53]

_Man._ Why, hast thou any lowre[54] in thy bonge[55] to bouse?[56]

_Roge._ But a flagge,[57] a wyn,[58] and a make.[59]

_Man._ Why, where is the kene[60] that hath the ben bouse?

_Roge._ A bene mort[61] hereby at the signe of the prauncer.[62]

_Man._ I cutt it is quyer[63] bouse, I bousd a flagge the last darkmans.

_Roge._ But bouse there a bord,[64] and thou shalt haue beneship.[65] Tower ye yander is the kene, dup the gygger,[66] and maund[67] that is bene shyp.

_Man._ This bouse is as benship as rome bouse.[68] Now I tower that ben bouse makes nase nabes.[69] Maunde of this morte what ben pecke[70] is in her ken.

_Roge._ She has a Cacling chete,[71] a grunting chete,[72] ruff Pecke,[73] Cassan,[74] and poplarr of yarum.[75]

_Man._ That is benship to our watche.[76] Now we haue well bousd, let vs strike some chete.[77] Yonder dwelleth a quyer cuffen,[78] it were benship to myll[79] hym.

_Roge._ Now bynge we a waste[80] to the hygh pad,[81] the ruffmanes[82] is by.

_Man._ So may we happen on the Harmanes,[83] and cly the Tarke,[84] or to the quyerken[85] and skower quyaer crampings,[86] and so to tryning on the chates.[87] Gerry gan,[88] the ruffian[89] clye the.[90]

_Roge._ What, stowe your bene,[91] cofe,[92] and sut benat wydds,[93] and byng we to rome vyle,[94] to nyp a bonge;[95] so shall we haue lowre for the bousing ken,[96] and when we byng back to the deuseauyel,[97] we wyll fylche some duddes[98] of the Ruffemans,[99] or myll the ken for a lagge of dudes.[100]

[37] Bene Lightmans, _good day_.

[38] Quarromes, _body_.

[39] Lipken, _house_.

[40] Lypped, _slept_.

[41] Darkemans, _night_.

[42] Lybbege, _bed_.

[43] Strummel, _straw_.

[44] Couched a hogshead, _lay down to sleep_.

[45] Skypper, _barn_.

[46] I towre, _I see_.

[47] Trine, _hang_.

[48] Nachbet, _cap_.

[49] Togman, _coat_.

[50] Salomon, _mass_.

[51] Lage it of, _wipe it off_.

[52] Gage of bene bouse, _quart of good drink_.

[53] Cut to my nose watch, _say what you will to me_.

[54] Lowre, _money_.

[55] Bonge, _purse_.

[56] To bouse, _to drink_.

[57] Flagge, _groat_.

[58] Wyn, _penny_.

[59] Make, _halfpenny_.

[60] Kene, _house_.

[61] Bene mort, _good woman_.

[62] Prauncer, _horse_.

[63] Quyer, _bad_.

[64] Bord, _shilling_.

[65] Beneship, _excellent_.

[66] Dup the gygger, _open the door_.

[67] Maund, _ask_.

[68] Rome bouse, _wine_.

[69] Nase nabes, _drunken head_.

[70] Pecke, _meat_.

[71] Cacling chete, _fowl_.

[72] Grunting chete, _pig_.

[73] Ruff pecke, _bacon_.

[74] Cassan, _cheese_.

[75] Poplarr of yarum, _milk porridge_.

[76] To our watche, _for us_.

[77] Strike some chete, _steal something_.

[78] Quyer cuffen, _magistrate_.

[79] Myll, _rob_.

[80] Bynge we a waste, _let us away_.

[81] Pad, _road_.

[82] Ruffmanes, _wood_.

[83] Harmanes, _stocks_.

[84] Cly the Tarke, _be whipped_.

[85] Quyerken, _prison_.

[86] Skower quyaer crampings, _be shackled with bolts and fetters_.

[87] Chates, _gallows_.

[88] Gerry gan, _hold your tongue_.

[89] Ruffian, _devil_.

[90] Clye the, _take thee_.

[91] Stowe your bene, _hold your peace_.

[92] Cofe, _good fellow_.

[93] Sut benat wydds, _speak better words_.

[94] Rome vyle, _London_.

[95] Nyp a bonge, _cut a purse_.

[96] Bousing ken, _alehouse_.

[97] Deuseauyel, _country_.

[98] Duddes, _linen clothes_.

[99] Ruffemans, _hedges_.

[100] Lagge of dudes, _parcel of clothes_.

SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

DIALOGUE DE DEUX ARGOTIERS.[101]

L’UN POLISSON[102] ET L’AUTRE MALINGREUX,[103] QUI SE RENCONTRENT JUSTE À LA LOURDE[104] D’UNE VERGNE.[105]

(_Extrait du Jargon de l’Argot._)

_Le Malingreux._ La haute[106] t’aquige[107] en chenastre[108] santé.

_Le Polisson._ Et tézière[109] aussi, fanandel;[110] où trimardes[111]-tu?

_Le Malingreux._ En ce pasquelin[112] de Berry, on m’a rouscaillé[113] que trucher[114] était chenastre; et en cette vergne fiche-t-on la thune[115] gourdement?[116]

_Le Polisson._ Quelque peu, pas guère.

_Le Malingreux._ La rousse[117] y est-elle chenastre?

_Le Polisson._ Nenni; c’est ce qui me fait ambier[118] hors de cette vergne; car si je n’eusse eu du michon,[119] je fusse cosni[120] de faim.

_Le Malingreux._ Y a-t-il un castu[121] dans cette vergne.

_Le Polisson._ Jaspin.[122]

_Le Malingreux._ Est-il chenu?[123]

_Le Polisson._ Pas guère; les pioles[124] ne sont que de fretille.[125]...

_Le Malingreux._ Veux-tu venir prendre de la morfe[126] et piausser[127] avec mézière[128] en une des pioles que tu m’as rouscaillées?

_Le Polisson._ Il n’y a ni ronds,[129] ni herplis,[130] en ma felouse;[131] je vais piausser en quelque grenasse.[132]

_Le Malingreux._ Encore que n’y ayez du michon, ne laissez pas de venir, car il y a deux menées[133] de ronds en ma henne,[134] et deux ornies[135] en mon gueulard,[136] que j’ai égraillées[137] sur le trimar;[138] bions[139] les faire riffoder,[140] veux-tu?

_Le Polisson._ Girole,[141] et béni soit le grand havre,[142] qui m’a fait rencontrer si chenastre occasion; je vais me réjouir et chanter une petite chanson....

_Le Malingreux._ Si tu veux trimer[143] de compagnie avec mézière, nous aquigerons grande chère,[144] je sais bien aquiger les luques,[145] engrailler l’ornie, casser la hane aux frémions,[146] pour épouser la fourcandière,[147] si quelques rovaux[148] me mouchaillent.[149]

_Le Polisson._ Ah! le havre garde mézière, je ne fus jamais ni fourgue[150] ni doubleux.[151]

_Le Malingreux._ Ni mézière non plus, je rouscaille[152] tous les luisans[153] au grand havre de l’oraison.

[101] Argotiers, _members of the “canting crew.”_

[102] Polisson, _half-naked beggar_.

[103] Malingreux, _maimed or sick beggar_.

[104] Lourde, _gate_.

[105] Vergne, _town_.

[106] La haute, _the Almighty_.

[107] Aquige, _keep_.

[108] Chenastre, _good_.

[109] Tézière, _thee_.

[110] Fanandel, _comrade_.

[111] Trimardes, _going_.

[112] Pasquelin, _country_.

[113] Rouscaillé, _told_.

[114] Trucher, _to beg_.

[115] Fiche-t-on la thune, _do they give alms_.

[116] Gourdement, _much_.

[117] La rousse, _the police_.

[118] Ambier, _go_.

[119] Michon, _money_.

[120] Cosni, _died_.

[121] Castu, _hospital_.

[122] Jaspin, _yes_.

[123] Chenu, _good_.

[124] Pioles, _rooms_.

[125] Fretille, _straw_.

[126] Morfe, _food_.

[127] Piausser, _to sleep_.

[128] Mézière, _me_.

[129] Ronds, _halfpence_.

[130] Herplis, _farthings_.

[131] Felouse, _pocket_.

[132] Grenasse, _barn_.

[133] Menées, _dozen_.

[134] Henne, _purse_.

[135] Ornies, _hens_.

[136] Gueulard, _wallet_.

[137] Egraillées, _hooked_.

[138] Trimar, _road_.

[139] Bions, _let us go_.

[140] Riffoder, _cook_.

[141] Girole, _so be it_.

[142] Havre, _God_.

[143] Trimer, _to walk_.

[144] Aquigerons grande chère, _will live well_.

[145] Aquiger les luques, _prepare pictures_.

[146] Casser la hane aux frémions, _steal purses at fairs_.

[147] Epouser la fourcandière, _to throw away the stolen property_.

[148] Rovaux, _police_.

[149] Mouchaillent, _see_.

[150] Fourgue, _receiver of stolen property_.

[151] Doubleux, _thief_.

[152] Je rouscaille, _I pray_.

[153] Tous les luisans, _every day_.

SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

ENGLISH GIPSIES’ OATH.

(_Extract from Bampfylde-Moore Carew, King of the Mendicants._)

When a fresh recruit is admitted into this fraternity, he is to take the following oath, administered by the principal maunder,[154] after going through the annexed form:--

First a new name is given him, by which he is ever after to be called; then, standing up in the middle of the assembly, and directing his face to the dimber damber, or principal man of the gang, he repeats the following oath, which is dictated to him by some experienced member of the fraternity:--

“I, Crank Cuffin, do swear to be a true brother, and that I will in all things obey the commands of the great tawny prince,[155] keep his counsel, and not divulge the secrets of my brethren.

“I will never leave or forsake the company, but observe and keep all the times of appointment, either by day or by night, in every place whatever.

“I will not teach anyone to cant; nor will I disclose any of our mysteries to them.

“I will take my prince’s part against all that shall oppose him, or any of us, according to the utmost of my ability; nor will I suffer him, or anyone belonging to us, to be abased by any strange abrams,[156] ruffies,[157] hookers,[158] palliardes,[159] swaddlers,[160] Irish toyles,[161] swigmen,[162] whip Jacks,[163] Jarkmen,[164] bawdy baskets,[165] dommerars,[166] clapper dogeons,[167] patricoes,[168] or curtails;[169] but I will defend him, or them, as much as I can, against all other outliers whatever. I will not conceal aught I win out of libkins,[170] or from the ruffmans,[171] but will preserve it for the use of the company. Lastly, I will cleave to my doxy,[172] wap[173] stiffly, and will bring her duds,[174] margery praters,[175] gobblers,[176] grunting cheats,[177] or tibs of the buttery,[178] or anything else I can come at, as winnings for her wappings.”[179]

[154] Maunder, _beggar_.

[155] Tawny prince, _Prince Prig, the head of the gipsies_.

[156] Abrams, _half-naked beggars_.

[157] Ruffies, _beggars who sham the old soldier_.

[158] Hookers, _thieves who beg in the daytime and steal at night from shops with a hook_.

[159] Palliardes, _ragged beggars_.

[160] Swaddlers, _Irish Roman Catholics who pretend conversion_.

[161] Toyles, _beggars with pedlar’s pack_.

[162] Swigmen, _beggars_.

[163] Whip Jacks, _beggars who sham the shipwrecked sailor_.

[164] Jarkmen, _learned beggars_, _begging-letter impostors_.

[165] Bawdy baskets, _prostitutes_.

[166] Dommerars, _dumb beggars_.

[167] Clapper dogeons, _beggars by birth_.

[168] Patricoes, _those who perform the marriage ceremony_.

[169] Curtails, _second in command, with short cloak_.

[170] Libkins, _lodgings_.

[171] Ruffmans, _bushes or woods_.

[172] Doxy, _mistress_.

[173] Wap, _to lie with a woman_.

[174] Duds, _clothes_.

[175] Margery praters, _hens_.

[176] Gobblers, _ducks_.

[177] Grunting cheats, _pigs_.

[178] Tibs of the buttery, _geese_.

[179] Wappings, _coition_.

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

JERRY JUNIPER’S CHANT.

(_From Ainsworth’s Rookwood._)

In a box[180] of the stone jug[181] I was born, Of a hempen widow[182] the kid[183] forlorn, Fake away! And my father, as I’ve heard say, Fake away! Was a merchant of capers gay, Who cut his last fling with great applause, Nix my doll pals, fake away![184] To the tune of hearty choke with caper sauce. Fake away! The knucks[185] in quod[186] did my schoolmen[187] play, Fake away! And put me up to the time of day,[188] Until at last there was none so knowing, No such sneaksman[189] or buzgloak[190] going, Fake away! Fogles[191] and fawnies[192] soon went their way, Fake away! To the spout[193] with the sneezers[194] in grand array, No dummy hunter[195] had forks so fly,[196] No knuckler so deftly could fake a cly,[197] Fake away! No slourd hoxter[198] my snipes[199] could stay, Fake away! None knap a reader[200] like me in the lay.[201] Soon then I mounted in swell street-high, Nix my doll pals, fake away! Soon then I mounted in swell street-high, And sported my flashest toggery,[202] Fake away! Fainly resolved I would make my hay, Fake away! While Mercury’s star shed a single ray; And ne’er was there seen such a dashing prig,[203] Nix my doll pals, fake away! And ne’er was there seen such a dashing prig, With my strummel faked[204] in the newest twig,[205] Fake away! With my fawnied famms[206] and my onions gay,[207] Fake away! My thimble of ridge,[208] and my driz kemesa,[209] All my togs[210] were so niblike[211] and plash.[212] Readily the queer screens[213] I then could smash.[214] Fake away! But my nuttiest blowen,[215] one fine day, Fake away! To the beaks[216] did her fancy man betray, And thus was I bowled at last, And into the jug for a lay was cast, Fake away! But I slipped my darbies[217] one morn in May, And gave to the dubsman[218] a holiday. And here I am, pals, merry and free, A regular rollicking romany.[219]

[180] Box, _cell_.

[181] Stone jug, _Newgate_.

[182] Hempen widow, _woman whose husband has been hanged_.

[183] Kid, _child_.

[184] Nix my doll pals, fake away! _never mind, friends, work away!_

[185] Knucks, _thieves_.

[186] Quod, _prison_.

[187] Schoolmen, _fellows of the gang_.

[188] Put me up to the time of day, _made a knowing one of me_, _taught me thieving_.

[189] Sneaksman, _shoplifter_.

[190] Buzgloak, _pickpocket_.

[191] Fogles, _silk handkerchiefs_.

[192] Fawnies, _rings_.

[193] Spout, _pawnbroker’s_.

[194] Sneezers, _snuff-boxes_.

[195] Dummy hunter, _stealer of pocket books_.

[196] Forks so fly, _such nimble fingers_.

[197] No knuckler so deftly could fake a cly, _no pickpocket so skilfully could pick a pocket_.

[198] Slourd hoxter, _inside pocket buttoned up_.

[199] Snipes, _scissors_.

[200] Knap a reader, _steal a pocket book_.

[201] Lay, _robbery_, _dodge_.

[202] Flashest toggery, _best made clothes_.

[203] Prig, _thief_.

[204] Strummel faked, _hair dressed_.

[205] Twig, _fashion_.

[206] Fawnied famms, _hands bejewelled_.

[207] Onions, _seals_.

[208] Thimble of ridge, _gold watch_.

[209] Driz kemesa, _shirt with lace frill_.

[210] Togs, _clothes_.

[211] Niblike, _fashionable_.

[212] Plash, _fine_.

[213] Queer screens, _forged notes_.

[214] Smash, _pass_.

[215] Nuttiest blowen, _favourite girl_.

[216] Beaks, _magistrates_.

[217] Darbies, _handcuffs_.

[218] Dubsman, _turnkey_.

[219] Romany, _gipsy_.

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

CHANSON.

(_Extrait du Vice Puni ou Cartouche, 1725._)

Fanandels[220] en cette Piolle[221] On vit chenument;[222] Arton, Pivois et Criolle[223] On a gourdement.[224] Pitanchons, faisons riolle[225] Jusqu’au Jugement.

Icicaille[226] est le Théâtre Du Petit Dardant;[227] Fonçons à ce Mion[228] folâtre Notre Palpitant.[229] Pitanchons Pivois chenâtre[230] Jusques au Luisant.[231]

[220] Fanandels, _comrades_.

[221] Piolle, _house_, _tavern_.

[222] Chenument, _well_.

[223] Arton, pivois et criolle, _bread, wine, and meat_.

[224] Gourdement, _in plenty_.

[225] Pitanchons, faisons riolle, _let us drink_, _amuse ourselves_.

[226] Icicaille, _here_.

[227] Petit Dardant, _Cupid_.

[228] Fonçons à ce Mion, _let us give this boy_.

[229] Palpitant, _heart_.

[230] Chenâtre, _good_.

[231] Luisant, _day_.

BEGINNING OF NINETEENTH CENTURY.

VIDOCQ’S SLANG SONG.

En roulant de vergne en vergne[232] Pour apprendre à goupiner,[233] J’ai rencontré la mercandière,[234] Lonfa malura dondaine, Qui du pivois solisait,[235] Lonfa malura dondé.

J’ai rencontré la mercandière Qui du pivois solisait; Je lui jaspine en bigorne;[236] Lonfa malura dondaine, Qu’as tu donc à morfiller?[237] Lonfa malura dondé.

Je lui jaspine en bigorne; Qu’as tu donc à morfiller? J’ai du chenu[238] pivois sans lance.[239] Lonfa malura dondaine, Et du larton savonné[240] Lonfa malura dondé.

J’ai du chenu pivois sans lance Et du larton savonné, Une lourde[241] et une tournante,[242] Lonfa malura dondaine, Et un pieu[243] pour roupiller[244] Lonfa malura dondé.

Une lourde, une tournante Et un pieu pour roupiller. J’enquille[245] dans sa cambriole,[246] Lonfa malura dondaine, Espérant de l’entifler,[247] Lonfa malura dondé.

J’enquille dans sa cambriole Espérant de l’entifler; Je rembroque[248] au coin du rifle,[249] Lonfa malura dondaine, Un messière[250] qui pionçait,[251] Lonfa malura dondé.

Je rembroque au coin du rifle Un messière qui pionçait; J’ai sondé dans ses vallades,[252] Lonfa malura dondaine, Son carle[253] j’ai pessigué,[254] Lonfa malura dondé.

J’ai sondé dans ses vallades, Son carle j’ai pessigué, Son carle et sa tocquante,[255] Lonfa malura dondaine, Et ses attaches de cé,[256] Lonfa malura dondé.

Son carle et sa tocquante, Et ses attaches de cé, Son coulant[257] et sa montante,[258] Lonfa malura dondaine, Et son combre galuché[259] Lonfa malura dondé.

Son coulant et sa montante Et son combre galuché, Son frusque,[260] aussi sa lisette,[261] Lonfa malura dondaine, Et ses tirants brodanchés,[262] Lonfa malura dondé.

Son frusque, aussi sa lisette Et ses tirants brodanchés. Crompe,[263] crompe, mercandière, Lonfa malura dondaine, Car nous serions béquillés,[264] Lonfa malura dondé.

Crompe, crompe, mercandière, Car nous serions béquillés. Sur la placarde de vergne,[265] Lonfa malura dondaine, Il nous faudrait gambiller,[266] Lonfa malura dondé.

Sur la placarde de vergne Il nous faudrait gambiller, Allumés[267] de toutes ces largues,[268] Lonfa malura dondaine, Et du trèpe[269] rassemblé, Lonfa malura dondé.

Allumés de toutes ces largues Et du trèpe rassemblé; Et de ces charlots bons drilles,[270] Lonfa malura dondaine, Tous aboulant[271] goupiner. Lonfa malura dondé.

[232] Vergne, _town_.

[233] Goupiner, _to steal_.

[234] Mercandière, _tradeswomen_.

[235] Du pivois solisait, _sold wine_.

[236] Jaspine en bigorne, _say in cant_.

[237] Morfiller, _to eat and drink_.

[238] Chenu, _good_.

[239] Lance, _water_.

[240] Larton savonné, _white bread_.

[241] Lourde, _door_.

[242] Tournante, _key_.

[243] Pieu, _bed_.

[244] Roupiller, _to sleep_.

[245] J’enquille, _I enter_.

[246] Cambriole, _room_.

[247] Entifler, _to marry_.

[248] Rembroque, _see_.

[249] Rifle, _fire_.

[250] Messière, _man_.

[251] Pionçait, _was sleeping_.

[252] Vallades, _pockets_.

[253] Carle, _money_.

[254] Pessigué, _taken_.

[255] Tocquante, _watch_.

[256] Attaches de cé, _silver buckles_.

[257] Coulant, _chain_.

[258] Montante, _breeches_.

[259] Combre galuché, _laced hat_.

[260] Frusque, _coat_.

[261] Lisette, _waistcoat_.

[262] Tirants brodanchés, _embroidered stockings_.

[263] Crompe, _run away_.

[264] Béquillés, _hanged_.

[265] Placarde de vergne, _public place_.

[266] Gambiller, _to dance_.

[267] Allumés, _stared at_.

[268] Largues, _women_.

[269] Trèpe, _crowd_.

[270] Charlots bons drilles, _jolly thieves_.

[271] Aboulant, _coming_.

BEGINNING OF NINETEENTH CENTURY.

THE SAME SONG VERSIFIED BY WILLIAM MAGINN.

As from ken[272] to ken I was going, Doing a bit on the prigging lay,[273] Who should I meet but a jolly blowen,[274] Tol lol, lol lol, tol derol ay; Who should I meet but a jolly blowen, Who was fly[275] to the time o’ day?[276]

Who should I meet but a jolly blowen, Who was fly to the time of day. I pattered in flash,[277] like a covey[278] knowing, Tol lol, &c., “Ay, bub or grubby,[279] I say.”

I pattered in flash like a covey knowing, “Ay, bub or grubby, I say.” “Lots of gatter,”[280] quo’ she, “are flowing, Tol lol, &c., Lend me a lift in the family way.[281]

“Lots of gatter,” quo’ she, “are flowing, Lend me a lift in the family way. You may have a crib[282] to stow in, Tol lol, &c., Welcome, my pal,[283] as the flowers in May.”

“You may have a crib to stow in, Welcome, my pal, as the flowers in May.” To her ken at once I go in, Tol lol, &c., Where in a corner out of the way;

To her ken at once I go in, Where in a corner out of the way, With his smeller[284] a trumpet blowing, Tol lol, &c., A regular swell cove[285] lushy[286] lay.

With his smeller a trumpet blowing, A regular swell cove lushy lay. To his clies[287] my hooks[288] I throw in, Tol lol, &c., And collar his dragons[289] clear away.

To his clies my hooks I throw in, And collar his dragons clear away. Then his ticker[290] I set a-going, Tol lol, &c., And his onions,[291] chain and key.

Then his ticker I set a-going, With his onions, chain and key; Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing, Tol lol, &c., And his ginger head topper gay.

Next slipt off his bottom clo’ing, And his ginger head topper gay. Then his other toggery[292] stowing, Tol lol, &c., All with the swag[293] I sneak away.

Then his other toggery stowing, All with the swag I sneak away. Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen, Tol lol, &c., Or be grabbed[294] by the beaks[295] we may.

Tramp it, tramp it, my jolly blowen, Or be grabbed by the beaks we may. And we shall caper a-heel-and-toeing, Tol lol, &c., A Newgate hornpipe some fine day.

And we shall caper a-heel-and-toeing, A Newgate hornpipe some fine day, With the mots[296] their ogles[297] throwing, Tol lol, &c., And old Cotton[298] humming his pray.[299]

With the mots their ogles throwing, And old Cotton humming his pray, And the fogle-hunters[300] doing, Tol lol, &c., Their morning fake[301] in the prigging lay.

[272] Ken, _shop_, _house_.

[273] Prigging lay, _thieving business_.

[274] Blowen, _girl_, _strumpet_, _sweetheart_.

[275] Fly (contraction of flash), _awake_, _up to_, _practised in_.

[276] Time o’ day, _knowledge of business_, _thieving_

[277] Pattered in flash, _spoke in slang_.

[278] Covey, _man_.

[279] Bub and grub, _drink and food_.

[280] Gatter, _porter_.

[281] Family, _the thieves in general_; the family way, _the thieving line_.

[282] Crib, _bed_.

[283] Pal, _friend_, _companion_, _paramour_.

[284] Smeller, _nose_.

[285] Swell cove, _gentleman_, _dandy_.

[286] Lushy, _drunk_.

[287] Clies, _pockets_.

[288] Hooks, _fingers_.

[289] Collar his dragons, _take his sovereigns_.

[290] Ticker, _watch_.

[291] Onions, _seals_.

[292] Toggery, _clothes_.

[293] Swag, _plunder_.

[294] Grabbed, _taken_.

[295] Beaks, _police officers_.

[296] Mots, _girls_.

[297] Ogles, _eyes_.

[298] Old Cotton, _the ordinary of Newgate_.

[299] Humming his pray, _saying prayers_.

[300] Fogle-hunters, _pickpockets_.

[301] Morning fake, _morning thieving_.

NINETEENTH CENTURY.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A THIEF IN THIEVES’ LANGUAGE.

By J. W. HORSLEY,

_Chaplain of H. M. Prison, Clerkenwell._