Scoundrel's Alley wouldn't be complete without:
'A Few Good Friends'.
Well, maybe 'A Few Friends'.
Ok, 'A Few'.
Like any crew, whether a Canting Crew or a Hustle Gang, there are many peole who are on the 'fringes' of the group. Not necessarily an everyday part, but necessary in their own right. Here we have taken the time to list the first known 'Ancient Order of Rogues', and a few people that you often see with us-or nearby-at events that we use. Some of them were integral to the Canting Crews of the 18th century and before, some to the Hustle Gangs of the 19th. Don't worry, none of them bite. Well, except the Rat Catcher, but his dentures will probably fall out so it won't hurt much...
The Ancient Order of Rogues
John Awdely, in 1561 published his book, 'Fraternitye of Vacabondes' in London. In it he will list the members of a common 'Canting Crew', referring to it as an 'Ancient Order of Rogues'. This will become the basis for all writings about Canting Crews for 300 years. While they are not all present and there are some that fade with time and need and others will rise to take their place, we list this as a good start in understanding who these people were and how they interacted with each other.
Upright man: Leader, second only to ‘Great Tawney Prince in the crew.Tom of Bedlam (Bedlam Beggar or Abram Man): poorly but gaudily dressed, stealer of children clothing from the children. Also poultry and linens.Irish Toyle (Bawd Basket): Carrying pins, papers, chapbooks etc. under pretext of selling them so as to thieve instead of beg.Counterfeit Cranks: pretending sickness-usually ‘falling sickness’ (epilepsy)Demanders for Glimmer: begging women claiming to have lost everything to fire.Dommerar: beggars claiming to be deaf and dumb, often playing at being mad.Frater: beggar using false papersWhip jacket: counterfeit mariners claiming shipwreck, often with false papersAngler (Hooker): petty thief who uses a pole with an iron hook on the end to snatch things from baskets, out of store windows, etc.Jarkman/Patrico: counterfeiter and writer of false passes, often an unfrocked priest.Palliards (also ‘Clapperdogeons’): born beggars also called 'Wild Rogues'.Prig(gers) of Prancers: riders of horses. (horse stealing)Rufflers: Sham soldiers using threats of violence in their begging..Swadler/Pedlar: Often runaway or ex soldiers, used to ‘enforce’ or sent on specific violent jobs. Usually binding their victims then rob, beat, maim and often kill.Rogue/Wild Rogue: Professional beggar. A ‘Wild Rogue’ is a Palliard born into the group whose father was one as well.Autem Mort: Woman (mort) married in a church (Autem-having to do with church) usually clothing thieves. Dell: young girl usually (or claiming to be) virginal. 18th century a ‘common wench’.Doxie: mistress or prostitute who claim they are not.Walking Mort: tramp beggar woman.Kinching Mort: Little girls brought up to thieve. Kinching Cove: Little boys brought up to beg.
And a bit later...
By the time of the 18th century, these ‘Ancient Order of Rogues’ will expand out and add to their group. Some, such as the ‘Great Tawney Prince’ will fit heavily into the hierarchy while others like the ‘Adam Tylers’ more an afterthought. The following are but a few of this burgeoning cast of characters.
Great Tawney Prince: Leader of the ‘crew’, often not a beggar themselves but the one who decides where to beg, how to beg, divvies up the ‘take’ and settles disputes. Fence: Receiver/reseller of stolen goods.Adam Tyler: Street children-not necessarily in the ‘crew’, the Irish Toyle will use them to run stolen property to the ‘Stalling Ken’ where the Fence resells the items.Diver: A pick pocket. The name derives from stiffening the fingers and ‘diving’ into any pocket or pouch available and grasping whatever comes in contact with them. Females were called ’Jenny Diver’.Faulkner: A ‘shower of small tricks’, usually to keep a person’s attention while the Diver does their work. They have been reported as being in the America's as early at 1688.Sharper: Not a ‘beggar’ but a ‘street hustler’ usually cheating at ‘games of chance’. Later a ‘card sharp’. Known colloquially as a ‘Hedgebird’ or ‘Conny Catcher’.
Great Tawney Prince: Leader of the ‘crew’, often not a beggar themselves but the one who decides where to beg, how to beg, divvies up the ‘take’ and settles disputes. Fence: Receiver/reseller of stolen goods.Adam Tyler: Street children-not necessarily in the ‘crew’, the Irish Toyle will use them to run stolen property to the ‘Stalling Ken’ where the Fence resells the items.Diver: A pick pocket. The name derives from stiffening the fingers and ‘diving’ into any pocket or pouch available and grasping whatever comes in contact with them. Females were called ’Jenny Diver’.Faulkner: A ‘shower of small tricks’, usually to keep a person’s attention while the Diver does their work. They have been reported as being in the America's as early at 1688.Sharper: Not a ‘beggar’ but a ‘street hustler’ usually cheating at ‘games of chance’. Later a ‘card sharp’. Known colloquially as a ‘Hedgebird’ or ‘Conny Catcher’.
And a few you often see with us.
