A Caveat for Cut-purses.
With a warning to all purse-carriers: Shewing the confi-
dence of the first, and the carelesnesse of the last; With necessary admonitions for
them both, lest the Hangman get the one, and the Begger take the other.
To the tune of, Packingtons pound.
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MY Masters and friends and good people draw near
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and look to your purses, for that I do say.
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And though little mony in them you do bear,
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it cost more to get then to lose in a day:
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you oft have been told
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both the young and the Old,
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and bidden beware of of the Cut-purse so bold:
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Then if you take heed not, free me from the curse,
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Who both give you warning, for and the Cut-purse.
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Youth, youth thou hadst better been starvd by thy Nurse
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Then live to be hangd for cutting a purse.
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It hath been upbraided to men of my Trade,
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that oftentimes we are the cause of this crime,
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Alack and for pitty, why should it be said?
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as if they regarded or places or time,
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Examples have been
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Or some that were seen
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of Westminster hall yea the pleaders between:
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Then why should the Judges be free from this curse,
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More then my poor self is for cutting the Purse,
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Youth youth, etc.
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At Worster, tis known well and even in the Jale,
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a Knight of good worship did there shew his fa[ce]
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Against the foule sinners in zeale for to raile,
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and so lost, ipso facto, his purse in the place:
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Nay once from the Seat
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Of judgement so great
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a Judge there did lose a fair purse of Velvet,
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Oh Lord for thy mercy how wicked or worse
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Are those that so venture their necks for a purse!
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Youth youth, etc.
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At Playes and at Sermons, and at the Sessions,
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tis daily their practice such booty to make,
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Yea under the Gallows at Executions,
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they stick not the stare-abouts purses to take.
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Nay one without grace
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At a better place
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at Court and in Christmas, before the Kings fa[ce.]
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Alack then for pitty must I bear the curse,
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That only belong to the cunning Cut-purse.
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Youth youth thou hadst better been starved by th[y Nurse]
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Then live to be hangd for cutting a pu[rse.]
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BUt oh! you vile Nation of Cutpurses all,
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Relent and repent, and amend and be sound,
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And know that you ought not by honest mens fall
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advance your own fortunes to dye above ground.
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And though you go gay
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In Silks as you may,
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It is not the highway to Heaven as they say,
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Repent then repent you for better for worse
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And kiss not the Gallows for cutting a purse,
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Youth youth thou hadst better been starvd by thy Nurse
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Then live to be hangd for cuttting a purse.
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The Players do tell you in Bartholmew Faire
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what secret consumptions and Rascals you are,
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For one of their Actors it seems had the fate
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by some of your Trade to be fleeced of late,
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Then fall to your prayers
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You that are way-layers,
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theyre fit to chouse all the world, that can cheat Players
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For he hath the Art, and no man the worse,
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Whose cunning can pilfer the pilferers purse.
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Youth youth etc.
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The plain Country man that coms staring to London
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if once you come near him he quickly is undone,
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For when he amazedly gaz[e]th about
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one treads on his toes, an[d] the other pulst out,
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Then in a strange place
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Where he knows no face,
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his mony is gone tis a pittiful case.
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The Divel of hell in his trade is not worse
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Then Gilter, and Diver, and Cutter of purse,
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Youth etc.
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The poor servant maid wears her purse in her placket
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A place of quick feeling and yet you can take it,
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Nor is she aware that you have done the feat
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Untill she is going to pay for her meat.
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Then she cryes and rages
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Amongst her Baggages,
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and swears at one thrust she hath lost all her wa-ges
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For she is ingaged her own to disburse,
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To make good the breach of the cruel Cut-purse
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Youth etc.
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Your eyes and your fingers are nimble of growth.
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But Dun many times he hath been nimbler then both
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Yet you are deceived by many a slut,
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But the Hang-man is only the Cut-purses cut,
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It makes you to vex
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When he bridles your necks
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and then at the last what becomes of your tricks
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But when you should pray, you begin for to curse
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The hand that first shewd you to slash at a purse,
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Youth, etc.
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But now to my hearers this Counsel I give,
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And pray friends remember it as long as you live,
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Bring out no more cash in purse pocket or wallet,
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Then one single penny to pay for the Ballet,
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For Cut-purse doth shrowd
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Himself in a Cloud,
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theres many a purse hath been lost in a crowd
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For hes the most rogue that doth crowd up & curses
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Who first cryes my Masters beware of your purses.
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Oh youth thou hadst better been starvd by thy Nurse
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Then live to be hanged for cutting a purse.
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