Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
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A86367
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Hinds elder brother, or the master thief discovered being a notable pithy relation of the life of Major Thomas Knowls his many exploits escapes, and witty robberies.
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1652
(1652)
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Wing H2064; Thomason E652_9; ESTC R205882
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4,817
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14
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HINDS ELDER BROTHER OR The Master Thief DISCOVERED Being a notable pithy Relation of the Life of Major THOMAS KNOWLS his many Exploits Escapes and witty Robberies Jan. 30th Hind Knowls Imprinted at London by John Clows An. Dom. 1651. 1652 Hinds Elder Brother or the Master-Thief discovered being a pithy relation of the life of Major Thomas Knowls his many escapes cheats and witty Robberies Of his Birth and Education THe greatest certainty of the place of his Birth is to most uncertain he not being able to give any exact account by reason his Parents died so much in his minority but left to the care of some friends in Lealand Parish in Lancashire which care of theirs extended it self to nothing more then how to be rid of him which he to their desires effected in the age of fourteen coming here to London where he had not been many dayes a mendicant but he is entertained by Punteus the Mountebank who then was newly come into England Of his serving the Mountebank HE had not long been with the Mountebank but a witty rogue he was so dexterous grown in his profession that he added much to the Sale of his Masters Antidotes by his witty Jests Boufoonish behaviour and nimble vaultings so that he became chief man to Punteus and who is the Gentleman now but Mr. Johan a pudding Of his curing an Vsurer of the Toothach A Rich Usurer being much tormented with the Toothach and not willing to be at too much Charge in procuring his Ease came to Mr. Punteus his Lodging thinking to have his cure for little or nothing by reason that Punteus drew many poor mens teeth that were afflicted out of charity and enquiring for the French Doctor of the Maid of the house she presently goes up to the Chamber where she finds Knowls and his Comrade fitting themselves with false Beards and Antick apparrel for the next dayes show she acquaints them that there was an Usurer at the door to speak with their Master and as she thought by the muffling of his Chops to have some Remedy for his teeth whereupon Knowls cryes out to his Comrade a prise now off with this party coloured Coat Give me my Masters Gown fasten mâ— on that black Beard stand bare and keeping your countenance call up the Usurer up comes the Patient relates his malady and as a poor man invokes a remedy which Knowls out supposed Punteus sayes he will apply his best skill for Gods sake and setting the Usurer down views his tooth and sayes I shall do the cure but you must have a little patience for it is a very forked one his man imployed his time so well that whiles Knowls pulled out the tooth he pulled out of his pocket a Cats skin Purse with twenty nine pounds two Rings and a Watch. The Cure being effected Knowls demands something for his pains the Usurer replies the Maid being by with an Oath that he had not one penny nor the value about him of one farthing nay sayes Knowls since you swear before witnesse I am content God speed you well and so departs my Usurer little thinking Knowls had been so well paid Knowls thought this Robbery was but just To rob the man that no body would trust Who for to save a little of his Pelf Before witnesse basely forswears himself This was the cause that he ne're came Back unto Knowls his mony lost to claim Being o'rcome with perjury and shame How Knowls robbed the Scotch Commissioners when they lay at Somerset House KNowls having a great desire to finger some of the Scoth Commissioners money by reason he had heard they had received abundance though for a little desert either in them or their Army He plots many wayes but none takes effect at last he takes a shoulder Trumpet flings it under his Cloak he being in black very neat more like a Scotch Laird then a Trumpeter and away he marches to the Gate where he finds severall Trumpeters Waits and others at Push a Pike with the Porter who valiantly defended himself in the behalf of his Lairds Pouch Knowls makes his approach saying how now honest Porter What are these fellows Fools or Fidlers O my Saul are they quoth the Porter wad yeer gude worship speak wi my Lord yes quoth Knowls I have affairs of importance to comunicate to thy Lord mary and yee een sall pleâ—se yeer gude worship to gang along wi me so with that in enters Knowls with the Porter who goes and acquaints his Lord the Lord Lowden that there was a Gentleman to speak with his Honor. Lowden comes into the â—ining Room where he finds Knowls attending who addresses himself unto my Lord Commissioner saying my Lord I am Master Trumpeter to the Navy under the Command of Earl of Warwick and being sent hither to furnish the Fleet with Trumpets I am charged by the Earl who lies now upon the Downs to salute your Honours in troth Sir replyes Lowden I am een blyth to hear his Lordship is in gude health calling to his Porter saying Saundy gar Jeamy give this Gentleman forty Shillings and with a Congee departs into his Chamber the Servants being affrighted at the unwelcome Guest they had brought their Lord some runs one way some another leaving Knowls alone in the dining room who in a moment dismantles the cupboard of a large quantity of Plate being fled before the Porter or Jeamy could come with the forty shillings who upon their finding the plate gone cryed out to a wofull Tune O Black day the false Lown has beguiled us aw little wist I I quoth the porter that his Worship was a piper the Dell blaw's Baggs mi Livings gene but the tumults continued so long amongst the Bullies that Knowls had convenient time to escape Thus witty Knowls did borrow plate O those which cozen'd King and State The one they sold the others thought to cheat But now repent since they are soundâ—y beat How Knowls left his Majer the Mountebank turned Cutter and robbed Hind KNowls having a desire no longer to be a servant if he could devise any how to live a Master and having gained a pretty summe under the Mountebank he takes his leave of him and resolves to live a brother of the Blade huyes him a pretty highway Nag a good Sword and Case of private Pistolls away goes my Friend to the Road and now Gentlemen beware your Portmantles many exploits our Mounsieur Abbot playes for so he is called now in Lincoln shire Notingham and other places and one night coming into the Lion Inne at Worship eight miles from Mansfield the Hostler takes his Horse he passes under the notion of a Grasier and is by the said Hostler set to Hind for one that was possest with a good round summe that night they supped together being ignorant one of the others Calling the next day in Welbeck Forest Hind overtakes our Mounsieur claps a plstol to his breast wishing him immediately to deliver his
purse or life and purse together Knowls seing death at the Collar of his Doublet wisely replyes in faith Sir I have a summe of money about me which I do not value near comparable with my life therefore here take it delivering to Hind a leather Bag with fourscore and od pounds in it and Sir believe me Since you have done so gallantly as to adventure aâ—â—â—â— upon me I swear to you I will never prosecute you therefore never shun me wheresoever you see me and riding on together a little along the Forest he sayes being in discourse I pray Sir tell me one tâ—ing Hind replying said he would then sayes Knowls pray you had you any thing in that pistoll you clapt to my Breast or did you it to affright me nay sayes Hind God damne me it is charged with a Brace of Bullets and thereupon slaps off his pistoll which Knowls perceiving claps one of his to Hinds throat saying now return back my money with whâ—t addition you can make of your own or by Jove you die so he dismantled Mr. Hind of all his money riding away crying farewell younger Brother Thus Hind which knew the cutting Trade so well Was robb'd by Knowls who did him farre excell In th' highway arts and in the padding skill For Hind's in Newgate and Knowls at freedome still How Knowls being brought a Prisoner in the Habit of a Parson to White Hall made his Escape KNowls being taken by one of the Thieftakers about this Town was brought to White Hall and there upon the Guard secured that night the next day secured in a Chamber having two Souldiers Sentries upon him shortly after being examined he was asked what made him assume that Habit being he could neither write nor read he replyed the rather because he thought no man would suspect an illiterate man in such a Coat and after some questions he was remanded back to the said Custody where after liberally giving all sorts of Liquours to the two Souldiers his Guard he seeing them in a merry mood thus began to speak dear Comrades and fellow Souldiers you may perceive this is onely through malice that I am here a Prisoner Since I have never done any thing against the State yet there is one thing vexeth me to the Soul what is that Maister answered the Souldiers marry quoth Knowls I have fifty pounds in the hands of the man that keepeth the Leg in the pallace yard and I would willingly give ten pounds to a good fellow that I had it here one of the Souldiers replies Sir I will fetch it you with a good will nay nay sayes Knowls that cannot be for he will not give it to any body but my self yet I can tell you what we may do one of you put on my Habit here and I will put on your Red Coat and Bandileers the other take his Musquet and go along with me and so in lesse then half an hour we will be back with the money and I will give you five pounds apiece for your pains the matter being thus carryed you can no wayes be found in blame this conceit takes away marches Knowls and one of the Souldiers the other lies down upon the bed in his Parsons weed they march to Westminster come into the Legge call for a pot of Ale which is brought them Knowls he demands for the Master of the House who comes immediately he takes him aside whispers him in the Ear thrusting half a Crown in his hand saying Sir I would not that my Comrade should know I have any money but whilst we drink pay your self out of this and saying shall it be so carryed the man of the House not suspecting any thing replyies aloud you shall you shall Sir and so departs the Roome Knowls turns to the Souldier come Brother let us drink one half dozen and by that time the money will be told out further saying truly this man of the House is a very honest man now by that time they had drunk four or five pots the Souldier begins to ask why the Master of the House came not his way Knowls having the Pot of Ale in his hand suddenly flings the pot violently in the souldiers face knocking him down crying aloud Villain dost thou say my Captain is a Coward I would have thee know I have so much of a souldier in me that I le die before I hear my Officer abused but I le have the Corporall to fetch thee to the Guard with a Pox and so running out of the house before the souldier recovered Knowls had crossed the water and so clearly escaped Let Knowls his slipperie trick example be To all those Guards which love a fee Least he may chance to have the same reward For coveting Coyn as had this foolish Guard The one in Parsons weeds the Gantlet run The other being Cashier'd was quite undone How Knowls being Captain of the Pioners to the Scotch Army escaped from VVorcester KNowls having Command of the Pioâ—ers at Worcester upon their being routed he calls to him one of the Câ—untrey-men which he had prest for a pioner not many days before and one whom he had noted to bee a monstrous silly fellow saying alas for you poor hearts for you will have no quarter the enemy saves none but officers upon which words the fellow was ready to sink but Knowls sayes come courage give me thy Pickax and Cassock and here take my Sword Buff Coat and Hat and I will run for it for I am lighter of foot then thou art whereupon they change and by that means Knowls escapes the Parliaments forces entring the Town some Troops enters the house where this Country man was who presently cryes out save my life Gentlemen for I am Major Knowls Captain of the Pioners I quoth the soldier I will give you quarter but I will pay your skin for a tumbling rogue and knockt him soundly stript him naked and turned him amongst the rest of the prisoners THus Reader in this small Epitome Some Acts of famous Kmowls I have show'd thee Which if considered rightly thou wilt find In witty pranks he far exceeds our Hind And as from murder he was alwayes free So stands he clear from all base Treachery Towards any of the Pad or cutting Trade As being now the onely knight o' th' Blade Of many a Gang he is the sole surviver So of many a feat he hath been the main contriver Then let Hind and Guzman both submit To active Knowls for valour shifts and wit FINIS