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INDIANA UNIVEESITY 



of Conieatching. " Rowlands says he has heard "that there ^\•ere 

 no such names as he [Greene] hath set downe,^^ nor anie cheating 

 Arte so christened as Conicatching. " However we are now told 

 that in the siilnirbs of London a 'like underhanded traffique' is 

 being carried on daily. In enumerating and describing the cant 

 terms of these traffickers Rowlands steals from Greene's "The 

 Blacke Bookes IMessenger. " The directness of the theft will appear 

 from the quotations subjoined. Rowland's change of Greene's ar- 

 I'angement may have some significance : 



Marie, in effect, there is the lil^e under baud trafRqiie daylie used and 

 experienced among- some fewe start up Gallants disperst about tbe suburbs 

 of London, who ternies bini that draws the fisih to the bait, the Beater, 

 and not the Setter : the Taveriie where they go, the Bush, and the foole 

 so caught, the Bird. As for Conicatching, they eleape it Batfowling, the 

 wine the Strap, and the cards the Limetwigs. Now for the compassing of 

 a woodcocke to worke on, and the fetching him into the wine bench of his 

 wraeke, is right beating the bush. The good, asse if he will be dealt upon, 

 stouping to the lure : if he be so wise as to keep aloofe, a Haggard. And 

 he whom he makes Verser the Retriever, and the Barnacle the Pot- 

 luinter.^^ 



A Table of the words of Art lately devised by Isled Browne and his 

 associates, to Crosbite the old Phrases used in the manner of Conny-catch- 



It dees not admit of any doubt that Rowlands took these terms 

 directly from Greene. His failure to connect them with "The 



It "There be requisit effectually to act the Art of Cony-catching, three several 

 parties: the Setter, the Verser, and the P. arnackle." A Notohlc Dificorcry of Coos- 

 uagc. Works, X, 15. 



i"' Page 7. 



1" irorA-.s-. XI. 7. 



Greenes Ghost. 



The Blacke Bookes Messenger. 



ing. 



He that drawes the fish to the bait. 

 The Taverne where they goe. 

 The foole that is caught, 

 Conny catching to be called. 

 The wine to be called. 

 The cards to be called. 

 The fetching in a Conny, 

 The good Asse if he be woone. 

 If he keepe a loofe. 



The verser in conny-catching is called 

 And the Barnacle, 



the Beater. 



the Bush. 



the Bird. 



Bat foivling. 



the ^hrap. 



the Lime twigs. 



heating the Bush. 



stoojung to the Lure. 



a Haggard. 



the Betriever. 



the pot hunter.^' 



