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Law in Popular Culture collection

The Complete Newgate Calendar
Volume II

APPENDICES

No. I

THE CAPTAIN OF THIEVES

THE following is an account of how the cutting of purses was performed by thieves and of the authority exercised by a captain of thieves:-

   The women of those times wore their pockets more exposed than they do at present, and it was very common for the men to carry their money in a purse or bag tied about their middle, almost in the same manner as the women now (seventeenth century) tie their pockets, or as some public officers carry their purser, to this day on solemn occasions, the use of fobs and breeches pockets not being then introduced, the reason of their invention being perhaps only to prevent the rogueries that were then committed. Now the art of these fellows consisted in cutting off those purses so as not to be perceived, for which purpose they haunted fairs, markets, churches, and other public places, that so they might take advantage of the throng. He who performed the operation had always another standing near him, to whom he immediately gave the purse, and whose business it was to make off as fast as he could, while the other stayed to brazen it out if he were suspected, clear himself, and prove his accuser a liar.
   A captain of thieves is a sort of absolute lord over all those who put themselves in subjection to him. He has the privilege to examine all novices that are just entered, put them to trials of their skill, ask them questions relating to their calling, and finally to assign them such provinces in the common-wealth of thieves as he thinks most suitable to their genius, to which they are obliged to keep, upon forfeiture of their honour. He has always a reserve of the most experienced and active fellows, whom he sends upon any sudden and difficult enterprises, and who are always to be near his person. No man in the fraternity must forget his point of duty, or exceed the bounds of his commission, by meddling with another man's charge, or attempting things which he has been told are above his capacity. The usual time of probation is about three months, during which the young initiate is as constantly at his exercise before the captain as a trooper's horse that is not broke is at the riding-school : he must scale a wall, snatch off a periwig, steal a watch and do a hundred things of that kind.
   When his abilities have been sufficiently proved, and the captain has pronounced what he is fit for, he is constantly to wait upon his honour once a week and give an account of his actions. At the same time he is to pay a dividend out of what he has got towards the captain's maintenance,

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who reprehends or praises him according as his negligence or vigilance
deserves, and appoints his station for the ensuing week. An oath drawn up in the most sacred terms is exacted of every member for the security of the society.
   There are punishments assigned for those who fail in any of the above-mentioned particulars. The first time, it is said, they are abridged of part of what they have taken ; the second time of a whole week's benefit, and so on, to a deprivation sometimes of five or six months. But the most disgraceful penance is to be made a spy or follower to the rest for a certain time. There punishments have their desired effect, and the whole fraternity is kept in order, because if any member were troublesome the captain would deliver him up to the common law and see him fairly hanged.

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Newgate Calendar Vol. II Table of Contents / The Complete Newgate Calendar
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