ABSTRACT
II (i) The discovery of the combing law. The Courber, which the common people call the Hooker, is he that with a Curb (as they tearm it) or hook, doth pul out of a window any loose linnen cloth, apparell, or els any other houshold stuffe whatsoeuer, which stolne parcels, they in their Art cal snappings i1 to the performance of this law there be required, duly two persons, the Curber and the Warpe: the curber his office is to spye in the day time fit places wher his trade may be practised at night, and comming unto anie window if it be open, then he hath his purpose, if shut, then growing into the nature of the blacke Art, hath his trickers, which are engins of Iron so cunningly wrought, that he wil cut a barre of Iron in two with them so easily, that scarcely shal the standers by heare him: then when hee hath the window open and spies any fat snappinges worth the Curbing, then streight he sets the Warp to watch, who hath a long cloke to couer what soeuer he gets: then doth the other thrust in a long hooke some nine foote in length (which he calleth a curbe) that hath at the end a crooke, with three tynes turned contrary, so that tis unpossible to misse, if there be any snappinges abroad. No we this long hooke they call a Curbe, and because you shall not woonder how they carrie it for being spied, know this that it is made with joyntes like an angle rod, and can be conveyed into the forme of a truncheon, and worne in the hand like a walking staffe untill they come to their purpose, and then they let it out at the length, and hook or curb whatsoever is loose and within the reach, and then he conveies it to the Warp, and from thence (as they list) their snappings go to the Broker or to the Bawd, and there 1 *a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles', IV. 2. 26.
