Page:A new dictionary of the terms ancient and modern of the canting crew, in its several tribes, of gypsies, beggers, thieves, cheats, &c. with an addition of some proverbs, phrases, figurative speeches, &c.djvu/10

The Preface.

on me to Determine, only it may be observed, betwixt the Complement of either kind, the Odds is no greater than this, of giving a Nation a Clap, or of laying a brood of Bastards at it's Door.

Though Holland has no Beggers, if the Dutch themselves are not the greatest Beggers in the World; and Switzerland has no Thieves, if the Swiss who are altogether Soldiers, are not the greatest of Thieves. Yet, I say, neither the States that are without Beggers, nor the Cantons that are without Thieves, are notwithstanding either the one or the other, without Gypsies. So as what they want of Beggers and Thieves in point of Antiquity, the Gypsies claim above both, in point of Universality.

But though Gypsies are found in all Christian Countries, yet are they not in all Countries alike; their Na-ture