The cant term of "warren" included the young coneys, or half-ruined prodigals of that day, with the younger brothers, who had accomplished their ruin; these naturally herded together, as the pigeon and the black-leg of the present day. The coney-catchers were those who raised a trade on their necessities. To be "conie-catched" was to be cheated. The warren forms a combination altogether, to attract some novice, who in _esse_ or in _posse_ has his present means good, and those to come great; he is very glad to learn how money can be raised. The warren seek after a _tumbler_, a sort of hunting dog; and the nature of a London tumbler was to "hunt dry-foot," in this manner:--"The tumbler is let loose, and runs snuffing up and down in the shops of mercers, goldsmiths, drapers, haberdashers, to meet with a _ferret_, that is, a citizen who is ready to sell a commodity." The tumbler in his first course usually returned in despair, pretending to have out-wearied himself by hunting, and swears that the city ferrets are so coaped (that is, have their lips stitched up close) that he can't get them to open to so great a sum as £500, which the warren wants. "This herb being chewed down by the rabbit-suckers, almost kills their hearts. It irritates their appetite, and they keenly bid the tumbler, if he can't fasten on plate, or cloth, or silks, to lay hold of _brown paper_, _Bartholomew babies_, _lute-strings_, or _hob-nails_. It hath been verily reported," says Decker, "that one gentleman of great hopes took up £100 in hobby-horses, and sold them for £30; and £16 in joints of mutton and quarters of lamb, ready roasted, and sold them for three pounds." Such commodities were called _purse-nets_.--The tumbler, on his second hunt, trots up and down again; and at last lights on a _ferret_ that will deal: the names are given in to a scrivener, who inquires whether they are good men, and finds four out of the five are wind-shaken, but the fifth is an oak that can bear the hewing. "Bonds are sealed, commodities delivered, and the tumbler fetches his second career; and their credit having obtained the purse-nets, the wares must now obtain money." The _tumbler_ now hunts for the _rabbit suckers_, those who buy these _purse-nets_; but the _rabbit-suckers_ seem greater devils than the _ferrets_, for they always bid under; and after many exclamations the _warren_ is glad that the seller should repurchase his own commodities for ready money, at thirty or fifty _per cent._ under the cost. The story does not finish till we come to the manner "How the warren is spoiled." I shall transcribe this part of the narrative in the lively style of this town writer. "While there is any grass to nibble upon, the rabbits are there; but on the cold day of repayment they retire into their caves; so that when the _ferret_ makes account of _five_ in chase, four disappear. Then he grows fierce, and tears open his own jaws to suck blood from him that is left.