He taught me moreover how to excite the compassion of the rich; and what is still more difficult of professed devotees. In a word, he gave me such good instructions, and I made so good a use of them, that I soon received more money than I could spend. I was already perfectly acquainted with Rome, from the Pope down to the very lowest scullion in the city. For fear of troubling my customers too often, I divided the city into seven parts, allotting one for every day in the week. I never failed to present myself at the several churches on holidays, where I was sure to pick up something. As to the pieces of bread that were usually given at doors of private houses, I sold what I did not want to distressed objects who were ashamed to beg, but who, by being relieved in private by the faithful, were well able to pay for what they bought of me. Country people and others, who made it their business to fatten fowls and hogs, were also frequent purchasers; but the spicecake makers were my best customers. I likewise made something considerable by the old rags which were given me by charitable persons who could not without pity see a lad of my age almost naked, especially in winter.
Having by this time become acquainted with the first professors in the art of begging, I was now perfect master of the trade, by following their directions and example. It happened one day that about thirty of our fraternity were collected before the door of the Ambassador of France, where I heard one of my comrades behind me cry, “Look at that Spanish glutton there, he’ll certainly spoil our trade. When once his guts are well filled with the soup or meat that is given him, he declines taking any more; this it is that ruins our business. By these means, people will be apt to think that poor people like us have too much given them.” One of our veterans, who knew me, overhearing this, said to the beggar who uttered this complaint, “Peace, comrade, do you not see that this novice is a stranger who is not yet acquainted with our regulations. Leave him to me, and I will undertake to instruct him. He is a pretty apt scholar, I assure you, and will in a very short time be a match for any of us.”
After having thus taken my part, he called me aside in a low voice, and asked me several questions; as, in what part of Spain I was born? what was my name, and how long I had been at Rome? When I had answered all these queries in a very laconic style, he proceeded to represent to me, but in a very mild manner, the mutual feeling that beggars were bound to observe towards each other, that a proper decorum might be supported among them; that they ought to be so united as to play into each other’s hands like brother pick-pockets in a fair. From thence entering into a long detail, he revealed so many secrets to me as soon convinced me how inferior I was to these great men. Amongst other things which I had never yet heard of, he taught me how to enlarge my stomach, so as to be able to eat four times as much as usual, without incommoding myself; not forgetting to recommend me, never to eat before people, without effecting extreme greediness, for he assured me, it was most essential to persuade them that beggars are dying with hunger. He concluded by informing me at what hours I should be sure to be at such and such places: that in some houses I might venture to enter the kitchen, and even as far as the parlour; but that in others I must not dare to enter the door.
I now thought that he had completely exhausted the subject, but all these things were nothing in comparison with the begging-laws, which he made me read at his own house, whither he led me, as soon as the alms of the French Ambassador were distributed. He did not content himself by allowing me merely to read these admirable regulations, but insisted on my taking a copy of them, that by being well acquainted with them, I might never again infringe them in so shameful a manner. I have not thought myself bound, friendly reader, to withhold these statutes, which I shall communicate to you as they were presented to me. If there be any who have no wish to have the manners of low life depicted to them, is it just that I should accommodate myself to their excessive delicacy, and withdraw a picture which may afford much pleasure to others?
CHAP. XXII.
The Laws of begging.
As beggars of every nation are distinguished from each other by their different modes of imploring alms; as the Germans beg by singing, and in troops, the French by their praying, the Flemings by their respectful bowings, the Bohemians by fortune telling, the Portuguese by their crying, the Italians by long harangues, the English by abusing, and the Spaniards by their haughty growlings: we hereby command them all to observe the following Statutes under pain of our heavy displeasure.
1. We forbid any lame or wounded beggar, of whatever nation he be, to appear in the quarters frequented by others full of health and vigour, on account of the advantage they will have over the latter. We also ordain, that all such as are in perfect health, form no manner of connexion with blind men, field-preachers, mountebanks, poets, musicians, redeemed captives, nor even with old soldiers that have escaped from a rout, or seamen saved from a shipwreck. For although it is generally allowed, that all these must subsist by imploring charity, their manners of begging being different, it is necessary that each society keep to its own particular rules.
2. We ordain that beggars have certain taverns assigned them in every country, where shall preside three or four of their ancients with staves in their hands as emblems of their authority. Which said ancients are hereby empowered to canvass, in the aforesaid taverns, all the affairs of the world, and to give their opinions as freely as they please. At the same time, we permit the other beggars to relate their own heroic exploits, as well as those of their ancestors, and even to illustrate the conversation by boasting of battles they were never in.
3. We command, that every beggar carry a good cudgel in his hand, with a spike at the end of it if possible, to be provided against emergencies, lest they repent of their neglect.