[Illustration:  Fig. 381.—­Italian Beggar.—­From an Engraving by Callot.]

[Illustration:  Figs. 382 and 383.—­German Beggars.—­Fac-simile of a Woodcut in the “Cosmographie Universelle” of Munster:  in folio, Basle, 1552.]

The history of regular robbers and highwaymen during this long period is more difficult to describe; it contains only disconnected anecdotes of a more or less interesting character.  It is probable, moreover, that robbers did not always commit their depredations singly, and that they early understood the advantages of associating together.  The Tafurs, or Halegrins, whom we notice as followers of Godefroy de Bouillon at the time of the Crusades, towards the end of the eleventh century, were terribly bad characters, and are actually accused by contemporary writers of violating tombs, and of living on human flesh.  On this account they were looked upon with the utmost horror by the infidels, who dreaded more their savage ferocity than the valour of the Crusaders.  The latter even, who had these hordes of Tafurs under their command, were not without considerable mistrust of them, and when, during their march through Hungary, under the protection of the cross, these miscreants committed depredations, Godefroy de Bouillion was obliged to ask pardon for them from the king of that country.

An ancient poet has handed down to us a story in verse setting forth the exploits of Eustace the monk, who, after having thrown aside his frock, embraced the life of a robber, and only abandoned it to become Admiral of France under Philip Augustus.  He was killed before Sandwich, in 1217.  We have satisfactory proof that as early as the thirteenth century sharpers were very expert masters of their trade, for the ingenious and amusing tricks of which they were guilty are quite equal to the most skilled of those now recorded in our police reports.  In the two following centuries the science of the pince and of the croc (pincers and hook), as it was then called, alone made progress, and Pathelin (a character in comedy, and an incomparable type of craft and dishonesty) never lacked disciples any more than Villon did imitators.  We know that this charming poet, who was at the same time a most expert thief, narrowly escaped hanging on two occasions.  His contemporaries attributed to him a poem of twelve hundred verses, entitled “Les Repues Franches,” in which are described the methods in use among his companions for procuring wine, bread, meat, and fish, without having to pay for them.  They form a series of interesting stories, the moral of which is to be gathered from the following lines:—­

  “C’est bien, disne, quand on eschappe
  Sans desbourcer pas ung denier,
  Et dire adieu an tavernier,
  En torchant son nez a la nappe.”

The meaning of this doggrel, which is somewhat broad, may be rendered—­“He dines well who escapes without paying a penny, and who bids farewell to the innkeeper by wiping his nose on the tablecloth.”