The word cant refers to the secret language spoken by professional thieves and beggars. 'The Canting Academy, or Devils Cabinet opened', by Richard Head, was first published in 1673. It records the customs, phrases and songs of urban villains and scoundrels. The book contains one of England's first dictionaries of criminal slang. The baffling language of the criminal underworld wove webs of deception around numerous victims, and 'The Canting Academy' followed a tradition of books designed to warn the innocent city dweller against rogues, vagabonds, and pickpockets. 'I shall endeavour to give you an exect account of these Caterpillars,' wrote Head, 'with their hidden and mysterious way of speaking, which they make use to blind the eyes of those they have cheated or rob'd.'
Prison lingo
Head claimed to have learnt much of this language in London's Newgate prison, where he 'with much difficulty...screwed information out of the sullen rogues'. He recognised that slang is constantly on the run, continually changing its forms so as to stay disguised from the authorities. 'The mode of canting' he wrote 'was alter'd very often, and...they were forced to change frequently those material words which chiefly discovered their mysterious practices and villanies, least growing too common their own words should betray them.' Slang still changes quickly, often for similar reasons. Consequently books like 'The Canting Academy' are a valuable resource, fixing this ephemeral language for posterity. However some of Head's claims of originality were exaggerated: in fact many slang words do stand the test of time, and several of Head's words have been pinched straight out of earlier books about cant.
About Richard Head
Richard Head, born 1637, was a writer, book-seller and notorious gambler. He is best known as a scribbler of hack literature, penning books such as 'Jackson's Recantation, or the Life and Death of the Notorious Highwayman now hanging in chains at Hampstead' and 'Rhodomontados of the Most Horrible, Terrible and Invincible Captain Sir Frederick Fightall'.
