They are a peculiar of their own making, exempt from bishop, archdeacon, and all authority, either ecclesiastical or civil.
They live in cots (rather holes than houses) like swine, having all in common, multiplied without marriage into many hundreds.

Their language is the dross of the dregs of the vulgar Devonian; and the more learned a man is, the worse he can understand them.

During our civil wars no soldiers were quartered upon them, for fear of being quartered amongst them.

Their wealth consisteth in other men's goods; they live by stealing the sheep on the moors; and vain is it for any to search their houses, being a work beneath the pains of any sheriff, and above the power of any constable.

Such is their fleetness, they will outrun many horses; vivaciousness, they outlive most men; living in an ignorance of luxury, the extinguisher of life.