bawds

The theatres of Shakesepeare's time resounded not just to his great tragedies and comedies but also to more satrical works by the likes of Ben Jonson, Thomas Dekker and Philip Massinger, with their lively tales of bawds and coney catchers evoking the teeming life of the city.

This week's new theatre 2011

But there it was, love, disorganizing men's and women's lives, driving toward destruction and death, turning topsy-turvy everything that was sensible and considerate, making bawds or suicides out of virtuous women, and scoundrels and murderers out of men who had always been clean and square.

Chapter XII 2010

In the heyday of the 18th-century brothels in Covent Garden, enterprising bawds such as Mother Needham would send scouts to pick out country girls newly arrived on the stagecoach, hoping to find work as seamstresses or ladies 'maids.

City of Sin: London and its Vices by Catharine Arnold 2010

She hath had most cunning bawds to serve her turn,

The Duchess of Malfi 2007

When all other engines fail, that they can proceed no farther of themselves, their last refuge is to fly to bawds, panders, magical philters, and receipts; rather than fail, to the devil himself.

Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

Howsoever in public they pretend much zeal, seem to be very holy men, and bitterly preach against adultery, fornication, there are no verier bawds or whoremasters in a country; [5221] whose soul they should gain to

Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

The last battering engines are philters, amulets, spells, charms, images, and such unlawful means: if they cannot prevail of themselves by the help of bawds, panders, and their adherents, they will fly for succour to the devil himself.

Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

These white devils have their panders, bawds, and factors in every place to seek about, and bring in customers, to tempt and waylay novices, and silly travellers.

Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

Such Socrates used, when he called the kind endeavor and industry of Antisthenes to make men friends pimping, bawds-craft, and allurement; and others that called Crates the philosopher, who wherever he went was caressed and honored, the door-opener.

Symposiacs 2004

Such Socrates used, when he called the kind endeavor and industry of Antisthenes to make men friends pimping, bawds-craft, and allurement; and others that called Crates the philosopher, who wherever he went was caressed and honored, the door-opener.

Essays and Miscellanies 2004