Abraham-man

a vagabond, such as were driven to beg about the country after the di olution of the monasteries.— See BESS O’ BEDLAM , infra . They are well described under the title of Bedlam Beggars .— Shakspeare’s K. Lear , ii. 3. “And these, what name or title e’er they bear, Jarkman, or Patrico, Cranke, or Clapper-dudgeon, Frater, or ABRAM-MAN ; I speak to all That stand in fair election for the title Of king of beggars.”— Beaumont and Fletcher’s Begg. Bush. II. 1. It appears to have been the practice in former days to allow certain inmates of Bethlehem Hospital to have fixed days “to go begging:” hence impostors were said to “ SHAM ABRAHAM ” (the Abraham Ward in Bedlam having for its inmates these mendicant lunatics) when they pretended they were licensed beggars in behalf of the hospital. Abraham-sham , or SHAM ABRAHAM , to feign sickne or distre . From ABRAHAM-MAN , the ancient Cant term for a begging impostor, or one who pretended to have been mad.— Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy , vol. i. p. 360. When Abraham New land was Cashier to the Bank of England, and signed their notes, it was sung:— “I have heard people say That SHAM ABRAHAM you may, But you mustn’t SHAM ABRAHAM New land.”