(Saint), subs. phr. (old).—The devil: see OLD NICK.
1822. NARES, Glossary, s.v. NICHOLAS, SAINT. But a very different person was also jocularly called ST. NICHOLAS, now converted into OLD NICK; the same person whom Sir James Harrington has called saunte Satan, in his introduction to the Blacksaunt.
SAINT NICHOLAS’S CLERK, subs. phr. (old).—A highwayman. Also KNIGHT OF ST. NICHOLAS, and ST. NICHOLAS CLERGYMAN. [St. Nicholas was the patron saint of thieves.]
1589. R. HARVEY, Plaine Percevall, i., A quarrell, by the high way side, between a brace of SAINT NICHOLAS CLARGIE MEN.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, iii. 1. S. Come, fool, come try me in this paper. L. There, and ST. NICHOLAS be thy speed.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 1 Henry IV., ii. 1. G. Sirrah, if they meet not with SAINT NICHOLAS’S CLERKS, I’ll give thee this neck. Ibid. I prythee keep that for the hangman; for I know thou worships’t SAINT NICHOLAS as truly as a man of falsehood may.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Compter. One of SAINT NICHOLAS CLERKS, or an arrant theefe.
1633. ROWLEY, A Match at Midnight, i. 1 [DODSLEY, Old Plays, 1874, vii., 353]. I think yonder come prancing down the hills from Kingston a couple of hur t’other cozens, SAINT NICHOLAS’ CLERKS.
1662. J. WILSON, The Cheats, i, 1. I was out t’other Night upon the Randan, and who should I meet with but our old Gang, some of ST. NICHOLAS’S CLERKS.
