Note 244 — THE PROLOGUE.
Reading edition
Tartarian seems to have been a cant word for a thief. In "The Wandering Jew," 1640, p. 3, the Hangman says, "I pray (Mr Jew) bestow a cast of your office upon me (a poor member of the Law), by telling me my fortune, whether I shall die in my bed or no, or what else shall happen to me; and if any thieving Tartarian shall break in upon you, I will with both hands nimbly lend a cast of my office to him."