This site is in danger of going away; please consider the Donate link above...
The name of the finisher of the law, or hangman about the year 1608.—’For he rides his circuit with the Devil, and Derrick must be his host, and Tiburne the inne at which he will lighte.’ Vide Bellman of London, in art. PRIGGIN LAW.—’At the gallows, where I leave them, as to the haven at which they must all cast anchor, if Derrick’s cables do but hold.’ Ibid.
Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.
Derby * DevilNathan Bailey's 1736 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang
John S. Farmer's collection of canting songs and slang rhymes
Buy a modern reprint of this book from Amazon CA; US;
Francis Grose was independently wealthy, having inherited money from his father, a jeweller. Finding himself overspending, he published a number of books; his Provincial Glossary seems to have been the starting-point for the Vulgar Tongue reproduced here.