Upright man

In old thieves' cant, the head of a gang of mendicants or vagrants.

"An Upright man is of so much authority that, meeting with any of his profession, he may cal them to accompt, and commaund a share or snap vnto him selfe of al that they haue gained by their trade in one moneth." - Awdelev: Fraternity of Vacabondes (1561)