Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. highway robbery.

1628		J. Clavell Recantation of an ill led Life 35: Then take heed of those Base Padding Rascalls, for their kill-calfe law I am not priuy to.
1665		Head Eng. Rogue I 389: The Son hath oftentimes betrayed the Father [...] by informing or complotting with some of the Padding society.
1670		Memoires of Monsieur Du Vall 7: He soon fell into want of Money [that] inclined him to take the Generous way of Padding.
1680		T. Betterton Match in Newgate V iii: Here’s a cowardly Rogue, now Plague on him, he’s a shame to the noble Function of padding.
1699		N. Ward London Spy V 112: A Man has a mind to Educate a hopeful Child in the daring Science of Padding.
1739		Poor Robin n.p.: Money is now a hard commodity to get, insomuch that some will venture their necks for it, by padding, cloying, milling, filching, nabbing, etc., all which in plain English is only stealing [N].
c.1790		‘Luke Caffrey’s Ghost’ Chap Book Songs 5: When we will upon the padding course, Neck lace is de word!
1820		L. Hunt Indicator No. 13 (1822) I 102: ‘He [Claude du Val] took’ says his biographer ‘the generous way of padding.’.

2. working as a highway robber.

1674		Jackson’s Recantation in C. Hindley Old Book Collector’s Misc. [title]: Jackson’s Recantation or, the Life and Death of the Notorious High-way-man Now hanging in Chains at Hampstead. Delivered to a Friend a little before Execution; Wherein is truly discovered the whole Mystery of that Wicked and Fatal profession of padding on the Road.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew.

3. confidence trickery, swindling [ety. unknown; ? the conversation that accompanies walking].

1699

N. Ward London Spy V 112: The Daring Science of Padding; the Light-Finger’d Subtlety of Shop-Lifting [etc.].