Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a female beggar who poses as the victim of a fire (complete with fake documents to prove it) and begs alms on that basis.

c.1566		Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 61: These Demaunders for glymmar be for the moste parte wemen; for glymmar, in their language, is fyre. These goe with fayned lycences and counterfayted wrytings, hauing the hands and seales of suche gentlemen as dwelleth nere to the place where they fayne them selues to haue bene burnt, and their goods consumed with fyre.
1592		Groundworke of Conny-catching [as cit. c.1566].
1608		Dekker Belman of London D4: The Demaunders of Glymmer, that is to say, those who trauell vp and downe with licenses to begge, because their houses have beene consumed with fire, for Glymmer (in canting) signifies fire.