Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a napkin.

c.1566		Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 83: a mofling chete a napkyn.
1592		Groundworke of Conny-catching n.p.: [as cit. c.1566].
1608		Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 1: A Muffling chete, signifies a Napkin. A Belly Chete, an Apron.
1648		Dekker ‘Canters Dict.’ Eng. Villainies (9th edn).
1665		Head Eng. Rogue I 50: Muffling cheat, A Napkin.
1674		Head Canting Academy (2nd edn).
1688		R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Muffeling Cheat, a Napkin.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Muffling-cheat A Napkin.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1741		Canting Academy, or the Pedlar’s-French Dict.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.