Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK Und.) swindling, hoaxing.

1592		Greene Blacke Bookes Messenger 3: A Table of the words of Art lately deuised by Ned Browne and his associates, to Crosbite the old Phrases used in the manner of Conny-catching. [...] Connycatching to be called, Batfowling.
1608		Dekker Belman of London F2: Sometimes likewise this Card-cheating [...] is called Batt fowling, and then the Setter is the Beater, the foole that is caught in the net, the bird.

2. looking for sex.

1607		Dekker & Webster Westward Hoe V i: We tickle againe to remember how wee sent you a Bat-fowling.
c.1611		Dekker Match Me in London I i: A Shopkeeper, come hither a batfowling euery moone-shien night. [Ibid.] II i: If you walke soberly alone from shop to shop, your bat fowling would catch more wagtailes.
c.1617		Fletcher Chances II i: I thought ye had been a Bat-fowling.
1637–41		Chapman Revenge for Honour III ii: [He] has been / A bat-fowling all night after those birds, / Those lady-birds term’d wagtails.
1682		Buckingham Chances II i: [as cit. c.1617].