Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a street gang, esp. of well-to-do roughs who infested the London streets, committing their crimes for amusement rather than gain.

[1622		Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar’s Bush III i: Fear not; no harm, boys / Tityre, tu patulae. [Pulls the Boors’ noses, while Higgen and Ferret pick their pockets and remove some of their cloaks]].
c.1625		Rowley Woman never Vext 27: S’foote, is’t come to this? [...] My Mistris, and honest, Hansome, plaine-dealing, serving-Creature; and she to Marry a Worson Tittere Tu Tattere.
1627		J. Taylor ‘An Armado’ in Works (1869) I 77: Some for roaring boys, and rough-hewd tittery tues.
1648		R. Herrick ‘New Yeares Gift’ Hesperides I 174: No newes of Navies burnt at Seas; No noise of late spawn’d Tittyries.
1658		Mennis & Smith ‘The Tytre-Tues’ Wit Restor’d (1817) 147: Two madcaps were commited of late [...] They call themselves the Tytere-tues / And wore a blew Rib-bin.
1659		Greene & Lodge Lady Alimony IV ii: Uds so, what a clattering they make? I verily think our old Titere Tews and Bugle Blews are come to Town, they keep such a damnable quarter.
1822		(con. early 17C) W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel II 141: I remember the Huffs, the Muns, and the Tityre-tu’s by whom your grace’s ancestors and predecessors were advised.
1872		C. Hindley Old Book Collector’s Misc. 4: tittery tu. — A cant term for some description of riotous people. No doubt a corruption of Tityre, tu.