The Maid had a great Bundle under her Arm; so she put the Child into the Coach; and I said, you had best put your Bundle into the Coach too; No, said she, I am afraid some Body should slip it away from the Child; give it me then, said I; take it then, says she, and be sure you take care of it; I'll answer for it, said I, if it were Twenty Pound vallue. There take it then, says she, and away she goes.
As soon as I got the Bundle, and the Maid was out of Sight, I goes on towards the Ale-house, where the Porter's Wife was, so that if I met her, I had then only been going to give her the Bundle and to call her to her Business, as if I was going away, and could stay no longer; but as I did not meet her I walk'd away, and turning into Charter-house-Lane, made off thro' Charter-house-Yard, into Long-Lane, then into Bartholomew-Close, so into Little Britain, and thro' the Blue-Coat-Hospital, to Newgate-Street.
To prevent being known, I pull'd off my blue Apron, and wrapt the Bundle in it, which was made up in a Piece of painted Callico; I also wrapt up my Straw Hat in it, and so put the Bundle upon my Head; and it was very well, that I did thus, for coming thro' the Blue-Coat-Hospital, who should I meet but the Wench, that had given me the Bundle to hold; it seems she was going with her Mistress, who she had been to fetch to the the Barnet Coaches.
I saw she was in hast, and I had no Business to stop her; so away she went, and I brought my Bundle safe to my Governess; there was no Money, Plate, or Jewels in it; but a very good Suit of Indian Damask, a Gown and Petticoat, a lac'd Head and Ruffles of very good Flanders Lace, and some other Things, such as I knew very well the Value of.
This was not indeed, my own Invention, but was given me by one that had practis'd it with Success, and my Governess lik'd it extreamly; and indeed, I try'd it again several times, tho' never twice near the same Place; for the next time I try'd in White Chappel, just by the corner of Petti-Coat-Lane, where the Coaches stand that go out to Stratford and Bow, and that Side of the Country; and another time at the Flying-Horse without Bishopsgate, where the Cheston Coaches then lay, and I had always the good Luck to come off with some Booty.
Another time I placed myself at a Warehouse by the Water-side, where the Coasting Vessels from the North come, such as New-Castle upon Tyne, Sunderland, and other Places; here the Warehouse, being shut, comes a young Fellow with a Letter; and he wanted a Box, and a Hamper that was come from New-Castle upon Tyne, I ask'd him if he had the Marks of it, so he shows me the Letter, by Vertue of which he was to ask for it, and which gave an Account of the Contents, the Box being full of Linnen, and the Hamper full of Glass-Ware; I read the Letter, and took Care to see the Name, and the Marks, the Name of the Person that sent the Goods, and the Name of the Person they were sent to; then I bad the Messenger come in the Morning, for that the Warehouse-Keeper would not be there any more that Night.
Away went I, and wrote a Letter from Mr. John Richardson of New-Castle to his dear Cousin Jemy Cole, in London, with an Account that he had sent by such a Vessel (for I remembered all the Particulars to a Tittle), so many Pieces of Huckaback Linnen, and so many Ells of Dutch Holland, and the Like, in a Box, and a Hamper of Flint-Glasses from Mr. Henzill's Glass-house; and that the Box was marked I.C. No. 1., and the Hamper was directed by a Label on the Cording.
About an hour after, I came to the Warehouse, found the Warehouse-Keeper, and had the Goods deliver'd me without any Scruple; the Value of the Linnen being about 22 Pound.
I could fill up this whole Discourse with the Variety of such Adventures, which daily Invention directed to, and which I manag'd with the utmost Dexterity, and always with Success.
At length, as when does the Pitcher come safe Home that goes so often to the Well, I fell into some Broils, which tho' they could not affect me fatally, yet made me known, which was the worst thing next to being found Guilty, that could befal me.
I had taken up the Disguise of a Widow's Dress; it was without any real Design in View, but only waiting for any thing that might offer, as I often did: It happen'd that while I was going along a Street in Covent-Garden, there was a great Cry of stop Thief, stop Thief; some Artists had it seems put a Trick upon a Shop-keeper, and being pursued, some of them fled one way, and some another; and one of them was, they said, dress'd up in Widow's Weeds, upon which the Mob gather'd about me, and some said I was the Person, others said no, immediately came the Mercer's Journey-man, and he swore aloud I was the Person, and so seiz'd on me; however, when I was brought back by the Mob to the Mercer's Shop, the Master of the House said freely that I was not the Woman; and would have let me go immediately; but another fellow said gravely, pray stay till Mr. –, meaning the Journeyman, comes back, for he knows her; so they kept me near half an Hour; they had call'd a Constable, and he stood in the Shop as my Jayler; in talking with the Constable I enquir'd where he liv'd, and what Trade he was; the Man not apprehending in the least what happen'd afterwards, readily told me his Name, and where he liv'd; and told me as a Jest, that I might be sure to hear of his Name when I came to the Old-Bayly.
The Servants likewise us'd me saucily, and had much ado to keep their Hands off me, the Master indeed was civiler to me than they; but he would not let me go, tho' he own'd I was not in his Shop before.
I began to be a little surly with him, and told him I hop'd he would not take it ill, if I made my self amends upon him another time; and desir'd I might send for Friends to see me have right done: No, he said, he could give no such liberty, I might ask it when I came before the Justice of Peace, and seeing I threaten'd him, he would take care of me in the mean time, and would lodge me safe in Newgate: I told him it was his time now, but it would be mine by and by, and govern'd my Passion as well as I was able, however, I spoke to the Constable to call me a Porter, which he did, and then I call'd for Pen, Ink, and Paper, but they would let me have none; I ask'd the Porter his Name, and where he liv'd, and the poor Man told it me very willingly; I bad him observe and remember how I was treated there; that he saw I was detain'd there by Force; I told him I should want him in another Place, and it should not be the worse for him to speak; the Porter said he would serve me with all his Heart; but, Madam, says he, let me hear them refuse to let you go, then I may be able to speak the plainer.
With that, I spoke aloud to the Master of the Shop, and said, Sir, you know in your own Conscience that I am not the Person you look for, and that I was not in your Shop before, therefore I demand that you detain me here no longer, or tell me the reason of your stopping me; the Fellow grew surlier upon this than before, and said he would do neither till he thought fit; very well, said I to the Constable and to the Porter, you will be pleas'd to remember this, Gentlemen, another time; the Porter said, yes, Madam, and the Constable began not to like it, and would have perswaded the Mercer to dismiss him, and let me go, since, as he said, he own'd I was not the Person; Good Sir, says the Mercer to him Tauntingly, are you a Justice of Peace, or a Constable? I charg'd you with her, pray do your Duty: The Constable told him a little mov'd, but very handsomely, I know my duty, and what I am, Sir; I doubt you know hardly what you are doing; they had some other hard words, and in the mean time the Journey-men, impudent and unmanly to the last degree, used me barbarously, and one of them, the same that first seiz'd upon me, pretended he would search me, and began to lay Hands on me: I spit in his Face, call'd out to the Constable, and bad him take notice of my usage; and pray, Mr. Constable, said I, ask that Villain's Name, pointing to the Man; the Constable reprov'd him decently, told him that he did not know what he did, for he knew that his Master acknowledg'd I was not the Person; and says the Constable, I am afraid your Master is bringing himself and me too into Trouble, if this Gentlewoman comes to prove who she is, and where she was, and it appears that she is not the Woman you pretend to; Dam her, says the Fellow again, with an impudent harden'd Face, she is the Lady you may depend upon it, I'll swear she is the same Body that was in the Shop, and that I gave the pieces of Satin that is lost into her own Hand, you shall hear more of it when Mr. William and Mr. Anthony, those were other Journeymen, come back, they will know her again as well as I.
Just as the insolent Rogue was talking thus to the Constable, comes back Mr. William and Mr. Anthony, as he call'd them, and a great Rabble with them, bringing along with them the true Widow that I was pretended to be; and they came sweating and blowing into the Shop, and with a great deal of Triumph dragging the poor Creature in a most butcherly manner up towards their Master, who was in the back Shop, and they cry'd out aloud, here's the Widow, Sir, we have catched her at last; what do you mean by that, says the Master, why we have her already, there she sits, and Mr.–– says he can swear this is she: The other Man who they call'd Mr. Anthony reply'd; Mr.–– may say what he will, and swear what he will, but this is the Woman, and there's the Remnant of Sattin she stole, I took it out of her Cloaths with my own Hand.
I now began to take a better Heart, but smil'd and said nothing; the Master look'd Pale; the Constable turn'd about and look'd at me; let 'em alone, Mr. Constable, said I, let' em go on; the Case was plain and could not be denied, so the Constable was charg'd with the right Thief, and the Mercer told me very civily he was sorry for the Mistake, and hop'd I would not take it ill; that they had so many Things of this nature put upon them every Day, that they could not be blam'd for being very sharp in doing themselves Justice: Not take it ill, Sir, said I; how can I take it well? if you had dismiss'd me when your insolent Fellow seiz'd on me in the Street, and brought me to you; and when you yourself acknowledg'd I was not the Person, I wou'd have put it by, and not have taken it ill, because of the many ill things I believe you have put upon you daily; but your Treatment of me since has been unsufferable, and especially that of your Servant, I must and will have Reparation for that.
Then he began to parly with me, said he would make me any reasonable Satisfaction, and would fain have had me told him what it was I expected; I told him I should not be my own Judge, the Law should decide it for me, and as I was to be carried before a Magistrate, I should let him hear there what I had to say; he told me there was no occasion to go before the Justice now, I was at liberty to go where I pleased, and calling to the Constable told him, he might let me go, or I was discharg'd; the Constable said calmly to him, Sir, you ask'd me just now, if I knew whether I was a Constable or a Justice, and bad me do my Duty, and charg'd me with this Gentlewoman as a Prisoner; now Sir, I find you do not understand what is my Duty, for you would make me a Justice indeed; but I must tell you it is not in my Power: I may keep a Prisoner when I am charg'd with him, but 'tis the Law and the Magistrate alone that can discharge that Prisoner; therefore 'tis a Mistake Sir, I must carry her before a Justice now, whether you think well of it or not: The Mercer was very high with the Constable at first; but the Constable happening to be not a hir'd Officer, but a good, Substantial kind of Man, I think he was a Corn-chandler, and a Man of good Sense stood to his Business, would not discharge me without going to a Justice of the Peace, and I insisted upon it too: When the Mercer see that; well, says he to the Constable, you may carry her where you please, I have nothing to say to her; but Sir, says the Constable, you will go with us, I hope, for 'tis you that charg'd me with her; no not I, says the Mercer, I tell you, I have nothing to say to her: But pray Sir do, says the Constable, I desire it of you for your own sake, for the Justice can do nothing without you: Prithee Fellow, says the Mercer, go about your Business, I tell you I have nothing to say to the Gentlewoman, I charge you in the King's Name to dismiss her: Sir, says the Constable, I find you don't know what it is to be a Constable, I beg of you don't oblige me to be rude to you: I think I need not, you are rude enough already, says the Mercer: No, Sir, says the Constable, I am not rude, you have broken the Peace in bringing an honest Woman out of the Street, when she was about her lawful Occasions, confining her in your Shop, and ill using her here by your Servants; and now can you say I am rude to you? I think I am civil to you in not commanding you in the King's Name to go with me, and charging every Man I see, that passes your Door, to aid and assist me in carrying you by Force; this you know I have power to do, and yet I forbear it, and once more entreat you to go with me: Well, he would not for all this, and gave the Constable ill Language: However, the Constable kept his Temper, and would not be provok'd; and then I put in and said, come, Mr. Constable let him alone, I shall find ways enough to fetch him before a Magistrate, I don't fear that; but there's that Fellow, says I, he was the Man that seized on me, as I was innocently going along the Street, and you are a Witness of his Violence with me since, give me leave to charge you with him, and carry him before a Justice; yes, Madam, says the Constable; and turning to the Fellow, come young Gentleman, says be to the Journeyman, you must go along with us, I hope you are not above the Constable's Power, tho' your Master is.
The Fellow look'd like a condemn'd Thief, and hung back, then look'd at his Master, as if he cou'd help him; and he, like a Fool, encourag'd the Fellow to be rude, and he truly resisted the Constable, and push'd him back with a good Force when he went to lay hold on him, at which the Constable knock'd him down, and call'd out for help, immediately the Shop was fill'd with People, and the Constable seiz'd the Master and Man, and all his Servants.
The first ill Consequence of this Fray was, that the Woman, who was really the Thief, made off, and got clear away in the Crowd; and two others that they had stop'd also, whether they were really Guilty or not, that I can say nothing to.
By this time some of his Neighbours having come in, and seeing how things went, had endeavour'd to bring the Mercer to his Senses; and he began to be convinc'd that he was in the wrong; and so at length we went all very quietly before the Justice, with a Mob of about 500 People at our Heels; and all the way we went I could hear the People ask what was the matter? and others reply and say, a Mercer had stop'd a Gentlewoman instead of a Thief, and had afterwards taken the Thief, and now the Gentlewoman had taken the Mercer, and was carrying him before the Justice; this pleas'd the People strangely, and made the Crowd encrease, and they cry'd out as they went, which is the Rogue? which is the Mercer? and especially the Women, then when they saw him they cryed out, that's he, that's he; and every now and then came a good dab of Dirt at him; and thus we march'd a good while, till the Mercer thought fit to desire the Constable to call a Coach to protect himself from the Rabble; so we Rode the rest of the way, the Constable and I, and the Mercer and his Man.
When we came to the Justice, which was an ancient Gentleman in Bloomsbury, the Constable giving first a summary account of the Matter, the Justice bad me speak, and tell what I had to say; and first he asked my Name, which I was very loath to give, but there was no remedy, so I told him my Name was Mary Flanders, that I was a Widow, my Husband being a Sea Captain, dyed on a Voyage to Virginia; and some other Circumstances I told, which he cou'd never contradict, and that I lodg'd at present in Town, with such a Person, naming my Governess; but that I was preparing to go over to America, where my Husband's Effects lay, and that I was going that Day to buy some Cloaths to put my self into second Mourning, but had not yet been in any Shop, when that Fellow, pointing to the Mercer's Journeyman came rushing upon me with such fury, as very much frighted me, and carried me back to his Master's Shop; where tho' his Master acknowledg'd I was not the Person; yet he would not dismiss me, but charg'd a Constable with me.
Then I proceeded to tell how the Journeymen treated me; how they would not suffer me to send for any of my Friends; how afterwards they found the real Thief, and took the Goods they had Lost upon her, and all the particulars as before.
Then the Constable related his Case; his Dialogue with the Mercer about Discharging me, and at last his Servants refusing to go with him, when I had Charg'd him with him, and his Master encouraging him to do so; and at last his striking the Constable, and the like, all as I have told it already.
The Justice then heard, the Mercer and his Man; the Mercer indeed made a long Harangue of the great loss they have daily by the Lifters and Thieves; that it was easy for them to Mistake, and that when he found it, he would have dismiss'd me, &c. as above, as to the Journeyman he had very little to say, but that he pretended other of the Servants told him, that I was really the Person.
Upon the whole, the Justice first of all told me very courteously I was discharg'd; that he was very sorry that the Mercer's Man should in his eager pursuit have so little Discretion, as to take up an innocent Person for a guilty; that if he had not been so unjust as to detain me afterwards; he believ'd I would have forgiven the first Affront; that however it was not in his Power to award me any Reparation, other, than by openly reproving them, which he should do; but he suppos'd I would apply to such Methods as the Law directed; in the mean time he would bind him over.
But as to the Breach of the Peace committed by the Journeyman, he told me he should give me some satisfaction for that, for he should commit him to Newgate for Assaulting the Constable, and for Assaulting of me also.
Accordingly he sent the Fellow to Newgate, for that Assault, and his Master gave Bail, and so we came away; but I had the satisfaction of seeing the Mob wait upon them both, as they came out, Holooing, and throwing Stones and Dirt at the Coaches they rode in, and so I came Home.
After this hustle, coming home, and telling my Governess the Story, she falls a Laughing at me; Why are you so merry, says I? the Story has not so much Laughing room in it, as you imagine; I am sure I have had a great deal of Hurry and Fright too, with a Pack of ugly Rogues. Laugh, says my Governess, I laugh Child to see what a lucky Creature you are; why this Jobb will be the best Bargain to you, that ever you made in your Life, if you manage it well: I warrant you, you shall make the Mercer pay 500l. for Damages, besides what you shall get of the Journeyman.
I had other Thoughts of the Matter than she had; and especially, because I had given in my Name to the Justice of Peace; and I knew that my Name was so well known among the People at Hicks's-Hall, the Old Baily, and such Places, that if this Cause came to be try'd openly, and my Name came to be enquir'd into, no Court would give much Damages, for the Reputation of a Person of such a Character; however, I was oblig'd to begin a Prosecution in Form, and accordingly my Governess found me out a very creditable sort of a Man to manage it, being an Attorney of very good Business, and of good Reputation, and she was certainly in the right of this; for had she employ'd a petty Fogging hedge Solicitor, or a Man not known, I should have brought it to but little.
I met this Attorney, and gave him all the particulars at large, as they are recited above; and he assur'd me, it was a Case, as he said, that he did not Question, but that a Jury would give very considerable Damages; so taking his full Instructions, he began the Prosecution, and the Mercer being Arrested, gave Bail; a few Days after his giving Bail, he comes with his Attorney to my Attorney, to let him know, that he desir'd to Accomodate the matter, that it was all carried on in the Heat of an unhappy Passion; that his Client, meaning me, had a sharp provoking Tongue, and that I us'd them ill, gibbing at them, and jeering them, even while they believed me to be the very Person, and that I had provok'd them, and the like.
My Attorney manag'd as well on my Side; made them believe I was a Widow of Fortune, that I was able to do myself Justice, and had great Friends to stand by me too, who had all made me promise to Sue to the utmost, if it cost me a Thousand Pound, for that the Affronts I had receiv'd were insufferable.
However they brought my Attorney to this, that he promis'd he would not blow the Coals, that if I enclin'd to an Accommodation, he would not hinder me, and that he would rather perswade me to Peace than to War; for which they told him he should be no looser, all which he told me very honestly, and told me that if they offer'd him any Bribe, I should certainly know it; but upon the whole he told me very honestly that if I would take his Opinion – he would Advise me to make it up, with them; for that as they were in a great Fright, and were desirous above all things to make it up, and knew that let it be what it would, they must bear all the Costs; he believed they would give me freely more than any Jury would give upon a Trial: I ask'd him what he thought they would be brought to; he told me he could not tell, as to that; but he would tell me more when I saw him again.
Some time after this, they came again, to know if he had talk'd with me: He told them he had, that he found me not so Averse to an Accommodation as some of my Friends were, who resented the Disgrace offer'd me, and set me on; that they blow'd the Coals in secret, prompting me to Revenge, or to do myself Justice, as they call'd it; so that he could not tell what to say to it; he told them he would do his endeavour to persuade me, but he ought to be able to tell me what Proposal they made: They pretended they could not make any Proposal because it might be made use of against them; and he told them, that by the same Rule he could not make any offers, for that might be pleaded in Abatement of what Damages a Jury might be inclin'd to give: However, after some Discourse and mutual Promises that no Advantage should be taken on either Side, by what was transacted then, or at any other of those Meetings, they came to a kind of a Treaty; but so remote, and so wide from one another, that nothing could be expected from it; for my Attorney demanded 500l. and Charges, and they offer'd 50l. without Charges; so they broke off, and the Mercer propos'd to have a Meeting with me myself; and my Attorney agreed to that very readily.
My Attorney gave me Notice to come to this Meeting in good Cloaths, and with some State, that the Mercer might see I was something more than I seem'd to be that time they had me: Accordingly I came in a new Suit of second Mourning, according to what I had said at the Justices; I set myself out too, as well as a Widows dress would admit; my Governess, also furnish'd me with a good Pearl Necklace, that shut in behind with a Locket of Diamonds, which she had in Pawn; and I had a very good Gold Watch by my Side: so that I made a very good Figure, and as I stay'd till I was sure they were come; I came in a Coach to the Door, with my Maid with me.
When I came into the Room, the Mercer was surpriz'd, he stood up and made his Bow, which I took a little Notice of, and but a little, and went and sat down, where my own Attorney had appointed me to sit, for it was his House; after a while, the Mercer said, he did not know me again, and began to make some Compliments; I told him, I believ'd he did not know me at first, and that if he had, he would have not treated me as he did.
He told me he was very sorry for what had happen'd, and that it was to testify the Willingness he had to make all possible Reparation, that he had appointed this Meeting; that he hop'd I would not carry things to Extremity, which might be not only too great a Loss to him, but might be the Ruin of his Business and Shop, in which Case I might have the Satisfaction of repaying an Injury with an Injury ten times greater; but that I would then get nothing, whereas he was willing to do me any Justice that was in his Power, without putting himself, or me to the Trouble or Charge of a Suit of Law.
I told him I was glad to hear him talk so much more like a Man of Sense than he did before; that it was true, Acknowledgment in most Cases of Affronts was counted Reparation sufficient; but this had gone too far to be made up so; that I was not revengeful, nor did I seek his Ruin, or any Man's else, but that all my Friends were unanimous not to let me so far neglect my Character, as to adjust a thing of this kind without Reparation: That to be taken up for a Thief, was such an Indignity as could not be put up, that my Character was above being treated so by any that knew me, but because in my Condition of a Widow, I had been careless of myself, I might be taken for such a Creature, but that for the particular Usage I had from him afterward; and then I repeated all as before, it was so provoking I had scarce Patience to repeat it.
He acknowledg'd all, and was mighty humble indeed; he came up to Hundred Pounds and to pay all the Law Charges, and added, that he would make me a Present of a very good Suit of Cloaths; I came down to Three Hundred Pounds, and demanded that I should publish an Advertisement of the Particulars in the common New's-Papers.
This was a Clause he never could comply with; however, at last he came up, by good Management of my Attorney to 150l. and a Suit of black Silk Cloaths, and there, as it were at my Attorney's Request, I comply'd; he paying my Attorney's Bill and Charges, and gave us a good Supper into the Bargain.
When I came to receive the Money, I brought my Governess with me, dress'd like an old Dutchess, and a Gentleman very well dress'd, who we pretended Courted me, but I call'd him Cousin, and the Lawyer was only to hint privately to them, that this Gentleman Courted the Widow.
He treated us handsomely indeed, and paid the Money chearfully enough; so that it cost him 200l. in all, or rather more: At our last Meeting, when all was agreed, the Case of the Journeyman came up, and the Mercer beg'd very hard for him, told me he was a Man that had kept a Shop of his own, and been in good Business, had a Wife and several Children, and was very poor, that he had nothing to make Satisfaction with, but should beg my Pardon on his Knees: I had no Spleen at the saucy Rogue, nor were his Submissions any thing to me, since there was nothing to be got by him; so I thought it was as good to throw that in generously as not, so I told him I did not desire the Ruin of any Man, and therefore at his Request I would forgive the Wretch, it was below me to seek any Revenge.
When we were at Supper he brought the Poor Fellow in to make his Acknowledgment, which he would have done with as much mean Humility, as his Offence was with insulting Pride, in which he was an Instance of a compleat Baseness of Spirit, imperious, cruel, and relentless when Uppermost; abject and low Spirited when down: However, I abated his Cringes, told him, I forgave him, and desir'd he might withdraw, as if I did not care for the Sight of him, tho' I had forgiven him.
I was now in good Circumstances indeed, if I could have known my Time for leaving off, and my Governess often said I was the richest of the Trade in England, and so I believe I was; for I had 700l. by me in Money, besides Cloaths, Rings, some Plate, and two Gold Watches, and all of them stol'n, for I had innumerable Jobbs, besides these I have mentioned; O! Had I even now had the Grace of Repentance, I had still Leisure to have look'd back upon my Follies, and have made some Reparation; but the Satisfaction I was to make for the Publick Mischiefs I had done, was yet left behind; and I could not forbear going abroad again, as I call'd it now, any more than I could when my Extremity really drove me out for Bread.
It was not long after the Affair with the Mercer was made up, that I went out in an Equipage quite different from any I had ever appear'd in before; I dress'd myself like a Begger Woman, in the coursest and most despicable Rags I could get, and I walk'd about Peering, and Peeping into every Door and Window I came near; and indeed I was in such a Plight now, that I knew as ill how to behave in, as ever I did in any; I naturally abhor'd Dirt and Rags; I had been bred up Tite and Cleanly, and could be no other, what-ever Condition I was in; so that this was the most uneasy Disguise to me that ever I put on: I said presently to my self, that this would not do, for this was a Dress that every Body was shy, and afraid of; and I thought every Body look'd at me as if they were afraid I should come near them, least I should take something from them, or afraid to come near me, least they should get something from me: I wandred about all the Evening the first Time I went out, and made nothing of it, and came Home again wet, dragl'd, and tired: However I went out again the next Night, and then I met with a little Adventure, which had like to have cost me dear; as I was standing near a Tavern Door, there comes a Gentleman on Horseback, and lights at the Door, and wanting to go into the Tavern, he calls one of the Drawers to hold his Horse; he stay'd pretty long in the Tavern, and the Drawer heard his Master call, and thought he would be angry with him; seeing me stand by him, he call'd to me, here Woman, says he, hold this Horse a while, 'till I go in; if the Gentleman comes, he'll give you something; yes says I, and takes the Horse, and walks off with him soberly, and carry'd him to my Governess.
This had been a Booty to those that had understood it; but never was poor Thief more at a Loss to know what to do with any Thing that was stolen; for when I came Home, my Governess was quite confounded, and what to do with the Creature, we neither of us knew; to send him to a Stable was doing nothing, for it was certain that Notice would be given in the Gazette, and the Horse describ'd, so that we durst not go to fetch it again.
All the Remedy we had for this unlucky Adventure was to go and set up the Horse at an Inn, and send a Note by a Porter to the Tavern, that the Gentleman's Horse that was lost at such a Time, was left at such an Inn, and that he might be had there; that the poor Woman that held him, having led him about the Street, not being able to lead him back again, had left him there; we might have waited till the owner had publish'd, and offer'd a Reward, but we did not care to venture the receiving the Reward.
So this was a Robbery and no Robbery, for little was lost by it, and nothing was got by it, and I was quite Sick of going out in a Beggar's Dress; it did not answer at all, and besides I thought it Ominous and Threatning.
While I was in this Disguise, I fell in with a parcel of Folks of a worse Kind than any I ever sorted with, and I saw a little into their Ways too, these were Coiners of Money, and they made some very good Offers to me, as to Profit; but the Part they would have had me embark'd in, was the most dangerous; I mean that of the very working of the Dye, as they call it, which had I been taken, had been certain Death, and that at a Stake, I say, to be burnt to Death at a Stake; so that tho' I was to Appearance, but a Beggar; and they promis'd Mountains of Gold and Silver to me, to engage; yet it would not do; 'tis true, if I had been realy a Beggar, or had been desperate as when I began, I might perhaps have closed with it, for what care they to Dye, that cannot tell how to Live? But at present that was not my Condition, at least I was for no such terrible Risques as those; besides, the very Thoughts of being burnt at a Stake, struck Terror to my very Soul, chill'd my Blood, and gave me the Vapours to such a Degree, as I could not think of it without trembling.
This put an End to my Disguise too, for tho' I did not like the Proposal, yet I did not tell them so; but seem'd to relish it, and promis'd to meet again; but I durst see them no more; for if I had seen them, and not comply'd, tho' I had declin'd it with the greatest Assurances of Secresy in the World, they would have gone near to have murder'd me, to make sure Work, and make themselves easy, as they call it; what kind of Easiness that is, they may best judge that understand how easy Men are, that can murder People to prevent Danger.
This and Horse stealing were things quite out of my Way, and I might easily resolve I would have no more to say to them; my Business seem'd to lye another Way, and tho' it had hazard enough in it too, yet it was more suitable to me, and what had more of Art in it, and more Chances for a coming off, if a Surprize should happen.
I had several Proposals made also to me about that Time, to come into a Gang of House Breakers; but that was a thing I had no mind to venture at neither, any more than I had at the Coining Trade; I offer'd to go along with two Men, and a Woman, that made it their Business to get into Houses by Stratagem, I was willing enough to venture; but there were three of them already, and they did not care to part, nor I to have too many in a Gang, so I did not close with them, and they paid dear for their next Attempt.
But at length I met with a Woman that had often told me what Adventures she had made, and with Success, at the Water-side, and I clos'd with her, and we droveon our Business pretty well: One Day we came among some Dutch People at St. Catherines, where we went on pretence to buy Goods that were privately got on Shore: I was two or three times in a House, where we saw a good Quantity of prohibited Goods, and my Companion once brought away three Peices of Dutch black Silk that turn'd to good Account, and I had my Share of it; but in all the Journeys I made by myself, I could not get an Opportunity to do any thing, so I laid it aside; for I had been there so often, that they began to suspect something.
This baulk'd me a little, and I resolv'd to push at something or other, for I was not us'd to come back so often without Purchase; so the next Day I dress'd myself up fine, and took a Walk to the other End of the Town, I pass'd thro' the Exchange in the Strand, but had no Notion of finding any thing to do there, when on a sudden I saw a great Clutter in the Place, and all the People, Shopkeepers as well as others, standing up, and staring, and what should it be? but some great Dutchess come into the Exchange; and they said the Queen was coming; I set myself close up to a Shop-side with my back to the Compter, as if to let the Crowd pass by, when keeping my Eye upon a parcel of Lace, which the Shop-keeper was showing to some Ladies that stood by me; the Shop-keeper and her Maid were so taken up with looking to see who was a coming, and what Shop they would go to, that I found means to slip a Paper of Lace into my Pocket, and come clear off with it, so the Lady Millener paid dear enough for her gaping after the Queen.
I went off from the Shop, as if driven along by the Throng, and mingling myself with the Crowd, went out at the other Door of the Exchange, and so got away before they miss'd their Lace; and because I would not be follow'd, I call'd a Coach and shut myself up in it; I had scarce shut the Coach Doors, but I saw the Milleners Maid, and five or six more come running out into the Street, and crying out as if they were frighted; they did not cry stop Thief, because no body ran away, but I cou'd hear the Word robb'd, and Lace, two or three times, and saw the Wench wringing her Hands, and run staring too, and again, like one scar'd; the Coachman that had taken me up, was getting up into the Box, but was not quite up, and the Horses had not begun to move, so that I was terrible uneasy; and I took the Packet of Lace and laid it ready to have dropt it out at the Flap of the Coach, which opens before, just behind the Coachman; but to my great satisfaction in less than a Minute, the Coach began to move, that is to say, as soon as the Coachman had got up, and spoken to his Horses; so he drove away, and I brought off my Purchase, which was worth near twenty Pound.
The next Day I dress'd me up again, but in quite different Cloaths, and walk'd the same way again, but nothing offer'd till I came into St. James's Park: I saw abundance of fine Ladies in the Park, walking in the Mall, and among the rest, there was a little Miss, a young Lady of about 12 or 13 Years old, and she had a Sister, as I suppos'd, with her, that might be about Nine: I observ'd the biggest had a fine gold Watch on, and a good Necklace of Pearl, and they had a Footman in Livery with them; but as it is not usual for the Footmen to go behind the Ladies in the Mall; so I observ'd the Footman stop'd at their going into the Mall, and the biggest of the Sisters spoke to him, to bid him be just there when they came back.
When I heard her dismiss the Footman, I step'd up to him, and ask'd him, what little Lady that was? and held a little Chat with him, about what a pretty Child it was with her, and how Genteel, and well Carriag'd, the eldest would be; how womanish, and how Grave; and the Fool of a Fellow told me presently who she was, that she was Sir Thomas –– 's eldest Daughter of Essex, and that she was a great Fortune, that her Mother was not come to Town yet; but she was with Sir William –– 's Lady at her Lodgings in Suffolk-Street, and a great deal more; that they had a Maid and a Woman to wait on them, besides, Sir Thomas's Coach, the Coachman and himself, and that young Lady was Governess to the whole Family, as well here as at Home; and told me abundance of things enough for my business.
I was well dress'd, and had my gold Watch, as well as she; so I left the Footman, and I puts myself in a Rank with this Lady, having stay'd till she had taken one Turn in the Mall, and was going forward again; by and by, I saluted her by her Name, with the Title of Lady Betty: I ask'd her when she heard from her Father? when my Lady her Mother would be in Town and how she did?
I talk'd so familiarly to her of her whole Family that she cou'd not suspect, but that I knew them all intimately: I ask'd her why she would come Abroad without Mrs. Chime with her (that was the Name of her Woman) to take care of Mrs. Judith, that was her Sister. Then I enter'd into a long Chat with her about her Sister, what a fine little Lady she was, and ask'd her if she had learn'd French, and a Thousand such little Things, when on a sudden the Guards came, and the Crowd run to see the King go by to the Parliament-House.
The Ladies run all to the Side of the Mall, and I help'd my Lady to stand upon the edge of the Boards on the side of the Mall, that she might be high enough to see; and took the little one and lifted her quite up; during which, I took care to convey her gold Watch so clean away from the Lady Betty, that she never miss'd it, till the Crowd was gone, and she was gotten into the middle of the Mall.
I took my leave in the very Crowd, and said, as if in haste, dear Lady Betty take care of your little Sister, and so the Crowd did as it were, Thrust me away, and that I was unwilling to take my leave.
The hurry in such Cases is immediately over, and the Place clear as soon as the King is gone by; but as there is always a great running and clutter just as the King passes; so having drop'd the two little Ladies, and done my Business with them, without any Miscarriage, I kept hurrying on among the Crowd, as if I run to see the King, and so I kept before the Crowd, 'till I came to the End of the Mall; when the King going on to ward the Horse-Guards; I went forward to the Passage, which went then thro' against the End of the Hay-Market, and there I bestow'd a Coach upon my self, and made off; and I confess I have not yet been so good as my Word, (viz.) to go and visit my Lady Betty.
I was once in the Mind to venture staying with Lady Betty, 'till she mist the Watch, and so have made a great Out-cry about it with her, and have got her into her Coach, and put my self in the Coach with her, and have gone Home with her; for she appear'd so fond of me, and so perfectly deceiv'd by my so readily talking to her of all her Relations and Family, that I thought it was very easy to push the thing farther, and to have got at least the Neck-Lace of Pearl; but when I consider'd that tho' the Child would not perhaps have suspected me, other People might, and that if I was search'd I should be discover'd; I thought it was best to go off with what I had got.
I came accidentally afterwards to hear, that when the young Lady miss'd her Watch, she made a great Out-cry in the Park, and sent her Footman up and down, to see if he could find me, she having describ'd me so perfectly, that he knew it was the same Person that had stood and talked so long with him, and ask'd him so many Questions about them; but I was gone far enough out of their reach, before she could come at her Footman to tell him the Story.
I made another Adventure after this, of a Nature different from all I had been concern'd in yet, and this was at a Gaming House near Covent Garden.
I saw several People go in and out; and I stood in the Passage a good while with another Woman with me, and seeing a Gentleman go up that seem'd to be of more than ordinary Fashion, I said to him, Sir, pray don't they give Women Leave to go up? Yes Madam, says he, and to play too if they please; I mean so, Sir, said I; and with that, he said he would introduce me if I had a Mind; so I follow'd him to the Door, and he looking in, there, Madam, says he, are the Gamesters, if you have a mind to venture; I look'd in, and said to my Comerade, aloud, here's nothing but Men, I won't venture; at which one of the Gentlemen cry'd out, you need not be afraid Madam, here's none but fair Gamesters, you are very welcome to come and set what you please; so I went a little nearer and look'd on, and some of them brought me a Chair, and I sat down and see the Box and Dice go round a Pace; then I said to my Comrade, the gentlemen play too high for us, come let us go.
The People were all very civil, and one Gentleman encourag' me, and said, come Madam, if you please to venture, if you dare trust me I'll answer for it; you shall have nothing put upon you here; no Sir, said I, smiling, I hope the Gentlemen would not Cheat a Woman; but still I declin'd venturing, tho' I pull'd out a Purse with Money in it, that they might see I did not want Money.
After I had sat a while, one Gentleman said to me Jeering, come Madam, I see you are afraid to venture for your self; I always had good Luck with the Ladies, you shall Set for me, if you won't Set for yourself; I told him, Sir I should be very loth to loose your Money, tho' I added, I am pretty lucky too; but the Gentlemen play so high, that I dare not venture my own.
Well, well, says he, there's ten Guineas Madam, Set them for me; so I took the Money and set, himself looking on; I run out the Guineas by One and Two at a Time, and then the Box coming to the next Man to me, my Gentleman gave me ten Guineas more, and made me Set Five of them at once, and the Gentleman who had the Box threw out, so there was five Guineas of his Money again; he was encourag'd at this, and made me take the Box, which was a bold Venture: However, I held the Box so long that I gain'd him his whole Money, and had a Handful of Guineas in my Lap, and which was the better Luck, when I threw out, I threw but at One or Two of those that had Set me, and so went off easie.
When I was come this Length, I offer'd the Gentleman all the Gold, for it was his own; and so would have had him play for himself, pretending that I did not understand the Game well enough: He laugh'd, and said if I had but good Luck, it was no matter whether I understood the Game or no; but I should not leave off: However he took out the 15 Guineas that he had put in first, and bad me play with the Rest: I would have him to have seen how much I had got, but he said, no, no, don't tell them, I believe you are very honest, and 'tis bad Luck to tell them, so I play'd on.
I understood the Game well enough, tho' I pretended I did not, and play'd cautiously, which was to keep a good Stock in my Lap, out of which I every now and then convey'd some into my Pocket; but in such a manner, as I was sure he could not see it.
I play'd a great while, and had very good Luck for him, but the last time I held the Box, they Set me high, and I threw boldly at all; and held the Box 'till I had gain'd near fourscore Guineas, but lost above half of it back at the last throw; so I got up, for I was afraid I should lose it all back again, and said to him, pray come Sir now and take it and play for your self, I think I have done pretty well for you: he would have had me play'd on, but it grew late, and I desir'd to be excus'd. When I gave it up to him, I told him I hop'd he would give me Leave to tell it now, that I might see what he had gain'd, and how Lucky I had been for him; when I told them there were threescore and three Guineas. Ay, says I, if it had not been for that unlucky Throw I had got you a hundred Guineas; so I gave him all the Money, but he would not take it 'till I had put my Hand into it, and taken some for my self, and bid me please my self; I refus'd it, and was positive I would not take it my self, if he had a Mind to do any Thing of that Kind it should be all his own doings.
The rest of the Gentlemen seeing us striving, cry'd give it her all; but I absolutely refus'd that; then one of them said, D–n ye Jack, half it with her, don't you know you should be always upon even Terms with the Ladies; so in short, he divided it with me, and I brought away 30 Guineas, besides about 43, which I had stole privately, which I was sorry for, because he was so generous.
Thus I brought Home 73 Guineas, and let my old Governess see what good Luck I had at Play: However it was her Advice that I should not venture again, and I took her Council, for I never went there any more; for I knew as well as she, if the Itch of Play came in, I might soon lose that, and all the rest of what I had got.
Fortune had smil'd upon me to that Degree, and I had thriven so much, and my Governess too, for she always had a Share with me, that really the old Gentlewoman began to talk of leaving off while we were well, and being satisfy'd with what we had got; but, I know not what Fate guided me, I was as backward to it now, as she was when I propos'd it to her before, and so in an ill Hour we gave over the Thoughts of it for the present, and in a Word I grew more harden'd and audacious than ever, and the Success I had, made my Name as famous as any Thief of my sort ever had been.
I had sometimes taken the Liberty to play the same Game over again, which is not according to Practice, which however succeeded not amiss; but generally I took up new Figures, and contriv'd to appear in new Shapes every time I went abroad.
It was now a rumbling time of the Year, and the Gentlemen being most of them gone out of Town, Tunbridge, and Epsom, and such Places were full of People, but the City was thin, and I thought our Trade felt it a little, as well as others; so that at the latter End of the Year I joyn'd my self with a Gang, who usually go every Year to Sturbridge Fair, and from thence to Bury Fair, in Suffolk: We promised ourselves great Things here, but when I came to see how things were, I was weary of it presently; for except meer picking of Pockets, there was little worth meddling with; neither if a Booty had been made, was it so easy carrying it off, nor was there such a Variety of Occasion for Business in our Way, as in London; all that I made of the whole Journey, was a Gold Watch at Bury Fair, and a small Parcel of Linnen at Cambridge, which gave me Occasion to take Leave of the Place: It was an old Bite, and I thought might do with a Country Shop-Keeper, tho' in London it would not.
I bought at a Linnen Draper's Shop, not in the Fair, but in the Town of Cambridge, as much fine Holland, and other Things as came to about seven Pound; when I had done, I bad them be sent to such an Inn, where I had taken up my Being the same Morning, as if I was to Lodge there that Night.
I order'd the Draper to send them Home to me, about such an Hour, to the Inn where I lay, and I would pay him his Money; at the Time appointed the Draper sends the Goods, and I plac'd one of our Gang at the Chamber Door, and when the Inn-Keeper's Maid brought the Messenger to the Door, who was a young Fellow, an Apprentice, almost a Man; she tells him her Mistress was a sleep, but if he would leave the Things, and call in about an Hour, I should be awake, and he might have the Money; he left the Parcel very readily, and goes his way, and in about half an Hour my Maid and I walk'd off, and that very Evening I hired a Horse, and a Man to ride before me, and went to New-Market, and from thence got my Passage in a Coach that was not quite full to St.
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