The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders Read Online

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. Edmund's Bury; where as I told you, I could make but little of my Trade, only at a little country Opera House, I got a Gold Watch from a Ladies Side, who was not only intollerably Merry, but a little Fuddled, which made my Work much easier.

I made off with this little Booty to Ipswich, and from thence to Harwich, where I went into an Inn, as if I had newly arriv'd from Holland, not doubting but I should make some Purchase among the Foreigners that came on Shore there; but I found them generally empty of Things of Value, except what was in their Portmantuas, and Dutch Hampers, which were always guarded by Footmen; however, I fairly got one of their Portmantuas one Evening out of the Chamber where the Gentleman lay, the Footman being fast a sleep on the Bed, and I suppose very Drunk.

The Room in which I Lodg'd, lay next to the Dutchman's, and having dragg'd the heavy thing with much ado out of the Chamber into mine; I went out into the Street, to see if I could find any possibility of carrying it off; I walk'd about a great while but could see no probability, either of getting out the Thing, or of conveying away the Goods that was in it, the Town being so small, and I a perfect Stranger in it; so I was returning with a Resolution to carry it back again, and leave it where I found it; just in that very Moment I heard a Man make a Noise to some People to make haste, for the Boat was going to put off, and the Tyde would be spent; I call'd the Fellow, What Boat is it Friend, said I, that you belong to? The Ipswich Wherry, Madam, says he. When do you go off? says I. This Moment, Madam, says he; Do you want to go thither? Yes, said I, if you can stay till I fetch my Things. Where are your Things Madam? says he. At such an Inn, said I. Well, I'll go with you Madam, says he, very civilly, and bring them for you; come away then, says I, and takes him with me.

The People of the Inn were in a great Hurry, the Packet-Boat from Holland being just come in, and two Coaches just come also with Passengers from London, for another Packet-Boat that was going off for Holland, which Coaches were to go back next Day with the Passengers that were just Landed: In this Hurry it was, that I came to the Barr, and paid my Reckoning, telling my Landlady I had gotten my Passage by Sea in a Wherry.

These Wherries are large Vessels, with good Accommodation for carrying Passengers from Harwich to London; and tho' they are call'd Wherries, which is a Word us'd in the Thames for a small Boat, row'd with one or two Men; yet these are Vessels able to carry twenty Passengers, and ten or fiveteen Ton of Goods, and fitted to bear the Sea; all this I had found out by enquiring the Night before into the several Ways of going to London.

My Landlady was very Courteous, took my Money for the Reckoning, but was call'd away, all the House being in a Hurry; so I left her, took the Fellow up into my Chamber, gave him the Trunk, or Portmantua, for it was like a Trunk, and wrapt it about with an old Apron, and he went directly to his Boat with it, and I after him, no Body asking us the least Question about it; as for the drunken Dutch Footman he was still a sleep, and his Master with other Foreign Gentlemen at Supper, and very merry below; so I went clean off with it to Ipswich, and going in the Night, the People of the House knew nothing, but that I was gone to London, by the Harwich Wherry as I had told my Landlady.

I was plagu'd at Ipswich with the Custom-House Officers, who stop'd my Trunk, as I call'd it, and would open, and search it; I was willing I told them, that they should Search it, but my Husband had the Key, and that he was not yet come from Harwich; this I said, that if upon searching it, they should find all the things be such, as properly belong'd to a Man rather than a Woman, it should not seem strange to them; however, they being positive to open the Trunk, I consented to have it broken open, that is to say, to have the Lock taken off, which was not difficult.

They found nothing for their turn, for the Trunk had been search'd before; but they discover'd several Things much to my Satisfaction, as particularly a Parcelof Money in French Pistoles, and some Dutch Ducatoons, or Rix Dollars, and the rest was chiefly two Perriwigs, wearing Linnen, Rasors, Wash-Balls, Perfumes and other useful Things Necessary for a Gentleman; which all pass'd for my Husband's, and so I was quit of them.

It was now very early in the Morning, and not Light; and I knew not well what Course to take; for I made no Doubt but I should be pursu'd in the Morning, and perhaps be taken with the things about me; so I resolv'd upon taking new Measures; I went publickly to an Inn in the Town with my Trunk, as I call'd it, and having taken the Substance out, I did not think the Lumber of it worth my concern; however, I gave it the Landlady of the House with a Charge to take Care of it, and lay it up safe till I should come again, and away I walk'd into the Street.

When I was got into the Town a great way from the Inn, I met with an antient Woman who had just open'd her Door, and I fell into Chat with her, and ask'd her a great many wild Questions of things all remote to my Purpose and Design, but in my Discourse I found by her how the Town was situated, that I was in a Street which went out towards Hadly; but that such a Street went towards the Water-side, such a Street went into the Heart of the Town; and at last, such a Street went towards Colchester, and so the London Road lay there.

I had soon my Ends of this old Woman; for I only wanted to know which was the London Road, and away I walk'd as fast as I could; not that I intended to go on Foot, either to London or to Colchester, but I wanted to get quietly away from Ipswich.

I walk'd about two or three Mile, and then I met a plain Countryman, who was busy about some Husbandry work I did not know what; and I ask'd him a great many Questions first, not much to the purpose; but at last told him I was going for London, and the Coach was full, and I cou'd not get a Passage, and ask'd him if he cou'd not tell me where to hire a Horse that would carry double, and an honest Man to ride before me to Colchester, so that I might get a Place there in the Coaches; the honest Clown look'd earnestly at me, and said nothing for above half a Minute; when scratching his Pole, a Horse say you, and to Colchester to carry double; why yes Mistress, alack-a-day, you may have Horses enough for Money; well Friend, says I, that I take for granted, I don't expect it without Money: Why but Mistress, says he, how much are you willing to give? nay, says I again, Friend, I don't know what your Rates are in the Country here, for I am a Stranger; but if you can get one for me, get it as Cheap as you can, and I'll give you somewhat for your Pains.

Why that's honestly said too, says the Countryman; not so honest neither, said I, to myself, if thou knewest all; why Mistress, says he, I have a Horse that will carry Double, and I don't much care if I go myself with you, an' you like; Will you, says I? well I believe you are an honest Man, if you will, I shall be glad of it, I'll pay you in Reason; why look ye Mistress, says he, I won't be out of Reason with you, then if I carry you to Colchester, it will be worth five Shillings for myself and my Horse, for I shall hardly come back to Night.

In short, I hir'd the honest Man and his Horse; but when we came to a Town upon the Road, I do not remember the Name of it, but it stands upon a River, I pretended myself very ill, and I could go no farther that Night, but if he would stay there with me, because I was a Stranger I would pay him for himself, and his Horse with all my Heart.

This I did because I knew the Dutch Gentlemen and their Servants would be upon the Road that Day, either in the Stage Coaches, or riding Post, and I did not know but the drunken Fellow, or some body else that might have seen me at Harwich, might see me again, and I thought that in one Days stop they would be all gone by.

We lay all that Night there, and the next Morning it was not very early when I set out, so that it was near Ten a-Clock by that time I got to Colchester: It was no little Pleasure that I saw the Town, where I had so many pleasant Days, and I made many Enquiries after the good old Friends, I had once had there, but could make little out, they were all dead or remov'd: The young Ladies had been all married or gone to London; the old Gentleman, and the old Lady, that had been my early Benefactress all dead; and which troubled me most, the young Gentleman my first Lover, and afterwards my Brother-in-Law, was dead; but two Sons Men grown, were left of him, but they too were Transplanted to London.

I dismiss'd my old Man here, and stay'd incognito for three or four Days in Colechester, and then took a Passage in a Waggon, because I would not venture being seen in the Harwich Coaches; but I needed not have used so much Caution, for there was no Body in Harwich, but the Woman of the House, could have known me; nor was it rational to think that she, considering the hurry she was in, and that she never saw me but once, and that by Candle light, should have ever discover'd me.

I was now return'd to London, and tho' by the Accident of the last Adventure, I got something considerable, yet I was not fond of any more Country rambles; nor should I have ventur'd Abroad again if I had carried the Trade on to the End of my Days; I gave my Governess a History of my Travels, she lik'd the Harwich Journey well enough, and in Discoursing of these things between ourselves she observ'd, that a Thief being a Creature that Watches the Advantages of other Peoples mistakes, 'tis impossible but that to one that is vigilant and industrious many Opportunities must happen, and therefore she thought that one so exquisitely keen in the Trade as I was, would scarce fail of something wherever I went.

On the other hand, every Branch of my Story, if duly consider'd, may be useful to honest People, and afford a due Caution to People of some sort, or other, to Guard against the like Surprizes, and to have their Eyes about them when they have to do with Strangers of any kind, for 'tis very seldom that some Snare or other is not in their way. The Moral indeed of all my History is left to be gather'd by the Senses and Judgment of the Reader; I am not Qualified to preach to them, let the Experience of one Creature compleatly Wicked, and compleatly Miserable, be a Storehouse of useful warning to those that read.

I am drawing now towards a new Variety of Life: Upon my return, being hardened by a long Race of Crime, and Success unparallel'd, I had, as I have said, no thoughts of laying down a Trade, which if I was to judge by the Example of others, must however End at last in Misery and Sorrow.

It was on the Christmas-day following, in the Evening, that to finish a long Train of Wickedness, I went Abroad to see what might offer in my way; when going by a Working Silver-Smith's in Foster-lane, I saw a tempting Bait indeed, and not to be resisted by one of my Occupation; for the Shop had no Body in it, and a great deal of loose Plate lay in the Window, and at the Seat of the Man, who I suppose Work'd at one side of the Shop.

I went boldly in and was just going to lay my Hand upon a peice of Plate, and might have done it, and carried it clear off, for any care that the Men who belong'd to the Shop had taken of it; but an officious Fellow in a House, on the other Side of the Way, seeing me go in, and that there was no Body in the Shop, comes running over the Street, and without asking me what I was, or who, seizes upon me, and cries out for the People of the House.

I had not touch'd any thing in the Shop, and seeing a glimpse of some Body running over, I had so much presence of Mind, as to knock very hard with my Foot on the Floor of the House, and was just calling out too, when the Fellow laid Hands on me.

However as I had always most Courage, when I was in most danger; so when he laid Hands on me, I stood very high upon it, that I came in, to buy half a Dozen of silver Spoons, and to my good Fortune, it was a Silver-smith's that sold Plate, as well as work'd Plate, for other Shops: The Fellow laugh'd at that Part, and put such a value upon the Service that he had done his Neighbour, that he would have it be, that I came not to buy, but to steal, and raising a great Crowd, I said to the Master of the Shop, who by this time was fetch'd Home from some Neighbouring Place, that it was in vain to make a Noise, and enter into Talk there of the Case; the Fellow had insisted, that I came to steal, and he must prove it, and I desir'd we might go before a Magistrate without any more Words; for I began to see I should be too hard for the Man that had seiz'd me.

The Master and Mistress of the Shop were really not so violent, as the man from tother side of the Way; and the Man said, Mistress you might come into the Shop with a good Design for ought I know, but it seem'd a dangerous thing for you to come into such a Shop as mine is, when you see no Body there, and I cannot do so little Justice to my Neightbour, who was so kind, as not to acknowledge he had Reason on his Side; tho' upon the whole I do not find you attempt'd to take any thing, and I really know not what to do in it: I press'd him to go before a Magistrate with me, and if any thing cou'd be prov'd on me, that was like a design, I should willingly submit, but if not I expected reparation.

Just while we were in this Debate, and a Crowd of People gather'd about the Door, came by Sir T.B., an Alderman of the City, and Justice of the Peace, and the Goldsmith hearing of it, entreated his Worship to come in and decide the Case.

Give the Goldsmith his due, he told his Story with a great deal of Justice and Moderation, and the Fellow that had come over, and seiz'd upon me, told his with as much Heat, and foolish Passion, which did me good still: It came then to my turn to speak, and I told his Worship that I was a Stranger in London, being newly come out of the North, that I Lodg'd in such a Place, that I was passing this Street, and went into a Goldsmith's Shop to buy half a Dozen of Spoons; by great good Luck I had an old silver Spoon in my Pocket, which I pull'd out, and told him I had carried that Spoon to match it with half a Dozen of new ones, that it might match some I had in the Country.

That seeing no Body in the Shop, I knock'd with my Foot very hard to make the People hear, and had also call'd aloud with my Voice: 'Tis true, there was loose Plate in the Shop, but that no Body cou'd say I had touch'd any of it; that a Fellow came running into the Shop out of the Street, and laid Hands on me in a furious manner, in the very Moment, while I was calling for the People of the House; that if he had really had a mind to have done his Neighbour any Service, he should have stood at a distance, and silently watch'd to see whether I had touch'd any thing, or no, and then have taken me in the Fact: That is very true, says Mr. Alderman, and turning to the Fellow that stopt me, he ask'd him if it was true that I knock'd with my Foot? he said yes I had knock'd, but that might be because of his coming; Nay, says the Alderman taking him short, now you contradict yourself, for just now you said, she was in the Shop with her back to you, and did not see you till you came upon her; now it was true, that my back was partly to the Street, but yet as my Business was of a kind that requir'd me to have Eyes every way, so I really had a glance of him running over, as I said before, tho' he did not perceive it.

After a full hearing, the Alderman gave it as his Opinion, that his Neighbour was under a Mistake, and that I was Innocent, and the Goldsmith acquiesc'd in it too, and his Wife, and so I was dismiss'd; but as I was going to depart, Mr. Alderman said, but bold Madam, if you were designing to buy Spoons I hope you will not let my Friend here lose his Customer by the Mistake: I readily answered, no Sir, I'll buy the Spoons still if he can Match my odd Spoon, which I brought for a Pattern, and the Goldsmith shew'd me some of the very same Fashion; so he weigh'd the Spoons, and they came to five and thirty Shillings, so I pulls out my Purse to pay him, in which I had near 20 Guineas, for I never went without such a Sum about me, whatever might happen, and I found it of use at other times as well as now.

When Mr. Alderman saw my Money, be said, well Madam, now I am satify'd you were wrong'd, and it was for this Reason, that I mov'd you should buy the Spoons, and staid till you had bought them, for if you had not had Money to pay for them, I should have suspected that you did not come into the Shop to buy, for the sort of People who come upon those Designs that you have been Charg'd with, are seldom troubl'd with much Gold in their Pockets, as I see you are.

I smil'd, and told his Worship, that then I ow'd something of his Favour to my Money, but I hop'd he saw Reason also in the Justice he had done me before; he said, yes he had, but this had confirm'd his Opinion, and he was fully satisfy'd now of my having been injur'd; so I came well off from an Affair, in which I was at the very brink of Destruction.

It was but three Days after this, that not at all made Cautious by my former Danger as I us'd to be, and still pursuing the Art which I had so long been employ'd in, I ventur'd into a House where I saw the Doors open, and furnish'd myself as I thought verily without being perceiv'd, with two Peices of flower'd Silks, such as they call Brocaded Silk, very rich; it was not a Mercers Shop, nor a Warehouse of a Mercer, but look'd like a private Dwelling-House, and was it seems Inhabited by a Man that sold Goods for a Weaver to the Mercers, like a Broker or Factor.

That I may make short of the black Part of this Story, I was attack'd by two Wenches that came open Mouth'd at me just as I was going out at the Door, and one of them pull'd me back into the Room, while the other shut the Door upon me; I would have given them good Words, but there was no room for it; two fiery Dragons cou'd not have been more furious, they Tore my Cloaths, Bully'd and Roar'd, as if they would have murther'd me; the Mistress of the House came next, and then the Master, and all outrageous.

I gave the Master very good Words, told him the Door was open, and things were a Temptation to me, that I was poor, and distress'd, and Poverty was what many could' not resist, and beg'd him with Tears to have pity on me; the Mistress of the House was mov'd with Compassion, and enclin'd to have let me go, and had almost perswaded her Husband to it also, but the sawcy Wenches were run even before they were sent, and had fetch'd a Constable, and then the Master said, he could not go back, I must go before a Justice, and answer'd his Wife that he might come into Trouble himself if he should let me go.

The sight of a Constable indeed struck me, and I thought I should have sunk into the Ground; I fell into faintings, and indeed the People themselves thought I would have died, when the Woman argued again for me, and entreated her Husband, seeing they had lost nothing to let me go: I offer'd him to pay for the two Peices whatever the value was, tho' I had not got them, and argu'd that as he had his Goods, and had really lost nothing, it would be cruel to pursue me to Death and have my Blood for the bare Attempt of taking them. I put the Constable in mind too that I had broke no Doors, nor carried any thing away; and when I came to the Justice, and pleaded there that I had neither broken any thing to get in, nor carried any thing out, the Justice was enclin'd to havereleas'd me; but the first sawcy Jade that stop'd me, affirming that I was going out with the Goods, but that she stop'd me and pull'd me back, the Justice upon that point committed me, and I was carried to Newgate; that horrid Place! my very Blood chills at the mention of its Name; the Place, where so many of my Comrades had been lock'd up, and from whence they went to the fatal Tree; the Place where my Mother suffered so deeply, where I was brought into the World, and from whence I expected no Redemption, but by an infamous Death: To conclude, the Place that had so long expected me, and which with so much art and Success I had so long avoided.

I was now fix'd indeed; 'tis impossible to describe the terror of my Mind, when I was first brought in, and when I look'd round upon all the horrors of that dismal Place: I look'd on my self as lost, and that I had nothing to think of, but of going out of the World, and that with the utmost Infamy; the hellish Noise, the Roaring, Swearing and Clamour, the Stench and Nastiness, and all the dreadful Afflicting things that I saw there; joyn'd to make the Place seem an Emblem of Hell itself, and a kind of an Entrance into it.

Now Ireproach'd my self with the many hints I had had – as I have mention'd above, from my own Reason, from the Sense of my good Circumstances, and of the many Dangers I had escap'd to leave off while I was well, and how I had withstood them all and hardened my Thoughts against all Fear; it seem'd to me that I was hurried on by an inevitable Fate to this Day of Misery, and that now I was to Expiate all my Offences at the Gallows, that I was now to give satisfaction to Justice with my Blood, and that I was to come to the last Hour of my Life, and of my Wickedness together: These things pour'd themselves in upon my Thoughts in a confus'd manner, and left me overwhelm'd with Melancholly and Despair.

Then I repented heartily of all my Life past, but that Repentance yielded me no Satisfaction, no Peace, no not in the least, because, as I said to myself, it was repenting after the Power of farther Sinning was taken away: I seem'd not to Mourn that I had committed such Crimes, and for the Fact, as it was an Offence against God and my Neighbour; but that I was to be punish'd for it; I was a Penitent as I thought, not that I had sinn'd, but that I was to suffer, and this took away all the Comfort of my Repentance in my own Thoughts.

I got no sleep for several Nights or Days after I came into that wretch'd Place, and glad I wou'd have been for some time to have died there, tho' I did not consider dying as it ought to be consider'd neither; indeed nothing could be fill'd with more horror to my Imagination than the very Place, nothing was more odious to me than the Company that was there: O! if I had but been sent to any Place in the World, and not to Newgate, I should have thought myself happy.

In the next Place, how did the harden'd Wretches that were there before me Triumph over me? what! Mrs. Flanders come to Newgate at last? what, Mrs. Mary, Mrs. Molly, and after that plain Moll Flanders? They thought the Devil had help'd me, they said, that I had reign'd so long: They expected me there many Years ago they said, and was I come at last? then they flouted me with Dejections, welcom'd me to the Place, wish'd me Joy, bid me have a good Heart, not be cast down, things might not be so bad as I fear'd, and the like; then call'd for Brandy, and drank to me; but put it all up to my Score, for they told me I was but just come to the College, as they call'd it, and sure I had Money in my Pocket, tho' they had none.

I ask'd one of this Crew how long she had been there? she said four Months; I ask'd her how the Place look'd to her when she first came into it; just as it did now to me, says she, dreadful and frightful, that she thought she was in Hell, and I believe so still, adds she, but it is natural to me now, I don't disturb myself about it: I suppose, says I, you are in no danger of what is to follow: Nay, says she, you are mistaken there I am sure, for I am under Sentence, only I pleaded my Belly, but am no more with Child, than the Judge that try'd me, and I expect to be called down next session; this CALLING DOWN is calling down to their former Judgement, when a Woman has been respited for her Belly, but proves not to be with Child, or if she has been with Child, and has been brought to Bed. Well says I, and are you thus easy? ay, says she, I can't help myself, what signifyes being sad? If I am hang'd there's an End of me, and away she turn'd Dancing, and Sings as she goes, the following Piece of Newgate Wit,

If I swing by the String,

I shall hear the Bell ring,1

And then there's an End of poor Jenny.

I mention this, because it would be worth the Observation of any Prisoner, who shall hereafter fall into the same Misfortune and come to that dreadful Place of Newgate; how Time, Necessity, and Conversing with the Wretches that are there Familiarizes the Place to them; how at last they become reconcil'd to that which at first was the greatest Dread upon their Spirits in the World, and are as impudently Chearful and Merry in their Misery, as they were when out of it.

I cannot say, as some do, this Devil is not so black, as he is painted; for indeed no Colours can represent that Place to the Life; nor any Soul Conceive aright of it, but those who have been Sufferers there: But how Hell should become by degrees so natural, and notonly tollerable, but even agreeable, is a thing Unintelligible, but by those who have Experienc'd it as I have.

The same Night that I was sent to Newgate, I sent the News of it to my old Governess, who was surpriz'd at it you may be sure, and spent the Night almost as ill out of Newgate, as I did in it.

The next Morning, she came to see me, she did what she cou'd to Comfort me, but she saw that was to no purpose, however, as she said, to sink under the Weight, was but to encrease the Weight; she immediately applied herself to all the proper Methods to prevent the Effects of it, which we fear'd; and first she found out the two fiery Jades that had surpriz'd me; she tamper'd with them, persuaded them, offer'd them Money, and in a Word, try'd all imaginable ways to prevent a Prosecution; she offer'd one of the Wenches 100l. to go away from her Mistress, and not to appear against me; but she was so resolute, that tho' she was but a Servant Maid at 3l. a Year Wages or thereabouts, she refus'd it, and would have refus'd, as my Governess said she believ'd, if she had offer'd her 500l. Then she attack'd the other Maid, she was not so hard-Hearted as the other; and sometimes seem'd enclin'd to be merciful; but the first Wench kept her up, and would not so much as let my Governess talk with her, but threatn'd to have her up for Tampering with the Evidence.

Then she apply'd to the Master, that is to say, the Man whose Goods had been stol'n, and particularly to his Wife, who was enclin'd at first to have some Compassion for me; she found the Woman the same still, but the Man alledg'd he was bound to Prosecute, and that he should forfeit his Recognizance.

My Governess offer'd to find Friends that should get his Recognizances off of the File, as they call it, and that he should not suffer; but it was not possible to Convince him, that he could be safe any way in the World, but by appearing against me; so I was to have three Witnesses of Fact against me, the Master and his two Maids, that is to say, I was as certain to be cast for my Life, as I was that I was alive, and I had nothing to do, but to think of dying: I had but a sad foundation to build upon for that, as I said before, for all my Repentance appear'd to me to be only the Effect of my fear of Death, not a sincere regret for the wicked Life that I had liv'd, and which had brought this Misery upon me, or for the offending my Creator, who was now suddenly to be my Judge.

I liv'd many Days here under the utmost horror; I had Death as it were in view, and thought of nothing Night or Day, but of Gibbets and Halters, evil Spirits and Devils; it is not to be expressed how I was harass'd, between the dreadful Apprehensions of Death, and the Terror of my Conscience reproaching me with my past horrible Life.

The Ordinary of Newgate came to me, and talk'd a little in his way, but all his Divinity run upon Confessing my Crime, as he call'd it, (tho' he knew not what I was in for) making a full Discovery, and the like, without which he told me God would never forgive me; and he said so little to the Purpose that I had no manner of Consolation from him; and then to observe the poor Creature preaching Confession and Repentance to me in the Morning, and find him drunk with Brandy by Noon; this had something in it so shocking, that I began to nauseate the Man, and his Work too by Degrees, for the sake of the Man; so that I desired him to trouble me no more.

I know not how it was, but by the indefatigable Application of my diligent Governess I had no Bill preferr'd against me the first Sessions, I mean to the Grand Jury, at Guild-Hall; so I had another Month, or five Weeks before me, and without Doubt this ought to have been accepted by me, as so much Time given me for Reflection upon what was past, and Preparation for what was to come; I ought to have esteem'd it, as a Space given me for Repentance, and have employ'd it as such; but it was not in me, I was sorry (as before) for being in Newgate, but had few Signs of Repentance about me.

On the Contrary, like the Water in the Hollows of Mountains, which petrifies, and turns into Stone whatever they are suffer'd to drop upon; so the continual conversing with such a Crew of Hell-Hounds had the same common Operation upon me, as upon other People; I degenerated into Stone, I turn'd first Stupid and Senseless, and then Brutish and Thoughtless, and at last raving Mad as any of them were; in short, I become as naturally pleas'd and easy with the Place, as if indeed I had been Born there.

It is scarce possible to imagine that our Natures should be capable of so much Degeneracy, as to make that pleasant and agreeable that in it self is the most compleat Misery. Here was a Circumstance, that I think it is scarce possible to mention a worse; I was as exquisitely miserable, as it was possible for any one to be, that had Life and Health, and Money to help them as I had.

I had a Weight of Guilt upon me, enough to sink any Creature who had the least Power of Reflection left, and had any Sense upon them of the Happiness of this Life, or the Misery of another; I had at first, some Remorse indeed, but no Repentance; I had now, neither Remorse or Repentance: I had a Crime charg'd on me, the Punishment of which was Death; the Proof so Evident, that there was no Room for me, so much as to plead not guilty; I had the Name of an old Offender, so that I had nothing to expect but Death, neither had I myself any thoughts of escaping, and yet a certain strange Lethargy of Soul possess'd me, I had no Trouble, no Apprehensions, no Sorrow about me, the first Surprize was gone; I was, I may well say, I know not how; my Senses, my Reason, nay, my Conscience, were all a-sleep; my Course of Life for forty Years had been a horrid Complication of Wickedness; Whoredom, Adultery, Incest, Lying, Theft, and, in a Word, everything but Murther, and Treason, had been my Practice, from the Age of Eighteen, or thereabouts to Threescore; and now I was ingulph'd in the Misery of Punishment, and had an infamous Death at the Door, and yet I had no Sense of my Condition, no Thought of Heaven or Hell, at least, that went any farther than a bare flying Touch, like the Stitch or Pain that gives a Hint and goes off; I neither had a Heart to ask God's Mercy, or indeed to think of it, and in this I think I have given a brief Description of the compleatest Misery on Earth.

All my terrifying Thoughts were past, the Horrors of the Place, were become familiar, and I felt no more Uneasiness at the Noise and Clamours of the Prison, than they did who made that Noise; in a Word, I was become a meer Newgate-Bird, as wicked and as outragious as any of them; nay, I scarce retain'd the Habit and Custom of good Breeding and Manners, which all along 'till now run thro' my Conversation; so thoro' a Degeneracy had possess'd me, that I was no more the same Thing that I had been, than if I had never been otherwise than what I was now.

In the middle of this harden'd Part of my Life, I had another sudden Surprize, which call'd me back a little to that Thing call'd Sorrow, which, indeed, I began to be past the Sense of before: They told me one Night, that there was brought into the Prison late the Night before, three Highway-Men, who had committed a Robbery somewhere, on Hounslow-Heath, I think it was, and were pursu'd to Uxbridge by the Country, and there taken after a gallant Resistance, in which, many of the Country People were wounded, and some kill'd.

It is not to be wonder'd that we Prisoners, were all desirous enough to see these brave, topping Gentlemen that were talk'd up to be such, as their Fellows had not been known, andespecially because it was said they would in the Morning be remov'd into the Press-Yard, having given Money to the head Master of the Prison, to be allow'd the Liberty of that better Place: So we that were Women plac'd our selves in the Way that we would be sure to see them; but nothing could express the Amazement and Surprize I was in, when the first Man that came out, I knew to be my Lancashire Husband, the same with whom I liv'd so well at Dunstable, and the same who I afterwards saw at Brickill, when I was married to my last Husband, as has been related.

I was struck Dumb at the Sight, and knew neither what to say, or what to do; he did not know me, and that was all the present Relief I had, I quitted my Company, and retir'd as much as that dreadful Place suffers any Body to retire, and cry'd vehemently for a great while; dreadful Creature, that I am, said I, How many poor People have I made Miserable? How many desperate Wretches have I sent to the Devil? This Gentleman's Misfortunes I plac'd all to my own Account: He had told me at Chester, he was ruin'd by that Match, and that his Fortunes were made desperate on my Account; for that thinking I had been a Fortune, he was run into Debt more than he was able to pay; that he would go into the Army, and carry a Musquet, or buy a Horse and take a Tour, as he call'd it; and tho' I never told him that I was a Fortune, and so did not actually deceive him my self, yet I did incourage its having it thought so, and so I was the Occasion originally of his Mischief.

The Surprize of this Thing only, struck deeper in my Thoughts, and gave me stronger Reflections than all that had befallen me before; I griev'd Day and Night, and the more, for that they told me, he was the Captain of the Gang, and that he had committed so many Robberies, that Hind, or Whitney, or the Golden Farmer were Fools to him; that he would surely be hang'd if there were no more Men left in the Country; and that there would be abundance of People come in against him.

I was overwhelm'd with Grief for him; my own Case gave me no Disturbance compar'd to this, and I loaded my self with Reproaches on his Account; I bewail'd my Misfortunes, and the Ruin he was now come to, at such a Rate, that I relish'd nothing now, as I did before, and the first Reflections I made upon the horrid Life I had liv'd, began to return upon me, and as these Things return'd, my Abhorrence of the Place, and of the Way of living in it, return'd also; in a Word, I was perfectly chang'd, and become another Body.

While I was under these Influences of Sorrow for him, came Notice to me that the next Sessions there would be a Bill preferr'd to the Grand Jury against me, and that I should be try'd for my Life: My Temper was touch'd before, the wretched Boldness of Spirit, which I had acquir'd, abated, and conscious Guilt began to flow in my Mind: In short, I began to think, and to think indeed is one real Advance from Hell to Heaven; all that harden'd State and Temper of Soul, which I said so much of before, is but a Deprivation of Thought; he that is restor'd to his Thinking, is restor'd to himself.

As soon as I began, I say to think, the first thing that occurr'd to me broke out thus; Lord! what will become of me? I shall be cast to be sure, and there is nothing beyond that, but Death! I have no Friends, what shall I do? I shall be certainly Cast! Lord! have Mercy upon me! What will become of me! This was a sad Thought, you will say, to be the first (after so long Time) that had started in my Soul of that kind, and yet, even this was nothing, but Fright, at what was to come; there was not a Word of sincere Repentance in it all.