The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Second PartHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Second Part
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
My self and two of my comrades had agreed to rob a rich Usurer, whose
younger brother having vitiously wasted his estate, was forced to take
this his brothers house for sanctuary, where he kept as close as a snail
in his shell, unless only at such times when as he imagined the darkness
of the night might shrewd him in obscurity, he so dreaded these shoulder
clappers, who stick closer to a man than a bur on his cloak, for being
once got into their clutches, you may as soon wring _Hercules_ club out
of his fist, as get free from their fingers; and herein have thieves a
great priviledge over debters, for the most notorious thief that ever
was, once in a months time he is carted out of prison, as others for
smaller matters are freed from durance by following the cart, where a
fellow with a catt of nine tayles doth play him such a lesson, as makes
him to skip and mount for joy of his deliverance; but with a poor debter
the case is far different, for being once in prison, the best teame of
Horses that ever drew in a waggon, cannot draw him out from thence
without a silver hook.
But to speak of that (some) which more properly belongs unto thee (for I
suppose thou wilt never attain to such credit as for to be laid up in
prison for debt,) by the help of a servant of the house, who went
sharers with us in our prey, we got a false key made to the back door,
whereby (one night) we attained an easie entrance, and loaded our
selves, to our hearts content; but in our return one of our companions
chanced to sneeze, and therewithal brake wind so violently behind, that
it waked the old usurer, who suspitious of the least noise presently
cryed out _Thieves, thieves_: _Trusty Roger_ his man was very ready to
rise at first allarm, fearing that our discovery might prove prejudicial
to his liberty, and lighting a candle, pretended to search every hole in
the house, into which it was possible for a mouse to enter; In the meane
time we lay close, yet not, unperceived by this false servant, who very
formally told his Master that all was safe and well, and that he might
take his rest without any fear; But the dread of his hearing us
prolonged our stay, so long, that day began to approach, whereupon
fearing more danger from without than from within, we prepared for our
departure, but having opened the door, we found that we had leapt out of
the frying pan into the fire, and by shunning _Scylla_ were fallen into
_Charibdis_, for four of these Catchpoles were waiting at the door for
the Usurers brother, having intelligence belike that he used to make the
dusky morning and dark evening the two shrowds that carried him safely
out and into his Brothers house; Now I going out of the door first, one
of these robustious fellows laid hands upon me, taking me for the party
they waited for, my two companions endeavouring to rescue me were seized
on by the other three Baylifs, so that we seeing no hopes of escape,
resolved to cry whore first, and with full mouth cryed out _Thieves,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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