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
fifteen pound out of the profits of their Adventure. I (being sensible
that I was well enough paid, in regard of the Gold and other things I
had conceal’d) thankfully received it, and so left them, marching on
further to the next great Town, where the next day I understood a great
Fair was to be kept, and therefore I thought that place the most fitting
to conceal my self in, and be freest from suspition, I got in a Barn and
rested my self, taking some sleep; but was much disturbed, being in
great fear lest some mis-fortune might befall me: And to the end that I
might be the freer from suspect, in case of a _Hue and Cry_, I went to a
Sales-mans Booth which was in the Fair, and furnish’d me with a
Sad-coloured Sute and Cloak, Citizen-like, that I might pass for such a
one if occasion were; my old Cloathes I left behind me in the Barn where
I stripped my self. Thus did I escape all danger, but my Companions
fared worse than I, for the covetous Coach-man not having any thing else
whereon to exercise himself, stole a Looking-glass which was below
stairs, while we were above, and to conceal it from the rest of his
Companions, put it in his Codpiece. When they had sufficiently stayed at
the house where I left them, and had shared the prize, they went to go
homewards, but being flustred with the Bottles of Wine they had for joy
drank off, they made it so long, that it was seven of the Clock in the
morning ere they parted, and then were they overtaken by the _Hue and
Cry_, with a Constable, who though he knew the Coach-man very well, and
did not suspect him, yet seeing him and his two Companions so flustred,
and somewhat to hang out at the knees of the Coach-man’s Breeches, they
made some stay, asking whether he had lately been at some Wedding and
had Bride-Laces, which he had put in his Breeches. The Coach-man being
somewhat blank’d at this discovery, knew not what answer readily to
return: This caused them to examine him who they were that were his
Companions, and where they had been? They were all now deeplier
surprized than before, which gave so great suspition that occasioned a
Search, and in the end they found what they sought for, (the Money:) and
that which hung out at the Coach-mans Breeches, were some Ribbons that
were fastned to the Looking-glass. Upon this Discovery they were all
Apprehended, carried before a Justice, and upon examination being found
directly guilty, committed to Goal. This did I hear of at the Fair that
afternoon as I was drinking in a Booth: At the recital of this story, if
any one had observed me, they might easily have conjectured that I was
concerned therein; for I was possessed with so much fear, that I look’d
like one rather dead than alive: but there was no occasion to suspect
me, for the three others my Companions being taken and with them the
greatest part of the money, there was no occasion to make any further
enquiry. Then did I bless my good fortune that I had left them so
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