The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants, Comprehending the most Eminent Cheats of Both Sexes: The Third PartHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants, Comprehending the most Eminent Cheats of Both Sexes: The Third Part
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
I commanded should be last brought up; they thereupon went down, and
brought up a dish covered; come Cousin, said the Old man, eat some of
this; I cannot said the kinsman, you must and shall, said the Unkle, and
I pray uncover the dish and serve me some: the young man seeing his
Unkle so importunate, and believing because the dish was covered, that
it might be a dish of stew’d apples, resolv’d to uncover the dish, and
satisfie his Unkle by eating a little of that; wherefore at his Unkle’s
importunity he uncover’d the dish; when he beheld instead of stew’d
apples there was a better sort of fruit, it was his own Purse of Gold;
he no sooner saw it: how, said his Unkle, I told you I would please you
before you did rise from supper, and I think I have done so. The young
man smiling thanked him, and then reaching to the dish of Partridges, he
fell too lustily, and did eat as hearty a meal as ever; thus did the
recovery of his Purse of Gold recover his stomack, as indeed I think it
would do any others, it being to him and all others as good a Sawce as a
Cordial. And now although the young man was well enough pleased that he
had recovered his purse, yet he was vexed that his Unkle should thus
discover his folly, and studyed how he might be revenged on his Unkle;
he knew very well that his purse was taken from him by some cunning
cheat, and that by his Unkles consent; and it was not long e’re, upon
enquiry, he found out the manner, and also the People who did it; he
gave them therefore a piece to drink, and told them that he would give
them twenty pounds more, if they would do him one piece of service; they
seeing there was money coming, promised him to do any thing in their
powers; he then told them that it was indeed a high attempt, but he
would pay them as largely, and save them harmless; and this it was, he
would have them pick the Pocket of the Judge as he sate on the Bench:
they told him it was both difficult and dangerous; as for the
difficulty, said he, I’le make such means that one of you shall come
near him, and for the danger, I will take of his anger, and pay you as I
have said: to this they at length consented and the next day put in
execution; for when the Judge was most busie in examining Witnesses, he
that was the Artist that was to perform this, approaches the Bench: the
young Man sitting next the Judge his Unkle, beckons the Pick-pocket, and
he comes up, and under pretence of whispering the young man in the ear,
he pickt the Old Mans Pocket, and carryed off the Purse cleverly; when
he had so done he descended, and stood among the other Spectators. In
short time after the causes were heard, and one man who had laid long in
prison, only for his fees, petition’d the Judge to mitigate and lessen
them that he might be able to pay them, where’s the Jaylor? said the
Judge; here my Lord, said the Jaylor; what Fees do you demand of this
poor man? said the Judge; twenty shillings my Lord, if it please you,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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