The English Rogue: Described in the Life of Meriton Latroon, a Witty ExtravagantHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Described in the Life of Meriton Latroon, a Witty Extravagant
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
When the Rogue bids you stand, look not about as if amazed, or hoping
for a rescue; for this doth but encourage them to the height of
resolution and expedition: but looking sternly, as if fear were a
stranger to you, making your brow the throne of rage and fury, draw, and
undauntedly tell them, that though you have but little, yet you would
willingly sacrifice your life rather than lose a penny; and add ten more
to it (if you had them) then have your reputation stained with
cowardise. This is the readiest and most certain way to save both your
mony and credit; for they fighting with a guilty conscience within and
without, against Country, Law, and Justice, if nobly a man resists (this
I know experimentally) the stoutest, and most undaunted, and highest
spirit of them all will stoop to discouragement. Some I have known, that
durst out-brave the roaring Cannon to the mouth, yet their courages have
found an alteration, when on this account they have met with a bold and
nobly resolved Antagonist: but if by your own negligence, and the
malevolency of fortune, the pleasure of your journey is eclipsed and
clouded by a sudden surprisal, and that you see no hopes but that you
must yield, be not so unwise as to strive when it is too late, but give
them the best words you can; and rack your wits to please their ear,
most devoutly wishing you had more moneys to supply their present
occasions; and so banishing all dejectedness from your looks, deliver
some, and so perhaps they will let you pass without further search. If
they make a second offer, yield freely to it: then it may be they will
sift you soundly; never in that time lay your hand near your money, and
seeming fearless, it will be a means to make their suspition of a
greater sum to vanish. This I have known my self, that when I have taken
so much as pleased me well, by mens fear I have had grounds to think
they had more, and so made me research; laying my hand but near the
place where they had concealed the rest, suddenly would they cry out,
that they were undone, when as yet I had found nothing; but by this
their foolish and undiscreet carriage I have found the remainder, which
otherwise might have been secure and safe from me.
CHAP. LXIII.
_Directions, if robbed, how to follow the Thieves; which way
to set _Hue_ and _Cry_ after them; how to coast, and
where to find them._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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