The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard: Containing a Particular Account of His Many Robberies and EscapesDefoe, Daniel
History
The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard: Containing a Particular Account of His Many Robberies and Escapes
Defoe, Daniel
Sheppard, Jack, 1702-1724
_dextrously_ made a _Hand_ of my _Feet_ under the
_Leg-Tavern_; but the very Thoughts of _Fetter-Lane_ call'd to
mind some Passages, which made me avoid the _Passage_ at the
end of it, (next to the Coffee House you know) so I soon
whip'd over the way, yet going along two wooden _Logger-heads_
at _St. Dunstan's_ made just them a damn'd Noise about their
_Quarters_, but the sight of me made perfectly _Hush_ in a
_Minute_; now fearing to goe by _Chance-a wry-Lane_, as being
upon the _Watch_ my self and not to be _debarr'd_ at
_Temple-Bar_; I stole up _Bell-Yard_, but narrowly escap'd
being _Clapper-claw'd_ by two Fellows I did not like in the
Alley, so was forc'd to goe round with a design to _Sheer-off_
into _Sheer-Lane_, but the _Trumpet_ sounding at that very
time, alarm'd me so, I was forc'd to Grope my way back through
_Hemlock-Court_, and take my _Passage_ by _Ship-Yard_ without
the Bar again; but there meeting with one of our trusty
Friends, (all Ceremonies a-part) he told me under the _Rose_ I
must expect no _Mercy_ in _St. Clement's_ Parish, for the
_Butchers_ there on the _Back_ on't would _Face_ me, and with
their _Cleavers_ soon bring me down on my _marrow_ Bones; you
may believe I soon hastened thence, but by this time being
Fainty and night Spent, I put forward, and seeing a _Light_
near the _Savoy-Gate_, I was resolv'd not to make _Light_ of
the Opportunity, but call'd for an hearty Dram of _Luther_ and
_Calvin_, that is, _Mum_ and _Geneva_ mix'd; but having Fasted
so long before, it soon got into my Noddle, and e'er I had
gone twenty steps, it had so intirely _Stranded_ my Reason,
that by the time I came to _Half-Moon-Street_ end, it gave a
_New-Exchange_ to my Senses, and made me quite _Lunatick_.
However, after a little Rest, I stole down _George-Passage_
into _Oaf-Alley_ in _York-Buildings_, and thence (tho' a vile
Man) into _Villiers-Street_, and so into the _Strand_ again,
where having gone a little way, _Hefford's-Harp_ at the Sign
of the _Irish-Harp_, put me a _Jumping and Dancing_ to that
degree that I could not forbear making a _Somerset_ or two
before _Northumberland-House_. I thought once of taking the
_Windsor_ Coach for my self _John Sheppard_, by the Name of
_Crook_---- but fearing to be _Hook'd_ in before my Journey's
End, I stept into _Hedge-Lane_, where two Harlots were up in
the _Boughs_ (it seems) _Branching_ out their Respects to one
another, through their Windows, and People beginning to gather
thereabout, I ran _Pelmel_ to _Piccadilly_, where meeting by
meer chance a _Bakers_ Cart going to _Turnham-Green_, I being
not _Mealy Mouth'd_, nor the Man being _Crusty_ I _wheel'd_
out of Town.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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