[94] Author of _The New Atlantis_ and sundry political pamphlets
and libels, plays and novels.




The Lives of ROBERT DRUMMOND, a Highwayman and FERDINANDO SHRIMPTON, a
Highwayman and Murderer


Robert Drummond was the brother of James Drummond, whom we have before
mentioned. He had formerly dealt in hardwares, and thereby lived with
some reputation in the town of Sunderland, nobody ever dreaming that he
went upon the highway for money. But it was not long that he continued
even to put this mask upon his villainy, but on the contrary gave way to
his wild and debauched temper, and committed a thousand extravagancies,
which soon created suspicions, and occasioned his being apprehended on
suspicion of a robbery. This clearly being made out at the ensuing
assizes, he was thereupon convicted, pardoned, and transported. But he
soon found a way to return into England, and grew one of the most daring
and mischievous robbers that ever infested the road.

The multitude of his robberies made his person so well known that it is
wonderful he should so long escape, especially considering the roughness
and cruelty of his temper, he never using anybody well, firing upon any
who attempted to ride away from him, and beating and abusing those who
submitted to him. He drew in, as has been said before, his brother
James, and deserting him when pursued and in danger, he was the occasion
of his death. It was also suspected that Shrimpton and he were the
persons who committed those robberies for which Knowland and Westwood
were executed. However it were, he continued for a considerable space
after the two Shrimptons and he robbed together, committing sometimes
nine or ten robberies in one night, until they were all three
apprehended, and William Shrimpton became an evidence against them.

Ferdinando Shrimpton, the other malefactor, was a person well educated,
though his father was one of the greatest highwaymen in England. He [the
father] lived at Bristol, and behaved in outward appearance so well that
he was never suspected, but unluckily one evening some constables coming
into an inn hastily to apprehend another person, his guilty heart making
him afraid that they were come in search of nobody but himself, he
thereupon immediately drew a pistol and shot one of them dead, for which
murder being convicted, he readily confessed his former offences, and
after his execution for the aforesaid crime, was hung in chains.

As for this unhappy man, his son, he had been bred to no trade, but
after his father's death served as a foot-soldier in the Guards and
eked out his pay by taking the same steps which his father had done
before him. Never any fellow was of a bolder and of a more audacious
spirit than he, and after he had once associated himself with Drummond,
they quickly forced William Shrimpton, who was Ferdinando's cousin, to
commit one or two facts with him, and afterwards he would never suffer
him to be quiet.

On Hounslow Heath, it seems, Shrimpton robbed a man of a horse, a silver
watch and some money. The man applied himself to Shrimpton when he was
apprehended, begging that he would find a way to help him to his horse
again. Shrimpton promised he would, and for a guinea was as good as his
word, though the gelding was worth fifteen pounds; but for his watch,
nothing either was, or as they pretended could be, told about it. But
that was only for fear of disobliging the pawnbroker where they had sent
it, for Shrimpton afterwards, upon the owner's thirty-four shillings by
his wife, had it again, though Ferdinando was very much disobliged that
he received but half a crown for his trouble.

Drummond, he and his cousin being seized, William turned evidence
against them, and at the ensuing sessions at the Old Bailey, Shrimpton
being indicted for the murder of Simon Prebent, Mr. Tyson's coachman,
and Robert Drummond for aiding and abetting, and assisting him, they
were both upon full evidence convicted, as they were also convicted for
a robbery on the highway, on Mr. Tyson, after the death of the coachman.
They were a third time indicted together for assaulting Robert Furnel on
the highway, taking from him a watch of great value, a guinea and a
half, some silver and a whip, together with some other things of value.
They were also indicted afresh for assaulting Jonathan Cockhoofs on the
highway, taking from him a bay gelding, value nine pounds, several
roasting pigs and pieces of pork, etc.; of all which they were found
guilty, the fact being as clear and as strong against them as possible.

Under sentence of death, they behaved themselves with great obstinacy
and resolution, refused to give any account of their crimes, but in
general would say that they were great and notorious offenders. As to
the fact committed by Knowland and Westwood, they would not positively
say it was done by them, though they could not deny it. Only when
pressed upon it, Drummond would say in a passion, _What, would you have
us take upon us all the robberies that were committed in the country?_
This was all that could be got from him, even when he was at the point
to die and the wife of Knowland earnestly begged that he would tell the
truth, as he was now entering into another world, and the owning or not
owning of those facts could no ways prejudice them.

As to the barbarous murder committed upon Mr. Tyson's coachman, it did
not seem to make the least impression upon their spirits. Shrimpton, by
whose hands the man was killed, never appeared one whit more uneasy when
the sermon on murder was peculiarly preached on his account, but on the
contrary talked and jested with his companions as he was wont to do. In
a word more hardened, obstinate and impenitent wretches were never seen;
for as they were wanting in all principles of religion, so they were
void even of humanity and good nature. They valued blood no more than
they did water, but were ready to shed the first with as little concern
as they spilt the latter. Inured in wickedness and rapine, old in years
and covered in offences, they yielded their last breaths at Tyburn, with
very little sign of contrition or repentance, on the 17th of February,
1730, Drummond being about fifty, and Shrimpton about thirty years of
age.




The Life of WILLIAM NEWCOMB, a housebreaker


Though the many instances we have, of late years, had of amazing
wickednesses committed by lads one would scarce believe were capable of
executing, much less of contriving schemes so full of ginning and of
guilt, ought in a great measure to prevent our being surprised at
anything of the same kind, let it be committed by ever such a stripling,
yet I confess it was not without wonder that I perused the papers
relating to this unfortunate young man--so strong an instance of a great
capacity for mischief at the same time that he never once evidenced
either care or ability in succeeding in an honest way. On the contrary,
he was assidious only to attain as much money as might put him on the
road of debauchery, and then stupidly gave himself up to squandering it
in the gratification of his lusts, until indigence brought to rack his
inventions again, and his second attempt proving abortive, brought him
to the gallows.

He was born of honest parents, who took care enough in his education to
qualify him for the business of a shoemaker, for which they designed
him, and to which they put him apprentice. He had not served above three
years of his time, before he robbed his master of a very considerable
sum of money. The man having a respect for his family, put him away
without prosecuting him. His father took him home, but, however,
reproaching him very often for the villainous facts he had committed, he
went away from him and lay about the town, intending to take the first
opportunity that offered of stealing a good booty, and march off into
the country.

At last, after consulting with himself for some time, he fixed upon a
banker's shop in Lombard Street, within two doors of the church of St.
Edmund the King, thinking with himself that if once he could get into
that shop, be should make himself at a blow. In order to it he got into
the church overnight and stayed there until morning, when, just as it
began to grow light, he steered downstairs into the shop, having got
over the top of Mr. Jenkin's house, and watching his opportunity, laid
hold of a single bag and slipped out of doors with it. The booty was
indeed a large one, for it happened that what he took was all gold,
which was upwards of eight hundred guineas. This put it in his power to
show himself in that state of life which he most admired, for sending
for a tailor be had two or three suits of fine clothes made, bought a
couple of geldings, hired a footman in livery to attend him, and thus
equipped set out for the horse races at Newmarket.

Women and gaming very soon reduced the bulk of his gold and in six or
seven months, finding his pockets very low, he returned to London to
replenish himself. The good success he before had in robbing a banker,
and his knowing nobody was so likely to furnish him with ready money,
put him upon making the like attempt at Mr. Hoare's, into whose house he
got and endeavoured to conceal himself as conveniently as he could for
that purpose. But being detected and apprehended on the roof of the
house, whither he had fled to avoid pursuit, he was committed to
Newgate, and at the next sessions at the Old Bailey, was tried for
burglary, and convicted.

Under sentence of death he behaved with great mildness and civility. He
confessed his having been as great a sinner as his years would give him
leave, addicted to whoring, drunkenness, gaming and having quite
obliterated all the religious principles which his former education had
instilled into him. However, he endeavoured to retrieve as much as
possible the knowledge of his duty, and to fulfil it by praying to
Almighty God for the forgiveness of his many offences; and in this
disposition of mind he departed this life, on the 17th of February,
1730, being about nineteen years of age.




The Life of STEPHEN DOWDALE, a Thief


This unfortunate man was the son of parents in good circumstances in the
Kingdom of Ireland, who were very careful of giving him the best
education they were capable of, both as to letters and as to the
principles of the Christian religion. Yet from some hope they had of his
succeeding in a military way, they chose rather to let him serve in the
army than breed him to any particular trade. It seems he behaved so well
in the regiment of dragoons in which he served, that his officers
advanced him to the post of sergeant, and just as the Peace was
concluded, he had hopes of being made a quartermaster. But the regiment
then being broke, his hopes were all dissipated, and he thrown into the
world to shift for himself as well as he could.

In Ireland he remained with his friends some years, but finding by
degrees that their kindness cooled, and that it would be impossible for
him to subsist much longer upon the bounty of his relations, he
thereupon resolved to come over at once to England and endeavour to live
here by his wits. The gaming tables were the places where he chiefly
resorted, but finding that fortune was a mistress not to be depended
upon he resolved to take some more certain method of living, and for
that purpose associated himself with ten or a dozen knights of the road.
He continued his practices without the least suspicion for a very
considerable time, in all which he appeared one of the greatest beaux at
the other end of the town.

But growing uneasy in the midst of that seeming gaiety in which he
lived, and being under some apprehensions that one or more of his
companions was meditating means of making peace with the government at
the expense of his life, he resolved to prevent them; and thereupon
surrendered himself of his own accord into the hands of a constable, and
gave the best information he was able against all his confederates. But
however it was, most of them had previous knowledge of the warrants
issued against them, and thereby made their escapes. Others who were
apprehended were acquitted by the jury, notwithstanding this evidence
against them, so that the public not being likely to reap any benefit by
his discovery, some people thought proper to turn his own confession
upon himself. Accordingly, at the next Sessions at the Old Bailey, he
was indicted for feloniously stealing a gold watch value twenty pounds,
out of the house of Thomas Martin, on the 30th of August preceding the
indictment. He was also indicted a second time for feloniously stealing
a diamond ring out of the shop of John Trible, on the 25th of August.
Both these facts were in the information he had made, and therefore the
proof was dear and direct against him, and beyond his power to avoid by
any defence.

Under sentence of death be behaved himself with great resignation,
seemed to be very penitent for those numerous offences he had committed,
though now and then he let fell expressions which showed that he thought
himself hardly dealt with by those who had received his confession.
However, what with fear and concern, and what with the moistness of the
place wherein he was confined, he fell into a grievous distemper, which
quickly increased into a high fever, which affected his senses, and
shortly after took away his life, just as a very worthy gentleman in the
commission for the peace for Middlesex had procured his life, which was
thus ended by the course of Nature though in the cells of Newgate, he
being then in the forty-fourth year of his age. He died on the 5th of
April, 1730.




The Life of ABRAHAM ISRAEL, a Jew


As it is a very ordinary case for fiction to be imposed on the world for
truth, so it sometimes happens that truth hath such extraordinary
circumstances attending it, as well nigh bring it to pass for fiction.
The adventures of this unhappy man, who was a Hebrew by nation, have
something in them strange, and which excite pity; for a man must be
wanting in humanity who can look upon a young person endowed with the
natural advantage of a good genius, lightened by the acquired
accomplishments of learning, fall of a sudden from an honest and
reputable behaviour into debauchery, wickedness and rapine, methods that
lead to certain destruction, and as it were to drag men to violent and
shameful deaths.

This unfortunate person, Abraham Israel, was born of parents of the
Hebrew nation, of good character and in good circumstances, at Presburg,
in the kingdom of Hungary. They were exceedingly desirous of giving
their son a good education, and therefore sent him to study in the
Jewish College at Prague, in Bohemia, where they allowed him about two
hundred pounds Stirling a year. He improved under the tuition of the
rabbis there to a great degree, insomuch that he was admired by them as
a prodigy of learning. His behaviour in every other way being
unblamable, and therefore not spending above half what his father sent
him, he distributed the rest among the indigent scholars there, of all
nations and religions. As a mark of his early and polite genius, we have
thought proper to entertain our readers with a short description of the
city of Prague, which he wrote in the German tongue, and which on this
occasion we have ventured to translate into English.

Prague is the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia, which, as if
protected by nature, is encompassed round with high mountains.
Throughout all Europe there is no soil in general more fertile or
better adapted to the plough. The fruits there are excellent and
great quantities of fowl are plentiful almost to excess, the cattle
are large and excellent. In fine nothing is poor, wretched or
miserable there except the people, who are slaves to their lords,
and never enjoy even the fruits of their own hard labour. But to
return to Prague, it is a city situated on a hill, part of it
stretching down the plain, having the river Muldau running through
it. The buildings are of so large extent that this city is divided
into three, and by some into four cities. The old city lies on the
east of the river, is exceedingly populous, and houses in that
quarter fair, but old-fashioned. Here is the quarter assigned unto
our nation (i.e., the Jews) where we enjoy greater privileges and
are treated with more lenity than in any other part of Germany. The
heads of our people deal to very great advantage in jewels and
precious stones dug out of the Bohemian mines. The lesser town on
the other side of the river is more beautiful in its building than
the old town, has fine gardens and stately palaces, among which
there is the famous one of Count Wallenstein, the magnificence of
which, may be the better guessed from our knowing that a hundred
houses were pulled down to make room for it. Its hall is thought one
of the finest in all Europe, its gardens are wonderfully stately,
and the stables which he built here for his horses are almost beyond
description, marble pillars parted the standing of each horse from
another. The racks were of polished steel, and their mangers of the
finest marble, and over the head of each stand was placed the figure
of each horse, as large as the life. This famous man who was the
greatest captain of his time, after having built this sumptuous
palace, re-established the Emperor's power, almost utterly broken by
the Swedes, growing at last too powerful for a subject, or as the
Germans say, endeavouring to make himself master of the Kingdom of
Bohemia, he was, if not by the command, at least by the connivance
of the Emperor Ferdinand, privately assassinated in the city of
Egra, in the year 1634, by certain Irish officers, in whom he
reposed the greatest confidence. Since his time Prague has seen no
greater powerful persons among her countrymen; on the contrary, the
inhabitants now in general are poor, their habits mean, the Hebrew
nation being obliged, both men and women, to wear a particular garb.
Its streets are dirty, and nothing but the Imperial Palace preserves
anything of its ancient grandeur; the same fate hath befallen the
other Bohemian cities, and thus in a land of Paradise the people
live like slaves.

When at the age of thirteen, the unfortunate Abraham was recalled by his
father from college, at his return home, every one was surprised at that
prodigious knowledge which he had acquired while at Prague. Those of
their nation who resided at Presburg desired Abraham's father that his
son might, according to the custom of the Hebrews, read in the
synagogue, which accordingly he did with great and deserved applause.
His relations, and the rich Jews of the town, loaded him the next day
with valuable presents, in order to show their veneration for the
religion and learning of their ancestors; but these encouragements being
heaped on a vain and ambitious temper, were the ruin of a youth hitherto
virtuous in his conduct and passionately fond of learning. For growing
on a sudden conceited with his own abilities, puffed up with the vanity
of having excelled his equals, he began to addict himself to acquire
higher accomplishments, grew fond of music, delighted in
dancing-schools, would needs be taught fencing and riding, and from the
studies preparative to making a grave rabbi, jumped all of a sudden to
the qualities necessary to finish a Jewish fop.

His relations soon showed by the alteration of their conduct how little
they approved of his new state of life, but that signified nothing to
him, he still went on at his old rate; until at last perceiving his
parents would do nothing for him, he went with an idle woman to
Amsterdam. There he was uneasy, not knowing what course of life to take,
but at last submitted to wearing a livery, and got into service. He
behaved himself amongst the Spanish Jews so well that they gave him a
recommendation to Baron Swaffo in England, upon which he came over
thither, and entered into his service. He recommended him to Mr. Jacob
Mendez da Costa, where he Stayed for some time, with a good character as
a diligent servant. From him he went to Mr. Villareal on College Hill.
It seems that while he continued at the Hague, he fell in love with a
young woman there, who continually ran in his head after his coming over
hither. As soon, therefore, as he got money enough, he went over to the
Hague, on purpose to make her a visit. When he came there, he found she
was gone, which made him very uneasy, yet he resolved not to go to
Amsterdam, whither he heard she went from the Hague.

However, it was not long before she was thrown in his way, for upon his
coming over again to London, where he got into the service of Mr. Jacob
Mendez da Costa, he heard at a barber's shop of a young maid just
brought over from Holland who was then at her uncle's in St. Mary Axe,
not knowing where to get a place. Upon enquiring her name, he found it
to be his old acquaintance and mistress at the Hague. It was not long
before he turned out the cook at the place where he lived, and brought
her home in her place.

For a while she behaved like an honest and industrious servant, but one
night as Abraham went to bed, he saw her opening an escrutoire with a
knife, which she said she could at any time do. Abraham at first forbid
her, but she by her endearments, quickly brought him over to her party,
insomuch that after having lain with her, he consented to rummage the
escrutoire. In it they found diamond rings and other jewels to a very
great value. The wench said to him, holding up a fine diamond ring,
_Abraham, you might take this, and it would prove the making of us
both._ But the fellow would not listen to her. However, they agreed to
take five guineas, which when they had done, they went to bed together
according to custom.

Sometime after they begged a holiday and going out borrowed some more
money from the same bank, but staying out all night she lost her place,
whereupon she went back to her uncle's, and afterwards got a place in
Winchester Street. There Abraham visited her, and suspecting that she
was with child, asked her very gravely and kindly whether it were so or
not? She said, _No_, and pretended to want money, upon which he turned
back and gave her a guinea. Some time after he came to see her again,
asked her the same question, and had the same answer, yet in a few hours
after she caused him to be apprehended by the parish officers, the
expenses whereof cost him five guineas immediately, and he was obliged
to deposit fourteen guineas more as a security that he would indemnify
the parish.

This threw him out of his place, and though he got into another, and
behaved well in it, yet going into the service of Mr. John Mendez da
Costa, he became there so uneasy on account of his child, and some other
troublesome affairs, that he ventured on stealing eight silver spoons,
five silver forks, two pair of silver canisters, a diamond ring value
two hundred and fifty pounds, a pair of diamond ear-rings worth ninety
pounds, three diamond buckles, and other goods of a great value. For
this fact he was prosecuted, and on very full evidence convicted.

Under sentence of death, the Ordinary informs us that he appeared to be
better acquainted with Hebrew than is common amongst Jews. He came up to
the chapel rather for the air than for devotion. However, he one day
sung part of a Psalm. His hatred against his prosecutor was strong and
unconquerable, for when the minister told him it was his duty to forgive
him, he said he did not know whether it was or no according to their
law, and sometimes said that Heaven might deal with the same justice by
him hereafter, as he had been dealt with here.

As the time of his death approached, he grew graver, and read more
constantly in those books he had in Hebrew characters of his own
religion. However, he wrote a letter to the gentleman he robbed in very
harsh terms, and applied to him some of the imprecations of the hundred
and ninth Psalm. At the place of execution he had two men with him, who
were muttering something or other in his ear. He had a little Hebrew
prayer-book in his hand, and read in it. When being again persuaded to
forgive his prosecutor, he at last, in a faint voice, answered that he
did, and then submitted to his fate at Tyburn, on the 12th of May, 1730,
being then about twenty-two years of age. He had several relations who
had a great deal of money in England, and they took care of his body.




The Life of EBENEZER ELLISON, a Notorious Irish Thief


With respect to this malefactor I have nothing to acquaint the world
with but what is taken from his own speech which was printed at Dublin,
and said to be published there by his own desire for the common good. It
made a great noise there then, and may perhaps serve to entertain you
now, wherefore I proceed to give it you in his own words.

I am now going to suffer the just punishment of my crimes,
prescribed by the Law of God and my country. I know it is the
constant custom that those who come to this place should have
speeches made for them, and cried about in their own hearing as they
are carried to execution; and truly they are such speeches that
although our fraternity be an ignorant illiterate people, they would
make a man ashamed to have such nonsense and false English charged
upon him, even when he is going to the gallows. They contain a
pretended account of our birth and family, of the facts for which we
are to die, of our sincere repentance, and a declaration of our
religion. I cannot expect to avoid the same treatment with my
predecessors. However, having an education one or two degrees better
than those of my rank and profession, ever since my commitment I
have been considering what might be proper for me to deliver upon
this occasion.

And first, I cannot say from the bottom of my heart that I am truly
sorry for the offence I have given to God and the world; but I am
very much so for the bad success of my villainies, in bringing me to
this untimely end; for it is plainly evident, that after having some
time ago obtained a pardon from the Crown, I again took up my old
trade. My evil habits were so rooted in me, and I was grown unfit
for any other kind of employment; and therefore, although in
compliance with my friends I resolved to go to the gallows after the
usual manner, kneeling with a book in my hand and my eyes lift up,
yet I shall feel no more devotion in my heart than I observed in
some of my comrades, who have been drunk among common whores the
very night before their execution. I can say further from my own
knowledge, that two of my own fraternity, after they had been hanged
and wonderfully came to life, and made their escapes, as it
sometimes happens, proved afterwards the wickedest rogues I ever
knew, and so continued until they were hanged again for good and
all; and yet they had the impudence at both times they went up to
the gallows to smite their breasts and lift up their eyes to Heaven
all the way.

Secondly, from the knowledge I have of my own wicked dispositon, and
that of my comrades, I give it as my opinion that nothing can be
more unfortunate to the public than the mercy of Government in even
pardoning and transporting us, unless we betray one another, as we
never fail to do if we are sure to be well paid, and then a pardon
may do good. By the same rule, it is better to have but one fox in a
farm than three or four, but we generally make a shift to return
after being transported, and are ten times greater rogues than
before, and much more cunning. Besides, I know it by experience,
that some hopes we have of finding mercy when we are tried, or after
we are condemned, is always a great encouragement to us.

Thirdly, nothing is more dangerous to idle young fellows than the
company of those odious common whores we frequent, and of which this
town is full. These wretches put us upon all mischief to feed their
lust and extravagance. They are ten times more bloody and cruel than
men. Their advice is always not to spare us if we are pursued, they
get drunk with us, and are common to us all, and yet if they can get
anything by it, are sore to be our betrayers.

Now, as I am a dying man, something I have done which may be of good
use to the public, I have left with an honest man and indeed the
only honed man I ever was acquainted with--the names of all my
wicked brethren, the present places of abode, with a short account
of the chief crimes they have committed in many of which I have been
their accomplice, and heard the rest from their own mouths. I have
likewise set down the names of those we call our setters, of the
wicked houses we frequent, and of those who receive and buy our
stolen goods. I have solemnly charged this honest man, and have
received his promise upon oath, that whenever he hears of any to be
tried for robbing or housebreaking, he will look into his list, and
he if finds the name there of the thief concerned, to send the whole
paper to the Government. Of this I here give my companions fair and
public warning, and I hope they will take it.

In the paper above-mentioned, which I left with my friend, I have
also set down the names of the several gentlemen whom we have robbed
in Dublin streets for three years past. I have told the
circumstances of those robberies, and shown plainly that nothing but
the want of common courage was the cause of their misfortunes. I
have therefore desired my friends that whenever any gentleman
happens to be robbed in the streets, he will get the relation
printed and published with the first letters of those gentlemen's
names, who by their want of bravery are likely to be the cause of
all the mischief of that kind, which may happen for the future. I
cannot leave the world without a short description of that kind of
life which I have led for some years past and is exactly the same
with the rest of our wicked brethren.

Although we are generally so corrupted from our childhood as to have
no sense of goodness, yet something heavy always hangs about us. I
know not what it is, that we are never easy until we are half drunk
among our whores and companions, nor sleep sound, unless we drink
longer than we can stand. If we go abroad in the day, a wise man
would easily find us to be rogues by our faces, we have such
suspicious, fearful and constrained countenances, often turning back
and sneaking through narrow lanes and alleys. I have never failed of
knowing a brother thief by his looks, though I never saw him before.
Every man amongst us keeps his particular whore, who is however
common to us all when we have a mind to change. When we have got a
booty, if it be money, we divide it equally among our companions,
and soon squander it on our vices in those houses that receive us,
for the master and mistress and very tapster go snacks, and besides
make us pay treble reckonings. If our plunder be plate, watches,
rings, snuff-boxes and the like, we have customers in all quarters
of the town to take them off. I have seen a tankard sold, worth
fifteen pounds to a fellow in ---- Street, for twenty shillings, and
a gold watch for thirty. I have set down his name, and that of
several others in the paper already mentioned. We have setters
watching in corners, and by dead walls, to give us notice when a
gentleman goes by, especially if he be anything in drink. I believe
in my conscience, that if an account were made of a thousand pounds
in stolen goods, considering the low rates we sell them at, the
bribes we must give for concealment, the extortions of alehouse
reckonings, and other necessary charges there would not remain fifty
pounds clear to be divided among the robbers, and out of this we
must find clothes for whores, besides treating them from morning
until night, who in requital award us with nothing but treachery and
the pox, for when our money is gone, they are every moment
threatening to inform against us, if we will not get out to look for
more. If anything in this world be like Hell, as I have heard it
described by our clergy, the truest picture of it must be in the
back room of one of our alehouses at midnight, where a crew of
robbers and their whores are met together after a booty, and are
beginning to grow drunk, from that time until they are past their
senses, in such a continued horrible noise of cursing, blasphemy,
lewdness, scurrility, and brutish behaviour, such roaring and
confusion, such a clatter of mugs and pots at each other's heads,
that Bedlam in comparison is a sober and orderly place. At last they
all tumble from their stools and benches, and sleep away the rest of
the night, and generally the landlord or his wife, or some other
whore, who has a stronger head than the rest, picks their pockets
before they awake. The misfortune is, that we can never be easy
until we are drunk, and our drunkenness constantly exposes us to be
more easily betrayed and taken.

This is a short picture of the life I have led, which is more
miserable than that of the poorest labourer who works for fourpence
a day; and yet custom is so strong that I am confident, if I could
make escape at the foot of the gallows, I should be following the
same course this very evening. Upon the whole, we ought to be looked
upon as the common enemies of mankind, whose interest it is to root
us out like worms, and other mischievous vermin, against which no
fair play is required. If I have done service to men in what I have
said, I shall hope to have done service to God, and that will be
better than a silly speech made by me full of whining and canting,
which I utterly despise, and have never been used to yet such a one
I expect to have my ears tormented with as I am passing along the
streets.

Good people, fare ye well; bad as I am, I leave many worse behind
me, and I hope you shall see me die like a man, though a death
contrary.

E. E.




The Life of JAMES DALTON, a Thief


The character of this criminal is already so infamous, and his crimes so
notorious that I may spare myself any introductory observation which I
have made use of as to most of the rest with respect to his birth. He
was so unfortunate as to have the gallows hereditary to his family, his
father, who was by birth an Irishman, and in the late Wars in Flanders a
sergeant, coming over here was indicted and hanged for a street robbery.
After his death, Dalton's mother married a butcher, who, not long before
Dalton's death, was transported, and she herself for a like crime shared
in the same punishment.

This unhappy young man himself went between his father's legs in the
cart when he made his fatal exit at Tyburn. It has, indeed, remained a
doubt whether Dalton the father were a downright thief or not; his own
friends say that he was only a cheat, and one of the most dexterous
sharpers at cards in England. It seems he fell in with some people of
his own profession, who thought he got their money too much easily, and
therefore made bold to fix him with a downright robbery.

As for James Dalton the younger, from his infancy he was a thief and
deserved the gallows almost as soon as he wore breeches. He began his
pranks with robbing the maid where he went to school. By eleven years
old he got himself into the company of Fulsom and Field, who were
evidences against Jonathan Wild and Blueskin, and in their company
committed villainies of every denomination, such as picking pockets,
snatching hats and wigs, breaking open shops, filching bundles at dusk
of the evening. All the money they got by these practices was spent
among the common women of the town, whose company they frequented. Then
the Old Bailey and Smithfield Cloisters became the place of their
resort, from whence they carried away goods to a considerable quantity,
sold them at under-rates, and squandered away the money upon strumpets.

Towards Smithfield and the narrow lanes and allies about it, are the
chief houses of entertainment for such people, where they are
promiscuously admitted, men or women, and have places every way fitted
for both concealing and entertainment. The man and woman of the house
frequently take their commodities off their hand at low prices, and the
women who frequent these sort of places help them off with what trifling
sums of money they receive; for though they are utterly devoid of
education, yet dinning and flattery are so perfectly practised by them,
that these bewitched young robbers make no scruple of venturing soul and
body to acquire wherewith to purchase their favours, which are
frequently attended with circumstances that would send them rotten to
their graves, if the gallows did not intercept and take them before they
are got half way. But it happened that Field was apprehended, and to
save himself immediately made an information against his companions,
named Dalton and Fulsom, whereupon they were obliged to be very cautious
and durst venture out only in the night. It happened that in Broad
Street, St. Giles's they met about twelve o'clock at night a captain in
the Foot-Guards. Dalton commanded the gentleman to surrender, but
persons of his cloth seldom parting with their money so peaceably, there
happened a skirmish, in which Fulsom knocked him down, and afterwards
they rifled him, taking some silver and a leaden shilling out of his
pocket, together with a pocket book, which had some bank notes in it,
and therefore was burnt by them for fear it should betray them. But in
this fact, Dalton, who had not even honesty enough for a thief, cheated
his companion of seven guineas and a watch.

The woman to whom they sold their stolen goods was one Hannah Britton,
who, upon Lambert's being committed to New Prison, was named in his
information, taken up and committed to Newgate. At the sessions after
she was convicted for that offence, and thereupon whipped from Holborn
Bars to St. Giles's Pound; which proceeding so affrighted Dalton that he
resolved for a time to retire out of London.

Thereupon he and one of his companions went down to Bristol, to see what
they could make at the Fair. But they were not over-lucky in their
country expedition, for they were apprehended for breaking a shop open,
and tried at the assizes; but the witness not being able to swear
directly to their persons, they were acquitted through the defect of
evidence. As soon as they were out of prison, Dalton returned to London
as speedily as he was able, where joining himself with the remainder of
the old gang, shortly after his arrival they broke open a toy-shop near
Holborn Bars, and carried off eight hundred pounds worth of goods, with
a pretty large sum in ready money. Of the goods they did not make above
two hundred and fifty pounds, and for the ready money, which was about
twenty pounds, they shared it amongst them.

Dalton about that time frequenting a house near Golden Lane, found
doxies there to help him off with it, and reduced him to the necessity
of making t'other large stride in the way to Tyburn. Not long after,
therefore, he committed a robbery in the road to Islington, for which
being taken up he brought three who personated a doctor, apothecary and
surgeon at his trial, who swore that the time the robbery was said to
have been committed he was sick and even at the point of death, upon
which he was acquitted.

But as this was a narrow escape, so his liberty was of no long
continuance, for his companion Fulsom, being apprehended for a felony,
to save himself, made an information against his comrades, and amongst
the rest named Dalton, and gave so exact an account of his haunts that h
e was quickly after apprehended, and at the ensuing sessions convicted
and ordered for transportation.

At sea a great storm arising, they were glad to call up such of the
criminals as they thought might be of use towards managing the ship,
amongst whom was James Dalton, who no sooner was upon deck but he was
contriving to make the crew mutiny and seize the ship. In a very little
time he brought enough of them to be of his mind in order to execute
their intent, and accordingly got the fire-arms and made themselves
masters of the ship, and obliged the men to navigate her to a little
port near Cape Finisterre, in Spain, where they robbed the ship of about
a hundred pounds, and then went on shore and travelled by land to Vigo.
They were scarce got thither before the ship arrived, and the captain
charged them with the piracy they had committed; but from the lenity of
the Spanish Government, they quickly got released, without giving the
captain any satisfaction. The Governor, when they were discharged from
their confinement, gave them a pass in which, after reciting their
names, he styled them all English thieves, which putting them in no
small fright, they resolved to prevent its doing them a mischief,
committed it to the flames, and then ran the hazard of travelling the
country without one. This, accordingly, they did, until they met with a
Dutch ship, the master of which readily gave them a passage to
Amsterdam, from whence Dalton and two or three more, found means to get
over again to England, and came up to London.

On their arrival here they fell to robbing with such fury that the
streets were hardly safe when the sun was set; but Dalton apprehending
that this trade would not lost long, resolved to make a country
expedition, in order to get out of the way. Thereupon down he went again
to his old city of refuge, Bristol. There he did not continue long
before he was apprehended for breaking open a linen-draper's shop but
the burglary not being clearly proved, the jury found him guilty of the
felony only, whereupon he was once more transported to Virginia.

He did not continue long in that plantation before growing weary of
labour, he thought fit to threaten his master, so that the man was glad
to discharge him, and thought himself happy of getting rid of such a
servant. Upon which Dalton soon found out one Whalebone, a fellow of a
like disposition with himself; and they went about stealing boats and
negroes, running away with them and selling them in other colonies. At
last Dalton met with a ship which carried him for England. By the way he
was pressed on board the _Hampshire_ man-of-war, in which he was a
spectator of the last siege of Gibraltar.[95]

On his return he received his wages and lived on it for a little time.