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twenty pounds。 Dismounting； this providence in jack…boots discharged
the debt； cancelled the bond； and took the innkeeper's goods for his own
security。 And thereupon overtaking the usurer； ‘My friend！' he exclaimed；
‘I lent you late a sum of twenty pounds。 Repay it at once； or I take your
miserable life。' The usurer was obliged to return the money； with another
twenty for interest； and when he would take the law of the innkeeper； was
shown the bond duly cancelled； and was flogged wellnigh to death for his
pains。
So Hind rode the world up and down； redressing grievances like an
Eastern monarch； and rejoicing in the abasement of the evildoer。 Nor
was the spirit of his adventure bounded by the ocean。 More than once he
crossed the seas； the Hague knew him； and Amsterdam； though these
somnolent cities gave small occasion for the display of his talents。 It was
from Scilly that he crossed to the Isle of Man； where； being recommended
to Lord Derby； he gained high favour； and received in exchange for his
jests a comfortable stipend。 Hitherto； said the Chronicles； thieving was
unknown in the island。 A man might walk whither he would； a bag of
gold in one hand； a switch in the other； and fear no danger。 But no
sooner had Hind appeared at Douglas than honest citizens were pilfered at
every turn。 In dismay they sought the protection of the Governor； who
instantly suspected Hind； and gallantly disclosed his suspicions to the
Captain。 ‘My lord！' exclaimed Hind； a blush upon his cheek； ‘I protest
my innocence； but willingly will I suffer the heaviest penalty of your law
if I am recognised for the thief。' The victims； confronted with their
robber； knew him not； picturing to the Governor a monster with long hair
and unkempt beard。 Hind； acquitted with apologies； fetched from his
lodging the disguise of periwig and beard。 ‘They laugh who win！' he
murmured； and thus forced forgiveness and a chuckle even from his
judges。
As became a gentleman…adventurer； Captain Hind was staunch in his
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loyalty to his murdered King。 To strip the wealthy was always reputable；
but to rob a Regicide was a masterpiece of well…doing。
A fervent zeal to lighten Cromwell's pocket had brought the illustrious
Allen to the gallows。 But Hind was not one whit abashed； and he would
never forego the chance of an encounter with his country's enemies。 His
treatment of Hugh Peters in Enfield Chace is among his triumphs。 At the
first encounter the Presbyterian plucked up courage enough to oppose his
adversary with texts。 To Hind's command of ‘Stand and deliver！' duly
enforced with a loaded pistol； the ineffable Peters replied with ox…eye
sanctimoniously upturned： ‘Thou shalt not steal； let him that stole； steal
no more；' adding thereto other variations of the eighth commandment。
Hind immediately countered with exhortations against the awful sin of
murder； and rebuked the blasphemy of the Regicides； who； to defend their
own infamy； would wrest Scripture from its meaning。 ‘Did you not； O
monster of impiety；' mimicked Hind in the preacher's own voice； ‘pervert
for your own advantage the words of the Psalmist； who said； ‘‘Bind their
kings with chains； and their nobles with fetters of iron''？ Moreover； was
it not Solomon who wrote： ‘‘Men do not despise a thief； if he steal to
satisfy his soul when he is hungry''？ And is not my soul hungry for gold
and the Regicides' discomfiture？' Peters was still fumbling after texts
when the final argument： ‘Deliver thy money； or I will send thee out of
the world！' frightened him into submission； and thirty broad pieces were
Hind's reward。
Not long afterwards he confronted Bradshaw near Sherborne； and；
having taken from him a purse fat with Jacobuses； he bade the Sergeant
stand uncovered while he delivered a discourse upon gold； thus shaped by
tradition： ‘Ay； marry； sir； this is the metal that wins my heart for ever！
O precious gold； I admire and adore thee as much as Bradshaw； Prynne； or
any villain of the same stamp。 This is that incomparable medicament；
which the republican physicians call the wonder…working plaster。 It is
truly catholic in operation； and somewhat akin to the Jesuit's powder； but
more effectual。 The virtues of it are strange and various； it makes justice
deaf as well as blind； and takes out spots of the deepest treason more
cleverly than castle…soap does common stains； it alters a man's constitution
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
in two or three days； more than the virtuoso's transfusion of blood can do
in seven years。 ‘Tis a great alexiopharmick； and helps poisonous
principles of rebellion； and those that use them。 It miraculously exalts
and purifies the eyesight； and makes traitors behold nothing but innocence
in the blackest malefactors。 ‘Tis a mighty cordial for a declining cause； it
stifles faction or schism； as certainly as the itch is destroyed by butter and
brimstone。 In a word； it makes wise men fools； and fools wise men； and
both knaves。 The very colour of this precious balm is bright and dazzling。
If it be properly applied to the fist； that is in a decent manner； and a
competent dose； it infallibly performs all the cures which the evils of
humanity crave。' Thus having spoken； he killed the six horses of
Bradshaw's coach； and went contemptuously on his way。
But he was not a Cavalier merely in sympathy； nor was he content to
prove his loyalty by robbing Roundheads。 He； too； would strike a blow
for his King； and he showed； first with the royal army in Scotland； and
afterwards at Worcester； what he dared in a righteous cause。 Indeed； it
was his part in the unhappy battle that cost him his life； and there is a
strange irony in the reflection that； on the self…same day whereon Sir
Thomas Urquhart lost his precious manuscripts in Worcester's kennels； the
neck of James Hind was made ripe for the halter。 His capture was due to
treachery。 Towards the end of 1651 he was lodged with one Denzys； a
barber； over against St。 Dunstan's Church in Fleet Street。 Maybe he had
chosen his hiding…place for its neighbourhood to Moll Cutpurse's own
sanctuary。 But a pack of traitors discovered him； and haling him before
the Speaker of the House of Commons； got him committed forthwith to
Newgate。
At first he was charged with theft and murder； and was actually
condemned for killing George Sympson at Knole in Berkshire。 But the
day after his sentence； an Act of Oblivion was passed； and Hind was put
upon trial for treason。 During his examination he behaved with the
utmost gaiety； boastfully enlarging upon his services to the King's cause。
‘These are filthy jingling spurs；' said he as he left the bar； pointing to the
irons about his legs； ‘but I hope to exchange them e