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slain； but kills the Happiness of the orphaned Children； depriving them of
Bread； and forcing them upon wicked Ways of getting a Maintenance；
which often terminate in Newgate and an ignominious death。
‘Bloodthirsty men； we have said； shall not live out half their Days。
And think not that Repentance avails the Murderer。 ‘‘Hell and
Damnation are never full'' （Prov。 xxvii。 20）； and the meanest Sinner shall
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find a place in the Lake which burns unto Eternity with Fire and
Brimstone。 Alas！ your Punishment shall not finish with the Noose。
Your ‘‘end is to be burned'' （Heb。 vi。 8）； to be burned； for the Blood that is
shed cries aloud for Vengeance。' At these words； as Pureney would relate
with a smile of recollected triumph； Matthias Brinsden screamed aloud；
and a shiver ran through the idle audience which came to Newgate on a
Black Sunday； as to a bull…baiting。 Truly； the throng of thoughtless
spectators hindered the proper solace of the Ordinary's ministrations； and
many a respectable murderer complained of the intruding mob。 But the
Ordinary； otherwise minded； loved nothing so well as a packed house； and
though he would invite the criminal to his private closet； and comfort his
solitude with pious ejaculations； he would neither shield him from
curiosity； nor tranquillise his path to the unquenchable fire。
Not only did he exercise in the pulpit a poignant and visible influence。
He boasted the confidence of many heroes。 His green old age cherished
no more famous memory than the friendship of Jonathan Wild。 He had
known the Great Man at his zenith； he had wrestled with him in the hour
of discomfiture； he had preached for his benefit that famous sermon on the
text： ‘Hide Thy Face from my sins； and blot out all my Iniquities'； he had
witnessed the hero's awful progress from Newgate to Tyburn； he had seen
him shiver at the nubbing…cheat； he had composed for him a last dying
speech； which did not shame the king of thief…takers； and whose sale
brought a comfortable profit to the widow。 Jonathan； on his side； had
shown the Ordinary not a little condescension。 It had been his whim； on
the eve of his marriage； to present Mr。 Pureney with a pair of white gloves；
which were treasured as a priceless relic for many a year。 And when he
paid his last； forced visit to Newgate； he gave the Chaplain； for a pledge of
his esteem； that famous silver staff； which he carried； as a badge of
authority from the Government； the better to keep the people in awe； and
favour the enterprises of his rogues。
Only one cloud shadowed this old and equal friendship。 Jonathan
had entertained the Ordinary with discourse so familiar； they had cracked
so many a bottle together； that when the irrevocable sentence was passed；
when he who had never shown mercy； expected none； the Great Man
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found the exhortations of the illiterate Chaplain insufficient for his high
purpose。 ‘As soon as I came into the condemned Hole；' thus he wrote； ‘I
began to think of making a preparation for my soul； and the better to bring
my stubborn heart to repentance； I desired the advice of a man of learning；
a man of sound judgment in divinity； and therefore application being made
to the Reverend Mr。 Nicholson； he very Christian…like gave me his
assistance。' Alas！ Poor Pureney！ He lacked subtlety； and he was
instantly baffled； when the Great Man bade him expound the text：
‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree。' The shiftiest excuse would
have brought solace to a breaking heart and conviction to a casuist brain。
Yet for once the Ordinary was at a loss； and Wild； finding him insufficient
for his purpose； turned a deaf ear to his ministrations。 Thus he was
rudely awakened from the dream of many sleepless nights。 His large
heart almost broke at the neglect。
But if his more private counsels were scorned； he still had the joy of
delivering a masterpiece from the pulpit； of using ‘all the means
imaginable to make Wild think of another world；' and of seeing him as
neatly turned off as the most exacting Ordinary could desire。 And what
inmate of Newgate ever forgot the afternoon of that glorious day （May the
24th； 1725）？ Mr。 Pureney returned to his flock； fortified with punch and
good tidings。 He pictured the scene at Tyburn with a bibulous
circumstance； which admirably became his style； rejoicing； as he has
rejoiced ever since； that； though he lost a friend； the honest rogue was
saved at last from the machinations of the thief…taker。
So he basked and smoked and drank his ale； retelling the ancient
stories； and hiccuping forth the ancient sermons。 So； in the fading
twilight of life； he smiled the smile of contentment； as became one who
had emptied more quarts； had delivered more harrowing discourses； and
had lived familiarly with more scoundrels than any devil…dodger of his
generation。
SHEPPARD AND CARTOUCHE
I JACK SHEPPARD
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JACK SHEPPARD IT was midnight when Jack Sheppard reached the
leads； wearied by his magical achievement； and still fearful of discovery。
The ‘jolly pair of handcuffs；' provided by the thoughtful Governor； lay
discarded in his distant cell； the chains which a few hours since had
grappled him to the floor encumbered the now useless staple。 No trace of
the ancient slavery disgraced him save the iron anklets which clung about
his legs； though many a broken wall and shattered lock must serve for
evidence of his prowess on the morrow。 The Stone…Jug was all be…
chipped and shattered。 From the castle he had forced his way through a
nine…foot wall into the Red Room； whose bolts； bars； and hinges he had
ruined to gain the Chapel。 The road thence to the roof and to freedom
was hindered by three stubborn iron doors； yet naught stood in the way of
Sheppard's genius； and he was sensible； at last； of the night air chill upon
his cheek。
But liberty was not yet： there was still a fall of forty feet； and he must
needs repass the wreckage of his own making to filch the blankets from
his cell。 In terror lest he should awaken the Master…Side Debtors； he
hastened back to the roof； lashed the coverlets together； and； as the city
clocks clashed twelve； he dropped noiselessly upon the leads of a turner's
house； built against the prison's outer wall。 Behind him Newgate was cut
out a black mass against the sky； at his feet glimmered the garret window
of the turner's house； and behind the winking casement he could see the
turner's servant going to bed。 Through her chamber lay the road to glory
and Clare Market； and breathlessly did Sheppard watch till the candle