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could not blame her for； that if it had been his good luck that
I had had the estate； which she was informed I had； he had
resolved to leave off the road and live a retired； sober live but
never to appear in public till some general pardon had been
passed； or till he could； for money； have got his name into
some particular pardon； that so he might have been perfectly
easy； but that； as it had proved otherwise； he was obliged to
put off his equipage and take up the old trade again。
He gave me a long account of some of his adventures； and
particularly one when he robbed the West Chester coaches
near Lichfield； when he got a very great booty； and after that；
how he robbed five graziers； in the west； going to Burford Fair
in Wiltshire to buy sheep。 He told me he got so much money
on those two occasions； that if he had known where to have
found me； he would certainly have embraced my proposal of
going with me to Virginia； or to have settled in a plantation
on some other parts of the English colonies in America。
He told me he wrote two or three letters to me； directed
according to my order； but heard nothing from me。 This I
indeed knew to be true； but the letters coming to my hand in
the time of my latter husband； I could do nothing in it； and
therefore chose to give no answer； that so he might rather
believe they had miscarried。
Being thus disappointed； he said； he carried on the old trade
ever since； though when he had gotten so much money； he
said； he did not run such desperate risks as he did before。
Then he gave me some account of several hard and desperate
encounters which he had with gentlemen on the road； who
parted too hardly with their money； and showed me some
wounds he had received； and he had one or two very terrible
wounds indeed； as particularly one by a pistol bullet； which
broke his arm； and another with a sword； which ran him quite
through the body； but that missing his vitals； he was cured
again； one of his comrades having kept with him so faithfully；
and so friendly； as that he assisted him in riding near eighty
miles before his arm was set； and then got a surgeon in a
considerable city； remote from that place where it was done；
pretending they were gentlemen travelling towards Carlisle
and that they had been attacked on the road by highwaymen；
and that one of them had shot him into the arm and broke
the bone。
This； he said； his friend managed so well； that they were not
suspected at all； but lay still till he was perfectly cured。 He
gave me so many distinct accounts of his adventures； that it
is with great reluctance that I decline the relating them； but I
consider that this is my own story； not his。
I then inquired into the circumstances of his present case at
that time； and what it was he expected when he came to be
tried。 He told me that they had no evidence against him； or
but very little； for that of three robberies； which they were all
charged with； it was his good fortune that he was but in one
of them； and that there was but one witness to be had for that
fact； which was not sufficient； but that it was expected some
others would come in against him； that he thought indeed；
when he first saw me； that I had been one that came of that
errand； but that if somebody came in against him； he hoped
he should be cleared； that he had had some intimation； that if
he would submit to transport himself； he might be admitted
to it without a trial； but that he could not think of it with any
temper； and thought he could much easier submit to be hanged。
I blamed him for that； and told him I blamed him on two
accounts； first； because if he was transported； there might be
a hundred ways for him that was a gentleman； and a bold
enterprising man； to find his way back again； and perhaps
some ways and means to come back before he went。 He
smiled at that part； and said he should like the last the best of
the two； for he had a kind of horror upon his mind at his being
sent over to the plantations； as Romans sent condemned
slaves to work in the mines； that he thought the passage into
another state； let it be what it would； much more tolerable at
the gallows； and that this was the general notion of all the
gentlemen who were driven by the exigence of their fortunes
to take the road； that at the place of execution there was at
least an end of all the miseries of the present state； and as for
what was to follow； a man was； in his opinion； as likely to
repent sincerely in the last fortnight of his life； under the
pressures and agonies of a jail and the condemned hole； as he
would ever be in the woods and wilderness of America； that
servitude and hard labour were things gentlemen could never
stoop to； that it was but the way to force them to be their own
executioners afterwards； which was much worse； and that
therefore he could not have any patience when he did but
think of being transported。
I used the utmost of my endeavour to persuade him； and joined
that known woman's rhetoric to itI mean； that of tears。 I told
him the infamy of a public execution was certainly a greater
pressure upon the spirits of a gentleman than any of the
mortifications that he could meet with abroad could be； that
he had at least in the other a chance for his life； whereas here
he had none at all； that it was the easiest thing in the world
for him to manage the captain of a ship； who were； generally
speaking； men of good…humour and some gallantry； and a
small matter of conduct； especially if there was any money
to be had； would make way for him to buy himself off when
he came to Virginia。
He looked wistfully at me； and I thought I guessed at what he
meant； that is to say； that he had no money； but I was mistaken；
his meaning was another way。 'You hinted just now； my dear；'
said he； 'that there might be a way of coming back before I
went； by which I understood you that it might be possible to
buy it off here。 I had rather give #200 to prevent going； than
#100 to be set at liberty when I came there。' 'That is； my dear；'
said I； 'because you do not know the place so well as I do。'
'That may be；' said he； 'and yet I believe； as well as you know
it； you would do the same； unless it is because； as you told
me； you have a mother there。'
I told him； as to my mother； it was next to impossible but
that she must be dead many years before； and as for any other
relations that I might have there； I knew them not now； that
since the misfortunes I had been under had reduced me to the
condition I had been in for some years； I had not kept up any
correspondence with them； and that he would easily believe；
I should find but a cold reception from them if I should be
put to make my first visit in the condition of a transported
felon； that therefore； if I went thither； I resolved not to see
them