_Our extravagants wild humours whilst he is in the Compter, from whence
he being released falls into the Company of House-Breakers, and by
their assistance robs a Milliners Shop where the Constable kept his
Watch._
Thus did necessity cause our Extravagant to be witty, and he shewing
these Verses to some friends they promised to assist him with his
Mother, but she rather chose to maintain him in Prison then pay the
debt, all the small moveables, as Cloak, Sword and Belt, Half-Shirts,
Bands, Caravats, and all other things that he could spare, he parted
from and converted them into Ale. Some friends one Fast day went to see
him, and he being glad of Company caused them to stay most part of the
day, but it being Fast-day, the Parson belonging to the Compter,
according to custom gave the Prisoners a Sermon, during that time the
Cellar door was shut up, no drink was delivered out, all were ingaged to
assist and hear the Parson, our Extravagant was very much troubled at
this obstruction in his drinking, and his friends could not perswade him
to any patience, but he when the Parson was in the middle of his Sermon,
looking out at a Window neer the Pulpit heard him say I have two or
three points more and then I conclude, I would you would said our
Extravagant that we might have some drink. The Parson stared at him, and
so did the people who were near him and heard his words, but he seeing
the Parson went on, turned away, saying come since we can have no drink,
lets take Tobacco till we can, and so went away.
_The Parson after he had done preaching, came to our Extravagant to
examine him privately, but his answers were so Extravagant that there
was no good to be done with him, and now not having any employment he
gave himself wholly to fudling, and when he had not Money, and his
Mothers allowance was spent, he spunged with all Companies, and got
acquainted with all the Prisoners that came into the house, and this his
Imprisonment did make him worse, for he conversed with all the debauched
persons that were there, and now he could not act, he gloryed in the
Relation of his former lewd debaucheries, so that at length his Mother
at the perswasion of friends agreed and paid his Debt and Charges, and
took him home to her house._
_By reason of his confinement, he had contracted a disease, wherefore it
was necessary for him to stay within doors for some time, and take
Physick, but he being restored to his former health, was a suitor to his
Mother for new Cloathes and Money in his Poket, she refused him both for
the present, not thinking it fit as yet to trust him, wherefore he gave
her very ill words._
* * * * *
_Thus you may see what a hopeful amendment here was, and as he was
debauched himself, so I believe it was his desire that his Son should be
so; for as I told you he had been married in the Countrey to a person of
Quality, but he had basely left her and rambled about the Town, and
though he heard soon after his coming to_ London _that she was brought
to bed of a boy, he took no heed nor care about it, but when he was
asked by friends whether he had not a desire to see his young Son, he
replyed, no, he cared not to see him till he was about thirteen or
fourteen years of age, and then he only desired that he might see him to
enter him at a Baudy-house._
* * * * *
_By this discourse you may judge of his inclination, and his Mother now
refusing him money, he would purloyn a silver Spoon or some other piece
of plate, and convert it into Pocket mettle, and being once furnished
with money he would go seek out Company. Those that had any grace or
honesty would refuse to accompany him, and therefore he got into the
company of such Bulkers and Pick pockets as he had known whilst he was
in the Counter, and now he employed his industry in contriving ways with
them to get a purchase, and being one day at a Milliners or Haberdashers
shop, who was related to him, he asked the Master to lend him half a
piece, he refused him the money, but gave him very good counsel, if he
had had the grace to receive it, and make use of it as he ought. But it
was to as little purpose to speak to him at that rate, as it had been to
endeavor to wash the Black-more white, both labour in vain, and our
Extravagant was so angry at his friend for it; that he told him that he
might have found somewhat else to do, and since he had not, he would ere
long find him some other imployment, somewhat else to talk about, and so
left him; and now being resolved what to do, he went and found out some
of his forementioned acquaintance, Bulkers or House-breakers, and
telling them he had a great desire to assist them in robbing of the
Milliners shop, which he told them was very well furnished with good
ready Mony, Commodities, Silk and Silk ribboning, Gloves and such like
wares, they liked the design well enough, and now they asked him the
place where, but here appeared a very great obstacle; for this Milliners
shop was in such a place as was very difficult to be robb’d, it being
the very next door to the Watch-house, where the Constable and watch
generally sat. This they told him would be dangerous to attempt; but he
affirming the more danger the more honour,and that he was resolved it
should be done, and he knew how to do it handsomely if they would be
ruled by him; they promised their assistance to the execution of this
design. It was necessary there should be five or six persons, wherefore
they making up that company, and he being one of that number, and all
things provided according to his order and directions, about ten of the
Clock at night they set forwards. They divided themselves into two parts
or companies and our Extravagant and two others that went into an
Ale-house at some small distance from the Watch house. There they called
for drink, and soon began their work, which was to quarrel with one
another, they were armed with swords, then they drew and began a
scuffle, one of the three runs up to the Watch, and cries out_ Murther,
Murther; _The Constable hearing the noise, and doubting there might be
sufficient cause, took all his Watch-men to attend Him, but he found no
great trouble to appease this quarrel, which being ended, he with his
Watch returned to his Rendezvous: In this time the other three had not
been idle, but so soon as ever the Constables back was turned, they
broke open the Shop Door they intended to rob, and it was not very
difficult so to do, for it was not so strongly barricado’d, as otherwise
it might have been, because of the safety the owner thought he was in,
by reason of the Constables sitting there._
_The Shop being opened they laid about them, and knowing where the best
Commodities lay, they soon removed them, and not packing them up so
handsomely as the Owner would have done for his Customer, they only
threw them together into two Sacks they had brought, which being filled,
away they marched; so that by such time as the Constable and Watch
returned, they had dispatched their business and were gone._
_The Constable before morning discovered the Shop Door to be open, but
did suppose it had been left so, by the negligence of them that shut it
up, wherefore he left two Watchmen at the Door to guard it. The next
Morning the Master came and wondred to see a Guard upon his Door, asked
the reason. They told him what they supposed, but he found it much
otherwise, and although there were his Drawers and Boxes, yet they were
empty, there were the Nests but the Birds were flown, immediately a Hue
and Cry went out against those parties they could describe, but to
little purpose, for they escaped, and were far enough off from being
discovered. The next day they shared their prize, and converting it into
Mony, our extravagant’s share came to above 25l. and now that he was
possessed of so considerable a Sum of Mony, he was desirous that all the
world should know it, and therefore it being inconvenient to carry so
much about him in Silver, he changed 20l. into Gold._