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- Herausgeber: e-artnow
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016
This carefully crafted ebook: "COLONEL JACK (Adventure Classic)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Colonel Jack follows an orphaned boy from a life of poverty and crime to colonial prosperity, military and marital imbroglios, and religious conversion, driven by a problematic notion of becoming a "gentleman." Colonel Jack prominently tackles the subjects of money and crime. The novel begins with Jack as an abandoned illegitimate child, whose attending nurse is instructed by his father to inform Jack when he grows up that he is a "Gentleman". Jack goes through many adventures, initially turning to crime from desperation, wandering around the country and beyond, finding love several times… Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy, most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is noted for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularize the form in Britain with others such as Samuel Richardson, and is among the founders of the English novel. He was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than five hundred books, pamphlets, and journals on various topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology, and the supernatural.
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COLONEL JACK (Adventure Classic)
The History and Remarkable Life of the truly Honorable Col. Jacque (Complemented with the Biography of the Author)
Table of Contents
Novel
COLONEL JACK
Commonly call’d Col. Jack, who was Born a Gentleman, put ‘Prentice to a Pick-Pocket, was Six and Twenty Years a Thief, and then Kidnapp’d to Virginia, Came back a Merchant; was Five times married to Four Whores; went into the Wars, behav’d bravely, got Preferment, was made Colonel of a Regiment, came over, and fled with the Chevalier, is still abroad compleating a Life of Wonders, and resolves to dye a General.
PART I.
Seeing my Life has been such a Checquer Work of Nature, and that I am able now to look back upon it from a safer Distance, than is ordinarily the Fate of the Clan to which I once belong’d; I think my History may find a place in the World, as well as some, who I see are every Day read with pleasure, tho’ they have in them nothing so Diverting, or Instructing, as I believe mine will appear to be.
My original may be as high as any Bodies for ought I know, for my Mother kept very good Company, but that part belongs to her Story, more than to mine, all I know of it, is by oral Tradition thus; my Nurse told me my Mother was a Gentle-woman, that my Father was a Man of Quality, and she (my Nurse) had a good piece of Money given her to take me off his Hands, and deliver him and my Mother from the Importunities that usually attend the Misfortune, of having a Child to keep that should not be seen or heard of.
My Father it seems gave my Nurse something more than was agreed for at my Mother’s request, upon her solemn Promise that she would use me well, and let me be put to School, and charg’d her that if I liv’d to come to any bigness, capable to understand the meaning of it, she should always take care to bid me remember, that I was a Gentleman, and this he said was all the Education he would desire of her for me, for he did not doubt, he said, but that sometime or other the very hint would inspire me with Thoughts suitable to my Birth, and that I would certainly act like a Gentleman, if I believed myself to be so.
But my Dissasters were not directed to end as soon as they began; ‘tis very seldom that the Unfortunate are so but for a Day, as the Great rise by degrees of Greatness to the Pitch of Glory, in which they shine, so the Miserable sink to the depth of their Misery by a continu’d Series of Dissaster, and are long in the Tortures and Agonies of their distress’d Circumstances before a Turn of Fortune, if ever such a thing happens to them, gives them a prospect of Deliverance.
My Nurse was as honest to the Engagement she had enter’d into, as cou’d be expected from one of her Employment, and particularly as honest as her Circumstances would give her leave to be; for she Bred me up very carefully with her own Son, and with another Son of shame like me, who she had taken upon the same Terms.
My Name was John, as she told me, but neither she or I, knew any thing of a Sir-name that belong’d to me; so I was left to call myself Mr. Any-thing, what I pleas’d, as Fortune and better Circumstances should give occasion.
It happen’d that her own Son (for she had a little Boy of her own, about One Year older than I) was call’d John too, and about two Year after she took another, Son of Shame, as I call’d it above, to keep as she did me, and his Name was John too.
As we were all Johns, we were all Jacks, and soon came to be call’d so, for at that Part of the Town, where we had our Breeding, viz. near Goodman’s-fields, the Johns are generally call’d Jack; but my Nurse, who may be allow’d to distinguish her own Son a little from the rest, would have him call’d Captain, because forsooth he was the eldest.
I Was provok’d at having this Boy call’d Captain, and I cried and told my Nurse I would be call’d Captain, for she told me I was a Gentleman, and I would be a Captain, that I would: The good Woman to keep the Peace, told me ay, ay, I was a Gentleman, and therefore I should be above a Captain, for I should be a Colonel, and that was a great deal better than a Captain; for my Dear, says she, every Tarpawlin if he gets but to be Lieutenant of a Press-Smack is call’d Captain, but Colonels are Soldiers, and none but Gentlemen are ever made Colonels; besides, says she, I have known Colonels come to be Lords, and Generals, tho’ they were Bas—ds at first, and therefore you shall be call’d Colonel.
Well, I was hush’d indeed with this for the present, but not thoroughly pleas’d, till a little while after I heard her tell her own Boy, that I was a Gentleman, and therefore he must call me Colonel, at which her Boy fell a crying, and he would be call’d Colonel; that Part pleas’d me to the Life, that he should cry to be call’d Colonel, for then I was satisfy’d that it was above a Captain: So universally is Ambition seated in the Minds of Men, that not a Beggar-boy but has his share of it.
So here was Colonel Jack, and Captain Jack, as for the third Boy, he was only plain Jack for some Years after, till he came to Preferment by the Merit of his Birth, as you shall hear in its Place.
We were hopeful Boy’s all Three of us, and promis’d very early by many repeated Circumstances of our Lives, that we would be all Rogues, and yet I cannot say, if what I have heard of my Nurses Character be true, but the honest Woman did what she cou’d to prevent it.
Before I tell you much more of our Story, it would be very proper to give you something of our several Characters, as I have gather’d them up in my Memory, as far back as I can recover things, either of myself, or my Brother Jacks, and they shall be Brief and Impartial.
Capt. Jack, was the eldest of us all, by a whole Year, he was a sqnat, big, strong made Boy, and promis’d to be stout when grown up to be a Man, but not to be tall. His Temper was sly, sullen, reserv’d, malicious, revengeful; and withal, he was brutish, bloody, and cruel in his Disposition; he was as to manners a meer Boor, or Clown, of a Carman like Breed; sharp as a Street bred Boy must be, but ignorant and unteachable from a Child. He had much the Nature of a Bull Dog, bold and desperate, but not generous at all; all the School-Mistresses we went to, could never make him learn, no, not so much as to make him know his Letters; and as if he was born a Thief, he would steal every thing that came near him, even as soon almost as he could Speak; and that, not from his Mother only, but from any Body else, and from us too that were his Brethren and Companions. He was an original Rogue, for he would do the foulest and most villainous Things, even by his own Inclination; he had no Taste or Sense of being Honest, no, not, I say, to his Brother Rogues; which is what other Thieves make a point of Honour of; I mean that of being Honest to one another.
The other, that is to say, the youngest of us Johns, was called Major Jack, by the Accident following; the Lady that had deposited him with our Nurse, had own’d to her that it was a Major of the Guards that was the Father of the Child; but that she was obliged to conceal his Name, and that was enough. So he was at first call’d John the Major, and afterwards the Major, and at last, when we came to rove together, Major Jack according to the rest, for his Name was John, as I have observ’d already.
Major Jack was a merry, facetious pleasant Boy, had a good share of Wit, especially Off hand-Wit, as they call it; was full of Jests and good Humour, and as I often said, had some thing of a Gentleman in him; he had a true Manly Courage, fear’d nothing, and could look Death in the Face, without any Hesitation; and yet if he had the Advantage, was the most generous and most compassionate Creature alive; he had native Principles of Gallantry in him, without any thing of the brutal or terrible Part that the Captain had; and in a Word, he wanted nothing but Honesty to have made him an excellent Man; he had learned to read as I had done, and as he talk’d very well, so he wrote good Sense, and very handsome Language, as you will see in the process of his Story.
As for your humble Servant, Colonel Jack, he was a poor unhappy tractable Dog, willing enough, and capable too, to learn any thing, if he had had any but the Devil for his School-Master: He set out into the World so early, that when he began to do Evil, he understood nothing of the Wickedness of it, nor what he had to expect for it: I remember very well, that when I was once carried before a Justice, for a Theft which indeed I was not guilty of, and defended my self by Argument, proving the Mistakes of my Accusers, and how they contradicted themselves; the Justice told me it was pitty I had not been better employ’d, for I was certainly better taught; in which however his Worship was mistaken, for I had never been taught any thing, but to be a Thief; except, as I said, to read, and write, and that was all, before I was ten Years old: But I had a natural Talent of Talking, and could say as much to the Purpose as most People that had been taught no more than I.
I pass’d among my Comrades for a bold resolute Boy, and one that durst fight any thing; but I had a different Opinion of my self, and therefore shun’d Fighting as much as I could, tho’ sometimes, I ventur’d too, and came off well, being very strong made, and nimble withal. However, I many times brought my self off with my Tongue, where my Hands would not have been sufficient; and this as well after I was a Man, as while I was a Boy.
I was Wary and Dextrous at my Trade, and was not so often catch’d as my Fellow Rogues, I mean while I was a Boy, and never, after I came to be a Man, no, not once for 26 Years, being so old in the Trade, and still unhang’d as you shall hear.
As for my Person, while I was a dirty Glass-Bottle House Boy, sleeping in the Ashes, and dealing always in the Street Dirt, it cannot be expected but that I look’d like what I was, and so we did all; that is to say, like a Black your Shoes your Honour, a Beggar Boy, a Black-Guard Boy, or what you please, despicable, and miserable, to the last Degree; and yet I remember, the People would say of me, that Boy has a good Face; if he was wash’d, and well dress’d, he would be a good pretty Boy, do but look what Eyes he has, what a pleasant smiling Countenance, ‘tis Pitty! I wonder what the Rogues Father and Mother was, and the like; then they would call me, and ask me my Name; and I would tell them my Name was Jack. But what’s your Sir Name, Sirrah? says they: I don’t know says I: Who is your Father and Mother? I have none, said I. What, and never had you any? said they: No, says I, not that I know of: Then they would shake their Heads, and cry, poor Boy! and ‘tis a Pitty! and the like! and so let me go. But I lay’d up all these things in my Heart.
I was almost 10 Year old, the Captain 11, and the Major about 8, when the good Woman my Nurse died, her Husband was a Seaman, and had been drown’d a little before in the Gloucester Frigat, one of the King’s Ships which was Cast away going to Scotland with the Duke of York, in the Time of King Charles II. and the honest Woman dying very Poor, the Parish was oblig’d to bury her; when the three young Jacks attended her Corps, and I the Colonel, for we all pass’d for her own Children, was Chief Mourner, the Captain who was the eldest Son, going back very sick.
The good Woman being dead, we, the three Jacks, were turn’d loose to the World, as to the Parish providing for us, we did not trouble our selves much about that; we rambl’d about all three together, and the People in Rosemary-Lane, and Ratcliff, and that Way knowing us pretty well, we got Victuals easily enough, and without much Begging.
For my particular Part, I got some Reputation, for a mighty civil honest Boy; for if I was sent of an Errand, I always did it punctually and carefully, and made haste again; and if I was trusted with any thing, I never touch’d it to diminish it, but made it a Point of Honour to be punctual to whatever was committed to me, tho’ I was as Errant a Thief as any of them in all other Cases.
In like Case, some of the poorer Shop-Keepers, would often leave me at their Door, to look after their Shops, ‘till they went up to Dinner, or ‘till they went over the Way to an Ale-House, and the like, and I always did it freely and chearfully, and with the utmost Honesty.
Capt. Jack on the contrary, a surly, ill-look’d, rough Boy, had not a Word in his Mouth that favoured either of good Manners, or good Humour; he wou’d say yes, and no, just as he was ask’d a Question, and that was all, but no Body got any thing from him that was obliging in the least; if he was sent of an Errand he would forget half of it, and it may be go to play, if he met any Boys, and never go at all, or if he went never come back with an Answer; which was such a regardless, disobliging Way, that no Body, had a good Word for him, and every Body said he had the very look of a Rogue, and would come to be Hang’d: In a Word he got nothing of any Body for good will, but was as it were oblig’d to turn Thief, for the meer Necessity of Bread to eat; for if he beg’d, he did it with so ill a Tone, rather like bidding Folks give him Victuals, than entreating them, that one Man of whom he had something given, and knew him, told him one Day, Capt. Jack, says he, thou art but an awkward, ugly sort of a Beggar now thou art a Boy, I doubt thou wilt be fitter to ask a Man for his Purse, than for a Penny, when thou comest to be a Man.
The Major was a merry Thoughtless Fellow, always Chearful, whether he had any Victuals or no, he never complain’d, and he recommended himself so well by his good Carriage that the Neighbours lov’d him, and he got Victuals enough one where or other: Thus we all made a shift, tho’ we were so little to keep from starving, and as for Lodging, we lay in the Summer-time about the Watch-houses, and on Bulk-heads, and Shop-doors, where we were known; as for a Bed we knew nothing what belong’d to it for many Years after my Nurse died, and in Winter we got into the Ash-holes, and Nealing-Arches in the Glass-house, call’d Dallows’s Glass-house, near Rosemary-Lane, or at another Glass-house in Ratcliff-high-way.
In this manner we liv’d for some Years, and here we fail’d not to fall among a Gang of naked, ragged Rogues like ourselves, wicked as the Devil cou’d desire to have them be, at so early an Age, and Ripe for all the other Parts of Mischief that suited them as they advanc’d in Years.
I remember that one cold Winter Night we were disturb’d in our Rest with a Constable, and his Watch, crying out for one Wry-Neck, who it seems had done some Roguery, and requir’d a Hue and Cry of that Kind, and the Watch were inform’d he was to be found among the Beggar-boys under the Nealing-Arches in the Glass-house.
The alarm being given, we were awaken’d in the Dead of the Night with come out here, ye Crew of young Devils, come out and show yourselves; so we were all produc’d, some came out rubbing their Eyes, and scratching their Heads, and others were dragg’d out, and I think there was about Seventeen of us in all, but Wry-Neck, as they call’d him, was not among them; it seems this was a good big Boy that us’d to be among the Inhabitants of that Place, and had been concern’d in a Robbery the Night before, in which his Comrade who was taken, who in hopes of escaping Punishment had discover’d him, and inform’d where he usually Harbour’d; but he was aware it seems, and had secur’d himself, at least for that time; so we were allow’d to return to our warm Appartment among the Coal-ashes, where I slept many a cold Winter Night: Nay, I may say, many a Winter, as found, and as comfortably as ever I did since, tho’ in better Lodging.
In this manner of living, we went on a good while, I believe two Year, and neither did, or meant any Harm: We generally went all Three together; for in short, the Captain for want of Address, and for something disagreeable in him, would have starv’d if we had not kept him with us: As we were always together, we were generally known by the Name of the three Jacks; but Col. Jack had always the preference upon many Accounts; the Major, as I have said, was Merry and Pleasant, but the Colonel always held talk with the better Sort; I mean, the better Sort of those that would Converse with a Beggar-boy: In this way of Talk, I was always upon the Inquiry, asking Questions of things done in Public as well as in Private, particularly, I lov’d to talk with Seamen and Soldiers about the War, and about the great Sea-Fights, or Battles on Shore, that any of them had been in; and as I never forgot any thing they told me, I could soon, that is to say, in a few Years give almost as good an Account of the Dutch War, and of the Fights at Sea, the Battles in Flanders, the taking of Maestricht, and the like, as any of those that had been there, and this made those old Soldiers and Tars love to talk with me too, and to tell me all the Stories they could think of, and that not only of the Wars then going on, but also of the Wars in Oliver’s time, the Death of King Charles the first, and the like.
By this means, as young as I was, I was a kind of an Historian, and tho’ I had read no Books, and never had any Books to read, yet I cou’d give a tollerable Account of what had been done, and of what was then a doing in the World, especially in those things that our own People were concern’d in. I knew the Names of every Ship in the Navy, and who commanded them too, and all this before I was 14 Year old, or but very soon after.
Capt. Jack, in this time fell into bad Company, and went away from us, and it was a good while before we ever heard Tale or Tidings of him, till about half Year, I think or there abouts, I understood he was got among a Gang of Kidnappers, as they were then call’d, being a Sort of wicked Fellows that us’d to Spirit Peoples Children away, that is snatch them up in the Dark, and stopping their Mouths, carry them to such Houses where they had Rogues, ready to receive them, and so carry them on Board Ships bound to Virginia, and sell them.
This was a Trade that horrid Jack, for so I call’d him, when we were grown up, was very fit for, especially the violent Part; for if a little Child got into his Clutches he would stop the Breath of it, instead of stopping its Mouth, and never Trouble his Head with the Childs being almost strangl’d, so he did but keep it from making a Noise. There was it seems some Villainous thing done by this Gang about that time, whether a Child was murther’d among them, or a Child otherwise abus’d; but it seems it was a Child of an eminent Citizen, and the Parent some how or other got a Scent of the thing, so that they recover’d their Child, tho’ in a sad Condition, and almost kill’d; I was too young, and it was too long ago for me to remember the whole Story, but they were all taken up, and sent to Newgate, and Capt. Jack among the rest, tho’ he was but young, for he was not then much above 13 Year old.
What punishment was inflicted upon the Rogues of that Gang I cannot tell now, but the Captain being but a lad, was order’d to be three times soundly Whipt at Bridewell; my Lord Mayor, or the Recorder telling him, it was done in pitty to him, to keep him from the Gallows, not forgetting to tell him that he had a Hanging look, and bid him have a care on that very Account; so remarkable was the Captain’s Countenance, even so young, and which he heard of afterwards on many Occasions: When he was in Bridewell, I heard of his Misfortune, and the Major and I went to see him, for this was the first News we heard of what became of him.
The very Day that we went, he was call’d out to be Corrected, as they call’d it, according to his Sentence, and as it was order’d to be done soundly, so indeed they were true to the Sentence, for the Alderman, who was the President of Bridewell, and who I think they call’d Sir William Turner, held preaching to him about how young he was, and what pitty it was such a Youth should come to be hang’d, and a great deal more, how he should take warning by it, and how wicked a thing it was that they should steal away poor innocent Children, and the like; and all this while the Man with a blue Badge on, lash’d him most unmercifully, for he was not to leave off till Sir William knock’d with a little Hammer on the Table.
The poor Captain stamp’d, and danc’d, and roar’d out like a mad Boy; and I must confess, I was frighted almost to Death; for tho’ I could not come near enough, being but a poor Boy, to see how he was handled, yet I saw him afterwards, with his Back all wheal’d with the Lashes, and in several Places bloody, and thought I should have died with the Sight of it; but I grew better acquainted with those Things afterwards.
I did what I could to comfort the poor Captain, when I got Leave to come to him. But the worst was not over with him, for he was to have two more such Whippings before they had done with him; and indeed they scourg’d him so severely, that they made him Sick of the Kidnapping Trade for a great while; but he fell in among them again, and kept among them as long as that Trade lasted, for it ceased in a few Years afterwards.
The Major, and I, tho’ very Young, had sensible Impressions made upon us, for some time, by the severe Usage of the Captain, and it might be very well said we were corrected as well as he, tho’ not concerned in the Crime: But it was within the Year, that the Major, a good Condition’d easy Boy, was wheedled a way, by a couple of young Rogues that frequented the Glass-house Appartments, to take a Walk with them, as they were pleased to call it: The Gentlemen were very well match’d, the Major was about 12 Year old, and the oldest of the Two that led him out, was not above fourteen; the business was to go to Bartholomew Fair, and the End of going to Bartholomew Fair, was in short, to pick Pockets.
The Major knew nothing of the Trade, and therefore was to do nothing, but they promised him a Share with them for all that, as if he had been as expert as themselves; so away they went. The two dexterous young Rogues manag’d it so well, that by about 8 a Clock at Night, they came back to our dusty Quarters at the Glass-House, and sitting them down in a Corner, they began to share their Spoil, by the Light of the Glass-House Fire: The Major lug’d out the Goods, for as fast as they made any Purchase, they unloaded themselves and gave all to him, that if they had been taken, nothing might be found about them.
It was a devilish lucky Day to them, the Devil certainly assisting them to find their Prey, that he might draw in a young Gamester, and encourage him to the Undertaking, who had been made backward before, by the Misfortune of the Captain. The List of their Purchase the first Night, was as follows.
I.
A white Handkerchief from a Country Wench, as she was staring up at a Jackpudding, there was 3s. 6d. and a Row of Pins, tyed up in one End of it.
II.
A colour’d Handkerchief, out of a young Country Fellow’s Pocket as he was buying a China Orange.
III.
A Ribband Purse with 11 s. 3d. and a Silver Thimble in it, out of a young Woman’s Pocket, just as a Fellow offer’d to pick her up.
N.B. She mist her Purse presently, but not seeing the Thief, charg’d the Man with it, that would have pick’d her up, and cry’d out a Pick-Pocket, and he fell into the Hands of the Mobb, but being known in the Street, he got off with great Difficulty.
IV.
A Knife and Fork, that a Couple of Boys had just bought, and were going Home with; the young Rogue that took it, got it within the Minute after the Boy had put it in his Pocket.
V.
A little Silver Box, with seven Shillings in it, all in small Silver, 1d. 2d. 3d. 4d. Peices.
N.B. This, it seems a Maid pull’d out of her Pocket, to pay at her going into the Booth to see a Show, and the little Rogue got his Hand in and fetch’d it off, just as she put it up again.
VI.
Another Silk Handkerchief, out of a Gentleman’s Pocket.
VII.
Another.
VIII.
A Joynted Baby, and a little Looking-Glass stolen off a Toy Seller’s Stall, in the Fair.
All this Cargo to be brought Home clear in one Afternoon, or Evening rather, and by only two little Rogues, so young, was it must be confess’d, Extraordinary; and the Major was elevated the next Day to a strange Degree.
He came very early to me, who lay not far from him, and said to me Colonel Jack, I want to speak with you. Well, said I, what do you say? Nay, said he, it is Business of Consequence, I cannot talk here, so we walk’d out: As soon as we were come out into a narrow Lane, by the Glass-House, look here, says he, and pulls out his little Hand almost full of Money.
I was surpriz’d at the Sight, when he puts it up again, and bringing his Hand out, here says he, you shall have some of it, and gives me a Six-pence, and a Shillings worth of the small Silver Peices. This was very welcome to me, who, as much as I was of a Gentleman, and as much as I thought of myself upon that Account, never had a Shilling of Money together before, in all my Life, not that I could call my own.
I was very earnest then to know how he came by this Wealth, for he had for his Share 7s. and 6d. in Money, the silver Thimble and a silk Handkercher, which was in short an Estate to him, that never had, as I said of myself a Shilling together in his Life.
And what will you do with it now Jack said I? I do, says he, the first thing I do, I’ll go into Rag-Fair, and buy me a pair of Shoes and Stockings, that’s right, says I, and so will I too; so away we went together, and we bought each of us a pair of Rag-Fair Stockings in the first Place for 5d. not 5d. a Pair, but 5 d. together, and good Stockings they were too, much above our wear I assure you.
We found it more difficult to fit our selves with Shoes, but at last, having look’d a great while before we cou’d find any good enough for us, we found a Shop very well stor’d, and of these we bought two Pair for Sixteen-pence.
We put them on immediately to our great Comfort, for we had neither of us had any Stockings to our Legs that had any Feet to them for a long time: I found myself so refresh’d with having a Pair of warm Stockings on, and a Pair of dry Shoes; things, I say, which I had not been acquainted with a great while, that I began to call to mind my being a Gentleman, and now I thought it began to come to pass; when we had thus fitted ourselves, I said, hark ye Major Jack, you and I, never had any Money in our Lives before, and we never had a good Dinner in all our Lives; What if we should go somewhere and get some Victuals, I am very hungry?
So, we will then says the Major, I am a hungry too; so we went to a boiling Cook’s in Rosemary-Lane, where we treated our selves Nobly, and as I thought with my self we began to live like Gentlemen, for we had Three-penny-worth of boil’d Beef, Two-penny-worth of Pudding, a penny Brick, (as they call it, or Loaf) and a whole Pint of strong Beer, which was seven Pence in all.
N.B. We had each of us a good mess of charming Beef Broth into the Bargain; and which chear’d my Heart wonderfully, all the while we were at Dinner, the Maid and the Boy in the House every time they pass’d by the open Box where we sat at our Dinner, would look in, and cry, Gentlemen Do ye call? and do ye call Gentlemen? I say this was as good to me as all my Dinner.
Not the best House-keeper in Stepney Parish, not my Lord Mayor of London, no, not the greatest Man on Earth could be more happy in their own Imagination, and with less mixture of Grief, or Reflexion, than I was at this new Peice of Felicity, tho’ mine was but a small Part of it, for Major Jack had an Estate compar’d to me, as I had an Estate compar’d to what I had before: In a Word, nothing but an utter Ignorance of greater Felicity, which was my Case, could make any Body think himself so exalted as I did, tho’ I had no share of this Booty but Eighteen-pence.
That Night the Major and I triumph’d in our new Enjoyment, and slept with an undisturb’d Repose in the usual Place, surrounded with the warmth of the Glass-house Fires above, which was a full amends for all the Ashes and Cinders which we roll’d in below.
Those who know the Position of the Glass-houses, and the Arches where they Neal the Bottles after they are made, know that those Places where the Ashes are Cast, and where the poor Boys lye, are Caveties in the Brick-work, perfectly close, except at the Entrance, and consequently warm as the Dressing-room of a Bagnio; that it is impossible they can feel any Cold there, were it in Greenland, or Nova Zembla, and that therefore the Boys lye not only safe, but very comfortably, the Ashes excepted, which are no Grievance at all to them.
The next Day the Major and his Comrades went abroad again, and were still Successful; nor did any Disaster attend them, for I know not how many Months, and by frequent imitation and direction, Major Jack became as dexterous a Pick-pocket as any of them, and went on thro’ a long variety of Fortunes, too long to enter upon now, because I am hastening to my own Story, which at present is the main thing I have to set down.
The Major fail’d not to let me see every Day the Effects of his new Prosperity, and was so bountiful, as frequently to throw me a Tester, sometimes a Shilling; and I might perceive that he began to have Cloths on his Back to leave the Ash-hole, having gotten a Society Lodging (of which I may give an Explanation by itself on another Occasion) and which was more, he took upon him to wear a Shirt, which was what neither he, or I had ventur’d to do for three Year before and upward.
But I observ’d all this while, that tho’ Major Jack was so Prosperous and had thriven so well, and notwithstanding he was very kind, and even generous to me, in giving me Money upon many Occasions, yet he never invited me to enter myself into the Society, or to embark with him whereby I might have been made as happy as he, no, nor did he recommend the Employment to me at all.
I Was not very well pleas’d with his being thus reserv’d to me; I had learn’d from him in General, that the Business was Picking of Pockets, and I fancy’d that tho’ the Ingenuity of the Trade consisted very much in flight of Hand, a good Adress, and being very Nunble, yet that it was not at all difficult to learn; and especially I thought the Opportunities were so many, the Country People that come to London, so foolish, so gaping, and so engag’d in looking about them, that it was a Trade with no great hazard annex’d to it, and might be easily learn’d, if I did but know in general the Manner of it, and how they went about it.
The subtile Devil never absent from his Business, but ready at all Occasions to encourage his Servants, remov’d all these Difficulties, and brought me into an Intimacy with one of the most exquisite Divers, or Pick-pockets in the Town; and this our Intimacy was of no less a Kind, than that, as I had an Inclination to be as wicked as any of them, he was for taking Care that I should not be disappointed.
He was above the little Fellows, who went about stealing Trifles, and Baubles in Bartholomew-Fair, and run the Risque of being Mobb’d for three or four Shillings; his aim was at higher things, even at no less than considerable Sums of Money, and Bills for more.
He solicited me earnestly to go and take a Walk with him, as above, adding that after he had shown me my Trade a little, he would let me be as wicked as I would, that is, as he express’d it, that after he had made me capable, I should set up for myself if I pleas’d, and he would only wish me good Luck.
Accordingly as Major Jack went with his Gentleman, only to see the manner, and receive the Purchase, and yet come in for a Share; so he told me if he had Success, I should have my Share as much as if I had been Principal; and this he assured me was a Custom of the Trade, in order to encourage young Beginners, and bring them into the Trade with Courage, for that nothing was to be done if a Man had not the Heart of the Lyon.
I hesistated at the matter a great while, objecting the Hazard, and telling the Story of Captain Jack my elder Brother, as I might call him: Well, Colonel, says he, I find you are faint Hearted, and to be faint Hearted, is indeed to be unfit for our Trade, for nothing but a bold Heart can go Thro’-Stitch with this Work; but however, as there is nothing for you to do, so there is no Risque for you to run, in these things the first time, if I am taken says he, you having nothing to do in it, they will let you go free, for it shall easily be made appear that whatever I have done, you had no Hand in it.
Upon those perswasions I ventur’d out with him; but I soon found that my new Friend was a Thief of Quality, and a Pick-pocket above the ordinary Rank, and that aim’d higher abundantly than my Brother Jack ; he was a bigger Boy than I a great deal; for tho’ I was now near 15 Year old, I was not big of my Age, and as to the Nature of the thing, I was perfectly a Stranger to it; I knew indeed what at first I did not, for it was a good while before I understood the thing, as an Offence: I look’d on picking Pockets as a kind of Trade, and thought I was to go Apprentice to it; tis true, this was when I was young in the Society, as well as younger in Years, but even now I understood it to be only a thing, for which if we were catch’d, we run the Risque of being Duck’d or Pump’d, which we call’d Soaking, and then all was over; and we made nothing of having our Raggs wetted a little; but I never understood, till a great while after, that the Crime was Capital, and that we might be sent to Newgate for it, till a great Fellow, almost a Man, one of our Society was hang’d for it, and then I was terribly frighted, as you shall hear by and by.
Well, upon the perswasions of this Lad, I walk’d out with him; a poor innocent Boy, and (as I remember, my very Thoughts perfectly well) I had no Evil in my Intentions; I had never stolen any thing in my Life, and if a Goldsmith had left me in his Shop with heaps of Money, strew’d all round me, and bad me look after it, I should not have touch’d it, I was so honest; but the subtile Tempter, baited his Hook for me, as I was a Child, in a manner suited to my Childishness, for I never took this picking of Pockets to be dishonesty, but as I have said above, I look’d on it as a kind of Trade, that I was to be bred up to, and so I enter’d upon it, till I became harden’d in it beyond the Power of retreating; and thus I was made a Thief involuntarily, and went on a Length that few Boys do, without coming to the common Period of that kind of Life, I mean to the Transport Ship, or the Gallows.
The first Day I went Abroad with my new Instructor, he carried me directly into the City, and as we went first to the Waterside, he led me into the long Room at the Custom-house; we were but a Couple of ragg’d Boys at best, but I was much the worse, my Leader had a Hat on, a Shirt, and a Neckcloth; as for me, I had neither of the three, nor had I spoil’d my Manners so much as to have a Hat on my Head since my Nurse died, which was now some Years; his Orders to me were to keep always in sight, and near him, but not close to him, nor to take any notice of him at any time till he came to me; and if any hurly burly happen’d, I should by no means know him, or pretend to have any thing to do with him.
I Observ’d my Orders to a tittle, while he peer’d into every Corner, and had his Eye upon every Body; I kept my Eye directly upon him, but went always at a Distance, and on the other Side of the long Room, looking as it were for Pins, and picking them up on the Dust as I cou’d find them, and then sticking them on my Sleeve, where I had at last gotten 40 or 50 good Pins; but still my Eye was upon my Comrade, who I observ’d was very busy among the Crowds of People that stood at the Board, doing business with the Officers, who pass the Entries, and make the Cocquets, &c.
At length he comes over to me, and stooping as if he would take up a Pin close to me, he put something into my Hand and said, put that up, and follow me down Stairs quickly: He did not run, but shuffl’d along a pace thro’ the Crowd, and went down not the great Stairs, which we came in at, but a little narrow Stair-Case at the other End of the Long Room; I follow’d, and he found I did, and so went on, not stopping below as I expected, nor speaking one Word to me, till thro’ innumerable narrow Passages, Alley’s and Dark ways, we were got up into Fenchurch-Street, and thro’ Billiter lane into Leadenhall-Street, and from thence into Leadenhall-Market.
It was not a Meat-Market Day so we had room to sit down upon one of the Butcher’s Stalls, and he bad me Lug out; what he had given me, was a little Leather Letter Case, with a French Almanack stuck in the inside of it, and a great many Papers in it of several kinds.
We look’d them over, and found there was several valuable Bills in it, such as Bills of Exchange, and other Notes, things I did not understand; but among the rest was a Goldsmith’s Note, as he call’d it, of one Sir Stephen Evens for 300l. payable to the Bearer, and at Demand, besides this there was another Note, for 12l. 10s. being a Goldsmith’s Bill too, but I forget the Name; there was a Bill or two also written in French, which neither of us understood, but which it seems were things of value, being call’d foreign Bills accepted.
The Rogue my Master knew what belong’d to the Goldsmith’s Bills well enough, and I observ’d when he read the Bill of Sir Stephen; he said this is too big for me to meddle with, but when he came to the Bill, for 12l. 10s. he said to me, this will do, come hither Jack; so away he runs to Lombard-Street, and I after him huddling the other Papers into the Letter Case; as he went along, he enquir’d the Name out immediately, and went directly to the Shop, put on a good grave Countenance, and had the Money paid him without any Stop or Question ask’d, I stood on the other side the Way looking about the Street; as not at all concern’d with any Body that way, but observ’d that when he presented the Bill he pull’d out the Letter Case, as if he had been a Merchant’s Boy, acquainted with Business, and had other Bills about him.
They paid him the Money in Gold, and he made hast enough in Telling it over, and came away, passing by me, and going into Three-King-Court, on the other Side of the way; then we cross’d back into Clements-Lane, made the best of our way to Cole-Harbour, at the Water-side, and got a Sculler for a Penny to carry us over the Water to St. Mary Overs Stairs, where we Landed, and were safe enough.
Here he turns to me Col. Jack, says he, I believe you are a lucky Boy, this is a good Jobb, we’ll go away to St. George’s -Fields, and Share our Booty; away we went to the Fields, and siting down in the Grass far enough out of the Path, he pull’d out the Money, look here Jack, says he, did you ever see the like before in your Life? no, never says I, and added very innocently, must we have it all? we have it! says he, who should have it? Why says I, must the Man have none of it again that lost it; he have it again! says he, what d’ye mean by that; Nay, I don’t know, says I, why you said just now you would let him have the tother Bill again, that you said was too big for you.
He Laught at me, you are but a little Boy says he, that’s true, but I thought you had not been such a Child neither; so he mighty gravely Explain’d the thing to me thus: That the Bill of Sir Stephen Evans was a great Bill for 300l. and if I, says he, that am but a poor Lad should venture to go for the Money, they will presently say, how should I come by such a Bill, and that I certainly found it or stole it, so they will stop me says he, and take it away from me, and it may be bring me into Trouble for it too; so, says he, I did say it was too big for me to meddle with, and that I would let the Man have it again if I could tell how; but for the Money Jack, the Money that we have got, I warrant you he should have none of that; besides says he, who ever he be that has lost this Letter Case, to be sure, as soon as he miss’d it, he would run to a Goldsmith and give notice, that if any body came for the Money, they should be stopp’d, but I am too Old for him there says he.
Why says I, and what will you do with the Bill, Will you thro’ it away? if you do, somebody else will find it says I, and they will go and take the Money: No, no, says he, then they will be Stopp’d and Examin’d, as I tell you, I should be: I did not know well what all this meant, so I talk’d no more about that; but we fell to handling the Money, as for me, I had never seen so much together in all my Life, nor did I know what in the World to do with it, and once or twice I was a going to bid him keep it for me, which wou’d have been done like a Child indeed, for to be sure, I had never heard a word more of it, tho’ nothing had befallen him.
However, as I happen’d to hold my Tongue as to that part, he shar’d the Money very honestly with me, only at the end he told me, that tho’ it was true, he promis’d me half, yet as it was the first time, and I had done nothing but look on, so he thought it was very well if I took a little less than he did; so he divided the Money, which was 12l. 10s. into two exact Parts (viz.) 6l. 5s. in each Part, then he took 1l. 5s. from my Part, and told me I should give him that for Handsel, Well, says I, take it then, for I think you deserve it all; so however, I took up the rest, and what shall I do with this now, says I, for I have no where to put it? why have you no Pockets? says he, yes says I, but they are full of Holes; I have often thought since that, and with some Mirth too, how I had really more Wealth than I knew what to do with, for Lodging I had none, nor any Box or Drawer to hide my Money in, nor had I any Pocket, but such, as I say, was full of Holes; I knew no Body in the World, that I cou’d go and desire them to lay it up for me; for being a poor nak’d, ragg’d Boy, they would presently say, I had robb’d some Body, and perhaps lay hold of me, and my Money would be my Crime, as they say, it often is in foregin Countries: And now as I was full of Wealth, behold! I was full of Care, for what to do to secure my Money I could not tell, and this held me so long, and was so Vexatious to me the next Day, that I truly sat down and cryed.
Nothing cou’d be more perplexing than this Money was to me all that Night, I carried it in my Hand a good while, for it was in Gold all but 14s. and that is to say, it was in four Guineas, and that 14s. was more difficult to carry then the four Guineas; at last I sat down and pull’d off one of my Shoes, and put the four Guineas into that, but after I had gone a while, my Shoe hurt me so, I could not go, so I was fain to sit down again, and take it out of my Shoe, and carry it in my Hand, then I found a dirty Linnen Rag in the Street, and I took that up, and wrapt it all together, and carried it in that, a good way. I have often since heard People, say when they have been talking of Money, that they cou’d not get in, I wish I had it in a foul Clout: In truth I had mine in a foul Clout, for it was foul according to the Letter of that saying, but it serv’d me till I came to a convenient Place, and then I sat down and wash’d the Cloth in the Kennel, and so then put my Money in again.
Well, I carried it home with me to my Lodging in the Glass-house, and when I went to go to Sleep, I knew not what to do with it; if I had let any of the black Crew I was with, know of it, I should have been smother’d in the Ashes for it, or robb’d of it, or some Trick or other put upon me for it; so I knew not what to do, but lay with it in my Hand, and my Hand in my Bosom, but then Sleep went from Eyes: O! the weight of Human Care! I a poor Beggar Boy could not Sleep as soon as I had but a little Money to keep, who before that, cou’d have slept upon a heap of Brick-bats, or Stones, Cinders, or any where, as found as a rich Man does on his down Bed, and sounder too.
Every now and then dropping a sleep, I should Dream that my Money was lost, and start like one frighted; then finding it faft in my Hand, try to go to sleep again, but could not for a long while, then drop and start again, at last a Fancy came into my Head, that if I fell a sleep, I should Dream of the Money, and Talk of it in my sleep, and tell that I had Money, which if I should do, and one of the Rogues should hear me, they would pick it out of my Bosom, and of my hand too without waking me, and after that Thought I could not sleep a wink more; so that I pass’d that Night over in Care and Anxiety enough, and this I may safely say, was the first Nights rest that I lost by the Cares of this Life, and the deceitfulness of Riches.
As soon as it was Day, I got out of the Hole we lay in, and rambled abroad into the Fields, towards Stepney, and there I mus’d and consider’d what I should do with this Money, and many a time I wish’d that I had not had it, for after all my ruminating upon it, and what Course I should take with it, or where I should put it, I could not hit upon any one thing, or any possible Method to secure it, and it perplex’d me so, that at last, as I said just now: I sat down and cryed heartily.
When my crying was over, the Case was the same; I had the Money still, and what to do with it I could not tell, at last it came into my Head, that I would look out for some Hole in a Tree, and see to hide it there, till I should have occasion for it: Big with this discovery, as I then thought it, I began to look about me for a Tree; but there were no Trees in the Fields about Stepney, or Mile-End that look’d fit for my purpose, and if there were any that I began to look narrowly at, the Fields were so full of People, that they would see if I went to hide any thing there, and I thought the People Eyed me as it was, and that two Men in particular follow’d me, to see what I intended to do.
This drove me farther off, and I cross’d the Road at Mile-End, and in the middle of the town went down a Lane that goes away to the Blind Beggars at Bednal-Green; when I came a little way in the Lane, I found a Foot-Path over the Fields, and in those Fields several Trees for my Turn, as I thought; at last one Tree had a little Hole in it, pritty high out of my Reach, and I climb’d up the Tree to get to it, and when I came there, I put my Hand in, and found, (as I thought) a Place very fit, so I placed my Treasure there, and was mighty well satisfy’d with it; but behold, putting my Hand in again to lay it more commodiously, as I thought, of a Suddain it slipp’d away from me, and I found the Tree was hollow, and my little Parcel was fallen in quite out of my Reach, and how far it might go in, I knew not; so, that in a Word, my Money was quite gone, irrecoverably lost, there could be no Room, so much as to Hope ever to see it again for it was a vast great Tree.
As young as I was, I was now sensible what a Fool I was before, that I could not think of Ways to keep my Money, but I must come thus far to throw it into a Hole where I could not reach it; well, I thrust my Hand quite up to my Elbow, but no Bottom was to be found, or any End of the Hole or Cavity; I got a Stick off of the Tree and thrust it in a great Way, but all was one; then I cry’d, nay, I roar’d out, I was in such a Passion, then I got down the Tree again, then up again, and thrust in my Hand again till I scratch’d my Arm and made it bleed, and cry’d all the while most violently: Then I began to think I had not so much as a half Penny of it left for a half Penny Roll, and I was a hungry, and then I cry’d again: Then I came away in dispair, crying, and roaring like a little Boy that had been whip’d, then I went back again to the Tree, and up the Tree again, and thus I did several Times.
The last time I had gotten up the Tree, I happen’d to come down not on the same Side that I went up and came down before, but on the other side of the Tree, and on the other Side of the Bank also; and behold the Tree had a great open Place in the Side of it close to the Ground, as old hollow Trees often have; and looking into the open Place, to my inexpressible Joy, there lay my Money, and my Linnen Rag, all rap’d up just as I had put it into the Hole: For the Tree being hollow all the Way up, there had been some Moss or light Stuff, which I had not Judgement enough to know was not firm, and had given way when it came to drop out of my Hand, and so it had slip’d quite down at once.
I Was but a Child, and I rejoyced like a Child, for I hollow’d quit out aloud, when I saw it; then I run to it, and snatch’d it up, hug’d and kiss’d the dirty Ragg a hundred Times; then danc’d and jump’d about, run from on End of the Field to the other, and in short, I knew not what, much less do I know now what I did, tho’ I shall never forget the Thing, either what a sinking Grief it was to my Heart when I thought I had lost it, or what a Flood of Joy o’er whelm’d me when I had got it again.
While I was in the first Transport of my Joy, as I have said, I run about and knew not what I did; but when that was over, I sat down, open’d the foul Clout the Money was in, look’d at it, told it, found it was all there, and then I fell a crying as favourly as I did before, when I thought I had lost it.
It would tire the Reader should I dwell on all the little Boyish Tricks that I play’d in the Extacy of my Joy, and Satisfaction, when I had found my Money; so I break off here: Joy is as Extravagant as Grief, and since I have been a Man, I have often thought, that had such a Thing befallen a Man, so to have lost all he had, and not have a bit of Bread to Eat, and then so strangely to find it again, after having given it so effectually over. I say, had it been so with a Man, it might have hazarded, his using some Violence upon himself.
Well, I came away with my Money, and having taken Six-pence out of it, before I made it up again, I went to a Chandler’s Shop in Mile-End, and bought a Half-Penny Roll, and a Half Pennyworth of Cheese, and sat down at the Door after I bought it, and eat it very heartily, and begg’d some Beer to Drink with it, which the good Woman gave me very freely.
Away I went then for the Town to see if I could find any of my Companions, and resolv’d I would try no more hollow Trees for my Treasure; as I came along White-Chapel, I came by a Broker’s Shop, over against the Church, where they sold old Cloaths, for I had nothing on but the worst of Rags; so I stopp’d at the Shop, and stood looking at the Cloaths which hang’d at the Door.
Well, young Gentleman, says a Man that stood at the Door, you look wishly, do you see any thing you like, and will your Pocket compass a good Coat now, for you look as if you belong’d to the ragged Regiment: I was affronted at the Fellow, what’s that to you, said I, how ragg’d I am, if I had seen any thing I lik’d, I have Money to pay for it; but I can go where I shan’t be Huffed at for looking.
While I said thus, pretty boldly to the Fellow, comes a Woman out, What ail you, says she? to the Man, to Bully away our Customers so; a poor Boy’s Money is as good as my Lord Mayors; if poor People did not buy old Cloths, what would become of our Business? and then turning to me, come hither Child, says she, if thou hast a mind to any thing I have, you shan’t be Hector’d by him; the Boy is a pretty Boy, I assure you, says she, to another Woman that was by this time come to her, ay, says the ‘tother, so he is, a very well looking Child, if he was clean and well dress’d, and may be as good a Gentleman’s Son for any thing we know, as any of those that are well dress’d; come my Dear, says she, tell me what is it you wou’d have? she pleas’d me mightily to hear her Talk of my being a Gentleman’s Son, and it brought former things to mind, but when she talk’d of my being not Clean, and in Rags, then I cry’d.
She press’d me to tell her, if I saw any thing that I wanted, I told her no, all the Cloths I saw there, were too big for me; come Child, says she, I have two things here that will fit you, and I am sure you want them both, that is, first a little Hat, and there, says she, tossing it to me, I’ll give you that for nothing; and here is a good warm Pair of Breeches; I dare say, says she, they will fit you, and they are very tire, and good; and, says she, if you should ever come to have so much Money, that you don’t know what to do with it, here are excellent good Pockets, says she, and a little Fob to put your Gold in, or your Watch in, when you get it.
