The Book of Pirates and Highwaymen (18 page)

The Villainous Innkeeper

In 1742, a gentleman in travelling was stopped by a highwayman in a mask, within about seven miles of Hull, and robbed of a purse containing twenty guineas. The gentleman proceeded about two miles further, and stopped at the Bull Inn, kept by Mr Brunell. He related the circumstances of the robbery, adding, that as all his gold was marked, he thought it probable that the robber would be detected. After he had supped, his host entered the room, and told him a circumstance had arisen which led him to think he could point out the robber. He then informed the gentleman that he had a waiter, one John Jennings, whose conduct had long been very suspicious; he had long before dark sent him out to change a guinea for him, and said that he had only come back since he (the gentleman) was in the house, saying he could not get change; that Jennings being in liquor, he sent him to bed, resolving to discharge him in the morning; that at the same time he returned with the guinea, he discovered it was not the same he had given him, but was marked, of which he took no further notice until he heard the particulars of the robbery, and that the guineas which the highwayman had taken were all marked. He added, that he had unluckily paid away the marked guinea to a man who lived at some distance.

Mr Brunell was thanked for his information, and it was resolved to go softly to the room of Jennings, whom they found fast asleep; his pockets were searched, and from one of them was drawn a purse containing exactly nineteen guineas, which the gentleman identified. Jennings was dragged out of bed and charged with the robbery. He denied it most solemnly; but the facts having been deposed on oath by the gentleman and Mr Brunell, he was committed for trial.

So strong did the circumstances appear against Jennings, that several of his friends advised him to plead guilty, and throw himself on the mercy of the court. This advice he rejected; he was tried at the ensuing assizes, and the jury, without going out of the court, found him guilty. He was executed at Hull a short time after, but declared his innocence to the very last.

In less than twelve months after this event occurred, Brunell, the master of Jennings, was himself taken up for a robbery committed on a guest in his house, and the fact being proved on his trial, he was convicted and ordered for execution.

The approach of death brought on repentance; and repentance, confession. Brunell not only acknowledged having committed many highway robberies, but also the very one for which poor Jennings suffered. The account he gave was, that after robbing the gentleman, he arrived at home some time before him. That he found a man at home waiting, to whom he owned a small bill, and not having quite enough of money, he took out of the purse one guinea from the twenty he had just possessed himself of, to make up the sum, which he paid to the man, who then went away. Soon after the gentleman came to his house, and relating the account of the robbery, and that the guineas were marked, he became thunderstruck! Having paid one of them away, and not daring to apply for it again, as the affair of the robbery and of the marked guineas would soon become publicly known, detection, disgrace, and ruin appeared inevitable. Turning in his mind every way to escape, the thought of accusing and sacrificing poor Jennings at last struck him; and thus to his other crimes he added that of the murder of an innocent man.

Captain Death

In the month of December, 1756, the Terrible privateer, of twenty-six guns and two hundred men, commanded by Captain William Death, engaged the Grand Alexander, a French vessel of four hundred tons, twenty-two guns, and one hundred men; and after a smart fight of two hours and a half, in which Captain Death’s brother and sixteen of his men were killed, he took her, and put forty men on board. A few days after, the Vengeance privateer of St Maloes, thirty-six guns and three hundred and sixty men, bore down upon her and retook the prize. The Vengeance and the prize then both attacked the Terrible, which was between them, and shot away their mainmast at the first broadside.

One of the most desperate engagements ever recorded ensued. It lasted one hour and a half. Mons. Bourdas, the French captain, his lieutenant, and two-thirds of his crew, on one side; and Captain Death, almost all his officers, and the greatest part of his crew, on the other side, were killed. The Terrible was ultimately taken and carried into St Maloes, in a shattered and frightful condition, having no more than twenty-six of the crew alive, of whom sixteen had lost legs or arms, and all the rest were otherwise wounded.

Distress Of A Robber

Shenstone was one day walking through his romantic retreat in company with his Delia (her real name was Wilmot), when a man rushed out of a thicket, and, presenting a pistol to his breast, demanded his money. Shenstone was surprised, and Delia fainted. ‘Money,’ said the robber, ‘it is not worth struggling for; you cannot be poorer than I am.’ ‘Unhappy man!’ exclaimed Shenstone, throwing his purse to him, ‘take it and fly as quick as possible.’ The man did so, threw his pistol in the water, and instantly disappeared.

Shenstone ordered his foot-boy to follow the robber, and observe where he went. In two hours the boy returned, and informed his master that he followed him to Hales-Owen, where he lived; that he went to the door of the house, and peeping through the key-hole, saw the man throw the purse on the ground, and say to his wife, ‘Take the dear-bought price of my honesty.’ Then, taking two of his children, one on each knee, he said to them,’ I have ruined my soul to keep you from starving;’ and immediately burst into a flood of tears. Shenstone, on hearing this, lost no time in enquiring the man’s character; and found that he was a labourer in want, and a numerous family, but had the reputation of being honest and industrious. Shenstone went to his house; the poor man fell at his feet, and implored mercy. The poet took him home with him, and provided him with employment.

A Douglas

A captain of the name of Douglas, who commanded the Royal Oak when the Dutch sailed up the Medway, had received orders to defend his ship to the last extremity, but none to retire: and therefore when his ship was on fire, he chose rather to perish in her than quit his station, exclaiming heroically, ‘A Douglas was never known to quit his post without orders!’

Bandit Of Goelnitz

A judge of the name of Helmanotn, in the department of Zips, sent a young female peasant with a sum of money to Goelnitz, a small town situated among the mountains. Not far from the village a countryman joined her, and demanded where was she going? The girl replied that she was journeying with a sum of 200 florins to Goelnitz. The countryman told her that he was going there also, and that they should travel together. At the wood, the countryman pursued a path which he told the girl would shorten their journey at least two leagues.

At length they arrived at the mouth of an excavation, which had once been worked as a mine; the countryman stopped short, and in a loud voice said to the girl, ‘behold your grave; deliver me the money instantly.’ The girl, trembling with fear, complied with his demand, and then entreated him to spare her life; the villain was inflexible, and he commanded her to prepare herself for death; the poor girl fell on her knees, and while in the act of supplicating for her life, the villain happened to turn away his head, when she sprang upon him, precipitating him into the cavity, and then ran and announced to the village what had happened.

Several of the inhabitants, provided with ladders, returned with her to the spot. They descended into the hole, and found the countryman dead, with the money which he had taken from the girl in his possession. Near him lay three dead female bodies in a state of putrefaction. It is probable that these were victims to the rapacity of the same villain. In a girdle which he had round his body, was discovered a sum of 800 florins in gold.

Adventures of Morgan, Prince of Free-Booters: The Dark And Fetid Cellar

Morgan, however, was not so easily discouraged, and did not yet despair of this rich capture. He had learnt that the galleon was destitute of water, of provisions, and even of sails and ropes; he conjectured that a ship so wretchedly supplied could not have gone any distance; and that she had probably taken refuge in some bay that was in the vicinity of Panama. He therefore detached four of his barks, which cruised for eight days in the circumjacent latitudes. Their cruise was fruitless; and the little flotilla returned without bringing in a single capture, and even without giving any hope of making a prize.