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prove that he was unfit to be tried or hanged。 Argument failing； the
munificent Clerk offered fifty pounds for the life of his friend。 But to no
purpose： the valiant wrestler was carried to the cart in a chair； and so lifted
to the gallows； which cured him of his gaping wounds。
When the Commonwealth administered justice with pedantic severity；
Briscoe's influence still further declined。 There was no longer scope in
the State for men of spirit； even the gaols were handed over to the stern
mercy of crop…eared Puritans； Moll herself had fallen upon evil times； and
Ralph Briscoe determined to make a last effort for wealth and retirement。
At the very moment when his expulsion seemed certain； an heiress was
thrown into Newgate upon a charge of murdering a too importunate suitor。
The chain of evidence was complete： the dagger plunged in his heart was
recognised for her own； she was seen to decoy him to the secret corner of
a wood； where his raucous love…making was silenced for ever。 Taken off
her guard； she had even hinted confession of her crime； and nothing but
intrigue could have saved her gentle neck from the gallows。 Briscoe；
hungry for her money…bags； promised assistance。 He bribed； he
threatened； he cajoled； he twisted the law as only he could twist it； he
suppressed honest testimony； he procured false； in fine； he weakened the
case against her with so resistless an effrontery； that not the Hanging Judge
himself could convict the poor innocent。
At the outset he had agreed to accept a handsome bribe； but as the trial
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approached； his avarice increased； and he would be content with nothing
less than the lady's hand and fortune。 Not that he loved her； his heart was
long since given to Moll Cutpurse； but he knew that his career of
depredation was at an end； and it became him to provide for his declining
years。 The victim repulsed his suit； regretting a thousand times that she
had stabbed her ancient lover。 At last； bidden summarily to choose
between Death and the Clerk； she chose the Clerk； and thus Ralph Briscoe
left Newgate the richest squire in a western county。 Henceforth he
farmed his land like a gentleman； drank with those of his neighbours who
would crack a bottle with him； and unlocked the strange stores of his
memory to bumpkins who knew not the name of Newgate。 Still devoted
to sport； he hunted the fox； and made such a bull…ring as his youthful
imagination could never have pictured。 So he lived a life of country ease；
and died a churchwarden。 And he deserved his prosperity； for he carried
the soul of Falstaff in the shrunken body of Justice Shallow。
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GILDEROY AND THE
SIXTEEN… STRING JACK
I GILDEROY
HE stood six feet ten in his stockinged feet； and was the tallest ruffian
that ever cut a purse or held up a coach on the highway。 A mass of black
hair curled over a low forehead； and a glittering eye intensified his
villainous aspect； nor did a deep scar； furrowing his cheek from end to end；
soften the horror of his sudden apparition。 Valiant men shuddered at his
approach； women shrank from the distant echo of his name； for fifteen
years he terrorised Scotland from Caithness to the border； and the most
partial chronicler never insulted his memory with the record of a good
deed。
He was born to a gentle family in the Calendar of Monteith； and was
celebrated even in boyhood for his feats of strength and daring。 While
still at school he could hold a hundredweight at arm's…length； and crumple
up a horseshoe like a wisp of hay。 The fleetest runner； the most desperate
fighter in the country； he was already famous before his name was
besmirched with crime； and he might have been immortalised as the
Hercules of the seventeenth century； had not his ambition been otherwise
flattered。 At the outset； though the inclination was never lacking； he
knew small temptation to break the sterner laws of conduct。 His
pleasures were abundantly supplied by his father's generosity； and he had
no need to refrain from such vices as became a gentleman。 If he was no
drunkard； it was because his head was equal to the severest strain； and；
despite his forbidding expression； he was always a successful breaker of
hearts。 His very masterfulness overcame the most stubborn resistance；
and more than once the pressure of his dishonourable suit converted hatred
into love。 At the very time that he was denounced for Scotland's disgrace；
his praises were chanted in many a dejected ballad。 ‘Gilderoy was a
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bonny boy；' sang one heart…broken maiden：
Had roses till his shoon； His stockings were of
silken soy； Wi' garters hanging doon。
But in truth he was admired less for his amiability than for that quality
of governance which； when once he had torn the decalogue to pieces；
made him a veritable emperor of crime。
His father's death was the true beginning of his career。 A modest
patrimony was squandered in six months； and Gilderoy had no penny left
wherewith to satisfy the vices which insisted upon indulgence。 He
demanded money at all hazards； and money without toil。 For a while his
more loudly clamant needs were fulfilled by the amiable simplicity of his
mother； whom he blackmailed with insolence and contempt。 And when
she； wearied by his shameless importunity； at last withdrew her support； he
determined upon a monstrous act of vengeance。 With a noble affectation
of penitence he visited his home； promised reform at supper； and said
good…night in the broken accent of reconciliation。 No sooner was the
house sunk in slumber than he crawled stealthily upstairs in order to
forestall by theft a promised generosity。 He opened the door of the bed…
chamber in a hushed silence； but the wrenching of the cofferlid awoke the
sleeper； and Gilderoy； having cut his mother's throat with an infamous
levity； seized whatever money and jewels were in the house； cruelly
maltreated his sister； and laughingly burnt the house to the ground； that the
possibility of evidence might be destroyed。
Henceforth his method of plunder was assured。 It was part of his
philosophy to prevent detection by murder； and the flames from the
burning walls added a pleasure to his lustful eye。 His march across
Scotland was marked by slaughtered families and ruined houses。 Plunder
was the first cause of his exploits； but there is no doubt that death and
arson were a solace to his fierce spirit； and for a while this giant of cruelty
knew neither check nor hindrance。 Presently it became a superstition
with him that death was the inevitable accompaniment of robbery； and； as
he was incapable of remorse； he grew callous； and neglected the simplest
precautions。 At Dunkeld he razed a rifled house to the ground； and with
the utmost effrontery repeated the performance at Aberdeen。 But at last
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he had been tracked by a company of soldiers； who； that justice might not
be cheated of her prey； carried him to gaol； where after the briefest trial he
was condemned to death。
Gilderoy； however； was still master of himself。 His immense strength
not only burst his bonds； but broke prison； and this invincible Samson was
once more free in Aberdeen； inspiring that respectable city with a
legendary dread。 The reward of one hundred pounds was offered in vain。
Had he shown himself on the road in broad daylight； none would have
dared to arrest him； and it was not until his plans were deliberately laid；
that he crossed the sea。 The more violent period of his career was at an
end。 Never again did he yield to his passion for burning and sudden
death； and； if the world found him unconquerable； his self…control is
proved by the fact that in the heyday of his strength he turned from his
unredeemed brutality to a gentler method。 He now deserted Scotland for
France； with which； like all his countrymen； he claimed a cousinship； and
so profoundly did he impose upon Paris with his immense stature； his
elegant attire； his courtly manners （for he was courtesy itself； when it
pleased him）； that he was taken for an eminent scholar； or at least a soldier
of fortune。
Prosperity might doubtless have followed a discreet profession； but
Gilderoy must still be thieving； and he reaped a rich harvest among the
unsuspicious courtiers of France。 His most highly renowned exploit was
performed at St。 Denis；