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nineteenth century they might have been the vendors of patent pills； or the
chairmen of bubble companies。 Whatever trade they had followed； their
names would have been on every hoarding； their wares would have been
puffed in every journal。 They understood the art of publicity better than
any of their contemporaries； and they are remembered not because they
were the best thieves of their time； but because they were determined to
interest the people in their misdeeds。 Gilderoy's brutality； which was
always theatrical； ensured a constant remembrance； and the lofty gallows
added to his repute； while the brilliant inspiration of the strings； which
decorated Rann's breeches； was sufficient to conquer death。 How should
a hero sink to oblivion who had chosen for himself so splendid a name as
Sixteen… String Jack？
So far； then； their achievement is parallel。 And parallel also is their
taste for melodrama。 Each employed means too great or too violent for
the end in view。 Gilderoy burnt houses and ravished women； when his
sole object was the acquisition of money。 Sixteen…String Jack terrified
Bagnigge Wells with the dreadful announcement that he was a
highwayman； when his kindly； stupid heart would have shrunk from the
shedding of a drop of blood。 So they both blustered through the world；
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the one in deed； the other in word； and both played their parts with so little
refinement that they frightened the groundlings to a timid admiration。
Here the resemblance is at an end。 In the essentials of their trade
Gilderoy was a professional； Rann a mere amateur。 They both bullied；
but； while Sixteen…String Jack was content to shout threats； and pick up
half…a…crown； Gilderoy breathed murder； and demanded a vast ransom。
Only once in his career did the ‘disgraceful Scotsman' become gay and
debonair。 Only once did he relax the tension of his frown； and pick
pockets with the lightness and freedom of a gentleman。 It was on his
voyage to France that he forgot his old policy of arson and pillage； and
truly the Court of the Great King was not the place for his rapacious
cruelty。 Jack Rann； on the other hand； would have taken life as a
prolonged jest； if Sir John Fielding and the sheriffs had not checked his
mirth。 He was but a bungler on the road； with no more resource than he
might have learned from the common chap…book； or from the dying
speeches； hawked in Newgate Street。 But he had a fine talent for
merriment； he loved nothing so well as a smart coat and a pretty woman。
Thieving was no passion with him； but a necessity。 How could he dance
at a masquerade or court his Ellen with an empty pocket？ So he took to
the road as the sole profession of an idle man； and he bullied his way from
Hounslow to Epping in sheer lightness of heart。 After all； to rob Dr。 Bell
of eighteenpence was the work of a simpleton。 It was a very pretty taste
which expressed itself in a pea…green coat and deathless strings； and Rann
will keep posterity's respect rather for the accessories of his art than for the
art itself。 On the other hand； you cannot imagine Gilderoy habited
otherwise than in black； you cannot imagine this monstrous matricide
taking pleasure in the smaller elegancies of life。 From first to last he was
the stern and beetle…browed marauder； who would have despised the
frippery of Sixteen…String Jack as vehemently as his sudden appearance
would have frightened the foppish lover of Ellen Roach。
Their conduct with women is sufficient index of their character。 Jack
Rann was too general a lover for fidelity。 But he was amiable； even in
his unfaithfulness； he won the undying affection of his Ellen； he never
stood in the dock without a nosegay tied up by fair and nimble fingers； he
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was attended to Tyburn by a bevy of distinguished admirers。 Gilderoy；
on the other hand； approached women in a spirit of violence。 His Sadic
temper drove him to kill those whom he affected to love。 And his cruelty
was amply repaid。 While Ellen Roach perjured herself to save the lover；
to whose memory she professed a lifelong loyalty； it was Peg Cunningham
who wreaked her vengeance in the betrayal of Gilderoy。 He remained
true to his character； when he ripped up the belly of his betrayer。 This
was the closing act of his life。
Rann； also； was consistent； even to the gallows。 The night before his
death he entertained seven women at supper； and outlaughed them all。
The contrast is not so violent as it appears。 The one act is melodrama；
the other farce。 And what is farce； but melodrama in a happier shape？
THOMAS PURENEY
THOMAS PURENEY
THOMAS PURENEY； Archbishop among Ordinaries； lived and
preached in the heyday of Newgate。 His was the good fortune to witness
Sheppard's encounter with the topsman； and to shrive the battered soul of
Jonathan Wild。 Nor did he fall one inch below his opportunity。
Designed by Providence to administer a final consolation to the evil…doer；
he permitted no false ambition to distract his talent。 As some men are
born for the gallows； so he was born to thump the cushion of a prison
pulpit； and his peculiar aptitude was revealed to him before he had time to
spend his strength in mistaken endeavour。
For thirty years his squat； stout figure was amiably familiar to all such
as enjoyed the Liberties of the Jug。 For thirty years his mottled nose and
the rubicundity of his cheeks were the ineffaceable ensigns of his
intemperance。 Yet there was a grimy humour in his forbidding aspect。
The fusty black coat； which sat ill upon his shambling frame； was all
besmirched with spilled snuff； and the lees of a thousand quart pots。 The
bands of his profession were ever awry upon a tattered shirt。 His ancient
wig scattered dust and powder as he went； while a single buckle of some
tawdry metal gave a look of oddity to his clumsy； slipshod feet。 A
caricature of a man； he ambled and chuckled and seized the easy pleasures
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within his reach。 There was never a summer's day but he caught upon his
brow the few faint gleams of sunlight that penetrated the gloomy yard。
Hour after hour he would sit； his short fingers hardly linked across his
belly； drinking his cup of ale； and puffing at a half…extinguished tobacco…
pipe。 Meanwhile he would reflect upon those triumphs of oratory which
were his supreme delight。 If it fell on a Monday that he took the air； a
smile of satisfaction lit up his fat； loose features； for still he pondered the
effect of yesterday's masterpiece。 On Saturday the glad expectancy of to…
morrow lent him a certain joyous dignity。 At other times his eye lacked
lustre； his gesture buoyancy； unless indeed he were called upon to follow
the cart to Tyburn； or to compose the Last Dying Speech of some
notorious malefactor。
Preaching was the master passion of his life。 It was the pulpit that
reconciled him to exile within a great city； and persuaded him to the
enjoyment of roguish company。 Those there were who deemed his career
unfortunate； but a sense of fitness might have checked their pity； and it
was only in his hours of maudlin confidence that the Reverend Thomas
confessed to disappointment。 Born of respectable parents in the County
of Cambridgeshire； he nurtured his youth upon the exploits of James Hind
and the Golden Farmer。 His boyish pleasure was to lie in the ditch；
which bounded his father's orchard； studying that now forgotten
masterpiece； ‘There's no Jest like a True Jest。' Then it was that he felt
‘immortal longings in his blood。' He would take to the road； so he swore；
and hold up his enemies like a gentleman。 Once； indeed； he was
surprised by the clergyman of the parish in act to escape from the rectory
with two volumes of sermons and a silver flagon。 The divine was
minded to speak seriously to him concerning the dreadful sin of robbery；
and having strengthened him with texts and good counsel； to send him
forth unpunished。 ‘Thieving and covetousness；' said the parson； ‘must
inevitably bring you to the gallows。 If you would die in your bed； repent
you of your evildoing； and rob no more。' The exhortation was not lost
upon Pureney； who； chastened in spirit； straightly prevailed upon his father
to enter him a pensioner at Corpus Christi College in the University of
Cambridge； that at the proper time he might take orders。
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At Cambridge he gathered no more knowledge than was necessary for
his profession； and wasted such hours as should have been given to study
in drinking； d