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uncommon and innumerable。 It is not given to all men to be light…
brained； light…limbed； light…fingered。 A courage which shall face an
enemy under the starlight； or beneath the shadow of a wall； which shall
track its prey to a well…defended lair； is far rarer than a law…abiding
cowardice。 The recklessness that risks all for a present advantage is
called genius； if a victorious general urge it to success； nor can you deny
to the intrepid Highwayman； whose sudden resolution triumphs at an
instant of peril； the possession of an admirable gift。 But all heroes have
not proved themselves excellent at all points。 This one has been
distinguished for the courtly manner of his attack； that other for a
prescience which discovers booty behind a coach… door or within the
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pocket of a buttoned coat。 If Cartouche was a master of strategy；
Barrington was unmatched in another branch； and each may claim the
credit due to a peculiar eminence。 It is only thus that you may measure
conflicting talents： as it were unfair to judge a poet by a brief experiment
in prose； so it would be monstrous to cheapen the accomplishments of a
pickpocket； because he bungled at the concealment of his gains。
A stern test of artistry is the gallows。 Perfect behaviour at an
enforced and public scrutiny may properly be esteemed an effect of talent…
…an effect which has not too often been rehearsed。 There is no reason
why the Scoundrel； fairly beaten at the last point in the game； should not
go to his death without swagger and without remorse。 At least he might
comfort himself with such phrases as ‘a dance without the music；' and he
has not often been lacking in courage。 What he has missed is dignity： his
pitfalls have been unctuosity； on the one side； bravado on the other。 It
was the Prison Ordinary； who first misled him into the assumption of a
piety which neither preacher nor disciple understood。 It was the Prison
Ordinary； who persuaded him to sign his name to a lying confession of
guilt； drawn up in accordance with a foolish and inexorable tradition； and
to deliver such a last dying speech as would not disappoint the mob。
The set phrases； the vain prayer offered for other sinners； the
hypocritical profession of a superior righteousness； were neither noble nor
sincere。 When Tom Jones （for instance） was hanged； in 1702； after a
prosperous career on Hounslow Heath； his biographer declared that he
behaved with more than usual ‘modesty and decency；' because he
‘delivered a pretty deal of good advice to the young men present；
exhorting them to be industrious in their several callings。' Whereas his
biographer should have discovered that it is not thus that your true hero
bids farewell to frolic and adventure。
As little in accordance with good taste was the last appearance of the
infamous Jocelin Harwood； who was swung from the cart in 1692 for
murder and robbery。 He arrived at Tyburn insolently drunk。 He
blustered and ranted； until the spectators hissed their disapproval； and he
died vehemently shouting that he would act the same murder again in the
same case。 Unworthy； also； was the last dying repartee of Samuel
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Shotland； a notorious bully of the Eighteenth Century。 Taking off his
shoes； he hurled them into the crowd； with a smirk of delight。 ‘My father
and mother often told me；' he cried； ‘that I should die with my shoes on；
but you may all see that I have made them both liars。' A great man dies
not with so mean a jest； and Tyburn was untouched to mirth by Shotland's
facile humour。
On the other hand； there are those who have given a splendid example
of a brave and dignified death。 Brodie was a sorry bungler when at work；
but a perfect artist at the gallows。 The glory of his last achievement will
never fade。 The muttered prayer； unblemished by hypocrisy； the jest
thrown at George Smitha metaphor from the gaming…tablethe silent
adjustment of the cord which was to strangle him； these last offices were
performed with an unparalleled quietude and restraint。 Though he had
pattered the flash to all his wretched accomplices； there was no trace of the
last dying speech in his final utterances； and he set an example of a simple
greatness； worthy to be followed even to the end of time。 Such is the
type； but others also have given proof of a serene temper。 Tom Austin's
masterpiece was in another kind； but it was none the less a masterpiece。
At the very moment that the halter was being put about his neck； he was
asked by the Chaplain what he had to say before he died。 ‘Only；' says he；
‘there's a woman yonder with some curds and whey； and I wish I could
have a pennyworth of them before I am hanged； because I don't know
when I shall see any again。' There is a brave irrelevance in this very
human desire； which is beyond praise。
Valiant also was the conduct of Roderick Audrey； who after a brief but
brilliant career paid his last debt to the law in 1714。
He was but sixteen； and； says his biographer； ‘he went very decent to
the gallows； being in a white waistcoat； clean napkin； white gloves； and an
orange in one hand。' So well did he play his part； that one wonders Jack
Ketch did not shrink from the performance of his。 But throughout his
short life； Roderick Audreythe very name is an echo of romance！
displayed a contempt for whatever was common or ugly。 Not only was
his appearance at Tyburn a lesson in elegance； but he thieved； as none ever
thieved before or since； with no other accomplice than a singing…bird。
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Thus he would play outside a house； wherein he espied a sideboard of
plate； and at last； bidding his playmate flutter through an open window
into the parlour； he would follow upon the excuse of recovery； and； once
admitted； would carry off as much silver as he could conceal。 None other
ever attempted so graceful an artifice； and yet Audrey's journey to Tyburn
is even more memorable than the story of his gay accomplice。
But it is not only the truly great who have won for themselves an
enduring reputation。 There are men； not a few； esteemed； like the
popular novelist； not for their art but for some foolish gift； some facile
trick of notoriety； whose actions have tickled the fancy； not the
understanding of the world。 The coward and the impostor have been set
upon a pedestal of glory either by accident or by the whim of posterity。
For more than a century Dick Turpin has appeared not so much the
greatest of highwaymen； as the Highwaymen Incarnate。 His prowess has
been extolled in novels and upon the stage； his ride to York is still
bepraised for a feat of miraculous courage and endurance； the death of
Black Bess has drawn floods of tears down the most callous cheeks。 And
the truth is that Turpin was never a gentleman of the road at all！ Black
Bess is as pure an invention as the famous ride to York。 The ruffian； who
is said to have ridden the phantom mare from one end of England to the
other； was a common butcher； who burned an old woman to death at
Epping； and was very properly hanged at York for the stealing of a horse
which he dared not bestride。
Not one incident in his career gives colour to the splendid myth which
has been woven round his memory。 Once he was in London； and he died
at York。 So much is true； but there is naught to prove that his progress
from the one town to the other did not occupy a year。 Nor is there any
reason why the halo should have been set upon his head rather than upon
another's。 Strangest truth of all； none knows at what moment Dick
Turpin first shone into glory。 At any rate； there is a gap in the tradition；
and the chap…books of the time may not be credited with this vulgar error。
Perhaps it was the popular drama of Skelt which put the ruffian upon the
black mare's back； but whatever the date of the invention； Turpin was a
popular hero long before Ainsworth sent him rattling across England。
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And in order to equip this butcher with a false reputation； a valiant officer
and gentleman was stripped of the credit due to a magnificent achievement。
For though Turpin tramped to York at a journeyman's leisure； Nicks rode
thither at a stretchNicks the intrepid and gallant； whom Charles II。； in
admiration of his feat； was wont to call Swiftnicks。
This valiant collector； whom posterity has robbed for Turpin's
embellishment； lived at the highest moment of his art。 He knew by rote
the lessons taught by Hind and Duval； he was a fearless rider and a
courteous thief。 Now； one morning at five of the clock； he robbed a
gentleman near Barnet of