the face, his credit was so good that, as I told him, he would easily recover it; for to sink under trouble is to double the weight, and he that will die in it shall die in it.

It was in vain to speak comfortably to him, the wound had sunk too deep, it was a stab that touched the vitals; he grew melancholy and disconsolate, and from thence lethargic, and died. I foresaw the blow, and was extremely oppressed my mind, for I saw evidently that if he died I was undone.

I had had two children by him and no more; for to tell the truth, it began to be time for me to leave off bearing children, for I was now eight and forty, and I suppose if he had lived I should have had no more.

I was now left in a dismal and disconsolate case indeed, and in several things worse than ever. First, it was past the flourishing time with me when I might expect to be courted for a mistress; that agreeable part had declined some time, and the ruins only appeared of what had been; and that which was worse than all was this, that I was the most dejected, disconsolate creature alive. I that had encouraged my husband, and endeavoured to support his spirits under his trouble, could not support my own; I wanted that spirit in trouble which I told him was so necessary to him for bearing the burthen.

But my case was indeed deplorable, for I was left perfectly friendless and helpless, and the loss my husband had sustained had reduced his circumstances so low, that though indeed I was not in debt, yet I could easily foresee that what was left would not support me long; that while it wasted daily for subsistence, I had no way to increase it one shilling, so that it would soon be all spent, and then I saw nothing before me but the utmost distress, and this represented itself so lively to my thoughts, that it seemed as if it was come before it was really very near; also my very apprehensions doubled the misery, for I fancied every sixpence that I paid for a loaf of bread was the last that I had in the world, and that to-morrow I was to fast and be starved to death.

In this distress I had no assistant, no friend to comfort or advise me. I sat and cried, and tormented myself night and day; wringing my hands, and sometimes raving like a distracted woman; and indeed I have often wondered it bad not affected my reason, for I had the vapours to such a degree, that my understanding was sometimes quite lost in fancies and imaginations. I lived two years in this dismal condition, wasting that little I had, weeping continually over my dismal circumstances, and, as it were only bleeding to death, without the least hope or prospect of help from God or man; and now I cried so long, and so often, that tears were, as I might say, exhausted, and I began to be desperate, for I grew poor apace.

For a little relief I had put off my house and took lodgings, and as I was reducing my living, so I sold off most of my goods, which put a little money in my pocket, and I lived near a year upon that, spending very sparingly, and eking things out to the utmost; but still when I looked before me, my very heart would sink within

me at the inevitable approach of misery and want. O let none read this part without seriously reflecting on the circumstances of a desolate state, and how they would grapple with mere want of friends and want of bread; it will certainly make them think not of sparing what they have only, but of looking up to heaven for support, and of the wise man's prayer-" Give me not poverty lest I steal."

Let them remember that a time of distress is a time of dreadful temptation, and all the strength to resist is taken away. Poverty presses, the soul is made desperate by distress, and what can be done? It was one evening, when being brought, as I may say, to the last gasp, I think I may truly say I was distracted and raving, when prompted by I know not what spirit, and, as it were, doing I did not know what or why, I dressed me, for I had still pretty good clothes, and went out. I am very sure I had no manner of design in my head when I went out. I neither knew or considered where to go or on what business; but as the devil carried me out and laid his bait for me, so he brought me to be sure to the place, for I knew not whither I was going or what I did.

Wandering thus about I knew not whither, I passed by an apothecary's shop in Leadenhall street, where I saw lie on a stool just before the counter a little bundle wrapt in a white cloth; beyond it stood a maid servant with her back to it, looking up towards the top of the shop, where the apothecary's apprentice, as I suppose, was standing up on the counter, with his back also to the door, and a candle in his hand, looking and reaching up to the upper shelf for something he wanted, so that both were engaged mighty earnestly, and nobody else in the shop.

This was the bait; and the devil, who I said laid the snare, as readily prompted me as if he had spoke; for I remember, and never shall forget, it was like a voice spoken to me over the shoulder.

"Take the bundle-be quick-do it this moment."

It was no sooner said, but I stepped into the shop, and, with my back to the wench, as if I had stood up for a cart that was going by, I put my hand behind me and took the bundle, and went off with it, the maid or the fellow not perceiving me, or any one else.

It is impossible to express the horror of my soul all the while I did it. When I went away I had no heart to run, or scarce to mend my pace. I crossed the street indeed, and went down the first turning I came to, and I think it was a street that went through into Fenchurch street; from thence I crossed and turned through so many ways and turnings that I could never tell which way it was, nor where I went, for I felt not the ground I stept on, and the farther I was out of danger the faster I went, till, tired and out of breath, I was forced to sit down on a little bench at a door, and then I began to recover, and found I was got into Thames street near Billingsgate. I rested me a little and went on. My blood was all on fire; my heart beat as if I was in a sudden fright; in short, I was under such a surprise that I still knew not whither I was going or what to do.

corner of the house at the turning into the alley. Just as be threw it in he said, "God bless you, mistress, let it lie there a little," and away he runs as swift as the wind: after him comes two more, and immediately a young fellow without his hat, crying" Stop thief," and after him two or three more. They pursued the two last fellows so close that they were forced to drop what they had got, and one of them was taken into the bargain, the other got off free.

I stood stock still all this while till they came back, dragging the poor fellow they had taken, and lugging the things they had found, extremely well satisfied they had recovered the booty, and taken the thief, and thus they passed by me, for I looked only like one who stood up while the crowd was gone.

Once or twice I asked what was the matter, but the people neglected answering me, and I was not very importunate; but after the crowd was wholly passed, I took my opportunity to turn about and take up what was behind me and walk away. This indeed I did with less disturbance than I had done formerly, for these things I did not steal, but they were stolen to my hand. I got safe to my lodging with this cargo, which was a piece of fine black lustring silk, and a piece of velvet; the latter was but part of a piece of about eleven yards; the former was a whole piece of near fifty yards.

I had pretty good luck thus far, and I made several adventures more, though with but small purchase, yet with good success; but I went in daily dread that some mischief would befal me, and that I should certainly come to be hanged at last. The impression this made on me was too strong to be slighted, and it kept me from making attempts that for aught I know might have been very safely performed; but one thing I cannot omit, which was a bait to me many a day. I walked frequently out into the villages round the town to see if nothing would fall in my way there; and going by a house near Stepney, I saw on the window board two rings, one a small diamond ring, and the other a plain gold ring; to be sure laid there by some thoughtless lady that had more money than forecast, perhaps only till she washed her hands.

I walked several times by the window to observe if I could see whether there was anybody in the room or no, and I could see nobody, but still I was not sure; it came presently into my thoughts to rap at the glass, as if I wanted to speak to somebody, and if anybody was there they would be sure to come to the window, and then I would tell them to remove those rings, for that I had seen two suspicious fellows take notice of them. This was a ready thought; I rapped once or twice and nobody came, when seeing the coast clear, I thrust hard against the square of glass, and broke it with very little noise, and took out the two rings, and walked away with them very safe. The diamond ring was worth about three pounds, and the other about nine shillings.

of value, are forced to sell it for a song when they have done. But I was resolved I would not do this, whatever shift I made. However, I did not well know what course to take; at last I resolved to go to my old governess, and acquaint myself with her again. I had punctually supplied the five pounds a year to her for my little boy as long as I was able, but at last was obliged to put a stop to it. However, I had written a letter to her, wherein I had told her my circumstances were reduced very low; that I had lost my husband, and that I was not able to do it any longer, and begged that the poor child might not suffer too much for its mother's misfortunes.

I now made her a visit, and I found that she drove something of the old trade still, but that she was not in such flourishing circumstances as before; for she had been sued by a certain gentleman who had had his daughter stolen from him and who, it seems, she had helped to convey away; and it was very narrowly that she escaped the gallows. The expense also had ravaged her, and she was become very poor; her house was but meanly furnished, and she was not in such repute for her practice as before; however, she stood upon her legs, as they say, and as she was a stirring bustling woman, and had some stock left, she was turned pawn-broker, and lived pretty well.

She received me very civilly, and with her usual obliging manner told me she would not have the less respect for me for my being reduced; that she had taken care my boy was very well looked after, though I could not pay for him, and that the woman that had him was easy, so that I needed not trouble myself about him, till I might be better able to do it effectually.

As

I told her that I had not much money left, but that I had some things that were monies worth, if she could tell me how I might turn them into money. She asked me what it was I had. I pulled out the string of gold beads, and told her it was one of my husband's presents to me; then I showed her the two parcels of silk which I told her I had from Ireland, and brought up to town with me, and the little diamond ring. to the small parcel of plate and spoons, I had found means to dispose of them myself before; and as for the child-bed linen I had, she offered me to take it herself, believing it to be my own. She told me she was turned pawn-broker, and that she would sell those things for me as pawned to her, and so she sent presently for proper agents that bought them, being in her hands, without any scruple, and gave good prices

too.

I now began to think this necessary woman might help me a little in my low condition to some business, for I would gladly have turned my hand to any honest employment if I could have got it; but here she was deficient. Honest business did not come within her reach; if I had been younger, perhaps she might have helped me to a spark, but my thoughts were of that kind of livelihood as being quite out of the way after fifty, which was my case, and so I told her.

into some measures to have my little son by my last husband taken care of; and this she made easy too, reserving a payment only of five pounds a year, if I could pay it. This was such a help to me, that for a good while I left off the wicked trade that I had so newly taken up; and gladly I would have got my bread by the help of my needle if I could have got work, but that was very hard to do for one that had no manner of acquaintance in the world.

However, at last I got some quilting-work for ladies' beds, petticoats, and the like; and this I liked very well and worked very hard, and with this I began to live; but the diligent devil, who resolved I should continue in his service, continually prompted me to go out and take a walk, that is to say, to see if anything would offer in the old way.

One evening I blindly obeyed his summons, and fetched a long circuit through the streets, but met with no purchase, and came home very weary, and empty; but not content with that, I went out the next evening too, when going by an alehouse I saw the door of a little room open, next the very street, and on the table a silver tankard, things much in use in public houses at that time. It seems some company had been drinking there, and the careless boys had forgot to take it away.

I went into the box frankly, and setting the silver tankard on the corner of the bench, I sat down before it and knocked with my foot; a boy came presently, and I bade him fetch me a pint of warm ale, for it was cold weather. The boy ran, and I heard him go down to the cellar to draw ale. While the boy was gone, another boy came into the room, and cried, "Do you call?" I spoke with a melancholy air, and said, "No, child, the boy is gone for a pint of ale for

me.

"

While I sat here I heard the woman in the bar say, "Are they all gone in No. 5?" which was the box I sat in, and the boy said "Yes."

"Who fetched the tankard away?" says the

woman.

I did," says another boy; "that is it, pointing, it seems, to another tankard which he had fetched from another box by mistake; or else it must be that the rogue forgot that he had not brought it in, which certainly he had not.

I heard all this, much to my satisfaction, for I found plainly that the tankard was not missed, and that they concluded it was fetched away; so I drank my ale, called to pay, and as I went I said, "Take care of your plate, child," meaning a silver pint mug, which he brought me drink in. The boy said, "Yes, madam; very welcome," and away I came.

I came home to my governess, and now I thought it was a time to try her, that if I might be put to the necessity of being exposed, she might offer me some assistance. When I had been at home some time and had an opportunity of talking to her, I told her I had a secret of the greatest consequence in the world to commit to her, if she had respect enough for me to keep it a secret. She told me she had kept one of my secrets faithfully, why should I doubt her keeping another? I told her the strangest thing in the world had befallen me, and that it had made

a thief of ine, even without any design; and so told her the whole story of the tankard. "And have you brought it away with you, my dear?" says she.

"To be sure I have," says I, and showed it

her.

"But what shall I do now?" says I; "must not I carry it again ?"

66

Carry it again!" says she, "ay, if you are minded to be sent to Newgate for stealing it." "Why," says I, "they cannot be so base to stop me when I carry it to them again?"

"You don't know those sort of people, child," says she; "they will not only carry you to Newgate, but hang you too, without any regard to the honesty of returning it; or bring in an account of all the other tankards they have lost for you to pay for." "What must I do then?" says I.

66

Nay," says she, "as you have played the cunning part and stole it. you must even keep it; there is no going back now; besides, child," says she," don't you want it more than they do? I wish you could light of such a bargain once a week."

This gave me a new notion of my governess, and that since she was turned pawnbroker she had a sort of people about her that were none of the honest ones that I had met with there before.

I had not been long there, but I discovered it more plainly than before, for every now and then I saw hilts of swords, spoons, forks, tankards, and all such kind of ware brought in, not to be pawned, but to be sold downright; and she bought everything that came without asking any questions, but had very good bargains, as I found by her discourse.

I found also that in the following this trade she always melted down the plate she bought that it might not be challenged; and she came to me and told me one morning that she was going to melt, and if I would, she would put my tankard in, that it might not be seen by any │ body.

I told her with all my heart; so she weighed it, and allowed me the full value in silver again; but I found she did not do the same to the rest of her customers.

Some time after this, as I was at work and very melancholy, she begins to ask me what the mat- ¦ ter was, as she was used to do.

I told her my heart was heavy, I had little work, and nothing to live on, and knew not what course to take.

She laughed and told me I must go out again and try my fortune, it might be that I might meet with another piece of plate.

"Oh, mother," says I, "that is a trade I have no skill in, and if I should be taken I am undone

at once."

Says she, "I could help you to a schoolmistress that shall make you as dexterous as herself."

I trembled at that proposal, for hitherto I had had no confederates, nor any acquaintance among that tribe; but she conquered all my modesty and all my fears; and in a little time, by the help of this confederate, I grew as impudent a thief, and as dexterous as ever Moll Cut-Purse was,

though, if fame does not belie her, not half so handsome.

stock beforehand as I had, for I had near two hundred pounds in money for my share, it came strongly into my mind, no doubt from some kind

At length she put me to practise. She had shown me her art, and I had many times unhooked a watch from her own side with great dexterity. At last she showed me a prize, and this was a young lady big with child, who had a charming watch; the thing was to be done as she came out of church. She goes on one side of the lady, and pretends, just as she came to the steps, to fall, and fell against the lady with so much violence as put her into a great fright, and both cried out terribly. In the very moment that she jostled the lady, I had hold of the watch, and holding it the right way, the start she gave drew the hook out, and she never felt it. I made off immediately, and left my schoolmistress to come out of her pretended fright gradually, and the lady too; and presently the watch was missed.

46

Aye," says my comrade, "then it was those rogues that thrust me down, I warrant ye; I wonder the gentlewoman did not miss her watch before, then we might have taken them."

She humoured the thing so well that nobody suspected her, and I was got home a full hour before her. This was my first adventure in company; the watch was indeed a very fine one, and had a great many trinkets about it, and my governess allowed us twenty pounds for it, of which I had half; and thus I was entered a complete thief, hardened to a pitch above all the reflections of conscience or modesty, and to a degree which I must acknowledge I never thought possible in

me.

Thus the devil who began, by the help of an irresistible poverty, to push me into this wickedness, brought me on to a height beyond the common rate, even when my necessities were not so great or the prospect of my misery so terrifying; for I had now got into a little vein of work, and as I was not at a loss to handle my needle, it was very probable, as acquaintance came in, I might have got my bread honestly enough.

I must say, that if such a prospect of work had presented itself at first when I began to feel the approach of my miserable circumstances--I say, had such a prospect of getting my bread by my working presented itself, then I had never fallen into this wicked trade, or into such a wicked gang as I was now embarked with; but practice had hardened me, and I grew audacious to the last degree, and the more so because I had carried it on so long, and had never been taken; for, in a word, my new partner in wickedness and I went on together so long without being ever detected, that we not only grew bold, but we grew rich, and had at one time one-and-twenty gold watches in our hands.

I remember that one day, being a little more serious than ordinary, and finding I had so good a

excited me, and my distresses drove me to these dreadful shifts, so seeing those distresses were now relieved, and I could also get something towards a maintenance by working, and had so good a bank to support me, why should I not now leave off, as they say, while I was well? that 1 || could not expect to go always free, and if I was once surprised and miscarried I was undone.

This was, doubtless, the happy minute when, if I had hearkened to the blessed hint, from whatsoever hand it came, I had still a cast for an easy life; but my fate was otherwise determined; the busy devil that so industriously drew me in, had too fast hold of me to let me go back; but as poverty brought me into the mire so avarice kept me intill there was no going back. As to the arguments which my reason dictated for persuading me to lay down, avarice stept in and said "Go on, go on; you have had very good luck; go on till you have gotten four or five hundred pounds and then you shall leave off; and then you may live easy without working at all."

Thus I, that was once in the devil's clutches, was held fast there as with a charm, and had no power to go without the circle till I was ingulphed in labyrinths of trouble too great to get out at all.

However, these thoughts left some impression upon me, and made me act with some more caution than before, and more than my directors used for themselves. My comrade, as I called her, but rather she should have been called my teacher, with another of her scholars, was the first in the misfortune, for happening to be upon the hunt for a purchase, they made an attempt upon a linen-draper in Cheapside, but were snapped by a hawk's-eyed journeyman, and seized with two pieces of cambric, which were taken also upon them.

This was enough to lodge them both in Newgate, where they had the misfortune to have some of their former sins brought to remembrance; two other indictments being brought against them, and the facts being proved upon them they were both condemned to die; they both pleaded their bellies and were both voted quick with child, though my tutoress was no more with child than I was.

with them, expecting that it would be my turn I went frequently to see them and condole next; but the place gave me so much horror, reflecting that it was the place of my unhappy birth and of my mother's misfortunes, that I could not bear it, so I left off going to see them; and, oh! could I but have taken warning by their disasters, I had been happy still, for I was yet free, and had nothing brought against me; but i could not be-my misfortunes were not yet filled