The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 47 pages of information about The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard.

The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 47 pages of information about The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard.
they accordingly did.).  ’Twas on this Day Mr Davis gave Sheppard the Watch Springs, Files, Saws, _&c._ to Effect his own Release; and knowing that a Warrant was Hourly expected for his Execution with Two others, on the Friday following; he thought it high time to look about him, for he had waited his Tryal, saw his Conviction, and heard his Sentence with some patience; but finding himself irrespitably decreed for Death, he could sit passive no longer, and on the very Day of the Execution of the former; whilst they were having their Fetters taken off, in order for going to the Tree, that Day he began to saw, Saturday made a progress; but Sunday omitted, by Reason of the Concourse in the LodgeEdgworth Bess having been set at Liberty, had frequent Access to him, with others of his Acquaintance.  On Monday the Death Warrant came from Windsor, appointing that he, together with Joseph Ward and Anthony Upton should be Executed on the Friday following, being the 4th of September.  The Keepers acquainted him therewith, and desired him to make good use of that short Time.  He thank’d them, said he would follow their Advice, and prepare. Edgworth Bess, and another Woman had been with him at the Door of the Condemn’d Hold best part of the Afternoon, between five and six he desir’d the other Prisoners, except Stephen Fowles to remain above, while he offer’d something in private to his Friends at the Door; they comply’d, and in this interval he got the Spike asunder, which made way for the Skeleton to pass with his Heels foremost, by the Assistance of Fowles, whom he most ungenerously betray’d to the Keepers after his being retaken, and the Fellow was as severely punish’d for it.

Having now got clear of his Prison, he took Coach disguis’d in a Night Gown at the corner of the Old Baily, along with a Man who waited for him in the Street (and is suppos’d to be Page the Butcher) ordering the Coachman to drive to Black-Fryers Stairs, where his prostitute gave him the Meeting, and they three took Boat, and went a Shoar at the Horse-Ferry at Westminster, and at the White-Hart they went in, Drank, and stay’d sometime; thence they adjourn’d to a Place in Holbourn, where by the help of a Saw he quitted the Chains he had brought with him from Newgate; and then like a Freeman took his Ramble through the City and came to Spittle-Fields, and there lay with Edgeworth Bess.

It may be easy to imagine what an alarm his Escape gave to the Keepers of Newgate, three of their People being at the farther End of the Lodge, engag’d in a Discourse concerning his wonderful Escape from New-Prison, and what Caution ought to be us’d, lest he should give them the slip, at that very Instant as he perfected it.

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The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.