Page:Life of Richard Turpin, a most notorious highwayman.pdf/20

20 to have realised about one thousand pounds, which enabled him now (Mr J. Palmer) to keep the first company stirring in those parts.

On one of these occasional visits to Brough, he fell in with the celebrated Dicky Dickenson, the humourous governor of Scarborough Spa, to whom he sold a horse, which four years afterwards was claimed by Squire More as his property, he having lost it from the Marshes in Lincolnshire. He went first to Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire, where the people, he thought, would not know him; and as he abounded in money, he proposed to himself to commence a dealer in horses.

It is very remarkable that, for such a course of time as from the date of the King’s reward of 2001. for his apprehension, he should still go on with his depredations with the most audacious impunity, insomuch that it affected the national character in the eyes of foreigners, who could not help remarking, that the native bravery of the English was supine in bringing such a daring offender to justice. In fact, his feats of equestrian agility were so surprising, and his identity so uncertain, that to these circumstances alone may be ascribed his long evasion from the iron hand of the law. He had been at Suson, and drank very free at the Cock there. Early in the morning he set off, and robbed a gentleman of fifty guineas and a valuable watch, in the environs of London. Apprehensive of being known and pursued, he spurred his horse on, and took the northern road, and, astonishing to relate, reached York the same evening, and was noticed playing at bowls in the bowling-green with several gentlemen there; which circumstance saved him from the hands of justice for that time. The gentleman he robbed knew him to be Turpin, and caused him to be pursued and taken at York. He afterwards swore to him and the horse he rode on, which was