Page:Life of Richard Turpin, a most notorious highwayman.pdf/5

5 that she had none, at last, with horrid oaths and imprecations, swore he would put her on the fire. She continued obstinate for all that, imagining he meant only to threaten her; and so very fond was she of her darling gold, that she even suffered herself to be served as he had declared, and endured it for some time; till the anguish at last forced her to make a discovery, which, when she had done, they took her off the grate, and robbed her of all they could find.

The next place they robbed was a farmer’s at Ripple-Side, near Barking; where the people of the house not coming to the door as soon as they wanted them, they broke it open. They first of all, according to their old scheme, gagged, tied, and blindfolded all they found in the place capable of opposing them; and then robbed the house of £700, which delighted Turpin so much, that he exclaimed, “Aye, this is the thing!” “ That’s your sort for the rag, (a cant term for money,) if it would but last!" And they safely retired with their prize, which amounted to 801. a man. This robbery was committed in the beginning of the year 1730. This success so much flushed Turpin and his associates, that several others joined them, insomuch that they became a formidable crew, and many times, when together, defied the legal authority of the magistrates; and their adroitness was such that they escaped detection for many months.

Some little time after, they determined to attack the house of Mr Mason, the keeper of Epping Forest, who was pitched upon to feel the effects of their resentment for his former vigilance in disturbing their poaching incursions into his district. But Turpin was not concerned in this affair; for he happened at that time to he in London, when, drinking too freely, he forgot his appointment; but the job was done without him, by Rust, Rose, and