Page:Life of Richard Turpin, a most notorious highwayman.pdf/7

7 to the house, in Rope-fields, where they shared the booty, which proves the old adage, "There is honour among thieves" though he had not taken any active part in the execution of the villany.

The next robbery of note they committed was about seven or eight o’clock in the evening. Rust, Turpin, Fielder, Walker, and three others, came to the house of Mr Saunders, a wealthy farmer, at Charlton, in Kent, and knocking at the door, inquired if Mr. Saunders was at home, being answered he was, and the door opened, they all rushed in, went directly to, the parlour, where Mr. Saunders, his wife, and some friends, were at cards. They desired them not to be frightened, for that they would not hurt their persons, if they sat still, and made no disturbance. The first thing they laid hands, on, was a silver snuff-box, which lay upon the table before them; and having secured the rest of the company, obliged Mr. Saunders to go about the house with them, and open his closets, boxes, and escritoire, from whence they took upwards of one hundred pounds in money, and all the plate in the house, a velvet hood, mantle, and other things. Whilst this was doing, the servant maid got loose, and ran up stairs, barred herself in one of the rooms, and called out of the window for assistance, in hopes of alarming the neighbourhood; but one of the rogues ran up stairs after her, and with a poker broke open the door; brought her down again, bound her, and all the rest of the family; then they rifled the house of divers other things of value, and finding, in their search, some bottles of wine, a bottle of brandy, and some mince pies, they all sat down, drank a bottle of wine, ate mince pie, and obliged the company to drink a glass of brandy each. Mrs. Saunders fainting away with the fright, they got her a glass of water, and