Page:Merry life & mad exploits of Capt. James Hynd, the great robber of England.pdf/11

( 11 ) they immediately carried him before the next Juſtice of the Peace, which was not far off.-When they were come before the Juſtice, they told him that they were robbed of two hundred pounes, and that the Parſon was one of the robbers.-The Juſtice was greatly ſurpriſed, that ſuch apparent teſtimony ſhould come againſt the Parſon of the pariſh.—The Parſon by this time was come to himſelf, and deſired the Juſtice to give him leave to ſpeak for himſelf. He being allowed to ſpeak, ſaid to the Juſtice, Sir, you have known me theſe twenty years, and no man can ſay I have wronged him of a penny, much less this which is laid to my charge. Sir, I ſhall tell you ſo much as I know of the buſineſs. As I was riding on my way home, I met a man who had two bags of money before him, who told me that thieves purſued him, and he deſired my help, ſaying, That I need not fear, for one honeſt man would beat ten thieves:- So he gave me a piſtol charged, cockt, and prim'd, and bade me fire at the firſt that came on, while he would go and raiſed the country men to assist us. So when theſe gentlemen came down the hill, I rode up to them, and fired the pistol at one of them: