Page:Merry life and mad exploits of Captain James Hynd.pdf/8

 8 The Life and Merry Exploits

good rate, he quickly overtook the gentlemen ſervants, who rode but eaſily. Hynd, by the portmanteaus, ſaw there was money in them, ba deliver their money, or he ſhould be their deaths They not being uſed to fight, yielded unto him in ſeeing their delays would breed danger, his dagger knife he cut open their portmanteau and took their money; and tying the bags together, laid them before him and rode ſpeedily away One of the ſervants rode to acquaint his maſte who preſently purſued Hynd. Hynd met a parſon and ſaid to him, ſir I am like to be robbed, yo muſt ſtand to it now for your own life as well a mine, they would have this money from me whic you ſee; come ſir, be of good chear, one hone man will fear ten thieves, you fall have one o my piſtols. So he gave the parſon the piſtol ready cock'd and charg'd, and bade him fire it a then that came first, while I, ſays he, ride dow to the next village, and raiſe the country people to be our help. The parſon having taken a c too much at a wedding, was pot-valiant, and rod up boldly to the gentlemen and fired his piſtol a them: but being too far off did no execution. He rode nearer, and flung his piſtol at one of them that he had like to have knocked him off his horſe. The gentleman ſeized on him, and took him priſoner. The parſon cries out, ſpare my life, and you ſhall have all my money: no, firra. ſaid the gentleman, we will have you hang'd what, a parſon, and rob on the highway! they preſently hale him to the next juſtice of peace which was near; when he came before the juſtice, they told him that they were robbed of two hundred pounds, and that this parſon was one of the thieves. The juſtice marvelled that ſuch apparent teſtimony ſhould come againſt the parſon of the pariſh.

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