Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire- John Elwes, Esq..pdf/7

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upon the grate, would not add another until the first was nearly consumed Having little connection with London, he generally had three or four thousand pounds at a time in his house A set of fellows, who were afterwards know by the appellation of the Thaxted Gang, (and who were afterwards all hung ) formed a plan to rob him They were totally unsuspected at the time, each having some apparent occupation during the day, and went out only at night, upon good intelligence. It was Sir Harvey's custom to retire to his bedchamber at eight o'clock; where, after taking a bason of water-gruel, by the light of a small fire, be went to bed, to save the unnecessary extravagance of a candle.The gang, who perfectly knew the hour when his ſervant went to the ſtable, leaving their horſes in a ſmall grove on the Eſſex ſide of the river, walked across, and hid themſelves in the church porch till they ſaw the man come up to his horſes, when they immediately fell upon him, and, after ſome little ſtruggle, bound and gagged him; ran up towards the houſe, tied the two maids together, and going up to Sir Harvey, presented their pistols, and sternly demanded his money: Never did Sir Harvey behave ſo well as in this transaction: When the villians aſked for his money, he would give them no anſwer till they had aſſured him that his ſervant, a great favourite, was ſafe. He then delivered them the key of a drawer, in which was fifty guineas: But they well knew he had much more in the houſe; and again threatened his life, without he diſcovered where it was depoſited. At length he reluctantly ſhewed them the