Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire.pdf/7

( 7 ) 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 known by the appellation of the Thaxted Gang, (and who were afterwards all hung) formed a plan to rob him.— They were totally unsuspected at that 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 bed-chamber at eight o'clock: where, after taking: a bason of water-gruel, by the light of a small fire, he went to bed, to save the unnecessary extravagance of a candle.— The gang who perfectly knew the hour when his ervant went to the table, leaving their hores in a mall grove on the Eex ide of the river, walked across, and hid themelves in the church porch till they aw the man come up to his hores, when they immediately fell upon him, and, after ome little truggle, bound and gagged him; ran up towards the houe, tied the two maids together, and going up to Sir Harvey, presented their pisto's, and sternly demanded his money.— Never did Sir Harvey behave o well as in this tranaction: When the villains aked for his money, he would give then no anwer till they had aured him that his ervant, 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 houe, and again threatened his life, without he dicovered where it was depoited. — At length he reluctantly hewed them the