Page:Surprising life and adventures of the gentleman-robber, Redmond O'Hanlon (2).pdf/23

23 hear mass, (if he frequented any place of worship at all,) thought that she might be prevailed upon, on this account, to make a discovery: but all his endeavours seemed to be fruitless for a long time, until Redmond took some occasion to abuse her; then this Douglas began to work on her again, and at last obtained his end. This young woman, according to her promise to Douglas, took an opportunity to send a messenger to him, and gave him notice where Redmond was, just as he was going into bed after a hard fit of drinking. In a little time a guard came up and took him asleep, and he was hurried to Armagh, and put into gaol, with about twelve stones of irons upon him, where he remained till the assizes; and being tried, was found guilty of such a number of facts,* that he was condemned, and his body ordered to be cut into four quarters, and to be hung up in different places, as a terror to others, notwithstanding which he gave three surprising jumps in court, to show his activity, though so heavily loaded with irons.

However, it is said that he was afterwards either enlarged, or made his escape out of prison, for he died at last by the hands of one of his own relations, (a foster-brother,) who, for the sake of the large reward (offered for Redmond’s head) caused his wife to lay a wile for him, and she having betrayed him under a pretence of giving him some refreshment, he being weary stretched himself down to rest, and was shot through the head as he lay asleep in a barn. He that shot him had the head carried on a staff to Armagh, and got the thanks of the whole

*What the old women say of his mother’s dreams, of her going to consult an Astrologer upon his birth, and of his having a T on his breast when born, is all a story and a fiction; though it is certain, that his exploits spread his fame through most countries in Europe. In England he was called captain O’Hanlon, but in France count O'Hanlon, by all his fraternity.