Page:Surprising life and adventures of the gentleman-robber, Redmond O'Hanlon (2).pdf/5

5 would teach him to rob in his name, and without his license or permission. He bound the pedlar under an obligation to prosecute the fellow at the next ensuing assizes, and then wrote a mittimus and sent the criminal with a proper guard to the gaol of Armagh. The pedlar was as good as his word, and prosecuted him to the very utmost, upon which the fellow was found guilty, and accordingly executed. He was not altogether so destitute of friends but that he had council to plead for him, who insisted very much upon the error in commitment,* and prevailed so far in court as to have the trial postponed: but this was of no other service than to give rise to as pleasant a fit of merriment in court as ever happened upon such an occasion, the judges and every one else laughing till they were ready to burst at the conceit of Redmond's acting the justice of peace.

Redmond had a much greater antipathy to the English than to the Scotch and Irish; for he was always kind to his countrymen, and made a bargain both with them and the North country pedlars, and all such as acknowledged his jurisdiction all over the kingdom, alleging for excuse, that as he was a reduced gentleman, he hoped his countrymen would not refuse to pay him tribute towards his maintenance, upon his desisting to plunder.

* The mittimus we are informed ran thus, By Redmond O'Hanlon in loco of one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the said county, but chief ranger of the mountains.

'I herewith send you the body of who was this day brought before me and examined, for robbing Mr  on the king's road, requiring of you to hold him in safe custody till the next general assize to be held for the said county, and for so doing this shall be your sufficient warrant.' Given under my hand this 1st day of March, 1635. To Gaoler of Armagh.

REDMOND O'HANLON.