Our extravagants wild humours whilst he is in the Compter, from whence he being released falls into the Company of House-Breakers, and by their assistance robs a Milliners Shop where the Constable kept his Watch.

Thus did necessity cause our Extravagant to be witty, and he shewing these Verses to some friends they promised to assist him with his Mother, but she rather chose to maintain him in Prison then pay the debt, all the small moveables, as Cloak, Sword and Belt, Half-Shirts,Half-Shirts, Bands, Caravats, and all other things that he could spare, he parted from and converted them into Ale. Some friends one Fast day went to see him, and he being glad of Company caused them to stay most part of the day, but it being Fast-day, the Parson belonging to the Compter, according to custom gave the Prisoners a Sermon, during that time the Cellar door was shut up, no drink was delivered out, all were ingaged to assist and hear the Parson, our Extravagant was very much troubled at this obstruction in his drinking, and his friends could not perswade him to any patience, but he when the Parson was in the middle of his Sermon, looking out at a Window neer the Pulpit heard him say I have two or three points more and then I conclude, I would you would said our Extravagant that we might have some drink. The Parson stared at him, and so did the people who were near him and heard his words, but he seeing the Parson went on, turned away, saying come since we can have no drink, lets take Tobacco till we can, and so went away.

The Parson after he had done preaching, came to our ExtravagantExtravagant to examine him privately, but his answers were so Extravagant that there was no good to be done with him, and now not having any employment he gave himself wholly to fudling, and when he had not Money, and his Mothers allowance was spent, he spunged with all Companies, and got acquainted with all the Prisoners that came into the house, and this his Imprisonment did make him worse, for he conversed with all the debauched persons that were there, and now he could not act, he gloryed in the Relation of his former lewd debaucheries, so that at length his Mother at the perswasion of friends agreed and paid his Debt and Charges, and took him home to her house.

By reason of his confinement, he had contracted a disease, wherefore it was necessary for him to stay within doors for some time, and take Physick, but he being restored to his former health, was a suitor to his Mother for new Cloathes and Money in his Poket, she refused him both for the present, not thinking it fit as yet to trust him, wherefore he gave her very ill words.

Thus you may see what a hopeful amendment here was, and as he was debauched himself, so I believe it was his desire that his Son should be so; for as I told you he had been married in the Countrey to a person of Quality, but he had basely left her and rambled about the Town, and though he heard soon after his coming to London that she was brought to bed of a boy, he took no heed nor care about it, but when he was asked by friends whether he had not a desire to see his young Son, he replyed, no, he cared not to see him till he was about thirteen or fourteen years of age, and then he only desired that he might see him to enter him at a Baudy-house.

By this discourse you may judge of his inclination, and his Mother now refusing him money, he would purloyn a silver Spoon or some other piece of plate, and convert it into Pocket mettle, and being once furnished with money he would go seek out Company. Those that had any grace or honesty would refuse to accompany him, and therefore he got into the company of such Bulkers and Pick pockets as he had known whilst he was in the Counter, and now he employed his industry in contriving ways with them to get a purchase, and being one day at a Milliners or Haberdashers shop, who was related to him, he asked the Master to lend him half a piece, he refused him the money, but gave him very good counsel, if he had had the grace to receive it, and make use of it as he ought. But it was to as little purpose to speak to him at that rate, as it had been to endeavor to wash the Black-more white, both labour in vain, and our Extravagant was so angry at his friend for it; that he told him that he might have found somewhat else to do, and since he had not, he would ere long find him some other imployment, somewhat else to talk about, and so left him; and now being resolved what to do, he went and found out some of his forementioned acquaintance, Bulkers or House-breakers, and telling them he had a great desire to assist them in robbing of the Milliners shop, which he told them was very well furnished with good ready Mony, Commodities, Silk and Silk ribboning, Gloves and such like wares, they liked the design well enough, and now they asked him the place where, but here appeared a very great obstacle; for this Milliners shop was in such a place as was very difficult to be robb’d, it being the very next door to the Watch-house, where the Constable and watch generally sat. This they told him would be dangerous to attempt; but he affirming the more danger the more honour,and that he was resolved it should be done, and he knew how to do it handsomely if they would be ruled by him; they promised their assistance to the execution of this design. It was necessary there should be five or six persons, wherefore they making up that company, and he being one of that number, and all things provided according to his order and directions, about ten of the Clock at night they set forwards. They divided themselves into two parts or companies and our Extravagant and two others that went into an Ale-house at some small distance from the Watch house. There they called for drink, and soon began their work, which was to quarrel with one another, they were armed with swords, then they drew and began a scuffle, one of the three runs up to the Watch, and cries out Murther, Murther; The Constable hearing the noise, and doubting there might be sufficient cause, took all his Watch-men to attend Him, but he found no great trouble to appease this quarrel, which being ended, he with his Watch returned to his Rendezvous: In this time the other three had not been idle, but so soon as ever the Constables back was turned, they broke open the Shop Door they intended to rob, and it was not very difficult so to do, for it was not so strongly barricado’d, as otherwise it might have been, because of the safety the owner thought he was in, by reason of the Constables sitting there.

The Shop being opened they laid about them, and knowing where the best Commodities lay, they soon removed them, and not packing them up so handsomely as the Owner would have done for his Customer, they only threw them together into two Sacks they had brought, which being filled, away they marched; so that by such time as the Constable and Watch returned, they had dispatched their business and were gone.

The Constable before morning discovered the Shop Door to be open, but did suppose it had been left so, by the negligence of them that shut it up, wherefore he left two Watchmen at the Door to guard it. The next Morning the Master came and wondred to see a Guard upon his Door, asked the reason. They told him what they supposed, but he found it much otherwise, and although there were his Drawers and Boxes, yet they were empty, there were the Nests but the Birds were flown, immediately a Hue and Cry went out against those parties they could describe, but to little purpose, for they escaped, and were far enough off from being discovered. The next day they shared their prize, and converting it into Mony, our extravagant’s share came to above 25l. and now that he was possessed of so considerable a Sum of Mony, he was desirous that all the world should know it, and therefore it being inconvenient to carry so much about him in Silver, he changed 20l. into Gold.