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artifice it was extorted。 Hind never took a sovereign meanly； he
approached no enterprise which he did not adorn。 Living in a true
Augustan age； he was a classic among highwaymen； the very Virgil of the
Pad。
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
MOLL CUTPURSE AND
JONATHAN WILD
I MOLL CUTPURSE
THE most illustrious woman of an illustrious age； Moll Cutpurse has
never lacked the recognition due to her genius。 She was scarce of age
when the town devoured in greedy admiration the first record of her
pranks and exploits。 A year later Middleton made her the heroine of a
sparkling comedy。 Thereafter she became the favourite of the rufflers；
the commonplace of the poets。 Newgate knew her； and Fleet Street； her
manly figure was as familiar in the Bear Garden as at the Devil Tavern；
courted alike by the thief and his victim； for fifty years she lived a life
brilliant as sunlight； many…coloured as a rainbow。 And she is
remembered； after the lapse of centuries； not only as the Queen…Regent of
Misrule； the benevolent tyrant of cly…filers and heavers； of hacks and
blades； but as the incomparable Roaring Girl； free of the playhouse； who
perchance presided with Ben Jonson over the Parliament of Wits。
She was born in the Barbican at the heyday of England's greatness；
four years after the glorious defeat of the Armada； and had to her father an
honest shoemaker。 She came into the world （saith rumour） with her fist
doubled； and even in the cradle gave proof of a boyish； boisterous
disposition。 Her girlhood； if the word be not an affront to her mannish
character； was as tempestuous as a wind…blown petticoat。 A very ‘tomrig
and rump…scuttle；' she knew only the sports of boys： her war…like spirit
counted no excuse too slight for a battle； and so valiant a lad was she of
her hands； so well skilled in cudgel…play； that none ever wrested a victory
from fighting Moll。 While other girls were content to hem a kerchief or
mark a sampler； Moll would escape to the Bear Garden； and there enjoy
the sport of baiting； whose loyal patron she remained unto the end。 That
which most bitterly affronted her was the magpie talk of the wenches。
‘Why；' she would ask in a fury of indignation； ‘why crouch over the fire
with a pack of gossips； when the highway invites you to romance？ Why
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
finger a distaff； when a quarterstaff comes more aptly to your hand？'
And thus she grew in age and stature； a stranger to the soft delights of
her sex； her heart still deaf to the trivial voice of love。 Had not a
wayward accident cumbered her with a kirtle； she would have sought
death or glory in the wars； she would have gone with Colonel Downe's
men upon the road； she would have sailed to the Spanish Main for pieces
of eight。 But the tyranny of womanhood was as yet supreme； and the
honest shoemaker； ignorant of his daughter's talent； bade her take service
at a respectable saddler's； and thus suppress the frowardness of her passion。
Her rebellion was instant。 Never would she abandon the sword and the
wrestling…booth for the harmless bodkin and the hearthstone of
domesticity。 Being absolute in refusal； she was kidnapped by her friends
and sent on board a ship； bound for Virginia and slavery。 There； in the
dearth of womankind； even so sturdy a wench as Moll might have found a
husband； but the enterprise was little to her taste； and； always resourceful；
she escaped from shipboard before the captain had weighed his anchor。
Henceforth she resolved her life should be free and chainless as the
winds。 Never more should needle and thread tempt her to a womanish
inactivity。 As Hercules； whose counterpart she was； changed his club for
the distaff of Omphale； so would she put off the wimple and bodice of her
sex for jerkin and galligaskins。 If she could not allure manhood； then
would she brave it。 And though she might not cross swords with her
country's foes； at least she might levy tribute upon the unjustly rich； and
confront an enemy wherever there was a full pocket。
Her entrance into a gang of thieves was beset by no difficulty。 The
Bear Garden； always her favourite resort； had made her acquainted with
all the divers and rumpads of the town。 The time； moreover； was
favourable to enterprise； and once again was genius born into a golden age。
The cutting of purses was an art brought to perfection； and already the
more elegant practice of picking pockets was understood。 The transition
gave scope for endless ingenuity； and Moll was not slow in mastering the
theory of either craft。 It was a changing fashion of dress； as I have said；
which forced a new tactic upon the thief； the pocket was invented because
the hanging purse was too easy a prey for the thievish scissors。 And no
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sooner did the world conceal its wealth in pockets than the cly…filer was
born to extract the booty with his long； nimble fingers。 The trick was
managed with an admirable forethought； which has been a constant
example to after ages。 The file was always accompanied by a bull：；
whose duty it was to jostle and distract the victim while his pockets were
rifled。 The bung； or what not； was rapidly passed on to the attendant rub；
who scurried off before the cry of STOP THIEF！ could be raised。
Thus was the craft of thieving practised when Moll was enrolled a
humble member of the gang。 Yet nature had not endowed her with the
qualities which ensure an active triumph。 ‘The best signs and marks of a
happy； industrious hand；' wrote the hoyden； ‘is a long middle finger；
equally suited with that they call the fool's or first finger。' Now； though
she was never a clumsy jade； the practice of sword…play and quarterstaff
had not refined the industry of her hands； which were the rather framed for
strength than for delicacy。 So that though she served a willing
apprenticeship； and eagerly shared the risks of her chosen trade； the fear of
Newgate and Tyburn weighed heavily upon her spirit； and she cast about
her for a method of escape。 Avoiding the danger of discovery； she was
loth to forego her just profit； and hoped that intelligence might atone for
her sturdy； inactive fingers。 Already she had endeared herself to the gang
by unnumbered acts of kindness and generosity； already her inflexible
justice had made her umpire in many a difficult dispute。 If a rascal could
be bought off at the gallows' foot； there was Moll with an open purse； and
so speedily did she penetrate all the secrets of thievish policy； that her
counsel and comfort were soon indispensable。
Here； then； was her opportunity。 Always a diplomatist rather than a
general； she gave u