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His early progress was barred by envy and contempt。 Why； asked the
men in possession； should this shrivelled stranger filch our privileges？
And Briscoe met their malice with an easy smile； knowing that at all
points he was more than their match。 His alliance with Moll stood him in
good stead； and in a few months the twain were the supreme arbiters of
English justice。 Should a highwayman seek to save his neck； he must
first pay a fat indemnity to the Newgate Clerk； but； since Moll was the
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appointed banker of the whole family； she was quick to sanction whatever
price her accomplice suggested。 And Briscoe had a hundred other tricks
whereby he increased his riches and repute。 There was no debtor came to
Newgate whom the Clerk would not aid； if he believed the kindness
profitable。 Suppose his inquiries gave an assurance of his victim's
recovery； he would house him comfortably； feed him at his own table； lend
him money； and even condescend to win back the generous loan by the
dice…box。
His civility gave him a general popularity among the prisoners； and his
appearance in the Yard was a signal for a subdued hilarity。 He drank and
gambled with the roysterers； he babbled a cheap philosophy with the
erudite； and he sold the necks of all to the highest bidder。 Though now
and again he was convicted of mercy or revenge； he commonly held
himself aloof from human passions； and pursued the one sane end of life
in an easy security。 The hostility of his colleagues irked him but little。
A few tags of Latin； the friendship of Moll； and a casual threat of exposure
frightened the Governor into acquiescence； but the Ordinary was more
difficult of conciliation。 The Clerk had not been long in Newgate before
he saw that between the reverend gentleman and himself there could be
naught save war。 Hitherto the Ordinary had reserved to his own profit
the right of intrigue； he it was who had received the hard…scraped money
of the sorrowing relatives； and untied the noose when it seemed good to
him。 Briscoe insisted upon a division of labour。 ‘It is your business；' he
said； ‘to save the scoundrels in the other world。 Leave to me the profit of
their salvation in this。' And the Clerk triumphed after his wont： freedom
jingled in his pocket； he doled out comfort； even life； to the oppressed； and
he extorted a comfortable fortune in return for privileges which were
never in his gift。
Without the walls of Newgate the house of his frequentation was the
‘Dog Tavern。' Thither he would wander every afternoon to meet his
clients and to extort blood…money。 In this haunt of criminals and
pettifoggers no man was better received than the Newgate Clerk； and
while he assumed a manner of generous cordiality； it was a strange sight to
see him wince when some sturdy ruffian slapped him too strenuously upon
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the back。 He had a joke and a chuckle for all； and his merry quips； dry as
they were； were joyously quoted to all new…comers。 His legal ingenuity
appeared miraculous； and it was confidently asserted in the Coffee House
that he could turn black to white with so persuasive an argument that there
was no Judge on the Bench to confute him。 But he was not omnipotent；
and his zeal encountered many a serious check。 At times he failed to
save the necks even of his intimates； since； when once a ruffian was
notorious； Moll and the Clerk fought vainly for his release。 Thus it was
that Cheney； the famous wrestler； whom Ralph had often backed against
all comers； died at Tyburn。 He had been taken by the troopers red…
handed upon the highway。 Seized after a desperate resistance； he was
wounded wellnigh to death； and Briscoe quoted a dozen precedents to
prove that he was unfit to be tried or hanged。 Argument failing； the
munificent Clerk offered fifty pounds for the life of his friend。 But to no
purpose： the valiant wrestler was carried to the cart in a chair； and so lifted
to the gallows； which cured him of his gaping wounds。
When the Commonwealth administered justice with pedantic severity；
Briscoe's influence still further declined。 There was no longer scope in
the State for men of spirit； even the gaols were handed over to the stern
mercy of crop…eared Puritans； Moll herself had fallen upon evil times； and
Ralph Briscoe determined to make a last effort for wealth and retirement。
At the very moment when his expulsion seemed certain； an heiress was
thrown into Newgate upon a charge of murdering a too importunate suitor。
The chain of evidence was complete： the dagger plunged in his heart was
recognised for her own； she was seen to decoy him to the secret corner of
a wood； where his raucous love…making was silenced for ever。 Taken off
her guard； she had even hinted confession of her crime； and nothing but
intrigue could have saved her gentle neck from the gallows。 Briscoe；
hungry for her money…bags； promised assistance。 He bribed； he
threatened； he cajoled； he twisted the law as only he could twist it； he
suppressed honest testimony； he procured false； in fine； he weakened the
case against her with so resistless an effrontery； that not the Hanging Judge
himself could convict the poor innocent。
At the outset he had agreed to accept a handsome bribe； but as the trial
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approached； his avarice increased； and he would be content with nothing
less than the lady's hand and fortune。 Not that he loved her； his heart was
long since given to Moll Cutpurse； but he knew that his career of
depredation was at an end； and it became him to provide for his declining
years。 The victim repulsed his suit； regretting a thousand times that she
had stabbed her ancient lover。 At last； bidden summarily to choose
between Death and the Clerk； she chose the Clerk； and thus Ralph Briscoe
left Newgate the richest squire in a western county。 Henceforth he
farmed his land like a gentleman； drank with those of his neighbours who
would crack a bottle with him； and unlocked the strange stores of his
memory to bumpkins who knew not the name of Newgate。 Still devoted
to sport； he hunted the fox； and made such a bull…ring as his youthful
imagination could never have pictured。 So he lived a life of country ease；
and died a churchwarden。 And he deserved his prosperity； for he carried
the soul of Falstaff in the shrunken body of Justice Shallow。
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GILDEROY AND THE
SIXTEEN… STRING JACK
I GILDEROY
HE stood six feet ten in his stockin