Part 4

Over a Bottle of _Claret_ you'll give me leave to _declare it_, that I've fairly put the _Vowels_ upon the good Folks at _Newgate, i.o.u._ When I'm able, I may, or may not discharge my _Fees_, 'tis a _Fee-simple_, for a Man in my Condition to acknowledge; and tho' I'm safe out of _Newgate_, I must yet have, or at least, affect, a _New Gate_ by Limping, or Turning my Toes in by making a right _Hand_ of my _Feet_. Not _to be long_, for I hate _Prolixity_ in all Business: _In short_, after _Filing, Defileing, Sawing_, when no Body _Saw_. _Climbing_ (this _Clime in_) it prov'd a good _Turner_ of my Affairs, thro' the House of a _Turner_. Being quite past, and safe from _Estreat_ on Person or Chattels, and safe in the _Street_, I thought Thanks due to him who cou'd _Deliver hence_; and immediately (for you must know I'm a _Catholick_) to give Thanks for my Deliverance, I stept amongst the _Grey-Fryers_ to come an joyn with me, in saying a _Pater-Noster_, or so, at _Amen-Corner_. The _Fryers_ being _Fat_ began to _Broil_, and soon after _Boild up_ into a Passion to be disturb'd at that time of Night. But being got _Loose_ and having no Time to _Lose_, I gave them good Words, and so the Business was done. From thence I soon slip'd through _Ludgate_, but was damnably fearful of an _Old Bailey_ always lurking thereabout, who might have brought me to the _Fleet_ for being too _Nimble_, besides, I was wonderfully apprehensive of receiving some unwelcome _Huggings_ from the _W....n_ there; therefore with a step and a stride I soon got over _Fleet-ditch_, and (as in Justice I ought) I prais'd the _Bridge_ I got over. Being a _Batchelor_, and not being capable to to manage a Bridewell you know. I had no Business near _St. Brides_, so kept the right handside, designing to _Pop_ into the _Alley_ as usual; but fearing to go thro' there, and _harp_ too much on the same _String_, it gave an _Allay_ to my Intention, and on I went to _Shoe-lane_ end but there meeting with a _Bully Hack_ of the Town, he wou'd have shov'd me down, which my Spirit resenting, tho' a _brawny Dog_, I soon _Coller'd_ him, fell Souse at him, then with his own Cane I _strapped_ till he was force to _Buckle_ too, and hold his _Tongue_, in so much he durst not say his _Soul_ was his own, and was glad to pack of at _Last_, and turn his _Heels_ upon me: I was glad he was gone you may be sure, and _dextrously_ made a _Hand_ of my _Feet_ under the _Leg-Tavern_; but the very Thoughts of _Fetter-Lane_ call'd to mind some Passages, which made me avoid the _Passage_ at the end of it, (next to the Coffee House you know) so I soon whip'd over the way, yet going along two wooden _Logger-heads_ at _St. Dunstan's_ made just them a damn'd Noise about their _Quarters_, but the sight of me made perfectly _Hush_ in a _Minute_; now fearing to goe by _Chance-a wry-Lane_, as being upon the _Watch_ my self and not to be _debarr'd_ at _Temple-Bar_; I stole up _Bell-Yard_, but narrowly escap'd being _Clapper-claw'd_ by two Fellows I did not like in the Alley, so was forc'd to goe round with a design to _Sheer-off_ into _Sheer-Lane_, but the _Trumpet_ sounding at that very time, alarm'd me so, I was forc'd to Grope my way back through _Hemlock-Court_, and take my _Passage_ by _Ship-Yard_ without the Bar again; but there meeting with one of our trusty Friends, (all Ceremonies a-part) he told me under the _Rose_ I must expect no _Mercy_ in _St. Clement's_ Parish, for the _Butchers_ there on the _Back_ on't would _Face_ me, and with their _Cleavers_ soon bring me down on my _marrow_ Bones; you may believe I soon hastened thence, but by this time being Fainty and night Spent, I put forward, and seeing a _Light_ near the _Savoy-Gate_, I was resolv'd not to make _Light_ of the Opportunity, but call'd for an hearty Dram of _Luther_ and _Calvin_, that is, _Mum_ and _Geneva_ mix'd; but having Fasted so long before, it soon got into my Noddle, and e'er I had gone twenty steps, it had so intirely _Stranded_ my Reason, that by the time I came to _Half-Moon-Street_ end, it gave a _New-Exchange_ to my Senses, and made me quite _Lunatick_.

However, after a little Rest, I stole down _George-Passage_ into _Oaf-Alley_ in _York-Buildings_, and thence (tho' a vile Man) into _Villiers-Street_, and so into the _Strand_ again, where having gone a little way, _Hefford's-Harp_ at the Sign of the _Irish-Harp_, put me a _Jumping and Dancing_ to that degree that I could not forbear making a _Somerset_ or two before _Northumberland-House_. I thought once of taking the _Windsor_ Coach for my self _John Sheppard_, by the Name of _Crook_---- but fearing to be _Hook'd_ in before my Journey's End, I stept into _Hedge-Lane_, where two Harlots were up in the _Boughs_ (it seems) _Branching_ out their Respects to one another, through their Windows, and People beginning to gather thereabout, I ran _Pelmel_ to _Piccadilly_, where meeting by meer chance a _Bakers_ Cart going to _Turnham-Green_, I being not _Mealy Mouth'd_, nor the Man being _Crusty_ I _wheel'd_ out of Town.

I did call at _Hammersmith_, having no occasion directly. I shall stay two or three Days in that Neighbourhood, so, if you Direct a letter for Mr. Sligh Bolt, to be left with Mrs. _Tabitha Skymmington_ at _Cheesewick_, it's Safety will _Bear Water_ by any _Boat_, and come _Current_ with the Tyde to

Dear BOB Yours from the Top of _Newgate_ to the Bottom

J. _SHEPPARD_.

_P.S._ If you see _Blewskin_, tell him I am well, and hope he receiv'd my last--I wou'd write by the _Post_ if I durst, but it wou'd be, certainly _Post-pon'd_ if I did, and it would be _stranger_ too, to trust a Line by a _Stranger_, who might _Palm_ upon us both and never Deliver it to _Hand_.

I send this by a _Waterman_, (I dare trust) who is very Merry upon me, and says he wou'd not be in my _Jacket_. _Saturday Octob._ 17, 1724.

We shall conclude with what had been often observ'd by many Persons to _Sheppard_; _viz._ That it was very Imprudent in him to take Shelter in the City, or the adjacent Parts of it, after his Escape from the Condemn'd Hold; and withal to commit a _Capital Offence_, almost within Sight of _Newgate_, when his Life and all was in such Danger. His Reply was general, _viz._ That it was his Fate: But being ask'd a particular Reason for his not taking a longer Rout than the City, and the Neighbouring parts: pleaded Poverty as his Excuse for Confinement within those Limits; at the same time urging, that had he been Master at that time of five Pounds, _England_ should not have been the Place of his Residence, having a good Trade in his Hands to live in any populated Part of the World.