The History of the Remarkable Life of John Sheppard Containing a Particular Account of His Many Robberies and Escapes   By: Daniel Defoe (1661?-1731)

Containing a Particular Account of His Many Robberies and Escapes,

Viz .

His robbing the Shop of Mr. Bains in White Horse Yard of 24 Yards of Fustian. Of his breaking and entering the House of the said Mr. Bains , and stealing in Goods and Money to the Value of 20 l. Of his robbing the House of Mr. Charles in May Fair of Money, Rings, Plate, &c to the Value of 30 l. Of his robbing the House of Mrs. Cook in Clare Market, along with his pretended Wife, and his Brother, to the Value of between 50 and 60 l. Of his breaking the Shop of Mr. Philips in Drury Lane, with the same Persons, and stealing Goods of small Value. Of his entering the House of Mr. Carter , a Mathematical Instrument Maker in Wytch Street , along with Anthony Lamb and Charles Grace , and robbing of Mr. Barton , a Master Taylor who lodged therein, of Goods and Bonds to the Value of near 300 l. Of his breaking and entering the House of Mr. Kneebone , a Woollen Draper, near the New Church in the Strand , in Company of Joseph Blake alias Blewskin and William Field , and stealing Goods to the Value of near 50 l. Of his robbing of Mr. Pargiter on the Highway near the Turnpike, on the Road Hampstead , along with the said Blewskin . Of his robbing a Lady's Woman in her Mistress's Coach on the same Road. Of his robbing also a Stage Coach, with the said Blewskin , on the Hampstead Road. Likewise of his breaking the Shop of Mr. Martin in Fleet street, and stealing 3 silver Watches of 15 l. Value.

ALSO

A particular Account of his rescuing his pretended Wife from St. Giles's Round House. Of the wonderful Escape himself made from the said Round House. Of the miraculous Escape he and his said pretended Wife made together from New Prison , on the 25th of May last. Of his surprizing Escape from the Condemn'd Hold of Newgate on the 31st of August : Together with the true manner of his being retaken; and of his Behaviour in Newgate , till the most astonishing, and never to be forgotten Escape he made from thence, in the Night of the 15th of October. The Whole taken from the most authentick Accounts, as the Informations of divers Justices of the Peace, the several Shop keepers above mentioned, the principal Officers of Newgate and New Prison , and from the Confession of Sheppard made to the Rev. Mr. Wagstaff , who officiated for the Ordinary at Newgate .

LONDON : Printed and sold by JOHN APLEDEE in Black Fryers , J. ISTED, at the Golden Ball near Chancery Lane in Fleet Street , and the Booksellers of London and Westminster. (Price One Shilling.)

TO THE CITIZENS

OF

London and Westminster .

GENTLEMEN,

Experience has confirm'd you in that everlasting Maxim, that there is no other way to protect the Innocent, but by Punishing the Guilty.

Crimes ever were, and ever must be unavoidably frequent in such populous Cities as yours are, being the necessary Consequences, either of the Wants, or the Depravity, of the lowest part of the humane Species .

At this time the most flagrant Offences, as Burning of Dwellings; Burglaries, and Highway Robberies abound; and Frauds common Felonies, and Forgeries are practic'd without Number; thus not only your Properties, but even your very Lives are every way struck at .

The Legislative Power has not been wanting in providing necessary and wholesome Laws against these Evils, the executive part whereof (according to your great Privileges) is lodged in your own Hands: And the Administration hath at all times applyed proper Remedies and Regulations to the Defects which have happen'd in the Magistracy more immediately under their Jurisdiction .