I I - American Memory

C 215 ]
Deputies Were fent for, and Sheppard finding this At-
tempt entirely fruftrated, difcovered to them by whaC
Means he had got them oiF; and after they had fearch'd
him found nothing, fo lock'd and chain'd him down
acain ; he took up the Nail and unlock'd the Padlock
before their Faces, they were then ftruck with the
greatcft Amazement, as having never heard or beheld
the like before; he was then iland-cuftl-d, and more
effeftually chain'd.
The next Day the Reverend Mr. Purney, Ordinary
of the Place came from the Country to vifit him, and
complain'd of the fod Difpofition he found him in, as
meditating on nothing but Means to efcape, and de-
clining the great Duty incumbent on him to prepare for
his approaching Change. He began to relent, faying
that fmce his lafl: Effort had prov'd unfuGcefsful, he,
would entertain no more Thoughts of that Nature, but
entirely difpofe and refign himfelf to the Mercy of Al-
mighty God, of whom he hop'd ilill to find Forgive-
nefs for his manifold OiFences.
He faid that Edgnvorth Befs and himfelf kept a little
Brandy-Shop in Neiutemrs-Lane, and oncefav'd about
50 /. but having fuch an univerfal Acquaintance among
Thieves, he had frequent Calls to go Abroad, and foon
quitted that Bufinefs and his Shop.
1 he Felons on the Common Side of NeivgMe, ani-
mated by Sheppard^s Example, the Night before they
were to be Shipp'd for Traiifportation, had cut feveral
Iron Bars afunder, and fome of them h.ad faw'd off
their Fetters, the reft huzzaing, and making Noifes,
under Pretence of being joyful that they were to be re-
mov'd on the Morrow, to prevent the > /oikmen being
heard, and in two Hours Time more, if their Defign
had not been difcover'd, near one hundred Villains had
been let locfe into the World to have commiued new
Depredations; nothing was wanted liere but Sheppard\
freat Judgment, who was by liimfjlf in the Strong
Loom calFd the Caftk, meditating his own Deliverance^
which he perfefted in the manner following.
Ori
*