lerably
honest. However, to keep his hand in use, he now and then stole a
shoulder of mutton, a joint which he particularly loved; but sometimes
to please his father he would work a little, though it always went much
against the grain. At last he quarrelled with his wife, and thereupon
threatened to go away again, which very quickly after he did, turning
his course, notwithstanding his former ill-success into Yorkshire once
more. He was at several of the races in that county, and having no
particular business at any place, did nothing but course the country
round, pilfering and stealing whatever came in his way; insomuch that at
one inn, finding nothing else to lay his hands on, he stole the people's
sheets off the bed he lay in, and marched off in the morning so early,
that he was out of danger before they perceived the theft.

But finding that he could not do any considerable matter amongst the
people, who are cunning to a proverb, he bethought himself of returning
to London, and the society of those strumpets in which he took a
delight. However, all the way on the road he made a shift to pick up as
much as kept him pretty well all the way. On his arrival in town he set
up his place of residence in an inn near Leather Lane, Holborn, where he
remained one whole day to rest himself after the fatigue of his northern
journey. There he reflected on the sad state in which his affairs were,
being without money and without friends, justly disregarded by his
friends in the country, and hated and despised by all his neighbours.
His debts, too, amounted there to near a hundred and forty pounds, so
that there was no hopes in going back. The result of these cogitations
was that the next day he would go out on the road towards Hampstead, and
see what might be made there. He accordingly did so, but with very ill
success. However, he returned a second time and had no better; the third
day, towards evening, he observed an old gentleman in a chaise by
himself, whom he robbed of six guineas, a watch, a mourning-ring, and
nine and sixpence in silver, and then making over the fields got home
very safe.

For three days he thought fit to remain within doors, under pretence of
sickness, fearing lest he should be advertised and described in the
public prints; but finding nothing of that happened, he grew bold, and
for about fourteen nights continued the same trade constantly, getting,
sometimes, two or three pieces, and sometimes losing his