288 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



British Museum ; but the tales I have narrated above 

 are mostly gathered from the " Life of Dick Turpin,'' 

 by Henry Miles ; but they describe very well the kind 

 of exploits for which Turpin was famed, and the in- 

 terruptions to which travellers were subjected when 

 peacefully journeying from one place to another on 

 the King's highway, a little over one hundred years 

 ago. 



" Hawke, the noted highwayman, once stopped a 

 gentleman, and bade him stand and deliver ; the 

 latter protested that he had no money to deliver, 

 but that he was flying from his creditors, in order to 

 avoid gaol. Hawke, pitying his unhappy situation,, 

 inquired how much would relieve his wants ; he was 

 answered thirty guineas. Hawke then directed the 

 gentleman to go to a house, not far distant, and wait 

 until nine o'clock next morning, and he would bring 

 him something that would relieve him ; the gentleman 

 went, and before the time expired Hawke made his 

 appearance, and presented him with fifty guineas, 

 saying, ' Sir, I present this to you, with all my heart ; 

 wishing you well. Hesitate not, for you are welcome 

 to it.' The generous highwayman having done this, 

 immediately took his leave." '" 



This was certainly very much to the credit of the 

 highwayman ; but, at the same time, there are few 

 gentlemen who would have cared to profit by it, if they 

 had considered for one moment from whence the 

 money came, and the trouble that the loss of it 

 may have occasioned some unoffending and peaceful 

 traveller. 



There is a very ludicrous account in the same- 

 book of an attempted robbery : 



* " Percy Anecdotes," p. 19. 



