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equally suited with that they call the fool's or first finger。' Now； though
she was never a clumsy jade； the practice of sword…play and quarterstaff
had not refined the industry of her hands； which were the rather framed for
strength than for delicacy。 So that though she served a willing
apprenticeship； and eagerly shared the risks of her chosen trade； the fear of
Newgate and Tyburn weighed heavily upon her spirit； and she cast about
her for a method of escape。 Avoiding the danger of discovery； she was
loth to forego her just profit； and hoped that intelligence might atone for
her sturdy； inactive fingers。 Already she had endeared herself to the gang
by unnumbered acts of kindness and generosity； already her inflexible
justice had made her umpire in many a difficult dispute。 If a rascal could
be bought off at the gallows' foot； there was Moll with an open purse； and
so speedily did she penetrate all the secrets of thievish policy； that her
counsel and comfort were soon indispensable。
Here； then； was her opportunity。 Always a diplomatist rather than a
general； she gave up the battlefield for the council chamber。 She planned
the robberies which defter hands achieved； and； turning herself from cly…
filer to fence； she received and changed to money all the watches and
trinkets stolen by the gang。
Were a citizen robbed upon the highway； he straightway betook
himself to Moll； and his property was presently returned him at a
handsome price。 Her house； in short； became a brokery。 Hither the
blades and divers brought their purchases； and sought the ransom； hither
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
came the outraged victims to buy again the jewels and rings which
thievish fingers had pinched。 With prosperity her method improved； until
at last her statesmanship controlled the remotest details of the craft。 Did
one of her gang get to work overnight and carry off a wealthy swag； she
had due intelligence of the affair betimes next morning； so that； furnished
with an inventory of the booty； she might make a just division； or be
prepared for the advent of the rightful owner。
So she gained a complete ascendency over her fellows。 And when
once her position was assured； she came forth a pitiless autocrat。
Henceforth the gang existed for her pleasure； not she for the gang's； and
she was as urgent to punish insubordination as is an empress to avenge the
heinous sin of treason。 The pickpocket who had claimed her protection
knew no more the delight of freedom。 If he dared conceal the booty that
was his； he had an enemy more powerful than the law； and many a time
did contumacy pay the last penalty at the gallows。 But the faithful also
had their reward； for Moll never deserted a comrade； and while she lived
in perfect safety herself she knew well how to contrive the safety of others。
Nor was she content merely to discharge those duties of the fence for
which an instinct of statecraft designed her。 Her restless brain seethed
with plans of plunder； and if her hands were idle it was her direction that
emptied half the pockets in London。 Having drilled her army of divers to
an unparalleled activity； she cast about for some fresh method of warfare；
and so enrolled a regiment of heavers； who would lurk at the mercers'
doors for an opportunity to carry off ledgers and account…books。 The
price of redemption was fixed by Moll herself； and until the mercers were
aroused by frequent losses to a quicker vigilance； the trade was profitably
secure。
Meanwhile new clients were ever seeking her aid； and； already
empress of the thieves； she presently aspired to the friendship and
patronage of the highwaymen。 Though she did not dispose of their booty；
she was appointed their banker； and vast was the treasure entrusted to the
coffers of honest Moll。 Now； it was her pride to keep only the best
company； for she hated stupidity worse than a clumsy hand； and they were
men of wit and spirit who frequented her house。 Thither came the
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A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS
famous Captain Hind； the Regicides' inveterate enemy； whose lofty
achievements Moll； with an amiable extravagance； was wont to claim for
her own。 Thither came the unamiably notorious Mull Sack； who once
emptied Cromwell's pocket on the Mall； and whose courage was as
formidable as his rough…edged tongue。 Another favourite was the
ingenious Crowder； whose humour it was to take the road habited like a
bishop； and who surprised the victims of his greed with ghostly counsel。
Thus it was a merry party that assembled in the lady's parlour； loyal to the
memory of the martyred king； and quick to fling back an offending
pleasantry。
But the house in Fleet Street was a refuge as well as a resort； the
sanctuary of a hundred rascals； whose misdeeds were not too flagrantly
discovered。 For； while Moll always allowed discretion to govern her
conduct； while she would risk no present security for a vague promise of
advantages to come； her secret influence in Newgate made her more
powerful than the hangman and the whole bench of judges。 There was
no turnkey who was not her devoted servitor； but it was the clerk of
Newgate to whom she and her family were most deeply beholden。 This
was one Ralph Briscoe； as pretty a fellow as ever deserted the law for a
bull… baiting。 Though wizened and clerkly in appearance； he was of a
lofty courage； and Moll was heard to declare that had she not been sworn
to celibacy； she would have cast an eye upon the faithful Ralph； who was
obedient to her behests whether at Gaol Delivery or Bear Garden。 For
her he would pack a jury or get a reprieve； for him she would bait a bull
with the fiercest dogs in London。 Why then should she fear the law；
when the clerk of Newgate and Gregory the Hangman fought upon her
side？
For others the arbiter of life and death； she was only thrice in an
unexampled career confronted with the law。 Her first occasion of arrest
was so paltry that it brought discredit only on the constable。 This jack…
in…office； a very Dogberry； encountered Moll returning down Ludgate Hill
from some merry…making； a lanthorn carried pompously before her。
Startled by her attire he questioned her closely； and receiving insult for
answer； promptly carried her to the Round House。 The customary
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garnish made her free or the prison； and next morning a brief interview
with the Lord Mayor restored Moll to liberty but not to forgetfulness。
She had yet to wreak her vengeance upon the constable for a
monstrous affront； and hearing presently that he had a rich uncle in
Shropshire； she killed the old gentleman （in imagination） and made the
constable his heir。 Instantly a retainer； in the true garb and accent of the
country； carried the news to Dogberry； and sent him off to Ludlow on the
costliest of fool's errands。 He purchased a horse and set forth joyously；
as became a man of property； he limped home； broken in purse and spirit；
the hapless object of ridicule and contempt。 Perhaps he guessed the
author of this sprightly outrage； but Moll； for her part； was far too finished
a humorist to reveal the truth； and hereafter she was content to swell the
jesting chorus。
Her second encounter with justice was no mere pleasantry； and it was
only her marvellous generalship that snatched her career from untimely
ruin and herself from the clutch of Master Gregory。 Two of her
emissaries had encountered a farmer in Chancery Lane。 They spoke with
him first at Smithfield； and knew that his pocket was well lined with bank…
notes。 An improvised quarrel at a tavern…door threw the farmer off his
guard； and though he defended the money； his watch was snatched from
his fob and duly carried to Moll。 The next day the victim； anxious to
repurchase his watch； repaired to Fleet Street； where Moll generously
promised to recover the stolen property。 Unhappily security had
encouraged recklessness； and as the farmer turned to leave he espied his
own watch hanging among other trinkets upon the wall。 With a rare
discretion he held his peace until he had called a constable to his aid； and
this time the Roaring Girl was lodged in Newgate； with an ugly crime laid
to her charge。
Committed for trial； she demanded that the watch should be left in the
constable's keeping； and； pleading not guilty when the sessions came
round； insisted that her watch and the farmer's were not the same。 The
farmer； anxious to acknowledge his property； demanded the constable to
deliver the watch； that it might be sworn to in open court； and when the
constable put his hand to his pock