a book of scoundrels-第11节
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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 pocket the only piece of damning evidence had vanished； stolen by the nimble fingers of one of Moll's officers。
Thus with admirable trickery and a perfect sense of dramatic effect she contrived her escape； and never again ran the risk of a sudden discovery。 For experience brought caution in its train； and though this wiliest of fences lived almost within the shadow of Newgate； though she was as familiar in the prison yard as at the Globe Tavern； her nightly resort； she obeyed the rules of life and law with so precise an exactitude that suspicion could never fasten upon her。 Her kingdom was midway between robbery and justice。 And as she controlled the mystery of thieving so； in reality； she meted out punishment to the evildoer。 Honest citizens were robbed with small risk to life or property。 For Moll always frowned upon violence； and was ever ready to restore the booty for a fair ransom。 And the thieves； driven by discipline to a certain humanity； plied their trade with an obedience and orderliness hitherto unknown。 Moll's then was no mean achievement。 Her career was not circumscribed by her trade； and the Roaring Girl； the daredevil companion of the wits and bloods； enjoyed a fame no less glorious than the Queen of Thieves。
‘Enter Moll in a frieze jerkin and a black safeguard。' Thus in the old comedy she comes upon the stage； and truly it was by her clothes that she was first notorious。 By accident a woman； by habit a man； she must needs invent a costume proper to her pursuits。 But she was no shrieking reformer； no fanatic spying regeneration in a pair of breeches。 Only in her attire she showed her wit； and she went to a bull…baiting in such a dress as well became her favourite sport。 She was not of those who ‘walk in spurs but never ride。' The jerkin； the doublet； the galligaskins were put on to serve the practical purposes of life； not to attract the policeman or the spinster。 And when a petticoat spread its ample folds beneath the doublet； not only was her array handsome； but it symbolised the career of one who was neither man nor woman； and yet both。 After a while； however； the petticoat seemed too tame for her stalwart temper； and she exchanged it for the great Dutch slop； habited in which unseemly garment she is pictured in the ancient prints。
Up and down the town she romped and scolded； earning the name which Middleton gave her in her green girlhood。 ‘She has the spirit of four great parishes；' says the wit in the comedy； ‘and a voice that will drown all the city。' If a gallant stood in the way； she drew upon him in an instant； and he must be a clever swordsman to hold his ground against the tomboy who had laid low the German fencer himself。 A good fellow always； she had ever a merry word for the passer…by； and so sharp was her tongue that none ever put a trick upon her。 Not to know Moll was to be inglorious； and she ‘slipped from one company to another like a fat eel between a Dutchman's fingers。' Now at Parker's Ordinary； now at the Bear Garden； she frequented only the haunts of men； and not until old age came upon her did she endure patiently the presence of women。
Her voice and speech were suited to the galligaskin。 She was a true disciple of Maltre Franois； hating nothing so much as mincing obscenity； and if she flavoured her discourse with many a blasphemous quip； the blasphemy was ‘not so malicious as customary。' Like the blood she was； she loved good ale and wine； and she regarded it among her proudest titles to renown that she was the first of women to smoke tobacco。 Many was the pound of best Virginian that she bought of Mistress Gallipot； and the pipe； with monkey； dog； and eagle； is her constant emblem。 Her antic attire； the fearless courage of her pranks； now and again involved her in disgrace or even jeopardised her freedom； but her unchanging gaiety made light of disaster； and still she laughed and rollicked in defiance of prude and pedant。
Her companion in many a fantastical adventure was Banks； the vintner of Cheapside； that same Banks who taught his horse to dance and shod him with silver。 Now once upon a time a right witty sport was devised between them。 The vintner bet Moll 20 that she would not ride from Charing Cross to Shoreditch astraddle on horseback； in breeches and doublet； boots and spurs。
The hoyden took him up in a moment； and added of her own devilry a trumpet and banner。 She set out from Charing Cross bravely enough； and a trumpeter being an unwonted spectacle； the eyes of all the town were clapped upon her。 Yet none knew her until she reached Bishopsgate； where an orange…wench set up the cry； ‘Moll Cutpurse on horseback！' Instantly the cavalier was surrounded by a noisy mob。 Some would have torn her from the saddle for an imagined insult upon womanhood； others； more wisely minded； laughed at the prank with good…humoured merriment。 Every minute the throng grew denser； and it had fared hardly with roystering Moll； had not a wedding and the arrest of a debtor presently distracted the gaping idlers。 As the mob turned to gaze at the fresh wonder； she spurred her horse until she gained Newington by an unfrequented lane。 There she waited until night should cover her progress to Shoreditch； and thus peacefully she returned home to lighten the vintner's pocket of twenty pounds。
The fame of the adventure spread abroad； and that the scandal should not be repeated Moll was summoned before the Court of Arches to answer a charge of appearing publicly in mannish apparel。 The august tribunal had no terror for her； and she received her sentence to do penance in a white sheet at Paul's Cross during morning…service on a Sunday with an audacious contempt。 ‘They might as well have shamed a black dog as me；' she proudly exclaimed； and why should she dread the white sheet； when all the spectators looked with a lenient eye upon her professed discomfiture？' For a halfpenny；' she said； ‘she would have travelled to every market…town of England in the guise of a penitent；' and having tippled off three quarts of sack she swaggered to Paul's Cross in the maddest of humours。 But not all the courts on earth could lengthen her petticoat； or contract the Dutch slop by a single fold。 For a while； perhaps； she chastened her costume； yet she soon reverted to the ancient mode； and to her dying day went habited as a man。
As bear baiting was the passion of her life； so she was scrupulous in the care and training of her dogs。 She gave them each a trundle…bed； wrapping them from the cold in sheets and blankets； while their food would not have dishonoured a gentleman's table。 Parrots； too； gave a sense of colour and companionship to her house； and it was in this love of pets； and her devotion to cleanliness； that she showed a trace of dormant womanhood。 Abroad a ribald and a scold； at home she was the neatest of housewives； and her parlour； with its mirrors and its manifold ornaments； was the envy of the neighbours。 So her trade flourished； and she lived a life of comfort； of plenty even； until the Civil War threw her out of work。 When an unnatural conflict set the whole country at loggerheads； what occasion was there for the honest prig？ And it is not surprising that； like all the gentlemen adventurers of the age； Moll remained most stubbornly loyal to the King's cause。 She made the conduit in Fleet Street run with wine when Charles came to London in 1638； and it was her amiable pleasantry to give the name of Strafford to a clever； cunning bull； and to dub the dogs that assailed him Pym； Hampden； and the rest； that right heartily she might applaud the courage of Strafford as he threw off his unwary assailants。
So long as the quarrel lasted； she was compelled to follow a profession more ancient than the fence's； for there is one passion which war itself cannot extinguish。 When once the King had laid his head ‘down as upon a bed；' when once the Protector had proclaimed his supremacy； the industry of the road revived； and there was not a single diver or rumpad that did not declare eternal war upon the black…hearted Regicides。 With a laudable devot
