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Romilly； is not recorded。
That the case of Mary Jones may speak the more emphatically
for itself； I subjoin it； as related by SIR WILLIAM MEREDITH in
a speech in Parliament； ‘on Frequent Executions’； made in 1777。
‘Under this act；’ the Shop…lifting Act； ‘one Mary Jones was
executed； whose case I shall just mention； it was at the time when
press warrants were issued； on the alarm about Falkland Islands。
The woman’s husband was pressed； their goods seized for some
debts of his； and she； with two small children； turned into the
streets a…begging。 It is a circumstance not to be forgotten； that she
was very young （under nineteen）； and most remarkably
handsome。 She went to a linen…draper’s shop； took some coarse
linen off the counter； and slipped it under her cloak； the shopman
saw her； and she laid it down： for this she was hanged。 Her
defence was （I have the trial in my pocket）； “that she had lived in
credit； and wanted for nothing； till a press…gang came and stole
her husband from her； but since then； she had no bed to lie on；
nothing to give her children to eat； and they were almost naked；
and perhaps she might have done something wrong； for she hardly
knew what she did。” The parish officers testified the truth of this
story； but it seems； there had been a good deal of shop…lifting
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about Ludgate； an example was thought necessary； and this
woman was hanged for the comfort and satisfaction of
shopkeepers in Ludgate Street。 When brought to receive sentence；
she behaved in such a frantic manner； as proved her mind to he in
a distracted and desponding state； and the child was sucking at
her breast when she set out for Tyburn。’
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Chapter 1
n the year 1775； there stood upon the borders of Epping
Forest； at a distance of about twelve miles from London—
I
measuring from the Standard in Cornhill； or rather from the
spot on or near to which the Standard used to be in days of yore—
a house of public entertainment called the Maypole； which fact
was demonstrated to all such travellers as could neither read nor
write （and at that time a vast number both of travellers and stay…
at…homes were in this condition） by the emblem reared on the
roadside over against the house； which； if not of those goodly
proportions that Maypoles were wont to present in olden times；
was a fair young ash； thirty feet in height； and straight as any
arrow that ever English yeoman drew。
The Maypole—by which term from henceforth is meant the
house； and not its sign—the Maypole was an old building； with
more gable ends than a lazy man would care to count on a sunny
day； huge zig…zag chimneys； out of which it seemed as though even
smoke could not choose but come in more than naturally fantastic
shapes； imparted to it in its tortuous progress； and vast stables；
gloomy； ruinous； and empty。 The place was said to have been built
in the days of King Henry the Eighth； and there was a legend； not
only that Queen Elizabeth had slept there one night while upon a
hunting excursion； to wit； in a certain oak…panelled room with a
deep bay window； but that next morning； while standing on a
mounting block before the door with one foot in the stirrup； the
virgin monarch had then and there boxed and cuffed an unlucky
page for some neglect of duty。 The matter…of…fact and doubtful
folks； of whom there were a few among the Maypole customers； as
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unluckily there always are in every little community； were inclined
to look upon this tradition as rather apocryphal； but； whenever the
landlord of that ancient hostelry appealed to the mounting block
itself as evidence； and triumphantly pointed out that there it stood
in the same place to that very day； the doubters never failed to be
put down by a large majority； and all true believers exulted as in a
victory。
Whether these； and many other stories of the like nature； were
true or untrue； the Maypole was really an old house； a very old
house； perhaps as old as it claimed to be； and perhaps older； which
will sometimes happen with houses of an uncertain； as with ladies
of a certain； age。 Its windows were old diamond…pane lattices； its
floors were sunken and uneven； its ceilings blackened by the hand
of time； and heavy with massive beams。 Over the doorway was an
ancient porch； quaintly and grotesquely carved； and here on
summer evenings the more favoured customers smoked and
drank—ay； and sang many a good song too； sometimes—reposing
on two grim…looking high…backed settles； which； like the twin
dragons of some fairy tale； guarded the entrance to the mansion。
In the chimneys of the disused rooms； swallows had built their
nests for many a long year； and from earliest spring to latest
autumn whole colonies of sparrows chirped and twittered in the
eaves。 There were more pigeons about the dreary stable…yard and
out…buildings than anybody but the landlord could reckon up。 The
wheeling and circling flights of runts； fantails； tumblers； and
pouters； were perhaps not quite consistent with the grave and
sober character of the building； but the monotonous cooing； which
never ceased to be raised by some among them all day long； suited
it exactly； and seemed to lull it to rest。 With its overhanging
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stories； drowsy little panes of glass； and front bulging out and
projecting over the pathway； the old house looked as if it were
nodding in its sleep。 Indeed； it needed no very great stretch of
fancy to detect in it other resemblances to humanity。 The bricks of
which it was built had originally been a deep dark red； but had
grown yellow and discoloured like an old man’s skin； the sturdy
timbers had decayed like teeth； and here and there the ivy； like a
warm garment to comfort it in its age； wrapt its green leaves
closely round the time…worn walls。
It was a hale and hearty age though； still： and in the summer or
autumn evenings； when the glow of the setting sun fell upon the
oak and chestnut trees of the adjacent forest； the old house；
partaking of its lustre； seemed their fit companion； and to have
many good years of life in him yet。
The evening with which we have to do； was neither a summer
nor an autumn one； but the twilight of a day in March； when the
wind howled dismally among the bare branches of the trees； and
rumbling in the wide chimneys and driving the rain against the
windows of the Maypole Inn； gave such of its frequenters as
chanced to be there at the moment an undeniable reason for
prolonging their stay； and caused the landlord to prophesy that
the night would certainly clear at eleven o’clock precisely；—which
by a remarkable coincidence was the hour at which he always
closed his house。
The name of him upon whom the spirit of prophecy thus
descended was John Willet； a burly； large…headed man with a fat
face； which betokened profound obstinacy and slowness of
apprehension； combined with a very strong relia