in such persons but getting together his dispersed Companions he withdraws into the Forest and coâ— tinues his former courses without 〈◊〉 membring his brother's miserable enâ— who was executed in the sight of all thâ— Gentry of his Country One day one of the gang beinâ— known at Marche Pontoise by two Meâ— chants was laid hold on brought tâ— tryal and condemned to be broken oâ— the Wheel which was accordingly executed As the Hangman of Pontoise went tâ— do execution upon some Malefactors iâ— an adjoyning City he met Lycaon clothed in all points like a Merchant who demanded of him what news at Pontoise and whether it were safe travelling To which the Executioner made answer that indeed there had been and that not without cause great talk oâ— Thieves and especially a great Rogue named Lycaon but that now thankâ— God the number of his accomplices was diminished he coming just now from putting one of them on the Wheel O then cried Lycaon you are the â—angman of Pontoise I am very glad 〈◊〉 have met with you for you can withâ—t doubt tell me something which is â—alked of concerning this wicked creaâ—ure They had not long travelled together â—efore they enter'd a Wood where Lycaon having whistled half a dozen â—imes saw himself attended with ten or â—welve of his Companions the Hangman notwithstanding kept his counteâ—ance and would never have been perâ—waded that he was in the midst of a company of Thieves and so neer him whom he so much blamed Lycaon having made him relate again the Execution which he came from doing upon one of their Companions and this Bravo vapouring and swearing that â—he would upon that account with all â—his heart travel through the whole Kingdom of France he was immediately laid hold on by two of the sturdiest Rogues of that Crew who told him That seeing by mishap that there was no conveniencie to break him on the Wheel he must be content with hanging Whereupon without any other form of process they take the pooâ— Hangman and tie him up with their garters to the boughs of a Tree and dispatch him Another time he would have entred by force the Castle of St. Hermine and Marveil but the Lord of it having gotten notice by some means or other of his intentions got together all the Gentlemen thereabouts to assist him laying an Ambuscade of neer two hundred men in the way by which he should pass but as he was coming on one of those who lay in wait for him let fall his lighted Match in his pan and so discharged his Musket at which being startled sent out some before to know what was the matter and having understood that there was an Ambush laid for him he returns back and was pursuid wherefore having stopt at the side of a Wood he makes head against â—hem casting himself amongst the thickest followed onely by Thirty Curiasâ—es and beats down all that withstood â—im Yet notwithstanding the Counâ—ry people came in so fast upon them on every side that they were forced to Flie and leave six or seven of their company kill'd and taken Prisoners behinde them who two or three days after were broken on the Wheel at Bessay A while after this Encounter they took a Gentleman who lived not far from thence and having hood-wink'd him they led him into their Fortress where they shewed him all their Provision and Ammunition their Mill with which they grinde their Corn as also their Ovens their great number of Muskets of Pikes Blunderbusses and Granadoes their Field-pieces with their bullets their Fortifications and Ditches but above all their Mines Draw-bridges Gates and Portcullices and every thing else remarkable in this their Castle at which he was not a little astoâ— nisht thinking that he was all this whilâ— in a dream At last they conducted him into theiâ— common Hall which was richly hunâ— all-over with Spanish Leather whicâ— they had taken out of a Vessel on thâ— Sea neer the sands of Anlonne for theiâ— Robberies extended as well upon the Sea as at Land where after being treated with a most magnificent Collationâ— served up all in Plate they again hoodwink him and carry him back again to the place whence they took him up without any hurt The people of Britain and the low Poicton daring not to travel made their complaints to the Magistrates but all the business was to know where to finde him for one day he was seen about Nantes and Rennes and two hours after about Dieppe and Roan so that the common people lookt upon him as an Enchanter There was order howsoever given to Monsieur Parabelle Governour of â—iort and to all the Officers of the â—eighbouring Cities that they should â—eet together march directly being â—onducted by the Gentleman aforeâ—poken of to the Forest of Machecoust with the greatest haste and secrecie that might be There was besides the Provosts who were about Sixteen or Eighteen of them with their Officers several others who voluntarily joyned themselves with them to the number of 4000 men who were guided all of them by the person who had been before in the Fortress Lycaon was not a little astonisht in seeing such a multitude round about him who had begirt the place and planted several Field-pieces against it wherefore he encourages his men who were to the number of 300 to make a sally out upon them for to keep within there was certainly to perish But alas this their first Onset was too furious to last long for being overpowered by such multitudes they began to fall down on every side Lycaon thinking to break through all was at length with several of hiâ— Crew who stood by him to the last beaten down and taken and was carried to Saincte where after the Rack he was broken on the Wheel dying with such an admirable Constancie that all the Spectators though before they never so much hated him were more concerned for him than he seemed to be for himself CHAP. II. The Life and Death of Arpalin a notorious Villain I Am very sensible how difficult a thing it would be here to take notice of all the Tricks and Subtleties of this Rascal whose Life I intend now to write wherefore I shall content my self with an Account of some of the most remarkable Actions of it This person made himself be called Arpalin and was born as far as we could learn by our enquiries in a little Village betwixt Savoy and Dauphiné He was from a Childe so given to the base vice of Stealing that whatsoever he touched stuck to his fingers and was wont the better to carry on his Villanies to change himself into as many shapes as Proteâ— being a man that so well understooâ— the world I mean the Tricks and Faâ— lacies of it that he could humour aâ— thing there being no part that caâ— amiss to him And for as much as 〈◊〉 could speak several Languages he aâ— commodated their use to his particâ— lar occasions Sometimes minglinâ— himself with
two Thieves who being exceeding earnest afteâ— their Prey thought they had founâ— what they had lookt for seeing Postell He being confident enough iâ— himself wou'd not retreat but keeping on his way comes up to him who demanded of him his money swearing Damn 'um and Sink 'um that if he did not presently deliver he was aâ— dead man He being not accustom'd to give but to take could not relish this Summons but without being a whit afraid made answer he had none and at the same time laying suddenly his hand on one of the Thieves Swords who stood not well on his guard he wrench'd it out of his hand giving him with it such a blow on the arm that the pain took away all sense which having done â—e sets upon the other who less vaâ—ant than his Companion betakes â—imself to his heels but Postell purâ—'d him so neerly that he made him â—ield himself to his mercy who gave â—im his life after severe checks for â—etting upon his Master He returns â—o the other whom he had first struck â—hreatning to kill him if he delivered â—ot his money He wou'd have excused himself as having none proâ—nising him that if he wou'd go along with him to the first house after they had come out of the Wood he wou'd help him to some Postell not thinking that the other was laying an Ambush for him follows him so that having went through the Wood he enters with this Thief into an Inne the Master whereof was a meer Rogue and of correspondence with these Rescals Being very well used by this Inne-keeper who said he was kin to this Thief who had conducted him thitheâ— he receives Ten Crowns and professing plainly what he was he waâ— the more kindly entertain'd it being agreed he should stay and dwell there and have every thing necessary and go partners in all booty A while after this a Gentleman oâ— Picardy a very discreet and valianâ— person as any in his time return'd from England after having staid some time at Calais and having taken the Road of Amiens he rides throughâ— Abbeville where he would not stay being willing to reach farther so that he went through this Wood and waâ— forc'd by the nights approach to puâ— in at this Inne Being in his Chamber after having had every thing fitting he perceive the Servant to weep as she was making his bed and was secretly informed by her of the danger he was in Amongst other things she told him 'T was the Inne-keepers oustome to ring a Bell at the sound of which â—veral Rogues came running when â—esently one of them feigning to be â—ervant to the Inne comes to the Chamber where the Guests are and â—aking as if he would snuff the Canâ—le would put it out upon which â—he other Villains would enter and â—ll upon them and so most cruelly â—urther them there being none that â—ould escape them This Gentleman considering with â—imself what to do causeth the Maid â—o bring him a Lanthorn and puts a Candle lighted in it and hiding his â—anthorn under a stool lays ready his Arms and stands upon his guard When scarcely had he sat himself down but a great boorish fellow enâ—ers who very officiously as Servant of the house so snuffs the Candle that he snuffs it out but the Gentleman causes presently his man to bring out the Lanthorn repels the Villains who came pesle mesle upon him killing some of them and puts the others to flight seizes on the Inne-keeper and delivers him into the hands of Justice Postell saves himself and returns again to Paris and lodgeth with a Gentleman a stranger in the Suburbs oâ— St. Germaine This person had a considerable sum of Money together with a great Chain of gold and several Rings which he ever carried abouâ— him Our Rascal willing to geâ— them from him so prevailed with him that he got him to walk with him towards the Wood of Vincennes where being amongst the Vines he sets upon him and having seized on him unawares he cuts two of his fingers off his hand and gives him two stabs with a Dagger into his back thinking that he had kill'd him Thiâ— done he takes the Money and Rings and returns to the City The Gentleman who pretended himself worse than he was makes a shift to rise and crawl to the House of a Peasant near â—y who took what care he could of â—im From thence he was carri'd assoon as â—ver he could bear it to Paris where â—e sends for the Provost of the Island â—nd relates what passed describing â—o him as near as he could the perâ—on he made search for him about â—ll the University and was at last â—et withal as he would have leaped â—own from the Colledge of de Lysieux â—to the Ditches He was carried to the Chatelet â—here being put on the Rack he conâ—esseth these and several other Villaâ—ies for which he was Sentenced â—o be broken on the Wheel but â—owsoever it came to pass he died â—x hours whether he poysoned himâ—elf or no or by some other means â—efore the Officers came to fetch him â—o Execution CHAP. VIII The Life and Death of Veroâ— born at Compeigne in France NOt far from the place where thâ— Rivers of Oire and of Ene joyâ— together that they may come in thâ— same course to lose their Names iâ— the Seine there stands a pleasant anâ— stately City called Compeigne famous for its Antiquity having beeâ— built by Charles le Chauve or thâ— Bauld taking from him its name 〈◊〉 Carlopolis This City has all the advantages desireable for it enjoys most excellent Air and admirabâ— Prospect being every way most pleâ— santly seated on the one side she 〈◊〉 watered with the River Oire whicâ— separateth her by a great and spacioâ— Meadow bordered with fruitful â—ines and all sorts of Grain On the â—ther side half a League distant it â—ath a large and level Forest. The Kings of France were wont 〈◊〉 divert themselves in this City by â—ason of its convenient scituation â—r Hunting especially in the said â—orest which may be justly said to â—e one of the best in all France 'T was in this Forest and thereabout â—here Veron play'd his Devilish â—ranks and as an other Antheus â—nged and ransack'd all the neighâ—ouring parts there being scarcely â—y one who durst be so bold as to â—eet him so cruel and barbarous was â—e It will not be here amiss to â—eak something of his Parentage and â—xtraction before we relate any of â—is horrid and abominable actions He came then of one of the best â—amilies of Compeigne but gave â—imself over from his Youth to Cruelâ—y and Rapines and all manner of Licentiousness yet nevertheless beiâ— born of honest Parents he light 〈◊〉 a good Match in the said City bâ— alas when we leave God he leavâ— us and suffers all our Affairs to dâ— cline Veron had no sooner entred inâ— possession of his Estate but begaâ— immediately to abuse his Wife aâ— to pawn and make
the ground a considerable quantity both of Gold and Silver which he prayed the by-standers to gather up for him when observing the Dutch-man as well as others stoop to help him one of his confederates to whom he had tipt the wink began to cry out Thief saying that the Dutch-man instead of returning the money which he had taken up had that he might the better conceal it hid a piece in his mouth which so moved the assistants that they all immediately fell upon him so beating and kicking of him that they made him return it again to him whom they thought the right owner These were some of the many inventions he made use of for should we relate them all they would be sufficient to make a book of themselves Wherefore we shall onely take notice of one act more of his perfidiousness and so hasten to give you an account of his end Having heard one day that there was some persons to be executed at La Greve the apprehension which he had lest there should be some of his Companions amongst them made him hasten thither where amongst the erowd he singles out a young man well clad and of a good mein named Florizard and enquiring of him what one of the Prisoners had done whom he pointed out He hath killed answered Florizard my Lord D'Alize a man of great esteem at Court as well for his birth as excellent qualities and the common report is that he went even to his bed and there strangled him At which words Arpalin smiling cri'd out that he was a silly Rascal to suffer himself to be taken For my part continued he should I ever have occasion to do the like I defie the taking of me Florizard aâ— these words lookt stedfastly on Arpalin and observing in him the countenance of a man that dared any thing You seem to me saies he to be a person that would not baulk an adventure because dangerous but the business which I shall propose to your consideration may be effected with small hazard provided you be secret and follow my directions These words at first startled our bold undertaker as having never before had any commerce with the proposer Yet notwithstanding he fails not of giving him attention telling him withal that he might the better sound him That if he had any thing of concernment to acquaint him with they should withdraw and discourse together without witnesses In saying which they both walk out of the Crowd and Florizard carries his new Acquaintance to a Tavern where he was used to frequent and there having conveniently seated themselves and drank a round or two offers him on the part of his Master a Person of Quality Five hundred Guineys if he would undertake to murther an ancient man whom he named to him Arpalin likes his proposals and promises him his man dead at midnight Upon which promise Florizard gives him One hundred pieces in earnest with a promise of the rest when he had done his work They part thereupon and Arpalin goes immediately to one of his Comrades named le Balafré a man full of wicked resolutions and ready at all times to execute the most horrid villanies to whom he communicates his designe and Fifty pieces half of that which he had received and agree together concerning the manner of the Murther Wherefore at Eleven a clock in the night they go to the ancient man's house and finding the gates shut they with their Betties and other Instruments got them open and entered and having with them a Dark-lanthorn they go softly up stairs and finding the old man a bed they most inhumanely murther him Which having done they put him in a Sack and carry him each of them by turns directly to the place where Florizard had appointed them And having received the rest of the money they together dig a hole and throw the Corpse in it Which they had no sooner done but these two wretches fearing least Florizard should at some time or other discover them fell upon him likewise and killed him throwing him in the same hole with the other And at the same time Arpalin whether beginning to mistrust Balafré or being deâ—ous to have all the money to himself yet so it was that he sets upon him unawares and treats him as the two others covering him with earth in the same place and so departs After this and many other Tragical Actions he retreats being weary with running up and down the world â—nto one of the best Cities of Dauphiné where giving himself more than ever â—o wickedness and debaucherie the Divine Justice which slept not overâ—ook him For it hapning that some fellows being taken for a Robbery by them committed accused him also of sundry Villanies which they as his Companions knew he had been guilty of wherefore being once laid hold on there came in so many witnesses against him that for all his tricks and inventions he was sentenced to be hanged and bear them company which Sentence was accordingly executed he marching to the place of Execution with the same undaunted and resolute countenance as he was observed to have in his life-time CHAP. III. The Life and Death of la Châ—nay a famous Villain LAChénay was born of honest Parents who took all possible can that this their Son might be broughâ— up as beseemed a man sprung from 〈◊〉 good a Family but he would neveâ— hearken to their wholsome counsels but was resolved to break through aâ— virtuous sentiments and wholly tâ— betake himself to all manner of wickedness Wherefore having watch'd an opportunitie he takes what moneys he could light of in his Father'â— house and departs glad that he mighâ— now range the world with liberty resolving with himself being naturally cruel and one who could with as little horrour dip his hands in bloud as in water to commit every thing that his Lust should suggest to him and in a short time made himself so remarkable for his Villanies that there came several Rogues to enroll themselves under his Standart as to a man that wanted neither resolution to undertake nor skill to perform the most hazardous Enterprizes And the Discipline and Trial which he put them upon who thus came to him is not the least considerable for he was wont to lock them up for two days together in a Chamber without either eating or drinking and to make them lie out three or four nights bare-headed in the open air that he might the better know who were fit for his purpose One Winter-night when the weather was so unpleasant by reason of Fogs Hail and Snow that no body cared to stir out of their Lodgings he divided his Crew into three Bands and planted them on the Pont-neuf in Paris for it was there as in his proper sphere where he moved himself When it happening that a Countrie Attorney well mounted and accoutred was about passing over the Bridge on that side where lies Dauphiné-street but scarcely had he set foot upon it but