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purpose pitched upon a convenient place, enclosed with a thicket, situated on the Waltham side of Epping, near the sign of the royal oak. Here they excavated, and covered with thicket-wood, and quickset, a 4lace large enough to receive them, and their horses; and while they lay quietly concealed themselves, could, thro’ several holes, discover the passengers as they went along the road; and as ⟨they⟩ thought proper, would issue out, and rob them ⟨in⟩ such a bold and daring stile, that they were ⟨more⟩ admired than blamed. The very higglers on ⟨the⟩ road did not always escape their requisitions, ⟨but⟩ they were mostly repaid again; whilst those ⟨who⟩ went armed, lost their pieces, were wounded ⟨and⟩ robbed of all they carried about them. Turpin’s ⟨wife⟩ was their messenger, went to the market for ⟨victuals⟩ for them, supplied them with linen, and ⟨frequently⟩ remained there a whole week together.
In this place Turpin lived, eat, drank, and lay, for ⟨the⟩ space of six years, during the first three of which ⟨he⟩ was enlivened be the drollery of his companion ⟨Tom⟩ King, who was a fellow of infinite humour for ⟨telling⟩ stories, and of unshaken resolution in attack ⟨or⟩ defence.
These forest partners frequently issued ⟨from⟩ from their cell like the theives from the cave in ⟨Gil⟩ Blas, and take a ride out in quest of plunder. ⟨King⟩ and he once riding towards Bungay, in Suffolk, ⟨met⟩ two young market women, who had just ⟨received⟩ a considerable sum of money for corn. ⟨King⟩ proposed to rob them, but Turpin dissuaded ⟨him⟩ from it, alleging for a reason, that they were ⟨two⟩ pretty inoffensive girls, and he would not be ⟨concerned⟩ in it. King swore he would rob them, ⟨and⟩ accordingly did so, against Turpins consent, ⟨which⟩ occasioned a dispute between them.
It would be an endless task to relate every ⟨particular⟩ robbery they committed while in connection
