Sadler's Memoirs: OR, THE HISTORY OF THE Life and Death Of that Famous Thief THOMAS saddler.  
Giving a True Account of his being Fifteen times in the Goal of Newgate, and a Relation of his most Notorious Pranks in City and country.  
With a particular Description of the manner of his Robbing the Lord High chancellor of England; For which he was Condemned to die, and Executed at Tyburn on friday the Sixteenth of March, 1677.  


With Allowance,  
Ro. L'Estrange.    
Printed for P. Brooksby, in Westsmithfield.   

Sadlers memoirs. OR, ●he History of the Life and Death of that Famous Thief Thomas saddler, &c.  

CHAP. I. Of Sadlers Birth and Education.  
TO be well descended, doubles the glory of the virtuous, but increases the shane of the vicious and degenerate; And in this regard our unhappy saddler was happy: the scandal of his crimes reached little further than his Person; Though he brought himself to an untimely and ignominious end; yet we cannot say it was any mighty disgrace to his Family, for his birth was so obscure, that we are beholding to Philosophy to prove that ever he had a Father, or had any R●lation to some worthy Persons, bearing the same Name; And after a Diligent Inquiry, all the Satisfaction we can obtain, is, that some body, about the Year, 1650. made use of the means to beget him, and that about Three-Quarters of a Year afterwards he dropped into the World, between Fulbam and Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex: But Hero's seldom are unattended with Prodigies; and if we may Credit Common famed; This Sadlers Mother during the time she was bog with him, longed for a piece of Pork at Brainford-Market , and nothing would serve her turn but she must steal it; so that being a poor Woman of a very honest principle, she was forced to get a Neighbour to agree with the Butcher to give her private leave to Convey it away; By which strange Extravagant desire, Nature gave sufficient Notice of the Inclinations of the Child she went with; which in his very Infancy began to show themselves: yet certainly, had his Parents foreseen it, they would have endeavoured to arm him somewhat better against his Fate, by Instructing him in Reading an Accomplishment he had occasion enough to be acquainted with; yet never was Master of; though often allowed the favour of his Book; which in the college of Newgate he learnt to Cant by root, though in truth he was not able to distinguish a Letter.   

CHAP. II. How saddler was put to the Trade of Brickmaking, and by what weans he came first acquainted with Thieves.  
THe History of our Grand Thiefs Childhood( like that of the Worlds Infancy) is either unknown, or wrapped up in Fables; Some stick not to report that at Four Years of Age he understood the Profound Mysteries of Pocketdiving, and that before he was Seven Years Old, none of the Neighbours durst trust their Poultry for fear of him, without Convoy; But waveing those Rumors, which have nothing to Vouch for their Credit, but the Idle Breath, and Tattling suspicions of the Vulgar, This is certain, That when he became Capable of Working, he was put forth to the Honest Laborious Trade of Brickmaking; which he followed for two or three years after the Dreadful Fire in Sixty Six, both at Knights-bridge, Soe-hoe, and other places near the Town, and had gained the Creditable Repute of a Civil Industrious young man; till happening into the unhappy Acquaintance of a Lewd Woman in St. Gileses, she seduced him to the expense of his Money, and neglect of his business; and brought him acquainted with a Gang of thieves; who observing him to be a brisk bold fellow fit for their turn, soon entred him into their Society; but not till he had given a Notable proof of his Dexterity and aptness for the Calling; which was as follows: This crew had observed an old Fellow that kept an Ale-house near Bedford-Bury, and were satisfied he had good store of money, but could never understand where he laid it; For at several times they had Jilted most of his closerts and Chests, but could not meet with any thing Considerable; saddler undertakes to discover this Concealed Treasure, and by this Stratagem effects it; Going to Drink there one Evening, he slips up stairs and sets the Hangings on Fire; presently the Alarum is given, and he pretends to be one of the foremost in quenching it, though in truth all his business was to watch the old Dads Motions; whom he observed to run very surprizedly to the house of Office up three pair of stairs; The Combustion was quickly over, without much Damage at present, though the Consequence was loss enough; For three or four Nights after, saddler and his Confederates get into the House, and taking up the Boards of the House of Office, under the seat find a kind of Cubboard, and therein three Hundred Pound gabs, plentifully crammed with ready White; and conceiving it very unfit such Precious Mettal should be laid up so slovenly, took speedy care to remove it to a better Lodging; leaving in the place, nothing but a small pair of Horns, and a large Halter; which being discovered about a Month after by the Reverend Miser, he decently made use of the last; not being willing to be at the charge of keeping his Soul after he had lost his Money; Whilst in the mean time Sadlers Ingenuity was much applauded by his complices, and thenceforwards they all looked upon him as a very hopeful Brother.   

CHAP. III. How saddler having committed Burglary, strangely made his Escape like a Ghost.  
BEing thus flushed and seasoned in Roguery, he was fit to attempt any mischief; By I know not what Hellish Intelligence he was informed of a great Quantity of Money, Plate, and Riches in a House in St. Martins in the Fields; but it was so notably fortified with stout Locks, strong Bolts, able Window-shuts, &c. That he could not by the Mediation of Mistris Betty, the aid of Monsieur Le Crown, nor any the like Common Arts, force an entrance; whereupon resolving to enter this enchanted Castle what ever it cost him, he takes a Lodging at the next Door, and in the Night gets on the Top of the designed house, and with a Rope lets himself down the Chimney into a Garret; then Rummaging what Rooms he thought fit, and pretty well Loaden with Plate and other portable Goods of Value, he repairs to the Door, but perceives there was no getting forth; For the Master of the House always used to have the Keys carried up into his Chamber; In this perplexity up Stairs again he goes, hoping to escape at some Window; but made such a noise, that he wakened some of the Family, so that the whole House rung with the lamentable Out-cry; Thieves, Thieves! What to do he knew not, till the Devil and his own Natural Impudence suggested a Device; which was, Seeing some linen on the Top of a Chest of Drawers, he claps a Sheet all over him, and so boldly walks into the Gentlemans Chamber, who was ready with Sword and Pistol to receive him, but at his approach, concluding it a Spirit, was so frighted that he could not make use of either of them; so that saddler without the least Interruption marched by him, and opening the Window passes into the Balcony, where leaving the Sheet, he slips from thence down into the Street, and brushes off with his Booty undiscovered; whilst the honest Gentleman was saying his Prayers, and making of Crosses to defend himself from the supposed walking Ghost; which in truth was as evil a Spirit as any House could be haunted with.   

CHAP. IV. How saddler went upon the Foot pad, and tied a Market woman to the Gibbet beyond Hampstead.  
THough Burglary or House-breaking was one of our Famous Sadlers chiefest talent, yet he had a pretty Insight into most other Mysteries, and particularly crafts of Thieving; only for the High-padd he had scarce courage enough to undertake it: for though no man could out do him for Hectoring with the tongue, and verbal Impudence, yet he never had much stomach to dry blows; insomuch that an ordinary single fellow could take him at any time; However for his Diversion he would now and then venture abroad a free-booting on foot; and one Evening having surprised a Market-Woman in her return homeward, and taken all her money, being about four pound, he asked her what she sold? Who  told him, pigs that day? Why then, said he, you have brought your hogs now to a fair Market; but in troth; I am very ●oath to leave you alone in the Night; and therefore ●m resolved you shall have company; saying which, he turned her Horse loose, and carried her to the Gibbet where the Man hangs in Chains beyond Hamstead, and tying her fast thereunto, left her. Shortly after this, he was apprehended for stealing a silver Tankard in St. Mary Islington, and for the same was first marked in the hand for a Free-man of the Old Bayly, in the year, One Thousand, Six Hundred, and Seventy. But the very next Sessions was in again for stealing a Gentlemans Beaver in the Temple Church, no less impudently than profanely, saying in open Court on his trial; That the Gentleman should have watched as well as prayed; For this he was ordered to be transported, but by certain means he used, got off, and immediately fell to his own Trade here in England.   

CHAP. V. How neatly saddler cheated a Goldsmith of a hundred pounds-worth of Plate.  
THough saddler had not the advantages of Schollar-ship, yet nature, besides a comely parsonage, had bestowed upon him a ready wit and notable subtlery, nor was his brain ever at rest, but always contriving or carrying on some Diabolical Intrigue; Amongst which that which fellows,( which the related to myself once in Newgate, with no small pride and Triumph) was none of the least remarkable.  
Hearing of a kind of a Doctor of a good Estate about Hogsdon, that used to undertake the cure of Mad-men, he repairs to him in good garb, like a country Gentleman, and tells him 'twas his misfortune to have a dear friend and Relation of his somewhat distempered with meloncholly, and that he was advised to him for help; The Doctor inquires how the party was taken; Upon which saddler tells a most formal story, that he never raved, but only talked a little idle now and then, and that he feared it proceeded from setting his heart too much on the World; For, says he, he is always talking of Plate and Money, and will pretend people have got it from him, and asks them to pay him, &c. In short, Mr. Doctor for Twenty guineas would undertake to cure him, and the next Morning he was to be brought; But then a new difficulty is started, saddler pretends his Kinsman so fond of him, that he should be extremely troubled to get away from him; But the Doctor that had a salue for every sore, to help that bids him bring the young-man into the Hall, and come to him into his Study, and he would let him out at a back door, and then take his patient into custody when he was gone; This part of the plot being so hopefully laid, to complete the Tragedy-Comedy, away goes saddler to an Eminent Goldsmith that had some small knowledge of the Doctor, and with an innocent gravity having passed some Recommendatory compliments, tells him the Doctor resolving to furnish himself with a Cubbord of Plate, desired him to sand his man with such and such things, choosing as much Plate as was worth a hundred pounds, or upwards; The Goldsmith not doubting but to have a good customer, readily consents, and away goes saddler and the young apprentice; being arrived at the Doctors Hall, he takes the Plate pretending to carry it up to the Doctor and his Lady, and bids the young-man walk a turn or two there; then keeping the prise undiscovered under his cloak, he tells the Doctor, he had brought his Kinsman, desiring him to use the best of his skill upon him, and he would wait upon him again on the morrow, and so is let out at the back door; The Doctor very gravely comes down, and having taken a serious view of his patient, takes him by the Wrist, and begins to Thumb his p●●se, the Young-man wondering at his action, begins at last to inquire for the Gentleman that came with him: Ah Sweet-heart, qd. the Doctor, The Gentleman will be here presently; The Lad persisting to inquire how he liked the plate, Very well, very well, replies the other let not that trouble your mind; you shall have your Plate again, and I will make you as well as ever you were in your life; The Boy further asking him if he pleased to pay for it now; Yes, my Sweet Youth, says the Doctor, you shall have Money enough, be not dissatisfied. Then bidding him follow him, he takes him into 2 dark room, and calling some of his Servants, falls to bleeding of him Lustily, and shaves off all his Hair; The Youth made many Protestations against these Proceedings, telling whose Man he was, and how, and upon what account he came thither, but all in vain, for they interpnted these discourses, as extravagant Effects of his distempered Brain;& presently clapped him into a Bed contrived for the purpose,& locked him down fast, and went on so dexteriously, according to the Method of Art, to cure his supposed Lunacy, till they had almost made the fellow stark Mad in earnest; The Gold-smith hearing no News of his Return, gets up next Morning by break of day, and comes to the Doctors in Quest of him; And then the Cloud was opened,& they fairly perceived how foully they were Cheated.   

CHAP. VI. Of Sadlers often being in Newgate for several Pranks, and by what means he still got off.  
TO recite all the Roguries committed by this Eminent Thief, would require a volume, for he was perpetually bog with some mischievous design, and his Brains never lay fallow, unless when he was got into Newgate; In which college he had no less then Fifteen times taken up his residence, and Six times Condemned to die; Once he got off by the Act of Grace: another time being Convicted of a Burglary, he obtained a Pardon; sometimes( as thought) he bought off his prosecutors so that he could not be found Guilty; In the Year 1675. Being Condemned, he pretended to make Great Discoveries of other Malefactors, and for that Service was saved; and did at several Sessions give Evidence against his Accomptices; and thereby was Instrumental in ridding the World of divers caterpillars that lived on Rapine, and the spoils of Honest Industry; Some have Reported, That in that service he too much gratified his private Spleen, and charged some Persons undiservedly; but that we look upon as a Groundless Calumny, and therefore shall not barthen his Memory with those Imputations; The rather, for that he had other Faults too many, which he is now gone to answer for at an All-seeing Tribunal.   

CHAP. VII. Of the last Grand Burglary, and stealing the Lord High chancellors Mace, &c. For which he was Executed.  
BUt now the Squib is run to the end of the Rope, and the fatal minute approaches, which must put an end to all our heroic Pilferers achievements; yet like a dying Taper to make a short Blaze before he expires, he ventures on a daring attempt. Having( by I know not what means) got the knowledge, where the Lord High chancellors Servants usually laid the Mace and Purse, those glorious Insignia or Badges of that illustrious Office, without weighing the danger, or considering the consequence, he resolves to make himself Master of that tempting booty; To this purpose he with two of his confederates about five a clock one Sunday morning were observed by one that evidenced it at their trial to be hawking up and down that street, waiting as 'tis supposed an opportunity for putting their design in Execution; but missing of it then, they deferred the business till the Tuesday night following, and then 'tis thought, getting by a Ladder of ropes into his Lordships Balcony, and thence upon a Ledge jutting out of the wall, to the Window of the Closet where those things were reposited, they broken a pane of Glass, and so opened the Casement, and took away the precious, but fatal prise, valued in the Indictment at One hundred and forty pounds; and being extremely over-joyed at the success, proceeded to that height of insolence and vanity, that as themselves since confessed, coming over Lincholns-Inn-Fields, saddler would needs have one of his confederates bear the Mace openly on his shoulder, and the other the Purse before him, whilst he with Hat cocked, and arms a Kembo, walked after it in a strutting Grandeur; But these magnificent triumphs were short-lived; 'tis a saying; No less true than ancient: quod per dere vult Deus, dementat prius; When Divine vengeance resolves to chastise wicked men, it first infatuates them; so it proved in this case; for saddler and one other of his Associates repairing to a Lodging in Knight-Riders-Street, where they had formerly lain; Taking off the Fringe and Jewels from the purse, scattered several small pieces of the Gold about the Chamber, and though they had laid up the greatest part of the Mace in the closet, and taken away the Key of it, yet the Womans daughter of the house going up on the friday following when they were all abroad, observing the floor strewed with these illustrious spangles, and withal finding three or four small scattered pearls, could not forbear the curiosity of putting back the closet-lock with a small knife, where to her amazement she found the Mace; the Coronet or upper part whereof, her Ignorance mistaking for the Royal Diadem, she passionately calls up her Mother, telling her, The Gentlemen had got the Kings Crown in the Closet; but the good woman advising with one of her neighbours, was soon informed of my Lords loss, and as speedily gave him Intelligence what she had found; Hereupon a Watch being set, a woman coming to Inquire for them was first taken, and next day the three men, saddler being apprehended by a single man unarmed in the Street without the least resistance.   

CHAP. VIII. Of his Condemnation, Carriage in Prison, and Execution.  
AT his trial he appeared very gay in clothes, and no less impudent in his behaviour, yet confessed the fact; and when condemned, flung his Hat into Court, and his Wigg another away, acting like one Distracted; In person he seemed to have little sense of his desperate condition, but gave himself to Drinking of Sack; and 'tis said, being called from his cups to come to prayers, swore the person must stay till his Glass was out; In a Word his end was not unsuitable to his life: To whose unhappy Memory, a Friend of mine desired this following Epitaph.  

EPITAPH.  

Here saddler lies! Reader! come not too near,  
The nimble Ghost may pilfer still, we fear;  
His Presence Fifteen times did Newgate grace;  
But died oppressed with a too Ponderous Mace:  
So used to make all Doors before him fly,  
His very Coffin dreads a Burglary,  
And Pluto fears he'l Jilt his Treasury.      
FINIS.