Animated by his insatiate desire of vengeance, he seemed to gain strength daily,—­so much so, that within a fortnight after receiving his wound he was able to stir abroad.

On Thursday, the 12th of November, after having endured nearly a month’s imprisonment, Jack Sheppard was conveyed from Newgate to Westminster Hall.  He was placed in a coach, handcuffed, and heavily fettered, and guarded by a vast posse of officers to Temple Bar, where a fresh relay of constables escorted him to Westminster.

By this time, Jack’s reputation had risen to such a height with the populace,—­his exploits having become the universal theme of discourse, that the streets were almost impassable for the crowds collected to obtain a view of him.  The vast area in front of Westminster Hall was thronged with people, and it was only by a vigorous application of their staves that the constables could force a passage for the vehicle.  At length, however, the prisoner was got out, when such was the rush of the multitude that several persons were trampled down, and received severe injuries.

Arrived in the Hall, the prisoner’s handcuffs were removed, and he was taken before the Court of King’s Bench.  The record of his conviction at the Old Bailey sessions was then read; and as no objection was offered to it, the Attorney-General moved that his execution might take place on Monday next.  Upon this, Jack earnestly and eloquently addressed himself to the bench, and besought that a petition which he had prepared to be laid before the King might be read.  This request, however, was refused; and he was told that the only way in which he could entitle himself to his Majesty’s clemency would be by discovering who had abetted him in his last escape; the strongest suspicions being entertained that he had not affected it alone.

Sheppard replied by a solemn assertion, “that he had received no assistance except from Heaven.”—­An answer for which he was immediately reprimanded by the court.  It having been stated that it was wholly impossible he could have removed his irons in the way he represented, he offered, if his handcuffs were replaced, to take them off in the presence of the court.  The proposal, however, was not acceded to; and the Chief Justice Powis, after enumerating his various offences and commenting upon their heinousness, awarded sentence of death against him for the following Monday.

As Jack was removed, he noticed Jonathan Wild at a little distance from him, eyeing him with a look of the most savage satisfaction.  The thief-taker’s throat was bound up with thick folds of linen, and his face had a ghastly and cadaverous look, which communicated an undefinable and horrible expression to his glances.

Meanwhile, the mob outside had prodigiously increased, and had begun to exhibit some disposition to riot.  The coach in which the prisoner had been conveyed was already broken to pieces, and the driver was glad to escape with life.  Terrific shouts were raised by the rabble, who threatened to tear Wild in pieces if he showed himself.