Between the two officers, with their arms linked in his, Jack Sheppard was conducted to the cart.  He looked around, and as he heard that deafening shout,—­as he felt the influence of those thousand eyes fixed upon him,—­as he listened to the cheers, all his misgivings—­if he had any—­vanished, and he felt more as if he were marching to a triumph, than proceeding to a shameful death.

Jack had no sooner taken his place in the cart, than he was followed by the ordinary, who seated himself beside him, and, opening the book of prayer, began to read aloud.  Excited by the scene, Jack, however, could pay little attention to the good man’s discourse, and was lost in a whirl of tumultuous emotions.

The calvacade was now put slowly in motion.  The horse-soldiers wheeled round and cleared a path:  the foot closed in upon the cart.  Then came the javelin-men, walking four abreast, and lastly, a long line of constables, marching in the same order.

The procession had just got into line of march, when a dreadful groan, mixed with yells, hootings, and execrations, was heard.  This was occasioned by Jonathan Wild, who was seen to mount his horse and join the train.  Jonathan, however, paid no sort of attention to this demonstration of hatred.  He had buckled on his hanger, and had two brace of pistols in his belt, as well as others in this holsters.

By this time, the procession had reached the west end of the wall of St. Sepulchre’s church, where, in compliance with an old custom, it halted.  By the will of Mr. Robert Dow, merchant tailor, it was appointed that the sexton of St. Sepulchre’s should pronounce a solemn exhortation upon every criminal on his way to Tyburn, for which office he was to receive a small stipend.  As soon as the cavalcade stopped, the sexton advanced, and, ringing a handbell, pronounced the following admonition.

“All good people pray heartily unto God for this poor sinner, who is now going to take his death, for whom this great bell doth toll.

“You who are condemned to die, repent with lamentable tears.  Ask mercy of the Lord for the salvation of your own soul, through the merits of the death and passion of Jesus Christ, who now sits at the right hand of God, to make intercession for you, if you penitently return to him.  The Lord have mercy upon you!”

This ceremony concluded, the calvacade was again put in motion.

Slowly descending Snow Hill, the train passed on its way, attended by the same stunning vociferations, cheers, yells, and outcries, which had accompanied it on starting from Newgate.  The guards had great difficulty in preserving a clear passage without resorting to severe measures, for the tide, which poured upon them behind, around, in front, and at all sides, was almost irresistible.  The houses on Snow Hill were thronged, like those in Old Bailey.  Every window, from the groundfloor to the garret had its occupant, and the roofs were covered with spectators.  Words of encouragement and sympathy were addressed to Jack, who, as he looked around, beheld many a friendly glance fixed upon him.