before the appointed time he came running to the inn, and desired the landlord to hurry the dinner, and to have enough ready for ten or twelve. The company soon arrived; and the lawyers thought Dun a servant of the house, while those of the house sup posed him an attendant of the lawyers. He bustled about, and the bill being called for, collected it; and having some change to return to the company, they waited till his return, but growing weary, rang the bell and inquired for their money, when they discov ered him to be an impostor. With the as sistance of his associates, he made off with a considerable booty of cloaks, hats, silver ♦ spoons, and everything of value upon which he could lay his hands. After this adventure Dun and his associ ates went and put up at another inn. They rose in the night-time, insulted the landlord and landlady, then murdered them both, and pillaged the house of everything valuable. Dun had an animosity to lawyers, and he de termined to play a rich one a trick. He waited upon him, and very abruptly de manded payment of a bond which he pro duced; and the gentleman found his name was so admirably forged that he could not swear it was not his handwriting. He as sured Dun, however, that he had never bor rowed the money, and would not pay the bond. Dun then left the lawyer, telling him he would give him some employment. A lawsuit was entered into, and several of Dun's comrades came forward and swore as to the debt being just; and he was about get ting a decision in his favor, when the lawyer produced a forged receipt for the debt, which some of his clerks likewise swore to; upon which Dun was cast. He was in a passion at being outwitted, and swore " he never heard of such rogues as to swear that they paid him a sum that was never borrowed." This is one of the few instances in which he did not display that barbarity of disposi tion which is evinced in all his other adven tures. He became, however, of such terror to every one, that the Sheriff of Bedford
sent a considerable force to attack him in his retreat. Finding upon a reconnoitre, however, that his force was equal, if not su perior, to the sheriff's levy, he commenced the attack, and completely routed them, tak ing eleven prisoners, whom he hung upon trees round the wood to scare others by the example of their fate. The clothes of those they had hanged served them to accomplish their next adventure, which was a design to rob the castle of a nobleman in the neigh borhood. They proceeded in the attire of the sheriff's men, and demanded entrance in the name of the king, to make search for Dun. After looking in every corner, they asked for the keys of the trunks to examine them, which, when they received, they loaded themselves with booty and departed. The nobleman complained to Parliament against the sheriff, when upon investigation the trick was discovered. Nothing prevented Dun from accomplish ing any object which he had in view, as he possessed the greatest share of temerity and cruelty that could fall to the lot of man. He would, under the disguise of a gentleman, wait upon wealthy people, and upon being shown into their rooms, murder them and carry away their money. There was a rich knight in the neighbor hood of Bedford from whom Dun wished to have a little money. Accordingly he went and knocked at his door. The maid opening it, he inquired if her master was at home; and being answered in the affirmative, he in stantly went up-stairs and familiarly entered his room. Common compliments having been passed, he sat down in a chair and be gan a humorous discourse which attracted the attention of the knight. Dun then ap proached and demanded a word or two in his ear. " Sir," says he, " my necessities come pretty thick upon me at present, and I am obliged to keep even with my credi tors, for fear of cracking my fame and for tune too. Now, having been directed to you by some of the heads of the parish, as a very considerable and liberal person, I am come
