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THE ANECDOTE GALLERY.

THAXTED HIGHWAYMEN.

_(For the Mirror.)_


The following incident led to the breaking up and dispersion of a gang
of desperate highwaymen, denominated the Thaxted gang, who about sixty
years ago used to infest the roads in the neighbourhood of Dunmow,
Thaxted, and the adjacent towns and villages:--

An opulent farmer of Thaxted, being one day at Dunmow market, received
a considerable sum of money, the produce of grain and other marketable
articles, which he had that day disposed of; and going to the inn
where he had left his horse, he ordered it to be saddled directly
for the purpose of returning home. In those times every tradesman,
salesman and a greater part of the publicans and innkeepers knew what
money each other received on a market day. The innkeeper at whose
house the farmer was in the habit of putting up at, said to him, "Why
you are not going home to-night, are you, with all that money about
you? You will stand a chance of getting a knock on the head."--"Let
them knock away," answered the farmer. "I have never yet been robbed,
nor do I think it likely I shall be to-night; so, Robert, get my horse
ready," calling to the hostler. "Well, but have you any weapons of