his usual Gayety to the Company: They took leave of him and wish'd him a
good Evening. The Court being sitting at the _Old-Bailey_, the Keepers
and most of their Servants were attending there with their Prisoners:
And _Sheppard_ was told that if he wanted any thing more, then was his
Time, because they could not come to him till the next Morning: He
thank'd them for their Kindness, and desir'd them to be as _early as
possible_.

The same Night, soon after 12 of the Clock Mr. _Bird_, who keeps a
Turners-shop adjoyning to _Newgate_, was disturb'd by the Watchman, who
found his Street Door open, and call'd up the Family, and they
concluding the Accident was owing to the Carelessness of some in the
House, shut their Doors, and went to Bed again.

The next Morning _Friday_, at about eight Mr. _Austin_ went up as usual
to wait on _Sheppard_, and having unlock'd and unbolted the double Doors
of the Castle, he beheld almost a Cart-load of Bricks and Rubbish about
the Room, and his Prisoner gone: The Man ready to sink, came trembling
down again, and was scarce able to Acquaint the People in the _Lodge_
with what had happen'd.

The whole Posse of the Prison ran up, and stood like Men depriv'd of
their Senses: Their surprize being over, they were in hopes that he
might not have yet entirely made his Escape, and got their Keys to open
all the strong Rooms adjacent to the _Castle_, in order to Trace him,
when to their farther Amazement, they found the Door ready open'd to
their Hands; and the strong Locks, Screws and Bolts broken in pieces,
and scatter'd about the Jayl. Six great Doors (one whereof having not
been open'd for seven Years past) were forc'd, and it appear'd that he
had Descended from the Leads of _Newgate_ by a Blanket (which he