Oaths, threats, and execrations,
were vented on all sides. Some cried that if they bore this tamely,
another day would see them all in jail; some, that they should have
rescued the other prisoners, and this would not have happened. One man
cried in a loud voice, 'Who'll follow me to Newgate!' and there was a
loud shout and general rush towards the door.
But Hugh and Dennis stood with their backs against it, and kept them
back, until the clamour had so far subsided that their voices could be
heard, when they called to them together that to go now, in broad day,
would be madness; and that if they waited until night and arranged a
plan of attack, they might release, not only their own companions, but
all the prisoners, and burn down the jail.
'Not that jail alone,' cried Hugh, 'but every jail in London. They shall
have no place to put their prisoners in. We'll burn them all down; make
bonfires of them every one! Here!' he cried, catching at the hangman's
hand. 'Let all who're men here, join with us. Shake hands upon it.
Barnaby out of jail, and not a jail left standing! Who joins?'
Every man there. And they swore a great oath to release their friends
from Newgate next night; to force the doors and burn the jail; or perish
in the fire themselves.
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