Atfirsthewaschargedwiththeftandmurder,andwasactuallycondemnedforkillingGeorgeSympsonatKnoleinBerkshire.Butthedayafterhissentence,anActofOblivionwaspassed,andHindwasputupontrialfortreason.Duringhisexaminationhebehavedwiththeutmostgaiety,boastfullyenlarginguponhisservicestotheKing\'scause.`Thesearefilthyjinglingspurs,\'
saidheasheleftthebar,pointingtotheironsabouthislegs,`butIhopetoexchangethemerelong.\'Hisgood-humourremainedwithhimtotheend.Hejestedinprisonashejestedontheroad,anditwaswithalightheartthathemountedthescaffoldbuiltforhimatWorcester.Hiswasthefatereservedfortraitors:hewashanged,drawn,andquartered,andthoughhisheadwasprivilystolenandburiedonthedayofexecution,hisquartersweredisplayeduponthetownwalls,untiltimeandthebirdsdestoyed{sic}themutterly.
ThusdiedthemostfamoushighwaymanthateverdrewreinuponanEnglishroad;andhediedthedeathofahero.Theunnumberedcrimesofviolenceandrobberywherewithhemighthavebeenchargedweighednotafeather\'sweightuponhisdestiny;hesufferednotinthecauseofplunder,butinthecauseofCharlesStuart.Andinthusexcusinghisdeath,hiscontemporariesdidhimscantjustice.Forwhileintreasonableloyaltyhehadathousandrivals,ontheroadhewasthefirstexponentofthegrandmanner.Themiddleoftheseventeenthcenturywas,intruth,thegoldenageoftheRoad.NotonlywereallthehighwaymenCavaliers,butmanyaCavalierturnedhighwayman.
BrokenattheirKing\'sdefeat,ahundredcaptainstookpistolandvizard,andrevengedthemselvesasfreebootersupontheKing\'senemies.AndthoughHindwasoutlawfirstandroyalistafterwards,hewasstillthemostbrilliantcollectorofthemall.Ifheowedsomethingtohismaster,Allen,headdedfromthestorehouseofhisowngeniusahostofnewprecepts,andwasthefirsttoestablishanenduringtradition.
Beforeallthingsheinsisteduponcourtesy;aguineastolenbyanawkwardruffianwasasorrytheft;leviedbyagentlemanofthehighway,itwasatributepaidtocouragebygenerosity.