Sir John Glutton sends Spiker on an errand carrying a letter pledging his allegiance to Prince Charles, pretender to the throne, in the seams of his coat. Spiker is ambushed by Foxy and Nabber, who steal the coat. Glutton forces Dick Turpin to recover the letter by holding Big Nell of the Cock and Bull hostage.

By a strange order of events, Dick and Swiftnick find themselves thrown into jail at Slough together with Glutton and Spiker. Despite numerous attempts, the four of them seem to be done for, until by chance poor old Isaac Rag joins them in their cell.