A full and true RELATION, OF THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION, Of twelve Notorious Highwaymen, Murderers, and Clippers of Money: AT THE ASSIZES Holden for the COUNTY of DERBY, This present August 1679. (VIZ.) Mr. Bracy, Richard Piggen, Roger Brookham, Mr. Gerrat, John Barker, Willam Lo, John Roobottom, Thomas Ouldome, John Baker, Daniel Buck, Thomas Gillat, and one Smedley.  
With the manner of their Behaviour before Execution, And several other Remarkable Circumstances.  
IT hath not been unknown to most persons Travelling the great Roads of England, how they have been infested of late with Highwaymen or Robbers; who have committed several strange Actions and Insolences in their Robberies: till the Divine Justice and Law hath now brought some of them to receive the Rewards of their Crimes and Sins at the County Town of Derby, at the Assizes there held on the 8th of this Instant August 1679. the particulars of their Actions and Demeanours are here inserted.  
This Bracy was a person of good repute, living in the County of York; but for some time had deserted his own House and Dwelling, betaking himself to live abroad at all places which gave him a safe Protection; being reputed as Captain or Ringleader of the whole Gang, which consisted of Richard Piggin of Derby, Roger Brook shaw of Heage, Mr. Gerrat, and one John Barker, William Lo, John Roobottom, Thomas Ouldome John Baker, Daniel Buck, Thomas Gillat and one Smedley; all of the same County, who assisted and followed Mr. Bracy in the performing these following Murders and Robberies. About 8 Months ago, the said persons taking the advantage of a dark night, and being prepared with Instruments for their purpose, broke open the House of Captain John Monday Esquire, near the Town of Derby, at a place called Morton; where they took away to the value of 1200 pounds in Gold and Silver, besides a great quantity of Plate, binding the Esquire and all his Family in their Beds, and using great insolences by threats, to make them confess their Treasures, which they obtained and secured at the present. Some two Months after the same Persons meets a Wagon passing betwixt the Mart of Lenton, near Nottingham and the Town of Newark in the same County; in which there were several small Barrels of Money, and others of Gold Lace; which they seized, and securing the Waggoner, with Hatchets and other Instruments, they broke up the Barrel-Heads, taking away the value of eighteen hundred pounds; which they divided, and so dispersed, only Piggen, Buck, and Ryley went strait to the Town of Octbrook near Derby, where the Hue and Cry coming, Buck and Ryley were taken, but Piggen made his escape, leaving much of the Lace behind him, Buck and Ryley was then carried before a Justice, and after Examination, were committed to the Goal; and at the Assizes received the reward of their Crimes by hanging. The rest of the Company continuing their former practices, Broke open the House of the Lady Jane Scroop, at the Town of Everston, four Miles from Nottingham, where they took away in mone'ies six hundred pounds, missing of three or four thousands, by being one day too forward in their Actions. Upon the dismissing of this Booty, one of the Company and Bracy falling at difference) they had a small Combat with their Swords, the other cutting the Throat of a Mare that Bracy road upon; which for swiftness and goodness was hardly to be compared in England, Bracy alone committed two more small Robbeeys; but the next Designs was upon the Houses of Squire Gilbert, at a place called Locka, some three miles from Derby, and the House of Mr. Garland at the Town of Lenton, near Nottingham, but was prevented by their being apprehended, and afterwards Tried as followeth; only Bracy who died in his Bed: his Wife keeping an Inn of some Note, Northward from Nettingham some twelve miles, he receives News of her Death, which obliges him to go home to see his Children, and what Estate his House was left in, upon his being there, one of his Servants betrays him, by informing the next Justice, who raises the Country and besets the house, one of his Sons tells him he heard a noise about the House, which made him look out, and having his Horse in the house, he leads him into a back-yard, and offers to Leap him over a high Pail, but he twice refusing, in the interim one of the Apprehenders shoots and kills his Horse, which made Bracy still more desperate, as resolving not to be taken, but being shot with another Bullet, he maintained a Fight with his Sword, till he was mortally wounded, and then the Countrymen left him, he was carried to a Bed in his own House and there died. Three more of the Company besets two Gentlemen in Needwood-Forrest, bidding them stand and deliver their Money, which they refusing and making resistance, they shot one of them but the other with his Pistol and Sword made a brisk resistance, till one of the Thiefs coming behind him, with a Back Rapier Runs him through the Body which Action, they since confessed, being Apprehended for Clipping of Moneys in Derby, and now this last Assiizes tried and Executed. Their Confessions of which is as followeth. They had a House in Derby at the Sign of the Cock near St. Michael's Church, kept by one Widow Massey, where they had their Instruments for Clipping and Filing of Moneys, which they had used for many years, having moneys giving six pounds in the hundred for two Months, of several Men of note in the same Town, who constantly supplied them with Money, which they Clipped and returned again. The Widow and her Son in Law, one John Baker, Confessed they had in one Night Clipped and finished one hundred pounds; this Discovery being thus brought forth, the beforementioned Piggen coming up to London, was Arrested upon an Action of Debt, and being in hold, was accused as a Robber, but upon the promise of his Pardon, he with one Gerrat before named, confessed all the forementioned Robberies, with this Action of Clipping, upon which these Men were Apprehended, and young Baker gives the Relation, that one Sammuel Baker his Uncle, one Luke Ouldome, Benjaman Ouldam and one Nash, was concerned with them as Workkers in Clipping and Filing returning their Clippings melted into Bullion, to a Goldsmith in London, who upon the Discovery denied he ever knew any of them. The Widow and her Son having a Boy about some fifteen years of Age, which was a Servant, that knew many of their Actions, they Murdered him and hid him in a Vault, and afterwards made their escape with one Widow Rose of Lenton, near Nottingham, who entertained them. Piggen and Baker received their Pardons, the rest were Executed according to their Sentence. At the place of Execution they seemed very penitent, confessing their Facts as is here related, which is affirmed by several who heard both their Trials and Confessions.  
FINIS.