Sad News from RATCLIFF: Being a Full and True RELATION OF A Horrid and Bloody murder, Committed upon the Bodies of an ancient Gentlewoman,( Captain Giddings Wifes Mother) and his Sisters Child, who was a Girl of Two Years and a half Old, and a Maid-Servant in the House, by Robert condigning Servant to Captain Giddings, William Thomas and William Rogers, all Seamen or pretended Seamen; who afterwards Robbed the House of Captain Giddings in Brook-street Ratcliff, on Tuesday the Thirteenth of this instant January. How condigning was Apprehended( Selling the Plate they had Stolen) at a Goldsmiths Shop without Aldgate: With an Account of his Confession and Commitment to Newgate, &c. Faithfully Related and Published, to prevent Mistakes and False Reports.  
AS every day produces new Examples of Barbarity and murder, and tho the Eye of Providence seldom leaves any Corner unsearched, for the Discovery of the inhuman Actors of such unheard of Cruelties, to bring their Devilish Deeds to light, that thereby they may receive a Reward answerable to their Deserts: Yet the Devil is so conversant with some sort of Persons, who will venture their Souls, Lives, and all that is Dear unto them, to perpetrate their villainies, notwithstanding the Daily Examples of Justice they meet with; one of which( and Impious in the Superlative Degree) this following Relation will furnish you with, which is published on purpose to prevent False Reports, as( without doubt) some People, upon such an Execrable murder, will be otherwise apt to raise. And no longer to digress from the Relation, I shall Faithfully declare the Matter without any Addition, Equivocation, or Mendacity whatsoever.  
Captain William Giddings, who liveth in Brook-street in Ratcliff, about three Months since took to apprentice one Robert condigning aged about Eighteen Years, who proved a Dissolute young Man, and lead a more Reprobate Life, whom Captain Giddings never had any good opinion of; notwithstanding he still acted in his Station indifferent well: But coming ashore about Nine days since at Blackwall, to the Sign of the Rose and Crown, he( as the Devil had appointed) chanced to come in Company with two Men, who pretended to be Press-masters, one whose Name was William Thomas, and the other William Rogers, they drinking together for some Hours, came so far acquainted, that they in a little time made this Infernal Conclusion, That they wo●ld Rob the House of Capt. Giddings, and murder his Family, which they thus brought to pass.  
Upon Tuesday the Thirteenth of this instant January, the aforesaid Robert condigning came to Ratcliff to his Master's House, at which time Captain Giddings happened to be from Home about his Affairs, and his Wife was gone to a Christening ●●●ving on●● her Mother( an ancient Gentlewoman) and his Sisters Child, being a little Girl, aged two Years and a half, and a Maid Servant. condigning had not been long in the House, ere Thomas and Rogers knocked at the Door, who asked to speak with condigning, and were accordingly( fatally) admitted; they had not been long in the House, er'e they desired the Maid( the better c● compass their hellish Design) to fetch them a Pennyworth of tobacco; but as soon as she was gone, they set upon the old Gentlewoman, knocked her down with a Smith's Iron Hand-Maw, and gave her an extraordinary large cut with a Hand-Clever over the Forehead cross-ways, that she immediately died; and the Child crying, Rogers swore, Damn it, does it make a Noise? Kill it. Which inhumanly they did, and the Maid returning with the tobacco, they knocked down, as before, and gave her a Cut across the Forehead with the Cleaver, so deep that her Brains came out upon the floor.  
Then they ransacked the House, and stolen of Plate, a double and single Tankard, and six Spoons, besides Rings, Jewels, currant Gold, and other things to a great value; but was in such hast, that they left two Silver Porringers in a Chest of Drawers, and other Childrens Plate. Thomas and Rogers being old politic Rogues, took the Money, Gold, &c. and gave condigning the two Tankards and Spoons; who went to a Goldsmith's Shop without Aldgate, and asked to buy a Ring, but for the payment he offered one of the Spoons, and likewise he offered the rest of them and the Tankards to sale; he looking like an idle Fellow, and giving no good Account how he came by them, the Goldsmith caused him to be seized; and a crowd of People gathering together, and some of them seeing the Marks of the Plate, charged him with the murder; which at first he stiffly denied, till being promised Liberty if he Peache'd his Confederates, he confessed he was accessary to it, but did not assist in it, he looking on till the other did it, and that he was to meet them at a Strong-water-Shop in Wapping that Night. Upon which he was had before a Justice, and committed to Newgate, and search made for the other two, but could not be found that night: But yesterday being the Fourteenth of this Instant, William Thomas was taken and sent to Newgate to keep the other company, and we doubt not but their number will quickly be completed; for diligent search is made for Rogers, who is not like to escape from the hands of Justice. What Lamentation and Cries there were in this unhappy House when the mushroom News arrived to the Ears of Captain Giddings and his Wife, I leave the Reader to judge, and shall conclude, From battle, murder, and from sudden Death, Good Lord deliver us.   

LONDON, Printed by G. Croom, at the Blue-Ball in Thames-street, 1691.