PHIL LINDSAY 
 HIS BOOK 

 
 Th. 
 
 or 
 
 
 me 
 W m JACKS Qy^jy 
 
 PnMifhed AvALEX^HOGG, <t/ //, A'//,,/.; Jr/^ J f
 

 
 Recorder making Report of the 
 to His ATcVjest-rin. Council
 
 New Newgate Calendar; 
 
 O R 
 
 VILLANY DISPLAYED 
 
 IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. 
 
 FROM THE YEAR lydO TO THE PRESENT TIME,; 
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 REMARKS PRELIMINARY. 
 
 IT being the profefled intention of the Com- 
 piler of this Work to exert his utmoft endea- 
 vours to unite entertainment and improvement, he 
 thinks it abfolutely necefiary to apprize the reader 
 that he does not mean to fwell his volumes with 
 recitals of accounts of trials, convictions, &c. 
 that have nothing interefting to recommend them : 
 on the contrary, it is his intention to infert in this 
 New Collection fuch narratives cnly as become 
 valuable from the fingular circumftances with which 
 they were attended ; and not a fingle event of this 
 nature* fince the commencement of the prefenc 
 century, mall remain unrecorded. 
 
 It being required by the laws of our country, 
 " that the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but 
 " the truth," mould be told, the occafional de- 
 viations, therefore, in refpedt to the brevity of 
 the language, muft, in fbrhe inftances, be excufa- 
 ble. It is to be remembered that the expreflions 
 are not the Compilers ; and feeing that it behoves 
 
 VOL. I. No. i. B reporters
 
 io NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR, 
 
 reporters as much as witnefies to adhere to the 
 truth; the repetition of them is therefore una- 
 voidable. In like manner the Compiler may be 
 obliged (unwilling as he is) to give the cant 
 pbrafes of thieves -, for in many inftances, if the 
 witnefles' depofitions be not faithfully recorded, 
 the narrative may be fo imperfect, as to be fcarcely 
 intelligible. The utility of being fo exact is the 
 belt apology for reviving any vulgar expreffions, 
 for thereby the honeft and unwary are put upon 
 their guard, and apprized of all the fccret craft of 
 thofe low-lived Ions of depredation -, while youth 
 is likewife forewarned of thole destructive pur- 
 fuits, the end of which is in general fatal and 
 ignominious ! 
 
 The Compiler of this. New wnrk returns his 
 fincereft thanks to thole gentlemen who have com- 
 municated either printed or manulcript trials and 
 narratives, which may tend to the perfection oi 
 his plan ; and he allures his worthy contributors 
 that their favours have not been conferred on one 
 ungrateful. Every prudent ufe mall be made ot 
 their communications, it being prefumed that the 
 public will reap an advantage, from what was 
 intended as a private compliment. 
 
 Circumftantia! Account of the Trials, Declarations, and 
 Executions of MICHAEL VAN BERGHEN, 
 CATHERINE VAN BERGHEN, and GER- 
 RARD DROMELIUS, in Eajl Smitbfeld, for 
 the Murder of OLIVER NORRIS. 
 
 THE wretched fubjefts of this narrative 
 were nadves of Holland, but having fet- 
 tled in England, Michael Van Berghen and his 
 
 -wife
 
 MICH. VAN BERGHEN, &c. for Murder. 1 1 
 
 wi/e kept a public-houfe near Eaft-Smithfield, 
 and Dromelius acted as their fervant. 
 
 One Norris, a country gentleman, who lodged 
 at an inn near Aldgate, went into the houfe of 
 Van-Berghen, about eight o'clock in the even- 
 ing, and continued to drink there till about ele- 
 ven. Finding himfelf rather intoxicated, he de- 
 fired the maid-fervant to call a coach to carry 
 him home. As fhe was going to do fo, her mif- 
 trefs whifpered her ; and bid her return in a Iitt4e 
 time, and fay that a eoaeh was not to be pro- 
 cured. Theie directions being obferved, Nor- 
 ris, on the maid's return, refolved to go with- 
 out a coach, and accordingly took his leave of 
 the family ; but he had not gone far before he 
 difcovered that he had been robbed of a purfc. 
 containing a fum of money : whereupon he re- 
 turned, and charged Van-Berghen' and his wife 
 with having been guilty of the robbery. This 
 they pofitively denied, and threatened to turn him 
 out of the houfe; but he refufed to go, and refo- 
 lutely went into a room where the cloth was laid 
 for flipper. 
 
 At this time Dromelius entered the room, and 
 treating Mr. Norris in a very cavalier manner ; 
 the latter refented the infult, till a perfect quarrel 
 enfued. At this juncture Van-Berghen feized a 
 poker, with which he fractured Mr. Norris'sfkull, 
 and in the mean time Dromelius ftabbed him in 
 different parts of the body; Mrs. Van-Berghen 
 being prefent during the perpetration of the hor- 
 rid act. 
 
 When Mr. Norris was dead, they dripped him 
 of his coat, waiftcoat, hat, wig, &c. and then 
 Van-Berghen and Dromelius carried the body, 
 and threw it into a ditch which communicated 
 with the Thames : and in the mean time Mrs. 
 B 2 Van-
 
 12 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Van-Berghen wafhed the blood of the deceafed 
 from the floor of the room. The cloaths which 
 had been ftripped from the deceafed were put up 
 in a hamper, and committed to the care of Dro-r 
 melius, who took a boat, and carried them over 
 to Rotherhithe, where he employed the waterman 
 to carry the hamper to lodgings which he had 
 taken, and in which he propofed to remain until 
 he could find a favourable opportunity of embark- 
 ing for Holland. 
 
 The nexp morning at low water, the body of a 
 gentleman was found, and feveral of the neigh- 
 bours went to take a view of it, and endeavoured 
 to try if they could trace any blood to the place 
 where the murder might have been committed ; 
 but not fucceeding in this, fome of them, who 
 were up at a very early hour, recollected that 
 they had feen Van-Berghen and Dromelius comr 
 ing almoft from the fpot where the body was 
 found; and remarked that a light had been car- 
 ried backwards and forwards in Van-Berghen's 
 houfe. 
 
 Upon this the houfe was fearched -, but no dif- 
 covery was made, except that a little blood was 
 foimd behind the door of a room which appeared 
 10 have been lately mopped. Enquiry was made 
 after Dromelius ; but Van-Berghen and his wife 
 would give no other account than that he had left 
 their fervice: on which they were taken into cuf- 
 dody, with the fervant-maid, who was the princi- 
 pal evidence againft them. At this juncture the 
 waterman who had carried Dromelius to Rother- 
 hithe, and who knew him very well, appeared and 
 was likewife taken into coftody. 
 
 On the trial all the circumftances above men- 
 tioned appeared fo ftriking to the jury, that they 
 did not hefitate to find the prifoners guilty, and 
 
 Accordingly
 
 MICH. VAN-BERGHEN, &c. for Murder. 13 
 
 accordingly they received fentence of death. The 
 prifoners were tried by a jury of half Englishmen 
 and half foreigners j a generous and candid mode 
 of proceeding peculiar to the criminal courts of 
 this country. 
 
 Dromelius after condemnation, and a mort time 
 before the day of execution, aflured the ordi- 
 nary of Newgate that the murder was committed 
 by himfelf, and was preceded and followed by 
 thefe circurnftances : That Mr. Norris being very 
 much in liquor, and defirous of going to his inn, 
 Mr. Van-Berghen directed him to attend him 
 thither -, that foon after they left the houfe, Norris 
 went into a broken building to eafe himfelf; 
 where ufmg opprobious language to Dromelius, 
 and attempting to draw his fword, he wrefted it 
 from his hand, and dabbed him with it in feveral 
 places -, that this being done, Norris groaned very 
 much -, and Dromelius hearing a watchman com- 
 ing, and fearing a difcovery, drew a knife, cut his 
 throat, and thereby put an end to his life. In 
 anfwer to this it was laid, that the (lory was alto- 
 gether improbable ; for if Mr. Norris had been 
 killed in the manner above mentioned, fome blood 
 would have been found on the fpot, and there 
 would have been holes in his cloaths from the 
 ftabbing ; neither of which was the cafe. Still, 
 however, Dromelius perfifted in his declaration, 
 with a view to fave the life of his m-iftrefs, with 
 whom he was thought to have had a criminal con- 
 nection , and indeed he confefled that he had been 
 too familiar with this woman. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Van-Berghen were attended at 
 the place of execution by fome divines of their 
 own country, as well as Englifh clergymen; 
 and defired the prayers of them all. Mr. Van- 
 Berghen, unable to fpeak intelligibly in tnglifh, 
 
 con-
 
 14 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 converfed in Latin ; a circumftance from which 
 it may be inferred that he had been educated in a 
 ilile fuperior to the rank of life which he had 
 lately held. He faid that the murder was not 
 committed in his houfe, and that he knew no more 
 of it, than that Dromelius came to him, while he 
 lay in bed, informed him that he had wounded 
 the gentleman, and begged him to aid his efcape ; 
 but that when he knew Mr. Norris was murdered, 
 he offered money to fome perfons to purfue the 
 murderer -, but this circumftance, which might 
 have been favourable to him, was not proved on 
 his trial. 
 
 Mrs. Van-Berghen alfo folemnly declared that 
 fhe knew nothing of the murder till after it was 
 perpetrated, which was not in their houfe; that 
 Dromelius coming into the chamber, and faying 
 he had murdered the gentleman, (he went for the 
 hamper to hold the bloody cloaths, and aflifted 
 Dromelius in his efcape, a circumftance which 
 would not be deemed criminal in her country. 
 Thi,s was, however, an artful plea : for, in Hol- 
 land, acceffaries before or after the fact are ac- 
 counted as principals. 
 
 Dromelius, when at the place of execution, 
 perfifted in his former tale ; but defired the prayers 
 of the furrounding multitude, whom he warned 
 to beware of the indulgence of violent paffions, 
 to which he then fell an untimely facrifice. 
 
 Thefe criminals were executed near the Hartf- 
 horn brew-houfe,Eaft-Smithfield, being the nearer! 
 convenient fpot to the place where the murder 
 was committed, on the tenth of July, in the year 
 1700. The men were hung in chains betweea 
 Bow and Mile-end ; but the woman was buried. 
 
 From the above narrative an important leflbn 
 may be learnt, particularly by our country readers. 
 
 Mr.
 
 JOHN SIM PSON- fir Eurglary. 1 5 
 
 Mr. Norris was a country gentleman ; the houfe 
 kept by Van-Berghen was, at the beft, of very 
 doubtful fame. Country gentlemen, when called 
 to London on bufmefs, fhould be particularly 
 cautious never to enter fuch a houfe. If this 
 unhappy gentleman had gone only where bufi- 
 nefs called him, he might have efcaped the fatal 
 cataftrophe that befel him, and have long lived to 
 blefs his family and friends, and be a credit to 
 his cduntry and felf. 
 
 In bringing to light the murder above men- 
 tioned, the intervention of Providence is obvious, 
 Every pofiible care was taken to conceal it, yet 
 blood was found in the room where the murder 
 was committed ; and the thtoughtlefihefs of Dro>- 
 melius, refpecting the waterman, contributed to 
 lead to a ready difcovery of the fact. Nothing 
 is hid from the all-feeing eye of God ! Let the 
 righteous juftice executed on the malefactors 
 above mentioned imprefs on the minds of all our 
 readers the force of the fixth commandment. 
 " Thou malt do no MURDER 
 
 Complete Narative of tie Life, Trial, and ExettttioA 
 of JOHN SIMPSON, alias JOHN HOL- 
 LIDAY, who was banged at Tyburn for Burg- 
 lary, 
 
 JOHN SIMSON was not fo much diftinguifhv 
 J ed by any particular circumftance that at- 
 tended the crime of which he was convicted, as 
 by the peculiarities of his former life, which are 
 well worthy the perufal of the reader, 
 
 Moft
 
 i6 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 ^ The chief part of this narrative is taken from 
 his own declarations while under fentence of 
 death, and the reft from authentic papers. Dur- 
 ing a great part of the war in the reign of king 
 .William he was a foldier in Flanders, where he 
 ufed to take frequent opportunities of robbing 
 the tents of the officers ; and once when the army 
 lay before Mons, and his majefty commanded in 
 perfon, Simplon happened to be one of thofe 
 who were felected to guard the royal tent. On an 
 evening when the king, accompanied by the earl 
 (afterwards duke) of Marlborough. and lord Cutts, 
 went out to take a view of the fituation of the 
 army, Simpfon, with a degree of impudence pe- 
 culiar to himfelf, went into his majefty's tent, and 
 ftole about a thoufand pounds. It was fome days 
 before this money was mifled, and when the rob- 
 bery was difcovered Simpfon efcaped all fufpi- 
 cion. He faid he had committed more robberies 
 than he could poffibly recoiled, having been a 
 highwayman as well as a houfe-breaker. 
 
 He committed numerous robberies in Flanders, 
 as well as in England, and he affirmed that the 
 gates of the city of Ghent had been twice fliut up 
 within a fortnight to prevent his efcape, and that 
 when he was taken his arms, legs, back, and neck 
 were fecured with irons ; in which condition he 
 was carried through the ftreets, that he might be 
 feen by the crowd. 
 
 Simpfon, and two of his companions, ufed 
 frequently to Hop and rob the Roman Catholics 
 t five o'clock in the morning, as they were going 
 to mafs ; he repeatedly broke into the churches 
 of Bruffels, Mechlin and Antwerp, and ftole the 
 filver plate from the altar. 
 
 This
 
 JOHNSON SIMPSON /flrtf^jry- 17 
 
 This offender further acknowledged, that hav- 
 ing killed one of his companions in a quarrel, he 
 was apprehended, tried, and condemned, for the 
 fact, by a court-martial of officers, and fentenced 
 to be executed on the following day, in fight of 
 the army, which was to be drawn up to fee the 
 execution. During the night, however, he found 
 means to efcape, and took refuge in the church, 
 of St. Peter, in Ghent, where the army then lay. 
 Being thus in a place of fanftuary, he applied to 
 thepriefts, who madeintereft with princeEugene; 
 and their joint interceffion with king William, 
 who arrived in the city about four days afterwards, 
 obtained his full pardon, and he was permitted 
 immediately to join the army. 
 
 One would imagine that the obligations he had 
 to thofe [Hefts would have infpired him with fen- 
 timents of gratitude j but this was far from be- 
 ing the cafe, that, in a few days after he had ob- 
 tained his pardon, he broke into the church, and 
 robbed it of plate to the value of twelve hundred 
 pounds ; which he was the better enabled to do, 
 as he was acquainted with the avenues of the 
 church, and knew where the plate was depofited. 
 He was apprehended on fufpicion of this facri- 
 lege i for as a crime of this kind is fcldom com- 
 mitted by the natives of the country, it was con- 
 jectured that it muft have been perpetrated by 
 fome one, at lead, of the foldiers , and inform- 
 ation being given that two Jews had embarked 
 in a boat on the Scheldt, for Middleburgh, on the 
 day fucceeding the robbery, and that Simpfon had 
 been feen in company with thefe Jews, this occafi- 
 oned his being taken into cuftody , but as no proof 
 arofe that he had fold any plate to thefe men, ic 
 was thought neceflary to difmifs him* 
 
 VOL. 1. No. i. C The
 
 i S NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The armv being ordered to England, and the 
 regiment reduced, in confequence of the peace 
 ofRyfwick, in the year 1697, Simpibn was among 
 thole who wrre difcharged, and with him were 
 likewife diimifTed fome of thofe who had been 
 concerned with him; in his depredations in Flan- 
 ders. 
 
 There is no wonder that thofe who had affb- 
 ciated together abroad fhould join to perpetrate 
 acts of villany in their native country , and ac- 
 cordingly, we find that Simpfon and his compa- 
 nions w. re concerned in a great number of rob- 
 berie< on the roads near London, Simpfon being- 
 choien as the leader of the gang, and dignified by 
 the title of captain. When they were urifuccefs- 
 ful on the highway, they had recourle to houfe- 
 breaking : and they continued thefe practices for 
 about three years, during which period feveral of 
 Simpfon's companions were apprehended, tried, 
 convicted, and executed. 
 
 Soon after Simpfon himfelf was taken into cuf- 
 tody, and indicted at the feffions held an the Old 
 Bailey in the month of July, 1700, for breaking, 
 open the dwelling houie of Elizabeth Gawden,- 
 and ftealing two feather-beds, and other articles. 
 To this indictment he pleaded guilty, and re- 
 ceived lentenceof death. He declared that he 
 had never murdered any perfon in confequence of 
 his robberies ; but that 'he had killed four or five 
 men in private quarrels. He was executed at 
 Tyburn, on the 2Oth of July, 1700, having lirft 
 declared that his real name was John Hoiliday,- 
 and that he had broken out of Newgate about 
 Chriftmas preceding the lad apprehenfion. 
 
 The melancholy end of this malefactor pre- 
 fents a finking lefTon of caution to two kinds of 
 
 people,
 
 GEORGE CADDELL /*r Murder. 19 
 
 people, viz. thofe of his own rank who are 
 of the army, and thole that are in. The former 
 will fee that in this inftance, as in every other, 
 the paths of vice lead to destruction : the latter 
 will, we truft, be taught to learn obedience to 
 their fuperiors , for if this offender had been pro- 
 perly impreflcd with a fenlc r.-f that d-..-ty, the 
 robbing of his king could never have entered his^ 
 imagination. The crime of facrilege, of which 
 he was repeatedly guilty, has been held in uni- 
 verfal abhorrence by all civilized nations, and is 
 jtiftly punifhed in the fevereft manner. Many 
 years have now elapfed fince his offences brought 
 him to a deplorable end ; but it is to be hoped 
 that the diftance of time will not weaken the im- 
 preffion : fince what was worthy of regard, and pro- 
 per to enforce ferious ideas, at the beginning of 
 this century, cannot be lefs ib at the prefent mo- 
 ment. Some good end may be anfwcred, fome 
 good refolution formed, by reading any fingle tri- 
 al in thtfe volumes; and we trull that thole who 
 mail perufe them all, will find their hearts amend- 
 ed while their minds are entertained, and that they 
 will become wifer and better while they feek in- 
 ftructions from the calamities of others. 
 
 Full Account of the Life* Intrigues* Crimes* &c. of 
 GEORGE CADDELL, who was executed at 
 Stafford* for the Murder of ELIZABETH PKICE, 
 bis Mjtrefs. 
 
 GEORGE CADDELL was a native of the 
 town of Broomfgrove in Worcellerfhire. 
 at which place he was articled to an apothecary, 
 with whom he ierved his time, and then repaired 
 
 C 2 tO
 
 20 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 to Londpn, where he walked feveral of the hof- 
 pitals, to give him an infight into the art of fur- 
 gery. 
 
 Having obtained a tolerable proficience herein, 
 . lie retired from London, and went to Worcester, 
 where he lived with Mr. Randall, a capital fur- 
 geon of that city -, and in this fituation he was 
 equally admired for the depth of his abilities, and 
 the amiablenefs of his temper. Here he married 
 the daughter of Mr. Randall, who died in labour 
 of her firft child. 
 
 After this melancholy event he went to refide at 
 Litchfield, and continued upwards of two years 
 with Mr. Dean, a furgeon of that place. During 
 his refidence here, he courted the daughter of 
 that gentleman, to whom he would probably have 
 been loon married, 6ut for the commifTion of the 
 following crime which coft him his life. 
 
 A young lady named Elizabeth Price, who had 
 been debauched by an officer in the army, lived 
 near Mr. Caddell's place of refidence; and, after 
 her misfortune, fupported herfelf by her fkill in 
 needle-woik. Caddell becoming acquainted with 
 her, a confiderable degree of intimacy fubfifted 
 between them-, and Mifs Price, degraded a^ ihe 
 was by the unfortunate ftep fhe had taken, ftill 
 thought herfelf an equal match for one of Mr. 
 Caddeil's rank of life. 
 
 This young lady now informed Caddell that a 
 pregnancy was the confequence of, their connec- 
 tions-, and repeatedly urged him to marry her, to 
 prevent her being a fecond time difgraced in the 
 eyes of the public. 
 
 ' Mr. Caddell refifted her importunities for a con- 
 fiderable time -, at latl Mils Price heard of his pay- 
 jng his addrcffes to Mils Dean -, on which fhe be- 
 came
 
 GEORGE CADDELL for Murder. 2 1 
 
 came more importunate than ever, and threatened 
 that if he refilled his confent to wed her, me would 
 put an end to all his profpefts with that young 
 lady, by difcovering every thing that had paffcd 
 between them. 
 
 It was on this unhappy occafion that Caddell 
 formed the horrid refolution of murdering Mifs 
 Price ; for he could neither bear the thought of 
 forfeiting the efteem of a woman that he court- 
 ed, nor of marrying her who had granted the 
 laft favour to at leaft one other man, as well as 
 himfelf. 
 
 7 his dreadful fcheme having entered his head, 
 he called on Mifs Price on a Saturday evening, 
 and requefted that (he would walk in the fields 
 with him on the afternoon of the following day, 
 in order to adjuft the plan of their intended mar- 
 riage. Mifs Price thus deluded now thought the 
 wound in her reputation would be healed, and on 
 the following day me met him on the road leading 
 towards Burton upon Trent, at a houle known 
 by the lign of the INag's Head. 
 
 Having accompanied her fuppofed lover into the 
 fields, and walked about rill towards evening, they 
 then fat down under a hedge, where having fpent 
 fome time in converfation. he pulled out a knife, 
 cut her throat, and made his efcape ; but not be- 
 fore he had waited till Ihe was dead, 
 
 Caddell, however, in the diftraftion of his 
 mind, left behind him the knife with which he 
 had perpetrated the deed, together with his cafe of 
 inftruments. When he came home it was obferved 
 that he appeared exceedingly confufed ; though 
 the reafon of the perturbation of his mind could 
 
 not even be guefied at. But qn the following 
 
 morning Mifs Price being found murdered in the 
 
 field,
 
 22 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 field, great numbers of people went to take a 
 view of the body, among whom was the woman 
 of the houfe where fhe lodged, who recollected 
 that fhe had faid (he was going to walk with Mr. 
 Caddell ; on which the inftruments were examined, 
 and known to have belonged to him : whereupon 
 he was taken inro cuilody, and committee to the 
 jail <;f Stafford ; and being foon afterwards tried, 
 he was found guilty, condemned, and executed, 
 at Stafford, on the 21 ft of July, 1700. 
 
 There is no particular account of the beha- 
 viour of this makfaclor while under fentence of 
 death, or at the place of execution ; yet his fate 
 will afford an inftructive lefibn to youth. Let no 
 young man who has connections of any kind 
 with one woman, think of paying his addrefles 
 to another. There can be no fuch thing as ho- 
 nourable courtfhip, while difhonourable love 
 fubfifts. Mr. Caddell might have lived a credit 
 to.himfelf, and an ornament to his profeffion, if 
 he had not held a criminal connection with Mifs 
 Price. Her fate ought to imprefs on the minds 
 of our female readers the importance of modeft 
 refervc to a woman. We would not be fevere on 
 the failings of the fex ; but we cannot help ob- 
 ferving, that a woman, who has fallen a lacrifice 
 to the arts of one man, mould be very cautious 
 in yielding to the addreffes of another. One 
 falfe fttp may be recovered; but the progrefs of 
 vice is a down-hill road ; and the farther we de- 
 parts from the paths of virtue, ftill the fafter we 
 run. On the contrary, the ways of virtue are 
 pleafant , " and all her pains are paths of peace." 
 From this ftory likewife the young officers of our 
 army and navy may learn an ufeful leffon ; for if 
 Mifs Price had not been debauched by one of that 
 
 pro-
 
 GEO. GRIFFITHS for privately fading. 23 
 
 profeffion, the fatal cataftrophe above mentioned 
 had never happened. 
 
 A full and -particular Account of the Life, Amours* 
 Behaviour, and Execution of GEORGE GRIF- 
 FITHS, who fuffered at Tyburn, fcr privately 
 fiealing from his Mafterj whofe Daughter he endea- 
 voured to deceive. 
 
 MR. GRIFFITHS was the Ion of an apothe- 
 cary of extenfive practice at Thetrbrd, in 
 the county of Norfolk. After receiving the ru- 
 diments of his education at the grammar fchool 
 of the town above mentioned, he was articled as 
 a clerk to an attorney of eminence in London, 
 and foon became diftinguifhed for his attention 
 to, and knowledge of bufinefs. His father dying 
 during his clerklhip, and having a large family, 
 left his fon George only about an hundred 
 pounds. 
 
 This young man as foon as his clerkfhip was 
 expired, a ntracled with his matter to manage 
 his bufinefs for a certain annual ftipend : and he 
 difcharged his duty for a confiderable time with 
 great regularity , but unhappily becoming ac- 
 f^uainted with feme young lawyers who polfeffed 
 more money than difcretion, he foon fpent the 
 little lorcune which his father had bequeathed to 
 him, and alfo became inde'ued to feveral of his 
 fnafter's employers. 
 
 During great part of Griffiths's fervitude, the 
 only daughter ot his employer had been at a 
 boarding-fchool ar VVindfor for the advantage of 
 education ; anu now returning home, her father, 
 vvho was uncommonly under of her, requcfted 
 
 that
 
 24 NEW NEWGATE CALFNDAR. 
 
 that fhe would take his domeftic affairs under her 
 own management. 
 
 This old gentleman being frequently about from 
 home, the bufmefs of the office was committed, 
 to the care of Mr. Griffiths , and an intimacy 
 foon enfued between him and the young lady, in 
 whofe company he fpent all thofe evenings in 
 which he had not particular engagements with 
 his old aflbciates. The confequeiue was that 
 their acquaintance ripened into efleem ; theireftcem 
 into love. The reciprocal declaration foon took 
 place, and the young lady confidered Mr. Griffiths 
 as the man who was to be her future hufband. 
 
 Some fhort time after this attachment, Grif- 
 fiths was under the neceffity of attending his matter 
 on the Norfolk circuit, and while he was in the 
 country he held a conftant correfpondence with 
 the young lady ; but the father was totally un- 
 acquainted with all that had pafied, and had not 
 formed the lead idea that his daughter had any 
 kind of connection with his clerk , but at length 
 the circumftance of the affair tranfpired in the 
 following manner. 
 
 The daughter having gone to Windfor for a 
 few days, on a vifit to her former acquaintance, 
 continued to correfpond with Mr. Griffiths. On 
 a particular day when Griffiths was not at home, 
 it happened that a letter was brought to the office, 
 directed to this unfortunate man ; when one of 
 the clerks, imagining that it might be of confe- 
 quence. carried it to the mafter, at an adjacent 
 coffee-houfe. It is impoffible that any language 
 fhould exprefs the furprize of the old gentleman, 
 when he faw the name of his daughter fubfcribed 
 to a letter, in which Ihe acknowledged herfelf as 
 the future wife of the clerk. 
 
 The
 
 GEO. GRIFFITHS /0r Privately Stealing, ij 
 
 The father knew that ( riffiths had no fortune : 
 but he foon found that he had been matter of fuf- 
 ficient art, to prevail on the daughter to believe 
 that he was poffefied of confiderable property. 
 Hereupon he reprefented to his daughter the great 
 impropriety of her conduct , in anfwer to which 
 Ihe faid that Mr. Griffiths was a man of fortune, 
 though he had hitherto carefully concealed this 
 circumftance from her father. However, it was 
 not long before a difcovery was made, which re- 
 prefented Mr. Griffith's fituation in a light equally- 
 new and contemptible. 
 
 His mafter for a confiderable time pad had. 
 acted as the folicitor in a capital caufe depending 
 in Chancery ; but the determination refpecting it 
 had been put off, on account of lord Sommers 
 being removed from the office of chancellor, and 
 the great feal given in commiffion to Sir Nathan 
 Wright. The folicitor had received immtnfe 
 fums while the caufe was depending, which he 
 had committed to the care of his clerk : but the 
 latter, prefled for cafh to fupply his extravagance, 
 purloined ibme of this money. At length the 
 caufe was determined, and Griffiths was called 
 upon to account with his mafter for the money in 
 his hands. 
 
 Alarmed at this fudden demand, he knew not 
 what courfe to take. He was already considerably 
 indebted to different people, and had not a friend 
 to whom he could apply for as much money as 
 was deficient in his accounts: but being driven 
 to the utmoft neceflity, he came to the relblution 
 of breaking open his matter's bureau, which he 
 did while the tamily were afit-ep, and Hole a con- 
 fiderable fum of money ; but as nothing elie but 
 money ^vas ftolen, Griffiths would very probably 
 
 VOL, I. No. i. D have
 
 26 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 have efcaped fufpicion, had he not been tempted 
 to a repetition of his crime. 
 
 At this time the old gentleman and his daughter 
 went to Tunbridge-, and during their refidence at 
 that place of amufement, Griffiths procured a key 
 that would unlock his mailer's bureau, from 
 whence he again took money to a confiderable 
 amount. On the matter's return, he miffed this 
 fum ; but ftill he did not fufpect Griffiths, as the 
 drawer was found locked : but hereupon he de- 
 pofited his jewels in the bureau, but locked up his 
 money in another place. 
 
 The amour betwixt Griffiths and the young lady 
 flill continued ; and they would foon have been 
 married at the Fleet, but that a fatal circumftance 
 now aroie, .which (happily for her) brought their 
 connection to a period. 
 
 Griffiths being (as already ohferved) poffeffcd 
 of a key that would open his matter's bureau, and 
 difpofed to go out and fpend a chearful evening 
 with his old afibciates now during their abfence, 
 opened the drawer, but was greatly difappointed 
 in not meeting with the money that was ufually left 
 there -, rinding, however, jewels in its ftead, he ftole 
 a diamond ring, which he carried to a jeweller and 
 ibid for twelve pounds ; and then went to fpend 
 his evening as he had intended. The old lawyer 
 came home about ten o'clock at night, and cafually 
 looking into his drawer, found the ring was gone ; 
 and being enraged at this renewed robbery, he 
 had every perfon in the houfe carefully iearched -, 
 but no difcovery was made. 
 
 Griffiths did not return till a late hour, and on 
 the following day his employer told him what 
 had happened, and requeued that he would go 
 to the feveral jewelers' (hops, and make enquiry 
 Jbr the loft ring. Griffiths pretended an obedi- 
 ence
 
 GEO. GRIFFITHS -for piivately Stealing. ij 
 
 cnce, and when he returned, acquainted his mafter 
 that all his enquiries refpefting it had been inef- 
 fectual. 
 
 However, a difcovery of the party wlio had 
 been guilty of the robbery was made in the fol- 
 lowing fingular~manner. The jeweller who had 
 bought the ring frequented the lame coffec-houfe 
 with the gentleman who had loft it, and was in- 
 timately acquainted with him, though he knew 
 nothing of Griffiths. Now the jeweller, having 
 carefully examined the ring after he had bought 
 it, and therefore concluded that it had been ob- 
 tained in an illegal manner. Being a man who 
 was much above the idea of having his integrity 
 lufpected, he related the particulars of his pur- 
 chafe at the coffee-houfe, which the perfon who 
 had loft the ring hearing, defired to have a fight 
 of it; and, on the firft infpection, knew it to be 
 that which he had loft. 
 
 The perfon pf Griffiths was now fo exactly cte- 
 fcribed by the jeweller, that there could be little 
 doubt but that he was the thief ; wherefore he 
 was defired to go to the chambers with a conftable, 
 and take him into cuftody, if he appeared to be 
 the man who had fold the ring. As this was 
 really the cafe, he was carried before a juftice of 
 the peace, and accufed of the crime, which he 
 immediately confefled, and likewife that he had 
 robbed his matter of money, in the manner we 
 have already related. 
 
 Griffiths in confequence hereof was committed 
 to Newgate, and being arraigned at the next fef- 
 fions at the Old Bailey, he pleaded guilty to the 
 indictment, and fentence of death was palfed on 
 him accordingly. 
 
 As in his fituation it was natural to fuppofe 
 D 2. that
 
 *8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 that he would attempt to correfpond with the 
 young lady to whom he had afpired as a wife, 
 a proper perfon was employee} by her father to 
 intercept her letters : a fervice that was performed 
 with fuch care, that, not one reached her hands, 
 though a confiderable number were written. 
 
 When Mr. Griffiths found that he had nothing 
 to hope from the intervention of the royal mercy, 
 and confequently that all the views with which he 
 had flattered himielf in wedlock were vanifhed, 
 he began ferioufly to prepare himielf for that ftate 
 in which perfons " neither marry, nor are given 
 in marriage." He very juftly attributed his mif- 
 fortunes to the affociating with perfons who were 
 his fuperiors .in point of circumilances, and the 
 making an appearance which he was unable to 
 fupport, in order to fecure the object of his 
 \vifhes. 
 
 Many lefibns of ufeful inftruftion may be learnt 
 from the preceding melancholy narrative. Among 
 the number of our youn^ gentlemen who are fent 
 to the inns of court, fome are of confiderable 
 fortune j while others have very fcanty ftipends ; 
 for it is the ambition of too many parents to place 
 their children in ftations in which they cannot 
 fupport them with the requiiite degree of credit 
 till they are enabled to provide for themfelves ; 
 and it is poflible that this may be the fource of 
 many calamities. The wilh to provide in a pro- 
 per manner for our children, is as laudable as it is 
 natural : but many a youth owes his ruin to his 
 being placed in a fituation above his realbnable 
 yiews or expectations 
 
 When it happens that a young gentleman, 
 whofe circumftances are rather contracted, is fent 
 p one of our inns of court 5 inftcadof frequent- 
 ing
 
 REV. THO. HUNTER for Murder. 29 
 
 ing play-houfes and taverns with thofe of more li- 
 beral fortune, he fhould ftudy with the utmoft 
 afliduity the reverend fages of the law, by which* 
 jn a few years, he may render himfclf fuperior to 
 thoic who, at the prefent momenr, may look dowa 
 on him with a degree of contempt. 
 
 In refpeft to the unhappy fubjecl: of this narra- 
 tive, we have only to remark, that a rigid perfe- 
 ve: - ance in the paths of honour might have finally 
 procured him the confummation of his wi flies.' 
 On a preemption that he was enamoured of his 
 matter's daughter, the ready way to have obtained 
 her would have been' to have fought the appro- 
 bation of her father : and, as he appears to have 
 been much confided in by the old gentleman, 
 there feems to be little doubt but that modeft 
 perfeverance would have enfured his fuccefs : be- 
 ildes, his guilt was increafed in proportion to the 
 confidence that his mafter repoted in him. 
 
 Mr. Griffiths was executed at Tyburn, on the 
 firft of Auguft, 1700. 
 
 Reflecting on his fate fevere, 
 
 We own that love has borne its part \ 
 
 A tale like this mud draw a tear 
 From every tender, feeling heart. 
 
 Particulars of the Life, Atheifm, and remarkable. Ex- 
 ecution of the REV. THOMAS HUNTER, in 
 Edinburgh, for the Murder of two of his youn* Pu- 
 pils. 
 
 TH I S atrocious offender was born in the 
 county of Fife, and was the fon of a rich 
 farmer, who fent him to the Univerlity of" St. 
 
 Andrew
 
 3 o NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Andrew for education. When young Hunter had 
 acquired a good fhare of clafiical learning, he was 
 admitted to the degree of mafler of arts, and be- 
 gan to proffcute his ftudies in divinity with no 
 iinall degree of fuccefs. 
 
 Several of the younger clergymen in Scotland 
 aft as tutors to wealthy and diftinguimed families, 
 till a proper period arrives for their entering into 
 orders, which they never do till they obtain a 
 benefice. While in this rank of life they bear 
 the name of chaplains -, and in this ftation Hunter 
 lived about two years, in the houfe of Mr . Gor- 
 don, a very eminent merchant, and one of the 
 bailies of Edinburgh, which is a rank equal to 
 that of alderman of London. 
 
 Mr. Gordon's family confifled of himfelf, his 
 lady, two fons and a daughter, a young woman 
 who attended Mrs. Gordon and her daughter, the 
 malefactor in queftion, fome clerks and menial 
 fervants. To the care of Hunter was committed 
 the education of the two fons ; and for a confi- 
 derable time he difcharged his duty in a manner 
 highly fatisfactory to the parents, who confidered 
 him as a youth of fuperior genius, and great good* 
 nefs of heart. 
 
 But it happened that a connection took place 
 between Hunter and the young woman above- 
 mentioned, which foon increated to a criminal 
 degree of familiarity-, however the correfpond- 
 cnce between them was maintained for a confider- 
 able time, during which the family was totally 
 ignorant of the affair. 
 
 Thefe love's had gone on undetected fo long, 
 that they grew daily lefs cautious than at the 
 commencement of their amour ; and on a parti- 
 cular day, when Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were on a 
 
 vifit,
 
 REV. THO. HUNTER for Murder. 3 1 
 
 vifit, Hunter and his girl met in their chamber as 
 ufual : but having been fo incautious as not to 
 make their door fail, the children went into the 
 room, and found them in fuch a fuuation as could 
 not admit of any doubt of the nature of their 
 intercourfe. 
 
 No fufpicion was entertained that the children 
 would. mention to their parents what had happen- 
 ed ; the eldeft boy being not quite ten years of 
 age : fo that the guilty lovers had not the leafl idea 
 that a difcovery would enfue ; but when the chil- 
 dren were at iupper with their parents, they dif- 
 clofed fo much as left no room to doubt of what 
 had happened. Hereupon the female fervant was 
 directed to quit the houie on the following day -, 
 but Hunter was continued in the family, after 
 making a proper apology for the crime of which 
 he had been guilty, attributing it to the thought- 
 lefihefs of youth, and promifing never to offend 
 in the fame way again. 
 
 Hunter from this period entertained the moft 
 inveterate hatred to all the children, on whom he 
 determined in his own mind to wreak the moft 
 diabolical vengeance. Nothing lefs than murder 
 was his intention ; but it was a confiderable time 
 after he had formed this horrid plan before he had 
 an opportunity of carrying it into' execution-, which 
 he at length in a great degree effected, as will be 
 feen hereafter. 
 
 Whenever it was a fine day, he was accuftomed 
 to walk in the fields with his pupils for an hour 
 before dinner , and in thefe excursions the young 
 lady generally attended her brothers. At the 
 period immediately preceding the commifTion of 
 the fatal fact, Mr. .Gordon and his family were 
 at their country retreat very near Edinburgh ; and 
 having received an invitation to dine in that city, 
 
 he
 
 5 2 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 he and his lady propofed to go thither about the 
 time that Hunterufually took his noon-tide walk 
 with the children. Mrs. Hunter was very anxious 
 for all the children to accompany them on this 
 vifk ; but this was ftrenuoufly oppofed by her 
 hufband, who would confent that only the little 
 girl fbould attend them. 
 
 By this circumftance Hunter's intention of mur- 
 dering all the three children was fruftrated ; but 
 he held his relblution of deftroying the boys while 
 they were yet in his power. With this view he 
 took them into the fields, and fat down as if to 
 repcfe himfelf on the grafs. This event took 
 place loon after the middle of the month of Auguft, 
 and Hunter was preparing his knife to put a period 
 to the live" of the children, at the very moment 
 they xvere bufied in catching butterflies, and ga- 
 thering wild flowers. 
 
 Having fharpened his knife, ne called the lads 
 to him, and having reprimanded them for ac- 
 quainting their father and mother of the fcene to 
 which they had been witneffes, he faid that he 
 would immediately put them to death. Terrified 
 by this threat, the children ran from him : but he 
 immediately followed, and brought them back. 
 He then placed his knee on the body of the one, 
 while he cut the throat of the other with his pen- 
 knife j and then treated the fecond in the fame in- 
 human manner that he had done the firft. 
 
 Thele horrid murders were committed within 
 half a mile of the caftle of Edinburgh-, and ss 
 the deeds were perpetrated in /he middle of the 
 day, and in the open fields, it would have been 
 very wonderful indeed, if the murderer had not 
 been immediately taken into cultody. 
 
 At the time of the murder, it happened that a 
 gentleman was walking on the Caftle-hill of h din- 
 burgh,
 
 REV. THO- HUNTER -for Murder. 33 
 
 burgh, who had a tolerably perfect view of what 
 patted. Alarmed by the incident, the gentleman 
 called fome people, who ran with him to the 
 place where the children were lying dead : but 
 by this time the murderer had advanced towards 
 a river, with a view to drown himfelf. Thofe who 
 purfued, came up with him juft as he reached the 
 brink of the river : and his perfon being imme- 
 diately known to the.n, a mefiengerwas inftantly 
 difpatched to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, who were 
 at that moment going to dinner with their friend, 
 to inform them of the horrid deed that had been 
 perpetrated by this wicked man. 
 
 Language is too weak to defcribe the effects 
 refulting from the communication of this dreadful 
 news : the aftonifhment of the afflicted father, the 
 agony of the mother's grief, may poffibly be con- 
 ceived, though it cannot be painttd. 
 
 Mr. Hunter being now in cuftody, it is requi- 
 fite that we give an account of the proceedings 
 againft him, and of the punifhment that followed 
 his offence. 
 
 According to an old Scottifh law it was decreed, 
 that " if a murderer Ihould be taken with the 
 " blood of the murdered perfon on his cloaths, 
 " he mould be piofecuted in the IherifPs court, 
 " and executed within three days after the com- 
 c miflion of the fact." It was not common to 
 execute this fentence with rigour ; but the offln- 
 der in queftion had been guilty of crimes of fo 
 aggravated a nature, that it was not thought pro- 
 < per to remit any thing of the utmoft fcverity of 
 the law. 
 
 The prifoner was, therefore, committed to gaol, 
 and chained down to the floor all night; and on 
 the following cay the merirTiiTued his precept for 
 
 VOL. I. No. i. E the
 
 14 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 the juty to meet: and, in confequence of their 
 verdidl, i^unter was brought to his trial, when 
 he pleaded guilty -, and added to the offence he 
 had already committed, the horrid c:ime of de- 
 claring, that he lamented only the not having mur- 
 dered Mr. Gordon's daughter as well as his ions. 
 
 The fhcriffnow paffcd lentence on the convict, 
 which was to the following purpofe : that u on 
 *' the following day he mould be executed on a 
 ** gibbet eredlcd for that purpole on the fpot 
 " where he had committed the murders: but that. 
 f previous to his execution, his right h nd 
 " fhould be cut off with a hatchet, near the 
 <c wriit j that then he mould be drawn up to the 
 *' gibbet, by a rope, and, when he was dead, 
 " hung in chains between Edinburgh and Leith, 
 ** the knife with which he committed the mur- 
 " ders being ftuck through his hand, which mould 
 " be advanced over his read, and fixed therewith 
 " to the top of the gibbet.." 
 
 Mr. Hunter was executed, in ftrict conformity 
 D the above fcntence, on the 2 id of Auguff, 
 1700. BijtMr. Gordon foon afterwa ds p-tition- 
 cdthe mtriff, that the body might be removed to 
 a more diitant fpot, as its hanging on the fide of 
 the high way, through which he frequently pafled, 
 tended to re-excite his grief frr the occafion that 
 had firft given rife to it. This requifition was 
 immediately complied with, and in a few days the 
 body was removed to the fkirts of a fmall village 
 near Edinburgh, named Broughton. 
 
 It is equally true and horrid to relate, that, at 
 |he p^ce of execution. Hunter clofed his life 
 with the following mocking declaration : " There 
 f* is no God 1 do n >L believe there is any or 
 f if there is, I hold hkn in defiance."
 
 &EV. ?HO. HUNTER -for Murder. 35 
 
 Some, ferious and important reflections will na- 
 turally occur to the mind on perilling the above 
 melancholy narrative. Mr. Hunter was educated 
 in a manner greatly fuptrior to the vulgar ; and 
 he was of a profeffion that ought to have fet an 
 example of virtue, instead of a pattern of vioe : 
 yet neither his education nor profeffion could ac- 
 tuate as prevenrive remedies againft a crime the 
 moft abhorrent to all the feelings of humanity. 
 
 Hunter's firrt offence, great as it was, could be 
 confidered as no ot! er than a prologue to the dif- 
 ma) tragedy that enfued : a tragedy that was at- 
 tended with almoft every poffiblc circumftance of 
 aggravation; for Mr. and Mrs. Gordon had done 
 nothing to him that could tempt him to any 
 thoughts of revenge ; and the children were too 
 young to have offended him, even in intention j 
 they fimply mentioned to their parents a circam- 
 ftance, that to them appeared fomewhat extraor- 
 dinary ; and which, Mr. Hunter's character and 
 fituation confidered, was indeed of a very extra- 
 ord nary nature: yet, in revenge of the fuppofed 
 affront, did he refolve to embrue his hands in the 
 blood of innocents who never offended. 
 
 When we confider the conduct of Mr. and Mr$. 
 Gordon, in difcharging the young woman who 
 was guilty of a violation of the law^jpf decency, 
 and retaining in their family the j^rincipal of- 
 fender, we muft own that their partiality was ill 
 founded; this, however, mud be afcribed-to the 
 veneration in which clergymen are univerfally 
 held, and the particular regard that was fhcwn 
 towards them in Scotland at the commencement 
 of the prelcnt century. Still, however, it is an ag- 
 gravation of Hunter's crime, who ought to have 
 been- grateful in proportion as he was favoured. 
 
 E 2 K
 
 36 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 It is a mocking part of Hunter's ftory, that he 
 who was looked upon as a minifter, was one of a 
 fociety of abandoned young fellows, who occafi- 
 onally affembled to ridicule the fcriptures, and 
 make a mockery of the being and attributes of God ! 
 Is it then to be wondered that this wretch fell an 
 example of the exemplary juftice of Divine Provi- 
 dence ? Perhaps a fate no lefs dreadful attended 
 many of his companions ; but as their hiftories have 
 not reached our hands, we can only judge of the 
 eoniequences by the enormities of their crimes. 
 
 There is fomething ib indefcribably mocking in 
 denying the exiltence of that God " in whom w 
 " live, move, and have our being," that it is 
 amazing any man can be an atheift, who feels that 
 he did not create himfelf. 
 
 From this fad tale be mortals taught 
 
 The wond'rous pow'r of God, 
 And, filPd with deep repentance, bow 
 Beneath his vengeful rod ! 
 
 Narrative of the Life, and Execution of JOHN 
 COWL AND, Gentleman, at Tyburn, for the 
 Murder of Sir ANDREW SLANNING, Baronet. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the particulars of 
 this affair are ihort, they are intereftmg. Sir 
 Aftdrew Slanning having made a temporary ac- 
 quaintance with an orange-woman, while in the 
 pit at Drury Lane play-houfe, retired with her as 
 foon as the play was ended, and was followed by 
 Mr. Cowland and fome other gentlemen. They 
 had gone but a few yards before Mr. Cowland put 
 his arm round the woman's neck ; on which Sir 
 Andrew defired he would defift, as fhe was his 
 
 wife.
 
 JOHN COWLAND for Murder. 37 
 
 wife. Cowiand, knowing that Sir Andrew was 
 married to a woman of honour, gave him the lie, 
 and fwords were drawn on both fides : but fome 
 gentlemen coming up at this juncture, no imme- 
 diate ill confequence happened. 
 
 They all -now agreed to adjourn to the Rofe 
 tavern ; and Captain Wagget having there ufed 
 his utmoft endeavours to reconcile the offended 
 parties, it appeared that his mediation was at- 
 tended with fuccefs ; but, as they were going 
 up flairs to drink a glafs of wire, Mr. Cowiand 
 drew his fword, and dabbed iir Andrew in the 
 belly, who finding himfelf wounded, cried out 
 *' murder." 
 
 One of Lord Warwick's fervants now, and 
 two other perfons who were* in the houfe, ran up 
 and difarmed Cowiand of his fword, which was 
 bloody to the depth of Eve inches, and took 
 him into cuftody. Cowiand now defired to fee 
 Sir Andrew ; which being granted, he jumped 
 down the flairs, and endeavoured to make his 
 cfcape , but being purfued he was eafily re-taken. 
 Cowiand was inftantly conducted before a juf- 
 tice of the peace, who committed him ; and on 
 the 5th of December, 1700, he was tried at the 
 Old Bailey, on three indictments, the firft at the 
 common law, the fecond on the flatute of ftab- 
 bing, and the third on the coroner's inqueft for 
 the murdtr. 
 
 Every fact above mentioned was fully proved 
 on the trial ; and among other things it was de- 
 pofed, that the deceafed had pofleficd an eflate of 
 20,000! a year, and his. family became extinct by 
 his death, and that he had been a gentleman of 
 great good-nature, and by no means difpofed to 
 animofity. 
 
 Sentence
 
 38 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Sentence of death was now patted on Mr. CoW- 
 land being found guilty on the cleareft evidence, 
 and though gr^at inrereit was n ade to obtain a 
 pardon for him, he was executed at Tyburn- on th** 
 2Oth of December, 1700. 
 
 From the moment of his imprifonrru-nt to the 
 day ot his death, his behaviour was truly contrite 
 and penitent ; he pr^fefied the moft unfeigned 
 forrow for all his fins, and gave the following, 
 account of himfelf : Thac he was the fon of re- 
 putable parents, who apprenticed him to a gold- 
 fmith. That in the early part of his life he was 
 fober and religious, ftudying the fcriptures, giv- 
 ing a regular attendance on divine vvcrlhip, and 
 devoutly reflecting on his duty towards God ; but 
 that abandoning this courfe of life, he became arr 
 eafy prey to his own intemperate pafiions, and 
 proceeded from one decree of vice to another, 
 till at length he committed the horrid crime for 
 which he was jurtly doomed to fall a facrifice to' 
 she violated laws of God and his country. 
 
 On a retrofped of the above- written melan- 
 choly narrative, fame reflections will occur that,' 
 if properly attencied to, may be of iing.ular ufe to 
 the reader. The difpute which coft hir Andrew 
 Slannmg his Ihe, took ks rife from his having 
 ailbciated himfelf with a woman of l-ig~>t charac- 
 ter, wich whom Cowland thought he- had as much 
 right to make free as the baronet , but Sir An- 
 drew was originally to blame j for as he was a 
 married man, there was a greater impropriety in 
 the connection he had formed : this, however, 
 was no kind of juftificatiorr of the conduct of 
 Cowland, who could have no bufinefs to inter- 
 fere -, and his crime is greatly enhanced by his 
 having committed the murder after an apparent 
 reconciliation had taken place. To fum up our 
 
 obfer-
 
 CAFT. JOHN KIDD for Piracy. 39 
 
 obfervations in a few words -, from this fad tale let 
 married men he taught the danger [hat may enfue 
 from the fl'gheit criminal corned-ion: and let 
 young gentlemen learn to govern and moderate 
 their pafTk,rjs : fo may all parties live, an honour 
 to t;?emiclves, and a cred,t to their families and 
 friends. 
 
 Circumftantial Account of the Life, 'Trial^ Piracies^ 
 ana Execution of Captain JOHN KIDD, who 
 was banged at Execution Dock. 
 
 THE cafe of Captain Kidd, ".vhile in agita- 
 tion, engaged the 'attention of the public 
 in a very eminent degree, though the man him- 
 felf was one of the moft contemptible of the hu- 
 man race. The town of Greenock in Scotland 
 gave birth to Captain Kidd, who was bred to the 
 lea, and havin.* q it r ed his native country, he re- 
 fided at New York, where he became owner of a 
 fmall veflel, with which he traded among the pi. 
 rates, obtained a thorough knowledge of their 
 haunts, and could give a better account of them 
 than any other perfon whatever. He was neither 
 remarkable tor the excels of his courage, nor for 
 his w<mt of it. In a word, his rulirg paflion ap- 
 peared to be avarice, and to this was owing his 
 connection with the pirates. 
 
 When Kidd wa n company with thefe aban- 
 doned people he ufed to converfe and ad as they 
 did; yet at other times he won! d make fingular 
 profeflions of honefty, and intimate how eafy a 
 matter it woulu be extirpate thele people, and 
 prevent their making future depredations. 
 
 His
 
 40 NEW NEWGATE CALENDER. 
 
 His frequent remarks of this kind engaged the 
 notice of ieveral considerable piamers, who form- 
 ing a more favourable idea of him than his true 
 character would warrant, procured him the pa- 
 tronage with which he was afterwards honoured. 
 Before we enter into farther particulars refpecting 
 this man, it will be proper to fay fomething of the 
 fituation of public affairs, previous to, and at the 
 time he began to grow confpicuous. 
 
 For years paft great complaints had been made 
 of the piracies committed in the Weft-Indies, 
 which had been greatly encouraged by fome of 
 the inhabitants of North- America, on account of 
 the advantage that could be made by the purchafe 
 of effects thus fraudulently obtained. Thiscoming 
 to the knowledge of King William the Third, 
 he, in the year 1695, bellowed the government of 
 New England and New- York on the earl of Bel- 
 lamont, an Iriih nobleman of ditlinguifhed cha- 
 racter and abilities. 
 
 As foon as his Majefty had conferred this ho- 
 nour on lord Bellamont, his lordfhip began to con- 
 fider of the moft effectual method to redrefs the 
 evils complained of, and he reprefented to colonel 
 Levingfton, a gentleman who had great property 
 in New-York, that fome proper fteps fhould^be 
 taken to obviate the evils fo long complained of. 
 Jult at this junctu r e Captain Kidd was arrived 
 from New-York, in a floop of his own : him, 
 therefore, the colonel mentioned to lord Bella- 
 mont, as a bold and daring man, who was very fit 
 to be employed againlt the pirates, as he was per- 
 fectly well acquainted with the places which they 
 reforted at. 
 
 This plan met with the fulleft approbation of 
 his lordfliip, who knowing how defirous the king 
 
 was
 
 Captain KIDDfor Piracy. 4t 
 
 was that this neft of pirates fhould be deftroyed, 
 mentioned the affair to his majefty, who greatly 
 applauded the defign, and recommended ic to the 
 notice of the board of admiralty. The commil- 
 fioners likewife approved it -, but fuch were then 
 the hurry and eonfufion of public affairs, that, 
 though the defign was approved, no dtps were 
 taken towards carrying it into execution. 
 
 The t ran factions on this head being imparted 
 to colonel Levingftor, he made an application to 
 lord Bellamont, and informed him, that, as the 
 affair would not well admit of delay, ir was wor- 
 thy of being undertaken by fome private perfons 
 of rank and diftinctron, and carried into execu- 
 tion at their own expence, notwithftanding public 
 encouragement was denied ir. 
 
 Lord Bellamont approved of this project-, but 
 it was attended with confiderable difficulty: at 
 length, however, the lord chancellor Somers, the 
 duke of Shrewfbury, the earl of Romney, the 
 earl of Oxford, and fome other perfons, wirh co^- 
 lonel Levingfton, arfd captain Kidd, agreed to 
 raife 6oool. for the expence of the voyage; and 
 the colonel and captain were to have a fifth of the 
 profits of the whole undertaking. 
 
 'I his plan was fo highly approved of by king 
 William, who thought it would produce fuch 
 great advantages to his fubjects, that he promiled 
 to contribute to its fuccefs , and therefore a re- 
 fer ve was agreed to be made of a tenth part of 
 the effects feized from the pirates, for the ufe of 
 his majeily : but after the contract was concluded,- 
 the king could not fpare his Ihare of the money, 
 and therefore the whole was advanced by the 
 above-mentioned perfons. 
 
 VOL. I. No. i. F Mattel
 
 42 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR, 
 
 Matters being thus far adjufted, a commiflion 
 in the ufual form was granted to captain Kidd, to 
 taloe and feize pirates, and bring them tojuftice; 
 but there was no fpecial claufe or provifo to re- 
 ftrain his conduct, or regulate the mode of his 
 proceeding. Kidd was known to lord Bellamont, 
 and another gentleman prefented him to lord 
 Romney. With regard to the other parties con- 
 cerned, he was wholly unacquainted with them ; 
 and fo ill was this affair conducted, that he had 
 no private inftruction how to ad, but received 
 his failing orders from lord Bellamont, the purport 
 of which was, that he mould act agreeable to the 
 letter of his commiflion. 
 
 Accordingly a veflel was purchafed and manned, 
 and received the name of the Adventure Galley : 
 and in this captain Kidd failed for New York, 
 towards the clofe of the year 1695, and in his paf- 
 fage made a prize of a French fhip. From New- 
 York he failed to the Madeira iflands, thence to 
 Bonavifto and St. Jago, and from this laft place 
 to Madagafcar. He now began to cruife at the 
 entrance of the Red Sea, but not being fucccfsful 
 in thofe latitudes, he failed to Calicut, and there 
 took a fhip of one hundred and fifty tons burthen, 
 which he carried to Madagafcar, and difpofed of 
 there. 
 
 Having fold his prize, he again put to fea, 
 and at the expiration of five weeks took the Que- 
 dah Merchant, a fhip of above four hundred tons 
 burthen, the mailer of which was an Englifhman, 
 named Wright, who had two Dutch mates on 
 board, and a French gunner, but the crew con- 
 lifted of Moors, natives of Africa, and were 
 about ninety in number. 
 
 This
 
 Captain KIDD for Piracy. 43 
 
 He carried this (hip to St. Mary*s, near Ma- 
 dagafcar, where he burnt the Adventure galley, 
 belonging to his owners, and divided the lading 
 of the Quedah Merchant with his crew, taking 
 forty mares to himfelf, They then went on 
 board the laft mentioned fhip, and failed for the 
 Weft-Indies. It is uncertain whether the inhabi- 
 tants of the Weft-India iflands knew that Kidd 
 was a pirate , but he was refufed refrefhments at 
 Anguilla anch$t. Thomas's, and therefore failed 
 to Mona, between Porto-Rico and Hifpaniola, 
 where, through the management of an Englifh- 
 man named Bolton, he obtained a fupply of pro- 
 vifions from Curacoa. He now bought a (loop 
 of Bolton, in which he flowed great part of his ill- 
 gotten effects, and left the Quedah Merchant with 
 eighteen of the {hip's company, in Bolton's care. 
 While at St. Mary's, ninety men of Kidd's crew 
 left him, and went on board the Mocha Merchant, 
 an Eaft-India fhip, which had juft then com- 
 menced pirate. 
 
 Kidd now failed in the floop, and touched at 
 feveral places, where he difpoled of a great part 
 of his cargo, and then fleered for Bofton in New 
 England. In the interim, Bolton fold the Quedah. 
 Merchant to the Spaniards, and immediately fail- 
 ed as a pafianger in a fhip for Bofton, where he 
 ariived a confiderable time before Kidd, and gave 
 information of what happened to lord Bellamonr, 
 then the refident governor. 
 
 Kidd, therefore, on his arrival, was feized by 
 order of his lordfhip ; when all he had to urge in 
 his defence was, that he thought the Quedah Mer- 
 chant was a lawful prize, as Ihe was manned with 
 Moors, though there was no kind of proof that 
 this vefTel had committed any ad of piracy. 
 
 F 2 Upon
 
 44 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Upon this the earl of Bellamont immediately 
 ,difpatched an account to England of the circum^ 
 (lances that haxi arifen, and requefted that a fhip 
 might be fent for Kidd, who had committed feve- 
 ral other notorious acts of piracy. The (hip Ro- 
 chefter was accordingly font to bring him to Eng- 
 land -, but this vcffel happening to be djiatfled, 
 was obliged to return , a circumftance which 
 greatly increafed a public clamour which had for 
 Tome time fubfifte'd refpecting this affair. 
 
 IE is not to b-j doubred, but this clamour took 
 its rife from party prejudice j yet it was carried 
 to fuch a height, that the members of parlia- 
 ment for feveral places were inftrufted to move 
 the houfe for an enquiry into the affair ; and 
 accordingly it was moved in the houfe of com^ 
 mons, that " The letters patent, granted to the 
 44 earl of Bellamont and others, refpccting the 
 ** goods taken from pirates; were dilhonourable 
 " to the king, againtt the law of nations, con- 
 " trary to the laws and ftatutes of this realm, an 
 " invafion of property, and deftruftive to com- 
 f* merce." Though a negative was put on this 
 motion, yet the enemies of lord Somers and the 
 earl of Oxford continued to charge thofe noble- 
 men with giving countenance to pirates j and it 
 was even insinuated that the earl of Brllamont was 
 nptlefs culpable than the actual offenders. 
 
 Another motion wa* accordingly made in the 
 houfe of commons, to addrefs his Enajefty, that 
 ^ Kidd migjit not be tried till the next fefTion of 
 " parliament, and that the earl of Bellamont 
 ^ might be directed to fend home all examina- 
 *' tions and other papers relative to the affair.'* 
 This motion was, carried, and the king complied 
 \yith the requeft, which was made. 
 
 As,
 
 Captain KIDD for Piracy. 45 
 
 As foon as Kidd arrived in England, he was 
 lent for and examined at the bar of the houfe or.' 
 commons, with a view to fix part of his guilt on 
 the parties who had been concerned in lending 
 him on the expedition : but nothing arofe to cri- 
 minate any of thofe diftinguifhed perfons. Kidd, 
 who was in fome degree intoxicated, made a very 
 contemptible appearance at the bar of the houfe ; 
 on which a member, who had been one of the 
 mod earneft to have him examined, violently ex- 
 claimed, " D n this fellow, 1 thought he had 
 " been only a knave ; but unfortunately hehap- 
 *' pens to be a fool likewife." 
 
 Kidd was at length tried at' the Old Bailey, 
 and was convicted on the cleareit evidence : but 
 neither at that time nor afterwards, charged any 
 of his employers with being privy to his infa- 
 mous proceedings. 
 
 He was hanged at Execution-Dock on the 23d 
 day of May, 1701 ; but a circumftance hap- 
 pened at his execution that will be worthy of re- 
 cital. After he had been tied up to the gallows, 
 the rope broke, and he fell to the ground ; but 
 being immediately tied up again, the ordinary, 
 who had before exhorted him, defired to fpeak 
 with him once more ; and on this fecond applica- 
 tion, entreated him to make the moft careful ufe 
 of the few' farther moments thus providentially 
 allotted him for the final preparation of his foul 
 to meet vs important change. Theftr exhorta- 
 tions appeared to have the wifhed for effect ; and 
 he was left, profcffing his charity to all the world, 
 and his hopes of falvation through the merits of 
 his Redeemer. 
 
 In this manner ended the life of captain Kidd, 4 
 man who, if he had entertained a proper regard to 
 the welfare of the public, or even to his own ad- 
 vantage,
 
 46 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 vantage, might have become an ufeful member 
 of iociety, inftead of a difgrace to it. The op.- 
 portunities he had obtained of acquiring a com- 
 plete knowledge of the haunts of the pirates, ren- 
 dered him one of rhe moft proper men in the world 
 to have extirpated this neft of villains ; but his 
 own avarice defeated the generous views of fome 
 of the greateft and moft diitinguifhed men of the 
 age in which he lived. Hence we may learn the 
 deftructive nature of avarice, which generally 
 counteracts all its own purpofes. Captain Kidd 
 might have acquired a fortune, and rendered ma- 
 terial fervice to his country, in a point the mod 
 eflential to its interests-, but he appeared to be dead 
 to all thofe generous fenfations which do honour 
 to humanity ; and ma r erially injured his country, 
 while he was bringing final difgrace on himfelf. 
 
 The hiftory of this wretched malefactor will 
 effectually imprefs on the mind of the reader the 
 truth of the old obfervation, that " Honefty is 
 " the beft policy." 
 
 Henceforth let honour's path be trod, 
 
 Nor villains feek in vain 
 To mock the facred laws of God, 
 
 And give their neighbours pain. 
 
 Account of the Life, Execution, &f. of DARBY MUL- 
 LINS whofuffered death at Execution-Dock -with 
 Captain Kidd for Piracy. 
 
 TVARBY MULLINS, the unfortunate fubject 
 ^*r> of this fhort narrative, was born in a village 
 in the north of Ireland, about fixteen miles from 
 Londonderry. 
 
 He refided with his father, and followed the 
 bufinefs of hufbandry, till he was about eighteen 
 
 years
 
 DARBY MULLINS for Piracy. 47 
 
 years of age, when the old man died, and the 
 young one went to Dublin , but he had not been 
 long there before he was enticed to go to the 
 Weft-Indies, where he was fold to a planter, with 
 whom he refided four years. 
 
 The above-mentioned term being expired, 
 he became his own irrefter, and thereupon fol- 
 lowed the bufinefs of a waterman , by this he 
 faved money enough to purchafe a fmall veffel, in 
 which he traded from one iftand to another, till the 
 time of the dreadful earthquake at Jamaica, in the 
 year 1691, from the effects whereof he was pre- 
 ferved in a mod miraculous manner. 
 
 Some fhort time after this he built himfelf a 
 houfe at Kingfton, and, having now a wife and 
 family, he opened his new habitation as a punch- 
 houfe, which, in general, is a very profitable bu- 
 finefs in that ifland -, but it did not prove fo to 
 Mullins, who thereupon took his pafiage to New- 
 York, where he refided two years, and then failed 
 to the Madeiras, where he remained only three 
 weeks. On his return to New- York he buried 
 his wife, and finding himfelf not in circumftances 
 to keep houfe any longer, he purchaled a boat of 
 twenty tons burthen, in which he carried from one 
 part of the country to another wood for firing. 
 
 He laboured for a while in this way with iome 
 fuccefs ; but unhappily falling into company 
 with Kidd, andibme of his companions, they per- 
 fuaded him to engage in their piratical practices : 
 urging that their intention being to rob only the 
 enemies of chriftianity, the adl would be not only 
 lawful but laudable. 
 
 In confequence of his fatal compliance, he was 
 tried at the fame feffions as Kidd, and being le- 
 gally convicted, on the 23d of May 1701, fuffcred 
 death with him at Execution-Dock. 
 
 We
 
 48 NEW NEWGATE CALFNDAR. 
 
 We may learn from the fate of this offender, the 
 fin and danger of quieting an honeft employment 
 to engage in a buiinels of a contrary nature. We" 
 likewife fee the fallacy of thofe fpecious pretences 
 by which Mullins was prevailed to embark in 
 one of the vileft fpecies ot robbery. He was told 
 that it was no crime to plunder an infidel, If he 
 had reflected but a moment, he muft have been 
 convinced that it was equally contrary to the laws 
 of his country, and the fpirit of chriftianity : but, 
 in fact, he did not give himfelf time to reflect ; be- 
 ing feduced by the bad example of others : fo 
 true is the apoftolical obfervation, " Evil com- 
 *' munications corrupt good manners." 
 
 . 
 
 Account of the Partntage^ Life? Execution^ &c. of 
 HERMAN STKODTMAN, who fuffered at 
 'Tyburn for the Murder of PETER WOLTER. 
 
 HENRY STRODTMAN, who came of x 
 good family, was born at Revel, in Lifland, 
 about the year 1683. His parents, who were of 
 a religious difpofition, gave him a libeial and pi- 
 ous education. 
 
 He was ftrnt by his father to' fcho'ol at Lubeck 
 in the year 1694, where he remained till Michael- 
 mas 1698. At this period he wefit to Ham- 
 burg, where he continued fome months, and then 
 in company with a young countryman of his, 
 named Peter Wolter, embarked for England: 
 and oi) their arrival in London, they were both 
 bound apprentices to Meffieurs Stein and Loricn, 
 merchants and partners. 
 
 Both thefe young gentlemen lived together in 
 great harmony for a confiderable time , but in the 
 month of Auguft preceding the fatal tragedy of
 
 HERMAN STRODTMAN /or M/h/er. 49 
 
 \\hich we;are about to recite the particulars, Mr. 
 Dorien was married to the lifter of Peter Wolter. 
 
 Hereupon the latter began to afl'ume airs of 
 confequence, and behaved with fo much infolencc 
 to Strodtman, that his pride took the alarm. 
 They had feveral quarrels, and Wolter beat 
 Strodtman twice; at one time in the compting- 
 houfe, and at' another before the fervant-girls in 
 the kitchen. Wolter likewife traduced Strodtman 
 to his matters, who thereupon denied him the 
 liberty and other gratifications that were allowed 
 to his fellow-'prentice. Hereupon Strodtman 
 conceived an implacable hatred againft him, and 
 refolvcd to murder him in fome way or other. 
 His firft intention was to have poifoned him ; and 
 with this view he mixed fome white mercury with 
 a white powder which Wolter .u fed to keep in a 
 glafs in his bed-room, as a remedy for the fcurvy : 
 but this happening to be done in the midft of 
 winter, Wolter had declined taking the powder; 
 fo that the other thought of deftroying him by the 
 more expeditions method of {tabbing. 
 
 This fcheme, however, he delayed from time 
 to time, while Wolter's pride and arrogance en- 
 creafed to fuch a degree, that ihe other thought 
 he fhould at length be tempted to murder him in 
 light of the family. Hereupon Strochiuan de- 
 iired one of the maids to intimate to his matters 
 his inclinations to be lent to the Well- Indies; but 
 no anfvver being given to this rcquetl, Sirodtman 
 grew fo uneafy, and his enmity againii his fellow- 
 'prentice encreafed to fuch a degree, that the 
 Dutch maid, obferving the agitation of his mind, 
 advifed him to a patient fubmirlion to his luna- 
 tion, as the molt probable method of fecuring 
 his future, peace. Unfortunately he paid no re- 
 gard to this good advice; but determined on* the 
 
 VOL. I. No. 2. G execution
 
 50 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR, 
 
 execution of the fatal plan which afterwards led 
 to his deftruclion. 
 
 On the morning of Good-Friday Strodtman 
 was fent put on bufinefs ; but inftead of tran& 
 acting it, he went to Qreenwich ? with an inten- 
 tion of returning on Saturday, to perpetrate the 
 murder; but reflecting that his fellow-'prentice 
 was to receive the facrament on Eafter- Sunday, 
 he abhorred the thought of taking away his life 
 before he had partaken of the Lord's fupper ; 
 wherefore he fent a letter to his matters on the 
 Saturday, in which he aflerted that he had been 
 impreflTed, and was to be lent to Chatham on Eaf- 
 ter-Monday, and put on board a fhip in the royal 
 navy: but while he was at Greenwich he was 
 met by a young-gentleman who knew him, and 
 who, returning to London, told Mefiieurs Stein 
 and Porien, he believed that the itory of his be- 
 ing imprefled was all invention. Hereupon Mr. 
 Stein went to Chatham, to enquire into the real 
 Dilate of the cafe ; when he difcovered that "the 
 young gentleman's fufpicions were but too well 
 founded. 
 
 .Strodtman went to the church at Greenwich 
 twice on Easier-Sunday, and on the approach of 
 evening came to London, and flept at the Dol- 
 phin-inn, in Bifhopfgate-ftreet. On the follow- 
 ing day he returned to Greenwich, and continued 
 either at that place or at Woolwich and the 
 neighbourhood till Tuefday, when he went to 
 London, lodged in Lombard- ftreet, and returned 
 to Greenwich on the Wednefday. 
 
 Coming again to London on the evening of the 
 fucceeding cfay, he did not return any more to 
 Greenwich, but going to the houfe of his maf- 
 ters, he told them that what he had written was 
 true, for that he had been preffed. They gav 
 
 no
 
 HERMAN STROmUti$--for Murder. 51 
 
 no credit to this tale, but told him they had en- 
 quired into the affair, and bid him quit their 
 houfe. This he did, and took lodgings in Moor- 
 fields, where he lay on that and the following 
 night, and on the Saturday he took other lodgings 
 at the Sun in Queen-flreet, London. 
 
 Before the preceding Chriftmas he had pro- 
 cured a key on the model of that belonging to 
 his matter's houfe, that he might go in and out 
 at his pleafure. Originally he intended to have 
 made no worfe ufe of this key; but it beinsj ftill 
 in his pofleffion, he let himfelf into the houfe 
 between eight and nine o'clock in the evening of 
 the Saturday lall mentioned ; but hearing the 
 footfleps of fome perfon going up flairs, he con- 
 cealed himfelf behind the door in the paffage. 
 As foon as the noife arising from this circuin- 
 flance was over, he went up one pair of ftairs to 
 a room adjoining the cbmpting-houfe, where he. 
 ufed to fleep, and having found a tindor.box, he 
 lighted a candle, and put it into his mailer's 
 dark lanthorn, which he carried up flairs, to an 
 empty room next to that in which Peter Wolter 
 ufed to lay. Here he continued a (hort time, 
 when hearing fomebody coming up ftairs, he put 
 out his candle, and fell afleep foon afterwards. 
 
 Awaking about twelve o'clock he liflened for 
 awhile, and hearing no noife, he imagined that 
 the whole family were faft afleep. Hereupon he 
 defcended to the room on the firfl floor, where 
 the tinder-box lay ; and having lighted his can- 
 dle, he went to the 'compting-noufe, and took a 
 fum of money, and feveral noies and bills. 
 
 This being done, he took a piece of wood 
 with which they ufed to beat tobacco, and going 
 up flairs again, he haflily entered the room where 
 Peter Wolter was afleep, and advancing to ius 
 
 G 2 bed-
 
 5 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 bed-fide, ft ruck him violently on the head ; and 
 though his heart in forne degree failed him,- yet 
 he continued his firokes. As the wounded youth 
 groaned much, he took the pillow, and laying it 
 on his mouth, fat dowo on the fide of the bed, 
 and prefTed it hard with his elbow/ till no appear- 
 ance of life remained. 
 
 Perceiving Wolter to be quite dead, he fearch- 
 ed his chefl of drawers and pockets, and took as 
 much money as, with what he had* taken from 
 his mafteis, amounted to above eight pounds* 
 lie then packed up fome linen and woollen 
 cloaths, and going down one pair of flairs, he 
 threw his bundle Into a houfe that was uninha- 
 bited. 
 
 He then went up flairs again, and having cut 
 his candle, lighted both pieces, one of which he 
 placed in a chair clofc to the bed curtains, and 
 the other on a che.ft ( of drawers^, with a view to 
 have fet the houfe on fire, to conceal the robbery 
 and murder of which he had been guilty. This 
 being done, he went through a window into the 
 houfe where he had thrown his bundle ; and in 
 this place he ftaid-till five in the morning, when 
 he took the bundle with him to his lodgings in 
 Queen-ftreet, where he fhifted his apparel, and 
 vent to the Sweedifh church in Trinity-Lane. 
 After the worfhip of the congregation was ended, 
 he heard a bill of thanks read, which his matters 
 had fcnt, in devout acknowledgement of the nar- 
 row efcape that themfelves and their neighbours 
 had experienced from the fire. Struck by^ this 
 circumstance, Strodtman burft in tears, but he 
 endeavoured as much as poffible to conceal his 
 emotion from a gentleman who fat in the fame 
 j>ew with him, and who, on their coming out of 
 the church, informed him that the houfe of 
 
 Meilieurs
 
 HERMAN STRODTMAN -for Murder. 53 
 
 Meffieurs Stein and Doricn narrowly efcaped be- 
 ing burnt the preceding night, by an accident 
 then unknown ; but that the deftruclion was pro- 
 videntially prevented by a Dutch maid fmclling 
 the fire and feeing the fmoke, fo that on her 
 alarming her matter, the flames were extinguished 
 by a pail of water. 
 
 Strodtman made an appointment to meet the 
 gentleman who gave him this information, on 
 the outer walks of the Royal-Exchange, in the 
 afternoon, to go to the Dutch church in the Sa- 
 voy : but the gentleman not coming to his time, 
 he went alone to Stepney church, and after fcr- 
 vice was ended, he walked towards Mile-End, 
 where he faw the two Dutchmen* who had been, 
 hung in chains. The fight gave him a (hocking 
 idea of the crime of which he had been guilty, 
 and he reflected that he might foon become a like 
 horrid fpcc^acle to mankind. Hence he proceed- 
 ed to Blackwall, where he faw the captain of a 
 French pirate hanging in chains, which gave frefh 
 force to the gloomy feelings of his mind, and 
 again taught him to dread a fimilar fate. After 
 having been thus providentially led to the fight of 
 objects which he wouldotherwife rather havcavoid- 
 ed, he returned to his lodgings in great dejection 
 of mind, but far from repenting or even being 
 properly fenfible of the crime he had committed ; 
 tor, as he himfelf faid,." his heart did not yet re- 
 ' c lent for what he had done, and if he had failed 
 ** of murdering his fellow -'prentice in his bed, he 
 <c fhould have dejftroyed him fome other way." 
 
 . * Thefe muft have been Michael Van-Berghen, 
 and his feryant Drqmelius. 
 
 On
 
 54 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 On his return to his lodgings he ate his Tapper, 
 faid his prayers, and went to bed. On the fol-, 
 lowing morning he went to the White Horfe Inn 
 without Cripplegate, to receive cafli for a bill 
 of twenty pounds which he had ftolen from his 
 matters' houfe ; but the perfon who was to have 
 paid it being gone out, he was defired to call 
 again about twelve o'clock. In the interim he 
 went to the houfe of a banker in Lombard-ftreet, 
 who requefted him to carry fome money to his 
 (the banker's filter, who was at a boarding- 
 fchool at Greenwich. Strodtman faid he could 
 not go till the following day, when he would 
 execute the commiflion : but before he left the 
 houfe the banker told him that a young man, 
 named Green, had been to enquire for him ; on 
 which Strodtman faid that if Mr. Green re- 
 turned, he fhould be informed that he would 
 come back at one o'clock. Hence he went again 
 to the White Horfe Inn, where he found the 
 party, who told him that he had no orders to pay 
 the money for the bill. 
 
 Having received this anfwer, he went to his 
 lodgings, where he dined, and then went to the 
 banker's in Lombard-ftreet, where his mailer 
 Stein, with Mr. Green and another gentleman/ 
 were wailing for him. Mr. Stein afked him if 
 he would go willingly to his houfe, or be carried 
 thither by porters: and he, replied that he would 
 go of his own accord. When he came there he 
 was alked fome queftions refpecling the atro- 
 cious crimes of which he had been guilty ; but 
 perilling that he was innocent, he was fearched, 
 and the 201. bill found in his poffeffion. They 
 then enquired where he lodged; to which he 
 infwered in Moorfields; whereupon they ail 
 
 went
 
 HERMAN STRODTMAN ; for Murder. 55 
 
 went thitber together; but the people denied his 
 lodging t-jc at that time. 
 
 Mi . St in, finding him unwilling to fpcak the 
 truth, told him that if he would make a full dif- 
 covery, he (hould be lent abroad, out of the 
 roach of jutfice. Hereupon he mentioned his 
 real lodgings; on which they went thither in a 
 coach, and finding the bills and other (iolcip 
 effects Strodtman was carried before Sir Hum r 
 phry Edwin, who committed him to Newgate, 
 on his own confeffion. 
 
 He \vas not tried at the nYft feffions after his 
 commitment, and in the interval that he lay in 
 ptiion /ome bad people who were confined there 
 trumpted up an iJlc tale for him i& tell when he 
 came to trial, and prevailed on him to plead not 
 guilty ; a circumftance which he afterwards fin* 
 cerely repented oi. On his trial, however, there 
 were lo many corroborative proofs of his gwjt, 
 that the jury could not beiitate to convict him, 
 and he received the fentence awarded by law. 
 
 While he \vas under fentence of death, his be- 
 haviour was remarkably contrite and penitent; 
 and when the Ordinary of Newgate told him; 
 that the warrant for his execution was come 
 down, and that he would luher in a few days, 
 he faid, " The Lord's wiil be done ! 1 am will- 
 " ing to die, only I beg of God that I may not, 
 " (&b I de(erve) die an eternal dcaih ; and that 
 " though I die here, tor my moft heinous and 
 (l enormous crimes, yet I may, for the love of 
 " Chrift, live eternally with him in heaven:" to 
 which he added, " God blcfs tiie king, and all 
 " my honourable judges : they have done, me 
 no wrong; but 'tis 1 have done great wrong. 
 " The Lord be merciful 10 me a great firmer^ 
 " clfe I perifh. 
 
 At
 
 . . 
 
 56 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 At times he Teemed to defpair, becaufe he 
 feared that his repentance was -not equal to his 
 guilt ; but then again his mind was occafionally 
 warmed with the hope that his penetance was 
 fuch as would lead to falvation. 
 
 When at the place of execution he acknow- 
 ledged his crime, for which he profefled the fin- 
 cereft forrow arfd repentance : he begged pardon 
 of God for having endeavoured, with prefu'mp- 
 tuous lies to conceal thofe crimes, which being 
 punifhed in this world, his eternal puniihment in 
 the next might be avoided. He died fall of 
 contrition, penitence, and hope ; and fuftercd 
 at Tyburn, on the IStk of June, 1/01 ; and it 
 was remarked that he kept his hands lifted up 
 for a considerable time after the cart was drawn 
 5 way. 
 
 1 here are fome very remarkable circumftemce^ 
 in the cafe of Herman Strodtman, which are well 
 worthy of obfervation : The prudence of the 
 Dutch maid, who, when ihe obferved the agita- 
 tion of his mind,, advifcd him to bear prcfent evils 
 with refolution, in the hope of future peace. The 
 doctrine inculcated by this honeft girl ought not 
 to be defpifcd even by the wifeft of men. 
 
 Strodtman's refolution not to murder Wblter 
 till he had received. th.e facrament has fomething 
 fhockingly ftriking in it. We are at once 
 charmed and amazed at the influence religion 
 has on the mind. A man is determined to com- 
 mit murder, but will defer the fatal flroke till 
 he thinks the foul of his adverfary is properly 
 prepared for eternity ! Hence let parents be 
 taught the neceffity of impreffing the precepts of 
 religion on the minds of their children. Even a 
 man while he retained the refolution of com- 
 mitting deliberate murder could not forget that 
 
 there
 
 HERMAN STRODTMAN for Murder. 57 
 
 there is a God to reward the pious, as well as 
 punim the wicked. 
 
 Strodlman's mader, Stein, going to Chatham, 
 to enquire if he had been really imprefled, and 
 finding that he had not, is a good lefibn againd 
 the fin of lying. Nothing is fo eafy as the de- 
 te&ion of a liar 3 nothing more fcandaious than 
 the being liable to fuch detection. 
 
 Strodtman's going to church repeatedly, be- 
 fore and after the commiflion of the murder, are 
 very linking circumftances, and combine with 
 thofe above-mentioned to prove that it is impof- 
 fiblc to root from the mind that regard for reli- 
 gion which mould be planted in the years of in- 
 fancy. 
 
 His intention to fet the houfe on fire, in order 
 to conceal the robbery and murder, paints his 
 character in the word light. The incendiary is 
 one of the mod culpable of all offenders. It is a 
 great misfortune that perfons who are guilty of 
 writing incendiary letters are feldom dete6ted ; 
 but it would flill be a greater misfortune to this 
 country, if perfons of property were to be terri- 
 fied to a compliance by the threats ufually de- 
 nounced in fuch letters. Guilt is always cow- 
 ardly, and feldom carries its own threats into ex- 
 ecution. It is, however, to be hoped that the 
 legiflature of this country will ordain a law, that 
 incendiaries fhall be punifhed agreeable to the 
 lex talionis of the Romans, or the fcripiure rule, 
 <f An eye for an eye, and a tooth fora tooth." 
 
 By Strodtman's going to receive the money for 
 the bill of twenty pounds, he took the readied 
 method to convid: himfelf j for he might have 
 been certain that when the bill was miffed, pay- 
 ment would be dopped : but thus it happens, in 
 
 VOL. I. No. 2. H almoft
 
 5'8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 almoft every inftance, that villainy defeats it$ 
 own ends, and proves the pofTeflbr to be a fool. 
 
 From the whole of this malefactor's cafe, we 
 may learn^ that the direct road to happinefs is 
 through the path of integrity , and that the indul- 
 gence of violent paffions, whatever the provoca- 
 tion maybe, is equally inconfiftent with the laws 
 of reafon, and the doctrines of chriftianity. 
 
 .Particular Account of t Joe Life and Amours cf 
 MARY ADAMS, who was executed at Tyburn, 
 for privately foaling. 
 
 THIS young woman, who was the daughter 
 of a journeyman Ihoernaker, was born at 
 Reading, in Berkfhire, and, when fne was old 
 enough to go to fervice, went to live with a grocer 
 in that town. As Mary was a girl of vivacity 
 and genteel figure, me foon attracted the regard of 
 the grocer's fon, and the confequence of their COH- 
 nect ion became very confpicgous in a mort time. 
 
 As fooffrasit was ev ident that fhe was pregnant, 
 me was difmified from her mafter's fervice, on 
 which me immediately made oath that his fon was 
 the father of the child thereafter to be born; a 
 circumftance that compelled the old gentleman 
 to fupport her till after fhe'was brought to bed. 
 
 She had not been delivered Jong, before fhe 
 went to London, and entered into the fervice of 
 a mercer in Cheapfide, where, by prudent con- 
 duct, Ihe might have retrieved the character fhe 
 had forfeited i.n the country j but prudence was 
 not among die number of her virtues : for though 
 fhe had already fuffered for her indifcredon, an 
 intimacy foon fubfifted between her mafter and 
 herielf ; but as their afibciations could net con- 
 veniently
 
 MARY ADAMS-; -for Privately Stealing. 59 
 
 veniently be held at home, they contrive- to 
 meet on evenings at other places, when the mif- 
 trefs of the houfe was gone to the theatre, or out 
 on a vifit. 
 
 This connection continued till the girl was far 
 aevanced in her pregnancy j when the mafter, ap- 
 prehenfive of difagreeable confequences at home, 
 advifed the girl to quarrel with her miftrefs, in 
 order that (he might be difmified, and then took 
 a lodging ibr her at Hackney, where (he re- 
 mained till me was delivered ; and in the mean 
 time the connection between her and her mafter 
 continued as before. Being brought to bed of a 
 child that died in a few hours after its birth, the 
 mafter thought him/elf happy, fuppofing he could 
 eafily free himfelf from the incumbrance of the 
 mother, of whom he now began to be heartily 
 tired. 
 
 When the girl recovered from her lying-in, he 
 told her that (he mull go to fervice, as it did not 
 fuit him to maintain her any longer ; but this en- 
 ragec| her to the higheft degree, a-nd fhe threat- 
 ened to discover the nature of their connection 
 to his wife, unlefs he would make her a prefect 
 of twenty guineas; and with tins demand lur 
 thought it prudent to comply, happy to get rid 
 of her even on fuch terms. 
 
 Being now in poffefliori of money, and in not 
 want of cloaths in which to make a genteel ap- 
 pearance, (he removed from Hackney to Wych- 
 flreet, without Temple-bar ; but was tcarceiy fet- 
 tled in her new lodgings before fhe fent a letter 
 to the mercer's wife, \\nom (he acquainted with 
 the nature of the connection that had fub(iited 
 between her late mailer and herielf, but fhe did 
 not mention her place of abode in this leitcr. 
 
 The confequencc was, that the mercer was oh- 
 H 2 liged
 
 60 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 liged to acknowledge the crime cf which he had 
 been guilty, and folicit his wife's pardon, in 
 terms of the utmoft humiliation. This pardon 
 was promifed, but whether it was ever ratified 
 remains a doubt. 
 
 Mrs. Adams had the advantage of an engaging 
 figure, and pafling as a young widow in her new 
 lodgings, fhe was foon married to a young fellow 
 in the neighbourhood ; but it was not long before 
 he difcovered the impofition that had been put 
 on him, on which he embarked on board a fhip 
 in the royal navy. 
 
 By this time Mrs. Adams's money was almoft 
 expended j but as her cloaths \vere yet good, an 
 attorney of Clement's- Jnn took her into keeping j 
 and after Ihe had lived a fhort time with him, me 
 went to another of the fame profeiTion, with 
 whom fhe cohabited above two years , but on his 
 marr-iage fhe was once more abandoned to feek 
 her fortune. 
 
 Fertile of invention, and too proud to conde- 
 fcend to accept of a common fer vice, fhe became 
 connected with a notorious bawd of Drury lane, 
 who was very glad of her afliftance, and prornifed 
 herfelf confiderable advantage, from the afibci- 
 ation. In this fituation Mrs. Adams difplayed 
 her charms to confiderable advantage^ and was as 
 happy as any common proflitute can expect to 
 be : but alas ! what is this happinefs but a pre- 
 lude to the extremity of mifery and diftrefs ? 
 Such indeed it was found by Mrs. Adams, who 
 having been gratified by a gentleman with a con- 
 fiderable fum of money, the bawd quarrelled with 
 her refpecling the dividing of it, and a battle en- 
 fuing, our heroine was turned out of the houfoj 
 after fhe had got a black eye in the conteft. 
 
 After this 2ie ufed to parade the Park in the 
 
 day-
 
 MARY ADAMS fcr Privately Stealir.^. 61 . 
 
 day-time, and walk the ftreets in the evening, in 
 fcarch of cafual lovers j but as fhe joined the 
 practice of theft to that of incontinence, few of 
 her chance acquaintance efcaped being robbed. 
 Ske was often taken into cuftody for thefe prac- 
 tices, but continually efeaped through defel of 
 evidence. 
 
 At length an end was put to her depredations; 
 for having enticed a gentleman to a bagnio near 
 Covent-garden, flic picked his pockets of all his 
 money and a bank note to a large amount, and 
 left him while he was afleep. When the gentle- 
 man awaked, he fent immediate notice to the bank, 
 to (lop payment ; and as Mrs. Adams came foon 
 afterwards to receive the money for the note, Ihe 
 was taken into cuftody, and lodged in prifon ; 
 and being in a fhort time tried at the Oid Bailey, 
 fhe was convicted, received fentence ofdeath,and 
 was executed at Tyburn, on the i6*.h of June, 1 702. 
 After her conviction me lived in the fame gay 
 and diffipated manner that me had done before, 
 and was vitited by many of her former acquaint- 
 ance, who fupplied her with money to lupport 
 her extravagance. Agreeable to her own requeft 
 too, their miftaken bounty contributed to pur- 
 chafe her a fuit of mourning, in which me 1 was 
 executed ; and they buried her in as handfome a 
 manner as if her life had been conducted by the 
 rnles f virtue, and fhe had likewife been*a wo- 
 man of fortune; 
 
 The reflexions naturally arifing from tins cafe, 
 are fuch as we hope may prove ferviceable to our 
 readers of both fexes. This young woman fub- 
 mitting to be debauched by her matter's fon, ac 
 Heading, laid the foundation of her ruin. Hence 
 girls ot her rank of life fhould be taught never to 
 yield to unlawful felicitations : for when men
 
 62 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 above their own fphere pay addreffes to them, it 
 may reafonably be fuppofed that honourable mar- 
 riage is not intended ; and girls fhould always 
 defpife addreffes of every other kind, and ihun 
 the deluder as they would a peflilence. 
 
 When Mary Adams got a reputable fervice in 
 London, (he had a fair opportunity of recover- 
 ing her character ; and the moment her mafter 
 attempted to havefeduced her, fhe ouglit to have 
 quitted her place, Her meannefs afterwards, in 
 threatening to difcover to her miftrefs the nature 
 of the connexion between her mafter and herfelf, 
 in order to extort twenty guineas from him ; and 
 her actually doing this after me had received the 
 money, fufnciemly marks the profligacy of her 
 mjnd! 
 
 The figure the mercer made in begging pardon 
 of his wife, for his connection with the girl, 
 paints, in a ftriking light, the meannefs to which 
 a nun is liable to ftoop who violates the facred 
 laws of marriage. 
 
 The reft of Mrs. Adams's life carries its own 
 lefibn with it. The kept miftrefs, on the (light- 
 eft change in the inclination of her keeper, is 
 liable to defcend to the rank of a common woman 
 of the town; the common women are a! moft all 
 of them theives : and theft naturally leads to the 
 gallows. 
 
 The young fellow who firft debauched this 
 girl, at Reading, muft have felt great uneafmefs 
 at hearing that ihe brought herfelf to an ignomi- 
 nious end, in a great meafure through his origi- 
 naijy leducing her. But for that firft misfortune, 
 ihe might have Jived an honeft wife to a country- 
 inan of her own rank, and avoided the difgrace 
 of a fhanieful exit at Tjbwm. 
 
 The
 
 MARY ADAMS for Privately Stealing. 63 
 
 The man who thinks of feducing a poor girl, 
 fhould reflect that, bcfidcs the ruin of her, he 
 involves her unhappy parents and friends in all 
 the bitcernefs of woe ! From this melancholy- 
 tale then, let our men'and maids be taught that 
 flolen pleafurcs, though tempting to their irre- 
 gular paffions, are followed by a feries of bad 
 confequences, and end in fruitless repentance, and 
 aggravated defpair ! Let them alfo learn to honour 
 the married ftate j for " Marriage is honourable, 
 and the bed undefiled." 
 
 Hail wedded Love ! 
 Myfterious Law ! True fourcc of human OfF- 
 
 fpring ! 
 
 By thee adulterous luft was driven from Men, 
 Among the beftial Herds to range : by thee, 
 Founded in Reafon, loyal, juft, and pure, 
 Relations dear, and all the Charities 
 Of Father, Son, and Brother, firft were known. 
 
 MILTON. 
 
 Account cf THOMAS ESTRICK, who was Ex.. 
 ecitted at Tyburn for Houje -breaking. 
 
 'THOMAS ESTRICK was born in the Bo- 
 * rough of Southwark, in the year 1676. 
 His father was a currier, and inftrufted him in 
 his own bufmefs ; but the boy lhe\vcd a very 
 early attachment to pleafuies and gratifications 
 above his age, and incompatible with his fitua- 
 tion. 
 
 When ihe time of his apprentice/hip was ex- 
 pired, he was of too unfettled a difpofition to fol- 
 low his bufinefs, and therefore engaged in the 
 
 fervice
 
 64 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 fervice of a gentleman of fortune at Hackney : 
 but he bad not been long in this new place, be* 
 fore his mafter was robbed of plate, and other 
 valuable effecls, to the amount of above eighty 
 pounds. 
 
 The fact was, that Eftrick had ftolen thefe 
 effects ; but fuch was the afcendency that he had 
 obtained ever his mafter, and fuch the bafenefs 
 of his own difpofition. that he had art enough to 
 impute the crime to one of the fervant maids, who 
 was turned out of the houfe, with every circum- 
 ftance of unmerited difgrace. 
 
 Eftrick having quitted this fervice, took a 
 Ihop in Cock-Alley, near Cripplegate-church, 
 where he carried on the bufinefs to which he wa.s 
 bred 5 and while in this ftation he courted a girl 
 of reputation, to whom he was foon afterwards 
 xnarried. It mould be remarked, that he had 
 been inffigated to rob his mafter, at Hackney, by 
 feme young fellows of a profligate difpofition: 
 iid he h:;d not been married more than half a 
 year, when thefe difiblute companions threatened 
 to give him up to juftice if he refufcd to bribe 
 them to keep the fecret. 
 
 Eftrick, terrified at the thoughts of a profecution, 
 gave them his note of hand for the fum they de- 
 manded; butvvhen the note became due, he was 
 Unable to pay it -, on which he was arrefted, and 
 lay fome time in prifon ; but at length obtained 
 Ms liberty in dcfccl of the profecution of the fuit. 
 As foon as he was at large, he went to lodge 
 T^th a perfon who kept his former houfe in Cock- 
 Alley; but on taking pofleffion of his lodgings, 
 he found that a woman who lodged and died 
 in the room during his abfence, had left a box 
 containing cafh to the amount of about ninety 
 pounds. 
 
 Having
 
 THOMAS ES TRICK for Houfe-hrealdng.> 65 
 
 Having poflcfled himfelf of this fum, he open- 
 ed a fhop in Long-Alley, Moorfields j but his 
 old affbciar.es having propagated a report to the 
 prejudice of his character, he thought he fhould 
 not be fafe in that fituation ; and therefore took 
 ihipping for Holland, having previously difpofed 
 of his effects. On his arrival in Holland he found 
 DO opportunity of employing his little money to 
 any advantage; and therefore he fpent the greater 
 part of it, and then returned to his native 
 country. 
 
 It was not long after his return before he found 
 hirnfelf reduced to great diftrefs ; on which he 
 had recourfe to a variety of illegal methods to fup- 
 ply his neceflities. He was guilty of privately 
 Healing, was a houfe-breaker, a ftreet-robber, and 
 a highwayman. In a fhort time, however, the 
 career of his wickednefs was at an end. He was 
 apprehended, tried, and convi6led i and in con- 
 fequence thereof was executed at Tyburn, on the 
 loth of March, 1703, before he had attained the 
 age of tvventy-feven years. 
 
 From the particular circumftances which con- 
 tributed to bring this offender to juftice -, the HI 
 efftcb of keeping bad company may be lear.nt. If 
 he had not afibciated with young fellows of bad 
 character, he would not have been reduced to the 
 neceflity of giving his note of hand, which car- 
 ried him to a prifon, and confequently threw him 
 out of bufinefs when he feemed difpofed to get 
 an honeft living. The fame unhappy connec- 
 tion like wife obliged him to depart for Hol- 
 land, after he was a fecond time fettled; and 
 thefe circumi^inces, -in fact, contributed to his 
 final difgrace and deft ruction. Hence let youth 
 in general be taught to Cf avoid every appearance 
 
 VOL. I. No. 2. I "of
 
 66 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " of evil," and to remember that text of fciip- 
 ture, " If finners intice thee, confenc thou not." 
 
 Interefting Particulars refpecling JOHN PETER 
 DRAMATTI, who was hanged at Tyburn for the 
 Murder of his Wife. 
 
 HPHE unhappy fubje6l of this narrative was 
 *- the fon of Proteftant parents, and born at 
 Saverdun, in the county of Foix, and province 
 of Languedoc, in France. He received a reli- 
 gious education ; and when he arrived at years of 
 maturity, he left his own country on account of 
 the perfecution then prevailing there, and went 
 to Geneva. 
 
 From thence he travelled into Germany, and 
 ferved as a horfe-grenadier under the ele6tor of 
 Brandenburgh, who was afterwards king of 
 Prufila. When he had been in this fphere of life 
 about a year, he came over to England, and en- 
 tered into the fervice of lord Haverfham, with 
 whom he remained about twelve months, and 
 then enlifted as a foldier in the regiment of Colo- 
 nel De la Meloniere; and having made two cam- 
 paigns in Flanders, the regiment was ordered 
 ^into Ireland, where it was broke, in confequence 
 of which Dramatti obtained his liberty. He now 
 became acquainted with a widow, between fifty 
 and fjxty years of age, who pretending me had 
 a great fortune, and allied to the royal family of 
 France, he foon married her, oa account of her 
 fuppofed wealth and rank, and her underftanding 
 Engliih and Irilh, thinking it pruclent to have a 
 wile who could\fpeak the language of the coun- 
 try
 
 J. P. DRAMATTI fir Murder. 67 
 
 try in which he proposed to fpend the remainder 
 of }iis life. 
 
 He had not been long married before he found 
 he had been impofcd upon, for his wife had no 
 fortune at all ; on which he took a fmall houfe 
 and apiece of ground, about ten miles from 
 Cork, intending to turn* farmer: but being al- 
 together ignornnt of hufbandry, he found it im- 
 poffible to fubfift by that profefilon, on which he 
 went to Coi k, and worked as a Ikinner, being the 
 trade IQ which he was brought up. At the expi- 
 ration of a twelvemonth from his coming to that 
 city, he went to London, and offering his fer- 
 vice again to lord Haverfham, he was accepted, 
 and in this fervice he remained till the perpetra- 
 tion of the crime which brought him to a fhame- 
 ful end. 
 
 The fubftance of the narrative that Dramatti 
 gave of the caule and consequence of the murder 
 was as follows : His wife, unhappy on account 
 of their feparate refidence, vilhed to live with 
 him at lord Haverfham's, \\h\ch he rcfufed to 
 confent to, faying that his lorclfhip did not know 
 he was married. Hereupon (he entreated him to 
 quit his fervice, which he likewife refufed ; fay- 
 ing that he could not provide for himielf fo well 
 in any other fituation, and that it would be un- 
 generous to leave fo indulgent a matter. 
 
 The wife now began to evince the jealcufy of 
 her ditpofition ; and intimated that Dramatti had 
 fixed his affe6tions on fome other woman : and 
 the following circumftance aggravated the malig- 
 nant diforder that wrankled in her mind. 
 
 Dramatti being attacked by a violent fever 
 
 about the Chriftmas preceding the time that the 
 
 murder was committed, his noble mafter gave 
 
 orders that all poilible care ihould be taken of 
 
 I 2 him
 
 63 NE NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 him at his lordfhip's expence. At this period 
 Mrs. Dramatti paid a vilit to her hufband, and 
 again urged him to quit his fervice, which he 
 pofitively refufed. A fervant girl now came into 
 the room,, bringing him fome water-gruel ; and 
 the wife fufpecting that this was her rival in her 
 hufband's affections, once more entreated him to 
 leave his place ; in anfwer to which he faid he 
 muft be out of his fenfes to abandon a fituation 
 in which he was fo well provided for, and treated 
 with fuch humamity. 
 
 Dramatti having recovered of his illnefs, viftt- 
 ted his wife at her lodgings as often as. was corw 
 fiftent with the duties of his Ration ; but this not 
 being fo often as me wiihed him to come, fhe 
 grew more uneafy than before. At length lord 
 Havermam took lodgings at Kenftngton, and 
 Dramatti was fo bufy in packing up fome articles 
 on the occafion, that he had no opportunity of 
 acquainting his wife with their removal. At 
 length me learnt this circumftance from another 
 quarter; on which, enflamed to the higheft de- 
 gree of rage, me went to Kenfington, to reproach 
 her hufband with his unkindnefs to her, though 
 he declared he always maintained her as well as 
 he was able, and as a proof of it had given her 
 three guineas but a little time before the murder 
 was committed. 
 
 Frequent were the difputes between this un- 
 happy man and his wife, till, on the 9th of June, 
 Dramatti being fent to London, and his bufinefs 
 lying near Soho, he called on his wife, who lodg- 
 ed in that neighbourhood, and having been with 
 her fome time, he was about to take his leave, 
 but fhe laid hold of him and wanted to detain 
 him : but he got from her, and went towards 
 Charing-Crofs, to which place ftie followed him; 
 
 tut
 
 J. P. DRAMATTI for Murder. 69 
 
 but at length me Teamed to yie'd to bis perfuafions 
 tl a: fhe would go home, as he told her he was 
 i oiig to his lord in Spring-Gardens; but i:iftead 
 of going home, (he went an:l waited fjr hioi at, 
 er near, Hyde-Park-Gate, and in the evening he 
 found her there as he was going to Kenfingt^n:. 
 At the Park gate, fhe (topped him, and infilled 
 that he ihould go no farther unlefs he took her 
 with him; and after many words had pa fled be- 
 tween them, fhe (aid (he would go in fpite of his 
 teeth, or cite me would have his life, or he mould 
 have her's. He now left her, and went, towards 
 Chelfea: but (lie followed him :ill they came near 
 Bloody-Bridge, where the quarrel being^ehement- 
 ly renewed, me feized his neckcloth, and would 
 have fhrangled him; whereupon he heat her moil 
 unmercifully both with his cane and Iv/ord, 
 which latter he imagined Ihe broke with her hands, 
 as me was remarkable for her ftrength, and, if 
 he had been unarmed, could have eaiiiy over- 
 powered him. 
 
 Having wounded her in fo many places as to 
 conclude that he had killed her, his paffion imme- 
 diately began to fubfide, and falling on his knees, 
 he devoutly implore^ the pardon of God for the 
 horrid fin of which he had been guilty, and then 
 went to Kenfmgton, where his fellow- lervants 
 obferving that his cloaths were bloody, he faid 
 that he had beeii attacked by two mn in Hyde- 
 Park, who would have robbed him of his 'deaths; 
 but that he defended himfelf, and broke the head 
 of one of them. 
 
 This fiery was. credited for the prefent, and on 
 the following day Dramatti went to London, 
 where he heard a paper cried in the ftreets refpecl- 
 ing the murder that had been committed ; and 
 though he dreaded being taken into cuflody every 
 
 moment,
 
 yo NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 moment, yet he did not feek to make his efcape j 
 but difpatched his buftnefs in London, and re- 
 turned to Kenfington. 
 
 On the following day the fervants heard a pa- 
 per cried, refpedfting a barbarous murder that had 
 been committed near Bloody-bridge ; on which' 
 they told their lord of it, hinting that they fuf- 
 peeled Dramatti to have murdered his wife, as 
 they had been known to quarrel before, and he 
 came home the preceding evening with his fword 
 broke, the hilt of it bruifed, his cane mattered, 
 and fome blood on his cloaths. 
 
 Upon this lord Haverfham, with a.view to em- 
 ploy him, that he might not think he was fufped:- 
 ed, bid him get the- coach ready, and in the in- 
 terim fent for a conilablc, who, on fearching him, 
 found a woman's cap in his pocket, which after- 
 wards proved to have belonged to his wife. 
 
 When he was examined before a jultice of peace, 
 he confeflcd that he had committed the crime; 
 but, in extenuation of it, faid that his wife was 
 a worthlefs woman, who had entrapped him into 
 marriage, by pretending to be of (he blood-royal 
 of France, and a woman of fortune. 
 
 On his trial it appeared that he went into lord 
 Haveriham's chamber late on the night on whicli 
 the murder was committed, after that nobleman 
 -was in bedj and it was fuppofed that he had an 
 intention of robbing his lordfhip, who called out 
 to know what he wanted. Buc in a folemn decla- 
 ration Dramatti made after his convidion, he 
 ftedfailiy denied all intention of robbing his maf- 
 ter, but only went into the room to fetch a filver 
 tumbler, which he had forgot, that he might have 
 it in readinefs to take in fome affes milk in the 
 morning, for his lordfhip. 
 
 The
 
 J. P. DRAMATTI -for Uurder. 71 
 
 The body of , Mrs* Dramatti was found in a 
 ditch between Hyde-Park and Chelfea, and a 
 track of blood was feen to the diftance of twenty 
 yards, at the end of which a piece of a fword was 
 found flicking in a bank, which fitted the other 
 part of the fword in the prifoner's pofTcfiion. 
 
 The circumftances attending the murder being 
 proved to the fatisfaction of the jury, the culprit 
 was found guilty, condemned, and on the aift of 
 July, 1703, was executed at Tyburn, and yielded 
 up his life a fincere penitent, not only with re- 
 fpec~t to the crime for which he fuffered, but for 
 all others of which he had been guilty. 
 
 From the above melancholy narrative the read- 
 er is taught to fhun the vice of lying, and to dread 
 jealoufy as the moft baneful of all the difordcrs 
 of the mind. The two caufes that contributed 
 to the untimely death of this unhappy couple 
 were thofe above mentioned : by a lie the wonfan 
 feduced Dramatti to marry, and by her ill-found- 
 ed jcaloufy, and ungovernable paffion confequcnt 
 thereon, provoked him to murder. 
 
 Though nothing can be urged in extenuation 
 of a crime of fo black a dye as murder, yet one 
 can hardly help pitying a man who has been in- 
 ftigatcd to the commifiion of it, by a vile de- 
 ception in the firft inftance, and ungovernable 
 paflions in the fecond. Our young readers will 
 do well torecollecl the following lines of the pious 
 Dr. Watts: 
 
 O 'tis a lovely tiling for youth 
 To walk betimes in wifdom's way ; 
 To fear a lie, to fpeak the truth, 
 That we may truit to all they fay, 
 
 Thofe
 
 78 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Thofe in the married ftate who perufe thisfto- 
 ry will be panicuiarly ftruck with the following 
 words of the immortal Shakefpear, 
 
 The Jealous are the Damn'd : 
 
 for furely nothing can approach fo nearly to the 
 torments we fuppofe unhappy fpirits to endure in 
 a future ftate, as Che pangs of jealoufy, perpetu- 
 ally corroding the mind, and rendering the un- 
 happy fubjeclsof it conftantly uneafy with them- 
 felves, and objecls at once of the pity and derifion 
 of others. 
 
 Acccmit tf the Life, Ccnviffion and Execution #f 
 THOMAS COOK, wbejuffered at Tyburn JOT 
 the Murder cf JOHN COOPER, a Conftable, 
 in May-fair. 
 
 THOMAS COOK was the fon of a butcher, 
 a man of reputation, at Gloucefter : when 
 he was about fifteen years o~f age his father put him 
 apprentice to a barber-furgcon, in London, with 
 "tfhom he lived two years, and then running 
 
 away, engaging in thefervice of Needham, 
 
 efquire, who was page of honor to king William 
 tbe third: but his, mother writing to him, and 
 intimating, in the vulgar phrafe, that ff a gentle- 
 " man's fcrvice was no inheritance," he quitted 
 his place, and going to Gioucefter, engaged in 
 the bufinels of a butcher, being the profeflion of 
 feveral of his a/iceftors. He followed this trade 
 for fomc time, aifd ferved matter of the company 
 of butchers in his native city ; after which he 
 abandoned that bufincfs, and took an inn ; but it 
 
 does
 
 THOMAS COOK -for Murder. 73 
 
 does not appear that he was fuccefsful in it, fmce 
 he foon afterwards turned grazier. 
 
 Reftlcfs, however, in every ftatiori of life, he 
 repaired Co Londcri, where he commenced prize- 
 fighter, at Mayj-'fai'r,- a circumftance which Ird 
 to the unhappy .cataftrophe, the particulars of 
 which we are about to'rtlate. 
 
 At the period of which we are writing, May- 
 Fair was a place greatly frequented by prize* 
 fighters, thiev-es, and Women of bad character. 
 Here puppet-fiKnvs were exhibited, and hither re- 
 forted all thofe \ nc& of every kind that are a 
 
 diigra<:e to any n> i^libciurhocd. At length the 
 nuifance increafeci so-luch a degree, that qii^ert 
 Anne iflucd-her proclamation for the fuppreffion 
 of vice and immorality, with a particular view to 
 this fair; in confequence of which, the juftices of 
 the peace ifTucd their warrant to the high confta- 
 ble, who fummoned all the inferior conftables to 
 Ins afiiftance. 
 
 The conftables going to funprefs the fair, 
 Cook, with a mob of about thirty, foldiers and 
 other perfonsj ftood in defiance of the peace- 
 officers, at whom they threw brickbats, by which 
 fome of the latter were wounded. 
 
 Cooper^ the conftable, being aflive to fup- 
 prefs the rioters j Cook drew his fword and ftab- 
 bed him in the belly, and he died of the wound 
 at the expiration of four days. Hereupon Cook 
 fled to Ireland, and (as it was depofed upon his 
 trial) while he was in a public-houfe there, he 
 fwore in a profane manner, for which the land- 
 lord cenfured him, and told him there were per- 
 fons in the houfe who would take him into cuf- 
 tody for it -, to which he anfwered, " Are there 
 <f any of the informing dpgs in Ireland ? We in 
 
 VOL. L No. 2. K Lon~
 
 74 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " London drive them ; for at a fair called May- 
 tf Fair, there was a noife which I went out to 
 " fee: there were fix foldiers and myfelf the 
 " conftaMes played their parts with their ftaves, 
 <c and I played mine ; and when, the man drop- 
 fc ped, I wiped my fwprd, put it up, and 
 <f went away.'' 
 
 Cook haying repeatedly.. talked in this bpafting 
 and infolent manner, he was at length taken into 
 cuftody, and fent to Chefterj whence he was re- 
 moved by a writ of ha.be.as corpus to London ; 
 and being tried at the O.d Ba.iley a was convicted, 
 received fentence of deaffhj.Hnd was ordered for 
 execution on the ai ft of Jc; ! y,i 1703. 
 
 After conviction he folcmnly denied the crime 
 for which he had been condemned j declaring 
 that he had no fword in his hand on the day the 
 conftable was killed, and was not in the compa- 
 ny of thofc who killed him. How far he was to 
 be credited in this aflertion, or what could induce 
 him to make it, if it was not true, it is impofllble 
 to fay; but this declaration is the more extraor. 
 dinary, as he acknowledged alljiis other crimes 
 without hefitation. 
 
 Having received the facrament on the 21 ft of 
 July abovementioned, he was taken from New- 
 gate to be carried to Tyburn ; but when he was 
 get to High-Holborn, opposite Bloomibury, a 
 reprieve arrived for him till the following Fri- 
 day. When he came back to Newgate he was 
 vifited by numbers of his acquaintance, who 
 would have rejoiced with him on his narrow 
 efcapej but he declined all company, except 
 that of thofe who would afiift him in his devo- 
 . tions. 
 
 On the Friday that he was to have bcea 
 executed he received another rcfpite till the 
 
 ii tli
 
 THOMAS COOK for Murder. 75 
 
 nth of Auguft, when he underwent the fevereft 
 rigour of the law with the greateft penitence and 
 refignation. 
 
 Such is the hiftory of the fate of this man, who 
 feems to have fallen a victim to the low pafiion 
 he had imbibed for the life of a prize -lighter ; 
 for he ufed to make it his boaft, that there was 
 not a more courageous man than himfelf in the 
 world. To the credit of the prefcnt age, the 
 practice of prize-fighting is abolifhed : the bear- 
 gardens are no more : the jufticrs of the peace 
 have done much towards fuppve fling the fairs in 
 the villages in the neighbourhood of London : 
 the duration of Bartholomew-fair is abridged 
 from near three weeks to three days. Thefe are 
 great and important regulations ; ancl it is to be 
 hoped that the work of icformation will go- for- 
 ward till it is abfolutely complete, that the rifing 
 generation may be prote&ed from thofe evils t<v 
 which they are liable at all thefe. places of irre- 
 gular meeting. 
 
 May the fate of this malefactor have its proper 
 effect, in teaching youth to refrain from evil 
 company, and to affociate only with thofe by 
 whofe inftructions they may grow wifer and 
 better ! 
 
 The following is a copy of verfes written by 
 Cook, and fung by him at the place of execution; 
 which we infert, not for the fake of the poetry, 
 but as a fpecimen of the devotion of his mind. 
 
 I HOPE my death will warning give, 
 To all tint here attend, 
 And by my fad example may 
 Your Jives learn to amend. 
 Amend your lives, young men 1 pray, 
 And do no more offend 
 
 K 2 That
 
 76 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 That great and mighty God above, 
 
 Whofe kingdom hath no end, 
 He's a God that merciful is, 
 
 To all that do believe 
 In Jefus Chrift his only Son, 
 
 Who will our fins forgive. 
 Pray do repent of all your fins, 
 
 Before it is too late ; 
 And be the help of God above, 
 
 For Jefus Chrift his fake ; 
 Who fuffered death upon the crofs, 
 
 To make a recompence, 
 To all that do in him believe, 
 
 Before he did go hence. 
 Jn him i do put all my truft, 
 
 Whofe mercy is full fure, 
 Hoping my foul with him (hall dwell, 
 
 Henceforth for evermore. Amen. 
 
 " This I writ as my lafl farewell ; 
 "Hoping my foul with Chrift mail dwell/'Amen., 
 
 THOMAS COOK. 
 
 Short Narrative of the Cafe of GERALD FITZ- 
 GERALD, who was executed at Tyburn^ for 
 Murder. 
 
 ERALD FITZGERALD was the fon of a 
 capital farmer near Limerick, in Ireland, 
 where he was born in the year 167 i, and educated 
 in the Protefljant religion, his father being of that 
 perfuafion. 
 
 At the age of fifteen he came to London, to 
 learn the art of peruke making, under a relation 
 of his father's : but foon affociating himfelf with 
 
 bad
 
 GERALD FITZGERALD J or Murder. 77 
 
 bad company, he ran away from his kinfman at 
 the expiration of three years, and centered into 
 the fervice of Sir Henry Johnfon ; and had the 
 direction of the domeftic affairs of his new matter. 
 However he had not been long in this fervice 
 when his old aflbciates perfuaded him to leave it 
 on which he entered on board a man of war, and 
 \vas foon advanced to the ftation of fteward to 
 the captain. 
 
 He made fome voyages to the Eaft and Weft- 
 Indies, and on his return to England was married 
 to a relation of the captain, a young lady, whofe 
 fingular good qualities were admirably calculated 
 to give happinefs to any man who poffefled wif- 
 dom fufficient to know in what true happinefs 
 confifts. 
 
 He had not been married many months before 
 he went out as purfer to a man of war bound to 
 the Eaft Indies ; but this (hip being loft on the 
 coaft of China, he returned to England in a mer- 
 chantman, and afterwards failed as a purfer in a 
 Ihip of war, which took fomc prizes, of which 
 Fitz-Gerald received his mare. 
 
 Being again in London, he began to grow neg- 
 leclful of his wife, engaged in the vices of the 
 town, kept the worft company, and frequented 
 houfes of ill fame. In one of thefe he quarrelled 
 with a gentleman, named Fix, refpecting a wo- 
 man of the town, and a violent contention arifmg, 
 Fitz-Gerald killed the other on the fpot with his 
 fword. 
 
 For this offence he was tried at the Old Bailey, 
 and being convi61ed on full evidence, he was 
 hanged at Tyburn, on the 22d of December, 1703, 
 dying a fincere penitent for his crimes, which, 
 though aggravated in their nature, had been buc 
 pf fhort continuance. 
 
 The
 
 78 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The fate of Fitz-Gerald fhould afford a lefibn 
 of caution to youth in general, never to aflbciate 
 with women of abandoned character; and, in 
 particular, this refolution ought to be imprefled 
 on the minds of married men. This unhappy 
 malefactor was united in wedlock with a young 
 lady, whofe relation to him demanded his protec- 
 tion, and whofe fuperior virtues had every claim 
 to his tendered regard ; yet, in a rafh quarrel 
 about a woman of the town, could he murder his 
 friend, make his relations wretched, and bring 
 deftruflion on his own head. 
 
 Fitz-Gerald had been educated in a ftrift re- 
 gard to the duties of religion; but this wore off 
 by his being a conftan.t witnefs of that diffolute- 
 nefs of manners which too frequently prevails on 
 board our fhips, where it often happens that no 
 chaplain attends to perform that duty, for the 
 difcharge of which he is paid out of the wages of 
 thefcamen : a fhameful abufe, which calls for re- 
 drefs from thofe whofe ftation includes the fuper- 
 intendcnce of naval affairs ! 
 
 Relation of the fate of THOMAS SHARP, who was 
 hanged at the end of Long Acre, for murdering 
 a watchman. 
 
 THIS offender was born in the city of Exeter, 
 in the 'year 1674, and when he was ad- 
 vanced to man's eflate, he enlifted for a foldier, 
 and having ferved abroad for fomc time, the re- 
 giment he belonged to was ordered to England, 
 when Sharp foon deferting from it, commenced 
 houfebreaker, in company of a fet of vile and 
 abandoned mifcreants, who at that time com- 
 mitted
 
 THOMAS SHARP /or Murder. 79 
 
 mittecl the mod horrid depredations in the neigh- 
 bourhood of London and Weftminfter. 
 
 Sharp having committed a burglary in the 
 feoufe of Mrs. Brown of St. Giles's, was foon af- 
 terwards taken into cuitody, and being tried and 
 conviiedof the fact, fentence of death was pafTed 
 on him ; but he was afterwards pardoned, on the 
 condition of again entering into the regiment 
 from which he had deferted. 
 
 Such, 'however, was the force of that habit of 
 vice which he had acquired, that it was not long 
 before he again deferted, and returned to his for- 
 mer practices, which he carried to fuch a height, 
 that the week feldom pafled in which he was not 
 concerned in breaking open feveral houfes : and 
 this dangerous trade he and his affociates con- 
 tinued for about two years after Sharp had re- 
 ceived his pardon for the former offence j and 
 probably their depredations might have continued 
 for a confiderable time longer, but that Sharp 
 was guilty of a moft enormous crime, which ren- 
 dered his fate equally fpeedy and certain. 
 
 While he was making an attempt to break 
 open a houfc in Drury-lane, and when he had 
 nearly fucceeded, lie was feen by a watchman, 
 who immediately alarmed his brother officers of 
 the night. Sharp was ib enraged at this detec- 
 tion, that he inftantly pulled a piftol from his 
 pocket, mot the watchman dead on the fpot, and 
 endeavoured to make his efcape: but by this time 
 the other watchmen being alarmed, he was taken 
 into cuftody, detained for that night, and com- 
 mitted to Newgate on the following day. 
 
 When he was brought to his trial, the jury 
 were fully convinced of his guilt, in confequcnce 
 of which he was convicled, and lentenced to be 
 hanged at the end of Long-Acre, very near the 
 
 fpot
 
 8o NEW NEWGATE. CALENDAR. 
 
 fpot where the murder was committed; and in 
 this place he fufFered on the 22d of September, 
 1704. 
 
 The fhort leflbn to be learnt from the fate of 
 this malefactor is, to be " concent with that. 
 <c ftation. to which it has plcafed God to call us." 
 The fuuation of a private foldier is not the moil 
 agreeable ; but when a man has been ram enough 
 to enlift, he mould have .prudence enough to 
 ferve with patience and refignation till he can ob- 
 tain an honourable difcharge. 
 
 It is a clrcumflance to be lamented that the pay 
 of our common foldiers is no greater now than it 
 was more than half a century ago, though forne 
 provifions are more than doubled in price before 
 the expiration of that period. Hence, probably, 
 it arifes, that we have fuch an amazing number of 
 thieves among our common foldiers ; a number 
 much greater than is generally imagined ; for 
 when a military man is committed to Newgale for 
 trial, it is not exprefTed that he is a foldier. In 
 a word, the condition of thefe men is pitiable in 
 a high degree; and we ought to encreafe.the pay 
 of our foldiers, or lefFen the number on the pre- 
 fcnt eftabiifhment. 
 
 Incidents refpec~ting the Life and Execution of 
 JOHN SMITH, who fuffered at Tyburn for rob- 
 bing on the Highway. 
 
 JOHN SMITH was born at Winchcomb, 
 about ten miles from the city of Gloucester, 
 of honeft parents, who gave him a decent and re- 
 ligious education, and brought him up to the 
 bufmefs of peruke-making: but being of an idle 
 
 and
 
 SMITH for Highu-ay Rolbery ~ 81 
 i 
 
 and extravagant difpofition, he quitted his em- 
 ployment, and went to fca; and though he conti- 
 nued -a failor but a fhort time, yet his manners 
 became more abandoned during this fhort period. 
 
 Having quitted the naval fcrvice he became 
 intimately acquainted with a perfon of his own 
 profeflion in Chancery-lane, with whom hs 
 agreed to go and commit depreciations on the, 
 highway; and, in conlcquence of this determi- 
 nation, they fet out together on Sunday, the 2Qth 
 of October, 1704. 
 
 They proceeded as far as Paddington, where 
 they waited in expectation of feeing fome pcrfou 
 whom they might rob; and in this interval Smith 
 looked over a ftile, and feeing the gallows (which 
 was then left always (landing) at Tyburn, he was 
 ftruck with a fcnfe of the danger and ignominy 
 to which he was expoSng himfelf, and hereupon 
 he would have advifed his companion to go 
 home ; but the latter refufed fo to do, and ridi- 
 culed Smith for his timidity. 
 
 A fhort while after one Mr. Birch rode down 
 the road, whom they robbed of his mare ; and on 
 the following day Smith fot out on this mare, and 
 robbed the paflengers in three ftage-eoaches near 
 Epping-Foreft. On the next Wednefclay he com- 
 mitted depredations on three other llage-coaches 
 and a Hackney-coach, on Hounflow Heath; and 
 on the Saturday following he robbed three more 
 coaches in the neighbourhood of St. Alban's, in 
 all which robberies he did not obtain booty to 
 the amount of above twenty pounds. 
 
 On Monday, November the fixth, Smith .at- 
 tacked a gentleman's carriage on Finchley-Com- 
 mou; but being immediately purfued, he \ 
 taken into cuiiody, and being tried at the next 
 leflions held at the Old-Bji!cy, he was capitally 
 VOL. I. No. j. L con-
 
 82 NEW NEXVGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 convicled, received fentence of death, and 
 executed at Tyburn, on the 2oth of December, 
 1704, after confeffing thejuftice of his fentence, 
 and hoping that youth would take warning by 
 his fatal example, and avoid thofe practices that 
 had brought him to final ruin. 
 
 There is fomething remarkable in this malefac- 
 tor that he was a highwayman of only eight days 
 Handing at the utmoft; for the firft robbery that 
 he committed was on the 2Qth of October, and 
 the lad on the fiKth of November, as above-men- 
 tioned. 
 
 Various fermons have been preached on the 
 brevity of human life; but furely none of them 
 can ftrike the mind more forcibly than the con- 
 clufion to be drawn from the fate of this malefac- 
 tor. What a fhort period from the firft notorious 
 violation of the law, to the becoming an inftance 
 of its utmoft rigour ! 
 
 We do not often find that criminals are cut off 
 after fo very fhort a career as this man : but thofe 
 who abandon themfelves to the making unlaw- 
 ful depredations on their neighbours may be mo- 
 rally certain that they have but a fhort time to 
 live, and even that this fhort period (hall be filled 
 with care, anxiety, and perturbation. What man, 
 can reft in his bed, who lies down with the con- 
 fcioufnefs of having robbed his neighbour ? Sleep 
 Is abfolutely neceflary to the fupport of the hu- 
 man frame ; to be fure thieves may fteep when on- 
 ly overcome by drunkennefs : but even then their 
 fleep muft be difturbed ; and they muft, in the 
 language of the poet, " fear each bufh an officer. 1 * 
 A felon, convicted in his own mind, can fcarcely 
 take up a news-paper, in which he will not read 
 fomething rcfpe&ing wretches in circumftances 
 in ibme deerree correfpondin with his own. 
 
 What
 
 WILLIAM ELBY for Murder, &c. 83 
 
 What a dreadful life ! and how eafy to avoid it 
 by a ftrict adherence to the maxim, " Do unto all 
 " men, as you would they mould do unto you." 
 
 Particulars of the Life, Trial, Confeffion, and 
 Execution, &c. of WILLIAM ELBY, who was 
 hanged at Fulham, for Houfe-breaking and 
 Murder. 
 
 WILLIAM ELBY was indicted for robbing 
 the houfe of Barry, Efq. of Fulharn, 
 
 and murdering his gardener; the circutnttances 
 of which horrid tale are as follow: 
 
 This man having determined on robbing thft 
 houfe, arrived at Fulham foon after midnight, and 
 had wrenched open one of the windows, at which 
 he was getting in, when the gardener awaking, 
 came down to prevent the intended robbery. 
 
 As the gardener had a light in his hand. Elby, 
 terrified left he fhould be known, feized a knife, 
 and ftabbed him to the heart, of which uound 
 the poor man fell dead at his feet. This being 
 done, he broke open a chelt of drawers, and 
 flole about two hundred and fifty pounds, with 
 which he immediately repaired to his aiibciates in 
 London. 
 
 This Elby was naturally inclined to gaiety,and 
 drefled in a ilile much above people of his pro- 
 feflion j but being at thisjunclure in poffeflion of 
 a greater fum of money than ufuai, thofe who 
 knew him fufpecled mat it couid not have been 
 honeftly obtained ; and every one now talking 
 of the horrid murder that had been committed 
 at Fulham, the idea occurred that it had been 
 perpetrated by Elby ; and their fufpicion was 
 ftrengthened, by reflecting that he bt-jan to 
 L 2 abound
 
 84 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 abound in ca(h immediately after the murder was 
 committed. 
 
 Eiby at this period ufed to frequent a public- 
 houfc in the Strand, where being cafually in com- 
 pany, the robbery and murder at Fulham be- 
 came the fubject of converfation. Hereupon Eiby 
 turned pale, and feeing one of the company g^ 
 out of the room, he was fo terrified that he im- 
 mediately ran out of the houfe without paying 
 the reckoning. 
 
 Some fhort time after Eiby was gone, a pcrfon 
 called for him ; but as he was not there, laid he 
 would go to his lodgings. The landlord, enraged 
 that the reckoning had not been paid, demanded 
 where Jie lived, which being told, and remarked 
 by the perfon who called, he was taken into cuf-* 
 tody the>ncxt day,-and committed on fufpicion of 
 the robbery and murder. 
 
 Eiby on his trial fteadily denied the perpetra- 
 tion of the crimes with which he was charged, 
 and his conviction would have been very doubt- 
 ful, but that a woman with whom he. cohabited 
 became an evidence, and, fwore that he came 
 from Fulham with the money the morning after 
 the perpetration of the fa6h 
 
 v Some other perfonslikcwife depofcd, that they 
 faw him come out of Mr. Barry's houfe on the 
 morning the murder was committed; but as 
 they did not know what had happened, they had 
 entertained no fufpicion of him. 
 
 This circumftance being fufficient conviction, 
 , Eiby received fentence of death, and being exe- 
 cuted at Fulham on the i3th of September, 1704, 
 -was hung in chains near the place where the 
 crime was committed. 
 
 Eiby confefied that he committed the robbery, 
 and that he bad been guilty of many other crimes; 
 
 but
 
 WILLIAM ELBY for Murder, &c. 8$. 
 
 but denied bems; guilty of the murder, declaring 
 that an accomplice murdered the gardener. In 
 this, however, riot the flightelt regard could bq 
 paid to his declaration, nothing arifing in tho 
 courfeof the .evidence, to intimate that he had 
 any confederate. 
 
 Y\ ill iam Elby was born in the year 1673, at 
 Deptford in Kent, and ferved his. time with a 
 blockmaker at Rotherhithe, during which he be- 
 came acquainted with fome women of ill fame. 
 After the term of his apprenticeship was -expired 
 he kept company with ibme young fellows of fuch 
 bad character, that he found it nccefTary to enter 
 on board a ihip to prevent worfe confequences. 
 
 Having returned from fea he enlided as a foU 
 dier ; but while in this lituation he committed 
 many fmall thefts, in order to fupport bad wo- 
 men with whom he was connected, 
 
 At length he deferted from the army, afTumed 
 a new name, and prevailed on fome of his^corn- 
 panions to engage in houfe-break ing; and thu$ 
 proceeding from one degree of vice to another, 
 till he committed the crime for which his life be- 
 came the juft facrifice to the infulted laws of his 
 country. 
 
 Some few remarks on the conduct and fate of 
 this malefactor may tend to the fervice of fuch of 
 the rifmg generation, whole paffions may tempt 
 them to deviate from the paths of yirtuc. 
 
 The firfl and grand caufe of fufpicion againii 
 Elby, was his abounding in money loon after the 
 robbery was committed. It generally happens 
 that thieves fpend in extravagance what they have 
 difhoneftly obtained ; fo true is the old laying, 
 Ct What's got over the devil's back is (pent under 
 tf his belly." The circumftancc of his turning 
 
 pale,
 
 S6 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 pale, and his hafty departure from the room at the 
 public-houfe where the robbery and murder were 
 mentioned, mark, in a very ftriking manner, the 
 agonizing tortures of a guilty conscience ! 
 
 Elby was no fooner gone than a perfon came to 
 enquire for him, whence a difcovery was made of 
 his lodgings, and he was taken into cuitody ; 
 and the moft material witnefs againft him on his 
 trial proves to be n woman with whom he had co- 
 habited. Hence let perfons of difhoneft lives 
 learn, that notwithstanding all their previous care 
 and fecrecy they are never fafe, even for a fingle 
 moment, and that thofe in whom they moft con- 
 fide may be the immediate inftruments, in the 
 hand of providence, to bring them to condign 
 punifhment. 
 
 His denying his principal guilt to the laft mo- 
 ment, proves that the mind dreads the fear of 
 public cenfure, even at the moment the body is 
 about to become an immediate prey to the worms. 
 Hence, let every man blufti to be guilty of a 
 crime, which in his dying moments, he mud ne- 
 ceflarily blufh to acknowledge, 
 
 Let virtue all out footfteps guide, 
 
 And all our ways attend, 
 Guard us through life with decent pride, 
 
 Suftain us in our end ! 
 For let misfortunes e'er fo great, 
 
 Opprcfs us e'er fo hard ; 
 Yet virtue will, or foon or late, 
 
 Attain its due reward ! 
 
 Cir-

 
 EDWARD JEFFERIE& -for Murder. ; 
 
 Circumftantial Account of the Life, Trial, and 
 Execution of EDWARD JEFFERIES, gentleman, 
 who was convicted, and executed at Tyburn* 
 for the Murder of ROBERT WOODCOCK; wirh, 
 other Particulars refpefting ELIZABETH 
 TORSHELL, who was acquitted of the fame 
 Murder. 
 
 TfDWARD JEFFERIES, who is the principal 
 *7^ fubjet of this narrative, was born about the 
 year 1666, at the Devices, in Wiltfhire. He 
 ferved his clerklhip to an eminent attorney in 
 London, and afterwards carried on bufinefs on his 
 own account ; but his father dying while he was 
 yet young, and leaving him a confide rable for- 
 tune, he entered into too profufe a way of living, 
 and embarked in the debaucheries of the age, 
 ivhich diffipated his fubftance. 
 
 Soon after, however, he had the good fortune 
 to marry a young lady of St. Albans, with whom 
 he received a decent fortune, and might have 
 Jived in profperity with her, but that he continued 
 in his former courfe of debauchery, which natur- 
 ally occafioned a reparation. 
 
 Jefferies now afibciated with one Mrs. Eliza-, 
 beth Tormell, with whom Mr. Woodcock had 
 Jikewife an illicit connection. Jefferies and 
 Woodcock had freequent debates relpeiting this 
 woman, but at length appeared to be reconciled, 
 and dined together at the Blue Pofts near Pall- 
 Mall, on the day that he commuted the murder. 
 
 After dinner, they went into the fields near 
 Chelfea, and a quarrel arifing between them re- 
 fpecling Mrs. Torfhell, Jefferies drew his fword; 
 and before Woodcock, who was left-handed 
 could draw his, he received a wound, of which 
 he almoft immediately died. Woodcock had no 
 fooncr fallen chan. Jefferies rubbed fome of his 
 
 blood
 
 88 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 blood upon his (the deceafed's)fwcrd, took fome- 
 thing out of bis pocket, and then went towards 
 Chclfca, where he had appointed to meet Mrs. 
 Torfhell. 
 
 There were fome boys playing in the fields who 
 faw the body of the deceafed, and a part of ttie 
 tranfaction above-mentioned. The body was 
 removed to St. Martin's church-yard to be own- 
 ed j and on the following day Mrs. Torfhell 
 carne, among a crowd of other people, to fee it -, 
 and was taken into cuftodyj on her faying me 
 knew the murdered party, and exprefling greac 
 concern at his fate. 
 
 TorflielPs lodgings being fearched, a number 
 of articles were found, which fhe owned Mr. Jef- 
 feries had brought thither, though they appeared 
 to have belonged to Woodcock. On this JefFe- 
 ries was alfo taken into cuftody, and both of 
 them were committed to Newgate. 
 
 Mr. Jefferies alledged in his defence that he 
 was at another place at the time the murder was 
 committed ; he called feveral witnefles to 
 prove an alibi ; but as thefe did not agree in the 
 curcumflances, he was convicted, and received 
 fentence of death, Mrs. Torfhell was acquitted. 
 
 All the while he lay under condemnation he re- 
 peatedly denied the having committed the mur- 
 cier, and exerted all his intereft to obtain a re- 
 prieve, which he was at length promifed, through 
 the mediation of the duke of Ormond. 
 
 September the 9th, 1705, when the proceffion 
 towards Tyburn had got as far as St. Giles's a 
 refpite met him, to defer his execution till the 
 2 1 It of the fame month - y but on that day he was 
 executed, his guilt being too apparent. 
 
 At the place of execution, he again denied the 
 fa6t : but laid he freely forgave thoic wno had in- 
 
 jured
 
 jured him, and died in perfedt charity with all 
 mankind. He did not appear in the leaft dejefted 
 on account of his calamitous fituation ; but de- 
 fired the prayers of all good chriflians in the laft 
 moments' of his life. 
 
 From the cafe of the above wretched malefactor 
 we may learn the evil confequence of living a dif- 
 fipated life. If Mr. JerFeries had gone on in the 
 way marked out for him by Providence, he might 
 have lived in a high degree of credit and reputa- 
 tion; but he, like the prodigal fon, wafted his fub- 
 ftance in riotous living. However, on his mar- 
 riage, he had a fecond chance for happinefs; but, 
 like the cock in the fable, he threw away the jewel 
 which he had obtained in a wife. 
 
 From- his connexion with Mrs. Torfhell we 
 may learn, that as it was contrary to the laws of 
 the church, and in defiance of thofe of morality, 
 fo, connections of that fort ought to be particu- 
 larly avoided by married men of every rank of 
 life. The inftances are comparatively few where 
 a connection of this kind leads to murder: but as 
 every fuch connection is a deviation from the laws 
 of virtue and honour, they ought carefully to be 
 fhunned by every man who has a regard to his re- 
 putation in this world, or his happinefs in the 
 next. 
 
 Account of the fingular Cafe of Jonx SMITH, 
 called HALF-HANGED SMITH, who was con- 
 vifted, but efcaped Death in a moft remarkable 
 manner. 
 
 THIS malefactor was the fon of a farmer 
 at Malton about fifteen miles from the city 
 of York, who bouud him apprentice to a packer 
 VOL. I. No. 3. M in
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 in London, with whom he ferved out his time, and 
 afterwards worked as a journeyman. He then 
 went to fea in a merchant-man, after which he en- 
 tered on board a man of war, and was at the fa- 
 mous expedition againft Vigo; but on the return 
 from that expedition he was difcharged. 
 
 He had not been long difengaged from the 
 naval fervice when he enhfted as a foldier in the 
 regiment of guards commanded by lord Cutts; 
 but in this flation he foon made bad connections, 
 and engaged with fome of hisjdiflblute companions 
 as a houfe-breaker. 
 
 On the 5th of December 1705, he was arraigned 
 on four different indictments, on two of which 
 he was convicted, and received fentence of death. 
 While he lay under fentence he feemed very little 
 affected with his fituation, abfolutely depending 
 on a reprieve through the intereft of his friends. 
 
 However, an order came for his execution on 
 the 24th day of the fame month, in confequence 
 of which he was carried to Tyburn, where he 
 performed his devotions, and was turned off in 
 the ufual manner; but when he had hung near 
 fifteen minutes, the people prefent cried out " A 
 " reprieve !" Hereupon the malefactor was cut 
 down, and being conveyed to a houfe in the 
 neighbourhood, he foon recovered, in confe- 
 quence of bleeding, and other proper applica- 
 tions. 
 
 When he perfectly recovered his fenfes, he was 
 afked what were his feelings at the time of exe- 
 cution; to which he repeatedly replied, in fub- 
 ftance, as follows; that, " when he was turned 
 " off, he, for fome time, was fenfible of very 
 *' great pain, occafioned by the weight of his 
 " body, and felt his fpirits in a ftrange commo- 
 " tion, violently preffing upwards: that having 
 
 " forced
 
 ' forced their way to his head, he, as it were, 
 t: faw a great blaze or glaring light, which feemed 
 " to go out at his eyes with a flafti, and then 
 " he loft all fenfe of pain. That after he was cut 
 " down, and began to come to himfelf, the blood 
 " ^nd fpirits forcing themfelves into their former 
 " channels, put him, by a fort of pricking or 
 " (hooting, to fuch intolerable pain, that he could 
 " have wifhed thofe hanged who had cut him 
 " down." 
 
 After this narrow efcape from the grave, Smith 
 pleaded to his pardon on the aoth of February : 
 yet fuch was his propenlity to evil deeds, that he 
 returned to his former practices, and being again 
 apprehended, was tried at the Old-Bailey for 
 houfe-breaking; but fome difficulties arifing in 
 the cafe, the jury brought in a fpecial verdict, 
 in confequence of which the affair was left to the 
 opinion of the twelve judges, who determined in 
 favour of the prifoner. 
 
 After this fecond extraordinary efcape, he was 
 a third time indidted; but the profecutor happen- 
 ing to die before the day of trial, he once more 
 obtained that liberty which his conduct (hewed he 
 had not deferved. 
 
 We have no account what became of this man 
 after this third remarkable incident in his favour: 
 but Chriftian charity inclines us to hope that he 
 made a proper ufe of the fingular difpenfations of 
 Providence evidenced in his own perfon. 
 
 Hiftory fcarce affords a more extraordinary cafe 
 than this of Smith : but let no one who reads this 
 account of his triple efcape from the gallows in- 
 dulge a moment's inclination to the purfuit 0f il- 
 licit practices: fince, in almoft every inftance but 
 the prefent, the ways of vice afluredly lead to de- 
 ftru&ion j and we are not allured that they did 
 M 2 not
 
 ( 9* ) 
 
 not do fo in his cafe; for the fequel of his life has 
 not come to our knowledge. 
 
 Narrative of the Cafe of ROGER Low EN, who 
 was hanged at Turnham- Green, for Murder. 
 
 HP H E unfoitunate fubject of this narrative was 
 -* a native of Hanover, where he was born a- 
 bout the year 1667, and educated in the princi- 
 ples of the Lutheran religion. His father being 
 huntfman to the duke of Zell, that prince fent 
 young Lowen into Fiance to obtain the qualifica- 
 tions of a gentleman ; and on his return from his 
 travels he was one of the pages under the duke's 
 mafter of the horfe. 
 
 Coming over to England when he was between 
 twenty and thirty years of age, the duke of 
 Shrewlbury patronized him, and procured him a 
 place. Having thus obtained fomething like a 
 fettlement, he married a young Englifti woman, 
 with whom he lived in an affectionate manner for 
 a confiderable time: but, in the year 1697, on 
 his going abroad to attend king William at the 
 treaty of Ryfwick, he left Mrs. Lowen with her 
 coufin, who was married to Mr. Richard Lloyd 
 of Turnham -Green. 
 
 When Lowen returned from Holland, he be- 
 came, with what juflice we cannot fay, extremely 
 jealous of his wife, and he pretended to have 
 received inconteftible proof of her criminal con- 
 verfation with Mr. Lloyd, for the murder of 
 whom he was indi&ed at the Old-Bailey, on the 
 soth of September, 1706, and was tried by a jury 
 compofed equally of Englimmen and foreigners. 
 
 In
 
 ( 93 ) 
 
 In the cotnTe of the evidence it appeared that 
 on the evening preceding the day on which the 
 murder was committed, Lowen invited Lloyd 
 and his wife to dine with him on the following 
 day : that Mr. .Lloyd, being obliged to go to 
 A6ton, did not come very early; at which Lowen 
 expreffed a conliderable degree of uneafinefs : 
 that when he came, Lowen introduced him into 
 the parlour, with great apparent civility. That 
 Mr. Lloyd put his (word in a corner of the room, 
 fome time after which Lowen invited him into 
 the garden to fee his plants: after which they 
 came together into the houfe, appearing to be 
 good friends, and Lowen defired his wife to 
 haften the dinner: that while ihe went to obey 
 his directions, Lowen drew Mr. Lloyd's fvvord a 
 little way out of the fcabbard, as if admiring it, 
 and aiked who was his cutler; and that while the 
 deceafed flood with his hands behind him, Lowen, 
 flamping with his foot, drew the fword quite out 
 of the fcabbard, and (tabbed Mr. Lloyd through 
 the back; on which his wife, (who was prefent at 
 this horrid tranfalion) faid to him, " Speak to 
 " me my dear;" but he was unable to do fo, and 
 having lifted up his eyes, groaned twice, and then 
 expired. 
 
 Mr. Hawley, a juftice of peace in the neigh- 
 bourhood, palling by at the inftant, Mrs. Lloyd 
 acquainted him with what had happened; on 
 ^vhich he examined the prifoner, who confeffed 
 his intention of having committed the murder 
 fooner, and was only concerned left he had not 
 killed Mr. Lloyd. 
 
 The particulars refpe&ing the murder being 
 proved to the fatisfaftion of the jury, Lowen was 
 convi&ed, and received fentence of death, in con- 
 
 fequencc
 
 ( 94 } 
 
 fequence of which he was hanged at Turnham- 
 Green, on the 25th of October, 1706. 
 
 While he lay under fentence of death he was 
 attended by Meffrs. Idzardi and Ruperti, two 
 Divines of his own country, who were afliduous 
 to convince him of the atrocioufnefs of the crime 
 which he had committed ; and he became a fin- 
 cere penitent, confeffing with his lad breath the 
 crime he had committed in fhedding innocent 
 blood. 
 
 From this melancholy narrative we may learn 
 the fatal effects of jealoufy, which generally 
 judges ill of the party accufed, and always ren- 
 ders the jealous perfon miferable. Mr. Lowen 
 was jealous of his wife ; but we have no proof 
 that there was any foundation for his fufpicions. 
 Hence let married men be taught not to indulge 
 unwarrantable fentiments refpefting that amiable 
 fex who are the great fource of all the comforts of 
 life. A man may be wretched in a thoufand in- 
 ftances which occur in life; but let him retire to 
 the wife of his bofom, and her advice will extricate 
 him from many a difficulty, or her confolations 
 footh him to bear his burthens. There is great 
 wifdom in the following proverbs of Solomon, 
 " Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price 
 " is far above rubies. The heart of her hulband 
 " does fafely truft in her, fo that me (hall have no 
 *' need of fpoil. She will do him goo'd and not 
 " evil, all the days of her life. Her children arife 
 " up, and call her blefled, her hufband alfo, and 
 *' he praifeth her." 
 
 Account
 
 ( 95 ) 
 
 Account of the Life, Trial, and Behaviour of 
 JOHN HERMAN BRIAN, who was hanged in 
 Chains, for robbing, and fetting fire to the 
 Houfe of PETER PERSUADE, Efq. 
 
 THIS malefactor was a native of Dully, a vil- 
 lage in the bailiwick of Merge, in the Can- 
 ton of Berne in Switzerland, where he was born 
 about the year 1683. He left Switzerland while 
 very young, and went to Geneva, where he lived 
 in the fervice of a gentleman above four years, 
 and then made the tour of Italy with a perfon of 
 fortune. 
 
 When the tour was compleated he came to 
 England, and lived in feveral reputable families 
 for the fpace of about three years, and laft of all, 
 for about two months, in that of Mr. Perfuade, 
 where he committed the facts which coft him his 
 life. 
 
 He was brought to his trial on the i6th of Oc- 
 tober, 1707, and indicted for breaking open the 
 dwelling-houfe of Peter Perfuade, Efq. and fteal- 
 ing a gold etwee cafe and chain, a gold watch, 
 feventeen guineas, and oiher valuable effects. He 
 was likewife indicted for burning and continuing 
 the manfion-houfe of Peter Perfuade, Efq. in St. 
 James's -Street. 
 
 It appeared in evidence, that the prifoner had 
 been difcharged from his fervice two days before 
 the commiflion of the fact; that the houfe was 
 made faft about ten at night, when the family 
 went to bed; that Mrs. Perfuade had locked up 
 her watch, etwee cafe, &c. that waking about 
 three in the morning (he fmelt a fire, on which 
 flie left her chamber, and found a lighted flam- 
 beaux in the paflage, which had burnt the boards ; 
 3 then
 
 ( 96 ) 
 
 then opening a parlour-door the flames fpread 
 with fuch rapidity that the family had only time 
 to preferve their Jives. 
 
 A poor woman going by at the time, and feeing 
 the fmoke, knocked at the door to alarm the fa- 
 mily, and at that inftant faw a man come over the 
 wall, (fuppofed to be Brian) who faid to her 
 " D n you, are you drunk? What do you do 
 " here knocking at people's doors at this time ?" 
 and immediately he went away. 
 
 It likewife came out in evidence that the pri- 
 foner had offered to fell the etwee-cafe to Melfrs. 
 Stevenfon and Afton, Goldfmiths, for eight 
 pounds; but they Hopped it on fufpicion that it 
 was ftolen, and, on enquiry, found to whom it 
 belonged. The prifoner afterwards returning to 
 demand it, they took him into cuftody, and be- 
 ing carried before a magistrate, and fearched, a 
 dagger and two piftols were found on him. 
 
 As the goldfmiths fufpefted it to be ftolen, it 
 may feem extraordinary that they did not flop the 
 prifoner at firft: but this was not cuftomary fe- 
 venty years ago. It is a dodlrine well worthy no- 
 tice, that in cafe of felony, every man is a confta- 
 ble, and runs no hazard in taking the fufpefted 
 party into cuftody. 
 
 It appeared, from the teftimony of other evi- 
 dences, that when the prifoner quitted the fer- 
 vice of Mr. Perfuade, he took a lodging in Soho, 
 but was not at home on the night that the fa&s 
 were committed; and at noon on the following 
 day he quitted this lodging, and took another in 
 Spitalfields, to which he conveyed a trunk, a box, 
 and a bundle, which were found to contain part 
 of Mr. Perfuade's effeds. 
 
 It
 
 JOHN HERMAN BRIAN -for Burglary. 97 
 
 It likewife appeared that he had fold a fowling- 
 piece and two piftols, which were (lolen from 
 Mr. Perfuade. On his trial he. denied every thing 
 that was alledged againft him ; afferting thet he 
 bought all the goods of a ftranger ; but as he ad- 
 duced nothing like proof in fupport f thisafier- 
 tion, the jury found him guilty without the leaft 
 hefitation. 
 
 While under frntence of death he fteadily de- 
 nied being guilty of the offences of which he had 
 been convicted, and reflected on the profecutor, 
 magiltrates, witneffes and jury ; perfifting in a de- 
 claration of his innocence to the laft moment of 
 his life ; however, the circumftances againft him 
 were fo unufually ftrong, that not the lead credit 
 could be given to his declarations. 
 
 Brian likewiie made repeated attempts to efcapc 
 out of Newgate, by unfcrcwing and filing off his 
 irons ; but being detected herein, he was properly 
 fecured till the time of his execution ; and being 
 asked by the ordinary of Newgate how he could 
 wafte his precious time in Inch fruitlefs attempts, 
 he anfwered that " Life was fweet, and that any 
 *' other man as well as himfelf would endeavour 
 " to fave it if he could." 
 
 This offender fuffered the fentence of the law 
 in St. James's Street before Mr. Perfuade's houfe, 
 on the 24th sf October, 1707, and was afterwards 
 hanged in chains near the gravel-pits at Acton. 
 
 From the fate of this malefactor fome ufefui 
 leffcns may be derived. It feldom happens that a 
 robbery is committed but fome of the ftolen goods 
 are offered to fale. In this cafe, if the intended 
 purchaier be honed, detection muft always fol- 
 low ; for in general it is eafy to judge from ap- 
 
 VOL. I. No. 3. N pearances
 
 9$ NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR, 
 
 pearances and other circumftances, whether the 
 effects that a man offers are really his own property, 
 or rntrufted to his care by any perfon who has a 
 right to difpofe of them. 
 
 Of late years, however, our felons have found a 
 more iccure method than they had formerly of dif- 
 pofing of their fpoils. There are now many fecret 
 receivers of ftolen goods, who to the mame of 
 our country flourilh in their profligate courfes, for 
 as they get great bargains of thofe articles, which 
 cannot for fear of detection, be offered to many, 
 of .courfe they reap more than common emolu- 
 ment. They have likewife their methods of fe- 
 cretly difpofmg of them, and that alfo to the beft 
 advantage among themfelves, or by tranfmitting 
 them abroad. Were there no fuch difhoneft cha- 
 racters as thefe the number of pick-pockets would 
 certainly decreafe, it is therefore nounjuft remark, 
 that the receiver is as bad as the thief. 
 
 If nothing that was-ftolen could be fafely dif- 
 pofed of, Icarce any thing would be taken but 
 money , and how few inltances have we, of high- 
 way robberies, except where the obtaining of 
 ready cadi is the principal object of the villain's 
 fearch ? 
 
 The crime of the malefactor before us is 
 heightened by murder, being added to robbery ; 
 for though in the event no perfon*s life was loft, 
 his intention was as criminal as if the whole 
 neighbourhood had been reduced to ames, and all 
 the inhabitants had j.eriihed in the flames. 
 
 The view of Brian mult have been to conceal 
 the robbery by tho fire. Hence let thofe who are 
 tempted to do an evil act learn that the commif- 
 fion of a fmall crime as naturally leads to the per- 
 petration of a greater, as the waters of rivers flow 
 V into
 
 JOHN HALL {or Burglary. 99 
 
 into the.fea. Let them learn to guard againft the 
 firft inducement to an evil aft : let them refift it 
 with all the reiblution in their power, and de- 
 voutly pray for that affiftance againft temptation, 
 which may be reafonably expected by thole who 
 afk it in the full confidence of faith. 
 
 We mould likewife obferve, that robberies at- 
 tempted and perpetrated in the night, are generally 
 difcovered in the broad face of day, to the con- 
 fufion of the offender. 
 
 Almighty God, thy piercing eye 
 Strikes through the fhades of night, 
 
 And our moft fecret actions lie 
 All open to thy fight. 
 
 Narrative of the Life, various Robberies, and 
 Execution of JOHN HALL, a Chimney-Sweeper, 
 who was executed at Tyburn, for Burglary. 
 
 JACK HALL was remarkably diftinguifhed in 
 his time on account of the number and variety 
 of robberies in which he was conceded ; and few 
 thieves have been more the fubject of public con- 
 verfation. 
 
 Hall's parents were very poor people, living in 
 Bifhop's-Head-Court, Gray's-Inn-Lane, who puc 
 him out to a chimney-fweeper j but he had not 
 been long in this employment, before he quitted 
 it, and commenced pickpocket, and was accounted 
 very dextrous in that proreffion ; but notwith- 
 ftanding this dexterity he was frequently detected, 
 and treated in the uiual manner, by ducking in 
 the horfe-pond : he was likewile often lent to 
 Bridewell, as a punifhment for thefe offences. 
 
 N 2 Not,
 
 ioo NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Notwithftanding frequent punilhments of this 
 nature, he -commenced fhop-lifter, and, in the 
 month of January 1698, he was convidted at the 
 Old Bailey of flealing a pair of fhoes , for which 
 he was whipped at the cart's tail : but he had no 
 fooner obtained his liberty than he commenced 
 houfe-breaker , and being convicled of breaking 
 open the houfe of Jonathan Bretail, he was fen- 
 tenced to be hanged, in the year 1700, but was 
 afterwards pardoned, on condition of tranfporting 
 himfelf, within fix months, to fome of the Ame- 
 rican plantations, 
 
 In confequence hereof he entered on board a 
 fhip, from which, however, he foon deferted, and 
 engaged with his old accomplices ; and they now 
 took up the trade of robbing country waggons, 
 and ftealing portmanteaus from behind coaches. 
 For an offence of this latter kind Hall was tried 
 and convicted, in the year 1702, and being firft 
 burnt on the cheek, was committed clofe prifoner 
 to Bridewell for two years. 
 
 Hall had no fooner obtained his liberty than he 
 joined with Stephen Bunce, Dick Low, and 
 others of his difTolute companions, in breaking 
 open the houfe of a baker, at Hackney ; which 
 burglary was attended with the following circum- 
 ftances : 
 
 Having broke into the houfe foon after mid- 
 night, and the journeyman and apprentice being 
 at work, the robbers tied them neck and 
 heels, and threw them into the kneading-trough, 
 and one of the villians ftood over them with a 
 drawn (word, while the others went up ftairs to 
 rob the houfe: but the baker being unwilling to 
 tell them where the money was, Hall feized a 
 young child, a grand-daughter to the old people, 
 
 and
 
 JOHN HALL for Burglary. i o i 
 
 and fwore he would thru ft her into the oven, if 
 they did not make the difcoven Terrified at 
 this circumftance the old man told him where they 
 might find his money, in confequence of wi'kh 
 they robbed htm of about feventy pounds. 
 
 Notwithftanciing this fingular robliery was the 
 fubject of much converfation, yet the perpetrators 
 of it were not taken into cuilody. Soon af&r- 
 wards the houfe of Francis Saunders, a chairman, 
 near St. James's, was broke open ; and Saunders 
 being informed that this robbery was committed 
 by Hall and his companions, he obferved t-hefe 
 very men, as he was attending at St James's Gate, 
 about three in. the momifogj and informing the 
 watchmen, they purfued them ; on which Hall 
 and one of his accomplices fired at a watchman, 
 who was wounded in the thigh. Hall efcaped ; 
 his companions were apprehended and tried-, but 
 acquitted for want of evidence. 
 
 Hall was in cuftndy in 1705, for breaking opert 
 the houfe of Richard Bartholomew : bat he hac( 
 been To frequently at the Old feiiey, that he was 
 afraid of being tiried by his name, and therefore 
 changed it to that of . Price ; but rhe evidence not 
 being fufficient to convict him, he was again ac- 
 quitted. Having obtained his liberty hfe returned 
 to his former practices, and in October 1706, 
 was indicted for Healing a handkerchief, in com- 
 pany with Arthur Chambers, but once more dif- 
 charged in defect of evidence. 
 
 Repeated as thefe excefles were, they made no 
 impreflion on the mind of Hall, who was foon 
 afterwards taken into cuftody for a fact which he 
 had reafon to think would have put am end to his 
 wicked career ; wherefore he became an evidence 
 againft Chambers, Bell and Fitch, three of his 
 
 accom-
 
 102 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 accomplices, and thus once more preferved his 
 life. 
 
 After this he was concerned in breaking open the 
 houfe of Captain Guyon, near Stepney, in com- 
 pany with Richard Low and Stephen Bunce, and 
 flealing a confideiable quantity of plate and other 
 effects. 
 
 Of this offence the parties were found guilty, 
 and were executed at Tyburn on the ijh of De- 
 cember, 1707. 
 
 John Hall being very celebrated in his profef- 
 fion, the following elegy and epitaph made their 
 appearance foon after his life had paid the forfeit 
 to the violated laws of his country. 
 
 An Elegy on JACK HALL the Chimney ~fiveeper. 
 
 AT laft thy roguim reign is ended, 
 And thou defervedly fuipended ; 
 Where art thou now, thou reprobate, 
 Who jetted at a future ftate, 
 And faid the place the devils kept 
 Was iboty, wanted to be fwcpt ? 
 But they confulting did agree, 
 To fend exprefs avyay for thee : 
 And fo thou'rtgone the Tyburn-road, 
 The neareft way to their abode. 
 But yet 'tis thought that there are (lore 
 Of thy fly trade. gone there before-, 
 Witnefs the bacon, beef, and tongue, 
 Which in the chimnies reezing hung, 
 Till by the tribe were fwept away, 
 For which they now feverely pay. 
 Methinks I fee the fulph'rous fhore 
 Where clouds of thieves fent there before, 
 Thee welcome give with difmal roar. 
 
 Did'ft
 
 JOHN HALL for Burglary. 103 
 
 Did'ft think the fiends there would becivij 
 Becaufe they're known to love what's evil ? 
 Make but thy outfide like appear, 
 Thy intellects already are : 
 So put thy fweeping garments on, 
 'Twill make each devil think thee one : 
 Or caufe this proverb after all, 
 Ha ! like to like, fays Nick to Hall. 
 If every rogue throughout the nation, 
 Should die, like Hall, by fuffocation, 
 Some now in coaches would in carts 
 At Triple-Tree receive deferts ; 
 Lawyers, phyficians, courtiers, jaylors, 
 Would march in troops, and all the taylors : 
 Nay, I could mention too a L d, -\ 
 
 But, like his S h, 'twould be abfurd, 
 Belides Scan Mag that is the word. J 
 
 Some hemp likewile mould be commixt, 
 For many who pervert the text, 
 And what is worfe than thieves can do, 
 Cheat you of foul and money too, 
 Lead fcandalous and wicked lives, 
 And, like Bell-fwagger, ride your wives. 
 The benefit of the clergy fee, 
 When fome poor rogues are at the tree, 
 Who 'caufe they cannot read a verfe, 
 Are made to fmg it, and that's worfe ; 
 Which, by the by, is charming finging : 
 They make fo well, remember fwinging ; 
 Befides, obferve the fatal line, 
 Makes each exactly flop in time : 
 O fbolifh cuftom ! (as one laid) A 
 
 ^For finners when they're almoft dead 
 To have fuch crotchets in their head i 
 
 If to this elegy a proper tune is, 
 Pray howl it forth with Finis Fums. 
 
 EPI-
 
 104 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 EPITAPH. 
 
 HERE lies Hall's clay, 
 Thus fwept away ; 
 If bolt or key 
 Obliged his flay 
 At judgment-day, 
 He'd make eflay 
 To get away : 
 Be't as it may, 
 I'd better fay, 
 Here lies Jack Hall, 
 And that is all. 
 
 This life of Hall affords a fhort and ftriking 
 leflen to the fons of rapine. His crimes were 
 numerous, and his efcapes repeated , yet he re- 
 turned to the comrnifllon of fimilar crimes, as if 
 refolutely bent on his own ruin. 
 
 There are fome inftances, though very few, of 
 men whom a fingle misfortune has tempced to 
 reform the error of their ways. Happy would it 
 be if this was the cafe in every inflance. Few 
 men fall a facrifice to the firft crime ; but the 
 firft ought to be a warning to every one never to 
 commit a fccond. 
 
 Particulars of the Lives and Executions of STE- 
 PHEN BUNCE and RICHARD Low, Accomplices 
 of JOHN HALL, who fuffered at the fame time. 
 
 OTEPHEN BUNCE was defcended from 
 O a reputable family in the country of Kent, 
 and educated by his grandfather, who had an 
 eftate of 80 ol. per annum, in the neighbourhood 
 
 of
 
 BUttCfi and LO W -for Burglary. 1 05 
 
 of Feverfham. Bunce being of a wild difpofi- 
 tion, was fent to fea; and having made two or 
 three voyages, his fliip was ordered to Plymouth, 
 where going on fhore, he contracted an acquaint- 
 ance with the daughter of a publican, whom he 
 married ; but his wife who was a vulgar woman, 
 foon making illicit connexions, he abandoned 
 her, and repaired to London, where he frequented 
 billiard tiblesand gaming- houfes, and having foon 
 fprnt his money in bad company, he began to 
 fupply his extravagance by committing public de- 
 predations. 
 
 Bunce continued his illicit practices till he was 
 detected for ftealing a fword from the fide of an 
 officer of the city trained-bands, for which offence 
 he was tried in Auguft 1705, found guilty, and 
 received fentence of death : but was afterwards 
 pardoned, on the condition that he fhould tranf- 
 port himfelf. 
 
 As foon as he obtained his liberty, he immedi- 
 ately afibciated himfelf with his old companions, 
 and committed feveral robberies, for one of 
 which he thought he mould be convicted : he 
 therefore turned evidence againft his accomplices, 
 who were all executed. 
 
 Bunce once more at liberty, entered into 
 connections with Jack Hall, with whom he and 
 Low were apprehended for breaking open the 
 houfe of Captain Guyon ; and were tried, con- 
 vided, and executed for this offence. Bunce 
 was not quite 28 years of age when he was hang- 
 ed. He confefifed himfelf penitent ; acknow- 
 ledged the numerous robberies of which he had 
 been guilty, but requefted his frknds not to pe- 
 tition for his life, as his fuflfering the rigour. of 
 
 VOL. I. No. 3. O the
 
 ibfi NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 th e law would be the only proper atonement of 
 his numerous crimes. 
 
 Richard Low was born near the Horfe-Ferry, 
 "Weftminfter, and fent to fea early in life; but 
 quitting the naval employment, he aflbciated with 
 a number of abandoned fellows, who fubfifted by 
 plundering the public. In 1704 he was appre- 
 hended for houfe breaking, but acquitted fbr 
 want of evidence. He was afterwards admitted 
 an evidence agairift his accomplices, who were all 
 executed on his teftimany. 
 
 Low having thus again obtained his liberty, be- 
 gan to fob in company with Hall and Bunce ; till 
 at length his life paid the forfeit due to his repeated 
 crimes. 
 
 In addition to the remarks made on the life of 
 Hall, Iktle can be faid, fefpecting thefe malefac- 
 tors. Similar acts of depredation brought them 
 all to the fame untimely end. Youth cannot be 
 too frequently or too earneftly warned to avoid 
 thole paths that lead to deftruction ; and they may 
 be afTured that no life is, or can be, fo agreeable as 
 that which is regulated by the duties of religion, 
 and diftinguifhed by the practice of every moral 
 and focial virtue. 
 
 Circumftantial Account of the Life, and Execu- 
 tion of JOHN MORGRIDGE, who was hanged at 
 Tyburn for the Murder of Mr. WILLIAM COPE. 
 
 JOHN MORGRIDGE was indicted for the 
 wilful murder of William Cope, gentleman, 
 at a feflions held at the Old-Bailey on the 5th of 
 July 1706. 
 
 The
 
 JOHN MORGRIDGE- for Murder. 1 07 
 
 The following are the circumftances attending 
 this melancholy cafe. Cope having obtained the 
 rank of lieutenant in the army, invited feveral of- 
 ficers to dine with him at the Dolphin Tavern, in 
 Tower ftreet ; and one of the parties invited 
 Morgridge likewife to go, afiuring him that 
 he would be made welcome on the part of Mr. 
 Cope. 
 
 When dinner was over, Cope paid the reckon- 
 ing, and then each man depofitirg half a crown, 
 Morgridge and others adjourned to the guard 
 room, to which place more liquor was fent. They 
 had not been long there before a woman of the 
 town came in a coach, and afked for Captain Cope. 
 Being introduced to the guard room, (he remained 
 a fhort jime, and then faid, " Who will pay " for 
 4 my coach ?" Morgridge faid, " I will ;" and 
 having done fo, he advanced to falute her-, but 
 fhe pumed him from her in a difdainful manner, 
 and fpoke to him in very abufive terms, which 
 induced him to treat her with the fame kind of 
 language. 
 
 Morgridge's rudenefs was refented by Cope, who 
 took the woman's part, and a violent quarrel en- 
 fued between Cope and Morgridge, both of whom 
 were intoxicated. This conteft encreafed to fuch 
 a degree, that they threw the bottles at each ojher; 
 till at length Morgridge was fo inflamed with paf- 
 fion, that he drew his fword, and ftabbed Cope^ 
 fo that he inftantly expired. 
 
 Morgridge, being taken into cuftody, was tried 
 on the day above-mentioned , but a doubt arifmgj 
 in the breads of the jury, whether he was guilty 
 of murder or manflaughter, they brought in a 
 fpecial verdidt, and the affair was left to be deter- 
 mined by the twelve judges. 
 
 02 Jn
 
 io8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The judges in confequence hereof met at Ser- 
 jeant's-Inn, and the cafe was argued before them 
 by council; when they gave an unanimous opi- 
 nion that he was guilty of wilful murder, becaufe 
 he did not kill Cope with the weapons he was ori- 
 ginally ufing, but arofefrom his feat and drew his 
 fword, which was deemed to imply a malicious 
 intention. 
 
 Morgridge in the interim, however, made his 
 efcape from the Marfhalfea Priion, and went into 
 Flanders, where he remained about two years; but 
 being uneafy till he re-vifited his native country, 
 he imprudently came back to England, and being 
 apprehended, received fentence of death, and was 
 hanged at Tyburn on the 28th of April, 1708. 
 
 John Morgridge was about forty years of age i 
 the place of his birth was Canterbury, and his 
 anceftors had ferved the crown for above two 
 hundred years. He had been kettle-drummer to 
 the firft troop of horfc guards for a confiderable 
 time, and was on the point of being advanced in 
 the army, when the unhappy difpute between him 
 and Mr. Cope took place. 
 
 When convicted, he was truly fenfible of the 
 crime of which he had been guilty, acknow- 
 ledged the juflice of his fentence, and fubmitted, 
 to his fate with a devout wifh that his misfortune 
 might have its proper effect, in the preventing, 
 fimilar deft ruction happening to others. 
 
 Of feveral, this is but one inftance that we fhaU 
 have occafion to record, of the fatal confequcnces 
 ar^fing from a connection with women of aban- 
 doned "characters: but for a woman of this caft, 
 the two men who were thus Sacrificed, the one to 
 the impetuofity of paflipn, the other to the rigour 
 
 of
 
 JOHN MORGRIDGE for Murder. 109 
 
 of the law, might have lived a credit to themfelves, 
 and an advantage to the community. 
 
 It may not be i-mproper here to remark on the 
 horrid crime of induction. The man who is guilty 
 of feducing a modetl young woman from the paths 
 of virtue is, in fbme degree, an acceflary to ever/ 
 crime and misfortune ftie may hereafter be ex- 
 pofed to. 
 
 In general women are of natures more gentle, 
 of difpofuions more harn lefs, than men : yet when 
 the mind of a woman is once contaminated, fhe 
 commonly becomes more vicious even than a man 
 of bad character ; and the amiable foftnefs of the 
 fex feems to be totally eradicated. 
 
 Should a youth be tempted to a criminal conec- 
 tion with a woman already debauched by another, 
 let him reflect that he is, but fceking to perpetuate 
 that infamy (he has acquired, and to render ftill 
 bafer a mind already contaminated. One would 
 imagine thst a flight degree of thought would be 
 fufficient to reftrain youth from connections of 
 this nature : but, unhappily, the paffions are more 
 prevalent than reaion, and the connection is made 
 before the youth has given himielf time to think 
 of its criminality. May this page of our work be 
 an inftructi ve one ; and may thofc who are tempted 
 to a commiflion of the crimes \*e would reprobate, 
 remember the following lines in the proverbs of 
 Solomon : " And why wilt tiiou, n>y Ion, be ra- 
 " vifhed with a ftrange woman, and embrace the 
 " bofom of a ftranger ? For the ways of a man 
 ** are before the eyes of the Lord,, and he pon- 
 " dereth all his goings. His own iniquities fhall 
 " take the wicked himfelf, and he fhall be holden 
 " with the cords of his fins. He lhall die without 
 *' inftruction ; and in the greatnefs of his folly he 
 <' (hall go aftray." 
 
 Particular
 
 no NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Particular Account of the Life, Conduct, and 
 Execution of WILLIAM GREGG, who was exe- 
 cuted with Morgridge for High-Treafon, in 
 correfponding with the Enemies of the Queen. 
 
 WILLIAM GREGG was born atMontrofe 
 in Scotland, and having received the com- 
 mon inftructions in the grammar fchool of that 
 town, finifhed his education in the Univerfity of 
 Aberdeen, and was intended by his friends for the 
 iludy of divinity ; but his inclination leading him 
 to kek for advancement in the ftate, he came to 
 London, and foon afterwards went abroad as fe- 
 cretary to the ambafiador to the court of Sweden. 
 Gregg during his refidcnce abroad debauched 
 Svvedifh ladies, and was guilty of fome other irre- 
 gularities, in confequence of which the ambaf- 
 fador difmifled him from his fervice, and he was 
 glad to embark for London in the firft fhip that 
 failed. 
 
 As foon as he arrived in London he was engaged 
 I>y Mr. Secretary Hurley, to write dilpatches & 
 and letters of great importance were left unfealed 
 and perufed by Gregg. As the account of this 
 malefactor which was given by the ordinary of 
 Newgate is very fuperficial and unfatisfaclory, we 
 fhall give the following extracts refpecting him 
 from Bilhop Burners Hiftory. 
 
 " At this time two difcoveries were made very 
 c unlucky for Mr. Harley : Tallard wrote often 
 " to Chamillard, but he frnt the letters open to 
 " the fecretary's office to be perufed and iealed 
 44 up, and fo to be conveyed by the way of Hol- 
 * c land. Thefe were opened upon fome fufpicion 
 " in Holland, and it appeared, that one in the 
 ** fecretary's office put letters in them, in which, 
 
 " as
 
 WILLIAM GREGG-/* 
 
 *' as he offered his fervice to the courts of France 
 " and St. Germains, fo he gave an account of all 
 u transactions here'. In one of thefe he fent a 
 u copy of the letter that rhe queen was to write 
 " in her own hand to the emperor : and he 
 " marked what parts were drawn by the fecre- 
 " tary, and what additions were made to it by the 
 " lord treafurer. This was the letter by which 
 '* the queen preffed the fending prince Eugene 
 *' into Spain : and this, if not intercepted, would 
 " have been at Verfailles many days before it 
 ** could reach Vienna. 
 
 " He who fent this, wrote, that by this they 
 " might fee what fervice he could do them, if 
 " well encouraged. All this was fent over to the 
 u duke of Marlborough ; and up'on fearch it was 
 *' found to be written by one Gregg, a clerk, 
 " whom Harley had not only entertained, but 
 u had taken into a particular confidence, with- 
 " out enquiring into the former parts of his life; 
 " for he was a vicious and a neceflitous perfon, 
 46 who had been ftcretary to the queen's envoy in 
 '* Denmark, but was dil'miffcd by him for his ill 
 " qualities. Harley had made ufe of him to get 
 " him intelligence, and he came to truft him 
 ** with the perufal, and fealing up the letters, 
 " which the French Priibners, here in. England, 
 " fent over to France, and by that means he got 
 " into the method offending intelligence thither. 
 ** He, when ieized on, either upon remorie or 
 " hopes of pardon, confeffcd all, and figned his 
 *' oonfeffion , upon that he was tried, and plead- 
 t4 ^ n g guilty, was condemned as a traitor; for 
 44 correfponding with the queen's enemies. 
 
 " At the fame time Valiere and Bara, whom 
 " Harley had employed as his fpies to go often 
 *' over to Calais, under the- pretence of bringing 
 
 " hi.-S
 
 ill NfiW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " him intelligence, were informed againft, &$ 
 " fpies employed by France to get intelligence 
 "'from England, who carried over many letters 
 41 to Calais and Bullogne, and, as was believed, 
 " gave fuch information of our trade and con- 
 " voys, that hy their means we liad made our 
 cc great lofles at fea. They were often complain- 
 tc ed of 'upon fufpicion, but they were always 
 " protected by Harley , yet the prefumptions 
 " againft them were fo violent, that they were at 
 *' lad feized on, and brought up prifoners." 
 
 The whigs took fuch advantage of this circum- 
 ilance, that Mr. Harley was obliged to refign, 
 and his enemies were inclined to carry matters ftill 
 further, and were refolved, if poffible, to find 
 out evidence enough to affect his life. With this 
 view the houfe of lords ordered a committee to 
 examine Gregg, and the other prifoners, who were 
 very afliduous in the difcharge of their commifTion, 
 as will appear from the following account written 
 hy the fame author. 
 
 " The lords who were appointed to examine 
 " Gregg, could not find out much by him j he 
 '* had but newly begun his defigns of betraying 
 " fecrets, and he had no aflbciar.es with him in 
 " it. He told them, that all the papers of date 
 " lay fo carelefly about the office, that every one 
 * belonging to it, even the door-keepers, might 
 46 have read them all. Harley's cuflom was to 
 " come to the office late on poft-nights, and af- 
 " ter he had given his orders, and wrote his let- 
 u ters, he ufually went away,, and left all to be 
 " copied out when he was gone. By that means 
 16 he came to fee every thing, in particular the 
 " queen's letter to the emperor. He faid, he 
 * knew the defign on Toulon in May laft, but 
 f he did not difcover it j for he had not entered 
 
 " on
 
 WILLIAM GREGG for High rreafch. 113 
 
 4 * on his ill practices till October. This was all 
 '* he could fay : 
 
 " By the examination of Valiere and 6ara, and 
 " of many others who lived about Dover, and 
 " were employed by them, a difcovery was trade 
 *' of a conftant intercourse they were in with Ca- 
 *' lais, under Barley's protection. They often 
 " went over with boats full at' wool, and brought 
 " back brandy, though both the import and ex- 
 <c port were feverely prohibited. They and thofe 
 '* who belonged to the boats carried over by 
 " them, were well treated on the French fide ac 
 " the governor's houle, or at the commifiary's ; 
 " they were kept there till their letters were fent 
 * 4 to Paris, and till returns could be brought 
 " back, and were all the while upon free coft. 
 " The order that was conftaritly given them was, 
 '* that if an Englifh or Dutch fhip came up with 
 " them, thoy mould caft their letters into the fea, 
 " but that they mould not do it when French 
 ** mips came up with them : 16 they were looked 
 " on by all on that coaft, as the fpies of France. 
 *' They ufed to get what information they could 
 " both of merchant-fliips, and of the mips of 
 " war that lay in the Downsj arid upon that they 
 " ufually went over, and it happened that loon 
 " after fome of thole mips were taken. Thefe 
 '* men, as they were papifts, fo they behaved 
 " themfelves infolently, and boailed much o 
 " their powrr and credit. 
 
 *' Complaints had been often made of them, 
 " but they were always protected j nor did it ap- 
 " pear that they ever brought any information of 
 ** importance to Harley but once, when, aceord- 
 " ing to what they fwore, they told him, that 
 " Fourbin was gone from Dunkirk, to lie in 
 
 VOL. I. No. 3. P ' waift
 
 ii4 NEW NEWGATE! CALENDAR. 
 
 " wait for the Ruffian fleet -, which proved to be 
 " true : he both went to watch for them, and he 
 " took a great part of the fleet. Yet though this 
 *' was the fm'gle piece of intelligence that they 
 " ever brought, Harley took.fo little notice of 
 " it, that he gave no advmifcment to the admi- 
 * ralty concerning it. This particular excepted, 
 " they only brought over common news, and 
 " the Paris gazetteer. Thefe examinations .laft- 
 " ed for ibme weeks : when they were ended, a 
 " full report was made of them to the houfe of 
 " lords, and they ordered the whole report, with 
 " all the examination, to be laid before the 
 " queen'.'* 
 
 Gregg was convicted on the ftatute of Edward 
 the third, which declares it high treafon " to ad- 
 *'* here to the king's enemies, or to give them aid 
 6< either within or without the realm." 
 
 Immediately after this conviction both houfes of 
 parliament petitioned the queen that he might be 
 executed ; and he was accordingly hshged at Ty- 
 burn,- with Mortgridge, on the 29th of April, 
 1708. 
 
 Gregg at the place of execution delivered a 
 paper to the fheriffs-of London and MiddlefcX", in 
 which he acknowledged the juftice of his fen- 
 tence, declared his fincere repentance of all his 
 fins, particularly that lately committed againft 
 the queen, whofe forgivenefs he devoudy im- 
 plored. 
 
 He likewife exprefied his wiili to make all pof- 
 fible reparation for the injuries he had done ; 
 begged pardon, in a particular manner, of Mr. 
 Secretary Harley, and teftified the perfeft inno- 
 cence of that gentleman, declaring that he was 
 no way privy, directly or indirectly, to his writ- 
 ing to France. He profcfled that he died an 
 
 unwor-
 
 WILLIAM GREGG; -for Higb Treafon. 11$ 
 
 unworthy member of the Proteftant church ; and 
 that the want of money to fupply his extrava- 
 gancies had tempted him to commit the fatal crime 
 which coft him his life. 
 
 Gregg's ruling paffion appears to have been 
 ambition ; but this was fo blended with love of 
 inordinate pleafures, that he was induced to have 
 recourfe to the moft unwarrantable practices Co 
 fupply his extravagancies. In both his public 
 fituations he was in the regular way to have ad- 
 vanced himfelf in the ftate : and prudence, vigi- 
 lance, caution, and a flri6l adherence to the great 
 rule of right, would, in all human probability, 
 have gratified the favourite wifh of his heart : but 
 permitting himfelf to be feduced by the violence 
 of his own pafllons, he deviated from the path of 
 honour, and became an object of public punifh-* 
 ment, and public contumely. 
 
 Gregg, a<5ted likcwife, againft his own princi- 
 ples -, for while he was correfponding with the 
 enemy, and taking meafures to fubvert the go- 
 vernment, he had no predilection in favour of the 
 prctendtr. On the contrary, he declared, while 
 he was under fentence of death, that " he never 
 " thought he had any right to the throne of thefe 
 "realms" 
 
 What ftrange infatuation appears in the con- 
 duct of this man ! From his untimely fate may 
 youth be taught that the only road to fubftantial 
 honour and happinefs, is through the path of 
 virtue ! 
 
 The youth who, led by wifdom's guiding hand, 
 Seeks virtue's temple and her law reveres, 
 He, he alone, in honour's doom fhall Hand, 
 Crown'd with rewards, and rais'd above his peers: 
 Th' hiftorian's annals (hall record his name, 
 And give his virtues to immortal fame. 
 
 P 2 Account'
 
 p6 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Account of the Conviftion, Trial, and Execution 
 of DFBORAH CHURCHILL, as an accomplice in 
 Murder with JIunt. 
 
 DEBORAH CfiURCHILL, whofe fate gives 
 rife to this narrative was born about the year 
 167?, in a village near Norwich. She N had feve- 
 ral children by her hufband, Mr. Churchill, but 
 her temper not being calculated to afford him do- 
 meftic happinefs, he repined at his fituation, and 
 deltroyed himfelf by intoxication. 
 
 Deborah, after this event came to London, and 
 being much too idle and too proud to think of 
 earning afubfiftence by her induftry, fhe ran con- 
 Jiderably in debt ; and in order to extricate herfelf 
 from her incumbrunces, had recourle to a method 
 which was formerly as common as it is unjuft. 
 Going to a public-houfe in Holborn, fhe faw a 
 foldier, and afked if he would marry her. The 
 man immediately anfwered in the affirmative, on 
 which they went in a coach to the Fleet, where 
 the nuptial knot was inftaptly tied. 
 
 Mrs. Churchill, whofe maiden name is unknown, 
 having obtained a certificate of her marriage, en- 
 ticed her hufband to drink till he was quite ine- 
 briated, and then gave him the flip, happy in this 
 Contrivance to fcreen herfelf from an arrclt. 
 
 A little after this, fhe cohabifed with a young 
 fellow named Hunt, with whom fhe lived more 
 than fix years. Hunt appears to have been a 
 youth of a rakifh difpofition. He behaved very 
 ill to this unhappy woman, who, however, loved 
 him to diftraftion ; and at length forfeited her 
 life in confequence of the regard that fhe had for 
 him. 
 
 One
 
 DEBORAH CHURCHILL fcrMitrJer. 117 
 
 One night a> Mr. Hunt and one of his affociateS 
 were returning trom the Theatre, in company 
 with Mrs. Churchill, that a quarrel arofe between 
 the men, who immediately drew their fwords; 
 wHle Mrs. Churchill, anxious for the fafety of 
 Hunt, interpofed, and kept his antagonift at a dif- 
 tance, in eonfequenee of which he received a 
 wound, of which he died almoft immediately. 
 
 No foonr-r was the murder committed than 
 Hunt effected his efcape, and eluding his pur- 
 fuers, arrived fafely jn Holland; buc Mrs. 
 Chun, hill was apprehended on the fpor, and being 
 t j .ken before a mag'ftrate, was committed to New- 
 gate. 
 
 November 1*708, at the fefllons held at ihe Old 
 Bailey, IV'rs. Churchill was indicted as an accom- 
 plice on the act of the firit year of king James the 
 tirft, called che ftatute of ftabbing, by which it is 
 enaded, that " If any one itaus another, who 
 " ruth not at that time a weapon drawn, or hath 
 " not firil itricken the party who ftabs, is deemed 
 *' guil y of n.ur : e r , if the perfon ftabbed die 
 ** within fix months afterwards." 
 
 Mrs. Churchill toeing convicted, pleaded a ftate 
 of pregnancy, in bar to her execution j and a 
 jury of matrons being impannelled, declared that 
 they were i^no;ant whether fhe was with child or 
 not. Hereupon the court, willing to allow all 
 reafonable time in a cafe of this nature, refpited 
 judgment for fix mcnths, at the end of which time 
 ihe rece.ved ientence of death, as there was no ap- 
 pearance ot her being pregnant. 
 
 This woman's behaviour was extremely peni- 
 tent-, bet flie denied her guilt to the lalt moment 
 of her life, having no conception that fhe had 
 committed murder, becaufe flie did not herfelf 
 {lab the deceafed. 
 
 She
 
 nS NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 She was hanged at Tyburn, on the lyth of 
 December, {708. 
 
 The following leffons of inftru<5lion may be 
 derived from the fatal end of this woman. Her 
 urrhappy temper induced her firft hufband to have 
 recourfe to ftrong liquors^ which killed him. 
 Hence let married women learn to keep a guard 
 on their tempers, and always to meet their huf- 
 bands with fmiles of complacency and good na- 
 ture. Marriage is either a heaven or a hell upon 
 earth, according to the mutual behaviour of the 
 parties. 
 
 The unworthy attachment to Hunt, is a ftrong 
 proof of the capricioufnefs of the female mind ; 
 but fhe is only one inftance among thoufands or 
 a woman proving a bad wife, and entertaining an 
 affection for a man no way worthy her regard. 
 We wifh, for the honour of the fairfex, that thefe 
 inftances may daily decreafe: that female virtue 
 may triumph through the land, and that every 
 departure from it may be deemed as criminal in 
 the eyes of the fex in general, as it undoubtedly is 
 in the fight of heaven. It mould be ferioufly re- 
 membered by every woman, that " matriage is 
 honourable, and the bed undenlcd." 
 
 Life, Character, and Execution of CHRISTOPHER 
 SLAUGHTERFORD, for the Murder of JANE 
 YOUNG, for which he had been before ac- 
 quitted. 
 
 CHRISTOPHER STRAUGHTERFORD 
 was the fon of a miller at Weilbury-Green, 
 in Surry, who apprenticed him at Gocialbin, and 
 
 when
 
 C. SLAUGHTERFORD /br Murder. 119 
 
 when his time was expired^he lived in feveral fitu- 
 ations, and afterwards took a mah-houfe at Shal- 
 ford,'when his aunt became his houfe keeper, and 
 he ^acquired a moderate fum of money by his 
 induftry. 
 
 Slaughterford now paid his addrefles to Jane 
 Young, and it was generally fuppofed be intended 
 to marry her. The laft time he was feen in her 
 Company was on the evening of the 5th of October, 
 1708, from which day fhe was not heard of for a 
 confiderablc? time, on which fufpicions arofe that 
 Slaughterford had murdered her. 
 
 In about a month afterwards the body of the 
 unfortune girl was found in a pond, with feveral 
 marks of violence on it -, and the public fufpicion 
 being ftill fixed on Slaughterford, he voluntarily 
 furrendered himielf to two juftices of the peace, 
 who directed that he mould be difcharged : but 
 as he was ftill accufed by his neighbours, he went 
 to a third magirtrate, who committed him to the 
 marfhalfea, in confequence of which he was tried 
 at the next affizes at Kingfton, and acquitted. 
 
 All the neighbours, however, ftill infifted that 
 he was guilty, and prevailed on the relations of 
 the deceafed to being an appeal for a new trial ; 
 and many perfons fubicribed towards the expence 
 of it accordingly. 
 
 He was tried the next term, by a Surry jury, 
 hi the Court of Queen's-Bench, before Chief 
 Juftice Holt, the appeal being lodged in the name 
 of Henry Young, brother and heir to the deceafed. 
 
 An appeal after an acquittal on charge of 
 murder is fomewhat fmgular ; and it ought to be 
 done with the utmoft caution, becaufe after con- 
 viction on an appeal, the king has no power to 
 paidonv 
 
 The 
 
 /.
 
 j 2 6 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The fame evidence was given on thefecond 
 trial as on the firft ; yet fo different were the fen- 
 timents of the two juries, that Slaughterford was 
 now found guilty, and received fentence of death. 
 It may be proper to mention the heads of fome 
 of the depofitions, that the reader may judge of 
 the propriety of the verdi<5L 
 
 Ore Elizabeth Chapman, the miftrefs of Jane 
 Young depofed, that when the young woman 
 left herfervice, fhe faid me was going to be mar- 
 ried to the prifoner, that me had purchafed new 
 cloaths on the occafion, and declared flie was to 
 meet him on the Sunday following : 'that, this de- 
 ponent fome time afterwards enquired after Jane 
 Young, and afldng if me was married, was in- 
 formed that (he had been feen in the company or 
 Slaughterford, but no one could tell what was be- 
 come of her fmce, and that he himfelf pretended 
 he knew nothing of her, but thought fhe had 
 been at home with Mrs. Chapman : which in- 
 duced this deponent to believe that fome mifchief 
 had befallen her. 
 
 It was proved by other witnefTes, that Jane 
 Ifoung was in company with the prifoner ; on the 
 night that the murder was committed ; and one 
 man fvvore that, at three in the morning he met a 
 man and a woman on a common, about a quarter 
 of a mile from the place where the body was 
 found ; that the man wore light-coloured cloaths 
 (as it was proved the prilbner had done the pre- 
 ceding day ;) and thac foon after he paflcd them he 
 heard a mrieking, like the voice of a woman. 
 
 Another woman alfo depofed, that, after the de- 
 ceafed was miffing, fhe afked Slaughterford what 
 was become of his whore j to which he replied, 
 *' I have put her off: do you know of any girl
 
 CHRIS. SLAUGHTERFORD 
 
 " that has any money your way ? I have got the 
 ** way of putting them off now." 
 
 It 'ts depofed by anc.tner woman, that before 
 the difcovery cf the murder, (he faid to Mr. 
 Slaughrerford, " What if Jane Youn^ thould lay 
 *' kich a child to you as mine-is here?" at which 
 he fighed, and fa id, " It is now impo(fii>le :" and 
 cried till the tears ran down his cheek< 
 
 In c mradiclion to this, the aunt of Mr. Shugh- 
 terford, and a youns; lad who lived ir the houle, 
 depoied that the pril'oner lay at home on the ni^hc 
 rhat rhe murder was committed. 
 
 Slaughterford, from rhe time of conviction to 
 the very hour of his death, folemnly declared his 
 innocence; and though vifited by feveral divines, 
 \vho urged him, by all poffible argumrnts, to con- 
 fefs the fa ft, yet he (till per fitted that he was not 
 guilty. He was refpited from the Wev'iv fday 
 till Saturday, in which interim he defired to fee 
 Mr. Woodroff, a minifter of Guildfbrd -, from 
 which it was thought he would rrake a confeffion ; 
 but what he faid to him tended only to confirm 
 his former declarations. 
 
 This unfortunate man was hanged at Guild ford 
 oq the 9th of July, 1709, and, as foon as the 
 executioner had tied him up, threw himfelf off, 
 having firil delivered to the (heriff a paper contain- 
 ing tj-.e following folerr.n declaration ; 
 
 Guild/ or d t July 9, 1 709. 
 
 ' Being brought here to die, according to the 
 " ilmence paflcd upon me at the Queen's Bench 
 " Bar, for a crime of which I am wholly inno- 
 " cent, I thought myielf obliged to let the 
 " world know, that ttiey may not reflocl on my 
 '* friends and relations, whom I have left behind 
 " me much troubled for ray fatal end, that I 
 
 VOL. I. No. 3. Q^ knov
 
 122 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " know nothing of .the death of Mrs. Jane Young, 
 *' nor how Ihe came by her death, dirc<5tly or in- 
 *< directly, though fome have pleafed to call re- 
 " flections on my aunt. However, I freely for- 
 " give all my enemies, and pray to God to give 
 " them a due fenfe of their errors, and in his 
 " due time to bring ihe truth to light. In the 
 * e mean time I beg every one to forbear reflecting 
 *' on my dear mother, or any of my relations, 
 *' for my unjuft and unhappy fall, fince what I 
 " have here let down is truth, and nothing but 
 " the truth, as I expect falvation at the hands of 
 " Almighty God : but I am heartily forry that I 
 " fhould be the caufe of perfuading her to leave 
 " her dame, which is all that troubles me. As 
 " witnefs my hand, this 9th day of July." 
 
 Without doubt the cafe of Slaughterford is of 
 a very extraordinary nature. We fee that he fur- 
 rendered himfelf to the juftices when he might 
 have ran away -, and common fenfe tells us that a 
 murderer woud endeavour to make his efcape -, and 
 we find him a fecond time furrendering himfelf, as 
 if anxious to wipe away the flam-on his character. 
 We find him tried by a jury of his countrymen, 
 and acquitted , then again tried, on an appeal, by 
 another jury of his neighbours, found guilty, con- 
 demned and executed. Some of the depofitions 
 againft him feem very ftriking, and the teftihicny 
 in his favour is equally clear. There appears 
 nothing in the former part of his life to impeach 
 his character : there is no proof of any animofity 
 betweeen him and the party murdered ; he is vi- 
 fited while under fentence of death, by a number 
 of Divines ; yet he dies with the moil facred 
 averment of his innocence. 
 
 It is difficult to judge ! He was evidently con- 
 victed on circumilances only, ftrong as thofe cir- 
 i cumftances
 
 GRACE TRIPP -for Murder. 123 
 
 cumftances appeared : and there have been many 
 inilances of innocent people fuffering on circum- 
 ilantial evidence. Charity, then, will incline one 
 to believe that this man was innocerit, and that 
 his life feri a facrince to his neighbours* prejudices, 
 perhaps laudable prejudices ! 
 
 The conduct of the jury that acquitted, or of 
 that which condemned him, is not to becenfured. 
 Human teftimony is doubtful, and human judges 
 are fallible ! But we mould be taught one import- 
 ant leflbn from the fate of this unhappy man. 
 We fhould learn to reverence the decrees of that 
 Providence which is above pur finite comprehen- 
 fion, and to admire the juftice of that God whofe 
 *' ways are paft finding out." 
 
 From the picture before us we fhould learn the 
 certainty of a future ftate, when all mifts mall be 
 cleared from our eyes, and "hidden things fhall 
 " be made plain !" 
 
 Narrative of the Life, Execution, &c. of GRACE 
 'I RIPP, who was hanged at Tyburn for the 
 Murder of Lord Torrington's Houfckeeper.. 
 
 GRACE TRIPP was a native of Barton in 
 Lincolnshire, and after living as a fervant 
 at a gentleman's houfe in the country, me came 
 tp London, and having been in a reputable fa- 
 mily ibme time, me procured a place in the houfe 
 of Lord Torrington. 
 
 During her (lay in this laft fervice fh got ao 
 quaintcd with a man named Peters, who per- 
 fuaded her to be concerned in robbing Lord Tor- 
 rington's houie, promifing to marry her as foon 
 as the fact fhould be perpetrated. Hereupon it 
 
 2 was
 
 124 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 was concerted between them, that fhe mould let 
 Peters into the houfe in the night, and that they 
 fhould join in ftealing and carrying off the plate. 
 Peters was accordingly admitted at the ap- 
 pointed time, when all of the family, except the 
 houfekeeper, were out of town : but this houfe- 
 keeper hearing a noife, Came into the room iuft as* 
 they had packed up the plate j on which Peters 
 feizcd her, and cut her throat, while Tiipp held 
 the candle This being done, they fearched the 
 pockets of the deceafed, in which they found 
 about thirty guineas with which, and the plate, 
 they haftily decamped, leaving the ftrcet door open. 
 
 This flecking murder and robbery became the 
 general fubjecl of converfation, and no fteps were 
 left unattempted in order to apprehend the offen- 
 ders, and they were taken in a few days, when, 
 Peters was admitted an evidence for the crown, for 
 the fake of public juftice. 
 
 Tripp, in confequence of his evidence, and 
 many corroborating circumftances, was convicled, 
 Sentenced to die, and executed at Tyburn, on the 
 i ^th of March, 1 710, at the age of 19 years. 
 
 While this unfortunate woman lay under fen- 
 tence of deith, (lie entertained an idea that ftie 
 ought not to fuffer, becaufe fhe did not aclua. 7 
 commit the murder with her own hands, but 
 only ft~.od by while the d'.ed was perpetrated. 
 She conferred that an ambition of being deemed 
 a fine lady prevailed on her to admit Peters into 
 the houle, as me thought the (tolen effecls would 
 produce fufficient ro dignity htr with that title. 
 
 We may draw from the fate of this unhappy, 
 deluded girl, two or three reflections which are 
 not unwrorthy the notice of the public. In the 
 firft place, fa nilies that go out of town for the 
 fummer fliould never leave their plate in the care 
 
 of
 
 of one or two fervants, particularly of the female 
 lex; for this circumftance is at once an encou- 
 ragement to robbers, and a temptation to fervants 
 themfelves to betray their truft. 
 
 '1 he admiffion of Peterson evidence againft the 
 girl, though he was clearly an offender of the firft 
 magnitude, mould teach young people in general 
 the danger of making unlawful connections ; and 
 the folly of trufting to the fidelity of a brother 
 thief. In this particular cafe it was necefiary 
 that one of the parties mould be an evidence, in 
 order to convict the other ; and Peters was un- 
 doubtedly pitched upon, to teach fervants what an 
 enormous crime it is to betray the truft repofed in 
 them by their mafters. We have feldom an in- 
 ftance of a fervant convicted of robbing his or her 
 mafter but they are feverely punimed ; and indeed 
 it is proper that the utmoft rigour of the law 
 mould overtake fuch offenders. 
 
 This young woman's folly and credulity in lif- 
 tening to the addrefics of a man who perfuaded her 
 to rob her mafter, is truly aftonifhing ! From her 
 fad example let all young women be taught, that 
 there is no profpect of that perfon making a good 
 hufband, who is not firft of all an HONEST MAN. 
 Let them remember, that the fear of the Lord 
 41 is the beginning wifdpm." 
 
 Full Account of the Lives, Infurrcctions, and 
 Execution of DANIEL DAMAREE and 
 GEORGE PURCHASE, who were hanged 
 at Tyburn for High Treafon. 
 
 WHEN the whig miniflry of queen Anne 
 were turned out of, or, in the modern 
 phrafe, had rcfigned their places, the tory mi- 
 
 niftry
 
 126 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 niftry who fucceeded them encouraged a young 
 divine named Henry Sacheverell to enflame the 
 pailions of the public by preaching against the fet- 
 tlernent made at the revolution, and inculcating all 
 thofe doctrines which were then held as the favou- 
 rite tenets of what was called the high church party. 
 Sacheverell was a man of abilities, and eminently 
 polTefled of thofe kind of talents which are cal- 
 culated to infpire fuch fentiments as the preacher 
 wiflhed toimprefs his auditors with. 
 
 The public in general are well informed that 
 Dr. SacheverelPs difcourfes tended to indigate the 
 people again ft the houfe of Hanover, and to in- 
 iinuate the right of the pretender to the throne of 
 thefe realms. This caufed fuch a general commo- 
 tion that it became necefiary to bring him ro a trial 
 in fome way ; and, contrary to all former practice 
 refpecting a man of his rank, he was tried'before 
 the houle of peers, and was filenced for three 
 years upon conviction. 
 
 But fo excited were the palTions of the populace in 
 confequence of his infmuations, that they almoft 
 adored him as a prophet ; and fome of them were 
 led to commit thofe outrages which gave rife to 
 the following trials : 
 
 * Two dilTenting minifters, Meflieurs Bradbury 
 and Burgefs, having made themfelves confpicuous 
 by preaching in behalf of the revolution fettle- 
 menr, and freedom of fentiment in matters of re- 
 ligion, became the immediate objects of the re- 
 fentmert of the mob. What aroie in confequence 
 hereof will appear from the following abftract of 
 the trials of the criminals before us : 
 
 Daniel Damaree on the igth of April, lyia, 
 was indicted for being concerned with a multi- 
 tude of men, to the number of five hundred, 
 armed with fwords and clubs, to levy war againft 
 the queen. A gen-
 
 A gentleman ckpofed, that " going through the 
 " Temple, he law fome thoufands of people, who 
 ct had attended ur. SachevereUfrom Wcftminfter- 
 " Hall : that fome of them faid they would pull 
 tf down Dr. Burgefs's meeting houfe that night:" 
 Others differed as to the time of doing it, but all 
 agre-.-d on the a:i, and the meeting-houic was de- 
 moliflied on the following night. 
 
 Captain Orril fwore thai on the firft of March, 
 hearing that " the mob had pulled down Dr. Bur- 
 " gefs's meeting- houfe, he refolved to go among 
 " them, to do what llrvice he could to govern- 
 " ment, by making difcoveries." 
 
 Captain Orril going to Mr. Bradbury's meeting, 
 founcl the people plundering it, who obliged hint 
 to pull off his hat. After this he went to Lin- 
 coln's-Inn-Fields, where he faw a bonfire made of 
 fome of the materials of Dr. Burgefs's meeting- 
 houfe, and faw the prifoner, who twirled his hat, 
 and faid " D n it, I will lead you on ; G d 
 *' d n me, we will have all the meeting-houfes 
 " down; high church and Sacheverell, huzza!" 
 
 It was proved by another evidence that the pri- 
 foner headed part of the mob, fome of whom pro- 
 pofed to go to the mecting-houfe in Wild-itreet -, 
 but this was objected to by others, who recom- 
 mended going to Drury-Lane, "faying that meet- 
 ". ing-houfe was worth ten of that in Wiid-ftreVt." 
 
 Jofeph Collier fwore that he faw the prifoner 
 carry a brafs fconce from Dr. Burgefs's meeting- 
 houfe, and throw it into the fire in Lincoln's- 
 Inn-Fields, huzzaing, and crying "High church 
 " and Sachevcreli." There was another evi- 
 dence to prove the concern that the prifoner had 
 in thefe illegal acts , and feveral perfons ap-r 
 peaird in li ; s behalf; but as in their tcftimony, 
 
 they
 
 128 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR 
 
 they contradicted each other, the jury could not 
 credit their evidence : but brought in a fpecial 
 verdict. 
 
 George Purchafe was indicted for levying war 
 againft the queen, &c. in the fame manner that 
 iJamaree had been. On this trial captain Orril 
 depofed, that after feeing Or. Burgefs's meeting- 
 houfe demoliflied, and a fire made in Lincoln's- 
 Inn-Fields with fome of the materials thereof, he 
 met a party of the guards, whom he direded to 
 go to Drury-Lane, where a bonfire was made of 
 the pews, and other utenfils , and that there was a 
 great mob, which was difperfed by the guards : 
 that the prifoner was very active pufhing at the 
 breafts of the horfcs with a drawn fword : that this 
 evidence afked what he- meant, telling him that 
 in oppofing the guard he oppofed the queen, and 
 would have perluaded him to put up his fword, 
 and go home -, but inftead of taking this advice, 
 he replied, " D n yon, who are you ? for High 
 ct Church and Sachevercll or no ? 1 am, G d 
 " d n them all," meaning the guards, " for i 
 am as good a man as any ol them all :" that he 
 then called to the mob " Come on, come on boys ; 
 *' I'll lead you on, I am for High Church and Sa- 
 " cheverell, and I'll lofe my life in the* caufe." 
 The Captain farther depofed, that after this the 
 prifoner ran refolutely with his fword in his hand, 
 and made a full pafs at the officer who commanded 
 the guards ; and if one of the guards had not 
 given a. fpring and beat down his fword, he would 
 have run the officer through the left flank : that 
 the prifoner now retired a little lower, and the 
 guards had by this time difperfed the mob, having 
 knocked down forty or fifty of them in the 
 action. 
 
 Richard
 
 DAMAREE& PURCHASE-/*- Higbfrgaf. 129 
 
 Richard Rufiel, one of the guards, depofed, 
 that they were ordered by the ferjcant to march into 
 Drury-Lane, and to return their bayonets and 
 draw their fwords : that when they came to Dru- 
 ry-Lane, there was a bonfire with a large mob 
 about it ; that near the fire the horfe were all 
 drawn up into one line, with their tails againit the 
 wall, that none of the mob might come behind : 
 that the prifoner then flood in the middle of the 
 lane, huzzaing, and came up, and would have 
 thruft himfelf between the horfes-, but the guards 
 beat him off with the flats of their fwords. 
 
 The prifoner produced fome wicnefies-, but as 
 what they faid did not contradict the tt ftimony of 
 the evidences againft him, their depofuions had 
 mo weight. The jury were fatisfted witn the proofs 
 that had arifen : but having a doubt reflecting 
 tfee points of law, they brought in a fpecial ver- 
 dift. 
 
 At the fame time and place Francis Willis was 
 tried foraflilling in demolifhing the meeting-houle 
 of Mr. Bradbury in Fetter-Lane, and burning 
 the materials at a bonfire in Holborn ; but was 
 acquitted for want of fufficient evidence againit 
 him. 
 
 The verdi<5ts refpecting Damaree and Purchafe 
 being left fpecial, their cafes were argued in the 
 court of KJng's-Bench in Weftminfter-Hall, the 
 following term, before the lord chief juftice Par- 
 ker and the other judges , when though every 
 artifice in the law was made ufe of in their 
 behalf, they were adjudged to be guilty ; in con 
 fequence of which they received fentence of death, 
 and were executed at Tyburn, on the i.5th of 
 June 1710. 
 
 From the fate of thefe unhappy men we may 
 VOL. I. No. 4 R karn
 
 130 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 learn the extreme folly of the lower orders of peo- 
 ple interefting thernfelves in religious and political 
 difputes. Thefr offenders were watermen to the 
 queen ; but their loyalty to their fovereign and a 
 proper regard to themielves, equally called on 
 them to difcharge the duties of their ftation with 
 punctuality, and to leave the management of the 
 church and ftate to thofe to whom they imme- 
 diately belonged. 
 
 It is well known that towards the clofe of the 
 reign of queen Anne, political difputes were car- 
 ried to a very unufual height in this kingdom. 
 The body of the people were divided into two 
 great factions, known by the names of High 
 Church and Low Church : but though the church 
 was the word, religion was almoft out of the quef- 
 tion ; and the principle object of difpute was of a 
 political kind. The quettion was, whether the 
 houfe of HANOVER, or the family of STUART, 
 fhould fway the fceptre of thefe kingdoms. But 
 it is aftonifhing to think that, even at that period, 
 any foil of the church of England could be fo de- 
 luded as to think that a catholic prince, of an ob- 
 noxious family, profcribed by the laws of the 
 land could be a proper fovereign for a proteltanc 
 people. The fuppofition carries abfurdity in the 
 face of it ; yet fuch was the violence of the paf- 
 fions of the people, that the pretender had nearly 
 half as many friends in the kingdom as the rightful 
 heir to the throne. 
 
 With reguard to the malefactors in queftion, 
 their offence was of the moft atrocious nature. 
 Every man has an equal right to worfhip God 
 according to the dictates of his own confcience. 
 It was therefore in a high degree, criminal to de- 
 
 rnolifli
 
 RICH. THORNfIILL,Efq. for Murder. 131 
 
 molifh the meeting- houfes of the difTentingmini- 
 fters. We mould have no more fpleen againft a 
 man for differing from us in religious lent ments, 
 than for being taller, or fhorter, or of a different 
 complexion from ourfelves. It was a wife faying 
 of a celebrated writer, that " I would no more 
 " quarrel with a man for his differing in fenti- 
 " ment from me, than I would for the colour oi 
 " his eye-brows." 
 
 The operations of the mind, being free by na- 
 ture, ought to be allowed the moll unlimited 
 fcope. A good Proteftant will not quarrel with a 
 Roman Catholic for the peculiarities of his wor- 
 fhip : he will only pity him for thofe parts of it 
 which he thinks abfurd, and endeavour to regu- 
 late his own worfhip by what he deems a purer 
 ftandard. 
 
 Upon the whole, the fate of thefe malefaftors 
 ought to teach us obedience to our fuperiors, love 
 to our neighbours, and duty to our God. There 
 can be no peace of mind expected by thofe who 
 do not live in the difcharge of their duty; while 
 thofe who perform it may reafonably hope for the 
 ferene comforts of a good confciencein this world, 
 and confole themfelves with the hope of immprtaj 
 happinefs in the next. 
 
 Account of RICHARD THORNHILL, Efq. 
 who was tried for the Murder of Sir CHOL- 
 MONDELEY DEERING in a Duel, snd 
 
 found guilty of Manflaugbter. 
 
 SIR CHOLMONDtLEY DEERING and 
 Mr. Thornidll were intimate acquaintance, 
 and had dined together, on the ;th of April, 
 
 R 2 1711,
 
 i 3 2 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR 
 
 1711, in company with feveral other gentlemen, 
 at the Toy, at Hampton -Court, where a quarrel 
 arofe which occafioned the unhappy cataftrophe 
 that afterwards happened. 
 
 .During the quarrel Sir Cholmondeley flruck 
 Mr. Thornhill, and afcuffle enfuing, the wainicoc 
 of the room broke down, and Thornhill railing, 
 the other (lamped on him, and beat out fome of 
 his teeth. The company now interpofing, Sir 
 Cholmondeley, convinced that he had acted im- 
 properly, declared that he was willing to afk par- 
 don ; but Mr. Thornhill faid that afking pardon 
 was not a proper retaliation for the injury that he 
 had received; adding " Sir Cholmondeley, you 
 " know where to find me/* Soon after this the 
 company broke up, 'and the piifoners went home 
 in different coaches, without any farther fteps be- 
 ing taken towards their reconciliation. 
 
 On the-pth of ApriLSir Cholmondeley went to 
 the Coffce-houfe at Kenfington, andafked for Mr. 
 Thornhill, who on not being there, he went to 
 his lodgings, and the fervant fhewed him to the 
 dining-room, to which he afcended with a brace 
 of piflols in his hands, and loon afterwards Mr. 
 Thornhill coming to him, afked him if he would 
 drink tea, which he declined, but drank a glafs 
 of fmall beer. 
 
 After this the gentlemen ordered a hackney- 
 coach, in which they went to Tothill-Fields, and 
 there advanced towards each other in a refolute 
 manner, x and fired their piftols almoft in the fame 
 moment. 
 
 Sir Cholmondeley being mortally wounded, 
 fell to the ground , and Mr. Thorhill, after la- 
 menting the unhappy cataftrophe, was going away, 
 when a perion flopped him, told him he had 
 {jeep guilty of murder, ar\d took him before 
 
 a jul-
 
 RICH. THORNHILL, Efq. for Murder. 133 
 
 a juftice of the peace, who committed him to 
 prifon. 
 
 On the 1 8th of May 1711, Richard Thornhill, 
 Efq. was indidled at the Old- Ba; ley fcflions for: 
 this murder. In the courfe of the trial the above> 
 recked fafts were proved, and a letter was prp. 
 duced, of which the following is a copy. 
 
 SIR, . April 8th, 1711; 
 
 " I fhall be able to go abroad to-morrow m orn- 
 " ing, and defire you will give me a meeting 
 *' with your fword and piftol ., whicn I infill on. 
 " Tne worthy gentleman who brings you this, 
 " will concert with you the time and place. I 
 " think rothill Fields will do well ; Hyd e-Park 
 * c will not, at this rime of the year, bein^fullof 
 ^ company. 
 
 I am, 
 
 Your humble Se rvanr, 
 RICHARD THORN HILL.", 
 
 Mr. Thor.nhill's fervant fwore that he believed 
 this letter to be his matters hand- writ ing , but 
 Mr Thornhill hoped the jurv would noi : pay any 
 regard to this teftimony, a the boy had acknow- 
 ledged in court t.Hat he never faw him wr ite. 
 
 Mj. Thornhili called feveral witneffi s to prove 
 how ill he had been ufed by Sir Cholmc indeley : 
 that he had languiJfhed fome time of the wounds 
 he had received, during which he could take no 
 other fultenamce than liquids, and that his , life was 
 in imminent: danger. 
 
 Several picrfons of diftinction tcftified th at Mr. 
 Thornhill was of a peaceable dilpofuior i, and 
 that, on the contrarv, the d< ceafed was of a re- 
 markably ( luarreilome temper, un bcna Jf f 
 
 Mr.
 
 134 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Mr. Thorn hill it was farther ikpofed, that Sir 
 Cholmondeley being atked if he came by his hurt 
 through unfair ulage, he replied "No: poor 
 ** Thornhill ! I am lorry for him ; this misfortune 
 " was my own fault, and of my own feeking : I 
 " heartily forgive him, and defire'yftu all to take 
 * notice of it, that it may be of Tome lervicc 
 " to him; and that one misfortune may not occa- 
 " lion another." 
 
 The jury acquitted Mr. Thornhill of the mur- 
 cler, but found him guilty of manflaughter, in con- 
 fequence of which he was burnt m the hand. 
 
 Of all the vices which difgrace our age and na- 
 tion that of duelling is one of the moft ridiculous, 
 abfurd and criminal. Ridiculous, as it is a com- 
 pliance with a cuftom that would plead fa- 
 Ihion in violation of the laws of our country ; 
 abfurd, as it produces no teft by which to de- 
 termine cm the merits of the point in difpute : for 
 the aggrieved is equally liable to fall with the ag- 
 grefibr; and criminal, (criminal indeed in the 
 highefl degree !) as it arifes from pre-determined 
 murder on each fide. Gentlemen talk of the 
 dignity of honour, and the facrednei's of charac- 
 ter^, without reflecting that there can be no honour 
 in deliberate murder, no purity of character in a 
 murderer \ 
 
 The man who fends a challenge to another, 
 does but fay, in other words, " I am a profefTed 
 " murderer. I mean to fend you into the other 
 *' world, with all your imperfections on your 
 ct head.< But I am a man of honour though I 
 l will not take a'purfe, I will cut a throat. I 
 will do every thing in my power to deprive you 
 * of life, and to make your friends and relations 
 " wretched for life. If I fall by your hands, my 
 " friends will be equally miferable :-i but no 
 
 *' matter
 
 ELIZ. MASON. for Poifonmg her MJlrejs 135 
 
 " matter the lavys of honour demand that we 
 * c (hould be murderers, and we are both too wifoi 
 " to obey the laws of our God." 
 
 Horrid practice ! difgraceful to our country, 
 and equally contrary to all Divine and human in- 
 ftitutions ! It is to be hoped the time will come 
 when the legifiature mall decree that every man 
 who is bale enough to fend a challenge mail be 
 doomed to fuffer death as a murderer. Let no 
 fear be entertained that this can derogate from 
 our national character of genuine courage. No- 
 thing is more true than the obfervation of the 
 poet, that 
 
 Cowards are cruel, but the brave 
 Love mercy, and delight to fave. 
 
 Account of ELIZABETH MASON, who was 
 hanged at Tyburriy for Poifoning her Miftnfs. 
 
 T^LIZABETH MASON was born at Melton-' 
 JLLf Mowbray, in Leicefterfhire, and while very 
 young, was conveyed by her friends to Sutton, 
 near Peterborough, in Northamptonfhire ; from 
 whence, at the age of feven years, (he was 
 brought to London by Mrs. Scoles, who told her 
 fhe was her godmother ; and with this lady and 
 her fitter, Mrs. Cholwell, fhe lived till (he was 
 apprehended for the commiffion of the crime for 
 which her life paid the forfeit. 
 
 This girl, who was employed in houfehold 
 work, having conceived an idea that (he mould 
 pofTcfs the fortune of her miftrefles, on their 
 death, came to the horrid refolution of removing 
 them by poifon. On
 
 136 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 On Thurfday in Eafter-week, Mafon being 
 fent of an errand, fhe went to a druggilt's fhop, 
 were (he bought a quantity of yellow arienick, on 
 the pretence that it was to kill rats. On the fol- 
 lowing morning fhe mixed this poifon with fome 
 coffee, of which Mrs. Scoles drank, and foon af- 
 terwards finding heifclf extremely ill, faid her end 
 was approaching, and expired the next day in 
 great agonies. 
 
 Mrs. Cholwell receiving no injury from what 
 little coffee fhe drank, the girl determined to re- 
 new her attempt to poifon her ; in confequence 
 of which fhe went again to the fame fhop abo~t a 
 fortnight afterwards, and bought a fecond quan- 
 tity of arfenick, which fhe put into fome water- 
 gruel prepared for Mrs. CholwelPs breakfaft on 
 the following morning. 
 
 As it happened that the gruel was too hot, the 
 lady put it afide fome time to cool, during which 
 time moft of the arfenick funk to the bottom. 
 Having drank fome of it, fhe foun'd herfelf very 
 ill , and oblerving the fediment at the bottom of 
 the bafon, fhe fent for her apothecary, who gave 
 her a large quantity of oil to drink, by the help 
 of which the poilbn was expelled. 
 
 Unfavourable fufpicions now arifing againfl 
 Elizabeth Mafon, fhe was taken into cuttody, and 
 being carried before two jufticesof the peace, on 
 the goth of April, fhe confefied the whole of her 
 guilt, in confequence of which fhe was committed 
 to Newgate. 
 
 On the 6th of June 1712, fhe was indicled for 
 the murder of Jane Scoles, by mixing yellow arfe- 
 nick with her coffee; and pleading guilty to the 
 indictment, fhe received fentence of death; in 
 confequence of which fhe was executed at Tyburn, 
 on the iSthof June 1712. 
 
 While
 
 ELIZ. MASON for Panning kef M:Jlr*fs. 137 
 
 While fhe lay under lentence of death, the 
 ordinary of Newgate alked if fhe had any lover, 
 or other perlbn, who had te opted her to the 
 commifiion of the crime : to which fhe anfwered 
 in the negative; but owned that (he had fre- 
 quently defrauded her milire/Tcs of money, and 
 Chen told lies to conceal the depredations of 
 which Ihe had been guilty. 
 
 At the time of her execution fhe warned other 
 ycung people to beware of crimes fimilar to thofe 
 which had brought her to that fatal end, and con- 
 fefied the jutticc of the fentence which made her 
 a public ex mple. 
 
 Young people fhould be taught, from' the de- 
 plorable fate of this unhappy girl, to learn a due 
 obedience to their fuperiors in general ; and par- 
 ticularly to guard againft the firft irnpulfes of- 
 pride, ambition, and ^vance: for it was the ex- 
 pectation of poifcffing the fortune of. her miftrefles 
 at their death, that tempted this young creature to 
 think of removing them, by the commiffion of 
 the horrid fin of murder! 
 
 In the difcovery of this affair the intervention 
 of Providence obvioufly appears. If the gruel, 
 prepared for Mrs. Cholwell, had not been too 
 hot for ufe, fhe would probably have eaten freely 
 of it, and, in confrquence, have loll her life. 
 
 In the cafe of this malefactor we fee, in a 
 ftriking light, the fatal confequences of lying , 
 for if, after (he had firft defrauded her miftreflcs, 
 ihe had polfefied .grace fuffici-ent to have- acknow- 
 ledged her crime, fhe would probably have been 
 forgiven, and her repencance would have fecured 
 her peace of mind during her future life: but 
 the concealing her faults by lying naturally led 
 her to tne commiffion of greacer crimes, which 
 VOL. I. No. 4. S ended
 
 i 3 8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 ended in her final deftruclion Of all crimes, 
 lying is one of the me ane ; t -, and ought to be ftu- 
 dioufly avoided, by thofc whowifh to be happy 
 in this world or rhe next. Very true is the obler- 
 vation of the peer ; 
 
 But lyars we can n-ver truft, 
 
 Tho'thet' mould ip^ak the thing that*s true; 
 And he that does one iault at firft, 
 And lyes to hide it, makes it two. 
 
 Account of ELIZABETH CHIVERS, who 
 hanged for murdering her Baftard Child. 
 
 A T the feffions held at the Old Baijey, in the 
 ** month of July, 1712, Elizabeth Chivers 
 was indicted for the wilful murder of her female 
 baftard chili, Elizabeth Ward, by drowning it 
 in a pond \ and, pleading guilty, me received 
 ftntenee of death, and was executed at Tyburn, 
 pn the firft of Auguft following. 
 
 This unhappy woman was a native of Spital- 
 fields, but lived at Stepney at the time of the 
 commiflion of the murder. The account me 
 gave of herfelf after me was under fentence of 
 death was as follows j She laid, that her father 
 dving, while me was very young, left her in in- 
 digmt cirqumftances, which obliged her to go 
 to fervicc when (he w.,s only fourteen years of 
 age ; that (he lived in feveral reputable families, 
 in which her condudt was deemed irreproachable. 
 
 When fhe arrived at almoft the age of thirty 
 years, me lived with one Mr. Ward, an attorney, 
 who prevailed on her to lie with him, in confe- 
 quenpe of which, me hare the child which {he, 
 Afterwards murdfered. 
 
 Finding
 
 ELIZ: CHIVERS for Murder. 119 
 
 Finding .herfelf pregnant, (he removed from 
 Mr. Ward's t < another family, where {he re- 
 mained about fix weeks, and then to<;k private 
 lodgings, in which ihe was delivered of a girI 4 
 who was baptifed by the name of Elizabeth Ward. 
 The father, agreeable to his promife, provided 
 for the mother and child for about three months, 
 when Mrs. Ward difcovering h r habitation, ex- 
 pofed her in the neighbourhood, fo that fhe was 
 afhamed to make her appearance. 
 
 Enraged by this circumtfance, fhe was tempted 
 to deftroy her child : on which (h6 took ir into 
 the fields, and threw it into a pond not far from 
 Hackney; but fome people near the fpot hap- 
 pening to fee what palled, took her into cuftody, 
 and carried her before a magittrate, who commit- 
 ted her to Newgate. 
 
 All the time that Ihe remained in this gloomy 
 prifon, her mind leemed to be tortured with the 
 moft agonizing pains, on account of the horrid 
 crimes of which flic had been guilty : and fhe ex- 
 prefied a fenfe of her torments in the following 
 ftriking words, which Ihe fpoke to a clergyman 
 who attended her : " Oh, fir ! I am loft ! I can- 
 '* not pray, I cirn >t repent , my fi; is too great 
 " to be pardrned ! I did commit it with dtlibe- 
 " ration and choice, and in cold blood: I was 
 ' not driven to it by nectfllry. Th^ father had 
 -" all the while provided for me, and for the 
 ** child, and would have done fo ftill, had not I 
 " deftroyed the child, and thereby fought my 
 *' own dcftruclion." 
 
 It is very remarkable of this \voman, that fhe 
 was near thirty years of age before the was de- 
 bauched; and, previous to that time her charac- 
 ter was unimpeached. Hence let. young women 
 Jearn the importance of chaitiiy; and confider 
 S a how
 
 i4o NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 hcxv very little they have to depend on, when the 
 character is once gone. Let men, Jikewife, be 
 taught to reflect what a horrid crime feduction is ; 
 and that when once they tempt a young woman 
 to violate her ch ftity-, they are only leading her 
 to the brink of inevitable deftruction. 
 
 The terrors of confcience this poor creature 
 underwent appear to have been of the mod dread- 
 ful kind, and afford us a mocking idea of the 
 confluences refultirtg from the crime of murder. 
 What a deplorable ftate muft that wretch be in, 
 >vho defpairs to fo great a degree as to be unable 
 to repent ! May God, in his mercy, grant that 
 none of the readers of this work may ever have 
 occafion to repent of a crime fo ihocking as mur- 
 der. Nature revolts at the idea of fo enormous 
 an offence ; but \ve know not to what lengths 
 our paflions may lead us. Let us, therefore, con- 
 ftantly pray that we may not be " led into temp- 
 *' tation j" and, " let him that ftandeth take 
 " heed left he fall." 
 
 Account of the Trial of Col. JOHN HAMIL- 
 TON, for the Murder of CHARLES Lord 
 MOHUN, and JAMES Duke of HAMIL- 
 TON and BRANDON. 
 
 TOHN HAMILTON, Efq. of St. Martin's in 
 J the Fields, was indicted at the fefllons held at 
 the Old 'Bailey on the nth of September, 1712, 
 for the murder of Charles -Lord Mohun, Baron of 
 Oakhampton, on the i5th of November preced- 
 ing: and at the fame time he was indicted for 
 abetting Charles Lord Mohun, and George 
 Macartney, liiq. in the murder of James Duke of 
 
 Hamilton,
 
 Col. JOHN 1 HAMILTON- for Murder. 141 
 
 Hamilton and Brandon : and having pleaded 
 " not guilty " to theie indictment?, the evidences 
 proceeded tj give their teftimony in fubftance as 
 follows : 
 
 Rice Williams, footman to Lord Mohun, pro- 
 ved that his matter having met the c 1 uke of HamiJ- 
 ton at the chambers of a matter in chancery, on 
 Thurfdav the i 3th of November, a rrnfunderltand- 
 ing arole between them respecting the tcftimony 
 of~an evidence. That when his lord came home 
 at nighr, he ordered that no perfon mould be ad- 
 mitted to fpcak with him the. next morning except 
 Mr. Macartney. That on the Saturday morning 
 about feven o'clock this evidence, having fome 
 fufpicion that mifchicf would, enfue, went towards 
 Hyde- Park, and feeing the duke of Hamilton's 
 coach g^ino. that way, he got over the park-wail ; 
 but jult as he arrived at the place where the 
 dueliits were engaged, he law both the noblemen 
 fall, and two gentlemen near them, whom he took 
 to be the feccnds. One of whom he knew to be 
 Mr. Macartney, and the other (but he could noc 
 fwerr it was the prilbner) faid " We have made a 
 " fine piec^ of work of it." 
 
 The waiters at two different taverns proved that 
 the deceafed noblemen and their leconas had been 
 at thofc taverns: and, from what could be col- 
 lected from their behaviour, it appeared that a 
 quarrel had taken place, and that a duel was in 
 agitation: and ibme of the duke's fervams and 
 other witnefles depofed to a variety of particulars, 
 all which tended to the lame conclufion. 
 
 But the evidence who law moll of the tranf- 
 afbion was William Morris, a grjom, who de- 
 pofed that " as he was walking his horfes towards 
 " Hyde- Park, he followed a hackney coach with 
 " two gentlemen in it, whom he law alight -by 
 
 the
 
 142 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 <c the lod^e, and walk together towards the left 
 *' part of the ring, where they were about a 
 " quarter of an hour, when he faw two ether 
 " gentlemen come to them; that after having 
 " faluted edch othef^ one of them, who he is 
 " fince told was the duke of Hamilton, threw oft 
 " his cloak, and one of the other two, who he 
 " now um'er iands was lord M hun, his furtout 
 " Coat, and all immediately drew 5 that the duke 
 " and lord pufhed at each ofther but a very little 
 " while, when the duke cl-ifed, and took the 
 " lord by the collar, who fell down and groaned, 
 " and the duke fell upon him : that jutt as lord 
 *' Mohun was dropping, he faw him lay hold of 
 " the duke's fword, but could not tell whether 
 *' the fword was at that time in his body-, nor 
 ** did he fee any wound given afteV the doling, 
 " and was furc lord Mohun did not fhorten his 
 ** fword. He declared he did not fee the feconds 
 " fight, but they had their fwords in their hands', 
 " afllfting tne lords." 
 
 Paul Bouffier, a furgeon, fwore that on open- 
 ing the body of the duke of H<milton he found a 
 wound between the fecond and third rib, which 
 entered into the body, inclining to the right fide, 
 which could not be given but by fome puih from 
 above. 
 
 Henry Amy, a furgeon, fwore that he found 
 the duke of Hamilton had received a wound by 
 a pufh, which had cut the artery and fmall ten- 
 don of his right arm , another very large one in 
 his right leg, a fmall one in his left leg, near the 
 inftep ; and a fourth in his left fide, between the 
 iecond and third ribs, which ran down into his 
 body m ft forward, having pierced the fkirt of 
 his midriff, and gone through his caul ; but that 
 the wound in his arm caufed his fo fpeedy death , 
 
 and
 
 Col. JOHV HAMILTON for Murder. 143 
 
 and that he might have lived two or three days 
 with the wound m his breaft, which wound could 
 not be given bu: by an arm that reached over, or 
 was above him. 
 
 He further dt pofed, that he alfo viewed the lord 
 Mohun's body, and found that ^he had a wound 
 between the fhort ribs, quite through his belly, and 
 another about thiee inches deep in the upper part 
 of his thigh ; a large wound about four inches wide 
 in his groin, a little higher, which was the caufe 
 of his immediate death j and another fmall wound 
 on his It-ft fide, and that the fingers of his left 
 hand were cut. 
 
 The defence made by the prifoner was, that 
 " the duke called him to go abroad with him, but 
 " he knew i.ot any thing of the matter till he 
 * can e into tne field " 
 
 Some Scott ifb noblemen, and other gentlemen 
 of rank, gave Mr. Hamilton a very advantageous 
 character, airerting that he was brave, honeft, and 
 inoffenfive: and the jury having confidcred of 
 the affair, g^ve a verdict of " marflaughter," in, 
 confequence of which the prifoner prayed the be- 
 nefit of the ftatute, which was allowed him. 
 
 At the time the lives of the above-mentioned 
 noblemen were thus unfortunately iacrificed, many 
 perfons thought they fell by the hands of the 
 ieconds : and fome late writers on the fubject have 
 affected to -be of the fame opinion ; but nothing 
 appears in the written or printed accounts of the 
 tranlaction, nor did any thing ariie on the trial, 
 to warrant fb ungenerous a fufpicion ; it is there- 
 fore but juftice to the memory of all the parties to 
 dilcredit luch infinuations. 
 
 But here a reflection will naturally arife, that 
 we hope may be of fervicc to our readers of fupe- 
 riorrank. If all d^elliits are, as common fe^fe 
 
 fecms
 
 i 4 4 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 feems to intimate, MURDERERS, in what ligh( are 
 we to confider their feconds? Certainly in no other 
 than as accefTaries before the fact. Tne law fays, 
 and with.great juftice, that accefiariis in cafe of 
 murder fhall be deemed principals. 
 
 With regard to the particular cafe in queftion, 
 if we believe the plea of the prifoner, we cannot 
 confider him as an acceflary, becaufe he was igno- 
 rant of the intention of the duke. 
 
 Be this as it may, it is much to be lamented 
 that we have not laws of force fufficient to put an 
 effectual ftop to the horrid practice of duelling: 
 a practice which had its rife in the ferocious man* 
 ners of themoft barbarous ages, and is a difgrace 
 to any people who pretends to be polifhed or re- 
 fined. Honour is made the vile pretence, and 
 murder, real or intended, is always the confe- 
 quence. 
 
 Men ought to confider that their great Creator 
 has emrufted them with life for more valuable pur- 
 pofes than to put it to the hazard on every frivo- 
 lous occafion., One would imagine that the reflec- 
 tion of a moment would teach any man in his 
 fenfes that the determination to rum into the pre- 
 ience of his maker with the crime of murder on his 
 head was fufficient to enfure his perdition ! 
 
 Happy are thofe who have been thus tempted 
 to embrue their hands in the blood of their fellow 
 creatures, if they elcape the murdering fword or 
 piftol, and have time allotted them to repent of 
 their mifdeeds-, and furely a whole life of penj- 
 tence is fhort enough to atone for the intentional 
 murder of a fellow-creature ! 
 
 Account
 
 WILLIAM JOHNSON, &c.for Murder. 145 
 
 Account of WILLIAM JOHNSON, and JANE 
 HOUSDEN, who were hanged for the Murder 
 of the Turnkey of, Newgate. 
 
 VIT'E infert this narrative on account of its 
 Angularity, as it may not happen that ano- 
 ther cafe of the kind (hall ever occur. 
 
 William Johnfon was a native of Northampton-* 
 (hire, where he ferved his time to a butcher, and 
 removing to London opened a (hop in Newport- 
 Market; but bufinefs not fucceeding to his ex-. 
 pectati'n, he took a houfe in Long Acre, and com- 
 menced corn-chandler; but in this bufinefs he 
 was likewife unfuccefsful, on which he fold his 
 flock in trade, and took a public houfe near Chrift- 
 Qhurch in Surry. 
 
 In the bufinefs of a victualler, he was as unfuc* 
 cefsful as in his former profeffions; on which he- 
 failed to Gibraltar, where he was appointed a mate 
 to one of the furgeons of .the garnfon : fo that he 
 appears to have pjfleficd a genius turned to a va- 
 riety of employments. 
 
 Having faved fome money at Gibraltar, he came 
 back to his. native country, where he foon fpent 
 it, and then had recourle to the highway for a 
 fupply. Being apprehended in conlequence of 
 one of his robberies, he was convicted, but re- 
 ceived a pardon, not long before the perpetration 
 of the murder which coft him his life, 
 
 Johnfon had been formerly acquainted with one 
 Jane Houfden, who had brcn tried and con- 
 victed of coining, but obta-ned a pardon. It 
 was not long atter this. pardon (which was pro- 
 cured by great influence,) before Houfden was 
 again in cliltody for a fimilar offence. On the 
 
 VOL. I, No. 4. T day
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 day that fhe v;as to be tried, and juft as fhe was 
 brought down to the bar of the Old-Bailey, John- 
 fon called to fee her: but Mr. Spurling, the head 
 turnkey, telling him that he could not fee, her 
 till her trial was ended, he inftantly drew a piftol, 
 and mot Spurling dead on the fpot, in the pre- 
 fence of the courc, and all the peribns attending 
 to hear the trials-, Mrs. Houfden, at the fame time 
 encouraging him in the perpetration of this horrid 
 murder. 
 
 The event had no fooner happened, than the 
 judges, thinking it unneceflary to proceed on the 
 trial of the woman for coining, ordered both the 
 parties to be tried for the murder ; and there being 
 fuch a number of witm-fTes to the deed, they were 
 almpft immediately convicted, and received fen- 
 tencc of death. 
 
 From this time to that of their execution, and^ 
 even at the place of their death, they behavfcd as 
 if they were wholly infenfible of the enormity of 
 the crime which they had committed ; nay, though 
 there were fo many witnefies to the fact, they 
 had the confidence to deny it to the laft moment 
 of their lives j nor did they fhew any figns of 
 compunction for their former fins. 
 
 On the J9th of September, 1712, they were 
 executed oppofite the fcffions-houfe in the Old 
 Bailey, after which Johnfon was hanged in chains 
 near Holloway, between Iflington and Highgate. 
 
 There is fomething fo extraordinary in the 
 cafe of thefe malefactors that one is almoft at a 
 lofs what judgment to form of the enormity of 
 their guilt. Johnfon had been capitally con- 
 victed, and received a free pardon : and "Houfden 
 had experienced a like effect of the royal mercy. 
 What then mall we think of the man committing 
 z daring murder in fuch a place, and on fo folemn 
 
 an
 
 KICH.TO WN for Defrauding bis Creditors. 147 
 
 an occafion, and of the woman, in circumftances 
 fo calamitous as hers, encourag'ng him in the 
 perpetration of fo horrid a crime ? A crime, that 
 the flighteft reflection would have told them muft 
 neceffarily be punimed in an exemplary manner. 
 To efcape was impofiible : to commit the crime 
 then, argued a folly as well as baienefs that is, 
 perhaps, without example. 
 
 The turnkey was doing no more than difcharg- 
 ing the duties of his office, and had not given the 
 lealt provocation to the parties for the horrid mur- 
 der that enfued. 
 
 Their behaviour under fentence of death evinces 
 to what a (hocking degree their minds mult have 
 been hardened* and, upon the whole, the in- 
 ilance before us affords a proof that the human 
 heart is " corrupt above all things, and 
 V rately wicked." 
 
 Account of RICHARD TOWN, who was Ex- 
 
 ecuted for Defrauding his Creditors under a 
 Commiflion of Bankruptcy. 
 
 
 
 N September, 1712, Richard Town was in- 
 dicted -at the Old Bailty for withdrawing him- 
 lelf from his creditors after a commiflion of bank- 
 rupt iflued againft him, and for removing and 
 fraudulently carrying away fifteen tons of tallow^ 
 valued at 400!. and 400!. in money, with his 
 debt- books, and books of accounts, with intention 
 to defraud his creditois. 
 
 Having pleaded not guilty to the indictment 
 the council informed the jury that the act of par- 
 liament had exprefsly declared that " if any 
 ' perfon, being a bankrupt, after the month of 
 T 2 " April,.
 
 I 4 8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 64 April, 1 707, did fraudulently conceal, *em- 
 " bezzlt -, or make away with goods or money to 
 *'' the value of 20!. he mould be deemed guilty of 
 felony." 
 
 A number of wirnefles were now called to prove 
 his being a regular trader, and to make it appear 
 that he had committed an aft of bankruptcy ; but 
 the princ'pal of theie was Mr. Hodgfon, who de- 
 pofed tHat being fmt after the prifoner by the 
 - commiffioners of bankrupt, he apprehended him 
 ' at Sandwich, and fearching him by virtue of his 
 warrant, found in his pocket twenty guinras in 
 gold, and about five pound feven {hillings and 
 lixpence in filver , and that he hid. three gold 
 rings on his fingers: that he took from him the 
 gold, an*d five pounds in filver, and lefc him the 
 odd filver, 
 
 Town had intended to fail in a fhip which was- 
 bound to Amfterdam , but being too late he went 
 on board a packet-boat bound toOllend, but being 
 taken fea-fick, he went to* the fide of the veflel, 
 and ftooping down, dropped eight hundred gui- 
 neas, which were in two bags between his coat and 
 waillcoat, into the fca. 
 
 A ftorm arifing at fea, the packet-boat was 
 driven back, and obligrd t:> put into Sandwich, in 
 confluence of which Town was apprehended by 
 Hodg on, as above mentioned. 
 
 Wncn Town was examin-d before the commif- 
 lioners he acknowledged tr.at he had ordered Tho- 
 mas Nor. is to carry off his books of accounts, 
 plate, and papers of value, and Hkewife to convey 
 away a large quaintity of tallow, which he fuppofed 
 vras then arrived in Holland, 
 
 Now the council for Town ihfifted that, as Nor- 
 yis was a joint agent with him, the aft of one was 
 act. p$" buth j and that .he could not legally be 
 
 con-
 
 RICH. TOWN for Defrauding Hs Creditors. 149 
 
 convifted till the other (who was then abroad) 
 co'uld be apprehended, and tried with hi,n. But 
 in order to truftrattr this argument, it was proved 
 that Town had (hipped off la ge quamkies of 
 goods on his own account: btfides, the circum- 
 flancc of his being taken at Sandwich by Vr. 
 Hodgfon, with more than twen:-y pounds of Sis 
 creditors money in his poffeili-.i', WHS a <i fmi- nt 
 proof of his guilt-, wherefore r; . jurv ia .; t ..e- 
 fitate on his cale, and he received fentence of 
 death. 
 
 This unhappy man was a native of the county 
 of Oxford, and for forre time haj carried on a 
 confiderable bufinefs as a tallow chandler with 
 great reputation j but it appears too evident that 
 he had tormcd a dcfign of defrauding his credi- 
 tors; beciufe, at the dine of h^s ablccnding, he 
 had confider;'ble property in the funds, and was 
 otherwife in good circuuUtances. 
 
 Before hhs conviction he was i n .d 'Iged wi:h a 
 chamber to himfelf in the prcfs-yard: bur after 
 ftntence was pafled on him he was put into the 
 condemnru hole, with the other prilbneis: but 
 here he catched a violent cold, which brought 
 on a deafnefs, a difoider to which he had been 
 fubjec~li wherefore, on complaining of this cir- 
 cumftance, he was removed to his former apait- 
 ments. 
 
 While under fentence of death he refufed to ac- 
 knowledge the juftice of his fentence, declaring 
 that a perfon whom he had relieved, and pre- 
 ferved from ruin, had occafiond his cieftruclion. 
 He attended the devotions of the place, declared 
 that he f-rgave his enemies, ana begged that God 
 would likewife forgive them. 
 
 He was executed at Tybyrn on the 23^ of 
 Pccernber, 1712, being exaclly iorty-one years 
 
 of
 
 150 NEW NFWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 of age on that day : a circumftance that he re- 
 marked to the Ordinary, on his way to the fatal 
 tree, 
 
 Mr. Town was the firit perfon who fufifered on 
 the aft which made it felony for a bankrupt to 
 conceal the value of 20!. or upwards. It is the 
 fate of many an honeft man to become a bank- 
 rupt, and it is but too common for the unfeeling 
 world to brand all bankrupts with the general 
 name of villain : but, we hope, for the honour 
 of human nature, that this name is not deferved 
 once where it is applied a thoufand times. 
 
 It has been the misfortune of fomeof the wor- 
 thieft men we have ever known to become bank- 
 rupts. On the contrary, many of the mod con- 
 temptible of the human race have been fuccefsful 
 traders, and, in the language of the city, have 
 been " good men." Undoubtedly there have 
 been fraudulent bankruptcies ; but,' compara- 
 tively fpeaking, we believe very few. We have 
 not many inftances of traders flourishing in a great 
 degree, after a bankruptcy : and what man would 
 wi(h, if it were in his power, to meet the public 
 contempt and derifion, for the fake of embezzling 
 a few paltry hundred pounds, an'd this too, at the 
 hazard of his life ? 
 
 With regard to the particular inflance before 
 us, we fee a ftrong proof of the wilcSom and juf- 
 tice of Providence, in preventing this offender 
 from making his efcape; in the firft place, by 
 the (hip being failed, and in the fecorjd, by the 
 packet boat being obliged to put back, through 
 ftrefs of weather. 
 
 Hence let all who are tempted to commit crimes 
 6f a fimilar, or of any other nature, learn that they 
 can never efcape the fight of a juft God, who ruleth 
 the world in righteduihefs. 
 
 Account
 
 RICHARD NOBLE for Murder. 151 
 
 Account of RICHARD NOBLE, Attorney at 
 Law, who Suffered for the Murder of JOHN 
 SAYt.R, Efq. With fome Particulars of the 
 Amours of Mr. NOBLE, and Mrs. SAYER. 
 
 HPHERE is fomething fo fingular in the cafe 
 T before us, that the reader will be glad to 
 have the particulars of an affair that made much 
 noife in the world at the time it happened, and 
 will be remembered to future ages. 
 
 John Sayer, Efq. was pofiefled of about loool. 
 a yea r , and was lord of the Manor of Biddlefden, 
 in Biickirighammire. He does not appear to have 
 been a man of any great abilities ; but was re- 
 markable for his good nature and inoffenfive dif- 
 pofition. 
 
 In 1699 he married Mary, the daughter of Ad- 
 miral Nevil, a woman of an agreeable perfon and 
 brilliant wit ; but of fuch an abandoned difpofition 
 as to be a difgrace to her lex, Soon after this 
 wedding, Colonel Salifbury married the admiral's 
 widow ; but there was fuch a vicious fimilarity 
 in the conduct of the mother and daughter, that 
 the two hufbands had early occafion t-o be dif- 
 gufted with the choice they had made, 
 
 Mr. Sayer's nuptials had not been celebrated 
 many days before the bride took the liberty of 
 kicking him, and hinted that (he would procure 
 a lover, with whom me might enjoy thofe plea- 
 fures not to be found with her hufband. Sayer, 
 who was dirtracledley -fond of her, bore this treat- 
 ment with patience j and at the end of a twelve- 
 month me bare him a daughter, which foon died : 
 but hr became (till more fond of her after (he had 
 
 made
 
 151 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR 
 
 made him a father, and was continually loading 
 her with prefents ; 
 
 Mr. Sayer. now took a houfe' in Lifle-ftreet, 
 Leicetter-fifrlus* kcpr a coach, and did every 
 thing which he thought might gratify his wife: 
 bur 1 far from being influenced by this generous 
 c nriuct, fhe declared that fhe would never a^ain- 
 admit hip.i to her be s d. Irritated by this treat- 
 ment v ie went among the women of the town, in 
 coniequence whereof he contracted a dilorder that 
 obligrd him to have the advice ot a furgeon : and 
 his wiiv fufpecting what had happened, he made 
 no Icropir to acknowledge the fact, and avow the 
 occafi;>n of it. 
 
 His health, however, was foon re eftablifhed ; 
 on whicn his wife voluntarily admitted him {o her 
 bed : but the confluence was, that both the par- 
 ties were foon afterwards indifpofed. As the fur- 
 gcon who bad-attended Mr. Sayer was a man of 
 character-^ and profefied himfelf ready to fwcar to 
 the perfection of his cure, it was (hrewdly fufpec- 
 ted that the lady, having contracted the dilorder, 
 had given it to her hufband, in order to criminate 
 him in the opinion of his friends. 
 
 Hoivever this be, fhe affected to be greatly dif- 
 gufted, again forbad him her bed, and confolecf 
 herfelf with the company of a colonel in the army. 
 At times (he behave^ with more c.'mplaifance tg 
 hcr hufband, who had, after a while, the honour of 
 being deemed father of another child of which fhe 
 was delivered-, and after this circumllancefhe in- 
 dulged herfelf in ftill greater liberties than before ; 
 her mother, who was almoft conftantly with her, 
 encouraging her in this fhameful proftitution of 
 Banners. 
 
 At Icfioth a fcheme was concerted; which 
 would probably have ended in the deflruction of 
 
 Mr.
 
 RICHARD NOBLE.-.for Murder. 153 
 
 Mr. Saycr and Colonel Salisbury, if it had not been 
 happily prevented by the prudence of the latter. 
 The colonel taking an opportunity to reprefent to 
 Mrs. Sayer the ill confequences that muft attend 
 her infidelity to her hufband, Ihe immediately at- 
 tacked him with the mod outrageous language, and 
 inlulted him to that degree chat he threw the 
 remains of a dilh of tea ac her. The mother and 
 daughter immediately laid hold of this circumftance 
 to inflame the paffions of Mr. Sayer, whom they 
 at length prevailed on to demand fatisfaclion of 
 the colonel. 
 
 The challenge is faid to have been written by 
 Mrs. Sayer, and when the colonel received it, he 
 conjectured that it was a plan concerted between 
 the ladies to gtc rid of their hufbands. However, 
 he obeyed the fummons, and going in a coach 
 with Mr. Saycr towards Montague- Houfe, he ad- 
 drefled him as follows : " Son Sayer, let us come 
 ** to a right understanding of this bufinefs. 'Tis 
 44 very well known that 1 am a fwordfman, and I 
 " fhould be very far from getting any honour by 
 " killing you. Bet to come nearer to the point in 
 ' hand. Thou Ihouldft know Jack, for all the 
 " world knows, that thy wife and mine are both 
 * e whores. They want to get rid of us at once. 
 ** If thou fhouldft drop, they'll have me hanged 
 ' for it after." There was I'o much of obvious 
 truth in this remark, that Mr. Sayer immedi- 
 ately felt its force, and the gcnclemen drove 
 home together, 'to the great mortification of the 
 ladies. 
 
 Soon after this affair Mrs. Sayer went to her 
 houfe in Buckinghammire, where an intimacy 
 took place between her and the curate of the pa- 
 rifli, and their amour was conducted with fo little 
 
 VOL. I. No. 4. U refervc,
 
 i 5 4 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 referve, that all the fervants faw that the parfon had 
 more influence in the houfe than their matter. 
 
 Mrs. Saver coming to London, was foon fol- 
 lowed by the young clergyman, who was feized 
 with the fmall-pox, which coft him his life, 
 When he found that there was no hope of his 
 recovery, he fent to Mr. Sayer, earneftly requeft- 
 ing to lee him: but Mrs. Sayer, who judged 
 what he wanted, faid that her mother had not 
 had the Irnall-pox, and fuch a vifit might coft 
 her her life-, wherefore me infifted that her huf- 
 band mould not go-, and the pafiive man tamely 
 fubmitted to this injunction, though his wife 
 daily fent a footman to enquire after the clergy- 
 man, who died without being vjfited by Mr. 
 Sayer. 
 
 This gentleman had not been long dead before 
 his place was fupplied by an officer of the guards ; 
 but he was foon difmified in favour of a man of 
 great diilinclion, who prefented her with fome 
 valuable china, which me pretended was won at 
 Aftrop-Wells. 
 
 About this time Mr. Sayer found his affairs 
 confiderably deranged by his wife's extravagance ; 
 on which a gentleman recommended to him Mr. 
 Richard Noble, an attorney, as a man capable of 
 being very fehviceablc to him. 
 
 Noble was the fon of a man who kept a very 
 reputable coffee houfe at Bath. His parents 
 lived in great credit, and his mother was fo vir- 
 tuous a woman, that when Noble afterwards went 
 to her houfe with Mrs. >ayer, in a coach and fix, 
 me fhut tHe door a^ air, ft him. Noble had been 
 well educated, and Articled to an attorney of emi- 
 nence in iSew Inn, in wh ; ch he afterwards took 
 chambers for himfelf ; but he ha,d not been in any 
 
 con-
 
 RICHARD NOBLE-for Murder. 155 
 
 confiderable degree of practice when he was intro- 
 duced to Mr. Sayer. 
 
 Noble had not been long acquainted with the 
 family before he became too intimate with Mrs. 
 Sayer, and, if report faid true, with her mother 
 likewife. However, thefe two abandoned wo- 
 men had other matters in profpect befides mere, 
 gallantry, and confidering Noble as a man of bu- 
 finefs as well as a lover, they concerted a fcheme 
 to deprive Mr. Sayer of a confiderable part of 
 his eftate. 
 
 The unhappy gentleman, being perpetually 
 teazed by the women, at length confented to. exe- 
 cute a deed of ieparation, in which he affigned 
 fome lands in Buckins;hammire, to the amount of 
 
 o * 
 
 150!. a year, to his wife, exclufive of 50!. a year 
 for pin-money ; and by this deed he like wife cove- 
 nanted that Mrs. Sayer might live with whom me 
 pleafed, ancl that he would never moleft any per- 1 
 Ion on account of harbouring her. Mr. Sayer was 
 even fo weak as to fign this deed without having 
 a council of his own to examine it. 
 
 Not long after this Mrs. Sayer was delivered of 
 a child at Bath : but that the hufband might not - 
 take alarm at this circumftance, Noble fent him a 
 letter, acquainting him that he \vas to be pricked 
 down for high {her iff of Buckinghammire ; and 
 Mrs. Salifbury urged him to go to Holland to be 
 out of the way, and fupplied him w'th fome money 
 on the occafion. 
 
 It does not feem probable that Sayer had any 
 fufpicion of Noble's criminal intercourfe with his 
 wire, for the night before he fet out he prefented 
 him with a pair of faddle-piftols and furniture 
 worth above 40!. 
 
 Soon after he was gone Mrs. Sayer's maid 
 
 fpcaking of the danger her matter might be in at 
 
 U 2 fca
 
 156 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 fea, the abandoned woman faid " She fhould be 
 " forry his man James, a poor innocent fellow, 
 " fhould come to any harm , but fhe mould be 
 " glad, and earneftly wifhed that Mr. Sayer might 
 " fink to the bottom of the fea, and that the bot- 
 *' torn of the (hip might come out." 
 
 Not long after Mr. Sayer was gone abroad, No- 
 ble began to give himlelf airs of greater confe- 
 quence than he had hitherto done. He was foli- 
 citor in a caufe in the court of chancery, in which 
 Mr. Sayer was plaintiff, and having obtained a de- 
 cree, he obliged the truftees nominated in the'mar- 
 riage articles to relinquifh, andaffumed the autho- 
 rity of a fole truftee. 
 
 Mr. Sayer remained in Holland near a year, 
 during which Noble publicly cohabited with his 
 wife , and when her hufband returned fhe refufed 
 to live with him; but having fir ft robbed him of 
 above 2000!. in exchequer bills and other effects, 
 fhe went to private lodgings with Noble, foon 
 after which me was delivered of another child. 
 After Mrs. Sayer had thus eloped from her huf- 
 band, he caufed an advertifement to be infcrted 
 in the news-papers, of which the following is a 
 copy : 
 
 " Whereas Mary, the wife of John Sayer, Efq. 
 41 late of Lifle-ftrcet, St. Anns, went away from 
 " her d well rrtg-h on (eon or about the tgtdbfJM&y 
 " lad, in company with Elizabeth Nevil, filter tc 
 " the laid Mary, and hath carried away near loooh 
 " in monry, befides other things of a confiderable 
 " value, and is fuppofed to go by fome other 
 ** name : he defires all tradefmen and others not 
 " to give her any credit, for that he will not pay 
 *' the fame." 
 
 Whi^e Mrs, Sayer cohabited with Noble he 
 was coiiftantly fupplied with money, but he was 
 
 not
 
 RICHARD NOBLE for Murder. 157 
 
 not her only affociate at that time; for, during 
 his occafional abfence, (he gratified herielf with 
 the company of oiher lovers. 
 
 Noble now procured an order from the court 
 of chancery to take Mr. Sayer in execution for 
 400! at the fuit of Mrs. Salifbury, the confe- 
 quence of a judgment confeffed by him, for 
 form's fake, to protect his goods from his cre- 
 ditors while he was in Holland. Mr. Sayer de- 
 clared that the real debt was not more than 70!. 
 though artful management and legal expences 
 had-fwelled it to the the above-mentioned fum. 
 
 Hereupon Sayer took refuge within the rules 
 of the Fleet Prifon, and exhibited his bill in 
 chancery for relief againft thefe fuirs, and the 
 deed of feparation, which he obtained ; but be- 
 fore he had an opportunity of luing out judg- 
 ment againft Noble, the- vengeance of heaven 
 overtook that abandoned villain. 
 
 Mrs. Sayer finding herfelf liable to be expofed 
 !by the advertifement her hufband had caufed to 
 be inferted in the news-papers, me, with her 
 mother, and Noble, took lodgings in the Mint, 
 Southwark, which was at that time a place of 
 refuge for great numbers of perlbns of defperate 
 circumftances and abandoned difpofitions. 
 
 Mr. Sayer was now informed that his wife had 
 taken lodgings in the Mint, on which he wrote 
 fcveral letters to her, promising that he would 
 forgive all her crimes, if (he would return to her 
 duty: but fhe treated his lerters with as much 
 contempt as (he had done his perfon. 
 
 Hereupon he determined to feize on her by 
 force, prefuming that he mould recover fome of 
 his effects if he could get her into his cuftody. 
 He therefore obtained the warrant of a juftice of 
 the peace, and taking with him two conftables, 
 
 and
 
 158 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. , 
 
 and fix ailiftants, went- to the houfe of George 
 Twyford in the Mint-, the conrh-bles in.imating 
 that they had a warrant to fearch for a fufpected 
 perlon , for if it had ber-n thought that they were 
 bailiffs, their lives would have beerrin danger. 
 
 Having entered the houfe, they went to a back 
 room, where Noble, Mrs. bayer, and Mrs. Salif- 
 bury where at dinner ; but the door was no fooner 
 opened than Noble drew his fword, and ftabbing 
 Sayer in the left breaft, he died on the fpot. The 
 conftables immediately apprehended the murderer 
 and the two women; but the latter were fo aban- 
 doned, that while the pea. e-officers were convey- 
 ing them to the houfe of a magistrate, they did 
 little elfe than lament the fate or Noble. 
 
 As it appeared as if the mob would rife, from 
 an apprehenfion that the prifoners were debtors, 
 a conftable was directed to carry the bloody 
 fword before them, in teftimcny that murder had 
 been committed ; which produced the wifhed for 
 effect by keeping perfect peace. 
 
 The prifoners begged to fend for council ; 
 which being granted, Noble was committed for 
 trial, after an examination of two hours -, but the 
 council urged fo many arguments in favour of 
 the women, that it was ten o'clock at night be- 
 fore they were committed. Soon afterwards this 
 unworthy mother and daughter applied to the 
 court of King's-Bench, to DC admitted to bail ; 
 but this favour was refufed them. 
 
 The coroner's inqueft having viewed Mr. 
 Sayer's body, it was removed to his lodgings 
 within the rules of the Fleet in order for inter, 
 ment ; and three days afterwards they gave a ver- 
 dict, rinding Noble guilty of wilful murder, and 
 the women of having aided and affifted him in 
 
 C 
 
 that murder. 
 
 On
 
 RICHARD NOBLE for Murder. 159 
 
 On the evening of the i2th of March 1713, 
 they were put to the bar at Kingfton, in Surry, 
 and having been arraigned on the feveral indict- 
 ments, and pleaded not guilty, were told to pre- 
 pare for their trials by fix o'clock on the follow- 
 ing morning. 
 
 Being brought down for trial at the appointed 
 time, they moved the court that their trials might 
 be deferred till the afternoon, on the plea that 
 fome material witnefles were abfent: but the 
 court not believing their allegar.ons, refufed to 
 comply with their requcft. It was imagined that 
 this motion to put off their trials was founded in 
 the expectation that when the bufmefs at the nifi 
 prius bar was difpatched, many of the jurymen 
 might go home, to that when the ppfuncrs had 
 made their challenge's, there might not be a num. 
 bcr left fufficient to try them,, by which they 
 might efcape till the next afiizes, by which time 
 they hoped fome circu:nftances would happen in 
 their favour. 
 
 The trials being ordered to corre on, -Mr. No- 
 ble and Mrs. Sallbury each challenged twenty of 
 the jury, and Mrs. Sayer challenged thirty five*; 
 fo that it was owing to the great number of jurors 
 fummoned by the fheriflf, that the ends of public 
 juftice were not, for the prefcnt, defeated. - 
 
 It will be unmcefTaiy to recite the particulars 
 of the evidence given on the trial, becauie thofe 
 who have read the preceding narrative mutt be 
 well apprized of its nature. Suffice it to lay that 
 
 the 
 
 * All perfons indicted f r felony have a right 
 to challenge twenty jurors, and thofe indictcu fur 
 petit- treaion thirty-five. This may be done with- 
 put alledging any caule.
 
 160 NEW NEW6ATE CALENDAR. 
 
 the crime of the murder was clearly proved againft 
 Noble: however his council urged that fome of 
 the perfons who broke into the houfe might have 
 murdered Mr. Sayer, or, if they had not, the 
 provocation he had received might be fuch as 
 would warrant the jury in bringing him in guilty 
 of manflaughter only. 
 
 As the court had fat from fix o'clock in the 
 morning, till one o'clock the next morning, the 
 jury were indulged with fome refrefhment before 
 they left the bar-, and after being out nine hours, 
 they gave their verdict that Mr. Noble was 
 " Guilty," and Mrs. Salifbury and Mrs. Sayer 
 were " Not guilty." 
 
 When Mr. Noble was brought to the bar to 
 receive fentence, he made a fpeech, of which the 
 following is a copy : 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 *' I am foon to appear and render an account 
 of my fins to God Almighty. If your lordfhip 
 fhould think me guilty of thofe crimes I have 
 been accufed with, and convicted of by my jury, 
 I am then fore your lordfhip will think that I 
 {land in need of fuch a reparation, fuch a humi- 
 liation for my great offences, fuch an abhorrence 
 of my paft life, to give me hopes of a future one, ' 
 that I am not without hopes that it will be a mo- 
 tive to your lordfhip's goodnefs, that after you 
 have judged and fentenced my body to execution, 
 you will charitably affift me with a little time for 
 the prefervation of my foul. 
 
 If I had nothing to anfwer for but killing 
 Mr. Sayer with precedent malice, I mould have 
 no need to addrefs myfelf to your lordfhip in this 
 manner. It is now too late to take advantage by 
 denying it to your lordfoip, and too near my end 
 
 to
 
 RICHARD NOBLE for Murder. 16 1 
 
 to dififemble it before God. I know my lord the 
 danger, the hell that I fhould plunge myfelf 
 headlong into ; I know I {hall foon anfwer for the 
 truth I am now about to fay, before a higher tri- 
 bunal, and a more difcerning judge than your 
 lordihip, which is only in heaven; that I did not 
 take the advantage to kill Mr. Sayer, by a 
 thought or apprehenfion that I could do it under 
 the umbrage of the laws, or with impunity, and 
 nothing was more diftant from my thoughts, than 
 to remove him out of the world to enjoy his wife 
 (as was fuggefted) without moleftation. Nor 
 could any one have greater reluctance or remorfe, 
 from the time of the facl to the hour of my trial, 
 than I have had, though the profecutors report- 
 ed to the contrary, for which I heartily forgive 
 them. 
 
 " My council obliged me to fay on my trial, 
 that I heard Mr. Sayer's voice before he broke 
 open the door ; I told them, as I now tell your 
 lordfhip, that I did not know it was him, till he 
 was breaking in at the door, and then, and not 
 before, was my fword drawn, and the wound 
 given, which wound, as Dr. Garth informed me, 
 was fo very flight, that it was a thoufand to one 
 that he died of it. 
 
 . " When 1 gave the wound, I infenfibly quitted 
 the fword, by which means I left myfelf open for 
 him to have done what was proved he attempted, 
 and was fo likely for him to have effected, viz. to 
 have (tabbed me : which are circumllances that 
 manifeil the greatnefs of my furprife. 
 
 " When I heard the company run up flairs, I 
 
 was alarmed, and in fear; the landlord telling 
 
 me inftantly thereupon, that the houfe was bcfet, 
 
 either for me or himfelf, added to my confufion. 
 
 VOL. I, No. 4. X Ithcn
 
 1 62 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 I then never thought or intended to do mifchieG 
 but rirtt bolted the fore door, and then bolted and 
 padlocked the back door* which was glazed, and 
 began to fallen the fhutters belonging to it, de- 
 figning only to fcreen myfelf from the violence of 
 the tumult. When he broke open the door, and 
 not till then, I perceived and knew he was pre- 
 fent : and his former threats and attempts, which 
 t fo fully proved on my trial, and could have 
 proved much fuller, had not Mrs.- Salisbury's 
 evidence been taken from me, made my fear (b 
 great, arid the apprehenfion of my danger fo near, 
 than what I did was the natural motion of felf-de- 
 fence, and was too fudden to be the refult of pre- 
 cedent malice ) and I folemnly declare, that I did 
 not hear or know from Twyford the landlord or 
 othefwife* that any conftable attended the de- 
 ceafed, till after the misfortune happened. It 
 was my misfortune, that what I faid as to hearing 
 the deceafed's voice was turned to my diiadvan- 
 tage by the council againft me, and that I was not 
 intitled to any afiiftance of council to enforce the 
 evidence given for me, or to remark upon the 
 Evidence given againft me ; which I don't doubt 
 would have fully latisfied your lordfhip and the 
 juryj that what happened was more my misfor- 
 tune, than my defign or intention. 
 
 " If I had been able, under the concern, to 
 remark upon the evidence againft me, that Mr. 
 Sayer was but the tenth part of a minute in 
 breaking open the door, it could not then well be 
 fuppoied by the jury, that I was preparing my- 
 felf, or putting mylelf in order to do mifchief, 
 which are acls of fore-thought and confideration, 
 which require much more time than is pretended 
 I could have had from the time I difcovered Mr. 
 Sayer j for even from his entry into the houfc, to 
 
 the
 
 RICHARD NOBLE for Murder. 163 
 tlje time of the accident, did not amount, as I am 
 i t nformtd, to more than the fpace of three mi- 
 nutes, ut I did not difcover him before the 
 door gave way, 
 
 " I wiih it had been my good fortune, that the 
 jury had applied that to me which your lordlhip 
 remarked in favour of the ladies, that the matter 
 was ib very fudden, fo very accidental and unex- 
 pected, that it was impoffible to be a contrivance 
 and confederacy, and unlikely that they 'could 
 come to a refolution in fo fhort a time. I don't 
 remember your lordfhip diflinguilhed my cafe, as 
 to that particular, to be different from theirs, nor 
 was there room for it; for it is impoflible for your 
 lordfliip to believe that I dreamt of Mr. Sayer's 
 coming there at that time, but on the contrary I 
 fuily proved to your lordfhip, that I went there 
 Upon another occafion, that was lawful and bene- 
 ficial to the deceafed ; and I had no more time to 
 think or contrive, than the ladies had to agree or 
 confent. If any thing could be conftrued favour- 
 ably on the behalf of fuch an unfortunate wretch 
 as myfelf, I think the defign I had fometime be- 
 fore began, and was about finifhing that day, 
 might have taken away all fufpiciqn of malice 
 againft Mr. Sayer. 
 
 " Muft it be thought, my lord, that I only 
 am fuch a finner that I cannot repent and make 
 reparations to the perfons I have injured ? It was 
 denied ; but I ftrongly folicite4 a reconciliation 
 between Mr. Saycr and his lady, and if this had 
 tended to procure me an eafier accefs to Mrs. 
 Sayer ? it would have been fuch a matter of aggra- 
 vation to me, that it could not have cfcaped the 
 remark of the council againft me, nor the fharp- 
 nefs of the profecutors prefent in court j with both 
 I tranlacted, and to both I appealed, particular - 
 
 X 2 Jy
 
 164 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 ly to Mr. Nott, to whom, but the day before the 
 accident, I manifefted my defire of having them 
 live together again, and therefore, my lord, it 
 fhould be prefumed I laboured to be reconciled 
 to, and not to revenge myielf on, Mr. Sayer. 
 
 " Your lordfhip, I hope, will obferve fo much 
 in my favour, that it was fo far from being a clear 
 fact in the opinion of the jury, that they fat up 
 all night, and believing there was no malice at 
 that time, told your lordfhip they intended, and 
 were inclined to find it manslaughter, and, doflbt- 
 ing the legality of the warrant, to find it fpecial. 
 
 <f I hope this will touch your lordfhip's heart 
 fo far, as not to think me fo ill a man as to de- 
 ferve (what the beft of Chriftians are taught to 
 pray againft) a fuddcn death. 
 
 " I confefs I am unprepared; the hopes of my 
 being able to make a legal defence, and my en- 
 deavours therein having taken up my time, which 
 I wifli I had better employed : I beg leave to af- 
 fure your lordfhip, upon the words of a dying man, 
 that as none of the indirect practices to get or 
 fupprefs evidence were proved upon me, fo they 
 never fprang from me : and I can fafely fay, that 
 my blood in a great mcafure will lie at their door 
 that did, becaufe it drew me under an ill imputa- 
 tion of defending myfelf by fubornation of per- 
 jury. 
 
 " I would be willing to do my duty towards 
 my neighbour, as well as God, before I die ; I 
 have many papers and concerns (by reafon of my 
 profeflion) of my clients in my hands, and who 
 will fuffer if they are not put into fome order : and 
 nothing but thefe two confiderations could make 
 life defirable, under this heavy load of irons, and 
 reftlefs remorfe of confcience for my fins. A 
 ihort reprieve for thefe purpofes I hope will be
 
 RICHARD NOBLE for Murder. 165 
 
 agreeable to your lordfliip's humanity and Chrif- 
 tian virtue, whereupon your lordfhip's name mall 
 be bleft with my laft breath, for giving me an op- 
 portunity of making peace with my confciencc 
 and God Almighty." 
 
 The laft requeft that Noble made was granted, 
 He was allowed fome time to fettle his fpiritual 
 and temporal concerns, and at length was exe- 
 cuted at Kingfton on the 28th of March, 171,3, 
 exhibiting marks of genuine repentance. 
 
 With regard to the women, they were no fooner 
 Acquitted than they fet out for London, taking one 
 of the turnkeys with them, to protect them from 
 the affaults of the populace, who were incenfed 
 in the higheft degree at the fingular enormity of 
 their crimes. 
 
 Little need be added, by way of reflection, to 
 this long and interefting narrative. Thofe who 
 do nor fee and abhor the extreme wickednefs of 
 thefe abandoned women; are not likely to be in- 
 fluenced by any arguments we can ufe. The 
 fituation of Mr. Sayer is pitiable in a high degree. 
 He was diftractedly fond of a woman who defpifed 
 him j who defpifed every thing that bore but the 
 femblance of virtue. 
 
 The fate of Noble was no other than what he 
 merited by a long and obftinate perfeverance in a 
 courfe of vice and ingratitude : his bafenefs is al- 
 moft unexampled. We hope the force of the 
 following advice of the wife king Solomon will 
 be felt by all our readers. <f Enter not into the 
 ' f path of the wicked, and go not in the way of 
 " evil men. Avoid it, pafs not by it ; turn from 
 " it, and pafs away. For they fleep not except 
 " they have done mifchief; and their fleep ii 
 i( taken away, unlefs they caufe Ibmeto FALL." 
 
 Account
 
 i66 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Account of WILLIAM LOWTHER, and 
 
 KEELE, who were convicted of Murder, and 
 hanged at Clerkenweli Green/ 
 
 WILLIAM LOWTHER, was a native of 
 Cumberland, and being bound to the 
 matter of a Newcaftle fhip which traded to Lon- 
 don, became acquainted with fome of that low 
 and abandoned company which is always to he- 
 found in the metropolis. 
 
 Richard Keele was a native of Hamplhire, and 
 ferved his time to a barber in Winchefter j and 
 on coming to London, he married and fettled in 
 his own bufmefs in Rotherhithe ; but not living 
 happily with his wife, he parted from her, coha- 
 bited with another woman, and affociated with a 
 number of diforderly people, till the commiflion 
 of the crime for which his life paid the forfeit. 
 
 On the loth of December, lyjj, they were in- 
 dicted at the Old Bailey, for afiifting Charles 
 Houghton in the murder of Edward Perry. 
 
 The cafe was as follows. Houghton, one Cul- 
 lum, and the Prifoners, having been convicted of 
 felony at the Old Bailey, were fentenced to be 
 kept to hard labour in Clerkenweli Bridewell for 
 two years. On their being carried thither, Mr. 
 Boreman, the keeper, thought it necefTary to put 
 them in irons, to prevent their efcape. This 
 they all refufed to fubmit to, and Boreman hav- 
 ing ordered the irons, they broke into the room 
 where the arms were depofited, which they feized, 
 and then attacked the keeper and his afTiftants, 
 whom they cruelly beat. Lowther bit off part of 
 a man's nofe. At this time Perry was without 
 the gate, and defired the prifoners to be peace- 
 able j but advancing towards them he was ftab- 
 
 bed 

 
 WM LOWTHEfc, &c.-*for Murder* 167 
 bed by Honghton, and during the affray Hough- 
 ton was fhot dead. 
 
 The prifoners being at length victorious, many 
 of them made their efcape j but the neighbours 
 giving their afliftance, Keele and Lowther (and 
 feveral others) were taken, and were convicted on 
 the cleared evidence. Before the patting fentence, 
 Keele endeavoured to extenuate his crime ; but he 
 was informed by the court that he muft be deemed 
 equally guilty with the reft of his companions, as 
 he had oppoled the keepers in the execution of 
 their duty* 
 
 Some time after" conviction a fmirh went to the 
 prifon to take meafure of them for chains in 
 which they were to be hung, purfuant to an or- 
 der from the fecretary of date's office j but they 
 refufed to let him do his duty. 
 
 On the morning of execution, being the ijth 
 of December, 17 1 J, they were carried from New- 
 gate to Clerkenwell Green, and there hanged on 
 a gallows erected on the occafion ; after which 
 their bodies were put into a cart, drawn by four 
 horfes, decorated with plumes of black feathers ; 
 and were hung in chains on the day after their 
 execution. 
 
 While ttafe unhappy men lay under fentencc 
 of death, they appeared to have a due fenle of 
 the enormity of the crime of which they had 
 been guilty, and made ferious preparation for the 
 important change they were to undergo :" but at 
 the place of execution Keele afked the under- 
 iheriff if they were to be hung in chains ; when 
 the anfwer given was, <c Don't concern yourfelf 
 t( about your body, but take care of your poor 
 " foul." 
 
 It is very remarkable that many unhappy con- 
 victs have been more anxious that their bodies 
 
 fhould
 
 i6S NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 ihould not hang in chains, than even for the 
 fervation of life Itfelf : fuch is the fenfe of mame 
 which prevails in the minds of thofe whofe crimes 
 have been fo atrocious, that one would conjec- 
 ture they had been hardened beyond all idea of 
 ihame. What is the inference to be drawn from 
 this fact ? It feems evident that fuch is the cor- 
 ruption of the human heart, that men will com- 
 mit thofe crimes without blufhing, the flighteft 
 punifhment of which they cannot bear the idea 
 of: for furely the hanging in chains, after death, 
 can fcarcely be deemed a punifhment. In fact, 
 it is not intended as a punifhment to the de- 
 ceafed, but a terror to the living : and it is a cir- 
 cumftance of the utmofl. difgrace, and the moft 
 mortifying to the human feelings, to be hung up 
 between heaven and earth, as if unworthy of ei- 
 ther; the fport of the winds, a prey for the birds 
 of the air, and an object of pity, fcorn and deri- 
 fion to their fellow creatures. 
 
 There is no faying to what lengths any man 
 may proceed who once departs from the path of 
 integrity. Many a perfon has been executed for 
 murder, whofe firfl crimes were of a very inferior 
 nature : but vice is not only rapid, but greedy in 
 its progrefs. It is like a fnow ball rolled down a 
 hill : its bulk encreafes by its own fwiftnefs. 
 
 Hence let the young and the thoughtlefs be 
 taught to guard agamft the firft approaches of 
 vice : to fhun the contamination of bad company, 
 as they would a peftilence ; and, in the Scripture 
 phrafe, to " fly from all appearance of evil*" 
 
 * * * 
 * # 
 
 The
 
 HENRY PLUNKET- for Ajk;Y&r. 169 
 
 Account of HENRY PLUNK RT, who was 
 
 hanged at Tyburn, for Murder. 
 
 HENRY PI. UNKET, was a native of a place 
 called Saar-Lewis, in the dutchy of Lor- 
 rain, and was the fon of an Iriih. gentleman, who 
 held the rank of Colonel in the French fcrvice, 
 and was related to father Plunket, a prieft, who 
 was called the primate of Ireland, and came to a 
 fatal end in tlit )v;;r 1679. Young Plunkct was 
 made a lieutenant when he was only ten years 
 uf age, and ferved under his father in Flanders, 
 Germany, and Italy. He was remarkably diftin- 
 guifhed for his courage, having never exhibited 
 the leaft fign of fear in all the engagements in 
 which he was concerned. 
 
 Having been a while at Oftend, he came over 
 to England with a gentleman named Reynard, 
 having fled from that place on account of having 
 murdered a man. 
 
 He was iridicled at the Old Bailey, for the mur- 
 der of Thomas Brown, by cutting his throat with 
 a razor, on the joth of Auguft, 1714. 
 
 It appeared, in the courfe of the evidence, 
 that the piifoner lodged in the pariih of St. Anne, 
 Soho, in the fame houfe with the deceafcd, who 
 being a peruke-maker by trade, Plunket befpoke 
 a wig of him, which Brown iinifhed, and afked 
 feven pounds for it, but at length lowered his 
 oemand to fix : Plunket bid him four pounds 
 for it ,- but was io enraged at what he thought an 
 exorbitant price, that he took up a razor, cut his 
 throat, and then made his efcape i but was appre- 
 hended on the following day. 
 
 Vol.1. No. 5. Y As
 
 170 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 As foon as the horrid deed was perpetrated,. 
 Brown came down ftairs in a bloody condition, 
 holding his hands to his throat: on which v a 
 furgeon was fent for, who drefled his wounds, and 
 gave him fome cordials ; by which he was fo far 
 recovered as to be able to defcribe the prifoner, 
 who, he faid, flood behind him, pulled back his 
 head, and cut him twice on the throat. 
 
 It was proved that a fword and a pair of gloves 
 belonging to the prifoner were found OH a bed in 
 the room where Brown was murdered ; and Plun- 
 ket having nothing material- to urge in his defence, 
 was found guilty, received ientence of death, and 
 was executed at Tyburn, on the 22d of Septem- 
 ber, 1714. 
 
 He profcffecl to die a Roman Catholic ; and it 
 was with the utmofl difficulty he was brought to 
 confefs the juilice of the fentence in confequence 
 of which he fuffered. 
 
 This was one of the moft unprovoked murders 
 of which we ever remember to have read. Plunket 
 befpoke a wig of Brown, and becaufe the latter 
 afked more for it than the other luppofed it to be 
 \vorth, he is irritated to fuch a degree of paffion 
 as to cut his throat -, Trte fhort and ferious leffon 
 to be learnt from this fhocking narrative is, to 
 guard carefully againft the firft impulfe of fudden 
 pamon j and to remember, that without a conflant 
 guard of this kind is kept on ourfelves, that the 
 human heart is cc corrupt above all things, and 
 <f defperately wicked." 
 
 May the preventing grace of God keep us all 
 from being guilty ofcrimcs of this atrocious nature; 
 crimes which are afluredly and feverely punifhed 
 in this world, and which threaten the moil dreadful 
 and lafling torments in the next, 
 
 Account
 
 THOMAS DOUGLAS for Murder. 
 
 Account of THOMAS DOUGLAS, who was 
 executed at Tyburn^ for Stabb'm? WIELIAM 
 SPARKS. 
 
 THOMAS DOUGLAS, was indited at the 
 Old Bailey, for the murder of William 
 Sparks, a feaman, at a public-houfe in Wapping. 
 
 It appeared in the courfe of the evidence, that 
 the parties had been drinking together till they 
 were inflamed \vi:h liquor, when the prifoner took 
 up a knife, and dabbed the other in fuch a man- 
 ner that he died on the fpot. The atrocioufnefs 
 of the offence was fuch, that Douglas was imme- 
 diately taken into cuftody ; and being convicted on 
 the cleared evidence, received fentence of death. 
 
 This criminal was born in the county of Ber- 
 wick in Scotland, and having been educated by 
 his parents according to the ftrictly religious plan 
 prevailing in that county, he was bound appren- 
 tice to a fea-farlng perfon at Berwick, and when he 
 was out of his time he entered on board a fhip in 
 the royal navy, and in this dation acquired the 
 character of an expert and valiant feaman. 
 
 Having ferved queen Anne during feveral en- 
 gagement in the Mediterranean and other feas, 
 he returned to England with Sparks, who was his 
 fhip-mate, on whom he committed the murder we 
 have mentioned. 
 
 After conviction, it was a difficult matter to 
 make Douglas fenfible of the enormity of the crime 
 that he had committed -, for he fuppofed that, as 
 he was drunk when he perpetrated the fact, he 
 ought to DC confidered in the fame light as a man 
 who was a lunatic. 
 
 Y 3 This
 
 172 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 This unhappy malefactor fuffefed at Tyburn on 
 the 27th of October, 1714. 
 
 From his fate and fentiments we may learn the 
 following ufeful inftructions- We fee that drunk- 
 ennefs is a crime of a very high nature, fince it 
 may lead to the commifiion of the highcft. If 
 this man had not been in a fhate of intoxication, 
 he would probably never have beeu guilty of 
 murder. We mould remember that the bounties 
 of Providence were lent for our ufe and fuftenance, 
 not to be abufed. It is a judicious obfervation 
 of the ingenious authors of the Spectator, that 
 * c if a man commits murder when he is drunk, 
 <f he muft be hanged for it when fober." It is 
 no excufe for ary one to fay he was guilty of a 
 crime when drunk, becaufe drunkennels itfelf is 
 a crime j and what he may deem an excufe is 
 only an aggravation of his offence, fince it is 
 acknowledging that he has been jjuiUy of two 
 crimes inftead of one. 
 
 The conclunon to he drawn from this fad (lory 
 is, that temperance is a capital virtue ; and that 
 drunkenntfs, as it debauches the understanding, 
 reduces a man below the level of the c< beads that 
 " perifh." The offender before us acknowledged, 
 in his laft moments, that it was but the i< 
 runner of other crimes: and as what happened to 
 him may be the cafe with others; as drunkennefs 
 produces quarrels, and quarrels lead to murder, 
 we hope the cafe of this unhappy man will impre/.s 
 on the minds of our readers the great importance 
 of temperance and fobricty. We fee that Douglas 
 had received a very religious education; yet even 
 this was inadequate to preferve him from the fatal 
 effects of a cafual intoxication ! When men drink 
 00 muchj and in confequence thereof afiault and 
 
 wound
 
 NATH. PA'RKHURST, Efq. 
 
 wound their companions, we may fay, in the words 
 of the poet, that 
 
 " Death is in the Bowl," 
 
 Accountof NATHANIEL PARKHURST,f q ; 
 
 who was hanged at Tyburn, for the Murder of 
 
 LEWIS PLEURA. 
 \ 
 
 MR. PARKHURST was indifted at the 
 Old Bailey, for the Murder of Lewis 
 Pleura, on the jd of March, 1715 > and a fecond 
 time indicted on the ftatute of ftabbing : when the 
 fubflance of the evidence given againft him was 
 as follows. 
 
 Parkhurft and the deceafed having been fellow 
 prifoners in the Fleet for debt, the former, who 
 had fat up drinking till three o'clock in the 
 morning, went into a room adjoining to that of 
 Mr. Pleura, and faid, " D n you, Sir Lewis, 
 " where are you ?" but finding that he had mif- 
 taken the room, he went into the right chamber, 
 and faid, " D you, Sir Lewis, pay me four 
 " guineas you owe me." Soon after this the cr^ 
 of murder was heard ; when a number of people 
 repairing to the place, found Pleura weltering in 
 his blood on the floor, and Parkhurft over him 
 with his fword, who had ftabbea him in near 
 twenty places. 
 
 A furgepn was immediately fent for, who 
 d re fled the deceafed, and put him to bed, and 
 as foon as he recovered the ufe of his fpeech, he 
 declared that Parkhurft had afiaflinated him. 
 Parkhurft being taken out of the room, went 
 back again to it, and faid, " D you. Pleura, 
 f? are you not dead yet ?" 
 
 In
 
 174 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 In anfwer to this evidence againft him, he faicf, 
 that he was ignorant of having committed the 
 crime, and, for two years and a half paft, had 
 been in a very unhappy ftate of mind ; and feveral 
 witnefTes were called to prove that he had done 
 many things which feemed to intimate that he was 
 a lunatic : but, on the contrary, other evidences 
 depofed, that not long before the murder happened 
 he had taken fuch fteps towards obtaining his li- 
 berty as proved that he was in the full ufe of his 
 intellectual faculties. Upon the whole, therefore, 
 the jury found him guilty, and he received fen- 
 tence of death. 
 
 Mr. Parkhurft was a native of the village of 
 Catefby, near Daventry in Northamptonlhire, and 
 was the fon of very refpedtable parents, who having 
 giveri him the education common in a country 
 academy, fent him to finim his ftudies at Wadham 
 college, in Oxford - 3 but affociating himfelf with 
 men of an atheftical turn of mind, they employed 
 themfelves in ridiculing religion, and making a 
 jeft of the fcriptures, and every thing that was held 
 facred. 
 
 Lewis Pleura, who was born in Italy, had taken 
 upon himfelf the title of count, and fubfifted by 
 the practice of gaming, till being greatly reduced 
 in circumftances, he was obliged to take refuge in 
 the Fleet-prifon, where he became acquainted with 
 Mr. Parkhurft. 
 
 Soon after this offender had received fentence 
 of death, he began to fee the error of thofe opinions 
 he had imbibed, acknowledged the truth of that 
 religion he had ridiculed, and felt the force of 
 its divine precepts. He confefled that the dif- 
 iblute courfe of life which he had led bad wafted 
 his fubftance, weakened his intellectual facul-
 
 NATH. PARKHURST, )fq. for Murder. 17$ 
 
 ties, and difturbed his mind to fuch a degree, that 
 before he committed the murder for which he fuf- 
 fered, he had refolded to kill fome perfon or other, 
 and make his efcape from the Fleet Prifon : or, if 
 he fhould be unable to effect this, he intended to 
 have been guilty of fuicide. 
 
 It is very remarkable of this malefactor, that, on 
 the morning of execution, he ordered a fowl to be 
 prepared for his breakfaft, of which he feerned to 
 eat with a good appetite, and drank a pint of liquor 
 with it. 
 
 At the place of execution he addrefled himfelf 
 to the populace, intimating that fince he had been 
 ill of the fmall-pox, about twenty years before, his 
 head had been affected to fuch a degree, that he 
 was never able to fpeak long at a time ; wherefore 
 he faid no more, only earneftly requefted their pray- 
 ers for his departing foul. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the 20th of May, 
 1715, in the 39th year of his age. 
 
 It will feem extraordinary to our readers that 
 Mr. Parkhurft mould order a fowl for his break- 
 faft, and eat heartily of it, juft before he was go- 
 ing to launch into eternity j but it is within the 
 memory of many thoufand perfons now living, that 
 lord Lovat, on the morning that he was beheaded, 
 breakfafted on nninced veal, a difh of which he was 
 extremely fond. One would imagine that the fo- 
 lemn fcene before a man in fuch awful moments 
 mould detach him from every thing that had rela- 
 tion to this life, and that his ideas fhould be fixed 
 only on thofe eternal fccnes that were foon to be 
 difplayed to his view ! 
 
 Mr. Parkhurft feems to have owed his deftruc- 
 tion to his aflbciation with men of libertine prin- 
 ciples: men who derided religion, and fcoffed at 
 holy things. We may iafely conclude that there 
 
 is
 
 176 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 is not fuch a being in the world as aa athieft whd 
 can be happy. The man who denies the exiftence 
 of that God, in whom he lives, moves, and has 
 his being, muil be extremely wretched in this 
 world, while he is preparing for an eternity of 
 wretchednefs in the next. 
 
 On the contrary, the man who has a firm faith 
 in the important and all chearing doctrines of 
 chriftianity, will go through the various fcenes of 
 this life with a ferene compofure of mind -, he will, 
 as far as lies within his power, difcharge his duty 
 to God and man, and meet the moment of his 
 difiblution in the fullell confidence that his final 
 falvation- will be perfected through the merits of 
 that Saviour in whom he has trufted. 
 
 After the expulfion of Adam from Paradife, 
 Cain Hands the firft notorious example on record 
 of the lin of murder , a crime of fo enormous a 
 magnitude, that no language can fee found in 
 which to exprefs its malignity. The murderer 
 afTumes to himfelf the privilege of Heaven, and 
 prefumes to ftop the breath of his fellow-creature 
 at his own pleafure, and to hurry him into eternity 
 <f with all his -imperfections on his head." 
 
 Let thofe whom the turbulence of their paffions 
 may tempt only to think of committing murder, 
 reflect, that there is a juil God who iudgeth the 
 earth, and that all our moft fecret actions will be 
 brought to light. 
 
 Account of the Trial of JOHN BIGG, who was 
 convicted of Altering a Bank Note. 
 
 N the id of June, ' 1715, John Bigg was 
 indicted at the Old Bailey, on two indict- 
 ments,
 
 JOHN BIGG for Altering a Bank Note. 177 
 
 the one for erafing, ari& the other for alter- 
 ing a bank-note of lool. 
 
 On the trial it appeared that the bill in quef- 
 tion was drawn in favour of James White or 
 bearer, and had been iigncd by Jofeph Odam, 
 for the governot and company of the Bank of 
 England : that this bill having been brought to 
 the Bank, 90!. was paid and endorfed on it : that 
 it was afterwards brought again, when 25!. was 
 paid and endorfcd as before ; and the clerks find- 
 ing that this bill, among others, had been over- 
 paid, were furprized to think how it could have 
 happened, till one Mr. Collins informed them 
 that the' priibner had tempted him to be concern- 
 ed with him in taking out the letters of the red 
 ink on the notes, by means of a certain liquid ; and 
 had even fhewn him in what manner it was to be 
 done. 
 
 It appeared likewife that the prifoner had difco- 
 vercd this fecret to Mars, who had feen him make 
 the experiment, had received money for him on the 
 altered notes, and was promifed a third part of the 
 profit for his mare in the iniquity. 
 
 The prifoner did not deny the charge ; but his 
 council pleaded that Mr. Odam was not a fervant 
 properly qualified to make out fuch bills, unlefs 
 he had been authorized under the feal of the cor- 
 poration. They likewife infifted that writing with 
 ted ink on the infideof the bill could not be deem- 
 ed an indoricment j and even if it were fo account- 
 ed, the fa<ft with which the prifoner was charged 
 could not be called an altering or erafing. 
 
 After fome altercation between the king's coun- 
 cil and thofe of the prifoner, the opinion of the 
 court was that Mr. Odam was a peribn properly 
 
 Vol. I. No. 5. Z qua-
 
 78 'NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 qualified to make out fuch bills ; but a doubt arifing 
 refpecting the other articles, the jury gave a fpecial 
 -verdict. . 
 
 The judges meeting on this occafion at Ser- 
 jeant's-lnn Hall, Fleet-ilreet, the cafe was folemn- 
 ly argued ; after which the unanimous opinion of 
 the reverend fages of the law was given that the 
 prifoner was guilty, within the meaning of the act 
 of parliament ; in confequence of which he received 
 fentence of death in December, 1715, but after- 
 wards obtained a free pardon. 
 
 From the cafe of this malefactor we may fee the 
 tendernds with which Englifhmen are treated in 
 matters which concern their lives. In cafes of fpe- 
 cial verdicts prifoncrs have the advantage of the 
 opinion of two juries : the firft not knowing in 
 what light to eontider the crime, the learned bench 
 of judges form a kind of fecond jury, where, all 
 ^partiality being fet afide, the fuppofed criminal is" 
 nidged according to the Itrict meaning of the law: 
 and, even after conviction, has a chance of obtain- 
 ing the royal mercy, as happened in the cafe of the 
 offender in queftion. 
 
 Hence, then, let Englifhmen learn the value of 
 thofe laws by which they are protected, and be 
 devoutly thankful to that Providence which hath 
 caft their lot in a country, the wifdom of whofe 
 kgiflature is the envy and admiration of the uni- 
 verfe. 
 
 Account of HENRY POWEL, who was hanged 
 at Tyburn for a Rcbuery on the Highway. 
 
 H 
 
 KENRY POWEL was, a native of London, 
 born of refpectable parents in the year 1691. 
 
 At
 
 HENRY POWEL for Highway-Robbery. 
 
 At the age of nine years he was placed at Mer- 
 chant Taylor's School, whence he was removed to 
 the care of Dr. Shorter, under whom he obtained 
 a tolerable proficiency in the Latin and Greek lan- 
 guages. 
 
 Having made choice of the profeflion of a fur- 
 geon, he was bound at Surgeon's-Hall, to a gentle- 
 man equally eminent for his ikill and piety : but 
 giving early proofs of the wildnefs of his difpofi- 
 rion, his mafter predicted the fatal confequence that 
 would enfue. 
 
 Powel's father and mother dying foon after he 
 was bound, and his mafter, when he had ferved 
 fix years of his time, he was wholly at his own 
 difpofal i a circumitance that led to his ruin. He 
 was at this time only eighteen years of age, and 
 hitherto had not kept any company that was no- 
 torioufly wicked. Going now to fee a young wo- 
 man who was related to him; fne fancied "a ring 
 which he had on his ringer, and wifhed he would 
 exchange it for hers, which he did : but it ap- 
 pearing to be of lefs value than me had imagined-, 
 {he was bafe enough, on the following morning, 
 to have him feized in his bed, as a perfon proper* 
 ro ferve the king ; and without being permitted to 
 fend for any friend, he was fent into Flanders as a, 
 foot-foldier. 
 
 He twice deferted from the regiment in which 
 he ferved ; but the inierceflion of fome of his offi- 
 cers favcd him from the cuftomary punimment. 
 When he had been a foldier about three years the 
 regiment was quartered at Nieupnrt, between 
 Dunkirk and Oftend, whence he again deferted, 
 in company with feven other men, who travelled 
 into Holland, where they embarked on board a 
 fhip bound to England, and being landed at Bur- 
 lington in Yorklhire, Powel came up to London. 
 Z 2 Being
 
 |8o NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Being arrived in the metropolis, he found that 
 he had not one acquaintance left who was able and 
 willing to affift him ; fo that he repented having 
 defertcd from the army, being reduced to fuch a 
 fituation that he faw no profpecl before him but 
 either to beg or fteal. The firft he defpifed as a 
 mean occupation, and the latter he dreaded as 
 equally destructive to his foul and body. 
 
 Hereupon he applied for employment as a por- 
 ter, and worked at the water-fide, till a fellow in- 
 duced him to be concerned in Healing fome goods, 
 for which the other was hanged. 
 
 About this time Powel married a young woman 
 of ftrict virtue, who finding fome irregularity 
 in his behaviour, warned him to avoid all evil 
 conrfes, as they muft infallibly end in his de- 
 ftruflion. 
 
 On the 1 5th of October, 1715, he went as 
 far as South Minis in Hertford (hire, where he 
 flopped Sarah Maddocks on the highway, and 
 robbed her of two millings and fix-pence; for 
 which offence he was apprehended, and being 
 tried at the Old-Bailey in the following month, 
 he was convicled, received fentence of death, and 
 was executed at Tyburn on the zjd of December, 
 1715. 
 
 Juft before his going to the place of execution, 
 he delivered a paper to the Ordinary of Newgate, 
 in which were the following paflages : u I ac- 
 count this ignominious death as a juft judgment 
 for my fins againft the Divine Majefty, and my 
 neighbour ; arid therefore patiently re.fign myfelf 
 to his blefled will, and hope (with true repent- 
 ance, and a fteadfaft faith in Chrift Jefus) he will 
 fcal my pardon in heaven, before I go hence and 
 be no more feen ; and I blefs God, I have had 
 more confolation under my condemnation, than 
 - - ever
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 181 
 
 ever I had thefe many years ; and I hope that 
 thofe who furvive me will take warning by my 
 fatal end. 
 
 " I have this comfort, -that no man can accuic 
 me of enticing him to the commiffion of fuch facts ; 
 efpecially one ptribn, who had accufed me of it 
 fince my condemnation : but for the value I have 
 for him, I'll omit his name, and defirc him to take 
 warning by me j being refolved within myfelf, that 
 if God had prolonged my days, I would relinquilh 
 all fuch courfes," 
 
 This malefactor had been enducated in a manner 
 greatly fupcrior to the generality of thofe unhappy 
 wretches who come to a like fatal end ; and feems 
 to have owed his destruction in fome degree to his 
 poverty. Thus far he appears an object of pity ; 
 but as he was in a way of earning his bread, though 
 in a humble ftation, he ought to have refigned 
 himfelf to his fate, and not to have been led aftray 
 into the paths of iniquity. 
 
 Hence let the poor be taught that a milling 
 honeftly earned will afford them more fads fact ion 
 than any mm, however large, acquired in a frau- 
 delent manner. The man who lives by depreda- 
 tions on others muft be always reftlefs in his own 
 mind. There is great force, as well as truth, in 
 that text of Scripture which fays that " there is no 
 ft peace to the wicked." 
 
 Particulars refpecting the LORDS and other Perfons 
 who were tried on account of the Rebellion in 
 the year 1/15. 
 
 w 
 
 HEN, in purfuance of the act of fettle- 
 ment, king George the Firft fucceeded to 
 
 the
 
 1 82 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 the throne of thefe realms, the carl of Mar, $ 
 Scottifli nobleman, who had been deeply con- 
 cerned with queen Anne's tory miniftry, was 
 deprived of all the places he held under the 
 government ; in revenge for which he retired to 
 Scotland, and meditated a fcheme to dethrone the 
 king, and overturn the conftitution. 
 
 Being affured of the afiiftance of a number of 
 the Highlanders, he communicated his plan to 
 fome noblemen in Scotland and the north of Eng- 
 land, who joined with him in fending an invita- 
 tion to the Pretender to invade thefc kingdoms : 
 and they alfo difpatrhed three men to London, 
 to endeavour to enlift fokliers for the Pretender's 
 fervice. 
 
 The names of thefe men were, Robert Whittv, 
 Felix O'Hara, and Joleph Sullivan; and though 
 the bufinefs in which they engaged was of the 
 moft dangerous nature, yet they continued it for 
 fome time : but were at length apprehended, 
 brought to trial, and being convicted, were exe- 
 cuted at Tyburn on the 23th of May, 1715. 
 
 ROBERT WHITTY was born in Ireland, and 
 having enlifted for a foldier when young, ferved 
 in an Englifh regiment in Spain, where being 
 wounded, he was brought to England, and re- 
 ceived the bounty of Chelfea-college as an out- 
 penfioner. 
 
 FELIX O'HARA, who was about 29 years of age, 
 was likewife an Irifhman, and having lived fome 
 time in Dublin as a waiter at a tavern, he faved 
 fome money, and entered into bufinefs for himfelf; 
 bnt that not anfwering as he could have wifhed, 
 he came to London. 
 
 JOSEPH SULLIVAN was a native of Munfter in 
 Ireland, and about the fame age as O'Hara. H,c 
 had for fome time ferved in the Irilh brigades, 
 
 but
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 183 
 
 but obtaining his difcharge, he came to Eng- 
 land, and was thought a fie agent to engage in 
 the bufmefs which coft him and his companions 
 their lives. 
 
 Thefe men denied, at the time of their trial, 
 that they had been guilty of any crime j and even 
 at the place of execution they attempted to defend 
 their conduct. They all died profefiing the Ro- 
 man Catholic religion. 
 
 Hence let us learn to abhor the pernicious doc- 
 trines of that church, which could encourage fub- 
 jects in the wim to dethrone their lawful fovereign ; 
 and may we be taught the force of the inftruction, 
 " Fear God, and honour the King." 
 
 We will now continue the narrative, of which 
 this is but the introduction. The earl of Mar had 
 refolved to keep his proceedings an abfolute fecret ; 
 but it is almoft impoffible for tranfadions of this 
 nature to remain fo; and information of what 
 had paffed having been trafmitted to Court, the 
 King went to the Houfe on the 2Oth of July, 17 15, 
 and having fen t for the Commons, informed both 
 Houfes of Parliament that he had received au- 
 thentic intelligence of an intention formed by the 
 Pretender to invade his kingdoms ; and that he 
 was apprehenfive he had but too many abettors in 
 this country. 
 
 Wherefore, that the ends of public juftice might 
 be fpeedily obtained, the King requested that the 
 habeas corpus aft might be fufpended till the 
 rebellion mould be at an end. Accordingly the 
 legiflature fufpended the faid act ; in confequence 
 of which feveral fufpected perfons were taken into 
 cuilody. The militia was now raifed in different 
 parts of the kingdom ; the guards were encamped 
 in Hyde-park j a number of fhips were ordered to 
 
 guard
 
 184 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 guard the coafts, and other proper fteps taken fo/ 
 the public fecurity. 
 
 The earl of Mar was by this time at the head 
 of three thoufard men, with whom he marched 
 from town to town in Scotland, proclaiming the 
 Pretender by the title of James the Third. Some 
 of the foldiers in the caille of Edinburgh having 
 been bribed to aflift fome of the earl of Mar's men 
 in getting over the walls by means of rope-ladders, 
 they were difpntched to furpritfe the caftle : but 
 the Lord Juftice Clerk was fo much on his gtiard, 
 that this fcl^eme was fruitrated, and fome of the 
 parties concerned in it ftirTered death. 
 
 Chagrined by this circumftance, and hearing 
 that the French King was juit then dead, many of 
 tke rebels were for abandoning their enterprize till 
 the arrival of the Pretender : but this intention did' 
 not take place : for on the 6th of October 1715, 
 Thomas Fofter, Efq-. member of Parliament for 
 Northumberland, let up the Pretender's flandard 
 in that county, and being joined by feveral noble- 
 men and gentlemen, they made an attempt to 
 feize Newcaftle, but did not fucceed. They were 
 afterwards joined by a body of the Scotch at Kelfo, 
 and after marching to different places, they came 
 to Prefton in Lancalhire. 
 
 In the mean time the generals Carpenter and 
 Wills marched into the North ; but finding the 
 rebels gone fouchward, they wentt Prefton, which 
 place the Rebels intended to defend againft the 
 King's forces, whom they for fome' time annoyed 
 by firing from the windows of the houfes j but at 
 length the royal troops were victorious, after the 
 lofs of about 150 men. 
 
 It is uncertain how many of the rebels were 
 lulled -, but the number of phfoners was about 
 
 fifteen
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 17.15. > 
 
 fifteen hundred, among whom were t!,t 
 Derwentwater *, Lord Widdringtcn * : the earls 
 of Nithifdale, Winton, and Canr.v unt 
 
 Kcnmure, and lord Nairn. The common foldiers 
 .in iong the rebels were impri toned at Liverpool-, 
 and other places in that neighbourhood ; but the 
 above-mentioned noblemen, with other perfons 
 above the common rank, to the number of near 
 three hundred, were brought to London. 
 
 They arrived at Highgate on the I4th of No- 
 vember, where they were met by a party of the 
 foot-guards, and their arms being tied back with 
 cords, their hories were led, each by a grenadier ; 
 and in this ignominious manner they were con- 
 dueled to the metropolis ; when the noblemen 
 were committed to the Tower, and the reft to 
 Newgate. 
 
 In the mean time a number of the Scotch 
 rebels had marched to Perth, where they pro- 
 claimed the Pretender : in coniequence of which 
 John duke of Argyle, who had been commiflloned 
 to raifc forces, marched againit and came up with 
 them at Sheriffinuir, near Dumblane, on the very 
 day of the other engagement j and the rebellion 
 would have been then crumed, but that fome 
 of the duke's troops ran away on the firft tire, 
 and got to Stirling, about leven miles from the 
 field of battle ; however, the duke obtained a par- 
 tial victory, by forcing the enemies lines with his 
 dragoons. 
 
 The earl of Mar retired to Perth on die fol- 
 lowing day, propofing to crofs the Forth, with 
 a view to join the rebels in England ; but a ileet 
 
 VOL. I. No. 5. A a lying 
 
 * Thefe two were Englifh peers : the reft Scotch.
 
 iS6 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 lying oppofite Edinburgh, prevented this defign 
 from being carried into execution. 
 . About this period Sir John M'Kenzie having 
 fortified the town of Invernefs for the Pretender, 
 lord Lovat*, at the head of his tenants, drove him 
 from that place ; a circ'umftance of great impor- 
 tance to the royal caufe, as a communication was 
 thereby opened between the Highlands and the 
 fouth of Scotland ; and the earl of Seaforth, and 
 the marquis of Huntly, laid down their arms, in 
 confequence of the earl of Sutherland having armed 
 his tenants in fupport of government. 
 
 The rebels now went into winter quarters at 
 Perth, and the duke of Argyle at Stirling; and 
 the Pretender having landed at Peterhead, with fix 
 attendants only, met his friends at Perth on the 
 22d of December ; and on the ninth of the follow- 
 ing month made a public entry into the palace of 
 JScone, and afiuming the dignity of a iovereign 
 prince, ifTued a proclamation for his coronation, 
 and another for afTembling the ftates. 
 
 But this farce continued only for a very fhort 
 time ; for general Cadogan arriving with fix thou- 
 fand Dutch forces to the aid of the duke of Argyle, 
 about the end of January, the latter marched to- 
 wards Perth; but the rebels fled, as foon as they 
 heard he was advancing. For while they had 
 expectation of aid from France : in the hope of 
 which the Pretender and his adherents went to 
 Dundee, and thence to Montrofe ; but after wait- 
 ing a while, and no aid arriving, they began to 
 
 dcfpair ; 
 
 * The fame* lord Lovat who was beheaded on 
 Tower- hill, for being concerned in the rebellion 
 of 1745. What an inconflflency in this maji'$ 
 character !
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 187 
 
 defpair j and as the King's troops purfued them, 
 the common men difperfcd to their own habita- 
 tionsj and the Pretender^ with the earl of Mar> . 
 and fome others of his principal adherents, cm- 
 barked on board a fhip in the harbour of Montrofe, 
 and were foon landed in France, after having nar- 
 rowly efcaped an Englifli fleet which lay on the 
 coaft of Scotland, through the extreme darknefs 
 of the night in which they embarked. 
 
 The difturbance in the north being thus at an 
 tndj both houfes of parliament combined to mew 
 their loyalty to their fovereign, and regard to the 
 public welfare* Mr. Foftcr was expelled from the 
 Houfe of Commons, who unanimoufly agreed to 
 impeach the feven lords ; which was accordingly 
 
 Thefe unhappy noblemen were informed o 
 what had paffed ; and earl Cowper, lord high 
 chancellor, being appointed lord high fteward on 
 the occafion, all the lords pleaded guilty to the 
 indictment^ except the earl of Winton : out they 
 offered fuch pleas in extenuation of their crimes 
 as they thought might induce the king to extend 
 his royal mercy to them j and the earl of Derwent- 
 water hinted that the proceeding of the Houfe of 
 Commons in the impeachment was out of the 
 ordinary courfe of law* 
 
 In confequence of their having pleaded guilty, 
 proclamation was made for filence, and the lord 
 high fteward palled, icntence of death on them, 
 prefacing the folemn fentencc with the following 
 arTcctiog fpeech : j 
 
 " TAMES earl of Derwentwater, William lord 
 %l Widdrington, William earl of Nithifdale, 
 Robert earl of Carnwarth, William viicount Ken* 
 mure, William lord Nairn : 
 
 A a 2 " You
 
 i88 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 ff You ftand impeached by the Commons of 
 Great- Britain, in parliament Rilfembled, of high 
 treafon, in traitorofly imagining and compafling 
 the death of his moft facred majefty, and in con- 
 fpiring for that end to levy a bloody and deftruc- 
 tive war againft his majefty., in .order to depofe 
 and murder him ; and in levying war accordingly, 
 'and proclaiming a pretender to his crown to be 
 king of thfe realms. 
 
 " Which impeachment, though one of your 
 lordlhips, in the introduction to his plea, fup- 
 pofes to be out of the ordinary and common courfe 
 of the law and jufli:e, is yet as much a courfe of 
 proceeding according to the common law, as any 
 other whatfoever. 
 
 <c If you had been indicted, the indictment 
 tnuft have been removed, and brought before the 
 Houfe of Lords, (the parliament fitting.) In that 
 cafe you had ('tis true) been accufed only by the 
 grand-jury of one county ; in the prefent, the whole 
 body of the commons of Great-Britain, by their 
 reprefentatives, are your accuiers. 
 
 " And this circumftance is very obfervable, 
 (to exclude all pofiible fuppofition of hardmip, 
 as to the method of proceeding againft you) that 
 however all great afiemblies are apt to differ en 
 other points, you were impeached by the unani- 
 mous opinion of the Houfe of Commons, not one 
 contradicting. 
 
 " They found themfelves, it feems, fo much 
 concerned in the prefervanon of his moft trul^ 
 iacred majefty, and the Pror.efhmt fuccefiion (the 
 very life and v ibul of thefe kingdoms) that they 
 could not omit the firft opportunity of taking their 
 proper part, in order to fo fignal and necefiary an 
 act of his majefty's juftice. 
 
 " And
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 189 
 
 cc And thus the whole body politic of this free 
 kingdom has in a manner rofe up in its own de- 
 fence, for the punishment of thofe crimes, which, 
 it was rightly apprehended, had a direct tendency 
 to the everlafting diffolution of it. 
 
 " To this impeachment you have feverally 
 pleaded, and acknowledged yourfelves guilty of 
 the high treafon therein contained. 
 
 " Your pleas are accompanied with fome va- 
 riety of matter to mitigate your offences, and to 
 obtain mercy. 
 
 tc Part of which, as fome of the circumftances 
 faid to have attended your furrender, (feeming to 
 be offered rather as arguments only for mercy, 
 than any thing in mitigation of your preceding 
 guilt) is not proper for me to take notice of. 
 
 " But as to the other part, which is meant to 
 extenuate the crimes of which you are convicted, 
 it is fit I Ibould take this occafion to make fome 
 obfervations to your lordfhips upon it, to the end 
 that the judgment to be given againft you may 
 clearly appear to be juft and righteous, as well as 
 legal ; and that you may not remiin under any 
 fatal error in refpect of a greater judicature, by 
 reflecting with lefs horror and remorfe on the guilt 
 you have contracted than it really deferves. 
 
 {( It is alledged, by fome of your lordfhips, 
 that you engaged in this rebellion without previous 
 concert or deliberation, and without fuitable pre- 
 parations of men, horfes,'and arms. 
 
 " If this mould be fuppofed true, on fome of 
 your lordfhips averring it, I defire you to confider, 
 that as it exempts you from the circumftance of 
 contriving .this treafon, fo it very much aggravates 
 your guilt in that part you have undoubtedly borne 
 in the execution of it, 
 
 " For
 
 190 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " For it fhews, that your inclinations to rehei 
 were fo well known, (which could only be from 
 a continued feries of your words and aclions) that 
 the contrivers of that horrid drfign depended 
 upon you, and therein judged rightly, that your 
 zeal to engage in this treafon was fo ftrong, as to 
 carry you into it on the lead warning, and the very 
 firft invitation : that you would not excufe y,our- 
 ielves by want of preparation, as you might have 
 done ; and that rather than not have mare in the 
 rebellion, you would plunge yourfelves into it, al- 
 moft naked and unprovided for fuch an enterprize : 
 in fhort, that your men, horfes, and arms, were 
 not fo well prepared as they might, and would 
 have been, on longer warning , but your minds 
 were. 
 
 " It is alledged aifo, as an extenuation of your 
 crimes, that no cruel or harfh adion (I fuppofe is 
 meant no rapine or plunder, or worfe) has been 
 committed by you. 
 
 " This may, in part only, be true : but then 
 your lordmips will at the fame time confider, that 
 the' laying wafte a tral of lands bears but a little 
 proportion, in point of guilt, compared with that 
 crime of which you ftand convicted ; an open 
 attempt to deitroy the beft of kings, to ruin the 
 whole fabrick, and rafe the very foundations of a 
 government, the beft fuited of any in the world, 
 to perfect the happinefs aacl fupport the dignity 
 of human nature. The former offence caufes DUE 
 a mifchief that is foon recovered, and is ufually 
 pretty much confined ; the latter, had it fucceed- 
 cd, . mufthave brought a lading and univerfal def- 
 truftion on the whole kingdom. 
 
 <f Befides, much of this was owint* to acci- 
 dent i your march was fo hafty, partly to avoid 
 
 the
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 
 
 the king's troops, and partly from a vain hope to 
 itir up infurrections in all the counties you patted 
 through, that you hud not time to fpread devafta- 
 tion, without deviating from your main, and, as I 
 have obferved, much j.'orle defign. 
 
 " Farther: 'Tis very furprizing that any con- 
 cerned in this rebellion, fhould lay their engaging 
 in it on the government's doing a neceflary and 
 ufual acl: in like cafes, for its prefervation ; the 
 giving orders to confine fuch as were mod likely 
 to join. in that treafon : 'tis hard to believe that 
 any one mould rebel, merely to avoid being re- 
 ftrained from rebelling ; or that a gentle confine- 
 ment would not mnch better have fritted a crazy 
 ilate of health, than the fatigues and inconveni- 
 ences of fuch long and hafty marches in the depth 
 of winter. 
 
 * c Your lordfhips rifing in arms therefore, has 
 much more juftified the prudence and fitnefs of 
 thofe orders, than thofe orders will in any wife 
 ferve to mitigate your treafon. Alas! happy had 
 it been for all your lordfhips, had you fallen under 
 fo indulgent a reflraint ! 
 
 (C When your lordfhips fhall in good earned 
 apply yourfelves to think impartially on your 
 cafe, furely you will not yourklvcs believe that 
 it is pofilble, in the nature of the thing, to be en- 
 gaged, and continue fo long engaged, in fuch a 
 difficult and laborious enterprize, through ram- 
 nefs:- furprize, or inadvertency > or that had the 
 attack at Preilon been lefs fudden, (and confe- 
 qtiently the rebels better prepared to receive it) 
 yonr lordlhips had been reduced the fooner, and 
 with lefs, if not without any bloodfhed. 
 
 <c No, my lords, thele, and fuch like, are art- 
 ful colourings proceeding from minds filled with 
 expectation of continuing in this world, and not 
 
 from
 
 1 92 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 from fuch as are preparing for their defence be- 
 fore a tribunal, where the thoughts of' the heart, 
 and the true fprings and caufes of actions muft be 
 laid open.' 
 
 " And now, my lords, having thus removed 
 fome falfe colours you have ufed j to affift you yet 
 farther in that neceflary work of thinking on your 
 great offence as you ought, I proceed to touch 
 upon feveral circmnilances that feem greatly to 
 aggravate your crime, and which will deferve your 
 molt fcrious conficieration. 
 
 " The divine virtues ('tis one of your lordfhips 
 own epithets) which all the world, as well as your 
 lordmips, acknowledge to be in his majefty, and 
 which yoii now lay claim to, ought certainly to 
 have with-held your hands from endeavouring to 
 clepofe, to deftroy, to murder, that moft excellent 
 prince ; fo the impeachment fpeaks, and fo the 
 law conftrues your aftions: and this is not only 
 true in the notion of law, but almofl always fo in 
 deed and reafon. 'Tis a trite, but a very true re- 
 mark, that .there are but few hours between kings 
 being reduced under the power of pretenders to 
 their crown and their graves. Had you fucceeded, 
 his majefty's cafe would, I fear, have hardly been 
 an exception to that general rule, fince 'tis highly 
 improbable that flight mould have faved any of 
 that illuftrious and valiant family. 
 
 " 'Tis a further aggravation t of your crime, 
 that his majefty, whom your lordfhips would have 
 dethroned, affrcted not the crown by force, or by 
 the arts of ambition, but fucceeded peaceably 
 and legally to it ; and, on the deceafe of her late 
 majefty without iiTue, became undoubtedly the 
 next in courfe of defcent capable of fucceeding 
 to the crown, by the law anfl conftitution of this 
 
 king--
 
 ACCOUNT of thr REBELLION in 1715. t 9 j 
 
 kingdom, as it flood dc-cbred ferric years before 
 the crown was exprriVry limited to the houfc of 
 Hunover. This right wns acknowledged, and the 
 dcfcent of the crown limited or confirmed accord- 
 ingly, by the whole Icgiilatures in two fucceffive 
 reigns, and more than once in the latter; which 
 your lordfhips accomplices are very far from al- 
 lowing would bias the nation to that fide. 
 
 " How could it then enter into the heart of 
 man, to think that private perfons might with- 
 a good conference endeavour to fubvert fuch a fet- 
 tlement, by running to tumultuary arms, and by 
 intoxicating the dregs of the people with contra- 
 dictory opinions and groundlefs (landers : or that 
 God's providence would ever profper fuch wicked, 
 fuch ruinous attempts? Efpecially if, in the next 
 place, it be confide red, that the moft fertile 
 inventions, on the fide of the rebellion, have not 
 been able to affign the leaft ihadow of a grievance 
 as the caufe of it: to fuch poor fhifts have they 
 been reduced on this head, that, for want of better 
 colours, it has been objected, in a folemn manner, 
 by your lordihip's afibciates, to his majefty's go- 
 vernn ent, that his people do not enjoy the fruits 
 of peace, as our neighbours have done, fince the 
 laft war : thus they firft rob us of our peace, and 
 then upbraid us that we have it not. It is a 
 inonilrous rebellion, that can find no fault with the 
 government it invades, but what is the effect: of 
 the rebellion icfelf. 
 
 Cf Your lordfhips will likewife do well to con- 
 fider what an additional burden your treafon has 
 made ncceffary on the people of this kingdom, 
 who wanted and were about to enjoy fome refpite : 
 to tliis end, 'tis well known, that all new, or in- 
 creafc of taxes, were the hit year carefully avoided, 
 
 VOL. I. No. 5. B b and
 
 194 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 and his majefty was contented to have no more 
 forces than were juft fufficient to attend hisperfon, 
 and fhut the gates of a few garrifons. 
 
 " But what his majefty thus did for the eafe 
 and quiet of his people, you moft ungratefully 
 turned to his difadvautage, by taking encourage- 
 ment from thence, to endanger his and his king- 
 doms fafety, and to bring opprefiion on your fel- 
 low -fubj efts \ 
 
 " Your Lord/hips obferve, I avoid expatiating 
 on the miferies of a civil war, a very large and 
 copious fubj eft : I (hall but barely fugged to you 
 on that head, that whatever thole calamities may 
 happen to be, in the preferrt cafe, all who are, at 
 any time, or in any place, partakers in the re- 
 bellion, (efpecially perfons of figure and diftinc- 
 tion) are in fomc degree refponfible for them j 
 and therefore your lord (hips muft not hold your- 
 felves quite clear from the guilt of thofe barba- 
 rities which have been lately committed, by fuch 
 as are engaged in the fame treafon with you, and 
 not yet perfectly reduced, in burning the habita- 
 tions of their countrymen, and thereby expofing. 
 many thoufand-s to cold and hunger in this rigo- 
 rous feafon. 
 
 " I muft be fo juft, to fuch of your lordfliips 
 as profefs the religion of the church of Rome, 
 that you had one temptation, and that a great one, 
 to engage you in- this treafon, which the others 
 had not; in that, is. was evident, fuccefs on your 
 part muft for ever have eftabh'fhed Popery in this 
 kingdom, and that probably you could never have 
 again fo fair an opportunity. 
 
 cc But then, good God ! how muft thefe Pro- 
 teftants be covered with confufion, who entered 
 into the fame meafures, without fo much as capi- 
 tulating for their religion, (that ever I could find 
 
 from
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 195 
 
 from any examination I have feen or heard) 
 or fo much as requiring, much lefs obtaining a 
 frail promife, that it mould be preferred, or even 
 tolerated. 
 
 '- It is my duty to exhort your lordfhips thus 
 to think of the aggravations, as well as the miti- 
 gations (if there be any) of your offences: and if 
 I could have the leaft hopes, that the prejudices 
 of habit and education \vould not be too flrong 
 for the moft earneil and charitable entreaties, I 
 would beg you not to rely any longer on thofe 
 directors of your conlciences, by whofe conduct 
 you have, very probably, been led into this mifer- 
 eble condition ; but that your lordfhips would be 
 affifted by ibme of thofe pious and learned divjnes 
 of the church of England, who have constantly 
 borne that infallible mark of fmcere Chriflians, 
 univerfal charity. 
 
 " And now, my lords, nothing remains, but 
 that I pronounce upon you (and forry I am that it 
 falls to my lot to do it) that terrible fentence of 
 the law, which muft be the fame that is ufually 
 given againft the meaneft offender in the like 
 kind. 
 
 " The mod ignominious 2nd painful parts of it 
 are ufually remitted, by the grace of the crown, to 
 perfons of your quality ; but the law, in this cafe, 
 being deaf to ail di functions of perfons, requires 
 I fhould pronounce, and accordingly it is adjudged 
 by this court, 
 
 " That you, James Earl of Derwentwater, 
 William Lord Widclrington, William Earl of 
 Nithifdale, Robert Earl of Cnrnwarth, William 
 Vifcount Kenmure, and William Lord Nairn, 
 and every of you, return to 'the prifon of die 
 Tower, from whence you came j from thence you 
 muft be drawn to the plate of execution j when 
 B b 2 you
 
 j 9 6 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 you come there, you mini be hanged by the neck, 
 but not till you be dead ; for you mufr. be cut 
 down alive ; then your bowels muft be taken out, 
 and burnt before your faces ; then your heads muff: 
 be fevered from your bodies, and your bodies di- 
 vided each into four quarters ; and thefe mult bt* 
 at the King's difpofal. And God Almighty be 
 merciful to your fouls." 
 
 After fentcnce thus palled, the lords were re- 
 manded back to the Tower, and on the iSth of 
 February, orders were lent to the lieutenant of the 
 Tower and fheriffs for their execution ; and great 
 folicitations were made in favour of them, which 
 did not only reach the court, but came down to 
 the two houfes of parliament, and petitions were 
 delivered in both, which being backed by fome, 
 occafioned debates : that in the Houfe of Com- 
 mons arofe no higher than to occafion a motion 
 for adjournment, thereby to prevent any further 
 interpofition there ; but the matter in the Houfe 
 of Peers was carried on with more fuccefs, where 
 their petitions were delivered and fpoke to, and it 
 was carried by nine or ten voices, that the fame 
 fliould be received and read. And the queftion 
 was put, whether the King had power to reprieve, 
 in cafe of impeachment ? which being carried in 
 the affirmative, a motion was made to addrefs his 
 Majcfty to defire him to grant a reprieve to the 
 lords under fcntence ; but the movers thereof 
 only obtained this chuff, viz. " To reprieve fuch 
 " of the condemned lords as deferve his mercv ; 
 <( and thar the time of the refpke mould be lefc 
 * to his Majefly's difcrecion.'' 
 
 To which' addrefs his Majelty replied, 
 " That on this, and other occafions, he would 
 *' do what he thought moft conTiitent with the; 
 
 << dignity
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 17 15. 197 
 
 cc dignity of his crown, and the fafety of his. 
 " people." 
 
 The great parties they had made, as was faid, 
 by the means of money, and alfo the rafh expref- 
 fions too common in the mouths of many of their 
 friends, as if the government did not dare to 
 execute them, did not a little contribute to the 
 haltening their execution: for on the fame day 
 the addrefs was prefented, the 2jd of February, 
 it was refolved in council, that the earl of Dcr- 
 wentwater and the lord Kenmure, fhould be be- 
 headed ; and the earl of Nithifdale, apprehending 
 he mould be included in the warrant, made his 
 efcape the evening before, in a woman's riding- 
 hood, fuppofed to have been conveyed to him by 
 his mother on a vifit. 
 
 In the morning of the 24th of February three 
 detachments of the life-guards went from White- 
 hall to Tower-hill, and having taken their ftations 
 round the fcaffold, the two lords were brought 
 from the Tower at ten o'clock, and being received 
 by the fheriffs at the bar, were conduced to the 
 Tranfport-office on Tower-hill ; and, at the ex- 
 piration of about an hour, the earl of Derwent- 
 Avater fent word that he was ready : on which Sir 
 John Fryer, one of the fhe riffs, walked before 
 him to the fcaffold, and when there told him he 
 might have what time he pleaied to prepare him- 
 felf for death. 
 
 His lordfhip defired to read a paper which 
 he had written, the fubftance of which was, that 
 he was forry for having pleaded guilty; that he 
 acknowledged no king but James the Third, for 
 whom he had an inviolable affedHon, and that thefe 
 kingdoms would never be happy till the ancient 
 constitution was reltored ; and he wifhed his death 
 might contribute to that defirable end. His lord- 
 fhip
 
 198 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 fhip profefTed to die a Roman Catholic, and in the 
 poftfcript to his fpeech, faid, " If that prince, 
 * c who now governs, had given me life, I mould 
 " have thought myfelf obliged never more to have 
 " taken up arms againft him." 
 
 Sir John Fryer defiring to have the paper, he 
 faid he had fcnt a copy of it to his friends, and 
 then delivered it. He then read fome prayers out 
 of two fmall books, and kneeled down to try how 
 the block would fit his neck. This being done, 
 he had again recourfe to his devotions, and having 
 told the executioner that he forgave him, and like- 
 wife forgave all his enemies, he directed him to 
 ihike when he mould repeat the words " fweet 
 " Jefus" the third time. 
 
 He then kneeled down, and faid, ft fweet Jefus ! 
 " receive my fpirit ; fweet Jefus ! be merciful to 
 <c me; fweet Jems" and appeared to be pro- 
 ceeding iii his prayer, when his head was ftruck 
 off at one blow ; and the executioner taking it up, 
 exhibited it at the four corners of the fcaffold, 
 faying, cc Behold the head of a traitor : God favc 
 " king George." 
 
 The body was now wrapped up in black baize s 
 arid being carried to a coach, was delivered to the 
 friends of the deceafed -, and the fcafifold having 
 been cleared, frefh baize put on the" block, and 
 faw-duft flrewed, that none of the blood might 
 appear, lord Kenmure was conducted to the 
 fcaffbld. 
 
 His lordlhip, who was a Proteftantt was at- 
 tended by two clergymen ; but he declined faying 
 much, telling one of them that he had prudential 
 reafons for not delivering his fentiments : which 
 were fuppofed to arife from his regard to lord 
 Carnwarth, who was his brother-in-law, and was 
 then interceding for the royal mercy; as his talk- 
 
 ing
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 199 
 
 ing in the way that lord Derwentwater had done, 
 might be fuppofed to injure his lordfhip with thole 
 mod likely to ferve him. 
 
 Lord Kenmure having nnifhed his devotions, de- 
 clared that he forgave the executioner, to whom he 
 made a pre/ent of eight guineas. He was attended 
 by a furgeon, who drew his finger over that part 
 of the neck where the blow was to be (truck; and 
 being executed as lord Derwentwater had been, 
 his body was delivered to the care of an under- 
 taker. 
 
 George earl of Winton, not having pleaded 
 guilty with the other lords, was brought to his 
 trial on the I5th of March, when the principal 
 matter urged in his favour was, that he had fur- 
 rendered at Prefton in confequence of a promife 
 from general Wills to grant him his life : in an- 
 fwer to which it was fworn, that no promife of 
 mercy was made, but that the -rebels furrendered at 
 difcretion. 
 
 The earl of Winton having left his houfe, with 
 fourteen or fifteen of his fervants, well mounted 
 and armed; his joining the earl Carnwarth and 
 lord Kenmure j his proceeding with the rebels* 
 through the various flages of their march, and his 
 furrendering with the reil, were circumftances fully 
 proved : notwithflanding which his council moved 
 in arreft of judgment : but the plea on which this 
 motion was founded being thought mfufficient, his 
 peers unanimoufly found him guilty : and then the 
 lord high fteward pronounced fentence on him, 
 after having addreffed him in the following forcible 
 terms : 
 
 G 
 
 EORGE Earl of Winton, I have ac- 
 quainted you, that^your peers have found 
 
 you
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 you guilty : that is, in the terms of the law, con- 
 vicled you of the high-treafori whereof you ftand 
 Impeached ; after your lordlhip has moved in ar- 
 r eft of judgment, and their lordfhips have difal- 
 lov/ed that motion, their next (lep is to proceed to 
 judgment. 
 
 c< The melancholy part 1 am to bear, in pro- 
 nouncing that judgment upon you, fmce it is his 
 majefty's pleafure to appoint me to that office, I 
 dutifully fubmit to it : far, very far, from taking 
 any fatisfaction in it. 
 
 " Till conviction, your lordmip has been fpoke 
 to without the lean: prejudice, or fuppofition of 
 your guilt \ but now it mud be taken for granted, 
 chat your lordfhip is guilty of the high-treafori 
 whereof you fland impeached. 
 
 " My lord, this your crime is the greateft known 
 to the law of this kingdom, or of any other coun- 
 try whatfoever, and it is of the blacked and mod 
 odious fpecies of that crime ; a confpimcy and at- 
 tempt, manifefted by an open rebellion, to depofe 
 and murder that facred perfon, who fuftains, and 
 is the majefty of the whole; and from whom, as 
 from a fountain of warmth and glory, are difperfed 
 all the honours, all the dignity of the date ; indeed 
 the lading and operative life and vigour of the laws, 
 which plainly fubfift by a due adminiftration of the 
 executive power. 
 
 " So that attempting this precious life, is really 
 ftriking at the moft noble part, the feat of life, and 
 fpring of all motion in this government; and may 
 therefore properly be called a defign to murder not 
 only the king, but alib the body politick of this 
 kingdom. 
 
 11 And this is moft evidently true in yourlord- 
 
 . {hip's cafe, conlidering that fuccefs in your trea- 
 
 fon muft infallibly have cttablifhed Popery, and 
 
 that
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 203 
 
 that never fails to bring with it a civil as well as 
 ecclefiaitic tyranny : which is quite another fort 
 of conftitution than that of this kingdom, and 
 cannot take place till the prefent is annihilated. 
 
 tc This your crime (fo I muft call it) is the 
 more aggravated, in that where it proceeds fo far 
 as to take arms openly, and to* make an offen- 
 five war againft lawful authority, it is generally 
 (as in your cafe) complicated with the horrid and 
 crying fin of murdering many, who are not only 
 innocent, hut meritorious : and if pity be due 
 (as I admit it is in feme degree) to fuch as fufFer 
 for their own crimes,- it muft be. admitted a much 
 greater mare of companion is owing to them who 
 ' have loft their lives merely by the crimes of other 
 men. 
 
 '* As many as have fo done in the late rebel- 
 lion^ fo many murders have they to anfwer for 
 who promoted it ; and your lordihip, in examining 
 your cpnfcience, will be under a great delufion, 
 if you look on thofe who fell 'at Prefton, Dum- 
 lain, or elfewhere, on the fide of the laws, and 
 defence of fettled order and government, as fluin 
 in lawful war, even judging of this matter by the 
 law of nations. 
 
 Cf Alas! my lord, your crime of high-treafon 
 is yet made redder, by medding a great deal of 
 the bed blood in the kingdom ; I include in this 
 expreffibn the brave common foldiers, as well as 
 thofe gallant and heroic officers, who continued 
 faithful to death, in defence of the laws: for fure 
 but little blood can be better than that, which is 
 filed while it is warm, in the caufe of the true re - 
 Jigion, and the liberties of its native country. 
 <f I believe it, notwithstanding the unfair arts 
 induftry ufed, to ftir up a pernicious excefs of 
 I. No. C c com-
 
 202 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 rommife radon toward fuch as have fallen by the 
 fword of juftice, (few, if compared with die num- 
 bers of good fubjects, murdered from doors and 
 windows at Prefton only) the life of one honeft, 
 loyal fubject is more precious in the eye of God, 
 and all confidering men, than the lives of many 
 rebels and parricides. 
 
 "This puts me in .mind to obferve to your 
 lordfhip, that there is another malignity in your 
 lordfhip's crime, (open rebellion) which* confifts 
 in this, that it is always fure of doing hurt to a 
 government, in one refpect, though it be defeated - t 
 (I will not fay it does fo on the whole matter). 
 
 " For if the offence is too notorious to be let 
 pafs unobfcrved, by any connivance : then is go- 
 vernment reduced to this dilemma : if it be not 
 punifhed, the ftate is endangered by fuffcring ex- 
 amples to appear, that it may be attacked "with 
 impunity -, if it be punifhed,*they who are pub- 
 lickly or privately favourers of the treafon (and 
 perhaps fome out of mere folly) raife undeferved 
 clamours of cruelty againft thofe in power ; or the 
 loweft their malice flies, is to make unfeafonable, 
 unlimited, and injudicious encomiums upon mercy 
 and forgivenefs, (things, rightly ufed, certainly of 
 the greateft excellence.) 
 
 (S And this proceeding, it mull be admitted^ 
 does harm, with filly and undiftinguifhing people. 
 So that the rebels have the fatisfadtion of thinking 
 they hurt the government a little even by their 
 fall. 
 
 {( The only,- but true confolation, every wife 
 government has, in fuch a cafe, (after it has 
 tempered juftice with mercy, in fuch proportion 
 as found difcrerion directs, having always a care 
 of the public fafety above all things) is this ; that 
 
 fucU
 
 ACCOUNT of the REBELLION in 1715. 
 
 fiich like feeds of unreaforuble difcontents, take 
 root on very Shallow foil only; and that therefore, 
 after they have made a weak, moot, they foon 
 wither and come to nothing. 
 
 Cf It is well your lordfhip has given an oppor- 
 tunity of doing the government right, on the fub- 
 ject of your furrender at Prefton, 
 
 ff How confidently had it been given out by 
 the faction, that the furrender was made on alTur- 
 ances, aUeaft hopes, infinuated of pardon. Where- 
 as the truth appears to be, that tear was the only 
 motive to it: the evil day was deferred : and the 
 rebels rightly depended, fewer would die at lad by 
 the meal'tirc's they elected, than if they had flood 
 an aflault. They were awed by the experienced 
 courage, difcipline, and fteadinefs of the King's 
 troops, and by the fuperior genius and fpiritqf his 
 Majetly's commanders, over thofe of the rebels: 
 fo that in truth, they were never flattered with any 
 other terms, than to furrender as rebels and trai- 
 tors j their lives only to be fpared till his Majefly's 
 pleafure Ihould be known. 
 
 " It was indeed a debt due to thofe brave com- 
 manders and foldiers (to whom their king and 
 country owe more than can be wellexprefled) that 
 their victory (hould be vindicated to the prefent 
 and future ages, from untrue detraction, and kept 
 from being fullied by the tongues of rebels and 
 their accomplices, when their arms could no longer 
 hinder it. 
 
 " 'Tishard to leave, this fubject without (hortly 
 obfervins, that this engine, which fets the world 
 
 f* 
 
 on fire, a lying tongue, has been of prodigious ule 
 to the party of the rebels, not only iince, and dur- 
 ing the rebellion, but before, while it was forming, 
 and the rebels preparing for it. 
 
 C c 2 " Falfc
 
 S0 4 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " Falfe facts, falfe hopes, and falfe characters, 
 have been the greater half of the fcheme they fe 
 out with, and yet feem to depend upon, 
 
 " It has been rightly observed, your lord (hip's 
 anfwer does not fo much as infift, with any clear- 
 nefs, on that which only could excufe your being 
 taken in open rebellion ; that is, you was forced 
 into-it, remained fo tfhder a force, and would have 
 cfcaped from it, but could not. 
 
 fc If you had fo infilled, it has been clearly proved 
 that that had not been true ; for your lordfnip was 
 active and forward in many inflances, and fo con- 
 fiderable in military capacity among your fellow-- 
 foldiers, as to command a fquadron. Thefe, and 1 
 other particulars, have been obferved by the ma- 
 nagers of the Houfe of Commons, and therefore I 
 fhall not purfue them further, but conclude this, 
 introduction to the fentence, by exhorting your 
 lordfhip, with perfect charity and much earneft- 
 nefs, to confider that now the time is come, when 
 the veil of partiality mould be taken from your 
 eyes, (it muft be fo when you come to die) and 
 that your lordfhip fhould hence forward think with 
 clearnefsand indifference, (ifpoffible) which mult 
 produce in you a hearty deteftation of the high 
 crime you have committed; and, being a Prote- 
 ftant, be very likely to make you a fincere penitent, 
 for your having engaged in adefign that muft have 
 deftroyed the holy religion you profefs, had it 
 taken effect. 
 
 <c Nothing now remains, but that I pronounce 
 upon you that fentence which the law ordains, 
 and which fufficiently mews what thoughts your 
 anceftors had of the crime of which your lordfhip 
 is now convicted, viz. {f That you George Earl 
 ofWinton, &c." 
 
 Soon
 
 JOHN GORDON, &c. for Higl-Treafen. 20 $ 
 
 Soon after the pafTing this fentence, the earls 
 of Wincon and Nithifdale found means to efcape 
 out of the Tower ; and Meff. Fofter and M'Intofh 
 efcaped from Newgate ; but it /was firppofed that 
 motives of mercy and tendernefs in the prince of 
 Wales, afterwards George the Second, favoured 
 the efcape of all thefe gentlemen. 
 
 This rebellion occafioned the untimely th; th 
 of many other perfons. Five were executed at 
 Manchefter, fix at Wigan, and eleven at Prefton : 
 but a confiderable number were brought to London, 
 and being arraigned in the court of Exchequer, 
 mod of them pleaded guilty, and fuffered the ut- 
 meft rigour of the law. 
 
 It will now be proper that we mention the cafes 
 of fuoh other remarkable perfons as fuffered on 
 account of the rebellion ; and then we will make 
 fome general remarks on the nature and heinouf- 
 nefs of that offence. 
 
 Account of JOHN GORDON, WILLIAM 
 KERR, and JOHN DORRELL, who were 
 executed at 'Tyburn for Higb-Treafon. 
 
 ALL the particulars we have been able to 
 learn refpecting thefe men are as follows, 
 They had all of-them ferved as officers in the 
 army during the wars in the reign of queen Anne, 
 bnt they were zealous friends to the caufe of the 
 Pretender. 
 
 Having learnt that the rebels had got as far as 
 Lancashire, they appear to have been animated 
 with the hope that fuccefs would attend the en- 
 terprize ; whereupon they held feveral meetings 
 at a public-houfe in Shoe-lane, London, where 
 they agreed to fet off for different parts of the 
 country, toenlift fome men to promote-the under-! 
 
 taking ;
 
 206 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 taking j and they bound themfelves to each other, 
 by the mod (oleum oaths, to keep their tranfao 
 tions fee ret. 
 
 But they defeated the effects of thefe oaths al- 
 moft in the moment they took them : for they met 
 fo often, and were fo carelefs of what they faid, 
 that they were heard by perfons who liftened at 
 the doorof'their room: in confequence of which 
 information was given, and they were taken into 
 cuftody, tried, and being convicted on full evi- 
 dence, were hanged and quartered at Tyburn on 
 the yth of December, 1715. 
 
 They were the firft perfons that fuffered on ac- 
 count of the rebellion ; profeffed themfelves Ro- 
 man Catholics, and died denying the juftice of the 
 fentence againft them. 
 
 Account of Colonel HENRY OXBURGH, who 
 
 was executed at Tyburn , for High-'L'reaJon. 
 
 HENRY Oxburgh, Efq. the fon of a man of 
 confiderable property in Lancafhire, having 
 been educated in the moil rigid principles of the 
 Roman Catholic religion, was fent abroad while a 
 youth into the fervice of France, in which he ac- 
 quired the character of a brave and gallant officer. 
 
 At the clofe of the war, he returned to England 
 to fee his friends, and finding that the rebels were 
 advancing fouthwards, he railed a regiment, with 
 which he joined the main army before it reached 
 Prefton. Colonel Oxburgh was the man who 
 ordered the rebels to fire on the royal troops, and, 
 if his opinion had been taken, the town would not 
 have furrendered fo foon as it did. 
 
 On his trial he pleaded guilty ; but after fen- 
 tence was paiTed on him, and he found that every 
 
 appli-
 
 RICHARD GASCOIGN for Higb-TreaJbn. 207 
 
 application for mercy was unfuccefsful, he talked 
 in a flrain very different from that of a man con- 
 fcious of any crime. He laid he confidered the 
 Pretender as his lawful fovereign,.and never deem- 
 ed himfelf the fubject of any other prince. He 
 even aflerred that he would have been equally loyal 
 to the Pretender if he had been a proteftant. 
 
 This unhappy man, who feems to have fallen a 
 victim to the prejudice of education, was hanged 
 at Tyburn on the i4th of May, 1716. 
 
 Account of RICHARD GASCOIGN,Gentleman, 
 who was executed at Tyburn for liigh-^rtafon. 
 
 THIS unfortunate man was fmgularly active 
 in fomenting the rebellion. So zealous was 
 he in the caufe, that he mortgaged his whole eftate 
 to fupply him with money to purchafc arms from 
 foreign countries. 
 
 When the rebels marched towards the ibuth of 
 England he engaged all the forces he could, and 
 went and joined them, proclaiming the Pretender 
 king at every ftage of his march. He was made 
 prifoner by the king's troops at Prefton, at the 
 fame time as Colonel Oxburgh ; and being ar- 
 raigned before Lord Chief Juftice King, in Weit- 
 rninfter-Hall, he pleaded " not guilty." 
 
 On his trial it was proved that fome cafks of 
 arms which he had purchafed abroad, were found 
 on board a (hip, directed to him ; and being found 
 guilty, on the cleared evidence, fcntence of death 
 was paffed on him -, in confluence of which he was 
 executed at Tyburn, on the 25th of May, 1716. 
 
 While he lay under fentence of death his fenti r 
 ments appeared to be nearly trie fame as'thofe of 
 Colonel Oxburgh .* and at the place of execution 
 
 he
 
 2 o8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 he declared that he did not take up arms with a 
 view to reftore the Roman catholic religion, but 
 folely in behalf of James the third, whom he deem- 
 d his lawful fovereign. 
 
 Account of the Rev. WILLIAM PAUL, who 
 was executed at Tyburn for High-Treafon. 
 
 MR. PAUL was born of reputable parents, 
 near Lutterworth, in Leicefterfhire, and 
 having been educated for the pulpit, took the de- 
 gree of Batchelor of Arts at St. John's College, 
 Cambridge. After officiating as a chaplain for 
 two clergymen, the bifhop of Oxford prcfented 
 him to the vicarage of Orton, in his native county, 
 to which he was infcituted in the year 1709. 
 
 The rebels having reached Prefton, Mr. Paul 
 began a journey to meet them ; but was appre- 
 hended on fufpicion, and carried before Colonel 
 Noel, a juftice of the peace, who finding no juil 
 caufe of detention, difmhTed him ; on which he 
 continued his journey to Preflon, where he read 
 prayers to the rebels three days fucceflively, and 
 prayed for the Pretender, by the name of King 
 James, in the parifh church. 
 
 A mort time before the national forces reached 
 Prcfton, Mr. Paul quitted that place, and coming 
 to London, difguifed himfelf by wearing coloured 
 cloaths, a fwordj a laced haf, and a full-bottome4 
 
 Vig- 
 
 But he had not been Ions; in this difguife be- 
 fore he was met by Mr. Bird, a juftice of the 
 peace for Leicefterfhire, who caufed him to be 
 taken into cuftody, and carried to the houie of 
 the duke of Devonfhire, who fent him to the fc- 
 cretafry of ftate for examination ; but as he're- 
 fufed to make any confeflion, he was delivered to
 
 WILLIAM PAUL for High fyeafoa. 209 
 
 cuftody of one of the king's meffln^ers, with 
 whom he remained about a fortnight, and was 
 then committed to Newgate. 
 
 He was arraigned at Weftminfter on the jift 
 of May, and pleaded l< not guilty -," on which he 
 was remanded to Newgate, anil had tittle allowed 
 him to prepare his defence. On his return to 
 prifon he lent for a friend; to whom he faid, 
 ' v What muii- I do ? I have been tins day ar- 
 ; raigned, and pleaded not uullty ; but that will 
 " not avail, for too much will be proved againtl 
 < me." To this his friend replied, " I will per- 
 " fuade you to nothing ; but, in my opinion, the 
 is beft way is to confefs your fault, afk pardon, 
 " and throw yourfelf on the King's mercy." Mr. 
 I'.iul laid his council advifed the fame, and he 
 vo.:* refolvtd to do fo; and when he was again 
 brought to rhe bar, he :e tracked his former plea, 
 and pleaded guilty ; in conlequence of which len- 
 ience or death was patted on him. 
 
 Being lent back to prifon, he made every pofli- 
 ble intereft for the prcfcrvation of his life ; for he 
 frerned to have a mod fin.^ular dread of death, 
 
 O ( _ ' 
 
 p.irticularly when attended with fuch dilgraceiiil 
 circnmilances as he had reafon to apprehend. He 
 wrore a peticion to the king, another to the lord 
 chief juilice, and letters to the archbifhop of 
 Canterbury, with other letters to clergymen; in 
 ail of which he acknowledges his crime, and his 
 change of fbntiments ; and intercedes for mercy, 
 m terms of the mod abject humiliation. 
 
 ]] a letter t<> a female relation, he fys, cc I am 
 cc among the number of thofe that are to fufFer 
 " next Friday. I cannot think of dying the death 
 <c of a dog, by the hands of a common, exccu- 
 <f tioner, with any manner of patience. Tranfpor- 
 
 VOL. 1. No. 7. D d u.rion,
 
 210 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " tati >n, perpetual imprilbnment, or any othef 
 " condition of life, will be infinitely preferable 
 t( to ib barbarous and infupportable a way of end- 
 tc ing it ; and means muft be found for preventing, 
 " or I fhall anticipate the ignominy of the halter, 
 (C by laying violent hands on myfelf. Give Mr. 
 
 " C r, to underftand, that he may promife 
 
 " any thing that he Ihall think fit in my name ; 
 <c and that his royal highnefs the prince, and his 
 " council* mall have no caufe to repent of their 
 * f mercy to me." 
 
 All Mr. Paul's petitions, however, proved fruit- 
 lefs : he was ordered for execution, and was at- 
 tended by a nonjuring clergyman, who endea- 
 voured to inipire him with an idea of the juftice 
 of the caufe for which he was to yield his lift : 
 he was, however, dreadfully affected till within a 
 few days of his death ; vv;.en he began to aflume a 
 greater degree of courage. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the iSth of 
 July, 1716, being attended by a nonjuring clergy- 
 man, having declined the affirlance of the ordi- 
 nary of Newgate. J lift before the cart drew a\var 
 he made a fpeech, of which the following is a 
 copy : 
 
 ff Good People, 
 
 I AM jufb going to make my appearance in the 
 other world, where I muft give an account or 
 all the actions of my paft life ; and though I have 
 endeavoured to make my peace with God, by fin- 
 cerely repenting of all my fins, yet forafmuch as 
 feveral of them were of a public nature, I take it 
 to be my duty to declare here, in the face of the 
 world, my hearty abhorrence and deteitation of 
 them. 
 
 And
 
 WILLIAM PAUL for High Treafon. i 1 1 
 
 And firft, I afk pardon of God and the King, 
 for having violated my loyalty, by taking molt 
 abominable oaths, in defence of uJurpation, 
 againft my lawful love reign King James the 
 Third. 
 
 And as I afk pardon of all whom I have injured 
 or ofFende.i, fo i do efpccially defire forgivcnefs 
 of all thole whom I have fcandalized by pleading 
 guilty. I am fenfible it is a bale and diihonour- 
 able action; that it is inconfiftent with my duty 
 to the King, and an entire furrender of my loyalty. 
 Human frailty, and too great a defirc for life, 
 together with the perfuafion of feveral, who pre- 
 tended to be my friends, were the occafion of it. 
 I truft God of his infinite mercy has forgiven me, 
 and I hope all good chriflians will. 
 
 You fee, my countrymen, by my habit, that I 
 die a fon, though a very unworthy one, of the 
 church of England ; but I would not have you 
 think I am a member of the fchifmatical church, 
 whole bifhops let themfelves up in oppofition to 
 t.hofe orthodox fathers, who were unlawfully and 
 invalidly deprived by the prince of Orange. I de- 
 clare that I renounce that communion, and that I 
 die a dutiful and faithful member of the Nonjuring 
 church, which has kept itfelf free from rebellion 
 and fchifw, and has prcferved and maintained true 
 orthodox principles both as to church and ftate : 
 and I defire the clergy, and all members of the 
 Revolution church, to confider what bottom they 
 ftand upon, when their fuccefiion is grounded upon 
 an unlawful and invalid deprivation of Catholic 
 bifliops, the only foundation of which deprivation 
 is a pretended act of parliament. 
 
 Having afked forgivencfh for myfelf, I come now 
 
 to forgive others. I pardon thole, who, under a 
 
 D d 2 notion
 
 212 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 notion of friend/hip, perfuaded me to plead guilty. 
 I heartily forgive all my molt inveterate enemies, 
 efpecially the elector of Hanover, my lord Town- 
 fend, and others, who have been inftrumental in 
 promoting my death. Father, forgive them ! Lord 
 Jefus, have mercy upon them ! and lay not this fin 
 to their charge. 
 
 The next thing I have to do, Chriftian friends, 
 is, to exhort you all to return to your duty. He- 
 member that king James the Third is your cniy 
 rightful fovereign, by the laws of the land, and 
 the confiitution of tie kingdom; ?.ncl then 
 if you would perform the cluty of juilicc to him, 
 which is due .to all mankind, you are obliged, in 
 conference, to do all you can to reftore him to 
 his crown : for it is his right; and no man in the 
 world, beiklcs hi mi elf, can.chim a title to it. And 
 fls it is your duty to ferve him, fo it is your intereft; 
 fcr, till he is reftored, the nation can never be 
 happy. Yc-u fee what iriferies and calamities 
 have befallen this nation, by the revolution ; and 
 1 believe you arc now convinced, by woeful expe- 
 rience, that fwerving from God's laws, and thereby 
 putting yourfeives out of his protection, is not the 
 way to lecure you from thole evils and misfortunes 
 you are afraid of in this world. Before the revo- 
 lution, you thought your religion, liberties snd 
 property in danger ; and I pray you to confider 
 how you have preferved them by rebelling: are 
 they not ten times more precarious th^n ever ? 
 Who can fay he is certain of his life or cftate, 
 when he confiders the proceedings of the prefent 
 adminiftration ? And as for your religion, is it not 
 evident that the revolution, inftead of keeping out 
 Popery, has let in Atheifm r Do not herefies 
 abound everyday : And are not the teachers of faife 
 
 doctrine
 
 WILLIAM PAUL for Wgb-TnaJin. 
 
 doctrine patronifed by the great men in the govern- 
 ment ? this {"hews the kindnefs and affection they 
 have for the church ; and to give you another in- 
 ftance of the refpect and reverence they have for it, 
 you are now going to fee a pried of the church of 
 Kngland murdered for doing his duty ; for it is 
 not me they ftrike at fo particularly, but it is 
 through me they \vou;d wound the priefthood, 
 bring difgrace upon the gown, and a fcanchl upon 
 my facred function. But they would do well to 
 remember, that lie who defpifes Ch rift's pricfts, 
 defpifes Chrift .; and he who defpife<j him, defpiftrs 
 him that fent him. 
 
 And now, beloved, if you have any regard to 
 your country, which lies bleeding under thefe dread- 
 ful ex:re.mities, bring the King to his undoubted 
 right : this is the only way to be freed from thefe 
 misfortunes, and to ft cure all thofe rights and pri- 
 vileges which arc in danger at preient. King 
 James has promifed to protect and defend the 
 church of England : he has given his royal word 
 to content to frch laws which you yourfeivts fhall 
 think necefiary to be made for its preservation; 
 and his majefty is a prince of that juftice, virtue, 
 and honour, that you have no reafon to doubt of 
 the performance of his royal promife : he fludies 
 nothing fo much as to make you all eafy and happy, 
 nnu whenever he comes to his kingdom, I doubt 
 not but you will be fo. 
 
 I iliall be heartily glad, good people, if what 
 I have laid has any eircct upon you, fo as to be 
 inftrumental in making you perform your duty. 
 It is out of my power now to do any thing more 
 to ferve the King, than by employing fome of the 
 few minuics I have to live in this world in praying 
 Almighty God to fhower down his bldlings, both 
 Spiritual and temporal, upon hii head j to protect 
 
 and
 
 214 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 and reftore him ; to be favourable to his 
 taking ; to profper him here, and to reward him 
 hereafter. I befeeeh the fame infinite goodnefs to 
 proteft and defend the church of England, and to 
 reilore it to all its jult rights and privileges - } and 
 laftly, I pray God to have mercy upon me, pardon 
 my fins, and receive my foul into his everlafring 
 kingdom, tha,t with the Patriarchs, Prophets, 
 Apoftles, and Martyrs, I may praife and magnify 
 him for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 As to my body, brethren, I have taken no care 
 of it, for I value not that barbarous part of my 
 fenttnce, of being cut down and quartered. When 
 J am once gone, I mall be out of the reach of rny 
 enemies'; and 1 wifh I had quarters enough to fend 
 to every parifli in the kingdom ; to tcuify that a 
 clergyman of the church of England was martyred 
 for being loyal to his King. 
 
 July 13, 1716. WILLIAM PAUL," 
 
 Account of JOHN HALL, Efq. who was exe- 
 cuted at Tyburn, for High 'ireafcn. 
 
 JOHN HALL, Efq. was a juilice of the peace 
 for the county of Northumberland, and having 
 
 * 
 
 been taken prifonet with the other rebels atPrefton, 
 was brought to London, and indicted for having 
 joined, aided, and abetted the rebels. 
 
 Two evidences depofed that he was feen at dif- 
 ferent places with the rebels : but in his defence 
 he faid, that having been to a meeting of the 
 juftices at Plainfield, he had lodged at a friend's 
 houfe, and that on the following day, while he 
 was (looping on his horle's neck, to fcretn him- 
 ielf from the tempeftuous weather, himfelf and 
 his fervanc were furrounded by the rebels, who 
 forced them away : and that he was unarmed, 
 
 Jnd
 
 JOHN HALL, Efq. for/%-7Vft?/0. 215 
 
 and had only feven millings and fixpence in his 
 poffcflion. 
 
 Though this circumftance was fworn to by Mr. 
 Hall's lervant, yet the court, in the charge to 
 the jury, obferved that " if a man was feen with 
 " rebels, yet if it appeared, that he had frequent 
 " opportunities of efcaping, and did not do it, but 
 " continued by his prefence to abet and comfort 
 tl them, it was treafon within the meaning of the 
 4f law." 
 
 Now as it appeared in evidence that Mr. Hall 
 had liberty to ride out when he pleafed, and did 
 not feem to be rtftrained, the jury found him 
 guilty : and when the court pafled fentence on him 
 he faid, u God's will be done." 
 
 After conviction he was attended by a non- 
 juring clergyman ; and behaved with manly for- 
 titude under his misfortunes : however he made 
 fuch intereft that he obtained five fhort reprieves, 
 and might pofllbly have been pardoned ; but that 
 having written the following fpeech fome weeks 
 before his death, the knowledge thereof is fup- 
 pofed to have reached the court j for when a no- 
 bleman made application for a pardon, he was 
 nnfwered, " By no means, my good lord : it 
 <( were a pity Mr. Hall, mould lofe the opportu- 
 " nity of leaving fuch a fpeech behind him, as 
 " he gives out will raife the fpirits of the whole 
 " nation to be of the fame mind with him, and 
 " will be infhuuiental in bringing in the ptrfon 
 " whom he calls his lawful fovereign king James 
 " the third." 
 
 Mr. Hall was executed at the firr.e time and 
 place with Mr. Paul ; and a few minutes before he 
 was turned off, he delivered a paper to the fheriff, 
 which is as follows : 
 
 <f Friends,
 
 216 NEW NEWGATE -C ALENDA'R. 
 
 fc Friends, Brethren, and Countrymen, 
 
 I AM come her? to die, *br the fake of" God, 
 my king, and rny -country ; and I heartily IT - 
 joke that I am counted of ;o greac an 
 
 honour: fbr Jet not any of you think that I am 
 come to a Pnameful a^d ignominious end: the 
 truth and jufdc.e < -or which 1 fuller, 
 
 makes my death a duty, a vi.-r.ue, and an. honour. 
 Remember that I lay down my lite for afll-rtin:?; 
 the right of my only lawful Ibvercign king Jai: 
 the Third j that I offer mvfclf a victim for 
 liberties and happinefs of my clear country, . 
 rny beloved fcjlow-fubjeccs ; tha: :I fall a facri. 
 to tyranny, oppreffion, and ufurpadon. In ihuru 
 consider that I furFer in the deiV:;-::e or" the com- 
 mand of God, an.1 the laws, and hereditarv con- 
 fcitution of the land ; and then know, and be ai 
 fared, th.i" T am not a trakor, but a martyr. 
 
 I declare that I die a true and iinctre m^n- 
 of the church of England, but not of the ret 
 lurion fchifmatical church, whole biihop:; ! 
 rebellioufly abandoned the king, and ib 
 fully given up the rights of the church, by i 
 mitting to the unlawful invalid lay-deprv 
 of the prince of Orange. The communion I 
 in, is that of the true catholic nonjuring church of 
 England, and I pray God to profper and increaic 
 it, and to grant (if it be his good pleafure) that 
 .it may rife again, and flourilh. 
 
 I heartily beg pardon of all whom I have in any 
 manner, and at any .time, injured and offended, 
 I do particularly implore fbrgivenefs of God and 
 my king, for having ib far fwerved from my d; 
 as to comply with the ufurpation, in iwea 
 allegiance to it, and acting in public potts by 
 the ufurper's commirTions, which were void of all 
 power and authority. God knows rny hear:, I 
 
 did
 
 JOHN HALL, Efq. for High-Treafon. 217 
 
 did this at firft through ignorance and error, but 
 after I had rccoilccled mylelf, and informed iry 
 judgment better, I repented, and drew my fword 
 for the king, and now fubrr.it myfelf to this 
 violent deatn for his fake. I heanily pray God 
 my patience and my fufferings may atone for my 
 former crime ; and this I beg through the merits, 
 mediation, and fufferings of my deareft Saviour 
 Jcfus Chrift. 
 
 I do (incerely forgive all my enemies, efpe- 
 cially thofe who have either caufed or increafed 
 the dcftruftion in church or ftate ; I pray God 
 have mercy upon them, and fpare them, becaufe 
 they are the works of his own hartds", and becaufe 
 they are redeemed with his Son's moft precious 
 blood. I do, particularly, forgive from the bot- 
 tom of my heart, the elector of Brunfwick, who 
 murders me ; my unjuft pretended judges and 
 jury, who convicled and condemrfed me ; Mr. 
 Patten and Carnaby, evidences who fwore againft 
 me at my trial. Arid I do here declare, upon the 
 words of a dying man (and all my Northumber- 
 land fellow prifoners can ttftify the fame) that 
 the evidence they gave was fo far from being the 
 truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, 
 that, in relation to my indiftmenti they fwore 
 not one true thing againft me, but many abfolut.e 
 falfhoods. I pray God forgive them, for I am 
 fure I do. 
 
 Laftly, I forgive all who had a hand in the 
 furrcndtr at Prcfton, for they have furrendered 
 away my life -, and I would to God that were the 
 only bad confequence of it. But, ahs ! it is too 
 plain that the furrendcrers not only ruined many 
 of his majefty's brave and faithful Uibje&s, but 
 gave up their king and country into the bargain : 
 
 VOL. I. No. 7. li c for
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR; 
 
 for it was then in their power to have reftored 
 the king -with triumph to his throne, and thereby 
 to have made us a happy people. We had re- 
 pulfed our enemies at every attack, and were 
 ready, willing, and able to have artacked them, 
 
 On our fide, even our common men were brave, 
 courageous, and refokite : on the other hand, theirs 
 were directly the contrary, infomuch, that after 
 they had run away from pur firft fire, they could 
 never be brought fo much as to endeavour to ftand 
 3 fecond. This I think, myfelf obliged injuftice 
 to mention, that Mr. Wills may not impofe upon 
 the world, as if he and his troops had conquered 
 us, and gained the victory ; for the truth is, after 
 we had conquered them, our fujkriors thought fit 
 to capitulate and ruin us; I wifh them God's and 
 the king's pardon for it. 
 
 May it pleafe God toblefs, preferve,and reftore 
 our only rightful and lawful fovereign king James 
 the Third ; may he direct his counfels, and profper 
 his arms ; may he bring him to his kingdom, and 
 fet the crown upon his head. 
 
 May lie protect him from the malice of his ene- 
 mies., and defend him from thole who for a reward 
 would flay him innocent ! may he grant him in 
 health and wealth long to live ; may he Itrengthen 
 him, that he may vanquilh and overcome air his 
 enemies; and finally, when it pleafes his infinite 
 wifdom to take him out of this world, may he take 
 Him to himfelf, and reward him with an everlafting 
 crown of glory in the next. 
 
 Thefs, my beloved countrymen, are the fincere 
 prayers, thefe the laft words of me who am now 
 a dying perfon ; and if you have any regard to the 
 laft breath of one who is juft. going out of the 
 world, let me beg of you to be dutiful, obedient, 
 and loyal, to your only fovereign liege ford,
 
 JOHN HALL, Efq. for High Trtafon. 219 
 
 king James the Third j be ever ready to ferve 
 him, and be fure you never fail to ufe all your 
 endeavour to reftorc him ; and whatever the conr 
 fequence be, remember that you have a good 
 caufe, and a gracious God, and expect a recom* 
 pence from him, 
 
 To that God, the God of truth and holinefs, 
 the rewarder of all who fuffcr for righteoufnefs 
 fake, I commend my f<>ul, befeeching him to 
 have mercy upon it, for the fake of my dear Re- 
 deemer, and merciful Saviour, Jefus Chrift our 
 Lord. . Amen, Amen, Amen. 
 
 July 13, 1716, JOHN HALL. 
 
 Poftfcript. 
 
 I might reafonabiy have expected my life 
 would have been faved, fince I had obtained five 
 reprieves ; but I find that the Duke of Hanover, 
 and his evil counfellors who guide him, have fo 
 little virtue and honour themfelves, that they arie 
 refoi'ved not to fpare my life, be caufe I would not 
 purchafe it upon bafe and difhonourable terms, 
 J have reafon to think, that at firft I could have 
 fecured my life and fortune, if I would have 
 pleaded guiky ; and I doubt not but I might fincc 
 have obtained favour, if I would have petitioned 
 in a vile, fcandalous manner : but I was refolved 
 to do nothing whereby I fhould havedifowned my 
 king, and denied my principles ; and I thank my 
 good God, both for infpiring me with this holy 
 refolurion, and for giving me the grace to per-^ 
 form it. 
 July -13, 1716, 
 
 Having now finifhed our narrative of perfoni 
 executed on account of the rebellion, we will make 
 fume general remarks. 
 
 E e a the
 
 420 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The crime of rebellion is of a mod atrocious, 
 nature, becaufe, in cafe of its, fuccels, it tends to 
 involve the innocent in one general ruin with the 
 guilty. It nvc rfets the eftabliihcd and Itpal forms 
 of government, aixi introiluces anarchy and con- 
 fufion, where all before was order and decorum. 
 The rebellion of which we are writing was fo- 
 mented againft a prince, feated on the throne by 
 the right of fucceiTion, confirmed by the laws of 
 the land. 
 
 There is, indeed, fomething of an excufe to be 
 offered for fome of thofe who engaged in it, pre- 
 ferably to others. Thofe who were bred Roman 
 Catholics might naturally be fuppofcd to wifh for 
 a prince of their own perfuafion to reign over 
 them. But, good God ! for Protcftants to think 
 of being governed by a Popifti prince, what an 
 abfurdity ! Do not we know that i$ is one great 
 rraxim in the Roman Catholic religion, to keep 
 no faith with heretics r And what fort of treat- 
 ment could Proteflants expect from a prince whofc 
 religion teaches him that there is no falvation. 
 without the pale of his own church, and confe- 
 quent'y that his fubjects, are doomed to everlafting 
 peruition ? 
 
 Power is a fafcina.ting thing -, and princes in 
 general are apt enough to (Iretch it to the utmt/fr.. 
 This being the common, cafe, it can be l ; ttle n;at- 
 ter of wonder that a Popilh prince mould be an 
 abfolut? tyrant over that fubjeft whom he con- 
 iiders as already reprobated hy heaven ! 
 
 From the guilty madnefs and horrid fate of the 
 unhappy malefactors before us, Ictus, learn grati- 
 tude to heaven for the reformation, which relieved 
 us from the errors and blindnefs of Popery : let 
 us be thankful thaj the laws of our country have 
 
 efta-
 
 JOHN HAMILTON, Efq. for Murder, 
 
 eftablifhed that regal fucceflion of a family educated 
 in the rational doftrines of the Proteftant religion, 
 a religion that, while it feeks heaven by the ready 
 road, allows full liberty of conference to all mtn 
 to worfhip God according to the dictates cf thtir 
 own minds. 
 
 We have no more right to quarrel with a MAK 
 for differing fiom us in fentiments, than for the 
 colour of his eye-brows : but Bi icons fhould be 
 cautious never to think of admitu ;g a SOVEREIGN 
 to rule over them whofe difference of fa:: . may 
 tempt him to invade their liberties, civil or re- 
 ligious ! 
 
 Account of JQHN HAMILTON, Efq. who was 
 tried in Scotland for Murder, and beheaded. 
 
 THIS offender was born in the county of 
 Clydefdale, and was related to the ducal 
 family of Hamilton. His parents, to whom he 
 was an only fon, fent him to Glafgow to ftudy the 
 law ; bur the young gentleman's difpofition leading 
 him to the profeffion of arms, his friends exerted 
 their intereft to procure a commiffion, but the in- 
 tervention of the crime of which we are about to 
 relate the particulars, prevented their generous 
 intention taking effect. 
 
 Young Hamilton foon becoming connected with 
 fome abandoned young gentleman at Edinburgh, 
 he loft confiderable fums at gaming ; and going to 
 his parents for more, they fupplied him fcr the 
 prefcnt, but fa'^d they would not advance him any 
 farther fums while he continued his diflipated 
 courfe of ife. 
 
 Being poffeffed of this money, Hamilton went 
 4o a village near Glafgow, to meet his companions 
 
 at
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR, 
 
 at a public-houfe kept by Thomas Arkle. Having 
 drank and gamed for feveral fuccefiive .days anci 
 nights, Hamilton's companions left him while he 
 was afleep, leaving him to difcharge the bill, 
 which exceeding his ability, a quarrel enfued be^ 
 tween him and Arkle, and while they contended, 
 Arkle flripped Hamilton's fword from the fcabbard. 
 The latter immediately ran away, but finding he 
 had no fcabbard to his fword, he inftantly went 
 back to the houfc, when Arkle calling him feveral 
 fcandalous names, he fhbbcd him fo that he in- 
 ftantly expired. 
 
 The daughter of Arkle being prefent, attempted 
 to feize Hamilton ; in doing which me tore off 
 the fkirr of his coat, which was "left on the floor, 
 together with his fuord, on his ending a fccond 
 e'fcape. This daughter of Aikle ua:. airmft blind ; 
 but her keeping the fword, and the fkirt of the 
 coat, proved the means of bringing Hamilton to 
 juftice. 
 
 The murderer having.gone to-Leith, embarked 
 on board a (hip, and landed in Holland, where he 
 .continued, two years ; but his parents dying in the 
 interval, he returned to Scotland, when he was 
 taken into cuftocly on account of the murder. 
 
 On his trial, he pleaded that he was intoxicated 
 at the time the fact was committed ; to w.hich he 
 was inftigated by the extreme, ill-ufage he hatf 
 .received from Arkle. The jury, not allowingthe 
 force of thefe arguments, found him guilty, and 
 he was fentenctd to be beheaded by the MAIDED 
 fo give a defcription of which inftrument may be 
 jgr^reful to our readers. 
 
 The town of Halifax in Yorkfliire having been 
 antiently famous for the manufacture of woollen 
 cloths, a law was made for the .protection of the 
 property of the manufacturers, by which it \vos 
 
 ordained
 
 JOHN HAMILTON, Efq. for Murder. 
 
 ordained that perfons convi&ed for ftcalmg cloth 
 from the tenrer-grounds, fhould be execu ed im- 
 mediately after being convicted before two juftices 
 of the peace*. 
 
 The machine by which perfons thus convicted 
 were executed, was conftructed in. the following 
 manner : " Two ftrong wooden- beams were fixed 
 fe on a fcaffold, and between them, in a tranfvcrfe 
 "form, ran another beam, to the lower fide of 
 ( which was fixed a (harp inflrument in the forrrt 
 fc of a chopping-knife, with a large quantity of 
 "" lead on the upper part. The criminal put his 
 ff neck between the two fide- beams, and the 
 <f crofs-beam being drawn by a pulley, was fuf- 
 " fered to fall down; and the head was fevered 
 ff from the body in a moment." 
 
 The earl of Morton, regent of Scotland, return- 
 ing from the court of Queen Elizabeth in the year 
 1574, faw this machine at Halifax, and had a mo- 
 del taken of it, with a view to the execution of fuch 
 of the Scottifli nobility as fhould oppofe his rriea- 
 fures ; but it happened that his lordfhip was the 
 firft who fuffered by this mode of execution : 
 whence it was called the MAIDEN. 
 
 After this many perfons of rank in Scotland were 
 executed by this machine; but Mr. Hamilton, of 
 whom we are now writing, was the hit who yielded 
 his life in this manner ; and the inftrumer.t of 
 death is now -kept in a room adjacent to the coun- 
 cil-chamber of Edinburgh. 
 
 After 
 
 * Whatever ^neceflity there might appear for 
 enacting the law in queftion, we cannot but lament 
 that any EngHlhrnan Jhouki fuller without the for- 
 mality of a trial by jury.
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 After Mn Hamilton received fentence of death^ 
 his friends made great intereft to procure a par- 
 don ; but their endeavours proving ineffectual, he 
 fuffered death, by the mode abovementioned, on 
 the joth of June, 1716. 
 
 At the place of execution he owned that he had. 
 killed Arkle, but prefumed to think he wasjufti- 
 fied on the principle of felf-defence* 
 
 Mr. Hamilton's cafe will teach us to reflect on, 
 the fad confluences of keeping bad company, and 
 an attachment to gaming. But for thefc vices, he 
 might have lived happy in himfclf, and a credit 
 to the worthy family from which he was defcend- 
 ed. The youth who will devore thofe hours to the 
 
 faming-table, which he ought to employ in the 
 oneft advancement of his fortune, can expect only 
 to be reduced to beggary at the bed : but in a 
 thoufand inftances, as well as the prefent, the con- 
 fequences have been much more fatal. 
 
 Hence let young gentleman learn to fhun the 
 gaming-table as they would a peftilence j to pro- 
 ceed in the plain path of honour and integrity, and 
 to know that there can be no true happinefs in a 
 departure from the line of virtue ! 
 
 Account of the Life of JAMES GOODMAN, 
 who was hanged at Tyburn for Horfe-Stealing. 
 
 THIS offender, who was about thirty-two 
 years of age at the time of his unhappy 
 exit, was a native of Little Harwood, in Buck- 
 inghamfhire, and ferved his time to a carpenter 
 at Aylcfbury. After he was out of his time, he 
 and two other young men agreed to have a veni- 
 
 fco
 
 JAMES GOODMAN for Horje Stealing. 225 
 
 Ton pafty, and make merry; in consequence of 
 which they ftole a deer -, but being taken into 
 cuftody, one of them turned evidence, whereupon 
 Goodrmn and the other were impnlbned a year in 
 Aylefbury gaol. 
 
 After his enlargement he married and entered 
 into buiincis, which he carried on with fuccefs for 
 about nine yars ; but becoming fond of idle com- 
 pany, he was foon fo reduced incircumflances that 
 he brought himfelf and family to ruin. 
 
 Coming to London, he got into company with. 
 one Stephens, with whom he agreed to commit 
 robberies on the highway. Purfuant co this plan 
 they flopped Philip White, between Stratford and 
 Ilford in HfTex, and robbed him of. his horfe, one 
 milling, and his fpurs. 
 
 Four days after this robbery Mr. White law 
 Goodman on his horfe at Bow, in the company of 
 Stephens, who was Jikewife on horfeback. Here- 
 upon Mr. White fent his fervant to demand the 
 horfe j on which the robbers galloped off, buc 
 were immediately purfued by Mr. White and his 
 man. Finding themfelves hard p re fled, they quit- 
 ted their horfes, and ran into the field : on which 
 Mr. White gave his fervant a gun, and bid him 
 follow them. He did fo : on which one of them 
 fired twice, and faid, " d n it, we'll ki'l or be 
 " killed ; we won't be taken alive : our Ijves are 
 " as good as theirs." On this Mr. White's fer- 
 vant fired his gun, which was loaded with pebble 
 ftones ; and linking Goodman on the head, he 
 was fo dunned that he was eafily taken ; and ibme 
 other perfons now coming up, one of them drew 
 a hanger and purfued Stephens, who fubmitting 
 after a fhort refiftance, both the priibners were 
 conveyed to Newgate. 
 
 VOL. I. No. y* F f Stephens.
 
 426 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR." 
 
 Stephens having been admitted an evidence 
 againft Goodman, the latter was brought to his 
 trial, when he endeavoured to prove that he was 
 in another place when the robbery was committed, 
 and that he had purchafed Mr. White's horfe : 
 but the jury found him guilry, as they did not 
 believe the teftimony of his witneffes. 
 
 After conviction he was put into the bail-dock, 
 in order to receive fentence : but the night being 
 dark, and being affifted by fome other prifoners, 
 he got over the fpikes, and, though he was loaded 
 with irons, effected his efcape. 
 
 But it was not long before he was re-taken, 
 owing to a very fingular circumflance. While in 
 cuftody, he delivered fome money to a carrier to 
 take into the country to a woman with whom he 
 had cohabited ; but the carrier, confidering his 
 fituation, hept the money for his own ufe. 
 
 Wherefore, about a month after his efcape, 
 Goodman went to an alehoufe in Holborn, and 
 fent for a lawyer, to concert with him how to re- 
 cover the money of the carrier: but fome perfons 
 in the houfe happening to know him, went to 
 Newgate, and informed the keepers where he 
 was ; on which he was taken into cuftody, after a 
 defpcrate refiftance ; and at the end of the next 
 fcfiions at the Old Bailey, he received fentence of 
 death. 
 
 While he lay in this deplorable fituation he 
 acknowledged his guilt, confefled he had com- 
 mitted many robberies, lamented the iniquities of 
 his pad life, and \vifhed he could make reparation, 
 to thofe whom he had injured. He was executed 
 at Tyburn on the i2th of March, 1716. 
 
 The fate of this malefactor will afford an ufe- 
 ful Idlbn to perfons fomewhat advanced in life. 
 After having been nine years in a fuccefsful bufi- 
 
 nefs,
 
 JOSEPH STILL for Murder. 227 
 
 nefs, the keeping of bad company induced him 
 to his ruin. Hence we may learn the folly of 
 departing from the fobcr comforts of dorncftic 
 felicity, to keep company with drunkards, and riot 
 in 1 debauchery. The circumftance of Goodman's 
 being- fetn at Bow, on the very horfe he had ftolen 
 but a few days before, on the fame road, mews the 
 folly that, almoft in every inftance, attends thieves. 
 They are generally detected by fome omiflion or 
 carelefsnefs of their own, which even a child 
 would blufh to be guilry of: but the fact is, that 
 villany is frequently off its guard, an.i the eye of 
 Providence is ever watchful to bring the guilty to 
 juflice. 
 
 This doctrine cannot be fet in a clearer licrht, 
 than by Goodman's going to ad vile with a. law- 
 yer how to recover the money of the carrier , not 
 reflecting that he himfelf was a dead man, in the 
 eye of the law, at the very time of making this 
 application, which led fo foon to his own dcilruc- 
 tion. Hence we ke the emphatical force of that 
 text of fcripture, <c The wicked is taken in his 
 " own fnare." 
 
 Narrative of the Cafe of JOSEPH STILL, who 
 was hanged at Stamford-bill^ for Murder. 
 
 THIS man came to London in fcarch of a 
 livelihood, and for fome time maintained 
 himfelf by felling poultry in the flreets ; but 
 growing weary of that employment, he ehlifted 
 into the army, in which he continued nine years ; 
 but having obtained his difcharge, he became ac- 
 quainted with a fet o thieves who committed de- 
 predations in the neighbourhood of London'; and 
 Ff2- being'
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. ' 
 
 being apprehended, he waj tried at the Old Bai- 
 ley, and whipped. 
 
 Soon after he obtained his liberty, he returned 
 to his former way of life ; and beingtaken inco 
 cuftody in Hertfordfhire, he was tried, convidted, 
 and punifhed by burning in the hand. After 
 this he began the pra<5Hce of robbing higlers on 
 the highway, and he obtained the appellation of 
 Chicken Joe, from his fingular dexterity in that 
 employment. 
 
 After continuing in this way of life a confider- 
 able time, he commenced footpad, and committed 
 a great number of robberies on the roads near 
 town, efcaping detection for a long while, on ac- 
 count of his wearing a mafic over his face. 
 
 At length almoft all his companions were 
 hanged, and he was reduced to fuch cliftrefs that 
 he went once more on the road, to fupply himfel'f 
 with the means of procuring the neceflaries of life. 
 Having drank at an alehoule in Kingfla,nd-road till 
 his fpirits were fornewhat elevated, he proceeded 
 to Stoke-Newington, and after fauntering a while 
 in the fields, without meeting with any perfon whom 
 he dwft venture to attack, he went into Queen 
 Elizabeth's walk, behind the church, where he faw 
 a gentleman's fervanr, whofe money he demanded. 
 The fervant being determined not to be robbed, 
 contefted the matter with Still, and a battle en- 
 fuing, the villain drew a knife, an4 ftabbed the 
 footman through the body. 
 
 He immediytely ran away': but fome people 
 coming by while the footman was fenfible enough 
 to tell them what had happened, Still was pur- 
 fued, taken, and brought to the fpot where the 
 other was expiring ; and being fearched, the 
 bloody knife with which he had committed the 
 deed was found in his pocket. The man died, 
 
 after
 
 MARQUIS OF PALEOTTI for Murder. 239 
 
 after declaring that Still was the murderer j and 
 the latrer was committed to Newgate ; and being 
 indicted at the Old B.n'ley, the jury did not 
 fcrupie to find him guilty; in confcquence of 
 which he received fentence of death, and was 
 executed on Stamford-hill, on the 22d of March, 
 1717. 
 
 The progreffion of this malefactor feems to 
 have been very gradual, from fmaller to greater 
 crimes, till at length his life p?.id the forfeit tor 
 one of the mod enormous. Hence let us be 
 taught the danger of indulging the lead propenfity 
 to an evil act. The com million of one crime 
 naturally leads to that of another, till the crimi- 
 nal is involved in diftrefs and mifcry, from which, 
 there is no hope of relief ! 
 
 Learn then to tread in honour's path, 
 
 Jsfor quit the laws of God ; 
 So may you hope to 'fcape his wrath, 
 
 Nor dread his vengeful rod. 
 
 Account of FERDINANDO, Marquis de 
 LEOTTI, who was hanged at Tyburn, for the 
 Murder of his Servant. 
 
 ' | ''HE marquis de Paleotti was born at Bologna 
 Jl in Italy, aqd in the reign of queen Anne was 
 a colonel in the Imperial army. 
 
 The caufe of his coming to England arofe from 
 the fallowing circumftance. The duke of Shrewf- 
 bury being at Rome in the latter end of King 
 William's reign, fell in love with, and paid his 
 addrefles to, the filter of Paleotti ; and the lady 
 following the duke to Augfburgh in Germany, 
 
 they
 
 ajo NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 they were there married, aftrr me had firft re- 
 nounced the Roman Catholic religion. The 
 ducchefs refiding with her hufband in England, 
 and the marquis having quitted the Imperial army, 
 on the peace of Utrecht, he came to this country 
 tc- fee his fitter. 
 
 Being fond of an extravagant courfe of life, and 
 attached to gaming, he foon ran in debt for con- 
 fide rable Aims. His fifter paid his debts for fome 
 time, till fhe found it would be a burthenfome 
 and endlefs tafk. Though fhe declined to afiift 
 him as ufual, he continued his former rourfe of 
 jife, till he was imprifoned for debt ; but his fifter 
 privately procured his liberty, and he was dif- 
 charged without knowing who had conferred the- 
 favour on him. 
 
 After his enlargement he adopted his old plan 
 of extravagance ; and being one day walking in 
 the ftreet, he directed his fervant, an Italian, to 
 go and borrow fome money. The fervant, hav- 
 ing met with frequent denials, declined going ^ 
 on which the marquis drew his fword^ and killed 
 him on the fpot. 
 
 Being inftandy apprehended, he was commit- 
 ted to prifon, tried at the next feffions, and being 
 convidled on full evidence, he received fentence 
 of death. The duke of Shrewfbury being dead, 
 and his duchefs having littlr intereit or acquain- 
 tance in England, it appears as if no endeavours 
 were ufed to fave the marquis, who fuffcred at 
 Tyburn, on the lyth of March, 1718. 
 
 After fentence, he lamented that the churcjjes 
 of England did not afford a fanfluary to murder- 
 ers, as thofe of Italy do ; and he feemed to think 
 it a great hardfhip that he mould fuffer death as a 
 common malefactor, for murdering his fervant. 
 
 Exclu-
 
 MARQUIS OF PALEOTTI for Murder, ajjt 
 
 Exclufive of this, his behaviour was extremely- 
 proper. He petitioned the Recodrer that he 
 might fuffer alone, before the other malefactors ; 
 and the meriff gave orders accordingly.., When 
 the day of execution drew near he vrifhed to pro- 
 tract his term of life even for a few hours ; but 
 this was a favour that could not be granted, as 
 the orders were pofitive ; wherefore he was car- 
 ried from Newgate to the place of execution foon 
 after fix in the morning, and having made a 
 Ihort fpeech in French, he delivered a letter to be 
 given to his filter, in which he implored her par- 
 don for the repeated trouble he had occafioncd 
 her. 
 
 The marquis of Paleotti feems to have fallen a 
 facrifice to his own ungovernable 'paiTions, joined 
 to the prejudice of education. How abfurd is 
 that religion of Rome which permits the church 
 to be the fanctuary of the murderer ! and how 
 thankful ought Proteftants to be, that their lives 
 cannot be taken away, and the murderer fcreened, 
 through the chicanery of prieftcraft. We deem 
 the church the temple of the living God : and 
 lhall this temple be profaned by the protection of 
 murderers ? Strangeiy ridiculous is the idea! 
 
 From the fate of Paleotti and the late earl of 
 Ferrers, we may learn that in the punifhrrient of 
 crimes of this enormous magnitude, the law makes 
 no diftinction between thole of very exalted, &&d 
 very inferior rank j and that the peer and the pea- 
 fant muft equally fubmit to its awards. 
 
 In this inftance we fee two reafons for being 
 thankful that we are born in this bird of liberty : 
 our religion is purer, and our laws are more equi- 
 table than thofe of any people in the univerfe. 
 While we are grateful ta God for thefe bounties, 
 
 may
 
 232 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 may we be anxious to tranfmit them, unimpared, 
 to the lateft pofterity ! 
 
 Remarkable Cafe of JAMES SHEPPARD, who 
 was executed at Tyburn, for Higb-'freafon. 
 
 THIS malefactor having been much the fubject 
 of public converladon, and his crime being 
 of a very fmgular kind, we fhall endeavour, in our 
 account of him, to give every pofiible fatisfaction 
 to the reader. 
 
 James Sheppard was the fon of Thomas Shep- 
 pard, a capital glover in Southwark ; but his father 
 dying when he was about five years of age, he was 
 lent to ichool in Hertfordshire, whence his uncle, 
 Dr. Hinchcliffe, removed him to Mitcham in 
 Surry, and afterwards to Salisbury, where he re- 
 mained at fchool three years. Being at Salifbury 
 at the time of the rebellion, he imbibed the prin- 
 ciples of his fchool- fellows, many of whom were 
 favourers of the Pretender ; and he was confirmed 
 in his fentiments by reading fome pamphlets which 
 were then put into his hands. 
 
 When he quitted Salifbury, Dr. HinchclifFe put 
 him apprentice to Mr. Scott, a coach-painter, in 
 Devonfhire-ftreet, near Bimopfgate ; and he con- 
 tinued in this fituation about fourteen months, 
 when he was apprehended for the fact which coft 
 him his life. 
 
 Sheppard having conceived the idea that it 
 would be a praife-worthy action to kill the king, 
 wrote a letter, which he intended for a nonjuring 
 minifter of the name of Leake j but miftaking the 
 fpelling, he directed it, * c To the Reverend Mr. 
 
 " Heath."
 
 JAMES SHEPPARD for Higb-freafon. 233 
 
 " Heath." This letter, a copy of which follows, 
 he carried to Mr. Leake's houie. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 FROM the many difcontents vifible through- 
 out this kingdom, 1 infer, that if the prince 
 now reigning could be by death- removed, our 
 'king being here he might be fettled -... -one, 
 
 without much lofs of blood, For the more ; 
 effecting of this, I propoic that ii any 
 will pay for my pafiage into Italy, and if our 
 friends will intruft one ib youn .otters of 
 
 invkation to his majefcy, I will, on his arrival, 
 fmite the ufurper in his palace. In this confu- 
 fion, if fufficient forces may be railed, his majefty 
 may appear; if not, he may retreat or conceal 
 himfelf till a fitter opportunity,. Neither ib it 
 prefumptuous to hope that this may fucceed, ,if 
 we confider how ealy it is to cut the thread of 
 human life ; how great confufion the death of a 
 prince occafions in the moil peaceful nation, and 
 how mutinous the people are, how defirous ot a 
 change. But .we will luppofe the woril, that I 
 am leized, and by torture examined. Now that 
 this may endanger none but myfelf, it will be ne- 
 cefiary that the gentleman who defrays my charges 
 to Italy leave England before my departure ; 
 that I be ignorant of his mojerty's abode ; r 
 lodge with Ibme whig ; that you abfcond, and 
 that this be communicated to none. But be the 
 event as it will, I can expect nothing lefs than a 
 moft ,crucl death ; which that I may the better 
 fupport, it will be rcquifite that, from my arrival 
 till the attempt, I every day receive the holy f.i- 
 crament from one who (hall be ignorant of the 
 defign. JAM ^FAKD." 
 
 VOL I. No. 8. G g Mr.
 
 \ 
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Mr. Leake was abfent when this letter arrived, 
 but on his return he read it ; on which he laid to 
 his daughter and maid-iervant that it was a moft 
 villainous letter, and nest fit to be kept; and, in 
 the height of his refentment, he threw it into the 
 fire, and went up into his ftudy ; but coming down 
 fooh afterwards, his daughter told him that me 
 had recollected that the boy who had brought the 
 letter laid he would call for an anfwer on the fol- 
 lowing Monday. 
 
 Hereupon Mr. Leake determined to make the 
 affair known to Sir John ^ryer, a neighbouring 
 magiftrate, which he did the following morning; 
 when Sir John advifed him to take the p'arty into 
 cuftody when he mould return for the anfwer. 
 Shcppard came at the time that-he had promifcd ; 
 when Mr. Leake fent for a conftable and had him 
 apprehended. 
 
 Being carried before Sir John Fryer, he was 
 afked if he had delivered a letter at^Mr. Leake's 
 on the preceding Friday, directed to the Rev. Mr. 
 Heath. He anfwered in the affirmative ; and 
 being aiked if he had a copy of that letter -, he (aid 
 he had no copy about him, but he believed he 
 could remember it, fo as to write a copy. This 
 being done, and he having deliberately read and 
 figned what he had written, was committed to the 
 Compter. 
 
 Three gentlemen were now fent to the houfe of 
 the prifoner's mailer, and being mewn his trunk, 
 they found, among Ibme other papers, a copy of 
 the letter he had left at Mr. Leake's, which dif- 
 fered very little from that written at Sir John 
 Fryer's, only that thefe words were added : "How 
 " meritorious an act will it be to free thefe nations 
 " from an ufurpation that they have laia under 
 cf thefe nine and twenty year's j" and it was infi- 
 
 nuated
 
 JAMES SHEPPARD-^ for ttgb-rreafon. 235 
 
 nuaced that he thought it reqnifite, that while 
 his majefty (the Pretender) fhould be abfent from 
 Avignon, " fome perfon fhould be found refem- 
 * c bling him, that mould perfonare him there, 
 <c left the rumour of his departure from Avignon 
 " mould awaken this inquifitive and fuipicious 
 " court." 
 
 Soon after Sheppard's commitment he was twice 
 examined at the office of lord Sunderland, then 
 fecretary of ftate ; "when he attempted to juftify 
 his conduct, and readily fisned what he had before 
 
 * 4 ^J 
 
 written. 
 
 \Vhen he was brought to his trial, he behaved 
 in the moft firm and compoftd manner ; and after 
 the evidence againft him was given, and the jury 
 had brought him in guilty of high-treafon, he 
 was afked why fentence ftiould not be pafled on 
 him according to law, when he faid, " He could 
 fc not hope for mercy from a prince whom he 
 cc would not own." Then the recorder proceeded , 
 to'pals fentence on him, which he prefaced with 
 the following moft pathetic fpeech : 
 
 " James Shcppard, .you are convidled according 
 " to law of the greateft offence againft human 
 " authority, high-treafon, in compafling and ima- 
 " gining the death of the king. Your intent was 
 " to kill, to murder, and bafely affafiinate his ma- 
 cc jefty king George, in order to place a Popifh 
 " pretender on his throne. 
 
 " It is very furprifing that one fo young in 
 <c years mould attempt Ib wicked an enterpri 
 *' and it is more amazing that you mould ftill 
 " thus defend and iullify it, and not only think 
 " that there is no harm in it, but that the action if 
 ** committed would have been meritorious. 
 
 Gg2 "It
 
 sj6 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 <s It was reafonable to think that you had re- 
 " ceivcd thofe irnpreffions which incited you to 
 " this undertaking from fome of thofe fa He and 
 " malicious libels which have been induftrioufly 
 cc difpeded to delude unwary readers, and to 
 <f alienate the minds of his majefty's fubjedis j 
 * c and it appears to be fo from your own confeffion, 
 tc that you had imbibed your principles from 
 <l llrrnofi's and pamphlets, which make you think 
 ." king George an ulurper, and the Pretender your 
 " lawful king. 
 
 " Ccnfidcr, unhappy young man, whether 
 " you may not be in an error; and what I now 
 tc fuggcft to you is riot to reproach you, or to 
 " aggrevate your crime, but proceeds from com- 
 " paffion, and with a regacd to yonr further con- 
 " fideration before you go out of the world -, that 
 " you may be convinced of yout error, and re- 
 " trail it. 
 
 Cf The notions you entertain are contrary to 
 cf the fenfe of the nation j who found by expe- 
 tf Hence, that their religion, their laws and liber- 
 " ties were in imminent danger from a Popifh 
 <f prince, and therefore they refcued themfelves 
 * f from that danger, and excluded Papifls for the 
 " future from the crown; and fettled it on his 
 " majefty and his heirs, being- Proteftants ; which 
 " has been confirmed by many parliaments, and 
 " the nation feels the good effects of Ib happy an 
 " eftablilhment. 
 
 " It feems ftrange, that you fhould hint at a 
 " paffage in St. Paul for your j unification. If 
 tf he exhorted the Chriftiajis to fubmit to the 
 << Roman emperors, even though they mould be 
 *.< tyrants, how comes it that you, a private youth, 
 * f fhould not only judge of the title of kings, in 
 
 " oppo-
 
 JAMES SHEPPARD for l-Rgb-Trcato*. 237 
 
 ef oppofition to the fenfe of ib many parliaments; 
 " but that you ihould think yourfelr authorized 
 <f to murder a prince in peaceable poflcffion of the 
 u throne, and by whom his fiibjefts are protected 
 " in the enjoyment of all their rights -and privi- 
 " leges, and of every thing that is dear and valu- 
 " able to mankind. 
 
 " You mention in your papers as you mud 
 <c ej?pet the mofl cruel tortures. No, unfortunate 
 tf youth, the king you will not own ules no cruel 
 " tortures to his fubjec~bs. lie is king according 
 <c to the laws of the land, and by them he governs, 
 , " and as you have tfanferefied thofe laws in the 
 " higheft degree, the public juilice requires that you 
 " fhould fubmit to the ientence ordained for fuch 
 " an offender which is, 
 
 " That you be led from hence to the place from 
 " whence you came j from thence you are to be 
 " drawn upon a hurdle to the place of execution, 
 " and there you are to be hanged by the neck, and 
 " being alive to be cut down, your bowels to be 
 " taken out of your belly, and there burnt, you 
 <c being alive : your head is to be cut off, and 
 * f your body to be divided into four quarters, and 
 Ct your head and quarters to be difpofcd of as his 
 " majefty fhall think fit. And God Almighty 
 " have mercy on your foul." 
 
 .After ientence was pafTed, Sheppard conftfieJ 
 that the reading fome termons, and otlitrr };. 
 phlets, had induced him &> iliirik that it would be 
 a meritorious. al to kill the kiivj ; and that he 
 was convinced he was the agmi tieitined by Pro- 
 vidence to accomplifh the deed. 1'he orcfinary 
 of Newgate told hitn, that lie fhould huve prayed 
 tlut.fuch wicked fentiments migii: be rciir>ve4
 
 NEW NEWGATE! CALENDAR. 
 
 from his mind. His reply was, that " he had 
 " prayed ; and that in proportion a$ he prayed, he 
 " \vas fo much the more encouraged and con- 
 " firmed in the lawfuhiefs of his dcfign." 
 
 The unhappy youth was now vifited by a non- 
 juring clergyman, between whom and the ordinary 
 there were repeated quarrels, which continued al- 
 Oioft to the laft moments of Sheppard's life; for 
 r><;y wrangled even at the place of execution -, nor 
 did the debate ceafe till the ordinary qui:ted the 
 cart, and left the other to inftruct and pray with the 
 malefactor as he thought proper. 
 
 Shep l pard was executed at Tyburn on the i7th 
 of March, 1718, a few hours after the fatal exit of 
 the marquis of Palcotti. 
 
 To what reflections we have made at the dole 
 cf our narratives refpecting the perfons executed 
 on account of the rebellion, little need be faid in 
 this place, fmce the conduct of all the parties fecm 
 to have been animated by the fame motive; the 
 \vifh, the abfurd wifh, to place a Roman Catholic 
 prince to reign over a Proteftant people. 
 
 On Sheppard's being firft taken into cuftodyj 
 many people were of opinion that he was a lunatic j 
 but the calm coolnefs of his fubfequent conduct 
 is, a full proof to the contrary: he feems to have 
 acted upon principle, from the force of conviction. 
 Hence, then, we ought to deteft the doctrines of 
 thofe who could teach that it was lawful to commit 
 murder ; murder of the moft aggravated kind ; the 
 definition of a king who fucccedcd to the throne by 
 legal right, and ruled on the principles of jufticeand 
 equity. 
 
 It is needlefs to inform thole who are at all 
 read in hiftory that thefe kingdoms were never 
 governed with fo mild a fway as fmcc the ac- 
 cefiion of the illuftrious houle of Hanover to the 
 
 throne
 
 JOHN PRICE for Murder. 239 
 
 throne of thcfe realms ; and Providence feems to 
 have promifed, by the fingular encreafe of his ma- 
 jefty's family, a perpetuation of the, crown in die 
 JBrunfwick line for a fucceffion of ages. That it 
 may be for a long fucceffion will be the ardenc 
 prayer of all thofe who wiih well to the civil and re- 
 ligious rights of mankind ! 
 
 Account of the Trial and Execution of JOHN 
 PRICE, otherwife JACK KETCH, who AUIS 
 hanged for Murder; with fome Particulars of' 
 his Life. 
 
 JOHN Price was indidled at the Old Bailey on 
 the 24th of April, 1718, for the murder of 
 Elizabeth, the wife of William White, on the ijth 
 of the preceding month. < 
 
 In the courfe of the evidence it appeared th::c 
 Price met the deceafed near ten at night in Moor- 
 fields, and attempted to ravifh her ; but the poor 
 woman (who was the wife of a watchman, and 
 fold gingerbread in the ftreets) doing all. in lur 
 power to refill his villainous attacks, he beat her 
 fo cruelly that dreams of blood ififued from her eyes 
 and mouth, broke one of her arms, beat our feme: 
 of her teeth, bruifed her jhead ' in a moil dreadful 
 manner, forced one of her eyes from the focket, and 
 otherwife fb ill-treated her that the language of de- 
 cency cannot defcribe it. 
 
 Some'perfons, hearing the cries of the unhappy 
 creature, repaired to the fpot, took Price into cuj- 
 tody, and lodged him in the watch- houfe ; and 
 conveyed the woman to a houfe, where a furgeoa 
 and nurfe were lent for to attend her. Being un- 
 able to Ipt-ak, Ihe anfwered the nurlc's qudtions 
 
 by
 
 2 4 o NEW NEWGATE 'CALENDAR. 
 
 by figns, and in that manner defcribed what had 
 happened to her. She died, after having languilhed 
 four days. 
 
 The prifor.er, on his trial, denied being guilty of 
 the faft j and laid, that as he .was eroding Moor- 
 fields, he found fomcthing lying in his way ; that he 
 kicked at it, but discovering that it was a woman, he 
 lifted her up, but fhe could not ftand on her legs j 
 and he laid t:vt lie was taken into cyftody. while he 
 was thus employed. This defence, however, couki 
 not be credited, from what fome former evidences 
 had fworn j and the jury did not hefitate to find him 
 guilty. 
 
 After fentence of death was' pafled on him, he 
 abandoned himfelt to the drinking of Ipiritous 
 liquors,* to fuch a degree as rendered him totally 
 incapable of ail ihe exercifes of devotion. He 
 obftinately denied the fad till the day of his exe- 
 cution, when he confefied that he had been guilty 
 of itj but faid that the crime was perpetrated when 
 he was in a ftate of intoxication. He was exe- 
 cuted in Bunhill-fields, on the 31 ft of May, 1718, 
 and in his laft moments, begged the prayers of the 
 multitude, and hoped they would take warning by 
 his untimely end. He was afterwards hung in chains 
 near Hollo way. 
 
 This offender was born in the parifh of St. Mar- 
 tin in the Fields, and While he was very young 
 his father was blown up at the demoiifhing of 
 Tangier. His mother being left in circurnilances 
 of diftrefs,. was not able to give him a proper edu- 
 cation ; but fhe put him apprentice to a dealer in 
 rags. Having lerved about two years, h's mailer 
 
 died, 
 
 * Since the fate of this man, we h.ive ha,; a law 
 to prevent the carrying fpiritous liquors 
 prifons.
 
 JOHN PRICE for Murder. 241 
 
 died, and lie foon afterwards ran away from his 
 mi ft re Is, and got employment in loading waggons 
 \vith rags for other dealers. After this he went 
 to fea, and ferved on board fcveral mips in the 
 royal navy for the fpace of about eighteen years; 
 but at length he was paid off", and difcharged 
 from the fervice. 
 
 The place of public executioner becoming va* 
 cant by death, he accepted of it, and might have 
 continued in it but for his own extravagance ; for 
 ipending more money than his income, he ran in 
 debt i and one day, as he was returning from an 
 execution at Tyburn, he was arrefted in Holbarn 
 for a trifling fum. However, he difcharged this 
 debt, and the coft, partly with a fmall fum of 
 money he had in his pocket, and partly by the 
 produce of three fuits of cloaths, which he had 
 taken from the bodies of poor wretches who had 
 been that day executed. 
 
 Soon afier this two other writs were taken out 
 againft him, when having no money, nor being 
 able to procure bail, he was obliged to go to the 
 Marfhalfea Prifon, where he continued till after 
 the following feflions at the Old Bailey, when 
 William Marvel was appointed executioner in his 
 Head. Having continued ibme time longer in 
 the Marfhalfea, he and a fcllow-prifoner broke 
 a hole in the wall, through which they made 
 their eicape: and foon after this. Price committed 
 the horrid murder for which his life paid the 
 forfeit. 
 
 One would imagine that the dreadful fcenes of 
 calamity to which this man had been witnefs, if 
 they had not taught him humanity, would at lead 
 have given him wifdom enough not to have per- 
 petrated a crime that muft neceffarily bring him to 
 
 VOL. I. No. 8. H h a fimi-
 
 242 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR, 
 
 a fimilar fatal end to what he had fo often fcen of 
 others : but perhaps his profeffion tended rather 
 to fiarden his mind otherwife. 
 
 The murder of which Price was guilty appears 
 to have been one of the mod barbarous and un- 
 provoked we ever remember to have read of: and 
 his pretence that he was drunk when he perpe- 
 trated itj was no fort of cxcufe ; fince drunken- 
 nefs itfelf is a ciime, and one which frequently 
 leads to the commiffion of others, 
 
 The lefibn to be learnt from the fate of this man, 
 is to moderate our paflions of every kind ; and to 
 live by the rules of temperance and fobriety. We 
 are told, from the beft authority, that " hands 
 Cf that ihed innocent blood are an abomination to 
 " the Lord." 
 
 Narrative of the Cafe of Mr. EDWARD BIRD, who 
 was executed for Murder. 
 
 A/TR. BIRD was born at Windfor, in Berkshire, 
 *- and defcendcd of refpectable parents, who 
 having firft fent him to Weftminfter School, then 
 removed him to Eton College. When he hacj 
 finifhed his ftudies he was fent to make the tour 
 of France and Italy, and on his return to England 
 was honoured with the commiffion of a lieute- 
 nant in a regiment of horfe. 
 
 Before he had been long in the army he began 
 to aflbciate with abandoned company of both 
 fexes, which finally led to the commifiion of the 
 crime which coft him his life. 
 
 On the loth of January, 1719, he was indift- 
 ed at the Old Bailey for the murder of Samuel 
 Loxton. It appeared on his trial; that he had 
 
 taken
 
 EDWARD BIRD /^ Murder. 253 
 
 taken a woman of the town to a bagnio in Silver- 
 ftreet, where Loxton was a waiter. Early in the 
 morning he ordered a bath to be got ready ; but 
 Loxton being bufy, fent another waiter, at whom 
 Bird, in a fit of paffion, made feveral pafles with 
 his fword, which he avoided by holding the door 
 in his hand : but the prifoner ran after him, 
 threw him down flairs, and broke fome of his 
 ribs. On this, the matter and miftrefs of the 
 houfe and Loxton went into the room, and at- 
 tempted to appeafe him : but Bird, enraged that 
 the bath had not been prepared the moment he 
 ordered it, feized his fword, which lay by the 
 bed-fide, and ftabbing Loxton, he fell back- 
 wards, and died immediately j on which the of- 
 fender was taken into cuftody^ and committed to 
 Newgate. 
 
 He was to have been tried in O&ober, but 
 pleading that he was not ready with his defence, 
 the trial was put off to December j and then till 
 January, on his phyficians making affidavit that 
 ne was too ill to be removed from his chamber. 
 
 Being convicted on the cleareft evidence, he 
 received fentence of death; but great intereft be- 
 ing made in his behalf, he was reprieved, and it 
 was thought he would have been pardoned, oil 
 condition of tranfportation, but for the interven- 
 tion of the following circumftance. 
 
 The friends of Loxton hearing that a reprieve^ 
 \v;;s granted, advifed his widow to lodge an appeal 
 at the bar of the court of King's-B&nch 3 and me 
 went thither with fomc friends, to give fecurity 
 for that purpofe ; but the relations of Bird hear- 
 ing what was intended, were ready in court, with 
 AvitneiTes to depofe that this was "the fccond wife 
 of' Loxton, his firft being ilill living. This be- 
 H h i" ing
 
 244 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 ing the faft, the court refufed to admit the appeal, 
 as the fecond could not be a lawful wife. 
 
 This affair occafioned fo much clamour that 
 Bird was ordered for execution on Monday the 
 2jd of February ; on the night preceding which 
 he took a dofe of poifon ; but that not operating 
 as he had expected, he ftabbed himfelf in feveral 
 places. Yet, however, he lived till the morn- 
 ing, when he was taken to Tyburn in a mourning 
 coach, attended by his mother, and the Ordinary 
 of Newgate. 
 
 As he had paid little attention to the inftruc- 
 tions of (lie Ordinary while under confinement, 
 fo he feemed equally indifferent to his advice in 
 the laft moments of his life. Being indulged to 
 ftay an hour in the coach with his mother, he 
 was put into the cart, where he afkcd for a glafs 
 of wine ; but being told it could not be had, 
 lie begged a pinch of muff, which he took with 
 apparent unconcern, wifhing health to Ihofe who 
 Hood near him. He then rehearfed the apoftle's 
 creed, and being tied up, was launched into eter*- 
 nity, on the above-mentioned ajd of February, 
 1719. 
 
 He was executed in the 27 th year of his age. 
 He declined making any fpeech, but delivered 
 the following paper to his friends the day before 
 his execution. 
 
 ** TT will be expected that I mall fay fome- 
 * thing at this time, as to the fact I am going 
 to fuffer for. 
 
 I do not pretend to fay, I did not kill the de- 
 ceafed j but humbly conceive, that both the laws 
 of God and man will juftify felt-defence ; which I 
 call God to witnefs, into whofc arms of mercy I 
 am now going to throw rnyfelf, wasjny cafe. 
 
 Unhappy
 
 EDWARD BIRD-; -for Murder. 
 
 Unhappy is that gentleman who falls into fuch 
 hands $ for there \vas not one evidence for the 
 king that was not manifeftly perjured, as I have 
 faithfully fet forth in my printed cafe, with all 
 the juftice a perfon expelling nothing lefs than 
 death was capable of. And it is alfo as evident, 
 that the proper evidences on my fide were never 
 called : I wilh I could perfuade myfelf that mif- 
 managemcnt did not proceed from the infidelity 
 of my attorney, employed on my trial : for it ap- 
 pears but too evident, that he never made one 
 regular ftep towards my intereft j and, I wilh I 
 could aver that he did not arm. my enemies 3- 
 gainft me. 
 
 After all this, his Majefty, in his great wifdom, 
 thought fit to grant me a reprieve, and ordered 
 me for tranfportation ; but the refllefs malice of 
 my enemies would not fix here. 
 
 The pretended widow of the deceafed lodges 
 an appeal againft me. How me had a right fo to 
 do, I leave thofe gentlemen learned in the law to 
 determine : yet this, with her fallacious petition, 
 found entrance to the Royal Fountain, and turn- 
 ed that former ftream of mercy from mej caufing 
 his majefty to recede from his.firil decree of mer~ 
 cy, and order my execution : under which fen- 
 tence I ftill, with all humility, fubmit. 
 
 Another reflection, I am credibly informed, is 
 call upon me, in order to make my load the 
 greater : which is, that I was frequently vifitcd, 
 during my confinement, and even fince my con- 
 viftion, by lewd and infamous women. I cannot 
 fay that I l\ave not been vifited by divers women; 
 but do not know them to be fuch: fome of them 
 were relations, and other perfons, who had bu- 
 finefs with me relating to my unhappy circuiu- 
 itances. What cannot malice invent. 
 
 There
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 There is one thing more which I omitted in my 
 printed cafe, relating to my adverfary's evidences 
 depofing, that the deceafed Loxton fell without 
 the door: which I declare folemnly, is utterly 
 falfe 3 for what was done was in the room ; I 
 was not off from my bed when the accident hap- 
 pened : and when he dropped, he fell backwards 
 tipon the bed. 
 
 I might take notice of many more falfe afper- 
 fions, but will omit them ; having, I thank my 
 God, forgiven them all. 
 
 In the next place, it will be expected that I fay 
 fomething of my religion. 
 
 I declare, that I die a Proteftant, and of the 
 communion of the church of England, whofe 
 doclririe teaches me to forgive my enemies, which 
 lincerely I do ; humbly begging, at the fame 
 time that all thofe, who through inadvertency, 
 heat of blood, or any juvenile folly, I have of- 
 fended, will do the fame to me. 
 
 As for the manifold reflecTions cad upon me 
 lince my confinement , the pretended widow's 
 violent profecution 5 the Farrier's notorioufly 
 falfe affidavit, and all other offences committed 
 againft me, I heartily forgive them. 
 
 And to conclude, I wifh all gentlemen would 
 only weigh the fatal caufe of my unhappy exit, 
 and avoid all fuch houfes where the fcene of this 
 misfortune was firft laid : let me be an example 
 To them, to avoid thofe rocks I have fpiit upon ; 
 that they may, with lefs difficulty than 1 have 
 found it, be able to compofe their thoughts, 
 (which I thank God I have done) through the 
 affiftance of his divine Spirit, and fink into a willing 
 relignation of his divine will. 
 
 EDWARD BIRD. 
 
 This
 
 CATHERINE JONES for Bigamy. 547 
 
 This unfortunate youth Teems to have fallen a 
 orifice to the irregularity and violence of his own 
 paffions : >o the pride of his heart, and his love 
 of' Jawleis pleafure. Hence let the youth who 
 r aci this be taught to walk in the plain paths of 
 fobriety and difcretion, " neither turning afide to 
 *' the ri^ht hand nor the left." His taking poi- 
 fon and ftabbing himfelf, to defeat the execution 
 of the Jaw, is a ftrong proof of that pride of 
 heart we have mentioned. He could be guilty 
 of a crime deferving the utmoft ignominy, but 
 dreaded to fuftain it. Humility, then, is ano- 
 ther doctrine to be learned from the fate of this 
 man. 
 
 The fituation of Bird's mother, in her attend- 
 ing him to Tyburn, mull have been dreadful be- 
 yond all exprefiicn ! Mr. Bird had been well edu- 
 cated, and ought to have made a different return 
 to the care of his parents. Women in general, 
 however, mould confider that it is by a religious 
 education that the mind of the child is moft like- 
 ly to be guarded from the contaminations of vice. 
 The /acred maxim will hold good in moft in- 
 fiances: " train up a child in the way he mould 
 fc goj and when he is old he will not depart 
 * f therefrom." 
 
 Singular Cafe of CATHERINE JONES, who was 
 tried for Bigamy, and acquitted. 
 
 (CATHERINE JONES was indicted at the 
 ^^ Old Bailey, on the fth of September, 1719, 
 for marrying Conftantine Boone, during the life of 
 her former hufband, John Rowland. 
 
 Proof
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Proof was made that flie was married to Row- 
 land, in the year 1713, at a houfe in the Mint, 
 Southwark, ^and that fix years afterwards, while 
 her hufband was abroad,, fhe was again married, 
 in the fame houfe, to Conftantine Boone j but 
 Rowland, foon returning to England, caufed his 
 wife to be indicted for this crime. 
 
 The prifoner did not heficate to acknowledge 
 the double marriage, but infilled that the latter was 
 illegal, as Boone was an hermaphrodite, and had 
 been Ihewn as fuch at Southwark and Bartholo- 
 mew fairs, and at other places. 
 
 To prove this a pcrfon fwore that he knew 
 Boone when a child, that his (or her) mother 
 dreffed it in girls apparel, and caufed it to be 
 inltructed-in needle-work, till it had attained the 
 age of twelve years, when it 'turned man 3 and went 
 to Jea. 
 
 Thefe laft words were thofe of the depofition ; 
 and the fat was confirmed by Boone, who ap- 
 peared in court, acknowledged being an herma- 
 phrodite, and having been publicly Ihcwn in that 
 character* 
 
 Other witnefles depofed that the female fex 
 prevailed over that of the male in the party in 
 queftion : on which the jury acquitted the pri- 
 foner. 
 
 It is impoflible to defcribe how much this affair 
 was the fubjecl of the public converfation at, and 
 long after, the time that it happened: and it 
 would be idle to make any ferious remarks on it. 
 We can only exprefs our aftonimment that an 
 hermaphrodite mould think of fuch a glaring ab- 
 furdity as the taking a wife ! 
 
 Nar-
 
 [ 249 
 
 Narrative of -the Trial and Execution of JOHN 
 MATTHEWS, a Printer, who was hanged for 
 High-Treafon. 
 
 JOHN MATTHEWS was the fon of a prin- 
 J ter in A Iderfgate -Street, to whom he was ap- 
 prenticed; but his father dying, he continued to 
 ferve with his mother. Having made connec- 
 tions with fome performs of Jacobitical principles, 
 he printed fome papers againft the government, 
 for which he was once taken into cuftody ; but 
 the evidence being incomplete, he was difmified. 
 
 Encouraged by this efcape, he was induced to 
 print a pamphlet, entitled <f Ex ore tuo te Ju- 
 " dico : Vox pppuli, vox Dei*." For this of- 
 fence he was brought to his trial, on the 3Oth of 
 October, 1719, when it appeared that he had 
 compofed the pages of the pamphlet in queftion> 
 but locked them up, left they mould be found, 
 and made ufe of to his prejudice. 
 
 An elder brother of Matthews, apprehending 
 that the youth might endanger himfelf by his 
 propenfity to the printing fuch pamphlets, diredt- 
 ed a journeyman, named Lawrence Vezey, to 
 lock up the door of the printing-houfe every 
 night, and bring him the key : but Vezey, like 
 a villain as he was, firft fuffered die young fellow 
 to print the fuppofed treafonab'e matter, and then 
 gave evidence againft him. 
 
 A general warrant being granted by the fecre- 
 tary of ftate, for the fearch of Mrs. Matthews's 
 
 * That is, " Out of thy own mouth will I judge 
 " thee: The Voice of the People is the Voice 
 " of God." 
 
 Vol. I. No. 7. I i houfe,
 
 250 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Loufe, the officers of government found a num- 
 ber of the fuppofed libel in a room which the 
 prifoner acknowledged to belong to him; on 
 which he was carried before the fecretary of ftate, 
 Avho committed him -to Newgate, on his refufing 
 to give up the author. 
 
 When Matthews was arraigned at the bar, 
 Vezey fwore that the prifoner brought the form, 
 containing part of the book, to the prefs, and bid 
 him pull a proof of its which he did, and that 
 the prifoner afterwards came down to him, and 
 faid that the pages had been tranfpofed, but he 
 had now put them right j and he then pulled him 
 another proof; he faid that then the prifoner de- 
 fired this evidence to come earl/ in the morning 
 to work off the meets, faying that he himielf 
 would take care of the paper, and that every 
 thing mould be ready. 
 
 Accordingly Vezey went early one morning, 
 intending to call up William Harper, the appren- 
 tice ; but the prifoner came to the door, let him 
 in, and called Harper, who afiifted Vezey in 
 working off the meets, Matthews {landing by, 
 and taking them from the prefs, for the greater 
 expedition : and when the work was done the 
 pri loner paid Vezey for his trouble. This evi- 
 dence was likewife confirmed by Harper, as far 
 as he was concerned in the tranfaclion, and he 
 added that he faw the prifoner compofing the 
 matter * from the manufcript copy. 
 
 The council for the crown exerted their utmoil 
 
 * " Compofing the matter" is a term with prin- 
 ters, which fignifies picking up the letters, and 
 arranging them in proper order for their being 
 worked off by the printing-prcfs. 
 
 abilities
 
 JOI IN MATTHEWS/^ High Treajon. 25 1 
 
 abilities to aggravate the crime of the prifoner, 
 and rhc king's inefiengers fwearing to as much as 
 they knew of the affair, Matthews was found 
 guilty, and fentence of death was paffed on him. 
 
 After condemnation he was attended by the 
 Reverend Mr. Skerrett, who alfo accompanied 
 him to the place of execution. His whole beha- 
 viour alter fentence was fuch as might be expect- 
 ed from one who had too much feme to expeit fa- 
 vour from the people then in power : for it was 
 not cuftomary with the minifters of George the 
 iirft to extend mercy to perlbns convicted of trea- 
 fonable offences : but perhaps their feeming want 
 of humanity will appear the more excufable, if 
 we reflect on the fatal confequences that might 
 have enfued from the rebellion in 1715. 
 
 But nothing can exctile the method they took 
 to obtain evidence in this cafe. It is but of late 
 years that the iifuing of general warrants has been 
 legally condemned > and Englimmen are not a 
 little obliged to a man, who (whatever his faults 
 may be) has procured the condemnation of thefe 
 warrants. Happily, we can now fit quietly,and write 
 our fentiments in our own houfes, without being 
 liable to have our papers leized by the arbitrary 
 mandates of a fecretary of ftate. While we re- 
 collect that we are obliged for this favour in a 
 great degree to the perleverance of Mr. Wi'-kes, 
 we mould not forget that the judicial determina- 
 tion of Lord Camden perfected the plan to hap- 
 pily begun, and Co iteadily purfued. 
 
 The above- mentioned John Matthews was exe- 
 cuted at Tyburn on the i6th of November, 1719, 
 before he had completed the i9th year of his ages 
 and was pitied by every one who had not loft the 
 common feelings of humanity. 
 
 I i 2 From
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 From the fate of Matthews young gentlemen 
 in the fame line of bufinefs mould be taught to be 
 cautious how they engage in the printing of po- 
 litical pamphlets; for though, to the credit of the 
 good fenfe and humanity of the prefent age, there 
 is now much lefs danger than there formerly was, 
 yet recent experience has taught us that great 
 trouble and expence may enfue, where all rilk of 
 life is out of the queftion. 
 
 We mould all pray that we may live to fee the 
 time when the liberty of the prefs will be eftab- 
 lifhed in its fulleft extent j and when no villain 
 will dare to be guilty of an atrocious action, but 
 fome honeft man mall dare to tell him of it in 
 public. By this, however, we do not mean to 
 enconrage the licentioujnejs of the prefs Detefted 
 be the heart that mould dictate, and the hand 
 that mould write a line to deftroy domeflic hap- 
 pinefs, or corrode the mind of one worthy indi- 
 vidual : but the public villain mould be ever 
 held up an object of the public fcorn and cen- 
 fure ! 
 
 Account of the Life and Trial of THOMAS BUT- 
 LER, Efq. who was executed for a Robbery on 
 the Highway. 
 
 MR. BUTLER was a native of Ireland, 
 his father being an officer in the army of 
 Icing James the fecond , but king William having 
 defeated that prince at the battle of the Jboyne, 
 young Butler and his father went with James to 
 France : but when the rebellion broke out in 
 Scotland the young gentleman was employed as a 
 
 fpy
 
 THOMAS BUTLER for Rettery. 253 
 
 fpy in the family of the duke of Ormond, for 
 which he was allowed 20!. a year : but he hereby 
 loft the favour of his friends and relations, who 
 efpoufed a different intereft. From Paris he went 
 to Holland, where he foon fpent moft of the 
 money in his poffefiion, and then embarked for 
 England. 
 
 On his arrival in this country he commenced 
 highwayman, and went our frequently in com- 
 pany with a man whom he called Jack, and who 
 occafionally acled as his fervant; and they jointly 
 committed a great number of robberies near Lon- 
 don, particularly in Kent and Effex, 
 
 When they were in London, and fometimcs in 
 a country town, they had the genteeleft lodgings, 
 and then Jack wore a livery, while the 'Squire 
 was drefled in a naoft elegant manner, and had all 
 the appearance of a man of fortune. 
 
 By this ftyle of living they continued their de- 
 predations on the highway for fome years j but 
 Butler being at length apprehended, was brought 
 to his trial at the Old Bailey, in January, 1720, 
 when he was indicted for robbing Sir Juftinian 
 Imam and another gentleman on the highway, of 
 a gold watch, a fiik night-gown, fix Holland fhirts, 
 awd other valuable articles -> and was convicted on 
 the cleared evidence. 
 
 The circumftance that led to his detection, was, 
 that offering fome of the effects for fale to a jew- 
 eller, he icfufed to purchafe them unlefs he knew 
 Butler's place of refidence, which the latter readily 
 told him j and when his lodgings were fearched, 
 Sir Juftinian's gown was found, and was produced 
 in court. Butler's companion, or fervant, was 
 in Ireland at the time of his detection, by which 
 he efcaped the fate he had deferred. 
 
 While
 
 254 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR, 
 
 While Mr. Butler lay under fentence of death, 
 he behaved in a very penitent manner. Being a 
 Roman Catholic, he received the facramenc from 
 a prieft of his own perftuilion. It had been re- 
 ported that he had eight wives; but this he fo- 
 lemnty denied, declaring that he was legally mar- 
 ried to only one woman. 
 
 This malefa.6t.or was executed at Tyburn on 
 the 8th of February, 1720, at the age of 42 
 years. 
 
 There are few highwaymen who have lived in 
 fuch a ftyle of elegance as Butler; and by his 
 mode of proceeding he eluded juftice for a con- 
 liderable time, as he ufed to drefs in black velvet, 
 laced ruffles, and all the other apparatus of a gen- 
 tleman. Yet juftice at laft found him out, and 
 detected him while in the full career of his wick- 
 ednefs. 
 
 Hence let thofe who are tempted to the com- 
 miflTion of ads of illegality, learn that the fteps 
 of juftice, though they may be flow, are fure ; 
 that it is almoft impoflible for guilt to efcape de- 
 tection, and that vengeance is the more terrible 
 the longer it is dreaded, and the longer it is de- 
 layed. 
 
 Amidfl all thofe gaities of life that may be 
 procured by fraudulent means, the heart muft 
 be perpetually corroded by grief, and agitated 
 by fear. The life of honefty is the only life of 
 peace or fafety. Let us never forget to " Do 
 " juftice, love mercy, and walk humbly with 
 " God." 
 
 Account
 
 Account of WILLIAM SPIGGOT and THOMAS 
 PHILLIPS, who were hanged for robbing on the 
 Highway. 
 
 AT the fefTions held at the Old Bailey, in the 
 month of January, 1720, William Spiggot 
 and Thomas Phillips were indicted for commit- 
 ting feveral robberies on the highway , but they 
 refuied to plead, unlefs the efFefts taken from them 
 when they \yere apprehended were returned : but 
 this being directly contrary to an aft of the 4th 
 and 5th year of king William and queen Mary, 
 entitled, " An act lor encouraging the appre- 
 ({ hending of highwaymen," the court informed. 
 them, that their demand could not be complied 
 \\ith. 
 
 Still, however, they refuted to plead, and na 
 arguments could convince them of the abfurdity 
 of fuch an obftinate procedure : on which the 
 court ordered, that the judgment ordained bylaw 
 in fuch cafes, mould be read > which is to the fol- 
 lowing purpofe : 
 
 (e 
 
 That the prifoner (hall be fent to the prifon 
 f: from whence he came, and put into a mean 
 " room, ftopped from the light, and (hall . there 
 tf be laid on the bare ground, without any litter, 
 " ftraw, or other covering, and without any gar- 
 <f ment about him, except fome thing to hide his 
 " privy members. He {hall lie upon his back, 
 " his head fnall be covered, and his feet mall be 
 tc bare. One of his arms mall be drawn with a 
 " cord to one fide of the room, and the other 
 <c arm to the other fide; and his legs lhall be 
 < f ferved in the like manner. Then there fhsll he 
 ' t laid upon his body as much iron or ftone as he 
 {t can bear, and more. And rSvr nrftd^v afterhe 
 
 ' f fhall
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 (f {hall have three morfels of barley bread, with- 
 * c out any drink ; and the fecond day, he mall be 
 t( allowed to drink as much as he can, at three 
 * c times, of the water that is next die prifon-door, 
 c except running water, without any bread ; and 
 " this fhall be his diet till he dies : and he, againft 
 (C whom this judgment fhall be given, forfeits his 
 ce goods to the King*." 
 
 The reading of his fentence producing no ef- 
 fect, they were ordered back to Newgate, there to 
 be preffed to death : but when they came into the 
 prefs-room, Phillips begged to be taken back to 
 plead, a favour that was granted, though it might 
 have been denied to him : but Spiggot was put 
 under the prefs, where he continued half an hour 
 with three hundred and fifty pounds weight on his 
 body, but, on the addition of fifty pounds more, 
 he likewife begged to plead. 
 
 In confeqence hereof they were brought back 
 and again indicted, when the evidence being clear 
 and pofitive againft them, they were convicted, 
 received fentence of death, and were executed at 
 Tyburn, on the 8th of February, 1723. 
 
 WILLIAM SPIGGOT, who was about twenty- 
 feven years of age when he fufFered, was a native 
 of Hereford, but coming to London, he appren- 
 ticed himfelf to a cabinet-maker. He was a mar- 
 ried man, and had three children living at the time 
 of his fatal exit. He and Phillips were hanged 
 for robbing Charles Sybbald, on Finchley Com- 
 mon, and were convicted principally on the 
 
 * By an act paffed in 17725 it is determined chat 
 perfons refufing to plead, fhall be deemed guilty, 
 as if convicted by a jury : an alteration that does 
 honour to modern times. 
 
 cvi-
 
 SPIGGOT and PHILLIPS -for Robbery. 257 
 
 evidence of Jofeph Linfey, a clergyman of aban- 
 doned charafter, who had been of their party. 
 One Burroughs a lunatic, who had efcaped from 
 Bedlam, was likewife concerned with them, but 
 afterwards publicly fpoke of the affair, which oc- 
 cafioned their being taken into cuitody; and 
 when it was known that Burroughs was diforder- 
 
 * 7 
 
 ed in his mind, he was fent back to Bedlam. 
 
 THOMAS PHILLIPS, aged thirty-three years, 
 was a native of Briftol, totally uneducated, and 
 being fent to fea when very young, he fervcd un- 
 der Lord Torrington*, when he attacked and 
 took the Spanifh fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, 
 near the harbour of Cadiz. 
 
 Phillips returning to England, became ac- 
 quainted with Spiggot and Linfey, in company 
 with whom he committed a great number of rob- 
 beries on the highway. Phillips once boafted 
 that he and Spiggot robbed above an hundred 
 pafTengers one night, whom they obliged to come 
 out of different waggons, and having bound 
 them, placed rhem by each other on the fide of 
 the road : but this ftory is too abfurd to be be- 
 lieved. 
 
 While under fentence of death Phillips be- 
 haved in the moft hardened and abandoned man- 
 ner, he paid no regard to any thing that the mi- 
 nifter faid to him, and fwore or fung fongs while 
 the other prilbners were engaged in a6ts of devo- 
 tion ; and towards the clofe of his life, when his 
 companions became more ferious, he grew (till 
 more wicked ; and yet, when at the place of exe- 
 cution, he laid, u he did not fear to die, for he 
 <f was in no doubt of going to Heaven." 
 
 *The father of the late unfortunate Admiral Byng. 
 VOL, I. No. 8. K k Tae
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The leflbn ofinftructionto be drawn from die 
 fate of thefe malefactors will be compromifed in 
 a few words. As the law now ftands, no other 
 criminal can ever undergo the puoifli merit that 
 Spiggot fuftained j and we hope no other will 
 ever behave in fo hardened a manner as Phillips 
 did. It is horrid to think of a man's jefting with 
 lacred matters at any time ; but particularly fo 
 when he knows himfelf to be on the verge of 
 eternity. The character of Linfey ought to be 
 held in univerfal contempt. The clergyman who 
 could defert the duties of his facred function to 
 join with highwaymen, and then become an evi- 
 dence to convict them, muft be an object of de- 
 teftation to every honell man ! 
 
 Narrative of the Cafe of BARBARA SPENCER, 
 who was hanged for High-Treafon. 
 
 IN the month of May, 1721, Barbara Spencer, 
 Alice Hall, and Elizabeth Bray, were indicted 
 at the Old Bailey, for High-treafon, in counter- 
 feiting the current coin of the kingdom ; when 
 Hall and Bray were acquitted, as being only 
 agents to the other, and Spencer being found 
 guilty, was fentenced to be burnt.* 
 
 The account that Barbara Spencer gave of her* 
 felf was in fubftance as follows. That fhe was 
 born in the paiifh of St. Giles without Cripple- 
 gate, and being naturally of a violent temper, her 
 mother was too indulgent to reftrainher in a pro- 
 
 *Women convicted of high, or petit-treafon, 
 are always thus fentenced ; but they are firft tied 
 to a ftale^ and ftrangled before they are burnt. 
 
 per
 
 BARBARA SPENCER-/cr Higb-Tre*fon. 259 
 
 per manner. At length her mother finding her 
 quite unmanageable at home, put her apprentice 
 to a mantua-maker, who having known her from 
 a child, treated her with great kindnefs. 
 
 Barbara hadferved about two years, when on a 
 difpute with her miftrefs fhe went home to hermo- 
 ther, with whom fhe had not long refided before 
 Ihe infifted on having a maid kept, to which the 
 old woman confented. A quarrel foon happen- 
 ing between Barbara and the maid, the mother 
 interpofed : on which the daughter left her for a 
 time, but foon returned again. 
 
 Not long after this it happened that fome ma- 
 lefactors were to be executed at Tyburn, and Bar- 
 bara infifted on going to fee the execution. This 
 was prudently oppofed by her mother, who ftrug- 
 gling to keep her at home, ftruck her j but the 
 daughter getting out of the houfe, went to a fe 
 male acquaintance, who accompanied her to Ty- 
 burn, and from thence to a houfe near St. Giles's 
 Pound, where Barbara made a vow that me would 
 never again return to her mother. 
 
 In this fatal refolution (he was encouraged by 
 the company prefent, who perfuaded her to be- 
 lieve that Ihe might live in an eafy manner, if fhe 
 would but follow their way of life. To this (he 
 readily agreed j and as they were coiners, they em- 
 ployed her in uttering counterfeit money, for 
 which fhe was detected, tricd,finedanJ imprifoned. 
 
 Not taking warning by what had happened, Ihe 
 returned to her old connections, commenced 
 coiner herfelf, and was at length apprehended for 
 the crime for which fhe fuffered. 
 
 While under fcntcnce of death fhe behaved in 
 
 the moft indecent and turbulent manner; nor 
 
 could fhe be convinced that fhe had been guilty 
 
 K k 2 Jf
 
 afo NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 of any crime in making a few millings. She was 
 fbrfome time very impatient under the idea of 
 her approaching diflblution, and was particularly 
 mocked at the thought of being burnt; but at 
 the place of execution fhe feemed willing to exer- 
 cife herfelf in devotion 3 but was much inter- 
 rupted by the mob throwing (tones and dirt at 
 her. 
 
 She was ftrangled and burnt at Tyburn, on the 
 5th of July, 1721. 
 
 The unhappy fate of this woman feems to have 
 been occafioned by the violence of her temper, 
 and a want of duty to her mother. Hence let all 
 young people learn to keep their paffions in iub- 
 jeclion, and to remember the injun6Uon in the 
 fifth commandment ; tc Honour thy father and 
 " thy mother, that thy days may be long in the 
 <f land which the Lord thy God giveth thee :" 
 for furely no crime is more likely to lead to de- 
 finition than that of difobedience to parents. It 
 is the inlet to every other vice, and the fource of 
 a thoufand calamities. 
 
 Let children that would fear the Lord 
 
 Hear what their teachers fay ; 
 With rev'rence meet their parents' word> 
 
 And with delight obey. 
 
 / 
 
 For thofe who worfhip God, and give 
 
 Their parents honour due, 
 Here on earth they long mall live, 
 
 And life hereafter too. 
 
 Cafe
 
 Cafe of MATTHEW CL IRKE, who was hanged 
 for Murder. 
 
 T I ^HIS offender was the Ton of poor perfons 
 -- at St. AlbanSj and brought up as a plcugh- 
 boy ; but being too idle to follow nis bnfmeis, he 
 fauntered about the country and committed fre- 
 quent robberies, fpendi^g among woinen the 
 money he obtained in ihis il>ga ; manner. 
 
 C!a>-ke had arc enough to engage the affeftions 
 of a number of young women, to fome qf whom, 
 he promifed marriage ; and he feems to have in- 
 tended to have kept his ,v:>rd with one of them, 
 and went with her to London to tie the nuptial 
 knot j but going into a go'dfmith's frjop to buy 
 the ring, he faidhe had forgot to fupp ; y himfelf 
 with money, but would go into the country and 
 fetch it. 
 
 The young woman ftaid in town while he went 
 to Wilfden-Green, with a view to commit a rob- 
 bery, that might replenifh his pocket. As it was 
 now 'he feafon of hay-making, he met a man 
 who, wondering that lie fhou!d be idle, gave him 
 employment. Befir'es the bufine<s of fanning, his 
 employer kept a public-houfe, and had a fervant- 
 maid whom Clarke had formerly courted. 
 
 The villain leaving his fellow-labourers in tha 
 field, went to the hdufe, and finding the girl only 
 at home, convcrfed with her fome rime, but hav- 
 ing determined to rob his employer, he thought 
 he could not do it fecurely without murdering 
 her ; and while fhe was gone to draw him fome 
 beer he pulled out his knife for this horrid pur-, 
 pofe j and when me entered the room he got up 
 to kifs her, thinking to have then perpetrated the 
 deed, but his confcience prevented him : on this 
 
 he
 
 262 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 he fatdown,and talked with her fome time longer, 
 when he got up, and again kiffing her, cut her 
 throat in the fame inftant. 
 
 Hereupon fhe fell down, and attempted to 
 crawl to the door, while the blood ftreamed from 
 her throat, on which the villain cut her neck to 
 the bone, and robbing the houfe of a fmall fum, 
 ran off towards London, under all the agonizing 
 tortures of a wounded confcience. 
 
 Tyburn being in his way to town, he was fo 
 terrified At the fight of the gallows that he went 
 back a confiderable diftance, till meeting a wag- 
 gon, he offered his fervice in driving, thinking 
 that his being in employment might prevent his 
 being fufpe6ted in cafe of a purfuit. But he had 
 not gone far before fome perfons rode up, and 
 alked him if he had feen a man who might be 
 fufpected for a murder. He feemed fo terrified 
 by the queftion, that the parties could not help 
 noticing his agitation > and on a clofe infpeclion, 
 they found fome congealed blood on his cloaths, 
 to account for which he faid he had quarrelled 
 and fought with a foldieronthe road. 
 
 Being taken into cuftody, he foon acknow- 
 ledged his crime, and being carried before a 
 magiftrate, he was committed to Newgate : and 
 when brought to trial he pleaded guilty, in con- 
 fequence of which he was executed at Tyburn on 
 the 28th of July, 1721, and then hung in chains 
 near the fpot where he committed the murder. 
 
 There is fomething dreadfully enormous in the 
 Crime for which this man fuffered. When under 
 fentence of death he was one of the mofl miferable 
 wretches that ever endured a fituation fo calami- 
 tous. Nor is this to be wondered at; for the 
 murder he committed was one of the moil un- 
 provoked imaginable. It is probable, from the 
 
 affec-
 
 J. MEFF -for returning from Tratfportation. 263 
 
 affection the poor girl had for him, that fhe 
 would have lent him a greater lum than he ob- 
 tained by cutting 1 er throat. 
 
 His terrors at the fight of the gallows, fhould 
 teach thofe who are prompted to iniquity, to 
 avoid all crimes that may lead to a fatal end. 
 The wicked can never be happy ; and it is only 
 by a life of integrity, virtue and piety, that we can 
 hope for the bleffing of God, the applaufe of a 
 good confcience, and tl that peace of mind which 
 " pafieth all wide rftan ding." 
 
 
 
 Narrative of th fingular Cafe of JOHN MEFF, 
 who was hanged for returning from TranC- 
 portation. 
 
 THIS offender had been taken into cuftody 
 for committing a robbery near London : but 
 as it happened at a time within the limits of an 
 A6t of Grace pafTed in the reign of king George 
 the Firft, it was not thought neceflary to indicl: 
 him, and he would have been difc barged with- 
 out farther ceremony, but it appeared that he had 
 been tranfported for another crime, and returned 
 before the expiration of his time* wherefore he 
 was indicl ed for this offence, on an acl then lately 
 made, <e For the effeclual tranfportation of 
 <c felons j" and his perfon being identified, he 
 was found guilty, received fentence of death, and 
 was executed at Tyburn on the nth of Sep- 
 tember, 1721. 
 
 The following is an account which he wrote 
 between his condemnation, and the day of his 
 execution. 
 
 l f I was
 
 264 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 ff 
 
 I was born in London of French parents, 
 " who fled hither for protection, when the French 
 " Proteftants were driven out of France by Lewis 
 XIV. 
 
 " I was put apprentice to a weaver ; my father 
 " having continued about twelve years in Eng- 
 <f land, went with the reft of his family to Hol- 
 ce land. I ferved my time faithfully, and with 
 <( the approbation of my matter. Soon after I 
 < f came to work for myielf I married ; but my 
 * c bufmefs not being fufficient to maintain myfelf 
 " my wife, and children, I was willing to try 
 <e what I could at thieving. 
 
 tf I followed this practice till I was apprehend- 
 <f ed, tried, and condemned, for houfe- breaking ; 
 c but, as I was going to the place of execution, 
 (t the hangman was arrefted, and I was brought 
 < c back to Newgate. It was thought that this 
 < c was my contrivance, to put a flop'' to public 
 <e jutlice y but I was fo far from being any ways 
 e ' concerned in it, that I knew nothing of it till it 
 (( was done, 'this might have been a happy 
 <c turn for me, if I had made a right ufe of it j for 
 te my fentence of death was changed for that of 
 <e tranfportation. And indeed I took up a folema 
 " refolution to lead an honeft and regular courfe 
 tf of life, and to refill all the perfuafions of my 
 " comrades to the contrary. But this refolution 
 <c continued but a fhort time after the fear of 
 f< death vanifhed. 
 
 " I believe, however, that, if I had been fafe 
 ct landed in America, my ruin might have been 
 " prevented j but the Ihip, which carried me and 
 " and the other convicts, was taken by the pirates. 
 <e They would have perfuaded me and fome 
 <c others to fign a paper, in order to become 
 
 " pirates j
 
 MEFF -for returning from Transportation* 
 
 cc pirates ; but we refuting, they put me and eight 
 " more afliorc, on a defart uninhabited ifland, 
 Cf where we muft have perifhed with hunger, if 
 " by good fortune an Indian canoe had not ar- 
 * rived there. We waited till the Indians were 
 " gone up the ifland, and then, getting into the 
 <c veflcl, we failed from one fmall ifland to an- 
 " other, till we reached the coaft of America. 
 
 " Not chufing to fettle in any of the planta- 
 " tions there, but preferring the life of a failor, 
 e I (hipped myfelf on board a veflel that carried 
 ** merchandize from Virginia and South-Caro- 
 
 \j 
 
 " Una to Barbadoes, Jamaica, and other of his 
 ' majefty's iflands. And thus I lived a confider- 
 " able time i but atlaft, being over defirous to fee 
 < f how my wife and children fared in England, I 
 ? was refolved to return at all adventures. 
 
 <r Upon my arrival here, I quickly fell into 
 t{ my former wicked practices, and it was not 
 ' long before 1 was committed to Newgate, on 
 fufpicion of robbing a perfon near London ; 
 but, by the afliftance of a certain bricklayer, | 
 " broke out of prifon and went to Hatfield, 
 " where 1 lay concealed for fome time j but at 
 " jaft was difcovered, and taken again by the 
 " fame bricklayer who had procured my efcape. 
 " Some evil .gtnius attended me, I was certainly 
 " infatuated, or I had never continued in a place 
 " where I was fo likely to be difcovered. 
 
 " My father is now a gardener at Amfterdam. 
 " 'Tis an addition to my misfortune, that I can- 
 <! not fee him and my mother before I die j but 
 " I hope when he hears of my unhappy end, he 
 " will keep my children by my firit wife from 
 " ftarving. My prefent wife is able by her in- 
 " duftry to bring up her own offspring ; for fhe 
 
 VOL. I. LI " has
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR.^ 
 
 t: has been an honeft careful woman/ during the> 
 " nine months I have been married to her, and 
 f c lias often prefied me to go over to Ireland, and 
 <c lead a regular and fober life. It had been well 
 <c for me if I had taken her advice. 
 
 " I have had enough of this reftlefs and tumul- 
 *' tuous world, and hope 1 am now going to a 
 " better. I am very eafy and refigned to the 
 " will of Providence, not doubting but I have 
 " made my peace with Heaven. 1 thank God 
 * f that I have not been molefted by my fellow- 
 <f prifoners, with the lead curfing or fwearing in 
 " the condemned-hold j but have had an oppor- 
 " tunity of employing every moment of my time 
 " in preparing for a future ftate." 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 The cafe of this malefactor is very extraordi- 
 nary, and perhaps may never be equalled by that 
 of any other. The narrow efcape he had expe- 
 rienced from the gallows ought to have taught 
 him more wifdom than to have returned from 
 tranfportation before the expiration of his time ; 
 but one would think there is a fatality attending 
 the conducl: of ibme men, who feem refolutely 
 bent on their own deftruclion. 
 
 One truth, however, is certain; It is eafy, by 
 a fteady adherence to the rules of virtue, to Ihun 
 that ignominious fate which is the confequencc 
 of a breach of the laws 'of God and our country ! 
 
 Cafe of ARTHUR GRAV, who was convicted of a 
 Burglary. 
 
 TN December, 1721, the prifoner was indicted 
 X for breaking and entering the dwelling-houfc of 
 George Baillie, Efq. in the parifh of St. James, 
 
 Weft-
 
 GRAY for a Burglary. .26 7 
 
 Weftminfter, with intent to ravifh Grizcl, the 
 wife of Alexander Murray. 
 
 Mrs. Murray was the fitter of Mrs. Baillie, an 
 lived in the houfe of her brother-in-law, in the 
 abfence of her hufband, who was a military 
 officer. 
 
 It was fworn on the trial that about four in the 
 morning of the i4th of Oclober, the prifoner en- 
 tered Mrs. Murray's room, with a drawn fword in 
 one hand, and a piftol in the other, and threat- 
 ened to kill her if fhe made any noife -, that me 
 afked him the meaning of fuch a procedure, to 
 which he replied, " Madam, I mean to ravifh 
 " you, for I have entertained a violent paflion 
 <* for you a long time j but as there is fo great a 
 " difference between your fortune and mine, I 
 " defpair of enjoying my wifhes by any means 
 " but force." 
 
 On this the lady remonftrated with him ; but 
 perfifting in his intention, he laid the fword on 
 the bolfter, and attempted to pull off the bed- 
 cloaths ; but Mrs. Murray pufhed him againft 
 the wall, wrenched the piftol out of his hand, 
 and rang the bell - y on which the prifoner quitted 
 the room j but fhe followed him to the door, and 
 called out murder, by which the family were 
 alarmed. 
 
 The fervants now ran to the alfiftance of the 
 lady, but Gray had got to his own room, and 
 thrown himfelf on the bed with his cloaths on ; 
 and having been out in company the preceding 
 evening, it does not appear that he was undrefled 
 during the night. 
 
 Being apprehended, and taken before a magif- 
 trate, he confefled that he entered the room with 
 an intent to ravifli the lady - y but this he after- 
 wards fteadily denied ; and various were the opi- 
 L 1 2 nions
 
 *68 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Dions of the public refpeding his guilt or inno- 
 cence. 
 
 The prifoner, in his defence, faid, that think- 
 ing he heard a noife in Mrs. Murray's room, he 
 went down ftairs and fetched a fword and piftol, 
 and as the door flood partly open, he went in, 
 and laying down his arms to look behind the bed, 
 Mrs. Murray rang the bell, and alarmed the 
 family. 
 
 The jury> having confidered the evidence, 
 brought him in guilty, and he received fentence 
 of death : but Mrs. Murray's relations interceding 
 in his behalf, he was afterwards pardoned on con- 
 dition of tranfportation. 
 
 This affair made a great noife at the time it 
 happened, and many perfons did not fcruplc to 
 infinuate that Gray had been admitted to favours 
 which might warrant his entering the lady's 
 chamber at any hour. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 The fingle reflection arifing from this {lory is, 
 that illicit pleafure leads to difgrace ; there is no 
 doubt but there was fome foundation for this pro- 
 fecution. If Gray had been previoufly too inti- 
 mate with the lady, me was punimed by the expo- 
 fure of a public trial ; if otherwile, he was pu- 
 niihed for the attempt in the ignominy of a public 
 conviction. Hence let it be learnt, that chaftity is 
 a virtue which cannot be prized at too high a rate ! 
 
 : , _ : : 
 
 The fingular Cafe of NATHANIEL HAWES, who 
 was hanged for a: Robbery. 
 
 THE fubjeft of this narrative was a native of 
 Norfolk, in which county he was born in 
 the year 1761. Hawes's father was a grazier in 
 
 ample
 
 HAWES for Robbery. 
 
 ample circumftances, but dying while the fon was 
 an infant, a relation in Hertfordlhire took care of 
 his education. 
 
 At a proper age he was apprenticed to an up- 
 holfterer in London ; but becoming connected with 
 people of bad character, and thus acquiring an 
 early habit of vice, he robbed his matter when 
 he had ferved only two years of his time ; for 
 which he was tried at the Old Bailey, and being 
 convicted of dealing to the amount of thirty-nine 
 Ihillings, he was fentenced to feven years tranf- 
 portation. 
 
 But the fentcnce thus awarded againft Hawes 
 was not carried into execution, owing to the fol- 
 lowing circumftance. A man named Phillips 
 had encouraged the unhappy youth in his depre- 
 dations, by purchafing, at a very low rate, fucrj 
 goods as he dole from his mailer: but when 
 Hawes was taken into cuftody, he gave informa- 
 tion of this affair, in confequence of which a 
 fearch-warrant was procured, and many effects 
 belonging to Hawes's matter were found in Phil- 
 lips's poffeffion. 
 
 Hereupon application was made to the king, 
 and a tree pardon was granted to Hawes, whereby 
 he was rendered a competent evidence againft 
 Phillips, who was tried for receiving the ttolea 
 gooas, and was rranfported for fourteen years. 
 
 We are forry to relate the fequel of this tale. 
 Hawes, during his confinement in Newgate, had 
 made fuch bad connections as greatly contributed 
 to the contamination of his morals j and foon after 
 his releafe he connected himfelf with a fet of fel- 
 lows who acted under the direction of Jonathan 
 Wild i and having made a particular acquaintance 
 with one John James, they joined in the commif- 
 fion of a number of robberies. 
 
 After
 
 270 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 After an uncommon Ihare of fuccefs for fome 
 days, tBey quarrelled -on the divifion of the booty, 
 in confequence of which each acted on his own 
 account. Some little time after they had thus 
 feparated, Hawes, being apprehenfive that James 
 would impeach him, applied to Jonathan Wild, 
 and informed againft his old acquaintance, on 
 whidi James was taken into cuftody, tried, con- 
 victed, and executed. 
 
 Notv/ithftanding this conviction, the court fen- 
 tenced Hawes* to be imprifoned in New-Prifon, 
 and that goal was preferred to Newgate, becaufe 
 the prifbners in the latter had threatened to murder 
 Hawes, for being an evidence againft James. 
 
 Soon after this commitment, Hawes and an- 
 other fellow made their efcape, and entering into 
 partnerfhip, committed a variety of robberies, 
 particularly in the road between Hackney and 
 Shoreditch. This connection, like the former, 
 lafted but a fhort time : a difpute on dividing their 
 ill-gotten gains occafioned a feparation. 
 
 Soon after this diflblution of the partnerfhip, 
 Hawes went alone to Finchley-Common, where 
 meeting a gentleman riding to town, he prefented 
 a piftol to his breaft, and commanded him in- 
 ftantly to difmount, that he might fearch him for 
 Jiis money. 
 
 The gentleman offered him four millings, on 
 which Hawes fw ore the molt horrid oaths, and 
 threatened inftant death, if he did not immedi- 
 ately fubmit. The gentleman quitted his horfe, 
 and in the fame moment feized the piftol, which 
 
 he 
 
 * By an aft of die 4th and 5th of William and Mary, for 
 "tli more effe&ual conviftion of higJmayaiea, the evidence of 
 accomplices is allowed; but the evidence capnot claim hisliberry 
 unleis twe or more of his accomplices are convifted ; but may be 
 the pleafure of che court.
 
 HAWES -for Robbery. 271 
 
 he fnatched from the hand of the robber, and 
 preferring it to him, told him to expect death if 
 he did not furrender himfelf. 
 
 Hawes, who was now as terrified as he had 
 been infolent, made no oppofuion ; and the driver 
 of a cart coming up juft at that juncture, he was 
 eafily made prifoner, conveyed to London, and 
 committed to Newgate. 
 
 When the feffions came on, and he was brought 
 to the bar, he refufed to plead to his indictment, 
 alledging the following reafon for fo doing j viz. 
 that he would die, as he had lived, like a gentle- 
 man: " The people (faid he) who apprehended 
 " me, feized a fuit of fine cloaths, which I in- 
 " tended to have gone to the gallows in ; and un- 
 " lefs they are returned I will not plead \ for no 
 " one mall fay that I was hanged in a dirty fhirt 
 " and ragged coat." 
 
 On this he was told what would be the confe- 
 quence of his contempt of legal authority j but 
 this making no impreflion on him, fcntence was 
 pronounced that he mould be prefled to death, 
 whereupon he was taken from the court, and 
 being laid on his back, fuftaincd a load of two 
 hundred and fifty pounds weight about feven mi- 
 nutes j but unable any longer to bear the pain, he 
 entreated that he might be conducted back to the 
 court, which being complied with, he pltadcd 
 <f Not guilty j" but the evidence againfl him being 
 complete, he was convicted, and lentenced to die. 
 
 After convi-flion his behaviour was very impro- 
 per for one in his fituation. He told the other 
 capital convicts that he would die like a hero ; 
 and behaved in the fame thoughtlefs way till the 
 arrival of the warrant for his execution : after 
 which his conduct was not altogether fo fcanda- 
 Jous. He owned to the Ordinary of Newgate, 
 
 that
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 that he was induced to refufe to plead to his in- 
 dictment, that the other prifoncrs might deem him 
 a man of honour, and not from the idle vanity of 
 being hanged in fine cloaths. 
 
 He acknowledged many robberies which he 
 had committed; but charged Jonathan Wild as 
 being the principal author of his ruin, by pur- 
 chafing the ftolen goods. He likewife owned that 
 he had been bafe enough to inform againft perfons 
 who were innocewt, particularly a gentleman's fer- 
 vant, who was then in cuftody ; but he did not 
 difcover many figns of contrition for this, or any 
 other of his offences. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the 22d of De- 
 cember, 1721. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 The inferences to be drawn from the cafe of 
 this malefactor are obvious. By his informing 
 againft James, lead James Ihpuld impeach him, 
 we fee how little confidence thieves can place ia 
 each other ; and that partnerfhips in wickednefs 
 are fure to end in deft ruction. 
 
 From the refiftance made by the gentleman 
 whom Hawes attacked, and the confequent ap- 
 prehenfion of the offender, we may fairly con:lude 
 that there is a cowardice naturally attached to 
 guile, which will almoft infallibly favour the caufe 
 of the honeft man. 
 
 Narrative of the Life and Trial of WILLIAM 
 BURRIDGE, who was hanged for Horfe-ttealing. 
 
 THIS offender, was a native of Northamp- 
 tonfliire, and fcrved his time wirh a car- 
 penter ; but giving full proofs of his knavifh dif- 
 pofition, and having ruined fevjeral young women, 
 his friends determined to fend him to fea, as 
 
 the
 
 BURRIDGE for HcrJe-Jlealin%. 273 
 
 the mod probable method to prevent his coming 
 to a fatal end. 
 
 In.confequence hereof they got him rated as a 
 midfhipman, and he failed to the coaft' of Spain; 
 but foon quitting the naval lervice, he returned 
 to England, and, commencing highwayman, com- 
 mitted many robberies on the road to Hampftead, 
 on Finchley-Common, and in the neighbourhood 
 of Hammerfmith. 
 
 "When he firft began the practice of robbing, 
 he formed a refolution to retire when he had ac- 
 quired as much money as would fupport him ; 
 but this time never arrived i for finding his fuc- 
 cefs by no means proportioned to his expecta- 
 tions, he became one of the gang under Jonathan 
 Wik3,* of infamous memory ; and was for a con- 
 fldcrable time fcreened from juftice by that cele- 
 brated mafter of thieves. 
 
 Burridge being confined in New-Prifon for a 
 capital offence, broke out of that goal ; and he 
 was repeatedly an evidence at the Old Bailey, by 
 which means his aflbciates fuffered the rigour of 
 the law. At length, having offended Wild, the 
 latter marked him down as one doomed to fuffer 
 at the next execution after the entuing ieffions at 
 the Old Bailey j which was a common practice 
 with Wild, when he grew tired of his depend- 
 ants, or thought they could be no longer fcrvice- 
 able to him. 
 
 Alarmed by this circurnftance, Burridge fled 
 into i incolnlhire, where he Hole a horfe, and 
 brought it to London, intending to -fell it at 
 Smithficld for prefent fupport: but the gentle- 
 
 VOL. I. M m man 
 
 * A particular account of this notorious malefa&or will appear 
 iti du cwuifc ct lim wuik.
 
 274 
 
 man \vho had loft the horfc, having fent a full 
 defcription of it to London, Burridgc was feen 
 riding on i^ through the ftreet, and watched to a 
 livery ftablc. 
 
 Some perfons going to take him, he produced 
 a brace of piftols, threatening deftruction to any 
 one who came near him; by which he got off; 
 but being immediately purfued, he was taken in 
 May- Fair, and lodged in Newgate. 
 
 On his trial, a man and a woman fwore that 
 they faw him purchafe the horfe j but as there 
 was a material difference in their ftories, the court 
 was of opinion, that they had been hired to fwear, 
 and tht judge gave directions for their being taken 
 into cuftody for the perjury. 
 
 The jury did not he/hate to find Burridgc 
 guilty : and" after fcntence was pafled, his beha- 
 viour was extremely devout, and he encouraged 
 the devotion of others in like unhappy circum- 
 fiances. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the izd of 
 March, 1722, in the 34th year of his age; hav- 
 ing fijft warned the fpectators to be obedient to 
 their parents and mailers, and to beware of the 
 crime of debauching young worn-en, which had 
 firft led him from the path of duty, and finally 
 ended in his ruin. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 The idea this unhappy, man had conceived of 
 leaving off robbing when he had obtained enough. 
 to fupport him, was ridiculous in the higheft de- 
 gree. Perhaps there never was a fmgle inftance 
 of a thief retiring on the profits of his plunder. 
 What is got in an illegal manner is always Ipent 
 in debauchery and extravagance : but, fuppofing 
 retirement was poQible, could that man expert 
 one moment of peace who had acquired his fub- 
 
 fiftance
 
 COOKE and WOODBURNE &?*/. 275 
 
 fiftance by acts of difbonefty ? He could not cat a 
 morfcl of bread, or drink a draught of liquor, 
 but he muft reflect that it was not his own. His 
 days would be wretched, and his nights fleeplefs ; 
 he would be terrified by every new face he faw ; 
 the fear of detection would be ever uppermoft in 
 his mind, and he would be perpetually tormented 
 with the racking pains of a guilty conscience. 
 
 After this dreadful representation of facts, no- 
 thing need be added to convince youth that to 
 tread in the path of virtue is the furcft way to 
 happinefs ; and that he who deviates from this 
 path, is in the certain way to bring deftruction on 
 his own head ! 
 
 particulars rcfpecting ARUNDEL COOKE, Efq. and 
 JOHN WOODJJURNE, who were hanged for cut- 
 ting and maiming Mr. CRISP. 
 
 THESE people fuffered on what is called the 
 Coventry Act, to underftand which it will 
 be neceflary to recite a few particulars. 
 
 The Coventry Aft took its rile from the follow- 
 ing circumftancc : Sir John Coventry, in the 
 reign of Charles the fecond, having oppofcd the 
 meafures of the court in the Houfe of Commons, 
 in revenge hereof fome armed villains attacked 
 him one night in Covent-Gardcn, flit his nofe, 
 and cut off his lips. Shocked by fo barbarous a 
 deed, the members of both houles of parliament 
 pafied an act in a few days, by which it was or- 
 dained that " Unlawfully cutting out, or difabiing 
 " the tongue, of malice aforethought, or by 
 " lying in wait, putting out an eye, flrtting the 
 " nofc or lip, or cutting off or diikbhng any 
 Mm i " limb
 
 17* NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " limb or member of any perfon, with intent to 
 t( maim or disfigure, fhall be felony without be- 
 " nefit of clergy." By this law it is likewife 
 enacled that " Accefiaries fhall be deemed prin- 
 " cipals." The parties whofe crimes we are 
 about to relate, were the firil who were executed 
 on this aft. 
 
 Mr. Cooke was born near Bury St. Edmonds, in 
 the county of Suffolk. His father was a man of 
 fortune, and when he had given him an univer- 
 fity education, he lent him to the Temple to 
 ftudy the Jaw, after which he was called to the 
 bar, and acted as a counfellor. After fome time 
 he married a young lady, the fifter of Mr. Crifp, 
 who lived in the neighbourhood of his native 
 place. 
 
 Mr. Crifp being a gentleman of large property, 
 but of a bad ftate of health, made his will in 
 favour of Cooke, fubject only to a jointure for 
 his fitter's ufe, which was likewife to become the 
 property of the counfellor, in cafe the lady died 
 before her hufband. 
 
 It was not long after Mr. Crifp had made his 
 will, before he recovered his health in fome de- 
 gree ; but he continued an infirm man, though 
 he lived a number of years. This partial recovery 
 gave great uneafmefs to Cooke, who wifhing to 
 poffefs the eftate, was anxious for the death of his 
 brother-in-law, though, a.s he had art enough to 
 conceal his fentiments, they appeared to live on 
 tolerable terms. 
 
 However, he at length grew fo impatient that 
 he could not come into pofieulon by the death of 
 Mr. Crifp, that he refolved to remove him by 
 murder i and for that purpofe engaged John 
 \Yoodburne, a labouring man, who had fix chil- 
 3 dren,
 
 COOKE and WOODS URNE fow# 277 
 
 dren, to aflift him in the execution of his diabo- 
 lical plan. 
 
 For this piece of fervice he promifed to give 
 Woodburne a hundred pounds. The man was 
 unwilling to be concerned in this execrable bu- 
 finrfs ; but reflections on his poverty, and the 
 largenefs of his family, tempted him to comply. 
 
 On this it was agreed, that the murder mould 
 be perpetrated on Chriftmas evening, and as Mr. 
 Crifp was to dine with Cooke on that day, and 
 the church -yard lay between one houfe and the 
 other, Woodburne was to wait, concealed be- 
 hind one of the tomb-ftoncs, till Cooke gave him 
 the fignal for the attack, which was to be a loud 
 whiffle, 
 
 Crifp came to his appointment, and dined and 
 drank tea with his brother- in-law ; but declining 
 to ftay to fupper, he left the houfe about nine 
 o'clock, and was almoft immediately followed 
 into the church-yard by Cooke, who giving the 
 agreed fignal to Woodburne, the latter quitted 
 his place of retreat, knocked down the unhappy 
 man, and cut and maimed him in a terrible man- 
 ner ; in which he was abetted by the counfcllor. 
 
 Imagining that they had difpatched him, Mr. 
 Cooke rewarded Woodburne with a few {hillings, 
 and inftantiy went home ; but he had not been 
 arrived more than a quarter of an hour before 
 Crifp knocked at the door, and entered covered 
 with wounds, and almoft dead through lofs of 
 blood. He was unable to fpeak, but by his looks 
 feemed to accufe Cooke with the intended mur- 
 der, and was then put to bed, and his wounds 
 drefled by a furgeon. 
 
 At the end of about a week he was fo much. 
 mended as to be removed to his own houle. He 
 had no doubt but that Cooke was one of theper- 
 
 fons
 
 a 7 8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR; 
 
 Ions who had affaulted him : but had rcfolved not 
 to fpeak of the affair till future circumfrances 
 made it ncceffrry for him to inform a court of 
 juftice of what had happened. 
 
 The intended affaffination having greatly en- 
 gaged the attention of the neighbours, Wood- 
 burne was apprehended on fufpicion ; when mak- 
 ing a difcovery of the whole truth, Cooke was 
 alfo taken into cuftody. They were brought to 
 their trials at the next aflizes, when both of them 
 were convicted. 
 
 When they were called up to receive fentence 
 of death, Cooke de fired to be heard ; and the 
 court complying witk his requeft, he urged that 
 <c Judgment could not pafs on the verdict, be- 
 "** -caufe the aft of parliament limply mentions an 
 <c intention to maim or deface, whereas he was 
 <c firmly refolved to have committed murder." 
 
 He quoted feveral law-cafes in favour of the 
 arguments he had advanced, and hoped that judg- 
 ment might be refpited till the opinion of the 
 twelve judges could be taken on the caufe. The 
 counfel for the crown oppofed the arguments of 
 M-r. Cooke, infilled that the crime came within 
 the meaning pf the law, and hoped that judgment 
 would pafs agaift the prifoners. 
 
 JLord chief juftice King, who prefided on this 
 occafion, declared that he could not admit the 
 force of Mr. Cooke's plea, confident with his 
 own oath as a judge; " for (laid he) it would 
 " eftablilh a principle in the law, inconfiftent 
 " with the firft dictates of natural reafon ; as the 
 a grcaieft villain might, when convicted of a 
 <c fmaller offence, plead that the judgment muft 
 <c be arrefted, becaufe he intended to commit a 
 * greater. In the prefent instance (faid he), 
 C{ judgment cannot be arrefled, as the intention 
 
 is
 
 COOKE and WOODBURNE banged. 479 
 
 ** is naturally implied, when the crime is actually 
 cc committed " 
 
 His lordfhip faid, that " Crifp was aflaffinatcd 
 " in the manner laid in the indictment j it is 
 " therefore to be taken for granted that the in- 
 tf tention was to maim and deface ; wherefore 
 " the court will proceed to give judgment :" 
 and accordingly lenience of death was paffed on 
 the prifoners. 
 
 After condemnation, Cooke employed his time 
 principally in endeavours to procure a pardon ; 
 and when he found his expectations fail him, he 
 grew referved, and would not admit even the vifits 
 of his friends. On the contrary, Woodburne was 
 all penitence and contrition, (mcerely lamenting the 
 crime he had been guilty of, and the miferablc 
 fituation in which he left his poor children. 
 
 A {hort time before the day of execution, 
 Cooke wrote to the IherirT, requeuing that he 
 might be hanged in the night, to prevent his be- 
 ing expofed to the country-people, who were ex- 
 pected from all the adjacent towns and villages; 
 and, in confequence hereof, he was hanged at four 
 o'clock in the morning, and Woodburne was exe- 
 cuted in the afternoon of the fame day. The lat- 
 ter behaved with every fign of penitence ; but 
 Cooke's condu^ was very unfeeling, and he ab- 
 folutely refufcd to confefs his crime. 
 
 Thefe malefactors were executed at Bury St. 
 Edmonds, on the fth of April, 17 22. 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 Serious reflections may well be made on- the 
 above melancholy tale. The bafenefs of Cooke's 
 heart muft render him an objeft of deteftation to 
 every feeling mind. Of all the vices that can 
 degrade humanity, covecoufnefs is one of the 
 
 meaneft.
 
 280 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 meaneft. The very wim to. poffefs what is not 
 our right, implies a degree of dilhoneftyj but 
 the man whofe covetous difpofition can inftigate 
 him to the thought of committing murder, is be- 
 low the beaft that perifti, and ought to be ranked 
 with the infernal fiends. 
 
 What muft have been Coolce's thoughts on the 
 Chriftmas-day, when he was entertaining his 
 brother-in-law with an appearance of friendship 
 and hofpitality, yet had determined to murder 
 him ! Neither the fanctity, nor the decent felti- 
 vity of the feafon, could compofe or chear a 
 mind bent on the perpetration of fo honid a deed. 
 The cafe of this man will teach us the force of the 
 commandment, " Thou fhalt not covet thy neigh- 
 " bour's houfe, thou ihalt not covet thy neigh- 
 " bour's wife, nor his man-fervant, nor his maid- 
 tc fervant, nor his ox, nor his afs, nor any thing 
 " that is thy neighbour's." 
 
 With regard to Woodburne, though not an 
 object of pity, he is- lefs an object of deteftation 
 than Cooke. His large family, and diftrefied 
 oircumftances were temptations. He might fay, 
 in the words of the poet, 
 
 My Poverty, but not my Will confents. 
 
 Still, however, his crime was of an aggravated 
 nature, for no temptation mould induce a man to 
 embrue his hands in the blood of a fellow-crea- 
 ture. How dreadful to think of rufhing into 
 eternity with the crime of murder on the head ! 
 May the preventing grace of God preferve % us all 
 from the perpetration of fo mocking a deed ! 
 May we live in a continual fenfe of our duty, and 
 fcek to make our own lives comfortable by acts of 
 companion and humanity to our fellow-creatiires ! 
 
 Short
 
 [ 28! ] 
 
 Short account of JOHN HARTLEY and THOMAS 
 REEVES, who wete hanged for a robbery. 
 
 r I \HESE offenders were tried for flopping a 
 
 A journeyman taylor in the fields near Hox- 
 ton, and robbing him of two-pence and his 
 cloaths; and becaufe he had no more money, 
 they beat him moft inhumanly, flript him, 
 and bound- him to a tree. 
 
 While he .was in this wretched fituation fome 
 perfons coming by unbound him, and took him 
 to an alehoufe, where he told the particulars of 
 the robbery, mentioned the colour of his cloaths, 
 and defcribed the perfons of the robbers to the 
 beft of his power. 
 
 Thefe circumftances were heard by a fiddler, 
 who going next day into a public-houfe in Fore- 
 ftreet, faw the fellows offering to fell the taylor's 
 coat. The fiddler immediately propofed to be the 
 purchafer, gave earned for it, and pretending he 
 had not money enough, faid he would fetch the 
 difference ; inftead of which he brought the party 
 robbed, who knowing the footpads, they were 
 taken into cuftody. 
 
 The evidence on their trial was fo plain, that 
 the jury could no: hefitate to find them guilty, in 
 confequence of which they received fentence of 
 death. 
 
 After conviction their behaviour was unbe- 
 coming perfons in their 'unhappy circumftances. 
 That of Reeves was particularly hardened ; he 
 would fm and fwear while the other convicts 
 
 CJ 
 
 were at prayers, yet he told the ordinary that he 
 was certain of going to heaven. 
 
 Vol. J. No. 8. N n The
 
 282 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The moft curious circumftance arifing from 
 the detection of thefe . offenders, was the fingular 
 method that Hartley took to fave his -life. He 
 procured fix young women, drefied in white, to 
 go to St. James's and prefent a petition in his be- 
 half. The fingularity of their appearance gained 
 them admiffion, when they delivered their peti- 
 tion, and told the king, that if he extended the 
 royal mercy to the offender, they would cad lots 
 which fhould be his wife : but his majefty faid 
 'that he was more deferving of the gallows than a 
 wife, and accordingly refufed their requeft. 
 
 As they were going to execution, the ordina- 
 ry afked Reeves if his wife had been concerned 
 with him in any robberies j tc No, (faid he) fhe 
 <c is a worthy woman, whofe firft hufband hap- 
 <c pening to be hanged, I married her, that fhe 
 " might not reproach me by a repetition of his 
 tf virtues." 
 
 At the fatal tree Reeves behaved in the moft 
 hardened manner, affected to defpife death, and 
 faid he believed he might go to heaven from the 
 gallows as fafely as from his bed. 
 
 Thefe offenders fuffered at Tyburn, on the 4th. 
 of May, 1722. 
 
 We fee, in the inftance of thefe malefactors, 
 from what a cafual circumftance their detection 
 arofe. A man hears a defcription of them in a 
 public-houfe j the next day he went accidentally 
 into another alehoufe, where he faw them offer- 
 ing the ftolen goods for falej and, by an honeft 
 deception, procured their being taken into cuf- 
 tody. The poor fiddler had no intereft in their 
 detection but what arofe from his abhorrence of 
 vice i yet he was fo regardful of what he had 
 heard, that he became' the immediate inftrument 
 of bringing them to juftice. 
 
 Hence
 
 THEMAIL ROBBED y/vw COLNBROOK 
 
 /'// ' S// '.,/'?/// '////. ) /f///) f/t'f>.' ///////.><>// .
 
 HAWKINS and SIMPSON -for Roller y. 283 
 
 Hence let us learn to admire the infcrutable 
 myfteries of the providence of God, which, as 
 they furpafs our finite comprehenfion, fhould ex- 
 cite our wonder and our gratitude. Nothing can 
 be hid from die all- feeing eye of heaven \ and the 
 man that commits a crime with the hope of con- 
 cealing it, does but treafure up a fund of uneafi- 
 nefs for his own mind: for even if the crime 
 fhould be concealed from the public, he will be 
 perpetually harrafied with the corroding flings of 
 a guilty confcience, and at all times carry with 
 him a hell in his own bofom ! 
 
 Narrative of the remarkable Actions of JOHN 
 HAWKINS, and GEORGE SIMPSON, who were 
 executed for robbing the Briftol Mail, and 
 hung in Chains. 
 
 AS the crime for which thefe malefactors 
 fuffered is very pernicious in its own nature, 
 and their other tranfactions made a great noife in 
 -the world at the time they took place, we propofe 
 to give a particular account of them. 
 
 JOHN HAWKINS was the fon of a poor farmer 
 at Staines, who not being able to afford to educate 
 him properly, he went into the fervice of a gen- 
 tleman, which he foon quitted, and lived as a 
 waiter at the Red Lion at Brentford ; but leaving 
 this place, he again engaged as a gentleman's 
 fervant. 
 
 After living in different families, he became 
 butler to Sir Dennis Dutry, and was diftinguifhed 
 as a fervant of very creditable appearance. In- 
 deed his perfon was uncommonly graceful, and 
 he was remarkably vain of it. He ufed to fre- 
 N n 2 quent
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 quent gaming tables two or three nights in a 
 week, a practice which led to that ruin which 
 finally befel him. 
 
 About this time Sir Dennis had been robbed of 
 a confide rable quantity of plate ; and as Haw- 
 kins's mode of life was very expenfive, it was 
 fufpected that he was the thief; for which reafon 
 he was difcharged without the advantage of a 
 good character. 
 
 Being thus deftitute of the means of fubfiftance 
 he had recourfe to the highway, and his firfl ex- 
 pedition was to Hounflow-Heath, where he took 
 eleven pounds from the paffengers in a coach ; 
 but fuch was his attachment to gaming, that he 
 repaired directly to London, where he loft it all. 
 
 He continued to rob alone for fome time, lofing 
 at the gaming houfes what he obtained at fo much 
 ri(k , and he then engaged to rob with other 
 highwaymen ; but the fame fate ftill attended 
 him : he loft by gaming, what he got by thiev- 
 ing, and was frequently fo reduced as to dine at 
 an eating-houfe, and then fneak off without paying 
 his reckoning. 
 
 Several of Hawkins's old companions having 
 met their deferts at the gallows, he became ac- 
 quainted with one Wilfon, a youth of good edu- 
 cation, who had been articled to .a folicitor in 
 chancery; but had neglected his bufmefs through 
 an attachment to the gaming-tables. Thofe afTo- 
 ciates having committed feveral robberies in con- 
 junction, 1 were tried for one of them ; but ac- 
 quitted for want of evidence j though Wilfon, in 
 an account publifhed after Hawkins's condem- 
 nation, cohfefies tbey were guilty. 
 
 Immediately after this Wilfon went dov/n to 
 his mother, who lived at Whitby in Yorkfhire, 
 ziid continued with her for about a year, and 
 
 then
 
 HAWKINS and SIMPSON for Rettery. 285 
 
 then coming to London, lived with a gentleman 
 of the law: but having loft his money in gaming, 
 renewed his acquaintance with Hawkins, who 
 was now concerned with a new gang of villainy ; 
 but one of thefe being apprehended, impeached 
 the reft, \vhichfoon difperfed the gang, but dot 
 till Come of them had made their exit at Tyburn; 
 on which -Hawkins was obliged to conceal himfelf 
 for a contiderable rime ; but at length he ventured 
 to rob a gentleman on Finchley-Common, and 
 mot one of the fervants fo that he died on the 
 fpot. 
 
 His next attack was on the Earl of Burlington 
 end Lord Bruce, in Richmond Lane, from whom 
 they took about tv enty pounds, two gold watches, 
 and a fapphire ring. For this ring a reward of 
 lool. was offered to Jonathan Wild ; but Haw- 
 kins failed to Holland with it, and there fold it 
 for forty pounds. 
 
 Hawkins returning to England, joined his 
 companions, of whom Wilfon was one, and rob^ 
 bed Sir David Dalrymple of about three pounds, 
 a fnuff-box, and a pocket-book, for which laft 
 Sir David offered 6ol. reward to Wild ; but the 
 robbers having no connection with that execrable 
 villain, who did not even know their perfons, 
 they fent the book by a porter to Sir David, with- 
 out expence. 
 
 Hawkins and- his afTociar.es next ftoppedMr. 
 Hide of Hackney in his coach, and robbed him 
 of lol. and his watch, but miffed 300!. which the 
 gentleman then had in his poflefiion. After this 
 they flopped the Earl of Weftmoreland's coach in 
 Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, and robbed him of a funi 
 of money, though there were three footmen be- 
 hind the carriage. The footmen called the watch ; 
 
 but
 
 286 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 but the robbers firing a piflol over their heads, 
 the guardians of the night decamped, 
 
 Hawkins had now refolved to carry the booty 
 obtained in feveral late robberies to Holland ; but 
 Jonathan Wild having heard. of the connection, 
 caufed fome of the gang to be apprehended ; on 
 which the reft went into the country to hide them- 
 felves. 
 
 On this occafion Hawkins and Wilfon went to 
 Oxford, and paying a vifit to the Bodleian libra- 
 ry, the former wantonly defaced fome pictures in 
 the gallery ; and lool. reward was offered to dif- 
 cover the offender : and a poor taylor being taken 
 up on fufpicion, narrowly efcaped being whipped, 
 merely becaufe he was of whiggifh principles. 
 
 Wilfon and Hawkins returning to London, and 
 the former coming of age at that tine, fucceeded 
 to a little eftate his father had left him, which he 
 fold for 350!. a fmall part of which he lent to his 
 companions, to buy horfes, and foon diffipated 
 tilt reft at the gaming-table. 
 
 The aflbciates now flopped two gentlemen in a 
 chariot on the Hampftead Road, who both fired 
 at once, by which three llugs were lodged in 
 Hawkins's Ihoulder, and the highwaymen got to 
 London, with fome difficulty. On Hawkins's 
 recovery they attempted to ftop a gentleman's 
 coach in Hyde-Park ; but the coachman driving 
 haftily, Wilfon fired, and wounding hirafelf in 
 the hand, found it difficult to fcale the Park wall* 
 to effect his efcape. 
 
 This circumftance occafioned fome ferious 
 thoughts in his mind, in confequence of which 
 he fet out for his mother's houfc in YorkuY.re, 
 where he was kindly received, . and fully .de:er- 
 jnined never to return to his former practices. 
 
 While
 
 HAWKINS and SIMPSON /cr Rettery. 287 
 
 While he was engaged in his mother's bufin fs, 
 and planning fchemes for domeftic happinefs, he 
 was fent for to a public-houfe, where he found 
 his old acquaintance, Hawkins, in company with 
 George Simpfon, of whom we fhall have occafion 
 to relate more in the courfe of this narrative. 
 
 Wilfon was fhocked at feeing them, and afked 
 what ouid induce them to take fuch a journey. 
 Hereupon Hawkins fwore violently, faid Wilfon 
 was impeached, and would be taken into cuflody 
 in a few days. This induced him to go to Lon- 
 don with them ; but on his arrival he found that 
 the flo/y of the impeachment was falfe. 
 
 When in London they formed connections with 
 other thieves, and committed feveral robberies, 
 for which- fome of the gang were executed. They 
 frequented a public-houfe at London-Wall, the 
 mafter of which kept a livery liable, fo that they 
 rode out at all hours, and robbed the ftages, as 
 they were coming into town. They took not only 
 money, but portmanteaus, &c. and diyided the 
 booty with Carter, the mafter of the livery ftable. 
 
 In this practice they continued a considerable 
 time, till they were apprehended for robbing the 
 mail, which we {hall have occafion to mention in 
 the fequel. 
 
 GEORGE SIMPSON was a native of Putney in, 
 Surry. His father was a wine-merchant, but be- 
 ing reduced in circumftances, removed into Lin- 
 colnfhire. Young Simpfon kept a public-houle 
 at Lincoln, and acted as a merifPs officer ; but 
 quitting the country, he came to London, and 
 was butler to Lord Caftlemain ; after which he 
 lived in feveral other creditable places. 
 
 He now became acquainted with Hawkins, in 
 company with whom he flopped the carriage of 
 Richard Weil, Efq. behind Buckingham houfe, 
 
 from
 
 2S8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 from whom they took a gold watch, and othef 
 valuable articles. 
 
 Soon after this he robbed the Portfmouth 
 coach, in company with Wilfon, when one of 
 the company tired at them. Thus they continued 
 their depredations on- the public, till one 'of their 
 alibciates, named Child, was executed at Aylef- 
 bury, and hung in chains, for robbing the mail. 
 This incenfed' them to fuch a degree, that they 
 determined to revenge the fuppofed infult by 
 committing a fimilar crime. 
 
 They mentioned their defign in the prefence of 
 Carter, the ftable keeper, who advifed them to 
 flop the mail from Harwich ; but this they de- 
 clined, becaufe the changing of the wind mull 
 render the time of its arrival uncertain. At length 
 It was determined that they would rob the Briftol 
 mail j and they let out on an expedition for that 
 purpofe. 
 
 It appeared on the trial that the boy who car- 
 ried the mail was overtaken at Slough, by a 
 countryman, who travelled with him to Langley- 
 Broom, where a perfon rode up to them and 
 turned back again. When pafiing through Coin- 
 brook they faw the fame man again, with two 
 others, who followed them at a fmall diflance, 
 and then pulling their v/iggs over their foreheads, 
 and holding handkerchiefs in their mouths, came 
 up with them, and commanded the poll-boy and 
 the countryman to come down a lane, where they 
 ordered them to quit their horfes, and,,then Haw- 
 kins, Simpfon and Wilfon tied them back to 
 back, and fattened them to a tree in a wet ditch, 
 fo that they were obliged to Hand in the water. 
 This being done, they took fuch papers as they 
 liked out of the Bath and Briftol bags, and hid 
 
 the refl in a. hedge. 
 
 They
 
 HAWKINS and SIMPSON /*r Robbery. 28$ 
 
 They now crofTed the Thames, and riding a 
 little way into Surry, put up their hprfes at an 
 inn in Bermondiey-ftreet. It was now about fix 
 in the morning, when they parted, and went dif- 
 ferent ways to a public-houfe in the Minorits^ 
 where they propo'fed to divide their ill-gotten 
 treafure. 
 
 The landlord being acquainted with the perfons, 
 and knowing the profefllon of" his guefts, fhewed 
 them a private room, and fupplied them with pen 
 and ink. Having equally divided the bank notes> 
 they threw the letters in the fire, and then went to 
 their lodgings in Green-Arbour-Court in the Old* 
 
 o o 
 
 Bailey. 
 
 A few days after this tranfaction they were 
 taken into cuilody, in the following manner. In- 
 formation having been given at the Poft Office, 
 that fufpicious people frequented the houfe of 
 Carter, the liable-keeper at London- Wall, fome 
 perfons were fent thither to make the neceflary 
 difcoveries. Wilfon happening to be there at 
 the time, fufpected their buiinefs, on' wjhich lie 
 abruptly retired, flipped through fome bye allies, 
 and got into the Moorgate corFee-houfe, which 
 he had occafionally uled for two years before, on 
 account of its being frequented by reputable 
 company, and -therefore lefs liable to be fearched 
 for fufpicious people. 
 
 He had not been long in the houfe before a 
 quaker mentioned the fearch that was making in 
 the neighbourhood, for the men who robbed the 
 mail. This fhocked him fo that he inftandy paid 
 his reckoning;, and going out at the back door, 
 went into Bedlam, where the melancholy fight- of 
 the objects around him, induced him to draw a 
 comparifon between their fi nation and his own j 
 
 VOL. I. No. 8. O o
 
 290 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 and he concluded that he was far more unhappy 
 through ti>e weight of" his guilt, than thofe poor 
 wretches whom it had pleafed God to deprive of 
 the ufe of their intellects. 
 
 Having reflected that it would not be fafe for 
 him to flay longer in London, he refolved to go 
 to Newcaftle by fea, and he was confirmed in this 
 resolution, on reflecting that a perfon \vho wiflied 
 his fafety had informed him that he 'and his COITH 
 panions were the parties fufpected of having 
 robbed the mail. This friend likewife. advifed 
 him to go to the Poll-Office, furrender, and turn 
 evidence ; hinting that if he did not, it was pro- 
 bable Siinpfon would : as he had asked fome 
 questions which feemcd to intimate fuch a defign. 
 
 Wilfon neglected this advice; but held his re - 
 folution of going to Newcaftle -, and with that in- 
 tention quitted Bedlam -, but by Moorgate coffee- 
 houfe he met the men he had icen at Carter's. 
 They turned and followed him : yet, unperceived 
 by them, he entered the coffee-houfe, while they 
 went under the arch of the gate, and if he had 
 returned by the door he entered, he would have 
 again efcaped them ; but going out of the fore- 
 door of the houfe, they took him into cuftody, 
 and conducted him to the Poft-office. 
 
 On his firfl examination he refufed to make 
 any confeffion : and on the following day, he 
 feemed equally determined to conceal the truth, 
 nil two circumftances induced him to reveal it. 
 In the firft place the Poll Mailer General pro- 
 mifed, that he fhould be admitted an evidence if 
 he would difcover his accomplices ; and one of 
 the clerks calling him afide, fhewed him a letter, 
 without any name to it, of which the following is 
 a copy : 
 
 "SIR.
 
 HAWKINS and SIMPSON /*r Robbery. 
 
 "SIR, 
 
 " I am one of tiofe perfons who robbed the 
 " mails, which I am forry for ; and, to make 
 <f amends, I -vill fecure my two companions as 
 " foon as may* be. He whole hand this fliall ap- 
 <f pear to be, will, I hope, be entitled to the re- 
 " ward and hij pardon." 
 
 As Wilfon knew this letter to be of Simpfon's 
 hand-writing, he thought himfelf juftified in 
 making a full difcovery, which he accordingly 
 did, in confequence of which his affociates were 
 apprehended at their lodging in the Old Bailey, 
 two days afterwards. At firfl they made an ap- 
 pearance of refinance, and threatened to (hoot 
 the peace-officers ; but the latter faying they were 
 provided with arms, the offenders yielded, and 
 were committed to Newgate. 
 
 On the trial, Hawkins endeavoured to prove 
 that he was in London at the time the mail was 
 robbed ; and one Fuller, of Bedfordbury, fwore 
 that he lodged at his houfe on that night. To 
 afcertain this, Fuller produced a receipt for thirty 
 fhillings, which he faid Hawkins then paid him 
 for horfe hire. 
 
 The judge defiring to look at that receipt, ob- 
 ferved that the body of it was written with an ink 
 of a different colour from that of the name at the 
 bottom : on which he ordered the note to be 
 handed to the jury, and remarked that Fuller's 
 teftimony cleferved no kind of credit. 
 
 After examining fome other witnefies, the 
 judge proceeded to fum up the evidence, in which 
 he was interrupted by a fingular occurrence, 
 which will be beft underftood by our giving it in 
 the words of the Ihort-hand writer. 
 
 O o 2 " My
 
 292 NEW NEWGATE CALANDAR. 
 
 Cf My ink, as it happened, was very bad, be- 
 fr ing thick at bottom, and thin and waterifl) at 
 " top , fo that according as I dipped my pen, 
 " the writing appeared very pale or pretty blacki 
 
 " Now, juft as the court was remarking on 
 " the difference of the ink in Fuller's receipt -, a 
 " gentleman who flood by me, perceiving Fpine- 
 " thing of the fame kind in my writing, defired 
 " to look upon my notes for a 'minute. As I was 
 " not aware of any ill confequence, I let him 
 " take the book out of my hand : when prefently 
 " fhewing it to his friend, See here, (faid he) 
 <f what difference there is in the colour of the 
 "fame ink!" His friend took it and fhe wed it 
 cc to another. Uneafy at this I fpoke to them to 
 " return me my book. They begged my par- 
 " don, and faid I fhould have it in a minute -, 
 " but this anfwer was no fooner given, than a 
 " curiofity fuddenly entered one of the jurymen 
 " who fat juft by, and he too begged a fight of 
 <c the book -, which, notwithstanding my impqr- 
 (( tunity, was immediately handed to him. He 
 V viewed it and gave it to the next, and fo it 
 " pafled from one to another, 'till the judge 
 " perceiving them very bufy, called to them, 
 
 <( _ Gentlemen, what are you doing ? what 
 
 <f book is that? They told him it was the writer's 
 tf book, and they were obferving how the fame 
 " ink appeared pale in one place, and black in 
 " another. You ought not, gentlemen, fays he, 
 * l to take notice of any thing, but what is pro- 
 fc duced in evidence. And, then y turning to 
 " me, demanded what I meant by fhewing that 
 " to the jury. I an'werd, that I could not fix 
 upon the perfons, for the gentlemen near me 
 ' were all ftrangcrs to n:e, and I was far from 
 
 'i ma-
 
 HAWKINS and SIMPSON for Robbery. 293 
 
 " imagining I fhould have any fuch occafion for 
 *' taking particular notice of them. His lord- 
 <f Ihip then re-affumed his charge to the jury, 
 " which being ended, they withdrew to confider 
 ^ of their verdict." 
 
 After flaying out about an hour, the jury re- 
 turned into court without agreeing on a verdict, 
 faying they could not be convinced that Fuller's 
 receipt was not genuine, merely on account of the 
 different colours of the ink. 
 
 In anfwer hereto the court intimated how many 
 witnefTes had fworn that Hawkins vvas abfent from 
 London ; to contradict all whom there was only 
 the evidence of Fuller, which was at leaft render- 
 ed doubtful by the ink appearing of two colours : 
 and it was fubmitted whether Fuller's fingle tefli- 
 mony ought to be held of equal validity with that 
 of all the oppofing parties. Hereupon the jury 
 went out of court, and on their return, gave a 
 verdict of <f guilty" againft both tlae prifoners. 
 
 After fentence of death they behaved as became 
 perfons in their unfortunate circumflances : Simp- 
 ion in particular appeared to be highly affected 
 with the awfulnefs of his fituation. 
 
 At the place of execution Hawkins addrefled 
 the furrounding multitude, acknowledging that 
 his fins had brought him to that lhameful end, 
 profefiing to die in charity with all mankind, and 
 begging the prayers of thofe who were witnefles 
 of his melancholy exit. He died with great dif- 
 ficulty ; but Simpfon was out of his pain alraoft 
 without a ftruggle. 
 
 Robbing the mail is a crime of fo enormous a 
 magnitude, that we are at a lofs to find language 
 in which to exprefs our abhorrence of it. It is 
 inconceivable what diftrefs may be occafioned by 
 the perpetration of a fact of this nature. Tradef- 
 
 men
 
 294 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 men who expect remittances by the poft may be 
 ruined by' their not arriving in time ; and the 
 bankruptcy of one may be the deftruction of 
 many. Hence, it is pofilble that hundreds of 
 honeit manufacturers and other dependents on 
 ihopkeepers, may furFer " through the wickednefs 
 of one man who is bafe enough to rob the mail. 
 
 Thofe who think on this curcumftance muft 
 iriudder with horror, if they have any concern 
 for the welfare of their fellow-creatures. It is no 
 wonder that our lav/s have provided for the pu- 
 nifliinent of this crime in the moft exemplary 
 manner ; and it is obfervable that it is lefs fre- 
 quent than that of any other fpecies of robbery. 
 This feerris to fhew how dangerous it is held even 
 by thieves ; for we cannot fuppofe that they are 
 reitrained from the commifllon of this crime more 
 than of others, by any fuperior motives of ho- 
 nefty, or regard for the public welfare. 
 
 With refpect to the cafe of the criminals in 
 Cjuefdon, it ^appears that they had taken every 
 precaution to prevent a difcovery ; but the all- 
 feeing eye of Heaven brought their moft fecret 
 tranfa<5tions to light. Wilfon's confcioufnefs of 
 guilt, when he faw the perfons from the Poft- 
 OrBce at London-Wall; his reflections when in 
 Bedlam, and his being afterwards taken by the 
 accident of spins; out at the wrong door of the 
 
 CJ C^ * * 
 
 coffee-houfe, are all circumftances well worthy 
 the notice of the reader. 
 
 From Simpfon's fending a letter, offering to 
 fecure his companions, we may learn the fallacy 
 of that proverb, which* fays, that there is " honour 
 ? f even among thieves." When once men have 
 broken the band of common honefty, when they 
 have declared war upon the public, there can be v 
 no fecurity that they will act with integrity to-. 
 
 wards
 
 HAWKINS and SIMPSON /cr Robbery. 295 
 
 wards each other. On the contrary, it is to be 
 prefumed that they will be friends no longer than 
 an outward mew of friendfhip may promote their 
 prefent intereft. 
 
 Upon the whole, the fate of thefe malefactors 
 fhould teach us that there can be no happinefs 
 independent of virtue ; and that combinations in 
 wickednefs mud be foon diffolved, from their 
 own nature. Wherefore let us be careful in the 
 choice of our company ; let us remember that 
 money obtained by difhpneft means will afford us 
 no fatisfacYion : and may we confider the. force of 
 that proverb of Solomon, " Riches profit not in 
 "the day of wrath! but righteoufnefs delivereth 
 < from death." 
 
 The above-mentioned malefactors were hung 
 in chains on Hounflow-Heath, after being exe- 
 cuted at Tyburn, on the 21 ft of May, 1722, 
 
 Particulars refpedtlng NATHANIEL JACKSON, who 
 was hanged for Robbery. 
 
 THIS malefactor was a native of Doncafter 
 in Yorkfhire, and his father dying while 
 he was- very young, left a fum of money for his 
 ufe in the hands of a relation who apprenticed 
 liirn to a filk-weaver in Norwich. He had fre- 
 quent difputes with his mafter, with whom he 
 lived three years and then ran away from him. 
 
 At length his guardian found out his retreat, 
 and fent to inform him that, as he was averfe to 
 bufmefs, his friends wifhed that a place might be 
 purchafed for him with the money left by his fa- 
 ther. But Jackfon being of an unfettled difpo- 
 fitic n, enlifted in thq anny, and was fent to Ire- 
 land,
 
 296 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 land, where he engaged in all thofe fcenes of low 
 debauchery by which the common foldiers are 
 too much diftinguifhed. 
 
 At length, being difgufted with his low condi- 
 tion, he ibiicited his difcharge, which having 
 obtained, he procured fome money of his friends,, 
 and gave fifteen guineas to be admitted into a 
 troop of dragoons ; but foon quarrelling with one 
 of his comrades, a duel enfued, in which Jack- 
 fori wounded the other in a mod horrid manner, 
 for which he was turned out of the regiment. 
 
 He now returned to England, and lived feme 
 time with his guardian in Yorkfhire ; but being 
 averfe to a life of fobriety, he foon went to Lon- 
 don, where he fpent, in the moil extravagant 
 manner, the little money he brought with him, 
 and was reduced to the utmofl diftrefs, when he 
 cafually met John Murphy, and Neal O 'Brian, 
 whom he had known in 1 1 eland. After they had 
 drank together, O'Brian produced. a confiderable 
 fum of money, faying, "You fee how I live : 
 " I never want money, and if you have but con- 
 " rage, and dare walk with me towards Hamp- 
 " iltad to night, I'll fhew you how eafy it is to 
 " get it." 
 
 As Jackfon and Murphy were both of diflb- 
 lute manners, and very poor, they were eafily 
 perfuaded to be concerned in this dangerous en- 
 terprize. Between Tottenham-Court-Road and 
 Hampflead they flopped a poor man named Den- 
 nis, from whom they took his coat, waiftcoat, 
 two fliirts, thirteen pence in money, and fome 
 other triffling articles j and then bound him to a 
 tree. No fooner were they gone, than he ftrug- 
 gled hard, and got loofe, and meeting a perfon 
 whom he knew, they purfucd them to a night- 
 houfe in the Hay-market, wl.ere Murphy and 
 
 Jackfon
 
 NATHANIEL JACKSON- for Robbery. 297 
 
 Jackfon were taken into cuftody, but O'Brian 
 made his efcape. 
 
 On their trial, as loon as Dennis had given his 
 teftimony, they owned the fact they had com- 
 mitted, in confequenee of which they received 
 fentcnce of death ; but Murphy obtained a re- 
 prieve. Jackfon's brother exerted all his influ- 
 ence to fave his life j but his endeavours proving 
 ineffectual, he fent him a letter to inform him of 
 ir, which was written in fuch an affecting man- 
 ner as to overwhelm his mind with the molt pug- 
 nent affliction. 
 
 While under fentence of death, Jackfon be- 
 haved in the mod penitent manner; confefled the 
 fins of his paft life with the deepeft figns of con- 
 trition ; was earned in his devotions, and made 
 every preparation for his approaching end. He 
 was executed at Tyburn oif the i8th of July, 
 1722. 
 
 It is obfervable, in the cafe of this malefactor, 
 that he fuffered for the firft robbery he ever com- 
 mitted, of which we have any account ; and that 
 his vices and extravagance had reduced him to 
 fuch a ftate of poverty, as to induce him to liden 
 to the rlrft temptation that was ever thrown in his 
 way. 
 
 Hence let the young and thoughtlefs guard a- 
 gainft the flighted appearance of evil. Let them 
 mun bad company as they would a pettilence : 
 let them learn the advantages of frugality, and 
 confider that a man who is temperate and pru- 
 dent, will have no temptation to be difhoneft. It 
 may he ufcful to keep in mind this text of fcrip- 
 ture, " The wicked fliall be cut off from the 
 ' earth, and the tranfgreflbrs Ihall be rooted out 
 " of it." 
 
 VOL. I. No. 8. P p Cafe
 
 .Cafe of THOMAS BUTLOGE, who was hanged for 
 dealing money and oiher Effects, in the houle 
 of his Mailer. 
 
 THIS offender was a native cf Ireland, 
 where he received a good education, and 
 was then apprenticed to a vintner in Dublin-, but 
 the houfe in which he lived not bt:ing of the molt 
 reputable kind, he became witnefs to fuch fcenes 
 ss had a natural tendency to debauch his morals. 
 
 Butloge's mailer having got c.onfiderably in 
 debt, came to England, and reiided Jbme time at 
 Cheiler, whither the apprentice was frequently 
 kntwith fuch remittances as the wife could fpare. 
 At length Butloge quitted his fervice, and came 
 to England with a view to fettle there ; but being 
 unfuccefsful in his endeavours to procure an eftab- 
 li foment, he returned to Dublin, where he en- 
 gaged in the fervice of a ihopkeepcr, whofe daugh- 
 ter he foon afterwards married. 
 
 He had now a fair profpeft of fuccefs before 
 him, as his wife's father propofed to have refign- 
 ed bufinefs in his favour-, but being of an un- 
 fettled difpofition, and having conceived an idea 
 of making his fortune in England, he could not 
 bring his mind to think of the regular purfuitof 
 trade. 
 
 Unhappily for Tiim, while he was amufing 
 himlelf with the imagination of his future great- 
 nefs, he received a letter from a relation in Eng- 
 land, inviting him thither, and promifing his in- 
 tereft to obtain him a place on which he might 
 live in a genteel manner. Butloge readily ac- 
 cepted this invitation, and immediately embark- 
 ing for England, foon arrived in London. 
 
 He
 
 THOMAS BUTLOGE for Stealing* 299 
 
 He now rook lodgings at the court end of the 
 town, and living in a gay ftile, foon fpent all the 
 money he had brought with him from Ireland ; 
 and his relation not bem;/ able to obtain the place 
 for him which he had expected, he was reduced 
 to the necefluy of going to fervice, on which he 
 entered into that of Mr. Langlie, a French gen- 
 tleman. 
 
 He had not been long in his new place, when 
 Mr. Langlie, going to church on a Sunday, re- 
 collected that he had forgot to lock his bureau ; 
 in which he had depofited a fum of money; 
 whereupon he went home, and found Butloge in 
 the room where the money was left. When Mr. 
 Langlie had counted his cam, the other afked 
 him if he miffed any thing, and the matter an- 
 fwered one guinea -which Butloge faid he had 
 found by the fide of the bureau-, whereupon his 
 matter gave him two millings, in approbation of 
 this inftance of his honefty. 
 
 Mr. Langhe went to Chelfea in the afternoon j 
 and during his abfence Butloge broke open his 
 bureau, robbed it of all the money, and leveral 
 other valuable effects, and then took a horfe, 
 which he had hired for a gentleman to go to 
 Chefter, and let off on his way to Ireland. 
 
 When Mr. Langlie returned in the evening, 
 he difcovered the lofs he had fuftained, on which 
 he applied to lord Gage, who wrote to the poft- 
 mafter of Chefter to ftop the delinquent , in con- 
 fequence of which he was apprehended with the 
 ftolen goods in his poffeflion, and fent to London 
 to take his dial, which happened foon afterwards 
 at the Old Bailey, when he was capitally con- 
 victed. 
 
 After he had received fentence of death he 
 Acknowledged that he was not tempted by want 
 
 Pp 2 tO
 
 3 co NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 to the commiffion of the crime which had brought 
 him into fuch deplorable c ire urn dances j but that 
 the vanity of appearing as a gentleman had been 
 one principal inftigation : and he was encouraged 
 by the conlideration that Mr. Langlie would (oon 
 return to France, fo that there would be no per- 
 fon to profecute him. He fubmitted to his un- 
 happy lot with refignation, declaring that the 
 thoughts of death did not fo much terrify him, as 
 the reflection on the diigrace that he had brought 
 on his family. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn, on the iSth of 
 July, 1722. 
 
 From the cafe of Butloge we may fee the pro-r 
 priety of parents making choice of fuch profef- 
 fions for their children as will not necefiarily ex- 
 pofe them to temptations. The fcenes he was 
 witnefs to during his apprenticeihip had, as we 
 have obferved a natural tendency to debauch his 
 manners , and though they did not abfolutely 
 make a thief of him, yet they prepared his rnind 
 for the reception of the firil ill impreffion that 
 iliould be made on it. The poet fays, 
 
 Children, like tender ofiers, take the bow ; 
 And as they firft are fafhionecj always grow. 
 
 And to this obfervation the moralift may add, 
 that " Nothing is fo likely to contaminate the 
 * : mind, as the feeing others proceed in the ways 
 " of pleafurable iniquity without cOntroul." 
 
 The almoft immediate fate of this man, confe- 
 quent on the robbing his mailer, fhould teach 
 fervants in general the propriety of behaving with 
 fidelity to their pruteclors : and his dealing Mr, 
 Langlie's money To foon after receiving a gratuity 
 from him' for his fuppofed integrity, exhibits an 
 
 inftance
 
 MATTHIAS BRINSDEN fer Murder. 301 
 
 inltance of ingratitude which we hope will never 
 be imitated. 
 
 Of late years we have feldom known an inftance 
 of a fervant's robbing his mailer, and being con- 
 vicled, but he has fufFered the utmoft rigour of 
 the law : and indeed it is proper it fhould be fo ; 
 for an offence of this nature is one of the mod 
 enormous crimes of which any perfon can be 
 guilty. 
 
 Butloge feems to have been, in fome degree, a 
 facrifke 10 his own pride and ambition. Let thofe 
 who are tempted to act as he did, remember that 
 ** A man's pride (hall bring him low; bui honour 
 *' fhall uphold the humble in fpirit." 
 
 Particulars refpefting MATTHIAS BRINSDEN, who 
 was hanged for Murder, 
 
 IN the month of September, 1722, Matthias 
 Brinfden was indicted at the Old Bailey, for 
 the murder of Hannah, his wife, on the i6th of 
 July preceding. 
 
 7 his offender ferved his time to a cloth-drawer 
 in Blackfriars, named Beech, who dying, was 
 fucceeded by Mr. Byfield, who left the bufmefs 
 to Brinfden, who married Byfield's widow; but 
 how long fhe lived with him is uncertain. 
 
 After the death of this wife he married a fecond, 
 by whom he had ten children, fome of the older 
 ot whom were brought up to work at his bufmefs. 
 At length he was ieized with a fever fo violent 
 that it diftracted him ; fo that he was tied down to 
 his bed. This misfortune occafioned fuch a de- 
 cay in his trade, that on his recovery he carried 
 news -papers, and did any other bufmefs he could 
 (o fupport his family, 
 
 Going
 
 302 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Going home about nine o'clock one evening, 
 his wife, who was fitting on a bed, fuckling a 
 young child, afked him what (he fhould have tor 
 iupper ; to which he anfwercd, *' bread and 
 " cheefe Can't you cat that as well as the chil- 
 46 ciren ?" She replied ; " No, I want a- bit of 
 " meat." -" But (faid he) 1 have no money to 
 c * buy you any.*' In anfwer to which fhe faid, 
 " You know I have had but little to-day :" and 
 ibme farther words arifing betweeeri them, he 
 {tabbed her under the left bread with a knif*. 
 
 The deed was no fooner perpetrated than one 
 of the daughters fnatched the infant from the mo- 
 ther's breaft, and another cried out, " O Lord ! 
 " father, you have killed my mother." The pri- 
 foner now fent for fonie bafilicon and fugar, 
 which he applied to the wound, and then made 
 his efcape. 
 
 A furgeon being fent for found that the wound 
 was mortal -, and the poor woman died foon after 
 he 'came, and within half an hour of the time the 
 wound was given. 
 
 In the interim the murderer had retreated to 
 the houfe of Mr. King, a barber at Shadwel!, 
 whence, on the following day, he fent a letter to 
 one of his daughters, and another to a woman of 
 his acquaintance , and in confequence of thefe 
 letters he was difcovered, taken into cuflody, car- 
 ried before a magi (irate, and com nutted to take 
 his trial for the murder. 
 
 When on trial, he urged in his defence, that 
 his wife was in fome degree intoxicated, that fhe 
 wanted to go out and drink with her companions, 
 and that while he endeavoured to hinder her, me 
 threw hcrfclf againft the knife; and received an 
 accidental wound. 
 
 How.
 
 MATTHIAS BRINSDEN for Murder. 303 
 
 However, the evidence againft him was fo 
 clear, that his allegations had no weight, and he 
 received fentence of death After conviction he 
 became ferious and refigned, and being vifited by 
 une of his daughters who had |iven evidence 
 againft him, he took her in his amis, .and faid, 
 " God forgive me, I have robbed }iou of your 
 " mother: be a good child, and rather die than 
 " fteal : never be in a paffion ; but curb' -your an- 
 " ger, and honor your miftrefs ; fhe will be as a 
 " father and mother to you. Farewel, my dear 
 " child : pray ror your rather, and think of him 
 " as favourably as you can." 
 
 On his way to the place of execution the 
 daughter above-mentioned was permitted to go 
 inro the cart to take her laft farewel of him, a 
 1'cene that was greatly affecting to the fpectators, 
 
 As fome reports very unfavourable to this ma- 
 kfactor had been propagated during his confine- 
 ment, he defired the ordinary of Newgate to read 
 the following fpeech juft before he was lauLched 
 into eternity. 
 
 " T was born of kind parents, who gave me 
 JL learning ; I went apprentice to a fine-draw- 
 er. I had often jars, which might jncreafe a na 
 rural wafpifhnefs in my temper. I fell in love 
 with Hannah, my laft wife, and after much dif- 
 ficulty won her, me having five fuitors courting 
 her at the fame time. We had ten children Chair 
 of them dead) and I believe we loved each other 
 dearly ; but often quarrelled and fought. 
 
 *' Pray, good people, mind, I had nc- malice 
 againft her, nor thought to kill her two minutes 
 before the deed ; but J defigned only to make her 
 obey me thoroughly, which the fcripture fays, all 
 w ivts Ihouid do. This I thought I had done, 
 
 when
 
 304 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 when I cut herfcull on Monday, but '(he was the 
 fame again by Tuefday. 
 
 " Good people, I requeft you to obferve, that 
 the world has fpitefuliy given out, that I carnally 
 and inceftuoufly lay with my eldeft daughter. I 
 here folemnly declare, as I am entering into the 
 prefence of God, I never knew whether (he was 
 man or woman fince (he was a babe. I have often 
 taken her in my arms, often kiffed her, fome- 
 titnes given her a cake or a pye, when me did 
 any particular fervjce, beyond what came to her 
 mare; but never lay with her, or carnally knew 
 her, much lefs had a child by her. But when a 
 man is in calamities, and is hated like me, the 
 women will make furmifes be certainties. 
 
 " Good chriftians, pray for me ! I deferve 
 death : I am willing to die; for, though my fins 
 are great, God's mercies are greater." 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn, on the 24th of 
 September, 1722. 
 
 If any credit is to be given to Brinfden's lad 
 iblemn declaration, his wife as well as himfelf, 
 feems to have been of an unhappy difpofnion : 
 lince they could not refrain from quarrelling, 
 though they had a fincere regard for each other. 
 We fear this to be too commonly the cafe in the 
 married (late , but it is a lamentable confideration 
 that thofe who have engaged to be the mutual 
 comfort and fupport of each other through life, 
 mould render the rugged path flill more difficult, 
 by their mutual contentions and animofities. 
 
 It is the part of a hufband to protect his wife 
 from every injury and infult; to be at once a fa- 
 ther and a guardian to her ; and fo far from ill- 
 treating her himfelf, he ought to be particularly 
 watchful that me be not ill-ufcd by others : the 
 
 ten-
 
 MATTHIAS BRINSDEN for Murder. 305 
 
 tender fcx has a natural, claim to the protection 
 of the more robuft. Indeed it appears, as if one 
 reafon why providence bellowed fuperior ftrength 
 on the man, was for the defence and protection 
 of the woman. 
 
 On the other hand women mould be grateful 
 for this protection ; and in the emphatical words 
 of St. Paul, wives mould learn to be " obedient 
 " to their huftunds in all things." 
 
 It is a very unfortunate circumftance when per- 
 fons of oppofite fentimcnts happen to be united in 
 wedlock : but, even in this cafe, people of fenfe 
 and humanity will learn to bear with the failings 
 of each other, confidering that much allowance 
 is to be made for their own faults. They will 
 endeavour to make the lot which has befallen 
 them more fuppcrtable than it otherwife would 
 be; and, in time, by rhe conftant wilh to pleafe, 
 they may even conciliate the affections of each 
 other, and mutual happinefs may arife where it 
 is lead expected. 
 
 In general, however, a coincidence of temper, 
 and a purity ot manners, added to a facred regard 
 to religious duties, is thct greateft kcurity for hap- 
 pinefs in the married (late. Beautiful are the lines 
 of the poet : 
 
 Two kindeft fouls alone fhould meet, 
 'Tis friendfhip makes their bondage fweet, 
 
 And feeds their mutual loves: 
 Bright Venus, on her rolling throne, 
 Is drawn by gentle birds alone, 
 
 And. cupids yoke the doves. 
 
 Though mutual affection greatly conduces to 
 conjugal happinefs, yet fobriety and honefiy are 
 alfo neccffary ingredients for fweetening the matri- 
 monial cup. 
 
 VOL. I. No. 8. Q^q Ac-
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALLENDAR. 
 
 Account of the Trial of MARGARET FISHER, for 
 privately ftealing ; with the fingular evidence 
 given againft her. 
 
 IN" September 1722, Margaret Fifher was in- 
 dicted at the Old Bailey for privately ftealing 
 thirteen guineas from the perfon of Daniel Mac- 
 donald. 
 
 As our readers have a claim upon us for mat- 
 ters of entertainment as well as inftrudion, we 
 are ready to gratify them, as we mail always be, 
 when it can be done without grofsly violating the 
 laws of decency, and we infert the following for 
 the fake of the whimfical fingularity of the profe- 
 cutor's evidence, which was delivered in the fol- 
 lowing terms. 
 
 " And leek yer loardfnip, I had juft taken my 
 wages, thirteen guineas in goud, and was gawn 
 alang King-ftrate, in Waftmanfter, when 1 mac 
 \vi' this fow quean at the bare, and fhe fpeird 
 where I was gawn ; I taud her hame. She faid, 
 gen I wad ga wi* her tull Joannh Davis's hoofe, Ihe 
 wad gi* me a drame, fir, for, in troth, me tuck 
 me tor a poor gawkey, bofs- headed chiel, and 
 leek yer loardmip. Sa fne tuck haud o'my haind, 
 and led me a gat I kenna' reet weel. And when 
 we came tull Joanny Davis's hoof?, fhe caud for 
 iViUckle beer and braindy, and gard me as bung 
 as a fwobe, and leek yer hoanour. I ftaid there 
 wi' her a pratty while ; and thane, fir, I pit my 
 haind intull my bricks, to feel for money to pay 
 the rackoning ; but the deel a bawbie could I find 
 tor it was aw tint. And when I fpeird about it, 
 they glowred, and taud me, gen I wanna' tack 
 my felf awaw, they wad gar me ga, va' a deel to 
 
 mey
 
 MARGARET FISHER -for Stealing. 307 
 
 me ; and fa fir, they dang me fu' fair, and turned 
 me oot at the back door, intull the {Irate, and I 
 rambled aboot, and cou' na' find the hoofe agen : 
 and the watchmen mat wi' me, and carried me 
 intull the roond-hoofe. And thare I taud 'em hbo 
 I had been roabed. The neift moarning I gade 
 and food oot Joan-ny Davis's hoofe, but me was 
 rin away and the prafoner too.. But at neet, 
 about faven a cloke, I mat wi' this ampudent 
 betch at the bare/ and tuck her up, I ken weel 
 enuh that me muft ha* my goud, for na faul alfe 
 was wi' me but Joanny Davis, wha brote what we 
 
 cawd for. Let her denee it an me can fomc- 
 
 body (but I kenna' whaw it was,) offered me fax 
 guineas in my hainil to make the maker up, but 
 1 wanna' tack it." 
 
 In her defence the prifoner alledged, that meet- 
 ing with a coachman and the profecutor, the form- 
 er afked her to drink -, on which they went to the 
 houfe of Mrs. Davis ; but that me fat on the op- 
 pofite fide of the room that the profecutor did, 
 and had not robbed him; and that nothing was 
 found.upon her when {he was fearched. 
 
 But the jury not believing her allegations, and 
 as Hie had no perlbns to appear in behalf of her 
 character, (he was found guilty, and received fen- 
 tencc of death. However, me pleaded that me 
 was with child; and a jury of matrons finding 
 this to be the fad, me had the good fortune to 
 be refpited, and afterwards pardoned. 
 
 The remark to be made on this cafe arifes from 
 the folly of thofe men who will fuffer themfelves 
 to be robbed by the women of the town. No- 
 thing is more common than for countrymen to 
 be picked up by thefe abandoned creatures, who 
 entice them to drink, and then ftrip them of their 
 
 2 whole
 
 308 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 whole property. One would jmagine that the 
 repeated accounts of thefe tran factions given in 
 the newfpapers might be fufficient to guard all 
 men againft the artifices of thefe wretches : but 
 experience proves the contrary. Ic may therefore 
 be proper to caution our readers from a higher 
 authority than that of the newfpapers. 
 
 " My fon attend unto my wifciom ; and bow 
 thine ear to my underftanding : that thou 
 " mayeft regard discretion, and ihat thy lips may 
 " keep knowledge : for the lips of a ftrange wo- 
 " man drop as a honey-comb, and her mouth is 
 " fmoother than oil : but her end is bitter as 
 "wormwood, fharp as a two edged fuord: her 
 ** feet go down to death , her fteps take hold on, 
 " hell." Proverbs, chap. v. firft five verfes. 
 
 Account of ROBERT WILKINSON, JAMES LIN- 
 COLN, and THOMAS MILKSOP, who were hang- 
 ed for Murder. 
 
 THESE offenders were tried for a murder 
 which arofe from the following circum- 
 ftance. 
 
 Having agreed to commit a robbery together, 
 they flopped a gentleman's coach on the road to- 
 Kenfington, and having robbed him of a fum of 
 money, ran off-, and foon afterwards meeting a 
 Chelfea penfioner who had a. gun in his hand, 
 they ordered him to deliver ft; but the man re- 
 fufing to do it, Wilkinfon ftabbed him repeat- 
 edly through the back with a hanger ; ana when- 
 they law the man was dead, they haltily decamp- 
 ed,
 
 WILKINSON, &c. for Murder. 309 
 
 ed, committed fome robberies on coaches in the 
 road, and then went to London. 
 
 On the following day they were apprehended 
 and committed to prifon j and being foon af- 
 terwards brought to their trial at the Old Bailey, 
 they were convicted, and received fentence of 
 death. 
 
 It will be now proper to give fuch an account 
 of thefe offenders as we have been able to colled:* 
 ROBERT WILKINSON was the fon of poor pa- 
 rems in St. Giles's, and having miffed the advan- 
 tages of education, became an ailbciate of coach- 
 men, carmen, and others the loweft of the peo- 
 ple. At length he grew to be a dextrous boxer, 
 and frequented Heckley-in-the-Hole, and other 
 blackguard places in the neighbourhood of 
 London, 
 
 After this he commenced footpad, and com- 
 mitted a great variety of robberies, attended with 
 many circumilances of cruelty. Frequently did 
 he knock men down with bludgeons ; and when 
 he had robbed women, it was a common practice 
 with him to drip them naked, bind them to trees, 
 and leave them in that calamitous fituation. 
 
 He continued this way of life a^one for fome 
 years, and then connected hinifeif with the other 
 villains whofe names are mentioned in this nar- 
 rative. 
 
 JAMES LINCOLN was likewife born of mean pa- 
 rents, nor was any more care taken of his edu- 
 cation than of Wilkinfon's. For fome time he 
 ferved the Hackney-coachmen and carmen, and 
 afterwards committed an immenfe number of 
 footpad robberies in the roads near London ; and 
 fo frequent were his depredations of this kind, 
 that honelt men were afraid to pafs alone about 
 their lawful buiinefs. 
 
 He
 
 3 io NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 He had been fo fuccefsful in his adventures* 
 and had fo often efcaped detection, that he grew 
 fo hardened as to watch four nigts at the end of 
 Queen-ftreet, Lincoln's- inn-fields, to rob the 
 duke of Newcaftle of his George, though he 
 knew that his grace had always a number of fer- 
 vants in his train. 
 
 Being difappointed of this booty, he went on 
 foot to Hyde-park, where he robbed a gentlemen 
 in his carriage, and eluded all purfuit. The mo- 
 ney he acquired by his robberies was fpent in the 
 moil extravagant manner ; and at length he be- 
 came acquainted with the other fubjects of this 
 narrative, and was concerned in the crime which 
 ended in their mutual ruin. 
 
 THOMAS MILKSOP was a native of London, 
 and was bound apprentice to a vintner, in which 
 ftation he became familiar to fome fccnes of irre- 
 gularity that had a natural tendency to corrupt 
 his morals. When the term of his apprentice- 
 Ihip was expired, he attached himfelf to fome 
 abandoned women, and got connected with an 
 infamous gang of houfebreakers and other thieves, 
 who committed numberlefs depredations on the 
 public. 
 
 Milkfop having, by one of his night-robberies, 
 acquired a confiderable fum of money, bought a 
 horfe, and rode out in the character af a highway- 
 man ; but not meeting with any fuccefs in this 
 way, he returned to his former practices, and then 
 engaged with a gang, of which Wilkinion and 
 Lincoln were two, and was concerned in a great 
 number of other facts, befides that which brought 
 him to a fatal end. 
 
 The behaviour of thefe malefactors under fen- 
 tence of death was rather hardened. They had 
 been guilty of a great number of offences, for 
 
 which
 
 OAKY, LEVEE and FLOOD fir Robbery. 3 1 1 
 
 which they did not appear to have a proper con- 
 cern. Such was the conduct of Wilkinfon, that 
 the Ordinary of Newgate refufed to adminifter 
 the facrament to him, on which he faid if he was 
 not allowed to go to heaven with others, he would 
 find the way alone. Lincoln profeffed himfelfa 
 Roman Catholic , and Milkfop, among his other 
 offences, particularly lamented the dommitting a 
 rape on a poor woman whom he robbed near 
 Caen- wood*. 
 
 Thefe offenders fuffered death at Tyburn, on 
 the 24th of September, 1722. 
 
 There is nothing fo remarkable in the cafe of 
 thele criminals as the ill confequences refulting 
 from a want of education, and the being witnels 
 to fcenes of debauchery. The former was the 
 ,cafe of Wilkinfon ancl Lincoln, and the latter of 
 Milkfop. From their fate then, let parents, in 
 whatever fphere of life, be taught to give their 
 children as good an education as is in their power; 
 and be particularly careful not to place them in 
 fituations liable to corrupt their morals. It is one 
 of the moft excellent parts of the moft excellent 
 prayer in the world, " Lead us not into temp- 
 " tation." 
 
 Account of RICHARD OAKY, JOHN LEVEE, and 
 MATTHEW FLOOD, who were hanged for a 
 Robbery. 
 
 RICHARD OAKY was a native of London, 
 and bound apprentice to a taylor, with 
 
 * Caen-Wood is the feat of Lord Mansfield, 
 and fituated between Hampftead and Highgate. 
 
 whom
 
 312 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 whom he ferved about two years, and then run- 
 ning away, got into company with a fet of black- 
 guard boys who procured a miferable fubfiftance 
 by picking of pockets-, and then they proceeded 
 to the practice of cutting off the pockets of 
 women. 
 
 In order to do this effectually, one of them 
 ufcd to trip up the woman's heels, while the 
 other cut off the pocket, and they generally got 
 out of the reach of detection before the party 
 robbed could recover her legs. 
 
 Thefe kind .of robberies were very common 
 formerly, but of late years they have been very 
 feldom practifed. 
 
 Many of Oaky's aflbciates belonging to Jona- 
 than Wild's gang, that infernal villain had caufcd 
 il-veral of them to be hanged, when he could 
 make no farther advantage of them. Having 
 thus loft his old acquaintance, he became con- 
 nected' with a woman of the town, who taught 
 him the following finguhr method of robbery. 
 
 They uled to walk through the ftreets, the 
 woman going a little before Oaky, and when fhe 
 obierved a lady walking near where a coach was 
 turning, flie uled to catch her in her arms, cry- 
 incr, " Take care, madam, you will be run over;" 
 and in the interim Oakey was certain to cut off 
 her pocket: but this way of life did not laft long, 
 for this abandoned woman foon after died, in 
 confequence of forne bruifes me received from a 
 fellow fhe had ill treated : and on her death Oaky 
 followed the practice of fnatching of pockets 
 w.thout a partner, and became one of the rnoit 
 dextrous in his profeffion. 
 
 Not long after this he became acquainted with 
 fcvcral houfebreakers, who periuade,! him to fol- 
 low their courfe of life, as more profitable than 
 
 fteal.
 
 OAKY, LEVEE, & FLOOD- for Robbery. 313 
 
 dealing of pockets. In the firft attempt they 
 were fuccefsful ; but the fecond, in which two 
 others were concerned with him, was the break- 
 ing open a (hop in the Borough, from whence 
 they ftole a quantity of callimancoes ; for which 
 offence Oaky was apprehended ; on which he 
 impeached his accomplices, one of whom was 
 hanged, and the other tranfported, on his evi- 
 dence. 
 
 Deterred from the thoughts of houfe-breaking 
 by this adventure, Oaky returned for a while: to 
 his old employment, and then became acquaint- 
 ed with a man called Will the failor, when their 
 plan of robbery was this : Will, who wore a 
 fword, ufed to affront perfons in the ftreets, and 
 provoke them till they ftripped to fight with him ; 
 and then Oaky ufed to decamp with their cloaths. 
 However thefe affociates in iniquity foon quar- 
 relled and parted, and Oaky, who by this time 
 was an accompliftied thief, entered into Jonathan 
 .Wild's gang. 
 
 JOHN LEVEE was the fon of a French gentle- 
 man who refided fome time in England during 
 the reign of king Charles the fecond, and taught 
 the French language to three natural fons of that 
 prince ; but he retired to Holland, and there 
 died, loon after the advancement of king Wil- 
 liam to the throne. Young Levee was educated 
 at the expence of the French proteftants in Lon- 
 don, and was then bound apprentice to a captain 
 in the royal navy. 
 
 He ferved as a failor for fome years, and was 
 prefent at the defeat of the Spanifh fleet in the 
 Mediterrenean, in queen Anne's reign ; and after- 
 wards failed under admiral Norris, in his fruitlefs 
 expedition againft the Ruffian fleet in the Baltick. 
 
 VOL. I. No. 8. R r When
 
 3 1 4 NEW NEWGATE CALLENDAR 
 
 "When the admiral came back to England, 
 Levee's friends recommended him to the fervice 
 of a merchant in Thames-ftreec, in the capacity 
 of under-clerk, for which he was not ill-qualified ; 
 but being of too unfettled a temper to apply him- 
 felf to bufinefs, he declined this opportunity of 
 providing for himfelf, and foon fpent the little 
 money he was poflefied of. 
 
 Going one evening to a public-houfe in Hoi- 
 born, he met with fome thieves of Jonathan 
 Wild's gang, who foon perfuaded him to join 
 them in their lawlefs depredations, which at 
 length brought him to deftruclion. 
 
 "".MATTHEW FLOOD was the fon of parents of 
 good character, and born at Shadwell. He was 
 apprenticed to a lighterman, with whom he lived 
 a confiderable time : but being averfe to a life of 
 lobour, his mafter and he parted by joint confent ; 
 and foon afterwards he became acquainted with 
 Oaky and Levee, and their diffolute companions. 
 The robberies committed by thir- gang are too 
 numerous for recital : they were for fome time 
 the terror of travellers near London. We (hall 
 mention only one robbery exclufive of that for 
 which they fuffered. 
 
 They (topped a coach between Carnberwell 
 and London, in which were five men and a wo- 
 man. The men faid they would deliver their 
 inoney, but begged they would not fearch, as 
 the lady was with child. Among the gang was 
 Bluefkin, * who holding a hat, received the mo- 
 ney the pafiengers put into it, which appeared to 
 be a considerable fum, but on examination it was 
 
 found 
 
 t An account of this malefactor will appearin 
 t|ie following pages.
 
 OAKY, LEVEE, & FLOOD for Robbery. 315 
 
 found to be chiefly halfpence. The gang fuf- 
 pected chat Bluefkin had defrauded them, as it 
 was not the firft time he had cheated his fellow- 
 thieves : but they were greatly mortified that they 
 had neglected to fearch the coach, when they af- 
 terwards learnt that there were three hundred 
 pounds in it. 
 
 Some time after this Oaky, Levee, Flood and 
 Bluefkin, flopped colonel Cope and Mr. Young 
 in a carriage, on their return from Kampftead, 
 and robbed them of their watches, rings and mo- 
 ney. Information of this robbery was lent to Jo- 
 nathan Wild, who caufed the parties to be ap- 
 prehended ; and Bluefkin being admitted an evi- 
 dence, they were tried, convicted, fentenced, and 
 ordered for execution. 
 
 After conviction their behaviour was exceed- 
 ingly proper for perfons in their calamitous fitu- 
 ation. They did not flatter themfelves with vain 
 hopes of a pardon ; but exerted themfelves by 
 every act of devotion, to make a proper prepara- 
 tion for their approaching end. 
 
 At the lad fcene ef their -lives they addrefied 
 the fpectators, advifmg them to take warning by 
 their fatal end. 
 
 Oaky faid that what gave him more concern 
 than all his other offences was the burning a will 
 which he found with fame money and rings in a 
 pocket which he had cut off from a lady's fide; 
 a circumftance which had proved highly detrimen- 
 tal to the owne'r. 
 
 Thefe offenders fuffered at Tyburn, on the 8th 
 of February, 1723. 
 
 In this, as in almofl every other inftance before 
 us, we fee that the ways of vice lead to deft ruc- 
 tion : to prefent difgrace, certain death, and per- 
 petual infamy. We learn alfo the falmood of 
 R r 2 that
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALLENDAR. 
 
 that common maxim that there is " honour a- 
 " mong thieves." Oaky became an evidence 
 againft his affociates, in confequence of which ' 
 one of them was hanged, and the other tranfporc- 
 ed. After this Bluefkin became an evidence a- 
 gainft Oaky and his two companions, all of 
 \vhom fuffered the utmoil rigour of the law. 
 Jonathan Wild made tools of thele poor wretches 
 for a while , and when they had run their career, 
 he gave them up to public juftice. ... 
 
 What a picture does this fu-n:fh of the, calami- 
 tous life of a thief, who has not one friend in 
 whom he can confide, nor can he think himfelf 
 in fecurity even for a fingle moment ! The terrors 
 of his confcience muft for ever haunt him : deep 
 muft fly from his eyes, and peace from his breaft. 
 The gallows muft be continually in his view, and 
 every previous hour of his life muft be imbittered 
 by reflecting on the difgraceful one that is to 
 end it. 
 
 Shun then the paths of vice, " keep the com- 
 ' mandments of God -, and write them upon the 
 " table of thine heart. Whofo finneth againft 
 <l God wrongeth his own foul; and all they that 
 " hate him love death.'* 
 
 Cafe of CHRISTOPHER LAYER, Efq. who was 
 hanged for High-Troafon. 
 
 MR. LAYER was born of .very refpecV 
 able parents, and received a liberal educa- 
 tion, which being compleated at the Univerfity, 
 he was entered a ftudent of the honourable fociety 
 of the Inner Temple. After the cuftomary time 
 he was called to the bar, entered on the profeffion 
 
 of
 
 CHR. LAYER for High Treafon. 3 1 7 
 
 of a counfellor at law, and had fo much practice 
 that he feemed to be in the high road of making 
 a large fortune. 
 
 Francis Atterbury, bifhop of Rochester, had 
 been difabled from holding his preferments in the 
 church, by an act of parliament patted in the 
 year 1722, and was baniflied from England for 
 life for his treafonable practices : and about this 
 period feveral other perfons were concerned in 
 fimilar defigns, among whom counfellor Layer 
 was one of the molt diitinguifhed. 
 
 This infatuated man made a journey to Rome, 
 where he held feveral conferences with the Pre- 
 tender, to whom he promifed that he would effect 
 fo fecrct a revolution in England, that no perfon 
 in authority fhould be appriied of the fcheme till 
 it had actually taken place. 
 
 Imprefied with the idea that it was poffible to 
 carry his fcheme into execution, he came to Eng- 
 land with a determination to effect it. His plan 
 was to hire an afTaffin to murder the king on his 
 return from Kenfington j and this being done, the 
 other parties engaged in the plot were to feize 
 the guards; and the prince of Wales and his 
 children, and the great officers of ftate, were to 
 be feized and confined during ;he confufion that 
 fuch an event woufd naturally produce. 
 
 Among others concerned in this ftrange fcheme 
 was lord Grey; an antient nobleman of the Ro- 
 man Catholic religion, who died a prifoner in the 
 Tower before the necefTary legal proceedings 
 againft him could take place. 
 
 Mr. Layer having fettled a correfpondence with 
 feveral Roman Catholics, Nonjurors, and other 
 perfons difafFected to the government, he engaged 
 a fmall number of dilbanded foldiers, who were 
 to be the principal actors in the intended tragedy. 
 
 The
 
 ji8 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The counfellor met thefe foldiers at a public-houfe 
 at Stratford in EfTex, where he gave them the ne- 
 ceflary inftructions for feizing the king on his re- 
 turn from the palace, and even fixed on the day 
 when the plan was to be carried into execution, 
 
 Some of the people of the public-houfe having 
 overheard the trealonable converfation, fpoke of 
 it publicly in the neighbourhood ; and fome other 
 circumftances of fufpicion arifing, Mr. Layer was 
 taken into cuftody by one of the king's mefTen- 
 gers, in confequence of a warrant from the fecre- 
 tary of ftate. 
 
 At this time Mr. Layer had two women in 
 keeping, one in Southampton Buildings, and the 
 other in Queen-fteeet, to both of whom he had 
 given intimations of the fcheme he had in hand. 
 The lodgings of thefe women being fearched, 
 fuch a number of treafonable papers were found, 
 that the intentions of the couniellor appeared evi- 
 dent. When he was apprized that his papers 
 were feized, and the women bound to give evi- 
 dence againft him, he difpatched a mefienger to 
 the fecretary of ftate, informing him that he 
 would make a difcovcry of all he knew, if he 
 might be permitted the ufe of pen, ink, and pa- 
 per. This requifition was inftandy complied 
 with, and it was the prevailing opinion that he 
 would have been admitted an evidence againft 
 his accomplices, if he had made the promifed 
 diicovery : but it will appear that he had no fuch 
 intention. 
 
 Behind the houfe of the mefienger in which he 
 was confined there was a yard, which communi- 
 cated with the yard of a puolic-houle adjoining, 
 and Mr. Layer thought, if he could get from his 
 confinemenr, it would be no difficult matter to 
 eicape through the t (i p-room of the alc-houle, 
 
 ' ****'* i 
 
 where
 
 CHR. LAYER for High Treafon. 319 
 
 where it was not probable that he Ihould be 
 known. 
 
 Having digefted his plan, he cut the blankets 
 of his bed into pieces, and tied them together, 
 and in the dufk of the evening dropped from his 
 window; but falling on a bottle-rack in the yard, 
 he overfet it; and the noife occafioned by the 
 breaking of the bottles was fuch that the family 
 was alarmed ; but Layer elcaped during the COH- 
 fufion occafioned by this accident. 
 
 Almoft diffracted by the lols of his prifoner, 
 the meifenger went in fearch of him, and finding 
 that he had taken a boat at the Horfe-Ferry, 
 Weftminfter, he eroded the water after him, pur- 
 fued him through St. George's-Fields, and catch- 
 ed him at Newington-Butts. Having brought 
 him back to his houfe, and guarded him pro- 
 perly for that night, he was examined by the 
 fecretary of ftate on the following day, and com- 
 mitted to Newgate. 
 
 The king and council now determined that no 
 time fhould be loft in bringing Layer to a trial: 
 wherefore a writ was iffued from the Crown- 
 Office, di reded to the fherifF of Effex, com- 
 manding him to impannel a grand jury, to en- 
 quire into fuch bills as mould be prefented againll 
 the prifoner: in confequence ot which the jury 
 met at Romford, and found a bill againft him for 
 high-treafon, and this bill was returnable into 
 the Court of King's Bench. 
 
 Soon after the bill was found the trial came on 
 before Sir John Pratt, lord chief juftice, and the 
 other judges of that court. Mr. Layer had two 
 counfellors to plead for him, and they urged eve- 
 ry potTible argument that could be thought of 
 in his behalf; contesting every minute circum- 
 ftance with the council for the crown, during a 
 
 trial
 
 32 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 trial that lafled fixteen hours ; but at length the 
 jury found the prifoner guilty, after having been 
 out of court about an hour. 
 
 When the prifoner was brought up to receive 
 fentence, his council made another effort in his 
 behalf, by urging the informality, of fome of the 
 legal proceedings againft him ; but their argu- 
 ments being thought infufficient, the fentence or- 
 dained by law was pafled on him. 
 
 As he had fome important affairs to fettle, from 
 the nature of his profeffion, the court did not or- 
 der his execution till more than two months after 
 he had been condemned ; and the king repeated- 
 ly reprieved him, to prevent his clients being 
 fuffirrers by his affairs being left in a ftate of 
 confufion. 
 
 After conviction Mr. Layer was committed to 
 the Tower, and at length the fheriffs of London 
 and Middlefex received a warrant to execute the 
 fentence of the law ; in confequence of which he 
 was drawn on a fledge to Tyburn, dreffed in a 
 fuit of black full trimmed, and a tye-wig. 
 
 At the place of execution he was affifted in his 
 devotions by a nonjuring clergyman , and when 
 thefe were ended, he fpoke to the furrounding 
 multitude, declaring that he deemed King James 
 (Ib he called the Pretender) his lawful fovereign. 
 He faid that King George was an ufurper, and 
 damnation would be the fate of thofe who 
 fupported his government. He infifted that the 
 nation would never be in a ftate of peace till the 
 Pretender was reftored ; and therefore advifed 
 the people to take up arms in his behalf: he pro- 
 feffed himfelf willing to die for the caufe ; and 
 exprefied great hopes that providence would ef- 
 fedbually fupport the right heir to the throne on 
 fome future occafion, though himfelf had failed 
 
 of
 
 CHR; L AYER / Wgi Treafen. 3 2 1 
 
 of being the happy inftrument of placing him 
 thereon. 
 
 He was hanged at Tyburn on the icth of 
 March, 1723, and his body being quartered, his 
 head was placed over Temple- Bar. 
 
 Mr. Layer is laid to have been a man of fenfe, 
 and from his education and profeflion, we may 
 prefume that he was a man of learning ; yet his 
 conduct was fuch as, one would imagine, no 
 perfon above the level of an ideot could have been 
 guilty of The fcheme he undertook was abfurd 
 in the higheft degree ; and his folly in revealing 
 his fentiments to the women whom he kept, was 
 as egregious as his guilt was glaring. 
 
 Thofe who preach up the nonfenfe of a divine 
 indefeafible right inherent in kings, may poffibly 
 admire the madnefs by which this man was in- 
 fpired : but Englifhmen ought to be thankful 
 that their fovereigns can govern only in confor- 
 mity to the laws : laws more perfect than thofe 
 which human wifdom has yet framed in any 
 other country under Heaven, We cannot con- 
 clude this account more properly than in the 
 words of the poet : 
 
 Remember, O my friends, the laws, the rights, 
 The generous plan of power delivered down 
 From age to age, by your renowned forefathers ; 
 O, let it never perilh in your hands ! 
 But pioufly tranfmit it to your children ! 
 
 As our beft prefervative from the evils of life 1 , 
 we are exhorted to *' fear God, and honour the 
 King ;" for we are told, that " rebellion is as the 
 lin of witchcraft, and ftubbornncfs is as iniquity 
 and idolatry. " 
 
 VOL. I. No, 9. S s Bar-
 
 3 22 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR 
 
 Particulars reflecting WILLIAM BURK, who was 
 hanged for Robberies. 
 
 THIS offender was born of poor parents, in 
 St. Catharine's near the Tower, and edu- 
 cated in the charity fchool of that diftricl:. The 
 boy's temper was naturally bad, and the ill-judged 
 fondnefs of his mother made it flill worfe, for fhe 
 indulged him in all his demands however unrea- 
 fonable. 
 
 This difpofition made him think the difcipline 
 of the fchool fevere , and indeed the mafter was 
 obliged to be more ftrict with him than with the 
 other boys. 
 
 Having reached the eleventh year of his age, 
 he was guilty of fome faults that required fevere 
 chaftifement, which having received, he ran away 
 from fchool, and went to the water fide, enquiring 
 for a Ration on board a fhip. A man obferving 
 his inclination, took him down to the Nore, and 
 put him on board the Saliibury man of war. 
 
 The mother learning where her darling boy 
 was gone, followed him on board the {hip, and 
 endeavoured to prevail on him to reruni ; but in 
 vain j for the youth was obftinately, bent on a fea- 
 faring life. 
 
 In about a fortnight the fhip failed for Jamaica, 
 and during the voyage had an engagement with 
 a Spanifh galleon, which Ihe took after a bloody 
 and obitinate fight, in which young Burk was 
 wounded. After this they met with another gal- 
 leon, which they took without the lofs of a man : 
 but a woman, the only one on board, having 
 the curiofity to look on the dtck, loll her life by 
 a chain fhot, which fevered her head from her 
 body. The common men ihared each fifteen 
 
 pounds
 
 WILLIAM EURK- for Retries. 323 
 
 pounds prize-money on thefe captures, but fome 
 of the principal officers got fufficient to make 
 them eafy for life, . 
 
 The fhip was ft?.tioned for three years in the 
 Weft- Indies, during which Burk learnt the art of 
 Healing every thing that he could fecrete without 
 detection. At Jamaica there was a woman who 
 had been tranfported from Newgate ibme years 
 brfore, but having married a planter who foon 
 dicd v fhe was left in affluent circumftances, and 
 took a tavern. Wanting a white fervanr, fhe 
 prevailea on the captain to let Will attend her 
 cuilomers. 
 
 The boy was pleafed with his new fituation, 
 and might have continued in, it as long as he was 
 on the iiland, but he could not refrain from de- 
 frauding his miflrefs ; but fhe, who had been 
 hcrfclf a thief, foon detected him. Hereupon he 
 fell on his knees, and begged pardon , which was 
 granted, but he was ordered to depart the houie 
 immediately. 
 
 Alarmed by the danger from which he had 
 elcaped, he feems to have formed a temporary 
 refolution to live honeftly in future, and with 
 that view {hipped himieif for Maryland, where a 
 merchant would have employed him, but the 
 captain he failed with would not permit him to 
 accept the offer. Hence he made a voyage to 
 the coaft of Guinea, where he had a very narrow 
 efcape from being murdered by the natives, who 
 killed ftveral of his fhipmates. 
 
 On the return of the fhip from Guinea to Eng- 
 land, the weather was fo bad, that they were five 
 months on their voyage to the port of Briftol, 
 during which they fuiFered innumerable hard- 
 fhips. Their provifions were fo reduced, that 
 they were almoii famifhed, the allowance of each 
 3 s 2 man
 
 3 2 4 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 man for a whole day being not fo much as he 
 could eat at two mouthfuls ; and at length they 
 were obliged to faft five days fucceffively. 
 
 However, they reached the port in fafety ; and 
 notwithftanding the miferies they had endured, 
 the captain refplved on another voyage to Guinea, 
 in which Burk accompanied him. Having pur- 
 chafed a number of flaves they fet fail for the 
 Weft-India Iflands : but during the voyage the 
 negroes concerted a fcheme to make themfeives 
 mafters of the fhip ; and would have probably 
 carried it into execution, but that one of their 
 aflbciates betrayed them, in confequence of which 
 they were more ftriclly confined than they had 
 hitherto been. 
 
 Burk failed from the Weft-Indies to England, 
 where he entered on board a man of war, and 
 failed up the Baltic, and afterwards to Arch- 
 angel to the north of Ruffia, where his fufferings 
 from the extremity of the cold, and other circum- 
 ftances, were fo fevere, that, on his return to Eng- 
 land, he determined to abandon the life of a Tailor. 
 
 Being now quite out of all honeft methods of 
 getting his bread, he took to robbing paflengers , 
 in and near Stepney, but he continued his depre- 
 dations on the public only for a fhort time, being 
 apprehended for committing the fourth robbery. 
 
 He was imli&ed at the fefiions held at the Old- 
 Bailey in 1 February, 1723, for robbing William 
 Fitzer on the highway ; and again on the fame 
 day, for robbing James Weftwood ; and being 
 found guilty on both indictments, he received 
 fentence of death. 
 
 There was fomething remarkably cruel in the 
 conduct of this malefactor ; for he carried a 
 hedge-bill wiah him to terrify the perfons he 
 ftopped : and one old man hcfitating to comply
 
 WILLIAM BURK for Robberies. 325 
 
 with his demands, he cut him fo that he fell to 
 the ground. 
 
 After conviction he became fenfible of the 
 enormity of his crimes ; received the facrament 
 with great devotion and declared, that if he ob- 
 tained mercy from God it muft be through 
 the merits of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the 8th of 
 April, 1723, in the 22d year of his age. 
 
 The crimes and fufferings of this unhappy 
 wretch feem to have arilen in great meafure, 
 from his mother's unreaibnable indulgence of 
 him. It is but too common with women oi the 
 lower ranks of life to ruin their children by an 
 extravagant tendernefs. Bad habits may be of- 
 ten Hopped in the bud. by timely correction; 
 but, " he that fpareth the rod, fpoileth the 
 " child.'* A religious education is the beft pre- 
 ventive remedy againft a life of vice ; and it would 
 well become parents to purchafe fuch books as 
 are beft calculated to imprefs the mind with a 
 proper idea of things facred *. 
 
 * For this purpofewe would earneftly recommend 
 a book called "The HOLY BIBLE in VERSE, by 
 JOHN FELLOWS ;" which comprifes the hiftory of 
 the Holy Bible as contained in the Old and New 
 Teftaments. This book confifts of four volumes 
 in octavo ; but thofe whom it may not luit to pur- 
 chafe the whole together, may have it in 16 weekly 
 numbers, at fix pence each. It is elegantly printed, 
 and has the advantage of bein^ adorned with a 
 
 C2 G 
 
 number of fine copper-plate cuts rcpreienting the 
 principal fubjects of the facred hiflory. By this book 
 being written in verfe, the facred doctrines it con- 
 tains are the more forcibly imprefled on the mind. 
 
 The
 
 3 26 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 The adventures of this malefactor naturally 
 lead us to fay fomething of the flave-trade ; a 
 trade, which is a difgrace to this kingdom, as it 
 militates againll all the rights of humanity. Can 
 any man in his fenfes fuppofe that the complex- 
 ion of his fellow-creature can operate in his dii- 
 favour with that Almighty Being who has created 
 all the univerfe, and is equally the father of all 
 perfons of all complexions. To fuppofe that a 
 black man is lefs the object of the Divine favour 
 than one of a lighter catt, is an affront to that 
 God who is the author of light and of darknefs ; 
 and in fpite of all that can be urged in favour pf 
 the flave-trade, we know that it is founded in 
 avarice, carried on in cruelty, and ought to end 
 in the deftrucYion of thofe who practife it. 
 
 Singular Cafe of ALEXANDER DAY, who was 
 convicted of defrauding feveral Tradefmen. 
 
 IN modern times we have had feveral inflances 
 of villains who have proceeded on a fimilar 
 plan with Day i but as few of them have cut fo 
 great a figure, nor any of them met with a fate 
 exactly fimilar, we mall be the more particular 
 in our account of this artful villain. 
 
 Day was a profeffed fharper, who pretended to 
 be a man of fortune. He aifumed the title of 
 Marmaduke Davenport, Efq. and taking a large 
 houfe in Queen's- Square, afierted that he poffcir- 
 ed a capital eftarein the north of England. 
 
 He had a footman who feems to have been an 
 accomplice with him. This man he fent to a 
 Jivery-ftable, to enquire the price of a pair of 
 horfcs, which he himfelf afterwards agreed to 
 
 purchafe,
 
 AL. DAY -for defrauding feveral tradesmen. 327 
 
 purchafe, and then defired the ftable-keeper to 
 recommand him a coachman, a man rather lufty, as 
 he had a fii it of liverycloathsof a large fize by him. 
 
 The man was accordingly recommended, but 
 when the livery was tried on, Day obferved thac 
 as they did not fit him, he would fend into the 
 country for his own coachman ; but this objec- 
 tion was obviated by the footman, who faying 
 that the cloaths would fit with a 1mall alteration, 
 the Squire ccnfented to hire the man. 
 
 When the ftable-keeper faw the coachman, he 
 had recommended, he enquired to what places 
 he had driven his new mailer; and being informed, 
 to the duke of Montague's, and other perfons of 
 rank, he feemed fatisfied ; though he had begun 
 to form ideas unfavourable to his new cuftomer. 
 
 Mr. Day having kept his coach and horfes 
 fomething more than a week, gave orders to be 
 driven to a coffee-houfe in Red Lion Square, 
 where he drank half a pint of wine at the bar, 
 and afked if fome gentlemen were come, whom 
 he expected to fupper. Being anfwered in the 
 negative, he went out at the back door, without 
 paying for his wine, and faid he would return in 
 a few minutes. The coachman waited a long 
 time, but his mafter not coming back, he drove 
 to the liable-keeper's, who feemed glad to have 
 recovered his properly out of fuch dangerous 
 hands. 
 
 It feems that Day made no fmall ufe of this 
 coach while it was in his pofTeflion. He drove to 
 the fhop of a lace merchant named Graveftock, 
 and afked for fome Spanifh- point : but the dealer 
 having none of that kind by him, the 'Squire 
 ordered fifty- five pounds worth of gold lace to be 
 fent to his houfe in Queen's- Square. When 
 Graveftcck's feryant carried tjje lace, Day defired 
 
 him
 
 323 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 him to tell his mafter to call, as he was in want 
 of lace for fome rich liveries, but he muft fpeak 
 with his taylor before he could afcertain the quan- 
 tity wanted. Mr. Graveftock attended his new 
 customer, who gave him fo large an order for 
 lace, that if he had executed it, he muft have 
 been a very confiderable lofer, and the 'Squire's 
 liveries would have been gayer than thofe of any 
 nobleman in London : however, on the following 
 day, he carried fome lace of the fort he had left 
 before ; nor did he forget to take his bill with 
 him ; but the perfon who mould have paid it was 
 decamped. 
 
 The next trick practifed by our adventurer was 
 as follows : he went to the houfe of Mr. Markham, 
 a goldfmith, and ordered a gold equipage worth 
 50!. Markham carried home the equipage, and 
 had the honour to drink tea with the fuppofed 
 Mr. Davenport, who ordered other curious ar- 
 ticles, and among the reft a chain of gold for his 
 fquirrel. 
 
 Mr. Markham obferving^that the fquirrel wore 
 a filver chain, which he had fold to a lady not 
 long before, began to fufpect his new cuftomer ; 
 and waiting on the lady, enquired if me knew 
 Marmaduke Davenport, Efq. She anfwered in 
 the negative-, on which Markham mentioned the 
 circumftance that had ariien, and delcribed the 
 peribn of the defrauder. The lady now recol- 
 lected him, and faid that his name was Alexander 
 Day, and that he had cheated her of property to 
 a confiderable amount. In confequence of this 
 information, Markham arrefted the fharper, and 
 recovered his property. 
 
 On another occafion Day went in his carriage 
 to the mop of a linen-draper named Schrimlhaw, 
 agreed for linen tou the amount of 48!. and or- 
 dered
 
 ALEXANDER DAY- for Defrauding. 329 
 
 dered a large quantity to be fent to his houfe on 
 the following day, when he would pay for the 
 whole. The firft parcel was delivered ; but the 
 purchafer was decamped when the linen-draper 
 went with the fecond. 
 
 After this he went to the (hop of a tea-dealer 
 named Kendrick, and ordered tea to the amount 
 of 26!. The tea was fent in, and the proprietor 
 called for payment, when Day gave him orders 
 for a farther quantity, which he pretended to have 
 forgot before; and told him to call the nexc 
 morning, when he fhould be paid for it by the 
 fteward. The honeft tea-dealer called the nexc 
 day, but neither the 'fquire nor the fteward were 
 to be found. 
 
 His next adventure was contrived to defraud 
 Mr. Hinchcliffe, a filk mercer. Day going to 
 his mop in his abfence, left word for him to call 
 at his houfe to receive a large order. The mer- 
 cer went, and faw a carriage at the door, and be- 
 ing told that the 'fquire had company, he waited 
 a fhort time, during which the fervants took care 
 to inform him that Mr. Davenport, was the fon of 
 a baronet of Yorkfhire, and polfetied a large for- 
 tune in that county. 
 
 When he faw the fuppofed Mr. Davenport, he 
 was told that he wanted fome valuable filks, and 
 wifhed that a quantity might be lent, for him to 
 feled fuch as he approved. Mr. Hinchcliffe laid 
 that the choice would be much better made by 
 fixing on the patterns at his Ibop. 
 
 Hereupon Day took the mercer in his coach, 
 and on their way he talked of his father Sir ivlar- 
 maduke, and of other people of rank ; and laid 
 he was on the point of marriage with the daugh- 
 ter of counfcllor Ward, and as h? ihould be under 
 Yoi., I. No. 9. T t a no
 
 330 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 a neceffity of furnifhing a houfe in London, he 
 fhould want mercery goods to a large- amount. 
 
 When they came to the mercer's mop, Day 
 felected as many damafks, &c. for bed furniture 
 and hangings, as were worth a thoufand pounds. 
 It looks as if HinchclirTehad now fome fufpicion; 
 for he told him that the ladies were beft judges 
 of fuch articles, and afked if he had not a lady of 
 his acquaintance, whom he could confult. He 
 readily anfwered that he had, and mentioned a 
 lady Davenport as his relation, faying, " fend 
 " the filks to my houfe, and I will take her opi- 
 " nion of them." 
 
 Mr. Hinchcliffe faid he would fend them, and 
 permitted him to take with him two pieces o 
 brocade worth about thirty pounds : but defirous 
 to know more of his cullomer before he trufted 
 him with the whole property, he went to coun- 
 fellor Ward, and found that his daughter was 
 already married to a gentleman of the name of 
 Davenport. Hereupon the mercer went to the 
 houfe of the fuppofed efquire, but he was gone 
 off with what property he had obtained. 
 
 It was likewife difcovered that our adventurer 
 having cafually met, at a coffee-houfe, the Mr. 
 Davenport who had married the daughter of 
 counfellor Ward, had prevailed on him to call 
 him coufin, on the pretence that they muft be 
 related, becaufe, as he alledged, their coats of 
 arms were the lame. 
 
 After a courie of fraud Day was taken into 
 cuilody in the month of May, 1723, on fufpicion 
 of his having robbed the mail ; but it proved that 
 he was not the man: however, there were fix in- 
 dictments brought againft him for the defrauds. 
 
 In his defence he pleaded that his intention 
 was-to have paid for the goods he had purchafed 
 
 on
 
 ALEX ANDER DAY for Defrauding. 3 3 1 
 
 on credit ; and he averted that he poflefied an 
 eflate in the county of Durham, which he had 
 mortgaged for 1200!. but no credit could be 
 given to his allegations , nor, even if he had 
 pofleifed fuch an eftate, would it have appeared 
 that he acted on an honeft principle. 
 
 After a fair trial he was convicted, and fen- 
 tenced to fuffer two years imprifonment in New- 
 gate, to ftand twice in the pillory, to pay a fine 
 of two hundred pounds, and to give fecurity for 
 his good behaviour for two years after the term 
 of his imprifonment fliould he expired. 
 
 This fellow was one of thofe abandoned mif- 
 creants whom modern times have diftinguilhed 
 by the name of Swindlers *; and of all men 
 breathing they feem to be the mod deftitute of 
 principle; they literally " go about feeking 
 " whom they may devour." It is aftonifhing 
 that tradefmen fhould be fo frequently duped by 
 the artifices of thefe villains ; fince fcarce a week 
 pafk-s in which the newfpapers do not give an 
 account of fome of the tricks by which they im- 
 pofe on the unwary. 
 
 As it is one profeflfed defign of this publication 
 to guard innocent people againft the ichemes of 
 the artful and defigning, we would earneftly re- 
 commend it to the people in trade, never to give 
 credit to ftrangers from the fpecioufnefs of their 
 appearance, ortheplaufiblility of their behaviour. 
 The villain who can defraud a coachmaker out 
 of a carriage,- or even raile money to hire one of 
 
 * Swindler is a German word, the meaning of 
 which exactly correfponds with the idea we affix to 
 the character ; that of a man who ftrives to take 
 in all the world by artifice. 
 
 T t 2 an
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 an elegant appearance, has nothing to do but 
 take genteel lodgings, and put an accomplice or 
 two into livery, and his fcheme ufually fuc- 
 ceeds. 7 he fplendid appearance of the fuppofed 
 mafter, and the artful puffs of the fervants, ge- 
 nerally ieive to lull fufpicion aflcep. 
 
 When enquiry is made into the character of a 
 perfon who is fuppofed to be a man of honour 
 and fortune, the enquirer mould confider whe- 
 ther the perfon who gives him this character is 
 deferving of that of an honed man : for thefe 
 artful rogues, when they find any perfon is fuf- 
 picious of them, have a method of referring to 
 as great rogues as themfelves for a character. 
 The traciefman, then, who would not be im- 
 pbfed on, mould take characters only from re- 
 fpectable people, who will never deceive him, 
 xmlefs they have been deceived themfelves. 
 
 The being expofed in the pillory is very ina- 
 dequate to the punifhment, much lefs to the 
 cure, of this crime. The wretches themfelves 
 are dead to all fenfe of fhame ; few perfons fee 
 their faces fo perfectly as to recollect them ; and 
 when the term of their imprifonment is expired, 
 they put on a gay fuit of cloaths, and begin to 
 make frem depredations on the public. 
 
 Since the paflingthe act of parliament for mak- 
 ing criminals labour on board theballail lighters, 
 thefe defrauders have been lent to Woolwich for 
 certain times, proportioned fas the court before 
 whom they are tried may think) to the enormity 
 of their crimes : but being too idle and too wick- 
 ed to earn their bread in an honeft manner, it 
 mud be expected that they will renew their old 
 trade, as foon as they obtain their liberty. What 
 feems to be wanting to prevent this crime, fo de- 
 ftructive to the honeft tradefman, is a law to pu- 
 
 nifh
 
 SARAH PRIDDON /*r*^K//. 335 
 
 nilh thefe fwindlers by labour, on board the bal- 
 lad-lighters or otherwife, FOR LIFE. This 
 mull prove effectual. The idle rafcal, who fecks 
 to live in fplendor by preying on the public, 
 would give overtrade, if he was certain that per- 
 petual imprifonment, hard fare, and unrcmitted 
 labour, would be the confluence of continuing 
 it. 
 
 It is even probable that fuch kind of punifh- 
 mer.t would tend greatly to the prevention of every 
 fpecies of felony j and the compilers of this work 
 humbly fubmit to the wifdom of the legiflature 
 the propriety of making she experiment. If the 
 law mould be found inadequate to the propofed 
 end, it would be eafy to repeal it : but it feems 
 very reafonable to think that perpetual imprifon- 
 ment would terrify more than death. The man 
 who does not dread the gallows, would dread to 
 be a ilave for life. 
 
 In the mean time, however, let it be remem- 
 bered, that a life of vice is a life of perpetual 
 anxiety j and that the rcadieft way to be happy is 
 to be virtuous. 
 
 Narrative of the Trial of SARAH PRIDDON, other- 
 wiie called SALLY SALISBURY, who was con- 
 victed of an Affault. 
 
 ON the 24th of April, 1723, Sarah Prid- 
 don was indicted at the Old Bailey, for 
 making a violent aflault on the honourable J 
 
 F , Efq. and ftabbing him with a knife, 
 
 in his left breait, and giving him a wound of 
 which he long languished, with an intent to kill 
 and murder him. 
 
 Mrs.
 
 334 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 JVJrs. Priddon, or rather Salifbury (for that was 
 the name by which fhe was beft knownj, was 
 a woman of the town, who was well acquainted 
 with the gentleman whom fhe wounded. It ap- 
 peared on the trial that Mr. F having gone to 
 the Three Tuns Tavern in Chandois-ftreet, Co- 
 vent-garden, about midnight, Sally followed 
 him thither foon afterwards. The drawer, after 
 he had waited on Mr. F , went to bed ; but at 
 two in the morning he was called up, to draw a 
 pint of Fontiniac for Mrs. Salifbury. This he 
 did, and carried it to her, with a French roll, 
 and a knife. The prHbner was now in company 
 and converfation with Mr. F , and the drawer 
 heard them difputing about an Opera ticket which 
 he had prefented to her fifter ; and while they 
 were talking fhe ftabbed' him ; on which he put 
 his hand to his bread, and faid, " Madam, you 
 " have wounded me." 
 
 No fooner had fhe committed the fact than 
 fhe appeared fincerely to regret what fhe had 
 done : fhe fent for a fureeon, who finding- it ne- 
 
 O * O 
 
 ceffary to extend the wound, that the blood 
 might flow outwardly, fhe leemed terrified, and 
 calling out, " O Lord ! what are you doing ?" 
 fainrrri away. 
 
 On her recovery fne afked Mr. F how he 
 did ; to which he anfwered, " Very bad, and 
 " worfe than you imagine.'* She endeavoured to 
 confole him in the beft manner me could, and 
 after fome time, the parties went away in feparate 
 chairs ; but not till the wounded gentleman had 
 forgiven her, and faluted her, as a token of that 
 forgiveneis. 
 
 The counfel for the prifoner endeavoured to 
 prove that fhe had no intention of wounding him 
 with malice prefenfe ; and that what fhe did arofe 
 
 from
 
 SARAH PRIDDEN for an Affault. 335 
 
 from a fudden (tart of pafllon, the confequence of 
 his having given an Opera ticket to her filter, 
 with a view to ingratiate her affections, and de- 
 bauch her. 
 
 The counfel for the crown ridiculed this idea, 
 and infinuated, that a woman of Mrs. Salifbury's 
 character could not be fuppofed to have any very 
 tender regard to her lifter's reputation. They al- 
 lowed that Mr. F had readily forgiven her at 
 the time ; bat infifted that this was a proof of the 
 placability of his temper, and no argument in her 
 favour. 
 
 \ They faid, that if the gentleman had died of 
 the wound, (he would have been deemed guilty 
 of murder, as me had not received the leaft pro- 
 vocation to commit the crime ; and that the event 
 made no difference with refpect to the malignity 
 of her intentions. 
 
 The jury having confidered the circumftances 
 of the cafe, found her guilty of affaulting and 
 wounding Mr. F ; but acquitted her of doing 
 it with an intent to kill and murder him. In 
 confequence hereof (he was fentenccd to pay a 
 fine of one hundred pounds, to be imprifoned for 
 a year, and then to find fecurity for her good be- 
 haviour for two years. 
 
 She WES tried in May, 1723, but when (he had 
 fuffered about nine months imprifonment. fhe 
 died in Newgate, and was buried in the church- 
 yard of St. Andrew, Holborn. 
 
 The cafe of the unhappy woman who has been 
 the fubject of this narrative will afford matter for 
 ferious reflection. She had been acquainted with 
 the gentleman whom fhe (tabbed, and there is 
 nothing ungenerous in fuppofing that their ac- 
 quaintance was of the criminal kind. 
 
 Ic
 
 336 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 It was infmuated by the counfel for the crown 
 that it could not be fuppofed that Mrs. Salifbury 
 had any regard for the reputation of her fifter. 
 But why fo ? It is to be prefumed that a woman 
 of any fenfibility, who had been unhappy enough. 
 to forfeit her own character, fhould become the 
 more anxious to preferve that of one to whom (he 
 was bound by the ties of confanguinity. It docs 
 not follow that, becaufe a woman has failed in the 
 great article of perlbnal chaftity, fhe muft there- 
 tore be deficient in every otker virtue that can 
 adorn the female mind. 
 
 Too frequently, indeed, it happens that wo- 
 men in this predicament become dead to all thofe 
 finer feelings that do honour to their fex in par- 
 ticular, and to humanity in general. But then 
 what (hall be (aid of thofe men who reduce them 
 to a fituation fo calamitous ? Will the fudden im- 
 pulfe of pafiion be pleaded in mitigation of a 
 crime which, in its confluences, almoft always 
 detaches a woman from the company of the vir- 
 tuous of her own fex, and renders her, in a great 
 degree, an outcaft of fociety ? 
 
 If there be any truth in the common opinion 
 that women in general are weaker than men -, it 
 follows of courfe that the wife ft ougrht to be the 
 
 d> 
 
 molt virtuous ; and that the man who feduces a 
 woman, is more criminal in that act, than fhe is 
 in yielding to the reduction : yet fo ungenerous is 
 the vulgar opinion, that a woman for ever lofes 
 her character in confequence of an offence which 
 is hardly deemed criminal in a man. Agreeable 
 hereto are the fentiments of the poec : 
 
 Man, the lawlefs libertine, may rove 
 
 Free and unquestioned through the wilds of love : 
 
 But
 
 WILL. HAWKSWORTH- -fir Murder. 337 
 
 But woman, fenfe and nature's eafy fool, 
 If poor, weak, woman fwerve from virtue's rule, 
 If ftrongly charmed, fhe tempt the flowery way, 
 And in the fofter paths of pleafure ftray, 
 Ruin enfues, remorfe, and endlefs fhame, 
 And one falfe Hep entirely damns her fame : 
 In vain with tears the lofs fhc may deplore, 
 In vain look back to what (he was before; 
 She fets, like ftars that fall, to rife no more. 
 
 It is no credit to the humanity of the age that 
 this fliould be the fact ; but as it is the fact, it 
 mould teach young women to be always on their 
 guard for the protection of their chaftity ; re- 
 membering that if that be once loft, it ran never 
 be recovered ; that it Is a jewel of the higheft 
 price, and that, in mod inftanoes, the contami- 
 nation of the mind follows the violation of the 
 perfon, and muft, of conference, produce a 
 long feries of wretchednefs. 
 
 Cafe of WILLIAM HAWKSWORTH, who was exe- 
 cuted for Murder, 
 
 THIS malefactor was a native of Yorkfhire, 
 and born of reputable parents, who gave 
 him fuch an education as was proper to quality 
 him for a confiderable trade , but being of a difpo- 
 fition too nn fettled to think of bufinels, he enlift* 
 cd for a fokiier, in the hope of being promoted 
 in the army. 
 
 After he had ferved fome time, and found 
 himfdf difappointed in his expectation of prefer- 
 ment, he made intereft to obtain his difcharge 
 
 Vol. L No. 9, U u an
 
 338 .NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 and then .entered into the fervice of a gentlman 
 with whom he behaved in a proper manner for a 
 considerable time : but not being content with his 
 fituation, he repaired to London; and again en- 
 lifted as a foldier, in the foot-guards. 
 
 In .this flation he remained four years, during 
 two of which he was fervant to the colonel, who 
 entertaiped a very good opinion of him -, till an 
 incideoti'jKhtch unexpectedly arofe, occafioned 
 the crime for which he fuffered. Before we re- 
 late the^ particulars, it will be proper to remark 
 that at the period of which we are writing, party 
 difputes ran very nigh, and the foldiers were -fre- 
 quently the fubjects of the contempt and derifion 
 of the populace. 
 
 While Hawkfvvorth wa marching, with other 
 foldiers, to relieve the guard in St, James's Park 
 a man named Ranfom,. who had a woman in his 
 company, joftled him, and cried, " What a ftir 
 *' is here abou't kirrg George's foldiers !" Hawkf- 
 worth, imagining the woman had incited him' to 
 this behaviour, quitted his rank, and gave her a 
 blow on the face. Irritated hereby, Ranfom 
 called^him a puppy, and demanded (;he reafon of 
 his behaviour to the woman. 
 
 The term of reproach enraged Hawkfworth to 
 fuclv a degree; that .he,... knocked the other down 
 with his mufket, 'and then the foldiers marched 
 on to relieve the guard. In the mean time a 
 croud of people gathered round Ranfom, and 
 finding he was much wowndcd, put him in a 
 chair, and fen't him to a luigeon, who examined 
 him, and found his {ku\\ fractured to fuch a de- 
 .gree, that there were no hopes of his recovery j 
 'and he died in a few hours. 
 
 Hereupon, a perfon who had been witnefs to 
 
 whart'atlcci in 'the Park, went to the S^voy, and 
 . * . *; w *
 
 WILL. HAWKSWORTH -for Murder. 339 
 
 having learnt the name of -the offender, caufed 
 Hawkfworth to be taken into cuftody, and he 
 was committed to Newgate. Being brought to 
 his trial at the following fefiions, the colonel 
 whom he had ferved gave him an excellent cha- 
 racter -, but the facts were fo clearly proved, that 
 the jury could not do otherwife than convift him, 
 and judgment of death palled accordingly. 
 
 For ibme time after fentence he flattered him- 
 felf with the hope of a reprieve-, but when the 
 warrant for his execution arrived, he feemed to 
 give up all hopes for life, and ferioufly prepared 
 himfelf to meet his fate. He folemnly averred 
 that Ranfom ftruck him firft, and faid he did not 
 recollect the circumftance of leaving his rank to 
 ftrike the blow that occafioned the death of the 
 other. He declared that he had no malice a- 
 gainft the deceafed, and therefore thought him- 
 felf acquitted in his own mind of the crime of 
 murder. 
 
 However, he behaved in a very contrite man- 
 ner, and received the facrament , with figns of 
 .the fmcereft devotion. A few minutes before he 
 was executed he made a fpeech to the furround- 
 ing multitude, advifmg them to keep a ftri6t 
 guard over their paffions : he lamented the fitua- 
 c-ipfi of the common foldiers, who are confidered 
 as cpwards if they do not refent an injury, and if 
 they do, are liable to endure legal punifhment 
 for the confequences that may arile from fuch re- 
 fentment. However, he advifcd his brethren of 
 the army to fubmit with patience to the indigni- 
 ties that might be offered, and trult to the good- 
 nefs of God to recompence their fufFerings. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the 17th of 
 June, 1723, at the age of 27 years. 
 
 U u 2 Though
 
 340 WILL. HAWKSWORTH. /*r Murderl 
 
 Though nothing can juftify the crime of which 
 this man was guilty, yet an ufeful leflon may be 
 learnt from his fate. The fituation of our com- 
 mon foldiers is fufficiently lamentable, and no 
 perfon mould feek to make their lives more cala- 
 mitous by infult. The poor fellow who does duty 
 by night and by day ; who is fubject to all the 
 iiriclpefs of military difcipline, and liable at any 
 time to be called forth, the mark of a bullet j. 
 and all this for lefs than is fufficient for his fup- 
 port, even on the coarfeft food, is certainly an 
 objecl of our commiferation. We mould there- 
 fore pity the diftreffed, and not feek to add mif- 
 fortune to the milerable. 
 
 Although the crime for which Hawkfworth 
 fuffered is fuch as ought not to be pardoned j yet 
 the eye of humanity will drop a tear for the fate 
 of a man who thought himfclf inftigated to ftrike 
 the fatal blow, little centering, at that moment 
 that it would have proved fatal. Hence let us 
 learn to guard againft the firft impulfc of paflion; 
 to reflect that reafon was given us for the mo- 
 deration of our paflions ; and that the higher con* 
 ^derations of religion ought to be a perpetual rc- 
 ftraint on thofe violent emotions of the mind 
 which, in numerous inftances befide the prefent, 
 have led to deftruction. That man is guilty of 
 an egregious folly, as well as an enormous 
 crime, who will permit the taunting words or- 
 aggravating actions of another, to tempt him to 
 the commifTion of murder. Then let us be per- 
 petually on our guard, remembering that 
 Hard names at firft, and threat'ning words,. 
 
 That are but noify breath, 
 May grow to clubs and naked fvvords, 
 To murder and to death.
 
 THOMAS ATHOE -for Murder. 341 
 
 Particulars refpecYmg THOMAS ATHOE, Senior,' 
 and THOMAS ATHOE, Junior, who were hang- 
 for Murder. 
 
 THE crime for which thefe men were tried 
 was committed in Pembrokefhire ; but- they 
 were removed by a writ of habeas corpus to Here- 
 ford, where, on the tyth of March, 1723, they 
 were indicted for the murder .of George Mer- 
 chant, by beating and kicking him on the head, 
 face breaft, &c. on the 23d of November, 1722, 
 and thereby giving him feveral mortal wounds and 
 bruifes, of which he died the fame day. 
 
 Athoe the elder was a native <.;i Carew in Pem- 
 brokelhire, where he retted above a hundred 
 pounds per annum, and had lived in fuch a ref- 
 peftable way, that in the year 1721 he was chofen 
 mayor of Tenby, and his fon a bailiff of the 
 fame corporation ; though thry ' did not live in 
 this place, but at Mannerbeer, two miles diftant 
 from it. 
 
 George Merchant, who was murdered, and 
 his brother Thomas, w^rc nephews, "by the mo* 
 ther's fide, to the elder Athoc, their father hav- 
 ing married his fitter. 
 
 On the 2 #1 of November, 1722, a fair was 
 held at Tenby, where the prifoners went to fell 
 cattle, and there met with the dcccaled and his 
 brother Thomas Merchant ; and a quarrel arofc 
 between the younger Athoe and George Mer- 
 chant, on an old grudge refpeftmg their right to 
 part of an eftatc - t when a battle eyfued, in which 
 the deceafed had the advantage, and beat young 
 Athoe. The elder Athoe taking the advice of an 
 attorney on what had paffed, he would have per- 
 fuaded him t? bring an action ; to which he re- 
 plied,
 
 342 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR; 
 
 plied, " No, no, we won't take the law, but 
 " we'll pay them in their own coin." 
 
 Late in the evening, after the fair was ended, 
 the deceafed and his brother left the town ; but 
 the Athoes going to the inn, enquired of the 
 oilier which way they were gone. He gave them 
 the beft information in his power, on which they 
 immediately mounted and followed them. The 
 brothers flopped on the road, at a place called 
 Holloway's water, to let their horfes drink. In 
 the mean time they heard the footfteps of other 
 horfes behind them, and turning about, faw two 
 men riding at a fmall diftance, It was too dark 
 for theno to know the parties, but they prefently 
 heard the voice of Old Athoe. 
 
 Knowing that he had fworn revenge, and 
 dreading the confequence that would probably 
 enfue, they endeavoured to conceal themfelves be- 
 hind a bridge, but they were difcovered by the 
 fplafhing their horfes feet made in the water. The 
 Athoes riding up wiih large flicks, the younger 
 faid to George Merchant, " I owe thee a pals, 
 " and now thou fhalt have itj" and immediately 
 knocked him off his horfe. 
 
 In the interim old Athoe attacked Thomas 
 Merchant, and beat him likewife from his horfe, 
 calling out at the fame time, " Kill the dogs ! 
 .* kill the dogs '" The brothers begged hard for 
 
 o oo 
 
 their lives ; but they pleaded to thofe who had 
 no idea of pity. The elder Athoe feized Thomas 
 
 . Merchent in the tendereft part, and fqueezed him 
 info violent a manner, that human nature could 
 not long have fuflained the pain ; while the 
 younger Athoe treated George Merchant in a 
 fimilar way, and carried his revenge to iuch- a 
 
 .length, that it is not poffible to relate the horrid 
 deed with decency-, and wh.cn he- had compleated 
 
 his
 
 T. &? T. ATHOE, fen. fc? jun.~/*r Murder. 343 
 
 his execrable purpofe, he called out to his father, 
 faying, " Now I have done George Merchant's 
 bufmefs." 
 
 A great effufion of blood was the confequencc 
 of his- barbarity ; but it appears that his favage 
 revenge was 'not yet glutted ; for, feizing the de- 
 cealed by the nofe with his teeth, he bit it off, 
 and then .ftrangled him, by tying a handkerchief 
 tight round his neck. 
 
 -This being done, the murderers quitted the 
 fpot ; but fome perfons coming by, took the 
 Merchants to an adjacent houfe, and fent for a 
 fupgeon, who'-drefled the wounds of Thomas, but 
 found that George was dead : arid the furgecn 
 declared that the blows he received, were fufficient 
 to have killed fix or feven men ; for he had two 
 bruifes on his broaft, three large ones on his 
 head, and twenty-two on his back. 
 
 The elder Athoe was taken intocuftody on the 
 following day, but the fon had fled to Ireland; 
 however, thofe who had been concerned in favour- 
 ing his efcape, were glad to ule their endeavours 
 to get him back again. 
 
 On the trial, the principal evidence againft 
 them was the furv-iving brother; who was evert 
 then fo weak as to be indulged to fit down while 
 he gave his evidence : but the jury, though fatis- 
 fied of the commiflion of the murder, entertained 
 a doubt whether the prifoners could be legally 
 tried in any county but that in which the crime 
 was committed; on which they brought in a ra- 
 cial verdicl , whereupon the cafe was referred to 
 the determination of the twelve judges; and the 
 prifoners being brought up to London, were com- 
 mitted to the King's Bench Prifon, where they 
 remained till the 2zd of June, 1723, and were 
 then taken to the court of King's Bench in Weft- 
 
 minfter-
 
 344 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 minfter-Hall ; when a motion being made by 
 counfel in arreft of judgment, the court directed 
 that an act of the g^d of Henry th6 8th fhould 
 be read, in which is a claufe, ordaining that 41 All 
 " murders and jobberies committed in, on, or 
 16 about the borders of Wales, (hail be triable in 
 " any county in England, where the criminal 
 * fh.-ili be taken -, and that the court of King's- 
 * c Bench mail have power to remove by writ of 
 " hebeas corpus, any prHoner confined in Wales, 
 " to the next county in England to be tried." 
 
 In conlequence hereof^ the court proceeded to 
 give judgment, and the prifoners were remanded 
 to the King's-Bench Pnfon. 
 
 Between this and the time of their execution 
 they were vifited by Mr. Dyche, the chaplain of 
 the prifon, and by feveral other divines. They 
 continued to flatter themfrlves with the hope of 
 life, till the warrant came down for their execu- 
 tion ; and endeavoured to extenuate their crime 
 by a variety of frivolous pretences respecting dif- 
 puu-s between them and the deceafed 
 
 On the 2 8th of June they received the facra- 
 ment with great devotion, and did tne fame again 
 on the morning of their execution. Their beha- 
 viour at the place of death may not be impro- 
 perly given ^nearly in the words of the minifter 
 who attended them. " On Friday the 5th of 
 " July, 1723, about eleven o'clock in the morn- 
 " ing, they were conveyed in a cart to the place 
 " of execution. When they came to the fatal 
 " tree they behaved themfelves in a very de- 
 " cent manner, embracing each other with the 
 tc utrnoft tendernefs and affection ; and indeed 
 *' the ion's hiding his face, bedewed with tears, 
 <v in his father's boibm, was, notwithftanding 
 
 * the
 
 T. fcf T. ATHO,^. &jttn.for Murder. 345 
 
 " the barbarous action they had committed, a 
 " very moving fpectacle." 
 
 " They begged of all good people to take 
 <c warning by their ignominious death j and were 
 " turned off, crying, Lord have mercy upon us ! 
 " Chrift have mercy upon us ! The bodies were 
 " brought from the place of execution in two 
 " hearJes, to the Falcon Inn, in Southwark, in 
 " order to be buried in St. George's Church- 
 " Yard." 
 
 They were executed at a place called St. Tho- 
 mas's Watering, a little beyond Kent-ftreet in 
 Surry, the father being fifty-eight years old, and 
 the fon within one day of twenty-four, at rhe time 
 of their deaths. 
 
 We mail feldom hear of a murder fo barbarous, 
 ib deliberate, fo unprovoked as this in queftion. 
 Little, furely, need be laid to deter any of our 
 readers from the flighted idea of being guilty of 
 a crime of 'fo atrocious a nature ; nor need we 
 add any thing to our former remarks on fo hei- 
 nous an offence as that of embruing our hands 
 in the blood of our fellow-creatures. Be it fuf- 
 ficient to remark that there is a juft God who 
 judgeth the earth, and that all our moft fecret 
 actions are open to his fight. From his view our 
 moft careful precautions cannot fcreen, nor can 
 the darknefs of night cover us. Let us then learn 
 fo to conduct ourlelves, as not to blulh to itand 
 in the preience of our God ! Happy the man 
 who fupported by religious confiderations, can 
 arrive an this degree of Chriftian fortitude-, which 
 nothing can infpirc but a firm perfuafion that 
 through the goodnefs of his Creator, and divine 
 grace aflifting, he has been enabled to preferve a 
 cqnfcience void of offence towards God and man. 
 VOL. I. No. 9. Xx Sin-
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR, 
 
 Singular Cafe of Captain JOHN MASSY, who 
 was hanged for Piracy. 
 
 THIS unhappy man, whofe misfortunes- 
 feem to claim fingular companion, was the 
 fon of a gentleman of fortune in the country, wha 
 gave him a genteel education ; but the difpo- 
 lition of the young man not being fufficiently folid 
 to admit his living quietly at home, his father 
 procured him a commiffion in the army, and he 
 ierved with great applaufe as a lieutenant under 
 the command of the Duke of Marlborough, dur- 
 ing the wars in Flanders, in the reign of queen; 
 Anne. 
 
 On his return to England he conducted him- 
 felf far fome time with great decency ^ but at 
 length became acquainted with a woman of bad 
 character, to whom he was fo much attached that 
 he would undoubteely have married her, if his 
 father, who got intelligence of the affair, had not 
 happily broke off the connection. 
 
 Not long after this he went with his regiment 
 to Ireland, where he lived for fome time in a 
 courle of continued debauchery ; but at length 
 he got appointed to the rank of lieutenant and 
 engineer to the Royal African Company, and 
 failed in one of their mips to direct the building 
 a fort. The fhip being ill-fupplied with provifi- 
 ons, and thofe of the worft kind, the fufferings of 
 the crew were inexprcffibly great : every officer 
 on board died except MafTey, and many of the 
 foldiers like wife fell a facrifice to the fcandalous 
 negleft. 
 
 I hofe who lived to get on fhore drank fo gree- 
 
 dily of thefrefh water, that they were thrown into 
 
 'ruixes x which deftroyed them in the mud rapid 
 
 man-
 
 JOHN MASSY-- for Piracy. 347 
 
 manner ; till at length only captain Mafiey and' 
 a very few of his people were left alive ; and 
 thefe, being totally unable to build a fort, and 
 feeing no profpect of relief, began to abandon 
 themfelves to defpair : but at this time a veflel 
 happening to come near the fhore, they made fig- 
 nals of diitrefs, on which a boat was fent off to 
 their relief. 
 
 They were no fooner on board than they found 
 the vefiel was a pirate-, and, diftreffed as they 
 had been, too haftily engaged in their lawlefs 
 plan, rather than run the hazard of periming on 
 more. Sailing from hence they took feveral 
 prizes ; and though the perfons made prifoners 
 were not ufed with cruelty, Mr, Mafiey had Ib 
 true a fenfe of the illegality of the proceedings in 
 which he was concerned, -that his mind was per- 
 petually tormented with the idea of the fatal'con- 
 fequences that might enfue. 
 
 At length the fnip reached Jamaica, when Mr. 
 Mafley feized the firft opportunity of deferting; 
 and repairing to the governor, he gavefuch infor- 
 ^mation, that the crew of the pirate veflel was 
 taken into cuftody, convicted and hanged. tvlaf- 
 fey might have been provided for by the governor, 
 who treated him with fingular refpecl: ; on account 
 of his fervices to the public ; but he declined his 
 generous offers, through an anxiety to vifit his 
 native country. 
 
 On his failing for England the governor gave 
 his recommendatoiy letters ro the lords of ti.e 
 Admiralty - t but aftoniftiing as it may Icem, in- 
 {lead or. being carcflrd, he was taken into cuftody, 
 and committed till a ftflions of Admiralty was he Id 
 for his trial, when he pleaded guilty, and received 
 fentence of death. 
 
 As bis cafe was remarkable, the public enter- 
 X x 2
 
 348 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 tained no doubt but that he would have been par- 
 doned : but a warrant was fent for his execution, 
 and he made the moil folemn preparation for his 
 approaching fate. 
 
 Two clergymen attended him at the place of 
 execution, where he freely acknowledged his fins 
 in general, was remarkable fervent in his devo- 
 tions, and feemed perfectly reftgned to his fatal 
 deftiny. He fuffered at Execution- dock, on the 
 s6th of July 1723. 
 
 Myfterious are the ways of providence ! To 
 the view of inert-lighted mortals it will appear 
 that this man ought not to have fnffered : but 
 heaven thought otherwife , and " mail not the 
 Judge of all the earth do right ?" 
 
 It fee<ns aftonifhing that Mr. MafTey mould 
 plead guilty at his trial, when his joining the 
 pirate's was evidently an act of neceffity, not of 
 choice; and when his fubfeqnent conduct at Ja- 
 maica proves that he took the earlieft opportunity 
 to abandon his late companions, and bring them 
 to juftice: a conduct by which he feems to have 
 merited the thanks of his country, rather than the 
 vengeance of the laws. 
 
 It is almoft impoffible to quit this fubject, on 
 which a volume might be written, without once 
 more remarking on the favage inhumanity of that 
 accurfed traffic to Afrcia, the (lave trade ; a trade 
 that is born to avarice, and nurfed in blood ! The 
 Englim nation ought to give up its boafted claim 
 to humanity, till this trade be abolifhed ; and we 
 fhould blulh at the idea of puniihing a pirate, 
 while we openly permit a traffic that counteracts 
 all the laws of benevolence. Shame on the peo- 
 ple ! Shame on the legiflators ! tnat can longer 
 permit the continuance of a practice fo much 
 more than helliih : a practice which fiends would 
 
 blufb
 
 PHILIP ROCHE for Piracy. 349 
 
 hlufh to think of: but the day of retribution may 
 be nearer that we imagine : the prefent ftate * of 
 Great Britain bears not the moft favourable afpec~l ; 
 and thofe who are dead to all feeling for the fuffer- 
 ings of others, may perhaps be alive to .their own 
 " Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, faith the 
 Lord.'* 
 
 Particulars refpecting PHILIP ROCHE, who was 
 hanged for Piracy. 
 
 THIS atrocious malefactor was a native of 
 Ireland, and being brought up to a fea- 
 faring life, ferved for aconfiderable time on board 
 jTome coafting veffels, and then failed to Barba- 
 does on board a We.ft-Indiaman ; and here he en- 
 deavoured to procure the place of clerk to a fac- 
 tor; but failing in this, he went again to lea, 
 and was advanced to the ftation of a firft mate. 
 
 He now became acquainted with a fifherman 
 named Neale, who hinted to him that large fums 
 of money might be acquired for infuring mips, 
 and then caufing them to be funk, to defraud the 
 infurers. 
 
 Roche was wicked enough to liften to this hor- 
 rid tale, and becoming acquainted with a gentle- 
 man who had a fhip bound to Cape-Breton, he 
 got a ftation on board, next in command to the 
 captain, who having an high opinion of him, 
 trufted the Ihip to his management, directing the 
 feamen to obey his commands. 
 
 If Roche had entertained any idea of finking 
 the fhip, he feemed now to have abandoned it ; 
 but he had brought on board with him five Irifh- 
 
 * This was written on the 2d of June 1778. 
 
 men
 
 350 NEW -NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 men who were concerned in the fliocking tragedy 
 that enfued. 
 
 When they had been only a few days at fea, 
 the plan was executed as follows. One night, 
 when the captain and moft of the crew were 
 afleep, koche gave orders to two of the feamen 
 to furl the fails ; which being immediately done, 
 the poor fellows no fooner deicended to the deck, 
 than Roche and his hellifh afibciar.es murdered 
 them, and threw them overboard. At this in- 
 ftant a man and a boy at the yard-arm ob- 
 fcrved what pail, and dreading a limilar fate, 
 hurried toward the topmaft head, when one of 
 tne Irifhmcn, named Cullen, followed them, and 
 feizing the boy, threw him into the fea. The 
 man, thinking to effecl: at leaft a prefent efcape, 
 defcended to the main deck, where Roache in- 
 ftantly feized, and murdered him, and then threw 
 him overboard. 
 
 The noife occafioned by thefe transactions a- 
 lanned the failors below, they hurried up with 
 all poffible expedition -, but they were Teverally 
 feiaed and murdered as faft as they came on deck, 
 and being firft knocked on the head, were thrown 
 into the fea. At k.-gth the mite' and mate 
 came on the quarter deck, when Roche and his 
 villainous companions feized them, and ty;ng 
 them ack to back, committed them to the mer- 
 cikfs waves. 
 
 Thefe execrable murderers being perpetrated, 
 the murderers ranfacked the chefts of the de- 
 ceafed, and then fat down to regale themfelves 
 with liquor ; and while the profligate crew were 
 earoufmg, they determined to commence pirates, 
 and that Roche mould be the captain, as the 
 reward of his fuperior villainy. 
 
 They
 
 PHILIP ROCHE for Piracy. 351 
 
 The had intended to have failed up the gulph 
 of St. Lawrence , but as they were within a few 
 days fail of the Britilh channel when the bloody 
 tragedy was acted, and finding themfelves fli-.rt of 
 provifions, they put into Portfmouth, and giving 
 the vefiel a fictitious name, they painted her a- 
 frefh, and then failed for Rotterdam. At this 
 city they difpofed of their cargo, and took in a 
 freih one. Here they were unknown ; and an En- 
 glim gentleman, named Anneiley, fhipped confi- 
 derable property on board, and took his pafiage 
 with them for the port of London: but the vil- 
 lains threw this unfortunate gentleman overboard, 
 after they had been only one day at fea. 
 
 When the (hip arrived in the river Thame* 
 Mr. Annefly's friends made enquiry after him, 
 in confequence of his having fenc letters to En- 
 gland, dcfcribing the fhip in which he propofed 
 to embark; but Roche denied having any know- 
 ledge of the gentleman ; and*cven difclaimed his 
 own name. 
 
 Notwithftandino; his confident afiertions it was 
 rightly prefumed who he was, and a letter which 
 he fent to his wife being (lopped, he was taken 
 into cuftody. Being carried before the Secretary 
 of ftate for examination, he averred that he was 
 not Philip Roche-, and faid that he knew no per- 
 fon of that name. Hereupon the intercepted let- 
 ter was (hewn him, on which he inftantly confef- 
 fcd his crimes, and was immediately committed 
 to take his trial at the next Admiralty feffions. 
 
 It was imimaccd to Roche that he might expect 
 a pardon, if he would impeach any three perfons 
 who were more culpable than himfelf, ib thac 
 they might be profecuted to conviction : but not 
 being able to do this, he was brought to his 
 
 trial,
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALANDAR. 
 
 trial, aud found guilty, judgment of death was 
 awarded againft him. 
 
 After conviction he profefied to be of the Ro- 
 man Catholic faith, but was certainly no bigot 
 to that religion, fince he attended the devotions 
 according to the Proteftant form. He was hang- 
 ed at Execution Dock on the 5th of Auguft, 1723* 
 but was fo ill at the time that he could not make 
 any public declaration of the abhorrence of the 
 crime for which he fuffered. 
 
 It is impoffible to read this mocking narra- 
 tive without execrating the very memory of the 
 wretches whofe crimes give rife to it. Hiftory has 
 not furnilhed us with any account of what became 
 of the wicked accomplices of Roche-, but there 
 can be little doubt of their having dragged on a 
 miferable exiftence, if they did not end their lives 
 at the gallows. 
 
 The mind of the guilty muft be perpetually 
 racked with torments , and the murderer who is 
 permitted to live does but live in wretchednefs 
 and defpair. His days muft be filled with an- 
 xiety, and his nights with torture. 
 
 From the fate of the miferable fubjeft of this 
 narrative let our failors be taught that an honed 
 purfuit of the duties of their ftation is more likely 
 to enfure happinefs to them, than the poffdlion 
 of any fum of money unlawfully obtained. Our 
 brave tars are not, from their fituation in life, 
 much accuftomed to the attendance on religious 
 duties t but it can coft them no trouble to recoi- 
 led, that to " do juftice and love mercy'* is 
 equally the character of the brave man and the 
 chriftian ; that a delight in wrong and robbery 
 argues the greatett folly, and commonly ends in 
 bitter remorle ; and tho* " men may live fools, yet 
 *' fools they cannot die," 
 
 The
 
 t 353 ] 
 
 The Cafes of WILLIAM DUCE, ana JAMES BUT- 
 LER, who were hanged for Robbery. 
 
 DUCE was a native of Wolverhampton, 
 and by trade a buckle-maker, which he fol- 
 lowed fome time in London , but being imprifon- 
 ed in Newgate for debt, be there made connec- 
 tions which greatly tended to the corruption of his 
 manners. 
 
 He was no fooner at large than he commenced 
 foot-pad, and, in company with another man, 
 robbed a gentleman in Chelfea Fields of four 
 guineas : after this he connected himfelf with 
 John Dyer, and James Butler, in concert with 
 whom he committed a variety of robberies. 
 Their plan was to go out together, but one only 
 to attack the party intended to be robbed ; but to 
 give a fignal for his accomplices to come up, if 
 any refiftance mould be made. 
 
 After committing a variety of robberies in the 
 neighbourhood of London, they joined in a 
 fchenie with four other villains to rob lady Chud- 
 leigh, between Hyde-Park Corner and Kenfing- 
 ton : but her ladyfhip's footman fliot one of the 
 gang, named Rice, through the head, which pre- 
 vented the intended depredation. 
 
 Their robberies had now been fo numerous, that 
 the neighbourhood of London became unfafe for 
 them ; wherefore they went on the Portfrnoutb. 
 road, where they committed a variety of robbe- 
 ries, and even proceeded to the perpetration of 
 murder, with a view to prevent detection. 
 
 Meeting Mr. Bunch, a farmer, near a wood on 
 the road fide, they robbed him of his money, and 
 then dragging him into the wood, they ftripped 
 
 VOL. I. No 9. Y y him
 
 354 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 him and Duce firing at him with a piftol, the ball 
 lodged in his mouth. 
 
 They now imagined the man was dead, and 
 were about to depart, when Mr. Bunch turning, 
 Butler loaded another piftol, in order to difpatch 
 him-, on which he begged that they would yet 
 fpare his life ; but finding that they entertained 
 no fentiments of companion, he exerted all his 
 ilrengrh, and fpringing on his legs, ran off, and 
 alarming the inhabitants of an adjacent village ; 
 immediate purfuit was made after the villains, all 
 of whom were apprehended except Duce, who 
 efcaped, and got to London. 
 
 Darker, Wade, and Meads, three of the 
 gang, were hanged at Winchefter : but Butler 
 was fent to take his trial at the Old Bailey, for 
 robberies committed in the county of Middleiex. 
 
 JAMES BUTLER was the fon of reputable pa- 
 rents of the parifh of St. Ann, Soho, and ap- 
 prenticed to a filverfmith ; but being of an un- 
 governable difpofition, his parents were obliged 
 to fend him to fea. After making feveral voy- 
 ages, as an apprentice to the captain, he ran 
 from the (hip at Bofton in New-England, and 
 went to New- York, where he entered on board 
 another Ihip, from which he likewife ran away, 
 and embarked in a third veflel, bound to Mar- 
 dnico. This he alfo quitted, on a difpute with 
 the captain, and then failed to Jamaica, where 
 he was impreifed into ehe royal navy, and ferved 
 under the celebrated admiral Vernon. 
 
 On his return to England, he married a girl of 
 "Wapping, and having foon fpcnt the little money 
 he brought home wich him, he engaged with the 
 gang we have mentioned, with whom he was 
 feewife concerned in feveral robberies 
 
 Thcfe
 
 W. DUCE and J. BUTLER for Robbery. 35$ 
 
 Thefe appear to have been very defperate vjl- 
 lains. On the road to Gravefend they Hopped 
 four gentlemen, who refufing to be robbed, 
 Meads (one of thofe hanged at Winchefter,) fhot 
 a fervant who attended them, in the bread, fo 
 that he died in a few days. Difappoimed of their 
 bodty in this attempt, their paflions were fo irri- 
 tated, that, meeting a gentleman on horfeback, 
 they fired, and wounded him in the head and 
 breaft, and the next day he expired. 
 
 They committed other robberies attended with 
 circumftances ot cruelty j but it will be now pro- 
 .per to mention thofe for which they fuffered : 
 Butler having been acquitted at the Old Bailey, 
 f the crime for which he was tranfmitted from 
 Winchefter, he and Duce and Dyer immediately 
 renewed their depredations on tfre road. Meet- 
 ing Mr. Holmes near Buckingham-houfe, thej 
 robbed him of his money, hat, and handkerchief, 
 which laid the foundation of one of the indict- 
 ments again ft them. 
 
 On the following evening they flopped a hack- 
 ney coachman near Hampllead, and robbed him 
 of nine Ihillings, after the coachman had tokl 
 them that the words, " ftand and deliver, " were 
 fufficient to hang a man. Jonathan Wild being 
 informed of thefe robberies, caufed the offenders 
 to be apprehended, at a houfc kept by Duce's 
 fifter. 
 
 Dyer being admitted an evidence, Duce and 
 Butler were brought to their trial, when the lat- 
 ter pleaded guilty to both the indictments ; and 
 the former, after fpending fome time in denying 
 the robberies, and arraigning the conduct of Jo- 
 nathan Wild, was found guilcy, and both of them 
 received fcntence of death. 
 
 Y y 2 Aftcc,
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 After conviction their behavour was more re- 
 figned and devout than could have been expected 
 from men whofe repeated crimes might be fup- 
 pofed to have hardened their hearts ; but death 
 appeared to them in all its horrors. Butler was 
 a Roman Catholic, and Duce a Proteftant The 
 latter was urged by the Ordinary to difcover the 
 names of fome of his old accomplices : but this 
 he refufed to do, becaufe they had left their prac- 
 tices, and lived honed lives. 
 
 A few moments before they were launched into 
 eternity, Butler declared that the circumftances 
 of cruelty with which their crimes, had been at- 
 tended gave him more pain than the thoughts of 
 death : and Duce acknowledged the enormity of 
 his offences, and begged the forgivenefs of all 
 whom he had injured. 
 
 They were hanged at Tyburn, on the i/jth of 
 Auguft, 1723. 
 
 A few fhort reflections naturally occur on the 
 fate of thefe men. Butler, having been difobe- 
 dient when a boy, was fent to fca in order to re- 
 claim him. This is a common practice j but 
 ve cannot fee how it is calculated to anfwer the 
 defigned end : what doctrines of morality or re- 
 ligion can a boy be expected to learn amidft the 
 curfes and execrations of failors ? But we believe 
 one grear. reafon why young offenders are fent to 
 fca is, that they may be out of the way of dif- 
 gracing their parents and relations by their pre- 
 Tence, and of purfuing their bad practices on 
 ihore. 
 
 The cruelties thefe malefactors perpetrated, 
 will hand down their names with infamy to pof- 
 terity -, and ought to imprels on the minds of 
 young people the horrid crime of robbery, which 
 may naturally lead tp the greater crime of mur- 
 der.
 
 W.,DUCE and J. BUTLER for Robhry. 357 
 
 der. By truth in all our words, and juftice and 
 mercy in our actions, we fhall moft effectually 
 fecure our happinefs in this world ; and by the 
 aid of religion, and the mercy of God, may be- 
 come luccefsful candidates for eternal blifs in that 
 which is to come ! 
 
 The life and Tranfactions of HUMPHREY AM- 
 GIER, who was hanged for Robbery. 
 
 I HIS offender was a native of Ireland, and 
 born near Dublin ; but his parents re- 
 moving to Corke, put him apprentice to a coop- 
 er in that city. He had not been long in this 
 ftation before his mafter defired to get rid of him, 
 on account of his untoward difpofition. Being 
 difcharged from his fervice, he lived the life of 
 a vagabond for two years, and his father appre- 
 hending that he would come to a fatal end, 
 brought him to England in the eighteenth year 
 of his age. 
 
 Still, however, he continued his difiipated 
 courfe of life, till having got confidtrably in 
 debt, he enlifted for a foldier, to avoid being 
 lodged in prifon. As this happened in the year 
 1715, he was fent to Scotland to oppofe the re- 
 bels ; but robbing a farmer in that country, he 
 was punifhed by receiving 500 lames, in confe- 
 quence of the lentencc of a court martial 
 
 The rebellion being ended, Angier came tc* 
 London, and obtained his difcharge. Here he 
 became acquainted with Wil'iam Duce, men- 
 tioned in the preceeding article, and married a 
 fitter of Duce at an alehoufe in the verge of the 
 Fleet. 
 
 After
 
 55 S NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 After this he enlifted for a foldier, and the re- 
 giment being ordered t* Vigo, he took his wife 
 with him ; and when the greater part of the Spa^ 
 niards had abandoned the place, Angier obtained 
 a confiderabie fum by plunder. Oft his return to 
 England he became acquainted with Butler's af- 
 ibciates, and was concerned with them in feveral 
 of their lawlefs depredations, but refufed to have 
 any fiiare in acts of barbarity. 
 
 Angler now kept a houfe of ill-fame, which 
 was reforted to by the other thieves ; and one 
 pight after they had been out on one of their ex- 
 ploits, one Meads, (whole name we have before 
 recorded,) told the following horrid tale : " We 
 * c have been out ; and the belt fun of all was an 
 fc< engagement with a fmock-faced fhoemaker, 
 " whom we met on the Kentifh-road. We alked 
 * him how far he was going, and he faid he 
 " was juft married, and going home to fee hi& 
 * c rehtions. After a little more difcourie, we 
 ** perfuaded him to turn a little out of the road 
 ** to looE for a bird's-neft ; but as foon as we 
 * had got him a little out of the road, we bound 
 44 and gagged him, after which we robbed him, 
 " and were going away ; but I being in a merry 
 - humour, and wanting to have a little diverfion, 
 vt turned about with my pifto!, and (hot him 
 " through the head." Bad as Angier was in 
 cither refpefts, he was mocked at this ftory, told 
 his companions that t.here was no courage in cru- 
 thy, and from that time refufed to drink with 
 any of them. 
 
 After this Angier kept a houfe of ill- fame near 
 Charing-Crols, letting lodgings to thieves, and 
 receiving ftolen ' goods. While in this way of 
 Fife he went to* fee an execution at 1 y burn, and 
 ditl QOt return till four o'clock the next morning : 
 
 and
 
 HUMPHREY ANGlER-/*r Robbery. 359 
 
 ind in his abfcnce an incident arofe which was 
 attended with troublefome confequences. A Dutch 
 woman meeting with a gentleman in the ftreet, 
 conducted him to Angier's houfe, where he drank 
 fo freely that he fell afleep, when the woman rob- 
 bed him of his watch and money, and made her 
 cfcape. The gentleman awaking when Angier 
 returned, charged him with the robbery, in con- 
 fequence of which h was committed to prifon, 
 but foon afterwards difcharged, the grand jury not 
 finding the bill againft him. 
 
 Not long after he got free of this trouble, his 
 wife was indicted for robbing a gentleman of his 
 watch and a guinea, but had the good fortune to 
 be acquitted in defect of evidence. 
 
 The following accident happened about the 
 fame time : A woman named Turner had drank 
 ib much at Angier's houfe that he conducted her 
 up to bed -, but while he was in the room with 
 her his wife entered like a fury, and demanding 
 how Turner could prefume to keep company 
 with her hufband, attacked and beat the woman. 
 William Duce being in the houfe^ went up to in- 
 terfere; bat the ditturbance was by this time fo- 
 great, that it was neceffary to fend for a con- 
 ttable. 
 
 The officer no fooner arrived, than Mrs. Tur- 
 ner charged Angier and his wife with robbing her ; 
 on which they were taken into cuftody and com- 
 mitted : but when they were brought to trial, they 
 were acquitted, as there was no proof of any rob- 
 bery, to the fatisfaction of the jury. 
 
 Dyer, who was evideuce againit Duce and But- 
 ler, as mentioned in the preceding narrative, 
 lived at this time with Angier as a waiter; and 
 the mailer and man ufed occalionally to commit 
 footpad robberies together; for which they were 
 
 lever a I
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR* 
 
 feveral times apprehended, and tried at the Old 
 Bailey 5 but acquitted, becaufe the profecutors 
 could not fwear to their perfons. 
 
 Angler's character now grew fo notorious, that 
 np perfon of common decency would be feen in 
 his houfe; and the expences attending his repeat- 
 ed profecutions were fo great, that from thefc 
 united caufes he was compelled to decline bull- 
 nefs. 
 
 After this, however, he kept a gin-fliop in 
 Short's-Gardens, Drnry-lane ; and this houfe was 
 frequented by company of the fame kind as thofe 
 he had formerly entertained, and among the reft 
 parfon Lindfey, who has been heretofore men- 
 tioned in this work. Lindfey having prevailed 
 on a gentleman to go to this houfe, made him 
 drunk, and then robbed him of feveral valu- 
 able articles ; but procuring himfelf to be ad- 
 mitted an evidence, charged Angier and his 
 wife with the robbery t but they had again the 
 good fortune to efcape, becaufe the character of 
 X^indfey was by this time fo infamous, that the 
 court and jury paid no regard to any thing that 
 he faid. 
 
 Not long after this, Mrs. Angier was tranf- 
 portcd for picking a gentleman's pocket, and her 
 hulband was convicted on two capital Indictments* 
 the one for robbing Mr. Lewin, the city mar- 
 fhall, near Hornfey, of ten guineas and fome 
 filver, and the other for robbing a waggoner near 
 Knightfbridge. On both thefe trials, Dyer, who 
 was concerned in the robberies, was admitted an 
 evidence againft Angier. 
 
 /ifttr conviction, Angier was vifited by num- 
 bers of perfons, whofe pockets had been picked 
 of valuable articles, in the hope of getting fome 
 intelligence of the property they had loft; but 
 
 he
 
 HUMPHREY ANG1ER-/W RoMery. 361 
 
 he told th?m he was never guilty of fuch mean 
 actions as picking of pockets ; and he laid that 
 none of his affociates ever followed this praftice 1 , 
 but one Hugh Kelly, who was tranfported for 
 robbing a woman of a fhroud, which fhe was 
 carrying home, to cover her deceafed hufband. 
 
 Angier's father died of a broken heart foon 
 after he heard of his commitment. While under 
 fentence of death, he behaved with great peni- 
 tence : confeffed his Crimes : faid he had never 
 been happy in the commiflion of them ; and ex- 
 preffed a willingnefs to die, as what he hoped 
 might be a compenfation for his fins. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the gth of Sep- 
 tember, 1723, andjuft before he was turned off, 
 advifed young people to be obedient. to their pa- 
 rents, as a failure in rhat important duty was the' 
 firft ftep to his deftruftion. 
 
 Angler had a longer courfe of wickedrsefs than 
 falls to the Jot of moft offenders ; but he was at 
 length cut off, and fell a.facrifice to the rigour of 
 the laws. We find he confeffed he had never 
 been happy ; nor indeed can any criminal ever 
 expect to be ib : thofe who fail in their duty, en- 
 tail wretchednefs on themfelves. The only way 
 to be happy, is to be virtuous : while guilt int- 
 vitably leads to mifery and fhame. No perfon, 
 then, in his fenfes, can hefitate which path to 
 chufe. " The wife (fays Solomon) mall inherit 
 *' glory, bu fhame fhall be the promotion of 
 fools." 
 
 * c To be good, is to be happy : Angels 
 
 *' Are happier than men, becaufe they're better." 
 
 VOL. I. No. 10. Z z Account
 
 362 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Account of RICHARD PARVIN, EDWARD ELLIOT, 
 ROBERT KINGSHELL, HENRY MARSHALL, ED- 
 WARD PINK, JOHN PINK, and JAMES ANSELL, 
 commonly called the Waltham Blacks y who 
 were hanged for Murder. 
 
 THE actions of thefe offenders became fo 
 much the object of public notice, .that it 
 was deemed proper to frame a particular act of 
 parliament in order to bring them to juftice. 
 Having blacked their faces they went in the day- 
 time to the parks of the nobility and gentry, 
 whence they repeatedly Hole deer, and at length 
 murdered the bifhop of Wincheiter's keeper on 
 Waltham-Chace; and from the name of the 
 place, and their blacking their faces, they ob- 
 tained th name of the Waltham Blacks. 
 
 The following is the fubftance of the act of 
 parliament on which they were convicted : " Any 
 ** perfon appearing in any foreft, chace, park, 
 *' &c. or in any high road, open heath, com- 
 " mon, or down, with offenfive weapons, and 
 " having his face blacked, or otherwife difguiied, 
 " or unlawfully and wilfully hunting, wounding, 
 " killing or fteallng any red or fallow deer, or 
 " unlawfully robbing any warren, &c. or fteal- 
 sc ing any fifh out of any river or pond, or (whe- 
 * c ther armed and dilguifed or not) breaking 
 * f down the head or mound of any fim-pond,. 
 <c whereby the fifli may be loft or deftroyed ; or 
 <c unlawfully, and malicioufly killing, maiming, 
 *' or wounding any cattle, or cutting down, or 
 " otherwife deftroying any trees planted in any 
 *' avenue, or growing ia any garden, orchard, 
 " or plantation, for ornament, fhelter, or profit ; 
 4t or letting fire to any houfe, barn^ or outhoufe, 
 
 !.' hovel,
 
 WALTHAM BLACKS /or Murder. 363 
 
 " hovel, cock, mow, or flack of corn, draw, 
 " hay, or wood ; or malicioufiy fhooting at any 
 " perfon, in any dwelling-houfe or other place; 
 " or knowingly fending any letter without any 
 " name, or figned with a fictitious name, demand- 
 " ing money, venifon, or other valuable thing, 
 " or forcibly refcuing any perfon being in cuf- 
 ** tody for any of the offences before-mentioned, 
 " or procuring any perfon by gift, or promife of 
 " money, or other reward, to join in any fuch 
 " unlawful aft, or concealing or fuccouring fuch 
 " offenders, when by order of council, &c. re- 
 " quired to furrender mail fufTer death." 
 
 The offcrnca of deer-fteaiing was formerly only 
 a mifdemeanor at common law; but the aft of 
 parliament above-mentioned has been rendered 
 perpetual by a fubfequent ftatute : it therefore be- 
 hoves people to be cautious that they do not en- 
 danger their lives, while they think they are com- 
 mitting what they may dtem an inferior offence. 
 "We will now give fuch particulars as we have 
 been able to obtain refpefting the malefactors in 
 queftion. 
 
 RICHARD PARVIN was heretofore the mafler of 
 a public-houfe in Portfmouch, which ne had kept 
 with reputation for a confiderable time, till he 
 was imprudent enough to engage with the gang 
 of ruffians who praftifcd the robbing noblemen's 
 and gentlemen's parks through the country. The 
 reader is already apprifcd that it was the cuftom 
 of thefe fellows to go difguiied. Now a fervantr 
 maid of Parvin's having left his houfe during his 
 abfence, had repaired to an alehoufe in the 
 country ; and Parvin calling there on his return 
 from one of his diihoncft expeditions, the g : rl dif- 
 covered him j in confequence of which he was 
 Z z 2 com-
 
 364 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 committed to Winchefter Gaol, by the mayor of 
 Portfmouth, till his removal to London for trial. 
 
 EDWARD ELLIOT was an apprentice to a tay- 
 lor at Guildford, and was very young when he 
 engaged with the gang, whofe orders he impli- 
 -citly obeyed, till the following circumftance oc- 
 cafioned his leaving them. Having met with 
 two countrymen who refufed to enter into the 
 fociety, they dug holes in the ground, and placed 
 the unhappy men in them, up to their chins, and 
 had they not been relieved by perfons who acci- 
 dentally faw them, they mull have perifhed. 
 Shocked by this deed, Elliot left them, and for 
 . Come time ferved a lady as a footman ; but on the 
 day the keeper was murdered, he cafually met 
 them in the fields, and, on their promife that no 
 harm mould attend him, he unhappily contented 
 to bear them company. 
 
 Having provided themfelves with piftols, and 
 blacked their faces with gunpowder, they pro- 
 ceeded to their lawlefs depredations , and while 
 the" reft of the gang were killing of deer, Elliot 
 went in fearch of a fawn ; but while he was look- 
 ing for it, the keeper and his afliftants came up, 
 and took him into cuftody. His aflbciates were 
 near enough to fee what happened , and imme- 
 diately coming to his affiftancr, a violent affray 
 enfued, in nhich the keeper was mot by Henry 
 Marmall, fo that he died on the-fpot, and Elliot 
 made his efcape ; but he was foon afterwards taken 
 into cuftody, and lodged in the gaol of Guild- 
 ford. 
 
 ROBERT KINGSHELL, who was a native of Farn- 
 ham in Surry, was plared by his patents with a 
 Ihoemaktr ; but being too idle to follow his pro- 
 feflion, he was guilty of many ads of irregularity, 
 
 before
 
 the WALTHAM BLACKS for Murder. 
 
 before he afibciated himfelf with the Waltham 
 Blacks, with whom he afterwards fuffered. While 
 he was in bed on the night preceding the fatal 
 murder, one of the gang awaked him, by knock- 
 ing at his window, on which he arofe, and went 
 with him to join the reft of the deer-ftealers. 
 
 HENRY MARSHAL was a man difringuifhed 
 for his ftrength and agility : we have no account 
 oftheplacaof his birth, or the manner of his 
 education ; but it is reafonable to think that the 
 latter was of the inferior kind, fince he appears 
 to have been chiefly diftinguifhed by his fkill in 
 the vulgar fcience of bruifing. He was once the 
 occafion of apprehending a highwayman, who 
 had robbed a coach, by giving him a fingle blow 
 which broke his arm. He feems to have been 
 one of the moft daring of the Waltham Blacks, 
 and was the man who fhot the chace-keeper, as 
 above-mentioned. 
 
 EDWARD PINK and JOHN PINK were brothers, 
 
 who fpent the former part of their lives as carters, 
 
 at Portfmouth, and had maintained the character 
 
 of honeft men till they became weak enough to 
 
 ' join the defperate gang of deer-ftealers 
 
 It now remains to fpeak only of JAMES ANSZL, 
 who likewife lived at Portfmouth. We are not 
 informed in what way he had originally fupported 
 himfelf; but for fome years before he joined the 
 defperate gang above-mentioned he was a high- 
 wayman , and had been concerned with the Wal- 
 tham Blacks about two years before the commiffion 
 of the murder which coft them their lives. 
 
 By a vigilant exertion of the civil power, all 
 the above mentioned offenders, were taken into 
 cullody, and ' it being thought prudent to bring 
 them to trial in London, they were removed thi- 
 ther
 
 366 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 ther under a flrong guard, and lodged in New- 
 
 gate. 
 
 On the ijth of November, 1723, they were 
 brought to their trial in the court of King's 
 Bench, and being convicted on the cleared evi- 
 dence, were found guilty aod fentenced to die ; 
 and it was immediately ordered that they Ihould 
 furTer on the fourth of the Qcxt month. One 
 circumftance was very remarkable on this occa- 
 fion: the judge had no fooner pronounced thjt 
 lenience, than Henry Marmall, the man who had 
 fhot the . keeper, was immediately deprived of 
 the ufe of his tongue: nor did he recover his 
 fpeech till the day before his death. 
 
 After pafling the iblemn fentence, the convicts 
 behaved in a manner equally devout and refign- 
 ed, were regular in their devotions, and pre- 
 pared themlelves for eternity with every mark of 
 unfeigned contrition. They received the facra- 
 tntnt before they left Newgate, acknowledged 
 the j uftice of the fentence againft them, and laid 
 they had been guilty of many crimes befides that 
 for which they were to fuffer. 
 
 At the pla^e of execution they were fo dejected 
 as to be unaolr to addrels the populace , but 
 they again confcfled their fins, and recommended 
 their fouls to Gc<',, befecthing his mercy; through 
 the merits of Chnlt, with the utmoft fervency of 
 devotion. 
 
 Thefe malefactors were hanged at Tyburn, on 
 tbe 4th ot December, 1723, 
 
 A vtry ihort, though importanr leffon, may 
 be learnt from the fate of thefc unhappy men. 
 Idleness mud have been the grear fource of their 
 iawlcfs depredations, which at length ended in 
 murder. No man, however fucceisful in the 
 
 pro-
 
 JOHN STANLEY for Murder. . 367 
 
 profeffion, can expect to get as much profit by 
 deer-fteeling, as by following his lawful bufinefs. 
 The truth is, that, in almoft every inftance, it 
 cofts a man more pains to be a rogue than to be 
 honeft. Exclufive of the duties of religion, 
 young perfons cannot learn a more important 
 maxim than that in the fcripture ; "the hand of 
 "the diligent maketh rich." 
 
 In this place it may not bief-'improper to make a 
 ingle remark on the game Iws. Thefe are fup- 
 poied to be, poflibly not without reafon, fevere : 
 it is contended that thole animals whicn are wild 
 by nature are equally the property of every man. 
 Perhaps this is th truth : but perfonS in the 
 lower ranks of life ihould remember, that when 
 laws are once enacted, THEY MUST BE OBEYED. 
 Safety lies in acquiefcence with, not in oppoli- 
 tion to, legal inftitutions. 
 
 Particulars refpecting JOHN STANLEY, who was 
 hanged for murder. 
 
 MR. STANLEY was the fon of an of- 
 ficer in the army, and born in the year 
 1690, atDuce-Hall in Efiex, a feat that belong- 
 ed to Mr. Palmer, who was his uncle by the mo- 
 ther's iide. Young Stanley being the favourite 
 of his father, the latter began to teach him the 
 art of fencing when he was no more than five 
 years of age ; and other officers likewife practiiing 
 the fame art with him, he became a kind of 
 matter of the fword when he was but a mere boy: 
 for, to Simulate his courage, it was common for 
 thole who fenced with him to give him wine, OF 
 other ftrong liquors. 
 
 In
 
 S68 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 In confequence of this treatment the boy grew 
 daring and infolent beyond expreffien, and[ at 
 length behaved with fo uncommon a degree of 
 audacity that his father deemed him a fingular 
 character of bravery. 
 
 While he was very young IVir. Stanley being 
 ordered to join his regiment in Spain, took his 
 fon with him; and in that country he was a fpec- 
 tator of feveral engagements, but his principal 
 delight was in trampling on the bodies of th$ 
 deceafed, after the battles were ended. 
 
 From Spain the elder Stanley was ordered to 
 Ireland, whither he took his fon, and there pro- 
 cured for him an enfign's commiffion : but the 
 young gentleman, habituating himfdf to extra- 
 vagant company, fpent much more money than 
 the produce of his commiffion, which he foon 
 fold, and then returned to England. 
 
 The father was greatly mortified at this pro- 
 ceeding, and advifed him to make application to 
 general Stanhope, who had been a warm friend 
 t.o the family : but this advife was loft on the 
 young fellow, who abandoned himfelf to the 
 moft diffolute courfe of life; borrowed money of 
 all his acquaintance, which he foon fquandered 
 at the gaming tables, and procured farther fup- 
 plies from women with whom he made illicit 
 conn ctions. 
 
 He was fo vain of his acquaintance with the 
 ladies, that he beaded of their favours as an ar- 
 gument in proof of his own aecomplilhments ^ 
 though what he might obtain from the weaknefs 
 of one woman, he commonly fquandered on 
 others, of more abandoned character. 
 
 One mode which he took to fupply his extra- 
 vagance, was to introdvice himfelf into the com- 
 pany of young gentlemen who were but little ac- 
 quainted
 
 JOHN STANLEY- 'for Murter. 
 
 tjuainted with the vices of the age, whom he af- 
 filled in wafting their fortunes in every fpecies of 
 fcandalous diffipation. 
 
 At length, after a fcene of riot in London, h 
 went with one of his affbciates to Flanders, and 
 thence to Paris ; and Stanley boafted not a little 
 of the favours he received ainong the French la- 
 dies, and of the improvements he had made in the 
 fcience of fencing. 
 
 On his return to England the opinion he con- 
 ceived of his flv.il! in the ufc of the fword made 
 him infufFerably vain and prefuming. He would 
 frequently intrude himfelf into company at a ta- 
 vern, and faying he was come to make himfelf 
 welcome, would fit down at the table without 
 farther ceremony. The company would fome* 
 times bear with his infolence for the fake of 
 peace; but when this was the cafe, it was a 
 chance if he did not pretend to have received 
 fome affront, and, drawing his fword, walk off 
 while the company was in confufion. It was not 
 always, however, that matters thus endcv; ; for 
 fomctimes a gentleman of fpirit would take the 
 liberty of kicking our hero out of the houfe. 
 
 It will now bf proper to mention foir.cthing of* 
 hjs connection with Mrs. Maycock, the murder 
 of whom cod him his life. As he was returning 
 from a gaming-houfc which he frequented ill 
 Covent-Garden, he met a Mr. Bryan of Newgate* 
 ftreet, and his lifter, Mrs. Maycock, the wife of* 
 a mercer on Ludgate-Hill. Stanley rudely ran 
 againft the man, and embraced the woman ; on 
 which a quarrel arofe ; but this fubfiding, Stan- 
 ley infilted on feeing the parties home : this he 
 did, and fpent the evening with them ; and from 
 VOL. I. No. 10. 3 A this
 
 370 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 this circumftance a fatal connexion arofe, as will 
 appear in the fequel. 
 
 Stanley having made an acquaintance with the 
 family, foon afterwards met Mrs. Maycock at 
 the houfe of a relation in Red-Lion-Street, Hoi- 
 born. In a fhort time Mr. Maycock removing 
 into Southwark, the vilits of our captain were 
 admitted on a footing of intimacy. 
 
 The hufband dying foon after this connection, 
 Stanley became more at liberty to pay his ad- 
 drefles to the widow , and it appears that fome 
 confiderable intimacy fubfifted between them, 
 from the following letter, which is not more a 
 proof of the abiurd vanity of the man that could 
 write it, than of the woman that could keep him 
 company after receiving it. The egregious cox- 
 comb, and fupercilious flatterer, is vifible in 
 every line. 
 
 " I am to- morrow to be at the Opera ; O that 
 " I could add, with her I love. The Opera, 
 *' where beauties lefs beauteous than thou, fit 
 " panting, admired, and tafte the fweet barba- 
 " rian founds. On Friday I fhall be at the maf- 
 * e querade at Somerfet Houfe, where modeft plea- 
 " fure hides itfelf, before it will be touched : but 
 * c though it is uncertain in the fhape, 'tis real in 
 " the fenfe; for mafks fcorn to fteal, and not 
 " repay: therefore, as they conceal the face, 
 " they oft make the body the better known. At 
 " this end of the town, many faded beauties bid 
 " the oleos and the brufh kifs their cheeks and 
 " lips, till their charms only glimmer with a 
 " borrowed grace; fo that a city beauty, rich in 
 her native fpring of fimplicity and lovelinefs, 
 will doubly ihine with us ; fhine like the inno- 
 
 " cent 
 
 It
 
 JOHN STANLEY /or Murder. 371 
 
 " cent morning blufh of light, that glitters un- 
 " tainted on the gardens.'* 
 
 This exquiiite piece of nonfenfe flattered the 
 vanity of the lady, fo that he was admitted to 
 repeat his viiits at his own convenience. At this 
 time a young fellow who had ferved his appren- 
 ticefhip with the late Mr. Maycock, and who was 
 ppffefied of a decent fortune to begin the world, 
 paid his addreffes to the young widow ; but fhe 
 preferred a licentious life with Stanley, to a more 
 virtuous connection. 
 
 Soon after this fhe quitted her houfe in South- 
 wark, and the lovers fpent their time at balls* 
 play*, and aflfemblies, till her money was diffi- 
 pated, when he did not fcruplc to infmuate that 
 fhe had been too liberal of her favours to other 
 perfons. In the mean time (he bore him three 
 children, one of whom was living at the time of 
 the father's rxecr.tion. 
 
 Stanley continuing his diflblute courfe of life, 
 his parents became very uneafy, in fear of the 
 fatal confequerces that might enfue ; and his fa- 
 ther, who law to late the wrong bias he had 
 given to his education, procured him the com- 
 mifiion of a lieutenant, to go to Cape-Coaft 
 Caftle, in the fervice of the African company. 
 
 The young fellow feemed fo pleated with this 
 appointment, that his friends conceived great 
 hopes that he would reform. Preparations being 
 made for his voyage, and the company having ad- 
 vanced a confiderable fum, he went to I'ortf- 
 mouth, in order to embark : but he had been 
 only a few days in that town, when he was fol- 
 lowed by Mrs. Maycock, with her infantchild. She 
 reproached him with bafenefs, in fir ft debauching, 
 and then leaving her to itarve : and employing 
 all the arts fhe was miftrefs of to divert him from 
 3 A 2 his
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 his refolution, he gave her half the money which 
 belonged to the company, and followed her to 
 London with the reft. 
 
 Shocked wkh the news of this difhonourable 
 action the father took to his bed, and died of 
 grief. Young Stanley appeared greatly grieved 
 at this event, and to divert his chagrin, he went 
 to Flanders, where he {laid q. confiderable time, 
 when he returned to England, and lived in as 
 abandoned a manner as before. 
 
 Soon after his return, haying drank freely 
 with two tradefmen, they all walked together to- 
 wards Hampftead , and meeting a Mr. Dawfon, 
 wirh five other gentlemen, a quarrel enfued. One 
 of the gentlemen fired a piltol, the ball from which 
 grazed Stanley's fkin. Enraged hereby, the lat- 
 ter drew his fword, and making a pafs at him the 
 fword ran into the body of Mr. Dawfon, through 
 the lower part of his belly, and tp his back- 
 bone. The wounded man was conveyed to a 
 neighbouring houfe, where he lay C\x weeks be- 
 fore he was perfectly recovered. 
 
 However, as Dawfon happened to know Stan- 
 ley', he took out a writ againft him for damages, 
 to recover the expence of the cure-, but the writ 
 was never executed, as Stanley was fo celebrated 
 for his fkill in the ufe of his fword, and his daring; 
 difpofuion, that the bailiffs were afraid to arreit 
 him. 
 
 Not long after this, quarrelling with captain 
 Chickley, at a cyder-cellar in Covent-Garden, 
 Stanley challenged the captain to fight in a dark 
 room. They Ihut themfelves in , but a conftable 
 being fent for, broke open the door, and proba- 
 bly faved Stanley's life ; for Chickley had then 
 ran his fword through his body, while he himielf 
 Jiad received only two flight wounds.
 
 JOHN STANLEY /*r Murder. 333 
 
 It appears that Stanley ftill paid occafional vi- 
 Jits to Mrs. Maycock ; and he had the infolence 
 to pretend anger at her receiving the vifits of other 
 perfons, though he was not able to fupport her ; 
 for he had the vanity to think that a woman 
 whom he had debauched ought for ever to bear 
 true allegiance to him, as a wife to her hufband. 
 
 Mrs. Maycock having been to vifit a gentle- 
 man, was returning one night through Chancery- 
 Lane, in company with another woman, and 
 Mr. Hammond of the Old Bailey. Stanley, in 
 company with another man, met the parties, and 
 he and his companion infilled on going with the 
 women. Hammond hereupon faid the ladies be- 
 Jonged to him ; but Mrs. Maycock now recog- 
 nizing Stanley, faid, "What, captain, is it you ?" 
 He afked her where me was going : fhe laid to 
 Mr. Hammond's in the Old Bailey. He replied 
 that he was glad to meet her, and would go with, 
 her. 
 
 As they walked down Fleet-flreet, Stanley de- 
 fired his companions to go back, and wait for 
 him at an appointed place; and as the company 
 was going forward, Stanley ftruck a man who 
 happened to be in his way, and kicked a woman 
 on the fame account. 
 
 Being arrived at Hammond's houfe, the com- 
 pany defired Stanley to go home ; but this he re- 
 fufed, and Mrs. Maycock going into the kitchen, 
 he pufhed in after her, and fome words having 
 palled between them, he ftabbed her fo that (he 
 died in about an hour and a half. 
 
 Other company going into the kitchen faw 
 Stanley fiourifhing his fword, while the deceafed 
 was fainting with lofs of blood, and crying out, 
 " I am itabbed ! I am murdered !" Stanley's 
 (word being taken from him, he threw himfelf 
 
 down
 
 374 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 down " by Mrs. Maycock,and faid, " My dear 
 *' Hannah, will you not fpeak to me ? " 
 
 The offender "being taken into cuftody, was 
 brought to his trial at the Old Bailey, where 
 fome witneiTes endeavoured to prove that he was 
 a lunatic ; but the jury confidering his extrava- 
 gant conduct as the effect of his vices only, and 
 the evidence againft him being pofitive, he was 
 found guilty, and received fl-ntcnce of death. 
 
 Before his conviction he had behaved in a very 
 mconfiderate manner, nor was his conduct much 
 altered afterwards, only that when he heard the 
 frame of Mrs. Maycock mentioned, he was feized 
 with violent tremblings, and drops of cold fweac 
 fell from his face. 
 
 He was carried to the place of execution, in a 
 mourning coach ; but on being put into the cart 
 under the gallows, he turned pale, and was fo 
 weak that he could not Hand without fupport. 
 He made no fpeech to the people, but only faid 
 that as a hearfe was provided to take away his 
 body, he hoped no one would prevent its receiv- 
 ing Chirftian burial. It was obferved that he 
 wepr bitterly after the cap was drawn over his 
 eyes. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the 2gd of 
 December, i 723, at the age of twenty- five years. 
 It is iropoffible to difmifs this fubjcct without 
 reflecting on the abfurd conduct of Stanley's fa- 
 ther, who by his eagernefs to teach him, while 
 an infant, the ufe of the fword, gave him that 
 degree of falfc bravery, and mad courage, that 
 tempted him to the unlawful ufe of it on every 
 pccaiion ; and at length combining with has 
 vices, occafioned the perpetration ot the horrid 
 crime of murder: a murder of the molt aggra- 
 vated nature ; that of a woman who had fallen a 
 
 facri-
 
 STEPHEN GARDENER for Burglary. 375 
 
 facrifketo his art of fed ucl: ion, aided, no doubt, 
 by her own uncontrolable vanity. 
 
 The unhappy fate of Mrs. Maycock fhould 
 teach married women the ineftimable value of 
 chaftity. The woman who liftens to the art of a 
 feducer is in the high-road to destruction ; and as 
 furely as fhe fuffers her perfon to be violated, fhe 
 entails mifery on herfelf and family, and lays the 
 ground-work of a long feries of repentance : and 
 happy may fhe think herfelf if, by the grace of 
 God, that repentance prove not ineffectual. 
 
 Cafe of STEPHEN GARDENER, who was hanged 
 for Burglary. 
 
 malefactor was born in Moorfields, of 
 JL poor parents, who put him apprentice to a 
 weaver ; but his behaviour foon became fo bad, 
 that his mafter was obliged to correct him fevere* 
 ly-, on which he ran away, and affociated with 
 blackguard boys in the (treats, and then was 
 driven home through mere hunger. 
 
 His friends now determined to fend him to fea, 
 and put him on board a corn vefTel, the mafter of 
 which traded to France and Holland. Being an 
 idle and ufelefs hand on board, he was treated fo 
 roughly by his fhipmates that he grew heartily 
 tired of a fea-faring life ; and on his return from 
 the firft voyage, he promiied the utmolt obedi- 
 ence, if his friends would permit him to remain 
 at home. 
 
 This was readily complied with, in the hope 
 of his reformation, and he was now put to a wa- 
 terman ; but being impatient of reftraint, he foon 
 quitted his fervice, and engaged with diflblute 
 
 fcl-
 
 376 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 fellows in the neighbourhood of Moorfields, with 
 whom he played at cards, dice, &c. till he was 
 ftripped of what little money he had, and then 
 commenced pick- pocket. 
 
 His rirft attempt of this kind was at Guildhall, 
 during the drawing of the lottery, when he took 
 a wig out of a man's pocket ; but: theugh he was 
 detected in the offence, the humanity of the fur- 
 rounding multitude permitted his efcape. This 
 circumftance encouraged him to continue his 
 practice, and about a month afterwards he was 
 detected in picking another pocket, and notwith- 
 ilanding his proteftations of innocence, under- 
 went the difcipline of the horfe-pond. 
 
 He was now determined to give over a bufinefs 
 which wasnecefiarily attended with fo much hazard, 
 and afforded fo little profpect of advantage ; but 
 foon afterwards he became acquainted with two 
 notorious ho ufe- breakers, named Garraway and 
 Sly, who offered to take him as partner ; but 
 he rejected their propofals, till one night, when 
 he had loft all his money and moft of his cloaths, 
 at cards ; then he went to bis new acquaintance, 
 and agreed to be concerned in their illicit prac- 
 tices. 
 
 Garraway propofed, that they mould rob his 
 own brother, which being immediately agreed to, 
 they broke open his houfe, and ftole moil of his ' 
 and his wife's wearing apparel, which they fold, 
 and fpent the money in extravagance. They in 
 the next place robbed Garraway's uncle of a con- 
 fiderable quantity of plate, which they fold to a 
 woman named Gill, who difpofed of the plate, 
 and never accounted to them for the produce. 
 Gardener, provoked a: being thus defrauded of 
 his fhare of the ill got booty, informed Jonathan 
 Wild of the robbery, who got him admitted an 
 
 evi-
 
 S. 
 
 evidence againft the other men, who were con- 
 victed, but relpitccl on condition .of being trani- 
 ported. 
 
 Gardener having now been fome time acquaint- 
 ed with a woman who kept a public-houle in 
 Pleft-Lihe, and who was porTeffed of Ibmtf mo- 
 ney, he propofcd to marry her, with a view of 
 obtaining her property and the Woman liftening 
 Co his offer, thty were married fey one of the 
 Fleet- parfons. 
 
 The money Gardener obtained with his fpoufe 
 was ibon fpent in extravagance , arid riot long" af- 
 terwards they were apprehended on fufpicion of* 
 felony, and condiffted to St. Sepulchre's watch- 
 houfe : however, the charge againft them rot 
 being validated, it was neccffhry to difmifs them ; 
 but before they were fet at liberty, the conftable 
 laid to Gardener, " Beware how you come here 
 " again, or this bell-man will certainly fay his 
 " 'verfes over you : " for the bell-man happened 
 to be at that time In the watch-houfe. 
 
 It has been a very ahtient practice, on the 
 night preceding the execution of condemned cri- 
 minals, for the bell-man of the parim of St. Se- 
 pulchre to go Under Newgate, and ringing his bell, 
 to repeat the following verfes as a piece of friendly 
 advice, to the unhappy wretches under fentencs 
 of death. 
 
 All you that in the condemn'd-hold do lie, 
 Prepare you, for to morrow you ihall die. 
 "Watch all, and pray, the hour is drawing near 
 That you before th' Almighty muit appear. 
 Examine well yourfelves, in time repent, 
 That you may not t' eternal flames be fent '. 
 
 Vol. I. No. 10. 3 B /-
 
 37* NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 And when St. Sepulchre's bell to morrow tolls, 
 The Lord above have mercy on your fouls ! 
 
 Paft twelve o'clock ! 
 
 . The following extract from Stowe's Survey of 
 London, page 195, of the quarto edition, print- 
 ed in 1618, will prove that the above verfes ought 
 to be repeated by a clergyman, inftead of the 
 bell-man. 
 
 " Robert Doue, Citizen and Merchant Taylor, 
 
 " of Londoa, gaue to the parith church of 
 
 " St. Sepulchres, the fummeof 50!. That after 
 <c the feneral fefiions of London, when the pri- 
 " foners remaine in the goale, as condemned 
 * c men to death, expecting execution on the mor- 
 ** row following : theclarke, (that is, the parfon) 
 *' of the church fhoold come in the night-time, 
 <c and likewife early in the morning, to the win- 
 * c dow of the prifon where they lye, and there 
 " ringing certain toles with a hand-bell, appoint- 
 " ed for the purpofe, he doth afterward (in moft 
 " Chriftian manner) put them in mind of their 
 * prefent condition, and enfuing execution, de- 
 " firig them to be prepared therefore as they 
 " ought to be. When they are in the cart, and 
 " brougnt before the wall of the church, there he 
 " ftandeth ready with the fame bel, and after cer- 
 * ta'n toles rehearfeth an appointed praier, de* 
 <l firing all the people there prefent to pray for 
 " them. The beadle alfo of Merchant-Taylors 
 " Hall hath an honeft ftipend allowed to fee that 
 " this is duely done." 
 
 Gardener was greatly affected when the con- 
 ftable told him that the belLman would fay his 
 
 verfes-
 
 S. GARDENER for Houfe-breaking. 379 
 
 verfes over him : but the impreffion it made on 
 his mind foon wore off, and he quickly returned 
 to his vicious practices. 
 
 In a fhort time after this adventure, Gardener 
 fell into company with one Rice Jones, and they 
 agreed to go together on the faffing lay y which is 
 an artifice frequently pra&ifed in modern times 
 and though the fharpers are often taken into cuC. 
 tody, and their tricks expofed in the news-papers 
 yet there are repeatedly found people weak enough 
 to fubmit to the impofition. 
 
 The following is a defcription of this trick from 
 a book formerly printed. " The rogues having 
 *' concerted their plan, one of them takes a 
 " countryman into a public-houfe, under pre- 
 ** tence of any bufmefs they can think of ; then 
 " the other comes in as a ftranger, and in a little 
 " time finds a pack of cards, which his com- 
 <e panion had defignedly laid on fome Ihelf in the 
 " room : on which the two fharpers begin to 
 c< play. At length one of them offers a wager 
 " on the game, and puts down hrs money. The 
 *' other fhows his cards to the countryman, to 
 " convince him that he muft certainly win, and 
 " offers to let him go halves in the wager; but 
 " foon after the countryman has laid down his 
 <e money, the fharpers manage the matter fo as 
 " to pafs off "with it. 
 
 This was evidently the mode of tricking for- 
 merly , but it feems to have been improved on of 
 late years , for the (harpers generally game with 
 the countryman till he has loft all his money ; 
 and then he has only to execrate his own folly 
 for fuffering himfelf to be duped by a couple of 
 rafcals. 
 
 In tbis practice our adventurers were very fuc- 
 cefsful at different places, particularly at Briflol ; 
 
 B a but
 
 383 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 but in this lad place Jones bilked Gardener i'n 
 fuch a manner as to prove that there is no truth 
 in the obfervation of" honour among thieves ;" 
 for Jones having defrauded a country gentleman 
 of a gold watch and chain, a fuit of laced cloaths, 
 and about a hundred guineas, gave no lhare of 
 the booty to Gardener. 
 
 , This induced the latter ro think of revenge; 
 but he difguifed his lentiments, and they went 
 together to Bath, where they remained fome 
 time, and then proceeded on their journey ; but 
 in the morning on which they fet out, Gardener 
 ftole an iron peftle from the inn where they lay, 
 and concealed it in his boot, with an intention of 
 murdering his companion when they mould come 
 into an unfrequented place. 
 
 On their journey Gardener generally kept be- 
 hind Jones, and twice took out the peftle, with 
 an intention to perpetrate the murder: but his 
 rdblution failing him, he at length dropped it 
 in the road, unperceived by his companion. 
 
 In a few days afterwards thefe companions in 
 iniquity parted-, and on this occafion Jones faid, 
 "- Hark ye, Gardener, whither are you going?'* 
 "To London," (laid he.) " Why then (re- 
 44 plied Jones j you are going to be hanged. 
 
 We nnJ that this was not the firft intimation 
 that Gardener received of the fatal coniequence 
 that -mud attend his illicit practices; but it ap- 
 peared to have no good effect on him , for foon 
 afe he quitted Jones, he broke open a houie be r 
 tween Abergavenny and Monmouth -, but finding 
 in money, he took ooly a gown, with which he 
 rckk oft". '- '. sd < 
 
 Soon after his arrival in London he robbed a 
 hou-fe in Addle-hill, but was not apprehended 
 jar it : but- in a ihort time he broke open the houle 
 
 3 f
 
 S. GARDENER for Houfe-br taking. 381 
 
 of Mrs. Roberts, and carried off linen to the 
 arhonnt of twenty. five pounds. 
 
 In this robbery he was afiifted by John Martin, 
 and both the offenders being foon afterwards 
 taken into cuftody, were brought to trial, ca- 
 pitally convicted ; and received fentence of death ; 
 but Martin was afterwards reprieved, on condi- 
 rion of tranfportation for fourteen years. 
 
 After fentence of death Gardener became as 
 fincere a penitent as he had been a notorious of- 
 fender.,. He refigned himfelf to his fate with the 
 utmoft fubmiflion -, and before he quitted New- 
 gate on the day of execution he dreffed himfelf in 
 a mroud, in which he was executed, refufing to 
 wear any other cloaths, though the weather was 
 intenfely cold. 
 
 At the fatal tree he faw fome of his old com-- 
 panions, whom he defired to take warning by his 
 calamitous fate ; to avoid bad company, and em- 
 brace a life of fobriety, as the moft certain road 
 to happinefs in this world and the next. 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the jd of Fe- 
 bruary, 1724. 
 
 The fate of this malefactor mews us the ill con- 
 fequence of an early attachment to gaming. It 
 unfits both the mind and body for all honeit em- 
 ployment, and though it does not in all inftances 
 lead to the gallows, it is one of the readieft prepa- 
 ratives to it than can be imagined. It is to be 
 hoped that parents in general will be cautious to 
 prevent the Ipirit of earning in their children, 
 fince nothing more effectually allures to deilruc- 
 tion 5 and the happinefs of the next generation 
 rquft depend much on the care we take of the 
 prefent. 
 
 We wifh the tricks fo frequently and'fuccefs- 
 fcilly played by gamblers, may teach people in 
 
 general,
 
 382 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 general, and country farmers in particular, to be 
 
 fuarded againft their arts. People who have nd 
 ad defign of their own are not apt to fufpect 
 others : but any perfon may be certain that when 
 a ftranger produces a pack of cards, and tempts 
 him to game, no good can be intended. The 
 life of a gambler is not only wretched in itfelf, 
 but tends to make unhappy all thofe with whom 
 he is connected. 
 
 Particulars refpecYmg FRANCIS BRIGHTWELL, 
 and BENJAMIN BRIGHTWELL, who were tried 
 for Highway- Robbery, and acquitted. 
 
 AS it is one profefied defign of this publica- 
 tion to- give trials in extraordinary cafes, 
 on which the parties accufed have been acquit- 
 ted ; in compliance with this rule we infert 
 the following, though it will be feen that the 
 fuppofed offenders, fo far from being thieves, 
 were an ornament to human nature. 
 
 In the month of Auguft, 1724, Francis Bright- 
 welt, and Benjamin BTightwell, were indicted for 
 affaulting John Pargiter on the highway, and 
 robbing him of three (hillings-. 
 
 It was fworn by M. Pargiter, that he had been 
 robbed on the road to Hampftead, by two fellows* 
 dreffed in foldiers cloaths ; and that being on the 
 fame road a few days afterwards, he was mewing 
 force farmers the fpot where he had been robbed, 
 at the very time when the Brightwell's came in 
 
 fight i 
 
 * In the courfe of the following pages it will ap- 
 pear that this robbery was committed by Sheppard 
 and Bluefkm.
 
 F. tf^B.BRIGHTWELL fri Rottery. 383 
 
 fight-, on which he declared that they were the 
 perfons who had robbed him ; whereupon they 
 were immediately taken into cuflody , which was 
 a work of no great difficulty, as the furprife on 
 being charged with a crime of which they were 
 wholly innocent deprived them of all idea of 
 refiflance. 
 
 Thefe brothers were foldiers in the grenadier 
 guards, and when they were carried before a ma- 
 giftrate, though Mr. Pargiter fwore pofitively to 
 their perfons, Francis alledged that he wa$ on 
 guard at the time of the robbery, and Benjamin 
 laid that he was at home. 
 
 Oh the trial, the ferjeant produced the regi- 
 mental book, from which it was evident that, 
 when the robbery was com rnitted, Francis was 
 on guard at Kenfington : and feveral perfons of 
 reputation proved that Benjamin was at his lodg- 
 ings in Clare-Market j and likewife gave him an 
 excellent character. ' 
 
 With regard to Francis, Mr. Hughs, a cler- 
 gyman, delivered his testimony in the following 
 words, " I have knoxvn Francis Brightwell near 
 41 twenty years. He was always reputed to be a 
 " perlbn of the faired character, for fobriety, 
 *' piety, and juftice. He was, to an extraordi- 
 " nary dagfee, accomplifhed with Latin and 
 " Greek literature, and had good fkill in Ro- 
 " man antiquities ; and in a word, he carried fa 
 u great a fliare of exquifite learning under hi 
 " grenadier's cap, that I believe there is not fuch 
 V another grenadier in the univerfe.'* 
 
 This teftimony of Mr. Hughs was confirmed 
 by a number of military officers ; and the court 
 and jury confidering that Mr. Pargiter muft have 
 been miftaken in the parties who robbed him, the 
 brothers were honourably acquitted. 
 
 On
 
 3S4 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR* 
 
 On the 22d of the month in which he was 
 tried, Francis Brightwell died at his lodgings 
 at Paddington, as fup poled of the goal diftemper. 
 He was attended, during his fhort illnels, by the 
 late eminent Sir Hans Sloan ; but the malignity 
 of his diforder defied the power of medecine. 
 
 The following curious letter, refpccling Fran- 
 cis Brightwell, is extracted from the news-paper, 
 called the Britifh Journal, of the 5th of Septem- 
 ber, 1724. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 Finding thar all our public papers, from the 
 4th of Auguft to this day have omitted to make 
 honourable mention of Tome very remarkable cir- 
 cumftances relating to a very private pepfon, 
 I defire his memory may be depofited in your 
 journal. The perfon I mean, is Francis Bright- 
 well the grenadier, who was tried and acquitted 
 at the Old-Bailey, for a robbery fworn againft him ; 
 and who, fince his coming out of prifon, died, 
 as 'tis faid, of the goal diftemper. 
 
 When evidence was given againft him in court, 
 Brightwell, by feveral witnefles, proved that he 
 was upon the king's guard, at Kenfington, at the 
 time that the robbery (if a robbery) was commit- 
 ted. Hereupon the court went into an enquiry 
 concerning the reputation and character of the 
 prifoner. Some officers who had known him 
 long in the fervice, gave teftimony to his fobriety 
 and diligence in the duty of a foldier. As to his 
 honefty a lady (prefentin court) declared, Ihe had 
 entrufted him with a thoufand pounds at a time, 
 and, a gentleman, that he had committed his 
 houfe and goods, to the value of 6oool. to his 
 keeping : in both which trufts Brightwell had ac- 
 quit-
 
 F. and B. BRIGHT WELL for Robbery. 385 
 
 quitted himfelf to the fatisfaction of the parties 
 concerned. 
 
 Thefe ample teftimonies, concurring to the 
 honour of a man in fo low a condition of life, 
 gave (you may imagine) no fmall furprife to all 
 that were prefent ; when a clergyman added, to 
 their aftonilhment, by declaring, that he had 
 long known the prifor.er to be not only a perfon 
 of fobriety but likewife of very excellent learning 
 and particularly in Latin and Greek: for, that 
 Brightwdi had cften' conJultcd him, upon diffi- 
 cult paffages in Virgil and Horace. 
 
 Thus much for what appeared at the trial of 
 this grenadier. I fhall only remark upon his 
 learning, that I am amazed that fcholarfhip is not 
 very common among military men, coniidenng 
 their profeffion admits of more lei lure hours than 
 any other. Perhaps thefe gentlemen are afraid 
 of knowledge, from a celebrated maxim deliver- 
 ed by John Dryden, the learned are all cowards by 
 profemtm: and yet Alexander and Caefar were 
 fcholars ; and they did not feem to want courage. 
 But, to purfue what further particulars I have 
 learned of this deccafed grenadier. He was con- 
 tented in his Ration, fiudious of leifure, and am- 
 bitious only of knowledge. He had offers of be- 
 ing promoted to the rank of corporal or fcrjeant ; 
 which he declined, that he might have as few 
 avocations as poffible from his ttudies. Neither 
 did he ever covet money j and, 1 am apt to be- 
 lieve, had he been at the facking of a town, he 
 would not have thought of carrying off any other 
 plunder, but a valuable book or two, Take the 
 following inftance of his disregard of gain. He 
 had an excellent manner of cleaning and furbilh- 
 ing arms, for w.hich he had his fettled prices. An 
 Vol. I. No. 10. 30 officer,
 
 386 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Officer, whofe nrms he had brightened, was fo 
 . well picafc-d with his work, that he fentBrightwell 
 (over and above the ufual price) a guinea for 
 a prefent. The philofopher took his price, and 
 returned the guinea by the fervant. 'Sometime 
 after, 'when the gentleman favv him, why^ laid he, 
 Wfiuldyou not accept the guinea Ifent you : I am paid 
 for my work, replied the centinel, and dffire no 
 more Accept of a crown then^ if your modefty makes 
 you, think a guinea tco much, faid the officer. Ex* 
 cufe me, $/>, anfwered the Veteran, and do not think 
 it vanity or e.ffcclation^ when I refufe your kindnefs ; 
 but, indeed. Sir, I don't want it : But I am thirjly 
 and have no money about me ; fo that if your honour 
 will be plea fed to give me three-pence to drink your 
 health, I /kail thankfully accept of it. 
 
 This laft particular of our grenadier runs fo 
 very parallel with a (lory in 1 Sir William Tem- 
 ple's obfervations of the united Provinces, that I 
 think it proper to tranfcribc it on this occafion. 
 Vol. I. p. 50. " Among the many and various 
 ' hofpitals that are in every man's curiofity and 
 
 * talk that travels Holland, I was affected with 
 ' none more than that of the aged feamen atEn- 
 ' chnfyden, which is contrived, finifhed, and 
 
 * ordered, as if it were done with a kind inten- 
 ' tion of fome well natured man, that thofe, who 
 
 * had pa fled their whole lives in the hardfhips and 
 e incommoditits of rhe fea, fhould find a retreat, 
 ' florcd with all the eale and conveniency that old 
 ' age is capable of feeling and enjoying. And 
 c here I met with the only rich man that I ever 
 ( faw in my life: for one of thefc old feamen, 
 6 entertaining me with the p!ain (lories of his fifty- 
 years voyages and adventures, while I was 
 ( viewing this hofpital and the church adjoining, 
 e gave him, at parting, a piece of their coin, 
 
 ' about
 
 JOSEPH BLAKE -for Burglary. 387 
 
 about the value of a crown : he took it fmiling, 
 
 and offered it me again ; but when I refufed it, 
 
 he afked me what he mould do with the money ? 
 
 I left him to overcome his modefty as he could ; 
 
 but a fervant coming after me, law him give it 
 
 to a little girl, that opened the church door, as 
 
 me pad by him : which made me reflect on the 
 
 fantaftick calculation of riches and poverty, 
 
 that is current to the world, by which a man 
 
 ' thai wants a million is a prince, he that wants 
 
 4 but a groat is a beggar, and this was a poor man 
 
 ' that wanted nothing at all.' 
 
 The cafe of thele brothers affords an admirable 
 leffon to profecutors to be cautious how they fwear 
 to the identity of perfon:-. It is better that the 
 guilcy mould efcape, than that the innocent ihould 
 be punifhed. 
 
 It likewife affords us an inftance of the myfte- 
 rious Providence of God. Two innocent men 
 are charged with a crime; and the confequence 
 cf imprilonment, and pofiibiy of grief, ends in 
 the death of one of them. We may prefume 
 that he was too good for this wicked world ; and 
 that the Almighty chole this nutnod of calling 
 him to a better ! 
 
 The Life and Tranfacticns of JOSEPH BLAKE, 
 otherwife Blucfkin, who was hanged for Bur- 
 glary. 
 
 r | ^ HIS offender, who was a native of Lon- 
 
 A don, was fent to fchool by his parents for 
 
 the fpace of fix ycais -, but he made little pro- 
 
 grets in learning, having a very early propenfity 
 
 10 a els of difhoi.eiiy. While at fchool he made 
 
 f < C 2 an
 
 388 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 an acquaintance with William .Blewit, who af- 
 terwards entered into Jonathan Wild's gang, and 
 became one of the moit notorious villains of the 
 
 age. 
 
 No fooner had Blake left.fchool than he com- 
 menced pickpocket, and had been in all the pri- 
 fons for felons before he was fifteen years of age. 
 Frorn this practice he turned ftrect-robber, and 
 joined with Oaky> Levee, and many other vil- 
 lains, who acted under the directions of Jonathan 
 Wild. For fome of the robberies they committed 
 they were taken into cuftody, and Blake was ad- 
 mitted an evidence ag.iinil his companions, who 
 were convicted. ~\ 
 
 In confcquence of thefe convictions Blake 
 claimed his liberty, and part of the reward allowed 
 by government : but he was informed by the 
 court that he had no right to either, becaufe he 
 was not a voluntary evidence, fince, fo far from 
 having furrendered, he made an obftinate re- 
 fiilance, and was much wounded before he was 
 jtaken , and therefore he mutt find fecurity for his 
 good behaviour, or be tranfported. 
 
 Not being able to give the requifite fecurity, 
 he WHS lodged in Wood-ftreet Compter, where he 
 remained a considerable time, during which Jo- 
 nathan Wild allowed him three millings and fix- 
 pence a week. At length he prevailed on two 
 fardeners to be his bail ; but the court at the Old 
 ailey hefitating to take their fecurity, they wtnt 
 before Sir John Fryer, who took their recog- 
 nizance for Blake's good behaviour for feven 
 years A gentleman who happened to be p relent 
 at Sir John's, afked how long it might be before 
 Blake would appear again at. the Old Bailey ; to 
 \\hich another gentleman anfwtrcd, " three fei- 
 
 iions i
 
 JOSEPH BLAKE for Burglary. 389 
 
 " fions ," and he happened to be perfectly right 
 in his conjecture. 
 
 Blake had no fooner obtained his liberty than 
 he was concerned in feveral robberies with Jack 
 Shcppard, and particularly that for which the 
 two brothers, Brightwell, were tried. The foot- 
 pad robberies and burglaries they committed 
 were very numerous -, but the fact for which 
 Blake fullered was the robbery of Mr. Kneebone, 
 as will appear by the following account. 
 
 At the Old Bailey feffions, in October, 1724, 
 Jofeph Blake otherwife Bluefkin, was indicted 
 for breaking and entering the dwelling-houfe of 
 William Kneebone, and ftealing 108 yards of 
 woollen cloth, value 36!. and other goods. The 
 profecutor having fworn that the bars of his cel- 
 lar-wii^ow were cut, aqd that the cellar-door, 
 which had been bolted and padlocked, was broke 
 open, he acquainted Jonathan Wild with what 
 had happened, who went to Blake's lodgings, 
 with two other perfons -, but Bhke refuting to 
 open the door, it was broke open by Quilt Ar- 
 nold, one of Wild's men. 
 
 On this Blake drew a penknife, and fwore he 
 would kill the firft man that entered ; in anfwer to 
 which Arnold faid, " Then I am the firft man, 
 *' and Mr. Wild is not far behind, and if you 
 " dont deliver your penknife immediately, I 
 " will chop your arm off." Hereupon the pri- 
 foner dropped the knife ; and Wild entering, he 
 was taken into cuftody. 
 
 As the parties were conveying Blake to New- 
 gate, they came by the houie of the profecutor, 
 on which Wild laid to the prifoner, *' There's 
 " the ken," and the latter replied, " Say no 
 " more of that Mr. Wild, for 1 know I am a 
 " dead man j but what I fear is that I (hall after- 
 
 " wards
 
 390 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " wards be carried to Surgeon's hall, and ana- 
 " tomized : to which -'Wild replied, " No, I'll 
 " take care to prevent that, for I'll give you a 
 4 coffin." 
 
 William Field, who was evidence on the trial, 
 fwore that the robbery was committed by Blake, 
 Sheppard, and.himfclf: and the jury brought in 
 a verdict of guilty. 
 
 As foon as the verdict was given Blake ad- 
 drefied the court in the following terms : " On 
 " Wednefday morning lalt Jonathan Wild faid to 
 ' Simon Jacobs*, I believe you will not bring 
 " 40!. this time: I wifh Joe (meaning me) was 
 " in your cafe ; but I'll do my endeavour to 
 " bring you off as a fingle felon. And then 
 " turning to me, he faid, * I believe you muft 
 " die I'll fend you a good book or two, and 
 " provide you a coffin, and you fhall not be ana- 
 " tomized." 
 
 Wild was to have been an evidence againft this 
 malefactor ; but going to vifit him in the bail- 
 dock, previous to his trial, Blake fuddenly drew 
 a clafped penknife, with which he cut Jonathan's 
 throat, which prevented his giving evidence ; but 
 as the knife was blunt, the wound, though dan- 
 gerous, did not prove mortal j and we mall fee 
 that Jonathan was prcfcrved for a different rattr. 
 
 While under fentence of death, Blake did not 
 Ihew a concern proportioned to his calamitous 
 fituation. When afKcd if he was advifed to coai- 
 mit the violence on Wild, he faid No, but that a 
 fudden thought entered his mind, or he would 
 have provided a knife, which would have cut off 
 his head at once. 
 
 * Jacobs was then a prifjner, and afterwatds 
 trenfported. 
 
 On
 
 JOSEPH RLAKE for Bugler}. 191 
 
 On the nearer approach of death he appeared 
 ftill lefs concerned, and it was thought that his 
 mind was chiefly bent on meditating means of 
 efcaping ; but let- :ng no profpect of getting away, 
 he took to drinking, which he continued- even to 
 the day of his death ; for he was obitrrved to be 
 intoxicated even while he was under the gallows. 
 
 i o 
 
 He was executed at Tyburn on the nth ot 
 November, 1723. 
 
 This malefactor appears to have been a thief 
 almoit from his cradle : his habits of vice en- 
 creafed with his growing years, till at length he 
 died, in the molt ignominious manner, a victim 
 to the violated laws of his country. Examples 
 have generally more v eight than precepts, from 
 that of Blake, who became vicious at fo early a 
 period, notwithstanding the care his parents took 
 to give him good education, young people mould 
 learn the duty of gratitude to thofe parents who 
 are kind and thoughtful enough to lay the 
 foundation of their future happinefs by proper 
 inft ructions in their youth. 
 
 The advantages of eariy piety likewife become 
 confpicuous from the fate of thole who neglect re- 
 ligion in the early part of life. 
 
 Happy the child whofe younger years 
 
 Receive if. It ructions wtll ; 
 Who hates the linner*s path, and fears 
 
 The road that leads to hell. 
 
 When we devote our youth to God, 
 
 *Tis pleafing in his eyes ; 
 A fiow'r when ofter'd in the bud, 
 
 Is no vain facritice, 
 
 'Tit
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 *Tis eafier work, if we begin 
 
 To fear the Lord betimes ; 
 While finners, that grow o)d in fin, 
 
 Are hardened in their crimes. 
 
 Narrative of the Life, Trial, and Execution of 
 JOHN SHEPPARD, who was hanged for Bur- 
 glary. 
 
 TH E cafe of this malefaflor having been 
 more the fubject of public converfation 
 than that of aimed any one who ever underwent 
 the fentence of ths law, and his adventures being 
 in themfelves very remarkable, we mail be the 
 more particular in our account of him. 
 
 John Sheppard was born in Spital-fields in the 
 year 1702. His father, who was a carpenter, 
 bore the character of an honefi man ; yet he had 
 another fon named Thomas, who, as well as 
 jack turned out a thief. 
 
 The father- dying while the boys were very 
 young they were left to the care of the mother, 
 who placed Jack at a fchool in Bimopfgare-fbreer, 
 where he remained two years, and was then put 
 apprentice to a cane-chairmaker in Houndfditch. 
 His mafter dying when he had been only a more 
 time with him, he was placed with another per- 
 fon of the fame trade : but here he was fo ill- 
 treated that he remained only a mort time, when 
 he was taken into the protection of Mr. Knee- 
 bone, a whoollen-draper in the itrand, who had 
 fome knowledge of his father. At length Mr. 
 Kneebone put him apprentice to a carpenter in 
 Wych-flreet. 
 
 He
 
 Jack Sheppard t 
 
 ISTewg-ate . 
 
 S //<<///,< f attic. //
 
 JOHN SHEPPARD- -for Burglary. 393 
 
 He behaved with Hecency in this place for about 
 four years, when frequenting the Black Lion 
 alehoufe in Drury-Lane, he became acquainted 
 with fome abandoned women, among whom the 
 principal was Elizabeth Lyon, otherwife called 
 Edgworth. Befs, from the town of Edgworth, 
 where fhe was born. 
 
 While he con|ir.ued to work as a capenter he 
 often committed: robberies in the houfes where he 
 was employed, ftealing tankards, fpoons, and 
 other articles, which he carried toEdgworta Befs; 
 but net being fufpedted of having committed 
 thefe robberies, he at length refolved to commence 
 houfe- breaker. 
 
 Exclufive of Edgworth Befs he was acquainted 
 with a woman named Maggot, who perfuaded 
 him to rob the houle of Mr, Bain's, a piece-bro- 
 ker in White Horfe Yard ; and Jack having 
 brought away a piece of fullian from thence, 
 (which he depofited jn his trunk ; went afterwards 
 at midnight, and taking the bars out of the cel- 
 lar- window, entered, and Hole goods and money 
 to the amount of twenty-two pounds which he 
 carried to Maggot. 
 
 As Sheppard did not go home that night, nor 
 the following day, his mailer fulpecteti that he 
 had made bad connections, and fearching his 
 trunk, found the piece of fuftian that had been 
 ftolen ; but Sheppard, hearing of this, broke 
 open his mafter's houfe in the night, and carried 
 off the fnitian, left it fhould be brought in evi- 
 dence againft him. 
 
 Sheppard's mailer fending intelligence to Mr. 
 Bains ot what had happened, the latter looked 
 over his goods, and miffing fuch a piece of fuf- 
 tian as had been defcribed to him, iufpeded th;.t 
 
 VOL. I. No. 10. 30 Shep-
 
 394 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Sheppard muft have been the robber, and deter- 
 mined to have him taken into cuftody ; but Jack, 
 hearing; of the affair, went to him, and threaten- 
 
 -3 * * 
 
 ;ed a profecution for fcandal alledging that he had 
 received the piece of fuftian from his mother, 
 who bought it for him in Spitalfields. The mo- 
 ther, with a view to fcreen her fon, declared that 
 what he had afTerted was true, thouj>h me could 
 not point out the place where fhe had made the 
 purch.ife. Though this (lory was net credited, 
 Mr. Bains did ,not take any farther Heps in the 
 affair. 
 
 Sheppard's matter feemed willing to think well 
 of him, and he continued ibme time longer in the 
 family; but after aiTociating himfelf with the 
 worft of company, and frequently Haying out the 
 whole night, his matter and he quarrelled, and the 
 headftrong youth totally abfconded in the laft year 
 of his apprenticemip, and became connected with 
 a fet of villains of Jonathan Wild's gang. 
 
 Jack now worked as a journeyman carpenter, 
 with a view to the eafier commiflion of robbery ; 
 and heing employed to a flail in repairing the houie 
 of a gentleman in May-Fair, he took an oppor- 
 tunity of carrying off a fum of money, a quantity 
 of plate, fome gold rings, and four fuits of deaths. 
 'Not long alter this Edgworth Befs was appre- 
 hended, and lodged in the Round-houfe pf the 
 pa^ifh of St. Giles's, where Sheppard went to viiit 
 her, and the beadle refufing to admit him, he 
 knocked him down, broke open the door, and 
 carried her off in triumph; an exploit which ac- 
 quired h'im a high degree of credit with the wo- 
 men of abandoned character. 
 
 In the month of Auguft, 1723, Thomas Shep- 
 dj the brother of Jack, was indidcd at the 
 
 Old
 
 JOHN SHEPPARD-/^ Purglary. 39$ 
 
 Old Bailey, for two petty offences, and being con- 
 vidted, was burnt m the hand. Soon after his 
 difcharge, he prevailed on Jack to lend him forty 
 {hillings, and take him as a partner in his rob- 
 beries. The firft faft they committed in concert 
 was the robbing a public-houfe in Southwark, 
 whence they carried off fome money, and wearing 
 apparel : but Jack permitted his brother to reap 
 the whole advantage of this booty. 
 
 Not Jong after this, the brothers, in conjunc- 
 tion with Edgworth Befs, broke open the (hop of 
 Mrs. Cook, a linen-draper in Clare-market, and 
 carried off goods to the value of fifty-five 
 pounds ; and in lefs than a fortnight afterwards 
 ftole fome articles from the houie of Mr, Phillip's 
 in Drury-lane. 
 
 Tom Shcppard going to fell fome of the goods 
 ftolen at Mrs. Cook's, was apprehended and com- 
 mitted to Newgate, when, in the hope of being 
 admitted an evidence he impeached his brother 
 and Edgworth Befs, but they were fought for 
 in vain. 
 
 At length James Sikes, otherwife called Hell 
 and Fuiy, one of Sheppard's companions, meec- 
 ing with him in St. Giles's, enticed him into a 
 public-houfe, in the hope of receiving a reward 
 for apprehending him j and while they were 
 drinking, Sykes fent for a coo (table, who took 
 Jack into cullody, and carried him before a ma- 
 giitrate, who, after a fhort examination, fent 
 him to St. Giles's Round-houfe : but he broke 
 through the roof of that place, and made his 
 cfcape in the night. 
 
 Wirhin a fhort time after this, as Sheppard and 
 an aflbciatc, named Benfon, were croffing Leicef- 
 ter-nelds, the latter endeavoured to pick a gentle- 
 man's pocket of his watch, but failing in ihe at- 
 3 D 2 tempt,
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 tempt, the gentleman called out " A pick-? 
 ** pocket," on which Sheppard was taken, and 
 lodged in St. Anne's Round-houfe, -where he was 
 vifited by Edgworth Befs, who was detained on 
 iufpicion of being one of his accomplices. 
 
 On the following day they were carried before 
 a magistrate, and fome perfons appearing who 
 charged them with felonies, they were com- 
 mit ted to New- prifon -, and as they pafTed for 
 hufband and wife, they were permitted to lodge 
 together in a room known by the name of New- 
 gate Ward. 
 
 Sheppard being vifited by feveral of his ac- 
 quaintance, feme -of them furniihed him with im- 
 plements to make his efcape, and early in the 
 morning, a few days after his commitment, he 
 filed off his fetters, and having made a hole in the 
 wall, he took an iron bar and a wooden one out 
 of the window ; but as the height from which he 
 was to defcend was twenty-five feet, he tied a 
 blanket and meet together, and making one of 
 them faft to a bar in the window, Edgworth Eefs 
 firft dtfcended, and Jack followed her. 
 
 Having reached the yard, they had (till a wall 
 of twenty- two feet high to fcale -, but climbing up 
 by the locks and boks of the great gate, they got 
 tjuite out of the prifon, and effcded a perlecl: 
 ticape. 
 
 Sheppard's fame was greatly celebrated among 
 the lower orders of people by this exploit ; and 
 the thieves of St. Giles's courted his company. 
 Among the reft, one Charles Grace, a cooper, 
 begged that he would take him as an aflbciare in 
 his robberies, allcdging as a reafon for th;s re- 
 quclt, that the girl he kcpr was fo extravagant, 
 that he ou!d not iupport her on the profits of his 
 thcns. Sheppard did net heficate to make 
 
 this
 
 JOHN SHEPPARD -for Burglary. 397 
 
 this new connexion ; but at the fame time faid 
 that he did not admit of the partnerfhip with a 
 view to any advantage to himfelf, but that Grace 
 might reap the profits of their depredations. 
 
 bheppard and Grace making an acquaintance 
 with Anthony Lamb, an apprentice to a mathe- 
 matical inftrument maker near St. Clement's 
 church, it was agreed to rob a gentleman who 
 lodged with Lamb's mafter, and at two o'clock in 
 the morning Lamb let in the other villains, who 
 jflole money and effects to a large amount. They 
 left the door open, and Lamb went to bed, to 
 prevent fufpicion : but notwithstanding this, his 
 mailer did fufpect him, aud having him taken 
 into cuflody, he confefied the whole affair before 
 a magi (Irate, and being comn.itted to Newgate, 
 he was tried, convicted, and received fcntence to 
 be tranfported. 
 
 On the fame day Thomas Sheppard (the bro- 
 ther of Jack) was indicted for breaking open the 
 dwclling-houfe of Mary Cook, and ftealing her 
 goods, and being convicted, was fentcnced to 
 tranfportation. 
 
 Jack Sheppard not being in cuftody, he and 
 Pluefkin committed a number of daring robberies, 
 and fometimes difpofed of the itolen goods to 
 William Field. Jack uled to fay that Field wanted 
 courage to commit a robbery, though he was as- 
 great a villain as ever exifted. 
 
 Sheppard fcems to have thought that courage 
 confiikd in villainy ; and it this were the cafe 
 Field had an undoubted claim to the character of 
 a- man of coinage 5 for in October. 1721, he was 
 tried on four indictments for felony and burglary, 
 and he was an accomplice in a variety of robberies. 
 He was likewife an evidence againft one of his 
 aifjciatcs on another occafion. 
 
 Shep-
 
 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Sheppard and Bluefkin hired a flable near the 
 Horfe-Ferry, Weftminfter, in which they depo- 
 fited their ftolen goods, till they could difpofe of 
 them to the belt advantage ; and in this place 
 they put the woollen cloth which was flolen from 
 NIr. Kneebone; tor Sheppard was concerned m 
 this robbery, and at the ieffions held ac the Old 
 Bailey in Auguft, 1724, he was indicted for fe- 
 veral offences, and among the reft, for breaking 
 and entering the hoiffe of William Kneebone, and 
 ftealing 108 yards of woollen cloth, and other 
 articles, and being capitally convicted, received 
 ientence of death. 
 
 We muft now go back to obferve, that Shep- 
 pard and Bluefkin having applied to Field to 
 look at thefe goods, and procure a cuftomer for 
 them, he promifed to do ib; nor was he worfe 
 than his word , for in the night ho broke open 
 their warehoufe, and ftole the ill gotten property, 
 and then gave information againlt them to Jona- 
 than Wild, in coniequence of which they were 
 apprehended. 
 
 On Monday the goth of Auguft, 1/24, a war- 
 rant was fent to Newgate for the execution of 
 Sheppard, with other convicts under lenience of 
 death. 
 
 It is proper to obferve that in the old goal of 
 Newgate there was, within the lodge, a hatch, 
 with large iron fpikes, which hatch opened into a 
 dark paffage, whence there were a few iteps into 
 the condemned hold. The priibners being per- 
 mitted to come down to the harch to (peak with 
 their friends, Sheppard, having been fupplied 
 with inftruments, took an opportunity of cutting 
 one of thefpikes in fuch a manner that it might be 
 cafily .broken olF. 
 
 On
 
 JOHN SI1EPPARD -for Burglary. 399 
 
 On the evening of the above-mentioned ^oth 
 of Auguft, two women of Sheppard's acquaint- 
 ance going to vifit him, he broke off the fpike, 
 and thrufting his head and moulders through the 
 fpace, the women pulk-d him down, and he ef- 
 fected his .efcape, notwithftanding fome of the 
 keepers were at that time drinking at the other 
 end of the lodge. 
 
 On the day after his efcape he went to a public- 
 houfe in Spitalfiekis, whence he fent for an old 
 acquaintance, one Pase, a butcher, in Clare- 
 market, and advifed with him how to render his 
 efcape effectual for his future prefervation. After 
 deliberating on the matter, they agreed to go td 
 Warnden in Northampfhire, where Page had 
 fome relations : and they had no fooner refolved 
 than they made the journey : but Page's re- 
 lations treating him with indifference, they re- 
 turned to London after being abfent only aboui 
 
 a week. 
 
 On the night after tne$r return, as they were 
 walking up Fleet- (tree: together, they faw a 
 watchmaker's fhop open, and only a boy attend- 
 ing : having pafled the Uxop they turned back, 
 and Shcppard driving his hand through the win- 
 dow, ftole three watches, with which they made 
 their efcape. 
 
 Some of Sheppard's old acquaintance informing 
 him that ftrici ftarch was making after him, 
 he and Page 'retired to Finchley, in hope of lay- 
 ing there concealed till the diligence of the goal- 
 keepers mould relax: but the keepers of New- 
 gate having intelligence of their retreat, took 
 Sheppard into cuitcdy, and conveyed him to his 
 old lodgings. 
 
 Such fleps were now taken as it was thought 
 >ould be diedual to prevent his future efcape. 
 
 He
 
 400 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 He was put into a ftrong room called the Cattle 1 * 
 hand-cuffed, loaded with a heavy pair of irons, 
 and chained to a ftaple fixed in the floor. 
 
 The curiofity of the public having been greatly 
 excited by his former efcape, he was vifited by 
 great numbers of people of all ranks, and fcarce 
 any one left him without making him a prcfent 
 in money , though he would have more gladly 
 received a file, a hammer, or a chiiTel ; but the 
 utmoft care ivas taken that none of his viiitors 
 Ihould furnim him wich fuch implements, 
 
 Notwithstanding this disadvantageous fituation, 
 Sheppard was continually employing his thoughts 
 on the means of another efcape. On the J4th 
 of Ocftober the feffions began at- the Old Bailey, 
 and the keepers being much engaged in attending 
 the court, he thought they would have littie time 
 to vifit him , and therefore the prefent juncture 
 would be the mofl favourable to carry hh plan 
 into execution. 
 
 About two o'clock iA the afternoon cf the fol- 
 lowing day one of the keepers carried him his din- 
 ner, and having carefully examined his irons, and 
 finding them faft, he left him for the day. 
 
 Some days before this Jack had found a final 1 
 nail in the room, with which he could, at pleafure, 
 unlock the padlock that went from the chain to 
 thehtaple in the floor; and in his own account of 
 this tranfaclion, he fays, " that he was frequently 
 " about the room, and had feveral times fiept on 
 " the barracks, when the keepers imagined he 
 ** had not been out of his chair/' 
 
 The keeper had not left him more than an hour 
 when he began his operations. He firft took off 
 his hand-cuffs, and then opened the padlock that 
 fattened the chain to 'the itaple. He next, by 
 mere ftrength, twifted afuoder a fmall link of the 
 
 chain
 
 JOHN SHEPPARD for Burglary. 401 
 
 chain between his legs, and then drawing np his 
 fetters as high as he could, he made them faft with 
 his garters. 
 
 He then attempted to get up the chimney ; but 
 had not advanced far before he was flopped by an 
 iron-bar that went acrofs ic ; on which he deicend- 
 ed, and with a piece of his broken chain picked 
 out the mortar, and moving a fmall ftone or two, 
 about fix foot from the floor, he got out the iron 
 bar, which was three feet long and an inch 
 fquare and proved very ferviceable to him in his 
 future proceedings. 
 
 He in a fhort time made fuch a breach as to 
 enable him to get into the Red-room over the 
 caftle ; and here he found a large nail, which he 
 made ufe of in his farther operations. It was 
 feven years fince the door of this Red-room had 
 been opened : but Sheppard wrenched off the 
 lock in lefs than feven minutes, and got into the 
 pafltge leading to the chapel. In this place he 
 found a door which was bolted on the oppofite 
 fide : but making a hole through the wall, he 
 puftied the bolt back, and: opened the door. 
 
 Arriving at the door of the chapel, he broke 
 off" one of the iron fpikes, which keeping for his 
 farther ufe, he got into an entry between the 
 chapel and the lower leads. The door of this 
 entry was remarkably ftrong, and fattened with a 
 large lock ; and night BOW coming on, *Shep- 
 pard was obliged to work in the dark. Notwith- 
 ftanding this difadvantage, he, in half an hour, 
 forced open the box oi the lock, and opened the 
 door ; but this led him to another room ftill more 
 difficult, for it was barred and bolted as well as 
 locked however, he wrenched the fillet from 
 
 VOL, I. No. ii. 3 E the
 
 402 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 the main poftof the door, and the box and flaples 
 came off with it. 
 
 It was now eight o'clock, and Sheppard found 
 no farther obilrudlion to his proceedings; for he 
 had only one other door to open, which being 
 bolted on the infide, was opened without diffi- 
 culty, and he got over a wall to the upper leads. 
 
 His next conlideration was, how he (Hould de- 
 fcend with the greats-it fafety; accordingly he found 
 that the moil convenient place for him to alight 
 on would be the Turner's houfe adjoining to 
 Newgate: buc as it would have been very dan- 
 gerous to have jumped to fuch a depth, ^he went 
 back for the blanket with which he ufed to co- 
 ver himfell when he flept in the caftle ; and en- 
 deavoured to fallen his (locking to the blanket, 
 to eaie his defcent ; but not being able to do fo, he 
 was compelled to ufe the blanket alone : where- 
 fore he made it fail to the wall of Newgate with 
 the fpike that he took out of the chapel , and 
 Hiding down, dropped on the turner's )eads juft 
 as the clock \vas (Iriking nine. It happened that 
 the door of the garret next the turner's leads was 
 open, on which he ftole foftiy down two pair of 
 llairs, and heard fome company talking in a 
 room. His irons clinking, a woman cried, 
 " What noife is that ?" and a man anfwered, " per- 
 haps the dog or cat." 
 
 Sheppard, who was exceedingly fatigued, re- 
 turned to the garret, and laid down for more than 
 two hours : after which he crept down once 
 more as far as the room where the company were, 
 when he heard a gentleman taking his leave of 
 the family, and law the maid light him down 
 (lairs. As foon as the maid returned he refolved 
 to venture at all hazards; but in Healing down 
 the (lairs* he (lumbled againft a chamber-door -, 
 
 but
 
 JOHN SHEPPARD far Burglary. 403 
 
 bu't inftantly recovering himfelf, he got into the 
 ftreet. 
 
 By this time it was after twelve o'clock, and 
 pafling by the watch-houfe of St. Sepulchre, he 
 bid the watchman good-morrow, and going up 
 Holborn, he turned down Gray's-Inn-Lanc, and 
 about two in the morning got into the fields near 
 Tottenham-Court, where he took flicker in a 
 place that had been a cow-houfe, and flept found- 
 ly about three hours. His fetiers being dill on, 
 his legs were greatly bruifed and iwelled, and he 
 dreaded the approach of day- light, left he fhould 
 be difcovered. He had now above forty (hillings 
 in his pofieffion, but was afraid to fend to any 
 perfon for affiftance. 
 
 At feven in the morning it began to rain hard, 
 and continued to do fo all day, Ib that no perfon 
 appeared in the fields : and during this melan- 
 choly day he would, to uie his own exprtffion, 
 *' have given his right hand for a hammer, a 
 " chifTel, and a punch." Night coming on, and 
 being prefied by hunger, he ventuted to a little 
 chandler's fhop in Tottenham-court-road, where 
 he got a fupply of bread cheefe, fmall beer, 
 and fome other neceflaries, hiding his irons with 
 a long great coat. He afked the woman of the 
 houfe. tor a hammer-, but fhe had no fuch uten- 
 fil i on which he retired to the cow-houfe, where 
 he flept that night, and remained all the next 
 day. 
 
 At night he went again to the chandler's Ihop, 
 fupplied himfelf with provilions, and returned to 
 his hiding place. At fix the next morning, 
 which was Sunday, he began to beat the bafils of 
 his fetters with a irone, in order to bring them to 
 an oval form, to flip his heels through. In the 
 afternoon the mailer of the cow-houfe coming 
 3 E 2 thither,
 
 404 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR/ 
 
 thither, and feeing his irons, faid, " For God's 
 " fake who are you ?" Sheppard faid he was an 
 unfortunate young fellow, who having had a 
 bartard child fworn to him, and not being able to 
 give fecurity to the parifh for its fupport, he had 
 been fent to Bridewell, from whence he had made 
 his efcape. The man faid if that was all it did 
 not much fignify, but he did not care how foon 
 he was gone, for he did not like his looks. 
 
 Soon after he was gone Sheppard faw a jour- 
 neyman fhoemaker, to whom he told the fame 
 ftory of the baftard child, and offered him twenty 
 fhillings if he would procure a fmith's hammer 
 and a punch. The poor man, tempted by the 
 reward, procured them accordingly, and afiifted 
 him in getting rid of his irons, which work was 
 compleated by five o'clock in the evening. 
 
 When night came on our adventurer tied a 
 handkerchief about his head, tore his woollen 
 cap in feveral places, and likewife tore his coat 
 and ftockings, fo as to have the appearance of a 
 beggar ; and in this condition he went to a cellar 
 near Charing-crofs, where he fupped on roafted 
 veal, and liftened to the converfation of the com- 
 pany, all of whom were talking of the efcape of 
 Shcppard f 
 
 On the Monday he flickered himfelf at a pub- 
 lic-houfe of little trade, in Rupert-ftreet, and 
 converging with the landlady about Sheppard, he 
 told her it was impoffible for him to get out of 
 the kingdom , and the keepers would certainly 
 have him again in a few days ; on which the wo- 
 man wifhed that a curfe might fall on thofc: who 
 fhould betray him. Remaining in this place till 
 evening, he went into the Haymarket, where a 
 croud of people were furrounding two ballad- 
 fingers
 
 JOHN SHEPPARD for Burglary. 405 
 
 fingers, and liftening to a fong made on hi$ ad- 
 ventures and efcape. 
 
 On the next day he hired a garret jn Newport- 
 market, and foon afterwards, drefiing himfclf 
 like a porter, he went to Black-friars, to the heufe 
 of Mr. Applebee, printer of the dying fpeeches, 
 and delivered a letter, in which he ridiculed the 
 printer, and the Ordinary of Newgate, and en- 
 clofed a letter for one of the keepers of Newgate. 
 
 Some nights after this he broke open the mop 
 of Mr. Hawlins, a pawnbroker in Drury-lanc-, 
 where he ftole a fword, a fuit of wearing apparel, 
 fome fnuff-boxes, rings, watches, and other ef- 
 fects to a confiderable amount. Determining to 
 make the appearance of a gentleman among his 
 old acquaintance in Drury-lane and Clare-mar- 
 ket, he drefied himfelf in a fuit of black and a 
 tye-wig, wore a ruffled fhirt, a filver hiked fword, 
 a diamond ring, and a gold watch ; though he 
 knew that diligent fearch was making after him 
 at that very time. 
 
 On the 3 1 ft of October he dined with two wo- 
 men at a public-houfe in Newgate- ftreet, and 
 about four in the afternoon they ail paffed under 
 Newgate ,in a hackney coach, having firft drawn 
 up the blinds. Going in the evening to a pubiic- 
 houfe in May-pole Alley, Clare-market, Shep- 
 pard fent for his mother, and treated her with 
 brandy, when the poor woman dropped on her 
 knees, and begged he would immediately quit 
 the kingdom, which he promifed to do, but had 
 no intention of keeping his word. 
 
 Being now grown valiant through an excefs of 
 liquor, he wandered from alehoufes to gin-mops 
 in the neighbourhood till near twelve o'clock ac 
 night, when he was apprehended in confequence 
 of the information of an akhoufe-boy who knew 
 
 him.
 
 4 o6 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 him. When taken into cuftody he was quite 
 lenfelefs, from the quantity and variety of liquors 
 he had drank, and was conveyed to Newgate in 
 a coach, without being capable of making the 
 leaft refinance, though he had two piftols then in 
 his poffcffion. 4 
 
 His fame was now fo much increafed by his 
 exploits that he was vifited by great numbers of 
 people, and fome of them of the highefl. quality. 
 He endeavoured to divert them by a recital of the 
 particulars of many robberies in which he had 
 been concerned -, and when any nobleman came 
 to fee him, he never failed to beg that they would 
 intercede with the king for a pardon, to which 
 he thought that his fingular dexterity gave him 
 fome pretenfions. 
 
 Having been already convicted, he was carried 
 to the bar of the court of King's Bench on the 
 loth of November, and the record of his convic- 
 tion being read, and an affidavit being made that 
 he was the lame John Sheppard mentioned in the 
 record, fcntence of death was paficd on him by 
 Mr. Juftice Powis, and a rule of court was made 
 for his execution on the Monday following. 
 
 He regularly attended the prayers in the cha- 
 pel, but though he behaved with decency there, 
 he affected mirth before he went thither, and en- 
 deavoured to prevent any degree of feriouinefs 
 among the other prifoners on their return. 
 
 Even when the day of execution arrived, Shep- 
 pard did not appear to have given over all ex- 
 pectations of eluding juftice; for having been 
 furnifhed with a penknife, he put it in his pocket, 
 with a view, when the melancholy proceffion 
 came oppofite Little Turnftile, to have cut the 
 cord that bound his arms, and throwing himlelf 
 out of the cart, among the crowd, to have run 
 
 through
 
 JOHN SHEPPARD /*r Burglary. 407 
 
 through the narrow pafTage, where the meriffs 
 officers could not follow on horfeback ; and he 
 had no doubt but h^ mould make his efcape, by 
 the affiftance of the mob. 
 
 It is not impoffible but that this fcheme might 
 have fucceeded; but before Sheppard left the 
 prefs-yard, one Watfon, an officer, fearching his 
 pockets, found the knife and was cut with it, fo 
 as to occafion a great effufion of blood. 
 
 Sheppard had yet a farther view to his prefer- 
 vation. even after execution ; for he defired his 
 acquaintance to put him into a warm bed as foon 
 as he mould be cut down , and try to open a vein, 
 which he had been told would re(lore him to life. 
 
 He behaved with p.reat decency at the place of 
 execution, and confefled. the having committed 
 two robberies, for which he had been tried and 
 acquitted. He was executed at Tyburn on the 
 i6th of November, 1724, in the 2?d year of his 
 age. He died with difficulty, and was much 
 pitied by the furrounding multitude. When he 
 was cut down his body was delivered to his 
 friends, who carried him to a public-houfc in 
 Long-acre, whence he was removed in the e.ven- 
 ing, and buried in the church-yard of St. Mar- 
 tin in the Fields. 
 
 It is aftonifliing to think how much Sheppard 
 and his adventures engaged the attention of the 
 public For a confiderable time there was fcarce- 
 ly a fubject of converfation but himfelf. There 
 were fcveral different hiftcries of his life; and a 
 variety of prints were worked off, reprefenting his 
 efcapcs from the condemned hold, and from the 
 caftie in Newgate; and there were likewife feveral 
 other prints of his perfon ; the belt of which was 
 a mezzotinto, done from an original painting of 
 Sir James Thornhill, which gave rife to the fol- 
 lowing ingenious lines. 
 
 Thornhill,
 
 4 oS NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 Thornhill, *tis thine to gild with fame 
 , Th* obfcure, and raife the humble name j 
 To make the form eiude the grave, 
 
 O * 
 
 And Sheppard from oblivion fave. 
 
 Tho* life in vain the wretch implores, 
 An exile on the fartheft fhores, 
 Thy pencil brings a kind reprieve, 
 And bids the dying robber live. 
 
 This piece to lateft time mall ftand, 
 And mew the wonders of thy hand. 
 Thus former matters grac'd their name. 
 And gave egregious robbers fame.jj 
 
 Appelles, Alexander drew, 
 
 Casfar is to Aurellius due, 
 
 Cromwell in Lely's works doth mine, 
 
 And Sheppard, Thornhill, lives in thine.' 
 
 It was even thought proper to reprefent Shep- 
 pard's actions on the itage. A pantomime enter-r 
 tainment was contrived, in which the fcenes were 
 painted from the places of action. It bore the 
 name of " Harlequin Sheppard -, a night fcene in 
 ' grotefque characters," and was reprefented at 
 the Theatre Royal in Drury-lane. 
 
 Another piece was printed, but never acted at 
 the Theatres. It was a farce of three acts, 
 called " The Prifon Breaker , or the Adven- 
 " tures of John Sheppard.'* After being neglect- 
 ed fome time a number of fongs and catches were 
 intermixed with it-, and having received the name 
 of " The Quaker's Opera," it was exhibited at 
 Bartholomew-Fair. 
 
 Sheppard's adventures were not thought un- 
 worthy the notice even of the pulpit. The fol- 
 lowing
 
 JOHN SHEPPARD-/0r Burglary. 409 
 
 lowing is given as the conclufion of a fermon 
 preached foon after his fecond efcape from New- 
 gate. 
 
 " Now, my beloved, what a melancholy 
 
 " confederation it is, that men mould mew fo 
 *' much regard for the preservation of a poor 
 *' perifhing body, that can remain at mod but a 
 *' few years ; and at the fame time be fo unac- 
 " countably negligent of a precious foul, which 
 " muft continue to the age of eternity ! O what 
 " care ! what pains ! what diligence ! and what 
 " contrivances are made life of for, and laid out 
 *' upon, thefe frail and tottering tabernacles of 
 " clay : when alas ! the nobler part of us is al- 
 " lowed fo very fmall a mare of our concern, 
 ** that we fcarce will give ourfelves the trouble 
 " of beftowing a thought upon it. 
 
 ** We have a remarkable inftance of this, in a 
 " notorious malefactor, wcil known by the name 
 " of Jack Sheppard ! what amazing difficulties 
 " has ; he overcome, what aftonifhing things has 
 *' he performed, for the fake of a {linking mi- 
 " ferable carcafe, hardly worth hanging ? how 
 ** dexteroufly did he pick the padlock of his 
 " chain with a crooked nail ? how manfully did 
 " he burft his fetters afunder, climb up the chim- 
 " ney, wrench out an iron bar, break his way 
 " through a ftone wall, and make the ftrong 
 " doors of a dark entry fly before him, till he 
 " got upon the leads of the prifon ? and then, 
 " fixing a blanket to the wall with a fpike he 
 " ftole out of the chapel, how intrepidly did he 
 " defcend to the top of the Turner's houfe, and 
 *' how cautioufly pafs down the flairs, and make 
 5* his efcape at the ftreet-door ! 
 
 VOLT. \V. 7 F O
 
 4 io NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 " O that ye were all like Jack Sheppard ! ? 
 " Miftake me not, my brethren, I don't mean in 
 " a carnal, but in a fpiritual fenfe, for 1 purpofe 
 
 "to fpiritualize thefe things. What a fhame 
 
 " it would be if we mould not think it worth our 
 " while to take as much pains, and employ as 
 " many deep thoughts to fave our fouls, as he 
 " has done to preferve his body ! 
 
 " Let me exhort ye then to open the locks of 
 "your hearts with the 'nail of repentance ; burft 
 " afunder the fetters of your beloved lufts -, mount 
 " the chimney of hope, take from hence the bar of 
 "good refdution, break through the ftone wall of 
 " de/paii'i and all \.\\z ftrong holds in the dark entry 
 "of the valley of tie Jhadow of death : Raife your- 
 " felves to the leads of divine meditation-: Fix the 
 " blanket of Faith with the fpike of the church. Let 
 44 yourfeives down to the -turner's houje of refigna* 
 " lion* and defcend the flairs of humility : So mall 
 " you come to the dcor of deliverance from the fri- 
 " fon of iniquity, and efccpe the clutches of that 
 " old executioner the devil, who goeth about like 
 ' a roaring lion, feeking whom he may devour." 
 
 After the long account we have given of this 
 malefactor, it will be the lefs neccffary to extend 
 our remarks on his character. This hiftory tells 
 us how much more labour it requires to be a thief 
 than an honeft man. Indeed, if young people 
 would but reflect for a moment, they would fee 
 that the practice of vice i?, and mutt be, attend- 
 ed with the utmoft pain and anxiety ; and that 
 " WiPJom's ways are pleafantneis, and all her 
 " paths are peace." They muft alfo be convinced 
 that vice, by repetitL. becomes at lealt fo habi- 
 tual, that notwithftanding the attending evils, we 
 can fclcom or ever leave it off. 
 
 Narrative
 
 T. PACKER & J. PICKEN for Robbery. 4 1 1 
 
 Narrative of the Lives and Execution of THOMAS 
 PACKER, and JOSEPH PICKEN, who were hang* 
 ed at Tyburn for Robbery. 
 
 THOMAS PACKER was a native of Lon- 
 don, his father being a fhoemaker in But- 
 cherhall-lane, Newgate- ftreet. He was bound 
 apprentice to the mafter of the Ship-Tavern at 
 Greenwich ; but not being conrent in his fitua- 
 tion, he was turned over to a vintner, who kept 
 the Rummer-Tavern, near Red-lion fquare , and 
 having ferved the reft of his time, he lived as a 
 waiter in different places. 
 
 He had not been long out of his time before he 
 married ; but the expences of his new connection, 
 added to thole ariling from the extravagance of 
 his difpofition, foon reduced him to circumftances 
 of diftrefs. 
 
 JOSEPH PICKEN was likewife a native of Lon- 
 don, being the fon of a taylor in Clerkenwell ; 
 but his father dying while he was an infant, he 
 was educated by his mother, who placed him 
 with a vintner near Billingfgate, with whom he 
 ferved an apprenticemip, after which he married, 
 and kept the tap of the Mermaid Inn at Wind- 
 for: but his wife heing a bad manager, and his 
 bufmefs being much ncgledted, he was foon re- 
 duced to the utmoft extremity of poverty. 
 
 Being obliged even to fell his bed, and deep on 
 the floor, his wifeadvifed him to goon the high- 
 way, to fupply their nece.ffities. fatally for him, 
 he liftened to her advice, and repaired to London, 
 where, on the following day, he fell into company 
 with Packer, who had been an old acquaintance. 
 
 The poverty of tin ". . unhappy men tempted 
 
 them. to make a fpeedy refolutioo of committing 
 
 depredations on the public ; in conference of 
 
 3 F 2
 
 412 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR; 
 
 which they hired horfes as to go to Windfor ; butf 
 inftead thereof they rode towards Finchley, and, 
 in a road between Highgate and Hornfey, they 
 robbed two farmers, whom they compelled to 
 drfmount, and turned their horfes loote. 
 
 Haftening to London with their ill gotten 
 booty, they went ta a public- houfe in Monmouth- 
 ftreet, where one of them taking his handkerchief 
 out of his pocket, accidentally drew out his pif- 
 tol with it, which being remarked by a perfon 
 in company, he procured a peace-officer, who took 
 them into cuftody on fufpicion. 
 
 Having been lodged in the Round-houfe for 
 that night, they were taken before a magiftrate on 
 the following day ; and being feparately exa- 
 mined, difagreed much in their tale ; and the 
 parties who had been robbed attending, and 
 iwearing to their perfons, they were committed 
 for trial. 
 
 When they were brought to the bar they en- 
 deavoured to prove that they were abfent from 
 the fpot at the time that the robbery was com- 
 mitted ; hut failing in this, a verdict of guilty 
 was given againft them, and they received fentence 
 of death. 
 
 After conviction they behaved with every Jfign 
 of contrition. Picken was in a very bad ftate of 
 health almoft the whole time he lay under fentence 
 of death ; and complained much of the ingrati- 
 tude of his wife, who firft advifed him to the 
 commiifion of the crime, yet never vifited him- 
 during his miferable confinement in Newgate. 
 Thefe unhappy men prepared to meet their fate 
 with decent refignation, and received the facra- 
 ment with every fign or genuine devotion. 
 
 They were executed at Tyburn on the ift of 
 February, 1725, but were fo mocked at the idea= 
 
 of
 
 .VINCENT DAVIS- for Murd* ofik /*?/*. 413 
 
 of their approaching diflblution, that they trem- 
 bled with the dreadful apprehenfion, and were 
 unable to give that advice to the furrounding; 
 multitude, which, however, might be eafily im- 
 plied from their pitiable condition. 
 
 It does not appear, from any account tranf- 
 mitted to us, that thefe men had been guilty of any 
 robbery but the fingleone fo,r which they fuffered. 
 
 Hence we may learn how very (hort is the date 
 of vice ! It may be urged that the extremity of 
 their poverty was a temptation to the commiflion 
 of the crime ; but let it be remembered that a 
 ftate of the xnoft abject poverty is preferable to 
 the life of a thief. An honeil man, be he ever 
 fo poor, need not blufh to look the firft man in 
 the kingdom in the face. 
 
 The man who does unto others as he would 
 they fhould do unto him, will enjoy the approba- 
 tion of his own confcience ; and may confider him- 
 felf as equal in character to the greateft monarch 
 in the univerfe. 
 
 The Tranfactions, Trial, and Execution of 
 VINCENT DAVIS, who was hanged at Tyburn 
 for the Murder of his Wife. 
 
 THIS malefactor, who followed the trade of 
 a butcher in Smithfield, behaved with cru- 
 elty to his wife, and, though he had been mar- 
 ried fome years, accuftomed himfelf to keep com 
 pany with women of ill fame. 
 
 Going out one Sunday morning he (laid till 
 noon ; and coming home to dinner went out again 
 foon afterwards, and was directly followed by his 
 wife, who found him drinking with fome bad wo- 
 men at a houfe in Pye-corner-, and coming home, 
 mentioned this circumflance to her neighbours. 
 
 Soon
 
 4i4 NEW NEWGATE CALENDAR; 
 
 Soon afterwards the hufband returned ; anct 
 ufing fome threatening exprefiions, the wife de- 
 fired a lodger in the fame houfe to go down ilairs 
 with her, kaft he fhould beat her. The woman 
 accordingly attended her, and was witnefs to Da- 
 vis's beating her in a barbarous manner, and 
 threatening to murder her becaufe Ihe had inter- 
 rupted him while in the company of the other 
 women. Hereupon the wife ran away, and fe- 
 creted herfelf for a time; but returning to hen 
 lodgings, begged admiffion into her landlady's 
 room, who hid her behind the bed. 
 
 In the interim the hufband had been out: but 
 returning:, went to bed, and when his wife 
 
 *^' * 
 
 thought he was afleep, me went into the room to 
 fearch his pockets, in which me found only a few 
 halfpence, and coming down ilairs faid that her 
 hufband had laid a knife by the bed fide, from 
 which fhe concluded that he had an intention of 
 murdering her. 
 
 Mrs. Davis being concealed during the night, 
 the landlady went into her hufband's room in ihe 
 morning, and faid, *' What do you mean by 
 " threatening to commit murder in my houfe?" 
 On this he (hatched up his knife, arid the landlady 
 having taken hold of a fmall cane, he took it 
 from her, faying he valued it as his life; as he 
 kept it to beat his wife wkh. 
 
 In the evening of chis day the wife and landlady 
 finding him at the before mentioned houfe in Fye- 
 Corner, he beat his wife moft feverely ; on which 
 the landlady advifed Mrs. Davis to fwear the 
 peace againft him, and have him imprifoned, as 
 ihe had done on a former fimilar occafion. About 
 an hour after this he went home, and faid to his 
 wife, " What bufinefs have you here, or any 
 
 " where
 
 VINCENT DAVIS -for Murder of bis Wife. 415 
 
 " where in my company ? You (hall follow me 
 *" no more; for I am married to little Jenny.'* 
 
 The wife who Teems to have had more love for 
 him than fuch a mifcreant dcfei ved, faid me could 
 not help it, but fhe would drink with him and be 
 friends; a,nd, on his taking his fupper to an ale- 
 houfe, fhe followed him ; but foon returned with 
 her hand bloody, faying he had cut her fingers. 
 
 On his return he directed his wife to light him 
 to his room, which fhe did, and -earneftly entreat- 
 ed him to be reconciled to her; but intlead of 
 making any kind of reply, he drew his knife, and 
 following her into the landlady's room, he there 
 ftabbed her in the breaft, 
 
 Thus wounded, the poor wretch ran down (lairs, 
 and was followed by the murderer. She was 
 fheltered in a neighbouring houfe, where fitting 
 down, and pulling off her flomacher, fhe bled to 
 death in about half an hour. 
 
 In the interim the landlady called the watch- 
 men, who foon apprehended Davis, and conduct- 
 ed him to the houfc where the dead woman lay; 
 on which he faid, " Betty, won't you fpeak to 
 " me?" A woman who was preient faid, " You 
 " will find to your forrow, that fhe will never 
 ** fpeak more;" and to this the murderer replied, 
 " Well, I know I mall be hanged ; and I would 
 " as foon fuffer for her as another ." 
 
 Being committed to the care or a peace-officer, 
 he was conveyed to prifon, in his way to which, 
 he faid " 1 have killed the beft wife in the world, 
 *' and I am certain of being hanged; but for 
 " God's fake don't let me be anatomized." 
 
 \Vhen he was brought to his trial, the above 
 recited facls were proved by the testimony of fe- 
 veral witneflesj and on the jury pronouncing the 
 
 verdift
 
 4i 6 NEW N 7 EWGATE CALENDAR. 
 
 .verdict of guilty, he execrated the court with the 
 inofl profane imprecations. 
 
 While he lay under fentence of death he affect- 
 ed, a falfe bravery, but when orders were given 
 for his execution, his affumed courage left him, 
 and he appeared greatly terrified at his approach- 
 ing fate. He had fucli a dread of failing into the 
 hands of the furgeons, that he fent letters to fe- 
 veral of his acquaintance, begging they would 
 refcue his body, if any attempt fhould be made 
 to take it away. 
 
 He was hanged at Tyburn on the goth of 
 April, 1725, behaving in the moft gleomy and 
 reierved manner at the place of execution. 
 
 The anxiety ^this miferable wretch exprefled 
 for the care of his body after having perpetrated 
 fuch an unprovoked murder as he might well fup- 
 .pofe would hazard the falvation of his foul, af- 
 fords a melancholy picture how much concerned 
 we can be for fmaller matters, to the neglect of 
 the more important. It fhould teach us how fu- 
 perior the value of the .foul is, to that of a poor 
 frail carcafs ; fince the former mud exift to all 
 eternity, while the latter, in a few years at the 
 nioft, will moulder into duft. 
 
 It would be needlefs to expatiate on the cha- 
 racter of this inhumane man, whole de'praved na- 
 ture muft make all good people lament, that fa 
 much cruelty' and vice mould ever had exigence 
 in a Chriftian land. 
 
 END OF THE PIRST VOLUME.
 
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