declar'd himself very Penitent, and readily comply'd with Prayers and Exhortations.

Upon Thursday, the 21st, of March , the Report of these eight Malefactors under Sentence of Death, was made to His Majesty in Council. When William Shan< no role > , for Felony and Burglary, in breaking the House of Richard Wright< no role > of Coleman-street , and taking thence 30 Guineas, 10 l. in Silver, 8 Moiders, 2 broad Pieces, and one half broad Piece, on the 8th of December last , the Property of Richard Wright< no role > aforesaid. And Richard Kelme< no role > of St. John Hackney , for stealing a Brown Gelding, value 7 l. the Property of Mr. Yellowly; a Mare, val, 7 l. the Goods of Mr. Sanders; a Bridle, Saddle, and Saddle-cloth, the Property of John Laurence< no role > , out of the Stable of the said John Laurence< no role > , receiv'd His Majesty's most Gracious Reprieve. The remaining Six, viz. Benjamin Branch< no role > , Martin Bellamy< no role > , John Potter< no role > , James Stagles< no role > , alias Howard< no role > , Margaret Murphew< no role > , and Margaret Wallis< no role > , alias Stainens< no role > , were ordered for Execution.

Benjamin Branch< no role > , of St. Andrew's Holbourn , was Indicted for Assaulting Jane Marshal< no role > on the Highway, putting her in Fear, and taking from her two Guineas, two half Guineas, and 3 s. and 6 d, in Silver, 2 Pocket-pieces, value 5 s. a bunch of Keys, and 2 silk Handkerchiefs, on the 27th of Jan. last .

Benjamin Branch< no role > , 27 years of Age, descended of honest Parents, who gave him good Education at School, in Reading and Writing, and instructed him in the Christian Religion: When of Age, they put him to an Employment, at which he might have liv'd well; but being of a loose Temper, and not willing to confine himself to constant Business, he Associated himself with the worst of Company, and commenc'd Thief and Street-Robber in an extraordinary Manner, surpassing most of his Accomplices in those unlawful and wicked Practices. He confess'd, that he had committed many Street-Robberies, and particularly that for which he was Convicted, that he met with a deserved Punishment, having Sin'd against much Light and Knowledge, and the Convictions of his own Conscience: For his Father (as he said) bred him to his own Business of a Goldsmith and a Lapidary , and put him in a way of living Creditably in the World, but shaking off all fear of God and Regard to Man, and joining himself to a Band of Thieves and Robbers, he became one of the most Noted about Town in that way. He always attended publick Prayers in Chapel, and made Responses regularly, but with too much Indifferency, and for the most part was attentive to the Exortations, only sometimes he spoke to his Friends, and some who were next him. And upon the second Sunday before his Death, he and Bellamy, as I began to speak upon Death, which I judg'd a proper Subject and Discourse for their Case; went out of their Place to talk with Strangers; this giving offence to the Auditory, I desir'd them to return and compose themselves, and hear the Word of the Lord with Reverence and Attention; they were so rude as to cry out, expressing themselves in a very undiscreet Manner, before a good number of People, a Behaviour unbecoming any Person, but especially Men in their deplorable Circumstances. I reproved them sharply, and told 'em, that however they might slight the Ordinances dispens'd by Man, yet that God the righteous Judge, who was ready to take Vengeance upon his Adversaries, would shortly bring them to a terrible Account for so notorious Contempt of his Word, if they did not repent. I have not observ'd two so very audacious Sinners, when so near their latter End. When the Report was made, Branch became more serious and civil, acknowledging himself to have been one of the greatest of Sinners, most unthankful to God and Man, for the great Blessings he had receiv'd, and for misimproving the Talents where with God had endow'd him; adding, that his sometimes laughing and speaking proceeded not from any Contempt of God's Word and Ordinances, but from his Youth and want of Consideration. He declar'd himself penitent for all his Sins, particularly, his great Vices of Covetousness, Robbery, Whoredom, and their Attendants, which had brought him to a shameful and untimely Death; that he died in Peace with all the World, and in the Faith of being sav'd only through the Merits of Jesus Christ.

Martin Bellamy< no role > , of St. Katherine Cree Church , was indicted for Felony and Burglary, in breaking the House of Giles Holliday< no role > , on the 5th of February last in the Night time, and taking thence 12 Pounds of sewing silk, Value 10 l. and 20 pair of worsted stockings, Value 5 l. the Property of Giles Holloday< no role > aforesaid.

Martin Bellamy< no role > , born of honest Parents, who gave him good Education, instructing him in Christian Principles, and the Knowledge of other things proper to fit him for Business in the World. He was about 28 Years of Age, by Trade a Taylor , in which Art he was very skillful, and might have liv'd in Credit and an honest manner, but giving loose Reins to his irregular Passions, he addicted himself to all manner of Wickedness. About 4 Years ago, he married and liv'd only 5 Weeks with his Wife, for being taken up for some Fraud or Theft, he was put into Clerkenwell Bridewell , whether (as he said) his Wife's Brother-in-Law coming to him, desir'd to know, where his Prosecutor liv'd, upon Pretence of making Matters easie, but the said Brother went to the Gentleman and advis'd him to prosecute Bellamy; upon which he resenting this suppos'd Injury, took up an irreconcileable Prejudice against his Wife and all her Relations, never cohabiting with her any more. About this time, e betook himself to his old Companion a young Woman, whom he call'd Amey Fowler< no role > , who pass'd for his Wife above the space of six Years, bare him several Children and liv'd in good Friendship with him. Her he commended, though (it seems) he could by no means agree with his true Wife, because she disapprov'd of his naughty Courses. He said also, that Amey Fowler< no role > was altogether ignorant of and had no Concern in his Robberies, he having deserted her Company also, when he follow'd that extravagant manner of Life. This he desir'd to be publish'd, because the World blam'd her for his Misfortunes, as advising him to undertake his villainous Attempts. He gave Account of a great many Robberies and Burglaries he had committed; such as, his obliging the Watchman in Thames-street to throw his Lanthorn and Staff into the River, and holding a Pistol to his Breast, till three other Thieves robb'd a Tea-shop to the Value of 20 l. in Goods. In East-Cheap he robb'd a Shoemaker's Shop, and knock'd the Watchman down with a bag