of Shoes, which he was forc'd to leave out of hast to make his Escape. In Coleman-street he robb'd a Stocking Shop of Goods to the Value of 70 l. He robb'd a Gentleman near St. Botolph's Aldersgate of a silver Watch with a Case, but left him 6 s. in Money, and cut the Band of his Breeches, to prevent his pursuing him. For a little Premium to support himself in Prison, he put some upon a way of recovering part of their Goods. Some Years ago, upon a false Pretence, he got 10 Guineas from one in Smithfield , in the Name of the lace Jonathan Wild< no role > , but made his Peace with Jonathan, by giving him 5 l. and gave his Bond for Payment of the Money at the Baptist-head Tavern , but this is still unpaid. Many such Accounts he told of himself, but with such an air of Indifference and Boldness, as shew'd him to be no way penitent for his Crimes, but to take Delight in recounting his Villainies, and thus glorying in his Shame. Altho' he outwardly comply'd with Prayers, yet at other Times he behav'd himself with such Audacity, sometimes falling out into violent fits of Passion and Swearing; so that he seem'd to have been Craz'd and out of his Senses, not allowing himself time seriously to think upon his latter End, and improving his few remaining Moments, in working out his Souls Salvation with Fear and Trembling: Till some time after the Dead-Warrant came out, he began to Cry and Lament his unhappy Fate; his Conscience then beginning to Awake, because of the most irregular Life he had Led, and the terrible Account he had to make. I frequently and sharply Reprov'd him for his Miscarriages, and for his former vicious Life, having giving himself wholly up to work Wickedness. I represented to him the dangerous Condition he was in, what a terrible Thing it was to fall into the Hands of the living God, of a Just and Sin-revenging God; For who can abide with ever lasting Burnings? And that without holiness no Man can see the Lord. He acknowledg'd himself one of the greatest of Sinners; beg'd God and Man Pardon for the many Offences of his Life, declar'd himself Penitent for all his Sins; that he believ'd in Christ, through whose Merits he hop'd to be Saved; and that he Died in Peace with all the World. Branch and Bellamy own'd themselves much oblig'd to two worthy Divines, who visited them three or four Days before they Died.

James Stagles< no role > , alias Howard< no role > , of St. Dunstan's Stepney , was Indicted for Assaulting John House< no role > on the Highway, putting him in Fear, and taking from him two Pocket Pieces, val. 6 d. 6 s. in Silver, and some Half-pence, on the 6th, of February last .

James Stagles< no role > alias Howard< no role > , 43 years of Age, (as he said) descended of honest Parents, who gave him good Education, and instructed him in Principles of Christianity. When of Age, he was not put out to any Employment, but served Gentlemen , and married a Woman in Yarmouth , with whom he got a good Portion, which he prodigally squander'd and lavish'd away. He Travel'd over great part of the World, Italy , France , the Holy-land , and several other Countries, attending his Masters, and could speak some Foreign Languages; and when he came home (as he said) he was worth some thousand of Pounds, which he spent in his foolish Rambles; he purchas'd a Place for himself, which he lost because of his Miscarriages. Being out of Business, and not knowing what to do, and wanting Grace and good Manners, he took himself to the Highway, for two or three Years past; during which time, he was not Inferior to any of his Profession in doing Mischief. He had formerly made himself an Evidence against one George Noble< no role > , who was Executed at St. Edmund's-Bury , who deny'd the Fact of which he was Convicted, at his last Hour.

Upon a Letter from an unknown Hand at the desire of Noble's Widow, I ask'd, if Noble was guilty according to his Evidence? He answer'd, that it was known he was Guilty, and that his Wife need not enquire into that Affair, knowing the Truth thereof. As to the Robbery of which he was convicted, he denied that he took the Money from the Gentleman, but that it was handed to him by another Person, who is a creditable Man, but whom he did not incline to discover, thinking he should not have been Convicted, and after Conviction it being to no Purpose, he did not judge it proper to ruin a poor Family. He confess'd himself to have been a most wicked and profligate Fellow, and that he had met with a deserved Punishment for his Crimes. Although (as he said) when he was abroad, he was sollicited to alter his Profession, as to Religion, which indeed I believe was, what he least minded, yet he was still of the Communion of this Church, in which he was Baptized. He declar'd himself sincerely penitent, having always behav'd himself very devoutly at Prayers, but that sometimes he spoke to Branch, that he believ'd in Jesus Christ his only Saviour, and died in Peace with all the World.

Margaret Murphey< no role > , of St. Martins in the Fields , was indicted for privately and feloniously stealing out of the House of John Cordes< no role > , a Silver Salver, val. 5 l. a Silver Tea-pot, val. 5 l. on the 15th of January last , the Property of Peter Casteels< no role > .

Margaret Murphey< no role > , 30 Years of Age, born in Ireland , of honest Parents. Her Father dying when she was very young, she got little Education, and if she was put to School, what Instructions were given her were quite obliterated, by Reason of her perverse and wicked Nature. She married a Husband in her own Country, and came over to London 9 Years ago, where she kept House for some time, and as one who liv'd near her, told me, maintaining a good Character among the Neighbours. But (as she told me) her Husband was a very naughty Fellow, and made all away in a most profuse and extravagant Manner, which made her rack her Wit what Course to take, and falling in with ill-dispos'd People, they brought her into Acquaintance of some of Jonathan Wild< no role > 's Gangs, which prov'd her Ruin. She voluntarily appear'd as Evidence against Jonathan Wild< no role > , who was convicted upon her Evidence chiefly; and upon the desire of one, being ask'd, if the Evidence she gave against Jonathan was True as she deliver'd it? She answer'd, that it was, and several Persons knew it to be so, and that there was no Force put upon her in that Affair, she appearing of her own accord. She own'd herself to have been a very great Sinner, to have liv'd a most irregular and debauch'd Life, to have been concern'd in a great Number of Robberies and Felonies, having for some Years past liv'd upon what unlawful Purchase she could make that way, and to have met with a most deserved Punishment