him a Punch in the Face, and afterwards drew his Cutlass and almost cut his Fingers off, upon which the Man cried out, Murder! Thieves! and then they all took to their Heels and made their Escapes.

THE next Evening they went to a Street facing Leicester Fields , facing the Prince's House, where they stopped a Gentleman, and while Billingsley and Field held him, Potbury pick'd his Pocket of a Silver Watch. Hereupon the Gentleman seized Field, on which Potbury, Billingsley, Harper, and several more of the Gang, fell upon the Gentleman with their Bludgeons and Fists, so that if the Gentleman had not released Field, in all Probability they would have murdered him.

FROM thence they went to the Bottom of Long-Acre , where they stopped a Gentleman, and while Billingsley and Wells held him, Potbury pick'd his Pocket of his Gold Watch; on which the Gentleman, and several more, pursued them so closely, crying out Stop Thieves! stop Thieves! that they called out Coach! Coach! to drown the Noise of the Pursuers, and being surprized, some run one Way, and some another, till they were all dispersed, but they all met again at their old Place of Rendezvous in Black Boy Alley , in Chick-Lane .

THE next Day they heard that Country Dick, (who was executed in November last with Ann Duck< no role > This name instance is in set 3827. ) was taken and carried before Sir Thomas De Veil< no role > , Knt. and many of them being tossing up for Money in the said Alley, they heard that a Number of Soldiers were coming thither to search; whereupon they made off, some into the Fields, and some elsewhere, but all met again at the same Place at Night. But Field, Potbury, Gadd, (the little Boy) and Harper, (apprehending yet further Danger) went down to Queenhithe , and lay there at a Publick House till the Tide served. From thence they went to Brentford , and continued there two Days, and on the Third returned to their wonted Haunt again, where they were informed that further Search had been made after them, and that they had taken away one Turbet, Thomas Wells< no role > , and Henry Gray< no role > , which last was sent for a Soldier, but afterwards made his Escape, and Turbet was tried last Sessions, and ordered for Transportation.

WHEN they came into the Neighbourhood of their old Rendezvous, their Friends there entreated them to make off, or they would most certainly be taken: Whereupon they all went away again towards Hackney , and from thence to Old Ford , where they sat drinking at a Publick House till quite Dark. Then they returned to Town, and went to a House in Rosemary Lane , to find out some of their Companions; but not meeting with any of them, they went into Spittlefields , and there lodged till the next Night. From thence they went over Logerhead Fields up Old street , and came down Goswell street , at the End of which Potbury, and the little Boy Gadd, ran away, and left Field and Harper. Field and Harper went to a House in Drury Lane , and lay there about three Nights, and on the Monday Morning hearing there was another Search to be made, Field and Harper dressed themselves immediately, and then ran and hid themselves in the Cock Loft; but not thinking that Place safe enough, they crept through a Hole to hide themselves more securely, and as it happened the Soldiers did not come so high.

THE Morning following, about five o'Clock, Harper having spent all his Money, pawned his Cloaths, and Field seeing his Companions Poverty, left him, and then he was destitute of both Friends and Money, and every House he went into to enquire after his Companions, was afraid of being taken up. About five Days after, as he was drinking at a House in Rosemary-Lane , who should come in but Billingsley, Potbury, and William Norwood< no role > , (a Person not yet taken.)

Harper was very glad to see them, and after some Discourse, they asked him if he would turn out with them, to which he consented. Accordingly the next Morning, about five o'Clock, they all got up, and the Reason of this was for Fear any one should see them. From Rosemary-lane they made the best of their Way for Brentford again, where they met with several more of their Companions, but not Field. There being so many of them together, People began to have some Suspicion they were a Parcel of Thieves; whereupon, they observ'd it, and thought it most proper, to make the best of their Way to London , and when they came there they dispersed themselves.

THEY had not been in Town long before Billingsley, Potbury, Wells, Field, and Harper, broke open a House in a Street near Red-Lion sqaure