Edmund Gilbert< no role > , of the Hamlet of Bethnal Green , by trade a weaver , sixty-seven years of age, born of mean and obscure parents in the neighbourhood, when young he was sent to school to learn to read and write, but in a course of time forgot all, and seemed to have very little sense of religion or virtue; he was in his natural temper extremely peevish and discontented; when of age he was put out apprentice to a weaver in the said Hamlet, and served out his time faithfully, and afterwards did journey work for some time; then married a wife and set up, by whom he had several children, one whereof is now living and married in the neighbourhood. He had several journeymen and apprentices, and made a tolerable figure in the world, being reckoned generally pretty punctual in his dealings: But being of a very morose spirit used all those very ill over whom he had power, and it is generally believ'd, that Thomas Salter< no role > was not the only one who had fallen a sacrifice to his cruel and inhuman barbarity. Though as he was never tried before on that account, we ought out of charity to presume that such conjectures are not grounded on certainty, and therefore to be waved. Those of his apprentices who survived complain much of his cruel usage, in want of suitable provisions and cloaths, as well as bad treatment of their bodies, and being generally friendless charity children, and not knowing the course of our laws, and the remedy in the hands of the magistrate, were obliged patiently to endure such cruel treatment as the master's barbarous turn of mind thought proper to impose on them. The boy, Thomas Salter< no role > , was naturally of a very weak constitution, and so unable to perform that part of the business, which, it seems, requires good health and strength, and being abused in his person, grew still worse; and so at last, with his natural weakness, want of proper necessaries, and beating, he fell into a lingering illness, arising chiefly, as it appears, from a mortification occasioned by his master's blows. During this illness strangers were not admitted to visit him, but his mistress was, and furnished him with some small refreshments. But Gilbert being of a very narrow, as well as of a cruel temper, permitted as little to be done for him as possible. His wife is by some blam'd for not preventing him in his barbarity, but if the account of his temper be true, she had possibly as much reason to be afraid of him as his apprentices were; his cruel usage had got him a very bad name amongst his neighbours, so that no one was surprized, when on the body's being taken up, it was found on the coroner's inquest that he died of the blows given him by his master. The prosecution was carried on against him at the expence of the parish, and he appeared both at his trial, and since, to be quite insensible of his crime, as he was of all learning and religion, but several of the prisoners having received the sacrament, he was very desirous to do the same, which was accordingly on his penitence administer'd to him. He said he believed in Christ, repented of his sins, and died in peace with all men.

2. Samuel Keep< no role > , was indicted for killing 12 sheep and a ram, the property of Mrs. Carter in the parish of Endfield , contrary to the peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, and the form of the statute, &c.

Samuel Keep< no role > , forty years of age, was born in the parish of Endfield , of honest parents, and had some slight education at school: when of age he was not put to a trade but followed country business, as husbandry and attending cattle, and his chief employment for sometime was driving them to Smithfield market , and was reckoned an honest man in his way. In process of time he married a farmer's widow, and thereby came into the possession of a good farm and stock; where falling into decay, they were obliged to resign their farm, and he from that time betook himself to bad company, and consequently to evil courses, and amongst others to this of sheep stealing, for which he died.

He had not any children by his wife, but she had five by her former husband, to whom Keep behaved with great tenderness and affection, as also to his wife, which shews him not to have been a man of a naturally vicious and reprobate habit of mind.