The manner of dealing with the sheep was not to carry them off the ground, but first to rip them up with a sharp pointed knife, and then take out the fat and sell it to some roguish confederate of a tallow chandler for half price, which seldom answered more than the present purpose of a short riot, so that no sooner one mischief was done but they were by necessity ready to commit another, without being the better for all the hazard and labour.

After condemnation he grew very sullen and reserv'd, and seemed not to attend much to the care of a future state, but was very sensible of the afflictions of his wife and her children; the good woman constantly attended, and supplied him with what she could procure for him, which was but little, she being herself in very great distress: the poor woman wept bitterly, as did he likewise, as seeming more sensible of her misfortunes than of his own, he professed to be a sincere penitent, and to die in peace with all men.

3. Stephen Parsons< no role > , was indicted for breaking and entering the house of Sir Simeon Stuart< no role > , Bart, and stealing from thence a great quantity of plate, particularly a silver chocolate pot, while the family was out of town, and of this felony and burglary he was capitally convicted.

Stephen Parsons< no role > was twenty-four years of age, born at or near London of mean parents, put to school to read and write, and to be instructed in the principles of christianity, which it seems he but little minded. He was not put to a trade but chose to serve in the quality of a footman, wherein for aught that appears to the contrary he behav'd honestly, and had the esteem of his respective masters, until very lately that he fell into the company of some lewd woman at a common bawdy-house in the Strand, who persuaded him to commence thief. He was very far from being of that wicked and abandoned turn, that most thieves are, and entered on this new employment with infinite reluctance; but they having both threatened and intoxicated him, he came at last to a resolution of robbing his late master, which he thus effected. Sir Simeon, his lady and family being all out of town, and he knowing the house was well furnished with plate, and the way to it, and the housekeeper not knowing he was discharged by his master in the country, he very easily got admittance to lie in the house, and had thereby sufficient opportunity to carry off the plate for which he was convicted.

He committed various robberies besides this, particularly one on a young woman in the street, from whom he took a riding hood, several suits of fine linen, a pair of fine shoes, and thirteen shillings in money; telling her he was at that time poor, but in a short time he should have a plentiful supply of money, and then she might draw upon him for the sum that was due, and he would honourably answer it. He was the first who desired to receive the sacrament, and the rest of the convicts promised to receive it with him, but only two, viz. Hester Fowler< no role > , since reprieved for transportation, and George Norton< no role > . He came always to chapel, and made regular responses, declaring, that he believed in Christ, repented of his sins, and died in charity with all the world.

4. Edward Ryan< no role > , indicted for stealing a silver tankard value 6 l. the property of Dorothy Udall< no role > in her dwelling house, &c.

Edward Ryan< no role > , 42 years of age, was born in the kingdom of Ireland of mean parents, who neither gave him education, nor put him to any trade, so that the business he must necessarily follow was that of a labourer, which he did for some time, and thereby maintained himself, wife, and children, who are now in Ireland. But at length, whether through idleness or accident, he got himself listed for a soldier in the Earl of Deloraine's Scots regiment, and served in the same above twelve years, and then got his discharge from the regiment being then in Scotland , and went over to Ireland , staid there some time, and then came over to England, and up to London , where he followed labouring work; and if he was not bad before, now fell into bad company. He confessed the stealing of the tankard, but would not own he had ever done any other