whose Trade was Shop-lifting, and breaking of Houses; to which Company he too soon gave Way, which has been the Occasion of his Ruin, as himself declares.

The next unfortunate Step he made was entering into Matrimony, before he was able well to provide for himself.

This involv'd him in further Misfortunes and Troubles, because he could not provide honestly, he must do it otherwise, tho' such Resolution was quite wrong, as himself now to his cost experiences. He practised Thievery some Time before once detected; but it happened at last he was apprehended, and tried at the Old Bailey , for opening, and robbing the Till of a Person in the City of 4 s. for which Crime he was sentenced to be transported, by the Name of John Brown< no role > , for seven Years, and accordingly was shipp'd off; but before they got from Land, Edwards and some others made their Escape through the Port Holes, and swam to Shore, tho' he was a whole Day upon some Rock or Land near Plymouth , where he was obliged to Rest e'er he could reach the Shore. In a very distress'd Condition he arrived again in London , with a full Purpose, he says, never more to follow his old Courses. But now he began to think it unsafe, and to be afraid of being seen. He found it impossible to get any Livelihood in an honest Way, least he shou'd be known, and detected, and punished with Death, for being seen at large before the Expiration of his sentenced Transportation. In this terrible Condition, and Extremity of Affairs, having a Wife and Family, which during his former Confinement, had contracted Debts, he was under double Apprehensions and Terror. His sole Employment was staying and idling in the Fields all Day, and returning Home to his Family by Night. He went on in this Manner, and led this Life, as long as his unhappy Wife could support him, by the Labour of her Hands; which after some Time was not in her Power to do. He then got acquainted with one Tom. Pendigrass< no role > , who led him again to all his former Courses of Vice; and seeing nothing but Destruction and Misery before his Eyes, he yet fell too easy a Captive to his Temptations and Snares, and once more fell to his former Trade. His Wife perceiving his Goings on, and what the End would be, often advised him to leave off, while it was in his Power, and that as his Character was blasted in London, and now no Possibility of getting an honest, tho' ever so mean Livelihood here, begg'd him to leave his Company, and retire with her to some Place, where his Character was not known; she proposed to him Portsmouth, and as he had been used to Sea, she advised him to go on Board a Guard Ship, while she was a-shore in some Pains-taking Way, and they might come together again one Day, and live happily. But this Scheme proved abortive. He promised her however he would go, he says, and the Day was fixed, and agreed on both Sides for their Departure, which was to be on the Day after he was apprehended for the Fact for which he suffered. His Wife, (glad she had perswaded him to consent to go with her) went out to