the Press-Yard, while under Sentence of Death, and seem'd greatly to lament the unhappy Case of their ungracious Son. He seem'd not to have had much Education, not appearing with a Book, as the rest of his Fellow-Sufferers of the same Perswasion did, from whence 'tis reasonable to conjecture, he could not read. His Parents and others of the Neighbourhood, who out of Respect to them, came to see him, said, he had been an idle loose, and disorderly young Man, and seem'd to express no great Surprize at finding him in such a Situation; knowing he had long followed such evil Courses, as must needs bring him to it, unless perswaded to return to his Duty. Work he was not fond of, and was under no Restraint, his poor aged Parents being no ways able to curb his untoward Passions, had they been ever so well inclin'd to do it.

Brenan had been indicted in December Sessions, and being discharged the last Day, for Want of Evidence, he immediately returned to his old Acquaintance. The next Day being in Company with Purcel, and the Evidence against him at his Trial, one George St. Laurence< no role > , they wanted Money for Drink, to raise their Courage, and having some how or other got enough to get a Pot of Beer, and a Dram apiece. Brenan got a Hammer and Chissel, and said, he would have Money, or he'd go again to the Place from whence he came. Accordingly he went with this Resolution, and the first Thing he did, was to knock a Man down, and take away his Hat. This they immediately went and pawn'd for 18 d. which was drank out in Gin, and now they were ripe for Housebreaking, or knocking down People, or any other Mischief that fell in their Way; and several other mischievous Blows were given to different Persons that Night, by the Hands of Brenan, with this dangerous Weapon the Hammer.