labour and
getting nothing at all. At length, waiting pretty late for an old man,
who, as he was informed, was to come that night with eight hundred
pounds about him, although he was so feeble that a child might be able
to take it from him, he at length grew impatient, and resolved to rob
the first man he met. This proved to be one Mr. Andrews, who raised so
quick a pursuit upon him that he never lost sight of him until the time
of his being apprehended, when he was carried to Newgate and prosecuted
the next sessions for the aforesaid robbery.

He was then indicted for taking from the said Thomas Andrews, after
putting him in fear, six or seven shillings in money, a bay mare, bridle
and saddle, and a cane, on the 23rd of July, 1730. The evidence was
exceedingly clear, he having, as I have said, never gone out of sight,
from the time of the robbery to the time he was taken. Under sentence of
death the prisoner behaved with great piety and resignation. He showed
great concern for the offences of his former life, and testified the
utmost sorrow for having blemished an honest family by the shame of his
vices and their just punishment. The night before his execution he wrote
a letter to his parents in the country, which though it be written in a
very uncouth style, yet I have thought fit to insert it _verbatim_,
because there is a strain in it of unusual confusion and concern,
expressing the agony of a dying man with more truth and tenderness than
the best penned epistle could have done.

Honoured Parents,

My duty to both, my love to my brother-in-law. I wish to God I had
been ruled by you, for now I see the evil of my sin, but I freely
die, only the disgrace I have brought on you, my wife and children.
I wrote to my wife last Saturday was seven night but had no answer,
for I should have been glad to have heard from you before I die,
which will be on Wednesday the seventh of this instant October,
hoping I have made my peace with God Almighty. I freely forgive all
the world, and die in charity with all people. Had it not been for
Joyce Hite's sister and Mr. Howel, I might have starved, he told me
it has cost him fifteen shillings on my account, and he gave me four
more. I desire Thomas Mason will give my wife that locket for my
son.

I have nothing more to say, but my prayers to God for you all day
and night, and for God's sake, be as kind to my poor wife and