land, of parents in very tolerable circumstances, who gave
him a very good education; but perceiving that he had a martial
disposition, they resolved not to cross it, and therefore, though he was
not above fourteen years of age, got him recommended to an officer, who
received him as a dragoon. He served about four years with a very good
reputation in the army; but he had a brother who then rode in a regiment
of horse, who wrote to him from London, and encouraged him to come over
into England, which occasioned his writing to his officer to desire his
discharge. To this his officer readily agreed.

He went thereupon from the north of Ireland to the west, to his friend,
where having equipped himself with clothing, linen and other
necessaries, he then came to London, expecting to meet his brother. But
on his arrival here he was disappointed, and that disappointment,
together with his want of money, made him very uneasy. At last, in order
to procure bread, he resolved to list himself in the Foot Guards. He did
so, and continued in them for about two years, during which time, he
says in his dying declaration, that he did duty as well, and appeared as
clean as any man in the company; nay, in all that time, he avers that he
never neglected his guard but once, which was very fatal to him, for it
brought him into the acquaintance of those who betrayed him to measures
which cost him his life. For being taken up and carried to the Savoy for
the afore-mentioned offence, he had not been long in prison before
Wilson, who had been concerned with Burnworth, _alias_ Frazier, and the
rest in the murder of Mr. Ball in the Mint; and one Mr. G----, an old
highwayman, though he had never conversed with him before, came to pay
him a visit.

They treated him both with meat and drink, seemed to commiserate his
condition very much, and promised him that he should not want
twelvepence a day, during the time in confinement. This promise was very
well kept, and Gilburn in a few days obtained his liberty. The next day
he met Wilson in St. James's Park, who after complimenting him upon his
happy deliverance, invited him to a house in Spring Gardens to drink and
make merry together. Gilburn readily consented, and after discoursing of
courage, want of money, the miseries of poverty, and some other
preparatory articles, Wilson parted with him for that time, appointing
another meeting with him at eleven o'clock the next morning. There
Wilson pursued his