sitting upon the Bench, comes this old Tod into the Court, cloathed
in a green Suit, with his Leathern Girdle in his hand, his Bosom
open, and all on a dung sweat, as if he had run for his Life; and
being come in, he spake aloud as follows: {27b} My Lord, said he,
Here is the veryest Rogue that breaths upon the face of the earth.
I have been a Thief from a Child: When I was but a little one, I
gave my self to rob Orchards, and to do other such like wicked
things, and I have continued a Thief ever since. My Lord, there
has not been a Robbery committed thus many years within so many
miles if this place, but I have either been at it, or privy to it.

The Judge thought the fellow was mad, but after some conference
with some of the Justices, they agreed to Indict him; and so they
did of several felonious Actions; to all which he heartily
confessed Guilty, and so was hanged with his Wife at the same time.

Atten. This is a remarkable Story indeed, and you think it is a
true one.

Wise. It is not only remarkable, but pat to our purpose. This
Thief, like Mr. Badman, began his Trade betimes; he began too where
Mr. Badman began, even at robbing of Orchards, and other such
things, which brought him, as you may perceive, from sin to sin,
till at last it brought him to the publick shame of sin, which is
the Gallows.

As for the truth of this Story, the Relator told me that he was at
the same time himself in the Court, and stood within less than two
yards of old Tod, when he heard him aloud to utter the words.