The Life and Death of Mr. Badman

Wise. Since you are entered upon Stories,¹ I also will tell you one, the which, though I heard it not with mine own Ears, yet my Author I dare believe:^* It is concerning one old Tod, that was hanged about Twenty years ago, or more, at Hartford, for being a Thief. The Story is this: At a Summer Assizes holden at Hertford, while the Judge was sitting upon the Bench, comes this old Tod into the Court, clothed in ⟨p. 24⟩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: ^*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 of 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.

Wise. Since you are entred upon Storyes,¹ I also will tell you one, the which, though I heard it not with mine own Ears, yet my Author I dare believe:^* It is concerning one old Tod, that was hanged about Twenty years agoe, or more, at Hartford, for being a Thief. The Story is this: At a Summer Assizes holden at Hartfort, while the Judge was sitting upon the Bench, comes this old Tod into the Court, cloathed in ⟨p. 24⟩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: