main Gang alarm’d the Country where-ever they came, drinking and roaring at ſuch a Rate, that the People ſhut themſelves up in their Houſes, in ſome Places, not daring to venture out among ſo many mad Fellows: In other Villages, they treated the whole Town, ſquandering their Money away, as if, like Æſop, they wanted to lighten their Burthens: This expenſive manner of Living procured two of their drunken Straglers to be knocked on the Head, they being found murdered in the Road, and their Money taken from them: All the reſt, to the Number of ſeventeen as they drew nigh to Edinburgh, were arreſted and thrown into Goal, upon Suſpicion, of they knew not what; However, the Magiſtrates were not long at a Loſs for proper Accuſations, for two of the Gang offering themſelves for Evidences were accepted of; and the others were brought to a ſpeedy Tryal, whereof nine were convicted and executed.
Kennedy having ſpent all his Money, came over from Ireland, and kept a common B y-Houſe on Deptford Road, and now and then, ’twas thought, made an Excurſion abroad in the Way of his former Profeſſion, till one of his Houſhold W s gave Information againſt him for a Robbery, for which he was committed to Bridewell; but becauſe ſhe would not do the Buſineſs by halves, ſhe found out a Mate of a Ship that Kennedy had committed Pyracy upon, as he fooliſhly confeſs’d to her. This Mate, whoſe Name was Grant, paid Kennedy a Viſit in Bridewell, and knowing him to be the Man, procured a Warrant, and had him committed to the Marſhalſea Priſon.
The Game that Kennedy had now to play was to turn Evidence himſelf; accordingly he gave a Liſt of eight or ten of his Comrades; but not being acquainted with their Habitations, one only was taken, who, tho’ condemn’d, appeared to be a Man