be for him if the children were to die before they
grew to years of discretion, for then he would have
the little boy’s three hundred pounds a year, and
the little girl’s five hundred pounds. He kept
them in his own house for a twelvemonth and a
day, and then he formed a wicked device to get
rid of them both.

There were two wicked men who lived not far off,
who were ready to do any bad act if paid for it,
and he sent for these men, and bargained with

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them to take the babes out into the greenwood,
and to kill them there. His wife, their aunt, was
a good and kind woman, and would never have
consented to such wickedness, whatever gain it
might bring, so he told her an artful tale, that it
was his purpose to send the children to a friend of
his in London, who would see to their schooling.

He then gave over the two children to the men
with whom he had agreed, and told them that they
were going to London where were toy-shops, and

63