[London]: T. Evans, [18–]

This catalogue of crimes is almost certainly fictional and written to impress upon children the terrible consequences of bad behaviour. The story begins in childhood, when we are told John Gill was spoilt by his parents. Not punished severely enough for relatively minor faults like swearing and going to Sunday fairs, Gill moved on to the far more serious crimes of murder, rape, robbery and arson. The text emphasizes that God will make sure that all crimes are discovered and punished, while the criminal’s conscience will give him no peace until he repents: “the ghosts of the murdered persons appeared … pointing to their dreadful wounds, threatening him.”

CCD.7.50.8