[The story is given in Walcott's _Memorials of Westminster_ as being
thus recorded in _The Public Advertiser_ of Friday, 22nd June,
1770:--"Mr. John Hatfield, who died last Monday at his house in
Glasshouse Yard, Aldersgate, aged 102 years, was a soldier in the reign
of William and Mary, and the person who was tried and condemned by a
Court Martial for falling asleep on his duty upon the terrace at
Windsor. He absolutely denied the charge against him, and solemnly
declared that he heard St. Paul's clock strike thirteen, the truth of
which was much doubted by the court because of the great distance. But
whilst he was under sentence of death, an affidavit was made by several
persons that the clock actually did strike thirteen instead of twelve;
whereupon he received his majesty's pardon. The above his friends
caused to be engraved upon his plate, to satisfy the world of the truth
of a story which has been much doubted, though he had often confirmed
it to many gentlemen, and a few days before his death told it to
several of his neighbours. He enjoyed his sight and memory to the day
of his death."]
_Defence of the Execution of Mary Queen of Scots_ (Vol. iii., p.
113.).--Among the benefits conferred by "NOTES AND QUERIES" upon the
literary world, is the information occasionally afforded, in what
libraries, public and private, very rare books are deposited. MR. COLLIER
expresses his thanks to MR. LAING for sending to him a very rare volume by
Kyffin. Had I seen his "Extracts from the Registers of the Stationers'
Company," I should have had much pleasure in furnishing him with extracts,
from another copy in the Chetham Library, of the tract he has described.
The Rev. T. Corser possesses the same author's _Blessedness of Britain_.
His other works are enumerated by Watt, and should be transferred to a
Bibliotheca Cambrensis.