but a thin Cloth; That was however remov'd and laid more light and hollow; but he still complain'd of the prodigious Weight they had laid upon his Face; which might be occasion'd by the Blood being flush'd and forc'd up into his Face, and pressing as violently against the Veins and small Tendrills there, as if the Pressure upon them had been externally on his Face. When he had continu'd about half an Hour in the Torture, and 50 pound more of Weight had been laid on his Breast, he told the Justice of Peace who committed him, and myself, That he would Plead. Accordingly, the Weights were at once taken off, the Cords that stretch'd out his Hands and Legs were cut, and He lifted up, and held by two Men, while some Brandy was put into his Mouth to revive Him. He was very faint and almost Speechless, for two Days, But then began to recover Strength, for sometime; afterwards he again grew worse; and desired to receive the Sacrament, For he believed he should live but little longer. But before the Execution, he again recover'd Strength, and constantly attended the Prayers in the Chappel, twice a-day.

The Reasons,, as far I could learn from Him, of his enduring the Press, were, That he might preserve his Effects, for the use of his Family; That it might not be urged to his Children, that their Father was hanged; and that - Linsey should not tryumph over him, by saying he had sent him to Tyburn.

He said, he thought himself truly penitent; and as sincerely so, as he who show'd his Sorrow by his Tears; but that it was not easily in his Power to weep; nor had he ever remembered himself to have shed a Tear; except once, since he was in the Condemned Hold, at the final parting with his little Son.

Sometimes he would say, that he wish'd he had dy'd in the Pressing, For that all sence of Pain was by the Pain taken from him, and he was fallen into a kind of Slumber. At other Times he express'd himself, that he was glad he did not cut himself off, by his Obstinacy, from that space the Law had allow'd him, for his Repentance, for the Sins of his whole Life.

On Monday, February 9 , before the Execution, he receiv'd the Sacrament; and said that he desir'd not to Live, for he could be only a weak and unhealthy Man; and added that he could raise his Breath only in the lower Part of his Stomach He said he had been guilty of the greatest Sins he could commit, except Murder; that it was in vain to mention his numerous Robberies on the High-Way, being perhaps about a Hundred. He said also, that he rob'd chiefly toward Hounslow Heath ; likewise towards Kingston ; and sometimes on the Road to Ware ; That there was besides one Tyson, and one Coltis of their Gang, but not yet taken.

He was enraged at Joseph Lindsey< no role > , in particular because Spigget had once rescued him when he was nigh being taken, and in the defending him was wounded, and in danger of his Life.

The Night before his Execution, he especially complain'd, that Thomas Cross< no role > was so harden'd and reprobate, that he not only refus'd to joyn with them in Prayer, but would beat out the Candles, and rattle his Irons, so that they could not perform their Duty. On the Wednesday Morning , he again receiv'd the Sacrament in the Chapel, from whence he was immediately after, carry'd to the place of Execution.

4. Thomas Cross< no role > alias Philips< no role > , was convicted on the same Indictments upon which William Spiggot< no role > was found Guilty. He was 33 Years old, born in Bristol ; never was put Apprentice, nor ever learned to Write or Read; but went to Sea very Young. He served in the War against France; was in the Dover Man of War, when Admiral Bing attack'd the Spanish Fleet in the Mediterranean; and they afterwards took 3 Spanish Ships in the Mouth of Cales.

He seem'd to glory in the Robberies he had committed, and said that Spiggot and he, once rob'd at 10 o-Clock at Night, one Hundred Passengers, whom they took out of several Waggons that follow'd in a Train; and that they set the Passengers in a Row along the Road, and robb'd and counted them. He was deaf to whatever I could say to him; and when his Fellow-Prisoners in the Condemn'd Hold, whom I had directed to read and pray with him, offered to do it, he refused to hear them; telling them it signify'd nothing, and uttering Blasphemous Expressions. Toward the Last, as the rest of the Prisoners grew more Devout, he became more wicked; interrupting them in their Duty, cursing and swearing, and beat Persons in the Place, putting himself into great Passions, no one knew why; and some refusing to attend the Chapel. Till at length the others all requested, the last Night he might be remov'd from among them; and acquainted me with the continuance of is ill-Behaviour, and that he refus'd to prepare himself for the Sacrament. To the last hour he could not be brought to have any Concern about a future State.

5. Edward Ely< no role > ) Was condemned for the Murder of Lieutenant Bicknel, in Sweden . He was between 31 and 32 Years of Age; born in Bloomsbury , London . His Father being a Gentleman of a Plentiful Estate, gave his Children a liberal and genteel Education; and put Him to a Surgeon , viz. To Mr. Gibson a very noted Surgeon in