he fancy'd) several irregular Proceedings at his Trial; which Discourse, as it was deliver'd with a good Grace might have an Impression on some People, had it not been fully answered by the Court.

At first after his Condemnation, he was greatly disturb'd at the filthy Place appointed for him, but being forc'd to sustain the Consequence of his Vices, they found it not impossible to remove in some measure, the Objections they had against it; preventing by their Authority that leud and prophane Discourse, which is commonly the most heard in that Place, where it should the least be found, preventing those whose Inclinations have been to be serious.

But tho' he could not at first be induced to allow that the Sentence past upon him was agreeable to Equity; declaring, that had a certain Person been faithful to him, the Jury could never have found him Guilty, and that the Mildness of the Judge was not very remarkable in his Case; yet after I had talked with him twice in private, I found those Prejudices were of themselves fled from him; for he told me then, that he was perfectly Easy, and satisfy'd to dye, and had no Ill-will towards any Body, and that he had expected to Dye some considerable Time before the Calamity came upon him, and when he was first apprehended, but that some who first understand the Law, had thought him a very Babe to let his Life slip away, and that if he'd but exert himself, Life was as near to him as Death, &c. which Discourses had at first wholly turn'd his Mind to Life and the World. Being told by a Gentleman, that he ought to bear no Malice towards Richard Wilson< no role > , his Friend and Accuser, because he Acted not out of Ill-will to him, but to preserve his Life; he answered, That Life was sweet, especially to those in their Course of Life; yet, he himself would have died more Deatht than one, rather than have betray'd his Friend, and embru'd his Hands in the Blood of his Companion; however, he freely forgave him from the very Bottom of his Heart, and wish'd that the Creator would so forgive him. Desiring at the same time, that I would give him the Holy Sacrament the Friday before they Dy'd, as well as at the usual Time, to wit, the Execution Morning, which was complyed with.

As to his Deportment, there could be no Objection against it; 'twas serious with Sorrow, and observant with Fear; But as his Death drew near, he appear'd to be greatly more shock'd and alarm'd than George Sympson< no role > . At the Sacrament on Fryday , he changed Countenance, when I told him we were to conclude the Sacrament, Prayers, and all, by 9 of the Clock on Monday Morning , being the Day of Execution: During his Devotions he shed a great many Tears, which none else did; which he also did at the Sermon preach'd last before his Death.

At the Prayers, the Morning that he suffer'd, tho' he always aim'd at a settled and compos'd Countenance, he yet appear'd ruffled and somewhat terrified; which shewed he had a true Sense of his Condition, that Death is not only the Pain of Dying, but the appearing before God, with the Eternal Seal set upon our Actious, for happiness or Reprobation.

4. GEORGE SIMPSON< no role > , was also Condemn'd for the same Assault on the Post-Boy, on the 6th of April last , about 1 of the Clock in the Morning, and taking a Black Gelding, Value 10 l. as also 2 Mails Value 4 l. 50 Leather Bags Value 5 l. the Goods of our Sovereign Lord the King.

This Malefactor was about 34 Years of Age; born at Putney in Surrey . He said that this Father was a Wine-Merchant, and had a considerable Estate; and that tho' he was sometime mean, yet he was born a Gentleman; he added, that his Father removing from Surrey into Lincolnshire , did not so well bear up his Head; yet he gave a good Education, and he understood something of the Law; he also said, that some thought a Sheriff's Bayliff (which he was at Lincoln ) an ungenteel Employment, but he thought a Man might behave himself in it as became a Gentleman, and sometimes where the Business would not set off the Man, the Man has set off the Business; and that he was Ignorant of the Art, or racking Men to severely for Civility Money.