Gentleman of the same Order, to be his Confessor, and Ghostly Father.

The poor Fellow laboured for some Time under his pressing Importunities, to make Confession to him after the Form and Manner of the Church of Rome, but he still declin'd it. He owned in general to him, that he had been a bad Man, but would not sue for the Absolution in Form; yet, if I mistake not, the Gentleman was forward enough to give it him; and this he declared before two Gentlemen, the Reverend Mr. Majendie, and the Reverend Mr. Palermo, both Protestant Clergy, who understood the Italian Language, and repeated to me in plain English, what Geraldine had said. We were led into this Enquiry by the aforesaid Gentleman's coming again, after having absented for some Time, to visit Geraldine. It surprized me pretty much that he should come again, after I had been assured by the Reverend Gentlemen above mention'd, that Geraldine declared in the Sincerity of his Heart, that the Protestant Religion was the only true Religion, and most consistent with the Doctrine of the Gospel, and freest from Superstitious Errors; that he depended on no Intercession of Saints or Angels, on no Ave Marias, but on the Intercession of Christ, and his Merits, from whom alone he hoped for Absolution and Remission of all his Sins, upon this true Repentance. And, as far as one Man may judge of another, he did seem to dye a true Penitent, by what I heard of his Prayers in Latin, and by what that Gentleman told me of their Discourse with him in Italian. But, what was particularly worth Notice, when the Roman Catholick Gentleman found he could not prevail with Geraldine to dye in that Faith, (as Geraldine declared to the Reverend Mr. Majendie, and Mr. Palermo, which they repeated to me in plain English) the said Catholick Gentleman did threaten him, and that in an authorative Manner, to write to the Convent in Italy, where he was brought up, to make known that he was hanged in England, or in Words to that effect. The poor Fellow was horribly shock'd at this, having Relations there, who according to the Custom of that Country would suffer in their Character, and be despised upon Account of his unhappy Fate, were it there known. Thank Heaven, such Christianity dwells not in England! However he resolved to dye a Protestant, and frequently repeated it before several Gentlemen, that he rejoiced, God had put it into his Heart so to do. He forfeited his Life willingly to satisfy the Laws, and sought only the Salvation of his Soul upon his Repentance thro' the alone Merits of Jesus Christ. His Resolution in this Point is evident from a Letter in Italian in Mr. Palermo's Possession, subscribed by the unhappy Geraldine, of which the following is the Copy, viz.

To the Reverend Mr. Palermo.

Reverend Sir,

THIS being the last Day of my Life, I should commit a Sin of Ingratitude, if I did not acknowledge the Obligations I have to you, for the Fatigue, Expence, and even Sickness, that you have undergone, upon my Account. I have been assisted by you, Sir, together with the Help also of some other Benefactors, to this last Day; by you, with whom I had not so much as any Acquaintance, until a few Days before my being condemn'd; and all this without any Expectation of Advantage to yourself, which my Poverty left no Room for, but merely out of Compassion and Charity towards a Brother Proselite, who was unacquainted with the Language, and known but by few Persons in this Country. It would have been happy for me had I known you at my first coming to London, for then I really believe that the unfortunate Death of poor Albani had never happened: of which I declare myself guilty before God and Man.