William Bristow< no role > Condemned for the same Felony and Burglary, Aged 23 Years, Born in Wilt-shire , a Farryer by Trade, but lately hath been a Soldier . He said, it was his hard Fortune to tall into bad Company. I replyed, that it was his own Corrupt Heart which led him aside to commit the Crime. Had he resolved in God's strength to have departed from all Iniquity, sinning could not so easily, upon Inticement, prevailed with him. He said, that God was Angry with him for many Secret Sins, which have brought him to open Shame and Punishment. Yet he was not afraid to Dye, if his peace be made with God.

John Thompson< no role > Condemned for Robbing a Waggon on the High way, Aged about 20 Years, was Born in Ireland , but came over to England in Service with a Gentleman who fled hither for the safety of his Person, being a Protestant. He said, he is sorry that he left the Gentleman's Service, about a Year since. So falling into bad Company he committed this Crime. He acknowledged the Just Hand of God upon him, for that he hath been guilty of most Sins excepting Murther. I hope he was Penitent, as willing to take Shame to himself for his Lewd Life.

William Elderkin< no role > Condemned for Felony and Burglary, Aged 24 Years, was Born in the Isle of Ely , a Wooll Comber by Employment. After his Father Dyed he came to London, and was a Soldier under the Lord Brunkard; whilst his Father and Mother lived he kept the Sabbath, but grew loose afterward, notwithstanding his Good Education. He said, he did too often Swear, and was guilty of other Sins. That he hopes he now Repents, but said he, It is not Crying Lord, Lord, have Mercy on my Soul, such only obtain this, who do the will of their Heavenly Father.

In Charity, I think several of them were Penitent, but the Truth of Repentance requires some time of Tryal, in bringing forth meet Fruits thereof For it is difficult to break off a a Custom in Sinning, so that a late Repentance is most what slight and false, as being more for fear of Death, than out of any true Love to God, or Hatred of Sin. But I must leave them to the Judgment of Him who only knows the sincerity of Mens Hearts.

On Fryday the 9th Instant, there were Eight of them put into Three Carts, in order to be Convey'd to the place of Execution, but being ascended Holborn Hill , or higher, there was a Reprieve over-took them, laying Claim to the Body of Philip Macqueer< no role > , High-way-Man , which was returned to Newgate , William Mawn< no role > being Reprieved in Newgate before Execution, who was put into the Dead Warrant the Day before, the other Seven being come to Tyhurn , (viz.) John Williams< no role > , William Column< no role > , James Chambers< no role > Jonas Ratcliffe, John Thompson< no role > , William Elderkin< no role > , and Robert Hillgrave< no role > , and the Ropes being placed about their Necks, Mr. Ordinary began to give them some kind and heavenly Exhortations, in order to their better and more safer passage to another World, desiring them freely to acknowledg their former Misdemeanors, (and Cruel, yea Desperate Adventures,) in a continued Race of Wickedness and Debaucheries. To which, Ratcliffe, Thompson, Elderkin, and Hillgrave, seemed with an Unanimous Consent to adhere, the Four latter were very Penitent, especially Hilgrave, who Cryed out, Gods Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven, Come Lord and Receive thy Servant, who is ready to Depart, and willing to Dye. After his he gave a Paper to Mr. Ordinary, the Contents of which was, A Cordial Letter of Good Advice, and Heavenly Counsel, from the Minister of Chiswick, sent him to Newgate, which he said, did mightily affect his Soul, hoping God would have Mercy on him, for that he had wronged the aforesaid Minister, by standing by his Bed side, whilst others of his Gang Robbed him: but Confest withal, that he did not Injure him any way. He begged of the People to Pray for him, saying, that he was heartily sorrowful for all the Evil he had done.

Jonas Ratcliffe< no role > was likewise very penitent, desiring all the Spectators to take warning by him, dying in the Communion of the Church of England.

William Elderkin< no role > , who stood Mute at first upon his Arraignment, was penitent, and dy'd a Protestant.

John Thompson< no role > , for Robbing John Rothwel's Wagon, joined with Hilgrave, Ratcliffe, and Elderkin in the Prayers and Exhortations of the Ordinary.

Now remains somewhat to be spoken as to the other three condemned Prisoners, viz. John Williams< no role > , James Chambers< no role > , and William Column< no role > , who all appear'd at the time of their Execution to be Papists, tho' visited often by the Ordinary. Williams spoke particularly, saying, That he dyed a Papist and was always true to the Interest of the Late King James, denying the Fact for which he was condemned. The other two said little, but continued praying to themselves, by turning their Faces from the other Four before mentioned. Yet one thing may be Noted, whil'st the Ordinary was praying with the other Four, Column seem'd to attend devoutly, which Williams and Chambers check'd him for.

Afterwards the Penitential Psalm being sung, they were all turned off.

Let every True Hearted and Unprejudiced Protestant, of what Rank and Quality soever, see now what kind of Instruments, and Dubbed Utensils, the late King James has to work withal, no better than House-breakers, and Common Thieves, who have been fairly Convicted by our English Laws: Yea such Laws that King James himself must needs have made use of, for the Conviction of such Cruel Miscreants as these were; if he had been Seated in the Royal Throne, (which God forbid.) These, and such like, are the Men that even when the Ropes are about their Necks, and just ready to be turned off, they will spit their Venom against the Face of the Government, and if it were possible Stone to Death all the Spectators. Yea the very Civil Officers who are ordered by Law to attend their Execution were affronted, the Prisoners Dying (as it were) like Mad men, putting a bold Face upon't, as if there were no Heaven to Condemn, nor no Hell to Torment, trusting only to the deluding Vanities of a vain hop'd for Purgatory. Which the laborious and never wearied Jesuits, and untir'd Popish Priests do always Buz in their Ignorant Ears, till they have them so fast, that they can never be unlinked, from the Cunning Devices, and Devilish Stratagems, of that Whore of Babylon, who has always been striving to make the Nations Drunk with the Blood of her Fornications, by joining their Gog and Magogs together to undo, yea, (and if it were possible,) to deceive, the very Elect, which such silly Earth-Worms as those will not be sensible of till they come to feel the dreadful effects of it, (in another World,) to their final and everlasting Destruction and Misery, from which dismal Sentence they can never be Redeemed.

This is the whole Account which I can give of this Session, tho' I visited them every day till their Execution.

Dated this 9th of MAY, 1690 .

Samuel Smith< no role > Ordinary .

Advertisements.

The Priviledges of the Citizens of London, contained in the Charters granted them by several Kings of this Realm, and confirmed by sundry Parliaments. Formerly published for general Information, upon the occasion of the Quo Warranto brought against the said City, and now Re-printed, upon the account of Reversing that Judgment, and Restoring the Charter, with all its ancient Rights and Priviledges, under our Gracious Sovereign Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary. Printed for Langley Curtiss< no role > .

These are to give Notice, That if any person hath occasion to sell any Library, or parcel of Books, either in large or small Quantities, they may receive ready Money for them, upon View thereof, by Langley Curtiss< no role > at Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Head near Fleetbridge .

These are to give Notice to all Persons, for the Benefit of the Publick, That Mr. Elmy, Professor of Physick, and Operator, of known Integrity, and above 25 Years practice, Liveth at the Blue Ball in Whale-Bone Court, at the Lower End of Bartholomew-lane by the Royal Exchange, who most safely and expe|ditiously Cures Deafness and Noise in the Ears in any of what Age soever, (if Curable) and at first Sight, by Inspection, Resolves the Patient if so or not, as most Eminent Persons of Quality in this City can Testifie. He hath likewise a most excellent Gagarism or Mouth-Water, which will make black or yellow Teeth as white as Ivory, in a few times using; and it will certainly cure the Scurvy, and all other Diseases incident to the Mouth, Teeth and Gums, which in many persons causeth a stinking Breath, which (by the Blessing of God, and the use of this Water) I dare affirm you will be freed from those Maladies beforementioned, with Directions.

London, Printed for L. Curtiss at the Sign of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Head near Fleet-Bridg . 1690.