A True ACCOUNT of the BEHAVIOUR, CONFESSION, AND Last Dying SPEECHES Of the Criminals that were Executed at TYBURN , On Friday the 24th of October, 1690 .

IN the Forenoon of the Lord's Day the Ordinary preached on Psalm 32. 10. viz. Great plagues remain for the ungodly, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy embraces him on every side.

These Words declare the sad Catastrophe of the wicked, while they seem rooted in Secular Power and Prosperity, they may be secure, yet they are never safe. It is otherwise with the Righteous, while such are beset with Calamities and the Snares of Death round about, Divine Mercy encompasses them as a Shield. At Destruction it self, while prosecuted against them, with utmost Malice, they shall laugh, because the Lord will keep such in perfect Peace, whose Minds are syncerely staid and fixed upon him.

Here were produced the Characters of a true and false trusting in God for Temporal Preservation and Eternal Salvation; which were suited to the Solemnity of Thanksgiving for the Reduction of Ireland under his Majesty's Happy Government, and to the Spiritual Condition of the Condemned Criminals.

The Conclusion of the Sermon was directed to the Condemned in this Charge. Take heed that you deceive not your selves, with vain and false Hopes of future Happiness; presume not to be compassed about with Divine Mercy on every side, in your present; Perplexities, if you persist to embrace any Lust, in the love and dominion of it. The Lord will turn the Counsels and Projects of the Wicked upon their own Heads, and snare them in the Work of their own Hands even while their Confidences are highest, that they shall be rooted in the Enjoyment of their worldly Prosperity; God's Artillery of Judgments is never spent, he will strike home, once for all, as having Treasures of Wrath and Eternity before him, wherein to punish Sinners. How dare any persist to fliffen their Hearts, in Pride and Rebellion against the Holy God O retreat in time lay down the Weapons of Unrighteousness, submit to the Terms of God's Discretion, to deal with you how he pleases, so that he will forbear to frown you into Hell. Give Glory to the Lord God, by a penitential Submission, before he cause Darkness, thick Darkness upon your Spirits, so that the things of your Eternal Peace should be hid from your Eyes: Plead therefore from the depth of a Contrite Heart, that though you have hitherto een rebellious, yet now you sincerely desire, That your ways may be agreeable to the Divine Law, so as to keep it with your whole Heart.

This cannot be obtained, unless Divine Grace confirm you in a serious Resolution to repent: This consists in the universal change of your Corrupt nature. If you be created to every Good Work, as new Creatures in Christ, the Agonies of Death shall not appale you, you shall not be prest down to Hell, under the weight of God's severest Wrath, but shall have Divine Mercy to encompass, to imbrace and shield you on every side: You shall be as safe while you walk through the Valley of Death, as Salvation it self: You shall be filled with insuperable Consolations, yea, Transports of celestial Joys, to all Eternity.

On Mnday the Ordinary visited the Condemned Criminals: After he had prayed with them, he required an Account from them severally, How their Hearts were affected with the Sermons and Prayers on the Lord's Day; especially with the Afternoons Discourse on the Revelations 2. 21. viz. I gave her space to repent in, yet she repented not: They said, that they hoped, they did repent of all their Sins, and should be fit to die.

I proceed to take an account of their former course of Life, and in what frame of Heart they were for a blessed Eternity.

I. Mercy Harvey< no role > This name instance is in set 2065. , condemned for murthering her Bastard male Child. Some time before her Ttyal I visited some sick Prisoners in Newgate , and hearing there of such a wretched Person, I supposed that there would be small hopes of her Life, therefore I went to her and prayed with her, That God would make her very sensible of so great a Crime, and fit her for Death. After which I discoursed with her, and ask'd, Whether she had any Promise of Marriage with him who begat it? She answered no. Or whether he did promise any Maintenance for herself? She replyed no: but by often soliciting her she yielded to his Desires. She said that when she proved with Child, she dispaired how to provide for it, and so Satan tempted her to expose the Child to Death, by her concealing the whole matter, till it was discovered and her self apprehended for it. After her being condemned, I endeavoured to make her more deeply sensible of so great a Crime: She said that she had been very sinful, yet did not acknowledg any particulars of an ill Life, only that she had not been careful to know more of her Duty to God, did omit praying, and that she did sometimes deny a Fault when her Mistress charged her with it, and she knew her self to be guilty. She said, That it grieves her at the Heart, that she hath by this notorious Sin, given such publick Scandal and bad Example to young People; and that she was Cruel, in depriving the Child of Life: But she hopes that the Merits of Christ's Blood shed, will wash away her Sins, upon her sincere Repentance.

II. Anne Henderson< no role > , condemned for stealing a Silver Tankard, She is a Scotch-Woman, born near Berwick , her Employment was to carry Drink, to Wash and Scoure : She seemed very penitent, for offending God chiefly, rather than for publick Shame and Fear of Death. She gave a tolerable account of the nature of Saving Faith and says, She hopes she shall dye in Peace; being accepted with God through Christ's Righteousness.

III. Peter Vallard< no role > a Frenchman, condemned for High Treason, in clipping and diminishing the Currant Mony of this Kingdom. He denies not the Fact. He was a working Silver-Smith , which Trade, he says, he neglected, and was tempted by Clippers, who are since fled from Justice, who told him, That he might securely clip in some Ditch. He is very penitent for this and all other Sins of his life, praying fervently for God's Pardon, and that his Heart may be changed, to hate those Sins, wherein he most delighted.

IV, V. Thomas Rogers< no role > , condemned for clipping of Mony, found in the bottom of a Chest, with Shears and Files to diminish the King's Coyne. His Wife also was condemned for participating in the same; for all who joyn in High-Treason the Law counts Principals. The Wife is more sorrowful than the Husband; which denies the Crime, though clearly and sufficiently proved upon him. I leave them both to God's Judgment.

VI. Thomas Castle< no role > alias Cassey< no role > , condemned for High-Treason, in counterfeiting and making of false Shillings, found in his House, in the bottom of a Salt-box, with Crucibles, Clippings and Files, to carry on that wicked Trade. He expresses some Remorse for his Crime. He confest that he had led a very ill Life, and denyed not that he knew Clippers, but was unwilling to discover them: Whereupon I told him, That his Repen