Sins; others stood out for the present, yet said, That they would acquaint us before the time of Execution.

The Ordinary took these Persons apart, who gave this following Account of themselves.

I. Robert Trumbal< no role > , Condemned for Felony and Burglary, confest with much sorrow, That he had broke the Sabbath, was addicted to Drunkenness, to Swearing and Cursing. I replied, That it is not an easie thing to repent from the Heart, having been long accustomed to Vicious Habits. He said, That he was sensible of the deceitfulness of his Heart, but he hoped, if he might live, he should never return to a willful course of sinning. I askt him what Employment he had followed? He said, That he had spent most of his time in Ireland as a Soldier , in the Lord Lisburns Regiment: That for two Years he had laid down that Employment, and coming into England had joyned himself to bad Company; yet he was Innocent as to this Fact for which he is Condemned: But he said, God is Just in suffering this Distress to befall me as a Punishment of my former Iniquities: That he now grieves for offending God, and submits to the sentence of Death, hoping it may be a means to save his Soul.

II. Robert Adderton< no role > continued very stubborn.

III. John Wilson< no role > was Condemned with Martha Walters< no role > , whom he lately married, as he saith. The Woman remained obstinate. They received sentence of Death for Clipping the Currant Coyn of this Nation. I told them what a great dammage it is to the Poor, who having but little Mony cannot so well pass it as others in a Summ. I told them, That God's Justice will more severely persue all such who deface his Image in their Souls, thereby bearing the Superscription of sin and Satan on them. Hereupon he said he had lived very loosely, and for his excesses in lewd courses, did not regard how he got Mony; but now he is sensible how he hath run the hazard of losing his Soul for a little worldly gain and momentary pleasure; saying, That none could redeem it but Christ, in whose Merits he only trusted for Eternal Life. He hearkened to good Instructions and Prayer, so that I hope he was Penitent.

IV. Jane Williams< no role > , Condemned for stealing Silver Lace, value 30 s. She confest the Fact, saying, That her Poverty was the occasion of it: That her Husband is at Sea, and provided not for her while at home, so she was forced to work hard for a Livelihood; but not being content with moderate gain, the Devil put it into her Heart to commit this Crime, which she is the more sensible of, because she did not Pray as she ought, against the evil inclinations of her own Heart, but grew, by degrees, negligent of her Duty to God, and followed not her Employment as formerly: That she endeavour now, all that she can, to repent, and to make her peace with God. She wept and said, That she hoped it proceeded from her Heart. I inquired into her fitness for Death; she said that God will not require more Knowledge than he gives. She said that she thankt God she had been kept from visible open prophaneness till the Commission of this Crime; but if she may be spared, she shall endeavour to amend her Life: I hope she was Penitent.

V. Thomas Walters< no role > , a notorious High-way-man , Condemned for Robbing one John Hosey< no role > , a Bristol Carrier , on Hounslow-heath . His Father and Mother dyed when he was young; his Uncle took care of him, and placed him out to a creditable Employment; but he proved extravagant and left his Station in which he might have done well; he betook himself to bad Company, so growing necessitous, he entred himself into the Earl of Dover's Troop of Guards ; but being weary of that Service, the Pay not answering his excessive ways of spending, he Robbed on the High-way. Considering his present sad Circumstances, he denyed not the greatness of his sins, in special, that he had broken his Vows to God of amendment, and casting off his bad Associates. He said this much afflicts his Conscience, that he continued in his loose Practices, although he several times received the Sacrament, and yet lived not up to so solemn an Obligation of Reformation. I hope he was Penitent as well as awakened from security, by clear and strong Convictions.

VI. John Collet< no role > alias Cole< no role > , Condemned for Burglary and Sacriledg. He confest at last, that he broke up Great St. Bartholomews Vestry Door, and took out the Plate thence. He said he would discover where some of it lay concealed; whereupon notice was given to one of the Church-wardens to inquire of him how to recover any part of the said Plate, because he would not discover any thing of this nor his wicked Life to the Ordinary. He was much suspected, being a Smith by Trade, to have furnisht Fellons with Bettys and Pick-locks for to break into Houses and Rob. He said, that in general, that he had been a great sinner; but I insisted, that he ought to declare wherein, otherwise his Repentance could not be sincere. I told him that continuing in secret sins is a degree of Atheism, and exposes to publick Crimes, for which the Law of the Nation Condemns that, unless he be reduced to a sense of all sin, chiefly for offending God, who hath in much patience expected his repentance; he cannot get the pardon of his sin, but it will fester in his Conscience, till it be confest in all its Aggravations. Upon this he said, that he had prophaned the Sabbath, had been excessive in drinking, and assisting others in carrying on their wicked Practices.

VII. John Gwin< no role > , burnt in the Hand before, Condemned now for stealing a piece of Silk from Mr. Rigby. He much lamented his sinful state, that he did not take warning, but adventured to run into the snares of Death by this last Crime. He said that his Father and Mother dyed when he was young, yet having learnt to write, he kept a School to teach youth ; but he grew idle, and joyned himself to bad Company, which brought him to this untimely Death: particularly, he confest his breaking the Sabbath, and other wicked excesses; but now he repents that he did not reform, as he vowed to God he would when he was three Years since in Newgate : But now he hopes his Heart is truly penitent; that he expects not sparing Mercy, and therefore applys himself with all his might to God, that he would fit him for his Death, that it may not be terrible, but that his distress may be sanctified to the saving of his Soul.

This is all the Account I can give of this Session.

Samuel Smith< no role > , Ordinary.

Dated this 16th of July, 1691 .

On Friday the 17th Instant , John Collet< no role > , John Gwin< no role > , Mary Danby< no role > , Thomas Walters< no role > , and John Wilson< no role > , Five of the late Condemned Criminals were all conveyed to Tyburn, Wilson was drawn on a Sledge, Walters in a Coach, the rest in a Cart: when these Five were tyed up, John Wilson< no role > , who dyed for Clipping, behaved himself exceeding penitently, expressing himself to this effect: That he had been a very Notorious Offender, Guilty of all sins except Murther, which he said he could not remember that ever he shed Innocent Blood; but the first sin that he began his Wicked Life in, was Lying; then followed Pilfering, Swearing, Whoring, breach of the Sabbath, and a great many more, which he was not able to express; only, says he, I will name Robberies upon the High-way, breaking of Houses, binding of People in their Beds, using them very Inhumanly for their Moneys sake; Crying to God for Mercy for his sins. After this, a little while, he said, That he was in the Company of those that Robbed Captain Shooter, but he did not know how he came by his Death; That he helpt to tye his Hands, and left him there; Adding, That the shame of his Death did not trouble him so much, as what Torment (without Mercy) he should undergo after Death.

John Gwin< no role > desired the Prayers of the People, and owned himself a Roman Catholick.

John Collet< no role > , and Mary Danby< no role > did likewise, but were not so much affected seemingly as Wilson was, being very Ignorant of what concerned their Souls, though the Ordinary took pains with them, to convince them.

Thomas Walters< no role > dyed resolutely, and had nothing to say there, having made Confession, as is before incerted.

Then, they being commended to God's Infinite Mercy, they were all turned off.

ADVERTISEMENT.

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 expeditiously 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 Gargarism 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, with Directions. His Pills only prepared for the French Disease, and the Running of the Reins, may be had in Boxes of several prices, with other Venereal Arcana's, as occasion requires, with Directions.

London, Printed for Langley Curtiss< no role > at Sir Edmondbury Godfrey's Head near Fleet-Bridge , 1691.