On the Monday my self and another Minister visited him twice in his Chamber, declaring the Greatness of the Crime of Robbing on the High-way: That no Man can attempt, much less persist in it, without great Violence first offered to his Conscience. Telling him, that this Sin was an Injury to Humane Society, and the Obstruction of all Trading. That it put Persons in terrour of losing their Lives, and might, in their own just Defence, expose themselves to be murther'd.

Upon which, he again solemnly protested, that he always declind any cruel Dealing toward those whom he robb'd.

Being ask'd whether Poverty necessitated him thereunto? He answer'd, No: For as he never had Plenty before, so he was not distress'd with Want. But it proceeded from a covetous Desire to get Mony for his wanton Excesses. He desired to be faithfully dealt with, in reference to his Eternal State, because his Heart was deceitful, though he express'd abundance of Tears; acknowledging that these could not merit God's Pardon, nor cleanse away the Defilement of his Heart. He confess'd that God was just in thus discovering and bring him to deserved Punishment. He wish'd that his Death might be a Warning to Others, to withdraw from Evil Society; and that they might betake themselves to some lawful Employment, that they may not ensnare themselves in the like Condemnation. Upon my whole Observation of his humble Submissiveness to God's righteous Dealing, I do hope that he was a true Penitent, and a great Example to all other Criminals, not to remain obstinate in their sinful State, to the Abuse of that Respite of Time, afforded for their Conversion.

II. Nathanael Grosse< no role > , Condemned for Robbing on the Highway. He was Aged 35 Years, or thereabout: Born in Oxfordshire . He said, That he was a Labourer in the Country; but coming to London , fell into Acquaintance of bad Company. He was at last prevailed with to confess, that he had been dissolute in his Practices, and had not regarded to serve God as he ought: But now he saith, that he repents of all his Sins, and hopes that God will pardon them. Being ask'd what Saving Faith and Repentance are? He gave a very slender Account. Therefore I instructed him in the true Nature, Properties and Effects of those Graces. He said, that he never kill'd any Man upon the Rad, or in any other place. Yet I told him, That Violence in depriving Persons of their Mony is a very great Crime, especially if Robbers are inur'd to it, and harden'd in it by Custom, being in hopes to escape publick Justice, which sometimes overtakes and apprehends them in their deepest Security. He was urg'd to discover his Associates, not yet taken; but refus'd it. Whereupon I told him, that his Repentance was much to be suspected. He replied, That he had made his Peace with God, and would not answer any more Questions.

III. James Phillips< no role > , Condemned for Robbing on the HighWay: Aged 25 Years, or thereabout: Born in the City of London . He would not acknowledge what Employment he had been bred up unto. He sent for me to visit him in Newgate , before he took his Trial; pretending that he had some Trouble upon his Mind. I went to him; but finding him drinking in Company, he shifted me off, and would not admit of Instruction or Prayer. Whereupon I left him; telling him, that he ought to prepare more seriously for the Sentence of Death. After which, I took him apart, and endeavour'd to make him sensible of his evil Practices: But he was peevish, and would not, for the space of two Days, give any Account of his Life. On the Lord's Day he came to the Chapel, and there express'd little Signs of Sorrow for his Sins. On the Monday he express'd some Remorse of Conscience, yet would not instance any one particular Sin of his Life; saying, God only knew his Heart, and that he needed not to make any Acknowledgment of any publick Miscarriages; secret Repentance would obtain their Pardon. But I told him, that his Repentance ought to be as exemplary, as his Scandals to the Christian Religion had been notorious. I hope he will not persist at his dying Hour, in any obstinate Behaviour.

IV, V, VI. The other three High-way-Men, Condemned, viz. John Fetherstone< no role > , Edward Poor< no role > , and Nicholas Nealand< no role > , would not give any Account of their evil Course of Life, having declared that they were Roman Catholicks : And though Edward Poor< no role > and Nicholas Nealand< no role > came to the Chapel, yet they express'd little Sorrow for their Sins, as being not awakned from their then Security by any Dread of their approaching Death.

VII. William Turner< no role > , Condemned for Coyning false Mony. He was born in Staffordshire . He would not give any Account of his former Course of Life, being sullen. Bnt on Monday he said, that his Heart was much affected with the Preaching and Prayers on the Lord's Day, and that he now desired to be directed how to make his Peace with God. Whereupon, being told, that, in order thereunto, he must ingenuously acknowledge his evil Course of Life. He replied, That by Trade he was a Lock-Smith . Being ask'd if that did not prompt him to be more dexterous at Coyning, in making Instruments for the Promoting of that wicked Artifice? He said, No: It was only the following the Advice of others, who had used that Crime to gain Mony for their Riotous Expences: And that he had not long engaged himself in such a Crime, against the Law. He shew'd some Signs of Remorse, and submitted at last to good Advice for his Soul's future Happiness.

VIII. Ann Merryweather< no role > , Condemned for High Treason, in Composing, Printing and Publishing the Late King James's Declaration. I cannot give any Account of her, because she was not brought to the Chapel: I suppose, being unwilling to appear, left I should enquire into her Conversation; as I did into others.

IX, X. Ambrose Holland< no role > and Elkana Smewin< no role > , who were Convicted last Session for Robbery on the High-way, at South-Mims , were called to their former Judgment, and order'd to be Executed with the other Criminals. I can give little Account of their Penitency; they continued as unconcerned as they were when under Condemnation the last Session. I must leave them to God's All-discerning Scrutiny; hoping that, before they suffer a publick Death, they will be more wrought upon to bewail their sad Lives, and take an Ingenuous Shame to themselves for all their Provocations of the Most High.

On the 27th of January, 1692 . these Eight Persons, viz. Whitney, Phillips, Grosse, Nealand, Featherston, Poor, Holland and Smewin were carried in Carts to Tyburn , to be Executed for High-way-Robbing. But a little Space off the Gallows, a Reprieve was brought for Whitney; at which he seem'd to be much surpriz'd with such welcome News: He was immediately carried back, behind an Officer, on Horse-back. to Newgate .

Turner was drawn in a Sledge, for Coining false Mony. He was an ignorant Person, but lamented his untimely End.

Ambrose Holland< no role > was chief the Person who warn'd the People: Thus: My Name is Holland: Good People, take warning by me; I pray you take warning; I thought my self once as brave a Man as any; but God hath been too hard for me. I have been a very great Sinner, sinning against much Knowledge; which makes me now wavering, as to my Hope of Future Happiness. He cried out often, What shall I do to be saved? I have a treacherous and deceitful Heart, which makes me question the Sincerity of my Conversion. Oh! May not the several Curses and Imprecations which I have often wish'd on my self, now light on my Head. He desir'd all People to fear and serve God, that they might not fall into the same Condemnation.

Poor dyed a declared Papist , and was very little concerned about his Future State.

Nealand also, and Fetherston dyed Romanists , yet seemed to disclaim all Trust in the Merits or Prayers of any Saints.

Smewin, joined in the Robbery with Holland, was penitent.

Phillips, at last was affected with his bad Course of Life, and wept; confessing, That his former Security was occasioned through false Hopes given him by his Friends, of Sparing Mercy.

Grosse was attentive to Instruction, and the several Prayers made for the Persons to be Executed.

After which, the Ordinary sung a Penetential Psalm, and prayed several times; recommending them to the Mercies of God, and Merits of their Saviour. The Ordinary told them, That they would hazard thuir Salvation, if they did not discover any Murthers which were conceal'd, or Robberies design'd. To which they answer'd, That they knew not of any. Se after short Prayers for themselves, and their Desires of the Spectators to take warning by them, they were Executed.

Ann Merryweather< no role > is Repriev'd by the Clemency of Their Sacred Majesties.

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

Samuel Smith< no role > , Ordinary .

Dated this 27th of January, 1692 .

ADVERTISEMENT.

WHereas a Picture was lost on Saturday last, being the Representation of Flushing , one of the Provinces, or a Town in Holland , with the Sea encompassing it; a Packet-Boat under Sail, and a large Ship under Sail; and a little above the Ship it was torn about eight Inches, and but coursely sewed up: At the Bottom, near the Frame, there is a yellow Streak, whereon was inscrib'd Ulisingen. It had a gilt Frame, and fit for a large Chimney-Piece. Whoever gives notice of it to Edward Paige< no role > , Surgeon , in Goat-Court , upon Ludgate-Hill , shall be rewarded; and if bought, their Money return'd, and gratified for their Trouble.

LONDON, Printed for L. Cutis, at Sir Edmundbury-Godfrey's-Head, near Fleet-Bridge, 1693.