A True ACCOUNT of the BEHAVIOUR, CONFESSION, AND Last Dying SPEECHES, Of the Criminals that were Executed at TYBURN, On Wednesday the 28th of February, 1694 .

ON Fryday, the 23d of February, 1694 . at the Old Baily, Eighteen Criminals, received the Sentence of Death, Sixteen Men, and a Woman, with a young Girl; both for Clipping the Current Coin of this Nation. Whereof Seven Men were in the Dead Warrant, to be executed at Tyburn, on Wednesday the last of this Month .

The Ordinary visited the Condemned every day, till their Execution. On the Lords day he read Prayers, and preacht twice on this Text, viz. the 24th verse of the 15th chapter of Solomons Proverbs, The way of Life is above to the wise, that he may depart from Hell beneath. For the explication of which words he shewed several particulars.

First, Who are counted the Godly wise, and wherein divine wisdome exercises itself.

Secondly, That the truly wise decline such sins, which directly and naturally tend to Hell beneath, or the Grave, by an untimely ignominious death of the Body. Here was shewed, what such sins are, and how godly wisdome is a preservation, or effectual Remedy against them.

Thirdly, What are the several ways of desperate confirmed wickedness, which lead to Hell in eternal Torments.

Fourthly, Wherein Godly wisdom promotes the Spiritual life of the Soul, which is infused from above, and tends to the inheriting Celestial Glory.

The First Head.

Who are counted the truly wise, and wherein do they manifest themselves to be such.

1. Those who imbrace the Lord Jesus Christ by Faith, who practice universal, constant, sincere and chearful obedience to his Sacred Laws. Such only are wise to eternal Salvation: All other knowledge of the deepest Secrets in Nature vanish most-what into Pride, Ostentation, and endless Strife. The two great ends of saving knowledge, are to communicate it to others, and to obey the light, which we possess within our selves.

2. Such know how to manage every state and condition of this present life, so as to abound without pride, and to want without complaint.

3. They strive to secure the great Interests of the other world, by valuing persons and things; not according to fleshly appearances, but as they will hold out, in the Estimation and Advantage, when the Frame of Heaven and Earth shall be dissolv'd.

4. They foresee an impending Storm of Divine Judgment, so as to hide themselves in Time, under the Wing of Gods Protection. They chuse proper, suitable and effectual means, to attain a blessed Immortality.

5. They set a Watch over their Hearts, as studying to approve themselves rather to God, than their Conversation to Men. Thus they arrive to the reward of Eternal Life in Celestial Glory.

But the present and future state of the Ungodly, is far different. The highest Advantage which they shall reap from such a vile thing as Sin, shall determine and center, in grasping nothing but Shame, Reproach, and Eternal Death. Sinful Folly is worse than Natural in Idiots. These may for the defect in their understanding expect some mittigation of their crime and punishment: But to fell a mans felt to Satan and his Lust, is to sink himself into a state worse than Brutal. Thus an hardned customariness in sinning, naturally tends to Hell, as the center of a consummated state in wickedness. Yea, were such admitted into Heaven, yet they would count this place of Blessedness an Hell of restless torments, because of a total unsuitableness to Gods holy nature, who cannot indure to behold the least spot of Iniquity. Therefore, sinners not purified by the merit of Christs bloodshed, and the renewing virtue of his Spirit, shall never be admitted into the regions of celestial light, in a glorious enjoyment of God to all Eternity.

The Conclusion was thus directed to the Condemned.

How devoid of common understanding are such, whose steps take hold of Hell, by a wilful course in sinning, as if they could not sufficiently insure, the intailment of Damnation upon themselves. Let me argue the Case with such spiritual Phrenticks. Why do ye conceit your selves wise in despising the sacred Oracles of the most high? Are not these the infallible Rule of Humane Conversation? Are they not that Standard of Righteousness, which shall convince all impenitent Sinners, how justly their Souls shall be condemned to Eternal Torments? Is not this the heighth of Folly and Madness, to despise that Divine Wisdom, which, as the Tree of Life, offers to stretch out her self for Eternal Safety, to such who shall take hold of her, to sit down under the Shadow of her Protection? Were men truly wise they would not dare to scoff at the Venerable Mysteries of Religion, nor the Commendable Pursuit of a Virtuous Life and Conversation. Yet strange it is, that Sinners will not be convinced of their Self cruelty, in ruining their precious Souls for Trifles, and the momentary Sceens of destructive Pleasures in the Paths of Vanity and Prophaneness. Consider that the way of Life, the Safety and comfortable Injoyment of it, is only, in lifting up the Soul to God, by a delightful Coutemplation of his infinite Perfections, and in a divine Conformity thereunto. This will secure us against those Trains of Temptation, which are laid by Satan and the Lusts of our own heart, to betray us to Hell in the Regions of Eternal Darkness. Therefore trust not your own hearts, which are deceitful above the subtilty of the old Serpent. Take heed of dreaming that you are the Heirs of Heavenly Felicity, and yet may remain Satans Bondslaves: Oh how sad is this to drown in the sight of a Rainbow; to perish in the Deluge of Gods Wrath, by admiring the specious deceitful vanishing Shadows of a defective Righteousness. Implore the Lord therefore, to send forth the light of his sanctifying Truth, to beget and preserve spiritual Wisdom in your Hearts: So shall you be exalted to safety, in being set above the slavish Fear of Death. Permit Divine Wisdom to guide your Feet into Paths of Piety in this World, and it will not fail to admit you into the Felicities of Celestial Blessedness to Eternity.

After the Lords day I visited the Condemned, and inquired what Impressions the Prayers and Sermons made upon their Hearts. They generally reply'd, that they were made sensible of their evil Lives, and hoped that they repented. Hereupon, I advised them not to mistake a slight sorrow for Sin, as if this could make satisfaction to God for the Excesses of a vicious Life. And because I have observed many dolorous complaints of Criminals against themselves to vanish away, upon slender Hopes of a Reprieve, I exhorted them to beg of God, that he would carry on their Convictions to a thorow Conversion. At another time I stated the Nature and Effects of true saving Faith and Repentance, from that which is false.

Afterward I required an account from them, in what preparation they were for Death and a Blessed Eternity.

I proceed to give you an Account of the Behaviour and Confessions of the Condemned Criminals.

I. William Gillet< no role > , Condemned for stealing Hats; born in St. Georges Parish , in Southwark . He served under Glass-makers , but had been addicted to a vicious Life: For he plaid on the Sabbath in the Streets; and was guilty of Swearing and Lying, was very ignorant in matters of Religion, and little sensible of his Sins.

II. William Breed< no role > , alias Buckingham< no role > , Condemned for Felony, aged 15 or 16 Years. He was born in St. Giles in the Fields : He cried Mats about the Streets ; afterwards joined with bad Company. He said, that he sadly brake the Sabbaths, and