is alike, if the Lord did not renew it, by his Regenerating Spirit.

Also when a Nation abounds in all manner of prodigious Wickedness, propagated by an obstinate Impudency, to the encreasing the common bank of Divine Wrath, then it is high time to pour out Rivers of Penitential Tears, that these may put a stop to the Current of Divine Judgments.

When good Resolutions are formed within us, in any Duty of Religion, step presently into the Pool of Repentance, for thy former not-compliance with the blessed Motions of Gods Spirit.

When you receive the Sentence of Death in your own Apprehension, then mourn as Doves of the Valleys and (as they) prune the Wings of your Souls, by the Rivers of godly Sorrow, that your Affections being purified, you may soar aloft by Spiritual Contemplations to the Celestial Regions of Eternal Blessedness.

And the Lord shall deliver you from Death in a wonderment. Take heed of Cancelling your Vows of Reformation, made in the anguish of your Soul, lest the Lord swear, that such perfidious Relentings for Sinning, shall never arrive at compleat Conversion to him.

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

I. Thomas Reeves< no role > , Condemned for a Robbery: Aged 25 Years, He was born in Ireland of Protestant Parents; his Father bred him up at a Grammar School, afterwards his Employment was in the Excise in Ireland : This he left at the Request of his Sister, a Widow, in England. He came over hither to help manage her Estate. He had been in England only nine Weeks before he committed this Crime, for which he heartily grieves. He declared he marryed his Wife with his Fathers Consent and good Liking; for he was alway obedient to him: That he lived chastly with his Wife, altho he kept company with bad Women before, yet he was not guilty of Fornication with them. Yet God let him fall justly into this Crime, because ho he pray'd often to him to keep him from Sinning, yet he did it with little Devotion, and not with Fervency; therefore it had not prevalency on his Heart to preserve him from some evil Actions. He acknowledged that tho he observed the Church Duties on the Lord's Day, yet afterwards he retired not to perform the Exercises of private Praying, nor read the Holy Scriptures, neither meditated on what he had heard preach'd; but walk'd in St. James's Park , where he met with News Intelligencers: So keeping Company with Idle Persons, he was tempted to be drunk once in their Company; yet he was not addicted to that or any other Vice. He was very attentive to the Prayers and Sermons on the Lord's Day, and on the Fast-Day, and every other Day. He wept much, and was grieved that he had not been of a strict Life and Conversation. I hope that he was a true Penitent

II Thomas Butcher< no role > , Condemned for a Robbery: Aged 21 Years. He was born at North-Allerton in York-shire . He served the King three Years at Sea , but falling Sick and being put on Shore, he could not return to the Sea-Service. He went seldom to Church, but idled away the Sabbath in vain Company, which he said exposed him to much Evil, namely, to frequent Swearing and Drunkenness.

III. Richard Arrowsmith< no role > , Condemned for a Burglary: Aged 25 Years. He was born in Middlesex . His Employment was in making of Bricks . He left this to serve the King as a Land-Souldier . He was disobedient to his Parents, broke the Sabbath, and kept Company with Bad Women. He was drunk sometimes, but much addicted to Swearing.

IV. John Macknoll< no role > , Condemned for Clipping the Current Coin of this Kingdom: Aged 24 Years, was born in Scotland : He sold Goods there and in England . He confest the Crime. He prophaned the Lord's Day, did swear, and sometimes drink to Excess. He kept bad Company, and seldom pray'd to God till he came into Prison. He said that he was sorry for his evil Life, and doth what he can to repent of his Sins.

V. John Jones< no role > , Condemned for picking a Pocket; Aged 21 Years: He was born in London : He was disobedient to his Parents, and said that he thought God did justly for this and that other Crime which brought him under the Sentence of Death. He broke the Sabbath, was sometimes drunk and guilty of Swearing. He seldom pray'd that God would keep him from bad Company; for which, and the other Sins of his Life, he said that he now grieves, and hopes that God will pardon him.

VI. William Ingram< no role > , Condemned for Picking a Pocket: He is aged 19 Years, was born in St. Giles's Parish . He confest that he was Disobedient to his Parents. He prophaned the Sabbath, and kept bad Company. He neglected Praying and was guilty of Drunkenness and Swearing. He shewed some Signs of Sorrow for his Evil Life.

VII. William Morgan< no role > , Condemned for a Robbery: Aged 22 Years, was born in Ireland : He was placed out with a Wine-Cooper in Galloway , but quitted his Service, being not governable; then he listed himself into our present King's Service as a Foot-Souldier : He seldom pray'd to God, but joyn'd himself in Company with very bad Women; which he said, had now brought him to Ruine. He acknowledged that he kept not the Lord's Day, and thinks that being very wanting in performing the Duties of it, this brought him to drink in Excess, and to frequent Swearing: But he hopes that God will have Mercy on him, he being grieved for his Evil Life.

On Friday the 13th of December , John Macknoll< no role > , Richard Arrowsmith< no role > , and Thomas Reeves< no role > were conveyed to Tyburn ; the first on a Sledge, and the other two in a Cart: and being tyed up, they seemed to be penitent. Arrowsmith declared that he had been a very great Sinner upon the Earth, and had committed a great many Robberies for which he deserved to die, but declared that he had never been guilty of any Murder: Then he exhorted the People, and said, Good People, I desire of you all that you would pray for me, I have been a wicked Sinner, and am a young Man, and cut off in the prime of my Years; therefore let nothing tempt you to steal, but labour hard for a Livelyhood, if it be but to get Two Pence a Day, rather than to be a Thief, which is the worst of all Lives, for you see to what untimely End it hath brought me. Lord look down upon me, Oh Christ Jesus, I am a poor Soul, have Mercy on me. Reeves, begged of God that he would forgive him, and said that it was the first Fact that he ever had committed, and was sorry that he had not Grace, that he should dye before his Time: He was in some expectation of a Reprieve, but had been cautioned to prepare himself for another World. Macknoll, desired of God to forgive him all his Sins, and prayed silently to himself; then they joined with Mr. Ordinary in Prayer, and after they had prayed by themselves; the Cart was drawn away, and they were turned off.

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

Sam. Smith< no role > , Ordinary .

Dated Decemb. 13.

ADVERTISEMENTS,

WHere as there formerly have been, and still are, several False Accounts in Print, in Relation to the Condemned Prisoners; and particularly this very Session, which is utterly False: The Ordinary thinks it necessary to acquaint the World (to prevent the like for the Future.) That no true Account can be given of the Condemned Prisoners Behaviour, Confession, and Last Dying Speeches, which is not Attested under his own Hand.

LONDON: Printed for E. Mallet, near Fleet-Bridge, 1695.