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

I. John Reeve< no role > , Condemned for being Accessory, before and after, to a Burglary Committed by Elizabeth Barrenclough< no role > . He was an Iron-monger in Felsted in Essex , but was forced by some Debts to desert his House; yet afterwards traded in the Country. He Confest that he had been of an evil Life, and was sometimes drunk, and did Swear in that time; that he went not to the publick Assemblies of God's Worship, for want of decent Cloths, and to decline being Arrested for Debt; and that before, he neglected to pray that God would preserve him from indulging his most beloved Sin; that he kept lewd Women Company: And thus God suffered him to be guilty of many Extravagances, because he lest off to Cohabit with his own Wife.

II. John Norcot< no role > , Condemned for being Accessary to the forementioned Burglary. He lived in Westminster , and was a Water-man , and rowed a Boat on the Thames thirty Years. He said, That he kept not the Sabbath, and omitted the recieving the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper, which would have obliged him to have declined the Commission of many Sins; such as Drunkenness, Swearing and Undutifulness to his Mother.

III. Richard Downs< no role > , Condemned for Murdering William Houseman< no role > . Aged thirty Years. He was born in Shropshire , and was employed in Husbandry ; but this being unsuitable to his Mind, he listed himself to be a Soldier . He confest the Murther, but said, That he was very much drunk when he did it. I told him. That this was no extenuation, but an aggravation of his Crime, as leading him to it. He said, That he prophaned the Lord's-Day, was guilty of Swearing and had been disobedient to his Mother.

IV. William Wilson< no role > , Condemned for Coining false Money. He said, That he had been well Educated; but he Repents that he did not follow his Parents good Counsel and Example. That he was often drunk, and kept lewd Women Company, and that he knew two or three Women by committing unclean Acts on them.

V. Edward Weeks< no role > , Condemned for Robbing on the High-way. He said, That his Father had been too indulgent of him, and that he abused his Kindness in betaking himself to evil Courses; that he did not observe the duties of the Christian-Sabbath; that he was Guilty of Swearing, and frequenting the Company of bad Women, which had brought him to this untimely Death. He confest that being used to an ill Life, he robbed on the High-way; but denied that he at any time Wounded any Man.

VI. William Hollyday< no role > , Condemned for Robbing on the High-way. He confest it, and said, That he had used it formerly; That he prophaned the Sabbath, and that he was Guilty of all sins, only Murther excepted.

VII. John Hill< no role > , Condemned for Coining false Money. Aged twenty seven Years. He was born in Coventry , and was an Iron-monger in Bromingham four Years. He confest that he broke the Sabbath, was guilty of Swearing and Drunkenness; and was undutiful to his Parents.

VIII. Charles Harding< no role > , Condemned for Picking the Pocket of Richard Hucer. Aged nineteen Years. He was born in Liecestershire . He confest, that joining himself to evil Company, he had committed many heinous Sins against God.

IX. Thomas Smith< no role > , Condemned for robbing on the High-way. He said, That he had been guilty of all Sins, only Murther excepted.

X. James Frimly< no role > , Condemned for Robbery. Aged twenty seven Years. He was bound Apprentice to a Cooper in Worcestershire . He confest that he spent the Sabbath very ill; that he had robbed on the High-way, and been very lewd with Women, and had been guilty of all Sins; but not of Murther.

XI. John Shorter< no role > , Condemned for robbery. Aged seventeen Years. He was born in West-Chester , and was pren to a Butcher : he dying, Shorter went to Sea , but continued not in that employment, so he grew idle and fell into this robbery, being also guilty of Sabbath-breaking, Swearing and Drunkenness.

XII. Elizabeth Barnclouf< no role > , Condemned for Burglary. Mary Seager< no role > , and Mary Potter< no role > , Condemned for Burglary and Robbery, pleaded that they were quick with Children, and the Jury of Women giving in their Verdict that it was so, they thereupon are Respited, till they are delivered from their Child bed condition; but they are so secure, that they came to the Chappel only on the Lord's-day, and made no confession of their evil Lives.

On Wednesday the 22d of December, 1697 . William Wilson< no role > , John Hill< no role > , Richard Downs< no role > , William Hollyday< no role > , James Freemly< no role > , John Reeves< no role > , Thomas Smith< no role > , and John Shorter< no role > , were convey'd to Tyburn , The two first on a Sledge, and the rest in three Carts. The Persons being brought to the Tree, were ty'd up. William Wilson< no role > owned his Crime, and said, He had been a great Sinner, did not regard the Sabbath, and was intemperate; and desired all Christian People to pray for him. John Hill< no role > owned his Crime; seemed very Penitent, and desired all good People to take warning by his untimely Death. Richard Downs< no role > did not deny the Crime for which he was to die; and said, he was in drink, to which he was much addicted; was guilty of breaking the Sabbath Day, and of too frequent Cursing and Swearing; seemed very Penitent. William Hollyday< no role > owned the Crime for which he was to die; and said, That he and one Baillam now in Newgate, and another person, were all three together at a Robbery lately, when they killed a Carrier; he said, he had been a great Sinner, and did not regard the Sabbath: He desired the Prayers of all Christian People; and seemed very Penitent. James Freemly< no role > owned his Crime, and said, he had been a great Sinner, but hoped God would pardon him: He seemed very Penitent. John Reeves< no role > did not deny his Crime, and said, he had kept bad Company, was guilty of Adultery, Sabbath breaking, Cursing and Swearing. He desired all good People to pray for him; not to be prevailed upon by ill Company, and to take warning hy his untimely Death. He seemed extraordinary Penitent. Thomas Smith< no role > owned his Crime; said, he had been a great Sinner; had neglected to go to Church, was much addicted to Intemperance, Cursing and Swearing; and desired all good People to pray for him, and to take warning by his untimely Death. John Shorter< no role > owned his Crime; said, that he knew of the Murther of one Lorimer in Newgate, about two years and a half ago, but was prevailed upon by one Tokefield and Jo. Hart< no role > not to discover it, and said, that the latter carried the bloody Knife three Days together in his Pocket. He said, that on Tuesday last he verily believed he saw Lorimers Ghost as he was at Prayers in the Chappel at Newgate , which put him into a great Consternation; which being observ'd by the Minister who assisted him, and asking him the reason of his trouble, occasioned this Confession. The Ordinary and another Minister Pray'd with them for some considerable time, and sung a Penitental Psalm; and afterwards they were turn'd off.

This is all the Account that I can give of this Sessions, tho' my self and my eldest Son visited the Condemned Criminals every Day,

Sam. Smith< no role > , Ordinary .

Dated Decem. 22 .

ADVERTISEMENT.

Physick truly Practiced.

BY Dr. Kirleus, Sworn Physician in ordinary to K. Charles the II. many Years, until his Death, but first a Collegiate Physician of London: Who, with a Drink and Pill, hindring no business, undertakes to Cure all Ulcers, Sores, Scabs, Itch, Scurff, Leporsies, and Ueneral Diseases at all times of the Year, in all Bodies, expecting nothing if he Cures not; of rhe lest he hath Cured many hundreds in this City, many of 'em after Fluxing, which raiseth the Evil from the lower Parts, and fixing it in the Head, and so destroys many. The Drink is 3s, the Quart, the Pills 1s. a Box, with Directions; a better Purger than which was never given, for they cleanse the Body of all Impurities, which are the cause of Dropsies, Gouts, Scurvies, Stone or Gravel, pains in the Head and other Parts. Take heed whom you trust in Physick, for it's be come a Common Cheat to profess it. He gives his Opinion to all that Write or come for Nothing; and if they truly write their Distemper and Age, he fits hem with a Medicine as well as if present. He lives in Grays-InnLane in Plough-Yard. at the Glass Lanthorn.

LONDON, Printed for E. Mallet, in Nevil's-Court in Fetter-lane, 1697.