I proceed to give an Account of the Behaviour and Confessions of the Condemned Criminals, which I took in Writing according to their own Expressions.

1. FErdinando Croutson< no role > , condemn'd for false Coining the Currant Money of this Nation; he deny'd not the Crime: What he acknowledged besides, I shall set down in his own Expressions. He is aged thirty years, was born in Cumberland , his Parents died when he was seven years of age, his Uncles took care somewhat of his Education, putting him to School, but afterwards spent that Estate his Father left him, but yet God took care of him and preserved him by his Providence. He went to Sea , to get a Livelihood, but was like to be cast away twice; he then made Vows to God That he would live more strictly, and did often reprove such in his Company who swore or did any thing amiss: He said that while the Mercy of God's wonderful Deliverance was fresh in his mind, he kept his Heart close and fixt upon the Lord; but that sense of his Goodness did wear off and abate, which since he is sorry for. He said, that he did not lead a vicious life, and that now God chastizes him for to wean him from the remissness of his Heart; for tho' he kept the Church constantly, yet it was not with that diligent attendance to the Word of God Preacht, nor with that delight in it which ought to have been. He said, that when he came lately from Sea, he lodg'd in the House of one John Pissal< no role > , and he tempted him to ths bad Crime, and accused him, tho he drew him into it. And that he prays God to forgive him, and all his Enemies.

He confess'd, that since his Commitment for his Crime he began to consider, what the sins of his Life past were, for which he did truly repent, and therefore that the Lord being displeased with him suffer'd him to fall into this Crime. He bless'd God, that by his Holy Spirit, he found good Thoughts in his Heart, and perform'd many Religious Services to God; yet that these are so defective, and mixt with wandering Thoughts, that they are the Burden and Grief of his Soul: Yet he despar'd not of God's Mercy, because he hath promised to forgive the sins of such who truly repent, and that he will not remember them to their Eternal Condemnation, tho' he useth them severely in this Life: Hereupon, he consider'd what true Repentance is, and said that he found, that his sorrowing for his sins was chiefly for offending the Lord, and not meerly out of horror of Conscience and the fear of his Torments: And that he now more loaths sin, than at any time he delighted in it. He said, that true Repentance is a hearty turning to the Lord, in the universal change of the Heart, as well as by the Convictions of the evil Nature of Sin in the Mind: And that if his Heart deceive him not, he now is as studiously desirous to serve the Lord, as he had formerly been forward in disobeying him: And that although he cannot so fully clear up the truth of his Repentance, because he hath a short time to live, and bring forth fruits of Holiness, yet that the Lord will accept of his Repentance, if it be from his Heart.

He said, that this much troubles him, that in the best of his Devotions, his Thoughts wander and are not so fixt on the Lord. He also said, That if his Life might be spared, he hopes that he should never forget so great a Mercy, but would endeavour, to the utmost, to improve it in an honest Employment; yea, in a strict course of Conversation in the World: Yet says, That he is not over-fond of longer living, because that he is prone to back-sliding; for he is very sensible, that he hath formerly quenched the motions of God's Holy Spirit.

I ask'd him, what True Saving Faith is? He reply'd, That it is not a meer reliance on God's Mercy and Christ's Merits, but the sincere Resignation of the Heart, in obedience to Christ's Sacred Laws. I hope that he is truly Penitent.

The second Criminal condemn'd, is John Lee< no role > , a Soldier , for the Murdering of his Fellow: He is aged eight and twenty years, born in Cheshire . He was a Farmer's Son, and went from his Father, being undutiful, into the Army , and hath been fifteen years in that Service. He confess'd, That he seldom thought on God, until he was ready to engage with the Enemy in Battle. He neglected to pray at other times and was addicted to swearing, and that he frequented the Company of Women; and that the death of his Fellow Soldier much troubled him because on a sudden he killed him, as quarreling about paying of a Reckoning, so that his Fellow might not be in a fit condition to die. He said, that he strives to repent of all his sins, yet that God can only work it in him, and that he relies on God to give it him.

The third, Mary Potter< no role > , Mary Segar< no role > , and Joan Brown< no role > , all three Condemned some Sessions ago for Burglary, were brought to their former Judgment.

On Wednesday the 3d, of August , John Lee< no role > , Ferdinando Croutson< no role > , Mary Potter< no role > , Mary Seager< no role > , and Joan Brown< no role > were carry'd from Newgate to Tyburn . The first being in a Cart by himself, the second in a Sledge, and the three Women in another Cart; and being come to the Place of Execution, where they were assisted by two Eminent Divines, who at their first Application to the Criminals, desired of them, if they were willing to give warning to the Spectators to avoid the Crimes for which they were to die, who unanimously declar'd they were: But for some Reasons, put it upon one of the Ministers to do it for them, which being faithfully discharged, they all kneeled down upon the Cart, and the four former joyned with the Ministers in Prayer for a considerable time; after which, at the desire of the Prisoners, some part of the 4th Psalm was sung. John Lee< no role > owned the Crime for which he was to die, and said that his being in Drink was the occasion of it: That he had been with the deceased in the West Indies , and in his Majesty's Service at home, and in Flanders ; and that they never quarreled, nor had be any premeditated Malice against him; but in a sudden Passion gave him the Wound without any sufficient ground of Provocation: He said he was never inclinable to any indirect Methods, more than what his Station led him to when in Flanders; was heartily sorry for the Fact, and for his Sins, and seemed very Penitent. Ferdinando Croutson< no role > confess'd he had followed the Trade of Counterfeiting the Coin for some Years, and did not seem to deny his being concerned likewise in Counterfeiting the Stamps on Paper; upon which account he owned he had been in Chester Goal , but made his escape: He said he had been a great Sinner, but hoped for forgiveness; seem'd also very Penitent. Mary Potter< no role > and Mary Seager< no role > , own'd that they were guilty of the Crime for which they were to di and said that one Benn was with them in the Performance: That they had been guilty of so many Crimes of that nature that they could not remember one half of them; and said that the keeping of bad Company had hardened them in their Practice: That they had been very much guilty of the Sins of Profanity and Debauchery; died seemingly very Penitent. Joan Brown< no role > owned the Crimes for which she was to die, but seem'd to lessenit: She declared she died a Roman Catholick. All the Prisoners begged the Prayers of the Spectators, died in forgiveness with all Men. And having desired the Divines to sing some part of the 51th Psalm, which was done accordingly; the Cart drew away.

Leonard Leonards< no role > , who was to have been Executed with the other Criminals for Robbing on the High-Way, is Repriev'd for Seven Days.

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

Dated Aug. 3 .

Sam. Smith< no role > , Ordinary .

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Vertues and Uses of that Excellent Gargarism, or Mouth-Water for the Teeth and Gums, truly prepared by W. Elmy, at the Blew-ball in Whale-bone Court, at the lower end of Bartholomew-lane, by the Royal Exchange.

IT cures the Scurvy in the Mouth, and makes a good Pallate, and sweetneth the Breath, by dipping a Liquosh Stick sharpned at the end in this said Water, and rub your Gums there with as oft as need shall require: It whitens black and yellow Teeth, by rubbing your Teeth and Gums with a Tooth-brush dipp'd in this Water it fastens loose Teeth, and prevents their decaying, by holding half a Spoonful or more on that side of the Mouth which is afflicted, by causing the Rheum which falls upon the Nerves that lie under the Roots of the Teeth, to come away to Admiration. It is good for young Children in breeding their Teeth, and fit to be taken inwardly for Fevers: In short it is good for all Diseases incident to the Teem or Gums.

The Glasses are of several Prices.

LONDON, Printed for E. Mallet next the King's Arms Tavern near Fleet-Bridg, 1698.