Death was no Demonstration of his Innocence, for no doubt but many Guilty Wretches, had taken the same Course in the like Circumstances; and that therefore it behov'd him to Consider, and Confess, before he precluded himself all Hopes of Mercy in the other and better World. This wrought him into Passion and Disdain, and made him ask, whether I would have him confess more than he knew? I reply'd by no means, but it was my Duty doubtless, if I had any value for Souls in his unhappy Condition to lay before them the necessity of Confessing their Guilt, lest their denying it at their Deaths, should oblige the Holy Jesus to deny them at his Judgment. I beseech'd him therefore to Consider, and Confess that and all his other Wickedness; to which he answer'd, he had never done any thing that touch'd his Honour; Your Honour said I, What is the Honour of a sinful Creature? Have you done any thing that has reflected on the Honour of God? That to be sure you have done, and that's what you are to Confess and Bewail; to which I cou'd obtain no other reply than a Discontent, in which he cou'd find no Words, and which indeed shew'd him very uneasie under the Dispensation of a Wife and Holy Providence.

Katherine Truerniet< no role > , so her Name was, having never been Married to Van Bergen, with whom she did Co-habit as his Wife : Being Examin'd about this Murder, for which with the others she was Condemn'd; she protested with all the Solemnity imaginable, that it was not committed in their House, nor did she know of it, till after it was done. Then indeed, she confest, that the Drawer came up Stairs, into the Room where she and Van Bergen lay, and declared in the Presence of them both, he had Murder'd the Gentleman. This she said, engag'd her to run for the Hamper, to put the Bloody clothes in, and to farther the Drawer's Escape. A Confession how far soever from Truth, yet gave me occasion to observe to her in the first place, that Van Bergen and she heard the News at the very same time, and for him, he affirmed, that the Drawer spoke only of the Gentleman's being Wounded, whereas she declared, that he spoke of the Gentleman's being Killed. 2dly That by her own Confession, she was guily of concealing the Murder, knowing the Person who was the Murderer, and at the same time assisting him in his Escape. To which she answered, That for the first her Husband, (as she call'd him) being at that time betwixt sleep and wake, might mistake Wounded for Killed, and for the Second, she did no more than what is customary in Holland. But whether these two Answers were satisfactory, will quickly appear, by considering 1st. That the very Noise of Murder to a Person so nearly concern'd, as Van Bergen was, must needs rouze him quickly out of his Sleep, and make him distinctly hear what was said. And 2dly. That a Topical Custom, if it be one, ought not to stand in competition with the Law of Nature, which obliges every Man to persue him, whom he knows to be a Murderer, and to bring him to condign Punishment. And thus much I remark'd to her, and at the same time charg'd her with the other matters Swore against her at her Tryal. She denied all, but the Business of the Coach and the Hamper; for the one, she said, she did it out of kindness to the Gentleman, for the other, she thought she might give it to the Drawer, it being really none of theirs, but his. I then urged upon her the necessity of Confessing all her other Sins that had justly brought this temporal Judgment upon her. I remark'd the great Wickedness of Co-habiting with a Man without the sacred Tie of Marriage. I took notice of the Intimacy and Familiarities that were said to pass between her and the Drawer, as well as the Master. I laid before her in the last place, a Scheme of those Vices the World charged upon her. For the First she made some scruple about Confession, that being in her Judgment to be made unto God, and not unto Man; but when I had shewn her, that where the Crimes are of a publick Nature, or had given publick Scandal, or where we are challenged with them as our Act and Deed, there we are to confess and deny not; because such a Denial at the Hour of Death, speaks such Persons Guilty of final Impenitence. This made her lament with Tears, her Cohabiting without Marriage, tho' she asserted at the same time, that it was long of her Parents, who would not permit her to Marry him. This made her also not dare to deny absolutely, her Intimat with the Drawer, tho' she fain wou'd have past it over. But for those other Lewdnesses the World generally reports of her; she denied them as she should answer for it at the dreadful Tribunal. I bid her once more to remember, that she was now upon the Brink of Eternity, and that as we cou'd not deny her the means of Salvation, the Blessed Sacrament, upon her desire of it, so she was to take an especial care, that her Confession be true, and her Repentance sincere, that so the receiving of the Sacrament might not prove her Damnation. She seem'd to acquiesce in this, and we must leave the Truth of born to God who judges Righteously.

On Friday the 19th of July , Michael Van Bergen< no role > , Katherine Truerniet< no role > , and Gerhardt Dromelius< no role > , were convey'd to the Place of Execution, where they behav'd themselves with that Meekness and Devotion as became Dying People; Praying unto God, and begging the Prayers of their own Country Ministers, the Ordinary and the rest of the Ministers that were with them. Gerhardt Dromelius< no role > being ask'd about the Barbarous Murder for which he suffer'd, persisted in the same Confession as before, and with that turn'd unto the People, and beg'd of them To take Example by him, and avoid Uncleanness, and all wicked Courses, especially violent. Passion, which had brought him to this untimely end. Katherine Truerniet< no role > and Michael Van Bergen< no role > , were prest severally to Confess the Crime for which they suffer'd Death, but there was no moving them to such an Acknowledgment, tho' they were told it was Swore against them, that he for his part, was seen to come from the Common-shore that very Morning, and that there was some Blood found behind their Door, it was all one, for they wou'd Confess no more, than that they knew of it after it was done. The Woman seem'd to be concern'd for her Reputation after Death; I desir'd her rather to be concern'd for her Soul, for that was the only valuable Consideration, to a Person in her Circumstances. The Man seem'd to be under a Dejection of Spirit, but upon Advice it was the Will of God he should thus suffer for his Wickedness, he took Courage, and gave him the Glory. After suitable Discourses, a Penitential Psalm and Fervent Prayers, their Souls were committed unto God.

R. Wykes, Ordinary.

LONODN. Printed for E. Mallet, at the Hat and Hawk in Bride-lane.