An Account of the Behaviour and Confessions of the Condemn'd Criminals that were Executed at Tyburn on Wednesday November the Sixth, 1700.

MR Wykes, the late Ordinary of Newgate Prison, being deceased, I was appointed (during the Vacancy) to attend the Prisoners there, and accordingly on Saturday last, being the second instant, I began to visit them. I then pray'd with them, and exhorted them to Repentance; using to that purpose all the Arguments I could think proper to work them into a just sense of their miserable Estate, &c.

On the Lord's Day I Preach'd to them both in the Fore and Afternoon, and took my Text out of 1 Cor. 15. 24. which was in these Words; Awake to Righteousness, and Sin not. From which I shew'd them, 1st the mischievous Consequences of Sin, 2. The necessity of Repentance, 3. The means of effecting it, and obtaining Pardon of God.

On Monday I attended them again, and continued Exhorting, and Instructing, and Praying with them. And then proceeded to an Exhortation of each of them in particular; adapting at the same time, Admonitions suitable to their respective Cases. Now I thought them to be Penitent, and willing to endeavour after the obtaining that state of Grace, which I had shewed them they must be in, before they were fit to enter into that of everlasting Happiness and Glory. They sighed mightily, and grown'd and shed Tears: But would not confess, but obstinately deny'd their Crimes. They had told me the Day before, namely the last Lord's Day, that Thomas Payne< no role > (one of the Condemned Prisoners, and a Papist ) desired to receive some Instructions from me, that very Afternoon, in the Lodge, and now they repeated that Request again to me, who told them that I was very willing to give him the satisfaction and Instruction he desired; and therefore intended immediately to follow them to the Lodge. But by the good Providence of God, which I humbly acknowledge, and am thankful for, staying behind a little longer than I purposedly design'd, and they expected; when I came down, I found they were all in an uproar in the Lodge, where they offer'd violence to the Officers about them, and took some Persons into the Hold, where they kept them all Night. To repress this Mutiny, and make these Prisoners governable, the Officers were forc'd to fire several times upon them. And then it was that one of the Criminals, Michael Brown< no role > by Name, was killed with a Bullet.

On the Tuesday I went to speak to them in the Morning, but could not perswade them into a sober sense. In the Afternoon they were now willing to come and meet me in the Chappel; but it was not thought safe they should then be remov'd out of the Hold, least they should again grow Rebellous and troublesom.

On this Day I went to them betimes in the Morning, and had them in the Chappel, I made a short Exhortation to them, and then prayed for them suitably to their Conditions. I was forc'd to be very succint for fear of fresh Disturbance. They were carried down again, and being a little while after put into several Carts, and conducted to Tyburn , I met them at that place of Execution to assist them with my last Admonitions and Prayers: when they were seeing themselves upon the brink of Death, they made more open Confessions than before; which are as followeth,

I. John Slaughter< no role > , Condemn'd for Robbing on the High-way. He was Born in Ireland , and Apprentice to a Smith there. He went from his Master, and listed himself a Soldier . He confest he had been a most notorious Offender; That he was much given to Wine and Women; That about a Twelve-month since he killed a Serjeant of the King's Guard on Tower-hill ; That he had committed many and grievous Crimes; and now was heartily sorry for them, and particularly for that he stood condemn'd for; begging God's Pardon from his Heart, and desiring the Pardon of all he had injur'd. Now he seem'd to struggle mightily against his corrupt Nature, and to be truly Penitent. He earnestly cry'd to God for Mercy in Jesus Christ.

II. William Spell< no role > , A Waterman , Condemn'd for Felony and Burglary, own'd his having been a great Sinner, and justly brought to this condign Punishment. He at last particularly confess'd himself guilty of the Fact for which he was Condemn'd; and prayed that God for Christ's sake would forgive him all his Sins.

III. Robert Patrickson< no role > , Condemn'd for Felony and Burglary. He confest he was guilty of this and several other Crimes; for which he earnestly askt Pardon of God, and those Persons he had wrong'd.

IV. Thomas Turner< no role > , Condemn'd for Robbing on the High-ways, acknowledged that he had committed many sins, of which he heartily repented, and particularly of that he was to die for. He implored God's boundless Mercy thro' the infinite Merits of Christ.

V. Thomas Field< no role > , being also Condemn'd for Robbing on the High ways, bewail'd his lamentable Condition. He confest he was guilty of many Miscarriages, and acknowledged the Ju