y Resurrection, I continually set before them. And this I did still more pressingly, as Death drew nearer to them. When the DEAD-WARRANT was brought in, which appointed John Estrick< no role > This name instance is in set 2843. only for Execution, he then quickned his Endeavours of Preparation for his approaching Change, and made his Confession to me, as followeth.

John Estrick< no role > This name instance is in set 2843. , alias Howard< no role > , alias Thomas Walker< no role > , alias Bennet< no role > , alias Morris< no role > , Condemned for Felony and Burglary, for breaking the House of Dr. Bourne in Moorfields . He said, he was about 26 Years of Age, born in London ; and had for some time been employ'd in the Trade of Leather-Dresser , at his Father's House, when he liv'd in Horsleydown in Southwark ; there he began, very young, to addict himself to Whoring and Pilfering, and did rob his own Father; and about 5 Years since, going to live at Hackney , in the Service of Thomas Glover< no role > , Esq ; he did (by the instigation of a certain Person, who disposed of it to another, both whose Names I shall spare here, in hopes they may now be better Men, than they then were) steal from him at several times, Plate to the value of 80 l. and falsely charged Susan Barnwel< no role > , then a Servant-Maid of his Master's, with it: And he carry'd himself so cunningly, that he was not so much as mistrusted of any thing by his Master; with whom, he said, he believed he might, if he would, have lived to this Day: But he had a mind to leave him, and so he did, and went to set-up a Glover's-shop near Cock-Ally , in the Parish of St. Giles Cripplegate , right over against that Church; having before his setting up, marry'd a most vertuous Woman, who knew nothing of his former Life. He had not been long set up, when the Party who had prompted him to wrong Mr. Glover, came to him with another (who shall also be nameless here, because I desire Men's Reformation rather than their Shame) who told him that they would turn Evidences against him in that Robbery, if he did not give them a Sum of Money. Upon which he gave them his Bond to pay them, within one Month, the Sum of 15 l. a piece, which he did, after he had been arrested by one of them for it. Then he could no longer keep his Shop, but broke; and being arrested, he was carried to the Rose, a Spunging-house , in Wood-street ; from whence he removed himself to the Fleet-Prison : But some time after that, he came out, upon his paying 7 Guineas to the Warden, with some other Fees, amounting in all to about 12 l. but paid not a Farthing to his Creditors. Being at liberty, he went to his old Neighbour, Mr. King, a Clock-maker in Cock-Ally, and took a Room at his House: In which finding a Box, left by a Woman, who had formerly lodged in that Room, he made shift to open it with a Key that he had, and took out of it 90 Guin. 25 l. in Silver, several golden Rings, and a Gold-Chain. After he had continued about a Fortnight a Lodger in Mr. King's, who did not suspect him, he went away with what he had got, and took a House in Long-Ally , near Moorfields ; which he furnished, and there intended to have carried on his Trade of Glover , not in an open Shop, as before, but within doors. But he was not long there, but a certain Lodger of Mr. King's, who knew how poor he was when he came out of the Fleet, told him, that he greatly suspected him of having done some ill thing or other, and he should soon find it out, and would discover it, if he did not give him something to engage him to hold his Peace. Upon this, he sold his Goods, in haste and with loss, left his House, and went into Holland ; and soon after returning hither, he fell again upon his old Practices of Whoring and Thieving; being thereto, that is, to the latter of these, (as he averr'd) very much incited by John Prossor< no role > , his Bro-in-Law, saying, that tho' this Bro-in-Law of his generally took care not to commit the thing himself, yet he had put him upon robbing several Houses, as namely, that of the Reverend Mr. Richardson, near London-wall ; out of which he took (by Night) several Goods. And not long after that, viz. about 15 Months since, his Bro-in-Law and himself went to Richmond , where he broke and robb'd some Houses; and particularly, Sir John Buckworth< no role > 's: And here he cleared the Beadle of that Parish, who (as he heard) was suspected of those Robberies telling me, that his Bro-in-Law and himself, were the only Persons concerned in them. Then coming to Town again, he robb'd the Reverend Dr. Thompson's House, near Tyburn-Road: And some time after this, being (by the contrivance of his said Brother-in-Law) recommended for a Servant to Dr. Bourne, he was no sooner with him, but he robb'd him of several things, he thinks, to the value of 150 l. and of that, had about 40 l. to his Share, which he presently spent. After this, he robb'd Mr. Hurn. And last of all, (to name no more) he stole all the Cloaths and Wearing Apparel of One Mrs. Stevenson, and left her almost quite naked. Thus he freely confess'd his manifold Crimes, and express'd a very great grief for them; saying, that it repented him that he had been such an ill Liver; and was afraid God would never forgive him; being some times in despair of Salvation: But at last he declar'd, that he now felt in his heart a perfect hatred against Sin; and the assurance of Eternal Life, through the Merits of Jesus Christ. Finding him in this State of Penitence; of which, this his free Confession was a great Sign; I thought fit (at his desire) to administer the Holy Communion to him; and so I did this Morning; some pious Persons, out of Christian Charity, joyning with him in the Receiving. This being over, he was carry'd in a Cart to Tyburn: Where I met him; and after Prayer, and singing of a Psalm, he spoke to the Spectators to this effect.

- Good People, take Warning by my Fall. I am, you see, a Young man, who by my Sins have shortned my Days, and brought my self to this shameful (but deserved) Death. Take heed to your selves, and how you lead your Life. Live not as I have done, lest you come to the like sad and untimely End, I am now come to. Break not the Sabbath-day, and keep not company with Wicked Men, and Lewd Women, as I have done. Those are the great Evils, which have brought this sorrow upon me. Avoid all manner of Sin, even the smallest, for from one little Sin, Men easily fall to the commission of greater ones. I pray heartily to God to keep you from all Evil: And I beseech you, to pray for me, that God would have Mercy upon my poor Soul. To this purpose he spoke much to the People; and particularly he desird his Sister, To tell her Husband, that he ought to remember this Judgment now inflicted upon him, and lay it to heart, and learn from it to amend his Ways, and become a better Man, and endeavour for the future to live by an honest Industry, which he might very well do, and prosper more with it, (tho' he got but 2 d. a Day) in such a Way, than in getting Goods by unlawful means; which cannot profit; but prove at last hurtful both to Body and Soul. He pray'd God would please to reform and pardon him. He express'd all along, a mighty grief for his having wrong'd, as he had unworthily done, his poor Wife; a most innocent and vertuous Person, whose Bed he had defiled, and whose Company he had forsaken to cleave to Lewd Women. He said, he most heartily begg'd her Pardon, and the Pardon of all he had offended and injur'd; and, above all, God's Pardon; which he said he was now assured would be sealed in Heaven, before he should depart from hence: And therefore gave hearty thanks and praise to the Divine Goodness, that thus retrieved his Soul from perishing Eternally; for tho' he died here, yet he had stedfast hopes that he was now going to live for ever in Heaven, and be received in Glory, through the Merits and Intercession of Jesus Christ - . After this, I pray'd again, and sung another Psalm with him; who spoke a 2d time to the People, to the same purpose as before. Then I recommended him to the tender Mercy of God, and left him to his private Devotions; for which he having had some time allow'd him, the Cart drew away, and he was turned off; calling upon God in these, and other like Ejaculations, Lord pardon! Lord forgive me my Sins! O Lord do not abhor my Soul! I come unto thee. Lord Jesus receive my Spirit. Before I left him, he gave me some Letters, written with his own Hand the Day before; which, as they may prove of publick use; so they shall be published to morrow, in a Paper by it self, (attested by me) there being no room for them in this.

Thus he ended his Life, who for so long had made such an ill use of it: God grant this may be a happy Warning to other Offenders. And as for the Persons that were Condemned at the same time with him, and are Reprieved, I hope they are now inclined to good; and will (by the Divine Grace) so improve this Mercy, that they may receive more.

This is all the Account here to be given of this Sessions, by

Dated the 10th of March .

Paul Lorrain< no role > , Ordinary .

London: Printed for Elizabeth Mallet< no role > , next the King's-Arms Tavern , near Fleet-bridge . 1702/1703.