The ORDINARY of NEWGATE his Account of the Behaviour, Confession; and Dying Speech of Thomas Betts< no role > , who was Executed at Tyburn on Wednesday the 15th of May, 1706 .

AT the Sessions held at Justice Hall in the Old Baily, on Wednesday the 8th , and Thursday the 9th instant , 5 Persons receiv'd Sentence of Death, viz. 2 Men and 3 Women, 4 whereof are repriev'd, namely 2 of the Women for being found pregnant, and the other Woman, and one of the Men by her Majesty's Mercy: So that there is but one now order'd for Execution; who is the first under this Mayoralty, that has come to such an untimely End.

On Whitsunday, being the first Lords Day after their Condemnation, I Preach'd in the Chappel of Newgate both Morning and Afternoon, upon these Words, Hebr. 10. 23. Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering.

From which Words, first open'd and explain'd in general, I discours'd upon these following Particulars; viz.

I. What the Christian Faith is.

II. What Obligation it lays upon the Professors of it.

III. What great Motives we that profess to believe in Christ have to live Christian Lives, i. e. to obey the Precepts of the Gospel in departing from Evil, and doing that which is good: To adorn the Doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ in all things.

IV. What are the blessed Effects of Faith, viz.

1. Regeneration and Victory over Sin and the Author of it.

2. A joyful Prospect here, and a blissful Enjoyment hereafter of that Eternal Happiness and Glory, which God will give to all those that hold fast the Professiion of their Faith without wavering.

Then in my Application and Exhortation to the Condemn'd, I endeavour'd to make them sensible of the great necessity they lay under of praying earnestly to God for the gift of Faith; that so they truly believing all the Promises and Threatnings contain'd in the Word of God, might sincerely repent of all their Sins; shewing them, that Faith and Repentance, which in the Gospel are joyn'd together, as the Cause and Effect, are the two main Conditions upon which Salvation is promis'd. Believe, and Repent, and thou shalt be Sav'd, is the Tenor of the Gospel.

While these Persons lay under Condemnation, I visited them twice every Day; and with Prayers and the best Instructions I could give them, I endeavour'd, by the Doctrine of Faith and Repentance, to dispose them for Eternal Life and Salvation. And this I must in justice say of them, that they all appear'd to me to be very desirous of Instruction, and sensible of the Misery which Sin and Ignorance had brought upon them, and they seem'd now resolv'd against their former ill Practices. God grant that those of them who are respited from Execution, may make a right improvement of that Mercy, and keep their Promises of Amendment and Reformation.

Thomas Betts< no role > , the only Person in the Dead Warrant, of whom I am particularly to give here an account, was Condemn'd for breaking and robbing the Houses of the Lord Gorges in Covent Garden , and of Mr Corbonel near Crutched Fryars , above 2 years ago. He confess'd himself guilty of both those Facts, and of many others, which he said he had committed about that time, and within a Twelve-month of it: And he further told me, that about one year ago he robb'd a Dean's House near the new Chappel in the Fields , within the Parish of St Andrews. Holborn , and took thence a quantity of old Gold Pieces, two Diamond-Rings, and several other Goods; and that much about the same time he broke another House in St Johns , out of which he took a great deal of Plate, &c. But he declar'd, that in these and all other Robberies he committed, none of the Servants belonging to those respective Houses were in the least concern'd, so as to be in any wise assisting or privy thereto: He confess'd he had been guilty of all Crimes but Murther, and he much lamented that he had done so much Evil, and that it was not in his power to make any restitution or satisfaction to the Persons he had wrong'd. He heartily begg'd God's Pardon, and theirs. He said, as to his Education, that he was well brought up by his Parents, who are very honest People; and that he serv'd his Apprenticeship to the Craft of Smithery , with his Father, at Wenslow in Buckinghamshire , where he was born; That about 13 years ago, when he was 21 years old, he came