Office of a Sergeant in Colonel Wing's Regiment; and little thought then, that he could ever have done such a thing, as should bring him to such a shameful End. He said, he heartily repented, and begg'd Pardon of GOD. And this I will say of him, That when he came nearer the Day of his Death, he outwardly behav'd himself somewhat better than I thought at first he would have done. But I discover'd him to be a great Hypocrite; who put Edmund Eams< no role > upon charging himself (as I have observ'd before) with the Robbery committed on Mr. Boys, for which the said Collins was condemn'd. I told him that I could not look on him otherwise than as a great Impostor, who endeavour'd (and that too at such a time, and under such Circumstances) to impose upon Justice, and GOD's Minister, and be so presumptuous also, as to desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament, which upon the same Account was desir'd by, and I refus'd to Eams, and so I did to this Collins; resolving to administer it to neither of them; because I found them most unworthy of it. And this my Dealing with them (which was according to the Practice of the Primitive Church) I wish may be a Warning and Terror to other Sinners, who will not betimes repent as they should do, but erroneously fancy, that if they outwardly partake of that Divine Ordinance, they shall be safe enough, tho' not altogether so well prepar'd as they might be either for it, or for Death. And on this occasion I must here declare, That when Malefactors (whoever they be) if any shall come under my Cure, and shall not at first open and clear their Consciences, and give me full Satisfaction, that they do truly repent, I shall never admit them to the Holy Sacrament, whatever they may do, or desire when just upon their Departure out of this World. And if they be not satisfy'd with such a Proceeding of mine, let them consult any other Orthodox Divines in the Matter. But as to this Collins, what I shall further say of him here, is that he did Yesterday attempt to poyson himself, for which I reprov'd him; shewing him the Wickedness of such a Fact, or such an Attempt.

4. Charles Weymouth< no role > , condemn'd with Christopher Dickson< no role > , and John Gibson< no role > , for assaulting and robbing Mr. Thomas Blake< no role > , Mr. Samuel Slap< no role > , and Mr. John Edwards< no role > (who was dangerously wounded by Weymouth) taking from them several Goods and Money, upon the Queen's High-way in Stepney Parish , on the 8th of February last . This Weymouth, who (it seem'd) had endeavour'd to make himself an Evidence against his Accomplices, being disappointed therein, was very uneasy and restless, and shew'd himself all-along of a stubborn and rough Behaviour, giving little sign of Repentance, and making (as it outwardly appear'd both to my self and others) no great Preparation for Death, till he was upon the very brink of it. What Account he gave me of himself, was only this, That he was born at Redriff , and had been brought up to the Sea , and serv'd the Queen on Board some of Her Majesty's Men of War for several Years off and on; That he was 25 Years of Age, and that he had fallen into wicked Courses only by the Inducement of others, more wicked (as he said) than himself. I told him, he should not answer for their Sins, if he were not the occasion of them; but must expect to be call'd to a very strict and severe Account for what himself had done wickedly, if he did not now undo it (as far as he could) by all possible Reparation, Repentance, and Amendment of Life. Now whether any thing that was then offer'd to him from Reason and Scripture, did work any Reformation upon him, I could not perceive, but pray'd GOD to convert him; and so left him to His Mercy, which he did not seem much to desire; or to his Judgment, which he had greatly deserv'd. This wicked Person also threaten'd to be the Death of me before he dy'd: Upon which I said to him, as I did to Thomas Grey< no role > , That I was sorry to see him in such a furious Temper, and heartily pray'd GOD to turn his Heart, for I greatly pity'd him, but fear'd him not.

5. Christopher Dickson< no role > , condemn'd for the same Robbery wherein he was concern'd with Charles Weymouth< no role > . He confess'd the Fact, and behav'd himself much better than Weymouth; and by what I could perceive, I may say, that what he told me might be true, viz. That he never did commit such Facts before. He said, he was about 22 Years of Age, born in the Parish of St. Mary Whitechappel : That he had serv'd 5 Years of Apprentiship with a Baker , and then by consent parted with him: That afterwards he was a Journeyman to another Baker , but staid not long there bad; Company (that easily wrought upon his corrupt Nature) drawing him away, and bringing him into a vicious Course; which, he said, he now heartily repented of; and I hope he did, for he seem'd very much affected, and greatly to abhor his past sinful Life, and earnestly to implore God's Forgiveness and Mercy in Christ.

6. John Gibson< no role > , condemn'd for being concern'd also in the Robbery before-mention'd with Charles Weymouth< no role > and Christopher Dickson< no role > . He said, he was about 20 years of age, born at Newcastle under Line ; and he readily own'd his being Guilty of this Fact; but said it was his first; which I could not gainsay. Only I advised him to look back upon, and seriously examine his past Life between God and his own Conscience, and tell me how he found himself, and what he thought of himself. Upon this, he confess'd, That he had been a loose Liver, much addicted to Swearing, excessive Drinking, Lasciviousness, and suchlike Vices, too too common among Men of his Profession, he being a Seafaring Man , that had for these several years past been employ'd both in the Queen's Royal Navy, and Merchant's Service at Sea; and, that he had little minded or regarded the wonderful Works of God in the Deep; for which he was now very much grieved, and wish'd he had been wiser and better; praying God to forgive him his Sins, and have Mercy upon his Soul, and (to that end) give him a New Heart.

7. Alexander Petre< no role > , condemn'd for privately stealing a great quantity of Copper of the value of 20 l. out of the Warehouse of Mr. Thomas Chambers< no role > , on the 26th of January last . He readily confess'd, That he was guilty of this Fact; but told me it was his first, and that one Powell (the Evidence against him) was the Person that induc'd him to the Commission of it. He said, That he was (as it appear'd) but a young Man, about 22 years of age; yet acknowledg'd, that he had Years, Descretion, and Understanding enough to know, That what he did ought not to be done; and therefore asked Pardon of God, and the Persons he had any ways offended; praying for Mercy and Forgiveness. The place of his Birth, he said, was Newcastle upon Tyne , his Calling a Sailor , who had for these 12 years past been employ'd on board several of Her Majesty's Men of War; and the last of them on board which he served, was the New Advice, a 4th Rate. He was very tractable, and seem'd to be Penitent.

8. Thomas Koome< no role > , condemn'd for breaking open the House of Mr. John Garret< no role > , and stealing from thence a Riding-Hood, a Suit of Curtains, and other Goods, on the 17th of January last . He said he was 21 years of age, born at Hackney near London , and had served at Sea , sometimes in the Royal Navy, and at other times in Merchant-Men, for the most part of his Life. He confess'd the Fact for which he was condemn'd; but said it was his first. For which saying I reprov'd him, knowing he had