Ordinary of Newgate Prison:
Ordinary's Accounts: Biographies of Executed Convicts

22nd June 1715

About this dataset

Currently Held: Harvard University Library

LL ref: OA171506221506220006

22nd June 1715


entertain'd in his Grace the Duke of Roxbury's Service, in the Capacity of a Page , wherein he continu'd above 2 Years, and then left it, and went to serve in the same Capacity the Morocco Embassador, then in England: That after he had been in this last Service about 3 Years, his Friends perswaded him to leave it; which he accordingly did, and went to Travel: That he was in his Travels about 4 Years, which he chiefly spent in France and Holland ; and there having improv'd himself in the French Tongue, (which he had been taught before) and learnt to speak Dutch, he return'd into England about 16 Months ago. I asking him, What Estate he had, and how he supported himself all the while; He answer'd, 1st, That having a Pass, he could Travel at little or no Charge; 2dly, That he had an Ensign's Pay , which (upon his Father's Account) was procur'd him by Major Rhine, an Irish Officer. I further asking him, How it came to pass that he left the Service of a Christian, to go to that of a Mahumetan, by which he put himself in danger of being forc'd to embrace that Religion, if the said Embassador had carry'd him home with him: He reply'd, That his Design was to leave him in Spain , where he had an Uncle, whom he was desirous to see, and (if he could) to live with; for he understood that Embassador was (in his Return) to pass thro' that part of Spain where his Uncle liv'd. This is what he said as to the Passages of his former Life; but as to the Fact which he was condemn'd for, he would not at first confess himself guilty of it; tho' at last he did. He acknowledg'd he had committed many Faults thro' the whole Course of his Life; as, neglecting the Service of GOD, profaning the Lord's Day, and being otherwise very loose; but had never committed any Theft or Robbery before this. Upon which I told him, That if he would take the pains to recollect himself, he should find (as I did) that he had been a Prisoner in Newgate before now. To which he answer'd, That it was so; and that about 6 Years ago (a little before he went to Travel) he was committed to this Goal, upon Suspicion of having stoln a pair of Sheets from his Landlord; but as his said Landlord did afterwards believe he was not guilty of that Fact, (of which himself also told me he was very innocent) he never was prosecuted for it. He seem'd in his outward Carriage to be serious and sensible, and behav'd himself as became a Person under his sad Circumstances so far as I could discern. Sometimes indeed he would reflect upon his Adversary, as if he had dealt too severely with him; but he soon return'd to a Christian Temper, and brought home all his Reflections upon himself, acknowledging that he had justly deserv'd this Punishment, and therefore freely submitted to it, and said, That if any had offended him, he heartily forgave them, as he desir'd to be forgiven. I being inform'd, that he had been an extravagant Youth, very undutiful to his Mother, and had broke her Heart, I put the Question to him: To which he answer'd, That it was too true; and, That he look'd upon this his shameful End as a due Punishment to him for his Undutifulness and Cruelty to his Mother, and wish'd it might be a Warning to others.

At the Place of Execution (whither they were carry'd from Newgate in 2 Carts this Day) I attended them for the last time; and after proper Exhortations to them, Prayers, and singing of Penitent Psalms, and rehearsing the Apostles Creed, I recommended them to GOD's gracious Mercy, which they all did earnestly pray for. They also desir'd the Prayers of the Spectators, and wish'd, That all (both Young and Old) would take Warning by them, avoid their Sins, and prevent their coming to the like shameful End. After this, I withdrew, praying GOD to give them a blessed Admittance into his Everlasting Kingdom. Then the Cart drew away, and they were turn'd off, calling upon GOD to have Mercy on them, and receive their Souls.

This is all the Account here to be given of these Dying Persons, by me,

PAUL LORRAIN< no role > , Ordinary .

Wednesd. June 22d. 1715 .

London Printed, and are Sold by J. Morphew, near Stationers-hall.

Where may be had the 2d Edition of the Tale of the Raven and Blackbird; the 2d Edit, of the State of the Church of England; two Poems, by the Author of the Blackbird's-Song. Pr. 4d. each.




View as XML