their Sins, and to the Practice of all Christian Duties, so far as their unhappy Circumstances would admit. And this was my Daily Work with them, who, in my private Examinations of them, gave me these respective Accounts of their past Lives, present Dispositions, and future Hopes.

1. William Thompson< no role > alias Nodes< no role > (which latter was his right Name) condemn'd for assaulting and robbing on the King's Highway Mrs. Grace Stacey< no role > , Mrs. Mary Carleton< no role > , and others in the Whetstone Coach, taking from them 2 Gold-Rings and 6 s. and 6 d. in Money, on the 7th of November last . He said, he was 28 years of age, born in the Parish of St. Bridget , London , an Upholsterer by Trade, and liv'd with his Father. He confess'd the Fact he was now condemn'd for, but was loth to own that he had about 18 months ago receiv'd Sentence of Death at the Assizes held at Winchester , where he was then try'd for, and convicted of, an Assault and Robbery by him committed upon Mr. John Thomas< no role > , a Gardiner at Mortlack , whom he shot at that time in the Shoulder. This he obstinately deny'd his being guilty of; and to extenuate his present Crime, said (which to me seem'd a very strange Argument) That since he had been formerly Condemn'd for a Fact he was innocent of, and afterwards pardon'd for, that Pardon should now serve to save his Life. This he so much hoped for, that he would make no great Preparation for Death, till he found himself almost on the very Brink of it; then indeed he began to relent, and to beg Pardon of God, and all the Persons he had offended, who were not a few; but he would not exactly tell how many, and who they were, nor in what manner he had injur'd them. Upon my asking him, Whether he did not (with one Joseph Johnson< no role > , who was executed at Maidstone ) rob Mr. William Giles< no role > on Friday the 17th of December 1714 , taking from him a Silver-Watch and 10 s. as he was coming from Harrow o' th' Hill : He answer'd, He was not in the least concern'd in (nor knew any thing of) that Matter.

2. James Hudson< no role > alias Butler< no role > , (which latter he said was his right Name) condemn'd for being concern'd with the 'foremention'd Nodes, in robbing on the King's Highway, and making an Assault on Mr. John Sheldon< no role > , taking from him a Silver-Watch on the 7th of November last , at the time Nodes robb'd the Whetstone Coach, on Finchley-Common . He said, he was about 28 years of age, born in London of good Parents, who gave him a liberal Education at Eaton School and elsewhere: That he had travel'd thro' France , Italy , Spain , and the Low Countries , and understood those Languages: That he for some time had serv'd in Colonel Lumley's Regiment , and but of late been engag'd in this wicked Course of robbing on the Highway, but had never kill'd (nor ever intended to kill) any Person whom he thus assaulted; neither had he committed many such Robberies, nor any that were considerable. However, he was sensible of his great Offences, and the Justice of his Sentence, and begg'd Pardon of GOD and Men. He declar'd to me, That he was of the Romish Religion , and would die in that Faith, tho' at the same time he said there were some things in it which he did not approve of, as the Invocation of Saints, Worshiping of Angels, &c. and seem'd to be somewhat affected with my Prayers and Exhortations. This I observ'd in him at first; but afterwards as he drew nearer his End, he was not so willing to hear me as he was some others, whose Principles (I suppose) agreed better with his. He pretended this Fact he stood condemn'd for was his first; but upon my putting him in mind, that he had formerly been a Prisoner in Newgate , and there remain'd 2 Years upon a Fine of 50 l. of which at last he was discharg'd, tho' not cured of his vicious Inclinations, he own'd all this to be true.