The Account of the Malefactors.

From the Time of their Condemnation, to that of their Execution, I repair'd twice a Day to the Chapel of Newgate; Where the Prisoners being constantly brought, (without any one of them ever absenting Himself, during the Time they lay under Sentence of Death) I pray'd with Them, and read to them the Holy-Scriptures, which I endeavour'd to explain, to those especially who were not able to Write or Read. I also desired Them, in their private Reading, if they met with any Passage they did not rightly understand, that they would at Chapel make me acquainted therewith, in order to my endeavouring to solve their Difficulties, to the best of my Capacity. Accordingly, some of them proposed to Me Questions of different Kinds, and made Me acquainted with the Scruples that had arisen to Them, in their perusing those Books which had been lent into the Condemn'd-Hold for their Use and Improvement.

I frequently enquired how they behaved themselves, when they were in the Condemn'd Hold; and could not learn that their was any of them so harden'd against all Sense of Virtue, as to use Cursing and Swearing in that dismal Place; I also advised and desired of them, that they would not permit their Friends, when they came to see them under their Calamities, to give them Brandy or any strong Liquors, which, if it did not directly intoxicate them, yet would at least discompose them, and render them less serious, and less fit to perform that great Work, which a whole Age is not too long for the accomplishing of.

I. Stephen Delaforce< no role > ) was condemn'd for returning Home from his Majesty's Plantations, without Lawful Cause, before the time of his Banishment was expired.

In my Conferences with him, he told me, that he was but Eighteen Years of Age, born in London . He said, he always had a due Love and Value for his Father, and therefore (while he was yet very Young) he desired rather to be bound 'Prentice to him, who is a Weaver , then learn his Trade of a Stranger. He said, that in his Apprenticeship, his Father had no Objection against his Behaviour, during the six first Years; nor afterwards, except for staying out by accident some Nights, which was occasion'd by a Woman, who had flatter'd him, and been kind to him after an unusual Manner; so that he began to take a Satisfaction in being in her Company.

The first time I talk'd with Him, I ask'd him if the Story was true that he told upon his Tryal; at first he firmly asserted that it was; He said he had no thoughts of returning Home, for after the Lady he was Slave to, had given him his Freedom, he could have spent his Life in Happiness and Plenty in that Part of the World; But His Majesty's Ship being in Want of Men, he was unhappily drawn into it: But this he afterwards did not so strongly assert to be true.

After he return'd from his Transportation, he assisted his Father in his Business, in an Industrious and Laborious Manner, for some time.