But he said this good Disposition of Mind did not continue; for jovial Company, Drinking, and profane Talk, (which was usual with the young Fellows of his Acquaintance) quite put those good Inclinations out of his Mind; And he was so far from seeking out Places where he might hear the Word of GOD best explain'd: That he was commonly, on the Sbbath-Days, engag'd in Debaucheries or Idleness; neglecting to read the Scriptures, or to sit at Home to discourse on what was good; which, when his Misfortunes were come upon him, he wish'd he had done, but found it then too late to look back, or repine for past Negligencies and Omissions.

He was by Trade a Shoe-maker , but not being bound Prentice to it, he had not an Opportunity of seeing the World at all, (living always at Home) which he believ'd was some Disadvantage to him; for, had he gone into a good religious Family, he would have been promoted and forwarded in Goodness, and been by his Master constantly put in Mind of his Duty, both to God and Man; but being unfortunately settled in a bad House, (as his Parents had laid some Foundation of Religion in him) their Badness would probably have shock'd him, and put him upon reflecting on the Nature of a vicious Course of Life, as thinking he would be more apter to dislike any Lewdness Abroad than at Home, where he was born and bred, and had always been accustom'd to think right, having never seen any other.

He said he began to grow so very uneasy at living always at Home, and in the same Way (having never been father than eight Miles from London in his Life) that he had resolv'd in his Mind to go into the West of England , there to set up his Trade, amongst some of his Father's Friends and Relations, which reside in them Parts, but while that Resolution was in his Heart, going over into Southwark pretty late at Night, with his Brother, they met an Acquaintance of theirs, with whom they went to drink with, and staid some Time, till he was put in a great Measure aside from his former Resolution; and being naturally exceeding Quarrelsome, when in Liquor, (to his great Sorrow) he was Abusive, he believ'd, and pick'd Quarrels with almost every Body he met, tho' could not recollect any of the particular Circumstances than happen'd in this late unhappy Misfortune, being very much in Liquor.

He neither deny'd nor acknowledg'd the Crime he was convicted of, but said, if he kill'd the Man, he was ignorant of it; nor knew he struck the Blow when the Man fell down dead; but if he lost his Life through him, when disguis'd in Liquor, he said, sure it was the greatest of Crimes, and that he knew not what was become of his Soul, that was so rashly and suddenly sent out of the World into the Presence of God; and he could not imagine how he should meet that Person, at the last Day, before the Judgment Seat of God and Jesus Christ, whose Soul he had, perhaps, ruin'd for ever and ever, to his great Grief and sad Confusion.

But before he suffer'd Death, he very freely acknowldg'd, that he did commit the MURTHER, and very earnestly besought GOD to pardon so Crying a Sin, and to take Pity upon him a poor Object and undone Wretch! Asking if God's Mercy and Goodness (so often mention'd in the Holy Scriptures) could extend to him, or if he might lay any Claim to those Promises which were made by God and Christ. Being assur'd that no Sin or Offence was too great for God's Mercy to extend to, because that was infinite and unlimitted, and Christ desir'd all to come to him that were weary and heavy laden, with the Burthen of their Sins; and that David's Murther of Ura was pardon'd upon his sincere Repentance. He then said, he would leave nothing unperform'd that was in his Power to win the Favour of God; for that he then knew the Value of his own Soul, which could not die or perish; and consider'd, that he could not ask Pity of Jesus Christ for his Soul, unless he now took Pity upon it himself, by performing for it all that ever lay in his Power.

Before be dy'd, he endeavour'd to prepare himself for the receiving the Sacrament, in such a Manner as might be to his Profit, and not to his Ruin; striving to understand the Nature of it, and the Benefits and Advantages that flow from it when it is rightly and worthily receiv'd: And he said, he hoped that there was the same Mercy for Malefactors, who suffer'd a violent Death, as for others who dy'd in the ordinary and common Course of Nature.

RICHARD TRANTHAM< no role > , of the Parish of Stepney , was convicted of breaking and entering the House of John Folwell< no role > , in the Night-time, on the 28th of July, 1721 , and taking thence a Silver Tankard, value 6 l. 10 s. a Silver Salver, value 5 l. 54 Pounds of Bolona Silk, value 70 l. &c.