The Account of this Malefactor under the Conviction of the Law.

THIS Malefactor's continued Perseverance in denying his Guilt, has induced several Persons to believe him Innocent. When first he was under Confinement, he was much Dejected was continually employ'd in perusing the Books of Devotion he was furnished with, and desired and had the Assistance also of a French Minister, as he had been most accustomed to hear Divine Service in his own Language. But after he was brought upon his Tryal the first time and acquitted, his Deportment and Discourse alter'd, he assumed the Appearance and the Talk of a Man easy and innocent in his Thoughts; and when his Brother, from Holland, went into the Prison to see him in his Troubles, he made so light of the Condition he was in, as occasion'd great Uneasiness to his Brother, so that he left him very abruptly, and returned into Holland with great Surprize and Astonishment.

BEFORE he was Convicted of Bigamy, he said he should not trouble himself to make any Defence, for 2 Reasons; because he knew it was resolved to Convict him; and because his Conviction could be no Scandal, for where was no Fault there was no Disgrace, and to Wed a second Wife, when the first was justly turn'd off, could be no Fault. He afterwards added, That his first Wife was a Socinian, an Irrational-Creature, no Christian, nor could be entitled to the Advantages of any Nation or People; and accordingly the Scripture says, with such an one we may have Conversation, nor so much as eat with them. But as to the Killing her, he denied it.

AFTER he was Convicted of the Murther, and was carried to the Chappel with A. Deval, J. Blake, and the other Convicts, his every Word and Look were full of Bitterness and Venom against the Court and his Accusers, and he told several who desired him to be more compos'd. That he was not sorry that he had Arraigned the Justice of the English Nation, in the Face of the Court that Tried him, but sorry he had not done it more largely; he would still find an Opportunity to speak, tho' he could not act, his Mind. A. Devall said that this Prisoner would sometimes divert him from Reading, by puzling him with Difficulties and Objections; and puting Queries to him relating to the Reallity of a Resurrection and future Existance. But the Person with whom he seem'd the most pleas'd was John Sheppard< no role > This name instance is in set 3055. ; and while they were in the Condemn'd-Hold, they were sometimes very Merry and Jocose together. It appear'd plainly that he was not then making any preparation for Death, from several Expressions which I heard proceed from him; for Instance, when a great Number of Sparks from their Charcoal Fire issued swiftly forth, he wish'd (to Sheppard) they were all of them Bullets, that the Prison might be beaten about his Ears, he might dye like Sampson.

After Sentence of Death was past upon him, and he had no Hopes of Favour from his Superiours as appeared from his insulting the Court, in so audacious a Manner, he made no scruple of declaring, he would not be hang'd, as they had found him guilty of Throat-cutting, he would verify their Judg