Market, to get some thing for Dinner, and in her Absence this Pendergrass paid him a Visit; in which he soon persuaded him to take a Course with him upon the Sneak. Before the Wife return'd, both were set out, a Message being left they wou'd soon be at Home. Pendergrass supplied Edwards with about seven or eight Drams, between the Place of his Habitation, and where the Fact was committed, besides Purl, in order to prepare him for the Crime he intended Edwards should commit. Accordingly, coming to the House in Friday-Street , Edwards says, he sent him in, whilst he remained without ready to run, as he did, when he saw the other discovered in the Fact.

He bless'd God, that in all his unfortunate Courses of Life, using People ill, and Murder, was what he never intended, but rather abominated. And as to what he did, when he was taken, he declared as a dying Man, he knew not that he hurt any one, till he was afterwards told so. Had he not been in Liquor, he said, he should not have drawn a Knife, the which he bought a Day or two before for his own Conveniency, when he had not the least Thought of committing this Robbery, nor had he any Intention, when he bought it, to hurt any one with it. He was in hopes his Years and Family being represented, would have been a Means of moving Compassion towards him; but as he could obtain no farther Respite for this World, he died, he said, in Charity with all Men, forgiving, as he hoped to be forgiven, and laid down this Life in Hopes of a better.

He certainly has been a notorious Thief, Shop-lifter, and House-breaker, but was very reserved in his Temper, and would by no means confess any Fact, or Person concern'd with him in any other, but what was too public for him to think of concealing. The Fact he suffered for was certainly a most audacious Piece of Villainy, and the Circumstances attending it so flagrant as not to admit of any Alleviation with regard to the Punishment of the Law; which being too publickly known, was a Bar to all Thoughts of Mercy to be expected, tho' he could not help entertaining some Hopes of it, till within a Day or two of Execution.

A Copy of a Letter from Edwards to his Wife.

From my Cell in Newgate ,

My dear unhappy Soul,