asked her what Faith and what Repentance were And one of them proceeded to instruct her in the nature of Faith that it was to take Christ as Lord and King and to submit unto all his Laws to be Governed by them and in particular to this of suffering the punishment inflicted on her for her sin At which putting them off with my Hand I replied Gentlemen do not trouble her 't is unseasonable now to Catechize her in Doctrinals she stands in need of some Soveraign Cordials to revive and support her drooping Spirit in these her last Agonies with death and conflicts with the Devil And Addressing my self once again unto her Anne said I fear not but cast thy self upon the everlasting mercies of God in the blood of Christ Jesus and thou shalt be saved Since thou must die die upon this that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners of whom thou art chief And 't will be but a quarter of an hour and thou shalt be freed from all sins and torments Say Into thy hands I commit my Spirit Lord save it For thou hast died for it Lord Jesu thou Son of David have mercy upon me Oh Thou Lamb of God receive my Soul I left her expecting no answer The Rope is now drawn close unto her Neck and the Hangman would have set Fire unto the Fuâ—ze before she was strangled but some more charitable and tender-hearted cryed to him to take away the Block from under her Feet which having done she soon fell down and expired in a Trice And it was observable that all the skill and diligence of the Executioner and his Assistants could not make either Powder Wood or Fewel to take fire till she had been dead a Quarter of an hour as also that as soon as the fire was kindled the Wind which blew before in the back of the Nurse immediately shifted and drove the smoke full in her Face as if God had spoken to her The Smoke of my Fury and Flames of my Fiery Vengeance are now Riding upon the Wings of the Wind towards thee And now for Two hours the Nurse feeds her eyes and feasts her thoughts with the sad spectacle of this poor Maids burning The flames being well allayed several Ministers and worthy Gentlemen indeavor yet the Repentance Conversion and Saving of her Soul But All succeeds as formerly She denies her guilt pleads her Innocency accuseth Judg Jury Witnesses Country and all of her Murther that she is Murthered that they take away her Life unjustly Nay that they kill too she is with Child expects to be delivered about Midsummer What will you Murther one that is unborn And a great deal more of the like stuff That she was not with Child we heard evidenced upon Oath at her condemnation And a skilful Hand-Woman searching her but a night before her Execution could never discover any such thing Most probable the true ground of all her denials was a foolish hope of Life the Hangman as it is commonly noised having promised never to execute her Whatever familiarities had past between them Two in Jail I know not This is certain the Hangman brought the under Sheriff to terms just as they were leaving Plymouth and going to the place of Execution And the Girl being dispatched he ran away with the Halter under the Clifts and when he was brought back lay asleep at the Foot of the Gallows or at least pretended sleep and so deserted Execution Besides another Accident intervened which put a stop for a time and had it not been prudently and presently composed upon the place would have totally suspended for that day at least her Execution All these Circumstances jumping in one upon the other contributed to the strengthening of her Heart in the false hopes of Life For what she would have it was an easie matter to perswade her to believe and hope But at length she hath worn out all patience both of God and Man And the Halter is fastened to the Gibber and put about her Neck Now Ministers ply their work with her because she is upon the brink of Destruction and in view of Hell No sin she acknowledged no guilt as to the Fact for which she is condemned Indeed she confesseth She had been a Swearer Lier and Sabbath breaker but none others trouble her As to Money that her Brother stole and was in hers or her Husbands hands she now chargeth upon a dead Person having wronged her in her life the must mischief her at her death too No Bond nor Bill can she produce nothing under the Deceased's hand can she show for her having received it yet doth she charge Mr. W. to look that it be restored unto the right Owner Ministers however lament her deplorable condition especially since just as she is going out of the World she cryes Judg and Revenge my cause O Lord Which made this Relator tell her He now saw what he formerly feared viz. That God was departed from her that the Devil was already in her heart for he sat upon her tongue that troops of Devils were upon the Ladder by her all gaping for her and that within in a few moments they would have her wretched Soul into Hell with them and then and there she would be soon sensible of her madness in dying with a Lye in her Mouth and confess and mourn for her folly and madness in rejecting Heaven and Salvation but it would be too late and to no purpose For her condition whatever it might be here would infallibly be there unalterable and irreversible That she was going into a Lake of Fire and Brimstone there to be tormented for ever and ever and when she was in the midst of those Eternal torments she would remember that I had told her of it A Psalm was called and part of the Twenty fifth sung Never did I see but one in that heavy condition Whilst the people sing she cries and weeps bitterly the very terrors of death are upon her she cries as if her Heart would break Indeed her Soul was overwhelmed with unmeasurable horrors and fears she had no mind to die nor could she be vouchsafed Life What hopes could she have in her departure who never laid any sollid basis for good hopes during life The Psalm is now sung out and yet is she summoned to confess but it is as good speak to the stones or to the Deaf Adder that stops his ear she will never be charmed let the Charmers Charm never so wisely At last being demanded whether she would have any Prayers or any Person Pray for her she said yes and pointed to this Relator desiring him to perform that Office for her Who replied that he was most willing to serve and save her Soul But in as much as she made no Confession of her Crying sins of Murther and of her Theft and Uncleanness and other Villanies whereof me knew her selt Guilty he durst not take the name of God in vain tor
taken they are all bound over to Prosecute our Malefactors at the next Assizes for the County of Devon whose Mittimus is now Signed and Sealed and they sent to the High Goal near the Castle of Exon. Here they spend full Six Months but what In a serious and sad reflection upon their hainous and Crying sin In the exercises of Repentance Contrition and Godliness No in nothing less than in the practice of such indispensible Duties In truth they came thither the Slaves and Vassals of the Devil full of Ignorance and unacquainted with God and the things of God they were got into a Prison the very Suburbs of Hell a place to the Relators knowledge a Seminary of all Villanies Prophaneness and Impieties destitute of good Company good Books and the good means of Grace and of all helps saving their Affliction that might lead them Heaven-ward And it was very improbable that under so great a want of Spiritual advantages they should bethink themselves of Heaven and Eternity Indeed they might and ought to have done it But they were captivated by the Prince of Darkness who had blinded the eyes of their understandings and Seared their hearts as with an hot Iron that they should not see nor know nor consider the things that belonged unto their Peace Besides they were held in stronger Chains than those of Iron their own iniquities had taken hold of them and they were bound with the Cords of their sins Here they fed themselves and are flattered also by their Companions in Ungodliness with the fond and false hopes of escaping the Justice of man and as for that of God they never Dream of it it enters not into their thoughts Let them but escape the Gallows and get out of Goal they imagine Hell may be avoided with less difficulty and Heaven obtained with far more facility Thus Camelion-like they live upon the Air or with Ephraim upon the East wind or as Esay's Idolator they feed upon Ashes a deceived heart hath turned them aside that they cannot deliver their Souls nor say is there not a lie in our right hands But in the depth of their Sencelesness and Security they are surprized with a cold damp The Assizes are come the Judges arrived the Trumpets sound and our wretched Prisoners are Summoned unto Judgment Up they go unto the Bar with heavy hearts though with undejected Countenances They had some Figleave excuses to cover their shame and rather than want a Shift and Plea for themselves they will add sin to sin lyings and impudent denials Alas Poor Souls this is not to lessen but to aggravate your guilt this doth not hide but discover it You Cloath your selves with a Net your Nakedness and filth is the more Apparent Witnesses are examined evidence is produced the Malefactors are heard and permitted to speak for themselves the Bill was found and an Impartial Jury declares them Guilty they are cast Sentence is pronounced and now being dead in Law they Petition for a Transportation Here is the last Refuge of miserable Murderers But Justice dispenseth no favors they may be Transported to another world not to another Land Blood cries for Blood Innocent Blood demandeth Vengeance God hath said it and the Righteous Law of England hath confirmed it that he who sheddeth mans Blood by man shall his Blood be shed a man that offers Violence to the blood of any person shall flie to the Pit let no man stay him Accordingly their Petition is rejected their Request is denied they are bidden to prepare for death all hopes of life here have left and forsaken them The Girl as Guilty of Petty Treason and Murder is Sentenced to be drawn on an Hurdle to the place where she shall be Executed and there Burnt to death An horrible death An Emblem and lively Picture of Hell torments Dâ—awn as if dragged by Devils Burnt alive as if in that Lake of Fire and Brimstone already Lord what Rocks are these that do not rend and break to pieces at the hearing and thinking of it Methinks the very Sentence should have struck her dead There is so much of horror in it that with Nabal her Heart should have died in her Yet she lives under it Lord Let it be in mercy to her Space is given her to escape the wrath of God though she cannot the vengeance of Man The Nurse must Hang till she be dead a too gentle death for such a Prodigy of Ungodliness She Pleads stifly her Innocency disowns all Guilt takes no Shame her Brow is Brass she is Impudent and hath an Whores Forehead If ever there were a Daughter of Hell this was one in her proper colors No evidence shall convince her Confess faith she Then I shall Hang indeed I deny the fact none saw it none knew it but the Girl it may be that vile Person her Husband had a Finger in it but he is gone Some will pitty me though none will believe me none can help me Yet though she must die as sure as she was born the Devil helps her to one Expedient as she conceives that may save her Life My Lord I am Innocent I am with Child do not kill two Innocents If I must die let my Child live The Reverend Judge is too Righteous to punish the Innocent with the Guilty or to destroy the Child for the Mothers fault Hence a Midwife is commanded to attend the Court a Jury of Matrons impannell'd the Murderess is searched and after their strictest Scrutiny and Inquest they find her a Lyar to have troubled the Court needlesly she is not quick as she would bear them in hand if she have at all conceived Upon this they are returned to their Prisons and now in sight of Hell Others pitty them and tremble at their dismal State but poor wretches they have no Bowels for themselves yea without any gracious Sentiments without any feeling apprehensions of their approaching misery Plymouth hath been the first Scene of this Tragedy there had they committed their Murders and upon the humble Petition of Master Weeks Husband and Father to the Murdered Persons and concurrent Request of the Grand Jury His Lordship grants it to be the place of their Execution This was a rare Spectacle such a sight was never seen since the foundations of that Town Oh! that it might be the last In the Interval of their Sentence and Execution several Divines visit them The Right Reverend Diocesan out of his Religious care of their happiness ordered two who frequently attended on them but with no success on the Nurses part Other Ministers moved by Charity and yearning at their misery did concur to use their utmost endeavors to save them from Hell Instructions Exhortations Prayers Tears dreadful denunciations of unsusterable torments with the damned sweet and gratious promises in case of Confession Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus are used and urged with the greatest Vehemency and industry upon the Nurse but they beat the Air
Murders and if the Nurse were Innocent she should not for a World accuse her for if she did the Lord might Damn her immediately To which she replied with Tears Sir I am a lost Creature I have no hopes in this World I would not willingly Damn my Soul by drawing upon me the Guilt of more Blood I speak it as in the presence of God I had not put in the Poyson into the Pottage had not the Nurse bid me do it And added My Body is lost but if the Lord would have pitty upon my Soul it is all that I desire And the Nurse hath said she should never confess though she did Hang for it That I might confess what I would she would not confess any thing Upon this I confronted her with Philip Cary she obstinately denies all stands stifly to her Innocency throws all upon the Girl saith Judge Jury and Witnesses are all Guilty of her Innocent Blood and she will lay it at their Doors Whereupon I desired the Maid to go in to Master Holmes and dealt privately with this Vile woman yet to give Glory unto God by confessing of her sin and renouncing all commerce with Hell that if she did hide her sin and keep the Devils Counsel she could never prosper That it was in vain for her to think of concealing it for God knew it the World knew it her Country condemned her for it her own conscience if she had any left in her must needs accuse and condemn her Possibly said I you think of life and feed your self with vain imaginations of escaping death I told her they were foolish and groundless that Justice would have its Course that the whole World could not save her That she was already dead in Law and must be as certainly Executed as she was already Condemned That she stood upon the brink of the Pit and was ready to drop down into the bottomless Gulph of Hell That she might if she would escape it God offered pardon Life Heaven and Salvation to her provided she would but give glory to him by confessing her sin and taking the shame thereof unto her self That it was better to do it now than upon the Gallows She had served the Devil long enough too too long and it was a miracle of mercy if ever the Lord shewed mercy to her at last but yet I would and did assure her in his name as being his Ambassador and sent with his Commission to reconcile her unto God whom she had so hainously dishonored that if she would disclose all this cursed crime who first contrived it who managed it and put her upon it there was hopes For the Lord was a merciful God unto unfeignd Penitents and compassionated her deplorable condition and would bring her out of it That she take care not to Rebel against his grace nor to tear a pardon that was offered her upon such easie terms in pieces nor to refuse Heaven and all its joys and happiness Alas Sir saith she What will you have me say I will tell you all I know of it I am as free from this Crime as the Child that is now Born But the Maid did it For she told me she was weary of her life by reason of her Mistris who was such a Curst Old Woman that there was no living with her and that she was resolved to leave her Service and go away with the Mountebanks and that she told me she would fit her and had bought the Rats-bane of the Mountebanks Boy or Man with whom she was in Love This was all I could get from her then and not one Syllable of it true I told her she should beware of Lying and false Witness bearing and not let the Devil sit upon her heart and Tongue and added when you knew this Girl had an intent to make away her Mistris why had not you discovered it She said That indeed it was her fault if it were a fault I told her consent unto and concealing of Murder was Intentional Murder before God and Man and that she had a real hand in it She told me she had none at all and could give me no other answer Our secret conference being ended I brought the Maid again unto her who avowed her former Confession disavowed all acquaintance with the Mountebanks Servant never to have talked with him but once at the Conduit when she fetcht water and maintained to her face that this wicked woman the Nurse did oftentimes perswade her to run away from her Mistress and if she would have gone away the Saturday before the fact was committed she would help her to a Riding Suit Unto this she made no reply Returning with them unto Master Holmes he pressed upon them the evil of their sin advised them to Repentance and bespeaking the Nurse Philip Cary said he there is a report and Suspition of your having been unclean with your Master At which she fell down upon her Knees in the midst of us and impricated most direfully upon her self is he ever knew her to be a man or woman more than by giving suck unto his Grand Child Having cleared her Master but not confessing any other thing or sin Master Holmes being desired by me concluded this conference with Prayer and we departed In the evening I returned again unto these Prisoners And dealt with the Nurse to acknowledge her Crime freely to unbosome her self unto me that I might spread it before the Lord in Prayer and intreat him for a broken heart and a new Spirit for her And withdrawing from the Company that crowded on us into a private Chamber I desired her for Gods sake her poor Souls sake with cears in my eyes that she would yet leave sin before sin left her that she would flee from that wrath to come that she would bid defiance unto the Devil who she saw had ruined her and would Damn her everlastingly that she would yet accept of grace and peace and reconciliation with God it was late indeed to return unto him but not too late how ever she must not thus dally with the Divine Majesty to put him off with delays and lies That she should not be afraid of shame that it was the greatest shame and reproach unto her to have committed and concealed this sin but it would be a step to Honor and Eternal Glory to confess it good men would then pitty her pray for her and God would save her And added that if she would not confess it publickly to the World which yet was her duty and if ever the Lord gave her Repentance she would do it more feely and in a more ample manner than I could desire she should at least confess it unto me and I promised her upon the word of a Minister that without her consent I would never divulge it Or if she would not trust me with such an important secret I advised her to single out some Godly Learned Minister or some Judicious private Christian to
have Crucified Christ afresh you have stabbed him to the heart drawn fresh blood from him For not one of your sins can be pardoned without his blood and you have been very prodigal of it to spill and despise and trample it under Foot which is Hellish ingratitude Will you set home this meditation upon your Heart Finally consider that you have sinned against the Holy Spirit of God who sanctified you in Baptism unto his Service and that quite contrary to the end and intent of God in Baptizing you that you might repent and renounce sin you have wallowed in it all your daies and grieved the good Spirit of God and only gratified and served the Devil And having done this do you throw your self not upon your knees but flat upon your face upon the earth before God and think as if you were at the very mouth of Hell and ready to be cast headlong into the torments of it that are endless easeless and remediless and then with showrs of tears and with as much Shame and Grief as you can possibly confess all these sins unto God and beg of God to give you Repentance unto life to Weep Mourn and be confounded for them and never seave Praying Sighing and Groaning unto God in Prayer till he do make your hard heart wax soft within you and that you be chiefly abased and humbled that you have sinned against God who is your best Friend Saviour and alone Comforter Besides do this at night upon your Bed and be up early at this work and desire the Lord that your late Repentance may be a true Repentance Having promised me that she would take this course we came out unto the other Prisoners And speaking unto the Man condemned for coyning I told him and his Companion who stole a Mare but is since mercifully reprieved That God had said Thou shalt not Steal and as he that Murdered by Gods Law deserved everlasting death in Hell so by that same Law did he that stole that burning in Hell was a worse punishment than hanging upon a Gallows That it was a wickedness against the light of nature that they were guilty of That the very Heathen who knew not God punished it with as much severity as our Laws That they would not willingly have others so use them to take away their goods from them That every Man had a Right Title and Prerogative to the fruit of his own and honest Labors That it was a sin against the whole Land and Nation to invade the Prerogatives of the King such as coyning was being inseparable from the Crown and a most glorious Flower of it That he who would strike at the Royalties of the King would never stick nor boggle to make away the Life of the King which was such a piece of damnable impiety in it self and consequences that none but an incarnate Devil would be guilty of That they should do well to seek the pace of God in time and to wrestle mightily with him for Grace Repentance and Forgiveness that so they might not perish everlastingly Their time was short their work great it was no easie matter to get to Heaven That I had known many very holy mortified and godly Persons that had spent Threescore years in a Religious Life and close walking with God yet to be full of fears and doubts they should never get to Heaven And that they had much more cause to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling And in the upshot told them that if they would seriously and heartily embrace and follow these Counsels if they would to day whilst it is called to day hearken to the Voice of God and nor harden their Hearts there was hope for them in their latter end For their was forgiveness with God that he might he feared yea with the Lord there was mercy and plenteous Redemption Other Ministers coming in I bad them farewel for the present THe next morning about Eight of the Clock I visited them again and sound with them Mr. G. T. a worthy Minister of Exon who gave me an account of the unsuccesfulness of his Labors as to that wicked Woman the Nurse and then in a very pathetical and devout prayer most pertinent to their conditions with great meltings of his own heart and affections commended them unto the Lord. When he was gone I dealt again with the Nurse but no more privately as heretofore I urged her to repent of her horrid Murders to acknowledg them and take the shame of them to her self That she must do it God and Man Heaven and Earth required it from her mouth She still asks me Sir what will you have me confess an untruth unto you a matter of which I am not Guilty I told her that none believed her that it was a most improbable thing that those Persons who witnessed against her some of them being to my knowledg Persons fearing God hating a lie should ever accuse her falsly They had no temptations to it she never having wronged nor offended them that as far as I knew the were as much her Friends as her Mistresses that there was neither profit nor advantage nor pleasure nor honor accrewing to them in taking away her life and they were too tender and made more Conscience than so to draw upon themselves the guilt of innocent Blood And finally I told her that she had * made swopt a Bargain with the Devil for secrecy to her own destruction that all would out at last as cunningly and closely as she did carry it before Men and Angels and said I you are one of the most bloody Women that ever came into this Goal you are guilty of Two Murthers upon your Mistresses guilty of a Third before God having drawn in this poor Girl like a Devil as you are to joyn with you to ruin them and her self also and though she suffered justly from Man yet her Blood would be required from your hands by God and then you must answer for the shortning of her days and that destruction she and you have brought upon her self so that she was drowned over and over in Blood-guiltiness And I did as verily believe she would be in Hell unless there were a very wonderful change wrought upon her as that old Murderer her Father the Devil was These words extorted tears from her but no confession and she prayed me to have better thoughts and hopes of her I told her I wish I had some grounds for them but I could have none till I saw her stony Heart rent and shivered to pieces and her Bones broken under the sence of her Hellish wickedness and she did not continue to reject the Counsels of God to her own destruction Upon this her Accusers that unthought of or unknown to me were at the Door being admitted conferred with her and I betook my self to the poor Penitent the Maid This is a sad too sad a Truth After condemnation crowds of vulgar Persons throng in upon
these Malefactors The covetous Keepers for love of a piece of money letting them in who by their loose idle and impertinent discourses obstruct the success of Ministerial Labors However this poor Maid assured me that her thoughts had been upon my Counsels in the night and she wou'd make it her business to do it more effectually and withal added that she saw her self undone for ever To which I replied No she was nearer Heaven than she was aware of That her sins were not too great for God to pardon That she should remember Three Texts of Scripture that I would tell her First This is a true and faithful saying worthy of her acceptation that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief Yea Sir saith she I am the greatest sinner in Plymouth Secondly That whosoever comes unto Christ that is believes in Christ he would in no wise cast out That for her to believe in and come to Christ was no other than this That seeing her self by reason of sin to be a damned Wretch she cast her self upon the everlasting mercies of God because of Christs death with hope and expectation of them and waiting for them And then Thirdly That the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sins And she should meditate and think upon these pretious words of God and resolve that she would live and die with them in her Heart And if she did and grieved unfeignedly for her sins loathed them and her self for them my Soul for hers she should never perish For Jesus Christ was a most absolute and compleat Saviour able and willing to save the worst of Mankind that would be saved by him upon these his Terms and therefore would save her Upon this she wept again Having comforted her and done somewhat to bind up her wounds I added Anne there are yet some other works for you you must die in Charity with the world and crave pardon as from God so from Man especially from your Master whom you have so grievously wronged You must also in particular forgive this bloody Woman the Nurse that hath seduced you to this great sin and to your perdition Will you Can you do it If you do it not from your heart God will never forgive you Sir saith she I wit I do it And it should not grieve me if she lived though l died only for this Fact I forgive her a I expect forgiveness from God Then I added She must beware of mispending her time or loosing a moment of it she should take heed of vain thoughts she must be much in private Prayer and not be long but short short in Prayer but often She must hearken to all the good counsels of Gods Ministers that would come and visit her and do them to the utmost She should be as Spiritual Holy Religious Humble Serious and Heavenly minded as possible She should not take any great care of her Body the less the better as to eating drinking or sleep Her whole thoughts and care should be spent about her Soul and its salvation And to conclude Anne said I it is a hard work to die at any time but for one in thy condition very hard indeed But however once thy peace is made with God and thou hast repented of thy sin and thrown thy poor Soul upon Sovereign mercy in the Blood of Jesus never fear death Take it humbly patiently and submissively Bear the indignation of the Lord because thou hast sinned accept of the punishment of thine iniquity yea be thankful unto God that thou mayest be Burnt here and not hereafter I hope the Lord will make thy death easie short and comfortable Thou art yet a stranger to the joys of Gods Salvation and to the comforts of his Holy Spirit But it may be the Lord will give them to thee in thy bitter torments and then thou wilt scarce feel them or if he shall detain them from thee yet his Grace is sufficient for thee believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved And finishing my discourse with her she asked whether she should not see me again especially when she was to suffer for she earnestly requested my help my assistance to her in that hour I promised if it could be obtained she should have it Being now returned to the rest of the Malefactors I spake something of the Glories of that other World where truly Penitent and believing sinners were a going what an unspeakable happiness God had prepared for them and what wonderful rich grace this was on Gods part that he should promise and tender it unto them Two of whom I hope were broken hearted though they wanted much knowledge and much of that Compunction that they ought to have that if they would endeavor after more Grace God who was the God of all Grace would give liberally unto them and never upbraid them with their past ungodliness That the promises were not made so much unto the measure and degree of Grace as to the nature and Truth of Grace That a Grain of Gold was as truly Gold as an heap or Mountain That the Lord was no respecter of Persons but an Universal a Common Saviour That he despised not the day of small things He would not quench the smoaking Flax nor break the bruised Reed nor cast off any self-confounded and self-condemned wrerches That whatever their sins had been they should beware of doubting or despairing of Gods mercies Their despair of Salvation being a greater sin than Murder or High Treason That I was not ignorant of Satans devices no stranger to his Wiles and Stratagems who when he could keep them no longer in Chains of darkness and Impenitency would put Souls upon Over-doing in Repentance and over whelm them with horrors They should look to this and believe it live and die upon it that Christ Jesus was more willing to save them than they were to be saved by him that though they were to die shameful and painful deaths you to be Hanged and you to be Burnt Yet here was a comfortable meditation it was as easie going to Heaven from the Stake and Gallows as from their Beds and when their Souls were departing out of their Bodies Gods Holy Angels would convey them into Paradise At this good news my Two Penitents wept and I hope Tears of Joy And turning my self unto the Nurse Woman said I it is the very grief of my Soul and makes my heart bleed within me that not one Syllable or tittle of these good words of Gods gracious promises belongs to thee This is the Children Bread it must not be given unto Dogs and Devils Having finished my discourse I gathered up the particulars and spread them before the Lord in Prayer begging grace and glory for them And that his Divine Majesty would yet mollifie that Adamant before him and take away the heart of stone and give an heart of flesh and open the Brazen Doors that this Captive of Hell might go
T is reported she should say She knew she should be Damned but not for this Crime Exon March 30 1676. Sir Yours to love and serve you in our Lord Jesus What ever the effect and Fruit of their labors was she gave them this ensuing Confession which one of those Reverend Ministers that panted after her Souls Salvation took from her mouth and hath Cloathed it in these words The Ingenious and true Confession of Anne Evans concerning the horrid and cruel Murder of Elizabeth Weeks and Mary Pengelley ENvy being once at the height it put in Execution with a Witness This Nurse having by some means caused her Husband to receive words from her Mistris he was pleased to be very angry with his Wise for the same and withal threatens her to leave her And departed for a Fortnights time whereupon began an hatching of this Barbarous action by the said Nurse saying she would fit her for it for she her Mistris was the cause of her Husbands going from her as she said and endeavored to put it in practise with perswading the said Anne Evans to go to Master Mathews the Apothecary for Ratsbane telling her she should ask it for the poysoning of Rats and Mice saying it will do her work in as short a time as one might go to the Gate and back again and then they should live as merry as the days were long when the old Devil was gone Saying she knew one who was poysoned in as little time with it and some Cream Whereupon like a true and Faithful Servant the said Anne Evans refuseth and rejects the said sayings and would by no means do it Here we must stop a while and give you to understand how much this poor Creature lived in fear of the Nurse and by that means neglected the discovery of it to the destroying of her Body â—ut 〈◊〉 hot 〈…〉 the destroying of her Soul For there is mercy with the Lord that he may be Feared Now the Devil having once got hold on her Heart neglects no opportunities but puts her on it with great subtilties and invention The Nurse laying as it is supposed by all circumstances a clean Paper twisted at both ends with Poyson in it in the path of the Garden knowing that this Anne Evans was to go forth to gather Herbs to put into the Pot according to her Mistresses command she finds the Paper lying in her way which she took up and brought in and shews it to this Nurse again asking her what it was who pretended she knew not and with all bidding her put it out of her hand the Nurse eyed her where she lay'd it which was in the Kitchin on a shelf Going afterward to the Conduit for Water at her return it came into her mind to look on that thing once more which she had taken up in the Garden and it was gone off from the shelf which no body else could take but the said Nurse for it was at Eight of the Clock at night and no body there but she Then the said Anne Evans saw her grinding it on the Harth with Two Tiles and demanding her what she was doing she cryed Peace we shall have brave sport if you will but put this into the old Womans Dish She through her enticements and strong perswasions not knowing what it was or that the end of it would be death being not willing to have her displeasure For she lived in great fear of offending the Nurse because she was in great favor with the young Mistress thinking that if she did not consent to her request she should fare the worse for it And further the said Anne Evans doth testifie that the same Sunday she was sent for some drink which she brought to the Nurse and the Nurse did Warm it and put a bit of Bread into it and drank up a good draught of it and filled it up again afterward with other drink in which she had steeped some of that Powder all night and gave it to the old Mistriss to drink Here is a Consession Harmonical with that she made formerly she varied nothing from first to last in it So that as the Serpent drew in Eve in like manner did this wicked Nurse beguile this poor Maid into the transgression ON Wednesday the 29. of March they left Exon and were brought on Horseback to Plymouth in order to their execution At the Bridg end as they were coming out of the City that vile Woman was heard to lay unto the Hangman boastingly That she had known many Men in her life and used several other obscene expressions that I will not soil my Paper nor make my Reader blush at the Relation of them In their journey the Girl was very pensive cared for little or no refreshment and at the last place where they baited being desired to take some sustenance she replied There was other work for her than to eat or drink she had a Soul to save would look wholly after that and no more care for her Body which should neither eat nor drink more in this world The Nurse was of a far different temper and deportment far from seriousness or thoughts of Death and Eternity The Executioner was her Husband and if he had not defiled her they are both abominably wronged Now they return again to Plymouth At their entrance they are attended by Thousands of People Persons of all Age and Quality ran to meet them They are gazed at as so many Monsters Every one passeth his censure on them some with bowels of pitty on the poor Girl scarce any one hath Charity for the Nurse They went from this Town with their sin and under guilt They return unto it with shame and sorrow and under wrath Being conducted unto their Chamber the Reverend and Learned Ministers of Plymouth Dr. Ashton Mr. Collings and Mr. Read visits them and discourse with them but the Throng of Spectators was so great that for the present much good could not be done by them Yet so strong a flame of divine love toward the Souls of these condemned wretches was kindled in the hearts of those grave Divines that they return again unto them after Ten and though late at night yet spent a considerable space of time in Religious conferences with them and muster up all their arguments to induce that obstinate sinner the Nurse to confess and forsake the Devil and to accept of Gods tender mercies But the flinty Rock will sooner gush out with Waters and the Adamant be broken to pieces by the Hammer than her unmoveable Soul utter forth one Syllable of guilt Heart-work is hard work None but the Divine and Omnipotent Arm can unlock it's Doors or break its Bars in pieces With the Maid they had no difficulty she owneth and confesseth all Her desires are for mercy at the hands of God acknowledging she deserved and expected none from Men. They conclude their charitable Visit with seeking God the Reverend Doctor praying most fervently for
I never intended any more hurt to my Mistris than I do to my own Soul I believe she spake the truth for she never intended good to her Soul Just like Doctor Lopez the Jew who being convented before the Privy Councel for attempting to Poyson Queen Elizabeth told their Honors That be loved the Queen better than be loved Christ Yea said a Noble Lord thou tellest the truth for thou art a Jew and lovest both a like And Sir I knew that this wicked Maid had an intent to make away her Mistris and that she did it but I was loth to discover and now I must suffer for her fault I told her no it was for her own and she did not yet confess any thing to the purpose all this I knew before you must tell me as to your own hand and Guilt in this Murder None None at all Sir that is her answer But Nurse did you not tell such a Minister that visited you in Goal that you would consider what he spoke unto you at this she changed countenance paled and redded once and again minced aequivocated and faltered in her expressions but taking her in all her Evasions she could not deny she had promised him and had considered of it yet knew no guilt by her self worthy of death Getting no ground here I askt her concerning the Gold her Brother took her for his Child she told me she never had any from him Why then did you speak to Master W. to look after your Money if you never had any and be such a Poor Woman Sir I will without any dissimulation tell yon all the Truth My Brother acquainted me that there was Ten Pound in a Purse hanging between the Vallance and the Wall of his Bed Chamber in Loo Whereupon my Husband got an Horse in Plymouth Rode thither and brought it to me So that I never had any of my Brother but my Husband had Well Nurse this may be as you say though undoubtedly there was more but how have you disposed of it She replied It is put out for my Child I told her this is a very horrid Theft the healer was as bad in the sight of God as the stealer that without Restitution there was no Remission That unless she took some course for its being restored she could never be saved That God would never bless it unto her Child Yea the very contrary for it would be a snare and a curse unto her and an occasion of destruction unto her otherwise innocent Child And recollecting all my former discourses and arguments to her I pressed with all possible earnestness and importunity not willfully to precipitate her self into Hell That there were now but a few Sands in her Glass a few breaths in her body a few minutes in her time that she should not play the Fool any longer love the Devil and hate God The Devil had already undone her yet the Lord was willing to save her He sent me once again upon that errand but if she were resolved to adhere unto her grand Enemy and utterly forsake the Lord her best Friend I was heartily sorry for her I foresaw she must Burn in Hell Everlastingly That in the day of Judgment I should be a witness against her and it would be a fearful thing that God Almighty should tell her did not I send Minister upon Minister to Convert reconcile and save thee Did not this and that come unto thee Woe and intreat thee with tears in their eyes with fair and gentle with terrible and amazing words to confess and give Glory to me but thou wouldest not Ah! Nurse Nurse What will you say unto the Lord then She wept and I wept for Company But recovering my self Woman said I do not flatter thy self with false hopes of Life For I fear thou keepest the Devils Counsel upon that account Thou must die All the world cannot save thee Ere three hours be spent and gone thou must be led unto the Gallows and thence into Eternity Oh! Hell Hell Hell Woman is a place and state of unspeakable of unsufferable horror and torment Yet Flee Flee Flee from it Or thou art undone for ever I now Love Pitty Intreat and Pray for thee But if thou wilt be a Reprobate a cast away I take God to witness I have done my duty my utmost to save thee Lord said I lifting up my Eyes and Hands to Heaven I am free of the ruin of this Woman Let her Blood and Damnation lie upon her own Head And Nurse It is a very fearful thing to fall into the bands of the living God The God to whom thou art going is a consuming Fire Ah! Who can abide his anger Who can stand before his indignation None will compassionate thee at thy death And in the day of Judgment thou wilt be an abhorrency to all All this wrought nothing upon her besides tears Still she avows her innocency and had I not had unquestionable evidence of her guilt possibly I might have been perswaded she was accused and condemned unjustly After this I sat down and Mr. Collings the Reverend Minister of Charles Church coming in he reasoned with her for a long time as also my worthy Friend Mr. Sh. But a Marble Quarry affords no Water nor her stony Heart one penitential Tear At length all their pains being useless ineffectual and unsuccesful we resolved to try the Lord once more by Prayer and see whether any mercy might be got out of Heaven for her Mr. Collings was our Mouth to God The condemned Persons were upon their knees Duty ended I departed and never spake more with her till she was upon the Ladder ANd now she is waited on to the Gallows The Streets are crowded The Major Magistrates and under Sheriff can hardly pass for the throngs The poor Maid is drawn on the Hurdle The posture she lay in was on her left side her Face in her Bosom her Bible under her Arm seeming like one dead rather than alive At length we are come though slowly to the place of Execution Plimouth was then naked of Inhabitants the Town was easie to be taken and the Houses to be plundered if an Enemy had been at hand to have done it Cat downe the Lambhey Cittadel Turn-Chappel and Cat-Water are prest with multitudes Some computed their number I'wenty thousand But Commanders who at lived in Wars and seen great Armies and therefore the most competent Judges in this case estimated them at one half I write within compass The Maid being nailed to her Stake and the Iron Hoop about her and the Nurse mounted upon the Ladder she desires that this Relator might now Pray with her But it being thought requisite that the established Order of the Church should be observed the Common Prayers were first Commanded Which having been read Audably and with great Devotion from the By-standers The 51. Psalm according to the Girls request was sung Who it was very observable joyned with the People singing also
herself Now she being questioned about her offence owns every particular thereof it having been propounded to her in particulars Owneth that the Nurse bad her put it in Only denieth the Deposition of Scannels Wife professing that she cannot remember it Professeth her hearty and unfeigned sorrow for her sin not only because it had ruined her Mistresses and her self but principally and especially because it was an high dishonor to God Father Son and Spirit that it made her unworthy of his Favor and Blessing yet she professed her Faith and Hope of Salvation through the alone Merits of the Lord Jesus Into whose hands she now commended her self and desired to forgive all the World and that Bloody Woman the Nurse who had drawn her into destruction and added that she submitted patiently to her death because she had deserved it And said it was her wish that all others would take warning by her Example and taking this Relator by the hand Sir saith she will you not pray with me Did you not promise me yon would And craving it with Tears it was readily accorded Silence being commanded and every Person composed there was this following Prayer conceived and poured before the Lord in her behalf MOst Holy Lord God! The Righteous Judg of the whole World Just in all thy Ways and Holy in all Works The great and terrible God! a consuming Fire and everlasting burnings How can such sinful chaff and stubble as we are stand before thee We must needs in a Moment be reduced unto Ashes if thou hast not pitty on us But blessed be thy Name thou art a God of wonderful Love and Mercies Thou hast so loved the World as to give thine only begotten Son to the death for us that we believing in him should not perish but have everlasting life We are greater Sinners than the Apostate Angels and yet have greater Mercies afforded us though they are better capacited to serve God than our selves and never sinned against thee but once yet thou didst utterly reject them never gavest a Christ to them nor to die for them whereas thou hast bestowed him on us the most unworthy Persons Sons and Daughters of sinful Adam who have never ceased sinning against thee We are all Sinners by Nature and from our Youth upward We were conceived in sin and born in iniquity Our Infancy our Youth and riper years have been all spent in the drudgery of sin We have broken all the Commandments of our God in heart thought word and deed sinned against the Law and against the Gospel against all the means used by our God to reclaim and to reform us We have despised the best of Mercies and deserved the worst of Judgments yea to be burnt up with unquenchable flames as this poor wretched Malefactor is now ready to be with those that are temporal But hitherto thou hast spared and reprieved us and given us space for Repentance and waitest to be gracious to us and biddest us seek thee O our God whilest thou mayest be found and call upon thee whilest thou art near it forsake our ungodliness and to forego all our wickedness and thou wouldest abundantly pardon yea thou art so gracious as to bid and incourage us to Pray for others with promises of Audience and Acceptance This emboldens us to make our addresses to thee for this poor condemned Creature ready to be executed We confess for her and she doth acknowledg for her self Lord her great and grievous offences that she hath been a Rebel against thee all her days lived in sin neglected duty neglected getting the saving knowledg of God and acquaintance with thee that she hath not hearkened to the voice of God speaking from his holy Word unto her but listned readily unto the Temptations and Suggestion of the Devil a Murderer from the beginning and by whose enticements she hath embrewed her hands in Blood in the guilt of innocent Blood of her Relation and Superiors which crys to Heaven for vengeance against her Lord she cannot stand before the Justice of Men. Ah! how unable is she to subsist at the Bar of God Man hath justly contemned her and the Lord might justly damn her and that to all Eternity The wages of her sin is death death Temporal and Eternal But Lord though she is miserable thou art merciful though she is full of sins thou art full of pardons though she is helpless in her self yet in thee Lord is she not hopeless Blessed be God that hath opened a Door of hope for her in the Resurrection of Christ Jesus who was delivered to the death for her sins and rose again from the dead that she might be justified Thy Free guift in Christ Jesus is Eternal Life Oh! How sweet is thy mercy Suffer us Blessed Father in all humility to plead with thee in her behalf Oh That thou wouldest be gracious to her she is thy Creature the work of thine hands do not destroy her She is the purchase of thy Sons blood Oh Let him not loose her Christ died for her Oh Let him not die in vain for her Therefore save her Her sins are many but thy mercies are infinitely more her sins are Bloody Crimson Scarlet and crying sins but the blood of Jesus cleanseth from all sins Bloodshed by her cryeth down Vengeance on her But yet dear Lord Hear Oh hear the lowder outcries of thy Sons blood for her She is if ever any an object worthy of pitty not from any worth in her but because of her misery If God do not help her who will Who can Men and Angels cannot save her but Jesus Christ can He is able And Bessed be thy name sweet Jesu Thou art willing also even to the worst and utmost to save Thou art an Almighty and All sufficient Saviour thine arm is not shortened thy Grace is not exhausted Oh Magnifie thy Grace now even now upon her Thou hast said that the weary the heavy laden should come unto thee and thou wouldest give them rest And that such as come unto thee though the greatest sinners thou wouldest not cast out 'T is late indeed that she comes unto thee but not too late Truth Lord Late Repentance is seldom true but yet true Repentance is never too late Bitter late than never Thou hast given us one instance one example of the Thief on the Cross saved at the Eleventh at the last hour save one 't is but one that we should not presume and yet one that we should not despair Oh Lord she will not despair of thy mercy that were a greater sin than all the rest that she hath committed Now Lord though late she comes unto thee she throws her self at thy Feet and we thy poor Servants come unto thee and prostrate our selves at thy fleet for her Oh! Do not cast her out of thy sight Oh! Let her not be Damned but saved This is a true and faithful saying worthy of all acceptation most worthy of hers and she accepts of it
and rests upon it and trusts unto it that Jesus Christ came into the World to save sinners Of whom she is chief Thou art willing that all should be saved Therefore thou art willing she should be saved also Thou hast put these words into her mouth and into our mouths for her That if Jesus Christ hath not merits enough to save her she and we also will be contented that she should be Damned for ever But Blessed be our God! The merits of our Saviour are Infinite Oh! Lord make application of them unto her poor Soul Oh! Take away for Christs sake all her sins Blot out her iniquities at a Cloud and her Transgressions as a thick Cloud Though her sins have abounded unto her Condemnation yet let thy grace much more infinitely more abound unto her justification Enter not into judgment with her Oh Lord Deliver her from blood guiltiness Oh God thou God of her salvation And her Tongue and our mouths shall sing aloud of Christs Righteousness and of thy Faithfulness Oh take away whatsoever may hinder the Communications of thy Love favor and salvation unto her Purge sin out of her Give a broken contrite and truly Peritent heart unto her She is Mourning for her sin and misery Oh wash her in the blood of the Lamb in that Fountain opined for sin and for Uncleannesses in the lavor of Regeneration Oh sanctifie and renew her by thy Holy Spirit Take away all the spots and blots of her sin Though she be defiled and deformed with innumerable and those the most abominable yet canst thou rense and cleanse her in a moment No unclean thing shall enter into thy Kingdom Without Holiness none can see the Lord. Now the Lord Sanctifie her throughout in her whole Soul Body and Spirit And though she hath been by the wiles of the Devil cheated of her life and is now to suffer Justly for her evil deeds give her to bear patiently the indignation of her God because she hath sinned against thee and to accept of the punishment of her iniquity Though she must burn in Temporal flames yet let her not burn in Everlasting flames Oh Let the streams of Christs blood quench out the flames of thy wrath Though she die in Earth Lord Save her from Hell Oh Give her Faith the Faith of Gods elect And the Lord strengthen her Faith Oh Confirm her hope Oh Give her to abound in hope through thy Holy Ghost given to her Oh Grant that Faith Hope and patience may have their perfect work in her Give in some token some pledge of thy good will unto her if it be thy good pleasure Oh revive support and comfort her drooping Spirits Though she be in the Valley and shaddow of death do not forsake her Oh do not forsake her Say unto her thou art her Salvation Tell her that after she hath suffered a little while she shall be with thy self in Heaven perfect with thee in Glory Say unto her as unto the Thief upon the Cross this day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Oh keep off Satan from her He is never more busie â—han when thy poor Worms are weakest and least able to defend themselves from him Lord Jesu Fight for her against him Keep her pretious and immortal Soul from him Oh Be with her now in these her last agonies Give thy Holy Angels to wait upon her and in that very moment that her Soul shall go out of her Body let those Glorious Angels carry it into Abrahams bosome Into thy hands do we commend her Into thy hands doth she commit her Spirit Dear Jesu Save it For thou hast loved redeemed and died for it And now Lord though earth will loose a bloody Sinner yet let Heaven be augmented by one saint more O Look down from Heaven the Habitation of thy Holiness and Glory upon this numerous Assembly Oh let them not be idle Spectators of these dreadful Providences Oh That they may be Ordinances for this good for their Conversion and Reformation Oh That every Soul that is gazing here may smite upon his Breast and lament that Universal corruption which is in our nature and the woful effects of our sin Sin having once conceived bringeth forth death We have the root of the matter in us the very causes of those sins for which these Malefactors suffer had we the same temptations we might be Guilty of the like transgressions And were it not for the Cords and Curbs of thy Restraining Grace we should be in their Condition Blessed be God we are not 'T is thou only that hast made us to differ Oh That all Masters of Families Parents of Children would see that they in their own Persons and with their Families do serve the Lord Oh Let there be no ' Prayerless Families no uncatechized Children in this Place Look once more we pray thee with mercy upon this thy poor Creature She is very low very miserable yearn upon her with bowels of compassion and embrace her with arms of everlasting lave Be her God and her Guide unto death and her Saviour from everlasting death And all we beg in and for the sake of our dearest Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who sits on the Right hand making intercession for her and for us Hear us for his sake and gratiously answer us and do abundantly for her and us beyond what we can ask or think To him with thy self Holy Father and Eternal Spirit be Everlasting Glory Dominion Praise and Thanksgiving Amen Prayer being ended I lifted up my hands over her and said Anne the Lord bless thee and keep thee The Lord make his Face to shine upon thee and be gracious to thee The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon thee and give thee Peace And if thy Repentance be true and thy peace made with God and our Prayers heard as I hope they all are death wont be terrible unto thee Now Farewel Life welcome Death God will send his Holy Angels in a Fiery Chariot to Convey thy Soul into Heaven THis poor wretch weeping and wringing me by the hand Sir saith she I am never able to requite you for all your labor of love care and pains about the Salvation of my pretious Soul but the Lord. will I hope The Lord reward you The Lord recompense you for all these kindnesses I thank you with all my Heart And as I was departing from her she helpake me Sir pray intreat for me that I may not be put to too much torture I answered her in broken words and tears for few there refrained That I would do my utmost endeavor to prevent it And turning my self to the Gentlemen in Authority Gentlemen the English temper abhors Cruelty show same Bowels to this poor Creature I need not intreat it there was such a Clowd of grief sitting upon all their Faces and so much tenderness and companion that they would have done their utmost to have hindred it Two went to the Maid and
her sake Besides he should but tempt God to ask a pardon for her Who resolved never to take it upon Gods Terms In short if she would be yet ingenious and give Glory to God by adoring his Justice and shameing her self and renouncing her sin and the Devil there Was no person more willing to pray with her and pray for her than himself To which she making no reply Mr. R. the Minister conceived a pithy and pertinent Prayer lamenting the depravedness of our Nature the horribleness of Gods wrath the possibility of Salvation refused by desperate sinners and as we feared in particular by this Malefactor his dear Sister now ready to be turned over He petitioned that if it were not yet too late that God would give her Repentance and break her stony heart and cause her to glorifie him at the last by an ingenious and full Confession Prayer being ended she is once again asked whether she would confess But being obstinate in her refusals she prayed for her self in the words of the lords Prayer said the Creed and being yet exhorted to Remember the merciful nature of God who would save her as we yet hoped provided she would come unto his Terms of Confession and Repentance She tells us She cannot confess that whereof is not Guilty Being asked whether she could die in Charity with her Witnesses and Accusers She said I forgive all the World And a while after without any visible tokens of Religion Grace or Devotion without any observable preparedness or willingness for death by any of those many Divines that had painfully dealt with her or Christians that beheld her she was turned off the Ladder and went into that other World She went out like the Snuff of a Candle leaving a stench behind her And if it be asked what is become of her Soul I answer the Question is idle needless over-curious and unprofitable 't is not for saucy Creatures poor crawling Earth-worms such at our selves are to pry into the deep secrets of Gods Eternal Counsels nor to peep into the sacred Ark of his bottomless decrees These inscrutable purposes of God by reason of their inexplicable difficulties will amaze and puzle us nor can we ever possibly attain unto any infallible certainty or satisfaction concerning her I know the absolute and uncontroulable Soveraignty of Divine Grace and mercies and that God can come in if he please between the Bridge and Water the Cup and the Lip But who can inform or assure me that God did so to her She is gone unto her Judge hath undergone her Doom and if she be saved it is a Thousand mercies unto the World that the World neither doth nor can know it But did she not protest her Innocency to the very last I know she did and is she Innocent because she said so Dying persons are indeed to be credited But then they must be persons of credit and serious and if Condemned Malefactors such as are most Eminent and exemplary for their Repentance Can any one Man or Woman living that Converst with her from first to last from her Imprisonment to her Execution avow upon her knowledge that she saw so much as one poor token of a broken heart of a sincere Penitent in her Produce it and it shall be Thankfully accepted Had she been Innocent she could not have been so much concerned for life as she was I told her in ' Plymouth and Exon and she was told the same by a Reverend Divine that Innocency was a Wall of Brass it would carry a Person above the fear of Death make her to outbrave Death she could go triumphantly into the presence of the Eternal Judg and bless him that she was condemned unjustly Besides her Innocence as to this Fact would have ingaged her to a more curious and exact scrutiny into her life past to have found out the true cause of Gods anger in shortning her days and to a most holy life and religious preparation of her Soul for death during the whole time of her imprisonment None of which she had done unless looseness prophaneness and uncleanness must be expounded and taken for it Finally I lookt upon her as a desperate and Forelorne wretch and told her it was no new thing to find her such 'T is no new thing tor the worst of sinners to be desperate Were not Cain Saul Abimelech Achitophel and Judas desperate This Relator heard a man Condemned to be Hanged utter upon the Ladder these words Gentlemen I value not my life of a Rush I fear not death and without any more Ceremonies or ado and Soldiers are none of the most Religious He willfully leapt off of the Ladder at Crimble-passage Where had not others shown his body more mercy than he did hi own Soul he might have perisht everlastingly I know not whether she had as much Courage Sure I am Death never struck unto her Spirits till the Psalm was a Singing and it was a doleful Tune unto her Her heart was then up in her mouth If it were not broke with the sence of sin and near approaches of Divine wrath it was with the very horrors of death Others Sang she did but howl and yell Methought the expressions of her grief and vehemency of her passions raised strange resentments and compassions in the Spectators One and but one have I known in her condition a big and tall Fellow that upon the score of his strength could have affrighted the King of Terrors Yet after Sentence and for Burglary was he Sentenced unto death his heart failed him his Spirits sunk his Soul died within him All his Language and that too in groans and Floods of Tears with blubbered Cheeks and wringed hands was I shall die I shall die I shall die I shall die Woe is me I shall die I shall die Though I came to him into the Jail took him by the hand intreated him upon my knees not to be so much concerned for the loss of his Natural Life But to look after another a better Life after the life of his miserable Soul Yet no Arguments no motives could prevail upon him He was Deaf in that ear A stone might have heard and answered but this wretch would give none other answer than I shall die I shall die Woe is me I shall die I shall die The terrors of death like an opiate Medicine had quite stupified him that he could not listen unto the best Counsels for his Souls welfare But what and if this vile woman had been Guilty of some other Capital Crimes I know of the dead rue best must be spoken but then those dead persons should not be Impenitent Criminals It is no pleasure to me no pleasing task to Rake in Dunghils Would to God all Vices were Buried together with hers though under the Gibbet It were no difficult matter nay a man might with a wet Finger prove her Guilty of soul and frequent Adulteries of Debauching Young persons of prostituting her self in