what could be expected from a man of courage, and
a Christian, under his circumstances. A minister,
out of charity, visited him several times and prayed
with him, exhorting him always to make a dear and candid
confession of the fact, and, since there were no hopes,
not to go to death with a lie between his lips.
Yet he persisted still in what he had at first declared,
and continued to assert the truth of that declaration,
until the gaol sickness brought him so low, that he
was scarce able to speak at all. In this low
slate of health he continued until within two or three
days of his death, when he began to pick up strength
a little; and as soon as he was able to go up the stairs,
he attended as usual the devotions of the chapel.
In this frame and disposition of heart he remained
until the day of his execution came, upon which he
appeared not only calm but cheerful, received the
Sacrament as is usual with malefactors at the day of
their death, and behaved at it in a very pious and
religious manner.
When he came to Tyburn he stood up, and intended to have spoken to the people, but finding himself too weak, he referred to a paper which he delivered to Mr. Applebee, a printer, and which contained the substance of what (if he had been able) he would have there spoken; and then, after a few private ejaculations, he easily resigned up his breath at the same time with the other malefactor, being then in the one-and-twentieth year of his age. I thought proper to insert the copy of that letter I have before spoken of, and it follows verbatim.
Good people,
I am to suffer by Law an ignominious death (God’s will be done) which untimely end I never expected. I am a youth and it’s above twelve months since I enlisted into his Majesty’s Service. The character of my behaviour in that time I will leave to my acquaintance to declare; my character was sufficiently testified at my trial, by gentlemen of worth and honour. I pray God bless them for their Christian charity. I praise God my resolution to live uprightly was no constraint; as for the cause I suffer, and the horrid imputation I am charged with which is rendered murder (from my soul I abhor) I now declare as I expect salvation, I am unjustly accused, but I freely forgive my persecutors, as I hope to be forgiven; for what I did was accidental, and in my own vindication. The real truth is as follows:
The two soldiers that were my evidence desired my company to drink with them. As we were returning home through the Park, passing by two women, and being warm with liquor, I presumed to give one of them a kiss; the other was a married woman, and resenting my freedom, called out to her husband, Edward Perry deceased, and to Toms that walked before, both entire strangers to me. They returned, Toms advanced towards me speaking abruptly, and struck me over the head and shoulders with a stick, which stunned me; likewise he urged the deceased to quarrel with me. The deceitful