AT the last Sessions for London and Middlesex, ending on Saturday the 13th of this instant December, there were in all Eleven persons (six men and five women) that recei­ved Sentence of Death; of whom Four, viz. Jane Cragnel, Anne Side, James Rawlins, and Sarah Bennifield, alias Bodington, obtained his Majesties gracious Reprieve.

As for the rest that suffered, we shall give the Reader a true and impartial account both of their Crimes and Deportment after Con­demnation.

John Parker was by Trade a Watch-maker, and 'tis said a most in­genious Artist in that Profession; but happening long since into Ill Company, he has for many years followed those mischievous pra­ctices of Clipping and Coyning, whereby the whole Nation is most horribly, and more of late than ever, abused and defrauded. He had a Brother of the same bad Principles, for which he had three or four times been questioned; as likewise this man had once been try­ed and convicted of the like Offences at Salisbury, though there he evaded Execution. The Fact at present was fully proved upon him by an ocular Witness; and when Sentence of Death passed upon him, he was the onely person that desired time to fit and prepare himself to die; which both to him and the rest was charitably gran­ted. After his Conviction, two persons coming to visit him, were detained; whether charged by him, or otherwise, we shall not say. He seem'd all along to comfort himself with hopes of a Pardon, having (as 'tis said) obtained one for his Brother heretofore in the same Circumstances, by presenting a Watch of exquisite workman­ship to a Woman of mighty Prevalency. But as he had led an ill life, so his Deportment was now suitable, rather busied for a Re­prieve from man, than pardoning Mercy from God.

Benjamin Penry was a very stout portly man, prov'd to be a no­torious Highway-man, and Companion with French who was exe­cuted last Sessions; with whom he was taken in Islington-Town on the Lords▪ day, where being (as 'tis believed) in drink, they made an Assault on a young man, with an intention (as 'tis probable) to rob him of an Horse of great value; for which Misdemeanour be­ing committed, other things came against them, and particularly this Penry was found guilty of robbing a Gentleman on Bag-shot-heath. As he was a man of Confidence, so he behaved himself with an un­toward, at least unchristian kind of Resolution. He had a woman indicted with him, whom he call'd Wife, one Mrs. White, formerly condemned for Clipping; she endeavoured to bring him to confess others of the Gang, but as far as we hear, without much effect.

The next was the notorious John Dell, lately living at Edger in Middlesex, of whom common Fame has given such a report, as may excuse us from enlarging. He and his Companion Richard Dean, formerly his Servant, heretofore Tryed for the Murder of the said Dell's Wives Brother, a Tanner, whose Body about a Year ago was found near Redlion-fields, were this Sessions Tryed, first for Murdering his the said Dell's Wife; and next day, for Murdering one Daniel Ball her Father. The Circumstances on each were very pressing, and (as Mr. Recorder excellently ob­served) in the judgment of most Auditors, seem'd to want rather Proof than Truth: However, they were thereof found Not Guilty; [Page 3]but afterwards Condemn'd for stealing a Mare. The Behaviour of this Dell after Sentence was very sad and extraordinary; he seem'd to have no kinde of Remorse for his Sins in general, or Sense of his approaching End; but rather added to the former Suspicions: For when soon after Condemnation, by the prudent care of the Court, Dean was ordered to be taken out of his company, and kept apart, he seemed to be much troubled at it; and calling for Ale, whisper'd to the Boy that brought it, to commend him to the said Dean, and tell him, that possibly he might be put to the Tor­ture, but however he should be sure to stand his Ground. When the other Prisoners went to Prayers, he would retire into a corner, wrap himself up in his Cloak, and refuse to joyn with them, saying, He could not pray. Even at Chappel, the Minister endeavouring to reach their Consciences by a particular Application, and treating of the heinousness of the sin of Murder, this Dell insolently inter­rupted him in the publick Congregation, saying, Who do you speak to? Why do you direct your discourse to me? or ill irreverent words to that effect. Besides the unwearied pains taken by Mr. Ordinary, several other able Ministers were sent, or led by Charity to visit him, but he sullenly received them; and to one discoursing of the two future states, Heaven and Hell, with a scoffing kind of Atheistical humour, he replied, Heaven! There is not one of a thousand goes to Heaven, why talk you to me of Heaven? Another time he re­fused to be uncovered at Religious Worship, scoffingly saying, He should catch cold, or a Chine-cough, if he pull'd off his Hat; with several other marks of a deplorable Impenitency.

As for John Dean, though he behaved himself not so morosely and untowardly, but would often confess in general terms that he had been a very great Sinner, yet could not he by any pains of the Ministers be brought to acknowledge the Murders whereof they were both so violently suspected as aforesaid. 'Tis believed, that being only found Guilty of Felony for stealing the Mare, and for want of Legal Proof acquitted of the other matters, might harden their hearts to deny their other Crimes, hoping that for so small an one they might easily obtain a Pardon. So sollicitous are bad men to prolong a miserable, and at best uncertain Life here, for a few moments, though thereby they incur eternal Death and never-ending Torments in the World to come. For let all stubborn Sin­ners know, that however with Hypocritical pretences to Innocence or Jesuitical Impudence they may conceal from, or forswear their Villanies unto Men, yet there is a most Just and All seeing God, from whom nothing can be hid, and who will not always be moc­ked; but certainly, though sometimes slowly, and after a long and seeming prosperous Carreer in Wickedness, will call them to a severe Account, and pour forth to the full his dreadful Indigna­tion upon them.

On this present Friday the 19th of December, Parker was drawn from Newgate on a Sled with four Horses: He behaved himself very penitently, holding a Book in his hand, and often elevated his eyes to Heaven. Dell, Atkins, and Penry were carried in one Cart: The two women in another, of whom one was whipped but the very last Sessions: And Dean in a Cart by himself; He seemed a poor sorry fellow, but had often been concerned in Rogueries, and without doubt had been a Confederate with his Master Dell in many of his late horrid Crimes. However, in his Passage he demean'd himself with much more shew of Penitence than the other, and it was well hoped that he would make an ingenuous Confession.

Mr. Dell continued obstinate to the last, and in the Morning be­fore he went out of Newgate, the Ordinary pressing him to a Con­fession, he impiously answered, What shall I confess for, it is not in your Power to Pardon me? Nor did he at the place of Execu­tion own any thing, nor indeed could be induced to speak; but in a stupid manner was Executed.

Parker appeared very penitent, and gave away his Book before he came to Tyburn to an Acquaintance of his.

The Highway-man Mr. Penry, died very composedly, and just be­fore his death, in spight of all his Resolutions, the Tears ran down his cheeks.

Atkins, who suffered for being a Pickpocket and a great Practi­tioner that way, seemed also to be mindful of his latter End.

Dean was kept alive till all the rest were executed, and Captain Richardson very worthily, and with incomparable earnest Expressions, importun'd him to a Confession; and once he was, as it were, turn'd off, but stopt; and then he did say, That he verily believed Dell was guilty of the Murder of his Wife: but would not acknowledge that he himself was concern'd. And so he was likewise executed.