SEveral Reports, of this Nature, have been oftentimes Manifested in Print; many, of which, have seemed to look somewhat obscure, till it hath been more particularly dissected, and laid open, in all its Agravating Circumstances. And indeed, till that be done, there are a sort of Men in the World, who are apt to asperse the Su­perior Powers, as if they were too Severe in the Execution of Justice; but, when their Eyes are enlightned by the due Weight of Rea­son, then perhaps they will be of another mind, unless they are Prejudiced beyond the bounds of Natural Reason, and Common Sence, there­fore, it will not be inconvenient to give the Reader a Brief Account (by the way) of the Matter of Fact, in Relation to this Unfortu­nate Gentleman, &c.

Some Persons (it is very likely) have not forgotten, that about the 4th. of July last, was Twelve Month, there was a Mutinous, or Riotous Assembly Raised, and got together in White Fryars, in London, in opposition to the Gentlemen of the Inner Temple, who stopt up a Passage that led out of the said Fryars into the Temple Walks, the Gentlemen finding the said Passage to be very incommodious to them, up­on the hot Resistance of the White Fryars men, there was likely to be great Mischief done, to prevent, appease, and qualifie which, the then present Sheriffs of London, (being sent for) came with their Officers and Attendants, en­tered in at the Fryars Gate, endeavouring to make open Proclamation, that all Persons should Cease, and go Home in Peace to their Respe­ctive Abodes: But this was not Regarded by the Mutineers, for they were the more Incen­sed, and came with great Fury against the High Sheriffs, this Gentleman being at the Head of about Fourscore of them, as their Captain and Leader, with a Blunderbuss in his hand, which he was seen to Fire off several times, bidding defiance to the Sheriffs; and all those who were their Assistance, crying One and all, they would kill them, rather than any Man should be taken out from them, by way of an Arrest, but that was lookt upon to be but a false Sugge­stion, and a Cunning Plea of their own For­ging, they having no Regard to Authority, for they had placed several Casks on both sides of the Street, on purpose to Impede the Passage of the Sheriffs, and some of them lay secretly behind them, as it were on purpose, to lye in Wait to take an Advantage, &c. Fi­ring several times against the Sheriffs and their Men, the Captain being at the Head of them, as aforesaid. And Chandler, the poor Man, who was killed, being on the Sheriffs side, had the misfortune to be shot in the Calf of his Leg, with a Leaden Bullet, which wound killed him in two or three Days, he solemnly protesting upon his Death-Bed, that he knew Captain Winter very well, and that he was the Man that Shot him, for which Fact the Captain, for some considerable time, Ab­sconded, but was lately Apprehended, and [Page]Committed to Newgate for the same, and was this last Sessions Tryed for it, and found Guil­ty of Murther, and, on the 29th. of April he was Condemned, in Order to be Executed with the other Criminals, who suffer'd at Tyburn, the 8th. Instant. But, by Vertue of Her Ma­jesty's Gracious Reprieve, he was Respited until this day, &c. As for his Birth, he was Born at Truro in Cornwall, then sent Appren­tice to a Captain of a Ship, after this he was made a Captain of a Merchant Man to the West Indias himself, after that he Commanded a Ship in the last Dutch Wars, where (to say the Truth) he behaved himself with a great deal of Candor and Courage, afterwards he fell into decay, and had Contracted some Debts in the World, which occasioned him to fly for Refuge into White Fryers, where he had the Unhappiness to be Engaged in such an unworthy Design, and Violent Attempt, as aforesaid.

He had not much to offer in his Defence at his Tryal, only in the General, that altho' he was there amongst the Multitude, yet there were others that Shot, and therefore the Man might fall by another hand as well as his, or to that Effect, &c. After Condemnation he Behav'd himself in a Christian like manner, being much Concerned for his Souls Everla­sting Welfare, desiring the Advice, Good Counsel, and Prayers, of all those Worthy Divines that came near him, acknowledging the Justice of God, in bringing him to Under­go so Severe a Punishment, for that he had been guilty of several Irregularities in the Course of his Life, and had not walked up to the strict Rules of the Christian Religion as he ought to have done, which he now La­mented, and was exceedingly troubled for, therefore he hoped that God would forgive him, being willing to submit to the Righteous Judgement of God Almighty. He gave him­self to Reading, Prayer, Hearing God's Word, and to all other Exercises of Religion, being willing to adhear to all Seasonable Advice, that might any ways advance his mind, and set his thoughts on Heavenly Things, Relying on­ly upon the Merits of Christ, for his future Happiness; he carryed himself humbly, du­ring his Imprisonment, both before and after Conviction, though Naturally of a stout, har­dy, and undaunted spirit, was no ways af­frighted at the near approaches of Death, gi­ving God the Praise for such a Respite of Time, in Order to prepare his soul for another World.

On Wednesday morning, the 17th. Instant as abovesaid, (by Vertue of a Fresh Warrant from her Majesty) he was put into a Coach at Newgate Stairs, and from thence Conveyed down Old Baily, and over Fleet-Bridge, to the Fryars Gate, in the way to which place, there were several Thousands of Spectators, who thronged to see him, when the Cart was set­tled under the Gibbet, and he put into it, (which was Erected there on purpose) he stood up, and spake as fo [...]ws: I have no Publick Declaration to make here, my Thoughts being wholly taken up in the Concerns of my Eternal Welfare, for that is the Work that I am come here to do: Therefore I desire that I may not be interrupted. Then the Minister Prayed with him, and for him, and Re­commended him to the Mercy of God, &c.

After this, he Pray'd in these Words.

‘O Most Great and Glorious Lord God, do thou look down in Mercy upon me, a Poor Miserable Sinner, and shew thy blessed Face to me, now in this Hour of my Extremity, for what am I without thee, therefore O Lord! I beseech thee to Par­don my Sins, and Wash my Soul clean in the Blood of CHRIST JESƲS, and deliver me O Lord from the guilt and defilement of Sin; Holy Father do thou Receive me into Mercy, for into thy Hands I Commend my Spirit: O Lord let it be Precious in thy Sight, and let it live with thee in Everlasting Glory: Now I come, sweet JESƲS now I am coming to thee; Dear JESƲS do thou plead my Cause with the Great GOD of Heaven and Earth, and send down thy Blessed Spirit to Assist and Help me in this Great Work I am now about; I am a Poor Worthless Creature, full of Sin and Misery; yet do thou Lord JESƲS take pitty upon my Precious Soul: O Lord JESƲS come quickly, for I am now coming to thee, therefore I Humbly beg thee O GOD to Re­ceive my poor Soul into the Arms of thy Ever­lasting loving Kindness, Lord! Into thy Hands I Commend my Spirit, for thou hast Redeemed it O LORD GOD of Truth Amen.’

Then the Cart Drew away, and afterwards he was Carryed into White-Fryars, to be Inter'd in the Sepulchre with his Brethren, &c.