THere having formerly been some brief Account given of this busi­ness in print, in the Transactions of the last Sessions, I shall not stand tediously to repeat all the prece­dent or concomitant Circumstances, upon what occasions and provocations, as they al­leadged, the murther came to be committed for which these persons now suffered. The sum and effect of their Crime being thus, as it appeared at their Tryal.

This Knight and a friend of his were in Company together at a Tavern in Fleetstreet, but they had not long been there before, two persons intruded into their Company; one of which presently falls a quarrelling with the Knights Friend, upon the account of for­ty shillings that he pretended was owing to him by his Brother, as won of him at play; [Page 2]and he would have it of him; which he refu­sed: and thereupon from words they fell to blows, but at length were parted; but not being satisfi'd, they were resolved to waylay them, where they might have a better op­portunity to accomplish their Bloody designs; and following them towards the back gate of the Temple, neer White fryers, both of them most barbarously fell upon the Knight, thrusting both their Swords into his Body, before he could draw his Sword: all which being proved by sufficient Evidence, the Ju­ry brought them in both guilty of Murther.

After this, having nothing material to say for themselves, save only some frivo­lous pretences that the Knight's Sword was drawn (the contrary whereof was proved) and that they killed him fairly (as they call'd it). The Court proceeded to Pass Sentence of Death against them, and they were remanded back to New­gate.

The time of their Execution was de­ferred till Friday the two and twentieth of October, and the place appointed for it was in Fleetstreet over against White-fry­ers, the place where they did the Fact.

During the time of their continuance in Newgate in expectation of death, they were visited by several Ministers, who with the most pressing and pathetical ex­hortations endeavoured to make them sensible of their Crimes and Condition; advising them to repent, since it was high time, they being upon the very Brink of Eternity.

They remembred them of the sad state they were in, as being doom'd by Justice to a certain death, and that for the cry­ing Scarlet-sin of Murther; that in their condition they could not expect any mer­cy on earth, nor any pardon but from the King of Heaven; but told them, though it were vain for them to flatter themselves with hopes of longer life in this world, yet there was means left to secure them of everlasting life in the next: that to such sinful Wretches as they had been, it was an unspeakable Mercie, that they had yet a little space left wherein to make their peace with Heaven. Oh what would the [Page] [Page 4]damned Souls, weltering without hope in eternal Flames, give for such a precious opportunity? That they might have re­ceived mortal Wounds at the time when they did the Act, and been snatcht away suddenly with all the stains of Blood and Murther upon their guilty Souls; where­as now they had leasure and opportunity if they would lay hold of it, to wash them off with true penitential Tears, and the Blood of their Crucified Redeemer applied by Faith.

These and the like pious Exhortations they heard and received with great atten­tion; yet still endeavoured to excuse themselves, that they had no intent to murther the Gentleman, and that it was an unhappy Accident done in heat and passion, rather by mischance than preme­ditated malice: But to this it was replied, That that very Passion was a sin, and the sad effects of it a far greater: that by God's own Law, he that killed a man by misad­venture was not held innocent; How [Page] [Page 5]much less they who had taken away a Worthy persons life voluntarily, and base­ly, and as appeared by the Circumstances, upon deliberation? To all which they had little to answer, but their former pretences to extenuate their Crime, For which they professed themselves heartily sorry, and begged forgiveness of God and the Gen­tleman's Relations for the same.

For their Execution, two Gibbets were set up in Fleetstreet, one at the great Gate going into White-fryers, the other at the lesser Passage down thither, by the Green-Dragon Tavern.

When the Prisoners were brought thither, neither of them said much, but still insisted upon their having no Murtherous designe when they committed the fact. They ac­knowledged they had led very vain and bad Lives, and that it was just with God to bring them to this shameful death. And desired all persons to beware of Gaming, and profaning the Sabbath, and of Ill Company; which bring so many to ruine and destruction.