THE TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE BEHAVIOUR AND CONFESSION of the Criminals, Condemned on Thursday the 15th. day of April, 1686. At JUSTICE-HALL in the OLD-BAYLY Viz. Peter Lary, John Toy, Elizabeth Churchill, John Crofts, John Steers, and Rebeckah Rose, of which Peter Lary, was this present Wednesday the 21st. of April, Executed at TYBURN, And the other five Reprieved.  
THe Ordinary first undertook this service, to the Community, of publishing the Account of the Behaviour and Confessions of the Condemned Criminals in Newgate, that no persons might be imposed upon by others, who presumed to Print false Reports concerning them.  
Now, whereas some of late have expected that an Account should be given of Confessions to be made at Tyburn. This the Ordinary hath endeavoured to bring the dying Malefactors unto, but they are somewhat Averse to it there, because they cannot be well heard, by reason of the Noise of the People, besides the Consternation which is upon them, being ready to be Executed, makes them say little, but only thus. Take warning, not to come to this Fatal Place, to which we are brought, by the neglect of our Duty to God and Man; and usually desire only, that the Ordinary would pray with them, and that they may do the like for themselves.  
This Account therefore he now gives, that on Friday which was the next Day, after the Sentence of Death passed upon the aforesaid Criminals, he visited them, and after he had prayed with them, earnestly exhorted them, that they would beg of God to make them sensible of their several Crimes, that they would look back on the whole course of their Life; in as much, as the just God never leaves Sinners destitute of his preventing Grace, till they first harden their own Hearts, indulging themselves in some secret Sins, thereby strengthening vicious inclinations, to a considerable degree of Atheism, because they are not some time discovered and brought to shame.  
He told them, that they ought, having given Notorious Scandals, to make their penitential acknowledgements as public for the warning of others, by their Example of suffering Justice, to avoid the same Crimes.  
And that tho' they had quenched the motions of God's Holy Spirit, and resisted the Convictions of their Conscience formerly; yet now by this Fatal Stroke drawn upon themselves.  
He loudly calls them to Repentance, that so they may escape the Wrath which is to come.  
Upon this, they began to be awakened from their Security in an Evil State, and to lament their former flagitious Courses, which Relenting, the Ordinary Encouraged, yet advised them not to rely on any slight sorrow for Sin, as if this were any satisfaction to God, for all the Exorbitances of their Conversations.  
Here he stated the differences betwixt True and False Repentance, and the Nature of True Faith in coming to God for Reconciliation by Christ, to which, they were very attentive.  
On Saturday I visited them again, and told them that I expected a further Account from them of their fitness to Die, than what I had already received.  
I enquired what Frame and Disposition of Heart they were in at present: Wither they retained those good impressions which were upon them the day before. The replied, That they did.  
Then ask them what Hope they had, that God was reconciled to them in Christ, they replied, That they Prayed and did what they could, to obtain the Pardon of their Sins, and that they might be saved. I assured them, that if they were willing to be happy on God's Terms, viz. If they desired sincerely to be Holy as much as to be Happy, than Christ's sanctifying Spirit would become their Comforter.  
Then I Exhorted them to prepare for the Duties of the Lords Day; because it was likely to be the last Sabbath they would spend upon Earth.  
After this, they were desirous that I would pray with them again, which I did, and they promised me, that they would take pains with their own hearts in my Absence, to fit themselves for a future happy State. I told them, that they ought to assist one another to the utmost, in Order thereunto; considering how by their bad Counsel and Example, they had misled others into sinful Practices, and so dismissed them.  
On the Lord's Day, the Ordinary Preached on this Text, the 26 Chap. of St. Matthew, the 40 Verse: Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into Temptation.  
These Words were Christ's Advice to his Disciples, when he found them heavy a sleep, in the midst of his Agonies, in the Night, immediately foregoing his being Apprehended to be Crucified. He Alarmed them from their Security, by enjoining them to Watch and Pray, as being most forcible in Conjunction. If we Pray not, we disarm ourselves, Satan gets an advantage of our sloth: If we Watch not in Praying, and after it, to maintain a spiritual Frame; we make our Prayer fruitless and ineffectual; Prayer keeps us watching, and this makes Prayer available.  
1st. We have need to Watch in Praying, and to Pray in Watching, because Temptations always await us in our Christian Station.  
2ly. It is very dangerous through carelessness of our Duty, to expose ourselves to the least approach of a Temptation, (lest ye enter.  
3ly. Such who Watch and Pray with a due frame of heart, shall ordinarily be kept out of Temptation, or not left in it to themselves. If they enter into it, they shall not fall under the Power of it Totally and Finally.  
4ly. Pray, lest (ye) my Disciples, Enter into Temptation: Observe, the best of Men cannot promise themselves to be free, and exempt from Satan's Stratagems or Assaults. These are the Trials of Sincerity, the Exercise and strengthening of real Grace. The Christians Alarm against Security; otherwise, we should be good by Necessity, rather than Choice: If we did not strive for Victory against Sin, Satan, and the World.  
5ly. Christian's must Watch and Pray, especially against such Temptations, which most beset their present State and Condition of Life, or at the approach of Death.  
6ly. Tho' the Lord overrules Temptations to a good Issue in the Godly, yet they are not to expose themselves by security, in any expectation of that good which comes by Accident. Temporal Victories are got by Fight, but Spiritual by flying the occasion of sinning. God is not bound to Aid us in those Temptations, which we thrust ourselves upon.  
After these Observations raised from the Text, the Ordinary proceeded to show wherein the Nature of true watchfulness consists; and in what Respects, Prayer in Conjunction, contributes to the declining or defeatment of Temptations. Then he described some Symptoms in persons liable to enter upon the Borders of Temptations, and some means in the use of which, they might be avoided, or the effect and prevalencies of them, much broken and abated.  
Also he gave some Directions, how to get out of the Snare of Satan's Temptation, when taken therein.  
And assigned some Considerations whereby the several Temptations of Discouragement or Presumption in the approaches of Death, may be overcome.  
Lastly, he Addressed himself to the condemned Criminals, by a practical improvement of the precedent Discourse to their particular distressed Estate.  
In the Afternoon, a Sermon was Preached on the 95th. Psalms, and the 8th. Verse To day if you will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts. From which, were deduced these general Considerations.  
1st. By what various kind of Voices doth the Lord call upon, and invite Sinners unto Repentance?  
2dly. In what Respects, are we said to hear and obey these Voices.  
3dly. That by not attending to them, the Heart becomes gradually hardened, by the deceits of Sin and Satan.  
4thly. That to prevent such obduration of Heart, and provocation of God by it: It is the Duty of all Persons, to day without delay, to comply with, and improve the distinct voices and Calls of God unto Repentance and amendment of Life. These Generals were treated of very pathetically, and the Auditory much affected therewith.  
On Monday the Ordinary Repaired to the Condemned Criminals, and inquired of them what Divine impressions were made upon their hearts by the Prayers and Sermons on the Lord's Day; and took a farther Account of their fitness for their approaching Death; and they readily complied with his desires.  
John Toy, about 19 or 20 Years of Age, said that he was bred a Seaman, was the fourth Mate in an East-India Ship, had 50 s. per Month Wages; might have lived well on the Sea Employment, and intended for a Voyage in a Ship now ready to put to Sea: But for two Months passed he fell into bad Company, which miss-led him into some Extravegancies, as Drinking, and other miss-spending of his time. He denied not the Fact for which he is Condemned. Idleness he said, brought on the neglect of his Duty to God, whereby, he took to this unlawful Course of taking money by Violence: But he says it is the first Fact of this Nature that he Committed. He affirmed, that it is no little trouble to him, that he hath sinned against clear Light, and the frequent Convictions of his Conscience, which now Recur to mind, and do aggravate the sins of his misspent Life. But he hopes if he may obtain his Majesty's Pardon, that he shall lead a New Life, in serving God and the King Faithfully.  
I told him and the other Criminals, how deceitful the heart of man is; this hath too often been sadly experienced in some, who after they have been Reprieved and set at Liberty, have abused God and the King's mercy, by the greater aggravation of their sins, having been Cut off in a short time by public Justice, for Committing fresh and greater Crimes. I admonished them therefore, to distrust their own hearts, for as much as sincere Repentance is not so easy a work after sin hath been strengthened by custom, and that it requires some considerable time to manifest the sound Fruits and effects thereof. But some Criminals after they are spared, forget the Vows made to God in their distress, and their good Resolutions of Reformation vanish, when their fears of Death are blown over.  
Upon this, they did say, that they did pray to God, that they might be sincere in their sorrow for their sin, and that his Grace hitherto, had lead them to Repentance.  
Secondly, John Steers, was Condemned for breaking up the house of Edward Wiseman, on the 4th. of March last, and Apprehended in the Prosecutors house. He said that he was Born in Middlesex, at Shadwell, that he is Nineteen Years of Age. the Employment he was bred up to, was to be a Seaman; that he had served his Majesty formerly in the War against the Dutch, that afterwards he was entertained as a Soldier at Tangier; that since the Demolishing the Forts there, he came over into England, and wishes that he had not followed an Idle Course of Life: This brought him to Poverty, and was the temptation of joining himself to bad Company, and to contract acquaintance with some Lewd Women. He expressed himself to be penitent for all his other sins, which he said were many and great. It grieved him that he had not observed the Lords Day, that he had neglected to Pray, that God would daily keep him from Temptations of sinning against him. But he hoped that he would give him Faith and Repentance, to fit him for another World,  
That he doth not despair of God's mercy, but endeavour what he can to make peace with him, through Christ, that death might not be terrible unto him.  
Thirdly, Peter Lary, Condemned for stealing a silver Tankard, value 5 l. of the goods of Thomas Earl. This Lary having been an Old Offender, tho' young in Years, about Fourteen, changed his Name to Wright, but confessed to the Ordinary, that his True Name is Lary, that his Father is an Irish Man, but travelling into Flanders, set up there a Victualling House, and that himself was Born there; but his Father meeting with disapointments in his Trade, came into England, and is now a Soldier. The Youth acknowledged that he kept bad Company, had been a great Swearer and a Liar, denys not that he stole the Tankard. The Ordinary found him very ignorant in Religious Concernments, and therefore took more pains in instructing him. He says he is sorry for all his sins, and that if he may be Transported, he would not do any ill thing for all the World.  
Fourthly, John Crofts, of the Parish of Stepney, was Condemned for breaking up the House of John Wells, and stealing thence one silver Poringer, with other Goods; he was taken in the Prosecutors House, and had been an Old Offender.  
He told the Ordinary that he is one and twenty years of Age, that he was Born in the County of Norfolk, and served out his Apprenticeship with a Broad Silk-Weaver, but his Friends not being able to set him up in his Trade, he fell into bad Company: That he had been Guilty of Breaking the Sabbath, and neglecting to improve the opportunities which God gave him for to amend his life. That he did not pray that he might shake off his bad Acquaintance, tho' sometimes he resolved so to do. That by sinning against the frequent Convictions of his Censcience, by degrees, it became so senseless, that he adventured to Commit most sort of sins, without any check or restraint; but he hopes that this sad Sentence of Death, which God and Man hath righteously inflicted upon him, hath been a means to awaken his Conscience, that hereupon, he hath endeavoured to call to mind his great sins, and to beg of God, that he would give him true Repentance for them. That he hopes he shall make his peace with him, through the Merits of Christ, and then he shall not be afraid to die.  
5ly. Eliz. Churchill, of the Parish of St. Peter, Condemned for stealing three pieces of Guinea Gold, March the 12th. last, from John Russel, which she denied not at her Trial: She is 35 years of Age, was Born at Newcastle upon Tyne: Her first husband lived in Wapping near the Chapel, he was Mate to a Master of a Ship; and she lived with him a 11 Years: Afterwards she married to a Gold Wyre-drawer, who lived in moorfield's, by whom, she had several Children, two of which died of the Smallpox, and a third as he was playing, fell into the Town ditch and was drowned: She Confessed, that the sudden loss of these Children; presently the one after the other, grieved her almost to distraction; but she did not improve that afflicting providence of God, as as she ought, to bring her to a sincere repentance for all her sins:  
Also she had a good Father, who gave her Religious Education, but she forsook the ways of God, for a Year and an half, before this sad distress came on her, to be Condemned: She said that poverty upon her present husband (who is now a Soldier) was the occasion of falling into this crime: that she is now convinced of the many sins of her life; yet she is at times doubtful of the truth of her faith and repentance, because she now finds, that by reason of great guilt contracted, it is very hard truly to rely on Christ for salvation: The Ordinary encouraged her to believe, because God's grace is all-sufficient to support her under those dark dismal apprehensions which she hath of her spiritual estate; and upon further inquiry, he hopes she is truly penitent.  
Sixthly. Rebekah Rose; Condemned with John Steers for Burglary and Felony; She was Born in Middlesex, is now 24 Years of age; she says that she is very much troubled, that she went against the council of her nearest Relations, in marrying one Biggs, who was very lately Executed at Tyburn; and fears, that God blasted her for such disobedience to her Parents; that she had good Education, but led an ill life, which aggravates her sins.  
That she married three Weeks before last Christmas, to one Rose, a person of very ill note; that she kept a Victualling house in East-smithfield, till she committed this Fact, and that her heart failed her in the doing of it, which makes her sin the greater. She confessed that she had been an ill liver, but Poverty drove her to commit this Crime for which she is Condemned. She says that she desires to become a true Penitent, and resolves by God's Grace to amend her Life, if she may be spared from the Execution of the Sentence passed upon her.  
The Two Women before mentioned are Reprieved, upon their being quick with Child. The Ordinary Exhorted them, that they would not pervert this Respite from Death, to an occasion of greater Security and Impenitence, but redeem precious time to the best advantage of their Souls.  
This is all the Account which the Ordinary can give of the Criminals, Condemned this Sessions.  
About 10 of the Clock this Mornin, Peter Lary, was put into a Cart at Newgate, and conveyed to the place of Execution, where the Ordinary prayed with him, and he Exhorted the Spectators to take Warning by him; after which the Ordinary sung part of a Psalm, and so concluded with a Prayer, after which he was turned off.  
Dated this 19th. day of April, 1686. Samuel Smith, Ordinary.  
This may be Printed, R.L.S. April the 21st. 1686.   

LONDON Printed by E. Mallet next Door to Shipton's Coffeehouse near Fleet-Bridge. 1686.