THE CONFESSION AND EXECUTION Of the Five Prisoners that suffered at TYBURN On Wednesday the 19th of Decemb. 1677. VIZ. 

Margaret Riggs, alias Grover,  
William Longman,  
John Ruddocke,  
Henry pain, and  
Elizabeth Hewet.    
WITH An Account of their penitent Behaviour after their Condemnation, and substance of their last Speeches at the place of Execution.  
Published for a Warning-piece to all others to avoid the lewd Courses which brought them to this Ignominious End.  
With Allowance.  
London: Printed for D. M. 1677.   

The last Speeches, Confession, and Execution of the Prisoners, December 19 1677.  
DEath in its own nature is very affrighting to Man, the King of Terrors, much more when he comes attended with shameful and ignominious Circumstances; when Persons consider that they have hastened his approach by the Errors of their lives, and are justly cut off for their Crimes. Oh! how sad is it, when poor Souls are themselves the occasion of their being thrust out of this world by untimely Violence, and yet are not at all fitted or prepared for the next. If they look down to Earth, there is nothing but Justice and Vengeance ready to pursue them; and if they look up to Heaven, they cannot but conclude that too pure a place for such unclean Creatures to enter into, whom the Earth itself would not longer entertain. Yet so lamentably do the Delusions of Satan, and Witchcrafts of Sin blind the eyes of these Malefactors, that they rarely reflect on these things till it be too late; nor will be warned by the frequent Examples of their wretched Fellow-Criminals, to leave off their wicked Courses, till they are precipitated into the same Gulf of Misery.  
Of this, the Five Persons that this day suffered were deplorable instances. After their Condemnation many charitable Divines went to visit them, besides the most diligent and careful endeavours of Mr. Ordinary, who, well knowing the weight of his Office, takes care on all occasions to discharge a good Conscience therein, by using all means to make them sensible of their sad Condition, and prepare them for their terrible Change.  
The poor Souls appeared as ignorant and unacquainted with the Principles of Christian Religion, except only some bare empty notional words, as Heathens. True it is, they professed themselves Christians, and that they hoped to be saved by the Mercies of God; but the odious nature of Sin, the necessity of a Saviour, the terms of a New Covenant, the nature of Repentance, Faith, and other Evangelical Graces, they were wholly strangers to: But by the pains of these Ministers, God was pleased to give them a taste of these precious and most important Truths, though 'tis feared, by their careless insensible Carriage, some of them still were more solicitous to get a Reprieve than to get Grace, and minded more to save their Lives for a few moments, than their Souls to eternity. So hard it is when Persons have gone on all their lives, hardening their hearts in wickedness, to be mollified on a sudden, though summoned to Repentance by a present and unavoidable Death.  
One of these persons was heretofore Condemned, and now justly brought to suffer.  
Another about two years since was Convicted and received Sentence of Death, but obtaining a Reprieve, after long lying in Newgate, obtained his Liberty by the General Pardon; but was now brought in for stealing a parcel of Swords.  
Another was by trade a Sawyer, and had lived near Islington: he had formerly been burnt in the hand, and several times in Goal; and having lately followed the Foot-Pad, was Condemned for a Robbery on the Highway.  
Mrs. Riggs was notoriously infamous; several of her Children had been executed, and she a year or two ago transported for stealing Silks; but returning before her time, was now again Convicted of stealing, and called to her former Judgement. She caused her Coffin to be made & brought into the Prison to her; and we wish that she had provided for her Soul as well as for her Carcase.  
The other woman was Convicted about a year and a half since, and upon the General Pardon gave Bail to transport herself within such a time; but never did it, but fell to her old wicked Courses, in which being now taken, she was Condemned.  
There was another woman received Sentence to be Burnt; but she alleging herself to be quick with Child, which a Jury of Matrons likewise affirmed, that the Innocent Babe might not perish with the Guilty Mother, Execution for the present is suspendid.  
The day before their Execution four Ministers were to visit them, and bestowed much pious pains both in Exhortation and Prayer with them, pressing them to Repent, and Confess their Sins, and give Glory to God. To whom one of them was so hardy ('tis said) as to declare, That she never in her life, that she could remember, ever felt any Convictions or Checks of Conscience for her wickedness, but now desired a longer space, promising amendment, etc. But they desired her not to flatter herself with any such hopes, but rather instantly to set upon the Work with all her might, and improve those few minutes she had allowed her, rather than vainly to expect longer time, and misspend the present.  
Mrs. Riggs Confessed she had been a notorious sinner all her days, and that she had been an occasion of bringing many poor wretches to untimely Ends, for which she expressed much sorrow; but said, for her own part she did confess she deserved to die, and had long looked for it, and desired the Ministers to pray for her.  
In the Cart they behaved themselves very penitently, weeping and wring their hands, as likewise at the place of Execution; but said little, save only, Desiring all people to take Example by them, and to remember this, That if they themselves had took warning when others of their Acquaintance, under the same Circumstances, with their dying breath hearty advised them to it, they might have prevented this shameful untimely Death which now they were to suffer. And so after Prayers and religious Offices usual on such occasions, surrendered their Souls to the Mercies of God, and their Bodies to Execution.   
FINIS.