A TRUE COPY OF THE PAPERS That were Delivered by Mr. William Cress, and Edward Robinson, to the Reverend Mr, Allen, Ordinary; at their Execution, on Friday the 22d. Instant Decemb. 1699. The True Copy of Mr. Cress's Paper, as Followesh. Good People, I AM Come here to Suffer an Ignominous Death, which ●●nce as little dreamed of, as any here present do this Day. It is but sit that I should give you some Account of me, and of this Fact for which I Suffer, before I go hence and be no more seen. I was Born in from in Sommersetshire of a good honest Family; there I lived till 5 Years Old, then my Father Died, and my Mother removed to the Bath, where I remained till I arrived to 16 Years: At which time the King coming in, and raising Forces for Irland, I resolved to try my Fortune in a Military Life; being a Soldier under Sr. John edgeworth, for one Year I continued so, and then I served in Sr. halberd Cunninghams Regiment of Dragoons for three quarters of a Year, when for a Signal Piece of Service done in the Field, my colonel gave me a Quarter-masters Commission and in the space of one Year, I was honoured with that of a Cornet in the same Regiment; And so remained till June 97. And then sold my Commission, and came to my Friends in the Bath; where I stayed till June last, when Unfortunutely I came here to lose my Life by an Untimely End, for a murder Committed on a Woman, who went by the Name of Rose Robinson, whom I now own to be my Wife, being Married to her at Molingar in Irland, as I have acquainted the Reverend Mr. Ordinary; which murder was committed after this manner: I went to see her, accompanied with my Brother, now fellow Sufferer: Having Drunk hard that Day I called for a Pot of small Beer, and sat down, but quickly fell a Sleep; but before that, I heard the deceased ask Robinson for Money. I had not Slept long till I was awakened by a noise, and then found him depressing the Woman to the Floor with his Hand on her Throat, and his Knee on her Belly; I asked him what was the matter; And he told me she was in a Fitt, I never saw her stir after that, only one Foot as she Died: I laid no Hand upon her, with a design to Kill her, only helped to pull off her clothes, and put her to Bed. This is the cause of my miserable downfall, in Concealing the murder and assisting him after it was Acted; so I conclude, and wish all the World to take Warning by me, and shun evil Company, lest it should bring them to such shane and Misery, which I by my wretched Folly have now Justly incurred. December, 22d. 1699. The True Copy of Edward Robinson's Paper. WOrthy Gentlemen, and all you who are Spectators of this my miserable Downfall, which hath happened by my keeping of Evil Company, I desire you for God's sake, and for my sake, who now suffer for it, avoid and fly from it. My Sins are many and great, but I hope God will of his infinite mercy pardon them. As for this Crime, for which I die, I cannot say that I am innocent and guiltless, because I so long concealed this horrid and execrable murder, which I did at the persuasion of my Brother, my now Fellow-sufferer, who indeed did commit it. The Deceased had two Children by him, for they lived as Man and Wife; Words arising between them, they seemed to be reconciled, and lay down on the Bed, drawing the Curtains, so that I could not have any suspicion of an ill Intent; soon after I heard the Woman cry, but I took no notice of it, neither did I know that she was murdered, till he told me: I concealed his Crime, for which I am now sorry. I do hearty repent of my Ill Doings: I desire the Prayers of all good People, and desire you all to take heed of Bad Company. So recommending my Soul into the Hands of my God, I die the Unfortunate. Edward Robinson. These two Speeches, so different about the Executioner of that Barbarous murder, were red to them publicly, each asserting his Paper to be the truest Account; various and pressing Arguments were used to persuade them to agree in one Relation, but they were ineffectual. For notwithstanding what was said to them, they continued jarring and clashing with one another, till the Cart almost drew away: Nay, even then, for a ●●nute or more, Mr. Cress, by way of abhorrence of what the other said, made 〈…〉 Motions with his Trembling Hands towards him. Dated the 22d of December, 1699. John Allen, Ordinary. ADVERTISEMENTS. JOHN WATTS ( Operator in Teeth) lives at the Sign of the Hand and Mouth, and Kings-Arms, within Three Doors of Bride-Lane, Flett-street, he draws and cleans Natural-Teeth,( sets in Artificial ones so firm and exact, as to be eat on, and not discovered by any person whatever from Natural;) likewise sells a Powder to keep Natural Teeth White, Firm and Sound. At the farthest House on the Left Hand, in Clare-Court, over-against Russel-Court in Drury-Lane, Strand. GEntlemen and others may have an Interest made to invest them in Places suitable to their several Qualities and Capacities? We have now several considerable Places, in Town and Country to dispose off, most to be acted by Deputies: We have also several of a lesser value( viz. 80l. 70l. 60l. 50l. 40l. a Year salaries) for those that writ and Cast Accounts well: We also speedily and faithfully solicit all sorts of Causes depending in the Courts of Law and equity, Treasury, Admiralty, Navy Offices. We Buy and Sell Houses Estates Ground Rents, &c. all Persons who apply themselves to us, shall have no reason to suspect being imposed upon, for our chief Undertaker is a Gentleman of Quality, well known to many of the Principal Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom. We think fit to inform the public that the Original of this Undertaking in England, was Mr. Alexander Collins deceased, who many Years successfully managed it at St. James's for the continuation of it, for the public good, the Person of Honour aforesaid has been pleased to employ some near Relations of the said Mr. Collins who managed it for a considerable time before his Decease. LONDON Printed for Jer. Wilkins. i● White