my committing those crimes for which I am now to suffer.  As the laws of God as well as of men call upon me to Lay down my life as justly forfeited by my manifold transgressions, I acknowledge the justice of my sentence, patiently submit to the same without any rancour, ill-will or malice to any person whatsoever; hoping through the merits of Christ Jesus (who laid down His life for sinners, and who upon the cross pronounced a pardon for the repenting thief under the agonies of death) to be with Him permitted to partake of that glorious resurrection and immortality He has been so graciously pleased to promise to the sincere penitent.  I earnestly exhort and beg of all here present to think seriously of eternity—­a long and endless eternity!—­in which we are to be rewarded or punished according to our good or evil actions in this world; that you will all take warning by me and refrain from all wilful transgressions and offences.  Let a religious disposition prevail upon you, and use your utmost endeavours to forsake and fly from sin.  The mercies of God are great, and He can save even at the last moment of life.  Yet do not therefore presume too much, lest you provoke Him to cast you off in His anger, and become fearful examples of His wrath and indignation.  Let me prevail upon you to forget and forgive me all the offences and injuries I have committed or promoted in action, advice or example; and entreat your prayers for me that the Lord would in mercy look down upon me in the last moment of my life.

    His Prayer

Look down in mercy, O God, I beseech Thee, upon me a miserable, lost, and undone sinner.  Number not my transgressions nor let my iniquities rise up in judgment against me.  Wash me and I shall be clean; purge me and I shall be free from offence.  Though my sins be as scarlet, they shall be whiter than snow if Thou pleasest but to receive me amongst those whom Thou hast redeemed, that I may sing praises to the Most High and extol Thy Holy Name in the courts of Heaven for ever and ever more.  Amen.

He suffered on the 27th of March, 1728, being then about eight-and-twenty years of age.

FOOTNOTES: 

   [78] Trinkets and such trifles, not children’s playthings.

The Lives of WILLIAM RUSSELL, ROBERT CROUCH and WILLIAM HOLDEN, Street-Robbers, Footpads

Although the insolency of those street-robbers to whose gang the malefactors we are now speaking of belong be at present too recent a fact to be questioned, yet possibly in future times ’twill be thought an exaggeration of truth to say that even at noon-day, and in the most open places in London, persons were stopped and robbed.  The offenders for many months escaped with impunity, until those crimes became so frequent and the terrors of passengers so great that the Government interposed in an extraordinary manner, a royal proclamation being issued offering one hundred pounds reward for apprehending any offender, and also promising pardon to any who submitted and revealed their accomplices.  This brought numbers of young rash youths who had engaged in this wicked course of life to a violent and ignominious death.