THE often Examples of men faling by Justice, and their preten­ded Speeches printed, before they suffer, are so common, that we have scarce the encouragement to present the World with one which is real, and I doubt not but to Most; will be grateful, The account being true, it needs no long preamble to create a [...]elief. The Person of whose end I am going to give an Account, was by name [...]ugustin King, born in the County of Cambridge of sober and honest Parents, [...]s Father was a Dissenting Minister, who gave him liberal Education, and [...]tred him in the Ʋniversity of Cambridge, to maturiate his Studies, but faling [...] and selecting bad Company, and his Father being not able to allow him where­ [...]thal to maintain his extravagant humour, he betook himself to ill Courses [Page 2] and was committed to Cambridge Gaol, from whence he made his escape, and for sometime, by the pious arguments of his Parents, and the fear of coming to a Publick shame, he forsooke his ill ways, and had an inclination to goe to Sea, for Which, some provisions were made about four years since, but conside­ring the hardship and hazard, which attended a Sea-faring life, and being not fully weaned from the visits and insinuations of his former lewd companions, he spurned against good council, and the Convixions formerly made upon him, and again betooke himselfe to the most nefarious practices imaginable, which brought him to this immature and untimely end.

About twelve Months since, he was by the Cambridge-carrier apprehended in White-Hall, for a Robbery committed on him, and was committed to the Gate-House, but in a little time found a means by his insinuating tongue to make his escape from his Keeper: Since which time he hath been concerned in an innumerable Robberyes, for which he was lately proscribed in the pub­lick Gazet, with this Emphasis, & above all Augustin King joyned with a Menace to Inn-keepers that should abscond him. Notwithstanding, which he persevered in his Robberies, having committed one in Essex but a few days before he was taken, which was very accidental in his Inn, he was carried before a Magistrate and committed to Newgate, where he was kept very close, and loaded with a pair of Irons of an extraordinary weight, from whence he was removed to Hartford where he took his Tryal at the Assises, several Indictments being brought against him, upon one of which he was convicted, and received Sen­tence of Death,

He behaved himselfe with that modesty upon his Tryal, that several enga­ged to use their interest to procure him a Pardon, amongst whom were some Persons of Honour, the High Shrieff, and most of the eminent Dissenters of the County, but their solisitations with His Majesty, proved faithless, since little could be said on his behalf saving, he was never concern'd in a Murder, and the re­solution His Majesty hath made, not to spare one of that wicked profession that the Law hath convicted.

Of all, which having notice, he began to apply himselfe to repent and consider his latter end, and had several visits from a Parson who assured him of the salvation of his Soul, if not his Body, in order to which, some applications were made by his means, but proving ineffectual, the Priest acquainted him he must prepare for Death: upon which he was desired by Mr. King, to desist in his visits, for he knew the way to heaven better then he could shew him, and craved the asistance of some Dissenting Ministers, as also some worthy Divines of the Church of England, and so with great zeale and assurance, h [...] cheerfully waited for the day of his Execution, which was o [...] Wednesday last after the Sun was down, an other who was exect [...] ­ted with him, was carryed in a Cart, but he had the favour to walke to the Gallowes which stood a little out of the Town o [...] [Page 3] Hartford, the high Shrieff walked by his side with whom he dis­coursed all the way as they went, often smiling and freely telling them any thing they asked or he knew, he particularly con­fessed a Robbery he lately committed on a Pedlar in Essex for which an eminent Cytizen was accused upon the oaths of three but cleared by his Jury, but denyed being concerned any other way than sinisterly in that Robbery for which he came to suffer he gave an account of the evil practices of several Inn-keepers &c. After which he kneeled down and made a long and Pa­thetical Prayer, several Ministers joyning with him, then he ascended the Cart and was tyed up, his Countenance all this time not in the least changing, he begged forgiveness of all, whom he had offended or injured, and of God for his sinning against Knowledge and was turned off speaking these words.

Lord receive My Soul.

Amongst thousands of Spectators that accompanied him to the place of Execution, not one went away without a Briny eye his Corps the next day was interr'd in the Church-yard at Hart­ford.

From the fate of this Man, all may take care to avoid the allurements of Satan and ill men, since they naturally center in shame and destruction, for if the strong, Learned, and cunning, could not avoid being catched and overtaken by Justice, how shall others whome God and Nature hath made inferior, there­fore the precepts of Christianity are safe: Fear GOD honour the KING, do good to all men hurt to none, so shall it be well with thee; and thy days shall end in Peace.

With Allowance.