AT the last Sessions, at the Old Bayly, twelve persons re­ceived Sentence of Death, ten of which, by his Ma­jesties great Clemency were reprieved, and only Jonathan Tue, and John Richardson this day suffered.

Jonathan Tue lived in Newport-Street, and kept a Vi­ctualing House, where there happening some dispute between him and another person, about four Shillings, which the said person charged him withal, he refused to pay it, urging that upon the Account he was not so much indebted to him: the other person threat'ned to Arrest him if he did not satisfie him in it, and accordingly ordered an Officer to take out a Writ against him, who did so, and going to the said Tue's House, with William Graves, a follower of his, and three more, they called for a Room and a Pot of Drink; Tue passing by the Room where they were, suspected them to be Baliffs, and ran directly into the Kitchen, whither they pursued him; but ta­king down an Halberd, he resolutely defended himself against them a long while, and wounded one of them in several pla­ces, and at last clear'd the Kitchen of them and made fast the door, but the Bayliffs by main force, broke open the door up­on [Page 2]him, whom Tue afresh engaged and had probably defend­ed himself with greater mischief to the Assailants had not William Graves got in at a back door, whom Tue espying, tur­ned suddenly and darted his Halberd at him, and wounded him under the left Breast, upon which he drop'd down with­out speaking a word. All the defence that Tue made was, that they assaulted him, by offering to seize his person, with­out giving him the word of Arrest, or shewing him their Writ, and that he thought he might fairly defend himself against their apprehending of him, so long as they had not laid hands on him, nor did he think himself their Prisoner till he was in their Custody. But it did appear in the behalf of the Bayliff, that they both shewed him the Writ, and gave him the word of Arrest, upon which he ought to have rend'red himself, which was proved by four Witnesses, and the Writ produced in Court, upon which he was found Guilty of wilful Murder, and received Sentence of Death.

John Richardson a Tinker, lived in Killingham in Middle­sex, and was Indicted for the Murder of his Wife Martha Rich­ardson. It did appear at his Tryal, by the Testimony of se­veral Neighbours, that in July last, he Barbarously misused her, by throwing her upon the ground, kicking and beating her over the Head, Breast, and Belly; of which blows and bruis­es she languished till the 6th. of August; and then dyed. It was sworn against him by her Sister, that during the time of her sickness, she did often complain of his cruelty to her, char­ged him with being the occasion of her death, and most ear­nestly obliged her said Sister to prosecute and revenge her un­timely end upon that wicked wretch, who had been the cause of it. Several of the Neighbours gave in Evidence, that in all the time of her sickness, she would frequently express her resentments of the cruel usage of her Husband, and notwith­standing their good and Christian advice to her to forgive her Enemies, and all those who had any ways injured her, yet could they not prevail with her to express, she had so much kindness or charity for her Husband to pardon him. The next day after she was thus beat, she spit Blood, and bled at least a pint and half, which though she endeavoured to wash from the place where it was shed, she could not do, but there still remained the visible marks and stains thereof. The Pris­oner [Page 3]had nothing material to offer in his defence, but that his Wife was drunk at the time she said she was beaten, and by a fall she received, had thus bruised and mischieved her self, but several of the Neighbours swore possitively they saw him drag her by the hair of the Head along the Street; that she was a young Woman of about 25 years of Age, and of a good Re­putation, for her honest Life and sober Behaviour. The Priso­ner was upwards of 50. and of very ill Report amongst all that knew him, that during the time of his wives languishing he took no care of her: and was so far from being sorry for what he had done, that he had declared, if he had not yet done her business, he would do it some other time. He was farther suspected for the Murder of his former Wife, who it was said died suddenly, and her Body found under her Husband's Bed, with her hair about her Ears; all which Circumstances had formerly rend'red him much suspected by his Neighbours: But this Inhumane and Barbarous Act has now published his Villainy to the World; and his cruel and Savage Nature, made him a miserable Example to Man-kind.

I shall now speak particularly of the Behaviour of these Cri­minals since their Condemnation.

On Sunday, the 7th of this Instant, these two Malefactors with six more appeared at Chappel, where Mr. Ordinary gave them very Pious Exhortations and Encouragements to Repen­tance, and a serious Consideration, in what a dangerous condi­tion their precious Souls were in, if they did not now improve those few and last Minutes of their Life, to the Eternal Salvati­on of their immortal Souls. His Text was taken out of the 22th. Chapter of the Prophet Jeremiah, and 21st. Verse. I speak unto thee in thy prosperity, &c. His whole Discourse tend­ed to the discovery of the heinousness of sin in general, and particularly of those notorious Crimes they were guilty of, and justly Condemned for. These 2 persons appeared very peni­tent and attentive to his Sermon, and particularly Tue seemed to be truly afflicted for his sins, and spent all his time in prayer, reading and meditation. Richardson, appeared heartily sorry for his former wicked Courses, but would not owne that he was guilty of his Wives Murder, but that the bruises she had was by a fall, as he alledged at his Tryal, of which the whole Court was well satisfied to the contrary.

About eight this Morning, a worthy Divine went up to the Prisoners, who gave them several Exhortations to Repentance, and prayed with them a considerable time. Jonathan Tue appeared very penitent, both for this, and all other his former sins. John Richardson who had hitherto denyed his guilt now began to be more softned, in heart and went to prayers by him­self, and prayed very frequently: aftervvards being told that he ought to give God the Glory by an open Confession of his Crime, he did no longer deny it, but seemed willing to apolo­gise for himself in that it was no part of his intentions to in­jure her, and that four days before going into Sussex, he took leave of her and then left her in a very hopeful condition of re­covery, and that she exprest her self very kindly to him, & be­ing asked more pressingly about the Death of his former Wife, he said that she dyed of a surfeit, and whereas it had been reported that she was found under the Bed, he declared that as she was putting on her Stockings by the Bed-side she fell upon the floor, when lifting her upon the Bed, he called in two Wo­men that where his Neighbours, who saw her upon the Bed speechless, and a little time after dyed.

Afterwards Mr. Ordinary had them up to the Chappel to prayers, and then being carried to have their Irons struck of, each person was asked his Name, and Tue said his Name was Jonathan, and at the very instant he was ty'd up, appeared with a chearful Countenance, constantly praying: but Richardson appeared more dejected, afterwards they were put into one Cart and car [...]ied to the place of Execution.

At Tyburn. Tue had the Halter put about his Neck, when a Friend and Neigh­bour of his coming into the Cart to him, he desired him to give his Love to his Wife, and Blessing to his Children, and then thus express'd himself: ‘O Lord God I have been a great Sinner, and offended against thy holy laws; more par­ticulariy in breaking the Sabboth and disobedience to my Parants; but thou O Lord have mercy upon me, Christ have mercy upon me, Lord have mercy upon me; O Lord strengthen my Faith in prayer, which I thank God I have found great be­nifit by: I repent from the bottom of my heart of all my Sins, and of this most bloody Crime I now dye for, and I thank thee O God I am now so cheered by the light off thy Countenance to me, that it is as equal to me to dye as to live; or in words to this purpose.’

Richardson confessed that he did beat his Wife, which he thought might hasten her death, though he never designed it. Afterwards they went to prayers, and sung part of the 25th. Psalm, Thy mercy is manifold, &c. Afterwards he applying himself in Prayer, Lord have mercy upon me, Christ have mercy upon me, concluding with the Lords Prayer, saying Our Father, &c. Then the Carts was drawn away, and they suffered according to Law. Tues hody was by his Friends put into a Coffin, and is to be interr'd in St. Murtins. Church-Yard.