The last speech and confession of Peter Cæsar, a Portugal, at the place of execution together with his confession at Justice-Hall in the Old Bailey ... likewise the tryal of the Frenchmen for ravishing a gentlewoman near Holborn ... as also a true relation concerning Mary Smith, who cut off her childs' head, with her examination and confession before Justice Swallow ...

The Tryal, Examination, and Confession of Peter Caesar, who most barbarously murtherd his Lord and Master, a Portugese, as he sate at Dinner eat∣ing of a Dish of Fish, &c.

AT Justice-Hall in the Old-Bayley, the last Sessions, Peter Cesar a Portugese was called to the Bar, to answer an Indictment exhibited a∣gainst him for killing of his own dear Lord and Master, a most barbarous and cruell Act; but the miraculous Effects, in Discovery thereof, is worthy of Remark, by the Judicious Reader: For no sooner had this bloudy Villain contrived the Dissolution of his Masters life, but Terrour possessed his guilty Con∣science, and the Grand Serjeant Death appeared ob∣vious for a high Arrest; but Cesar thinking to make his Escape, was prevented: Notwithstanding his fly∣ing from Hart-street near Covent-Garden, where his Master lodged: Who sending his Servant from thence, after he had been abroad at his Devotions, to provide him some Fish for his Dinner, and being dressed, and served up, this Judas-like Wretch, when

his Master was sate down at the Table, and standing with a Trencher and Napkin to wait upon him, took that bloudy Resolution, having a Pistoll ready fixed and charged, to discharge it against his Master, and so shot him through the head, as he was eating of his Din∣ner: the Report of which Pistol was heard by the peo∣ple of the house; but he using to fire it in Jest, in his Masters absence, against some Taylors that wrought opposite against them, they took no further notice there∣of. And about an hour after, this bloudy Executioner came down into the Kitchin, and seated himself to Din∣ner with the people of the house, where he staid the most part of the Afternoon; and then went abroad, and came in again; and toward the Evening he went forth again, and caused a Porter to bring home a large Chest to his Lodging; and causing the same to be carryed up stairs, the Porter was discharged, and the bloody Vil∣lain himself drew it into his Masters Chamber: but a∣bout two hours after, he called the Porter again to help him down with the Chest, which he did accordingly: and the Mistress of the house meeting him upon the Stairs, said, Where are you going Peter, what have you got in this Chest? He answered, Goods for my Master, Landslady, Me Master is to have a boon Collation in the Strand, with many Gentlemen of quality lately come from beyond the Seas. But

bringing the Chest down, it proved too heavy for him and the Porter, so that another came to their Assist∣ance, and away they carryed it to the Water-side, De∣signing for the Faulcon, this bloudy Peter pretending, That he was to meet a Gentleman there, to receive money of him for the Goods in the Chest. But these specious Pretences, soon took period in a deceitful Errand, for crossing the Water, he had no power to land there, but commanded the Water-men to Row him back again towards the Temple stairs coming near the Shoar, he cast the Chest over-boat, which the Wa∣ter-men admiring, askt him his Reason, To which he said, there was a Trick put upon him, and that the Chest was onely filled with Trash, Trumpery, and Garbage, which he would not bestow the pains to carry any further. And landing, seemed to go away in a Rage to his Lodging; but the next morning some blood being discovered upon the Stairs, and diligent Inspecti∣on made thereinto, he endeavoured to make his escape, but was immediately apprehended, and committed to Newgate, where he continued till the last Sessions; Right then taking place, and Real Justice streaming forth, even like unto Streams descending from the Mountains. For upon bringing of him to the Bar, he confessed the Fact, acquitting all persons what∣soever from having any hand therein; but that it

was his own Contrivance, and that not suddainly, but deliberately, having many days before resolved to attempt it, but had no convenient Opportunity, till that time his Master was eating of a Dish of Fish, at which time he shot him through the head, being tempted for many days, and much perplexd in mind till he had effected it; for which he was not onely sorry, but also confident, that nothing could expiate the Guilt thereof, but to shed the bloud of him, who had in such a most barbarous and inhumane manner, shed the bloud of his Dear Lord and Master. And all this, through want of Grace, meerly for the gaining of his Masters Jew∣els and Rings, together with the three hundred pounds in Gold, which his Master wore about him in a List to supply his Occasions. For which hor∣rid Fact, he was Arraigned and Condemned, and merited that Just Sentence, to be drawn upon a Hurdle from Newgate to the place of Execution, and there to be hangd till he was dead.

The two French-men also, who committed that inhumane Act against a Citizens Wife near Hol∣born; as first to Ravish her, and then to run up a Flaming Torch into her Body, were also Arraigned and Condemned: But Mary Smith, who cut off

her Childs Head, was Reprieved from publique Justice, by the Grand Sergeant Death, who catchd her from thence to another place, before the time of her Tryal. But tis observable, that never came a more penitent Soul within the Walls of New∣gate, than his poor Creature; for when one of the Officers told her, she must prepare her Self for her Tryal, for the time was near approaching she must give an Account at the Bar: To which she replyed, The Invisible Bar, to mortal Eyes, was her desire to stand before, where she did not doubt to find Eternal mercy; and that she hoped the Thread of her Life was spun to the very end, so that her penitent Soul should not long be Capti∣vated within that Sinful Body, the Prison of so precious a Jewel; for, sayes she, I question not, but these _____ _____ will prove Blessings, and I have Ass••rance therein. This much sympathiz'd with what she confessed before Justice Swallow, when she was first Apprehended: for then she ingenu∣ously confessed, That it was her sad Fate and For∣tune to be overcome by One young man, whom she had a great Affection for; but he having ob∣tained his will, and she conceiving with Child, re∣fused to marry her: Wdereupon she resolved to

forsake Friends and Relations, and to transport her Self to some Forreign Plantations: In order whereunto, she made Application to a Master of a Ship, and obtained leaue to be Transported: But before the time came to begin their Voyage, she had a Secret Delivery a Ship-board, and very ob∣scure under Deck; where, contrary to all Humane Reason, the Infant became headless, for she quickly severed the Head from the Shoulders, throwing the Body into the River, out at a Port-hole, and the Head behind the Casks: Which being quick∣ly discovered, the Bloody Mother was soon appre∣hended, and carryed before the Justice as afore∣said: from whence she was committed to New∣gate, where she departed this Life, making a very penitent End.

The like did the French-man and Portugese, the one Executed in Holborn, and the other at Tyburn, Wednesday the 27. who confessed his Fact, and very much bewailed the horroudness thereof, for that his dear Master had bin instrumental, to save his life in Portugal, where he had killed a man, and should have bin burnd, had not Mercy transcended Justice.

FINIS.