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A True Account of the BEHAVIOUR OF Mr. Francis Newland, Who was Executed at Tyburn, on Friday the 19th of April, 1695. for the Murther of Francis Thomas, Esq
Together with a Paper delivered to the Ordinary, attested with his own Hand, desiring that he would publish it, for the Bene∣fit of his Friends and Acquaintance.
MR. Newland was conveyed to Tyburn in a Coach, out of which he ascended into a Cart; many spectators being present, he spake nothing to them. His whole deportment was very humble and serious, as became him in the near approach of his Death. I exhorted him to beg of God strength of Faith, a submissive Resigna∣tion of himself to the mercy of a gracious Redemer. He replied, that he had no other refuge to comfort him in this his distress. After several Prayers, he desired the 32d Psalm might be sung; accordingly it was. At my departure out of the Cart, he gave me a paper, written with his own hand and subscribed Francis Newland, in which is very pathetical good Counsel to his Friends, and all other young Persons: He desired me to publish it in print, it began thus.
Tho I am come hither, publickly to dye, for a barbarous Murrher, I declare (as I hope for mercy from God) that I had not my hand in this murther. Indeed I was an Eye witness, but knew nothing of the quarrel, nor was any way concerned in it. Neither was any other persons, except James Philboy, and Daniel Tully. Notwithstanding there were several swords drawn in the Street, no one injured the deceased, that I saw; but on the contrary several would have parted them had they not been prevented by Tully, which was my only reason of drawing my sword.
Notwithstanding I publickly suffer death, no one wishes better success to my Country. I heartily forgive all who have injured me, as I hope all do me, whom I have injured. I wish all People, and especially my Friends and Acquaintance, that my unfortunate End, may be a sufficient means to prevent them from any thing, which may in the least cause them to depend on others mercies.
It is not for me now to insist upon this, since I am at peace with all the World. I shall say something to detain all people from idle quarrelsome company, which undoubtedly is the inlet to all other mischief, and misfortune, as by me plainly appears. I suffer (I hear∣tily believe) a most just reward, for my past sinful life and conversation. I not long since thought my self as far from this untimely end, as any of my acquaintance; and therefore I hope, that since in this case I am able to say but very little, that the very Example it self may deter them, from their sinful wicked courses of living; which undoubtedly will be as severely punisht, if not in this World, in the next, they may shortly expect it, which will be far worse, unless they unfeignedly repent, which can never be too soon, tho it may be too late; for assure your selves nothing can be half so great a Terror to a man?, that when leaving this World, to find himself altogether unfit for another, and examining himself finds, that he groans under an immense burthen of sin, which he can no way get rid of. The ill consequence of which, I am not able to describe, but must leave them further to consider of it.
Tho I bess God, that since my dismal sentance, I have so much reflected on my past life, together with the good advice I had of several people, that that which I thought for∣merly most dear and pleasant to me, is now so odious and unpleasant; that were I now at my liberty and accidentally should meet with any of my former acquaintance, I should certainly thin•• them all Drunk, were they never so Sober. And I suppose, they, on the contrary, would think me mad. Yet I am so well pleased and satisfied with this my misfortune, that rather than I would give my self over to my former course of life, where I to live, and on my death-bed to undergo the Agonies and Terror which since my sentance I have done, I would first chuse to undergo the cruellest Death that can be afflicted.
From Your Ʋnfortunate Friend, Francis Newland.