Between nine and ten o'clock in the morning, the High Sheriff of Surrey sent me for, to officiate as ordinary at the execution of the prisoner at the Marshal sea. Before he was brought out, a neighbouring minister and I (upon the sheriff's motion) went into the room where he was; when the reverend parson (having seen him the night before) asked him whether he had considered of those things which he formerly offered him; and did very pathetically press him that he would give glory to God, by a full and ingenuous confession of his crime, intimating to him the fatal consequences that might have followed, if he had perfected that evil work: how many men's lives might have been lost in the quarrel; whose blood he was so far guilty of, as he contributed to the increase in the rebellion, by his printing the traitorous paper (or words to the same effect). To which the prisoner answered (with some signs of discontent) to this purpose; that he hoped (speaking to the minister) he did not come to press him to unburden himself now: that he had nothing to say that might bring any person into trouble, and his time was short, so he desired not to be troubled about any such matter: so that few words passed ere we parted. Finding him resolved not to make discovery, I only told him, I did intend to meet him at the place of execution, and he thanked me.

When he came to the gallows, and was in the cart, I came to him and asked him, how he desired to improve those few moments of his life that were yet to come? He answered, in prayer. I asked him, Will you pray for yourself, or shall I pray for you'? He answered, I will pray, and desire you to pray for me. Whilst the executioner was preparing the rope, I showed him the Bible, saying, Sir, what comfortable sentence do you remember out of this word of God for your present use? He answered, Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. And then he proceeded in general terms to acknowledge himself a great sinner against God; but affirmed that he had made his peace with God, that he had confessed his sins with humility and fervency, and had begged God's pardon; and did not doubt but God had for the merits of his Son Jesus Christ pardoned all his sins, and he was now under very comfortable hopes that he should soon be happy, not upon the account of his own merits, but the merits of Jesus Christ. I told him that this was very good, if his hopes were well grounded. He replied, His hopes were grounded on the scriptures, which assured him that Christ died to save sinners. Whereupon I recounted to him some other gracious promises of God to true penitents; as that of Ezekiel, "If the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive," After which he made his address to God in prayer, that he would forgive him all his sins, and sanctify this his affliction to him; and prayed God to bless the king, and that he may be merciful and kind to his subjects, as well as just to his enemies: he farther observed, how gracious God was to him in giving him this admonition, (as he called it) for God might have taken him off by some sudden death, or deprived him of his senses; and then (he said) it must have been worse with me, but now God hath given me time to bethink myself; so that, though the dolour and the shame of this death, having so many spectators (upon whom he looked) may somewhat decompose me, yet I have peace and comfort within. Afterwards he desired me to pray with him, which I did briefly, according to his mind and present example: and closing with the Lord's Prayer, he answered every petition deliberately, and calmly: he declared that he lived in, and did now die in the Communion of the Church of England, which he repeated again in these words, the Protestant Church of England. After prayer, I asked him, whether he would sing some part of a Psalm? He answered No. Then I asked him, whether he had anymore to do or say? He answered, I have nothing more but to return you thanks for your care of me. And I pray God bless you and hear your prayers for me, and mine of you, and our Saviour Christ for us both. And so I left him going to his long home.

This, according to the best recollection of my thoughts, is the sum, and, as near as I can remember, the words that passed between Mr. Disney and me.

HOWELL, TB (compiler). Cobbett's Complete Collection of State Trials. Vol. XI.
London: Longman et al, 1811. pp467-468

Contributed by: Roger PAUL - BA(Hons); PGCertEd(FE); MSc.