Public Execution in England, 1573–1868

The execution narrative was a popular genre in early modern England. New printing processes fed a public fascination with sensational eyewitness accounts of executions and transcriptions of felon’s scaffold speeches. This eight-volume facsimile edition, the first of its kind, draws together a representative selection of texts to show the evolution of the genre from the late sixteenth century to the end of public execution in England nearly 300 years later.

Primary source materials include pamphlets, broadsides, scaffold speeches and newspaper reports. The stories are, at turns, tragic, brutal, pathetic, touching, pious and irreverent. They provide invaluable insights into contemporary ideas of justice and the efficacy of capital punishment. They are tangible remnants of the fragile and complex relationship between a range of oppositional influences: the powerful and the governed, church and state, the market and morality, the moral collective and the individual offender. Usually cheap, sometimes crude, and always produced for sale (and, ideally, for profit), these works also represent a vital component of England’s developing print culture and the range of uses to which print media were put in the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries.

The edition includes extensive editorial material with a general introduction, section introductions, headnotes, endnotes and a consolidated index in the final volume. It will appeal to those studying Social and Cultural History, History of Print, History of Government and History of Crime.

• Popular witness narratives are contextualised by material from the debate on capital punishment
• Sources are drawn from US and UK national, county and university archives
• New editorial apparatus includes a general introduction, section introductions, headnotes and endnotes
• Consolidated index in the final volume
• Each facsimile page is digitally cleaned and enhanced, improving on the quality and legibility of the original

Contents

Volumes 1 & 2: 1573–1674

Arthur Golding, A Briefe Discourse of the Late Murther of Master George Saunders (1573); William Elderton, A Triumph for True Subjects, and a Triumph unto al Traitours: By the Example of the Late Death of Edmund Campion, Ralphe Sherwin, and Thomas Bryan, Jesuites and seminarie priestes (1581); The Arraignement and Execution of the Late Traytors (1606); The Liues, Apprehension, Araignment & Execution, Of Robert Throgmorton. William Porter. Iohn Bishop. Gentlemen. Together with the Prayer which themselues made (1608); The Bloody Downfall of Adultery, Murder, Ambition, at the End of which are Added the Westons, and Mistris Turners Last Teares, Shed for the Murder of Sir Thomas Overbury Poisoned in the Tower (1615); The Lieutenant of the Tower his Speech and Repentance (1615); A Pittilesse Mother that Most Unnaturally at one Time, Murthered Two of her Owne Children (1616); Henry Goodcole, A True Declaration of the Happy Conversion, Contrition, and Christian Preparation of Francis Robinson (1618); The Prayer and Confession of Mr Felton (c.1628); Henry Goodcole, The Adulteresses Funerall Day in Flaming, Scorching, and Consuming Fire, or, The Burning Downe to Ashes of Alice Clarke (1635); The Apprentices Warning-piece. Being a Confession of Peter Moore (1641); A Most True Relation of the Attachment, Life, Death, and Confession of Will. Waller, alias Walker, alias Ward, or Slater, a prieste and jesuite (1641); The Confession of a Papist Priest (1641); The Earle of Strafford, his Speech in the Tower to the Lords (1641); The Truest Relation of the Earle of Straffords Speech in the Scaffold on Tower-Hill (1641); A Protestation against a Foolish, Ridiculous, and Scandalous Speech, pretended to be spoken by Thomas Wentworth, late Earle of Strafford (1641); A True and Perfect Relation of the Apprehension, Examination, Conviction, Condemnation, and Confession of Andrew Roe, and Thomas Reynolds, two Popish Priests (1642); An Exact Relation of the Apprehension, Examination, Execution and Confession, of Thomas Bullaker, a Priest (1642); The Confession, Obstinacy, and Ignorance, of Father Bell, a Romish Priest (1643); The Confession of Thomas Pjts (1644); The Last Speech and Confession of the Lord Maguire: the Irish Rebel (1644); A True and Perfect Relation Of The Tryall, Condemning, and Executing of the 24. Prisoners, who suffered for several Robberies and Burglaries at Tyburn (1649); The Last Speech of Col, Eusebius Andrews (1650); A True Copy of Sir Henry Hide’s Speech on the Scaffold (1650); The Speech and Confession of Capt. Brown-Bushel (1651); Two Speeches Delivered On the Scaffold at Tower-Hill on Friday last, by Mr Christopher Love, and Mr Gibbins (1651); Mr Love His Funeral Sermon, Preached By himself (1651); The Speech of Collonel John Sares (1652); The Speech of Mr. Arthur Knight of Grays-Inne (1652); The Speeches and Confession of Arthur Knight, and Thomas Laret (1653); Hannam’s Last Farewell to the World: Being a Full and True Relation of the Nortorious Life and Shamful Death of Mr. Richard Hannam, the Great Robber of England (1656); The Speech of Major John Harris (1660); A True and Perfect Relation of the Grand Traytors Execution (1660); The Last Words and Actions of John James (1661); Vengeance Against Bloody Murtherers (1661); The Traytors Pilgrimage from the Tower to Tyeburn (1662); The Triumph of Truth in an Exact and Impartial Relation of the Life and Conversation of Col. James Turner (1663); The Last Speech and Confession of Peter Caesar, a Portugal... Likewise, the Tryal of the Frenchmen, for Ravishing a Gentlewoman near Holborn.... (1664); Digitus Dei, Or an Horrid Murther Strangely Detected. Declaring The Suspicion, Apprehending, Arraignment, Tryal, Confession, and Execution of Richard Rogers (1664); The Gardner at the Gallows for Buggerie Laid to his Charge (c.1667); Gods Justice Against Murther, or The Bloudy Apprentice Executed. Being an Exact Relation of a Bloudy Murther Committed by one Thomas Savage (1668); The Cruel Mother; Being A True Relation of the Bloody Murther Committed by M Cook, upon her dearly beloved Child (1670); A Dreadful Warning for Drunkards, or, the Execution and Confession of Fabian Price (1673); News from Tyburn, or, a Full and True Relation of the Confession and Execution of John Rendor, Charles Casby, William Pungly, Nathaniel Warden, Henry Milbourn, Francis Bennet, Ellen Bayly, James Woodman (1674)

Volumes 3 & 4: 1675–1777

The Last Speeches and Confession of the Two Notorious Pirates, Captain George Cusacke, and Simon Harcourt (1675); A True Relation of the Confession and Execution of John Smith, George Marshal, John Darkin, Michael Jones, Charles Potter, John Maxfield, Anthony Taylor, Eliz Simmons (1676); Treason Rewarded at Tiburn: or, the Traitors Downfal (c.1678); The Execution Of Mr Rob Foulkes, Late Minister of Stanton-Lacy In Shropshire (c.1678); The Behaviour And Execution Of Robert Green and Laurence Hill (1679); The Speech Of Richard Langhorn Esq; At his Execution (1679); Fair Warning from Tyburn, or, The Several Confessions and Execution of the Fifteen Notorious Malefactors (1680); The True Narrative of the Confession and Execution of the Fifteen Prisoners … Richard Hodgkinson, John Bradford, Timothy Grady, Edward Grady, Randol Russel, William Harris, Joseph Philips, Even Wood, William West, William Woodward, William Carter, John Anderson, Frances Lewis, Dorothy Clark, Dorothy Hall (1680); A True Copy of the Paper Deliuered by James Clough (1680); The True Confession of Margret Clark, Who Consented to the Burning of her Masters Mr Peter Delanoy’s House in Southwark (1680); The Last Speech of Edward Fitz-Harris (1681); The Confession of Edward Fitz-Harris (1681); The Confession and Execution of Leticia Wigington of Ratclif (1681); An Exact Account of the Manner of the Execution of Algernoon Sidney Esq (1683); The Confession and Behaviour of the Three Late Notorious Trayots, viz Capt Thomas Walcot, William Hone Joiner, John Rouse (1683); The Confession and Execution of the Three Prisonrs…Capt Thomas Walcot, John Rouse, William Hone (1683); The Last Dying Speeches, Confession and Execution of John Stokes, Isaac Davis, and Mary Williamson as also the Last Dying Speech and Confession of Alice Paddison (1684); A True Narrative of the Confession and Execution of the Four Prisoners Executed at Tyburn … Davis, George Stokes, Mary Williamson, Alice Patteson (1684); The Behaviour of Edward Kirk, After his Condemnation for Murthering his Wife (1684); A True Paper Delivered by Edmund Kirk, Vintner for Barbarously Murthering his Wife (1684); An Account of the Manner, Behaviour, and Execution of Mary Aubry, who was Burnt to Ashes (1688); The Last Speech and Confession of Edward Altham (1688); The Last Daying Speeches, and Penitent End of Greenway Feild (1689); The Speech of James Bird, Gent who was Executed at Tyburn…For the Wilful Murther of his Wife Elizabeth Bird (1691); The Last Dying Words, Behaviour, And Confession of Henry Harrison, Gent (1692); A True Copy of a Letter, Writen By Mr Harrison, In Newgate, to a Near Relation, after his Condemnation for the Murther of Doctor Clinch (1692); An Account of the Conversation Behaviour and Execution of William Anderton Printer (1693); A True Account of the Behaviour of Mr Francis Newland (1695); A True Account of the Behaviour Of Thomas Randal (1696); An Account of what Passed at the Execution of Sir Will Parkyns and Sir John Friend (1696); A True Copy of the Papers Delivered by Sir John Friend, and Sir William Parkyns (1696); A True Account of the Dying Behaviour of Ambrose Rookwood, Charles Cranburne, and Major Lowick (1696); An Account of the Execution of Brigadier Rookwood, Major Lowick, and Mr Cranburn (1696); A True Copy of the Paper Delivered by Brigadier Rookwood (1696); A True and Impartial Account of the Birth, Parentage, Education, Life, and Conversation of Edmund Audley (1698); A True Translation of a Paper written in French, delivered by Margaret Martell (1697); A True Relation Of the Life and Conversation of Margaret Martel, that Murder’d Mistress Pullyn (1697); The True Confession of Mr George Norton, Concerning the Murther of Mr Harris the Dancing-Master (1699); A True Copy Of The Papers That were Delivered by Mr William Cress, and Edward Robinson (1699); The Confession of John Petter Dramatti (1703); A True Copy of the Paper at Large, left by Mrs Deborah Churchill (1708); An Account of the Life, Birth, Death, Parentage, and Conversation, of Mr John Addison (1711); The Whole Tryal, Life and Conversation Birth, Parentage and Education, of the Lady Aberganey, who was burnt...for Murdering her Son, by Roasting Him (1712); The True Copy of the Original Paper signed by Mr Richard Noble (1713); A Speech Intended to have been Spoken by Mr John Gordon (c.1715); The Dying Speech of James Shepheard (1718); The Whole Lives and Conversations Characters, Births, Parentage, and Educations, Last Dying Speeches, and Coufessions, of the thirteen malefactors, who were executed at Tyburn (c.1728); A Full, True, and Genuine Account of the Uncommon Behaviour of Mr Gill Smith (1738); A Genuine Account of the Lives, Characters, Behaviours, Confessions, and Dying Words of the Six Malefactors, that were executed at Kennington-Common (1739); The Life, Behaviour, Last Dying Words and Confession of Charles Drew Esq (1740); News from the Dead...Exemplified in the Case of William Duell (1740); The Behaviour, Confession, and Dying Words, of the Malefactors, who were Executed at Tyburn (1741); A Genuine Account of the Behaviour, Confessions, and Dying Words, of the Six Malefactors, viz William Walters Thomas Williams, Anne Elliott, James Gunnel, Thomas Jones, James Johnson…Wherein is fully related The Life of Anne Elliott, written by Herself (1742); James Guthrie, The Behaviour, Confession, and Dying Words of Abraham Pass, a Jew (1743); An Accouunt of the Tryal, Condemnation, and Execution of Mansel Sansbury (1743); A True Copy of the Papers Wrote by James Maben, who was Executed ...for Counterfeiting the Current Coin of Great Britain (1744); The Lives, Behaviour, Confession, and Dying Words of the Five Rebels, (viz) Sir John Wedderburne, Bart Life-Guardman John Hamilton, pretended Governor of Carlisle Joames Bradshaw, of Manchester, Warehouseman Andrew Wood, Capt in Roy-Stuart’s Regiment (1746); The Solemn Declaration of Richard Coleman, who was Executed at Kennington-Common…for the Murder of Sarah Green, Widow (1749); The Last Dying Words, Speech, and Confession of Eliz Osborne, who was Executed…at Hereford, for the Cruel Murder of her Mother-in-Law (c.1750); The Behaviour, Confession, and Dying Words of the Four Malefactors, who were Executed at Kennington-Common (1751); The Only Genuine and Authentic Narrative of the Proceedings of the Late Capt James Lowrey (1752); Copy of What Dr Archibald Intended to have Delivered to the Sheriff of Middlesex (1753); A Genuine and Authentick Account of the Behaviour of Dr Archibald Cameron…by an Eye and Ear-Witness (1753); The Surprising Life and Dying-Speech of Tobias Donkin (c.1754); My Christian Brethren! I find You are Come Here Together in Great Numbers to Behold the Solemn Execution of an Unhappy Criminal (1755); The Life and Actions of William Cannicott, who was Executed at Tyburn… for the Murder of his Wife, Written by Himself (1756); The Last Farewell of the Five Malefactors who are to be Executed this Day at Tyburn (1758); The Genuine Life, Trial, and Dying Words of Eugene Aram (c.1759); An Account of the Execution of the Late Laurence Earl Ferrers, Viscount Tamworth, and his Lordship’s Behaviour (1760); The Last Speech and Dying Words of George Harger, Who was Executed … for the Murder of Mr John Moor, Late Bailiff of Halifax (1762); The Last Dying Speech (and Last Farewell to the World) of Sarah Metyard, and her own Daughter, Sarah Morgan Metyard (1762); The Last Speech, Confession, and Dying Words, of William Whittle (1766); The Last Dying Words of Thomas and Richard Boys (1767); The Complete Narrative of the Behaviour, Confession and Last Dying Words, of James Sampson…With a copy of a Letter he sent to his Wife the Morning of his Execution (c.1768); The Last Dying Words and Confession of the Two Malefactors, viz John Clarke, for High Treason; and James Felton, for Stealing a Bank Note (1770); A Genuine Account of the Life, Robberies, Trial and Execution of William Cox (1773); A True and Authentic Narrative of the Birth, Parentage, Education and Dying Behaviour, of George Strap (1775)

Volumes 4 & 5: 1778–1868

The Birth, Parentage, Education, and Dying Behaviour of Robert Hitchcock,...executed …or the cruel and inhuman murder of his own father (c.1778); A Genuine Narrative, of the Malefactors who was Executed this Day at Tyburn (1779); A Genuine Narrative of James Matthison (1779); A Genuine Narrative of Dennis Breerton, for the wilful murder of his wife (1780); A Genuine Narrative of Richard Roberts, and Thomas Taplin, were executed at the end of Bow-Street, William Pateman, for destroying the house of Robert Charlton in Coleman-Street, for which he there suffered; William Brown, for demanding of money from Carter Daking, in Bishopsgate-Street, near which he was executed; William M’donnald, Mary Roberts, and Charlotte Gardner, a Black, who were executed … for demolishing the house of Mr. Lebarty in St. Cathrine’s-Lane, Tower-Hill (1780); The Last Speech and Confession of William-Meek Meyer, who was executed …for the murder of Joseph Spink (1781); A genuine narrative of Francis Henry de la Motte (1781); Crimes and Execution of the Five Bloody Robbers (1782); Lives and Adventures, of Joseph and George Weston (1782); The Last Words and Dying Thoughts of James Chambers, who was executed for a highway robbery (1784); A True and Affecting Narrative of Mr. Mark Powell…who was executed…for forgery (1786); The Last Dying Speech and Confession of the Six Malefactors, who were Executed at Northampton (1787); The Last Speech, Confession, and Dying Words, of John Mitchel and John Johnson (c.1788); The Last Dying Words , Speech, and Confession of the 5 malefactors who were executed at Tyburn (1792); The Last Dying Speech, and Confession, Birth, Parentage, and Education, Life, Character, & Behaviour, of the Malefactors, Executed this Day at Tyburn (c.1793); The Last Dying Words, Speech, and Genuine Confession of Three Malefactors, who were Executed at Tyburn (1793); Execution of Maclean, commonly known by the name of the Gentleman Highwayman (c.1795); Last Dying Speeches, Birth, Parentage, &c. of John Lewis… for rioting at Charing Cross. Erick Han. Falck, for forgery…Thomas Hassel and Henry Hale, for burglary…to which is added, an affecting copy of a letter, sent by Erick Han. Falck, to the daughter of a respectable tradesman, whom he was to marry (c.1799); The Last Dying Speech and Confession of Charles Squire, who was executed …for the murder of Joseph green, his apprentice (c.1799); The Last Farewell to the World of the Three Malefactors who are to be Executed... John Kelly, James Smith, John Merchant (c.1800); Account of Col. Despard and the other 6 state prisoners, executed …for high treason (1803); A Dreadful Warning to Disobedient Children: Giving an Account of John Harris, a Young Man of about 20 years of … who was executed …for the horrid and cruel murder of his father, mother, and the maid-servant, and robbing and setting fire to the house. (c.1805); The Last Dying Speech of Ann Smith, Who Was Executed … for the Wilful Murder of John Williams (c.1810); The Confession of Percival Cooke and James Tomlinson (1812); The Execution of Philip Nicholson, for the Murderers of Mr. and Mrs. Bonar… and Charles Massereaux, for the Murder of a Marine. (c.1813); The Last Dying Words, and Particulars of the Execution of Huffey White, a very notorious old Offender, and Richard Kendall…for robbing the Leeds Mail (c.1813); An Account of the Happy Death of William Grierson; who was executed …for robbery and an attempt to commit murder. By a clergyman of the Church of England (1813); Observations on a Pamphlet…entitled ‘An Account of the Happy Death of William Grierson’. By a Cumberland Vicar (1813); ‘A Brand Picked out of the Fire!’; or, a Brief Account of Robert Kendall (1813); Observations on a Pamphlet, written by the Rev W P Davies, entitled, ‘A Brand Pluckt out of the Fire!’ By Laicus (1813); The Last Moments, Confession, and Behaviour, Of Richard Russell, Who Was Executed …for The Wilful Murder of his Own Father! (c.1816); Particulars Of The Last Moments Of Dan. Driskyll And James Brian, Who were executed …for Highway Robbery (c.1817); An Account of William Longland, who was Executed …for aiding and abetting six other men in breaking into the robbing the dwelling-house of Mrs. Sarah Morgan (c.1817); The Last awful Moments of John Caffin, A Black Who was executed…for committing a Rape On a Child, Seven Years Old (c.1817); A Full and Particular Account of the Execution of Jeremiah Brandreth, Isaac Ludlam, and Willm. Turner, for High Treason (1817); A Full, True, and Particular Account of the Last Awful Moments of John Holmesby (1819); An Account of the Extraordinary Life and Execution of Mary Green, Who was Executed …for Forgery…and came to life again after she had hung an hour (n.d.); The Last Awful Moments and Dying Confession of Ann Aytry. Aged only Sixteen Years,--was executed …for the wilful Murder of Mrs. Dormer, (her mistress) while she was in the pious performance of reading the Holy Scripture (c.1820); Execution. A full and particular account of the Execution of these five unfortunate men, and one woman who were executed …for the crimes of Forgery, Highway robbery, Sacrilige. (c.1820); The Last Dying Speech And Confession of Phillip Haynes, aged 37, and Mary Clark, aged 39 (c.1821); A Particular Account of the Trial and Execution of Ann Barber, who was Executed at York…convicted of the horrid murder of James Barber, her own Husband, by poisoning him with white arsenic (c.1821); Remarkable Speech of Cadman. Executions at Newgate (1821); Account of the Execution of Three Men at Warwick, John Bingley, William Dutton, and William Batkin, for Forgery (c.1821); A Particular Account of the Execution of John Bingley, Wm. Dutton, & W. Batkin, for Forgery (1821); The Life, Trial, and Execution Special Commission of Miss Mary Johnson, who was executed …for being concerned in the Murder and Robbery of her own Mistress, and her two fellows-servants (c.1822); An Account of the Last Awful Moments of Robert Chilcott. Who was Executed …for committing a detestable crime on a sow (1822); An Account of the Execution of Elizabeth Simmonds…for the Murder of her new born male Child (1826); The Last Words, Dying Speech, Confession & Behaviour of John and Joseph Bird (1826); An Account Of The Last Dying Moments Of Jane Scott, Who was executed …for Poisoning Her Father And Mother! With the horrible Confession she made in the Gaol, after condemnation. (c.1828); The Life and Execution of T W [Thomas Wicks].... for the murder of his master... With a copy of a letter he sent to his Mother (c.1846); An Account of the Last Days, Confessions, and Executions of the Mannings (1849); Awful Disclosures and Execution of T D for the Wilful Murder of J Denny,... also, of S Chesham, for poisoning her husband at Clavering (1851); Extracts from Birmingham Daily Post, The Bristol Mercury, Daily News, The Derby Mercury, The Hull Packet, The Leeds Mercury, Liverpool Mercury, Lloyd’s Weekly London Newspaper, Manchester Times, The Morning Chronicle, The Northern Star, Reynold’s Newspaper, The Times

Volumes 7 & 8: Commentary on Capital Punishment

William Prynne, The Sword of Christian Magistracy Supported (1647); Gerrard Winstanley, The New Law of Righteousness (1649); Samuel Chidley, Retsah, Cry Against a Crying Sinne (1652); The Penitent Prisoner (1675); J R, Hanging Not Punishment Enough (1701); Samuel Rossell, The Prisoner’s Director (1742); M Dawes, An Essay on Crimes and Punishments (1782); The Dying Criminal. Addressed to the Spectators of an Execution (1830); Basil Montagu, Thoughts on the Punishment of Death for Forgery (1830); John Williams, Punishment of Death (1836); The Groans of the Gallows, or the Past and Present Life of William Calcraft, the Living Hangman of Newgate (1846); William Ewart, Capital Punishment (1856); Charles Neate, Considerations of the Punishment of Death (1857); Charles Phillips, Vacation Thoughts on Capital Punishments (1858); Rev J W Watkin, A Brief Reply to….’Vacation Thoughts on Capital Punishments’ (1858); Sheldon Amos, Capital Punishment in England (1864); Alfred S Dymond, The Law on Trial (1865); Shall the Murderer be Hanged? (1865); James Carson, Capital Punishment is Murder Legalized (1866); Robert Jermyn Cooper, On Capital Punishment (1867); Articles from Good Words, Howitt’s Journal, Household Words, Punch, The Satirist, The Times, The Westminster Review

Related titles

• Newgate Narratives
• Trials for Treason and Sedition, 1792–1794

Leaflets

• Public Execution in England: printable leaflet
• Public Execution in England: colour leaflet

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