The life, travels, exploits, frauds and robberies of Charles Speckman, alias Brown, who was executed at Tyburn on Wednesday 23d of November, 1763 — John Shaqi
The life, travels, exploits, frauds and robberies of Charles Speckman, alias Brown, who was executed at Tyburn on Wednesday 23d of November, 1763Speckman, Charles
History
The life, travels, exploits, frauds and robberies of Charles Speckman, alias Brown, who was executed at Tyburn on Wednesday 23d of November, 1763
Speckman, Charles
Criminals -- England -- Biography; Speckman, Charles, -1763
keep soul and body together till the time of my death. That is no
part of his business. I have been supported by a gentlewoman through
my imprisonment in Newgate, in a most kind and christian manner; for
which I trust God will bless and reward her a thousand-fold. What
is farther wanted concerning me, the undertaker will inform you of
himself, or let you know where the gentlewoman is to be found; who
has got some other papers concerning me, and will deliver them to
you.”
We had just finished our business, when Mr. Cruden, famous for being
the author of a Concordance of the Sacred Scriptures, the best ever
yet seen in the Christian world, and well known in the republic of
letters, came into the prison, to pray with and comfort the five
unfortunate men; who very cordially, and with great fervency, joined
with him in prayer: Mr. Cruden adapted his whole prayer, which was
delivered extempore, to their present deplorable condition, with
great propriety and simplicity, to move them to a sense of their
guilt, to a firm trust and affiance in God’s mercy, and the certain
hope and expectation, on their sincere repentance, of enjoying a
state of eternal bliss in the world to come, through the blood,
merits, and intercession of Jesus Christ, the redeemer of all
mankind: that their state of probation here, was intended to qualify
them, for a much more high and happy state; and would be their own
fault if they did not attain it. To die, was natural to all men; but
the time when, or place where, not worthy a wise man or a Christian’s
notice. Then most heartily recommending them to God, and the word of
his grace, admonishing them to be chearful and resigned, he left them.
He had not been departed long, till Mr. Ordinary himself appeared;
but alas! what a falling off was here! Instead of his presence being
agreeable to them, as a Christian pastor should be, they looked upon
him as come for nothing but his own advantage; and rather to disturb
them with insignificant and impertinent questions, than to take care
of their poor souls; besides being honoured with execrations from
some of the bye-standers, for none but the Protestant prisoners were
suffered to be in Mr. Ordinary’s room: Mr. Cruden, on the contrary,
desired all present to join with him, and left the door open all
the time of prayer. Speckman and Broughton had the better of master
Ordinary, who was obliged to leave them without accomplishing the
only end he visited them for; who on coming out of the room, and
perhaps smelling a rat, came up to the Editor of this narrative,
with an assurance and countenance that carried the _true Shannon
dip_, asked what he came there for; and whether he wanted any thing
with _them there men_; in which being answered in the negative, he
vouchsafed to stalk away, blown up with his own sufficiency and
consequence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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