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Wing
Wine Vog (CH, VCB only
Saber 31252
Mc Dale 467

THE
Vain Prodigal LIFE,
AND
Tragical Penitent DEATH
OF
Thomas Hellier
Born at Wbitchurch near Lyme
in DORSET-SHIRE:
Who for Murdering his Maſter,
Miſtreſs, and a Maid, was Executed accor-
ding to Law at Weſtover in Charles City, in
the Country of Virginia, neer the Plantation
called Hard Labour, where he perpetrated
the faid Murders.
He Suffer'd on Munday the 5th of Auguſt, 1678.
And was after Hanged up in Chains at Windmill-
Point on James River.
Exemplum ficut Speculum, Exempla docent.
Examples on Record have ever ſtood
T'instruct the after-Ages, bad or good.)
For, each Example is a Looking-glaſs,
In which we may behold (cach man his face.)
:
Printed for Sam. Crouch, at the Princes Arms, a corner-hop of

U
GT I gi bort nicy
Toilet asmod
30 at

gaat also
egin gabe
stor host stod
TO THE
Eminh linist boldog
R E A DE R.
lods of citotxondo grossd radi
N this true Mirrour we may plainly ſee
What wretches People all by nature be.
999
dior a
From Adam his Pofterity accurſt,
COS
Hath been e’re ſince inclin’d to what is worſt.
s cities ortedt omnia
Good Education, and ingenious parts,
A fair Eſtate, with skill in lib’ral Arts,
( All laudable Accompliſhments ) will ſtand
In no ſtead, where Vice gains the upper hand.
Men highly by nature Ingenious,
Debauch'd through Vice, prove more pernicious.
Whom Grace doth not ſecure, Temptations
Will ruine on moſt flight occaſions.

To the READER.
Speedy Deſtruction attends that mind,
Which to Debauchery is ſtill inclin d.
Whom profp'rous nor adverſe ſtate won't reſtrain,
Such, oft with publick Crimes their Souls diſtain ;
Crime beap on Crime, devoid of fear and aw,
Till they become obnoxious to the Law;
Incur ſuch publick Puniſhment and blame,
As brings to th' Nobleft Parent age foul ſhame.
Boob Amor
Their Anceſtors Eſcutcheons beſpot,
wilmingo, 17 weddin H
Blurring them with an Indelible blot.
tinct pinget born
สวยใน 3000
All
, who from honeft Parentage deſcend,
Muſt live ſo, that ſhame. don't their death attend,
the boat II
Left their diſgraceful death, for what is paſt,
nad Todos
La bo oss
Shame innocent. Relations too, at laſt.
Tobis il smissed did som
• 2003. Yog' you get it doond condo
Bolthighs stitog tog chok oni stod A

[1]
conside
$8888888888$$$$$
A
card door
PROLOGUE
Прието
ole
The following Tragical Relation.
He many deplorable, and excellently well
illuſtrated Examples of God's Revenge
againſt Murder, occurrent formerly in o-
ther Countries, carefully collected and
judiciouſly related by Worthy Mr. Rey-
nolds, might (one would think ) ſave
me and others the labour of giving new Teſtimonies for
warning the World againſt thoſe vicious Abuſes, where-
by they draw down Divine Indignation upon their own
and others heads. But ſeeing ancient Truths and fore-
paſt Preſidents, as ſmelling of the mould or muſt of An-
tiquity (through Satan's malicious Policie, and the
World's incredulous Imbecillity) are moſt-an-end light-
ly eſteemed, if not totally ineffectual, and of no force,
next to Old Almanacks, long ſince worn quite out of
date; the World had need be rous'd out of its beſtupi-
fying Lethargy of Carnal Security, by ſome novel Re-
lations of this kind, recruiting afreſh on mens minds a
new and lively ſenſe and apprehenſion of Divine vindi-
cative Juſtice, impendent and ever hovering over the
heads of Delinquents for their reiterated Provocations,
B
For

For, though ancient Truths ought to be no whit at all
lefs moving or prevalent on ſober inindes, and found
rational apprehenſions, becauſe of their venerable An-
tiquity, yet long diſtances, and tedious tracts of time,
wearing paſt Tranſactions in part out of moſt perſons
memories (though haply they can't be totally buried
in Oblivion) do nevertheleſs downright argue ſuch an-
tique Relations of fallacious uncertainty, and call them
into doubt. So that, though Mr. Reynolds beforemen-
tioned hath in ſeveral places through his Book confir-
med the indubitable truth of his Tragical Hiſtories, by
adding the frequent Atteſtation of his own knowledge,
who was to ſome of them (ex confeffo) an Eye and Ear-
witnefs; yet, becauſe he hath ingeniouſly added, for
the Readers delight, ſomething or Device, adorning,
embelliſhing, and beſprinkling his Relations throughout
with lively Cuts, Gems of Eloquence, moſt fragrant
Flowers of Elegant Stile, and Rhetorical Sentences;
perſonating all very prudently under fictitious names,
( as may be ſuppoſed) with deſigne to avoid blemiſhing
the Reputation of each Malefactors ſurviving Relations:
Hereupon, I ſay, his whole Labour hath, to my know-
ledge, and in my hearing, merited from the report of
moſt whom I have met with, not the Repute of Hiſto-
rical Truth, but onely the Character of a queintly con-
triv'd Romance:
So fubtil is the grand Adverſary of Mankind, that ra.
ther than he will ſuffer people to be perſwaded accor-
ding to Truth(that ſeeming ſmall faults make way for real
great ones,or that common ordinary Vices prove leading-
Cards to horrid execrable Crimes :) The Devil, I ſay,
will animate the world to ſtigmatize Truth with the
brand of Falſhood, tempting perſons to reproach that,
which is in it ſelf every way well worthy commendati-
on. Thus, if Truth do bat array her ſelf in a little bet-
ter

[3]
ter than ordinary Apparel, ſeeming ſomewhat gay, po-
lite, and trim in Attire ;
unleſs the range
about ſtark-
naked, or creep forth clad in Ruſſet or in Raggs, ſhe,
forſooth, muſt not be credited to be like her ſelf.
However therefore, ſeeing Satan ſtill renews his old
Temptations on men, by new devices, ſeducing ſilly
Souls on flight occafions, to act afreſh old Crimes over
again, or at leaſt to imitate, if not outvie precedent
Examples of former times; 'tis all but needful, that new
Crimes ſhould be attended with new Relations, new Ad-
monitions, and for inſtruction fake, be ſincerely pub-
liſhed to open view : eſpecially ſince Examples of for
mer times are either miſbeliev'd, call'd in queſtion as
Romantick uncertainties, or reje&ted as ſtinking of An-
tiquity. Or if they have been known, approv'd, and
indubitable Truths (ſuch as that of young Sonds in
Kent, or Nathaniel Butler of London, and ſome other
like perſons not yet quite worn out of the memory
of Survivers ;) yet are they as little thought of almoſt,
as if they had never been, or were equally uncertain
with thoſe ſuppos'd Romantick ſtories of former times,
ſtretching beyond the very memory of Men. And though
this enſuing Narrative muſt expect no better fate than
the reſt of the like nature ; yet for preſent fatisfaction
to fome, and future inſtruction to others in the World,
I ſhall propoſe to all ſober perſons conſideration ſome
ſeaſonable and ſerious Reflexions on this ſad ſpectacle,
and lamentable example of frail and vicious Mortality,
But firſt take this Character of his Perſon.
B 2

[4]
Perſon. De
hogy stagnimal Ding A visibio
A Chara&ter of bis Perſon.
ado
ad do dodho
HE
E was a Pale-countenanced man, of a black-
brown hair, as I take it, inclining to curl, reach-
ing down to his ears, pretty round-viſag'd, ſomewhat
full-bodyed, of a middle ſtature, and (by what I could
diſcover) by Conſtitution very melancholy, which
appeared by his working Brain ( as you may hereafter
difcern ) his deſultorious Wit, ſoaring Ingenuity, and
vain-glorious humour; of a facile ductible Temper,
eaſily wrought on to be led to any Vice , Melancholy
perſons being not unuſually ſo diſpos’d. Mr. Burton
fitly terms Melancholy, The Devils Great Net, by
which (unleſs Grace powerfully withſtand ) he drags
men with eaſe to their own Deſtruction, eſpecially
where Vice hath once gain d any conſiderable ſtrength.
19 Bradona si es vadba
150 hpe 57910
waad isvan
Bordo 29ol litood beoogd Stora
Avemara vanbrods
nad on suza i svim na
TOTO TOTIS
amá coitelog andleg rodolls of glogote ild 1
polar bears no toxos, anot bos oldaron
Mediiv bus lalo slorosty slutnem brs
noteid o 19:30 del 18
THE

[5]
207 Honduras
alla stage:
213)
Cogida
eget
do $$$$$400 de dode de :09:00:00 do 248400 de de
THE
bonsalibus
bob
L I F E
0
OF
THOMAS HELLIER,
bob02315
ON
WITH
The manner of his perpetrating the following
HORRID FACT:
FROM
His own Confeffion to a Friend in
Priſon the night before his Execution.
Thomas Hellier (aged now ſome 28 years
or thereabouts was born at Whitchurch
neer Lime in Dorſetſhire ; Son to j. H.
of Parrocks. I liv'd with my own Pa
rents till I was ten years old, about
which time my Grandfather Thomas
Turner of Marfimood took me home
to him, and ſetting me to School, bred me up till fifteen
or fixteen years of age; who loved and tender'd me
very indulgently. About the age of ſixteen I was bound
an Apprentice to one jo. Sprake of Lime, by Profeffion

[6]
a Barber-chirurgeon, for ſeven years; from whoſe Son
I alſo learned, by my own induſtry, the Trade of a Sta-
tioner. After I had ferv'd fix years almoſt, my Maſter
died ; during which term, I had plaid fome frolickiſh
youthful Pranks, which were mildly conniv'd and
winked at, through the gentleneſs of indulgent Rela-
tions; which yet I had not the grace to make a good
uſe of,
After my Maſters death, ( not being bound to
any
but my Mafter onely ) I ſued out my Indenture, and ſo
gain d my Freedom before fix years were fully expired.
A while after I was got free from my Maſter's Widow,
my Grandfather dying, left me fifty acres of good Land
purchaſed for three Lives; the other two were dead,
and onely my own Life then remaining in the ſaid fifty
acres of Land : which Eſtate I lived on ſome half
a year
a ſingle man ; then I married one Hefter Ben ſloe, daugh-
ter to a good fufficient Farmer, who enjoyed fifty
pounds per annum of Prebends Land. After which I
liv'd with my ſaid Wife on the forementioned Eſtate
the ſpace of one year, till ſhe brought me forth a Daugh-
ter, by name Heſter Hellier.
My own and Wife's Friends both loved me very well,
and would have done very well for me, had I not taken
bad courſes, but I could not contain my ſelf within the
due bounds of Sobriety and Moderation.
1 About this time (in the year 1673 or 74, neer Mi-
chaelmas) I chouſed my Father of twelve pounds Sterl.
which he had entruſted me to receive for him, he being
then Collector of the Royal Aid money: After the re-
ceipt of which money, I takiog horſe, rode away to
London (unknown to Father, Wife, or any other Rela.
tions, who all that while knew not what was become
of me.) In London I ranted out my twelve pounds in
Company-keeping. And now I lived but too much at
eaſe

[2]
cafe, I knew not when I was well ; I was all on fire to
ſet-up in the world, to make a buſtle abroad to and fro,
and be doing, that I might ſeem ſomebody. I would
therefore needs, all on the ſpirt, ſet up my own Trade,
and that too of a Stationer; to which intent I took up
on Credit, to the value of ſome twenty four pounds in
Books of one perſon, which were never to this day paid
for. I did the like by others, to a conſiderable value;
none whereof (I do confeſs) were yet ever paid for.
Having thus furniſhed my ſelf, though all upon Truſt,
I made ſale of ſome twenty head of Cattle, young and
old, from off my Eſtate at Marſhom ood, which yielded
me ſome fixty pounds or upward ; with which
with which money I
fet my ſelf up, removing all my Goods to Crewkerne,
called commonly Crookharn in somerſetſhire. I ob-
ſerv'd the Foxes cunning (who hunts his Prey far from
his own Den:) ſo, though I owed round Debts at Lon.
don, or ellewhere, yet I paid all duely, keeping touch
with people nearer home; owing little or nothing any
where for ſome twenty miles diſtant from Crookhorn,
round about. By which Craft, and my affable ſociable
temper, I liv'd in the ſaid Town in very good Repute,
belov'd by all ſorts, both gentle and fimple, young and
old, rich and poor : I was ſo over-obliging to all people,
that I could have had Credit from any Tradeſman or
Gentleman neer me, for what I pleas'd. (Honeſt Mr. Hel.
lier, who but Mr. Thomas Hellier? ] But, as I ſaid be-
fore, I was ever ſhie of contracting Debts neer home.
Now it was high Noon, I thought it would never be
Night with me ; I ſeem'd to have the World in a ſtring,
and thought I could hale it which way I liſted at my
pleaſure : but ſoft my hafte ; for before two years were
fully expir’d, after my feating at Crewkerne, ( what by
keeping high Company, what by Gaming) I had on a
ſudden run my ſelf very deep into debt. But ſtill I bore

[8]
my head aloft above water with courage, making a
plauſible ſhew in the eye of the vulgar. One ruinous
humour I confeſs my ſelf very vaingloriouſly guilty of:
I ever too much affected fooliſhly to be admir'd and
ap-
plauded; wherefore if fix or eight Pot-companions had
ſate tipling with me, had they but beſtowed their Com-
plements liberally upon me, let ſuch flatterers drink
night and day, there was nothing for any of them to pay.
(Honeſt true heart ! noble, good-natur’d Mr. Hellier]
I paid their Reckoning out of my pocket.
I was (to my ſhame and forrow I relate it) notori-
oully addicted to Curſing and Swearing : guilty I was
of profaning the Sabbath; on which ſcore I had unhap.
pily gain'd ſuch influence on the Officers of the Town,
that if Mr. Hellier were found in a Tipling-houſe on
Sunday in Sermon time, no one would offer to inter-
rupt or call him to queſtion ; while others haply far leſs
faulty, were calld to an account, and perhaps inform’d
againſt.
But by this time my own and Wife's Relations appre-
henſive of this my looſe, diſſolute, careleſs courſe of life,
(diſcerning how I liv'd betwixt floating and finking,
between hope and deſpair) expecting but little or no
good from ſo bad a life as mine, began to draw back and
Itand at a diſtance.
Now my own Father, who had bound himſelf in
Bond to the Town of Crewkerne, at my firſt coming thi-
ther (to ſecure and bear the ſame harmleſs, that they
ſhould not be damnified by any Charge from my Family
or Children, in caſe of ſickneſs, or poverty, or the like)
demanded me to depoſit fifty pounds down on the nail
to the Magiſtrates of the ſaid Town, for their Security,
and releaſing my Father from his Obligation. Now alſo
my greater Creditors from afar off began to
urge
for
money.
To the end therefore that I might quit my
Father
[9]

Father, that he might take back his Bond, as alſo to pay
my more conſiderable Debts, I ſold my fifty acres of
Land for 193 l. ſterling. After which I paid down
50l. to the Towa; and by aſliſtance of the reſidue of
the foreſaid money, and help of Creditors, I liv'd in
the ſaid Town two years longer or thereabout, my
Debts ſtill unpaid.am ball be
And after all Stones turn'd to ſo little purpoſe, I be-
took me to that Pack-horſe and very laſt ſhift of Bro.
kers and Bankrupts, ( a Tapſters courſe of life ) by
which, at a certain Fair where I kept a Tipling bower,
ſelling ſeveral ſorts of Drink and Meat ready dreſſed, I
had got me a good handſome conſiderable lump of
money: but my minde being fretted and gall'd at the
thoughts of my great Debts, unadviſedly contracted, I
unable to endure and undergo the diſgrace and miſery
of a Priſon, which I more than doubted would be
my
lot, took my Horſe and ten pounds in my pocket, and
tripped up to London, reſolving there to ſeek my for-
tune. Where, though I might have turn'd my ſelf to
ſeveral Employments, having ſkill in Painting and mix-
ing of Colours ; judgment to eat any Letters, Knots,
or Devices into Mettals by Chymical waters; a dexte-
rous hand at Ingraving in Mettals and Carving in Wood,
with ſeveral other ingenious and commendable Myfte-
ries. Yet, here was I ſo fatally beſotted to my own
Overthrow, that I could fancie nothing but a Voyage
to Sea.
miwolle
Whereupon, after much fruitleſs rambling to and fro,
I met with a German, one Captain priſon, who had a
Privateer-Ship, and a French Commillion about the be-
ginning of June 77. I went on board the ſaid Ship;
deſigning to fail in her under the capacity of a Sea-Chi-
rurgeon. The ſaid Captain was to furniſh forth my
Cheſt with all ſorts of Drugs and Medicaments : but the
0916
с
Cap-

(10)
Captain being ſentenced by the Admiralty Court for a
Pyrate, and doom'd to pay as I underſtood ) 1000 1.
before he could get free, Money falling ſhort, he could
not ſet me forth nor furniſh my Cheſt. Whereupon I
left his Ship, and to ſhore I went in Auguſt 77, having
juſt one poor ſixpence in my pocket. So bi se
Thus had I trifled away and miſ-ſpent my ten pounds
and the price of my horſe. Next, to ſupply neceffity, I
fold my Cloaths for want of money: ſo walking up
Tower-ditch, I going in at the Eagle and Childe, en-
quired if there were any Ship-Captain quartered there?
one replied, There was no Ship-Captain quartered in
that houſe, but that he himſelf was concern'd about
Sea-faring matters. I enquired to what parts he was
concerned ? he anſwered, To Virginia : So aſked with-
al, if I were minded for that Country; if I were, I ſhould
have Meat, Drink, and Apparel, with other Neceflaries
provided for me. I replied, I had heard ſo bad a chal
racter of that Country, that I dreaded going thither, in
regard I abhorred the Ax and the Haw. He told me,
he would promiſe I ſhould be onely employ'd in Mer-
chants Accompts, and ſuch Employments to which I
had been bred, if they were here uſed. Ori 2910
On Auguſt the 10th, 77, I being over-perſwaded,
went on board the Tonng Prince, Captain Robert Morris
Commander ; on the 5th of September ditto, the Toung
Prince weighed Anchor from the Downs; and on the
25th of O&tober following, ſhe arrived within the Capes
of Virginia, and dropt Anchor at Nemperſnews.ter. W
I was delivered into the cuſtody and diſpoſe of one
Leroic Conner of Barmeodoe hundred Virginia, who ſold
me off to one Cutbeard Williamſon, living at a Planta-
tion calld Hard Labour, belonging to Weſtover. Pariſh in
Charles City, County Virginia. which faid Williamſon
promiſed me I ſhould be employed in Teaching his Chil-
dren,

[11]
dren, and not be ſet to any laborious work, unleſs ne
ceſſity did compel now and then, méerly for a ſhort
ſpurt. But nevertheleſs, though I wanted not for
Cloaths nor Viduals, yet I found their dealings contrary
to their fair promiſes, which much diſheartened me.
And though my labour at the Howe was very
irkſome,
and I was however reſolved to do my utmoſt endeavour
at it; yet that which embittered my life, and made every
thing I took in hand burdenſome to me, was the unwor-
thy. Ill- uſage which I received daily and hourly from
myrill-tongued Miſtriſs ; who would not only rail,
ſwear and curſe at me within doors, whenever I came
into the houſe, caſting on me continually biting Taunts
and bitter Flouts ; but like a live Ghoſt would imper-
tinently haunt me, when I was quiet in the Ground, at
work. And although I filently wrought as faſt as he
rail'd, plying my labour, without ſo much as muttering
at her, or anſwering any thing good or bad ; yet all
the ſilence and obſervance that I could uſe, would not
charm her vile tongue. Theſe things burning and
broyling in my Breaſt, tempted me to take the trip, and
give my Maſter the bag to hold ; thereupon I vamped
off, and got on board Capt. Larimore's ſhip, where I
remained eleven days, or thereabout, the Ship then
riding at Warwicks-Creek Bay. omah
I was abſent from my Maſter's buſineſs almoſt three
Weeks, but at length my Maſter hunting about, and
ſearching to and fro, had diſcover'd where I was, and
ſo ſending a Meſſenger, fetched me back home again.
As I was upon my return homeward, I had a deſigne
to have knocked the Meſſenger on the head; for which
purpoſe I took up a great ſtone and carried it along in
my hand a good way, unknown to the man: but my
heart failing me, I let drop that deſigne. At length
home I came, begg'd pardon
of my Malter for my fault,
and
C 2

[12]
and all ſeemed pretty well agaia. But my uſage pro-
ving ſtill worſe than before, my Miſtreſs ever taunting
me with her odious and inveterate Tongue, do all i
would, and ſtrive all the ways whatever I could, ſhe,
I found, was no whit pacified toward me. Whereupon
I began to caſt about and bethink my ſelf, which way
to rid me of that Hell upon Earth, yet ſtill ſeeking
if poſſible to weather it, but all in vain.
At laſt, Satan taking advantage of my ſecret inward
regret, ſuggeſted to my vicious corrupt minde, that by
ridding my Maſter and Miſtreſs out of the way, I might
with eaſe gain my Freedom, after which time I ſought
all opportunities to effe&tuate and bring to paſs my ſaid
horrid contrivance: Concluding, when they were
dead, I ſhould be a Freeman. Which ſaid execrable
Project I attempted and put in execution May the 24,
1678. Thus. non
озоліни
goyla bilis
Betimes in the Morning before day, I put on my
beft Cloaths, then got my Ax, and attempted two or
three times to enter my Maſter's Lodging-room, ſtill
my heart failing me, I ſtept back again; but however
at length in I ruflied: A Servant-maid, who lay every
night in the ſame Room, paſſed along by me the ſame
time with her Bed on her ſhoulder, or under her arm,
to whom I offer'd no violence, but let her paſs un-
touched; nor had I meddled with her, had the kept
out of my way. From her I paſſed on to my Maſters
Bed, and ſtruck at him with the Ax, and gave him
ſeveral blows, as near as I could gueſs, upon the Head :
I do believe, i had ſo unhappy an aim with my hand,
that I mortally wounded him the firſt blow. My Mi-
ſtreſs in the interim got out of Bed, and got hold of a
Chair, thinking to defend her felf; and when I came
toward her, ſtruggled, but I proved to hard for her ;
She begg'd me to ſave her Life, and I might take
what

[13]
what I would, and go my way. But all in vain, 10-
thing would ſatisfie but her Life, whom I looked on
as my greateſt Enemy; fo down ſhe went without
Mercy. The Wench to whom I intended no hurt, re.
turned, as I ſuppoſe to reſcue her Miſtreſs ; whereupon
The ſuffer'd the ſame cruel Fate with the other two.
After this Tragedy I broke open a Cloſet, and took
Proviſion for my Journey, and rummaging my Miſtriſs
Cheſt, I took what I thought fit, as much as loaded a
good luſty Horſe; So taking my Maſter's Gun in my
hand, away I haſtned: But while the Horſe ſtood
without door,a Neighbour came to the houſe, with an
excuſe to borrow the faid Horſe. To whom, I frow.
ning, anſwered very roughly, and threatning him, bid
him be gone, he could not have the Horle; who de-
parted, and (I ſuppoſe) betrayed to the other Neigh-
bours ſome jealouſie he had conceived, concerning
fome Miſchief I had been doing. A Childe alſo be-
· longing to the Family was run forth to betray the bu-
fineſs. But before any body came, I was gone upon
my intended progreſs with my Maſter's Horſe loaded, ,
and his Gun in my hand.
After wandering the unknown Woods a tedious time,
to and fro, and finding no path, I ſtruck up towards
a Plantation belonging to one Gily, near Chickahom-
mony Swamp, where I had a Ship-mate living; here
I
found a Path, and following that Path, it led me up
to the houſe, where finding my Ship-mate, lenquir'd
the neareſt way to the Falls of James River: Who
told me, he knew not the way, but ſaid, he would
go
and enquire; ſo he called his Maſter's Son, who asked,
if I would not walk into the houſe, and eat before I
went. I ſaid it was too early for me to eat : The faid
Gilly's Son-in-law came forth alſo, and very urgent
they were to have me walk in and ſmoke Tobacco,
ſeeing

[14]
ſeeing I would not eat. I told them, I would not
ſmoke, but deſired them to direct me my way, (ſtill
keeping my Gun in my hand, I being as ſhie of them,
as they were watchful over me.) At laſt they told
me, they would few me the way ; one walking be-
fore me, and the other following me, who led me to
a Paſſage over a Water: where, before I paſſed over,
I had ſome occaſion to lay my Gun out of my hand:
Whereupon one laying hold of the Gun, ſaid, This is a
compleat Gun, and withal fired it off: whereupon I
diſcern'd my ſelf ſurprized.
They told me I was to go no farther : So they ſei-
fing me, I ſtruggled a while, and had like to have been
too hard for one of the men. But Gilly himſelf hearing
the report of the Gun, run down toward the place ;
ſo being overpowerd, I was forced to ſubmit to have
my hands bound. Upon this ſeiſure I was ſtruck
with filence, not having power either to confeſs or
deny the fact. They forthwith brought me before
Mr. John Stith, the next Juſtice of Peace; This hap-
ned May 25, 1678. I had no power to anſwer the
Juſtice to any thing, only I begg'd that I might have
a Miniſter fent for to me, and then I ſhould relate the
whole matter. One Mr. Williams was ſent to me the
next morning (being Saturday) to whom I acknow-
ledged the whole matter. After conference with the
ſaid Miniſter, I began by degrees to be rendred ſenfi-
ble of the heinouſneſs of my horrid and bloudy Crime;
for which I was Tryed at James-Town, July 26, 1678.
And was Sentenced to be Hang’d in Chains the 27 ditto;
according to which juſt Sentence, I am now deſervedly
to ſuffer here this inſtant 5th of Auguſt, 1678.
Whereas ſome have reported me formerly an High-
way-man, and that I was transfported from England
hither

[15]
hither as a Malefactor ; I do here now declare to the
world, that I never abuſed any perſon on any account
on the Road in England, in all my Life-time (except
one pittiful Begger.) For, as I rode one day along
the Road, a Begger by the Way-ſide importuned me
earneſtly, that I would give him ſomething. I had
then been on the ramble, having ſpent all my Money
to eighteen Pence, and had fixty Miles farther to
ride. Whereupon I bethought my ſelf how to ſupply
my preſent penury out of that Beggers Purſe, whom
I judged to be far better in ftock than my ſelf. . I
therefore told the man, I had no Money about me leſs
than Half a Crown, requiring him to give me ſeven
Groats, and I would give him two Pence out of the
Half-Crown. The Begger ſtreight pulld out a quat-
tity of ſmall Money, and laid it into my hand ; Igriping
my ſaid hand, put the Money into my Pocket. The
Begger re-demanded his Money; I told him , I had
little Money, and a great way to ride; but he could
beg for more Money, I could not ; ſo I rode a-
way with the poor man's Money. Belides this Cheat,
I was never guilty of any thing, which might incur the
cenſure of the Law, in England, except my Debts fa
unadviſedly contracted.
This fore-recited Relation, after I had penned it
from his own Mouth, I read the fame over to him, be-
cauſe I had not related it (ipſius atque totidem verbis)
juſt in the very ſame numerical words, wherein he
made his Confeſſion to me. After he had heard the
ſame read over, he acknowledged this to be the true
fenſe of his own Intentions, and the very fame which
he deſired might be publiſhed to the world. So I pro-
miſed him I would take ſo much care, as to have it
tranſported for England. And ſhall now proceed to
the Reflections themſelves,
R E
Ĉ15

[16]
21
REFLECTIONS
Ο Ν Τ Η Ε
LIFE and DEATH
OF
1 H O M AS
HELLIERS
ТЕ
HE firſt ſtep, by which he acknowledged, that
he aſcended to a vicious Habit, was by his a-
buſing the too great Indulgence of his Relations to
wards him, who were wont ſlightly to paſs by and
connive at his many youthful Follies (when but a Boy)
without ſo much as chiding, or haply only ſmiling or
laughing at him for the ſame, never vouchſafing once
to correct him for what he had done amiſs.
To harp overcloſe upon this ſtring, would I know
ſound harſh and too ungrateful in the ears of many
Thouſands overfond and indulgent Parents. For, 'tis
notorioully known, how fatally ſome perſons have
been guilty of this Epidemical Errour, to the utter over-
throw and downright unavoidable deſtruction of their,
otherwiſe hopeful, Pofterity and flouriſhing Offſpring.
I ſhall therefore only hint the Wiſeman's infallible
Rule; That they who Spare the rod, hate their Chila
dren; but they who correct them in meaſure, fhall Save
their Souls from Hell.
AS

[17]
As to this particular, Parents are apt to erre by
two Extremes; Either they are guilty of too much
Eaſineſs and Gentleneſs towards their Children, which
debauches the mindes of Youth from Vertue, Good-
neſs, and induſtrious Towardlineſs, (Nature inclining
all who are left to their own choice, to chuſe the
worſt, and refuſe the beſt) too frequently to open and
incorrigible Licentiouſneſs.
Or on the other hand, Parents are apt to exerciſe too
ſtrict and rigid Severity upon their Children, over-
awing and over-eying them beyond reaſon, mewing
them up like ſo many Hawks, and confining them like
Priſoners, from lawful and allowable Liberty. Which
hide-bound humour beſtupifies the Wits of Youth, ſo
that they become uncapable of knowing how to make
a right and true uſe of modeſt Liberty, after they are
grown up to ripeneſs of years; whereupon ſuch, like
Priſoners broke out of a Goal, become mad, hair-
brain'd, diſſolute Sots, and wild extravagant Fools.
Whereas prudent Parents, who hope to reap com-
fort by the Towardlineſs of their Children, ought firſt
and chiefly to ſtudy the Genius, Temper, and natural
Inclination of the Youth, whom they have to deal
with, and to qualifie their dealings toward them with
due Moderation, chooſing laudable Mediocrity in all
things ; whereby people may be better capable to
judge, when 'tis needful to uſe the curb, and when
'tis fit to let looſe the reins. Which Behaviour would
prove more commendably ſucceſsful as to their Chile
drens happy Education, as well as far more infallibly
comfortable to themſelves. It is evidently known and
experimentally, that a Check mildly given ſhall ſhame
a meek, ingenious, gentle Diſpoſition from any
vicious
Irregularity; whereas mild Advice ſhall be but con-
temned by a ſtubborn Nature: Yea, harſh dealings,
D
frequent
[18]

Boris boss 2135
frequent penalties, and even blows themſelves are but
fufficient (and ſcarce that too ſometimes) to work good
upon ſome rude, harſh, refrađory Tempers. Some
Twigs will gently ply and bend with eaſe, while ſome
again will ſooner break than bend.
But above all things, Parents unconcern'd conni-
vance at Childrens Follies, is certainly ruinous, and
(through Satan's ſubtlety, and the rare injudiciouſneſs
of tender youthful years) is frequently abuſed into a
ſilent incouragement, to proceed from trivial Offences
to Criminal matters of weight and moment; like Æ.
Sop's School-boy, who for want of due Correction and
Chaſtiſement for his Peccadillo's at the beginning, by
being winkt at in his petty Pilferings, took heart from
thence and was emboldened to attempt thoſe groſſer
Faults, which at laſt unavoidably noos’d his Neck in a
Halter.
An Edocument which may prove ſignificantly in-
ſtructive to Youth in general, fore-warning all to be-
ware of ſeeming inconſiderable, petty, trifling Follies,
which inſenſibly (when once allowed and liked of)
prepare and prediſpoſe the Minde for perpetrating other
more heinous and far groſſer Enormities. For, no
perſon can arrive to a virtuous or vicious habit to be
come really good, or compleatly bad; but by the
gradual aſcent, progreſs and ſucceſſion of many reite-
rated voluntary acts. And juſt as many ſmall Leaks
may fink a Ship, ſo in like manner ſmall, unadviſed,
youthful Faults (if not curbed and in due time cor-
rected) may betray perſons to ſome one deſtroying,
execrable outrage. Nor will towardly Education alone
now prevail to overpower the violence of Tempta-
tion in this cafe, when once the reins have been let
looſe to all inordinate Affections. For, after that the
ſenſual Appetite hath once gained the Predominancy,
Hapan
tyran-
[19]

tyrannizing over, and at pleaſure captivating the Will.
By this means the Underſtanding being darkened, the
Reaſon corrupted, the Judgment perverted and imbe-
cillitated, the Internals being now totally unable to
diſcern and diſtinguiſh between, or cenſure aright con-
cerning downright Realities, or 'tween appearances of
Good or Evil. Then violent, brutiſh, untamed Paſſi-
ons ſhall with eaſe hurry any perſon forward to the
eager proſecution of whatever vicious Objects, carnal
Senſe propoſeth to the Appetite, and ſenſual Appetite
promiſcuouſly ſuggeſteth to the diſturbed, injudicious,
and giddied Fancy.
Self-Love, or Conceitedneſs of his own worth, was
another ſtep to this poor Wretch's ruine. For that
ſuppoſed and imaginary worth admired in himſelf,
created in his impotent Soul a flatuous Haughtineſs of
Spirit, and vainglorious Oftentation: ſo that he having
attained (according to his own Confeſſion) by his
natural Ingenuity and Mother-Wit, as we ſay, ſome
ſkill in Caſting Metals, Eating Knots, Flowers, or any
other ſort of curious device into Metals, by virtue or
Chymical-Waters, having a pretty dexterous Hand at
Engraving in Metals, and Carving in Wood, as alſo
ſome commendable inſight into Painting and mixing of
Colours, being likewiſe handy at making Muſical-In-
ſtruments, and tolerably capable to play on the fame
when he had done, with other ingenious Contrivances
and Myſteries ; over and above the Trade of a Statio-
ner, which he gain'd from his Maſter's Son, and his
own proper Faculty of a Barber-Chyrurgeon, to
which he was bound an Apprentice.
The fantaſtical conceit of his naturally happy and ap-
plauded Ingenuity, producing an unſetled, deſultorious
and undertaking temper in his foaring breaſt, prom-
pted him boldly with aſſured confidence to attempt
D.2
any

[ 20 ]
any Myſtery. Thus affecting by all means poſſible to
be admir'd, ſtriving to be, or at leaſtwiſe ſeem to be,
fomebody for his Skill in every thing. His monſtrous
wonderworking Brain built Caſtles in the Air of his
lofty high-flown Imagination. Whereupon he fought
to aſſociate himſelf with perſons of more than ordi.
mary Rank and Quality, keeping ſtill very high Com-
pany, which led him to great and exceſſive expences,
beyond his own quality and eſtate : which cauſing ne-
glect of his Domeſtick-buſineſs and Family affairs ,
quickly brought him behinde hand in the world, in-
volving him deep in Debt. Which diffolute, careleſs
courſe of Life, minds me of a ſeaſonable Soliloquy, or
folitary Dialogue, which I have been told was fre-
quently uſed by a thrifty, ſober Shop-keeper, by
Queſtion and Anſwer, between himſelf and his Shop,
as he walked to and fro in it; He was wont, I am told,
to propound this Queſtion and Anſwer within himſelf,
(What ? shop, Wilt thou keep me ? Tes, Sir, if you
keep me.) Nor can any wonder , ſeeing this our
young Prodigal would not keep home, that home would
not keep him.
Wheever expect their employments
fhould maintain and keep them , ſuch muſt be dili-
gent and induſtrious in keeping cloſe to their Em-
ployments.
1210
So pofleffed, or bewitched rather, was this
poor con-
ceited man with an immoderate affectation of Applauſe,
that had he met fix or eight Companions meaner than
himſelf, he would have ſpent for them all, as long as
they would fit with him, had it been two or three
Days and Nights, ſcorning any one of ordinary rank
ſhould ſhare with him in payment of any Reckoning.
And all this forſooth, becauſe his Paraſitical Aſſociates
would at every turn complement him by the Title of
Honeſt Mr. Hellier, wherever they ſaw or met him.

[21]
o, but Mr. Hellier, who but Mr. Hellier? So ſociable, ſo
affable, fo courteous, and true a heart, ſo generous
and ingenious a Spirit, that Mr. Hellier became intimate-
ly belov'd both by Young and Old, by Gentle and
Simple. Mr. Hellier was at all times courted and com-
plemented by all ſorts, being gratefully accepted with
perſons of the beſt Quality. His pliable, du&tile, yiel-
ding temper indearing all people to him, for his affable
Ingenuity.al
Which fore-cited Humour is ſtills, and ever hath
been, notoriouſly exemplified by the frequent Follies of
ſeveral ridiculous Spend-thrifts in all Ages, through
each Country almoſt of this vaſt Univerſe ; The daily
dreadful evil Effects whereof have been ſo ſignally
known among all people, that to this I need ſet only
this brief and ſeaſonable Moneo. (Let ingenious Youth
ſettle their thoughts in due time, on ſome one uſeful and
laudable Employment, to which their Genius ſhall na-
turally and moſt aptly incline and lead them, and ſtick-
ing cloſe to that alone, endeavour with humble and
induſtrious diligence to become eminent in that one
Myſtery, Art, or Science.] Better attain to be ſome-
body in any one ſingle Faculty, than to be no body in
all. Expertneſs in one thing, far excels a ſmattering in
ſeveral. And when any have happily arrived to ſome
perfection of Knowledge, or ſkill in ſome one Myſtery,
let them cautiouſly ſuppreſs vainglorious Self-concei-
tedneſs and Admiration of their own Worth , as a
thing fatally deſtructive to well-deſerving Spirits,
Conceited perſons are uſually plagued with unſetled,
roving, rambling, deſultorious Wits, which are too too
frequently expoſed to oſtentatious ruine.
Withal, let unexperienced Youth look well to their
company, left they ſuffer themſelves to be wiped over
the thumbs, by crafty.pated Pot-Gompanions; or to
be

[ 22 ]
be mumped out of their Eſtates and Fortunes by ſup-
poſed real, but really falſe, flattering, flovenly, baſe,
Trencher-friends. It would be highly abſurd in me,
ſhould I but recount ſo many as I could from my own
Experience nominate, Gentlemen of Quality and Eſtate,
who through too great overcredulous facility have
given themſelves to be gulld, abuſed, and cajoaled
by this very means out of many Pounds in the year.
And indeed, though men of conſiderable fortunes can-
not quickly be ſenſible of this ridiculous injury; yet
it behoves perſons, who muſt expect to live by their
labour, to have their eyes better about them, and to
look out a little more ſharp : In regard ſuch an ill-
beſeeming temper in a Peaſant, muſt needs produce
certain unavoidable ruine. For the ſame action, which
in a great man may appear a Virtue laudable, and
worthy the Title of true Generoſity; will in a mean
perſon deſerve contempt, reproach and ſcorn, ſhewing
highly ridiculous, blameworthy, and merit the cenſure
due to vicious Oftentation. How odiouſly nauſeating
was that ſoft-headed Gallant's fantaſtical Humour?
Who having far leſs Wit than Money, ſo impatiently
affected Oſtentation, that rather than miſs of being
ſeemingly admir'd, he would (whenever the vainglo-
rious Devil drove him) ran abroad with a Bag or large
Purſe of Money, and picking up a ragged, tatter'd,
beggarly Crew, his conſtant Creatures and Paraſites,
would himſelf ſtand in the midſt, the ſaid inſects or
filthy vermin crawling round him in a ring: Thus ſet-
tled, the Clawbacks ſtrait began to Hoghlogh, and with
loud Acclamations to clap their hands with all might
and main, ſhouting and crying, O moſt generous Eſquire!
moſt noble Captain! moſt excellent Sir! Which Plaudite
was forthwith amply well-rewarded with a large Boon
from Eſquire or Capt. Cracktbrains, who immediately
amidi

[23]
amidſt the heat of this his childiſh Triumph, ſcattered
his Benevolence fluſh among them, ſhowring Money
down on them, like Jupiter on Danaë ; and all to re-
munerate their little to be minded, and far leſs merited
high Encomiums. And was not this moſt generous
Eſquire, moſt noble Cap. Cracktbrains moſt renowned-
ly ſet up, and gloriouſly brought to bed ? Delo
The inſeparable Attendants upon this poor filly
Wretches Company-keeping, were frequent Drunken-
neſs and that bewitching knack of ſhaking of the Elbow,
or Gaming; whoſe adherents were bitter Curſing, abo-
minable Swearing, and uſual profaning of the Lords
day. By all which evil courſes he having by degrees
forfeited the favour both of God and good People:
having embezzelled and miſpent his own eſtate, and
involved himſelf withal deep into Debt. Beginning
now to be put to his ſhifts, he reſolved at length to
try and work his Wits, for extricating himſelf out of
that Labyrinth of Shame and Miſery, wherein he
dreaded he ſhould be entangled, if he were impriſoned
for Debt. The thoughts whereofexceedingly terrified
him both by Night and by Day; whereupon, ſtriving
to ſhun Scylla, he unhappily and unwittingly ruſhed
on Charybdis; leaping (in his own apprehenfion) out
of the frying pan into the fire; and buſtling to free
himſelf out of Purgatory, he ſkipped with Michael
Angelo's Cardinal, full into Hells mouth (to his own
thinking.) For having left his Wife, and rode to
London, with deſigne to fhun the clutches of Bayliffs,
Serjeants and Goalers, by ſhipping himſelf off for Sea.
Inſtead of dealing with a Ship-Captain, he fatally
dropt into the tyrannical hands of a Trepanning Kid-
napper, who ſhipt him off incontinently for Virginia.
A deplorable Example of Divine Indignation, which
may ſerve to deter all forts from provoking Celeſtial
Vengeance

[24]
Vengeance by the fore-named Vices. Juſtice hath Lea-
den Heels, but Iron Hands; it will overtake ſurely,
though ſlowly. Abus'd Long-ſufferance is changed
into unquenchable Fury. And here he, who had fo
long ſlighted Patience, and trifled away ſo many rich
Opportunities of making himſelf happy, was now come
to the length of his ftring, and gotten to his ( Non ula
tra.) For Vices of Drunkenneſs, Swearing, Curſing,
Profaning the Sabbath, and the like, ſo common in our
Age, that the generality of people ſcarce account them
fuch, do (as by the fad effect of this Tragical Example
manifeſtly appears) frequently provoke Divine Juſtice
to give men over to commit deſtroying Crimes, meri-
ting a ſhameful Death by the cenſure of the Law, as
this poor Wretch was dealt by. And though Provi-
dence in all ſound probability, was pleaſed to convert
all to his good, before he left this Land of the Living,
by reclaiming him through Repentance. Yet how
many miſerable Wretches may we conclude there to
be in the world, who hardly minde theſe offences in
themſelves , not ſo much as dreaming it needful for
them to be humbled, or cry Peccavi before the Majeſty
of Heaven for the fame : Preſuming on his Patience
and Mercy, granting all will go well with them, merely
becauſe Divinity hath not vouchſafed to deal out ſuch
Severity to them, as he hath to ſome others; the con-
dition of theſe poor wretches is beyond all apprehen-
fion or expreſſion miſerable. 'Tis well worthy Ob-
ſervation to conſider, how fatally this poor wretch was
beſotted; That though he might with comfortable
ſucceſs have turn'd himſelf to ſo many honeſt Occu-
pations, yet nothing would take with him, but a Voy.
age to Sea; which defire of his ſoon was accompliſhed
and fulfilled to his own ſorrow. Sail to Sea he did in
a Virginy-man, little ſuſpecting what was to follow.
After

be After this poor deſperate Wretch was arrived in
Virginia, he was fold off to one who promiſed to em-
ploy him only as a Pedagogue, in teaching his Children.
But Hellier foon finding his Maſter's dealings contra
dictory to his former fair pretences ; experiencing his
Miſtriſs alſo continually bent to load him with abuſes,
exerciſing her perniciouſly.inventive Fancy in heaping
on him Ironical Invectives, fouting him ever and anon,
and taunting him with tart Jears. Diſcerning alſo that
his own ſubmiſſive willingneſs to work at the Howe, to
the beſt of his power (though it were abominable and
irkſome to him;) and perceiving his forward Obe-
dience to undergo lo toillome a drudgery, gain’d him
but a bad requital from the implacable Tongue of that
Shrew his Miſtriſs; and that his perpetual filence and
patient ſufferance of her continual Taunts and fears,
Oaths and Curſes (without ſo much as one word of re-
ply from him, good or bad) wrought him no eaſe, nor
any whit abated her tyrannical Paflion, but that his
Ulage proved (till as bad, or worſer far than before :
He was by the overpowring violence of Temptation
ſeduced and prevailed upon to extricate himſelf out of
that ſeeming Hell upon Earth, by perpetrating this moſt
execrable Fact, as you have the axing of the Tragedy
according to truth related before, juſt as I took the
fame in writing from his own Mouth in Priſon , the
Night before he Suffer'd. mars beca voisieglobs
And here, before I proceed any farther, let all ſober
perſons magnifie, with me, the unſearchable Riches of
Divine Goodneſs, who notwithſtanding that all Chri-
ſtians are by Nature as bad as the worſt, and haply the
beſt of us all have at one time or another of our Lives
been guilty of as God-provoking fins, as this poor pe-
nitent Criminal was (actual Murder only exempted) too
too many having been over and over guilty of that too
E

[26]
in their hearts, amidſt the boyling of outrageous and
revengeful Paſſion, though not with their hands. Let
us all, I ſay, praiſe Divinity for his Mercy, in allowing
us that reſtraining Grace, which hath hitherto by one
means or another ſtaved off and kept us back from
this or the like outrage. Let us therefore in the next
place ſupplicate Divine Goodneſs for his All-powerful
renewing Grace, which may ſo overpower our too-
powerful Corruptions, that no preſumptuous ſin may
at any time prevail, or gain Dominion over us.
Now 'tis no way to be doubted at all, but that each
ſober-minded perſon will ſerioully declaim againſt that
Unchriſtian-like and execrable courſe of life driven by
your Men-ſtealers, termed otherwiſe Spirits or Kid-
nappers, whoſe whole employ it is to collogue and
ſeduce indigent, ignorant Souls (ander fair pretences,
and by making Golden promiſes of things never likely
to come to paſs) drilling many diſtreſſed, deſperate
Wretches on to their own ſpeedy and unavoidable de
ſtruction, thereby ſtudying to raiſe themſelves by the
ruine and downfal of rambling and unſetled Spirits.
The truth whereof might be ſadly teſtified by ſeveral
deplorable Examples of ſome, who for very grief and
vexation of Minde ( diſcerning themſelves abuſively
danced into a Fools Paradiſe, or behampered in an in-
extricable Labyrinth of vexatious Miſchiefs) have even
deſperately made themſelves away.
All neceffitated perſons therefore who ſhall ſeek to
fhun ſhame or other miſeries in England, or elſewhere,
by changing Climate, and tranſporting themſelves for
this Country of Virginia, ought to be cautelous and
wary, whom they trade with on this account, that
they be not abuſed, will they, nill they, to their own
deſtruction.
ca vino nobiles)
For Virginia is of it ſelf a very fertil, good, plea-
fant

[27]
fant Country, abounding with the manifold Bleſſings of
luxuriant Nature, the only Region of all under the Sun
to enrich laborious, painful, induſtrious poor-men. So
that many, who in England and many other Parts of
the World are unable to get their Bread, may in this
Region live comfortably and happy; the native Riches
of the Soil bountifully requitiog each induſtrious per-
ſons labour with a yearly plentiful product. The
Rivers richly ſtored with delicious fiſh, the Air with
ſeveral forts and numerous flocks of Wild-fowl ; the
whole Country throughout Woody, and plentifully
furniſhed in moſt parts with whole Herds of Deer and
other endleſs Wild-game. Wherefore I dare confi-
dently affert, that any perſon, who is by Nature and
Education capable of hard labour, and that can bear
and undergo heat and cold, any one who is but able to
inure himſelf to the Ax and the Howe, need never to
recant; nor will, I judge (if he tranſport himſelf for
this Climate ) ever finde juſt ground to repent his
coming hither. But on the contrary, perfons nicely
educated, or train'd up to a ſedentary Life, accuſtomed
to a warm Houſe in Winter, and to ſolace themſelves
in cool Shades in Summer-ſeaſon, ſuch (unleſs they come
over on their own proper coft, defraying the charges of
their Paſſage themſelves) cannot expect equal ſucceſs
with luſty labouring men.
For, though there be here ſome Gentlemen of Rank
and Quality, yet are they but few, and very ex-
ceeding rare, who are capable to prize or value good
Breeding, gentile Education, or ingenious Literature,
according to the true worth thereof. And indeed, how
ſhould it be otherwiſe? Who can expect Oats from
Beaſts which never eat any ? (as our Engliſh Proverb
patly inſinuates.) Therefore this general neglect, or
light eſteem of truely laudable Endowments, peeds
GES
E 2
muſt
COM

[ 28 ]
account.
maſt proceed lience, even from the flat, low, mean Edu.
cation, and obſcure baſe Original of ſome, who(though
Beggars in their Native Soil) yet have by their drudging
Induſtry, ſince their arrival in this Country, attained
to ſomething of Eſtate, and ſeem now in their own
conceits great men, or perſons of more than ordinary
The groſs Fancies of ſuch cloudy-pated
perſons will, by reaſon of their invincible Ignorance,
miſplace their eſteem on a Taylor, Smith, Shoomaker,
or the like neceſſary Handicrafts-man, courting ſuch
an one with their utmoſt art and ſkill; when a Scholar
(if never fo well qualified) ſhall but be contemned, and
happily ſet at nought. For, in this Region, he com-
monly thinks himſelf the beſt man, who can at the Fall
of the Leaf produce the largeſt crop of Corn and To-
bacco. Wherefore each Virginy. Planter building ſolely
on this fruit of his Labour, cares not how little he or
his are guilty of being Book-learned, ſo he can but
handle an Ax and Howe dexterouſly.
Now, 'tis to be confeſſed altogether Legal, Juſt and
Equitable, that ſuch who change their Climate, and are
brought over hither on other mens accounts, having
their Paſſage paid, and Charges born to their hands ('tis
I ſay but altogether juſt, legal and equitable) that ſuch
coming voluntary, being withal ſupplied with all ne-
ceſſaries for Tranſportation out of other perſons Poc-
kets, ſhould willingly and to the full retribute what
hath been ſo diſburſed by any Merchant on the ſaid
ſcore. But in regard, after their arrival here, this ſa-
tisfaction can be uſually made no otherwiſe than by
ſerving four Years by Indenture, or five Years accor-
ding to the Cuſtome of the Country, by thoſe who
come in without Indenture. Therefore it firſt and
mainly concerns all perſons to conſider ſeriouſly before
their ſhipping on board, what muſt be expected ne-
ceſſarily
JE
[29]

ceſſarily to follow. And being once throughly well-
adviſed concerning the unavoidable Conſequences of
running ſo uncertain a hazard, they ought in the next
place to arm themſelves with an unalterable Reſolu,
tion to wade through all whatever ſeeming Difficulties
they ſhall fall into, with invincible Chéarfulneſs, Cou-
rage and Conſtancy. They who come thus qualified,
never need to doubt unhop'd-for ſucceſs in ſtorming
any the moſt diſcouraging oppoſition whatſoever,
which they ſhall any time meet with. Otherwiſe, who
fail hither in the capacity of Servants unreſolved with-
in themſelves as to theſe forementioned Proviſo's, do
but pedantickly preſume to aim at building Caſtles in
the Air without materials. Cred lins
Nor dare I undertake to encourage any, who know
themſelves unable to labour, to come over Servants at
all; unleſs they can before-hand on infallible grounds
aſſure themſelves, that they ſhall be conſigned to ſome
truely generous-ſpirited Gentleman of real repute,good
quality, and true worth, who will infallibly deal ſo
indulgently and favourably by them, as to employ
them in ſuch concerns, which their former Education
hath moſt properly fitted them for. For your luſty
people, able of Limbs, and healthy of Conſtitution, or
hardy Lads, who are fit to drudge it ſtoutly, and are
willing to learn to take pains, in hopes of being richly
rewarded for their labour, are here every where in
very high eſteem.'Tis more for the Intereſt of Virginia
to have their Servants to chop Logs luſtily,than to chop
Logick. Handling the Howe proves here far better
Muſick than the Hoghboy.Let your robuſtious Ruſticks,
if I may adviſe, fail to Virginia to chooſe, to ſeek
their fortunes. For an Engliſh Tinker, Cobler, Pedler,
a meer Mumper or Dunghil-raker, may by the bleſſing
of Providence upon his painful Induſtry live in this
Country

[ 30
Country as plentifully, and (I think I may boldly af-
firm according to truth) reap as much or happily more
content, thau fome Farmers in England of an hundred
a year.
And though many perſons (through the baſeneſs and
knavery of thoſe who have tranſported them, on the
one hand, and what through the Ignorance of the per-
fons themſelves who have been gulld, on the other
hand) have been, fore againſt their Wills, cheated over
and trepann'd hither, to their own great Miſery and
utter Deſtruction : Yet 'tis well known to this day, that
many having deſerved the Gallows in England, ſome
who have failed over to Virginia in Shackles, have
(after their arrival here) done very well ; Leading a
creditable, comfortable, and for ought I can under-
ſtand, a plauſible honeſt Life.
So that peoples own Miſtakes chiefly create their
own Diſcomfort on this behalf; For Example, When
a perfon both unable and unus'd to labour, coming
over hither in capacity of a Servant, meets unhappily
with a Maſter who expects and compels him to work
hard, much againſt his minde; (the ſaid Mafter there-
fore juſtly expe&ting labour, while the Servant on the
contrary fondly hopes and vainly deſires to lead an eafie
Life.) This contradiction between the aims and ends of
Maſter and Servant, renders both at once unavoidably
miſerable. But above all, the grand miſchief is, when
Maſters in Virginia ſhall undertake to purchaſe Servants
whom they know naturally uncapable of hard labour,
or by Education totally averſe to the ſame; pretending
they will employ the ſaid Servants in concerns fuitable
to their Strength, or Education, or both. Who after
they have the ſaid Servants, as they judge, faft bound
to them, contrive imprudently and impolitickly to
employ them, quite perhaps contrary to their own
Promiſes

[31]
Promiſes, and the poor Servant's Expectations. And
ſuppoſe theſe Servants may happily prove willing to
ſtrive (though with much grief and fore vexation of
Minde) to put themſelves forth to their utmoſt ability,
yet they ſhall, ten hundred to one, be curs'd, bann'd,
ſwore at, trampled under foot, and perpetually tor-
mented with abuſive Ulage ; all becauſe they do not,
and it may be cannot, anſwer altogether the now un-
reaſonable expectation of their tyrannical Maſters, who
full well knew before they had them, that they ought
not to expect what they ſo eagerly but vainly exact
from them.
Whereas in truth, How much more conſonant and
agreeable were it to common Policy, Self-intereſt, as
well as true Chriſtian Charity, for all Maſters in Vir.
ginia, Planters as well as others, to conſider firſt their
own Ability, and the Capacity of the Servants whom
they deſigne to purchaſe, before they deal for them
fincerely at the ſame time imparting to them, What
their Work muſt be, and what their Uſage? And if,
by enquiry into their former Condition, they diſcover
them improper perſons for their purpoſe ; How much a
wiſer courſe were it, that ſuch ſhould ſeaſonably pitch
their choice on ſome others, more uſeful for them? Or
if they will chuſe no others, Conſcience and Chriſtia-
nity ſure ought to oblige them to uſe ſuch Servants
as their Chriſtian Brethren, with Gentleneſs and Cour-
teſie, content with their honeſt endeavours, not Ty.
rannizing over Chriſtians, as Turks do over Galleya
flaves, compelling them unmercifully beyond their
ſtrength.
zorla
For though Maſters juſtly do expect and require Fi.
delity and painful Induſtry from their Chriſtian Sera
vants, and ſuch Servants ought to put themſelves forth
to their utmoſt power for their Maſters Benefit; Yet,
9
the

[ [32
the merciful Man exerciſeth Mercy towards his Beaſt,
much more toward a Chriſtian Servant. And let cruel,
tyrannical , Egyptian Talk-maſters know, that their
Maſter is alſo in Heaven, whoſe Omniſcience beholds
and knows all perfons dealings, and will judge accor-
ding to Equity, without reſpect of perſons, in his own
due time, and liſten to the Groans and Sighs of poor
oppreſſed Wretches, vindicating the cauſe of injur'd.
Innocents, retributing croſſes, vexations and troubles
to all Wrong-doers, bed vous goed werel llew
D And whereas this poor Penitent Wretch declar'd,
That the bitterneſs of his ill-tongued Miſtreſs was the
main immediate provocation prompting and inciting
him to give way to Satan's ſuggeſtions, while he tem-
pted him to perpetrate this horrid, execrable Outrage :
I ſuppoſe, all will grant, that Bitterneſs in any caſe
(eſpecially to morigerous Servants of a gentle Temper,
obediently willing to do their endeavours) is no way
Chriſtian like nor commendable, but rather Patience
and kinde Uſage. ten bois adhumato Wels
To conclude theſe Reflections therefore, Let all ſober
perſons (Maſters and Servants, Parents and Children,
Young and Old) give good heed to the Apoſtle's
wholſom Advice in Ephef 6. 1. to the I 2.0 soioris iads
As to the Man's Condition before he died, he ſeem'd
to me of a very hopeful temper. I ſate by him diſcour-
fing the whole night before Execution; during which
converſe, he gave me the whole fore-cited Relation of
his former Life ; as alſo how he came to be prevailed
upon to ađ this execrable Tragedy. I found him all
the Night throughout, gladly willing to be ſearched
home to the very quick (as to his Spiritual condition)
ready to unborom himſelf fully and freely, no way in
the leaſt inclinable to mince, extenuate, cloak or pal-
liate this Crime, or any other folly in himſelf; but
humbly

[33]
humbly confefſing his Faults, and among the reſt, his
very youthful Follies, of his own accord, and ſorrow-
ing exceedingly for them. He continued full of a good
modeſt Hope mixt with Joy, for the moſt part of the
time(now and then, I confeſs, he ſeemed ſomewhat mud-
dy, as if he had been caſt down) but I needs muſt ſay, I
never heard one word from him, nor diſcerned any be-
haviour by him, favouring in the leaſt of preſumption
or deſpair; wherefore I dare cenſure no other, but that
he dyed truely penitent.
But for the farther and fuller ſatisfaction of each cu-
rious enquirer concerning what end he made, let the
Reader view over this enſuing laſt Farewell which he
took of his Chriſtian Countrymen, the ſorrowful ſpecta-
tors at the Gallows, by this ſucceeding Confeſſion, and
Chriſtian like Admonition.
Thomas Hellier's Confeſſion and Admonition to all
Spe&tators at the Gallows.
Good Chriſtian people !
Am come this day to be made an Example to all you
beholders, for a Murder lately committed by me ;
for which ſinful and inhumane deed, I pray the Lord
for his mercies ſake, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt his ſake,to
grant me Abſolution and Remiſſion, both for that, and
all other my ſins which I have committed from my
youth up, which are very many.
As diſobeying of Parents, which fin I do now deſire
all young people to beware of. Give not your ſelves
too much to the vanities and pleaſures of this world ;
youth commonly do, (as the Preacher faith, in Eccleſ.
II. 9.) Rejoyce thon young man in the days of thy youth,
F
and

[34]
and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the fighe
of thine eyes: but they ſeldome conſider the following
part of the verſe, which is, Know, for all this the Lord
will bring thee to judgement ; alſo in the verſe before
If a man live many years, and rejoyce in them all, yet
let him remember the days of darkneſs, for they are ma.
ny. Allo profaning the Sabbath is a fin that I have
been too guilty of; and I wiſh there be not too many
people in this Countrey, as well as in other places, guil-
ty of that ſin, (as well aged perſons and Maſters of Fa.
milies, as young people and ſervants) who go to Church
and to the Ordinary (a tipling-houſe) with one devotion,
doing good as 'twere againſt their wills. Many break
the Lords Commandments, in fending their Servants
needlelly to ſeek loft Cattel on the Sabbath day , meerly
becauſe they will not allow nor find time to ſeek the
fame on other days ; which is ſuch a crying fin in this
Land, that 'twere juſt with God to rain fire and brim-
ſtone on your heads, as he did on Sodom and Gomor-
rha.
The Sabbath is ſo ſtrictly commanded, that whoſoever
did break it (under the Levitical Law) was to be put to
death, as you may fee, Exod. 31. 14. Ye Shall keep the
Sabbath holy, for every one that defileth it, ſhall ſurely
be put to death; and in the next verſe, For whoſoever
shall do any work on that day, that Soul ſhall ſurely be
cut off from among his people
. 'Tis alſo repeated in
the 35th of the fame book, the ſecond verfe; and in
the third verfe 'tis faid, You shall kindle no fire through-
out your habitations on the Sabbath day. Therefore
whát condition do you think your ſelves in, who un-
neceffarily compel and force your ſervants to divers
works on the Sabbath day?
Repent, repent, for 'tis high time, leſt the Lord ſend
his heavy judgments among you, which are for theſe
CD 300
fins

[ 35 ]
fis very much threatned. Alſo the ſins of Curſing and
Swearing I have been guilty of, in a very great meaſure.
Alſo I have found it too common a thing in the Coun-
try, that Children who can ſcarce call Father and Mo-
ther, have an Oath in their Mouths; and when they
come to Mans eftate, then they who ſwear faſteſt and
the greateſt of Oaths , are the beſt men ſo accounted.
Beware therefore of hideous Oaths and Curſes , (as
Damn me, and Sink me) what if the Lord ſhould take
thee at thy word, and take away thy life while theſe
words are in thy mouth, and damn thee according to
thy word, couldſt thou blame God with Injuſtice? No,
finful Wretch, thou wouldſt have but thy Deſerts.
[is ſaid in the Scripture, Swear not at all ; but let your
yea beyea, and your nay, nay: for whatſoever is more
than this, cometh of evil. In another place Chriſt faith,
Swear not by Heaven, becanſe 'tis the Lords Throne; nor
by the Earth, becauſe it is bis Foot-ftool; nor by thy
Head, becauſe thou canſt not make one hair white or
black. Alſo the Lord ſhews many Examples on thoſe
profane Swearers many times.
As I knew a fellow who living with his Mother a
Widow, he being to finde himſelf
Victuals, and coming
home drunk on a time, began nevertheleſs to chide
with his Mother for ſomething to eat ; fo to the Cup-
board he went : his Mother chiding him for his lewd
Fiving, he in his rage ſwore he would not eat one
bit of her viduals any more, wiſhing (if he did) that
it might choak him. So he went to ſleep, afterwards
awaking returned to the Cupboard, where cutting a
piece of cold Beef , lying there ready dreſſed, the
firſt bit that he endeavoured to eat, he could not
ſwallow, but the meat choaked him indeed. There-
fore have a care of bad Wiſhes, for they are highly
diſpleaſing to God. und istup
torp od on blog
bos
F2
Alco

[36
Alſo you that are Maſters of Servants in this Coun-
try, have reſpect to them, to let them have that which
is neceſſary for them, with good words, and not (Dam
you, Dog, do ſuch a thing, or ſuch a thing.) They are
not Dogs, who are profeſſed Chriſtians, and bear Gods
Image ; happily they are as good Chriſtians as your
ſelves, and as well bred and educated, though through
Poverty they are forced to ſeek Chriſtianity under
thy roof; where they uſually find nothing but Tyranny.
Be good to your Servants, as you would have God be
good to you. Servants, in all things obey your Ma-'
ſters according to the fleſh, not with Eye-ſervice as
men-pleaſers, but with ſingleneſs of heart, fearing God.
Maſters, give to your Servants what is right and equal;
know that you alſo have a Maſter in Heaven,
Now I intend to ſpeak of the Subject, which is my
ſelf. I was once a Good Liver in England, in a Town
called Crookhorne, by Profeſſion a Barber-Chyrurgeon,
and kept alſo a Stationers Shop, living there in good
repute , till Company-keeping caus'd my Money to
grow ſhort, ſo that I became a great Debtor, and oc-
caſion d my ſeeking my Fortune in another Country.
And it was at length my miſhap to come into this
Country of Virginia, and here to be fold a Servant to
work at the Ax and Howe, which was contrary to the
Condition I made with the Man who fent me hither;
which nevertheleſs I took well enough, till I found
that hard Work, good Words, and civil Language, con
my part, could bring me not a good word; but the
more ſubmiſſive I was, the more I was flouted at
which cauſed me to fall into Deſperation, and to ad-
here to the Temptations of the Devil, who walketh
up and down the world ſeeking whom he may devour.
So by the Inſtigations of that Enemy to Mankinde, I
could not be quiet, but muſt needs kill my Maſter
and

[37
and Dame, and then I ſhould, I thought, be free.
For which heinous, notorious, inhumane and unmer-
cifull Deed, I am compelld now to look Death in the
face
3 which (bleſſed be God for it) is no Terrour to
me at all. For I hope, after this Life ended, the Lord
will receive my Soul into his arms of Mercy ; and I pray
my Saviour to keep me from the Torments of Hell, and
the Tyranny of the Devil ; and now that I am to
depart this Life, that He would ſend his holy Angels
to carry me (as they did the Soul of Lazarus ) into
his Kingdome. Receive me into thy joyful Paradiſe,
(O Chriſt) which thou didſt promiſe to the penitent
Thief, who at his laſt gaſp begg'd ſo devoutly for ad-
miffion into thy Kingdom. Grant this, O Chriſt, for
thine own Name fake, to whom I aſcribe, as is moſt
due, all Honour, Power, Praiſe, and Dominion, both
now and for ever, Amen. VED do Another
for Now I intend to ſpeak a little more for the Admoni.
tion of thoſe whom I leave behinde me ; which I
hope all you Beholders will take in good part (as
from your object, the mouth of a Dying Man.)
1. Firſt, I pray, that the Lord will give you all more
Grace, than to do as I have done : That this my
Diſaſter may be a powerful warning to you all againſt
admitting any of the Devils Temptations into your
Minde. Pray earneſtly, when you pray, (Lord, lead
us not into Temptation.] Scrive againg the Devils
Snares, to break them. Say with Joſeph, How shall I
commit this great wickedneſs, and ſin againſt God?
The Devil is a cunning Fiſher, uſing ſeveral Baits to
catch poor Souls with; (Some he catches by alluring
them to Stealing, ſome he enſnares by Lying, ſome by
Swearing, ſome by Whoring, ſome by Drunkenneſs,and
by Murder ſome) but his firſt and moſt fealible is Drun-
kenneſs, to which if he can entice poor people (as
that

[38]
that with ealfe she may) they then fare forthwith fitted
for commiſſion of any other fin whatever. bis
As I heard a Young-man confeſs concerning himſelf,
(when on the Ladder to be hanged) Drunkenneſs, ſaid
he, and lewd Company, have brought me to this. For,
when drunk, I lay with my Mothers Servant-Maid,
whom proving with Child by me, I waiting my op-
portunity,drowned. For which inhumane, unchriſtian-
like act, I am brought here now, quoth he, to be
hanged. 20 to
Covetouſnefs is another Bait by which Satan catches
many poor Souls. Be not over-covetous after theſe
earthly things, which are but dung in compariſon of
the Riches of Chriſt; Heap not up your Riches in this
world, where Moth and Ruſt can corrupt, and Thieves
can prevail to break through and ſteal. Heap not up
wrath againſt the day of wrath. Surely every man
walketh in a vain ſhew ; ſurely men are diſquieted in
vain, who heap up Riches, and cannot tell who ſhall
gather them. If the Lord hath endewed thee with
Riches, impart fome to thy poor Brethren, knowing
thy Riches to be not thine own, but God's; and thou
art God's Tenant; wherefore if thou doſt not pay thy
Rent, (viz. thy Benevolence due to the Poor) the Lord
can ſoon turn thee out of all. For thou broughteſt
nothing into this World, nor ſhalt thou (as Job faith)
carry any thing out of it. Naked thou cameſt from
thy Mothers Womb, and naked ſhalt thou return; the
Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, and bleſſed be the
Name of the Lord. Think on this in thine Health.
Think on Death; Death ſtealeth on men, like a Thief
in the night, at an hour when they are leaſt aware of it.
Therefore our Saviour warneth us to watch. Watch
therefore, faith he, for yė know not at what hour the
Lord will come. It therefore doth behove all People,
Young

[39]
Young and Old, Rich and Poor, to make their Calling
and Election fure. Work while 'tis called (to day,) for
the Night cometh, wherein no man can work. The day
is meant the day of Life, and the night is the night of
Death. Now to conclude this in few words, Fear God
and keep his Commandments, for this is the whole Duty
of man. For God will bring every work into Judg-
ment, with every ſecret thing, whether it be good, or
whether it be evil.
I ſhall now ſpeak fomething concerning Unity and
Love one to another,(it being ſo rare to ſee Neighbours
in this country living lovingly together, without
breeding diſturbances among themſelves.) For you
fhall finde fome, who will go to one Neighbours houſe,
and tell them a Story what ſuch or ſuch a perſon hath
faid; then going to the ſaid perſons houſes, they will
tell the ſame to them alſo againſt the others ; ſo cauſing
poor Neighbours to live at ſtrife and variance one with
another, making them to hate one another, the Neigh-
bours themſelves happily not knowing why nor where-
fore ; all the mifchief being occafioned only by a
Talebearer, whom I can liken to nothing elſe but the
Devils Coal-carrier. The words of a Tale-bearer are
as wounds, faith Solomon, they go down into the in-
moſt parts of the Belly. It is Chriſt's command, as Saint
John faith, That you love one another, for Love is of
God: and every one that loveth is of God, and knoweth
God; but he that loveth not, is not of God, for God is Love.
Good People all, I hope you are not offended at
what hath been ſpoken. I intreat you to minde it well
I humbly deſire you to think ſeriouſly on my words,
and let not theſe Admonitions go in at one earand out
at the other. Think not your ſelves unconcern d;not one
perſon here preſent, but is one way or another guilty of
ſome one or more of theſe forementioned Sins.
Think

[40
Think it not fufficient to ſay each of you, I have been a very
great Sinner in my time, the Lord forgive me for it, ftill going
on ſecurely in your Sins; thinking it enough to cry, Lord bave
Mercy upon me, when you are giving up the Ghoſt, which too
happily you may not be able to do. Think well on it therefore,
and defer not your Repentance till the laſt hour. Tis not ſo eafie
a thing to obtain Heaven ; the Way is narrow, difficult to finde,
and dangerous to travel, the way thither being by the Gates of
Hell.
Wherefore people ought not to delay their Repentance
and Reformation ; delays breed dangers. The difficulty in the
Paſſage, and danger in the Way, ſhould warn all to begin their
Journey the ſooner, and take the more time. To procure alſo a
good knowing Guide, and as much good Company as poſſible
may be had; not a blinde Guide, let the blinde leading the
blinde, both fall into the Ditch. For ſhould you go without a
Guide, or follow an ignorant Guide, thinking your felves ſafe
and right enough, and at a bali loſing the right way, Ilip into
Hell, tis impoſſible for you ever to get out again. The Devil is
a cunning Foreſter, who digging deep Pits, covers them over
with ſmall fricks, laying green Turf on the top, to intrap wild
Beafts, which chance to ramble over them; once fallen in there's
no getting out again. So if once a man be fallen into Hell, there
he muft abide with the Devil and his Angels, where is weeping,
and wailing, and gnaſhing of teeth, wich continual Torments :
Souls always dying, but never dead; ever conſuming, and never
conſumed.
Therefore, as you love your own Souls, let me beg you not to
delay your Repentance; but repent now, and continue repenting
ſo long as you have an hour to live. Leave off fioning, elle God
will leave you off : Leave off Swearing, Curfing, Lying, Stealing,
Covetouſneſs, with all other Sins. If an idle Thought be diſplea-
fing to God, much more idle Words, and prophane Actions.
Now to conclude all, Lord, for thy Mercies ſake, open Heaven
Door, and let in not only a penisent Thief, or Swearer, or Lyar,
or Drunkard, or Profaner of the Sabbath, or Murderer, or lewa
Liver; but one who is all theſe. Lord give me entrance,
Lord let me in, for Jeſus Chrift his ſake, Amen.
rese
Hellier, Charles,
OTO SHOOT
FINI S.
2289

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