The Last Dying Speech, and Travels, of William Walker/Chapter 1
THE
LAST DYING SPEECH,
AND TRAVELS,
OF
WILLIAM WALKER.
Who was executed at Tyburn, near
the city of York.
Good People,
I Was always very wild from my childhood, and run away from my father ⟨at⟩ ſixteen years of age, and then bound ⟨myself⟩ apprentice at the city of Briſtol to the sea but not liking my master, I only staid ⟨with⟩ him fix months, when I ran away from him and then bound myself to another master ⟨at⟩ Liverpool, for four years more, where I behaved myself very well and was very well beloved by my master and mistress, and made three voyages, one to the Weſt Indies, another to the coast of Guinea, another to America, in all which I was very successful, and saved fifty pounds, which made me very fond of my place; but in the fourth was cast away three times, before we made the port, and I lost every thing I was worth in the world, which almost broke my heart, and all our ship's company were all lost, except the first mate and myself, who being expert swimmers, got with great difficulty on shore in a most desolate uninhabited county on the coast of Africa; where travelling for the space of eleven days, through those dreadful deserts, and having nothing to subsist on, but each about a dozen of biscuits and a bottle of brandy a-piece, which we had saved from the wreck when the ship was cast on shore. At night we were obliged to get into a tree for fear of the lions and other wild beasts that made the elements echo with their hideous howlings, in pursuit of their pray. At last quite spent by the fatigues of our tedious journey, we arrived at an English factory, where finding a ship bound for Liverpool, and the captain having many of his men cut off by the barbarous inhabitants, were very glad to let us work our passage, when we arrived at Liverpool I found my mistress dead, so did not know what to do, being destitute of money, except of a single shilling which was given me by the mate, having only a half crown left for myself.
Looking over the news-paper, I cast my eye on an advertisement addressed to me. in which I was requested to make the best of my way to my father's house in Yorkshire which I most unfortunately complied with; for ⟨at⟩ my arrival at my father's, I found nobody but a beautiful young woman, whom at that time I did not know to be my own sister, but fell desperately in love with her, and wanted to have to do with her, but she refusing me enraged me to such a degree, that I was determined to enjoy her by force, for which purpose I threw her upon the floor, when her head, from the violence of the fall, striking against the floor, her brains were dashed out and lay shsttered about the room, in a manner too shocking to behold I was for some time so struck with astonishment, that I did not know what to do, at last was determined to conceal the body by burying it in the garden, which I accordingly did, but all the pains I took to wash off her blood which was flown about the room, and upon my cloaths were withont effect. The rest, of the family presently coming home, and seeing the floor and my cloaths in so shocking a condition and no sister to be found, began to suspect what was the matter, and one of them went and fetched a constable, and had me immediately taken into custody, and carried before Sir George Rich, a justice of Peace, where ⟨I⟩ confessed the whole affair; and was committed to York castle, to take my trial at the last assizes, where I was cast and condemned, and am now to receive a just reward for so barbarous and inhuman a crime. Having proceeded thus far he fainted away, but on coming to himself, the executioner was going to perform his office, when the unfortunate wretch requested to say a few words more, by way of exhortation, which being granted, he spake as follows:
Good People;
Let the fear of the Lord at all times occupy your minds, and I earnestly entreat you all that are here assembled, to take warning by my unhappy exit; beware of the enemy of your souls, who goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; of all avoid the lusts of the flesh, for that is the bait he generally lays for the young and unwary. In my infancy my fond parents gave me the best instructions and admonitions, but getting as I grew up among a number of my companions of my own age, their examples and persuasions, in a little time, destroyed all the good maxims I had been taught by my honourable parents; so that as I came to riper years, not regarding God's holy word, or the good admonition of my parents, but wilfully breaking the sabbath, delighting more in an ale-house with bad company, than at church, I then fell a slave to lustful desires, and through the temptations of lewd women I grew extravagant, and often robbed my father to satisfy their insatiable desires, till at last being ashamed to look my dear parents in the face, I ran away and left them, as I mentioned before which almost broke their hearts having no more children left to comfort them but my poor sister, whom I have so cruelty cut off in the prime of life, which I must fear will bring the aged heads of my parents with sorrow to the grave.
Here he burst into tears, wringing his hands, and still exhorting the young men that were witnesses to his wretched and untimely end, to beware of drunkenness, swearing and whoredom, as they love their peace here, and their welfare hereafter, for they were the things from which sprung all my future heinous crimes, and you are in danger of the same if you shun them not quickly.