It is said that they both died very penitent and made on the scaffold the following declarations with the assistance of two grave divines who attended them.
The Converted Sinner.
The NATURE of a
CONVERSION
to Real and Vital
PIETY:
And the MANNER in which it
is to be Pray’d & Striv’n for.
A SERMON Preached in
BOSTON, May 31, 1724.
In the Hearing and at the Desire of certain PIRATES, a little before their Execution.
To which there is added, A more Private CONFERENCE of a MINISTER with them.
Jam. V. 20.
He who Converteth the Sinner from the Error of his way, shall save a Soul from Death.
BOSTON: Printed for Nathaniel Belknap and Sold at his Shop the Corner Scarletts-Wharff. 1724.
“The dying Declarations of John Rose Archer, and William White, on the Day of their Execution at Boston, June 2, 1724, for the Crimes of Pyracy,
“First, separately, of Archer.
“I Greatly bewail my Profanations of the Lord’s Day, and my Disobedience to my Parents. And my Cursing and Swearing, and my blaspheming the Name of the glorious God.
“Unto which I have added, the Sins of Unchastity. And I have provoked the Holy One, at length, to leave me unto the Crimes of Pyracy and Robbery; wherein, at last, I have brought my self under the Guilt of Murder also.
“But one Wickedness that has led me as much as any, to all the rest, has been my brutish Drunkenness. By strong Drink I have been heated and hardened into the Crimes that are now more bitter than Death unto me.
“I could wish that Masters of Vessels would not use their Men with so much Severity, as many of them do, which exposes us to great Temptations.
“And then of White.