H. B. C.
U. U. Club.
THE BELLMAN AT NEWGATE.
(Vol. i., p. 152.; Vol. iii., pp. 324. 377. 451. 485.: and see Continental Watchmen, Vol. iv., pp. 206. 356.)
Formerly it was, according to a very ancient custom, the practice on the night preceding the execution of condemned criminals, for the bellman of the parish of St. Sepulchre to go under Newgate, and, ringing his bell, to repeat the following verses, as a piece of friendly advice, to the unhappy wretches under sentence of death:
"All you that in the condemn'd hold do lie,
Prepare you, for to-morrow you shall die.
Watch all and pray, the hour is drawing near,
That you before the Almighty must appear.