The Virginia Gazette

LONDON, July 26.

Extract of a Letter from Ely, dated July 5.

On Friday last Mary Bird, condemned for the Murder of her Husband by Poison, was brought on a Sledge and burnt in View of many Thousands of Spectators, whose Curiosity inclin'd them to the Sight of an Execution so uncommon in this Country: And as there was something extraordinary in the Woman, I have sent you a particular Account of her, as follows:

Her Behaviour while under Condemnation was something remarkable; for her Passion for Day, her Gallant, was so strong, (that to use the Words of her own Confession to some of her Relations) he could not bear the very rattling of his Irons, without being all of a Fire, which Passion she said, had frequently assaulted her when she was engag'd in her deepest and most solemn Devotions.

The High Bailiff finding no Likelihood of her being brought to a true Sense of the horrid Crime she had been convicted of, 'til her Gallant (who frequently found Means to come at the Speech of her) was remov'd, gave Orders to the Goaler for his immediate Discharge out of Prison, and strictly forbid his ever being admitted to the Sight of her again.

After this she seem'd to shew some Signs of real Penitence, and own'd not only the Fact itself, and the Justice of the Sentence which had been pass'd on her; and also declar'd (which She at first refus'd upon the Surgeon's Enquiry) that she had given the Poison in warm Ale, and not in Hasty Pudding, as commonly reported; but she gave him the first half Ounce, for which she immediately felt the Pangs of Conscience, and wish'd sincerely that it might not have the expected Effect; that her Method of giving it was thus: She first mix'd the Arsenick with brown Sugar, and then put it into Ale, and gave it him to drink.

Some of her Friends tax'd her with having formerly murder'd two of her Bastard Children: but she declar'd to the last that that Accusation was false. and that she never had been guilty of even the Intention of Murder, except the Fact for which she was to suffer.

It was remarkable, that even when she shew'd the most evident Signs of true Repentance, she preserved a sedate Countenance. and waited her Dissolution with a sort of Impatience.

She was carried to the Stake in a Garment made of Sackcloth, cover'd with Pitch: and it was observ'd, that when she was going to receive her Punishment, she turn'd aside her pitch'd Cap, and cast her Eyes among the Spectators; her Countenance was at that Time chearful, and bespake a great deal of Resignation and Intrepidity.

She spoke little at the Stake; all that she had to say was compris'd briefly, and address'd herself to the Spectators in the following Manner; that she deserv'd the Punishment she was going to suffer; that she freely forgave all the Evidences against her; but that her Sister had forsworn herself: and that she hop'd all Women would take Warning at her shameful End.