All true, every word. (Promised Susan.) And easily and quickly researched, with the help of Susan and her friends. So what was embellished, charitably assuming that the “research” was totally faithful to the facts? This: James’s dying words, on the cart under the gallows. One out of every three of my readers skips right to them, anyhow.
Before, I would have reported that the Ordinary looked on kindly as James issued a heartfelt petition for mercy from our Lord. I said instead that he implored our Lord to have mercy – on his poor young wife and family, and to see them cared for, though he knew not how. That part was true. Then he “said,”
Know you that my Fate could be the Fate of any Body with little Ones to care for: I go to Judgment today not for conspiring against the Crown, not for Murder or Highway Robbery, not for harming Anyone; I go to meet our Lord to Day for the crime of being a Father – and of being poor. For the Wrong I did in a single Moment of moral Weakness, I have made my Victim whole, as any Christian and Englishman should – and I have regretted my Actions, I have sought and received Forgiveness for them. But the Crown would take more from me, take everything – would erase me, and many More like me, rather than suffer my Existence, the Existence of Men and Women born low, tethered to that Lowness throughout Life – that I were born poor, that I led a poor Life, it offends very important Persons in the Government. You might offend Him next. You might swing here next – get you Money and Property and Status as you can, by any Means; or you may die, like me, upon Tyburn Tree!
Tyburn Square does not quiet down for the last words of a thief, and barely anyone can hear them. Those that did likely preferred my version.