Extract from the Nottingham Journal Newspaper, June 20th 1795. (Original copy in the Nottinghamshire Local Study's Library)

LEWES June 15th

Last friday being the day appointed for the execution of Edward Cook and Henry Parish, privates in the Oxfordshire Militia, condemned by a General Court-Martial to be shot for Mutiny, the death warrant accordingly arrived by express, early in the morning; but owing to some informality in making it out, General Lascelles did not think it such as would justify him in shooting the men; for we understand it did not specify either the time of execution, or the mode of performing it.

The General therefore found it necessary to dispatch his Aid de Camp to town on the subject, which occasioned a delay that agreeably flattered the public with the hopes of a reprieve, for it seemed to be the wish of almost every one in the neighbourhood that the lives of the men should be saved. All who spoke of it during the course of the day seemed interested in the event, and there were but few who did not conceive the suspension favourable to the prisoners.

The next morning however, proved the fallacy of their conceptions, for at six o'clock a strong guard of horse and foot appeared before the prison, which was announced to the unhappy objects within by the sound of the drum, and immediately afterwards the prisoners were brought out.

First the six sentenced to be flogged, who were placed on foot in the centre of the guard, and then the two under sentence of death, in a cart, attended by a clergyman; and being placed in front of the others, the whole proceeded with slow and solemn pace through the camp on their way to Goldstone Bottom, the place of execution, where the whole line had already been formed into an oblong square half a mile in length, but before it appeared in view the guard was halted, and the men to be flogged taken on by a file of men to be punished first.

On arriving at the spot, they were marched from one end of the square to the other, and back again to the centre. Blake was next tied up, but let down and forgiven, for which he returned the General thanks on his knees. Warren, whose sentence was 500 lashes, was also forgiven; and Heritage went unpunished, but was marched back a prisoner.

The guard then moved forward with the condemned men, who being arrived at the head of the square, quitted the cart and were marched, still attended by the clergyman, to the other end of it, where the Oxford regiment were stationed. Here thet spent a short time in prayer, and having declared themselves ready to meet their fate, their coffins were brought and placed before them, which they viewed very attentively, and having taken leave of each other, pulled their caps over their faces, and knelt as they were directed, on their coffins, immediately after which the fatal triggers were pulled, and they both dropped at the same instant.

Cook pitched forward over his coffin upon his head, and turned upon his back, and moved no more. Parish fell upon his back, and turned on his left side, and after lying motionless near five minutes, he turned again upon his back, when one of the two men who kept their fire in reserve, ran up, and placing the muzzle of his gun to his ear, shot him through the head; the other then went up to Cook, and shot him in like manner.

The troops were then marched close by the bodies, and many of the Oxford Regiment wept much as they passed their dead comrades. The deceased were afterwards put into their coffins, with all their cloaths on, and conveyed in one of the artillery waggons to Hove church-yard, and there interred.

These unfortunate men, throughout the whole of their trying situations, conducted themselves with the utmost decency, firmness, and fortitude. They kept their step accurately with the guard between the lines, and knelt, unshackled upon their coffins to meet their dooms, without betraying the smallest timidity or agitation.

They were shot at half past eight, by 12 men selected for the purpose from their own regiment, ten of whom fired at first, five at each object. The other two were kept in reserve and discharged their musquets as before mentioned. They stood at the distance of about ten yards, and took good aim, as we observed two balls had entered the body of Parish a little below the left breast, and as many that of Cook, who at the instant must have been sensible of it, as he was observed, at the time he fell, to raise and apply his right hand to the part.

The execution was attended by Lieut. General Lascelles, Hulse and Jones, and conducted with the utmost solemnity and order. It exhibited a scene awfully grand, which was heightened by the regiments of cavalry, placed in squadrons on rising ground in the rear of the infantry, and a number of loaded cannon pointed at the spot where the unhappy men suffered.

The same day, between one and two o'clock, James Sykes and William Sansom, privates in the above regiment, who were capitally convicted and received sentence of death at the late Special Assizes held at this town, were executed at Horsham, pursuant to their sentence. Their behaviour since condemnation, and at the gallows, was truly becoming men in their unhappy situations. The High Sheriff himself was present, attended by Captain Sewells and Mr. Fuller's Troops of Yeomanry Cavalry.

On Saturday, after the execution, the first and Cinque Port regiment of Fencibles left the above camp on their route to the place of their original destination, the ground of encampment near Goodwood.

Same day the corps of Horse Artillery left this town, on their route to Goodwood. They halted at Brighton camp and attended the punishment of the unfortunate culprits of the Oxfordshire regiment.

Same day the Lancashire Fencibles after witnessing the execution, left Brighelmston on their route to Barham Downs, two troops of which halted in this town on Saturday and Sunday, the other four troops, marched forward to Uckfield, Tunbridge Wells, and parts adjacent.