The narrative of the sessions, February 26. 1678/9. With a particular account of the tryal of the notorious coiners, that received sentence for treason: and all other malefactors condemned, burnt in the hand, or to be whipt, and their respective crimes. Licensed, February 27. 1678/9. 1679 Approx. 15 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A52652 Wing N224 ESTC R214298 99826495 99826495 30898 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A52652) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 30898) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1765:26) The narrative of the sessions, February 26. 1678/9. With a particular account of the tryal of the notorious coiners, that received sentence for treason: and all other malefactors condemned, burnt in the hand, or to be whipt, and their respective crimes. Licensed, February 27. 1678/9. England and Wales. Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (London). 8 p. printed for L.C., London : 1678/9. [1679] Reproduction of the original in the Union Theological Seminary Library, New York. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Crime -- England -- Early works to 1800. Criminals -- England -- Early works to 1800. Trials -- England -- Early works to 1800. Trials (Treason) -- Early works to 1800. Treason -- England -- Early works to 1800. 2006-01 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2006-05 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE NARRATIVE OF THE SESSIONS , February 26. 1678 / 9. WITH A particular Account of the TRYAL of the Notorious COINERS , That received Sentence for TREASON : AND All other Malefactors Condemned , Burnt in the Hand , or to be Whipt , and their respective Crimes . LICENSED , February 27. 1678 / 9. LONDON : Printed for L. C. 1678 / 9. The Narrative of the Proceedings at the Sessions , February 26. 1678 / 9. THis Sessions beginning in the Old Bailey , 26 February , the first person brought to Tryal , was an unhappy Wench , whom the Devil had seduced to endeavour , to cover the filthy sin of Fornication , with the Scarlet Mantle of Murder , having made away her own new-born Bastard-Child , and in a very barbarous manner cut the Throat of it so violently , that the Head was almost seperated from the body , which being found so exposed in an Alley near Bishops gate street , and not far from the Prisoners dwelling , search was made for all persons lyable to be suspected ; and amongst the rest she charged , who at first denyed that she had had any Child , at last confessed that , but not the whole truth : however , on full evidence , nothing necessary here to be related , she was found guilty . As were likewise a Man and a Woman for a Burglary , who broke into a poor Womans House in the Evening , whilst she was gone to buy Candle , and upon her return , were taken in the manner , having removed several Goods , but carried none quite away , though narrowly prevented , for the Man-prisoner being by profession a Porter , was busily preparing for their removal . As for the Woman , her Husband but the last Sessions received the reward of his Merits at Tyburn . Another Woman whipt but the last Sessions save one , was now Convicted for a Felony , stealing a parcel of Cloths out of an House , but discovered before she had quite secured the booty , and forc'd to drop them in the street , for which she was Condemned . A Man coming to drink at an Ale-house in Birchin-lane , made such use of his Art to convey away a Silver Tankerd , but scarce knowing what to do with it when he had it , gets a band-box , and putting the Tankard therein , goes to another Ale-house in Finch-lane , where he was wholly a stranger , and gives the said Box to the Gentlewoman of the House , to lay up for him till he call'd for it ; who perceiving something in it to rattle , and the Box having neither Lock nor Seal , out of an innocent curiosity took up the Lid , where seeing a Tankard Inscribed , with the Name and place of Dwelling of her Neighbour , she sent for him , and sometime after the Prisoner calling for his Box , was apprehended , and now burnt in the hand , which he well deserved , if we consider either his wickedness in stealing , or his folly in managing the Theft . The same punishment was awarded another Man for the like offence of stealing a Tankard from an House in Woodstreet , with whom was Indicted a Woman , but she passing for his Wife , and so the Law favourably supposing what she was concern'd in the Fact , to be by Coertion of her Husband , was acquitted . A young fellow coming to a Sempstresses shop , pretended to buy Cravats , who shewed him several , and some Money he had bidden for two , which she refusing to except , he resolved to have them cheaper , ( though like to prove a dear bargain ) for on a sudden he betakes him to his heels , but she crying out after him , he was quickly seized . In this case , because he had the Goods delivered into his hand by the Prosecutor to look upon , some scruple was raised , whether the running away with them afterwards , was Felony ; so that the Jury found the matter specially , and 't is left to be determined by the Judges . A bold Woman , that had lately been Servant to a Gentleman of Quality , having purloined a considerable quantity of his Plate , and being thereof fairly Convicted , was sentenc'd to dye . In the Afternoon , on Wednesday , a Lad belonging to a Ship , called the Laurence and Mary , lying below Wapping-dock , was Tryed for Killing one Tho. Young on board another Ship , called the Advance , lying hard by the former . The Prisoner was trying his skill in shooting at the Cat-head of his own ship as a Mark ; but the Bullet glancing thereon , flew to the other ship , and through the boards of the great Cabbin , and there unhappily killed the said Young , who was casually come on board to see the Ship , hitting him in the Forehead , that he presently died ; whereupon they that were with him running out on the Deck , and enquiring who fired that Piece , the Prisoner own'd it , and presently came on board of his own accord ; declaring both then , and now at the Bar , his hearty sorrow for the Mischance : for as he had no malice , so could he not ever see the person dead , or those that were with him , because they were in the Cabbin as aforesaid . However , it being adjudged an unlawful Act in him to shoot so negligently on the River , where so many Vessels and People are continually passing , he was found Guilty of Manslaughter , and carries a Memorandum in his Hand , to make him and others more wary for the future . The next was a base and horrid Cause , horrid in the pretensions , and a sin not to be named amongst Christians ; and base in the management , since nothing of that kind could be made appear . The person accused was a Man of good repute and competent fortune , which 't is feared was the first motive to the Prosecution , hoping to get a summ of Money out of him , rather than endure the disgrace even of being charged or suspected of such an odious Crime . The Girl that pretended the wrong done her , being between 13 and 14 years of Age , told her Story very confidently ; but by her own shewing it appeared , that for 12 Weeks or upwards she never spoke a word of it , and two Surgeons and a Midwife that had search'd her , utterly confuted what she alleadged ; besides 't was made out , that her Father would have compounded the business , but demanded 100 l. &c. Upon all which Circumstances , and many persons of Repute justifying the Prisoners credit and conversation for many years without Blemish , he was thereupon acquitted by the Jury , and with particular notice of his Innocence from the Court discharged , and the Girls Father ordered to give Security for his good Behaviour . A Fellow at Stepney having one Night made an invasion on an Hen-roost , and carried away captive about 18 of them , of which some were found at one of his Neighbours house , where he left them , was for the same found Guilty of petty Larceny , and ordered to be Whipt . As also was another for stealing a laced Wastcoat out of a Ship , which was sound upon his Back . A Woman was Convicted of Felony , for robbing one in Hatton-garden on the 2d of February . Having lately been Servant there , she had observed where they used to lay the Key of their outward Door , when they went forth , and so comes with two of her Companions , goes into the house breaks open a Closet door and a Desk , and takes away 11 l. odde Money and a Sword , and so lockt the Street-door and go their way ▪ but left behinde them a Chezil , which was proved to have been borrowed the same Afternoon by her in Fetter-lane : and that she and two men did go forth together , assoon as she had got that Tool , and were also seen at the House where the Robbery was done . Two Rag-women were Indicted for stealing two Gowns and several other Wearing-cloaths , in the Strand . A Gentlewomans door being accidentally left open , there were several strong presumptions against them , but no positive proof , so they were acquitted on Thursday in the forenoon . A person was Convicted for stealing two Livery Cloaks , and the seats out of two Coaches at Piccadilly , and being pursued , the Goods were taken in the same Room with him at Maribone . So was another for breaking open a Shop in Fetter-lane the 14th of February , and stealing one Beaver , and several other Hats , to the value of Ten pound ; some of which were taken upon him in Middlesex , and therefore he was tryed by that Jury . A Wench , formerly a servant to a Washerwoman in St. Margarets Westminster , , had four Indictments brought against her for stealing of Linnen , some of which was the Washerwomans own , but most of the parcels other peoples : The Prisoner acknowledged she did pawn the things , but pretended it was done by the Dames order ; and it did appear , she had sent her sometimes with things to the Pawn-brokers , so that she was cleared of three Indictments ; but a Gentlewomans shift that her Mistriss washt to , being found on her back , she was on the fourth found guilty , to the value of ten pence , and so to be well whipt . As likewise were two Men for stealing a couple of Pigs at Wapping , they appearing very sorrowful for their Crime ; which as they affirmed it to be the first , so they protested it should be the last that ever they would be guilty of , in that or the like kind . A Woman Arraigned for breaking an House in the day time , and stealing Goods , and that she had confessed one put them out to her at an hole ; denying now very confidently , that she knew of , or was any way concern'd in the business ; the Court of a sudden asking her , what the Womans Name was , that so flung the things out ? to which , before she was aware , she replyed , Mary , and so in effect own'd her own share in the Fact ; but the things being of no great value , 't is like only to cost her a whipping Pilgrimage . But the most considerable Transactions of this day , were the Tryals of two most notorious Coiners and Clippers of Money ; who upon full and plain Evidence , and their own Confession at Bar , were found guilty of two Indictments of High-Treason apiece ; and indeed , 't is believed , they have not equals in that wicked Mistery in England . They stampt Groats , Nine-pences , Six-pences , Shillings , Half-Crowns , and Five-shilling pieces ; no sort came amiss to them ; and they had an Art to make a Nine-pence or Groat just new made , look as if it had been Coined these hundred years . Two Witnesses swore directly against each of them , that they had severally seen them at work , both Coining and Clipping , and produced great variety of the individual pieces , which they had seen pass through their skill and handling . Their Instruments likewise , mixt Mettals , and other Utensils taken in their respective Lodgings were publickly shown . They were both of a Gang , and confessed they had for some years been concerned in such practises . The Witnesses had been acquainted with them , and designing a discovery , seemed to comply with them , and furnish them with large Money , which first they would Clip , and with those Clippings and baser Mettals , Coin new Money , and then Clip that too to make it pass with less suspition . Four Five-shilling pieces they will afford for twenty shillings good Money , and twenty shillings in Groats of their own Manufacture , for fifteen shillings Sterling ; and one of them offered to teach one of the Witnesses such his Trade for six pound , and to make and sell rare stamps for Coining , at Ten pound a pair . The matter was so evident , that they had nothing to say for themselves , and so could not but be both found guilty by the Jury , of the several Crimes of Treason , wherewith they stood charged , and were accordingly condemn'd to be Drawn and Hang'd . Two honest ' men of Fulham were charged for stealing a Mare , but upon a long disquisition of the matter , it not appeared that the Mare in question , was the same the Prosecutor lost , but rather on the contrary , that one of the Men at the Bar , had this Mare given him by a Worthy Gentleman in Sussex , whereupon , they were acquitted . So likewise was a Woman of St. Martins in the fields Indicted for Murther , but by the Witnesses it onely appeared , That as long ago as last Easter Holy-days , a fray happened between her and the party deceased , and that they were down together , but the Prisoner uppermost ; that the said party liv'd till since Christmass , and then dyed , having been infirm , and as was asserted , troubled with a Dropsie . Three persons were Convicted of Felony , for Robbing a Scotch-Merchant ( or Pedlar ) of above five pounds worth of Holland Callime , flaxen Stockings , &c. in the night Feb. 1. at his Lodging in Rochester , three Men forced into his Chamber with drawn Swords , &c. who took away the Goods , but understanding afterwards , some Pedlers were seen carry a bundle , he on enquiry got their Names , whom he followed , and at the House of one of them , found part of his things , and hard by the Persons , and on one of their legs , a pair of his Stockings , in anothers pocket his Tobacco-box , and a third confessed the Robbery ; whereupon , being Indicted only in Middlesex , it was but a simple Felony , for which they escaped with a Brand ; whereas in Kent it would have proved a Burghlary , which mexcy the Court minded them of , as a grand Argument to warn them from running into any future Crimes of that kind , since they are like no more to be indulged by any favour . A complaint having been made , that a considerable sum of Money had been extorted by some under Officers , from the Relations of a person lately Executed , before they could obtain his Body to burie it , the Court was pleased to inquire thereinto , and nobly expressing their detestation of the inhumane practices of such Vulters , as would make a prey even of Mens Carcasses , compelled one that had received some of the Money , to refund it in their presence , with farther marks of displeasure threatned to be inflicted . There were in all fourteen burnt in the Hand , and nine Condemned to Die , viz. two Men for Treason , one Woman for Murther , a Man and a Woman for Burghlary , and four Women for notorious House-breakings and Felonies , most of them having formerly been Whipt , burnt in the Hand , or received other chastisements , and yet would take no warning . FINIS .