The full and True RELATION OF ALL THE PROCEED AT THE ASSIZES Holden at MAIDSTONE, FOR THE County of Kent.  
Which began on Tuesday the 23d of this instant March, and ended on Friday the 26th of the same. With an exact Account of the most remarkable Trials of several notorious Offenders, both for Murders and Robberies.  
And more especially of one James Wattle for murdering his Apprentice, and one Bridges for hanging a Child up in a Sack and smothering it to death in a Chimney, and several other considerable Trials▪ With the number of those Condemned to die, burned in the hand and to be whipped. Printed .2. April. 1680.  
JUstice in its Annual progress seldom misses to revenge Affronts imposed upon its integrity, and loudmouth d crimes still hurry a deserved punishment on such offending Miscreants as dare by vile offences to transgress the best of Laws, as may in the sequel of this dread result be shown.  
The first that was called to the Bar was James Wattle, of the Town of Maidstone Grocer, who was Arraigned and tried, for Murdering his Apprentice, a Youth of about eighteen years of Age: the manner thus. The deceased being his Cousin, or some near akin to him, was by his indulgent Parents committed to his Care and tuition, not doubting such barbarous usuage as followed from a Friend, and by reason of their distant living, could no●●asily be informed, but as it is commonly seen, a stranger is more kind than a perfidious friend, so in this; for the youth had 〈◊〉 lived long with him, before he began to use him at a gross R●te, that made him complain he was weary of his Life, and all the neighbours took no little notice of the same; but as to though Mu●ther for which the Prisoner was tried, be coming home late, th● 6th of February last, knocked at the Door, but the Youth as it is supposed being drowsy by reason of his tedious watching, did not quickly hear to let him in, the which so enraged his fury that no sooner was he admitted, but with his unlawful Cudgel, he having shut the door fell upon him so unmercifully, that he cried out murder and begged of him for Heaven's sake to forbear, but this not at all appeased his violence, but continued beating of him till he was tired out of breath, giving him so many mortal blows as cannot well be numbered, and so left him weltering in his Gore, who was afterwards by some kind hand conveyed to Bed; but in some few days after died, complaining of his Master's cruelty. After his death the aforesaid Wattle was apprehended, and bound to answer at this Assizes, where he pleaded that it was not in the least his design to murder him, but to correct him for his negligence, and that he was sorry for those unfortunate blows that had brought the youth to his end, yet upon all circumstances, the Jury brought it in Manslaughter and he was burned in the hand.  
Richard Field had two Indictments brought against him, for stealing a Horse and a Mare, out of a Farmer's grounds near M●●●stone▪ he being taken on the back of one of them, his plea was that he bought them, but could not produce the man be named that sold them, not bring any proof that he had bought the same and having been formerly a man of ill repute, and one that had sold many horses to several in that place, but could give no account how he came by them, the witness against him being plain and positive, the Jury brought him in Guilty, and he according to Law, received Sentence of Death.  
George Barker and William Beston were indicted the former for stealing of Sheep, the latter for stealing pewter and Linen to a considerable value, all which being proved against them, they were brought in Guilty, and were both burned in the hand.  
The next was one Bridges who was tried 〈◊〉 Murdering (after an inhuman manner, seldom heard of) a little Girl about three years old, the circumstances as followeth. This murder was committed about eighteen years since, yet to see how Divine Vengeance finds those out that die their cruel hands in Blood of innocents', the Girl aforesaid being as we are credibly informed his Brother's Daughter, was by her Parents deceasing left with a considerable Competency of Monies, if not lands or houses, left and bequeathed to him, with all the endarments of her departing Friends to be brought up by him the which he most willingly undertaken but had not long  the Devil, that grand promoter of all dire Designs, prompted him on to make her away, and get the possession of what she had to his own proper interest his hellish suggestion prevailed so far with him that he thought sit to put it in practice, and so cunning in contriving, as the better to evade if a discovery should be made of Violence done to the Child, that might appear upon search, he tied her up in a thin Sack and hanging it up in the Chimney made a fire with wet straw and other combustible matter, which made a noisome smoke and so smothered her not at all regarding the distressed infants crying and entreating her to take her down till she were dead, and finding none observed it but those that himself thought sit to make privy to, it viz. one Dux a servant Maid, he caused to be buried, and gave out that he had sent the Child to London to be educated there, and so stopped the mouths of those that were inquisitive in that particular but about eighteen years being expired, his Maid fell sick and thinking death was near at hand, her Guilty Conscience started up this most inhuman and barbarous Crime, so that it long lying heavy on her she at last divulged it in its horrid circumstances as before recited, but recovering of that sickness, her Master was apprehended upon those words, she had confessed, and being committed, received now his Trial, his plea was that she was lightheaded when she spoke those words, but he not being able to make out what became of the Child, and there being no other Witness but her Confession, the least the Jury could make of this barbarous Act was Manslaughter.  
Robert Morgan was Indicted for Felony and Burglary for breaking open the house of one Mr. Wincomb a victualler, and taking away divers Pots, and Flagons, two Pewter Basins, and several parcels of Linen, with 20 s. in money, all which amounted to 8 or 9 pounds but being taken with the Goods, he was Committed, yet they could not prove the door to de broke open, so that only the Felony was materially proved, for which he was convicted and burnt in the hand.  
Marry Willis and Thomas Ward, for stealing several pieces of Linen from off the Hedges near Maidstone, were found Guilty to the value of ten pence, and ordered to be scourged for remembrance.  
There were in all five burned in the hand, one condemned to die, and two to be whipped.  
FINIS.