A NARRATIVE Of the Proceed AT THE Sessions-house In the Old-Bailey, April 21, 1680. The Number of persons Condemned for High-Treason and other Crimes.  
IT would be both too tedious, and to little purpose, to publish every particular Trial and the Circumstances of all ill Acts which were here examined, and the Actors thereof brought to Justice; we shall only speak of the most considerable, amongst which we must account  
The business of Mr. Harrison, Indicted for the Murder of one Mr. Jacob: they lived at Westminster, and were both Swordmen: the party killed having a suspicion of his Wise, had several times had quarrels with him about it, and forewarned him from keeping her company; but notwithstanding, understood one day that they were together, and was so enraged, that the Prisoner thought fit to make his escape, as fast as he could backwards, to avoid his fury, who came upon him with his Sword, and made several passes at him, so that the Prisoner was obliged to draw his own Sword, which he used so unhappily, that Mr. Jacob was killed. Upon a long discussion of the whole Circumstances, Mrs. Jacob being an Evidence against him, he was found guilty of Minslaughter.  
A brutish fellow, said to belong to Bridewell, was found guilty by the Jury for Middlesex, for a barbarous Rape, committed on a Child not above seven years old, and very small of growth for that age; he enticed her into the House where he and his Mother dwelled, by giving her an Apple, and there began to practise his filthiness, which he pursued so far, that the Child some few days after, complaining to its Mother, who when she came to search, sound her most lamentably abused: several Women, and two Surgeons gave Evidence against him, making out the Crime as far as the Law requires, and the Child from the very first, and ever constantly charged him with it, and that no body else had meddled with her. 'twas proved that he had a Gonorrhoea, of the soul disease, when he did this villainy, and thereby endangered the Child's life, as well with that Contagion, as by the violence, so that he was justly found guilty.  
Another was prosecuted for a Rape, by a woman of about four or five and twenty years of age, but it was done, as she said, two years ago, and though she had seen the man several times, yet she never complained till now, so that it was supposed, that because he did not come at her again, or to get a little Money, was the chief cause and end of the prosecution.  
There were a great number of Clippers and Coiners Arraigned at this Sessions, whereof several were Convicted, others Acquitted: of the former sort were Mrs Richardson and her Son, a brisk bold young fellow, and pretending himself a Dancing-master; another woman was Indicted with them, but Acquitted. Mrs. Richardson had brought a Trunk locked to this other woman's house, and set it obscurely under the Cellar-stairs; in this Trunk there were found the Tools for Clipping; likewise at home when she was taken, there were some Clippings discovered, and she cried out of a window, and said, she was undone; and the Son endeavoured to fly for it, so that they were found guilty.  
One Underwood, and a Wench he kept company with (a very courteous Lady, for at the Bar she boasted, she never had been unkind to any man in her life) were likewise Convicted of High-Treason for the like offence, much clipped Money and Clipping, and the necessary Implements being found upon them. Both these and two former lived near Pickadilly, and 'tis supposed, were all of a gang, or had conversation together; they were first discovered by means of a Card-match Girl, to whom this Vnderwoods' Mistress boasted, that she could get a Guinney a day by this Mystery; and told her something of the way, and who held a Correspondence with them; but this Girl is since dead on a sudden, not without suspicion of Poison, to prevent her Testimony: however, there was enough without her to do their business, being both found guilty.  
Another person who drove the same Trade alone by himself, was also found guilty: the matter was proved so plainly on him, that there could be no doubt or difficulty made of it.  
A person living, in or near Grubstreet, and his Wife, were likewise charged with the same Offence: The Evidence for the King made out several presumptions against them, but there was a multitude of their Neighbours and others that came in to testify as to their Credit, etc. And the Prisoners alleged, the prosecution was upon an old grudge, and endeavoured to recriminate upon one of the chief Evidence; it did appear that four years ago, their House had been searched on suspicion of this Crime of Clipping, and then nothing found that could rends them obnoxious to the Law, so that after a full and fair Trial they were acquitted.  
Several persons, as is usual every Sessions, were Convicted for stealing of silver Tankards, and divers for Shop-listing, the particulars too redious to relate.  
One Daniel Mackarty, an Irishman, was Tried and Convicted of Treason, as being a Popish Priest: the manner of his Apprehension was thus. A woman in Charles-street being very sick, this Father officiated with her, said Mass, and Administered the Sacrament to her, of which the Nurse gave notice to some honest Neighbours, who took out a Warrant and seized him in the said sick woman's Chamber, who much interceded and begged that they would not take him away, for if they did, she should be in danger of losing her Soul; but they advised her to send for a Protestant Divine, and take instructions from him, and not to trust such blind Popish guides, with their Idolatrous Masses, and foolish Ceremonies of Extreme Unction and groundless Absolutions, where there is neither true Faith or Repentance. The Nurse testified that she had heard the Prisoner say Mass, and exercise other parts of the Priestly Function. Dr. Oats likewise was a Witness against him, that he confessed to him that he was a Priest when he was brought to his Chamber. In his Pocket when he was taken, there was found a Petition to the Venetian Ambassador, expressed by the name of Daniel Mackarty Priest, setting forth his being in want, and desiring relief; as likewise a Letter in French directed to him, and signifying likewise, that he was a Priest, which Papers were read in Court. He had little to say for himself, but behaved himself impudently, calling the Witnesses scurrilous names, etc. Nothing could be made more plain than his Priesthood, which in truth he scarce denied, and so was found guilty, which he seemed not at all to regard, being a person (as most of them are) of a wonderful confidence.  
The Petition  was in French, and therein it was specified what Order he was of; likewise there was another Paper in the same Language, purporting to be directions how (if he were taken) he should behave himself, what excuses and pretences he should make, what he should say if confronted by Doctor Oates, or any other of the King's Evidence; whereby we may see they have Lessons set them in every case. He thought to have baffled the woman that gave Evidence against him, by ask her what  he had on when she heard him officiate; who answered, the same he had now, whence he would infer that it could not be, because in saying Mass, they use such and such Vestments; but this was quickly contradicted, for though he had not all his Formalities, which they cannot conveniently always, nor safely now especially, carry about with them, yet to supply that defect, there was found about him, and now showed in Court, a thing called in their holy Gibberish, A Stole, being a piece of Satin or Taffeta, of near two yards long, and three or four Inches broad, of a kind of deep blue, or almost purple colour, which they use to fling over their shoulders, and that alone serves instead of all the rest of their gear. The woman mentioning her hearing him say Mass, was asked how many were present, she answered, she could not certainly tell, but was sure there was above threescore; and being demanded if she knew any of them, replied, yes, there were enough of them now about the Court, or in the yard, or words to that effect.  
There was a young Gentleman of good note, took a Trial on the Friday touching a Rape charged to be committed on the Daughter of one Mrs. a Girl about ten years of age. He was ordered by a Relation to demand Money of this Child's Parents, who kept an Ale house, and they contrived, as may be thought, this Stratagem not only to satisfy that Debt, but screw more Money out of him. The Girl told the story that he meddled with her in the Chamber at her Mothers; and her Sister a wench about sixteen years of age confirmed it, by saying she came up and saw it, and that he gave her two shillings to hold her tongue; and Midwives swore the Child had had some Abuse. But the Gentleman proved by a Servant-maid, that the eldest Daughter went abroad, picked up a man, brought him home, who went to bed with both her and her Sister, and began with the lest first, so that then she cried out and might receive the prejudice. 'twas also proved, that they sent for a Composition, 60 pound down, and Judgement of an hundred more, and were importunate to have him give them so much, and then they would put it up, etc. So that upon the whole matter, the Gentleman was fairly Acquitted from this damnable Aspersion, and directions given to Prosecute the Mother for keeping a lewd House.  
A Woman was Convicted for stealing a Trunk of Lace, valued above 100 l. a Country woman brought it to Town to sell; the Prisoner invites her to lodge with her, in the night purloins it away by several of her Companions, who came into the Room on frivolous pretences. In the Morning cries out, she had lost her own Muff, and by and by the Trunk was missed, and never could be heard of, for which she was Condemned.  
Mr. Thompson the Printer was admitted to Bail, there being no Indictment against him, so were several of the Apprentices.  
There were in all Fifteen burnt in the Hand, and no fewer than Four and twenty that received Sentence of Death, of whom Three Women (one a Clipper) were, by a Jury of Matrons, after they were Attainted found to be quick with Child, so that as to them Execution must be respited. The Number being so great, the common Bar could not contain them, but several of them were forced to be put into Captain Richardsons' seat: Many of them much lamented their condition, but the Irish Popish Priest was observed to laugh at his going away from Sentence.  
FINIS.