A true ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEED AT THE SESSIONS For London and Middlesex, Begun in the OLD-BAILEY on Wednesday the Twenty sixth of May. 1680. Giving the substance of the Trials of several Malefactors; the Number and Crimes of those Condemned, Burnt in the Hand, etc. With an Account of the Proceed Against Captain TOM.  
THE Court being sat, the London-Jury first came on, and two persons were severally brought to Trial, one for a common Felony, of which there was sufficient proof, the other for stealing a Gold-watch, of which in the opinion of the Court, and all the Jury but one man, there was very convincing Evidence, it being proved that it was stolen from the owner, and that it was found upon the Prisoner; a person of very ill fame, and who could give no account how he came by it. The Jury retiring to consider of these two matters, and staying longer than usual, the Court sent to know whether they were not agreed; who thereupon coming into Court, the Foreman declared, That they were all agreed except one, who would by no means yield to find the Prisoner for the Watch guilty: then the Court demanded what should induce him to scruple it, after such plain Evidence, and the thing taken upon him: to which the Juryman answered, That he was not satisfied in his Conscience; for the Watch might be found with the man, and yet he not steal it. The Court expressed a great deal of tenderness, how fit it was the Conscience of every Juryman should be satisfied, but told him, they conceived in this Case there was no ground for scruple: But two of his fellow-Jurors informed the Court, that when in the morning this Gentleman had very much insisted to be excused from serving on the Jury, and found that the Court would not allow him that favour, but looked on him as a fit man to serve, he thereupon in seeming discontent did say in the Court so loud, that they heard him:— If I must be on, I'll be cross, or plague them, or some words to that effect: which he absolutely denied; but the other two being particularly sworn touching that matter, and testifying the words upon Oath, the Court resented the same as a high misdemeanour, and laid a Fine of fifty pounds upon him: For though Jurymen, 'tis said, are not by Law to be punished by Fines, for giving Verdicts according to their Consciences, yet it seems both just and necessary that such misdemeanours of resolved stubbornness be restrained. Then the Court having given the said Juror good Advice, the Jury was returned back again to consider further of it; but he still continued in the same sentiments, and so occasioned them all to be kept without Eating or Drinking from morning till six or seven a clock in the afternoon: in which interval the Middlesex-Jury proceeding upon business, there were several Indictments for other Felonies committed in Middlesex, brought against the same person, who was so charged with the Watch in London, and upon two of them he was found guilty. so that there being enough against him, the Court in respect to the London-Jury, (who could not by any means prevail with their Brother to join with them) discharged them of the said Prisoner, and took their Verdict only against the other; but withal ordered, That the said Juryman should find sureties to appear in the Kings-bench the first day of the next Term.  
Another remarkable Trial was about the Murder of a Constable at the Armitage-stairs, for which a poor Waterman stood Indicted; there were abundance of Witnesses examined, and the Trial was very tedious. But the sum of the matter was to this effect: Some Scotchmen, half a dozen or more in all, belonging to a Ship that lay in the River, having been on shore, and 'tis probable taking plentiful Cups, as Sailors use, about nine of the Clock at night were returning to their Vessel; and in order to get to their own Boat, some of them stepped through a Boat of the Prisoners, in which there was a Boy, whom a Scotch-boy of this company either trod upon or affronted, which made him strike him, and the Scotchmen as fast fell on the English-boy, who ran and called his Master the Prisoner, and so the Fray increased: to quell which, the now Prisoner called the Constable living just by, and who was his intimate Friend; for at his house he used commonly to leave several Tackling belonging to his Boat, and other offices of Kindness frequently passed between them. But so it happened in the Scuffle, it being pretty dark, the Constable's Brains were beat out, supposed to be done with one of their Poles, or Hooks, which they use with their Boats. The Scotchmen shifted for themselves and got away, and a person that was there alleged, that the now Prisoner struck the fatal Blow; but besides that there was no former Malice, so 'twas a most unlikely thing, that he should go to hurt one that was his Friend, and came thither at his request to assist him. So that upon the whole matter, it was believed such witness might possibly be mistaken, in so great an Hurry and Confusion; so that the Waterman, who had the repute of an honest, civil, quiet man amongst his Neighbours, was Acquitted.  
A Person was Convicted for a Robbery in Middlesex, committed in a Victualling-house that stood alone, remote from Neighbours, whither the Prisoner, for some time before the Exploit was committed, used for some days frequently to resort, and seemed a very civil Guest: but having laid the Design, he and two or three more of his Companions came one Evening, about 9 or 10 of the Clock, before the Doors were shut, there being no body there but the Woman of the house and her Maid; where presently swearing in a furious manner, they begun to demand her Keys, and this Fellow held the Woman below, whilst the rest went up stairs and ransacked her Trunks, etc. taking away in Money and Goods to the value of near Twenty Pounds; and then binding the Woman and her Servant, went away with the Booty. The Woman, whilst the rest were making havoc above, seeing herself like to be quite undone, wept bitterly, and said to the now Prisoner who held her below, Alas, Sir, I did not imagine that you would have dealt thus by me! To which all the Answer the hardhearted Villain returned, was with a scornful Smile, No indeed Landlady, I believe you did not. He had then a Periwig on, and other , but the Woman knew him by his Voice; and the Maid swore directy that he was the man: And so he was found Guilty.  
An old fellow, one of those that broke out of the Goal, and upon their retaking at St. Albon's being brought up, were publicly exposed with Collars about their Necks, to the view of the people without Newgate, having now several Indictments against him; when he was required to plead to the first, said, He was Guilty of that and whatsoever else should be hrought against him; and being thereupon asked, Why he would plead so unadvisedly, and whether he had a mind to cast away his Life, answered, That he were as good cast it away himself, for he was sure he should be Hanged. And indeed he had no reason to promise himself a better Destiny, for he had been a notorious Housebreaker, and the occasion of many other men's ruin, by his bad Example, and pernicious Counsel and Enticement.  
A kind of Distracted Woman was Arraigned for stealing a great sum of Money; but she seemed to take no notice of, nor understand any thing that was said against her; and the Officers of the Jail affirmed, that ever since her Commitment, she appeared to them as a person Lunatic, or not compos mentis; and therefore in respect of her condition she was set aside.  
A young man was found guilty of a Felony and Burghlary in London, breaking into an House that he was well acquainted at in the night, and stealing thence a Gold Watch and other things, to the value of one hundred pounds and upwards.  
A Bailey belonging to the Marshals-Court, going to Arrest a poor man for a Debt of seven shillings, and according to the usual Cruelty and barbarousness of those savage Cattle, beating and dragging him along; a Child of the man's, seeing her Father so used, cried out: whereupon this brutish fellow turned about and struck the poor Child a blow on the head with a great Cudgel, so furiously, that a Gentleman that saw it, testified it was enough to have knocked down the stoutest man. However, the Child was for the present recovered to life, and by the help of a Surgeon, the Wound in some time seemed to be healed, but still she complained of her Head, and seemed to languish ever after, and not long after died; so that it was concluded he was the occasion of her death, and accordingly the Jury found him guilty.  
An Alehousekeeper was likewise Indicted for killing a poor weak man, whom 'twas said he kicked; but the proof not being positive, and the party deceased having long been known to be very infirm, he was acquitted.  
Two Shoplifts were Convicted of Felony for stealing of three pieces of Damask Silk out of a shop in London, where they came pretending to buy Diaper, and whilst the man went to reach it, they got the silk; but he soon miss it, and pursuing them, they according to the usual tricks of Practitioners in that Mystery were seen to drop it.  
A Gentleman belonging to a Person of Honour, took a Trial for killing another; it appeared to be a sudden Fray, and so was found Manslaughter, for which he took his Clergy; and for the other Infliction of Law, produced a Warrant for a Pardon.  
Two Women of the unlucky Gang, commonly called Gypsies, were Tried for Robbing of a Countrey-Maid of a Silver Bodkin and some other small things; but there being many of them when they came to the House where she lived in the Country, she was not able to swear these were the persons that did it: and so they were Acquitted.  
Before the London-Jury was Discharged, some of them interceding for their Fellow , his Fine was remitted by the Court; but still to answer the Misdemeanour in the Kings-Bench.  
The Prentices all but Captain TOM, (as commonly called) formerly Committed, and some of them Bailed out last Sessions, were now all Discharged, there being no Prosecution against them.  
A Woman that came to be a Servant in a Gentleman's house, before she had been there five days, took an opportunity to Rob them of a considerable parcel of Plate and some Money, and carried it down into the Country by a Carrier; being discovered, was now Indicted together with the said Carrier, and she was found Guilty: but the Carrier being a very honest man, and nothing Criminal proved against him, was deservedly Acquitted.  
Several people were Arraigned for Stealing of Tankards, Cups, etc. out of Drinking-houses, to which some Pleaded Guilty, as being within the Benefit of Clergy, others were Convicted; but though there be such frequent Damages suffered in this kind, yet nothing can warn our proud Ale-drapers, but still partly out of Ambition, and partly Covetousness, to put off a Pint and a quarter instead of a Quart, they will continue the Custom (though they forfeit their Licenses by it) of selling their Liquor in Silver Tankards, etc.  
Two persons were charged with High-Treason for Coining, and some suspicious Circumstances were made out; but if they designed any such thing, they were but Bunglers at the Trade; and there being no punctual Proof, they were found Not Guilty.  
A person was convicted touching Horse-stealing; who it seems 〈◊〉 long followed the Trade of Receiving and putting off what Horses his Confederates stole; and particularly now they having got a Stonehorse and Mare, to disguise them, gelded the Horse; and artificially marked the Mare; yet notwithstanding all their Art, it was discovered, and he Condemned.  
There were in all Fourteen Condemned; that is to say: Tho. Newel, Will. Gilman, Mary Bird, Elinor Davies, Anne Rye, Will. Hall, Richard Speckman, John Biggs, John Eakins, Tho. Pardy, George Dugdale, Eliz. Brown, Robert Gale, and Tho. Shaw: And Ten burnt in the Hand, one for Transportation, and two to be Whipped: one woman being Reprived before Judgement, and the other four found quick with Child.  
Most of the Prentices were discharged, as aforesaid; but he that is usually called Captain TOM, was thought fit to be kept in Prison.  
FINIS.