A true NARRATIVE Of the Proceedings at the Sessions-house IN THE OLD-BAYLY, Begun the 28. of August, and ended the 31. 1678.  
Containing The Trials of several for MURDER: And also, Of the High-way-men that Robbed the Lace-man: One for a Rape. And all other Malefactors for any considerable Crimes, that were there Arraigned.  
The Trial of the Female Muggleton, which was at the last Sessions.  
With the number of those that are Condemned, Burned in the Hand, Transported, and to be Whipped.  
With Allowance. R. L'Estrange.  
LONDON, Printed for D. M. 1678.   

A True Narrative of the Proceedings at the Sessions-House in the Old-Baily: begun the 28. and continued till the 31. of August 1678.  
THe most remarkable Trial that happened the first Morning, was of two persons of a different Sex, who were Indicted for Murdering a young Man in the Pall-mell about Whitsuntide last: The Trial was very tedious there being much Evidence produced on both sides; but it being made appear there was no premeditated Malice on the Prisoner's side▪ also that the Deceased, did (being in Drink) first assault the Man-Prisoner, who forwarn'd him from doing so; Likewise that the Woman did, (besides one little blow she hit him on the Calf of the Leg,) all possibly she could to part them▪ and the Deceased disowning after he had taken the Sacrament in order to his Dissolution, that he had received any Hurt by them: They were both acquitted.  
The next were two young Foot-Pads, Indicted for Robing a Lace-man of 113. Yards of Bonelace; the manner thus. The Lace-Man in his way from Wickham to London, was set upon by the Prisoners at the Bar, one laying hold of one of his Legs, and the other of his Horses Bridle▪ and when they had unhorsed him, and plucked off the Bridle and Saddle for fear of Pursuit, they forced from him the said Lace, and so departed; they on their way, and he for London; where he had not been long, but a Woman out of Pater-noster-Row, comes to his Lodging or Warehouse, pretending to buy some of the same sort, (but intending rather to sell that she had,) she demanded the Price of it, which being resolved her; she answered him, she could Sell himself as good, at a much lower Rate; he replied then, he was sure she must Steal it, which she denied with an Oath: But in short, when she had shown him her good Pennyworth, he knew the Lace to be his own; and so sending for a Constable to Seize her, she promised she would bring him to the Persons she had it of, if he would quit her; and being as good as his word, they were likewise Seized in their Lodging, and at this Sessions found guilty of Felony; the Robery being Immaterial, since their Trial was out of that County where the Fact was done.  
A Servant Girl about 15 years of Age, was Arraigned next, for conveying several sorts of Goods out of her Mistress' House; but that Morning she was to go from her, the Mistress made bold to search her Trunk, where she found an Apron and two Sleeves, marked with her own Name; she conclude, ed whatever else she had lately lost, went the same way: She brought her to her Trial, where because nothing else could be positively laid to her charge, and the Maid young enough to be taught more Honesty; she was brought in Guilty, but the Goods valued at 10 d▪ in order to have as many Flawgs.  
A Gentleman who had formerly belonged to the Guard, was Indicted for lately Murdering his Companion at a Tavern in Kings-street, the matter of Fact thus. The Deceased meeting the Prisoner accidentally, desired him to take share of a Pint of Wine, which the Prisoner would willingly have avoided; but in vain he endeavoured it, since th● Deceased would not part till they had Drunk together▪ which rather than give him any cause of Offence, the Prisoner consented to go with him: Whereupon they went in, and when the one Pint was Drunk off, the party now Dead called for another, and after that another; insomuch that the Prisoner, who was then in haste, told him, he would Drink no more, nor stay any longer in his Company: Whereupon the other person Drew, and went to Assault the Prisoner, who put by his Pass▪ and getting up to him, had forced him to sit down in a Chair, and was holding by his Cravat with one hand, and his Sword in the other, when the Drawer came up; and taking particular notice of the Deceased, found his own Sword sticking about five Inches deep in the Deceaseds side; but he being a Quarrelsome person, and there being no sign of Malice proud betwixt them, the Sword also in such a Posture, as if it fell so by Chance and not by Accident, he was brought in not Guilty.  
Another was Indicted for Murder, who by his Immoderate Correcting of his Maid-Servant, was thought to be the Cause of her Death; but the Doctor and Chirurgeon giving their Opinion that she Died of an Imposthumation; though the Master had used her severely, he was brought in not Guilty.  
A Carpenter was afterwards Indicted for Murdering his labourer, the manner thus. The Carpenter having undertaken a Piece of Wo●k, wherein he had occasion to employ Brick-layers and Masons, one of them wanted a Trey full of Mortar; and the Carpenter finding the rest of his men busy, whilst this labourer sat Idling at an Ale house door, called him to Accommodate the Mason with the said Mortar; but the labourer instead of obeying him, gave him approbrious Language; and at last threw a great Stone at him, and was going to second it with ●nother when the Carpenter taking up that which the labourer first threw, and throwing it at him again, was so unfortunate as to hit the labourer on the side of the Head, and break his Scull, whereof he presently died; but there being no Malice found between them, (for the labourer came to him but that day,) he was only found guilty of Man slaughter.  
The next was a person Indicted for Ravishing a Maid about a Month since in Goswel-street; the Girl seemed to be a silly Country animal she came up to London in expectation of a place; but being disappointed was sitting at a door in the same Street, expecting the Waggoner to come by, that with him she might return to her own Country: But in the interim it happened that the Prisoner coming accidentally to the house where she sat, told her he wanted a Maid, and if she was willing, would entertain her in his Service. Whereupon she went along with him▪ who as he was showing her his Rooms above Stairs, and telling her what business she must undergo, if she lived with him: His Wife unluckily surprised them; and it is th●ught, suspecting some foul play, Beat the Country Girl out of doors, who it seems wanted not Instigators enough to advise her to revenge the disappointment: For when she came first out of this persons house, and was examined by the Constable, she protested she had received no uncivil usage from the Prisoner; but afterwardrs pretended a Rape: But the Fallacy being unvizarded, the Prisoner was brought in not Guilty.  
Two Gentlemen were Indicted for Murdering another Gentleman in Red-Lyon-Fields, on Sunday the 18 th'. of July last. The sum of the Evidence for the King was, they both were seen in the Quarrel, one of them to give the Deceased that Fatal Thrust in the Breast which killed him, whilst the other had his Sword drawn in the Defence of him that did it. The Prisoner pleaded that the Deceased gave the Affront; that he that killed him, retreated many steps before he made a Pass at him. But the Evidence declaring as above, they were both found guilty of Manslaughter.  
There was another man Indicted for having Carnal knowledge with a Young Girl about Nine years of Age; but none of the Evidence being able to prove the Fact; also the Chirurgeon proving the Child's Body had none received so much wrong as could make it a Rape, he was brought in not Guilty.  
A Young man was Indicted for Murdering a Woman in St. Margaret Moses Parish Friday street, it appeared the Prisoner had been Bail for her, who had endeavoured to leave him in the Lurch; but he accidentally hearing of her Lodging, went with a Sergeant to apprehend her, but she to avoid them, ran up to the Leads, and the Prisoner after her, which put her into such a Fright, that she jumped off the said Leads three Stories high into a Paved Yard, and died with the Fall; But the Prisoner being not found to touch her, he was not found Guilty.  
Two Youths, the one about 18▪ the other about 13 years old, were Indicted for Robbing a Hosier in St. Seulchers Parish of 15 l. the manner thus. These light Fingered blades having for some time had a design on this person, watched their opportunity; on the 16 th'. of July last, when he was upon some urgent occasion called out of his Shop, designing immediately to return; the Lesser of them ran to his Till or Cashbox (which likewise happened to be unlocked) and took out of it Fifteen Pounds in ready Money, part of which he presently disbursed in Apparel, and the Remainder kept to betray him; for as he was in an Alehouse boasting of his Fortunate Adventures, it was his Misfortune to be over heard by a Soldier, who caused him to be Seized by a Constable, and carried before a Justice who Committed him: The same Soldier had the Fortune to know the Party whom the had wronged, so that he and others who were then in his Company gave so satisfactory Evidence for the King, that the Jury could not but bring him in guilty of his Indictment.  
Two other Youths, were after these Indicted for Felony, having in July last Stolen two Hogs, valued at 40 s. the Evidence against them was Evident, the Owner with some others having found them in the Prisoner's Possession, who had nothing to say in their Defence, but that they found them straggling in Pickadillie; but it being proved likewise by Substantial Witnesses, that the Prisoners took them out of the Hog man's Yard, the Malefactors were without more ado pronounced Guilty.  
The person who as before I told you, was Indicted for making a Rape on the body of a small Child of about 9 years of Age; being not found Guilty of that Indictment, was notwithstanding Arraigned again for a Trespass: And though his Misdemeanour could not reach the first Charge; yet it being found that he had much damnified the body of the said Child, he was therefore brought in Guilty of the Latter.  
The Maid who in July last was Arraigned for Preaching Blasphemy, was then on her seeming Repentance, and Renouncing those Blaspemous Tenants that she was God, etc. which before she foolishly affirmed; was on her bringing in Bale for her good Behaviour for the Future, restored to her Liberty: And as if she had at the same time been Licenced to Blaspheme▪ fell to it a fresh, but not without some Alteration; for now being again Arraigned for the same Crime, she had the Impudence before the whole Court to say she was indeed the Third personin the Trinity, and that her Father was that Christ, who was with God at the Creation; for which Impious Expression, she is likely to be Whipped into better Manners of Religion.  
There was a yonug man Indicted for stealing part of the Queen's Plate out of her Dairy-house in S. James' Park▪ he He confessed the Fact before the justice; but in vain deemed it here, for he had set his hand to it, and was deservedly found Guilty.  
In all were Condemned four men and six women, whereof one of the latter by a Jury of Women was found quick with Child. Sixteen men and one woman Burnt in the hand. Two women to be Whipped, and one to be Transported.  
FINIS.