THE TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE PROCEDINGS AT The Sessions-House IN THE OLD-BAYLY. Which began on Thursday the 15th of this Instant January 1679 and Ended on Friday the 16th.  
Giving an Account of most of the Remarkable Trials there, viz for Murder, Felonies and Burglaries, etc. with a particular Relation of their Names, and the places of their Committing their Facts, with the number of those Condemned to die, Burnt in the hand, Transported and to be whipped.  
THe first was Thomas Gold, who was Indicted, for that he in the Company of three more, did on the 17th of December last, break into the Dwellinghouse of one Katherine Harris, in the Parish of Hornzie, in the County of Middlesex, from whence, after they had secured her, by almost smothering her and her Children with the Bed-clothes, they went into the next Chamber, and bound her Servant-Maid, who whilst they were effecting of it, took by the light of their Candle, particular notice of the now Prisoner, by reason of a blow on his Nose, and a blemish in his Eye. After they had by this means secured all pursuit, they Ransacked the House, and carried away 14 Pewter Dishes, 5 or 6 Plates, forty shillings in Money, Table-Linnen, Childbed-Linnen, and other  to a considerable value rubbed off, after upon another exploit, the said Gold being Committed to New-Prison, the Prosecutor having notice of such a parties being there, brought her Maid to see if she knew him, who without pausing, singled him from amongst a dozen Prisoners, whereupon he was sent to Newgate. Upon his Trial he pleaded ignorance, and endeavoured to prove his place of residence that Night, but could not, therefore upon a full Evidence, he was brought in Guilty of Felony and Burglary.  
Audrian Scroop was Indicted for committing Murder on the Body of William Best, at a certain Tavern in Kings-street Westminster, the circumstances as they were sworn in Court, are as follows, that the deceased and the Prisoner being at the said Tavern in the Evening, some violent Fudes arose between them, whereupon they both went ou● which the rest of the Company observing, followed them, the better to prevent and hinder them from injuring each other, so that by the mediation of some Gentlemen, they seemingly were pacified, and did return to the same place, where the Prisoner acknowledging his sorrow for some unadvized words he had thrown out in Passion, but not having long renewed that Friendship, ere a greater con●est arose, upon which the deceased threw two several Tankards at the Prisoner, and with the latter hit him on the head; whereupon in great disgust he leaves the Room, but the deceased following him, he drew his Sword, and in the dark run him in under the left Pap, so that it enter●ng about five inches, it proved mortal, yet after that the Prisoner being disarmed by the Company to part the Fray, caught the deceased by the Nose with his Teeth; all which was acted on the second of December, yet Best deceased not till about five weeks after, therefore no malice being proved, it was found Manslaughter.  
Charles King a Tailor, was Indicted for Robing a Servant-maid in York buildings, in the Strand, about seven of the Clock in the Evening, snatching a bundle from under her Arm, containing two Aprons and a Gown, whereupon, she crying out, he betook himself to flight, yet not acquainted with the Streets, he was so closely pursued by two Porters, that he was taken, but having dropped the Goods, he in Court denied that ever he had them; but the Maid swearing positively, he was notwithstanding found guilty of the Robbery.  
Elizabeth Spark, alias Souch, and William Abbot were indicted the former being a notorious pickpocket, was as she pretended picked up in Cornhill, by one Nichols a Butcher, who would needs fasten a Glass of Wine upon her, so that they repairing to a Tavern, whilst he was searching her Placket, took the opportunity of searching his pocket, and drew thence for her own proper Use, about 14 or 15 Shillings, and then making an excuse to go down stairs, sheard off; at which the Cully having some mistrust, all was not as it should be searching his Pockets, found his loss; and runs down stairs, to inquire after his departed new acquaintance, but she had left him to bewail his folly: yet whilst he was in pursuit of her, she 〈…〉 again perhaps for more; but contrary to her expectation, was seized by the Master of the House, upon which Abbot lying perdue, endeavoured to rescue her, and fell upon the said Nichols, who was then returned from the pursuit. She pleaded in Court, that he gave it her for to debauch her, yet she being an ancient Pickpocket, was brought in Guilty, but Abbot not being in her Company when the Fact was committed, could not be found Guilty.  
William Hunt, of St. Martin's in the Fields, was Indicted for being Actually married to two several Wives, to which Indictment he pleaded Guilty, without any further examination of Witness or particulars whatsoever.  
Thomas castilian, of St. Martin's in the Fields having impeached one Henry Jones of a Felony and Burglary, for breaking open with a pair of Tongues, the Chamber-dore of one Luke Hemings, after an entrance at the outward Window, whereupon they were severally Indicted, by reason the former should give Evidence against the latter, yet after he had confessed himself Guilty of the Felony, and Burglary, and that he had taken some handfuls of moneys out of a broken Drawer; his Arguments against his pretended accomplice, were so simple and ineffectual, that the Court could not be induced to credit him, by reason of his often traping himself, and he being but a Youth of about fifteen or sixteen years of Age, so that Jones was cleared, and the said Castilian found Guilty according to his own Confession for Felony and Burglary.  
Roger Swiny was Indicted for the Murder of one Richard Jones a Baliffs follower, in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, the circumstance in nature thus, five or six Bailiffs and their followers, waiting to Arrest one Harris for a debt of sixty pounds; due from him to one Timothy Pride, the which he having notice of sent for the Prisoner and his Brother to Guard him out about some important affair, and they accordingly came; whereupon they three crossing the Rails, went on till they came into the little Fields; the Bailiffs still following them to Lincolns-Inn back Gate, made a stand, and as the Bailiffs swore, they called to them; whereupon they coming up, the Prisoner and his two Companions drew their Swords and in manfully defending of themselves the aforesaid Richard Jones received a wound on his Breast five inches deep, of which he fell down and died; yet notwithstanding he received his Deaths-wound by the Brother of the Prisoner, the Prisoner as an accomplice was found Guilty of the Murder and Felony.  
Walter Goff was Indicted for Feloniously taking away a Silver Tankard, three Gold Rings, several pieces of Broad-Gold, with other Goods and Chattels, to a considerable value, out of the House of Thomas Seymore of White-Chapple; at Christmas last, the said Goff entering at the Seller Dore, which accidentally was left open, and going up Stairs took away the Goods, and returned undiscovered; but being suspected, soon after was taken, and did in part confess the Robbery; yet at his Trial stoutly denied the whole circumstance, notwithstanding which, the Evidence being plain and strong against him, and some of the Goods found where he had disposed of them, he was found Guilty of the Felony.  
William Barrel a Soldier was Indicted for Feloniously taking away a piece of twelve penny Ribon, valued at ten shillings, from a Milliner in the Exchange, upon which, being immediately apprehended, he was committed to Prison; upon his Trial the Witness swore against him directly, that he took it, and putting it into his Pocket offered to departed; but being stayed, he would have made an Agreement, and compounded e▪ re it came to a farther dispute; and on his Trial pleaded that he had given her satisfaction, but not being able to prove it, it was looked upon as a trick, to evalidate the Credit of the Witness, but that proved ineffectual, and he was brought in Guilty of the Felony.  
Roger Benison was likewise Indicted for Felony, the Warehouse of Anthony Harrison being broke open, about a fortnight before Christmas, and from thence stolen one hundred Yards of died Bays, and about fifty yards of Flannel, the which upon search was found in the custody of the Prisoner, to which he pleaded that he had bought them long before the Robbery was committed, but could bring no proof thereof, yet notwithstanding, the Witnesses were not of force sufficient to prove he stole them, wherefore he being indicted as the principle and not as an Accessary, the Jury brought him in not Guilty, and referred it to another indictment next Sessions.  
Thomas Pettiford was indicted by one Wallis, a Smith in Water Lane, upon a bare suspicion of his being accessary to the loss of a Silver Tankard; valued at about five pound, which he nor the Gentleman in his Company neither handled nor saw, yet notwithstanding the Smith and all his Family swore so resolutely, the Indictment was thought to be maliciously laid to blast his Reputation, and the Jury being so discreet as to discern it, brought the Gentleman in not Guilty.  
Peter Richardson was Indicted and Arraigned, for that he the said Richardson, in the company of three more did Feloniously takes and bear away, after having forced and broken open the Chamber-door of Mark Trout of New-Inn, in the Parish of St. Clements-Deans, a Hair-camblet Cloak, one beaver Hat, forty-six Guinnies six broad Pieces, a Silver-hilted Sword, and a bag of half Crowns and Five-shilling Pieces, in all, to the value of a hundred and ten Pounds; next day the noise of the Robery spreading, the said Richardson, who before was very bare of money, being observed at the Bull over against the said Inn, to pull out whole handfuls of Gold and Silver, thought fit to question him how he came by it, and being apprehended he confessed the manner and nature of the Robbery, as also where the Key of the Iron Chest, in which the moneys had been in, was thrown by his Confederates, the which accordingly was found, but in Court he denied what ever former he had declared, and said that he had received what moneys he had of one Russel: but he not being to be produced, his Confession sworn to, he was convicted of Felony and Burglary.  
John Maccarty also was Indicted for Fellonously taking out of a Milliners Shop, in St. Martains-lane about eighteen or twenty yards of Ribbon, the manner as followeth, he and his Accomplice going to the said Shop, pretended to buy of several sorts; but watching an opportunity soon conveyed away the afore mentioned parcel, the Prisoner being taxed, pretended the other had taken it away, and that he knew him not, nor ne'er had seen him till that time, but he having been an old offender, and burnt in the Hand, his slight excuses would not in the least prevail, but as a Confederate he was found guilty of the Felony.  
Richard Templeman was Indicted for stealing a Game-cock, valued at five shillings, and a Hen valued at eighteen pence from Deborah Edward's, to which Indictment he pleaded not guilty, but the Witnesses proved that he had stolen and feloniously taken them out of her Hen-roost, and after upon search the said Cock was found in his possession, but he pleaded he bought it of a Market-woman, but could not produce the Woman nor any Witnesses thereof, so that he was found guilty of the Felony to the value of ten pence. Ann Drate was likewise found guilty for feloniously stealing several parcels of Stockings.  
William Howly likewise was found guilty to the value of four pence, for stealing a Chamber-pot in Finch-lane: as also William Woodword, Ann Rye, etc.  
There were In all eight burnt in the Hand, 7 Condemned, viz. John Gold, Elizabeth Zouch, Charles King, Thomas Castilian, Roger Swiny, Peter Richardson, and John Maccarty etc. and two to be whipped: and so the Sessions did conclude for the Felons, the Trials of the Jesuits being to begin on Saturday the 17th.  
FINIS.