THE TRUE NARRATIVE OF The Sessions Begun at the OLD BAYLEY On Wednesday the Fifteenth of October, 1679.  
Giving an Account of the PROCEEDINGS against the Westminster-Scholars, and Three Persons found Guilty of killing a Bailiff there.  
The Trial of Three other Persons likewise found Guilty of Murdering another Bailiff in Dutchy-Lane.  
The Trials of Three Persons Condemned for Robbery on the Highway: And of a Woman Convicted of High-Treason, and to be burnt to Death for Clipping of Money.  
WITH 
 All other Remarkable Passages there happening: The Number and Names of all the several Persons Condemned, and their respective Offences; As also those that were Burnt in the Hand, or are to be Whipped, or Transported.  
ONe of the first and most material Trials on Wednesday, was of a woman lately dwelling in the Parish of St. Giles Crippel-gate. For high Treason, for Clipping of Money, she lived amongst her Neighbours in very good Equipage; and was accounted Rich, but it appears she got her Money by very base practices, making it her Trade to Buy stolen Plate, which having a considerable Stock she would keep a great while by her, 〈…〉 ●em●m●rance or inquiry after it was over, and then make Money of it, to this purpose she held correspondence with the most noted Theives, amongst whom one having along time been eminent both for House-robbing, and Exploits on the Highway, being now reclaimed and allowed his Pardon, that he might discover the rest of his Gang, did now come to give Evidence against her, and swore that one time going to sell a parcel of stolen Plate, being well acquainted with her Habitation, he went up stairs, and ope●●● a door so suddenly that he sur●riz●d her in the very act of Cli●●●ng a Shilling, holding it in the Scissors in her hand, and just before her a large parcel of Clipping but he then spoken nothing to her of it at that time, but only blushed and presently removed the Clipping, and so fell to bargaining with him for his Plate. And when he first discovered her, Captain Richardson and other officers going to apprehend her, took her with 27 Shillings in her hand, just newly Clipped; which she endeavoured to shuffle away. They also found several large parcels of Plate that had lately been stolen from several Persons of quality, and of which Public notice had been given, a stolen Diamond Ring on her Finger, a parcel of melted Silver, and a Book of Receipts, whereby it appears what Vast quanteties of Plate had passed through her hands. Besides there was found in her possession▪ about 3●0 pound● in Silver, which the Witness testified was all their Money; and generally the largest for such a quantity that ever they saw. The Prisoner was or at least pretended to be very Deaf and ●her●fore was brought from the Bar into Court, the better to hear what was proved against her, which she had little material to allege, but only denied the crime: confessing that she did indeed buy Plate, but knew nothing that it was stolen; and that the Witnesses swore against her, to save his own Life, and merit his Pardon. But the other circumstances being so apparen●t the Jury could not but find her Guilty.  
The next seemed to be an object of Compassion to most People present, a poor young Wench lodging about Thames street, betrayed (as she alleged) by a promise of Marriage and getting her with Child, which being perceived by the Woman that she lodged with, to whom she confessed the truth thereof, just when she came to fall in Labour about 9 or 10 a Clock in the Night, thi● barbarous Woman, fearing some charge or trouble might happen to her, who had so entertained her, cruelly turned her out of doors, and set her in●o another Parish, and there left her in pains, telling her that now the said Parish were bound to provide for her. In this sad condition in the stre●t, and without any help was this poo● Creature delivered, and being found lying as one half dead by the watch, and her condition perceived; a midwife was called, who found the Child dead, but not separated from her Body, when she came to her; who ask her if it were stillborn, the Prisoner both then and now said, it was not, for she heard it, cry, but denied that she intended or used any wilful means to make away the Life of it nor did there any sign of Violence appear save only some little spots or marks of a Bruse or Pinch on the Throat, which some conceive might be occasioned Involuntarily in struggling to Promote its Birth; by an ignorant. Woman in her circumstances: however being a Bastard Child, and the law making it death in that case for any woman to be delivered alone without calling help, she was thereupon found Guilty.  
A Women and 4 men were indicted for murdering a Ba●y in the Duchy Lane in the Strand, the Balies came legally with an Execution to seize her goods, for 22. pounds having a writ out of the Exchequer; which runs as well within liberties as without: however in civility they acquit the particular Bailiff, of the Duchy therewith; and had his consent, and a so had a Consiable to keep the peace; so they quietly entered the House, and the Woman now Prisoner, promised them so fairly their Money, that they verily believed her; but instead thereof she privately went forth and got together several Soldiers out of the Sav●y and other Rabbels, which Violently entered the house wounded the Beadel attending ●he Constable, and barbarously beat out one of the Bails Brains: and forced the rest to get away for the preservation of their Lives she encoura●eing them to come out and telling them there was no Constable there, but they were Rogues got into her house etc. As to two of the Prisoners there being no direct proof, they were acquitted, the other two were met coming from the Wounded Man and heard boast that they had done the Rogues' business, whereupon several honest Shop keepers endeavouring to apprehend them, they made great resistance, and many Swords were drwan, but at last they were mastered; and now the two and the said Woman that first occasioned all this tumult, upon a full Examination of all circumstances, were found Guilty of the Mur●e●.  
The same day a man was found guilty of stealling an Horse, though the person that lost it, was as favourable to him as possible he could in his expressions, there were likewise three found guilty for Robberies, committed on the Highway which rendered them considerable, though the booty they met with was not great.  
On Thursday, several very young Gentleman Scholars of Westminster-School were brought into Court, concerning the kill of a Bailiff, that came to serve an Execution near the same School, where common Fame and Rumour has long talked that there was appriviledge that no baly should enter, and most certain it is, that the Scholars at divers times, have endeavoured to keep out or Expel any such Officers, but this was rather by might than right, nor can it be imagined that there should be any privilege in the World to commit Murder and ●●●st the Law▪ however in regard of their Youth, and the unusual circumstances, his Majesty had been pleased to grant Eight of them his Gracious Pardon, which they submissiively pleaded, and obtained to be allowed of by the Court, three others of them took their Trials, and though the evidence seemed to charge them all three to have been present at the Riot, yet there was Testimony beyond all exceptation, that one of them was not so much as in Town that day, but in the Country, with his Master the reverend Doctor Busbie, Master of that Famous School, in whose absence this accident happening, nor could there direct proof b● made against the other Two, that they were any actually concerned, but rather likewise absent, so that they were all three acquitted. But two Women, of whom one first called the Scholars to this Execution, and ●o her invited them through her House, that they might the better come to assault the House, wherein the B 〈…〉 and also a Man th●● appeared very 〈◊〉 to animate the Lads on to the Mischief, were found Guilty.  
An Old Thief, tried but the other sessions, being got out of custody, hired herself to a Citizen in Bow Lane, but the very first day she came, in the evening, Robbed them of a great quantity of clothes and Linen, the matter was fully proved, and she found Guilty.  
Most Violent presumptions if we may not say sufficient proof, were made against a person, for counter feiting of Money, several naughty half Crowns that he exposed, being shown in Court, but the Jury upon weighing all circumstances, thought fit to acquit him.  
An arch Slut, having a mind to Rob her Aunt, drew in a young wench to assist her, and takeing an opportunity when all the People, were out of the House, stole away divers clothes, but the Jury in favour, valued them but at 8 Shillings, so they are both to be Whipped▪  
One French, a very lusty fellow, and notorious Padder, charged with two Inditements, one for Robbing a Gentleman of 30 Shillings and other things on the Road, and another for stealling an Horse pleaded guilty to both.  
One Richard Wood, was most maliciously prosecuted for the like offence of Robbing a man at Noonday, on Tower Hill of ● Shillings and a sack and a shovel etc. but upon Examination, it appeared the prosecutor and he and some others working together, the prosecutor was got Drunk, and tumbled up and down the Hill, and spent or lost his money, and his Sack etc. were taken up in the Night by the Watch so that there being no colour of crime in the prisoner, he was acquitted, and his Adversary severely checked for such a Base prosecution▪  
One Tho. Hudson was found Guilty of High Treason for Clipping of money, he had often offered pieces notably circumcised at an Ale house, and desired to buy Ginnies, offered a 〈…〉 a piece, yet confessed he must change them again into Silver, and would rather give some advantage for broad Silver, particularly, going into the Yard one day, and staying long there, a Woman belonging to the House, went to look after him, and peeping in at the House of Office, saw him at work, a Clipping of shillings, with a Pair of Scissors, and then rubbing them over with a stone etc. He had also declared that he could take off 3 d. from a Shilling, and yet it should go never the worse. He endeavoured to suggest, that there was some malice in one of the evidence against him, but could not make it out, and so was convicted.  
Two other both Jersy men, were arraigned not for Clipping, but a more secret and dangerous Art, (viz) washing, and by that means lessening of Coin, whereby a Shilling was reduced to be worth not above a 4 pence and an half Crown not 20 pence, of these there were several pieces offered to be put off by one of the persons produced in Court, and divers Glasses of Aqua Fortis, wherewith 'twas supposed he did the Feat, but he pretending he took the said ●ight Money, and that the Aqua Fortis was used by him in a Trick▪ or Invention he said, to turn Red, Brown or indeed any coloured Hair, into bright Flaxen, and no home evidence coming in against the other, they were both acquitted.  
There was a long Trial likewise concerning the stealing of several Bottles of a medicine called▪ Elixir Vitae from one Salvator Winter a very ancient Itallian Gentel▪ man▪ who has long professed Physic in this Kingdom, his man was indicted for it, and the things found locked up in his Trunk, but he alleged that they were put in there by another, nearly related to the Doctor, without his, the said prisoners privity, and brought several witnesses that made the same credible, whereupon he was acquitted.  
Then two persons were Arraigned for Horse stealing, one of them discovered by an Honest Hostler, which we mention for the honour and Encouragement of men of that profession, he▪ having great commendations from the Court for such his faithful service.  
Two Indictments were preferred against one Mr. Valenciens, an out landishm●nt, for supposed Rapes committed on two several Young Women, both the Daughters of a Scotchman, one was said to be done at Whitsuntide last, and the other 6 Weeks ago, the 2 Girls pretended abundance of modesty in giving their evidence, yet in fine, each of them down right swore the matter of Fact, but the same was attended with many improbable and suspicious circumstances, the first never complained from Whitsuntide till about 3 Weeks ago, and then both a midwife affirmed▪ and she confess▪ d she beleiv●d she was with Child on this Ravishment, and the latter concealed it 6 Weeks, and then disclosed it rather on her Mother's Importunity, than her own Inclination, Besides divers other particulars prov●d some contradictory to their evidence, others seeming as if they had been Tutored, to say and swear what they did, so that upon the whole matter it was generally looked upon as a design to get Money, and that the Prisoner was much wronged by such an odious Accusation, and therefore was fairly Acquitted on both Indictments.  
There were in all, no less than one and thirty persons, that at this Session's received sentence of Death, on Saturday the ●8 of October. That is to say.  
Three for Treason, in Clipping and diminishing of Money, (viz.) Christian Woodward, sentenced to be Burnt. Steven Push-worth, and Thomas Hudson, to be drawn and Hanged.  
Seven for Murdering, (viz.) Joan Black-well, for killing her B●stard Child.  
John Two-good, Richard Hammond▪ and Ann Wing field, for murdering▪ the Bailiff in Duchy Lane.  
Richard Taylor, Mary Bishop, and Elizabeth Besstock, for murdering the Bailiff at Westminster.  
Four for Robbing on the High way, (viz▪) Thomas French, John Hurst, Morrice Hunt, and Joseph Hunt▪  
Eight for Burghlary, and House breaking, (viz.) Edward Jarvis, John Weal, John Martin, Charles Michener, J●aa● Whitacre, Thomas●● Moor, James Marmaluke, and Charles Pain.  
Three for Horse stealing, (viz.) Thomas Beecham, Richard Good, and George Butler.  
The other six were for other Felonies, but Old and Incorrigible offenders, that had been Burnt in the hand, or Pardoned etc. and would take no Warning 't 〈…〉 Names were, Susan Smith, Jane Mo●d, Susan Hollis, Hannah Andrews, Elizabeth 〈◊〉 and Alice Skip.  
There were likewise, 10 Burnt in the hand, and 7 or 8 ordered to be whipped, and soended this most remarkable Sessions.  
FINIS.