The Proceedings at the SESSIONS FOR London& Middlesex, Holden at the OLD BAILEY: Beginning on Wednesday the Sixteenth of July, 1679. Being the Condemnation of the notorious coiners, And many other too common Malefactors. WITH The Number of the persons Condemned to Die, and their respective Facts. As also of those that were Burnt in the Hand, or otherwise to be Punished. And likewise the trials of Sir GEORGE WAKEMAN, Mr. Corker, Provincial of the Benedictine Monks, Mr. Rumly, and Mr. Marshal.  
THE most considerable trial this Wednesday fore-noon, was of a Woman for murdering her Bastard Child; a Crime in itself so horrid and unnatural, as one would think no person, especially of that Sex, which is counted the most tender-hearted and merciful, could be guilty of such an inhuman Impiety, and yet there is nothing more frequent; notwithstanding the daily examples of punishment by death inflicted upon them; for I do not remember any Sessions for these half dozen years last past, wherein there hath not been, at least one, if not more tried for this Bloody Crime. The present Prisoner was Servant to a Gentlewoman of good worth, and had behaved her self with that diligence and modesty, that she had gained much upon the Affections and good opinion of the Family, so that they had no mistrust of her; though when she had been privately Delivered, and disposed of her Child, she was taken notice of to be ill, and some Feminine symptoms appeared. But the same at last increasing, a Midwife was sent for; who examining and inquiring into Circumstances, concluded her to have been delivered of a Child, and charging her with it, she ingeniously confessed it, and that it was in a voided Garret, near the room she lay in, where they found it butted under certain Tiles and Rubbish. She then and now alleged that it was still both; but confessing that she was never Married, and the Statute making it Death for a Woman to be delivered of a Bastard-Child, without witness or discovering it; and the Midwife, though she could not positively affirm that she had gone her full time, yet acknowledging the Infant had both Hair and Nails, she was Convicted, and received Sentence of death.  
A person that had been an old Offender, though but a young man, was tried on two Indictments, for stealing of several Watches, both picked out of the Prosecutors Pockets; and to aggravate his Crime, one of them was stolen in the Savoy Church: being taken upon suspicion, and his Lodgings searched, there were found a great number of Watches, about eighteen, and amongst them these two, which were now owned: though the Witnesses could not directly Swear he was the man that robbed them, yet being taken from their persons, and found in his custody, who was not able to give any good account how he came by them, but onely a frivolous allegation, that he bought one of them of a fellow that appeared to be hanged last Sessions, and the other of he knew not whom; he was found guilty on both Indictments.  
A very little Girl was Arraigned for stealing a Money-Box, and therein three pound and odd money, out of a Chandlers shop, whilst they were at Dinner: she had often frequented the place for Alms, and the good man had several times relieved her; and once before she had taken away a Box and Farthings, as since she confessed, though then not suspected; but now they very quickly missing their Money, pursued, found her out not far off, and charging her very sharply, made her confess the Theft, and acquaint them that she had thrown the Box over a wall, and hide the money in a piece of Leather under a ston by a Pump, where they found it: but she being a Child, and, as she said, not above eight years old, and, by her allegations, there being some reason to suspect that she did it by the wicked instigation of her Parents, in pitty to her tender age, as not having any Felonious intent, she was favoured so far, as not to be found guilty of the Indictment.  
So likewise two Boys, that by stealing a Gentlemans key from a Bedmaker with whom they went to School, got into his Chamber in an Inn of Chancery, and breaking his study, stolen thence six pound and odd money, and two Rings, and so run two or three miles out of Town, where after some time they were taken, and one of the Rings, and forty shillings of the Money, the rest thereof being spent, and one Ring as they said lost: It appearing that onely one of them did the Fact, though the other had share in spending the Money, the first was found guilty, and the other acquitted. It being a most sad object, to see Children so young, so viciously inclined, as to attempt such wickedness.  
A bold Girl was accused for breaking open a Trunk, and stealing a dozen of Napkins in the House of one that was remotely related to her; but the Jury did not think the Evidence plain enough to Convict her. So likewise they acquitted two Shop-lifts, charged with stealing of forty yards of Bone lace; for though there were violent presumptions of their guilt, there was no direct proof.  
In the afternoon a Carman took a Trial for killing a Boy in Newgatestreet; driving his Cart along very moderately, and meeting with some Gentlemens Coaches, he going to give way, the Child being on the other side, unseen by him, happened to be beat down, and run over by the farther wheel: All which Circumstances being proved by persons of credit that saw the Action, and declared that they verily believed it was purely an involuntary Accident, and not by any default of the Prisoner, he was cleared.  
Next was a Young man, by Trade an Instrument-maker, tried for firing of New-Prison, lately burnt down: To which Prison he had been Committed for a Recusant, but got out upon bail. There was a Witness which occasioned the Suspicion, that testified, That the day before the fire, the Prisoner asked him if he had a mind to earn 50 s. To which he consenting, if in an honest way, the Prisoner refused to tell him for what service, unless he would promise him absolutely to do it, and so they partend; but first the Prisoner  told him, If he would earn it, he should see fine sport in New-prison before the next day 7 a Clock; before which time the said Prison was burnt. There were some other Witnesses, but not direct to the purpose; and the Prisoner proving, that the same Night he was out of Town; upon a full disquisition of the whole matter, he was found not Guilty.  
After this was a notable trial of two persons for coining; they were by trade Watch-makers, and one of them lately dwelled in the Old-Bayly; but together with another of their Gang not yet taken, they had hired Rooms at a House by Bun-hill-fields, where they driven their mischievous Trade. Having paid their Landlady some of their counterfeit Money, she sent out a Boy with a new-mill'd Half-crown, to buy some Nutmegs. The Grocer's Apprentice by the lightness suspected it to be nought, and took advice on it, who concurred in the same opinion; and seeing it so very fresh and newly done, cut it, and found it to be Brass, but exquisitely picked over, allowing not above three pennyworth of Silver to a piece. Hereupon they took the name of the person from whom the Boy said he came, and gave notice: But the Artists understanding there was some noise abroad of it, fled with the greatest part of their Tools, before the House came to be searched. However, notice being given in the Gazette, one was soon after taken in Bristol, and the other in London. Their Landlord and Landlady both swore they had seen them at work, and several of their Mill'd-pieces were produced in Court, most artificially contrived, having their Mills to do it exactly. They made some slight defence; but upon such plain Evidence of the Fact, were found Guilty of the Treason.  
A Young man was likewise Convicted for stealing a Nag out of the Grounds near Nottingham, and coming riding up towards London, in Middlesex his Horse wanted shoeing; where the Smith observing that he came a different Way from the Road which he pretended, and other circumstances, mistrusted that he had stolen the Gelding; and questioning him, he at first endeavoured to make an escape; but being taken, confessed that he took him up near the place aforesaid; Whither notice being sent, the Owners Son came now and gave Evidence against him, on which he was found guilty.  
One French, Indicted for breaking open an House in the day time, and stealing some Linn●n; refusing to pled, was put in the Press, the weight whereof in little time, made him willing to submit to his trial, being scarce able to go or stand when he came out; but on trial, though found guilty, he obtained the favour of Transportation. A poor Popish Tailor was charged with being a Priest, but no Evidence coming against him, he was acquitted. clerk, the Boy for firing the House in the Minories, after various and contrary Tales, being now again brought to the Bar, was ordered to stand in the Pillory, with an Inscription to this purpose,— I am the Rogue that would have Fired my Mistresses House and all the City. These were of Common Offenders, Nine in all Condemned, whereof two for Treas●n, for coining of Money, Nine burnt in the Hand, Five to be Transported, and Six wh●pt. But ordinary Criminals are now scarce worth the notice of any but the Hangman, when we have so many Rogues of Note, and villainies of Quality—  
On Friday came on Sir George Wakeman, Mr. Corker, Provincial of the Benedictine Monks, Mr. Rumley, and Mr. Marshal. They were all Arraigned in one Indictment, For Conspiring the Death of the KING, &c. The Evidence against them seemed to be somewhat plain, That Sir George was to have Fifteen Thousand pounds for the poisoning the KING. Against the others, there were other things proved: but as to Circumstances, I must refer to the Consciences of those concerned, the Prisoners were Acquitted.  Fiat Justitia ruat Mundus. 
FINIS.