THe Seſſions bginning on Wedneſday, a young woman was tried for Murthering her (ſuppoſed) Baſtard-childe. Being Servant in a Victualing-houſe, a Fellow living in the ſame houſe, accidentally found ſomething under the ſtairs wrapt up in a Cloth; which upon opening, proved to be a young naked Childe; which had lain ſo long there, (ſix or eight weeks, as it was ſuppoſed) that 'twas putrified. Hereupon the Priſoner was ſuſpected that it might be hers, and ſearch'd by a Midwife and ſome Matrons, who were of opinion that ſhe had a Childe, but not ſo lately: And indeed ſhe confeſs'd, ſhe had a year or two ago, a little one, but affirmed, that ſhe was then married, and abſolutely denied that ſhe knew any thing of this Childe. Wherefore there being no proof that it was h • rs, and for that, being a publick houſe, it was poſſible it might be laid there by another, ſhe was acquitted.

An Iriſh man walking by a Watchmakers ſhop, and obſerving no body in it, takes up a Watch fairly in his hand firſt, as if he were going to cheapen it; but ſeeing no body come out of the houſe to ſpeak to him, loath to loſe ſo convenient an opportunity, goes his way with it: but a Gentlewoman over the way took notice of him, and the people purſuing him, he was overtaken, and the Watch found upon him in his hand. He now pretended he meant not to ſteal it, but onely ſtept out to ſpeak with one; but the Caſe was plain enough, and he found guilty of Felony, and burnt in the hand.

A young Gentleman, and a Servant to a Poulterer, were arraigned for breaking into a Gentlemans Chamber (which was next to his) in Clements Lane in the night-time, and taking thence 500 and 15 pounds. There was another concern'd, who 'tis thought was the principal Contriver of the Robbery, but he is eſcaped. This laſt was admitted by the Gentleman now at the Bar, to lie with him in his Chamber, and underſtanding that the Owner of the next Chamber had a conſiderable ſum of money there, they reſolv'd to poſſeſs themſelves thereof: in order to which, knowing that his Beds-head ſtood juſt oppoſite to theirs, they firſt remove their own Bed, then take down a large piece of Wainſcot, after that, at convenient times, when they knew their Neighbour was abroad, fell to work on the Brick-wall, which they dug through, and pluckt up the Hanging on his ſide, and forc'd away the Bed, till they got room enough to enter. Then they break open his Cloſet and Trunk, take away the Money, very neatly carry off all the Rubbiſh that had ſaln in on that ſide, return into their own Chamber, pluck his Beds-head up cloſe to the wall, and ſet their own in its former poſture; ſo all ſeem'd cleverly performed: Then they ſhare the Money, 200 l. being left, and ſince found in a drawer in the young mans Chamber; the reſt the other two take, and ride down into Kent. The Owner of the Chamber, at his return, perceives himſelf robb'd, but could not imagine which way, finding his door double lockt, and all the Chamber to appearance ſound; at laſt removing the Bed and Hanging, diſcovers the Breach. That night the Gentleman now a Priſoner, coming home-late, was ſeized, and the 200 l. found. Some time after the other Priſoner coming to London, was apprehended; but the third Criminal, with the far greater part of the Booty, got clear off. They were both found guilty of Felony and Burglary, but the young Geneleman ſeemed very penitent and ſorrowful for the Offence which thus unhappily he was drawn into.

Something like this was charged upon four Scotch Tailors in Bedfordbury, who lodging next door to a perſons houſe that loſt one night above 60 l. out of an upper Chamber, he imagined they muſt come in at the Gutter to do it, and immediately got a Conſtable and took them all faſt aſleep in their Beds; and upon ſearch could not, amongſt them all four, find any greater Eſtate than the ſum of ſix Farthings: Wherefore there being only ſuſpition, and that on very ſmall grounds, for that it was proved there were divers other ways to come into the Gutter beſides from that houſe where the Priſoners lodged; therefore they were diſcharged.

A Maid was arraigned for Firing her Maſters houſe in Hatton garden. There were two of them committed, but onely one indicted, and the other gave Evidence. One a Sunday-night a Fire happen'd in this Gentlemans houſe in the Garret, where there had been no Fire all that day, nor occaſion for any Candle; ſo that it was reaſonable to ſuſpect it came by deſigne: which ſeem'd more to reflect on the Priſoner, becauſe ſhe uſed to ſit up often, and particularly that night after the reſt of the Family. But it appearing by ſeveral Teſtimonies, that the Maid was of very good Reputation, well educated in the Proteſtant Religion, ſo far from a Papiſt, that ſhe had been that day with her Maſter and Miſtriſs at Church, and no direct proof againſt her, ſhe was acquitted. The Fire was ſoon eſpi'd abroad, and through Gods mercy extinguiſht without any great damage.

Another Servant was found Guilty of Murthering her Baſtard-Child; She pretended to be delivered at the Houſe-of-office, and that it was Still-born: but it was proved that ſhe had privately wrapt it up in her Apron, and was carrying it in an Hand-basket to bury it; but being met by one that would needs ſee what ſhe got there, was diſcovered; and all this within an hour after ſhe was Delivered. So luſty ſhe was to do ſo Villanous a Deed, venturing abroad, and going a conſiderable way from where ſhe dwelt, enough in that reſpect to have occaſioned her own Death, (conſidering her condition) as ſhe had been the means of the Death of her innocent Infant. But though ſhe eſcaped catching Cold, ſhe did not eſcape Juſtice, but is Condemned to Die.

One Gentleman took a Tryal for Killing another at an Ordinary in Holborn; it appeared that the Priſoner began the Quarrel, and upon a very ſcurvy occaſion on a Diſcourſe concerning Magna Charta, whereupon ſome perſonal reflections were raiſed on either ſide, ſo long, that being too paſſionate to confine his Reſentments, he offered to reach his Sword: To prevent that, the other caught up a Chair, but by Friends ſeemed pacified. Immediately after, having both their Swords on, the Priſoner drew, and the other as ſoon, or near as ſoon as he; and ſome Paſſes and Parryings happened between them, but were parted. And then the Gentleman deceaſed ſtept up to the Priſoner, caught him by the Arm, threw him down, fell upon him, and diſarmed him; but being taken up, returned his Sword, and ſo the Fray ended, none preſent thinking any harm done: But then the other Gentleman began to complain he was Wounded, as indeed he was Mortally, for the ſecond day after he died. It was concluded by the Gentlemen preſent, that the Wound was received when the Deceaſed ran up and cloſed with the Priſoner; ſo it was found Manſlanghter, and the Gentleman took his Clergy: as to further Penalty having obtained the Grant of a Pardon.

As likewiſe had another Gentleman Convicted of the like Crime committed by Charing-Croſs; it appearing that the Gentleman dead, was a particular Friend of the Priſoners, and that it was unhappily done in a ſudden heat.

The ſame Proceedings were in the Caſe of a third Gentleman, abuſed groſsly in the Street by a Footman, whom after much patience, and retreating ſeveral times, and deſiring him to go about his buſineſs, it was his misfortune to Kill.

A Souldier Quartered at Kenſington, with ſeveral others unknown, in the Night ſet upon a perſon on the High-way, returning thither from London, led him into a Gravel-pit, took away 6 or 7 ſhil. (all the Money he had about him) and ſeveral Cloaths which he was carrying home. The man knew the Priſoner, he having formerly quartered at his houſe; ſo getting home, ſearches, findes he was out of nis Quarters; ſeizes him next Morning when he came home: and now he was Condemned to die for Felony and Robbery.

One John Morgan was Indicted on the Statute, for that being born a Subject of England, and having received Orders from the See of Rome, yet he came into and remained in England. There was very good Evidence that proved he was a Prieſt, and had ſaid Maſs; but as formerly, ſo now at Bar he freely Confeſt that he was a Prieſt. Some ſay he was heretofore a little crazed in his Underſtanding, which was probable enough by his Behaviour: However, the Offence being evident, according to Law he was found Guilty of Felony and High-Treaſon, and received Sentence to be Drawn, Hanged and Quartered.

A Country-fellow pretending to give a Viſit to an honeſt man whom he had formerly lived with, being by him kindly entertained, made ſuch ill uſe thereof, as at laſt to ſteal an Horſe from him, which he ſold to another: And being now found out, was found Guilty and Condemned. Having of late made a Trade of Horſe-ſtealing, and taken away ſeveral in Buckingham-ſhire, Kent, and Eſſex, as was alleadged againſt him.

A wench was Condemn'd for murthering her Baſtard-child. Being ſuſpected by her Miſtriſs, and examined, ſhe freely confeſs'd that ſhe had put it into the Houſe of Office, and that it crying, ſhe puſht it down with a ſtick.

A Gentleman and two others concerned with him in attempting, above a year ago, to ſteal and force away a young Lady of eminent Quality, on the Highway; for which ſome of their Accomplices formerly taken, were condemned to die, but obtained a Pardon, came now to take a Tryal for the ſame, being charged with two Indictments, one for Felony, on which they were acquitted; another for a Riot, to which they pleaded guilty, and were fined, the Gentleman 1000 l. and the other two 500 l. a piece.

Two Perſons were ſeverally Tryed for Coyning and Counterfeiting, and the Melting-Pot and Stamp brought into Court; One was ingenious at forging French-Piſtols ſo neatly, that you could not diſtinguiſh them from the true ones: and the better to carry on the work, he and his Aſſociates bought a Boat, and pretended to carry Brick up and down the Thames, and there did the jobb; however he got off. But another for Counterfeiting was found Guilty, and to be Hanged, Drawn, and Quartered.

An ingenious Villain had ſtoln a Mare doubly; firſt in York-ſhire, and ſold her to one at Totnam-High-croſs; afterwards he went thither and ſtole her again; but that was twice too oft in truth, and once too much for him: for now he was caught and Condemned to be hang'd.

Whereas a Doctor of Divinity was two or three Seſſions ago queſtion'd about a ſilver Salt, loſt out of a Room where he and another were drinking in a publick houſe without Temple-bar, the other perſon, who then abſconded, was now Convicted and Burnt in the hand.

A whole Leaſh of Harlots were Tryed for Stealing a Watch from a young Gameſter, that was ſo courteous as to invite them to a Bottle; and they, becauſe they ſaw he ſpent his Time ſo ill, thought an inſtrument to meaſure it by no wiſe proper for him. Now upon the whole matter, it was thought fit they ſhould be ſent to the Nunnery of Bridewel, rather than to Tyburn; and ſo they were Ordered to the Hemp-Office: Where poſſibly if they amend not their Lives, they may help provide their own Deſtiny.

Several leſs remarkable Occurrences, being Confined to a Sheet, we are forced to omit. But in all there were Fifteen Condemned to Dye, Ten Men, and Five Women: Whereof Two, viz. the Popiſh Prieſt, and he for Counterfeiting money to be Hanged, Drawn, and Quartered: Two for Murther: One for Robbery on the High-way; the reſt old incorrigible Offenders, for ſeveral Burglaries and Felonies; but One Woman by a Jury of Matrons found quick with Child. There were Nineteen Burnt in the Hand for ſeveral Offences within Benefit of Clergy; that is to ſay, Fourteen Men and Five Women. One begg'd the Favour of Tranſportatiou, and obtaiit; and Two are to be Whipt.