The proceedings of the home-circuit on the King's commission of the Crown side, at the several assizes, (viz.) Hartford, Brentwood, Croydon, East-Grensted, and Rochester. Being a goal delivery held for the several counties, &c. And in the fourth year of his Majesties reign. With allowance.

THE PROCEEDINGS AT HARTFORD IN Hartford-shire, On Monday and Tuesday, being the 23d. and 24th. days of July, 1688.

AT the Assizes Held at Hertford on Monday and Tuesday, being the 23d. and 24th. days of July, 1688. the Commission was read before Sir Richard Allibon Kt. one of His Majesties Justices of the Court of King's-Bench, and the Grand Jury Sworn; it was to proceed to deliver the said County of the Prisoners therein.

• Nicholas Marshal,
• John Baldwin,
• John Sell,
• Walter Cooke,
• Samuel Holland,
• John Worslely,
• Thomas Gutteridge,
• Thomas Crawley,
• Thomas Raymond,
• Solomon Pratt,
• James Jackson,
• Henry Baker.

The Tryals of the Prisoners were as follows.

John Norris and Philamon Bonniss both late∣ly of the Parish of Bishops Hatfield, were In∣dicted for that they the 29th. day of June last in the same Parish, did Rob one John Medcalfe on the High-way, and took from him a Whip, one Linnen Cap, and 3 l. in Money; the mature of the Evidence was such, Mr. Medcalfe retur∣ning to St. Albans, met in his way a Carrier's man and acquainted him with his Misfortune of being Robb'd, and in the mean time passed by the very Men that committed the Robbery, who were immediately followed by the Cirrier's man, and seen to go into an Inn at St. Albans; and the Constable being sent for, Apprehended them, and found the Whip and Cap in the same Room with them, and a Vizard Mask in one of their Pockets: Mr. Medcalfe Swore that he knew their Faces, and they were both found Guilty of Fe∣lony and Robery.

Ann Dale of the Parish of Sabridgworth, Spinster, was Indicted for the Murther of her Male Bastard Child, on the 28th. day of April last. This great Crime was laid to her Charge upon this account, that a Child being found in a Pond near the House where the Prisoner lived with its Throat Cut, all the Servants of the Fa∣mily upon this Allarm, were very ready to see the Child, but the Prisoner when she was with great difficulty perswaded to it, appeared to be under a great Distraction. Several of her fellow-Servants deposed that they had observed her to be bigger than ordinary before the Child was supposed to be Born, and at that time to be so Sick that she kept her Chamber. She did not positively deny the Fact upon her Examination, but on her Tryal insisted upon her Innocency, and the Jury Acquitted her, the Proof not being clear enough that she had any such Child.

Joseph Jackson of the Parish of All Saints in Hartford, was Tryed for the Murther of one William Kentish: Most of the Evidence con∣sisted of what the party slain said before he Died; he was heard to say that the Prisoner had struck him and that he should never recover it. The Chirurgeon that viewed him said he found no Bruise about him when Dead, and did believe that he died a Natural Death by the Providence of God; and so the Prisoner for want of fur∣ther Evidence, and upon this Affirmation of the Chirurgeon, was Acquitted.

Susan Barber alias Crane of the Parish of Buntingford, was Indicted for the Murther of a Female Bastard Child about five years agoe: Sarah Dew a Witness for the King, proved that about the time in the Indictment laid, the Prisoner brought a dead Female Child to her, telling her that she was Delivered of a Child three Months before its time, and so it appeared to the said Witness, and so she not endeavouring to Conceal the Child, she was Acquitted.

Susan Ansell of Ware in the said County, was Arraigned for stealing feloniously from one Tho. Griper, one Crape Gown and Serge Petticoat, both amounting to the value of 20 s. One Wit∣ness proved that she had such Goods in her custody; but the party from whom the Goods were stolen being a Quaker, and refusing to Swear, the Prisoner was Acquitted for want of Evidence.

Lawrence Hasledoom was twice Indicted for Burning the Houses of Daniel Flindon and Bridget Ansell, both in the Parish of Ikleford; he confessed the several Facts before several Per∣sons, and a sharp Iron Rod was produced in Court, with which he confessed he had thrust Touch-wood into the Thatch wrapt in Paper; but the Court and Jury believing the Prisoner to be of Imperfect memory, both at that time and ever since, he was Acquitted, and left in Goal to be taken care of by the Justices of Peace at their next Quarter Sessions.

Samuel Mead and Jane his Wife both of the parish of Stondon, were Indicted for the Mur∣ther of one Joan Coale, an Infant, which the said Mead was supposed to have Begotten on the Body of one Jane Cole. The Prisoners appeared to be of indifferent good Fashion, and therefore suffered not the Child to be kept by the Parish, but provided a Nurse themselves, and the Child Dying quickly, they were accu∣sed of the Murther, but were both without much suspicion, Acquitted.

The Tryals being over, the Court proceeded to give Judgment as follows, viz.

• ...
  2 Received Sentence of Death viz.
  • ...John Norris,
  • ...Philemon Baines,
• ...
  Several old Convicts pleaded His Majesties Gratious Pardon, under condition of Transpor∣tation, viz.
  • ...George Marshall,
  • ...Marjory Roberts,
  • ...William Harrison.

And so the Court Adjourned: