an assault, and that the said Elizabeth< no role > This name instance is in set 3714. , with divers large whips, canes and sticks, feloniously, wilfully, and of her malice aforethought, did strike, beat and whip the said Mary< no role > This name instance is in set 3713. over her head, shoulders, back, belly, sides, and other parts of her body, in a cruel and inhuman manner, giving her by such striking, beating and whipping, divers large and grievous wounds, swellings and bruises; and that she the said Elizabeth< no role > This name instance is in set 3714. divers hempen cords and iron chains round the neck of her the said Mary< no role > This name instance is in set 3713. feloniously, wilfully, and of her malice aforethought, did tie, bind and fasten, giving her thereby a large and violent swelling in her neck; and that she the said Elizabeth in a certain place under the stairs leading into a certain cellar in the dwelling-house of the said James their situate, feloniously, wilfully, and of her malice aforethought, did confine and imprison the said Mary; by means whereof she the said Mary from the said 4th day of August , until the 9th day of the same month , at the parish aforesaid and also at St. Bartholomew the Less , did pine and languish, and languishing did live, and on which said 9th day of August last , at the parish of St. Bartholomew , the said Mary, by means of such ill usage, did die: and that they the said James and John, feloniously, wilfully, and of their malice aforethought, were present, abetting, aiding, assisting, comforting, and maintaining the said Elizabeth to kill and murder the said Mary in form aforesaid.

Upon this indictment all the defendents severally pleaded, Not Guilty; and after the evidence was gone through on the part of the prosecution, Mrs. Brownrigg being asked, what she had to say in her defence? answered, That she had nothing farther to say, than that she had no intention to kill the child. But the evidence appearing most fully convictive against Mrs. Brownrigg, she was found Guilty, to the entire satisfaction of the whole court and a very numerous audience.

Before I enter upon the account of this unhappy woman's behaviour, I hope the reader will not think it impertinent to premise, That the criminal procedure in this kingdom is universally acknowledged to be better adapted than in any other country, for the prosecution of guilt and for the protection of innocence. In many other nations, even some, (where, to their dishonour, christianity is professed) the accused are frequently put to the torture to make