Over 100,000 actual court cases from the London courts (1674-1834) have been scanned and categorized. Some of them are absolutely hilarious in an extremely disturbing way.
Felonious buggery
Hanging's too good for you...67. (M.) Bartholomew Langley was indicted for that he not having God before his eyes, but being moved and reduced by the instigation of the devil, not regarding the order of nature, on the 22d October, in and upon a certain beast, called a she ass, did lay his hands, and the said she ass, he, the said Bartholomew did carnally know, and with the said she ass that detestable and abominable crime, (among Christians not to be named) called buggery, feloniously, wickedly, and diabolically against the order of nature, did perpetrate against the peace of our Lord the King
THE DOG HAS THE ANSWER! ASK THE DOG!That you be drawn upon a hurdle to the place of execution; that you be there hanged by the neck, but not until you are dead; but that, being alive, you be cut down, and your bowels taken out and burnt before your face; that your head be severed from your body, and your body divided into four parts; and that your head and quarters be disposed of as the King shall think fit: and may the Lord have mercy on your soul!
A married woman lately living without Cripplegate, that appeared to be between 30 and 40 years of age, was arrigned, For that she having not the fear of God before her eyes, nor regarding the order of Nature, on the 23. of June last, to the disgrace of all womankind, did commit Buggery with a certain Mungril Dog, and wickedly, divellishly, and against nature had venerial and Carnal copulation with him, &c. It was was proved that the Prisoner was a person of a lewd conversation, and lodging in a Room into which there were several holes to look in at from the next house, they had often seen her in the very acts of uncleanness with Villains that followed her; but one day one of the Witnesses (a young woman) happening to cast her eye in, saw her use such actions with a Dog as are not fit here to be recited: At which being amazed, she called up another woman, and after that a man, who all saw her several times practising this beastliness, and fully evidenced the same in Court, where the Dog was likewise brought, add being set on the Bar before the Prisoner, owned her by wagging his tail, and making motions as it were to kiss her, which 'twas sworn she did do when she made that horrid use of him. For her self she had nothing to say, but denying the fact, alleadging it was mallice in the Witnesses, whichher Husband, who appeared in her behalf likewise suggested, but could not make out any quarrel or occasion of any such malice in the least; whereupon after full consideration of all circumstances she was brought in guilty .
