THE Burning of Margaret Ferne-seede.

THe grosest part of folly, and the most repugnant, euen vnto our owne naturall reason, is to thinke that our hid­den abhominations can be con­cealed from the eie of the Al­mightie, or that hee seeing our bloodie and crying sinnes, will not either reueale them before his Ministers of pub­lique iustice, or in his best pleas'd time, power downe sharpe vengeance for such presumptuous and rebelli­ous offences. Oh! the miracles in these Reuelations are such, and so infinite, that the thought of man or his wisdome is but meere weakenesse, going about to comprehend such vnspeakeable iudgements: & of this wee haue before our eyes a most notable exāple in this wretched woman, of whome my present discourse in­treateth, named Margaret Ferne-seede, a womā that euen from her time of knowledge (if the generall report of the world, according to the old adage, may be taken for an Oracle) was giuen to all the loosenesse & lewdnesse of life, which either vnlawfull lust, or abho­minable prostitution could violently cast vppon her, [Page]with the greatest infamie, yea, and with such a pub­lique and inrespectiue vnchastitie, that neither beeing chaste nor caute, she regarded not either into what eare the loathsomnesse of her life was sounded, or into what bed of lust her lasciuious bodie was trans­ported: in this more then beastiall lasciuiousnes, ha­uing consumed the first part of her youth, finding both the corruption of her blood to check the former heate of her lust, and the too generall vglinesse of her prostitu­tion, to breed a loath in her ordinarie customers, being then confirmed in some more strength of yeares, tooke a house neare vnto the Iron-gate of the Tower, where she kept a moste abhominable and vilde brothell house, poysoning many young women with that sinne wherewith her owne body long before was filthilie bebotched. From this house at the Iron-gate, she was married vnto one Anthony Ferne-seede a Taylor, dwelling in Ducke-lane, but keeping a shop vppon Ad­dle-hill neare Carter-lane. This Anthony was a­mongst his neighbors, reputed to be both sober and of verie good conuersation.

Now it hapned that some few monthes agoe in the fieldes of Peckham neare London, there was found a man slaine hauing his throate cut, a knife in his hand, golde ringes vppon his fingars, and fortie shillings in money in his pursse, his woundes of so long continuāce that it was not onely corrupted, but there was also Maggots, or such like filthie wormes ingendered therein, which gaue testimony to the beholders, that he had not slaine himselfe in that place, as well because the place was free from such a spectacle the day before, as also that such corruption could not proceede from a present slaughter. Againe, what the person slaine, no man knewe, both because his phis [...]omie was altered in his death, and because his acquaintance was little or none in those partes about Peckham: in the end, searching his pockets, and other parts of his apparaile, amongst other notes and reckonings, they found an [Page]Indenture wherein a certaine youth which did serue him was bound vnto him: this Indenture gaue them knowledge both of his name, and of the place of his dwelling, whereupon, certaine discreete persons of Peckham, sent to Londdon to Ducke-lane, and inqui­ring for the house of one Anthony Ferne-seede, deli­uered to his wife the disaster and mischance which had befallen her husband, which her hardoned heart recei­ued, not as a message of sorrow, neither did y ^e grudging of an afflicted countenance gal her remembrance, but as if it had bene the report of some ordinarie or vulgar newes, she imbraced it with an inrespectiue neglect and carelesnes, & demaunded instantly (before the message would tell her how he dyed) whether his throate were cut, or that he had cut his own throate, as either know­ing or prophesing how he dide, yet to obserue a customa­rie fashiō, or (as the prouerbe is) to carrie a candle before y ^e deuil, she prepares herself & her Seruant, in all haste to go to Peckham to behold her husband: & in y ^e way as she went, it was her chance to meete with one of her Hus­bands antient acquaintance, who feeling that in chari­tie which she ought to haue felt in nature, began to cō ­plaine her misfortune, telling her she had lost a most ho­nest & good husband: she whome the deuill now would not suffer to dissemble, (though his greatest art be in dis­simulation) told him her feare was, she shold not heare so well of him: he wondring at her vngodly carelesnesse, let her passe, when presently she met another of her ac­quaintance, who with like charitie to the former, be­gan to pittie her griefes, (though griefe was neuer fur­ther from her heart) and to wish her those comforts which are fit for affliction, but she as carelesse as before, gaue him (by the neglect of her words) true testimonye how far sorrow was from her heart, which when he no­ted, he said, why mistris Ferne-seede, is y ^e losse of a good [Page]husband so slightly to be regarded? for mine owne part, had such a unschance faine to my fortune, I shouldere this haue wept out mine eyes with true sorrow: but she quickely made him an­swore, tut six, mine eyes are ill alreadye and I must now preserue them to mend my cloa­thes not to mourne for a husband: after that, in her going, the winde blowing the dust in her face, she takes her skatff & wiped her eyes, & said she should scarce know her husband when she saw him, these curtizan like speeches made her acquaintāceleaue her, & wished her more grace, so she & her boy came where the bodie was, where more for awe of the Magistrate then any terror she felt, she made many sower faces, but the drinesse of her braine would suffer no moisture to dessend into her eyes: many questions were asked her, to which she answered with such constancie, that no suspition could be grounded against her: then was her boy taken and examined, whod liuered the abhomination of her life, and that since her mariage with his maister, she had liued in all disquietnes, rage, and distemperature, often threatning his life and con­tryuing plots for his destruction: that she had euer since her mariage, in most publique and notorious ma­ner, maintained a yong man, with whom (in his view) she had often committed adultrie: that the same young mā since his maisters losse was fled he knew not whe­ther, and that his mistris had euen then before the mes­sage of his maisters death, sould all his goods (as he supposed) to fly also after him whom she loued: all these speeches were not only seconded, but almoste approued by some of her neighbors, which liued neare vnto her, insomuch that she was the second time taken [Page]into a more strict examination: wherein albeit she could not denie any of her generall assertions, yet touching the death of her husband, that she forswore & renoun­ced the fact or practise thereof to be hers, with such a shameles constancie, that [...]ee strucke amazement in­to all that heard her: in the end by authoritie of Iustice she was committed to the white Lyon in Southwarke: during the time of which imprisonment, till her time of tryall, thinking to out face truth with boldnesse, and sin with impudence, she continued out all her exa­minations taken before seuerall Iustices in her former denialls, and whereas the Rod of imprison­ment laid vppon others, is receiued as a gentle correcti­on, whereby to looke into themselues, it was to her ra­ther the bellowes of indignation then a temperer to pa­tience: rather a kinde of frenzie, then a cooler of furie, & rather a pruoker to euill then a perswader to goodnesse, for she was seldome found to bee in charitie with any of her fellow prisoners, nor at any time in quiet with her selfe, rather a prouoker then an appeaser of dissentions, given to much swearing, scarce praying but continually scoulding, so that shee was as hatefull to all them that dwelt with her in that her last home the prison, as shee was to people of honest conuersation, hauing deserued the name of a Baud) while she liued abroad.

In this vnciuill order, spending her houres, the time of tryall comming on, (when such offenders were to appeare before the earthly Iudge, to giue accōpt of their liues past) amongst many others, this Margaret Ferne­seed was one and at the assizes last, according to the or­der of law, she was indighted, & arraigned, the purpose of which inditement, was to haue practised the murther of her late husband Anthony Ferne-seede, who as be­fore was found dead in Peckham field nere Lambeth: [Page]to the indit [...]ment she pleaded not guiltie, putting her cause to God and the Countrie, which were a credible Iurie paniled, and had there made their personall appea­rance for that purpose: then were these seuerall witnes­ses produced against her, namely of the incontinentnes of her life past, her attempt to poyson her husband before this murther, as also to prepare broth for him, and put powder in it, her slight regard of him in his life, and her carelesse sorrow for him after death: with other cir­cumstances, as the flight of the fellowe whome she had liued long in adulterie with all, her present sale of her goods vppon her husbands murther, as it may be iustly thought, with purpose to flie after him: on which lawfull euidence, she was cōuicted, & after iudgement giuen her to be burned: and from thence she was conueyed backe to the White Lyon, till the time appointed for her ex­ecution.

How Margaret Ferne-seede spent her time in prison, from Satterday, the day of her con­uiction, till Munday the last of Febru­arie, when in S. Georges fieldes she was executed.

BEing come backe to the prison, for the first night she disposed her selfe according to her ancient habit, being as it were so rooted, and accustomed to euil, that as euen death it selfe had not power to make her forget it, and endeuour a better course: but being at the same time in the prison with her, three Gentlemen who like­wise were condemned, and who, through the course of their liues had not taught them to liue well: yet the care of theirs soules remembred them to dye well these Gentlemen hauing heard how ill her life past had bene, and that her countenance was as resolute, im­portuned the keeper that they might haue her company, partly to instruct her, but especially y ^t she might see them, & by the reformation of their liues she might learne to a­mend her owne and as they did, to prepare her selfe fit for death: whose porsuasion and wholsome counsells of their owne, with comfortable promises of our mercifull Sauiour Iesus Christ to them that vnfainedly beleeue in him, and by vnfained repentance make way to their saluation, as also with threatning her with the terrible Iudgements of Hell which are pre­pared for them that perish through lacke of grace, they so wrought in her, she was at last drawne to make a con­fession of her former life past, and to repent her of the same. The forme of which was in this manner.

The Confession and repentance of Margaret Ferneseed, after her condemnation in the White Lyon.

TO prepare the reader for this confession of hers, know that I was credibly satisfied, that when the heat of her fury was past, to which she was much subiect vnto) she a womā wel spoken, offaire deliuerāce, and good persuasion: and so to her confession.

To excuse my selfe O Lord before thee, who knowes the conspiracies of our thoughtes euen to the vtmost of our actions, (how euer so priuat or publikely committed,) were folly, or to iustifie my selfe were sinne, since no flesh can appeare pure in thy sight: I here therfore, with prostrate knees, & deiected eyes, as vnworthie to looke vp vnto thy diuine Maiestie, with a contrite hearte and penitent soule, also here voluntariely confesse, I am the greatest of sinners, which haue deserued thy wrath and indignation: In this good manner she proceeded, and withall satisfied all that came, & desired to haue priuate conference with her, of the whole course of her life, that in her youth, euen from the age of aptnesse, she had bene a prostitute, whore but growing into desabled yeares, to please the loose desires of such customers, she after turned baude, a course of life more hatefull in tempting and seducing youth, then the other in committing sinne: the one makes but spoile and ruyne of her selfe, and the other of a multitude, for (quoth shee) I my selfe haue had ten seuerall women retaining to my house for that purpose: some were mens wiues, which re­paired thither both by appointment, and at conuenent houres, when their husbands might least suspect or haue knowledge of their absence: and these women did [Page]I first tempte to their fall, some, by perswading them they were not beloued of their husbands, especially if I could at any time haue note of any breach or discon­tent betweene them: others, that their husbands maintained them not sufficiently to expresse their beauty, and according to their owne desarts: of these, thē hauing brought my purpose to effect, & that I knew they had offended, I made this booty that they were as fearefull to offend mes, as their husbands should haue knowledge of their offences: and these allowed mee a weekly pention for comming to my house, and durst not at all times but finde opportunitie to come whensoeuer my selfe or such loose friendes, whome ei­ther they had bene familiar withall, or now desired to be acquainted with them, should send for any of them, to supply my house, and make spoile of yong maides who were sent out of the countrie by their friends, herewith hope to aduance themselues: I went weekly to the Carriers, where if the maide liked mee, I so wrought with the Carrier that she Aldomeleft me till I had brought her to be as had as I purposed, which effected, euery one of them I com­pelled to giue mee ten shillings a week out of their gettings: hauing as I said sildome lesse then ten whose bodies and soules I kept in this bondage: Besides I confesse I was a continuall receiuer of theft stollen: but in all this, as it was badly got, so was it worse con­sumed for nothing of it did prospere with me, whereby (quoth she) I acknowledge I haue deserued death, and in the highest degree, but for this which I am con­demned, Heauen that knoweth best the secrets of our hearts, knowes I am innocent.

But who knowes not that in euill, there is a like im­pudence to deny, as there is a forwardnesse to acte: in [Page]which we wil leaue here whom the law hath found guil­ty, and hauing thus truly related her owne confessi­on, wee proceed to thee manner of execution.

First onely touching the euidence of two Sailers, gi­uen to the Iurie at her arraignment: Among other cir­cumstances that was auailablest to condemne her, this was one and the chiefest: during the time while she kept a bad house about the Iron-gate: by Tower-ditch, there hapned a couple of Bargemen to come to reuell at her house with such Guestes as she kept to entertaine loose customers, and hauing spent the whole day in large ryot and much expence, y ^e night being late, for that time they made their lodging there, they beeing a bed, it hapned that night (which was sildome) her husband came to make his lodging there also, and being cham­bered with his wife, but a wall betweene where these Bargemen lay, they could expreslie heare them euerie word that passed betweene them, the effect of which: was, the reprouing of her for her had life, his perswading her to amendment, which she not willing to listen vnto fell a scoulding at him, and so left both his bed and cham­ber some time passing.

At last Maister Ferneseede heard these Barge-men cough, & wondring to haue strangers lodged in his house (for it was not common to his knowledge) arose out of his bed, and demanded of them what they were? who asked of him also wherefore hee questioned them? mary (quoth hee) for if you be honnest men, and haue a care either of your bodies or soules, avoide this house as you would doe poison, least it be the vndoe­ing of you all, they seeing him of a comely personage: and that his wordes tended to some purpose, deman­ded of him what he was that gaue them such wholesome counsell? I am (quoth he) the maister of this house [Page](if I had my right) but I am bard of the possession and commande thereof, by a deuilish woman, who makes a stewes of it to excersice her sinnefull practises: so with some other admonishment left the roome, when these Barge-men tolde mistris Ferneseed what they had heard of her husband, to which she replyed: hāg him slaue and villaine: I will before God bee reuenged of him (nay ere long) by one meanes or other, so worke, that I will bee rid of him, which making good in the iudgement of the Iudge, to gather with her life & prac­tises, she as aforesaid was condemned.

On Munday being the last of February; she had notice giuen her, that in the after-noone she must suffer death, and a Preacher commended vnto her to instruct her for her soules health, who laboured much with her for the confession of the fact, which she still obstinately denied, but made great showe of repen­tance for her life past, so that about two of the clocke in the after-noone she was stripped of her ordinary wea­ring apparell, and vppon her owne smocke put a kirtle of Canuasse pitched cleane through, ouer which she did weare a white sheet, and so was by the keeper deliuered to the Shreue, one each hand a woman leading her, and the Preacher going before her. Being come to the place of execution, both before and after her fastning to the Stake, with godly exhortations hee admonished her that now in that minute she would confesse that fact for which she was now ready to suffer, which she denying, the reeds were planted aboute, vnto which fier being giuen she was presently dead.