I Am so much the the more beholden to my Innocence then to my Fortune, that I dare more confidently appear to the Vindi­cation [Page 2]of the one, then (through the malign deceit and injury of my Adversaries) to the vendica­tion of the other; And ch [...]l­lenge my enemies, and the Spoils they have made of me, though I dare not lay claim to my Friends, my Honour and my Estate, which I shall keep con­cealed and inviolable from such rude and mischeivous hands as my Person hath been betrayed to. And yet the suspicious, noxious world doth very hardly conceive of me other then a Malefactor, and prefer my Wit and Artful Carriage to my Ho­nesty, and take this untoward passage of my life for some fe­stivous and merry accident of the times, and look upon me as a notorious (nay even among the more ingenious, but as a) no­table person.

I can give no other reason for this, but the diligent and fore­stalling slanders of my accusers, who by lewd and most false sug­gestions have precluded all ways to my justification and defence; and my own unwearied pati­ence in suffering those calumnies to pass unrefuted, further then by a legal Trial; not willing to cast any dirt upon those by way of regesting those foul mouthed and libellous scandals by perso­nal reflections; for I concluded that time, and the justice of my Cause and the Laws of the Kingdom would clearly absolve me, and that therefore such ex­asperations on my part would widen that breach, which the fraudulent covetousness of some Relations had made between my Husband and my self, and [Page 4]render it irreconciliable, when as I had resolved to redinte­grate that affection, we were mutually bound to have for each other.

But since I have perceived, and have been fully satisfied and informed of their insatiable and implacable malice against me, not onely in prosecuting me with fresh Indictments after the Jury had acquitted me of the former, (though the grand Jury were so fully sensible of the In­justice and maliciousness there­of, that they would not receive any more) to say nothing also of the Witnesses brought against me, the blind and the lame (as to their tales and stories) procured by most wicked and detestable practises, (whom God forgive) but by advising my Husband af­ter [Page] [Page] [Page 5]my acquittal to forsake me, and renounce my bed, and so defeating me of my Jewels and other things of value of mine own, and leaving and exposing me destitute to the World, and to the pity or scorn of people, as my condition shall weigh with them: These unsufferable mis­cheifs have now at last extorted this Narrative from me, which I request the courteous Reader to give Credit to, and equal­ly and seriously consider my Case.

It hath already made a great noyse in the World, sutable to that bluster my Husbands Friends had raised my Fortune and Qualitie to; but those High winds being laid by their weep­ing showers, I will secretly and clearly tell the World the naked [Page 6]truth of all this story, having premised a short Apology for my self, and given some account of this my (Errant-like) Ad­venture and Peregrination from the place of my native Country.

I was born at Collen in Germany, though incredulous people do take that for a pre­tence, and better concealment from any research that can be made after me; but as I have declared it before that Honou­rable Judicature in the Old Bayly, whose grave and reverend Au­thority, I hate to prophane and abuse with a lye; so I do again assure the World by the greatest pledges of a Christian, that I am a Native of that place, and did continue in it, or there­abouts, the most part of my life hitherto. They that know it, [Page] [Page] [Page 7]know it to be one of the Mi­stresses and compleatest Cities in that Empire, not onely famed for the birth of very Illustrious persons of Ancient Times, and the Honour it hath received from them (as I could largely instance, especially from its La­tine adject of Agrippina) but for that modern glory it received by the entertainment of the King of Great Brittain, who was most Hospitably and Cordially, and with all imaginable respect and Honour treated Here, when by vertue of Cromwels League with France, he departed that Kingdom.

I mention this at large, be­cause hence I took up those Re­solutions, which since, with so much misfortune I have put in Execution. I observed here [Page 8]the courteous civility, and affa­ble good temper of the English Nation, for by those Gentle­men that then attended the King I measured his Kingdom. Those were persons of such win­ning and obliging carriage, of so easie and familiar address, and yet of that generose and re­gardful demeanour, that I was hugely taken with such sweet Conditions, and being then young, by their frequent con­verse in the Town, which was constantly in my eares, came to such an acceptable knowledge of their manners, that I then thought of passing over to that Country, for a fuller satisfacti­on and delight I had promised my self among such a people.

As to my Parents, who by Pythagoras his fancyful Phyloso­phy, [Page] [Page] [Page 9]or rather envious Witch­craft, have been transmigrated into I know not what filthy and vile persons, of the most per­dite and abhominable sort of men; I do desire pardon of their Ghosts, and shall sprinkle their ashes with my tears, that I have by my unadvised and ungover­ned Resolution, raised them from their quiet and Honoura­ble Graves, to be the suspicious and leud discourse of every ma­levolent and busie tongue. But let such know, that my Fathers name was, Henry Van Wol­way, A Licentiat and Doctor of the Civil Law, and Lord of Holmstein, a man esteemed for his services done to this City of Colen, in mediating their Peace and Security and Neutra­lity, in the Swedish and Ger­man [Page 10]War, and for other effects of his Counsels and Endeavours to our Ecclesiastical Prince Elector, and the House of Lorrain, in all those turmoyls of that Country, in the first rupture of the Spanish and French War.

I instance these remarques, because having been so long dead some nineteen years, I can­not better describe or Characte­rize him to strangers, though he were known in his own Country by other great and Noble actions, as well as for his long and ancient descent from an honourable Family of that name: which whosoever shall give himself the trouble of curi­osity in Enquiring, may yet find preserved from the ruines of a destructive, and but just com­posed conflagration.

It will seem foolish and sot­tish flattery in me, to adorn His Monument with any more Elogy, to a strange and per­haps unbeleiving Nation, who have no faith for any thing they see not, or not have heard from plain and undenyable testimony. And if I be taken for uncharita­ble in this rigid imputation, let the practices of those, who have made their unreasonable incre­dulity, a pretence to their more barbarous cruelty, be my excuse to the World.

I shall not need therefore to particularize any more of him, for places and circumstances, and the like accidents, will be of no greater demonstration, or convincing verity, then those punctual relations of Sir John Mandevile, concerning things [Page 12]that were impossible to be in humanity and nature; and I will not so much as seem to impose upon the reader, with those nearer artifices of a Lye. I am capable of doing my self right, (which I suppose will be too readily interpreted to my dis­advantage) by any means, with­in the compass of a womans understanding, and therefore if I thought I should need more ordinary ways, I would have applyed my self thereunto.

And so I will proceed to a further Narrative of my life, having acquainted the Reader, that it pleased God to take away both my Father and Mo­ther before I was full three years old, but my Father died last suddenly, and left me en­tirely possest of his estate, with­out [Page] [Page] [Page 13]any Guardian or Trustees; the expectation of many people who had long designs both up­on it and me.

Being thus an Orphan, and destitute of a Procurator, as we call it in our Law, the Church as next a Kin to such estates (and claims the right and disposal of the Ward) secured me, and what I had, in their hands, until such time as I should be of age and understanding to determine of my self and my Fortunes, which they hoped by so early a matriculation, and induction of me into the profession of the Religious, to grasp finally into their hands.

By them I was put into the Monastery or Nunnery of Sancta Clara, at this Infant age, and educated in all such breeding as [Page 14]was fit for one devoted to the service of God and his Church, wherein, if ignorance and in­nocence might render devotion acceptable, my young probati­on-years I may be confident were not offensive. But grow­ing up to some capable years, and my active busie soul exer­ting it self, and biting as it were the bit of this restraint and con­finement; the hours and days of this solitude and retirement, in which I was as it were buried as soon as I was born, grew most irksome and tedious to me, though I was not yet acquainted with the World. I felt some such strong impulses and natural instincts to be ranging abroad, and in action, as the first finders of Terra Incognita, were urged with, to the discovery of those [Page] [Page] [Page 15]Regions, of whose Existence they had no further assurance then their own hopeful bodings and divinations.

The Discipline also, began now to aggrieve me, and the more my thoughts wandred and strayed after my roaming and strange fancy of the worlds bravery (which I began now to take notice of, from the gal­lant appearance of persons of quality, who frequented our Chappel) the more did the or­ders of the place streighten and fret me. I began to be weary of my Company, and the pover­ty of those Votaries, called in derision, as it were the Bare­footed Clares; and though I suf­fered none of these hardships, nor underwent any of those nice penances and mortificati­ons, [Page 16]as having no inordinacies of youth to quell and subdue, yet the customary severity of such dealing with that sweet­ness and tenderness of our Sex, did much grate me; and I blind­ly wished I were (what my in­clinations prompted me [...]) a man, and exempt from that te­dious life, which yet was so much the worse, because it was altogether passive and se­dentary.

Nor could I find when more matured, but that Religion when imposed as a Task, and made an employment, was one of the greatest burdens I could endure; (though I have learned better things by practise and the troubles of the World, and could wish my self safe in such a retreat from the cares [Page] [Page] [Page 17]of the future, and the doleful thoughts of my past time, and have a zeal for my Religion, the obligations and conduct whereof I have to my sorrow so much in my late unadvised re­solutions, abdicated and neg­lected.) I lookt upon it more as constraint, and not a voluntary act, wherein I had no manner of election; and my Libertine spirit which mistook bold Humanity, and the dictates of a generous nature, for simple and genuine adoration, confirmed me in this opinion, and finally perswaded me and prevailed with my Rea­son, which grew not up equall with my passion, to abandon this serene and blissful mansion, and venture upon the Worlds alluring, promising vanities.

I was arrived at that age [Page 18]wherein I was capable of being admitted, and professing my self a Nun, and to take upon me the Vows of the Order of per­petual Virginity, and the like requisites of that Monastical life, and therefore the Fathers and Confessors willing to make me a Proselyte, were very urgent that I would take the Habit and devote my self to a religious life, setting before me the ma­ny examples of some excellent Ladies and Gentlewomen then in the Cloyster (though it be one of the poorest Convents of all) who had great and noble friends, and great Estates (some of them) and had notwithstand­ing with all readiness of mind separated and estranged them­selves from all worldly things, and consecrated themselves to [Page] [Page] [Page 19]God. But my resolutions of forsaking that melancholy and silent abode, were so far advan­ced, and so obstinated in me to the prosecution of my masculine conceptions that I obtained my discharge at the same time, as I have partly hinted before, that his Majesty was in Colen, whom, with the rest of the desirous world I longed to see: accom­panied therefore with my maid who had attended me in the re­ligious house, and a man-servant who was my Steward or Bayliff abroad, and had prepared all things for my secular estate, I went to his Palace, were to pass other rencounters, I met with a civil person, one Mrs. Margaret Hammond, the Daugh­ter of Sir Richard Hammond, living somewhere then in the [Page 20]North of England, a very ac­complisht woman, who for her Religion had left England, in­tending to have betaken her self to the English Nunnery at Lovain; but some difficulties happening therein, she had jour­nied up hither upon the same account, and perceiving me a stranger, did me the civility with her Countrimen, as to procure me the satisfactory view of the King and his Court, which could do no less then ob­lige me to invite her home, and to desire her while she staid at Colen to make use of my house, and what entertainment she found.

She was pleased to accept of this offer, and hereupon my curiosity having attained some part of its wish, we began to [Page] [Page] [Page 21]be familiar, and I for my part to enquire into her condition, the reason of her travail, and the news of the world, of all which she gave me so delight­ful an account, insinuating the necessity of her condition, with the perfection of her Endow­ments; that I told her if she could think it answerable to her content, to stay with me, and be my Governess, she should plentifully partake of my for­tunes.

We agreed: but not to weary the Reader with those Instructi­ons and fundamentals of Edu­cation she laid, as she was a rare and absolute Mistress of all those Arts, it will be sufficient to declare, that seeing so much vertue in her, my greediness of communicating with it more [Page 22]freely and clearly, put me upon giving her the trouble of teach­ing me the English tongue, the lockt repository of so many Ex­cellencies.

This by a fond and most plea­sing diligence, I pretty well at­tained in a years time, having my Governess always in my company, whither abroad, as I I used to ride some miles, by Coach, or else pass in a Plea­sure-boat in the Summer, to acquaint my self first with my own Country; the tenderness of my years, offering no man the occasion or thoughts of Love or Marriage, by which means I passed free and unobserved, and then returned again to my Country retirement neer the City.

I now addicted my self to the reading of History, and then to take off the gravity and seri­ousness of that study, to more facile pastimes of literature; Romances, and other Heroical Adblandiments, which being written for the most and best part in French, I made that my next business, though of les­ser difficulty, to gain a know­ledge in that Tongue, which being counterminous to ours, and spoke promiscuously in the adjacent provinces of the Wal­loon Country, rendred it self at my devotion.

The felicity of these two, put me upon a desire of attaquing the rest of the European Lan­guages, wherein without a [...]dw gance, and as many can testifie, I have more then a Smattering, [Page 24]and here was lately an Italian (as I have since been told upon discourse and some wonder of my readiness in them) who was one of my Masters; and who might have justified the truth of this and the rest of my story; his name was Giacomo Della Riva, well known to many Gentlemen in this Town.

In those and the like Stu­dies, and other befitting Ex­ercises of my sex, I past away the age of nineteen years, when I thought it high time to put all this Speculation and Theory in­to practice, and being furnish­ed with such a fraught, and store of all Forraign necessaries, to lanch into the World, and see what returnes I could make of this stock, but in the interim of such meditations, an un­happy [Page] [Page] [Page 25]accident, (at my being at the Spaw the last Summer, to drink those medicinal waters) discovered me, and invited two strange Gentlemen, which that place always is furnished with, to enquire further what I was: who having obtained my Country, and some inckling of my qua­lity, made claym to be my ser­vants. I could not in that place, the Mart of good manners, and where there is no nicety of converse, but all persons use their frankest liberty of visit and discourse, refuse their Addresses, but seeing both of them so im­portunate, and both so dispa­rately and unsociably qualified for my choyce or approbation, I privately withdrew home, but could not so be rid of my odd payre of Gallants, who [Page 26]quickly haunted me and my House.

I was thus of a suden encompas­sed with two evils, of so indiffe­rent a choyce, that I could not tell which was worse: one was an old Gentleman that had fair demeasnes about Leige or Luyck not many miles distant from Colen, a man of serious gravity and venerable aspect for his gray hayrs, but disfigured with some scars his youthful lux­ury had given him, which were repayred and supplemented by Art, but so that he plainly spoke his infirmity through the ruined Arches of his voyce. He accost­ed me the rude military way, for he had been a Soldado, and had caught as he said, that rot­ten hoarse cold, and snuffling in the Trenches of Breda, in [Page]

[Page] [Page 27]the Brigade of Count Henry o [...] Nassaw in Spinolas Army, and had afterwards served Moun­sieur Tilly against the King of Sweden, whom he had seen fall at Lutzen, and therefore by no means must be said no, or denyed his suit, since he had never known what a repulse meant in his life.

The other was a young and pale Student in the Mathema­ticks, Chymistry, and Magick, like a fellow here that pretends to be Secretary to God and Na­ture, and had exhausted a plentiful estate, and was like to be a second Dr. Faustus, and like my Lord, threatned either a contract with me, or with the Devil: for having lost his Pro­jection of the Philosophers Stone, and decocted all his [Page 28]money and estate, his magical Glass shewed him me, who should by my fortune make him up again. In short, the one said he would storm and force me, and the other would make me yeild or else he would set Archimedes his unexperimented Engine at work, to remove me with him into some unknown World, to which he added the efficacy of his Spels and Con­jurations.

I had by my Servants and some distant friends account of such a design as carrying me away, and forcing my consent by the Gouty Cavalier, who had some Castellanes and Governours in Alsatia his friends, and there was no less danger from my Magical Sweet-heart, but the open violence of the one, and [Page] [Page] [Page 29]the secret mines of the other were in prudence to be preven­ted by my absence, which I now concluded on by my self.

I shall not be obliged to give you any further account of my parentage or condion, for by such means my disaster here, may reach the ears of some Friends and Acquaintance, from whose knowledge my purpose is yet to estrange my self, (and to gene­ral enquiries Collen is too spaci­ous and populous to afford any discovery) It will suffice, that I was liberally and honourably educated, and such principles laid, that I wonder at the super­structure of my fortune. I knew not what belonged to vulgar and Plebeian customes or condi­tions, and they that idlely tax [Page 30]my discourses and behaviour with mimick pedantry, know not the generous emanations of a right born soul. And so, that which probably makes me ob­noxious to the censures of the multitude, as it hath to the ha­tred of my new Relations, is the low spiritedness, and pityful ignorance of such Mechanick and base people.

I would not be thought to boast of any accomplishments, which some persons (who fa­vour my distrest estate, and they are of honour also) do please to acknowledge in me, all the use I can make of them, shall serve onely for an Argu­ment against that vile and im­pertinent falshood, that I am of a most sordid and base ex­traction in this Kingdom, no [Page] [Page] [Page 31]better then the Daughter of a Fidler at Canterbury.

That Blasphemous lye was first broached in an Anonymous Li­bel, Entituled the Lawyers Clark trappanned by the crafty Whore of Canterbury, but at whose instigation I could never tell, nor did I make enquiry, but at last spontaneously the Ro­guery discovered it self at my being in custody neer Newgate, where I understood the Devil and necessity with the Writer, and undertaker, were as instru­mental as the Devil and Co­vetousness, in the Occasioner of that report; but that fellow is of so leud and miserable an in­famy, for such defamatory Pamphlets, that his name will poyson the eyes of the Reader, and fester even my charity in [Page 32]forgiving him, to proceed.

The time of my deliberated departure being come, and other intervening accidents ha­ving confirmed me to the pur­fuance of that journey, some pece-meal rumours whereof have been scattered up and down, not far distant from the truth, namely Constraint and awe of an unliked and unsu­table match, which the freedom of my soul most highly abhomi­nated and resented) I privately by night withdrew from my Governess, and by the way of Ʋtrecht, where I stayed a while incognito, thence passed to Amsterdam, and so to Rotter­dam, I came to the Brill, and there took Shipping for England, the Elyzium of my wishes and expectations being [Page] [Page] [Page 33]in hope to find it a Land of An­gels, but I perceive it now to be, as to me, a place of Tor­ments.

I am not single, or the first wo­man, that hath put her self upon such hazards, or pilgrimages, the stories of all times abound with such Examples, enough to make up a volume. I might as well have given lustre to a Romance as any any any of those supposed Heroina's: and since it is the method of those peices, and the Art of that way of writing to perplex and intricate the commencement and progress of such adven­tures, with unexpected and various difficulties and troubles, and at last bring them to the long desired fruition of their dear bought content, I am [Page 34]not altogether out of heart, but that Providence may have some tender and more courteous con­sideration of me; for I protest I know not what crime, offence or demerit of mine hath ren­dred her so averse and intracta­ble as she hath proved to my de­signs.

Nor do the Modern and very late Times want Examples of the like adventures. I could mention a Princess, and great Personage out of the North, who not long since came into my Country, and hath passed two or three times between Italy and France, and keeps her design yet undiscovered, and is the onely Lady Errant in the World. I could mention ano­ther of a far worse consequence in this Country, a She-General, [Page] [Page] [Page 35]who followed the Camp to the other World in America, &c. and was the occasion of the loss of the designe. Mine compared with those are meer puny sto­ries, and inconsiderable, I nei­ther concerned my travail in negotiatiog peace, or carrying war, but was meerly my own free Agent.

Nor can I be blamed for this course, for besides the necessity and enforcements of forsaking my Country, without running into a more unsupportable con­dition of Marriage then this I am now in, (for my patience and suffering, and Continence I have, I trust in my own power, and shall endeavour to keep them undisturbed and uncor­rupted, what ever temptations or occasions, by reason of this [Page 36]unjust separation, now are, or shall be put upon me hereafter; but my life is not in my disposal or preservation, which I had certainly endangered at home, if I had been bedded to him whom my heart abhorred:) and besides other reasons, which I cannot in prudence yet render to the World, the very civility and purity of my design, with­out any lustful or vicious appur­tenant, would fairly excuse me.

What harme have I done in pretending to great Titles? Ambition and Affection of Greatness to good and just pur­poses was always esteemed and accounted laudable and praise-worthy, and the sign and cha­racter of a vertuous mind, nor do I think it an unjust pur­pose [Page] [Page] [Page 37]in me to contrive my own advancement by such illustrious pretences as they say I made use of, to grant the Question, that I am not so honourably descended as I insinuated to the Catch­dolt my Father in Law, (which yet by their favour they shall first better and more evidently disprove then as yet they have done, before I relinquish my just claym to my Honour) I think I do rather deserve commenda­tion then reproach; if the best things are to be imitated, I had a good precept and warrant for my assumption of such a per­sonage as they were willing to beleive me to be; If indeed by any misbecoming act unhand­some and unbefitting such a person, I had prophaned that quality, and bewrayed and [Page 46]discovered any inconsistent meanness therewith (as it was very difficult to personate great­ness for so long a time with­out slips or mistakes) I had deserved to be severely pu­nished and abhominated by all Geetlemen; whereas after all these loads of imputations which my enemies have heaped upon me, I do with my ac­knowledgements to them for it) enjoy, and am happy in many of their loves and good estimation.

And I will yet continue the same respects, and make the World to know that there is no possibility of such perfections, without a more intent care and elegancy of learning, to which I have by great labour and indu­stry attained.

I need not therefore engage further in this preluminary part of my defence, onely as an irre­fragable confutation of the poorness of my birth, and in this Kingdom, I would have my Adversaries know, as some of them do, though they don't well understand, that the severall languages I have ready and at my command, as the Greek, La­tine, French, Italian, Spanish, English, and something of the Oriental Tongues, all which I pronounce with a Dutch Dialect and Idiome, are not common and ordinary endowments of an English Spinster, no not of the best rank of the City. And since I must praise my self, in short, I came not here to learn any thing for use or ornament [Page 40]of a woman, but onely the ways to a better fortune.

I come now to the matter of fact, the first place I touched at was Gravesend, where I arrived towards the end of March, and without any stay took a Tide-boat came to London in company with a Parson or Mi­nister, who officiously, but I suppose out of design, gave me the trouble of his service and attendance to the Exchange-Tavern right against the Stocke, betwixt the Poultry and Cornhil, the house of one Mr. King, not having any knowledge of the Master or his acquaintance, and free, God knows from any de­sign, for I would have entred any other house if I had found the doors open, or could have raised the folks nearer to my [Page] [Page] [Page 41]landing, for I was distempered with the nights passage; but it was so early in the morning, five a clock, that there was no body stirring elsewhere, onely here by mishap Mr. King him­self was up and standing at the Bar, telling of brass farthings, whom the Parson desired to fill a pint of wine, which he readily performed, and brought to a room behinde the Bar. while the wine was a drinking, (which was Rhenish wine, the complement being put upon me by the Parson as the fruit of my own happy Country) Sir John very rudely began to accost me, and to offer some incivilities to me, which I found no other way to avoid, then by pretending want of rest to the Master of the house, and [Page 43]acquainting him with my charge of Jewels, and that I was as I do justifie my self to be a person of Quality. Hereupon a room was provided for me to repose my self in, and the Clergyman took his leave with a trouble­some promise of waiting upon me another day to give me a visit, which I was forced to ad­mit, & to tell him, I would leave word where-ever I went; but he considering as I suppose of the unfeasibleness of his desires, and the publiqueness of the place, neglected his promise and trou­bled me no more.

He being gone, Mr. King began to question me, what Country woman I was, and of what Religion, I frankly told him; and acquainted him with­all [Page] [Page] [Page 42]what charge I had about me, which to secure from the danger of the Town, that was full of cozenage and villany, he advised me to stay with him till I could better provide for my self.

I rested my self here till eleven a clock at noon: when I arose, and was very civilly treated by Mr. King, who well knowing I was a stranger and well furnished with money, omitted no manner of respect to me, nor did I spend par­cimoniously, and at an ordina­ry rate, but answerable to the quality and account, at their fetching and itching questions, I gave of my self.

This invited him earnestly, with all submiss address to re­quest my staying with them till I had dispatched, and had pro­vided all things for my publique appearance, for the better fur­nishing and equiping whereof, I acquainted Him I would send by Post to my Steward, for the return of some moneys to de­fray the expences thereof, which Letters he viewed, and con­ceived such imaginations in his Head thereupon, that it never left working till it had wrought the effect of his finely begun, and hopefully continued Enter­prise.

These Letters he himself de­livered at my desire, to have them carefully put into the Male, to the Post-House; and thereafter observed me with [Page] [Page] [Page 45]most manifest respects. In the Interim of the return of these moneys, I was slightly, and as it were by the by, upon dis­course of my Country (wherein they took occasion to be libe­rally copious) engaged into some discovery of my self, my estate and quality, and the nature of both, the causes of my coming hither, &c. but I did it so uncon­cernedly, and negligently, as a matter of no moment or di­sturbance to me, though I had hinted at the discontent of my match, that this did assure them that all was real, and therefore it was time to secure my estate to them by a speedy and se­cret marriage.

Let the World now judge, whither being prompted by such plain and publique signes of a [Page 38]design upon me, to counterplot them, I have done any more then what the Rule, and a re­ceived principle of Justice di­rects: to deceive the deceiver, is no deceit.

I knew not nevertheless, which way their Artifices tended, till Master King, brought into my acquaintance old Mr. Carleton his Father in Law, and soon after Mr. John Carleton his Son: it seems it had been consulted, to have preferred George the Elder Brother: He troubled with a simple modesty, and a mind no way competent to so much greatness, was laid aside, and the younger flusht and en­couraged to set upon me. By this time they had obtained my Name from me, viz. Maria de Wolway, which passage also [Page] [Page] [Page 39]hath suffered by another lender Imposture, and allusory sound of De Vulva: in the language of which I am better versed, then to pick out no civiller and ele­ganter impress.

To the Addresses of Mr. John Carleton, I carried my self with so much indifference, not super­ciliously refusing his visits, or readily admitting his suit, not disheartening him with a severe retiredness, or challenges of his imparity, nor encouraging him with afreedom or openness of Heart, or arrogance of my own condition, that he and his friends were upon the spur to consum­mate the match, which yet I de­layed and dissembled with con­venient pretences, but herein I will be more particular in the ensuing Pages.

In the mean while, to prevent all notice of me, and the di­sturbance of their proceedings, that might be occasioned there­by, they kept me close in the nature of a Prisoner, which though I perceived, yet I made no semblance thereof at all, but colluded with them in their own arts, and pretended some avers­ness to all company, but onely my enamourate, Mr. Carleton: nor was any body else suffered to come near me, or to speak with me; Insomuch, as I have bin informed, that they promised 209 l. to one Sackvil, whom for his advice, they had too for­wardly, as they thought impar­ted the business, the sum of 200 l. to be filent, lest that it should be heard at Court, and so the Estate and Honour which they [Page] [Page] [Page 49]had already swallowed, would be lost from their Son, and seized by some Courtier, who should next come to hear of this great Lady.

After many visits passed be­twixt Mr. Carleton and my self, Old Mr. Carleton and Mr. King came to me, and very earnestly pressed the dispatch of the Mar­riage, and that I would be plea­sed to give my Assent, setting forth with all the qualities and great sufficiencies of that Noble person, as they pleased to stile him. I knew what made them so urgent, for they had now seen the answers I had received by the Post, by which I was certi­fied of the receipt of mine, and that accordingly some thou­sands of Crowns should be re­mitted instantly to London, and [Page 50]Coach and Horses sent by the next Shipping, with other things I had sent for, and to reinforce this their commendamus the more effectually, they acquainted me, that if I did not presently grant the suit, and their request, Mr. Carleton was so far in love with me, that he would make away with himself, or presently travail beyond Sea, and see Eng­land no more.

I cannot deny, but that I could hardly forbear smiling, to see how serious these Elders and Brokers were in this Love-killing story, but keeping to my busi­ness, after some demurs and demands, I seemed not to con­sent, and then they began pas­sionately, urging me with other stories, some of which long re­petition I will now insert:

Wednesday the first of April, Mrs. King made a great Feast, where were divers persons of quality, as she said, amongst the rest, her Brother Mr. John Carle­ton. At which entertainment Mrs. King did advise me to call her Cozen, the which I did. Thursday the second of April, Mr. John Carleton came in his Coach, with two Footmen at­tending on him, calling him my Lord, and Mrs. King did also call him my Lord. With that I ask­ed Mrs. King, if it was not the same person that dined with us yesterday; she said, True, it was so, but he was in a Disguise then, and withal, that in a hu­mour he would often do so: But, saith she, I do assure you he is a Lord. Upon that I replied, Then his father must be an Earl, if [Page 52]living. She affirmed, that he was a person of great honour. The same time my Lord presented me with a rich box of Sweet­meats: I could do no less then thankfully accept thereof.

My Lord came every day to Mr. Kings, and by his importu­nity would carry me abroad in a Coach to Holloway and Isling­ton. Mrs. King would often ask me, what my Lord did say to me; I told her, nothing that I observed, but his Lordship aboun­ded in civility, mixt with com­plements. How; said she, Ma­dam, He loves you. Loves me, for what Mistris King? I replied. She said, For your great parts and Endowments. I asked her, How my Lord could tell that I had ei­ther. She said, My Lord must have very good eyes if he could see [Page] [Page] [Page 53]within me, or else I must be very transparent.

After which, I did order the matter so, that his access to me was not so easie: Mistris King importuneth me to admit my Lord to visit me; I told her plainly, That I did not understand his Lordships meaning. He pro­vided me a great Banquet, at which his Lordships mother was very fine drest, who questioned what I was. I told my Lord, That I had received civilities from him, and he had the like from me, and that I had no ne­cessity to give any account to any person what I was, for any thing that I intended; and that if any design or affair of his required any such thing out of convenience, or otherwise he might forbear it. His Lordship excused his mo­thers [Page 54]inquisition, by saying, She was his Mother, and that Parents did think themselves con­cerned, in looking after the good of their Children. But (said he) Madam, Wave all this, how­ever I will marry you to mor­row. What (said I) my Lord, without my consent: my Lord, I desire your Lordship not to come near me any more, I will not lye under such questioning and scru­tiny: Your Lordship will be safe in following my advice, in not coming at me any more. Upon this his Lordship wept bitterly: I with-drew my self from his presence: He writ a Letter of high Complements to me (the which Letter was lost in that vi­olent surprize of me and my things, by the force of Mr. George Carleton, my Husbands [Page] [Page] [Page 55]Father.) At the same time I had a Gown making upon my own account, by Mrs. Kings Taylor in the Strand, I took a Coach and went thither; all this while the young Lord not knowing where I was, remained impa­tient until my return, where I found him standing at the Bar (in a very pensive and melancho­ly manner, as if he had been ar­raigned for not paying his reck­oning) at the Exchange-Tavern, and suddenly claspt about my middle, and violently carryed me to my Chamber. I asked his meaning: He answered, That I had forbid him my presence; that it had almost made him mad; that he desired nothing more of me, then but to let him look upon me. Upon that he did, with a very strange gesture, fix his eyes [Page 56]upon me: In compassion to him, I askt him what his Lordship meant, and intended; he re­plied in a kind of discomposed manner, I would have you to be my Wife. I answered him, My Lord, I rather think you have courted me for a Mistress, then for a Wife: I assure you, that I will never be a Mistris to the greatest of Princes, I will rather chuse to be a Wife to the meanest of men.

Upon which, he uttered divers asseverations in confirmation of the realty of his intentions, and earnest desire of the Honour in making me his Wife, without any respect to what I had.

After my Lord had insinuated his affections so far, that I be­gan to understand him, and did mix and scatter some such like [Page] [Page] [Page 57]acceptable words, which put him into some confidence of obtaining me; he began like o­ther Lovers to set forth the am­plitude of his Fortunes, and those brave things he would do if I would finish his suit; among many other finenesses and Gran­dures he would bestow on me, I well remember, he told me that he had given order for a great Glass Coach of the new fashion to be presently made, against our wedding was over, where eleven or twelve might conveniently sit, and that he would sute it with a set of Lac­quies and Pages, the neatest and handsomest of the Town for their Liveries and persons. That I might see I had married a per­son that not onely dearly loved me, but would also highly ho­nour [Page 58]me, with the most splen­did accomodations that England yeilded.

At the very same time, he had changed as he told me (and part of it I saw) two hundred pound of silver, into two hundred peices of Gold, for the better portableness thereof, that his Princess might see nothing of meanness belonging to him, and that as soon as the Coach was made and all things fitted to it, he would presently go to Court, and carry me with him, and in­troduce me to the King and Queen: his further intention being, which as yet he concea­led to me, to get a Knight-hood, and have something of honour to oppose the envy of men, that so great an Estate was confer­red on a private person.

And now my Lord spoke nothing but Rodomantadoes of the greatness of his Family, of the delights and stateliness of his Lands and houses, the game of his Parks, the largeness of his stables, and convenience of Fish and Foul, for furnishing his liberal and open House­keeping, that I should see Eng­land afforded more pleasure then any place in the World, but they were (without the Host) reckoned and charged before­hand to my account, and to be purchased with my estate, which was his, by a figure of anticipation, when we two should be all one, and therefore he lyed not, but onely equivo­cated a little.

But he did not in the least mention any such thing to me, nor made any offer of enquiry what I was, no not the least semblance or shadow of it; he seemed to take no notice of my fortunes, it was my person he onely courted, which having so happily and accidentally seen, he could not live, if I cherisht not his affections. Nor did I think it then convenient or civil to question the credit of his words, and the report given me of him. His demeanour I confess was light, but I imputed that to his youth, and the va­nity of a Gallant, as ne­cessary a quality, and as much admired as wit in a Woman.

The last day of my virgin state, Easter Eve, the Taylor brought me my Gown to my Lodging, I being drest and adorned with my Jewels, he again renewed his suit to me; with all impor­tunity imaginable: His courte­ous Mother was also now most forward, pressing me to con­sent, by telling me, that she should lose her Son, and his wits, he being already impatient with denyals and delays, adding withal, that he was a person hopeful, and might deserve my condiscention: I withstood all their sollicitation, although they continued it until twelve of the Clock that night: The young Lord at his taking his leave of me, told me he would attend me betimes the next morning, and carry me to St. Pauls [Page 62]Church, to hear the Organs, saying, that there would be very excellent Anthems perfor­med by rare voices, the morrow being Sunday, the 19. of April last: in the morning betimes, the young Lord cometh to my Chamber-door, desiring admit­tance, which I refused, in regard I was not ready; yet so soon as my head was dressed, I let him have access: he hastned me, and told me his Coach was ready at the door, in which he carried me to his Mothers in the Grey-fryers, London, where I was assaulted by the young Lords tears, and o­thers to give my consent to mar­ry him, telling me that they had a Parson and a License ready, which was a meer fals­hood, and temporary falacy to secure the match.

So on Easter morning, with three Coaches, in which with the Bride and Bridegroom were all the kindred that were privy to the business, and pretended a Licence, they carried me to Clothfair by Smithfield, and in the Church of Great St. Bartho­lomews, Married me by one Mr. Smith, who was well paid for his paynes: and now they thought themselves possessed of their hopes, but because they would prevent the noise and fame, of their good fortune from publique discourse, that no sinister accident might inter­vene, before Mr. Carleton had bedded me, offence being likely to be taken at Court, (as they whispered to themselves) that a Private Subject had Married a Forraign Princess, they had [Page 64]before determined to go to Bar­net, and thither immediately after the celebration of the Marriage we were Driven in the Coaches, where we had a handsome treatment, and there we staid Sunday and Munday, both which nights Mr. Carleton lay with me, and on Tuesday morning we were Married again, a License being then ob­tained to make the match more fast and sure, at their instance with me to consent to it.

This being done, and their fears over, they resolved to put me in a garb befitting the Estate and dignity they fancied I had; and they were so far possessed with a beleif of it, that they gave out, I was worth no less then 80000 li. per annum, and my Husband, as I must now stile [Page] [Page] [Page 65]him, published so much in a Cof­fee-house; adding withal, to the extolling of his good hap, that there was a further Estate but that it was my modesty or design to conceal it: And that he could not attribute his great fortune to any thing but the Fates, for he had not any thing to ballance with the least of my Estate and Merits: So do con­ceited heighths of sudden pro­sperity and greatness dazzle the eyes and judgement of the most, nor could this young man be much blamed for his vainglori­ous mistake.

My Cloaths being made at the charge of my Father in Law, and other fineries of the mode & fashion sent me by some of his Kindred and friends (who pri­ded themselves in this happy af­finity, [Page 66]and who had an eye up­on some advantages also, and therefore gave me this early bribe, as testimonies of their ear­ly respect, & as for Jewels I had of mine own of all sorts, for Neck­laces, Pendants and Bracelets, of admirable splendor and brightness. I was in a Prince­like attire, and a splendid equi­page and retinue, accoutred for publique view among all the great Ladies of the Court and the Town on May day ensuing. At which time in my Lady Blud­worths Coach, which the same friends procured for my greater accommodation, and accompa­nied with the same Lady with Footmen and Pages, I rode to Hide-Park, in open view of that celebrious Cavalcade and Assembly, much gazed upon by [Page] [Page] [Page 67]them all, the eximiousness of my fortune drawing their eyes upon me; particularly that no­ble Lady gave me precedence, and the right hand, and a neat Treatment after our divertise­ment of turning up and down the park.

I was altogether ignorant of what estate my Husband was, and therefore made no nicety to take those places his friends gave me, and if I be taxed for incivility herein, it was his fault that he instructed me no better in my quality, for I conceited still that he was some landed, honorable and wealthy man.

Things yet went fairly on, the same observances and di­stances continued, and lodgings befitting a person of Quality taken for me in Durham Yard, [Page 68]at one mr. Greens, where my husband and I enjoyed one ano­ther with mutual complacency, till the return of the moneys out of Germany failing the day and their rich hopes, old Mr. Carleton began to suspect he was deceived in his expectation, and that all was not gold that gli­stered: but to remove such a prejudice from himself, as if he were the Authour of those scandals that were now prepa­red against my innocence, a Letter is produced, and sent from some then unknown hand, which reflected much upon my Honour and Reputation; and thereupon on the fifth or sixth of May ensuing, I was by a Warrant dragged forth of my new Lodgings, with all the dis­grace and contumely that could [Page] [Page] [Page 69]be cast upon the vilest offender in the World, at the instigation of old Mr. Carleton, who was the Prosecutor, and by him and his Agents devested and stript of all my cloaths, and plundred of all my jewels, and my money, my very bodyes, and a payr of silk Stockings, being also pulled from me, and in a strange array carried before a Justice.

But because this story hath not yet been fully discovered, I will more manifestly here de­clare it; That Letter abovesaid, came from one Mr. John Clay, the younger Son of Mr. Clay a Drugster at the Bear and Mor­tar in Lumber-street, a Servant and Admirer of Mrs. King my fine Sister in Law, (who because her Husband hath a weak head, [Page 70](though he sat like a Parliament man once in Richard Cromwels time for three days, as since I have been informed) must have an assistant to carry on the busi­ness. The contents of this Let­ter were neer to this purpose,

I was at the Exchange Ta­vern, as it was designed, when this Letter was brought, and thereupon their countenances were set to a most melancholly look, and pale hue, which shewed a mixture of fear and anger: presently I was brought before the inquisition of the Fa­mily, and examined concer­ning the said Letter, which I constantly, innocently, and disdainfully denyed, so that they seemed something satisfied to the contrary, and so my Hus­band and I went home in a Coach, but that very same night, all the gang, with one Mrs. Clark a Neighbour to King, [Page 72]came to my lodging where after most vile language, as Cheating Whore, and the like, they pul­led me up and down, and kept me stript upon a bed, not suf­fering my Husband to come neer me, though I cryed out for him to take my part, and do like a man to save me from that violence, who at a distance excused it, by putting all this barbarity upon his Father; In fine they left me not a rag, rin­cing every wet cloath out of the water, and carrying them away, The whole, was a most unwo­manly and rude Action at the best of it, if I had been such as they pretended me to be, and not to be parralleld, but by a story I have lately heard of the six woman shavers in Drury-Lane.

See the fickleness and vanity of humane things, to day em­bellished, and adorned with all the female Arts of bravery and gallantry, and courted and attended on by the best rank of my sex, who are jealous obser­vers what honour and respect they give among themselves, to a very punctilio; and now dis­robed and disfigured in mishapen Garments, and almost left naked, and haled and pulled by Beadles, and such like rude and boy­sterous fellows, before a Tri­bunal, like a leud Criminal.

The Justices Name was Mr. Godfrey, by whose Mittimus, upon an accusation managed by Old Mr. Carleton, that I had mar­ried two Husbands, both of them in being, I was commit­ted to the Gate-house. Being [Page 74]interrogated by the Justice, whi­ther or no I had not two Hus­bands as was alledged, I Answe­red, if I had, He was one of them, which I beleive incensed Him something the more against me, but I did not know the Authority and dignity of his place, so much am I a stranger to this Kingdom.

There were other things and crimes of a high nature object­ed against me besides, That I cheated a Vintner of sixty pounds, and was for that com­mitted to Newgate, but that lye quickly vanished, for it was made appear, That I was ne­ver a Prisoner there, nor was my name ever recorded in their books; And that I pickt a Ken­tish Lords pocket, and cheated a French Merchant of Rings, [Page] [Page] [Page 75]Jewels and other Commodities, That I made an escape, when sold and shipt for the Barbadoes, but these were urged onely as surmises; and old Carleton bound over to prosecute onely for Bi­gamy, for my having two hus­bands.

Thus the world may see how industrious mischeif is to ruine a poor helpless and destitute Woman, who had neither mo­ney, friends nor acquaintance left me; yet I cannot deny that my Husband lovingly came to me at the Gatehouse the same day I was committed, and did very passionately complain of his Fathers usage of me, meerly upon the disappointment, as he said, of their expectations, and that he could be contented to love me as well as ever, to live [Page 76]with me and own me as a wife, and used several other expressi­ons of tenderness to me.

Nor have I less affection and kind sentiments for him, whom I own and will own till death dissolve the union, and did ac­quaint him with so much there, and protested my innocence to him, nor do I doubt could he have prevailed with his Father, but that these things had never happened. If now after my vindication he prove faithless and renege me, his fault will be doubly greater, in that he neither assisted my innocence when endangered, nor cherish­ed it when vindicated by the Law.

In this prison of the Gate­house I continued six weeks, in a far better condition then I [Page] [Page] [Page 77]promised my self, but the great­er civilities I ow to the Keep­er: as I am infinitely beholding to several persons of quality, who came at first I suppose out of curiosity to see me, and did thereafter nobly compassionate my calamitous, and injurious re­straint.

All that troubled me was an abusive pamphlet which went under my Husbands name, wherein, most pitifully he plea­ded his frailty and mifortune, and intituled it to no lesser pre­cedent then Adam, which I sup­pose was had out of the new Ballad, of your Humble Servant, a hint whereof, please the Reader to take in this Abridgement.

For Confutation of which, I refer the Reader to the ensuing Tryal; Onely there is one pas­sage that I am unwilling to let slip, that is, he saith there, that my Father was in Town up­on my Commitment, and did acknowledge me to be his Daughter, and that I had played many such tricks. It's strange this Father of mine could not be produced at the Tryal, if that had been true.

And yet a little before this, [Page 80]upon his visiting me in the Gate­house, where I was destitute of money and subsistence, at my first coming in he seemed very tender of me, and charged the Keeper I should want nothing, for as far as 40sh. went, he would see him payd, which I beleive he must ere long, and after that sent me a Letter, which is the onely paper I have by me of his, the other amorous and loving scriblings being lost and taken from me, the same time that they plundered me of my Jewels, I do not know what I may do for them, but I hope I shall never cry for those Epistles. This done in these words, so that my Love and my Dear, could be hot and cold almost in an instant.

Other of my Husband's Friends came to Visit me in the Gate-house, (of the many hundreds of other I shall say nothing) one of them said, Madam, I am one of your Hus­bands Friends and Acquain­tance, I had a desire to see you, because I have heard of your breeding. Alas, said I, I have left that in the City amongst my Kindred, because they want it.

Another in his discourse deli­vered as an Aphorism, That mar­riage and hanging went by Desti­ny. I told him, I had received from the Destinies Marriage, and he in probability might Hanging. To waive many others of the like nature.

My innocence furnished me with several of those answers, [Page 84]and repartees to the mixt sort of visitants, who either for novelty or designe came to trouble me. I was advised indeed to seclude my self from such company, but because there might be no disadvantage pretended by reason I kept close, and evi­dence might be puzled, not having seen me in so long a time, as afterwards at my Tryal might have been suggested, I gave all persons the freedom of my Chamber. But for the Nobler sort, I may in some mea­sure thank my stars, that out of this misfortune extracted so much bliss, as the honour of their acquaintance, which other wise at large I had been in no capacity to attain.

The time of the Sessions of the Peace for London and Middlesex being arrived, I was conveyed from the Gate-house to New­gate; where by the civility of the Master of the prison I had lodgings assigned me in his own house, which adjoyns to the Ses­sions-house-yard; and there I was publickly seen by all com­ers: that my enemies might want no advantage of informing their witnesses of my Person, Age and condition, and so square their Evidence: but my inno­cence and my good Angels pre­served me from the worst of their malice.

From thence, on Wednesday, June the third, in the evening, the first day of the Courts sit­ting in the Old-Bayly, I was brought down to the Bar: and there an Indictment upon my Arraignment was read against [Page 74]me; to which I pleaded Not guilty: and, as instructed by my friends, and a good conscience, (being altogether ignorant of the Laws and Customs of this King­dome) put my self for my Triall upon God and the Country, without making any exception, or ever so much as examining what my Jury were.

And because they approved themselves men of honesty, judg­ment and integrity, and did me so much justice, I can do no less then take occasion here to return them my humble thanks, that they would regard the oppressed condition of a helpless prisoner; and not give credit to the wicked asseverations of a wretch, who onely swore to the purpose a­gainst me: and to let the world know my particular gratitude, I will transcribe into this my Case, as one of the happiest and [Page] [Page] [Page 75]fairest remarks therein, the names of those upright Jurors, viz.

• William Rutland,
• Arthur Vigers,
• Arthur Capel,
• Tho. Smith,
• Fran. Chaplin,
• Robert Harvey,
• Simon Driver,
• Robert Kerkham,
• Hugh Masson,
• Tho. Westley,
• Richard Clutterbuck, and
• Randolph Tooke.

The Indictment was in haec verba.

That she the said Mary Moders, late of London Spinster, otherwise Mary Stedman, the wife of Tho. Stedman late of the City of Canter­bury in the County of Kent Shooe­maker, 12 May, in the Reign of his now Majesty the sixth, at the Parish of St. Mildreds in the City of Cant. [Page 76] in the County aforesaid, did take to husband the aforesaid Tho. Sted­man, and him the said Thomas Sted­man then and there had to husband. And that she the said Mary Moders, alias Stedman, 21 April, in the 15 year of his said Majesties Reign, at London, in the Parish of Great S. Bartholomews, in the Ward of Far­ringdon without, feloniously did take to husband one John Carleton, and to him was married, the said Tho. Stedman her former husband then being alive, and in full life: against the form of the Statute in that case provided, and against the Peace of our said Soveraign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity, &c.

After which being set to the Bar, in order to my Trial, I pray­ed time till the morrow, my witnesses not being ready; which was granted: and all persons concerned were ordered to at­tend at nine of the Clock in the Fore-noon.

Being returned to my lodging, where some Gentlemen gave me a visit to counsell and advise me; my Husband Mr. Carleton came thither to take his leave of me, as I understood afterwards by his complement: but my Keep­er knowing of him, thought him not fit company for me, who was one of the causers of my in­jurious usage: but notice at last being given me of it, I gave or­der for his admittance, and trea­ted him with that respect which became my Relation to him; though he, to add trouble to me, fell into more impertinent dis­courses concerning the shortness of my dayes, and speedy prepara­tion of Repentance for another world; and that he would pray for me, and the like: to the which I replied, Pray my lord let none of those things trouble you; I thank God I am as well as ever [Page 78]in my life, and do of all things least fear hanging: and as for your prayers, are you righteous or no? if not, they will so little availe me, that they will not pro­fit your self. Hereupon a Gen­tleman to break off this discourse drank to him in a glass of Ca­nary; which my Lord unhand­somely declining to accept, I could not forbear to tell him, I was sorry to see his Lordship's slender breeding could not suffer him to be civill.

Thus the world may see how these mine Adversaries had al­ready swallowed my life and my credit, and devoted them to the Gibbet without redemption: the onely security of all their past injustices towards me. — Per scelera sceleribus est iter: they must end as they have begun. Thus the Devill and his imps were here frustrated.

For, on Thursday June the fourth, I proceeded to Trial, ac­cording to appointment; but my fathers bandogs being not rea­dy, my husband came into the Court very spruce and trim, in one of his wedding-suits, and prayed the Court, that in re­spect his father and his witnesses were not yet come together, or rather had not concinnated their lies to be found in one tale, that the Trial might be deferred for halfe an hour. I could not but smile to see my deare husband labour so to make sure of my death, and with so little regard to pass by his dear Princess with­out so much as vouchsafing a look to her; as if he were an­gry at his eyes for having beheld so much already. But to ab­rupt these thoughts, and to con­tinue the discourse: the Court growing impatient of these un­civil [Page 80]civil delayes, and telling my fa­ther-in-law that they were not bound to wait on him or his wit­nesses; they were now produced before them, and sworn; and with old Carleton himself were six in number: namely, James Knot, one that will almost cleave a hair; William Clark, and George Carleton her brother-in-law; Mr. Smith the Parson, and one Sarah Williams; which for fuller infor­mation of the world, I will give, with a review of the whole Tri­all, according to the exactest co­py of it, which was taken in short-hand at my desire.

My Lord, and Gentlemen of the Jury, I gave this woman in Marriage to one Thomas Stedman, which is now a­live in Dover, and I saw him last week.

Where was she married?

In Canterbury.

Where there?

In St. Mildreds, by one Parson Man, who is now dead.

How long since were they married?

About nine years ago.

Did they live together afterwards?

Yes, about four years, and had two children.

You gave her in marri­age, but did the Minister give her to her husband then?

Yes, and they lived to­gether.

Friend, did you give this very Woman?

Yes.

What company was there?

There was the married Couple, her sister, my self, the Parson and the Sexton.

Where is that Sexton?

I know not, my Lord.

You are sure they were married in the Church, and this is the woman?

Yes, I am sure of it.

How long ago?

About nine years ago.

Did you know this wo­man before the Marriage? and how long?

Yes, I knew her a long time; I was an Apprentice seven years near her Mothers house in Canterbury.

Then she's no forreign Princess? Of what Parentage was she?

I did not know her own father (and in that he might be believed) but her father-in-law was a Musitian there.

You see her married: what words were used at her marriage, and in what manner?

They were married ac­cording to the order of the Land, [Page] [Page] [Page 83]a little before the Act came forth touching Marriages by Justices of the Peace.

Was it by the Form of Common-Prayer, any thing read of that Form?

I did not take notice of that: I was but a young man, and was desired to go along with them.

William Clark being sworn, said, My Lord, I was last week in Dover, in company with this James Knot, and Thomas Stedman, and he the said Stedman did own that he did marry one Mary Mo­ders, a daughter of one in Can­terbury, and that Knot gave her, and that he had two children by her, and declared his willingness to come up to give evidence a­gainst her, but wanted money for his journey: And I have under­stood that a person here in Court was of a Jury at Canterbury, at a [Page 84]Triall between Day and Mary Stedman at the Bar for having two husbands.

Was she cleared?

I cannot tell.

Young Carletons father sworn.

My Lord, I was at Dover the last week on Wednesday; I saw the husband of this woman, and the man acknowledged himself to be so; and did say that James Knot was the man that gave her in marriage to him.

Where is this man her husband? Hearsays must con­demn no man: what do you know of your own knowledge?

I know the man is alive.

Do you know he was married to her?

Not I, my Lord.

My Lord, This Woman was bound for Barba­does, to go along with my hus­band, [Page] [Page] [Page 85]and she desired to lodge at our house for some time, and did so; and when the ship was rea­dy to go, she went into Kent to receive her means, and said she would meet the ship in the Downs; and missing the ship, took boat and went to the ship. After severall dayes remaining there, there came her husband with an Order and fetched her ashore, and carried her to Dover-Castle.

VVhat was his name that had an Order to bring her on shore again?

His name was Thomas Stedman.

Have you any more to prove the first marriage?

No, none but Knot; there wa s none but three, the Minister dead, the Sexton not to be found, and this Knot who hath given Evidence.

What became of the [Page 86]two children, Knot?

They both died.

Stedman said in my hearing, that he had lived four years with her, had two children by her, and both dead; five years ago last Easter since she left him.

Mr. Carlton, VVhat have you heard this VVoman say?

My Lord, she will confess nothing, that pleases him.

Mr. Carlton, did you look in the Church-Register for the first marriage?

I did look in the Book, and he that is now Clerk, was then Sexton (just now not to be found;) he told me, that Mar­riages being then very nume­rous, preceding the Act before-mentioned, the then Clerk had neglected the Registry of this [Page] [Page] [Page 87]Marriage. If she intended this Trade, she likewise knew how to make the Clerk mistake Regi­string the Marriage.

Young Carlton's brother sworn, who said,

My Lord and Gentlemen of the Jury, I was present at the Marriage of my Brother with this Gentlewoman, which was on or about 21 April, 1663. They were married at Great St. Bartholomews, by one Mr. Smith a Minister here in Court, by Li­cence.

Mr. Smith the Parson-sworn.

My Lord, all that I can say, is this, that Mr. Carlton the younger told me of such a business, and desired me to marry them; they came to Church, and I did mar­ry them by the Book of Com­mon Prayer.

Mr. Smith, are you sure that is the Woman?

Yes, my Lord, it is; I believe she will not deny it.

Yes, my Lord, I con­fess I am the Woman.

Have you any more witnesses?

We can get no more but Knot to prove the first Mar­riage; the last is clear.

Judge Howel. VVhere is Knot? Remember your self well what you said before. You say, you know that VVoman at the Bar; that you had known her a great while; that she was born near you in Canterbury; that you were present at her marriage; that Parson Man married them; that none were present but your self, the married couple, Parson, Sex­ton, and her sister.

Some others came into the Church, but none that I knew; I am sure none went with her, but those I named.

Who gave her in mar­riage?

I did.

How came you to do it?

I was Stedmans shop­mate, and he desired me to go a­long with him.

VVere her Parents then living, or no?

Her Mother was.

How old are you?

Two or three and thirty years.

How long ago was this marriage?

About nine years since.

Then he was twenty three, and might do it. What is your Trade of life?

I am a Cordweyner, o­therwise, a Shoomaker; Sted­man was so too: we wrought both together.

We desire to know whe­ther she bad a Father and Mo­ther [Page 90]then living.

She had a Father-in-law.

Did you know her Mo­ther?

Yes.

How long before that Marriage did her own Father die?

I did not know him. He said so before indeed.

What age was she when married?

I suppose nineteen or twenty.

May it please your Honours, and Gentlemen of the Jury, you have heard the several witnesses, and I think this whole Country cannot but plainly see the malice of my Husbands Fa­ther against me; how he cause­lessly hunts after my life: when his Son, my Husband, came and addressed himself to me, preten­ding [Page] [Page] [Page 91]himself a person of honour, and upon first sight pressed me to marriage; I told him, Sir, said I, I am a stranger, have no acquaintance here, and desire you to desist your suit: I could not speak my minde, but he (ha­ving borrowed some thred-bare Complements) replied, Madam, your seeming virtues, your ami­able person, and noble deport­ment, renders you so excellent, that were I in the least interest­ed in you, I cannot doubt of hap­piness: and so with many words to the like purpose, courted me. I told him, and indeed could not but much wonder, that at so small a glance he could be so presumptuous with a stranger, to hint this to me; but all I could say, would not beat him off: And presently afterwards he having intercepted my Letter, by which he understood how my affairs [Page 92]stood, and how considerable my means were, he still urged me to marry him; and immediately by the contrivance of his friends, gaping at my fortune, I was hur­ried to Church to be married; which the Parson at first did without Licence, to secure me to my Husband, and sometime af­ter had a Licence.

And my Husbands Father af­terwards considering I had a considerable fortune, pressed me, that in respect I had no relations here, and because, sayes he, we are mortall, you would do well to make over your Estate to my Son your Husband; it will be much for your honour, satisfacti­on of the world, and for which you will be chronicled for a rare woman: and perceiving he had not baited his hook sufficient (with some fair pretences) to catch me then, he and his Son, [Page] [Page] [Page 93]who were both willing to make up some of their former losses in circumventing me of what I had, they robb'd me of my Jewels, and Clothes of great value, and afterwards pretended they were counterfeit Jewells; and decla­red, that I had formerly been married to one at Canterbury, which place I know not; and this grounded on a Letter (of their own framing) sent from Dover, with a description of me; that I was a young fat wo­man, full brested; that I spoke severall languages; and there­fore they imagined me the per­son; and so violently carried me from my lodging before a Ju­stice of Peace, only to affright me, that I might make my Estate over to them. The Justice having heard their severall allegations, could not commit me, unless they would be bound to prosecute me; [Page 94]which my husband being unwil­ling to, the Justice demanded of his Father whether he would prosecute me, saying, they must not make a fool of him; and so after some whisperings, the Fa­ther and his Son were both bound to prosecute; and there­upon I was committed to prison: And since that, these people have been up and down the Country, and finding none there that could justifie any thing of this matter, they get here an un­known fellow, unless in a prison, and from thence borrowed, you cannot but all judge, to swear a­gainst me. My Lord, were there any such Marriage as this fellow pretends, methinks there might be a Certificate from the Mini­ster, or place; certainly if mar­ried, it must be registred: but there is no Registry of it, and so can be no Certificate, no Mini­ster [Page] [Page] [Page 95]nor Clerk to be found: and if I should own a marriage, then you see that great witness can­not tell you, whether I was law­fully married, or how? but it is enough for him (if such a paul­try fellow may be believed) to say, I was married. I was never yet married to any but John Carl­ton, the late pretended Lord: But these persons have sought al­wayes to take away my life, bring persons to swear against me, one hired with five pounds, and another old fellow perswa­ded to own me for his Wife; who came to the prison, and see­ing another woman, owned her, and afterwards my self, and in­deed any body. If such an old in­considerable fellow had hereto­fore wooed me, it must have been for want of discretion, as Carle­ton did for want of money; but I know of no such thing. Seve­ral [Page 96]scandals have been laid upon me, but no mortall flesh can truly touch the least hair of my head for any such like offence: they have framed this of them­selves. My Lord, I am a stran­ger, and a forreigner; and being informed there is matter of Law in this Trial for my life, my in­nocence shall be my Counsellor, and your Lordships my Judges, to whom I wholly refer my Cause. Since I have been in pri­son, several from Canterbury have been to s [...]e me; pretending themselves (if I were the per­son as was related) to be my school-mates; and when they came to me, the Keeper can ju­stifie, they all declared that they did not know me.

Knot, You said she li­ved near you at Canterbury; What woman or man there have you to prove she lived [Page] [Page] [Page 97]there? have you none in that whole City, neither for love of Justice nor Right, will come to say she lived there?

I believe I could fetch one.

Well said, are they to fetch still?

My Lord, I desire some Witnesses may be heard in my behalf.

Elizabeth Collier examined. My Lord, my Husband being a Prisoner in the Gatehouse, I came there to see my Husband, and did work there a dayes; and there came in an old man, his name was Billing, he said he had a wife there; says Mr. Baley, Go in and finde her out; and he said I was his wife, turned my hood, and put on his spectacles, looks upon me, and said I was the same woman his wife; and af­terwards said I was not, and so [Page 98]to others: I can say no more.

Jane Finch examined.

My Lord, there came a man and woman one night, and knockt at my door; I came down, they asked to speak with one Jane Finch. I am the person, said I. We understand, said they, you know Mistriss Carleton now in prison. Not I, said I, I onely went to see her there. Said they, Be not scrupulous: if you will go and justifie any thing against her, we will give you 5 l.

Who are those two?

I do not know them, my Lord.

Mr. Baley examined.

My Lord, there has been at least 500. people have viewed her; severall from Canterbury, fourty at least that said they li­ved there; and when they went up to her, she hid not her face at [Page] [Page] [Page 99]all, but not one of them knew her.

What Country-wo­man are you?

I was born in Cullen in Germany.

Mr. Carleton, How came you to understand she was mar­ried formerly?

I received a Letter from the Recorder of Can­terbury to that purpose.

They that can offer five pound to swear against me, can also frame a Letter against me: they say I was nineteen years of age about nine years ago, and I am now but one and twenty.

Mr. Carlton, you heard what Knot said; he said she lived near him four years a wife: why did not you get some body else from thence to testifie this?

Here was one Davis [Page 100]that was at her Fathers house, and spoke with him —

Where is he?

I know not; he was here.

You were telling the Court of a former indictment against her, what was that for?

She was indicted for having two husbands, Stedman of Canterbury her first Husband, and Day of Dover Chirurgion, her second Husband. The indict­ment was Traversed the year be­fore His Majesty came to Eng­land, she was found not guilty.

who was a [...] that Trial?

One here in Court was of the Jury; but that party said there was such a trial, but knows not that this is the Wo­man.

Gentlemen of the Jury, you see this indictment is against Mary Moders, other­wise [Page] [Page] [Page 101] Stedman, and it is for having two husbands, both at one time alive; the first Stedman, after­wards married to Carlton, her former husband being alive. You have heard the proof of the first marriage, and the proof doth depend upon one witness, that is Knot; and he indeed doth say, he was at the marriage, gave her, and he names one Man, the Parson that married her, that he is dead; none present there but the married couple that must needs be there, the Parson, this witness, her sister, and the Sex­ton; that he knows not what is become of the Sexton. All the Evidence given on that side to prove her guilty of this Indict­ment, depends upon his single testimony. It is true, he says she was married at Canterbury, but the particulars, or the manner of the marriage he doth not well [Page 102]remember; whether by the Book of Common-Prayer, or other­wayes: but they lived together for four years, had two Chil­dren. If she were born there, married there, had two children there, and lived there so long, it were easie to have brought some body to prove this; that is all that is material for the first mar­riage.

For the second, there is little proof necessary: she confesses her self married to Carlton, and owns him; the question is, Whether she was married to Stedman, or not?

You have heard what defence she hath made for her self, some Witnesses on her behalf; if you believe that Knot, the single wit­ness, speaks the truth so far forth to satisfie your conscience, that that was a marriage, she is guil­ty. You see what the circum­stances [Page] [Page] [Page 103]are, it is penal; if guilty, she must die; a Woman hath no Clergy, she is to die by the Law, if guilty. You heard she was indicted at Dover for having two husbands, Stedman the first, and Day the second. There it seems by that which they have said, she was acquitted; none can say this was the woman: that there was a Trial, may be believ­ed; but whether this be the wo­man tried or acquitted, doth not appear. One here that was of that Jury, says, there was a Tri­al, but knows not that this is the Woman. So that upon the whole, it is left to you to give your Verdict.

The Jury went forth, and after some short Consulta­tion, returned to their pla­ces.

Mary Moders, alias Sted­man, hold up thy hand; look up­on [Page 104]her Gentlemen, what say you? Is she guilty of the Felony whereof she stands indicted, or not guilty?

Not guilty. And thereupon a great number of people being in and about the Court, hissed and clapped their hands.

Did she flie for it?

Not that we know.

Afterwards I desired, that my Jewells and Cloaths, taken from me, might be restored to me: The Court acquainted me, that they were my husbands, and that if any detained them from me, he might have his remedy at Law. I then charging old Mr. Carleton with them, he declared they were already in the custody of his Son her husband. So that if they had been counterfeit, as they all along pretended, I doubt [Page] [Page] [Page 105]not but that they would have had so much confidence and ju­stice for themselves, as to have acquainted the Court with so much, to the bettering the envy and scandal of their gross abuses: but concerning the real worth of those Jewels, I shall have further occasion to speak presently.

Being thus fairly acquitted, I was carried back to my former Lodgings; where, among other visits, I had one from my Hus­bands near Friend, who but two hours before had swore and threatned my death: yet to feel my temper in this disappoint­ment of their bloody designe a­gainst me, he was sent with an impertinent story into my com­pany, where he began to glaver, and offer me a glass of Wine; (above which their generosity yet never reached:) but my pas­sions [Page 106]were so high at the very sight of him, that I bid him get him out of the room, and not trouble me with his company: which he did, by slinking from me, as the Dog in the Proverb that had lost his Tayl.

They thought being thus freed I would have ranted and vapoured, and gave them some further unwary hint of my con­dition, as being now out of dan­ger: but I (that knew myself not to be in any) was transport­ed with no such exultation, but kept the same equanimity and constant tenour; no less affected with the triumphs of Justice, then those of my Honour and Reputation.

Hitherto they have not found any thing unbecoming the per­son I am, or what they made me to be, except in my necessities, and that frequency of company [Page] [Page] [Page 107]to which they have subjected me by false imprisonment, and other scandals; which I could not bet­ter remove, then by my bare­fac'd appearance to all comers: so that that which other women hide and mask for modesty, I must shew and set to publick view for my justification.

On the sixth of June, being Sa­turday, I was discharged of my confinement, (having been all along most civilly used by the Masters and Keepers of both the Prisons where I was in durance; but indeed rather in the suburbs of a Prison, then a Prison it self; for which I am their Debtor) and did expect that my husband, by whom I was committed, that is, by his Relations, would have brought me out; and I stayed there to that purpose two days after my acquittal and purgati­on: but no such matter; they had [Page 108]got my Estate, I might do what I would with my person; the groundless slaunders they had cast upon that, should yet serve turn to infame my bed; and the Counterfeit, though after convi­ction of the falshood thereof, must be separated and divor­ced: but the counterfeit Jewels they'll Hug and Embrace, and part withal at no rate.

And therefore in stead of my lawful and true Husband, they endeavoured to put a counterfeit upon me: but too much are they stupified, in stead of being subli­med in this mysterious way of cheat, which as in melancholy people, works still-in their fancy that they sent me the most ridi­culous Dotard for Husband-Gentleman-Usher, that ever wo­man laid eye on: a Fellow that could be no younger then brother to Mother Shipton, and had his [Page] [Page] [Page 109]Prophetical Spectacles to fit him for a Legacy.

It was one of my pretended husbands, by whom a Bill was preferred (but not found, as I said before) by Billing the Brick-lay­er. Upon Whitsun-Monday, the 8th of June instant, the said Bil­ling came to Newgate, demanded of the Keepers to deliver his Wife to him. The Turn-Key, and other subordinate Officers of the Goal, told him, They had none of his Wife. He insisted upon it, and with-stood all deni­al, mentioned my name, and the particulars of my Trial. The Keepers remembring there was a former mistake of the same person, given in Evidence on my behalf at the Trial, called one Grizel Hudson a Convict, a pretty Woman, and in good habit: the Turn-Key asked Bil­ling, Whether this was his [Page 110]Wife? Billing replied, Yes; and askt her, Why she did not come to him upon his first sending for her? She told him, That the Keepers would not permit her to stir out of the Prison, in regard her Fees were not paid. Billing said, He would pay the Fees; and whispered her in the Ear, saying, That they had a minde to hang her (meaning the Carle­tons) but he would not prosecute her. True it was, he had put in an Indictment against her, but he could not help that. Well Moll, said he to her, Have ye all your things? She said, Yes. But, said he, Moll, Why do you stay here a­mongst such wicked company, Rogues and Whores? I see their Irons about their Legs. VVhy, said she, I have left some Linnen ingaged in the Cel­lar. To the Cellar the Keeper carried them both; and there Billing left a note under his hand, [Page 111]to pay five shillings to the Tap­ster: VVhich Note he hath to produce, to satisfie any that shall make further Enquiry in this particular.

He further said, That she had cheated him of fourty pounds, and that he would pawn the Lease of his house, rather then she should want Money, al­though she was a wicked Rogue, if she would but live with him: she promised she would. He told her he would give her a Sky-co­lour'd Silk Petticoat and Wast­coat, and a Podesway Gown, new Holland for Smocks, and all other things necessary. Billing turning himself to the Compa­ny there present, said merrily, That she had cost him much before when he married her, but he never lay with her, but he had kist her, and felt her a hundred times. Billing askt her again, if she would leave these [Page 112]wicked Rogues, and go along with him. She said, she had a­nother Debt to pay: He askt what it was; She said, twenty pounds to such a one, a stranger then present, unto which person he gave a note to pay 20 l. in one moneth after the Date thereof: (it's more then probable he will be made so to do.)

He further said to her, That now it will trouble me to pay all this Money, and then you to run away from me in a short time. Withall, said he, Moll, You need not, for I have a better estate then the young man that tried you for your Life. So gave the particulars of his E­state, what in Money, Houses, Leases and Land. He added moreover, that he did love her out of measure, notwithstanding she had done him other mis­chiefs, then what he had before mentioned. She askt him, what [Page] [Page] [Page 113]they were? He said, She had stol­len from his Daughter a Knife and a wrought Sheath, a Hand­kercher, and a Seal'd Ring. With that, the standers by told him, that he was mistaken, that this Grizell Hudson was not the per­son. He swore it was, and that he knew her well enough; that he saw her in the Gate-house, and that she knew what passed be­tween us there: But, said he, Moll, Thou art a cunning Rogue; I desire nothing of thee but to be honest, and live with me; the which she promised, and he parted with great content thereupon.

This affront and indeed dis­grace I put to the other; but am very sorry the poor old Fellow should be abused so by my Re­lations; the second part or worse of the cheat of a cunning Gypsie, who having inveagled his affections, and set him on [Page 114]edge by some lascivious gesture, entangled him in a marriage; and for the better port and ce­lebtation of the Nuptials, pro­cured him twenty pound from a friend of hers, for which he gave Bond, (the Duplicate of this sto­ry) and when bed-time came, and the rusty Bridegroom had prepared himself, he ran away in the dark with most of the money, and some odd things, as Linen, and the like, and never after ap­peared, till those skilful Conju­rers of Grey Fryars (in quo pecca­mus, in eo plectimur; where my fault was in deserting my first station among the Religious, from the like demolished place am I punished) raised up my white name, and made me per­fonate the baseness of that Im­posture.

To proceeed: I might now very well be said to be set at li­betry, [Page] [Page] [Page 115]having no where to go, or where to betake my self: for the Verdict did not reach to give me possession of my Husband, whose Wife I was declared to be, (the Jury telling my young Lord, up­on his asking of them the Ver­dict, as they were coming through the Garden of their Ses­sions-House into the Court, That he must make much of his Princess, and keep her to himself:) Nor was it easie to avoid the trouble of twenty several Courtiships for Lodgings, which I well consider­ed might give further occasion of reproach, and abuse of my Cre­dit.

But Mr. Carleton not appear­ing, which gave me suspition of some further designe, I took Lodgings in Fullers Rents, where in privacy I resolved to wait the reduction of him to better and honester thoughts; and that [Page 116]when they his friends had all pre­judice laid aside, and considered the duty and obligation that lay upon him, they would have re­stored and returned him to me. But this neither had its designed end, though the danger that I threatned his father with, brought him to me.

This was on Sunday in the E­vening, June the sixth, when he came to me, accompanied with Mr. George Hewyt his Master, a Barrister of Grays Inne in Coney-Court; where after some dis­courses, and perseverance of my resolved manner of proceeding against his Father in the same method, and at the same Bar where he had arraigned me; he did most submissively supplicate me, and adjure me by all respects to him, falling upon his knees to move me the sooner, that I would promise him not to prose­cute [Page 117]his father for my Jewels, or any other account: adding moreover, That if I did it, he should presently murther him­self; with such-like cowardly Bravado's as he had used to the over-ruling of my affections, when he pretended he would do an hundred more mischiefs to himself, if I would not consent to marry him.

And now he resumed his first kindnesses, in hope I would do what he intreated; kissed me, and offered his embraces: though I could not so easily admit such danger into my bosome, having so lately felt the viperous sting: but this loving humour, like a time-serving passion, soon aba­ted by the interposition of Mr. Hewyt.

I do suppose, that if he had been alone, and out of the cu­stody and tuition of that per­son, [Page 118]he would have stayed with me all night, and perhaps for the future; but that person who hath surfeited may be, and hath had too much of a woman, had now so little respects for our sex, as to curse it in generall: but let him beware, as froward and as great a woman-hater as he is, lest he expiate those Maledicti­ons, by some notable feminine revenge a steeping and prepa­ring for him.

Next day I sent a Letter to my husband, and left it for him at Master Hewits Chamber: but through his means, as I can con­ceive no otherwise, I received no word of any answer; so that I resolved once for all to go and make a demand of my said goods and Jewels of old Mr. Carlton; which I did on Fryday night, the 19th of June, at his house at Gray-Friars; and knocking at [Page] [Page] [Page 119]Dore, he himself asked who was there: I answered, Your Daugh­ter when a Princess, but now your sons wife: he demanded my business; I told him I came to demand my Jewells, and o­ther things he had taken from me, and also my husbands Per­son. He replied in short, the old Gentlewoman pulling him back from further discourse, That for the Jewels, my husband had them; and for himself, he was gone.

There being no more to be said or done, I bid them look to their hits, and departed: having on all occasions, after so many injuries sustained, proffered a re­conciliation, being willing to co­habit with him, and have left no means unattempted to bring us together, that the world might see I am not such a loose irregu­lar leud woman as I am slander­ed [Page 120]to be, by my carriage and de­meanour in that relation of a wife, which title I am more am­bitious of then any other yet put upon me: but since it must be otherwise, I doubt not so pru­dently and innocently to behave my self, as I shall not want a husband, much less the trouble of so impertinent and fickle a person as my husband, whom I would willingly exchange for my Jewels, and give him liberty to look after another Princess where he can finde her.

And now for that Hocus Pocus, the delaying of those counter­feit Jewels, as they talked, I shall make it no difficulty to prove that those Gems they had of me were none of their Bristol-stones, or such-like trumpery: for not long after my tryal, they were offered in Cheap-side to the view of a Goldsmith, and he de­manded [Page] [Page] [Page 121]what they might be worth; who having steadily and considerately lookt them all o­ver, said, they were worth 1500 l. At which the Trustee, or Fidu­ciary, in whose hands they were, askt the Gold-smith if he was mad, or knew what he said. Yes, that I do, replied he, and will presently lay you down so much money for them, if you have power to sell them: whereupon my Gentleman put up his coun­terfeit ware with a more coun­terfeit face, saying, he came only to try his skill, and departed.

And now let all the world judge of the Cheat I have put upon this worshipfull family of the Carletons. I have of theirs not a thred, nor piece of any thing, to be a token or remem­brance of my beloved Lord, which I might preserve and lay up as a sacred relique of a per­son [Page 122]dear to me (I think indeed the dearest that ever woman had.)

But it may be they intend to furnish my Lord with this por­table and honourable furniture to the second part of this Gus­man-story, against he shall knight-errant it abroad; and having found the way, marry some other great forreign Lady, and in stead of Boys whooping and hallowing at him here, be revered and adored by sub­jects, as his great spirit alwayes divined and suggested to him he should be some-body, though to little purpose: but I hope to prevent that designe, and to have speedy redress against all this fraud and violence that hath been acted against me.

And now I have concluded the Narrative, and I hope to the satisfaction of the world: and [Page 123]if there be any thing not so ele­gantly and clearly expressed as mycause requires, let it be known it is my fathers, not my fault, which hath in some places di­sturbed and muddied my fancy, and in others reserved a hiding place and obscurity for my pur­sued honour.

I hope the ingenuous will par­don and admit of this defence, considering the nature of it. No man is bound by any law to set forth more then what he is di­rectly interrogated and questi­oned to; and there I have for my innocence sake exceeded. And for the ignorant and malicious, let them wonder and slander on; and when they shall give me worthy occasion, which is not in the capacity of their shallow brains, or in their dishonest inten­tions, to a further vindication; that is, when my relations shall [Page 124]have returned me what they took from me, and leave me in statu quo, by any handsome expedient, I shall not faile of making this discourse most evident demon­stration, and descend to such un­deniable proofe of every parti­cular here, that shall make their impudence and rash folly one of the leudest stories of the Age.

The world usually and fre­quently judges as it likes and af­fects, and is altogether swayed by interest and humour; and e­ven by that, amidst all those in­dustrious calumnies, I dare stand or fall. Let my quality and con­dition alone, and he is not weighed in the common scales; yet the fair conduct and the harmless example deserves no censure. Let both alone, my sex is to be pittied and respected, and my person not to be hated. But I will not prostitute my [Page] [Page] [Page 125]fame to them: to his Highness I have appealed, and to him I shall go. Not doubting but what the strictness and nicety of the Law doth at present with­hold him, we shall by his graci­ous protection of innocence be freed from such incumbrances; and some easier solution found for those intricacies, then my Lawyers can at present expedite.

I am advised howsoever to prosecute my adversaries in the same manner, and at the same Bar where they arraigned me for a suspition, of a real suit of Fe­lony, for that riot against the publick peace committed upon my person: which I am resolved to do, in case I receive not better satisfaction from them before the Sessions: nor shall my hus­bands dilating intreaties and perswasions befool me any lon­ger.

The fashions and customs here are much different from those of our Country, where the wife shares an equal portion with her husband in all things of weal and woe, and can liber intentare, be­gin and commence, and finish a suit in her own name; they buy and sell, and keep accounts, manage the affairs of houshold, and the Trade, and do all things relating to their severall stations and degrees. I have heard and did believe the Proverb, That England was a Heaven for women: but I never saw that Heaven de­scribed in its proper termes: for as to as much as I see of it, 'tis a very long prospect, and almost disappears to view; It is to be enjoyed but at second hand, and [Page] [Page] [Page 127]all by the husbands title; quite contrary to the custome of the Russians, where it is a piece of their Divinity, that because it's said that the Bishop must be the husband of one wife, they put out of orders, and from all Ecclesia­stical function such Clergy men, who by the Canon being bound to be married, are by death deprived of their wives; so that their tenure to their Livings and Preferments clearly depends up­on the welfare and long life of their yoake-fellows, in whose choice, as of such moment to their well-being, they are very curi­ous, as they are afterwards in their care and preservation of them.

I could instance in many other customes of nearer Nations, in respect to female right and pro­priety in their own Dowers, as well as in their husbands estates: [Page 128]but, cum fueris Romae, Romano vivite more. I will not quarrel the En­glish Laws, which I question not are calculated and well accom­modated to the genius and tem­per of the people.

While I mention these cu­stomes, I cannot forbear to com­plain of a very great rudeness and incivility to which the mass and generality of the English vulgar are most pronely inclined, that is, to hoot and hallow, and pursue strangers with their mul­titudes through the streets, pres­sing upon them even to the dan­ger of their lives; and when once a cry, or some scandalous hu­mour is bruited among them, they become Brutes indeed. A Barbarity I thought could not possibly be in this Nation, whom I heard famed for so much civili­ty and urbanity. This I expe­rimented the other day in Fan­church-street, [Page 129]as I was passing through it upon some occasion, which being noised and scattered among the Prentices, I was for­ced to bethink of some shift and stratagem to avoid them, which was by putting my Maid into a Coach, that by good hap was at hand, and stepping into an ad­joyning Tavern; which the Herd mistaking my Maid for me, and following the Coach as suppo­sing me there for the conveni­ence thereof, gave me the oppor­tunity of escaping from them. A Regulation of this kind of up­roar by some severe penalties, would much conduce not onely to the honour of the Govern­ment of the City, but the whole Nation in general; having heard the French very much complain of the like injuries and affronts: but those to me I may justly place to my husbands ac­count, [Page 130]who hath exposed me to the undeserved wonder, and to be a May-game to the Town.

And to his debility and mean­ness of spirit, I am likewise be­holding for some other scanda­lous Libels and Pasquils divul­ged upon this occasion of our marriage; chiefly for the Ri­baldry of some pitiful Poetry, entituled, A Westminster-wedding, which equally reflects as much upon himself as me. This tame­ness of his doth hugely incense me; and I swear, were it not for the modesty of my sex, the bonds of which I will not be provoked to transgress, I would get satis­faction my self of those pitiful Fellows, who by this impudent and saucie scribling, do almost every day bespatter my honour. At least, I wonder my husband doth not vindicate himself, and assert his own individual Repu­tation, [Page] [Page] [Page 131]having threatned so much in print against a civil person that formerly & first of all endea­voured to clear and justifie mine.

But when I consider how apt his kindred are to return to their vomit of slandering me, and re­ckoning the nine days wonder of their great cheat discovered is o­ver, are like those that have eat shame and drank after it; I did the less wonder at his stupidity and senslessness of those indigni­ties done him: and commonly those that have no regard to ano­thers honour, have as little re­spect for their own; as he is Ma­ster of another mans life, that is a Contemner of his own.

I shall therefore omit all the subsequent sneaking Lyes, raised by the same kindred, when they saw their more mighty and po­tent Accusations helped forward with such prejudices, noise and [Page 132]ostentation, were at once disap­pointed and blown to nothing: such are those Chimaera's of their framing and fancying, that I was seen in mans apparel, with a Sword and Feather, in designe to do mischief to some body; and that I have used to do so: and so punctual are they in this Lye, as to name both the time and place: that I resolved to set up a Coffee­house, and at last to turn Player or Actor: with an hundred o­ther flams to sully my Name, and of a multitude of the like, to make one or other of those Ca­lumnies and Reproaches to stick upon me.

Whereas on the contrary I do resolve, as soon as my cause is heard, and justice done me by the supreme-power, if I cannot o­therwise attain it, to retire and return back, though not imme­diately to my own home, yet to [Page] [Page] [Page 133]make such approaches at neces­sary distance for the present, that I might be in a readiness and view of all transactions there, as soon as this bluster shall be so laid here, that I shall not fear the tayl of this Hurricane pursuing me: yet shall I always have my heart and my Arms open to Mr. Carleton, as a person whom for his Person and Naturals I do and shall ever affect, as his wife and my husband, maugre all those practices (as for my part) of ren­dring us mutually hateful and suspect to each other.

And while I thus open the way to a composure of this un­happy business, and am willing to put up so many private inju­ries, and publick contumelies and disparagements, in tendencie to, and in consideration of the rela­tive state of marriage, which my conscience commands me to pre­fer [Page 134]before any advantage, respect or honour of mine own indivi­dual particular; and have not refused, but rather by all fair means, and too mean condescen­tions have courted an Accom­modation and Agreement; what Injustice is it upon Injustice, Op­pression upon Cruelty, refined Malice like Salt upon Salt, to pierce and exasperate that bo­some which is full of so much in­dulgence to, and dallyance with their worst of injuries, in expe­ctation that time would give them to see their mischievous er­rour?

But neither Time nor Truth it self will reclaim them, without Angels appear to confirm them in it. And I do in some part not blame them for it: for the excess and lofty structure of their hopes hath so dazled their looks downwards, that they can see [Page] [Page] [Page 135]nothing aright, nor in any true proportion or colour. Their de­jection and fall from the pinacle of their ambition, hath quite stunned them, that they will hardly recover the dizzie mistake that lies between a Princess and a Prentice.

They are angry their golden Mountains have travelled and been in labour with a Mouse, and that they cannot finger any of my Estate; and very importu­nate they are for me to declare it; and this they say is the onely argument to prove me no Cheat, and I say and believe it is the onely argument to prove me a fool; and with that, of all other their slanders and durtiness, they shall never abuse me.

But may not I with a great deal more reason enquire for, and demand my Joynture and [Page 136]Dowry? and those Mannors, Leases, Parks, Houses, and the like Rhapsodies and Fictions of an Estate, meer castles in the Air; and as one merrily since told me, he believed they were Birds Nests? It is sure a greater im­putation and shame to them to be found such Cheats and Lyars, then it can be the least blur to me, who never avowed any such thing, nor boasted of my Quality and Fortune.

As to the Letters they inter­cepted of mine from my Steward, I wonder they do not produce them: but they are ashamed of their most ridiculous simplicity therein. I knew very well the uncertainty of my condition here; and therefore the Letters were meerly Cyphers, and under those terms of Moneys, &c. an account was given me of another [Page] [Page] [Page 137]affair at home: the distaste whereof made me comply with, and so soon yeild to those impor­tunate and love-sick sollicitati­ons of my Lord.

But what will they be the bet­ter for a Rent-roll, or particulars of an estate in Germany, the Te­nure and Customes of whose propriety and nature of claime if they did know, yet could they not tell how to make their Title to it? I could easily name places, and discover my own Heredita­ments perhaps without danger, and they never the wiser: nor will the impartial Reader be bet­ter satisfied. But if my sister King, or any of my kinsfolk long for some Baccharach grapes, I'll send to my Steward for them, and he will convey them from mine own vineyard as soon as they are [Page 138]ripe; and I can furnish her hus­band with Westphalia Hams, which run in my woods gratis. All those fine things I have store of: and when Mr. Carlton pleases to make it a surer match, and be married the third time, all things shall be done in ample manner: I will make a resigna­tion of my whole estate, and have nothing setled in lieu of it, but a necessitous despised con­dition of life, and be taught to sing Fortune my foe to the plea­sant new tune, or eccho of a Cheat.

But I trust Providence will better govern me, and put me up­on no necessity of abandoning good and just resolutions I have made to my self, whether in case of separation or re-union, which I shall not over-fondly press, or [Page] [Page] [Page 139]urge from them who love not me but mine, and require signes and wonders, and love to be no less then Principalities.