THE REPLICATION, Or Certain Vindicatory Depositions, Occasioned by way of Answer, to the Various Aspersions, and False Reports of Ignorant and Malicious Tongues, and the Printed Sheets and Pamphlets of Base DETRACTORS, Concerning the Late Acted CHEAT.  
Written by john Carleton of the Middle Temple London, Gent.  
Printed by the Authors Appointment in the Year, 1663.   

Judicious Reader,  
IAm not Ignorant, (though I have been willingly silent) of the Various Rumours, Reports, Stories, Fancies, daily increasing Fables, and Protens Shapes wherein the Different Humours, and Dispositions of the World bring forth the late acted Project, and Cheat. And though I might be justly angry with some, yet I scorn to take notice of any. For should I begin to un-dress all these prodigious shapes, and set them out singly in the naked truth, into what a Confused Chaos should I bring myself? How endless should I make my sufferings? how many years might I lead my life in discontent, before I could hear, answer and satisfy the many Niceties, Questions, Curiosities and Objections of the Giddy-headed Vulgar. Qui non adveritatem rei, sed ad opinionem prospiciunt. I am satisfied, that as a little time will make a distinction between the report and the reality, so it will put a conclusion to both, by burying them in Oblivion.  
I shall not give myself the trouble to recollect and declare the several motives Acts, Inducements, and protestations so often and so highly expressed, by that (Wise enough indeed, but) deceitful Woman, that provoked and stirred up that faith and credit in me, as to enter the list of sacred Matrimony. Neither shall I go about to vindicate myself much (for that the Law will do) or greatly to vilisie her, that her infamous Actions will best make appear. Nor shall I endeavour to procure a great Credit in any one, especially in such whose narrow soul and single threaded faith, cannot believe the Vindicative Oath of a Christian; Which I dare take to any Assertion that I shall modestly, and I protest without any thing of singularity, or Affectation, hereafter lay down, concerning the reality of my Intentions and Actions; Neither will my troubled thoughts, (Courteous Reader) give me leave to look at the lofty style, nay not time to salute the Garment of that Noble pleading and Worthy Orator Cicero: And indeed it best becomes truth to be naked, and glosses of Eloquence, in some peevish Humours, might invoke jealousies of the intended reality; but as I respect the least approbation of the Wise and Judicious, so I neglect and disdain the greatest censure of the Ignorant and Malicious. I seek for no ones soothing applause, nor I care for no persons rigorous censure; I only beg every Ingenious Reader (to whose settled and discerning Judgements I submit) to make a Charitable Construction, and to pass by all errors you may without doubt find in this little Book, which my Discomposed judgement will not at this time permit me to see; And I may say of these lines, as discontented Ovid said of his Verses.  Lib. 1. Eleg. 1. Ovid Trist. 
Carmina proveniunt animo deducta sereno,  
Nubila sunt subitis, tempera nostra malis.  
But I hope and wish for a greater serenity, and do expect a calm after this Storm and then (Worthy Reader) I shall be ready not only to acknowledge and blush at all faults, but to correct and amend them. Qui non est hodie, cras magis aptus erit.  
Yours in all Friendship, JOHN CARLETON.   

Cicero was wont to say, Non Recte amat Vxorem, qui corpus amat potius quam animum. That is, He doth not love his second self rightly, that loves the parts of her body, rather than the gifts of her Mind.  
MArriage is my Theme, and I cannot but look at Happiness, and I think it is a very great Blessing, when the hand of Providence bestows on Mortals, a suitable conjunction of Virtuous and Good Conditions in Wedlock, without which parity none can be really happy therein: And they know not what marriage is that only know how to lust. I shall not stand to Comment, but will come nearer to my present Condition. I was unwilling to write at all, but I will not write much. It was my happy, unhappiness, about the 25th. day of March last, accidentally to happen into the House, where that (in some things worthy) unworthy Woman was, she being in the Company of a Person or two of Honour; of whose being there when I was informed, I was willing to return an acknowledgement of my Gratefulness, for then late received Courtesies, It being the first opportunity that was offered to me, after the receipt of them; Among whom also I was willing and did spend some time for a diversion. She, as She hath protested to many persons several times since, at my entering of the room, was suddenly possessed with a strange kind of an affectionate passion, and could not satisfy herself till she had made a strict enquiry who I was; nor did it cease there, for presently after She employed a Friend of mine to desire the Continuance of my Company, as She hath since declared.  
Here I thought good to insert the Original of our acquaintance, that the world may the better perceive her cheating design: though it hath pleased the scurrilous Scribbler, that either hath no name, or else is ashamed of it, in a late Pamphlet to demonstrate a very great Friendship to that Distressed Lady, as his Pedantic Pen terms her; and though he speaks without Book, as most if not all do besides him; yet he endeavous to make it credible that it was She that carried on a humour and my Relations wi●h myself a Design, which I deny on both sides, and here attest, that not any of them to whom I owe the Duty of a Son, or the Love of an own Brother, did ever see her until many days after Contraction, nay not until three days before Marriage, and then never entertained any discourse to promote, but rather to hinder the Proceedings; For She of her own accord, upon a Visit she gave them, told them of her Affection and Intention and did Politicly and freely declare to them her Great Birth and Fortune. But to return to our first Acquaintance; I understanding her Fancy, and finding those Excellent parts she was possessed with, cold do no less, then poise things in my mind: And considering her Endowments, supposed that she wanted nothing that might cause a liking, nor had she any Defect, that might procure a loathing. I pressed her to the Reason of her Fancy, She replied Love gives none. I minded her of the Inequality between mine, and her then thought High Descended Birth and Fortune: She Answered Love knows none. I Objected again, (she telling me, that she ever Related to me the least of both) and put Cases of great Danger, to be called in Question, beyond all Law; She Replied, Love knows no Laws; Let her Judgement alone to secure both. Her Wit did more and more Charm me, Her Qualities deprived me of my own; Her Courteous behaviour, Her Majestic Humility to all Persons, in all her Actions, Her Emphatical Speeches, Kind and Loving Expressions, and amongst other things, her High Detestation and Checks to an untruth, though Jestingly uttered by any; Her great Zeal to her Religion, her Modest Confidence, and Grace in all Companies, seating the knowledge of none; Her variety of Tongues; Her neat limned, and ready answers to all, and all manner of Objections, that I, or the most Critical Person in the World, (without disparaging any one's Judgement) could in point of Honour, make and put to her, whereby to discover her, she would so Nobly, and Seriously Salve, that she left no room for Suspicion; Which did not only work the belief in me, (that hath wrapped me in this present Misfortune) But also in many Persons of great Wisdom, Gravity, and Quality; All which in a growing Acquaintance and Conversation, did increase our Credit. She desired nothing of me but my Love, (And that as She told me and others was always her intention to Marry a Private Gentleman, whom She could Love, that She might oblige him highly to love her by her Nobility and Estate;) An Excellent bait indeed) And I thought She did nobly deserve that. She ever protested a Fervent Love, and I could not promise an unfaithful. And finding in her so Noble a Perfection, who could mistrust a real Affection and Intention? None but did Esteem her Peerless in all qualities of mind. Who could have called her Honour and Honesty into question, when they both, (I must say seemingly) were so great? But the Scene was soon changed, though I could not so soon believe it. And in a strange manner there was a sudden discovery of the truth, which is too long a story to insert here, though in a short time it was made appear that She was such a cheating person, as before a Magistrate She was proved to be. Such a sudden alteration, might (like those that looked on Medusae's Head) have turned me into a Stone; I could hardly put out my former belief; Nay I protest, when I seriously reflect on all the passages of her former Expressions & Actions (not in the least thinking of the last Act) I can believe still; For what person living, that is a Christian, or bears the name only, or knows the meaning of that title (which She in a High manner did own) Nay, what Turk, Jew, Infidel or Heathen that sees, wonders at, and Worships the Sun, Moon and Stars, and that never heard the Name of the Great Jehovah, could Sergeant and Religiously gloss over so many heinous and detestable Crimes, without fear of a sudden and mighty Judgement? Sure she thought to Hoodwink Divine Providence: The Devil himself, that old Sophister, might be cheated by her, but that he is so well acquainted with her. Without doubt he would have trembled to have invoked those Direful Judgements which She wished might befall her, upon clearing some doubts, if such things were not true, which are as false as God is true. And amongst all her Protestations I will name only one, which was the only thing we desired to know the truth of, that was this, upon the Attestation of one or two strangers to us, who upon the first sight knew her, she having lodged at their Houses; they related of her several Husbands she had living; We pressed her to speak the truth, and in the presence of several persons upon her knees, she wished for a sudden Judgement to befall her, and that she might Eternally hang in Hell (for so were her words) if ever she was Contracted, Married to, or knew any man besides myself. Oh Miserable Creature! I hear so many things daily of her of truth enough, that I think she hath the best part of a score, and she hath 〈◊〉 the best part of a Hundred persons of good Worth, and others; I dare not 〈◊〉 what, lest I run into extremes; it is enough, I now find her Honour Dishonour, her Protestations Pretences, her Faithfulness Fickleness; and though her Policy did undermine me, her practices, will overthrow herself. Who would have imagined that deceit, the Devil's great bait, should have lodged here, or that so Noble a mind (though She hath basely Acted) should descend of such an Ignoble Race, or that so great and Discerning a Capacity should proceed of so base and undeserving Progeny? Base indeed, for her Father in Law (her grand Agent and factor) did in the presence of a person of quality, and another Gentleman and myself, upon our entering into discourse of the News of London, when we left it, and of the great Cheat, and so proceeding in the story of it, he fell into such a great rage, and said, It was no News to him, for he was in Town all along, and was with her in the Prison that day she was Committed, and declared her Name, and that She was his Daughter in Law, for it will be known said he; That unworthy low spirited, though hot sottish-headed fellow deserves a further strictExamination. I need not relate where he lives, nor what he is, former Prints speak truth in that. But to return to her, the World still finds in her the same Wit, and they will shortly find less honesty than any did Imagine: would She had less Wit, and I better fortune; but though my wone affections have stung myself and fortunes, they shall kill neither. Had she been but honest, I should have taken her discourses of Nobility and Wealth, but as a neat Romance to gloss over the want of a happy being, which my Relations and myself did really inform her, she should have, could she vindicate and prove her honesty. Would her High pretended Honour had been but real intended honesty. I am not alone in the Cheats of Marriage, (for I believe scarce one in twenty proves true, and answers all Expectations) though perhaps not in so high a nature. There are many Precedents higher than this, nay more than I mean to recollect: Menelaus after his ten years' War won but a strumpet. There is nothing new under the Sun, though new to them that suffer it. I can now shake hands with my Old Grand-site Adam, and say with him, The Woman beguiled me, and I did, etc. I could pity her rather than punish her, and yet the Law must punish her, because she did not pity herself, knowing how narrowly she hath escaped the Execution of Judgement after her former Trial. The faitest fly is soon taken in the spiders Web. Indeed she woven a fine one to catch me, it is well if she hangs not herself in it. I trusting to her outward 〈◊〉 was betrayed by her inward treachery. But though she 〈◊〉 me, she hath not overcome me; and the chiefest Victory will be, that I can overcome myself, and prevent the dangerous consequences and sad effects that unhappy accidents and discontents might cause. My sore, though it be angry I can salve it; And indeed, as it argues much folly in any person to let the Afflictions and Censures of the World come so near ones heart, as to set out or inflame one's blood, so it is a great part of wisdom in my Estimation to suffer admittance so near as to raise one's spirits to understand an affliction by a serious consideration and reflection. How mixed with mercies, and in the Highest way we Mortals can retaliate, (if I may so speak) to return and express a holy gratitude to Divine protection: for we must so bear our afflictions, that as our grief may not utterly deject us, so we must have the sense to feel and apprehend it: All the actions of a man's life, are mixed with bitter ingrediences, like Chequer-work, black and white. There is no armour against our fates, and they are as uncertain as unevitable. I am contented with mine, and I hope now the bitter part of my fortune is past, I may once taste the sweet; if not, I shall be contented, knowing from whose hand it comes; I am satisfied, that as I have done nothing dishonestly, so I care for no reports.  Cic. 
Qui injuriam faciunt infaeliciores sunt quam qui patiuntur.  
It is better to be Passive then Active in an Injury.  
BUt I have exceeded my Intention, and unless I mean to make a Chronicle of the whole, must stop all further expression. And here I would end, but upon second thoughts, in point of Reputation, I find myself engaged highly, to take greater notice of abuses done to others my Acquaintance then to myself; and now I must be angry, for it concerns me to be so, and it should quickly be seen that the fancy pen of that Audacious and Injurious Libeler should soon be cut by several persons, were it but known where that Corrupted and Diseased soul hath its being, which shall not want for a strict enquiry. I wonder how he durst presume to insert in his Libel termed (The Lady's Vindication) the name of that Virtuous and Noble Lady which I will not here denominate. The Salt-water Grave Coxcomb hath published it too much already; Or that his Confidence should permit him to discover any thing of her Actions in Hyde-park, which though there may be some little thing of truth, yet it is falsely set out. And indeed I am much troubled that that deceitful woman, to whom I then thought myself Related, knowing her own Condition, should offer to play upon that Worthy Lady's Civility, And I cannot but take notice that this base Detractor should be so impudent as to throw a dart against that deserving Gentleman my Friend, that performed the sacred Office of Matrimony. I am not willing to insert any one's Name, you may understand me by description. Who prompt him to insert the report of a double Marriage? And that Politic lie of so great a gratuity as fifteen pounds; I will not satisfy his weak brain what it was, it is enough to let him know that my friend was satisfied, and I did so much as became a Gentleman.  
Lastly, I will clear but one thing more as to her Name, by which she was Contracted and Married to me, which was Henrietta Maria De Wollway, though she hath since learned so much Confidence as to deny it, or else some one for her; And here I make a full stop, wishing all the World better fortune.  Si Populus ●ult dicipi Decipiatur. 
FINIS.