An Historical NARRATIVE OF THE Germane Princess, CONTAINING All material PASSAGES, from her first Arrival at Gravesend, the 30th of March last passed, until she was discharged from her Imprisonment, June the Sixth instant. Wherein also is mentioned, Sundry private Matters, between Mr. John Carlton, and others, and the said PRINCESS; Not yet Published. Together with a brief and notable STORY, of Billing the Brick-Layer, one of her pretended Husbands, coming to Newgate, and demanding of the Keeper her Deliverance, on Monday the Eighth instant. Written by herself, for the Satisfaction of the World, at the Request of divers Persons of Honour. London, Printed for Charles Moulton, 1663. Most Noble, Generous, and Virtuous LADIES and GENTLEWOMEN, I Am not ignorant what great advantage the frequent false Reports of my Actions and Demeanours hath given to the dishonour of our Sex: Let me tell you, I had rather choose to be dissolved into Atoms, then justly to deserve to be the occasion of any such thing. I therefore Adventured upon this Collection, to evince to the World, the Falsehood and Insufficiency of the Designs against me. There is no Person of Understanding, but may easily discern and conclude as much as I desire for Vindication of myself from those Things my Enemies aspersed me with, or that have lately been upon the Stage. He who was first the Contriver and Promoter of the False Suggestions against Me, coming to Visit me within one hour after the Just Sentence of NOT GUILTY, I told him, If the Modesty of my Sex would permit me, I would Require the Combat of him to appear in the Field. I looked upon him but as a base Detractor: I required his Retiring from my Presence: He obeyed. His looks represented his Gild. I could mention him, but it's below me to take notice of him, further than to know him for a Villain. But it being the Opinion of all Philosophers and Divines, as well Ancient as Modern, That Detraction is the Chief Branch of Envy, which is nourished by Lying, by which People of Honest Conversation are grievously wounded.— Diogenes the Cynic being asked, What Beast Bit most Deadly? Answered, Amongst Furious and Wild Beasts, None like the Detractor.— And amongst Tame and Gentle Beasts, None like the Soother and Flatterer.— Themistocles the Theban, upon the same occasion, said, There was no greater Pain nor Misery in the World, then to behold the Honour or Credit of an Honest or Good Man or Woman to be in the Mercy of a venomous Tongue, and to be tortured by Detracting Speeches. A Spanish Author that I have seen, hath this saying, That all Nations do observe it as a Law, That a Dissolute Life in Men, is not held to be such a Vice as in Women: That let a Report pass of a Woman, True or False, Irreparably she lieth under Infamy. Therefore I do imagine, that our Ancestors were so prudent, that in the Instituting of several Orders of Knights, they had still in Charge, That they should defend Innocent Ladies. And I never read of any Knight that undertook a Distressed Ladies Quarrel, but he Vanquished and Overcame. That Example of Valentinus Barnthius, a Native of Toledo in Spain, in his History, wherein he mentioneth a Daughter of one of the Kings of England, that was Married to the Duke of Saxony and Prince of Piedmont, She not yielding to the Immodest Solicitation and Request of Pancalier, whom the Duke her Husband had left as his Lieutenant in his Absence, whilst he was busied in the Wars of France; The Count Imposed on her, the Crime of Adultery: For Confirmation (wanting other proof) he Required the Combat of any that should gainsay his Assertion. The which was Accepted by a Knight of the Noble House of Mendoza; Who slew him, notwithstanding many Disadvantages of a late Sickness, of his long Travel, and Disproportion of his Strength and Stature, etc. Francis the First of that Name, King of France, granted the Combat to Castaigneray and the Lord Jarnac; Castaigneray having by words dishonoured a Lady, that was by Blood Allied to Jarnac: In the Opinion of all Persons, Castaigneray by reason of his often Combats, Strength, Judgement in Arms, and the use of Weapons, would be too hard for the Lord Jarnac; yet the Lord Jarnac slew him: The which Convinced all the Spectators, That the Innocency of the Lady Influenced the Sword of Jarnac. Many other Stories of like nature I could Instance, but I shall conclude with this: Sure there is none will a Woman deprave, Unless he be a Coward or a Knave. I do not mention these Stories, to reflect upon any of the English Gallants, for not Taking part in my Cause, I at first apprehended I needed it not; and now do much less need it: for that my Enemies by their Insufficient Prosecution, made way for the World to conclude my Innocency. But I may in some sort complain of my Husband, who wore a Sword by his side, and yet could suffer me to be stripped of my necessary Raiment. But instead of that Civil Defence, the least of Kindnesses he might have afforded me, that had enjoyed all Hymen's Rites with me so lately before that Tragick-Part, he encountreth me with a Volume of one Sheet in Quarto, wherein he hath these Passages, That I by my Parts deluded him. In answer to which, He deluded me by his Pretences. Reader, Thou shalt receive them from his own Pen; In his Epistle to the said Work, he hath this Passage, I shall not give myself the Trouble, to recollect and declare the several Motives and Inducements that deceitful but wise enough Woman used to deceive me with, etc. In Page the 4 h he saith, Her Wit did more and more Engage me and charm me: Her Qualities deprived me of my own: Her Courteous Behaviour, her Majestic Humility to all Persons, her Emphatical Speeches, her Kind and Loving Expressions; and amongst other things her High Detestation of all manner of Vice, as Lying, etc. Her great Pretence to Zeal in her Religion; her Modest Confidence and Grace in all Companies, Fearing the knowledge of none; her Demeanour was such, that she left no room for Suspicion, not only in my Opinion, but also in others both Grave and Wise. Some other things he Insists upon, as his undertaking to tell the Story of the Management of the Business betwixt us; In which he is so far from doing Me Justice therein, that he wrongeth Me and his own Soul by lying. For Confutation of which, I refer the Reader to the ensuing Discourse; Only there is one Passage that I am unwilling to let slip, that is in page the 6th, he saith, 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 Trial, if that had been true; As strange it was, That the Juryman himself (that was one of the Jury upon the Trial of Mary Mauders) that they produced, who seemed to be a Man of Conscience and Judgement, could not swear nor say, That I was the Mary Mauders alias Stedman. But I wave all; and make it my Request to all Ladies and Gentlewomen, seriously to consider the whole ensuing Discourse: The which if done, I may rest Confident, that there is none but will set a Hand to the Erecting my Reputation to a higher Pitch, then from whence my Detracting Enemies endeavoured to depress it. From my Lodging, June 12, 1663. Ladies and Gentlewomen, Yours in all Submissive Observance, Marry Carlton. EPimenides the Philosopher being asked by the Rhodians, What that Virtue called Truth was, answered, Truth is that thing, whereof (more than all others) the Gods do make profession, and the Virtue that illuminateth the Heaven and the Earth, maintaineth Justice, governeth, preserveth, and protecteth a State or Kingdom, and cannot endure any wicked thing near it; also it maketh all doubtful and ambiguous matters clear and apparent. The Corinthians also demanded of Chilo the Philosopher, what Truth was? said, It was a sure Gage and Standard, to measure all things by it who neither diminisheth at one time, nor increaseth at another: it's a Buckler, a Shield that can never be pierced: it's an Army never daunted, a Flower that never faileth, a Haven that none shall perish in, or suffer peril. The Lacedæmonians inquisitive after this rare Virtue, importuned Anaxachus to delineate Truth to them; he drew its Portraiture in these fair, Lines, viz. Truth is a perpetual Health and Welfare, a Life without ending, an Unguent that healeth all misfortunes, a Sun always shining, that never suffereth by Eclipse, a Gate never shut, a Journey in which none can wax weary: It's a Virtue, without which all Strength is feebleness, and infirmness itself; Wisdom, Folly, and Madness: Without it, Patience is but a Counterfeit, and Liberty but a Prison. Augustus Caesar, in the Triumphs that he made for Mark Anthony, and Cleopatra, brought with him to Rome a Priest of Egypt, aged 60 years, that was famous for not telling a Lie in his whole Life; the Senate ordered his Statue to be erected, and himself to be Highpriest. In the time of the Emperor Claudius, there died at Rome one Pamphilus, that was upon good ground suspected never to have told Truth all the days of his life; He, by the Emperor's Order, was denied Burial, his House to be razed, his Goods confiscate, in detestation of so venomous a Beast, who was so suspected, that when by accident he did speak Truth, the Hearers suspected their own Knowledge. I am not to insist upon this Theme; but Truth is an amiable and delightful thing; it hath been no less my Deliverer, than it was my Sanctuary; its Precepts will I observe in this ensuing Discourse, that as to matter of Fact I will have due regard, that Time nor Envy shall have no Advantage against me, to detect me in any particular or material Circumstance: my Ambition never tempted me to write a History of my Life, but my Necessity hath constrained me to give you a History of part of my Life; that is to say, from the first time of my l●st coming into England; for that the World yet never had an exact Account of what passed between Me, and Mr. John Carleton, now my Husband by the Law of England, unto which we are both Subjects. I having been at Colen, the place of my Nativity, from thence for dispatch of some Affairs of mine, I went to Vtrick, from thence to the Brill, where I took shipping in a small Vessel bound for England, and landed at Gravesend the 30th of March last passed, in the Evening, and came in the Tilt-Boat from thence to London, betimes the next morning: In the Company that were Passengers, there was one a Parson, for so his habit did be speak him, who offered me the Civility of a Glass of Wine; but it being so early, we passed several Taverns, and could not procure admittance, from Billingsgate, until we came to the Exchange-Tavern against the Stocks, kept by one Mr. King; the Door being open, and Mr. King in the Bar counting of Brass Farthings, the Parson asked him, if we might have a pint of Wine; Mr. King replied, That we might: A pint of Rhenish Wine, and a pint of Sack was c●lled for; and during the drinking of it, the Parson offering to kiss me, I refused: Mr. King perceiving that I did not much like the Parson's company, came in, and entertained me in Discourse; asked me, if I was a Stranger; I told him, Yes, I came from Colen in Germany; and Mr. King said, Since it was so early, that I could not go with conveniency to seek a Lodging, if I pleased to repose myself for a time, his house was free; that although it was a public house, yet he had not overmuch to do in it, I might be assured, it was a civil house, and that he had a kindness and a pity for Strangers; and moreover added, to his courteous Discourse, his care of me, saying, That if I had a Charge, I should have a care, for the Town was full of wickedness, and that I might have some trick put upon me. I thanked him, and told him, that I had a charge; that I was so much a Stranger, that I had no where to go unto that I knew of at present; but where e'er I went, I had wherewith to defray my charges. Mr. King said, His house should be at my service. I answered him, That I looked upon him as a civil person. I took my leave of the Parson, and upon Mr. King's Invitation, went to my Chamber, parcel of his house that he had allotted me for my apartment: Returning Mr. King many thanks for his civility, I took my leave of him also: He told me, that his Wife should wait upon me when I rose. Let the World judge, if it be probable that I could design any thing to ensnare Mr. Carleton, when at my accidental coming into that house, nothing could be more remote from my Thoughts or Apprehension, than he was; or than that which happened afterwards. By what I shall further say, I doubt not but to undeceive the World, and demonstrate, that they designed against me: And whether I have that Estate they dreamt of, it is not material; I am not much to be blamed, if I have it, and conceal it, since they have pursued me in that envious sort, of which the World is Witness. Well, when I rose about 11 of the Clock, Mistress King, the Mistress of the house, attended me; I was furnished with all respect with what I asked for, or what was necessary: After which, I applied myself to writing of my Letters, sent them away by the Post beyond the Seas, wherein I gave Instructions, for the managing of those Affairs that concerned me. 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 this Entertainment, Mrs. King did advise me to call her Cousin, the which I did. Thursday the 2d of April, Mr. John Carlton came in his Coach, with two Footmen attending of him, calling him my Lord, and Mistress 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 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 afterwards to Mr. Kings, and by his importunity would carry me abroad in a Coach to Holyway 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 Compliments. How, said she, Madam, He loves you. Loves me, for what Mistress 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 could see within me. I answered, That my Lord must have very good eyes, if he could see 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 easy: Mistress King importuneth me to admit my Lord to visit me; I told her plainly, That I did not understand his Lordship's meaning. He provided me a great Banquet, at which his Lordship's Mother was very fine dressed, 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 conveniency or otherwise, he might forbear it. His Lordship excused his Mother's Inquisitions, 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 lie under such questioning and scrutiny: Your Lordship will be safe in following my advice, in not coming at me at any more. Upon this his Lordship wept bitterly; I withdrew myself from his presence: He writ a Letter of high Compliments to me (the which Letter perished in the storming and taking of my Outworks, by the Forces of Mr. George Carleton, my Husband's Father:). at the same time I had a Gown making upon my own account by Mistress King's Tailor 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 (not the Bar his Lordship was afterwards pleased to be one of the Instruments to make me stand at) at the Exchange-Tavern, and suddenly clasped about my middle, and violently carried 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, than but to let him look upon me. Upon that he did, with a very strange Jesture, fix his eyes upon me: In compassion to him, I asked 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 Mistress to the greatest of Princes, I will rather choose to be a Wife to the meanest of men. Upon which, he uttered divers asseverations in confirmation of the reality of his intentions, and earnest desire of the Honour in making me his Wife, without any respect to what I had. The next day being Saturday Easter Eve, the Tailor brought me my Gown to my Lodging, I being dressed and adorned with my Jewels, he again renewed his Suit to me, with all importunity imaginable; and a little before that time, having intercepted my Letters, and understanding how my Estate did lie, he and all his friends renewed their Suit to me, to give my consent to marry the young Lord: His courteous Mother is now most forward, pressing me to consent, by telling me, that she should lose h●r Son, and he his wits, he being already impatient with denials and delays, adding withal, that he was a person hopeful, and might deserve my condescension: I withstood all their solicitation, although they continued it until 12. 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. Paul's Church, to hear the Organs, saying, that there would be very excellent Anthems performed by rare voices, during which time, young Captain Sakvell who they had made privy to their undertaking, out of some discontent; threatened to discover the whole business, but he was promised 200l. to be silent, and plied closely with Sack, that he was dead drunk that night: the morrow being Saturday, the 19th 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 hastened me, and told me his Coach was at the door, he carrieth me to his Mothers in the Gray-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 Licence ready: So I being amazedly importuned thereunto, did then and not before, give an amazed Consent: to the Church of Great St. bartholomew's we are carried, married by one Mr. Smith, from thence we traveled to Barnet, that it might not be known at Court, that he had married a foreign Princess: He lieth with me Sunday and Monday right, we return to St. Bartholomews again, and were there married again the second time with a Licence, (they having before falsely pretended a Licence) that there might be no defect or flaw in the Marriage. On Friday following, being the 24. of April, Lodgings are taken for my Lord and myself in Durham Yard, and much State and Grandeur is used for the Credit of his Lordship. The next Friday following, being May Day, his Lordship with great State carrieth Me into Hyde-park where I was accommodated by the Courteous Respect of divers Persons of Quality, with great Rarities. My Husband by this time, publicly owned the Title of Lord, by the which Title privately, he carried on his design upon me, he being one day in company with some of his old Acquaintance, hearing him boast of the fortune he had matched, they told him, that they might possibly commit an error, in calling him Mr. Carlton, and that they should readily give him his due, by what Title soever was proper to him, and that they knew not better how to be instructed then from himself, who they thought would be least guilty of flattery in that case. Why truly, said he, my Princess calleth me Lord: upon that, he took upon him the acceptation of the Title, publicly as well as privately. The first time he came to me, he pretended to be a Lord, the which Title he could not well-maintain, as the case stood, unless he made me a Princess: Now let but the World judge how divilishly I had been cheated, if I had been a Princess, I had no reason to undeceive them in their wilful mistakes, when I saw by their practices, how much I was deceived, and disappointed; for now by this time, M●s. King calleth me Sister, and I come to understand that his Lordship was a young Clark, his Father finding that his Lordship's concealed Honour had taken Air, addresseth himself to me, lest I might take dislike thereat, in finding myself so palpably deceived; and by all means I must make over my Estate unto my Husband, saying unto me, Daughter, you will do well to settle your Estate upon my Son, itwill satisfy the World, and redound to your Honour. I told him I saw myself deceived, and that although I could not keep my affections from him, I would keep my Estate until that I did die: I cannot but make a stop here, when I remember how violently they lately did prosecute me, without all peradventure this saying of mine animated them to seek my life so vigorously. This was the cause of my first breach with them, and the cause of my troubles that did immediately ensue. In one or two days, the Scene altars, and a Letter from Dover is contrived, to be a discovery of me; For an accowt of which, I refer you to my Speech in my Trial, for Vindication of myself in that Particular. My Husband's Father cometh to my Lodging in Durham Yard, with Mrs. Clark, and my Husband and others, called me Cheat and Harlot, violently stripped me of all my Apparel and Jewels, pulled off my Silk Stockings from my Legs, cut the Lace of my Bodies, and scarce left me any thing to cover my Nakedness with; hurried me before a Justice, where the Father and the Son are bound to Prosecute me for having of two husbands; they prefs me to confess the Truth; I did insist upon no other Justification than my Innocency: The which at last was my Security and Refuge, against their Malicious and unnatural Dealing with me. But I can do no less than say, That my Husband did nothing but with Reluctancy, and was pressed thereunto by his Friends. Notwithstanding all which, I was committed Prisoner to the Gatehouse, Westminster, without one penny of Money, or any manner of Relief; But my Husband came thither to Visit me, and Charged the Keeper I should want nothing, so far as 40 l. went, he would see paid; and afterward on the 11th of May, sent me this Letter, the Copy of which I here insert Verbatim; the which I have now by me, and shall keep it as a Relict. My Dearest Heart, ALthough the manner of your usage may very well call the sincerity of my Affection and Expressions to you in Question; Yet when I consider, That you are not ignorant of the Compulsion of my Father, and the Animosity of my whole Relations both against You and myself for your sake, I am very Confident your Goodness will pardon and pass by those things which at present I am no way able to help: And be you Confident, That notwithstanding my Friend's aversion, there shall be nothing within the Reach of my Power shall be wanting, that may Conduce both to Your Liberty, Maintenance, and Vindication. I shall very speedily be in a Condition to furnish You with Money, to supply You according to your desire. I hope Mr. Bayly will be very Civil to you; and let him be assured, he shall in a most exact measure be satisfied, and have a Requital for his Obligation. My dearest, always praying for our happy meeting, I rest, Your most affectionate Husband, John Carlton. May the 11th. 1663. At the same time, his Brother George came and Drank a health to my Confusion, fell down dead Drunk, and afterwards said, That ● had poisoned him. Other of my Husband's Friends came to Visit me in the Gatehouse, (of the many hundreds of others, I shall say nothing) one of them said, Madam, I am one of your Husband's 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 w●nt it. Another in his discourse delivered as an Aphorism, That Marriage and Hanging went by Destiny. I told him, I had received from the Destiny's Marriage; and he in probability might Hanging. To wave many others of the like nature. On the 3d of June, 1663. I am by Order brought to the Sessions in the Old Bayly. The Court being sat, a Bill of Indictment was drawn up against Me by the Name of Mary Moders, alias Stedman, for having two Husbands now alive, viz. Thomas Stedman and John Carlton. The Grand Jury found the Bill, and was to the effect following: viz. That she the said Mary Moders late of London, Spinster, otherwise Marry Stedman, the Wife of Tho. Stedman late of the City of Canterbury in the County of Kent Shoemaker, 12 May, in the sixth Reign of his now Majesty, at the Parish of St. Mildred's in the City of Canterbury, in the County aforesaid, did take to Husband the aforesaid Thomas 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 15th year of his said Majesty's Reign, at London, in the Parish of Great St. bartholomew's, in the Ward of Farringdon without, Feloniously did take to Husband one John Carlton, and to him was married, the said Thomas Stedman her former Husband then being alive, and in full life: against the form of the Stautute in that case provided, and against the Peace of our said Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity, etc. Afterwards I was called to the Bar; and appearing, was commanded to hold up my hand: Which accordingly I did; and my Indictment was read to me as followeth: Clerk of the Peace. Marry Moders, alias Stedman, Thou standest Indicted in London by the Name of Mary Moders late of London Spinster, otherwise Marry Stedman, the Wife of, etc. And here the Indictment was read as above: How sayst thou, Art thou guilty of the Felony whereof thou standest Indicted, or Not guilty? Nor guilty, my Lord. Clerk of the Peace. How wilt thou be tried? I said, By God and the Country. Clerk of the Peace. God send thee a good deliverance. And afterwards I being set to the Bar in order to my Trial, I prayed time till the morrow for my Trial: Which was granted, and all persons concerned were ordered to attend at Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon. I was sent to Newgate, and in the Evening my Husband came to the Place I was lodged at, and desired admittance. After I was acquainted with it, I desired he should be admitted to my Presence. Upon his entering the Room he said, How do you do, Madam? I thank you, my Lord, as well as ever I was in my life, never better. I pity you, Madam. I scom your Pity, my Lord, I have too large a Soul. But (said he) I come to take my leave of you for ever; You have not long to stay here, I am sorry for you. Why, (said I) my Lord, have you numbered my days? My propitious Stars a better sort of Influence than you imagine them to have. Well (said he) I shall pray for you, Madam. I said, My Lord, why, are you Righteous? The Prayers of the Wicked are not effectual. Upon that, he stepped backward to be gone. I stepped forwards to him, and said, Nay, (my Lord) 'tis not amiss, Before we part, to take a kiss. Why, said he, will you kiss me? I told him, Yes: and did so. A Person of Honour desired him to stay and take a Glass of Sack; He said, No. I Replied, I am sorry your Lordship's Breeding is so poor, it will not give you leave to be Civil. On Thursday the 4th of June, at 9 of the Clock in the Morning, I was brought by my Keeper to the Bar, and Silence being made, the Jury was Sworn, and the Witnesses were called, viz. James Knott, Sarah Williams, Mr. George Carlton the Elder. The Court with great Patience stayed the prosecution above an hour and a half, in regard Mr. George Carlton alleged he was not ready with his Witnesses. After which, the Court proceeded, and acquainted Mr. Carlton, That they were not bound to stay so long as they had already; but he was bound to be provided to prosecute. The Indictment was Read, which was to this Effect; That I had at several times married several persons that were now living; That I had married in St. Meldreds' Parish in Canterbury some years last passed, one Thomas Stedman, a Shoemaker now living; And that in April last passed I had Feloniously married one John Carlton, against the Statute in that Case made and provided. James Knott was sworn, and said, That I was married in the place aforesaid, unto one Thomas Stedman, who is now alive, and would have come up, if he had had Money to have born his Charges; and that he gave Me in Marriage: That I was born at Canterbury, and that my Father in Law his Name was Richard Ford. He being asked, If he knew my own Father and Mother; He said, No. And further said, That it was about a Week or a Fortnight before the Act for Marriages by Justices of the Peace was put in Execution. The Lord Chief Justice asked Knott, What were the words used in the Marriage? He answered, That he was so young, that he could not remember that. William Clark Sworn, said, That there was an Indictment against Me at Dover, for marrying of one Day, after Stedman, and that I was prosecuted by Stedman, of which I was cleared. Mr. George Carlton the Elder being sworn, gave in Evidence, That he saw my Husband at Dover. Being asked, Whether he knew him to be her Husband? He answered, That he could not swear it. James Knott gave further Evidence, That I had two Children by Stedman. Mr. George Carlton the Elder being asked, If he had any thing further to say, acquainted the Court, That he had searched the Register-Book of the Parish Church of St. Meldreds', Canterbury, but could not find any such Marriage Registered. And further said, That the present Parson of the Parish did tell him, That the Clerk of the said Place was often guilty of neglect in that kind. Mr. George Carlton the younger being Sworn, said, That I was married unto his Brother, John Carlton, in April last, in Great St. bartholomew's. Mr. Smith, the Parson that married me there, gave in Evidence, That he married Mr. John Carlton and myself, in April last, by the Book of Common-Prayer, and had a Licence produced to him for his Warrant; I craving leave to speak, said, I acknowledged that I was married to Mr. Carlton, at the time, and in the manner as is before expressed; therefore they might save themselves the Labour, and the Honourable Bench the trouble of further Proof in that Case. Mr. George Carlton the elder being asked, If he had any other Evidence to offer, answered, That he had more Witnesses to prove my being married to other persons. The Bench Replied, That there could be nothing given in Evidence that was not contained in the Indictment. The Court asked Knot, Who were with him besides at the Wedding he mentioned in his Evidence; he said, That there was Mr. Man, the Parson that married Us, the Sexton, my Sister, and himself that gave me. Some of the Jury desired the Court to ask Knot, How old he was now: he answered, That he was one or two and thirty years of Age. Mr. Carlton being asked, If he had any more Witnesses, answered, No. I standing all this while at the Bar, not once interrupting or disturbing the Evidence of the other side, the Court calling upon me to make my defence, I without any disturbed thought, or unquiet mind, did in a deliberate composed manner, address myself to the Bench in this sort: My Lord, In the first place, I do with all due respect and submission, humbly beseech your Lordship, and this Honourable Bench, not to impute any thing that I shall say to confidence, but rather to the necessity that lieth upon me, to make my Defence for my life. A thing that will sufficiently oblige any to make the best Defence they can: but that doth not weight so much with me, as that which is every whit as dear to me as my life. My Lord, It is my Reputation and my innocency, that encourageth me to speak before your Lordship at this time, and it is that which produceth confidence in me, that as I am innocent of the thing urged upon me by them, the Justice and Reason of you before whom I stand, by the which I hope to be acquitted and rendered to the World what I am, not what my prosecutors would have the World to believe me to be. My Lord, I shall not trouble you with any thing impertinent, nor with any things that related to these affairs more than needs I must: When his Son my Husband, came and addressed himself to me, pretending 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 mind, but he (having borrowed some threadbare Compliments) replied, Madam, Your seeming virtues, your amiable person, and noble department, 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. Therefore my lord I do humbly acquaint your Lordship that old Mr. Carlton did rather Design upon me, than I upon him, to say nothing of what passed before I was married to his Son, of which there was enough to demonstrate that evidently, so soon as I was married to his Son, he desired me to make over my Estate to his Son, to satisfy the World, that was somewhat amused, and in doubt of what is seems they had spread abroad for their own Reputation: I answered him, Sir, I shall not dis-invest myself of my Estate, until I did. Mr. Carlton intercepted my Letters, by that understood how my Estate did lie, that he had that expectation of what I had, is farther evident; for his Son came to me, pretending to be a person of Honour and great quality, and the better to accommodate himself in his application to me, he borrowed his Brother George's Cloak, it is the same he hath on his back in Court before your Lordship; and if any be deceived, I am. My Lord, If that they could but have been insured that I had been the person as to Estate, that they imagined me to be, your Lordship should not have been troubled at this time, in these matters, if I understand them aright, they would have been contented to have practised concealment, in case I had had more than one Husband. Instead of this defamation that I am loaded with, my Lord, my crime is, that I have not an Estate, or at least such a one as they imagined it to be; therefore my Lord, I say, I am brought at this time to this place; And therefore, my Lord, were my Jewels seized to defray the Charge of their expensive courting of me. To colour what they have done, they fix the Offences of some Woman of Canterbury, a person that may be dead, or gone out of the Land for aught I know, upon me: the place I know not, a place that I am a stranger unto; if that had not been so, they have had time enough since my first Commitment to have produced more Evidence than any that hath as yet been urged before Your Lordship: My Lord, They brand me for marrying of a Shoo-make, and another sad piece of Mortality, a Bricklayer. My Lord, My Soul abhorreth such a thought, and never was accommodated with such Condescension, to move in so low an Orb. My Lord, by all that I can observe of the Persons that appear against me, they may be divided into two sorts; the one of them come against me for want of Wit, the other for want of Mony. That Money hath been proffered to subborn some against me, I have Witness to prove. My Lord, These People have been up and down the Country, and finding none there that could justify 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 registered; but there is no Registry of it, and so can be no Certificate, no Minister nor Clerk to be found: And if I should own a Marriage, than you see that great Witness cannot tell you, whether I was lawfully married, or how? But it is enough for him (if such a paltry 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 always to take away my life, bringing persons to swear against me. My Lord, When old Mr. Carlton saw that he could not obtain his End of me, he threatened me with a Justice, and a Prison; and the Justice bound him over to prosecute me; he must make the best of it, and therefore it is no wonder that he repaireth to such Means and Instruments to effect my Ruin. My Lord, I desire that my Witnesses may be called. Elizabeth Collier said, That she coming to the Gatehouse to see her husband, being a Prisoner there for Debt, one pretended that he came to see his Wife there, named Marry Maullers. Upon that, she took upon her to personate the said Person he asked for: He said, I, 'tis true, thou art that unhappy Woman that I married. The which person she never saw before in her life. Mr. Ed. Bayly, Deputy-Keeper of the Gatehouse, saith, That he hath heard 40 People, at the least, of Canterbury, ancient Livers and Inhabitants there, say, That they never knew, nor did ever see me, before they came to see Me in the Gatehouse, upon the Fame that was spread abroad of my being born at Canterbury, and having acted such a part at Canterbury. The Lord Chief Justice was pleased to ask Me, Where I was Born? I answered, In Germany. He asked me, Where? I said, At Colen. Mr. Clark was asked by the Court, Whether he could prove, or swear, That I was the Mary Mauders that was Tried at Dover? He answered, That he could not, neither prove it, nor swear it himself; for he was a stranger to the whole Business. I perceiving the sleight Evidence, and that I needed not either to say more, or offer more evidence in my behalf, submitted my Cause to the Bench and Jury. Upon my being asked by the Bench, If I had more to say; I Replied, No. The Court gave Instructions to the Jury as followeth: First, The Indictment was Briefly recited. And as to the Evidence, the Court observed, That there was but one Witness to prove the Indictment, and that he could not remember the manner of Marriage, nor the words used there. And if that I had been Married, and had two Children, and that the Jury should believe that Single Evidence, and that he had sworn aright, I was to die. The Judge told the Jury, That they had heard of a Trial against me, for having had Two Husbands before, one Stedman, and Day, at one time, and that from a Juryman that was upon the Jury at the same Trial; yet he could not swear, That I was the Woman. The Jury went forth, and continued absent a quarter of an hour: Upon their Return, and Silence being made, the Jury being called over, they were asked as the Custom is, Who should say for them? They answered, The Foreman. The Court asked, Whether they found the Prisoner Guilty, or not Guilty? The Foreman answered, Not Guilty. Upon which, there was a Great Shout of the People. After Silence being made, I moved the Court, That they would Order the Restoration of my Jewels. They answered, That I had Owned Mr. Carlton for her Husband, he must sue for them, if Old Mr. Carlton shall deny the delivery of them. When the Jury was Returning with their Verdict, my Husband in the Garden, met them; he asked one of them, If they had found me Guilty? He in answer to his question, said, No, my Lord, We shall leave you to make much of your Princess. He Replied, By God, I am undone, I will never own her. Their Envy against me rested not here, they preferred several other Bills the same Afternoon; and endeavoured as much the next day: but the Grand Jury perceiving it to be rather upon Malice, then upon any just ground that they had so to do, flung them our. During my stay at New Gate after the Trial a Kinsman of my Lords came to Visit me, said, Madam, I think you are with Child. I answered him, That if I were, it would be a young Clerk he would be born with a Pen and Ink in his hand and a Bond about his Neck. Saturday he 6th of June, I was discharged from my Restraint; since which, I shall acquaint the World with what hath happened to my Vindication: It was one of my pretended Husbands, by whom a Bill was preferred (but not found, as I said before) by Billing the Bricklayer. Upon Whusun-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 withstood all denial, mentioned my name, and the particulars of my Trial: The Keepers remembering 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 a ked Billing, Whether this was his Wife? Billing replied, Yes; and asked 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 mind to hang her (meaning the Carltons) 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. Why, said she, I have left some Li 〈…〉 engaged in the Cellar. To the Cellar the Keeper carried them both; and there Billing left a Note under his Hand, to pay five shillings to the Tapster: Which Note he hath to produce, to satisfy any that shall make further Enquiry in this particular. He further said, That she had cheated him of forty pounds, and that he would pawn the Lease of his House, rather than 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-coloured Silk Petticoat, and Waistcoat, and a Podesway Gown, new Holland for Smocks, and all other things necessary. Billing turning himself to the Company the●e present, said merrily, That she had cost him much before when he married her, but he never lay with her, but he had kissed her, and f●l● her a hundred times. Billing asked her again, If she would leave these wicked Rogues, and go long with him. She said, she had another Debt to pay: He asked what it was; She said, Twenty pounds to such a one, a Stranger then present, unto which person he gave a Note to pay 20l. in one month after the Date thereof: (its mo●e 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. Withal, said he, Moll, You need not, for I have a better Estate them 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 mischief, than what he had beforementioned. She ask him, wh●t they were? He said, She had stolen from his Daughter a Knife and a wrought Sheath, a Handkerchief, and a Sealed Ring. With that, the Standards by told him, that he was mistaken, that this grizel Hudson was not the person: He swote it was, and that he knew her well enough; that he saw her in the Gatehouse, 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. Reader, Take the whole, and view it well; I leave it to thy Ingeruity, Whether from the Trial itself, and other Circumstances, there be not enough to clear one, in thy Judgement. I have omitted clothing of it in polite Language, in regard I was confined to render it in those proper Terms and Words, that every Accident carried along with itself, without adding or diminishing. FINIS. AN Encomiastic POEM UPON The Germane Princess. Fame's Trump sounds forth the Amazons Renown, Whose Worthy Feats have Kingdoms ovethrown; The Triumphs of their Sex may win the Bays From Masculine Fortunes more unworthy praise. Some are for Valour, some for Learning praised, Beauty and piercing Wit have others raised. Man's highest Honours can't pretend to claim What is not justly due to Woman's Name. And yet all Histories defective are, And have not named a Female half so rare, As this our PRINCESS; whose WIT so refined, Made frustrate what her Enemies had designed; Deceiving her deceivers, cast them all Into the Pit they digged for her fall. No more shall Cleopatra boast her. Parts, Which won great Antony's and Caesar's hearts; Though with one Passion she did both inflame, In all Estates herself being still the same. To vainer purpose did Thalestris come From distant Regions to procure a Son Of Alexander: 'Twas not (I greatly fear) Courage or Wit's Effect, but hot Desire. This Foreign PRINCESS such perfections brought Into our English World, as Lessons taught Most proper; for our Age declining still From bad to worse, goes on to what's most ill: Our Ancestors renowned Virtues prized, But we all real Honours have despised: How well doth she our dulled Souls revive, And good Examples to the Great Ones give, To Brave and Noble Virtues to aspire, And make the under-duller World admire. Thus, though disguised, her most Illustrious Worth Through all Impediments of Hate broke forth, Which her Detractors sought within a Prison T'Eclipse, whereby her Fame's the higher risen. As Gems i'th' dark do cast a brighter Ray, Then when obstructed by the Rival-day; So did the Lustre of her Mind appear, Through this obscure Condition, more clear. And when they thought by bringing to the Bar To gain her public Shame, they raised her far More Noble Trophies, She being clearly Quit Both by her INNOCENCE and Excellent WIT. FINIS.