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An Exact and True Relation of the Examination, Trial and Condemnation of the German Princess, otherwise called Mary Carleton, at Justice Hall in the Old Bailey, January 17, 1672.

Also, An account of the pretended treachery, which she was to discover to the bench, and the reason of her return from Jamaica.

London, printed for R.O. 1672

It is to very good reason that the scripture forbids us to abstain from the lusts of the flesh, and the eyes, which is of the world, and the corruption of our own natures; for by it we are drawn and enticed into all manner of evil, it being, as it were, a corrupt root, that sends forth most bitter and rotten fruit: and this happens not only when the goods and riches of the world are in our eye, but also when one lusts after dishonest and unchaste delights:  this corruption it is that brings forth whoredoms, adulteries, thefts, cheats, and many other sins, whereout springs forth many times floods of mischiefs, as may more fully appear in the relation of a most notorious woman, which here follows:

            January the 16th, 1672. Mary Carleton the German Princess was brought from the Marshalsea in Southwark, to take her trial in the Old Bailey, in Mr. John Lowman’s coach, where at her best appearance.  The Judge examined her if she was the same woman that went by the name of Mary Carleton, that was not long since banished this kingdom:  to which she answered, she was the same person.  The Judge demanded the reason of her return, to which she answered that she had somewhat that troubled her conscience about treachery which she had a great desire to discover, and til she had made it known to the government, she could not be at quiet; and upon that account she thus transgressed the law of her being transported, only to make those things known which lay so much upon her, til she had made a discovery of it.  The Judge demanded of her to declare those things to the court:  to which she answered it was not convenient to discover what she had to say in so public a place, and therefore she desired time, the which was granted betwixt that and the next morning to make her discovery; the which was to be the 17 day, which being come, she was brought from Newgate to the sessions house in the Old bailey; and there called to appear at the Bar, where was an indictment exhibited against her by a tailor in Chancery Lane; for stealing a silver tankard and some other pieces of plate.  To the which she pleaded she never lodged in the house in all her life; but after speaking with the mistress and others, that lost those things, she said

“You may prosecute the Law against me, and you will lose all, which if you do not prosecute, you may have your plate again.”

Another in Aldgate Street brought an indictment against her likewise for stealing plate and several other indictments brought against her, for many robberies, and other cheats she has committed since she came over; but all these bid her no harm.  The judge insisted only upon the matter of her coming over, , notwithstanding her banishment, for which she is condemned to be banned.  Before sentence she pleaded her belly upon which twelve gentlewomen were picked out to find whether she was with child or not.  They brought in their verdict that she was not with child.

One thing I had like to have omitted, which is this, on Friday January 17, it was ordered by the court at the sessions house, that two or three of the honourable court should go to Newgate, to inquire of the princess what that treachery was that she was not willing to discover before the whole court, withal telling her that if she impeach any other, it would make the better for herself.  She refused to discover any others, but the treachery she told them was thus, when she was banished, there was 25 others banished with her, and when they came out at sea, these 25 agreed altogether with her to murder the master and all that were in the ship, and to have the ship and any goods to what country they pleased.  And they had further asked that notwithstanding there was 25 of them, she should have the third share of what the ship and goods were worth; this she said she discovered to the Master, upon which he made the next port, and when he came there to get some help, and put them all in irons, sometime after they all arrived in Jamaica, for the treachery she had discovered, that she was set at liberty to go where she pleased, but while she was there, the country not agreeing with her, she had a fit of sickness, all which time she had two doctors ordered to wait upon her, when she was a little recovered, she, as she said, trusted to much of the king’s mercy for the good she had done in saving the whole ship’s company alive, that she ventured to come over again in that very ship that carried her.

I shall now acquaint you with one story more of this infamous princess, which was the last of her pranks, just before her last taking.  The story is thus:  She took lodging in St. James at Mr. Aspinal’s, one of the King’s watchmakers.  She told him that the rest of her family was in a few days to follow, which were sixteen more, for all which she had lodging provided.  After she had been there a night or two, she complained to Mr. Aspinal that the knocking about his trade did somewhat disturb her.  He gave her a compliment, telling her that he should avoid giving her any disturbance as much as might be.  The she began to commend the ingenuity of his trade, which she did very highly, withal telling him what a rare watch her father had made triangular ways (but she did not say a word of his being a poor fiddler in Canterbury) and how that she desired to have such a one as that, he told her that was an old fashion and he had none of them, but any sorts that were now in fashion he had, upon which she desired to see what rare watches he had, then he had her into his shop and into his chamber where his watches were, and let her take her view, she was very well pleased with what she had seen, and bespoke a watch for herself.  A day or two after this she invites her landlord and landlady to see a rare play, which was to be acted that day at the Duke’s playhouse, which after some entreaty they accepted of, when they had seen the play the Princess invited them to the tavern, telling them that she would give them a treat there, for that now she was at liberty, but after her family came to town, she must keep more at home to look after them.  To be brief, she got them to the tavern, and there called for wine and oysters plenty.  When she had kept them there so long that they were not willing to stay any longer, the princess her maid comes in and speaks to her, after which the Princess tells her landlord and landlady that oysters were not enough to satisfy her, she must have a neat’s tongue, or some other thing that was good to eat after oysters, and that she would go down to the people of the house and see what they had.  Her landlady desired her not to give herself that trouble, but rather to send for the man of the house and speak to him.  She answered that would not do so well, for there were thirty persons that were to dine with her there the next day, and she must give order to the mistress of the house what to provide.  So down she went, but coming up no more, when she had been a pretty while, her landlord called to the people of the house, to know what was become of her, they told him that they knew her not, not where she was gone, so in short, her landlord was left to pay the long reckoning, and to go home to seek his tenant, when he came at home she was not there nor her maid.  He had left at home only his maid and the Princess her maid.  He inquired who had been there.  His maid told him:

“Only the two gentlewomen to inquire for his lodger,” and that she told them that she was gone to see a play.

“How long since?” said the gentlewomen.

“About an hour,” replied the maid.

“When do you think she will be back?” said they.

“About two hours.”

“Ah well,” said the gentlewomen, “we must speak with her this night.  Show us into her chamber and we will stay there til she comes.”

The maid showed them into her chamber.  Then they desired a bottle of wine to be fetched, which the maid did, but she stayed not long enough, as it seems to them, to finish their works.  So they tasted the wine and said it was so bad they could not drink it, then they sent the maid to another tavern further off, where they said they were sure was that which was good.  The maid went, and before she came back again they had so far finished their work, that as it appeared presently after when Mr. Aspinal came to look for his watches, they had taken away twenty-five, bits of which were gold, and some money in the amount of near 700 pounds.  Note that when this work was done the princess’s maid went to the tavern to give notice, which made her steal away from her landlord and landlady.

FINIS

 

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