THE
Burning
of
Margaret
Ferne-seede
.
THe
grosest
part
of
folly
,
and
the
most
repugnant
,
euen
vnto
our
owne
naturall
reason
,
is
to
thinke
that
our
hidden
abhominations
can
be
concealed
from
the
eie
of
the
Almightie
,
or
that
hee
seeing
our
bloodie
and
crying
sinnes
,
will
not
either
reueale
them
before
his
Ministers
of
publique
iustice
,
or
in
his
best
pleas'd
time
,
power
downe
sharpe
vengeance
for
such
presumptuous
and
rebellious
offences
.
Oh!
the
miracles
in
these
Reuelations
are
such
,
and
so
infinite
,
that
the
thought
of
man
or
his
wisdome
is
but
meere
weakenesse
,
going
about
to
comprehend
such
vnspeakeable
iudgements
:
&
of
this
wee
haue
before
our
eyes
a
most
notable
example
in
this
wretched
woman
,
of
whome
my
present
discourse
intreateth
,
named
Margaret
Ferne-seede
,
a
woman
that
euen
from
her
time
of
knowledge
(
if
the
generall
report
of
the
world
,
according
to
the
old
adage
,
may
be
taken
for
an
Oracle
)
was
giuen
to
all
the
loosenesse
&
lewdnesse
of
life
,
which
either
vnlawfull
lust
,
or
abhominable
prostitution
could
violently
cast
vppon
her
,
with
the
greatest
infamie
,
yea
,
and
with
such
a
publique
and
inrespectiue
vnchastitie
,
that
neither
beeing
chaste
nor
caute
,
she
regarded
not
either
into
what
eare
the
loathsomnesse
of
her
life
was
sounded
,
or
into
what
bed
of
lust
her
lasciuious
bodie
was
transported
:
in
this
more
then
beastiall
lasciuiousnes
,
hauing
consumed
the
first
part
of
her
youth
,
finding
both
the
corruption
of
her
blood
to
check
the
former
heate
of
her
lust
,
and
the
too
generall
vglinesse
of
her
prostitution
,
to
breed
a
loath
in
her
ordinarie
customers
,
being
then
confirmed
in
some
more
strength
of
yeares
,
tooke
a
house
neare
vnto
the
Iron-gate
of
the
Tower
,
where
she
kept
a
moste
abhominable
and
vilde
brothell
house
,
poysoning
many
young
women
with
that
sinne
wherewith
her
owne
body
long
before
was
filthilie
bebotched
.
From
this
house
at
the
Iron-gate
,
she
was
married
vnto
one
Anthony
Ferne-seede
a
Taylor
,
dwelling
in
Ducke-lane
,
but
keeping
a
shop
vppon
Addle-hill
neare
Carter-lane
.
This
Anthony
was
amongst
his
neighbors
,
reputed
to
be
both
sober
and
of
verie
good
conuersation
.
Now
it
hapned
that
some
few
monthes
agoe
in
the
fieldes
of
Peckham
neare
London
,
there
was
found
a
man
slaine
hauing
his
throate
cut
,
a
knife
in
his
hand
,
golde
ringes
vppon
his
fingars
,
and
fortie
shillings
in
money
in
his
pursse
,
his
woundes
of
so
long
continuance
that
it
was
not
onely
corrupted
,
but
there
was
also
Maggots
,
or
such
like
filthie
wormes
ingendered
therein
,
which
gaue
testimony
to
the
beholders
,
that
he
had
not
slaine
himselfe
in
that
place
,
as
well
because
the
place
was
free
from
such
a
spectacle
the
day
before
,
as
also
that
such
corruption
could
not
proceede
from
a
present
slaughter
.
Againe
,
what
the
person
slaine
,
no
man
knewe
,
both
because
his
phis●●omie
was
altered
in
his
death
,
and
because
his
acquaintance
was
little
or
none
in
those
partes
about
Peckham
:
in
the
end
,
searching
his
pockets
,
and
other
parts
of
his
apparaile
,
amongst
other
notes
and
reckonings
,
they
found
an
Indenture
wherein
a
certaine
youth
which
did
serue
him
was
bound
vnto
him
:
this
Indenture
gaue
them
knowledge
both
of
his
name
,
and
of
the
place
of
his
dwelling
,
whereupon
,
certaine
discreete
persons
of
Peckham
,
sent
to
Londdon
to
Ducke-lane
,
and
inquiring
for
the
house
of
one
Anthony
Ferne-seede
,
deliuered
to
his
wife
the
disaster
and
mischance
which
had
befallen
her
husband
,
which
her
hardoned
heart
receiued
,
not
as
a
message
of
sorrow
,
neither
did
the
grudging
of
an
afflicted
countenance
gal
her
remembrance
,
but
as
if
it
had
bene
the
report
of
some
ordinarie
or
vulgar
newes
,
she
imbraced
it
with
an
inrespectiue
neglect
and
carelesnes
,
&
demaunded
instantly
(
before
the
message
would
tell
her
how
he
dyed
)
whether
his
throate
were
cut
,
or
that
he
had
cut
his
own
throate
,
as
either
knowing
or
prophesing
how
he
dide
,
yet
to
obserue
a
customarie
fashion
,
or
(
as
the
prouerbe
is
)
to
carrie
a
candle
before
the
deuil
,
she
prepares
herself
&
her
Seruant
,
in
all
haste
to
go
to
Peckham
to
behold
her
husband
:
&
in
the
way
as
she
went
,
it
was
her
chance
to
meete
with
one
of
her
Husbands
antient
acquaintance
,
who
feeling
that
in
charitie
which
she
ought
to
haue
felt
in
nature
,
began
to
complaine
her
misfortune
,
telling
her
she
had
lost
a
most
honest
&
good
husband
:
she
whome
the
deuill
now
would
not
suffer
to
dissemble
,
(
though
his
greatest
art
be
in
dissimulation
)
told
him
her
feare
was
,
she
shold
not
heare
so
well
of
him
:
he
wondring
at
her
vngodly
carelesnesse
,
let
her
passe
,
when
presently
she
met
another
of
her
acquaintance
,
who
with
like
charitie
to
the
former
,
began
to
pittie
her
griefes
,
(
though
griefe
was
neuer
further
from
her
heart
)
and
to
wish
her
those
comforts
which
are
fit
for
affliction
,
but
she
as
carelesse
as
before
,
gaue
him
(
by
the
neglect
of
her
words
)
true
testimonye
how
far
sorrow
was
from
her
heart
,
which
when
he
noted
,
he
said
,
why
mistris
Ferne-seede
,
is
the
losse
of
a
good
husband
so
slightly
to
be
regarded
?
for
mine
owne
part
,
had
such
a
unschance
faine
to
my
fortune
,
I
shouldere
this
haue
wept
out
mine
eyes
with
true
sorrow
:
but
she
quickely
made
him
answore
,
tut
six
,
mine
eyes
are
ill
alreadye
and
I
must
now
preserue
them
to
mend
my
cloathes
not
to
mourne
for
a
husband
:
after
that
,
in
her
going
,
the
winde
blowing
the
dust
in
her
face
,
she
takes
her
skatff
&
wiped
her
eyes
,
&
said
she
should
scarce
know
her
husband
when
she
saw
him
,
these
curtizan
like
speeches
made
her
acquaintāceleaue
her
,
&
wished
her
more
grace
,
so
she
&
her
boy
came
where
the
bodie
was
,
where
more
for
awe
of
the
Magistrate
then
any
terror
she
felt
,
she
made
many
sower
faces
,
but
the
drinesse
of
her
braine
would
suffer
no
moisture
to
dessend
into
her
eyes
:
many
questions
were
asked
her
,
to
which
she
answered
with
such
constancie
,
that
no
suspition
could
be
grounded
against
her
:
then
was
her
boy
taken
and
examined
,
who
deliuered
the
abhomination
of
her
life
,
and
that
since
her
mariage
with
his
maister
,
she
had
liued
in
all
disquietnes
,
rage
,
and
distemperature
,
often
threatning
his
life
and
contryuing
plots
for
his
destruction
:
that
she
had
euer
since
her
mariage
,
in
most
publique
and
notorious
maner
,
maintained
a
yong
man
,
with
whom
(
in
his
view
)
she
had
often
committed
adultrie
:
that
the
same
young
man
since
his
maisters
losse
was
fled
he
knew
not
whether
,
and
that
his
mistris
had
euen
then
before
the
message
of
his
maisters
death
,
sould
all
his
goods
(
as
he
supposed
)
to
fly
also
after
him
whom
she
loued
:
all
these
speeches
were
not
only
seconded
,
but
almoste
approued
by
some
of
her
neighbors
,
which
liued
neare
vnto
her
,
insomuch
that
she
was
the
second
time
taken
into
a
more
strict
examination
:
wherein
albeit
she
could
not
denie
any
of
her
generall
assertions
,
yet
touching
the
death
of
her
husband
,
that
she
forswore
&
renounced
the
fact
or
practise
thereof
to
be
hers
,
with
such
a
shameles
constancie
,
that
●●ee
strucke
amazement
into
all
that
heard
her
:
in
the
end
by
authoritie
of
Iustice
she
was
committed
to
the
white
Lyon
in
Southwarke
:
during
the
time
of
which
imprisonment
,
till
her
time
of
tryall
,
thinking
to
out
face
truth
with
boldnesse
,
and
sin
with
impudence
,
she
continued
out
all
her
examinations
taken
before
seuerall
Iustices
in
her
former
denialls
,
and
whereas
the
Rod
of
imprisonment
laid
vppon
others
,
is
receiued
as
a
gentle
correction
,
whereby
to
looke
into
themselues
,
it
was
to
her
rather
the
bellowes
of
indignation
then
a
temperer
to
patience
:
rather
a
kinde
of
frenzie
,
then
a
cooler
of
furie
,
&
rather
a
pruoker
to
euill
then
a
perswader
to
goodnesse
,
for
she
was
seldome
found
to
bee
in
charitie
with
any
of
her
fellow
prisoners
,
nor
at
any
time
in
quiet
with
her selfe
,
rather
a
prouoker
then
an
appeaser
of
dissentions
,
given
to
much
swearing
,
scarce
praying
but
continually
scoulding
,
so
that
shee
was
as
hatefull
to
all
them
that
dwelt
with
her
in
that
her
last
home
the
prison
,
as
shee
was
to
people
of
honest
conuersation
,
hauing
deserued
the
name
of
a
Baud
)
while
she
liued
abroad
.
In
this
vnciuill
order
,
spending
her
houres
,
the
time
of
tryall
comming
on
,
(
when
such
offenders
were
to
appeare
before
the
earthly
Iudge
,
to
giue
accompt
of
their
liues
past
)
amongst
many
others
,
this
Margaret
Ferne-seed
was
one
and
at
the
assizes
last
,
according
to
the
order
of
law
,
she
was
indighted
,
&
arraigned
,
the
purpose
of
which
inditement
,
was
to
haue
practised
the
murther
of
her
late
husband
Anthony
Ferne-seede
,
who
as
before
was
found
dead
in
Peckham
field
nere
Lambeth
:
to
the
indit●●ment
she
pleaded
not
guiltie
,
putting
her
cause
to
God
and
the
Countrie
,
which
were
a
credible
Iurie
paniled
,
and
had
there
made
their
personall
appearance
for
that
purpose
:
then
were
these
seuerall
witnesses
produced
against
her
,
namely
of
the
incontinentnes
of
her
life
past
,
her
attempt
to
poyson
her
husband
before
this
murther
,
as
also
to
prepare
broth
for
him
,
and
put
powder
in
it
,
her
slight
regard
of
him
in
his
life
,
and
her
carelesse
sorrow
for
him
after
death
:
with
other
circumstances
,
as
the
flight
of
the
fellowe
whome
she
had
liued
long
in
adulterie
with
all
,
her
present
sale
of
her
goods
vppon
her
husbands
murther
,
as
it
may
be
iustly
thought
,
with
purpose
to
flie
after
him
:
on
which
lawfull
euidence
,
she
was
conuicted
,
&
after
iudgement
giuen
her
to
be
burned
:
and
from
thence
she
was
conueyed
backe
to
the
White
Lyon
,
till
the
time
appointed
for
her
execution
.
The
Confession
and
repentance
of
Margaret
Ferneseed
,
after
her
condemnation
in
the
White
Lyon
.
TO
prepare
the
reader
for
this
confession
of
hers
,
know
that
I
was
credibly
satisfied
,
that
when
the
heat
of
her
fury
was
past
,
to
which
she
was
much
subiect
vnto
)
she
a
woman
wel
spoken
,
offaire
deliuerance
,
and
good
persuasion
:
and
so
to
her
confession
.
To
excuse
my selfe
O
Lord
before
thee
,
who
knowes
the
conspiracies
of
our
thoughtes
euen
to
the
vtmost
of
our
actions
,
(
how
euer
so
priuat
or
publikely
committed
,
)
were
folly
,
or
to
iustifie
my selfe
were
sinne
,
since
no
flesh
can
appeare
pure
in
thy
sight
:
I
here
therfore
,
with
prostrate
knees
,
&
deiected
eyes
,
as
vnworthie
to
looke
vp
vnto
thy
diuine
Maiestie
,
with
a
contrite
hearte
and
penitent
soule
,
also
here
voluntariely
confesse
,
I
am
the
greatest
of
sinners
,
which
haue
deserued
thy
wrath
and
indignation
:
In
this
good
manner
she
proceeded
,
and
withall
satisfied
all
that
came
,
&
desired
to
haue
priuate
conference
with
her
,
of
the
whole
course
of
her
life
,
that
in
her
youth
,
euen
from
the
age
of
aptnesse
,
she
had
bene
a
prostitute
,
whore
but
growing
into
desabled
yeares
,
to
please
the
loose
desires
of
such
customers
,
she
after
turned
baude
,
a
course
of
life
more
hatefull
in
tempting
and
seducing
youth
,
then
the
other
in
committing
sinne
:
the
one
makes
but
spoile
and
ruyne
of
her selfe
,
and
the
other
of
a
multitude
,
for
(
quoth
shee
)
I
my selfe
haue
had
ten
seuerall
women
retaining
to
my
house
for
that
purpose
:
some
were
mens
wiues
,
which
repaired
thither
both
by
appointment
,
and
at
conuenent
houres
,
when
their
husbands
might
least
suspect
or
haue
knowledge
of
their
absence
:
and
these
women
did
I
first
tempte
to
their
fall
,
some
,
by
perswading
them
they
were
not
beloued
of
their
husbands
,
especially
if
I
could
at
any
time
haue
note
of
any
breach
or
discontent
betweene
them
:
others
,
that
their
husbands
maintained
them
not
sufficiently
to
expresse
their
beauty
,
and
according
to
their
owne
desarts
:
of
these
,
them
hauing
brought
my
purpose
to
effect
,
&
that
I
knew
they
had
offended
,
I
made
this
booty
that
they
were
as
fearefull
to
offend
mes
,
as
their
husbands
should
haue
knowledge
of
their
offences
:
and
these
allowed
mee
a
weekly
pention
for
comming
to
my
house
,
and
durst
not
at
all
times
but
finde
opportunitie
to
come
whensoeuer
my selfe
or
such
loose
friendes
,
whome
either
they
had
bene
familiar
withall
,
or
now
desired
to
be
acquainted
with
them
,
should
send
for
any
of
them
,
to
supply
my
house
,
and
make
spoile
of
yong
maides
who
were
sent
out
of
the
countrie
by
their
friends
,
herewith
hope
to
aduance
themselues
:
I
went
weekly
to
the
Carriers
,
where
if
the
maide
liked
mee
,
I
so
wrought
with
the
Carrier
that
she
Aldomeleft
me
till
I
had
brought
her
to
be
as
had
as
I
purposed
,
which
effected
,
euery
one
of
them
I
compelled
to
giue
mee
ten
shillings
a
week
out
of
their
gettings
:
hauing
as
I
said
sildome
lesse
then
ten
whose
bodies
and
soules
I
kept
in
this
bondage
:
Besides
I
confesse
I
was
a
continuall
receiuer
of
theft
stollen
:
but
in
all
this
,
as
it
was
badly
got
,
so
was
it
worse
consumed
for
nothing
of
it
did
prospere
with
me
,
whereby
(
quoth
she
)
I
acknowledge
I
haue
deserued
death
,
and
in
the
highest
degree
,
but
for
this
which
I
am
condemned
,
Heauen
that
knoweth
best
the
secrets
of
our
hearts
,
knowes
I
am
innocent
.
But
who
knowes
not
that
in
euill
,
there
is
a
like
impudence
to
deny
,
as
there
is
a
forwardnesse
to
acte
:
in
which
we
wil
leaue
here
whom
the
law
hath
found
guilty
,
and
hauing
thus
truly
related
her
owne
confession
,
wee
proceed
to
thee
manner
of
execution
.
First
onely
touching
the
euidence
of
two
Sailers
,
giuen
to
the
Iurie
at
her
arraignment
:
Among
other
circumstances
that
was
auailablest
to
condemne
her
,
this
was
one
and
the
chiefest
:
during
the
time
while
she
kept
a
bad
house
about
the
Iron-gate
:
by
Tower-ditch
,
there
hapned
a
couple
of
Bargemen
to
come
to
reuell
at
her
house
with
such
Guestes
as
she
kept
to
entertaine
loose
customers
,
and
hauing
spent
the
whole
day
in
large
ryot
and
much
expence
,
the
night
being
late
,
for
that
time
they
made
their
lodging
there
,
they
beeing
a
bed
,
it
hapned
that
night
(
which
was
sildome
)
her
husband
came
to
make
his
lodging
there
also
,
and
being
chambered
with
his
wife
,
but
a
wall
betweene
where
these
Bargemen
lay
,
they
could
expreslie
heare
them
euerie
word
that
passed
betweene
them
,
the
effect
of
which
:
was
,
the
reprouing
of
her
for
her
had
life
,
his
perswading
her
to
amendment
,
which
she
not
willing
to
listen
vnto
fell
a
scoulding
at
him
,
and
so
left
both
his
bed
and
chamber
some
time
passing
.
At
last
Maister
Ferneseede
heard
these
Barge-men
cough
,
&
wondring
to
haue
strangers
lodged
in
his
house
(
for
it
was
not
common
to
his
knowledge
)
arose
out
of
his
bed
,
and
demanded
of
them
what
they
were
?
who
asked
of
him
also
wherefore
hee
questioned
them
?
mary
(
quoth
hee
)
for
if
you
be
honnest
men
,
and
haue
a
care
either
of
your
bodies
or
soules
,
avoide
this
house
as
you
would
doe
poison
,
least
it
be
the
vndoeing
of
you
all
,
they
seeing
him
of
a
comely
personage
:
and
that
his
wordes
tended
to
some
purpose
,
demanded
of
him
what
he
was
that
gaue
them
such
wholesome
counsell
?
I
am
(
quoth
he
)
the
maister
of
this
house
(
if
I
had
my
right
)
but
I
am
bard
of
the
possession
and
commande
thereof
,
by
a
deuilish
woman
,
who
makes
a
stewes
of
it
to
excersice
her
sinnefull
practises
:
so
with
some
other
admonishment
left
the
roome
,
when
these
Barge-men
tolde
mistris
Ferneseed
what
they
had
heard
of
her
husband
,
to
which
she
replyed
:
hang
him
slaue
and
villaine
:
I
will
before
God
bee
reuenged
of
him
(
nay
ere
long
)
by
one
meanes
or
other
,
so
worke
,
that
I
will
bee
rid
of
him
,
which
making
good
in
the
iudgement
of
the
Iudge
,
to
gather
with
her
life
&
practises
,
she
as
aforesaid
was
condemned
.
On
Munday
being
the
last
of
February
;
she
had
notice
giuen
her
,
that
in
the
after-noone
she
must
suffer
death
,
and
a
Preacher
commended
vnto
her
to
instruct
her
for
her
soules
health
,
who
laboured
much
with
her
for
the
confession
of
the
fact
,
which
she
still
obstinately
denied
,
but
made
great
showe
of
repentance
for
her
life
past
,
so
that
about
two
of
the
clocke
in
the
after-noone
she
was
stripped
of
her
ordinary
wearing
apparell
,
and
vppon
her
owne
smocke
put
a
kirtle
of
Canuasse
pitched
cleane
through
,
ouer
which
she
did
weare
a
white
sheet
,
and
so
was
by
the
keeper
deliuered
to
the
Shreue
,
one
each
hand
a
woman
leading
her
,
and
the
Preacher
going
before
her
.
Being
come
to
the
place
of
execution
,
both
before
and
after
her
fastning
to
the
Stake
,
with
godly
exhortations
hee
admonished
her
that
now
in
that
minute
she
would
confesse
that
fact
for
which
she
was
now
ready
to
suffer
,
which
she
denying
,
the
reeds
were
planted
aboute
,
vnto
which
fier
being
giuen
she
was
presently
dead
.