A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE House of LORDS From Jan. 7. 1691. to Feb. 17. following BETWEEN The Duke and Dutchess of Norfolk Upon the Duke's BILL ENTITULED An Act to Dissolve the Marriage c. OCCASIONED By Two Libellous PAMPHLETS lately Published and Dispersed under the same Pretence and Title LONDON Printed in the Year MDCXCII THE PREFACE THere have been lately printed and made publick Two scandalous Pamphlets the one under the Title of The Proceedings before the House of Lords between the Duke and Dutchess of Norfolk The other is called The farther Depositions and Proceeddings in the House of Lords in the Affair of the Duke and Dutchess of Norfolk with the Bill of Divorce Now these two Papers are so far from a faithful Narrative of the said Proceedings that what with confounding the Order of the Transaction and disguising the Truth of Things by industrious Omissions gross Imperfections and wilfal Mistakes This pretended Account has made it absolutely necessary even for the sake of common Justice to set the World right in the Story To which end the entire Series of this Affair is here set forth from Point to Point just as it passed before their Lordships and stands upon their Journal with such Notes upon the Evidence on both sides as the Nature of the Case requires and as the Reason of it will fairly bear The Reader will observe here upon this Relation that the two Principal Witnesses produced against the Dutchess of Norfolk are Rowland Owen and Margaret Ellwood for they swear positively to the stress of the Question whereas all the rest is but Circumstantial and made use of only for Aggravation Prejudice and Clamour So that upon invalidating their Testimony the main Cause falls effectually to the Ground saving only the unavoidable Misfortune of many an Innocent Person that suffers under the Impossibility of proving a Negative there being no Fence against uncharitable Presumptions Now taking this for granted as it is not to be denied the Reader is only desired to lay seriously to Heart the Impossibility of the Fact that is sworn against the Dutchess in some Cases and the utter impossibility of it to be true in others The Tampering and Practice that has been used the Inconsistency of the Witnesses with themselves their Character and Credit c. one of them Ann Burton being trapt in a false Oath out of her own Mouth upon the very place of Examination The Reader will also take notice that of Twenty Six Witnesses produced in Favour of the Duke one half of them are Principals and the other only Seconds Peter Scriber Andrew Anderson Robert Hemming John Reynolds and Margaret Foster are five of the former Number but speaking little or nothing to the Merits of the Question it was not thought worth the while to offer Exceptions to their Testimony though to the other Eight that is to say Owen Ellwood Hudson Burton Varelst Tho. Foster Lloyd and Wadsworth there were several Witnesses on the behalf of the Dutchess to invalidate their Credit viz. Two to the First Six to the Second Two to the Third Four to the Fourth One to the Fifth Two to the Sixth Two to the Seventh and Six to the Last It is very remarkable also after all these Exceptions to every one of the Duke 's principal Witnesses that the Testimony of the Dutchess's Witnesses passed current without any contradiction saving only that Henry Daggley and John Hoskins were examined against the Credit of John Hall in the Case of Jane Wadsworth leaving four Witnesses more in the same Case untouch'd and Edith Sawbridge against the Testimony of Mrs. Judith Stourton which Depositions the Reader will find to be of little or no moment as to the matter in hand This puts it past Dispute that they had nothing more to say against the Witnesses for the Dutchess but stopt at these three for want of farther Pretence The Result in short is this that all the material Witnesses to the Charge are Impeached and the Evidence on the other side stands untainted To say nothing of the unanswerable Reasons that prevailed with the Lords finally to reject the Bill especially considering the Solemnity of the Proceedings For the Cause was kept on from the 7th of January to the 17th of February following All the Lords in and about the Town being summon'd by an Order of the House bearing Date Die Veneris Feb. 12. 1691. to attend at Twelve of the Clock on the Tuesday following And the Officers that summoned them to give an Account of what Lords they summoned pursuant to which Order their Lordships met according to the Appointment and after some previous Debates Adjourned till the next Day when the Depositions on both sides were read at the Table by the Clerk as will be seen more at large upon the following Journal And after a long and solemn Debate The Question being put Whether the Bill entituled An Act to Dissolve the Marriage of Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England with the Lady Mary Mordant and to enable the said Duke to Marry again shall be read a second time It was Resolved in the Negative A True ACCOUNT of the Proceedings before the House of Lords from January the 7th 1691 to the 17th of February following between the Duke and Dutchess of Norfolk upon the Duke's Bill Entituled An Act to Dissolve the Marriage c. The 7th of January the said Bill was lodg'd in the House of Lords The 8th of January THE Dutchess of Norfolk having received Intimation that the Duke of Norfolk was this Day offering a Bill to the House of Lords for Dissolving the Marriage between them and that the same was under Debate before their Lordships She was advised to present the following Petition To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled The Humble Petition of Mary Dutchess of Norfolk Sheweth THat your Petitioner being informed that the Duke of Norfolk is at this time offering a Bill to your Lordships for Dissolving the Marriage between him and your Petitioner Your Petitioner Humbly prays she may be heard by Your Lordships before such Bill be received And Your Petitioner will ever pray c. M. Norfolk Upon which Petition their Lordships were pleased to make the following Order viz. Die Veneris 8 Januarii 1691. A Bill having been offered to this House on the behalf of the Duke of Norfolk to dissolve the Marriage between the said Duke and his Dutchess It was ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled that Her Grace shall have notice thereof and may be heard by her Counsel at the Bar of this House on Tuesday next at 12 of the Clock what she hath to object against the receiving the said Bill at which time the said Duke may also be heard by his Counsel for the said Bill if he shall think fit Matth. Johnson Cler ' Parlimentor ' Die Martis 12 Januarii 1691. AFter hearing Counsel this day at
the Bar what they could object for her Grace the Dutchess of Norfolk against the receiving of a Bill offered by his Grace the Duke of Norfolk to dissolve the Marriage between him and his Dutchess As also the Counsel of his Grace the Duke of Norfolk for receiving the said Bill And after Consideration of what was offered by Counsel on either side and a long Debate thereupon This Question was put Whether the Duke of Norfolk ' s Bill should be received It was Resolved in the Affirmative Which Bill is as followeth An Act to Dissolve the Marriage of Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England with the Lady Mary Mordant and to enable the said Duke to Marry again FOrasmuch as Henry Duke of Norfolk and Earl Marshal of England having been Married to the Lady Mary Mordant hath made full proof that his said Wife is guilty of and hath committed Adultery on her part And forasmuch as the said Henry Duke of Norfolk hath no Issue nor can have any probable expectation of Posterity to succeed him in his Honours Dignities and Estate unless the said Marriage be declared void by Authority of Parliament and the said Duke be enabled to Marry any other Woman The King and Queens Most Excellent Majesties upon the Humble Petition of the said Henry Duke of Norfolk having taken the Premises into their Royal Consideration for divers weighty Reasons are pleased that it be Enacted And be it Enacted by the King and Queens Most Excellent Majesties and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That the said Marriage between the said Henry Duke of Norfolk and the said Lady Mary his Wife shall from henceforth be null and void and is by Authority of this present Parliament Declared Adjudged and Enacted to be null and void to all Intents Constructions and Purposes whatsoever And that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Henry Duke of Norfolk at any time or times hereafter to Contract Matrimony and to Marry as well in the Life-time of the said Lady Mary as if she were naturally dead with any other Woman or Women with whom he might lawfully marry in case the said Lady Mary was not living And that such Matrimony when had and celebrated shall be a good just and lawful Marriage and so shall be adjudged deemed and taken to all Intents Constructions and Purposes And that all and every Children and Child born in such Matrimony shall be deemed adjudged and taken to be born in lawful Wedlock and to be Legitimate and Inheritable and shall inherit the said Dukedome of Norfolk Office of Earl Marshal of England and all other Earldoms Dignities Baronies Honours and Titles of Honour Lands Tenements and other Hereditaments from and by their Fathers Mothers and other Ancestors in like manner and form as any other Child or Children born in lawful Matrimony shall or may inherit or be inheritable according to the Course of Inheritances used in this Realm And to have and enjoy all Priviledges Preheminencies Benefits Advantages Claims and Demands as any other Child or Children born in lawful Wedlock may have or claim by the Laws or Customs of this Kingdom And be it farther Enacted That the said Henry Duke of Norfolk shall be Intituled to be Tenant by Courtesy of the Lands and Inheritance of such Wife whom he shall hereafter marry And such Wife as he shall so marry shall be Intitled to a Dower of the Lands and Tenements of the said Henry Duke of Norfolk and of such Estate whereof she shall be Dowable as any other Husband or Wife may or might claim have or enjoy And the Child or Children born in such Marriage shall and may derive and make Title by Descent or otherwise to and from any their Ancestors as any other Child or Children may do any Law Statute Restraint Prohibition Ordinance Canon Constitution Prescription or Custom had made exercised or used to the contrary of the Premisses or any of them in any wise notwithstanding And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the said Lady Mary shall be and is hereby barred and excluded of and from all Dower and Thirds and of and from all Right and Title of Dower and Thirds unto or out of any the Honours Mannors Lands or Hereditaments of the said Duke And that all Conveyances Jointures Settlements Limitations and Creations of Uses and Trusts of into or out of any Honours Mannors Lands or Hereditaments at any time heretofore made by the said Duke or any of his said Ancestors or Trustees unto or upon or for the use or benefit of the said Lady Mary or any the Issue of her Body or for raising discharging or counter-securing any the Mannors Lands or Hereditaments of the said Lady Mary or any of her Ancestors shall be from henceforth utterly void and of none effect And all and every the said Honours Mannors Lands or Hereditaments of the said Duke or any of his Ancestors or Trustees shall from henceforth remain and be to and for the use and benefit of the said Duke and such other Person or Persons and for such Estates and Interests and in such manner and form as if the said Lady Mary was now naturally dead without any Issue of her Body And also That all Limitations and Creations of any Use Estate Power or Trust made by any of the Ancestors of the said Lady Mary unto or for the use or benefit of the said Duke his Heirs or Assigns out of any the Mannors Lands or Hereditaments of any of the Ancestors of the said Lady Mary shall be from henceforth void and of none effect 13 Januarii 1691. THe Duke of Norfolk's Bill aforesaid having been yesterday received and read The Dutchess of Norfolk presented the following Petition to Their Lordships this Day To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled The Humble Petition of Mary Dutchess of Norfolk Sheweth THat your Petitioner being Married to the Duke of Norfolk 14 Years and upwards never had or received from her Husband any Intimation of a Misdemeanor on her part against him which joined to her Innocency of the Crime mentioned in the Bill makes this Proceeding before your Lordships very surprizing to her Her Person Estate and Honour which is more dear to her than her Life being now brought in question Your Petitioner humbly prays she may have a Copy of the particular Charge against her with the Names of the Witnesses and reasonable time allowed her to answer the same before any farther Proceedings upon the Bill Mary Norfolk Upon which Petition the following Order was made Die Mercurii 13 Januarii 1691. UPon reading the Petition of Mary Dutchess of Norfolk It is Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled That Sir Richard Reynes Sir Charles Hedges and Dr. Oxenden do attend this House to Morrow at ten
Mrs. Nelly Gwyn came in and asked her how she liked her Nights Rest And being asked for Germain she said she knew nothing of him My Lady complaining of her Hair being out of order Nelly answered it was a hot Night with her enough to put her Hair out of Powder and Curl too Quickly after Cornwall came in and asked for Germain and my Lady saying she knew nothing of him Nelly Gwyn said I question not but he will come out by and by like a drownded Rat with that while I was cleaning the Dining Room Mrs. Knifton called me and shewed me in a Closet Germain's Shirt and Wastcoat and afterwards makeing my Lady's Bed saw there were Two Prints where Two had laid The Shirt and Wastcoat were sent by the Duke to the Lord Petterborow's she saith she is a single Woman and was never Married this was about Bartholomewtide Six Years since she supposeth the Bed was Stained both by a Man and Woman Witnesses sworn on the behalf of the Dutchess for the invalidating the Testimony of Ann Burton ANN Burton against her self upon seeing several Witnesses come in to prove her to be a Married Woman tho' she had sworn the contrary was call'd to the Bar of the Lords and there saith she was not Married when she was at Windsor since that she hath been Married Ann Burton was her Maiden Name her Husband's Name is Benskin Susan Wheat-Croft saith that she knows Ann Burton and that she Lodged in her House Sixteen Weeks with her Husband Robert Benskin and she said she should have a parcel of Money to be a Witness for the Duke of Norfolk against his Dutchess this was about March Two Years since her Husband said he should have a Commission from the Duke of Norfolk and he should have a great deal more from him for his Wife is to be a material Witness against his Dutchess They did not pay her the Witness when they went away nor since they owed her Seven Pounds Fifteen Shillings she hath been seeking after them and could not find them she left a Trunk with Rags in it and went away Privately carrying away her Goods by Parcels Mary Sheriff saith that she lives next Door to Warwick-House in Holbourn and hath kept House there near seven Years and hath known Ann Burton two Years she lived with my Lord Clare while she was there a Soldier courted her they used to come every day for a Fortnight or three Weeks to her House to drink she ow'd her about 3 l. she hath told her several times since that she was to be a Witness for the Duke of Norfolk against his Dutchess and she was to have Money for speaking she heard Mrs. Tod bid her always keep in a Story and she would do well she the Witness heard them talk of 30 or 40 l. Mrs. Burton should get by being a Witness she is not paid the 3 l. nor knows not whether she shall be paid but last Winter she found her in Henrietta-street and she desired her the Witness not to take notice of her Name nor what she said to her for she the Witness should have her Money in a short time when the Tryal was over she told her the same a little before that when she lived at Major Wildman's she takes it to be in this Winter was Twelve-Month she thinks it was the Duke of Norfolk's Tryal she the Witness keeps a Coffee-House call'd Joe's Coffee-House William Purchase saith that he knows Ann Burton she declared to him about a Year and a half after the Dutchess was charged with lying with Mr. Germaine that she knew nothing of it and that the Dutchess was wrong'd as much as ever any Woman was and that she hoped to see those punished that were the Cause of the Accusation He saith he went to see her as a Fellow-Servant and he was not sent by any one and going to drink together they fell into this Discourse He hath talk'd of this Matter several Times particularly to Mr. Welborne since this Business was spoken of having heard she was to be a Witness against the Dutchess Observations upon the foregoing Evidence ANN Burton has the Story over again of the Shirt and Wastcoat and of Mrs. Gwyn's Discourse to which enough is said already and more needs not be said upon the Evidence of a Person so manifestly forsworn In her first Oath she swears her self a single Woman and that she was never Married but upon Witnesses appearing to prove the contrary she was called to the Bar again and own'd her self to be Married and that her Husband's Name was Benskin This Ann Burton had been a Lodger sixteen Weeks to Susan Wheatcroft as appears by Wheatcroft's Deposition she conveyed her Goods privately out of the House by Parcels and slipt away seven Pound fifteen Shillings in her Debt she told Wheatcroft that she was to be a Witness against the Dutchess and that she should have Money her Husband saying also that his Wife was to be a material Witness against the Dutchess and he himself should have a Commission and more than that too Mary Sheriff says that pressing Ann Burton for three Pound that she ow'd her her Answer was that she was to be a Witness for the Duke against the Dutchess and that in a short time she should have Money and then she would pay her William Purchase swears that about a Year and half after the Report concerning the Dutchess and Mr. Germaine Ann Burton told him the Dutchess was wrong'd and she hop'd to see her Accusers punished and that he himself hath often spoke of this Passage to several and particularly to Mr. Welborne Take notice that these Depositions for the Dutchess as well as the former have passed without any contradiction That Germaine's Man is neither produced nor named the Linnen if any brought as openly as it was sent for No Mrs. Knifton appears and the whole Deposition rests upon the Credit of a forsworn Woman Simon Varelst examined on the behalf of the Duke of Norfolk against the Dutchess SImon Varelst saith that he was at Windsor to draw the Dutchess of Norfolk's Picture about six Years since and had the Duke's Closet to put the Pictures in when he had done and had been at home two or three Days when Germaine came to him much concern'd and said you can do the Dutchess an extraordinary Kindness and will oblige the Lord and Lady Peterborow in the highest degree then he shewed me a Letter of the Dutchess to me and read it to me before that he told me there was a Shirt and Wastcoat and they are known to be his he said I desire you to save the Dutchess's Honour I desire that you will be so much a Gentleman as to own them to be yours and that you left them there I answered I was much concern'd there should be such a Trouble but I desired to be excused I could not do it without Prejudice He told me the Lord and Lady Peterborow had discoursed
would consent to the Sale of those Estates and make the Duke easie in that particular let her but consider wherein he himself might make the Dutchess easie too and upon those Terms he would do it His Grace told the Witness farther that there being One or Two and Twenty Catholick Heirs to the Family before one Protestant Heir if says his Grace I would bring a Bill of Divorce I do not say it to threaten her I could obtain it on that Account The Witness acquainted both the Dutchess and the Lady Peterborow the very same Day with the substance of this Message her Grace taking it very heinously to be told of a Divorce and the next Day the Dutchess shewed the Witness a Letter she wrote to the Duke upon this Occasion declaring that for Castle-Rising and Billing she would never part with them It appears from hence that upon the Examination of Mrs. Stourton and other necessary Enquiries into the grounds of this Scandal the violence of the first Impression was so far taken off that according to the Evidence of Elizabeth Camel my Lord was pleased to treat the Dutchess with all Instances of Tenderness and Respect both upon their Passage into France and upon the Places there those of the Bed only excepted In this state Matters have continued some five or six Years now without any Speech or Thought of a Divorce that ever the Dutchess heard of till Mid November last in a Message by Mr. Welborne from the Duke and that was but upon a certain Condition neither however it was improved afterwards into a Bill that upon the seventh of January following was formally brought into the Lords House The Reader will need no other Light to a true understanding of the Strait her Grace was in upon this Surprize and the Disadvantages she was exposed to than what he has here before him in the Order of the Journal it self Where he will find the Dutchess so scanted for time to produce Witnesses and prepare her Defence that it was a wonderful Providence she should do so much as she did Though in the mean while her Grace has lost the benefit of several considerable Witnesses for want of time to find them out and bring them together Now as for Mr. Welborne's Deposition it carries the Countenance rather of a Treaty than an Accusation the Duke's part is only a calm deliberate Discourse consulting the Reciprocal Ease both of himself and of the Dutchess Terms are proposed and promised and not one Word or Glance of Reproach from one end to the other of it Mr. Welborne upon the Duke's asking him at the Lord's Bar if by his Discourse he understood an Inclination to live with the Dutchess 't is true did not gather from his Words as if he had any thought of living with her the only hard thing said was that about his Catholick Heirs which seem'd to turn the Case of Adultery into a Case of Religion Let any Creature judge now whether the Dutchess durst to have stood it out thus if she had been guilty of so foul a Crime when she might have been safe and free as appears by the Proposal upon Terms so much more easy To make a short Summary now of the Whole a Word first to the Character and Quality of the Witnesses There is Owen a Street-Porter brought in as a Witness to the Privacies of the Dutchess's Bed-Chamber besides several unanswerable Exceptions to the Particulars of his Evidence There is Ellwood a Coblers Wife and a Gilting little Slut that 's as palpably detected of Falsity as the other Hudson a poor Roguy Tricking Footman that was turn'd off for his ill Behaviour Burton a beggerly Wench that cheated her Landlady and forswore her self in this Cause at the Lords Bar Varelst a Painter and by Intervals a Mad-man Foster a Coachman that was turn'd off by his Master and swore to be reveng'd of him Lloyd under several manifest mistakes but nothing to the main Cause Scriber Anderson Hemming Reynolds and Margaret Foster say not one word to the purpose Wadsworth a pilfering Servant that robb'd her Mistress and her Evidence most notoriously expos'd Now as these Witnesses are of very little value upon the Stock of their own Credit so the Witnesses against them cannot be deny'd to have a fair Reputation on the other hand And it is very extraordinary that after the naming of so many Persons in their Depositions that said or did or heard or saw this or that the Prosecutors have not brought in so much as one Creature to second the Swearing Evidence Tho' it is sufficiently known they could have found them if they would have ventur'd the Cause upon that stress It is to be consider'd once more what a difference there has been betwixt the Demeanour of the one side and the other towards the Evidence What Promises Flatteries and engaging Obligations on the one hand and not so much as one Word or Deed directly or indirectly that look'd like a Practice or a Prepossession on the other part of the Dutchess Let this be taken in the softest sense for it is a great Misfortune when officious Instruments that are foreward'd to broach Scandals meet with easie and good natur'd Dispositions that are too open perhaps to receive them This may serve in some measure perhaps to remove the Evidence of those that are not wilfully Deaf and Blind and for the rest it is left to Time and Providence to bring the Truth to light in its due season and to vindicate the Cause of the Innocent and Oppressed FINIS
of the Clock in the Forenoon Matth. Johnson Cler ' Parliamentor ' 14 Januarii 1691. After having heard the Civil Lawyers the following Order was made Die Jovis 14 Januarii 1691. AFter hearing this day the Civil Lawyers pursuant to the Order Yesterday upon reading the Dutchess of Norfolk's Petition It is Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled That his Grace the Duke of Norfolk shall bring in the Charge against his Dutchess and particularly to the Person Time and Place by Saturday next at 12 of the Clock Matth. Johnson Cler ' Parliamentor ' 16 Januarii 1691. This Day the Duke of Norfolk brought in the following Charge against his Dutchess The Charge which Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England doth exhibit against his Wife Mary Dutchess of Norfolk before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled pursuant to their Lordships Order of the 14th of January 1691 is for the Crime of Adultery THe Person charg'd to commit the said Crime with the said Dutchess is John Germaine of the Parish of St. Margaret's in the Liberty of Westminster The Times when the said Crime was committed were between the Months of June and December 1685 and several times since The Places where the said Crime was committed are at Whitehal Windsor and within the Parishes of St. Margaret's Westminster St. Martin's in the Fields St. James's St. Ann's within the Liberty of Westminster And in the Parish of Lambeth in the County of Surrey Norfolk and Marshal Upon which the following Order was made Die Sabbati 16 Januarii 1691. UPon reading this day the Charge which Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England hath exhibited against his Wife Mary Dutchess of Norfolk for the Crime of Adultery It is Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled That her Grace the Dutchess of Norfolk do attend this House on Monday next or some Person on her behalf then to receive a Copy of the Charge against her Matth. Johnson Cler ' Parliamentor ' 19 Januarii 1691. The Answer of Mary Dutchess of Norfolk to the Charge exhibited against her by the Duke of Norfolk before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled THis Respondent is advised that the Charge exhibited by the Duke of Norfolk into this Honourable House against her as to Time and Place is too general and is not pursuant nor doth answer the end of your Lordships Order of the 14th Instant made upon the humble Petition of this Respondent Wherefore she doth humbly hope and pray your Lordships will not oblige her to make any further Answer till the Duke shall bring in a particular and certain Charge as to Time and Place against her And this Respondent doth the rather humbly insist That your Lordships would please to require the Duke to be particular and certain in these material Circumstances of his Charge against her for that it appears by his own shewing therein that the supposed Crimes objected to her and alledged to be committed were above 6 Years before the Bill was offered to this Honourable House during most of which time at the advice and by the approbation of the Duke was and continued beyond the Seas to ease him in his Charge and Part He frequently declaring that when he should be more easy in his Fortune they should live together M. Norfolk Upon which Answer the following Order was made And the Duke's Second Charge delivered in the same Day Die Martis 19 Januarii 1691. IT is Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled That her Grace the Dutchess of Norfolk shall have a Copy of the Duke's Charge delivered this day against her And that she or Sir Thomas Pinfold do attend this House to Morrow at 11 of the Clock in the Forenoon to answer to the said Charge Matth. Johnson Cler ' Parliamentor ' Which Copy is as followeth The Charge which Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England doth exhibit against his Wife Mary Dutchess of Norfolk before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled pursuant to Their Lordships Order of the 14th of January 1691 is for the Crime of Adultery THe Person charged to commit the said Crime with the said Dutchess is one John Germaine of the Parish of St. Margaret's Westminster The Times and Places when the said Crime was committed were at Whitehall in the Months of June July August some or one of them in the Year 1685. At Windsor in the Months of July August or September some or one of them in the said Year 1685. In the Parish of St. Margaret's Westminster March April May June some or one of them in the Year of our Lord 1690. And in the said Parish of St. Margaret's Westminster in the Months of July or August 1690. In the Parish of Lambeth in the County of Surrey in the Months of May June July August some or one of them in the Year 1691. Norfolk and Marshal Upon which the next Day viz. the 20th of January 1691 the Dutchess of Norfolk presented the following Petition To the Right Honourable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled The Humble Petition of Mary Dutchess of Norfolk Sheweth THat your Petitioner was served with an Order of this Honourable House late last Night to attend your Lordships this Day by Eleven of the Clock either in Person or by Sir Thomas Pinfold to answer to a new Charge brought in against her by her Husband the Duke of Norfolk Your Petitioner is advised That for her just Defence it is necessary to alledge in her Answer several special Matters relating both to the Duke and her self That in this short time appointed by Your Lordships your Petitioner finds it impossible to instruct Counsel to prepare such an Answer as she is advised is necessary to put in Wherefore Your Petitioner Humbly prays Your Lordships she may have convenient time to put in her Answer to the said Charge And Your Petitioner will ever pray c. M. Norfolk Upon which the following Order was made Die Mercurii 20 Januarii 1691. UPon reading the Petition of Mary Dutchess of Norfolk praying that She may have convenient time for answering to the Charge put in against her by his Grace the Duke of Norfolk Yesterday It is Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled That her Grace the Dutchess of Norfolk shall peremptorily answer by her Self or Proctor to the said Charge to Morrow at Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon Matth. Johnson Cler ' Parliamentor ' Accordingly January the 21st The Dutchess of Norfolk delivered in the following Answer I Mary Dutchess of Norfolk under Protestation That the pretended Charge of Adultery given against me in the Honourable House of Peers was and is general insufficient and such as I humbly conceive I am not bound by Law to give answer unto Yet knowing my own Innocency and that I am not guilty of the pretended Crime this Protestation being Sacred to me