Migoz2
Senator
I would be most surprised if she did......
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Rebecca and The Bloody Codes
- Thread starter Praefectus Praetorio
- Start date
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Another deep dive - LittleSiss bewarned!
Princess Caroline was another remarkable, yet little known today, woman (Professor @Barbaria1 Moore, I hope you’re listening and preparing a course in “Underappreciated British Women of the Early 18th Century” - you can lecture standing up!) of the early Georgian Period. This flowering (in more ways than one) of intelligent women could be partially traced to the two Restoration reigns of women, Mary and Anne, both very well-liked.
Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline’s father, Margrave John Frederick of Brandenburg-Ansbach, belonged to a branch of the House of Hohenzollern and was the ruler of a small German state, the Principality of Ansbach. Her father died when she was three and her mother twice remarried. He second step-father was abusive and tried to poison Caroline and her mother for the family’s inheritance. When her mother died, she and her brother were fortunate to be taken in by Frederick I of Prussia (her godfather), and his wife Sophia Charlotte (sister of George I). It was a loving household and Caroline treasured her relationship with Sophia Charlotte the rest of her life.
Caroline spent her teenage years at the Prussian court in Berlin, renowned for its patronage of artists and architects and its lively intellectual life. Caroline was surrounded by a circle of writers and intellectuals, and shared with them a taste for the visual arts. Her intelligence and keen interest in science and art was recognised in her own lifetime. The French philosopher, Voltaire, said of her, that she was 'born to encourage the arts and the well-being of mankind.'
As a young woman, Caroline was much sought-after as a bride. All assumed that she would accept the suit of the nominal King of Spain, Archduke Charles of Austria, future Holy Roman Emperor. However, to marry an Austrian Habsburg, Caroline would have to convert to her husband’s Catholicism. She had been raised an ardent Protestant and therefore, to the astonishment of most of the royalty of Europe, refuse his suit. This, in term made her a kind of heroine to the Protestants of Germany, Holland and England.
George I had been forced into a loveless marriage (based on his bride’s substantial income) which had been most unhappy, leading to a bitter divorce. Young George Augustus never saw his mother again after the age of eleven. George wanted his son to avoid the mistake he had made, so allowed the boy to choose his own bride. The first prospect proved not to his liking, so, in June 1705, aged 21, under the false name "Monsieur de Busch", George visited the Ansbach court at its summer residence in Triesdorf to investigate incognito a marriage prospect: Caroline, also 21, the former ward of his aunt Queen Sophia Charlotte of Prussia. The English envoy to Hanover, Edmund Poley, reported that George was so taken by "the good character he had of her that he would not think of anybody else."
While the diplomat referred to “good character,” it may be noted that Caroline was a renowned beauty with white-blonde hair, very fair skin and a “generous” (enough to be remarked upon) bosom.
The marriage was by all accounts very happy and he loved her devotedly. In July 1707, shortly after the birth of their first son, Caroline fell seriously ill with smallpox, and George caught the infection after staying by her side devotedly during her illness. They both recovered.
Caroline patronized the arts through her marriage and reign. One of her building projects in the garden at Richmond in the early 1730s displayed five busts of leading English scientists and philosophers, demonstrating her sustained interest in these areas of scholarship. One of the greatest treasures in the Royal Collection is the collection of Holbein drawings. Caroline had rediscovered these and had them taken out of their bound volume and framed so that she could display them.
George always deferred to Caroline. For example, when he became King, he intended to dismiss Robert Walpole, his father’s first minister. However, Caroline had become friends with Walpole and, at her insistence, George retained him.
Caroline died in 1737. He was deeply affected by her death, and to the surprise of many displayed "a tenderness of which the world thought him before utterly incapable". On her deathbed she told her sobbing husband to remarry, to which he replied, "Non, j'aurai des maîtresses!" ("No, I shall have mistresses!") which made her laugh. It was common knowledge that George had already had mistresses during his marriage, and he had kept Caroline well informed about them.
Princess Caroline was another remarkable, yet little known today, woman (Professor @Barbaria1 Moore, I hope you’re listening and preparing a course in “Underappreciated British Women of the Early 18th Century” - you can lecture standing up!) of the early Georgian Period. This flowering (in more ways than one) of intelligent women could be partially traced to the two Restoration reigns of women, Mary and Anne, both very well-liked.
Wilhelmina Charlotte Caroline’s father, Margrave John Frederick of Brandenburg-Ansbach, belonged to a branch of the House of Hohenzollern and was the ruler of a small German state, the Principality of Ansbach. Her father died when she was three and her mother twice remarried. He second step-father was abusive and tried to poison Caroline and her mother for the family’s inheritance. When her mother died, she and her brother were fortunate to be taken in by Frederick I of Prussia (her godfather), and his wife Sophia Charlotte (sister of George I). It was a loving household and Caroline treasured her relationship with Sophia Charlotte the rest of her life.
Caroline spent her teenage years at the Prussian court in Berlin, renowned for its patronage of artists and architects and its lively intellectual life. Caroline was surrounded by a circle of writers and intellectuals, and shared with them a taste for the visual arts. Her intelligence and keen interest in science and art was recognised in her own lifetime. The French philosopher, Voltaire, said of her, that she was 'born to encourage the arts and the well-being of mankind.'
As a young woman, Caroline was much sought-after as a bride. All assumed that she would accept the suit of the nominal King of Spain, Archduke Charles of Austria, future Holy Roman Emperor. However, to marry an Austrian Habsburg, Caroline would have to convert to her husband’s Catholicism. She had been raised an ardent Protestant and therefore, to the astonishment of most of the royalty of Europe, refuse his suit. This, in term made her a kind of heroine to the Protestants of Germany, Holland and England.
George I had been forced into a loveless marriage (based on his bride’s substantial income) which had been most unhappy, leading to a bitter divorce. Young George Augustus never saw his mother again after the age of eleven. George wanted his son to avoid the mistake he had made, so allowed the boy to choose his own bride. The first prospect proved not to his liking, so, in June 1705, aged 21, under the false name "Monsieur de Busch", George visited the Ansbach court at its summer residence in Triesdorf to investigate incognito a marriage prospect: Caroline, also 21, the former ward of his aunt Queen Sophia Charlotte of Prussia. The English envoy to Hanover, Edmund Poley, reported that George was so taken by "the good character he had of her that he would not think of anybody else."
While the diplomat referred to “good character,” it may be noted that Caroline was a renowned beauty with white-blonde hair, very fair skin and a “generous” (enough to be remarked upon) bosom.
The marriage was by all accounts very happy and he loved her devotedly. In July 1707, shortly after the birth of their first son, Caroline fell seriously ill with smallpox, and George caught the infection after staying by her side devotedly during her illness. They both recovered.
Caroline patronized the arts through her marriage and reign. One of her building projects in the garden at Richmond in the early 1730s displayed five busts of leading English scientists and philosophers, demonstrating her sustained interest in these areas of scholarship. One of the greatest treasures in the Royal Collection is the collection of Holbein drawings. Caroline had rediscovered these and had them taken out of their bound volume and framed so that she could display them.
George always deferred to Caroline. For example, when he became King, he intended to dismiss Robert Walpole, his father’s first minister. However, Caroline had become friends with Walpole and, at her insistence, George retained him.
Caroline died in 1737. He was deeply affected by her death, and to the surprise of many displayed "a tenderness of which the world thought him before utterly incapable". On her deathbed she told her sobbing husband to remarry, to which he replied, "Non, j'aurai des maîtresses!" ("No, I shall have mistresses!") which made her laugh. It was common knowledge that George had already had mistresses during his marriage, and he had kept Caroline well informed about them.
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connoisseurs
Senator
The same can be said about our Ladies of CF!
Harsh Martinet
Consul
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Are you looking for demerits?Surely said only with a very heavy dose of sarcasm
connoisseurs
Senator
There are not that many women outside of CF who can say quite a few artist have made dozens of pics of them.Surely said only with a very heavy dose of sarcasm
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Chapter 40 Offer of Pardon
Rebecca, though barely educated, was a quick learner. With the experience of bringing off the other two man and the big incentive to please the man who held her life in his hands, she went to work on Sir Francis with added vigor. Massaging his staff with one hand, cradling and teasing his balls with the other, she employed her lips and tongue on the head as if a whore with much more experience. Without instruction, she began to slip more and more of the stiff shaft into her mouth and the judge grunted his appreciation. She even went so far as to lodge the head for a few moments in her throat, grasping it in a sensuous grip while her tongue and lips worked double time to please the man.
It took Page longer than the others due to his more advanced age, but soon, the pleasurable ministrations of the young girl’s hands and mouth achieved the intended result. Grunting like a wild boar, Sir Francis reared up from the chair, pumping his hips, and deposited his seed in Rebecca’s mouth.
The girl almost gagged to swallow the more foul-tasting semen of the judge. But she feigned enthusiasm and lust to please his male pride. Even as his member softened, she continued to lick and love the flesh until he pushed her away.
“Well, Your Honour. Has the girl demonstrated enough remorse for you to consider our proposal for her pardon?” asked Sir Elliott.
“Yes,” panted the judge. “I’ll consider it, if she performs adequately.”
“A tol-lol response. Rebecca, this is good news!”
“Vat is, Sir?”
“We have a proposition for you, that the judge just agreed to. You are to work for us for the next ten days doing that kind of service and the kind you did the other night. This will be for friends of ours who will pay handsomely for the privilege to fuck a pretty young slut like you.”
Rebecca put her hand to her mouth. Even after the last two days, the idea of working as a prostitute was repugnant to her upbringing.
“For every man you service, we will send a shilling to your family. And if you perform exceptionally well, at the end of the days, the judge may rescind the whipping, branding and hanging sentences!”
All her moral reticence to the deal melted away as she heard the generous payment that would help her family and the promise of life at the end.
The naked girl fell on her knees before the judge and kissed his feet.
“Thank you all! I vill do good! I swears I vill do everything you want. Thank you so much!”
Ten Days Later, June 15
Allen Breaker and Always Fair sat in the Keepers office and shared a bottle of good French Brandy that Sir Elliott had sent them as thanks for their roles with Rebecca.
“Mr. Fair, here’s to a well-managed enterprise with sweet Rebecca,” said Breaker, raising his glass.
“Well-managed indeed. I maintain the profit and loss records for these enterprises for Sir Elliott. She’s been the most profitable one yet. He just told me your gratuity for the enterprise will be twenty-five quid.”
“Lord! That’ll be very nice! What’s yours, Green-Bag?”
“I resent that term,” said Fair with a good-natured laugh. “I’m a member of the Temple, I am, shorted with just 50 Coach wheels to show for my efforts.”
“Here’s to that game pullet, Rebecca, who’s made us all wealthy.”
“Don’t talk like an apothecary, Allen. It’s Sir Elliott and his smart nose, what’s making us all rich.”
“True. But I’s the one whose worked like an Abbot, nigh on ten days, shuffling the men in and out of her chamber. Everythings from Beau Nasty Jimmy Rounds to Sawneys from Louse-land flashing the gentleman.”
“Aye. But, everyone’s a topping fellow, eight pounds minimum and much more for extra time and extra action! They weren’t buying no three-penny upright.”
“True. And there were notables too, The Earl of Bath, the Duke of Queensberry. Even that young poet, John Gay.”
“Yes, I hear Gay’s writing an opera, by God,” said the lawyer. “Kind of a Newgate pastoral among the thieves and whores there. Making sport of those Italian operas He’s to glorify Claude Duval, the highwayman.”
“The same as shook a cloth in the wind at Tyburn? He’s more’n welcome to do so. There’s many an ‘honest’ man’s no better than that type. It was remarkable how much ’extra-action,’ with Rebecca was paid for. She bagpiped enough to rouse a new army in Itchland. Then some of those Jerry Sneaks really like to hurt a girl, particularly in her girly parts. And Rebecca took ‘em all on. You should have seen her at the end of a day, two or three in the morning, twenty or thirty serviced. She was baked. Mistress Bly earned her pay getting her ready for the next day. I’ll give the girl credit, though she never resisted.”
“Would you, if there was a flogging, branding, and hanging as the other turn of the card?”
“No. But still, I worked hard for my shiners too.” Said Breaker.
“As did we all, Keeper. She still expects to be turned up on the morrow?” asked Always.
“Aye. Midday tomorrow, she meets with the owners.”
“Aye,” said Always. “Now it’s almost over. Irrigate your throat with more of Sir Elliott’s fine Brandy.”
“I’ll gladly read a line of the old author,” said Allen, raising his glass.
Tol-lol - pretty good
Green-bag - a lawyer
Coach wheel - a crown piece (5 shillings)
Game pullet - a young whore
Talk like an apothecary - talk nonsense
Abbot - a man who is a brothel keeper
Beau Nasty - Someone well-dressed but dirty.
Jimmy Round - a Frenchman (from Je me rends)
Sawney - a Scotsman
Louse-land – Scotland
Flash the gentleman - pretend to be a gentleman
Topping fellow - someone who was at the top of his profession.
Three-Penny Upright - a cheap prostitute who dispensed her favors standing against a wall.
Bagpipe – give a blowjob
Itchland - Scotland
Jerry Sneak - a henpecked husband
Baked – exhausted
Shiners – money
Turned up - acquitted or discharged
Irrigate - take a drink
A line of the old author - a dram of brandy
Rebecca, though barely educated, was a quick learner. With the experience of bringing off the other two man and the big incentive to please the man who held her life in his hands, she went to work on Sir Francis with added vigor. Massaging his staff with one hand, cradling and teasing his balls with the other, she employed her lips and tongue on the head as if a whore with much more experience. Without instruction, she began to slip more and more of the stiff shaft into her mouth and the judge grunted his appreciation. She even went so far as to lodge the head for a few moments in her throat, grasping it in a sensuous grip while her tongue and lips worked double time to please the man.
It took Page longer than the others due to his more advanced age, but soon, the pleasurable ministrations of the young girl’s hands and mouth achieved the intended result. Grunting like a wild boar, Sir Francis reared up from the chair, pumping his hips, and deposited his seed in Rebecca’s mouth.
The girl almost gagged to swallow the more foul-tasting semen of the judge. But she feigned enthusiasm and lust to please his male pride. Even as his member softened, she continued to lick and love the flesh until he pushed her away.
“Well, Your Honour. Has the girl demonstrated enough remorse for you to consider our proposal for her pardon?” asked Sir Elliott.
“Yes,” panted the judge. “I’ll consider it, if she performs adequately.”
“A tol-lol response. Rebecca, this is good news!”
“Vat is, Sir?”
“We have a proposition for you, that the judge just agreed to. You are to work for us for the next ten days doing that kind of service and the kind you did the other night. This will be for friends of ours who will pay handsomely for the privilege to fuck a pretty young slut like you.”
Rebecca put her hand to her mouth. Even after the last two days, the idea of working as a prostitute was repugnant to her upbringing.
“For every man you service, we will send a shilling to your family. And if you perform exceptionally well, at the end of the days, the judge may rescind the whipping, branding and hanging sentences!”
All her moral reticence to the deal melted away as she heard the generous payment that would help her family and the promise of life at the end.
The naked girl fell on her knees before the judge and kissed his feet.
“Thank you all! I vill do good! I swears I vill do everything you want. Thank you so much!”
Ten Days Later, June 15
Allen Breaker and Always Fair sat in the Keepers office and shared a bottle of good French Brandy that Sir Elliott had sent them as thanks for their roles with Rebecca.
“Mr. Fair, here’s to a well-managed enterprise with sweet Rebecca,” said Breaker, raising his glass.
“Well-managed indeed. I maintain the profit and loss records for these enterprises for Sir Elliott. She’s been the most profitable one yet. He just told me your gratuity for the enterprise will be twenty-five quid.”
“Lord! That’ll be very nice! What’s yours, Green-Bag?”
“I resent that term,” said Fair with a good-natured laugh. “I’m a member of the Temple, I am, shorted with just 50 Coach wheels to show for my efforts.”
“Here’s to that game pullet, Rebecca, who’s made us all wealthy.”
“Don’t talk like an apothecary, Allen. It’s Sir Elliott and his smart nose, what’s making us all rich.”
“True. But I’s the one whose worked like an Abbot, nigh on ten days, shuffling the men in and out of her chamber. Everythings from Beau Nasty Jimmy Rounds to Sawneys from Louse-land flashing the gentleman.”
“Aye. But, everyone’s a topping fellow, eight pounds minimum and much more for extra time and extra action! They weren’t buying no three-penny upright.”
“True. And there were notables too, The Earl of Bath, the Duke of Queensberry. Even that young poet, John Gay.”
“Yes, I hear Gay’s writing an opera, by God,” said the lawyer. “Kind of a Newgate pastoral among the thieves and whores there. Making sport of those Italian operas He’s to glorify Claude Duval, the highwayman.”
“The same as shook a cloth in the wind at Tyburn? He’s more’n welcome to do so. There’s many an ‘honest’ man’s no better than that type. It was remarkable how much ’extra-action,’ with Rebecca was paid for. She bagpiped enough to rouse a new army in Itchland. Then some of those Jerry Sneaks really like to hurt a girl, particularly in her girly parts. And Rebecca took ‘em all on. You should have seen her at the end of a day, two or three in the morning, twenty or thirty serviced. She was baked. Mistress Bly earned her pay getting her ready for the next day. I’ll give the girl credit, though she never resisted.”
“Would you, if there was a flogging, branding, and hanging as the other turn of the card?”
“No. But still, I worked hard for my shiners too.” Said Breaker.
“As did we all, Keeper. She still expects to be turned up on the morrow?” asked Always.
“Aye. Midday tomorrow, she meets with the owners.”
“Aye,” said Always. “Now it’s almost over. Irrigate your throat with more of Sir Elliott’s fine Brandy.”
“I’ll gladly read a line of the old author,” said Allen, raising his glass.
Tol-lol - pretty good
Green-bag - a lawyer
Coach wheel - a crown piece (5 shillings)
Game pullet - a young whore
Talk like an apothecary - talk nonsense
Abbot - a man who is a brothel keeper
Beau Nasty - Someone well-dressed but dirty.
Jimmy Round - a Frenchman (from Je me rends)
Sawney - a Scotsman
Louse-land – Scotland
Flash the gentleman - pretend to be a gentleman
Topping fellow - someone who was at the top of his profession.
Three-Penny Upright - a cheap prostitute who dispensed her favors standing against a wall.
Bagpipe – give a blowjob
Itchland - Scotland
Jerry Sneak - a henpecked husband
Baked – exhausted
Shiners – money
Turned up - acquitted or discharged
Irrigate - take a drink
A line of the old author - a dram of brandy
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
A Prince, a Knight and a Judge? What men do you trust?
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
At least, if my readers don't get much out of the story, they are learning a lot of 18th century slang. That is sure to be useful!
especially rude words for Scots and Scotland, I note!
It's the same the 'ole world over ...
Harsh Martinet
Consul
I plan to try them out at this year's round of Christmas parties...I'm sure they'll be the talk of the town
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Itch-land, Louse-land, Scratch-land – all Scotland
Scotch Chocolate - brimstone (sulphur) and milk.
Scotch Fiddle - itchy rash caused by eating an excess of oatmeal.
Scotch Greys - lice.
Scotch Mist - a penetrating, drizzling mist that bordered on rain.
It is clear that Londoners had learned to welcome with open arms their new fellow-countrymen from North of the Sark, in the sixteen years since the Act of Union.
Harsh Martinet
Consul
Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Careful! That wee lassie terrifies me! Braveheart had nothing on her for ferocity when her belovedI shall now look upon Eulalia in an entirely different light
twonines
LIMERICUS
What`s with the rhetorical questions?
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Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Chapter 41 Judgement and Reward
Rebecca’s day ended earlier than it had the last ten days, just before midnight. Mistress Bly was her usual cheerful, gentle self, soothing the hurts and feeding the girl who’d been too busy ‘working’ for the last ten hours to eat. Shortly after one, Rebecca crawled into her bed in her cell and tried to sleep. She was tired enough. And even though her body was sore and worn from the constant, often cruel sex, discomfort didn’t keep her awake. No, it was her mind racing, thinking about tomorrow. She was told she would meet the owners in the late morning. That was when she expected the judge would pardon her. She didn’t know what would happen after. Perhaps they would set her free; then she’d go back to Dartford to her family. Rebecca was good wid numbers; she’s counted all the men (and women) she’d served. At a shilling apiece, it was over ten quid! It was more money than they ever dreamed of.
Rebecca had also considered that the men would want her to stay to make them more money. If she had to, she would, if her family kept getting some. She hated the work and it took a toll on her body. But she didn’t want to anger the men. She knew they had the power to compel her if they decided to. And that might be worse. If they wanted her to continue, she’d agree, but ask politely for a few less men to service in a day and some limits in how demanding they could be. If the owners were pleased with her work and she asked real nicely, she was sure they would consider her request. Especially, the kind and gentle (and handsome) Prince!
Eventually, the thoughts of the morrow died and the country lass drifted off to sleep, dreaming of her family at home.
June 16
They allowed Rebecca to sleep in late the next day. Mistress Bly brought her a nice breakfast and a washing bowl to clean her face. Afterwards, she helped the girl brush out her lovely red hair and apply a little light make-up.
At about Eleven AM, Keeper Breaker arrived with his two henchmen, Toby, and Jacks.
“Time to see the owners, girl,” he announced, showing her a set of iron handcuffs.
“Vhat do I vear,” asked Rebecca, in puzzlement. “And vhy the irons? I’ve not had dem these two weeks?”
“Them’s the rules, girl. You’se meeting the judge formally as a condemned prisoner. You wear irons and your prison shift.”
Rebecca obediently allowed her hands to be fastened behind in the tight, hard cuffs. Toby and Jacks each took an arm and lead her, barefoot, down the hall behind the Keeper.
The little procession entered the owners’ office, as richly furnished as any of the other rooms in the Club wing of Ramsey. Seated behind a high desk in the center was Sir Francis, wearing his judicial robes and wig. In a chair to either side sat Sir Elliott and The Prince of Wales. Rebecca was brought to stand before the judge. The two henchmen removed their caps and stood just behind her, tugging their forelocks, and bowing gratuitously to no one in particular. The Keeper gave a formal bow and stepped to the side. He then waved the henchmen to cease.
Page pounded a gavel and announced, “A re-hearing of the court’s sentence on Rebecca Godwyn, vagrant, is called to order. Sir Elliott, you speak on behalf of the prisoner?”
“Yes, may it please your honour. As you know, Mistress Godwyn, in an immoral, but understandable attempt to earn a remission of her sentence, volunteered to act as a prostitute on behalf of the Hellfire Club. She has proceeded to service over 230 men during the last ten days. By reports from her…her customers, and from Keeper Breaker, she performed all her assigned duties in a satisfactory manner.”
“Your Royal Highness, do you have anything to add for the court’s consideration?” Sir Francis asked, turning to the Prince.
“Only that Rebecca is a sweet, delectable morsel, whose favors I have enjoyed immensely.”
“Right. Just so, Your Royal Highness. Does anyone speak against the request for clemency?”
“I do, may it please your honour,” said Sir Elliott.
“It does, proceed.”
Rebecca was having trouble following all the formal talk and didn’t understand Sir Elliott speaking both for and against her.
“In addition to the obvious claim of the King’s justice, that a deserved and duly passed sentence be upheld, there are two other matters to consider. Firstly, the, ahem, customers were all assured that the young woman servicing them would be hanged within the fortnight. Many relied on the certain silence of the grave to prevent their liaison from later leading to their embarrassment.”
“A reasonable reliance on their part,” said the judge. “Strong grounds for bringing a suit in Equity for Promissory Estoppel.”
“And, secondly,” added Grabbe, “the offering of the young damsel’s favors garnered a high price due to scarcity. Some expressed an additional stimulation in having relations with a young woman who would soon be tortured and killed. With her execution certain, the…customers paid a premium for the last chance at her, so to speak.”
“Another very valid point. If that execution were to be rendered null, all the owners of the Club might be liable to a suit in Equity for Fraud, especially if the Club was shown to have colluded in obtaining the pardon. At the least, the plaintiffs might win an order of Specific Performance, that is, to force performance of the execution!” opined Sir Francis.
“Quite so, your honour,” said Sir Elliott. “In which case a pardon granted now would be reversed. While the Prince and I,” he paused and gestured to the Prince, who regally nodded agreement, “feel sympathy for the prisoner and some obligation due to her hard work to earn us a rather nice sum,” all three smiled, knowingly. “It seems an exercise in futility to try to help her with a pardon that will likely be reversed. Therefore, to spare her more anxiety of waiting, I’d recommend that the original sentence be carried out as scheduled.”
Rebecca was hopelessly lost in the convoluted legal arguments. However, to her amazement, it seemed that Sir Elliott was recommending she be executed!
Judge Page pounded his gavel again and placed a black square of fabric on his head, a gesture lost on the girl.
“Having carefully weighed the arguments of the prisoner, who stands before us nihil dicit, this court rules to deny her motion for pardon of sentence, which sentence is reaffirmed to be forma consueta. The Keeper of Ramsey Prison House is ordered to carry out the previous order for flogging and branding and to, on the morrow, transport Rebecca Godwyn to Tyburn to be hung by the neck until she be dead.” He pounded his gavel and turned to Sir Elliott to ask about the next Club Ball.
Rebecca stood for a moment transfixed, unable to think or speak.
Sir Elliott spoke, “Keeper, you may take the prisoner. I and my ‘guests’ will be in the punishment room shortly.”
As Toby and Jacks took her arms to lead her away, Rebecca found her voice. Escaping the grip of the henchmen, she threw herself on her knees before the judge.
“It’s not fair! You canna mean to hang me! I did everything you asked, even de most vile, vampish things. Not once did I whitter! I vas good, as I’s said I’s be! Please, oh please! It’s not fair. I trosted ye. I don’t vants to hang!”
“Of course, you don’t want to hang, child,” said Sir Elliott, as the henchmen took a firm grip on her arms and stood her up. “But the judge has ruled.”
“I’ll not abide it,” she screamed. “You’re all liars! I’s not raised to swayer, but you’re all vaugh. You’ll pay for your zennen! You viends. You treddles!”
“Rebecca Godwyn,” said Page, his face red and with a deep voice hot with anger. “You have insulted this honourable court. I decree that on the way to your execution you be whipped at the cart’s tail as the Keeper pleases. Now get this whore out of here.”
Rebecca still hurled curses at the men as the two big henchmen dragged her from the room.
Nihil decit – “she said nothing”. It is the failing of the defendant to put in a plea or answer to charge. In this case, judgment is granted against the defendant, as she said nothing as to why the court should not act.
Forma Consueta – in customary or usual form.
Vampish – perverse, Kentish
Whitter – complain, Kentish
Trost – trust, Kentish
Swayer – swear, Kentish
Vaugh – dirty, nasty, filthy, Kentish
Zennen – sins, Kentish
Viend – fiend, Kentish
Treddles – sheep droppings, Kentish
Rebecca’s day ended earlier than it had the last ten days, just before midnight. Mistress Bly was her usual cheerful, gentle self, soothing the hurts and feeding the girl who’d been too busy ‘working’ for the last ten hours to eat. Shortly after one, Rebecca crawled into her bed in her cell and tried to sleep. She was tired enough. And even though her body was sore and worn from the constant, often cruel sex, discomfort didn’t keep her awake. No, it was her mind racing, thinking about tomorrow. She was told she would meet the owners in the late morning. That was when she expected the judge would pardon her. She didn’t know what would happen after. Perhaps they would set her free; then she’d go back to Dartford to her family. Rebecca was good wid numbers; she’s counted all the men (and women) she’d served. At a shilling apiece, it was over ten quid! It was more money than they ever dreamed of.
Rebecca had also considered that the men would want her to stay to make them more money. If she had to, she would, if her family kept getting some. She hated the work and it took a toll on her body. But she didn’t want to anger the men. She knew they had the power to compel her if they decided to. And that might be worse. If they wanted her to continue, she’d agree, but ask politely for a few less men to service in a day and some limits in how demanding they could be. If the owners were pleased with her work and she asked real nicely, she was sure they would consider her request. Especially, the kind and gentle (and handsome) Prince!
Eventually, the thoughts of the morrow died and the country lass drifted off to sleep, dreaming of her family at home.
June 16
They allowed Rebecca to sleep in late the next day. Mistress Bly brought her a nice breakfast and a washing bowl to clean her face. Afterwards, she helped the girl brush out her lovely red hair and apply a little light make-up.
At about Eleven AM, Keeper Breaker arrived with his two henchmen, Toby, and Jacks.
“Time to see the owners, girl,” he announced, showing her a set of iron handcuffs.
“Vhat do I vear,” asked Rebecca, in puzzlement. “And vhy the irons? I’ve not had dem these two weeks?”
“Them’s the rules, girl. You’se meeting the judge formally as a condemned prisoner. You wear irons and your prison shift.”
Rebecca obediently allowed her hands to be fastened behind in the tight, hard cuffs. Toby and Jacks each took an arm and lead her, barefoot, down the hall behind the Keeper.
The little procession entered the owners’ office, as richly furnished as any of the other rooms in the Club wing of Ramsey. Seated behind a high desk in the center was Sir Francis, wearing his judicial robes and wig. In a chair to either side sat Sir Elliott and The Prince of Wales. Rebecca was brought to stand before the judge. The two henchmen removed their caps and stood just behind her, tugging their forelocks, and bowing gratuitously to no one in particular. The Keeper gave a formal bow and stepped to the side. He then waved the henchmen to cease.
Page pounded a gavel and announced, “A re-hearing of the court’s sentence on Rebecca Godwyn, vagrant, is called to order. Sir Elliott, you speak on behalf of the prisoner?”
“Yes, may it please your honour. As you know, Mistress Godwyn, in an immoral, but understandable attempt to earn a remission of her sentence, volunteered to act as a prostitute on behalf of the Hellfire Club. She has proceeded to service over 230 men during the last ten days. By reports from her…her customers, and from Keeper Breaker, she performed all her assigned duties in a satisfactory manner.”
“Your Royal Highness, do you have anything to add for the court’s consideration?” Sir Francis asked, turning to the Prince.
“Only that Rebecca is a sweet, delectable morsel, whose favors I have enjoyed immensely.”
“Right. Just so, Your Royal Highness. Does anyone speak against the request for clemency?”
“I do, may it please your honour,” said Sir Elliott.
“It does, proceed.”
Rebecca was having trouble following all the formal talk and didn’t understand Sir Elliott speaking both for and against her.
“In addition to the obvious claim of the King’s justice, that a deserved and duly passed sentence be upheld, there are two other matters to consider. Firstly, the, ahem, customers were all assured that the young woman servicing them would be hanged within the fortnight. Many relied on the certain silence of the grave to prevent their liaison from later leading to their embarrassment.”
“A reasonable reliance on their part,” said the judge. “Strong grounds for bringing a suit in Equity for Promissory Estoppel.”
“And, secondly,” added Grabbe, “the offering of the young damsel’s favors garnered a high price due to scarcity. Some expressed an additional stimulation in having relations with a young woman who would soon be tortured and killed. With her execution certain, the…customers paid a premium for the last chance at her, so to speak.”
“Another very valid point. If that execution were to be rendered null, all the owners of the Club might be liable to a suit in Equity for Fraud, especially if the Club was shown to have colluded in obtaining the pardon. At the least, the plaintiffs might win an order of Specific Performance, that is, to force performance of the execution!” opined Sir Francis.
“Quite so, your honour,” said Sir Elliott. “In which case a pardon granted now would be reversed. While the Prince and I,” he paused and gestured to the Prince, who regally nodded agreement, “feel sympathy for the prisoner and some obligation due to her hard work to earn us a rather nice sum,” all three smiled, knowingly. “It seems an exercise in futility to try to help her with a pardon that will likely be reversed. Therefore, to spare her more anxiety of waiting, I’d recommend that the original sentence be carried out as scheduled.”
Rebecca was hopelessly lost in the convoluted legal arguments. However, to her amazement, it seemed that Sir Elliott was recommending she be executed!
Judge Page pounded his gavel again and placed a black square of fabric on his head, a gesture lost on the girl.
“Having carefully weighed the arguments of the prisoner, who stands before us nihil dicit, this court rules to deny her motion for pardon of sentence, which sentence is reaffirmed to be forma consueta. The Keeper of Ramsey Prison House is ordered to carry out the previous order for flogging and branding and to, on the morrow, transport Rebecca Godwyn to Tyburn to be hung by the neck until she be dead.” He pounded his gavel and turned to Sir Elliott to ask about the next Club Ball.
Rebecca stood for a moment transfixed, unable to think or speak.
Sir Elliott spoke, “Keeper, you may take the prisoner. I and my ‘guests’ will be in the punishment room shortly.”
As Toby and Jacks took her arms to lead her away, Rebecca found her voice. Escaping the grip of the henchmen, she threw herself on her knees before the judge.
“It’s not fair! You canna mean to hang me! I did everything you asked, even de most vile, vampish things. Not once did I whitter! I vas good, as I’s said I’s be! Please, oh please! It’s not fair. I trosted ye. I don’t vants to hang!”
“Of course, you don’t want to hang, child,” said Sir Elliott, as the henchmen took a firm grip on her arms and stood her up. “But the judge has ruled.”
“I’ll not abide it,” she screamed. “You’re all liars! I’s not raised to swayer, but you’re all vaugh. You’ll pay for your zennen! You viends. You treddles!”
“Rebecca Godwyn,” said Page, his face red and with a deep voice hot with anger. “You have insulted this honourable court. I decree that on the way to your execution you be whipped at the cart’s tail as the Keeper pleases. Now get this whore out of here.”
Rebecca still hurled curses at the men as the two big henchmen dragged her from the room.
Nihil decit – “she said nothing”. It is the failing of the defendant to put in a plea or answer to charge. In this case, judgment is granted against the defendant, as she said nothing as to why the court should not act.
Forma Consueta – in customary or usual form.
Vampish – perverse, Kentish
Whitter – complain, Kentish
Trost – trust, Kentish
Swayer – swear, Kentish
Vaugh – dirty, nasty, filthy, Kentish
Zennen – sins, Kentish
Viend – fiend, Kentish
Treddles – sheep droppings, Kentish
That's a sad but entirely expected turn of events. I am just curious how the unfortunate Iass will get a hold of 2 pounds to pay her fine in such a short time. I also suspect that the 10 pounds poor young Rebecca earned for her family somehow never made it to Dartford. Alas, the powerful have always exploited the powerless, nothing new under the sun...