The proceedings upon the bill of divorce between His Grace the Duke of Norfolk and the Lady Mary Mordant

Depositions of Elianor Vaness. Die Jovis 22. Februarii, 1699.

ELIANOR Vaness Sworn, De∣poseth as followeth, (viz.)

Quest. D' ye know Sir John Ger∣maine and the Dutchess of Norfolk?

Answ. Yes.

Q. How long have you known them?

A. Two Years.

Q. When did you first come acquaint∣ed with them?

A. Sir John Germaine's Sister hired me for a Cookmaid the Summer after the King came for England.

Q. In what Month of that Year?

A. In May.

Q. Did you live with either of them as a servant Maid?

A. I lived two Months with my La∣dy Dutchess, in Sir John Germaine's House.

Q. How long did you live in the House with them?

A. Till they went to Fox-Hall.

Q. How long was the Dutchess in the House before they went to Fox-Hall?

A. two Months.

Q. Where was that House?

A. Just over Spring Garden.

Q. At the time when the Lady Dutchess lived with Sir John Germaine, what Company and Conversation did they keep with one another, and in what manner?

A. Like Man and Wife?

Q. Where was it the Lady Dutchess lived when you came first into Eng∣land?

A. In Sir John Germaine's House.

Q. Where did she live then?

A. The Dutchess lived there then.

Q. How long continued she there?

A. About two Months.

Q. How did they live together du∣ring that time?

A. Like Man and Wife.

Q. Saw you them in Bed together at any time, at that place in the Cock∣pit?

A. Yes.

Q. How often?

A. Many times, as often as Man and Wife she saw them in Bed, but did not put them in Bed in those two Months.

Q. Did you think any otherwise but that they had been Man and Wife?

A. She did not at first, but afterwards she did, and then they kept her within Doors, for fear she should tell it.

Q. Whither did the Dutchess go af∣ter that two Months?

A. To Fox-Hall.

Q. How long did she live there?

A. About two Years?

Q. Did Sir John Germaine use to come and keep Company with the Dutchess there?

A. Yes, He used to come and Dine with her sometimes, and he lay there sometimes.

Q. What Conversation had Sir John Germaine with the Dutchess at Fox-Hall?

A. They Conversed together as Man and Wife.

Q. How long?

A. Sometimes one night, sometimes two.

Q. How often did he use to come thither?

A. Sometimes twice, sometimes three times a week, and sometimes but once.

Q. Had they one Bed or two?

A. But one.

Q. What Name did the Dutchess go by at Fox-Hall?

A. By the Name of the Lady Beck∣man.

Q. What kin was Sir John Germaine pretended to be to the Lady Dutchess?

A. Her Brother, my Lady Dutchess said so.

Q. Did you go with them to Fox-Hall, or not?

A. She went with the Lady Dutchess.

Q. Whose Servant was you there?

A. Lady Dutchess's.

Q. How long did you serve the Lady Dutchess.

A. She staid with her till she went to Millbanck.

Q. How came you to leave their Ser∣vice?

A. They sent her away upon the ac∣count of the late Tryal.

Q. Who went with you?

A. Mrs. Susannah, Chambermaid to the Lady Dutchess, and Mr. Nicholas, that was Gentleman to Sir John Ger∣maine.

Q. What's his Name?

A. Nicholas Hosier.

Q. Who took care of your passage?

A Nicholas Hosier.

Q. Whither was you ordered to go?

A. To Holland to the Hague, they paid her in full and promised fifty Li∣vers besides.

Q. Was any part of it paid, and by whom?

A. She receiv'd it in four Quarters from his Brother Philip at the Hague.

Q. Whose Brother?

A. Sir John Germaine's Brother▪

Q. Who hired you when you came to England?

A. Mr. Briane's Wife.

Q. What kin is she to Sir John Ger∣maine?

A. His Sister; and they promised if matters did not go for the Dutchess, she would come to Holland her self, and take her into her Service again.

Q. Have you seen Sir John Germaine and the Dutchess in Bed together at Millbank?

A. Once or twice.

Q. How long had the Lady Dutchess lived at Millbank ere you left her Ser∣vice?

A. Nine or ten Weeks.

Q. How came you to see them in Bed together.

A. By reason none was suffered to come into the Room, the Bedchamber, but she and another Maid, to bring ne∣cessaries, as Water to Wash their hands, and to clean the Room.

Q. Did you see them at their un∣dressing when they went to Bed?

A. She undressed them her self, and saw them in Bed.

Q. Give an account how you two came to be admitted into the Chamber, and what you saw there?

A. She help'd them to Bed, and saw them go to Bod together.

Q. saw you them next Morning?

A. Yes.

Q. On what occasion came you into the Chamber in the Morning?

A. She came with Chocolate, and Water to wash their Hands.

Q. Did you ever see Mr. Nicholas H••sier there?

A. Yes, He did the Business that she did, when she could not be present; he was Valet de Chambre.

Q. Was he Valet de Chambre to Sir John Germaine, or to the Dutchess?

A. He belonged to the Dutchess at Fox-Hall, and afterwards to Sir John Germaine.

Q. Came he to Sir John Germaine before the Lady Dutchess went to Fox-Hall, or not?

A. The Dutchess was at Fox-Hall when he came to Sir John Germaine.

Q. Who lived with the Dutchess at Fox-Hall?

A. Sir John Germaine's Sister.

Q. Who hired you?

A. Mrs. Briane, Mr. Briane's Wife.

Q. Was there no other Relation of Sir John Germaine's that lived there be∣sides?

A. Mrs. Judith.

Q. What Mrs. Judith, what's her name?

A. She does not know.

Q. What kin was Mrs. Judith to Sir John Germaine?

A. His Sister.

Q. Did the Dutchess use to go to no other place?

A. None but to the Neighbouring Gardens to gather Flowers.

Q. When you were at Millbank did you ever see the Dutchess's Father?

A. She hath been several times at the Dutchess's Fathers, and the Lady Dutchess told her Father and Mother that she brought her from Holland; she dressed three Dishes of Meat by order of the Dutchess.

Q. Who was the Lady Dutchess's Father, where did he live?

A. He lived at Millbank, but could not tell his name; the Lord Peterborow, she says, but could not think on't before now.

Q. When she lived with Germaine at the Cockpit, was there no other that lived with them at that time?

A. No Body.

Q. Did Sir John Germaine's Brother-in-Law or Sister lye in the House at any time?

A. Yes, when they came first to England they used to lye there.

Q. Name them?

A. Mr. Briane, and his Wife.

Q. Did you see any of Sir John Ger∣maine's Relations at any time in the Room during the time that the Dutchess was in Bed with him?

A. Yes, Mr. Briane and his Wife.

Q. Was Sir John Germaine in Bed at that time with the Dutchess?

A. Yes.

Elianor Vaness cross Examined.

Q. Was it at Fox-Hall that the La∣dy Dutchess said that Germaine was her Brother?

A. Yes.

Q. Did the Dutchess tell you that Sir John Germaine was her Brother?

A. She gave it out among the Neigh∣bours, but never told her so.

Q. Was you Cookmaid?

A. She was hired for Cookmaid.

Q. Did you continue to act as Cook∣maid?

A. Yes, at Fox-Hall.

Q. Was you at the Cockpit?

A. She used to clean the Rooms, and no body was suffered to come into the Room but she, Mrs. Susannah, and Nicholas.

Q. Was there no other Woman in the House but you?

A. Yes, Mrs. Susannah.

Q. Where did you see Sir John Germaine and the Lady Dutchess in Bed?

A. At Fox-Hall.

Q. When came you fr••m Holland?

A. About five or six Weeks ago.

Q. Where have you been since?

A. She does not know no place nor Street in London.

Q. How came you over?

A. About a Year and half ago, she met Nicholas at Amsterdam; She asked him how he did, and if he had got a place, he an∣swered no, but he believed he should very soon have one in England.

Q. Who sent for you, or brought you over from Holland this last time?

A. She met Mr. Nicholas about a Year a∣go, and said she had a great mind to go and live in England again, and he said he would get a place for her.

Q. Who sent for her?

A. Does not know.

Q. When you came over, who paid your Passage, and first took Care of you?

A. Nicholas hath given her what she spent since.

Q. Who brought you to Town, and who furnished you with Mony, and where did you Land, what House did you first come to?

A. She Landed at Gravesend.

Q. Who received her there, or when she came to Town, brought her to any place to Lodge at?

A. Nicholas brought her to a place where she was secure.

Q. What place is it?

A She does not know, she never was in London.

Q. Did you not live at Fox-Hall, and at Sir John Germaine's House in the Cock∣pit?

A. She was no further than those Houses, she means she was never in the City of London.

Q. Where is the House she has been at these six Weeks?

A. She can't tell where abouts it is.

Q. Whether was you not sent for back from Holland to be a Witness?

A. No, knew nothing of it till about— Now about eight or nine Weeks ago.

Q. In what Street is the House you have been at?

A. I Can't tell.

Q. How long is it since you went into Holland, since you left the Dutchess's Ser∣vice?

A. About eight Years ago.

Q. Did you never tell any Body the oc∣casion of your going over?

A. Yes, in Holland, but not here.

Q. To whom did you tell it?

A. To a great many.

Q. Know you any of those to be in England, that you told it to?

A. Does not know any.

Q. Did you ever Discover this matter of your own account, or was you asked to do it?

A. I said I would tell the Truth if I were asked.

Q. Can you Name the Person that asked you?

A. Mr. Nicholas.

Q. Had you any Discourse about this mat∣ter about eight Weeks ago?

A. When I asked Mr. Nicholas, if he could get me a place in England, I told him I would say the Truth.

Q. What Discourse had you with Mr. Nicholas about it?

A. I asked Mr. Nicholas whether there was any danger of any such thing, he said he knew nothing of it.

Q. Did you ever discover that you were sent out of the way into Hol∣land?

A. No,

Q. Whether you and this Gent. that In∣terprets, have not talk'd most of this mat∣ter before you came hither?

A. No.

Q. Who have you talked to about this matter, since you came into England, besides Nicholas?

A. No Body.

Q. Are you a Single Woman or a Mar∣ried Woman?

A. A single Woman.

The Duke's Councel.

Q. Was it your Business to look after the Chamber, to keep the Door constant∣ly, or on what occasion?

A. I us'd to Wash the Dutchess's Cloaths, and bring to Sir John Germaine's House, and keep the upper Rooms clean, where Sir John Germaine lay.

Q. Did Susan go over with you into Holland, and come back with you?

A. Mr. Nicholas brought me into a Room where she was kept, and I stayed a while with her.

Q. Did Susan go with you, and come with you again?

A. Nicholas, and Susan, and I, were in a Room together, and Mr. Germaine came every Night when the House was broke up, and told us what passed.

Q Did Susan go to Holland with you? whether did you go before Nicholas or with him?

A. Sir John Germaine ordered Nicholas and she, to go into Holland, and Nicholas went with her.

Signum, Elianor Vaness.