XXVIII. TRANSPORTATION 338 XXIX. BANISHMENT 351 XXX. REPENTANCE AND AMENDMENT 370 XXXI. CONCLUSION 407 SUPPLEMENT BY THE AUTHOR, A.D. 1858 413 TO THE MARCHIONESS OF CORNWALLIS Most Noble Lady, Assured that this simple narrative, the most remarkable events of which are still fresh in your Ladyship's memory, will be found far more interesting to the public than many highly-wrought works of fiction, and that to none will it prove more acceptable than to your Ladyship, who for many years resided in this county, beloved and respected by all who knew you, for the encouragement you afforded to every amiable virtue; to you it is dedicated, with sincere respect, by your Ladyship's humble and devoted servant, RICHARD COBBOLD. _Rectory, Wortham, near Diss, Suffolk._ AUTHOR'S PREFACE Independently of this simple history being a relation of facts, well known to many persons of the highest respectability still living in the county of Suffolk, it is hoped that an instructive lesson may be conveyed by it to many, who may not yet have seen the necessity of early and religious instruction. These pages will prove, in a remarkable manner, that, however great may be the natural endowments of the human mind, yet, without the culture of religious principles, and the constant discipline of the Holy Spirit, they will never enable their possessor to resist the temptations of passion, but will be as likely to lead to great crimes as to great virtues. It will be seen that, from the want alone of the early impressions of religion, the heroine of these pages fell into errors of temper and passion, which led to the violation of the laws of God and man; but that, after the inculcation of Christian faith and virtue, she became conspicuous for the sincerity of her reformation and for an exemplary life: that, though it pleased God to grant her 'a place of repentance', yet it was through such bitter sorrows and sufferings of mind and body as she most devoutly desired others might be spared. The public may depend upon the truth of the main features of this narrative: indeed, most of the facts recorded were matters of public notoriety at the time of their occurrence. The author who here details them is a son of the lady with whom this extraordinary female lived, and from whose hands he received the letters and the facts here given. He is persuaded that much will be found in the history of Margaret Catchpole highly worthy of praise and imitation; and, if that which is unworthy shall only be taken as a warning example, he humbly hopes that the public will be both gratified and benefited by the publication. _Rectory, Wortham._ THE HISTORY