‘If a single woman there prosecutes a single man for a rape, the
ecclesiastical judges impannel a jury; and, if this jury find him
guilty, he is returned guilty to the temporal courts: where if he be
convicted, the deemster, or judge, delivers to the woman a rope, a
sword, and a ring; and she has it in her choice to have him hanged,
beheaded, or to marry him.’
One of the two former, I think, should always be her option.
I long for the particulars of your story. You must have too much time
upon your hands for a mind so active as your’s, if tolerable health and
spirits be afforded you.
The villany of the worst of men, and the virtue of the most excellent
of women, I expect will be exemplified in it, were it to be written in
the same connected and particular manner in which you used to write to
me.
Try for it, my dearest friend; and since you cannot give the example
without the warning, give both, for the sakes of all those who shall
hear of your unhappy fate; beginning from your’s of June 5, your
prospects then not disagreeable. I pity you for the task; though I
cannot willingly exempt you from it.
My mother will have me add, that she must insist upon your prosecuting
the villain. She repeats, that she makes that a condition on which she
permits our future correspondence. Let me therefore know your thoughts
upon it. I asked her, if she would be willing that I should appear to
support you in court, if you complied?—By all means, she said, if that
would induce you to begin with him, and with the horrid women. I think
I could probably attend you, I am sure I could, were there but a
probability of bringing the monster to his deserved end.
Once more your thoughts of it, supposing it were to meet with the
approbation of your relations.
But whatever be your determination on this head, it shall be my
constant prayer, that God will give you patience to bear your heavy
afflictions, as a person ought to do who has not brought them upon
herself by a faulty will: that He will speak peace and comfort to your
wounded mind; and give you many happy years. I am, and ever will be,
Your affectionate and faithful ANNA HOWE.
[The two preceding letters were sent by a special messenger: in the
cover were written the following lines:]