Margaret Fernseed (c. 1560 – 28 February 1608) was an English

prostitute Prostitution is a type of sex work that involves engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-pe ...

, brothel-keeper, and murderer. According to a

pamphlet A pamphlet is an unbound book (that is, without a Hardcover, hard cover or Bookbinding, binding). Pamphlets may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths, called a ''leaflet'' ...

of 1608, Fernseed confessed to having run a brothel. The pamphlet details the methods by which she recruited prostitutes. Fernseed would "make spoile of young maidens who were sent out of the countrie by their friends with hope to advance themselves". Those girls were then put on the streets and compelled to hand over to Fernseed ten

shilling The shilling is a historical coin, and the name of a unit of modern currency, currencies formerly used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, other British Commonwealth countries and Ireland, where they were generally equivalent to 1 ...

s from what they earned. Women who were discontented with their marriages were also targeted by Fernseed: once recruited, they were blackmailed if they refused to sleep with customers. Fernseed's husband, Anthony, a tailor, was found dead in Peckham Fields near

Lambeth Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, which today also gives its name to the (much larger) London Borough of Lambeth. Lambeth itself was an ancient parish in the county of Surrey. It is situated 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Charin ...

, with his throat cut; Fernseed was arrested. She had allegedly previously attempted to murder him with a poisoned broth. No motive is recorded, and Fernseed is documented as having declared her innocence of the murder. Fernseed was convicted of his murder on

circumstantial evidence Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact, such as a fingerprint at the scene of a crime. By contrast, direct evidence supports the truth of an assertion directly, i.e., without need ...

, in no small part due to her poor reputation. Fernseed was executed at St. George's Fields for the murder of her husband on 28 February 1608.

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* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fernseed, Margaret 1560s births 1608 deaths English female prostitutes English brothel owners and madams People executed by Stuart England Executed English people People executed by the Kingdom of England by hanging Year of birth uncertain 17th-century English businesspeople 17th-century English businesswomen Mariticides