ABSTRACT
In 1705 John Cannon, a Somerset farm labourer of twenty-one years, began “a love intrigue” with his uncle's servant, Mary Rose. Some forty years later he described this event in his memoir:
our jesting complements began to burn up to a fervent ardour & earnest, she by her sweet singing & syrene notes alured me so that I never for a long time after could think of any other…. This beginning accompanied with amorous talks & quaint glances, kissing & toying when together in private… brought on by degrees a more close familiarity even to a plane discovery of such matters & concerns wch modesty teaches me to omit. Seldom a night passed but she passing through my bedchamber to her own came to my bedside & after some amorous whisperings we bid each other good night by tender and loving kisses. This I confess to be odd doings & somewhat difficult to be kept long a secret by reason of ye boy my bedfellow although we never acted any other than above mentioned wch might bring us disgrace. 1
