Why is Henrietta Luxborough, who was born in 1699, of interest today? In the first place because of whom she was; in the second because of what happened to her; and in the third because of her courage which enabled her to overcome adversity and lead a life utterly different from the one to which she had been accustomed.

Henrietta St John, as she then was, was born into one of the most  privileged and powerful families in the land and, if she had played by the rules, her future, married to a wealthy husband - any wealthy husband - would have been secure. Unfortunately for her this was not to be and, to understand why, it is first necessary to place her life within its historical context.

In Henrietta's day, women had few rights. They were conditioned from childhood for marriage and the rules of the marriage market were inviolate. Girls must be chaste and bring with them an acceptable dowry. Wives were expected to be "passive, maternal, submissive, modest, docile and virtuous". As mothers they would have had little influence over the fate of their children and none at all in any sphere other than the household where ultimately they were still subject to their husband's authority.

Before the husband, of course, came the father whose authority was absolute, one who, in Henrietta's case...