nn
n
n From the outset, Caroline made it plain that shenintended to be present in Parliament during the trial. Crowds of supportersncheered her journey there, extra troops were drafted in to keep public ordernand wooden barriers were placed in the streets around the Houses of Parliament,nguarded by armed soldiers.
n
n
n
 |
| The Queen arrives at the House of Lords |
n
n
n
nThe Lords, on their way to the Upper House werenbooed and hissed at in the street – even the Duke of Wellington was heckled.nUnless they had a very good excuse, the Lords were compelled to attend or facena substantial daily fine.
n
n
n
 |
| Sir Robert Gifford |
n
n
n
nSir Robert Gifford, the Attorney-General, presentednwhat appeared to be damning accounts of Caroline’s indiscretions with Pergami,nhow they were frequently seen to walk arm-in-arm, to kiss, and had often sleptntogether.
n
n
n
 |
| Theodore Majocchi |
n
n
n
nAfter two days of evidence, the first witness was called. WhennTheodore Majocchi, an Italian servant, entered the House, Caroline cried out ‘Teodore!nOh no, no!’ and in great agitation left the chamber (She did not, as somenaccounts claim, cry ‘Traditore’ [‘Traitor’]). An interpreter wasnprovided as Majocchi did not speak English, but Brougham insisted that a secondninterpreter, of his choosing, also be present.
n
n
n
 |
| Henry Brougham |
n
n
n
nThe examination of the witnessnby the prosecution was disgraceful, consisting in the main of leadingnquestions, putting words directly into the servant’s mouth and merely requiringnhim to confirm the statements. However, the picture painted made it quite clearnthat Caroline and Pergami had been lovers.
n
n
n
 |
| Installation of a Knight Companion of the Bath |
n
n
n
nThere were lurid descriptions ofnshared meals, of shared bathing and of shared beds. There was tell of Mahomet,na Turk, who regularly performed a particularly lewd dance in the Princess’snvilla, with ‘certain gestures’. There were things that had gone onnbehind locked doors, in desert tents, in the cabins of ships. Then Broughamnbegan his cross-examination.
n
n
n
 |
| Sir George Hayter – The Trial of Queen Caroline 1820 – (Depicts Majocchi giving Evidence to the House of Lords) |
n
n
n
nMajocchi faltered under the initial onslaught, andnpiece by piece, Brougham tore him apart. Majocchi resorted to saying ‘Non minricordo’ [I do not recall] to almost every question put to him (in all, hensaid it over two hundred times during the cross-examination), and thenexpression was taken up by the public, remaining in long usage for when anperson did not want to commit themselves to something they knew to be untrue.nThere were even rhymes and songs written.
nnn
n
n
nTheodore Majocci is my name,nnn
nAnd every one’s aware.nnn
nFrom Italy I camennn
nAgainst the Queen to swear,nnn
nI was sent to C[olonel] B[rowne’]s,nnn
nWhen I was abroad O,nnn
nWho gave me many Crowns,nnn
nTo say ‘Non mi ricordo.’n
n
n
nnnBrougham’snunrelenting disassembly of Majocchi’s credibility was a tour de force,nand it was said that if he had done the same in a normal divorce proceeding,nthe case would have been laughed out of court before any other witnesses werencalled.
n
n
n
 |
| The Italian Witnesses arrive in England |
n
n
n
n
n
nFurther Italian servants took the stand, and it became positivelynunhealthy for the Italian population of England to admit to their nationality,nsuch was the reputation for duplicity, avariciousness and cupidity that theirncountrymen and women formed in the minds of the English public. Indeed, threenSwiss witnesses who were en route to give evidence, on hearing of thenreception of the Italians who landed at Dover, turned around and returned fornhome.
n
n
n
 |
| Sir John Copley |
n
n
n
nWhen those witnesses that did attend had been heard, thenSolicitor-General, Sir John Copley, summed up the case for the Crown. There wasnno sure way to prove adultery, he opined, but circumstance had to be admitted.nMajocchi, of course, had contradicted himself, but had been grilled for sevennhours by Brougham and Denman (Caroline’s solicitor), and of course he would nornrecall every detail of every incident in the years he had been in thenPrincess’s employ, and thus had little recourse other than admit the truth,nthat he did not remember.
n
n
n
 |
| Bat, Cat and Mat – Caroline on Pergami’s Arm |
n
n
n
nNo one had sought to deny that the Princess hadnpromenaded on Pergami’s arm, who was of no rank higher than a courier,
n
n
n
n“To menit appears, according to my way of thinking, that that circumstance is quitensufficient proof of her guilt.”n
n
n
nBrougham was then asked if he intended tonbegin the defence immediately, or did he seek a postponement. There were risksninvolved in both – a delay might see a decline in Caroline’s popular support,nwhereas haste may provide insufficient time to mount a proper case. Broughamnopted to begin immediately but the House thought better and ordered anthree-week adjournment.
n
n
n
nTomorrow – The Defence of the Queen