John Gonson John Gonson Sir John Gonson (died 1765) was an English judge for nearly 50 years in the early 18th century, serving as a Justice of the Peace and Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for the City of Westminster. Gonson was a supporter of the Society for the Reformation of Manners, and was noted for his enthusiasm for raiding brothels and for passing harsh sentences. Gonson appears in contemporary court reports and newspaper articles, but is best known for having been depicted twice in "A Harlot's Progress", William Hogarth's series of paintings from 1731 and subsequent engravings from 1732. Gonson first
The Life of Saint Mary the Harlot The Life of Saint Mary the Harlot The Life of Saint Mary the Harlot (c. 370) is a hagiography which can be found in Book 1 of Rosweyde's "Vitae Patrum". The work is an extract from the work "The Life of Abraham". The earliest Syriac manuscript to contain it (fifth or sixth century) leaves the authorship anonymous. "The Life of Saint Mary the Harlot" is later attributed to Ephraem, deacon of Edessa and was likely written towards the end of his life, though there have been claims against Ephrem's authorship. Certain parallels have been noticed between Ephraem and Abraham, the