Cellier, Elizabeth (fl. 1679)

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Cellier, Elizabeth (fl. 1679)

British midwife and tract writer. Born Elizabeth Dormer; flourished around 1679; m. Peter Cellier (Frenchman).

Noted London midwife, converted to Catholicism; was arrested for participating in Catholic conspiracy, dubbed the "Meal-Tub Plot" (1679); released after accuser, Thomas Dangerfield, was discredited; published Malice Defeated (1680) and other tracts, including The Matchless Picaro; also wrote defense of midwives, To Dr—an answer to his Queries Concerning the Colledge of Midwives (1688).