https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/25/imposteress-rabbit-breeder-karen-harvey-review

The remarkable story of a woman giving birth to rabbits enthralled the nation. What was going on?

In October 1726 an extraordinary story emerged from the market town of Godalming in Surrey that captivated the nation. According to reports, confirmed by three eminent doctors, a young woman named Mary Toft had given birth to 17 rabbits – or at least the mangled parts of a number of the animals – and was about to deliver more. As news of the births stoked a media frenzy, Toft was taken to London – at the request of George I – and installed in a bagnio while doctors awaited her next delivery. There was no 18th rabbit. After nine days a porter revealed that Toft’s husband had bribed him to smuggle in a rabbit and the whole hoax was uncovered.

Toft was arrested and later confessed that her mother-in-law had persuaded her to concoct the story, with the aid of some strategically placed rabbit parts, as a money-making ruse. The doctors who had so enthusiastically testified to the bizarre births were publicly humiliated and the fraud provided journalists, satirists and artists with fertile material for comedy for decades to come.