Now! Then! 2024! - Yorkshire On This Day

Excerpt

Mr Gilbrend, an attorney in Halifax, born in York, having been drinking himself drunk very sadly at Mr Anthony Foxcroft’s at Woodhouse, a man with a lantern was to guide him into the way homewards, he spurs to the horse not knowing what he did, the horse ran desperately a clear contrary way down towards the river Calder, near Woodhouse (Skircoat), yet that was not his way to Halifax, run into the river with him, presently came out again without the rider, and he is not yet found. This same man was drunk on Friday night, and lay in the shit-cot all night or most of it. One of Benson’s boys would have helped him, but could not, so left him. Called of him on Saturday, said “So you know not me, but I would have been your friend last night.” Now patience with him was expired. His name was Gelibrand [sic], he had been drinking the night before, gave unhandsome language to some as he went. When he was a-going down to the waterside, some of the family where he had been called to him, told him that was not his way, he said “I know what I do.” He rid on to the waterside among the willows in the meadow, not in any ford, spurred his horse, made him leap in among the willows, where it’s likely he fell off. The horse got out. They followed him with lanterns, saw him swim down the water, but could not reach him, he is not found, this is Dec. 26. This Mr Gilburn [sic] was found under clayhouse, January 15, 1675, by some that cut wood, spying brocks [badgers] about that place. Brought into Halifax, his skin whole, breeches gone off, watch gone, etc.

Comment

Comment

Heywood’s spelling is so random that one also wonders about his drinking. Illustration via John McCafferty:

I've asked before. Drunk horse-riding, did it happen often in the 17th century? Did your horse really know its way home? How many pissed people were killed while hunting on horseback? Did people dismount & walk? Questions, questions. (Karel Dujardin, 1650 – 1660, Rijksmuseum) pic.twitter.com/mcn4KTqOOc

— John McCafferty (@jdmccafferty) November 28, 2022

Badgers do indeed eat carrion.

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Original

A dreadful instance of god’s justice fell out last night viz. December 17 1674, which was this one: Mr Gilbrend, an attorney in Halifax, born in York, having been drinking himself drunk very sadly at Mr Anthony Foxcroft’s at Woodhouse, a man with a lantern was to guide him into the way homewards, he spurs to the horse not knowing what he did, the horse ran desperately a clear contrary way down towards the river Calder, near Woodhouse [Skircoat], yet that was not his way to Halifax, run into the river with him, presently came out again without the rider, and he is not yet found.

This same man was drunk on Friday night [11 December], and lay in the st-cot [shit-cot?] all night or most of it, one of Benson’s boys would have helped him, but could not, so left him. Called of him on Saturday, said “So you know not me, but I would have been your friend last night.”

Now patience with him was expired. His name was Gelibrand, he had been drinking the night before, gave unhandsome language to some as he went. When he was a-going down to the waterside, some of the family where he had been called to him, told him that was not his way, he said “I know what I do.” He rid on to the waterside amongst the willows in the meadow, not in any ford, spurred his horse, made him leap in amongst the willows, where it’s likely he fell off. The horse got out. They followed him with lanterns, saw him swim down the water, but could not reach him, he is not found, this is Dec 26.

His father [also Michael Gilburn] came from York on Saturday; they dare not tell his mother how he died only that he was dead. Hundreds of idle people walked on Lord’s day by the waterside to spy if they could find him, they found his handkerchief dropped out of his coat. His office was by the Swan door, nailed up on Thursday.

This Mr Gilburn was found under clayhouse, January 15, 1675, by some that cut wood, spying brocks about that place. Brought into Halifax, his skin whole, breeches gone off, watch gone, etc.

383 words.

Tags

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• Alcohol (drug) (59) ·
• Alcohol intoxication (27) ·
• Alcoholism (12) ·
• Badger (2) ·
• Beer (34) ·
• Calderdale (2) ·
• Drowning (22) ·
• 📌Halifax (43) ·
• Heywood, Oliver (1630-1702) (34), Bolton-born nonconformist minister and diarist, active in the West Riding, resident at Northowram, ejected for his beliefs ·
• Karel Dujardin (1) ·
• Lantern (1) ·
• River Calder, West Yorkshire (5) ·
• Woodhouse, Calderdale (1) ·
• 📌York (164) ·

All tags.

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