Now! Then! Jane Thompson of Craven, “a swinish drunkard,” dies of a barely-treated compound fracture

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Jane Thompson was born in Craven, whose brother dying, the land fell to her. She was married to Mr Whitley of Cinder Hills [which ones?], who with her consent sold her land, spent abundance, run a wild though short race, hastening his death by excess, died young, left a son, which died shortly after. Then there was at least a pretence of marriage betwixt Mr Ed. Firth and this young wanton widow, though ’tis said they were never married, and himself professed so on his death-bed, but they lived together as man and wife. This second husband was blind a considerable time before his death, and she abused him several times, as is notoriously known, especially by her too much familiarity with this man who was her last husband. Her second husband lay long sick and was exceedingly afflicted in spirit, dealt seriously with his reputed wife, admonishing her to repent and reform her ways, adding, that it may be death would not give her the like warning that it had given him. She sometimes jestingly spoke of his expressions, but made a scorn of them. Well, this gentleman died and left her with child, and though he had a great estate yet he cut her off with scarce £20 a year and left the child some small thing to bring it up to a certain age, if it lived. But it died, and she was quickly married to Mr Will Greenwood, an attorney born in Skipton but being settled in the house with her. She buried her husband, was delivered of a child and buried it, and was married to this husband in less than eight weeks’ space. She came and lived where her first husband died, who had left her a jointure of about £60 per annum and they sold for her life what Mr Firth left her, and made it away, they did not agree, being jealous of each other, the truth is she was notoriously addicted to wantons, she was a swinish drunkard, and took delight to see others drunk, she usually sent a great jug to the alehouse several times in the day only for herself, specially if she had been drunk the night before she was so habituated therein that she could eat nothing, but drink ale altogether, her stinking pride, her horrible swearing and cursing were too well known by all that knew her.

As her life was abominable so her death was remarkable, she had not been well about a fortnight, and had taken physic, being something better, she would go with her husband up to JM, an alehouse about half a mile off, to lighten her and cheer up her spirits with ale and company, and though formerly she had cursed herself and bade the devil break her neck if ever she rid upon that mare which her husband had bought without her consent, yet now she would needs ride upon her, though much dissuaded from it, yet she said if she was not the devil she would ride her, the mare carried her very quietly thither, and having spent some time there, the man of the house set her on horse back and led the mare a good space, as soon as ever he let go, the beast fell a-capering and running straight from homewards, the bridle and crupper brake, and she came down. The spectators thought she light upon her feet, but her arm was broken, and a hole was made in it which bled profusely, and another under her armhole. She was taken up by her husband, and fainted into a swoon several times. When she was sensible she cried out, “O death, death, what shall I do with death?” yet when she was a little recruited she went the greatest part of the way home on foot. When her arm was set she felt little pain, though several bones stuck out visibly, that were broken. This was on the Thursday night. On the Friday she talked merrily and drunk heartily, and often sent her husband from her upon some excuse that she might get more ale. Her body swelled excessively and she was stretched out in length incredibly while she was living, her wounds kept constantly running, so that its strange to think what issued from her, and she stunk so that some were sick with being near her.

Upon the Friday night an honest neighbour watched with her, who put her in mind of her approaching death, but she seemed to be offended with her, only saying, “I am a miserable wretch,” and put off those matters with other discourse. She was not at al sensible, nor did she desire any minister to come to her, though she had partaked of the sacrament at Halifax a little before. She continued in that trade of excessive drinking till she died, so that it’s verily believed by some that she died drunk, for she had drunk six merribowk [posset] pots full of ale that day she died, which was before 11 o’clock on Saturday, being June 18, 1664.

That night the coroner came to view her, and the jury found the beast that cast her accessory to her death. Her husband took on most sadly and cried out that he was undone, having lost all the estate and being in debt. Her body was swelled to an incredible quantity it was as big as three ordinary women’s, her face was as blew as a painted blew wal, out of her nose and mouth constantly streamed something like drink, about her neck where she was wont to wear her necklace a great wreath of flesh stood higher than the rest, that had several freckled, coloured spots upon it, her eyes were exceeding great as tho they would have started out, but that which was most strange, her body was not swelled proportionably, for though her higher parts and thighs were monstrous great, yet her legs and feet were of their ordinary bulk, and as pure white and neat as ever were living gentlewoman’s, yea though her better arm that was not hurt was swelled above the elbow as thick as a man’s thigh, yet below it was as it was wont to be.

The corpse smelt very strong, the stench was more loathsome then any carrion, so that none could endure to be in the room. The women went to her husband and told him she must be buried that night, for she could not be kept both by reason of the stench and they feared the bursting of the body, abundance of corrupt matter still issuing out, he bade them burn frankincense and odours in the room, but tho it was full of smoke yet the steam of the corps overcame that perfume : yea al the house stunk of the dead body, and every room, they again entreated Mr Greenwood to come see her and give his judgement whether she could be kept till Monday, they wiped her face, he kissed her, and immediately as he turned his back two drops of blood came out of her nostrils, out of either nostril one drop of pure red blood, and then came other corrupt matter as before.

They concluded to bury her that night, and though they had bespoken an huge great coffin, very wide and two yards long, yet the body did but lean in it on one side, and as much as a lusty woman’s body was out, the lid would not come down. But they bound it about with cords, and eight men carried her with much difficulty to Coley chapel, which is not a bow shoot from the house, and she was buried on the Sabbath day morning. By that time it was light enough to see to read common-prayers at the grave. Much earth was laid by that could not go into the grave. And the funeral was celebrated at Halifax upon Monday, where there was a sermon, and drinking according to the usual manner.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

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Comment

I’m guessing a punctured lung, but I hope someone will clarify.

Several pages on:

A company of gentlemen (among them this Mr Greenwood before mentioned) were drinking at John Rushworth’s, after they had drunk healths in the parlour, went out of doors, drunk health with their feet upon their hats, then went up to the fold head, upon the lane side and kneeled there in a row with hats off and drunk healths, and sent for a horse to kneel with them but he refused.

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Original

Jane Thompson was born in Craven, whose brother dying, the land fell to her. She was married to Mr Whitley of Cinder Hills [which ones?], who with her consent sold her land, spent abundance, run a wild though short race, hastening his death by excess, died young, left a son, which died shortly after. Then there was at least a pretence of marriage betwixt Mr Ed. Firth and this young wanton widow, though ’tis said they were never married, and himself professed so on his death-bed, but they lived together as man and wife. This second husband was blind a considerable time before his death, and she abused him several times, as is notoriously known, especially by her too much familiarity with this man who was her last husband. Her second husband lay long sick and was exceedingly afflicted in spirit, dealt seriously with his reputed wife, admonishing her to repent and reform her ways, adding, that it may be death would not give her the like warning that it had given him. She sometimes jestingly spoke of his expressions, but made a scorn of them. Well, this gentleman died and left her with child, and though he had a great estate yet he cut her off with scarce £20 a year and left the child some small thing to bring it up to a certain age, if it lived. But it died, and she was quickly married to Mr Will Greenwood, an attorney born in Skipton but being settled in the house with her. She buried her husband, was delivered of a child and buried it, and was married to this husband in less than eight weeks’ space. She came and lived where her first husband died, who had left her a jointure of about £60 per annum and they sold for her life what Mr Firth left her, and made it away, they did not agree, being jealous of each other, the truth is she was notoriously addicted to wantons, she was a swinish drunkard, and took delight to see others drunk, she usually sent a great jug to the alehouse several times in the day only for herself, specially if she had been drunk the night before she was so habituated therein that she could eat nothing, but drink ale altogether, her stinking pride, her horrible swearing and cursing were too well known by all that knew her.

As her life was abominable so her death was remarkable, she had not been well about a fortnight, and had taken physic, being something better, she would go with her husband up to JM, an alehouse about half a mile off, to lighten her and cheer up her spirits with ale and company, and though formerly she had cursed herself and bade the devil break her neck if ever she rid upon that mare which her husband had bought without her consent, yet now she would needs ride upon her, though much dissuaded from it, yet she said if she was not the devil she would ride her, the mare carried her very quietly thither, and having spent some time there, the man of the house set her on horse back and led the mare a good space, as soon as ever he let go, the beast fell a-capering and running straight from homewards, the bridle and crupper brake, and she came down. The spectators thought she light upon her feet, but her arm was broken, and a hole was made in it which bled profusely, and another under her armhole. She was taken up by her husband, and fainted into a swoon several times. When she was sensible she cried out, “O death, death, what shall I do with death?” yet when she was a little recruited she went the greatest part of the way home on foot. When her arm was set she felt little pain, though several bones stuck out visibly, that were broken. This was on the Thursday night. On the Friday she talked merrily and drunk heartily, and often sent her husband from her upon some excuse that she might get more ale. Her body swelled excessively and she was stretched out in length incredibly while she was living, her wounds kept constantly running, so that its strange to think what issued from her, and she stunk so that some were sick with being near her.

Upon the Friday night an honest neighbour watched with her, who put her in mind of her approaching death, but she seemed to be offended with her, only saying, “I am a miserable wretch,” and put off those matters with other discourse. She was not at al sensible, nor did she desire any minister to come to her, though she had partaked of the sacrament at Halifax a little before. She continued in that trade of excessive drinking till she died, so that it’s verily believed by some that she died drunk, for she had drunk six merribowk [posset] pots full of ale that day she died, which was before 11 o’clock on Saturday, being June 18, 1664.

That night the coroner came to view her, and the jury found the beast that cast her accessory to her death. Her husband took on most sadly and cried out that he was undone, having lost all the estate and being in debt. Her body was swelled to an incredible quantity it was as big as three ordinary women’s, her face was as blew as a painted blew wal, out of her nose and mouth constantly streamed something like drink, about her neck where she was wont to wear her necklace a great wreath of flesh stood higher than the rest, that had several freckled, coloured spots upon it, her eyes were exceeding great as tho they would have started out, but that which was most strange, her body was not swelled proportionably, for though her higher parts and thighs were monstrous great, yet her legs and feet were of their ordinary bulk, and as pure white and neat as ever were living gentlewoman’s, yea though her better arm that was not hurt was swelled above the elbow as thick as a man’s thigh, yet below it was as it was wont to be.

The corpse smelt very strong, the stench was more loathsome then any carrion, so that none could endure to be in the room. The women went to her husband and told him she must be buried that night, for she could not be kept both by reason of the stench and they feared the bursting of the body, abundance of corrupt matter still issuing out, he bade them burn frankincense and odours in the room, but tho it was full of smoke yet the steam of the corps overcame that perfume : yea al the house stunk of the dead body, and every room, they again entreated Mr Greenwood to come see her and give his judgement whether she could be kept till Monday, they wiped her face, he kissed her, and immediately as he turned his back two drops of blood came out of her nostrils, out of either nostril one drop of pure red blood, and then came other corrupt matter as before.

They concluded to bury her that night, and though they had bespoken an huge great coffin, very wide and two yards long, yet the body did but lean in it on one side, and as much as a lusty woman’s body was out, the lid would not come down. But they bound it about with cords, and eight men carried her with much difficulty to Coley chapel, which is not a bow shoot from the house, and she was buried on the Sabbath day morning. By that time it was light enough to see to read common-prayers at the grave. Much earth was laid by that could not go into the grave. And the funeral was celebrated at Halifax upon Monday, where there was a sermon, and drinking according to the usual manner.

1354 words.