Posted on 12/04/2006 12:22:50 PM PST by FLOutdoorsman
The 500-year-old death records from Lamplugh which revealed some peculiar demises.
Forget knife-carrying hoodies, people in the mid-17th century had far more dangerous opponents to worry about... such as spirits and fairies.
Also, pitchforks, stools or even a trusty frying pan were the weapons of choice when it came to street fights, a newly unearthed burial register has shown.
The document reveals the deeply superstitious – and often brutal – side of life in Oliver Cromwell's England.
Covering deaths from 1656 to 1663 – the manuscript reveals no less than four people were 'Frighted to Death by faries' while another died after being 'Led into a horse pond by a will of the whisp'.
A further seven people died after becoming 'bewitched' – and three 'old women' were drowned after being tried for witchcraft.
While most of the deaths recorded in the Cumbrian parish of Lamplugh were due to old age, drunken duels claimed two lives in bizarre fashion.
One man died in a battle 'fought with frying pan and pitchforks' while a second brawl involving a 'three-footed stool and a brown jug' accounted for another.
Also dangerous was 'Mrs Lamplughs cordial water', which accounted for two deaths.
The manuscript is not dated or signed, but experts studied the writing and concluded it was written in the mid-1700s.
It is based on the burial register from a century earlier, which has been lost, but would have been kept by the local rector.
Archivists in Cumbria came across the document recently in their archives in Whitehaven, as part of a national campaign to highlight the treasures to be found in local history.
Archivist Anne Rowe said: 'These were insecure social times and many folk in the 17th century would have been scared of fairies and will o' the wisps.
'Many a natural death would have been put down to the evil witchcraft of a harmless old widow.'
THOSE DEATHS IN FULL:
Deaths taken out of the Register of Lamplugh from Janry ye 1 1656 to Janry ye 1 1663
* On a five bar gate, stag hunters: 4
* Two Duels, first fot [fought] with frying pan and pitchforks: 1
* Second between a 3 footed stool and a brown jug: 1
* Kild [killed] at Kelton fell raices [races]: 3
* Knocked on the head at Cockfight: 2
* Crost [crossed] in love: 1
* Broke his neck robbing a hen roost: 1
* took cold sleeping at Church: 11
* hanged for clipping and coyning: 7
* of a sprain in his shouldr by saving his dog at bul bate [bull bait]: 1
* Mrs Lamplughs cordial water: 2
* Knocked on ye head with a quart bottle: 1
* Frighted to Death by faries: 4
* Of strong October at the hall: 14
* Bewitched: 7
* Broke a vein in bawling for a knight of ye shire: 1
* Old women drowned upon trial for witchcraft: 3
* Climbing a crows nest: 1
* Led into a horse pond by a will of the whisp: 1
* Over eat himself at a house warming: 1
* Died of a fright in an Excersise of ye traind bands: 1
* By the Parsons bull: 2
* Vagrant beggars worried by Esqr Lamplughs housedog: 2
* Choked with eating barley: 4
* Old age: 57
I love "Knocked on ye head with a quart bottle". Which begs the question Old English or Colt 45?
A frying pan was my grandmothers weapon of choice.
She laid out my uncle with one when he came back from Marine boot camp and sassed her.
Hot off the stove too.
Never bring a frying pan to a pitchfork fight.
Vagrant beggars worried by Esqr Lamplughs housedog: 2
Release the hounds!
Ye Olde Mortician was a busy old soul that year.
Utterly useless bits of data department: there used to be a symbol called a "thorn" that was used to represent the "th" sound. According to one of my university profs, the whole "ye olde" thing came from mistaking a thorn for a "y."
Goes to prove that people will kill each other regardless of Liberal gun control. Anything can and will be used as a weapon.
'Frighted to Death by faries' == homophobia?
A duel "between a 3 footed stool and a brown jug" would be a sight to behold.
Them Lamplughs was a rough lot, yes they was. If t'wasn't the homebrew, t'was that infernal dog.
As opposed to the warm, sensitive and humane side of life in Cromwell's England?
How could 14 people die "Of strong October at the hall"? And what havoc would a weak October wreak?
Huh?
Entertaining post BUMP.
october=beer ??
beerhall?
I won't even ask.
Don't play with the Parson's bull, either.
Aye! 'Tis dangerous by the horse pond at night, ye know?!
From dictionary.com
British. ale or beer traditionally brewed in this month.
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