Newes from the Dead/Newes from the Dead
Newes from the Dead.
Here happened lately in this Citty a very rare and remarkeable accident, which being variously and falsely reported amongst the vulgar (as in such cases it is usuall) to the end that none may be deceived, and that so signall an act of Gods mercy and providence may never be forgotten, I have here faithfully recorded it, according to the Information I have received from those that were the chiefe Instruments in bringing this great worke to perfection.
In the house of Sir Thomas Read at Duns-Tew in Oxford-shire, there lived a maid named Anne Greene, born at Steeple-Barton, in the same County, being about 22 years of age, of a middle stature, strong, fleshie, and of an indifferent good feature; who being (as she said) often sollicited by faire promises and other amorous enticements of Mr Jeffery Read Grand-child to the said Sir Thomas, a youth of about 16 or 17 years of age, but of a forward growth and stature, at last contented to satisfy his unlawfull pleasure. By which act (as it afterward appeared) she conceived, and was delivered of a Man-child: which being never made knowne, and the Infant found dead in the house of office, caused a suspition, that she being the mother had murthered it, and throwne it there on purpose to conceale both it and her shame together. Thereupon she was immediatly taken into examination, and carried before severall Justices of the peace in the Countrey: and soone after, in an extreame cold and rainy day, sent unto Oxford Gaole, where having passed about three weekes more in continuall affrights and terrours, in a place as comfortlesse as her condition, she was at a Sessions held in Oxford, arraigned, condemned, and on Saturday the 14 of December last, brought forth to the place of Execution: where, after singing of a Psalme, & something said in justification of her self, as to the fact for which she was to suffer, and touching the lewdnesse of the Family wherein she lately lived, she was turn'd off the Ladder, hanging by the neck for the space of almost halfe an houre, some of her friends in the mean time thumping her on the breast, others hanging with all their weight upon her leggs; sometimes lifting her up, and then pulling her downe againe with a suddaine jerke, thereby the sooner to dispatch her out of her paine: insomuch that the Under-Sheriffe fearing lest thereby they should breake the rope, forbad them to doe so any longer. At length, when every one thought she was dead, the body being taken downe, and put into a Coffin, was carried thence into a private house, where some Physitians had appointed to make a Dissection. The Coffin being opened, she was observed to breath, and in breathing (the passage of her throat being streightned) obscurely to ruttle: which being perceived by a lusty fellow that stood by, he (thinking to doe an act of charity in ridding her out of the small reliques of a painfull life) stamped severall times on her breast & stomack with all the force he could. Immediately after, there came in Dr Petty of Brasen-nose-Colledge our Anatomy-Professor, and Mr Thomas Willis of Christ-Church, at whose comming, which was about 9 a clock in the morning, she yet persisted to ruttle as before, laying all this while stretched out in the coffin in a cold room and season of the yeare. They perceiving some life in her, as well for humanity as their Professionsake, fell presently to act in order to her recovery. First, having caused her to be held up in the Coffin, they wrenched open her teeth, which were fast set,and powred into her mouth some hot and cordiall spirits; whereupen she rutled more then before, and seemed obscurely to cough: then they opened her hands (her fingers also being stifly bent) and ordered some to rub and chafe the extreme parts of her body, which they continued for about a quarter of an houre; oft, in the mean time, powring in a spoonfull or two of the cordiall water; and besides tickling her throat with a feather, at which she opened her eyes, but shut them againe presently. As soon as they perceived any heat in her extream parts, they thought of letting her bloud: & no sooner was her arme bound for that purpose, but she suddenly bent it, as if it had been contracted by a fit of the Convulsion: the veine being opened, shee bled about five ounces, and that so freely that it could not easily be stopped. All this while her pulse was very low, but otherwise not much amisse. Her arm being bound up again, and now and then a little cordial water powr'd down her throat, they continued rubbing her in several places, caused Ligatures to be made in her armes and leggs, and then ordered her to be laid in a bed well warmed: then they caused her neck, and also her temples to be anointed with confortative oyles and spirits, and so likewise the bottoms of her feet, and upon this shee beganne to open her eies and to move the lower parts of her body. About this time came in Mr Bathurst of Trinity Colledge, and Mr Clerke of Magdalen Colledge, whose advice and endeavours were then and all the time afterwards concurrent with those of the other two above mentioned. Then they applyed a plaister to her breasts, and ordered an heating odoriferous Clyster to be cast up in her body, to give heat and warmth to her bowels: after that, they perswaded a woman to goe into bed to her, and to lye very close to her, and gently to keep rubbing of her. After all which shee seemd about noon to be in a sweat. Her face also began somewhat to swell and to look very red on that side on which the knot of the halter had been fastned.
Whilst the Physicians were thus busie in recovering her to life, the Undersheriffe was solliciting the Governour and the rest of the Justices of Peace for the obtaining her Reprieve, that in case she should for that present be recovered fully to life, shee might not be had backe again to Execution. Whereapon those worthy Gentlemen, considering what had happened, weighing all circumstances, they readily apprehended the hand of God in her preservation, and being willing rather to co-operate with divine providence in saving her, then to overstrain justice by condemning her to double shame and sufferings, they were pleas'd to grant her a Reprieve untill such time as her Pardon might be compleatly obtained.
All this while she had no sooner opened her eyes, but presently she shut them again, and being call'd upon to try whether she could hear or speak, there appeared no sign that she could do either. Soon after, they made tryal again: bidding her, if she understood them, to move her hand, or open her eies. Whereupon she obscurely opened her eyes. The Physitians fearing least her face might swell more & more, and a Feaver come upon her, by reason of the former suffocation, took from her right arme about nine ounces more of blood, and then ordered her a Julep, and other cordiall things co be administred upon occasion, and so left her for that night: and about two houres after she began to speake many words intelligible.
On Sunday the 15 about 8 in the morning they return'd, and found her much amended, being able to answer to any question propounded unto her. Shee then complained of her throat, (but not much of any other part) whereunto they ordered a Cataplasme be applyed: then she complaining of drought, a Julep was offered her, which she first took with difficulty, and at laft refus'd: warm beere being given her, she disrelished it, but of cold she drank and thanked them.
All this while she lay often sighing and talking to her selfe, as if she had been still to suffer. About noone she felt an extreame sorenesse in her breast and sides, but there appeared nothing discoloured or like a Contusion. That night they ordered her a Clyster, & a Cataplasme to be applied to her breast and sides, with other means to prevent what evill might ensue by reason of contus'd blood, and so left her to rest. About 9 of the clock she laughed and talked merrily, looking fresh and of a good colour being a little feverish, her tongue not furr'd nor clammy.
Munday the 16, they found that she had taken some rest, and her feaver not much encreas'd: they then tooke from her left arme about six ounces of blood more: she fainted not, but talked very cheerfully, complaining somewhat of her neck, stomack, and throat.
But before they let her bloud, having first caused all to depart the roome, except those Gentlemen that were of the Faculty, they asked her of her sense and apprehension during the time of her suffering: she answered, that after she put off some of her clothes, bequeathing them to her Mother (which was early in the morning before her execution) and heard some one say that one of the prisoners was let out of the chaine to put her to death, she remembered nothing at all that had been done unto her: and that she knew not when her fetters were knock'd off, or how she came out of prison, or that she had bin upon the Gallow's, neither could she remember that any Psalme had bin sung, or that she said any thing there: notwithstanding those that were present do testify that she spake very sensibly: onely about a fortnight after, she seemed to remember something of a fellow wrapt up in a blāket, which indeed was the habit of her Executioner.
It is observable also, that when she came to her selfe againe, she fell into the like speeches as she had used in prison before the execution: seeming there to go on where she had so long time left off; like to a Clock whose weights had been taken off a while, and afterwards hung on againe.
That night she was fomented about the sides and other contused places, her neck being very sore, especially on the right side, where it was all black, and began to blister: there appeared also diverse spots of setled bloud on her right check.
Tuesday the 17 in the morning they found her pulse slow, but very unequall: her tongue not very dry nor rough: the night before she slept well; in the morning she arose, but her head was so light that she could hardly stand upright: she now complained of paine beneath the pit of her stomack: she complained also of a deadnesse in the tipp of her tongue, thinking she had bitten it in the time of her suffering: she call'd this day for some bread, which she did eate, being first toasted and moistned in beare. At night when they visited her againe, the paine of her neck and throat was decreased: the spots of setled bloud about her cheek and neck lessened, but the deadnesse of her tongue still remained. That night she slept 6 or7 houres: and on the 18 in the morning had no feaver; her pulse much amended; all Symptomes lessened; the paines in her breast seemed to descend into the region of the belly, being (as 'twas conceived) not in the bowells, but only in the musculous outward parts.
The 19 she was up, and did eat part of a chick. All Symptomes decreased: yet could she not goe, without the help of somewhat to uphold her. Her neck still sore, but mending. The deadnesse of her Tongue lessened. That night she slept well. About foure or five daies after, being hard frosty weather, there appeared a blacknesse over the lower part of her right arme, and upon her flankes on the same side: which by degrees waxed yellow, and in foure or five daies vanished.
By this time, the care of the Physitians was well over. The paines in her breast and side when she drew in her breath, as also the inequality of her pulse (which caused a suspition of a contusion and extravasated bloud spilt on the Lungs) being fully ceased. The deadnesse of her tongue and sorenesse of her neck quite gone. There remained onely a giddinesse in her head when she walked or stirred her body, which in a short time likewise left her. And now being able to walk about the town, eat, drink,and sleep aswel as before this accident had befallen her, she had liberty to repair (and is since gone) unto her friends in the Country; taking away with her the Coffin wherein she lay, as a Trophey of this her wonderful preservation.
Thus, within the space of a Moneth, was she wholly recovered: and in the same Room where her Body was to have been dissected for the satisfaction of a few, she became a greater wonder, being reviv'd, to the satisfaction of multitudes that flocked thither daily to see her.
One thing more I had almost forgotten; that when the numbers of people still pressing into the house began to be too impetuous, and the Physicians had obtained of the Governour to have a Guard plac'd at the door; yet because those of the better sort could not altogether be denied admission, they thought it a seasonable opportunity, for the maid's behalfe,to invite them either to exercise their Charity, or at least to pay for their Curiosity. And therefore (themselves first leading the way) they commended it to those that came in, to give every one what they pleas'd, her Father being there ready to receive it. After a few daies the Governor (a Gentleman as much to be belov'd for his Courtesie, as hee is honour'd for his Prudence) coming himselfe to see her,did not onely contribute to her in a liberal manner, but also improved his charity with many pertinent and wholsom instructions. By this meanes there was gathered for her to the summe of many pounds: whereby not onely the Apothecaries Bill, and other necessaries for her Dyet and lodging were discharged, but some overplus remained towards the suing out of her Pardon.
And now, having done with the Sufferings, and the Cure, it will not be amisse to look back, and take a Reveiw of the Cause of them, as matter of fact for which she suffered: which (as I have said) was the supposed murther of her own Infant.
There are two things, very considerable, alledged on her behalfe, and that may seem to cleer her Innocence as to that businesse.
The first is, that the Childe was abortive or stilborn, and consequently not capable of being murthered. The other, that she did not certainly know that she was with childe, and that it fell from her unawares as she was in the house of office.
As for the first, it is evident that the child was very unperfect, being not above a span in length, and the sexe hardly to be distinguished: so that rather seemed a lump of flesh, then a well and duly formed Infant. The Midwife said also, that it had no hair, and that the did not beleeve that ever it had life. Besides, her fellow-servants do testifie, that shee had certain Issues for about a month before shee miscarried, which were of that nature (Phyicians say) as are not consistent with the vitality of a child: the eruption of which Issues came on her after shee had violently labour'd in skreening of malt. Lastly, it is not likely that the Child was vital, the mischance happening not above 17. weekes after the time of her conception.
For the 2. that shee might not know certainly that she was with childe, it is not improbable: for shee was not 10. weeks without the usual Courses of women, before she had those continual Issues which lasted for a Moneth together: which long and great Evacuation might make her judge, that it was nothing else but a flux of those humors which for ten weeks before had been suppressed; and that the childe which then fell from her unawares, was nothing but a lump of the same matter coagulated. As for the pain, it must needs be different in such cases from that which accompanies the timely fruit of the wonmb: and by reason of those Issues coming from her, for so long continued a time before she could not have those throwes and passions at the time of her abortion, as women in travel are subject unto.
Adde to all this, that at her Tryall she ingeniously confessed as much as was alledged by the witnesses: and continued in the same assertions, not only before, but at her Execution, the last supposed minute of her life; and the very first words, after she came to her self again (which certainly were not spoken with design, or purpose to deceive) confirmed the same.
There is yet one thing more which hath been taken notice of by somę, as to the Maid's defence; That her Grand Prosecutor Sir Thomas Read died within three daies after her Execution; even almost as soon as the probability of her reviving could be well confirmed to him. But because hee was an old man, and such Events are not too rashly to be commented on, I shall not make use of that observation.
It may perhaps be expected by some (and 'tis pity I can give them no better satisfaction) that I should here relate some story (like those of Orpheus or Æneas in the Poëts) of what fine visions this maid saw in the other world; what cœlestial musick, or hellish howling she heard; what spirits she conversed with; and what Revelations she brought back with her, concerning the Present Times, or the Events of things to come. But for such matters the Ballad-makers must rest contented: since shee (as you have heard) was so far from knowing any thing whilst shee was dead, that shee remembred not what had happened to her eventwhen shee was yet alive. Her spirits, at that time, being either so fixed or benummed with fear, as not to admit of any new Impressions; or otherwise so turbulent and unquiet, as presently to discompose and obliterate them. As we often see it fares with men that are buzz'd in the head with drink, or transported with madnesse, who, though they seem sensible enough of every present object that moves them, yet after they recover can own but little of what they did or said before.
Having here done with the Story, I cannot but reflect upon the generous attempt of those Gentlemen that freely undertook, and have so happily performed the Cure. That whilst they missed the opportunity of improving their knowledge in the dissection of a Dead body, they advanced their fame by restoring to the world a Living one: who now (deservedly) accounts it her happinesse to have fallen into such courteous and skilfull hands: not only for their successefull endeavours used in her Recovery, but for being a means to vindicate her from that foul stain of Murder, which, in most mens judgments (and, perhaps, Heaven it selfe also bearing witnesse) was so harshly charged upon her.
