From the author of Twitter's Medieval Death Bot comes Murdered by Clerks, an illuminating collection of in-depth looks at the most interesting cases from medieval coroners' rolls
Thomas, son of Henry Robekyn, died 1286 after cutting off his left foot and then his left hand in a frenzy
Henry Debordesle, died 1343. Long sick with diseases, smote himself in the belly with a knife worth one penny
A romp through the death records of medieval England. From the bizarre to the mundane, each death tells a tale from a dangerous time to be alive, and even to die. Coroners' rolls list every inquest held for a death by misadventure - or accident - as well as grisly murders, some witnessed by others, some only coming to light when the hidden body was found. For deaths like these, everyone surrounding the death could become suspect. As a result, a complex system of juries arose to sort out just who was responsible. Was it a murder? Or was the cause of death simply an overturned pot of porridge, the family pig, or a step, slipped on while drunk. Whatever it was - it would pay the price.
A handful of these deaths rise to the top, their tales too bizarre, ridiculous or heartbreaking to not be spun again for the modern ear. Through death, Murdered by Clerks gives us a rare, first-hand look into everyday life for common people of the English Middle Ages.