Ways of Dying in 1665

OK OK I SAID SORRY!!

Blessed are the cheesemakers.

First recorded steam engine

Steam engines were hardly on topic either although Wiki tells me that in 1663 Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquis of Worcester, published a selection of his inventions one of which was a sort of steam pump. Sadly he died in 1665 before he could commercialise it.

Being dragged to your death by a galloping horse must have been quite common in 1665 as well?

Sorry too :)

sorry

OK, but no horsey owning type things

But I will tell you a good horsey history thing. The one about the two brother officers in WWI whose battalions passed each other in a muddy lane in France. The brothers were so filthy and exhausted they didn't recognise each other, but the horses did and whickered in greeting and nosed each other

I think it's an Elizabeth Jane Howard anecdote from the her father and uncle in the war.

I think the thread is entitled to take a meander through horsiness, seeing as how they were fairly important to daily life in History. It will move on to something else soon

Italic fail.

This will not turn into a horsey thread?

Mirage, that is fascinating about the detachable skirts!

Did no-one else watch Flambards and read this book? It's by the star of the tv adaptation and it's her account of how she learnt to ride sidesaddle, having lied about her riding ability in order to get the part.

I've ONLY ever been on a horse sidesaddle, because apart from donkeys at the beach the only time I've ever been on a horse was while doing 15th and 16th century re-enacting. It wasn't an authentic saddle though, it had a pommel. It certainly felt very safe and secure, I don't have trouble imagining people hunting on them.

Can I just ensure ^this will not turn into a horsey thread>?

I have ridden side saddle a few times, and really like it.

Jumping is fine, you just have to mind you are not thrown off balance.

Trotting is awkward, so most people try to go from walk to canter.

Oh Saggy - a shetland and a side saddle - that would be so sweet!

We have a shetland too

Marking my place - I don't want to miss any of this!

for all you avid side-saddlers - just so you can see where the info came from and that they have developed a lot since the first ones!

I read that the Egyptians used cotton flax for the pessaries.
I'm going to try side saddle this year. Dd wants to try so we are going to a local riding centre. (She would look fabulous side saddle on her gorgeous black traditional shetland!) It's very secure apparently. Your left leg is wedged under the leaping head and the right is hooked over. If you get scared, you just clamp your legs together harder!

27 ladies riding sidesaddle out hunting Do you live in a time warp, Mirage?

I understood that sidesaddle riding is bad for your back (all that twisting) and the horse's back (uneven weight distribution).

I'd love to have a go, mind you..

Great thread, everyone. I've been lurking and enjoying it for days.

for all you enjoying this, as I am can I recommend the book of the Body farm, and follow up of which i am reading now, fascinating stuff!

Melty, that would make sense - the enzymes in the saliva might have helped to break it down into a softer substance.

Mirage - you can now but not with the first ones invented in the 14thC!

History of Tampons
I dunno, from the death notices of 1665 with a diversion through Agatha Christie, misbehaving Henry, prehistoric sex toys and tampons.
Not exactly Netmums stuff, thats for sure.

You can go at a fair old tilt sidesaddle.At the Opening meet of our hunt there were 27 ladies riding side saddle plus a little girl of about 12,who flew over the hedges.There was plenty of galloping and jumping and side saddles are actually very secure and safe with no inability to control the horse.

In the 19th century ladies out hunting wore habits with detachable skirts in case of a fall.The theory was that immodesty was better than being dragged along and possibly killedif you fell and your skirt got caught on the pommel.On one occasion a lady did end up minus her skirt and the call went out for a 'married gentleman' to assist her and help her cover up.

R2 no worries - I am the one in charge of the Internet firewall and blacklist

I have a vague idea that they used to chew papyrus to make it soft. I may have made that up though.

I think if you beat papyrus fibres with stones, they become more pliable and not as scratchy as you'd think - I mean, if they can make nappies etc. out of bamboo, it must be possible! :)

Saggy - that story is hilarious!

The Egyptians used things a bit like tampons too. Fabric, greased wool (ok I suppose) and papyrus. Now that can't have been comfortable.

I just found this...

The origins of crocodile dung as a contraceptive dates back many millennia. One source says that the first recorded instance came about when a young Egyptian man was out in his chariot one starry night with a young Egyptian woman. He pulled over to a deserted spot on the road where romantic young couples often lingered. He claimed his horse was out of oats, and by the way, wouldn't she be cooler on such a hot night if she loosened her clothes a bit? They kissed, and as their passion grew, the woman stopped him and said, "Wait, what if I get pregnant?"
The young man looked around, saw a pile of crocodile dung by the riverbank, and said, "Don't worry, darling, we can use crocodile dung."
"What?" she said, pulling her robes back into place.
"Don't worry, it's an ancient method of contraception," he said. "I love you, baby. I'd never lie to you."
So they used the crocodile dung and did the deed.
Nine months later, she delivered a healthy baby. And that was how the phrase was born: "Everything men tell you is a croc of shit."

I know it lowers the tone of this very informative thread, but it did make me chuckle!

I can't think of anything less likely to get me in the mood that crocodile dung, so I guess you could say it was a very effective contraception.