When the story of his marriage was
mentioned
before Mrs.
Caulfield - Portraits, Memoirs, of Characters and Memorable Persons
u
And, Bishop Burnet says^ "he was a bold,
it,
146 MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
years continued those prejudices in the pubUc mind,
which a wiser administration would,have been anxious . to dispel.
H^--^^. ^. . ^. . '-^^ ^'^ #,^^,ffi. ,v! =^s,>,^^, -N:^,immu. . u. ^,^:sss:;;^^s^ Jla^dffc^ . tvw^f
JANE
SCROISHAA\ .
AN>JE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 147
^mt Scctm0^atai
Jane Scrimshaw is no other way recbrd'ed, than
as having lived tb the advanced age ofone'huhdred and twenty-seven. She was the daughter' bf 'Mr. '
Thomas Scrimshaw, wpolstapler, and born in Ldndbbr in the parish of St. Mary-le-Bbw, Aprif 3, 1584'.
She was never married; and, when 'little rrioire than thirty years old, found a cPmfbrtable'asylum in MW-
chant Taylors' Alms-house, near Little Tower-hill'. ; Her portrait, which was taken in April,' 1711, at Alms-house, bears an inscription, deiiScribing her aar then in a good state of health. It appears, however, she was shortly after removed to Rosemary-lane Work house, where she 'died, December 25, the same year. Vexation, perhaps, in leaving 'the Alms-Chouse, where she-had resided ei'ghty years, might' havte 'accelerated
'
which must have passed immediately under her view, how many interesting particulars might have been recorded during* the reigns of eight sovereigns, Eliza- u2
—
her'death.
Had Jane Scrimshaw kept a diary of transactipris
'
148
MEMOIRS OF
[ANWfE.
beth to Anne, That persons greatiy advanced in age
retain their health and faculties, is evident from prbofs
meet with. Mr. Noble saw a woman, named Boston, aged one hundred and six years, who had resided fifty years in the hospital at Temple-
Balsal, Warwickshire ; she was tall and upright, and, only a fortnight before her death, she had performed her usual Saturday's task, of carrying a pail of water, from a well at a considerable distance, to wash her rooms. He saw her in the last week of her life, when
she had in her hands a large water jug, complaining she was not so well as usual, and therefore could not carry the pail ; but she had used great exertion some day before, in walking several miles to visit a grand daughter, which had exhausted her strength.
Elizabeth Alexander, who resided many years in Han way-street, Tottenham-court-road, in the year 1810, when past the age of one hundred and eight, would, when walking in the street, if looked after,
quickly turn to observe if any part of her <^ess was in disorder, or accidentally soiled ; and frequently has; walked to Camden Town, a distance of nearly two miles, to visit some friends who resided there.
we daily
JOHN TUT CHIN.
^NNE,]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 149
, ¦ '. " ' if ¦¦-J ti-'. d^ .
John Tut oh in,, a ¦ passionate 'party-wriitep in the
reign of James 1 'levelled so many Of bis-politieal pieces against the person -and goverfflment of that
king, that, they d*iU not actually excke 'riebellioH,
promoted' that which broke out under the comnaand of the unfortunate ''James, Diuke of Monmouth on the suppression of which 'the S&verity' of punishment, under the direetiion df the infamous' Judge Jefferies, exceeded tl*at of any pre^dtng exam-f pie. Among the" many called to' ac^unt or, this- GceaSiotii was' Johri Tntchiri, who was ;bi>oaght{io trjal' for thci pubUcation- attd eirou-latiOri of seditious and'
inflammatory writings, 'tending to subvert the exiistirig' governments With such a. j^idge as Jeffbi'iesi,''arid' in
such times, look or nod to the Jury was sufficient and TutehiR was found guilty. He was, in conse-.
quence, sentenced to be whipped through market-towns in the West of England. Hi^ puniish- ment, on this occasion, was so very severe, that he even petitioned to be hanged but that was
considerably
several
mercy
;
a
;
a
,
:
1. ,
¦
;
if
j
• '
150 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
the implacable Jefferies, nor the vindictive James, could be brought to grant. At the death of James, Tutchin wrote an invective against his memory, with more asperity than even the severity of his sufferings could excuse. Tutchin was every way contemptible, both as a writer and as a man ; and yet, at the Revo lution, he considered himself not only as a persecuted patriot, . but as a genius worthy to celebrate and pro tect the sacred name of liberty :^— not deterred by
former punishments, he continued his political mania, and April 1, 1702, he produced a periodical work,
entitled " The Observator," which proceeded, unno ticed and despised, until 1703, when certain reflections appeared in some of his papers so obnoxious to the ministry that a proclamation was issued, offering. 100/. for apprehending him, 50/. for John How, the printer, and the same sum for Benjamin Bragg.
Tutchin attempted poetry as well as prose, and pub Ushed a volume of poems in 1685, together with a pastoral, entitled, "The Unfortunate Shepherd ;" but he suffered less in his reputation as a writer when he was whipped, than he did, on this miserable produc tion : for his genius did not soar higher than was necessary for the production of a common
ballad.
ANSE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 151
His " Foreigners," pubUshed in the reign of WilUam III. produced the " True-born Englishman ;" and his other writings, in that of Queen Anne, contributed to change the ministry : thus we find, that
" Great events from little causes spring. "
Several of his writings were burnt in Dublin, by the hands of the common hangman ; — and, by his petulance and scurrility, he became so odious to the Tories, as to receive so severe a personal chastisement in August, 1707, that occasioned his death on the 23d of September following, in great distress, at his lodgings in the Mint, Southwark, where he had pro
bably retired to avoid arrests ; it being a privileged place, where persons, laying under pecuniary difficul ties, found a sanctuary against the persecution of clamorous creditors, as well as within the verge of the court under controul of the board of Green-cloth. *
• The privilege against arrest for debt, in the Mint, had ceased Ipng prior to the same taking effect, as to that of the verge of th^ court ; vrhere it continued in full force until within the last forty years.
152 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
Iti Sbme Verses on his death he is called Captain Tutcrhin ; at the time of his death he Was but forty- four yeats ^f age.
NNE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. I5S
^of)n 'Faleritt^.
Valerius was born in fbe Upper Palatinate of
Germany, in the year
when bereaved of his parents and friends, by death, had no other means to depend on for a subsistence than the exhibition of his person. He had practiced many arts with his feet and toes, generally performed by the hands and fingers ; and necessity had brought them into such use, that he felt but little deficiency in the lack of arms and hands. He travelled into several countries, and, among others, visited England, and at London exhibited himself, and performed all his wonderful feats, from the year 1698-9 until 1705, as may J)e seen by the various specimens of his w'rit- ing, dated in the intermediate periods. — >
The portrait of this man, and his different postures and performances, was engraved and published by himself, in Holland, with Dutch inscriptions, and must have been productive of great advantages to
VOL. I. X
1667, without arms ; and,
154 MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
Valerius, from the immense number of impressions taken from the plates, which appear, from some of
the copies extant, (though in any state rare to be met
with) to have been very much worn.
It was a common custom with the persons who
visited Valerius, to give him some gratuity for a specimen of his wriring ; and, on the back of his
portrait, which belonged to the late Sir William Mus grave, were four lines, written by Valerius with his toes.
The late Mr. Bindley, for upwards of forty years a commissioner of the stamp-office, was one of the greatest collectors of portraits of his time ; and, among other rare articles, possessed Valerius's book complete, with lines round the portrait (written by himself) in the same manner as that of Sir Wil
liam's.
Valerius wrote but very indifferently,
' compared
with Matthew Buckinger, whose performances in
and drawing were truly astonishing. A female of the. present time, (a Miss Biffin) that annually is to be seen at Bartholomew and other fairs round the metropolis, labouring under similar
'misfortune with Valerius, works with her toes neatly
writing
ANNE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 155
at her needle, and is very ingenious in designing and cutting out patterns in paper. *
• A still more extraordinary person than either Valerius ot Miss Biffin, was William Kingston, who was born without arms or hands, and resided at Ditcheat, near Bristol, an account of whom is extracted from a letter sent to the Rev. Mr. Wesley, by a per son named Walton, dated Bristol, October 14, 1788.
" I went with a friend to visit this man, who highly entertained us at breakfast, by putting his half-naked foot upon the table as he sat, and carrying his tea and toast between his great and second toe to his mouth, with as much facility as if his foot had been a hand, and his toes fingers. I put half a sheet of paper upon the floor, with a pen and ink-horn : he threw off his shoes as he sat,^ took the ink-horn in the toes of his left foot, and held the pen in those of his right. He then wrote three lines, as well
as most ordinary writers, and as swiftly. He writes out all his own bills, and other accounts. He then shewed how he shaves himself with a razor in his toes, and how he combs his own hair. He can dress and undress himself, except buttoning his deaths. He feeds himself, and can bring both his meat or his broth to his mouth, by holding the fork or spoon in his toes. He cleans his own shoes; can clean the knives, light the fire, and do almost everybther domestic business as well as any other man. He can make his hen-coops. He is a farmer by occupation ; he can milk his own cows with his toes, and cut his own hay, bind it up in bundles,' and cari-y it about the field for his cattle. Last winter he had eight heifers constantly to fodder. The last summer he made all his own hay-ricks. He can do all the business of the hay-field (except mowing), as fast and as well, with ohly his feet, ¦ as others can with rakes and forks. He goes to the field and
X2
156
MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
In the place of an arm, where the shoulder usually projects, in the body of Valerius appears the figure of a perfect thumb, and his chest, unlike most others of his sex and nature, exhibits the appearance of the
breast of a female. His face is, likewise, remarkably
feminine.
The very rare book of Valerius's postures con
tains sixteen prints, the first of which is his portrait, inscribed —
Brachys manibus que coptus orepidus que Laboret Sine Brachys born in Palatino.
London, March the 20th, 1698-9. Scriptumore John Valerij. "
catches his horse ; he saddles and bridles him with his feet and toes. Ifhe has a sheep among his flock that ails any thing, he can separate it from the rest, drive it into a corner, and catch it when nobody else can. He then examines and applies remedy
to it. He so strong in his teeth, that he can lift ten pecks of beans with them. He can throw great sledge-hammer as far
with his feet as other men can with their hands. In
can nearly do as much without, as others can with, their arms.
" He began the world with hen and chicken with the profit of these he purchased an ewe the sale of these procured him ragged colt (as he expressed and then abetter; after this he raised few sheep, and now occupies small farm. "
word, he
a
it) a
;
a
a
;
is
a
it,
a
a
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 157
PLATE II.
Valerius beating a drum, with an inscrip tion in Dutch, (which is likewise under each of the other prints) implying, that
" Whoever sees him perform this feat will be struck with astonishment and wonder. "
PLATE III. Playing at Cards and Dice.
" In the act of managing the cards and dice he
does not yield in dexterity to those who play with their hands. "
PLATE IV. Shaving Himself.
" No man who has the use of his hands would
ever think of the expedient of doing this office with his toes. "
ANNE. ]
Represents
beyond
arms and hands. "
MEMOIRS OF
PLATE v.
[anne.
158
Standing
" In the science and art of defence, he manages his weapon with as much skill, adroitness, and
strength as his adversary. " PLATE VI.
on his left leg, balancing a chair with his right.
" The ease and power with which he elevates and supports the chair in the position he places it in, is
erect on his kft leg, holding a rapier between his great and second toe.
Standing
what many could do with the use of their
PLATE VII.
Balancing himself on a pedestal, and taking up a dice with his mouth.
" By the support of one foot, with the toes of the other, he takes up various dice, and, by the assist
ance of his teeth, he builds a little square three stories in height. "
tower
ANNB. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 159
PLATE VIII.
Laying at full length, with his head on the ground,
and recovering himself by the support of his left leg.
" The flexibility of his joints enabled him to
place
himself in most
extraordinary positions, and
his strength was sufficient to recover any posture at pleasure. "
PLATE IX.
Laying on his back, taking up a glass of liquor, and conveying it with his toes to his head.
" In addition to his powers in balancing his body,
it was truly wonderful to witness the ease and dex
terity with which he took a glass, filled to the brim
with wine, and conducted with his toes, to the top
of his head, and balancing the same without spilling drop. '*
PLATE X.
Balancing a glass of liquor on his forehead.
" This feat he performed in way similar to the former, with the exception of his laying extended at
a
a
it,
160 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
full length on a table, depending for support by the left leg. "
PLATE XI.
Standing on a stool, taking a glass of liquor from the ground with his mouth.
" Elevated near two feet from the floor, on a stool, with the greatest ease he bends his body, and catches the glass between his teeth, drinks the liquor, and turns the glass upside down. "
PLATE XII.
Seated on a stool, with both feet he conducts a glass of liquor to the top of his head.
" The amazing pliability of his joints rendered it a matter of the greatest ease to Valerius to do all the offices of the hands with his feet, and he could move them in every direction with the utmost facility. "
PLATE XIII.
Seated on a stool, and writing with his toes.
" However niggardly nature had been in bounty to Valerius, she made an ample compensation, in
ANNE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 161
gifting him with most extraordinary powers and
command with his feet, which he could, with the
greatest hands. "
agility, turn to all the purposes of the
PLATE XIV.
Seated on a stool, he takes a pistol and discharges it with his right toes.
" Long habit had brought this man's soles of the
feet into the same use as the palm of the hand ; he
could expand or contract them at pleasure ; and, if
he could not handle, he could foot a pistol, with any one/'
PLATE XV.
Seated on a low stool, he takes up a musket, and assisted by both feet discharges the same.
" The weight and length of a musket must have made this one of Valerius's most difficult perform ances ; yet, from the apparent ease with which he managed seems to have been equally of the same familiar use with the rest. "
VOL. I.
Y
it, it
162 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
PLATE XVI.
Standing on the left leg, taking up his hat from the ground with his rightfoot.
" It was Valerius's general mode, when his visit ants took leave of him, to take up his hat, which, after placing on his head, he took off in a most graceful
their visit conferred on him. ''
manner, and bowed thanks for the honour
JEREMIAH WHITE , ( Cliaplaiii to Oliver CronnsEll. )
ANNE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
CHA:p. LAI>f^ to OLIVER CROWTWELL
163
Jeremiah White received 'a Uberal education,
and 'Was; brought up at Trinity Cbllege; 'Cambridge, of which house he became Fellow. In ^ the trouble- sometime of the 'civil wars, Mr. White's politics led him to join! the- prevailing powers, and. in tike p'ro-
cured'him to be made preacher to the council of statfe-; and- domestic chaplain to his Highness Oliver, Lord
Pro^ctor. He was a very sprightly : arid facetious
Possessing all" the advantages of youth, arid; fine person, he had the ambition to aspire to thfe hand ^of "
maiij-despised-the;
cant and hypocrisy; of the puritarii- c^ party of his time, and :was considered, orie of the chief wifs of the Protector's court. ¦;. ? . ;,. :¦
Cromwell's youngest daughter, the
Lady Frances. The young lady appears no means to have dis
couraged his addresses,, but, in so religious court,
this gallantry could not be carried on without being taken notice of
Y
2
by
a
Ir^ a
J64 IkJEMOIRS OF [anne.
The Protector was informed of it ; and, having no inclination for such an aUiance, was so much concerned, that he ordered the person who told him to keep a strict look-out, promising, if he could give him any substantial proofs, he. should be ispell re
warded, and White severely punished. The spy followed his business so close, that in a little time he
dogged
Cromwell, fury, asked what was the mean ing of that posture before his daughter Frances? White, with great deal of presence of mind, said,
Jerry White, (as he was
to the lady's, chamber, and ran immediately to the Protector, to acquaint him that they were together. Oliver, in a rage, hastened to the
going feasfily in, found Jerry on his knees, either kissing his daughter's hand, or having, just . kissed
" Msiy please your Highness, have
courted that young gentlewoman there, ray lady's woman, and cannot prevail was, therefore, humbly praying her ladyship to intercede for me. "
OUver turning to the young woman, cried, ^' What's tke meaning of this, hussey? Why do you refuse the
honour Mr. White would do you He
and lady's
my friend,
expect you would treat him as such. "
woman, who desired
My nothing better, with
generally
called)
chamber, and
long time
a
I
I is a
?
•
; I
it
a
it,
in a
anne. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 166
very low curtsey, replied,
me that honour I shall not be against him. " " Sayest
thou so, my lass," cried GromweU, ^« call Goodwyn
—this business out of the room. "
shall be done presently, before I go Mr. White had gone too far to recede from his
proposal ; his brother parson
my lady's woman were married in the presence of
the Protector, who gave
pounds to her portion, to the secret disappointment
and indignation of the enraged dupe
making, but entire gratification and
the fair abigail, the moment they were made one
flesh, who, by this unexpected good fortune, obtained
a husband much above her most sanguine hope or pretensions.
The Restoration deprived White of all hope preferment, if he refused to take the oaths, and offered him but faint prospects if he did ; he, there fore, prudently chose to remain quiescent, for he was too pleasant a man to take up his abode in a prison, for preaching in a conventicle.
His wit and cheerfulness gained him many friends, — but he would have found himself more at home in the palace of Charles II. than in that of Oliver. He
" If Mr. White intends
came, and
Jerry and
the bride
five hundred
of his own. satisfaction of
of
166 MEMOIRS, Sec. [annb.
survived not only the Restoration and Revolution, but the Union, and died in 1 707, aged seventy-eight.
When the story of his marriage was mentioned before Mrs. White, (who survived her husband) she
divided Forms of Christians," was published after his
death. Others of his works were promised, but have not yet appeared.
always simpered
her assent to its truth. Jeremiah White printed the funeral sermon of Mr. Francis Fuller, preached by him; but his " Persuasive to Moderation and Forbearance in Love, among the
END OF VOL. I.
Wi LEWIS, PRINTER, FINCH-LAME, fOK. VHILL, LONDON.
And, Bishop Burnet says^ "he was a bold,
it,
146 MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
years continued those prejudices in the pubUc mind,
which a wiser administration would,have been anxious . to dispel.
H^--^^. ^. . ^. . '-^^ ^'^ #,^^,ffi. ,v! =^s,>,^^, -N:^,immu. . u. ^,^:sss:;;^^s^ Jla^dffc^ . tvw^f
JANE
SCROISHAA\ .
AN>JE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 147
^mt Scctm0^atai
Jane Scrimshaw is no other way recbrd'ed, than
as having lived tb the advanced age ofone'huhdred and twenty-seven. She was the daughter' bf 'Mr. '
Thomas Scrimshaw, wpolstapler, and born in Ldndbbr in the parish of St. Mary-le-Bbw, Aprif 3, 1584'.
She was never married; and, when 'little rrioire than thirty years old, found a cPmfbrtable'asylum in MW-
chant Taylors' Alms-house, near Little Tower-hill'. ; Her portrait, which was taken in April,' 1711, at Alms-house, bears an inscription, deiiScribing her aar then in a good state of health. It appears, however, she was shortly after removed to Rosemary-lane Work house, where she 'died, December 25, the same year. Vexation, perhaps, in leaving 'the Alms-Chouse, where she-had resided ei'ghty years, might' havte 'accelerated
'
which must have passed immediately under her view, how many interesting particulars might have been recorded during* the reigns of eight sovereigns, Eliza- u2
—
her'death.
Had Jane Scrimshaw kept a diary of transactipris
'
148
MEMOIRS OF
[ANWfE.
beth to Anne, That persons greatiy advanced in age
retain their health and faculties, is evident from prbofs
meet with. Mr. Noble saw a woman, named Boston, aged one hundred and six years, who had resided fifty years in the hospital at Temple-
Balsal, Warwickshire ; she was tall and upright, and, only a fortnight before her death, she had performed her usual Saturday's task, of carrying a pail of water, from a well at a considerable distance, to wash her rooms. He saw her in the last week of her life, when
she had in her hands a large water jug, complaining she was not so well as usual, and therefore could not carry the pail ; but she had used great exertion some day before, in walking several miles to visit a grand daughter, which had exhausted her strength.
Elizabeth Alexander, who resided many years in Han way-street, Tottenham-court-road, in the year 1810, when past the age of one hundred and eight, would, when walking in the street, if looked after,
quickly turn to observe if any part of her <^ess was in disorder, or accidentally soiled ; and frequently has; walked to Camden Town, a distance of nearly two miles, to visit some friends who resided there.
we daily
JOHN TUT CHIN.
^NNE,]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 149
, ¦ '. " ' if ¦¦-J ti-'. d^ .
John Tut oh in,, a ¦ passionate 'party-wriitep in the
reign of James 1 'levelled so many Of bis-politieal pieces against the person -and goverfflment of that
king, that, they d*iU not actually excke 'riebellioH,
promoted' that which broke out under the comnaand of the unfortunate ''James, Diuke of Monmouth on the suppression of which 'the S&verity' of punishment, under the direetiion df the infamous' Judge Jefferies, exceeded tl*at of any pre^dtng exam-f pie. Among the" many called to' ac^unt or, this- GceaSiotii was' Johri Tntchiri, who was ;bi>oaght{io trjal' for thci pubUcation- attd eirou-latiOri of seditious and'
inflammatory writings, 'tending to subvert the exiistirig' governments With such a. j^idge as Jeffbi'iesi,''arid' in
such times, look or nod to the Jury was sufficient and TutehiR was found guilty. He was, in conse-.
quence, sentenced to be whipped through market-towns in the West of England. Hi^ puniish- ment, on this occasion, was so very severe, that he even petitioned to be hanged but that was
considerably
several
mercy
;
a
;
a
,
:
1. ,
¦
;
if
j
• '
150 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
the implacable Jefferies, nor the vindictive James, could be brought to grant. At the death of James, Tutchin wrote an invective against his memory, with more asperity than even the severity of his sufferings could excuse. Tutchin was every way contemptible, both as a writer and as a man ; and yet, at the Revo lution, he considered himself not only as a persecuted patriot, . but as a genius worthy to celebrate and pro tect the sacred name of liberty :^— not deterred by
former punishments, he continued his political mania, and April 1, 1702, he produced a periodical work,
entitled " The Observator," which proceeded, unno ticed and despised, until 1703, when certain reflections appeared in some of his papers so obnoxious to the ministry that a proclamation was issued, offering. 100/. for apprehending him, 50/. for John How, the printer, and the same sum for Benjamin Bragg.
Tutchin attempted poetry as well as prose, and pub Ushed a volume of poems in 1685, together with a pastoral, entitled, "The Unfortunate Shepherd ;" but he suffered less in his reputation as a writer when he was whipped, than he did, on this miserable produc tion : for his genius did not soar higher than was necessary for the production of a common
ballad.
ANSE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 151
His " Foreigners," pubUshed in the reign of WilUam III. produced the " True-born Englishman ;" and his other writings, in that of Queen Anne, contributed to change the ministry : thus we find, that
" Great events from little causes spring. "
Several of his writings were burnt in Dublin, by the hands of the common hangman ; — and, by his petulance and scurrility, he became so odious to the Tories, as to receive so severe a personal chastisement in August, 1707, that occasioned his death on the 23d of September following, in great distress, at his lodgings in the Mint, Southwark, where he had pro
bably retired to avoid arrests ; it being a privileged place, where persons, laying under pecuniary difficul ties, found a sanctuary against the persecution of clamorous creditors, as well as within the verge of the court under controul of the board of Green-cloth. *
• The privilege against arrest for debt, in the Mint, had ceased Ipng prior to the same taking effect, as to that of the verge of th^ court ; vrhere it continued in full force until within the last forty years.
152 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
Iti Sbme Verses on his death he is called Captain Tutcrhin ; at the time of his death he Was but forty- four yeats ^f age.
NNE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. I5S
^of)n 'Faleritt^.
Valerius was born in fbe Upper Palatinate of
Germany, in the year
when bereaved of his parents and friends, by death, had no other means to depend on for a subsistence than the exhibition of his person. He had practiced many arts with his feet and toes, generally performed by the hands and fingers ; and necessity had brought them into such use, that he felt but little deficiency in the lack of arms and hands. He travelled into several countries, and, among others, visited England, and at London exhibited himself, and performed all his wonderful feats, from the year 1698-9 until 1705, as may J)e seen by the various specimens of his w'rit- ing, dated in the intermediate periods. — >
The portrait of this man, and his different postures and performances, was engraved and published by himself, in Holland, with Dutch inscriptions, and must have been productive of great advantages to
VOL. I. X
1667, without arms ; and,
154 MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
Valerius, from the immense number of impressions taken from the plates, which appear, from some of
the copies extant, (though in any state rare to be met
with) to have been very much worn.
It was a common custom with the persons who
visited Valerius, to give him some gratuity for a specimen of his wriring ; and, on the back of his
portrait, which belonged to the late Sir William Mus grave, were four lines, written by Valerius with his toes.
The late Mr. Bindley, for upwards of forty years a commissioner of the stamp-office, was one of the greatest collectors of portraits of his time ; and, among other rare articles, possessed Valerius's book complete, with lines round the portrait (written by himself) in the same manner as that of Sir Wil
liam's.
Valerius wrote but very indifferently,
' compared
with Matthew Buckinger, whose performances in
and drawing were truly astonishing. A female of the. present time, (a Miss Biffin) that annually is to be seen at Bartholomew and other fairs round the metropolis, labouring under similar
'misfortune with Valerius, works with her toes neatly
writing
ANNE. ]
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 155
at her needle, and is very ingenious in designing and cutting out patterns in paper. *
• A still more extraordinary person than either Valerius ot Miss Biffin, was William Kingston, who was born without arms or hands, and resided at Ditcheat, near Bristol, an account of whom is extracted from a letter sent to the Rev. Mr. Wesley, by a per son named Walton, dated Bristol, October 14, 1788.
" I went with a friend to visit this man, who highly entertained us at breakfast, by putting his half-naked foot upon the table as he sat, and carrying his tea and toast between his great and second toe to his mouth, with as much facility as if his foot had been a hand, and his toes fingers. I put half a sheet of paper upon the floor, with a pen and ink-horn : he threw off his shoes as he sat,^ took the ink-horn in the toes of his left foot, and held the pen in those of his right. He then wrote three lines, as well
as most ordinary writers, and as swiftly. He writes out all his own bills, and other accounts. He then shewed how he shaves himself with a razor in his toes, and how he combs his own hair. He can dress and undress himself, except buttoning his deaths. He feeds himself, and can bring both his meat or his broth to his mouth, by holding the fork or spoon in his toes. He cleans his own shoes; can clean the knives, light the fire, and do almost everybther domestic business as well as any other man. He can make his hen-coops. He is a farmer by occupation ; he can milk his own cows with his toes, and cut his own hay, bind it up in bundles,' and cari-y it about the field for his cattle. Last winter he had eight heifers constantly to fodder. The last summer he made all his own hay-ricks. He can do all the business of the hay-field (except mowing), as fast and as well, with ohly his feet, ¦ as others can with rakes and forks. He goes to the field and
X2
156
MEMOIRS OF
[anne.
In the place of an arm, where the shoulder usually projects, in the body of Valerius appears the figure of a perfect thumb, and his chest, unlike most others of his sex and nature, exhibits the appearance of the
breast of a female. His face is, likewise, remarkably
feminine.
The very rare book of Valerius's postures con
tains sixteen prints, the first of which is his portrait, inscribed —
Brachys manibus que coptus orepidus que Laboret Sine Brachys born in Palatino.
London, March the 20th, 1698-9. Scriptumore John Valerij. "
catches his horse ; he saddles and bridles him with his feet and toes. Ifhe has a sheep among his flock that ails any thing, he can separate it from the rest, drive it into a corner, and catch it when nobody else can. He then examines and applies remedy
to it. He so strong in his teeth, that he can lift ten pecks of beans with them. He can throw great sledge-hammer as far
with his feet as other men can with their hands. In
can nearly do as much without, as others can with, their arms.
" He began the world with hen and chicken with the profit of these he purchased an ewe the sale of these procured him ragged colt (as he expressed and then abetter; after this he raised few sheep, and now occupies small farm. "
word, he
a
it) a
;
a
a
;
is
a
it,
a
a
REMARKABLE PERSONS. 157
PLATE II.
Valerius beating a drum, with an inscrip tion in Dutch, (which is likewise under each of the other prints) implying, that
" Whoever sees him perform this feat will be struck with astonishment and wonder. "
PLATE III. Playing at Cards and Dice.
" In the act of managing the cards and dice he
does not yield in dexterity to those who play with their hands. "
PLATE IV. Shaving Himself.
" No man who has the use of his hands would
ever think of the expedient of doing this office with his toes. "
ANNE. ]
Represents
beyond
arms and hands. "
MEMOIRS OF
PLATE v.
[anne.
158
Standing
" In the science and art of defence, he manages his weapon with as much skill, adroitness, and
strength as his adversary. " PLATE VI.
on his left leg, balancing a chair with his right.
" The ease and power with which he elevates and supports the chair in the position he places it in, is
erect on his kft leg, holding a rapier between his great and second toe.
Standing
what many could do with the use of their
PLATE VII.
Balancing himself on a pedestal, and taking up a dice with his mouth.
" By the support of one foot, with the toes of the other, he takes up various dice, and, by the assist
ance of his teeth, he builds a little square three stories in height. "
tower
ANNB. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 159
PLATE VIII.
Laying at full length, with his head on the ground,
and recovering himself by the support of his left leg.
" The flexibility of his joints enabled him to
place
himself in most
extraordinary positions, and
his strength was sufficient to recover any posture at pleasure. "
PLATE IX.
Laying on his back, taking up a glass of liquor, and conveying it with his toes to his head.
" In addition to his powers in balancing his body,
it was truly wonderful to witness the ease and dex
terity with which he took a glass, filled to the brim
with wine, and conducted with his toes, to the top
of his head, and balancing the same without spilling drop. '*
PLATE X.
Balancing a glass of liquor on his forehead.
" This feat he performed in way similar to the former, with the exception of his laying extended at
a
a
it,
160 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
full length on a table, depending for support by the left leg. "
PLATE XI.
Standing on a stool, taking a glass of liquor from the ground with his mouth.
" Elevated near two feet from the floor, on a stool, with the greatest ease he bends his body, and catches the glass between his teeth, drinks the liquor, and turns the glass upside down. "
PLATE XII.
Seated on a stool, with both feet he conducts a glass of liquor to the top of his head.
" The amazing pliability of his joints rendered it a matter of the greatest ease to Valerius to do all the offices of the hands with his feet, and he could move them in every direction with the utmost facility. "
PLATE XIII.
Seated on a stool, and writing with his toes.
" However niggardly nature had been in bounty to Valerius, she made an ample compensation, in
ANNE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 161
gifting him with most extraordinary powers and
command with his feet, which he could, with the
greatest hands. "
agility, turn to all the purposes of the
PLATE XIV.
Seated on a stool, he takes a pistol and discharges it with his right toes.
" Long habit had brought this man's soles of the
feet into the same use as the palm of the hand ; he
could expand or contract them at pleasure ; and, if
he could not handle, he could foot a pistol, with any one/'
PLATE XV.
Seated on a low stool, he takes up a musket, and assisted by both feet discharges the same.
" The weight and length of a musket must have made this one of Valerius's most difficult perform ances ; yet, from the apparent ease with which he managed seems to have been equally of the same familiar use with the rest. "
VOL. I.
Y
it, it
162 MEMOIRS OF [anne.
PLATE XVI.
Standing on the left leg, taking up his hat from the ground with his rightfoot.
" It was Valerius's general mode, when his visit ants took leave of him, to take up his hat, which, after placing on his head, he took off in a most graceful
their visit conferred on him. ''
manner, and bowed thanks for the honour
JEREMIAH WHITE , ( Cliaplaiii to Oliver CronnsEll. )
ANNE. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS.
CHA:p. LAI>f^ to OLIVER CROWTWELL
163
Jeremiah White received 'a Uberal education,
and 'Was; brought up at Trinity Cbllege; 'Cambridge, of which house he became Fellow. In ^ the trouble- sometime of the 'civil wars, Mr. White's politics led him to join! the- prevailing powers, and. in tike p'ro-
cured'him to be made preacher to the council of statfe-; and- domestic chaplain to his Highness Oliver, Lord
Pro^ctor. He was a very sprightly : arid facetious
Possessing all" the advantages of youth, arid; fine person, he had the ambition to aspire to thfe hand ^of "
maiij-despised-the;
cant and hypocrisy; of the puritarii- c^ party of his time, and :was considered, orie of the chief wifs of the Protector's court. ¦;. ? . ;,. :¦
Cromwell's youngest daughter, the
Lady Frances. The young lady appears no means to have dis
couraged his addresses,, but, in so religious court,
this gallantry could not be carried on without being taken notice of
Y
2
by
a
Ir^ a
J64 IkJEMOIRS OF [anne.
The Protector was informed of it ; and, having no inclination for such an aUiance, was so much concerned, that he ordered the person who told him to keep a strict look-out, promising, if he could give him any substantial proofs, he. should be ispell re
warded, and White severely punished. The spy followed his business so close, that in a little time he
dogged
Cromwell, fury, asked what was the mean ing of that posture before his daughter Frances? White, with great deal of presence of mind, said,
Jerry White, (as he was
to the lady's, chamber, and ran immediately to the Protector, to acquaint him that they were together. Oliver, in a rage, hastened to the
going feasfily in, found Jerry on his knees, either kissing his daughter's hand, or having, just . kissed
" Msiy please your Highness, have
courted that young gentlewoman there, ray lady's woman, and cannot prevail was, therefore, humbly praying her ladyship to intercede for me. "
OUver turning to the young woman, cried, ^' What's tke meaning of this, hussey? Why do you refuse the
honour Mr. White would do you He
and lady's
my friend,
expect you would treat him as such. "
woman, who desired
My nothing better, with
generally
called)
chamber, and
long time
a
I
I is a
?
•
; I
it
a
it,
in a
anne. ] REMARKABLE PERSONS. 166
very low curtsey, replied,
me that honour I shall not be against him. " " Sayest
thou so, my lass," cried GromweU, ^« call Goodwyn
—this business out of the room. "
shall be done presently, before I go Mr. White had gone too far to recede from his
proposal ; his brother parson
my lady's woman were married in the presence of
the Protector, who gave
pounds to her portion, to the secret disappointment
and indignation of the enraged dupe
making, but entire gratification and
the fair abigail, the moment they were made one
flesh, who, by this unexpected good fortune, obtained
a husband much above her most sanguine hope or pretensions.
The Restoration deprived White of all hope preferment, if he refused to take the oaths, and offered him but faint prospects if he did ; he, there fore, prudently chose to remain quiescent, for he was too pleasant a man to take up his abode in a prison, for preaching in a conventicle.
His wit and cheerfulness gained him many friends, — but he would have found himself more at home in the palace of Charles II. than in that of Oliver. He
" If Mr. White intends
came, and
Jerry and
the bride
five hundred
of his own. satisfaction of
of
166 MEMOIRS, Sec. [annb.
survived not only the Restoration and Revolution, but the Union, and died in 1 707, aged seventy-eight.
When the story of his marriage was mentioned before Mrs. White, (who survived her husband) she
divided Forms of Christians," was published after his
death. Others of his works were promised, but have not yet appeared.
always simpered
her assent to its truth. Jeremiah White printed the funeral sermon of Mr. Francis Fuller, preached by him; but his " Persuasive to Moderation and Forbearance in Love, among the
END OF VOL. I.
Wi LEWIS, PRINTER, FINCH-LAME, fOK. VHILL, LONDON.
