Anne Greene
Encyclopedia
Anne Greene was an English domestic servant who was accused of committing infanticide
in 1650.
Greene was born in 1628, in Steeple Barton
, Oxfordshire
. She entered the household of Sir Thomas Read of the manor house at nearby Duns Tew
as a domestic servant. She was seduced by her master's grandson and gave birth to a child, which, as she alleged, and according to medical evidence, was stillborn
. She was, however, condemned to death for murder, and on 14 December 1650 was hanged at Oxford
. At her own request several of her friends pulled at her swinging body, and struck severe blows, so as to make sure that she was dead, and after the usual interval she was cut down and given over to the doctors for dissection.
It was then discovered that Greene was still breathing, and with the help of restoratives she soon regained her health. She was revived by having hot cordial
poured down her throat, having her limbs and extremities rubbed,
being bled
, having heating plasters
appied and having a "heating odoriferous Clyster
to be cast up in her body, to give heat and warmth to her bowels". After being placed in a warm bed with another woman, to keep her warm, she recovered fully.
She was granted a free pardon. The event was regarded as the special interference of the hand of God
on behalf of the innocent, and called forth several pamphlets. The most notable of these was entited: Newes from the Dead, or a True and Exact Narration of the Miraculous Deliverance of Anne Greene - written by a Scholler in Oxford - whereunto are prefixed certain Poems casually written upon that subject, (Oxford, 1651). The poems, of which there were twenty-five, in various languages, included a set of Latin verses by Christopher Wren
, who was at that time a gentleman-commoner of Wadham College.
Infanticide
Infanticide or infant homicide is the killing of a human infant. Neonaticide, a killing within 24 hours of a baby's birth, is most commonly done by the mother.In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
in 1650.
Greene was born in 1628, in Steeple Barton
Steeple Barton
Steeple Barton is a civil parish and scattered settlement on the River Dorn in West Oxfordshire, about east of Chipping Norton, a similar distance west of Bicester and south of Banbury...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. She entered the household of Sir Thomas Read of the manor house at nearby Duns Tew
Duns Tew
Duns Tew is a village and civil parish about south of Banbury in Oxfordshire. With nearby Great Tew and Little Tew, Duns Tew is one of the three villages known locally as "The Tews".-Origin of the name:...
as a domestic servant. She was seduced by her master's grandson and gave birth to a child, which, as she alleged, and according to medical evidence, was stillborn
Stillborn
Stillborn may refer to:*stillbirth in medicine*Stillborn , from Poland*"Stillborn" , a 2003 song by Black Label Society*Stillborn , a 1993 album by Malevolent Creation...
. She was, however, condemned to death for murder, and on 14 December 1650 was hanged at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. At her own request several of her friends pulled at her swinging body, and struck severe blows, so as to make sure that she was dead, and after the usual interval she was cut down and given over to the doctors for dissection.
It was then discovered that Greene was still breathing, and with the help of restoratives she soon regained her health. She was revived by having hot cordial
Cordial (medicine)
A cordial is any invigorating and stimulating preparation that is intended for a medicinal purpose. The term derives from an obsolete usage. Various concoctions were formerly created that were believed to be beneficial to one's health, especially for the heart .Some cordials, with their flecks of...
poured down her throat, having her limbs and extremities rubbed,
being bled
Bloodletting
Bloodletting is the withdrawal of often little quantities of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluid were considered to be "humors" the proper balance of which maintained health...
, having heating plasters
Poultice
A poultice, also called cataplasm, is a soft moist mass, often heated and medicated, that is spread on cloth over the skin to treat an aching, inflamed, or painful part of the body. It can be used on wounds such as cuts...
appied and having a "heating odoriferous Clyster
Tobacco smoke enema
The tobacco smoke enema, an insufflation of tobacco smoke into the rectum by enema, was a medical treatment employed by European physicians for a range of ailments....
to be cast up in her body, to give heat and warmth to her bowels". After being placed in a warm bed with another woman, to keep her warm, she recovered fully.
She was granted a free pardon. The event was regarded as the special interference of the hand of God
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
on behalf of the innocent, and called forth several pamphlets. The most notable of these was entited: Newes from the Dead, or a True and Exact Narration of the Miraculous Deliverance of Anne Greene - written by a Scholler in Oxford - whereunto are prefixed certain Poems casually written upon that subject, (Oxford, 1651). The poems, of which there were twenty-five, in various languages, included a set of Latin verses by Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
, who was at that time a gentleman-commoner of Wadham College.