orichalcum (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
orichalcum) wrote2003-12-17 06:54 pm
orichalcum) wrote2003-12-17 06:54 pm
Dissertation Tidbit
In 17th century England, Thomas Heath, a maltser, "bought" the wife of George Fuller for three weeks, paying 2 pence per pound of her weight (_Weaker Vessel_, Antonia Fraser, pg 414). He paid, in total, 29 shillings and 1 farthing, meaning that (my calculation) she weighed about 174 pounds.
The different social concepts that both allow and value paying for a woman more by weight...it's really interesting. Not to mention the idea of renting someone else's wife for three weeks.
The different social concepts that both allow and value paying for a woman more by weight...it's really interesting. Not to mention the idea of renting someone else's wife for three weeks.
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