On 20 January 1690, Elizabeth Deacon brutally assaulted her servant maid Mary Cox, tying, whipping, burning and beating her over several days. Tried at the Old Bailey for wilful murder, Deacon was found guilty and sentenced to death, though execution was respited due to pregnancy. The case exposes the dangers faced by servants in seventeenth-century London.
Tag Archives: the Sage Page
Advice of the Day: Trolley Psychology
The Sage shares his shopping wisdom: always take the biggest trolley so the shopping feels smaller. A funny “Advice of the Day” about perception, psychology, and supermarket self-deception.
Quote of the Day: Loyalty in Football is Rarely Logical
Today’s Quote of the Day from The Sage reflects on football loyalty: “In football, loyalty survives reason — and that is why it lasts.” A thoughtful reminder that devotion isn’t always logical, but it is enduring, meaningful, and deeply human — rooted in identity rather than results.
Advice of the Day: Professional Standards
The Sage explains true professionalism: a good window cleaner always leaves at least one streak. A funny “Advice of the Day” about expectations, evidence, and human effort.
This Day in History: 18 January 1694 — John Edwards and the Broad Cloth Theft
On 18 January 1694, John Edwards, a plasterer of Aldgate, was implicated in the theft of forty yards of white broad cloth. Found guilty of felony, he was sentenced to death. His repentance and execution at Tyburn weeks later are recorded in the Ordinary of Newgate’s account, revealing the harsh realities of seventeenth-century justice.
Quote of the Day: Resilience in its Most Recognisable Form
Today’s Quote of the Day from The Sage reflects on football and optimism: “Football is proof that hope can be rebuilt every Saturday.” A warm, thoughtful reminder that belief renews itself through routine, shared experience, and the simple human habit of showing up again — even after disappointment.
Advice of the Day: Cold Water Strategy
The Sage shares his swimming wisdom: always wait until everyone else is already in before asking if the water’s cold. A funny “Advice of the Day” about timing, peer pressure, and inevitable discomfort.
This Day in History: 17 January 1681 — Elizabeth Wigenton and the Murder of Her Apprentice
On 17 January 1681, Elizabeth Wigenton, a coat-maker of Ratcliff Parish, was tried at the Old Bailey for the wilful murder of her thirteen-year-old apprentice. After binding and beating the girl so violently that she died, Wigenton was found guilty of murder. This case reveals the brutal realities of apprenticeship and justice in seventeenth-century London.
Quote of the Day: The Comfort of Collective Suffering
Today’s Quote of the Day from The Sage reflects on football and patience: “Football teaches patience: ninety minutes to discover what shouting never changed.” A humorous, thoughtful look at passion, futility, and the strange joy of caring deeply about something we cannot control — together, and very loudly.
Advice of the Day: Emergency Storage
The Sage reveals the true purpose of headwear: a hat is just a bowl that follows you around. A hilarious “Advice of the Day” about preparedness, pockets, and poor storage decisions.
The Sage Page 