Death by Numbers

We find a lot of very specific deaths in the London Bills of Mortality that are…well…meme-able. It isn’t that death is funny, but rather, the descriptions of death in the bills can be so that one can’t help but chuckle. And considering the heavy subject matter of our project, we relish those moments. So, while our team took a well deserved break from transcribing the bills, we shared “12 Days of Death” on Twitter

We had a great time making these memes, so we’ve compiled them here in all of their glory for your viewing. We hope you enjoy them!

Someone forgot to step out of the way in time... — Someone forgot to step out of the way in time…..

Is there another way to be found in a coffin? We have questions. — ……is there another way to be found…..in a coffin? We have questions.

Ironically, despite the name, King\'s Evil was actually believed to be curable by the touch of a monarch — Ironically, despite the name, King's Evil was actually believed to be curable by the touch of a monarch

Tell me again how pipe smoking is bad for my health?

We\'re not saying the perpetrator of this death was Thor, but we\'re also saying that you never know with the London Bills of Mortality — We're not saying the perpetrator of this death was Thor, but we're also saying that you never know with the London Bills of Mortality

Splish splash, they were just trying to take a bath!

No, gangrene is not merely a flesh wound... — No, gangrene is not merely a flesh wound…

Rising of the lights...if only it was a beautiful way to go... — Rising of the lights…if only it was a beautiful way to go…

If Facebook existed in Early Modern England.

And finally, we're not sure what this death means either, but maybe they should have given that wolf a banana! — And finally, we’re not sure what this death means either, but maybe they should have given that wolf a banana!