AN OLD, OLD, VERY OLD MAN

Thomas Parr spent most of the 16^thC as an obscure farmer in Shropshire. He outlived his cohort and became known as Old Parr. Contemporary society venerated the aged. Therefore, he may have taken to maintaining that he was older than he in fact was.

In 1635 the 14^th Earl of Arundel inspected some estates that he owned in the county. During the visit he heard of Old Parr, who by then was blind but retained his hearing. The peer called upon the man who by then was claiming to be 152-years-old. According to the commoner's account, he had not married until he had been 80, had had to do penance for adultery when 105, and had remarried at the age of 122.

Arundel accepted Old Parr's statements at face value. The peer indicated that he was willing to provide the means for the fellow to visit London if he wished to do so. The codger accepted this offer. A litter was furnished and the journey was made in short stages. During it, people marvelled at the fellow s longevity. Upon the countryman's arrival in the metropolis, he was presented to King Charles I.

Old Parr proved to be a disappointment to some because he seemed to have almost no recall of having heard of the great events that had occurred during his lifetime. As a former husbandman, his principal memories were of what the prices of various types of livestock and crops had been at different junctures.

The rustic died during his stay. At the monarch's behest, the corpse was autopsied by William Harvey. The royal physician concluded that the man s death had been caused by his having radically changed his diet following his arrival in London and by his exposure to the city's polluted air. The body was granted the distinction of being interred in Westminster Abbey.

John Taylor the Water Poet wrote a humorous rhymed biography of the countryman that he entitled The Old, Old, Very Old Man (1635). The pamphlet sought to portray its subject as being a symbol of England, who had flourished in his native conditions, where he had worked hard and consumed plain fare. However, upon being exposed to the luxury and iniquity of London he had soon expired.

Location: The Sanctuary, Westminster Precincts, SW1P 3PA (orange, turquoise)

David Backhouse 2024