According to Bateman, twins were born in 1493 at Rome
joined back to back, and survived their birth. The same authority
speaks of a female child who was born with "2 bellies, 4 arms, 4
legs, 2 heads, and 2 sets of privates, and was exhibited
throughout Italy for gain's sake." The "Biddenden Maids" were
born in Biddenden, Kent, in 1100. Their names were Mary and Eliza
Chulkhurst, and their parents were fairly well-to-do people. They
were supposed to have been united at the hips and the shoulders,
and lived until 1134. At the death of one it was proposed to
separate them, but the remaining sister refused, saying, "As we
came together, we will also go together," and, after about six
hours of this Mezentian existence, they died. They bequeathed to
the church-wardens of the parish and their successors land to the
extent of 20 acres, at the present time bringing a rental of
about $155.00 annually, with the instructions that the money was
to be spent in the distribution of cakes (bearing the impression
of their images, to be given away on each Easter Sunday to all
strangers in Biddenden) and also 270 quartern loaves, with cheese
in proportion, to all the poor in said parish. Ballantyne has
accompanied his description of these sisters by illustrations,
one of which shows the cake.
Pages:
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349