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The Curious Case of John Saundirson: A Medieval Tale of Impotence and Divorce
Faraz Ali
July 07, 2024
In the year 1370, a peculiar legal battle unfolded in a church court, one that would make even the most seasoned divorce attorney blush. Meet John Saundirson, a man accused of impotence by his wife, Tedia Lambhird. In a time when marriage was primarily for procreation, John's alleged inability to perform in the bedchamber was considered a grave offense.
Tedia took her husband to trial, determined to prove his impotence and secure a divorce. But she needed evidence. Enter Thomas, a witness who claimed to have seen the couple attempting to consummate their marriage in a barn. Thomas testified that John's "rod was lowered and in no way rising or becoming erect." The court records describe the scene in vivid detail, with Thomas' brother even joining in to try and stimulate John's "Mickey" – to no avail.
Three women were then tasked with conducting a physical examination of John, and their report was damning: "the member of the said John is like an empty intestine of mottled skin... it neither expanded nor grew" when stroked. Tedia's case was a slam dunk; she was granted a divorce, and John was left to face the consequences of his alleged impotence.
This bizarre medieval tale highlights the vastly different attitudes towards marriage, sex, and relationships that existed in the past. While we may giggle at the graphic testimony and unorthodox methods used to prove John's impotence, it's important to remember that, for Tedia and John, this was a matter of grave importance – one that would determine the course of their lives.
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