Alice Suckling in 1632 bequeathed her body to the earth, dust to dust, therein to be buried in the night. Susan Hornesby, of Horton, in Kent, desired “to be buried in linen, in one of them sheets that was my mother’s ... and my three maiden sisters to bury me, and I desire a small funeral.” (Proved January 16, 1694.) Mary Jacob, spinster, in 1783 desired “a black coffin with white nails and white plate, my body to be wrapped in a piece of flannel, and a crape cap, and what hat bands and gloves be given I desire it should be black.” Sarah Jennings, widow, in the same year makes more elaborate arrangements. “My body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial in manner and form following by my executor, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. First I order my coffin to be lined with the lining of my silk petticoat, the coffin to be covered with black cloth with three rows of nails. When the bell tolls the second time two porters to be set at the door with hat bands and gloves, and I further order to be laid by my brother Richard Sutton with a grave stone to cover us both. The under-bearers and pall-bearers to have hat bands and gloves, twenty widows to have one shilling apiece to be paid the day after the burial, and half a guinea for ringing a mourning peal. No bread nor biscuits to be given, but only wine.... And I do further order that I be took down to William Pywell’s house as soon as put in my coffin, from thence to proceed to Church, and I do further order that neither Benjamin Sutton nor William Oldershaw and his wife shall attend my funeral.” It is strange how minutely these women contemplate their dissolution. Jane Carpenter, spinster, by her will dated April 17, 1789, gave the following directions. “First, I will to be kept a week after my decease before my burial, which I will to be at Oxford in the churchyard next to All Souls College in the parish of St. Mary’s, as near as may be to the chancel window; also I desire that my funeral be in the manner following: a strong coffin covered with black and everything good that is wanting or necessary, a hearse and four horses and a coach and four horses; the minister of the parish and the clerk I give a black silk hatband and gloves each; it is my desire to have nothing white, but everything black.... I will and bequeath to Mr. Richard Brook of Tidington ... smith and farmer £15 15s., and it is my desire that he shall attend my funeral; a letter directed to him at the sign of the Three Pigeons near Thame ... will come safe to hand.”