A 17th-century English soldier, haberdasher, hermit, and herbal doctor known for his ascetic lifestyle, including Christian vegetarianism.
Roger Crab (1621–1680) was an English soldier, haberdasher, herbalist, and writer, renowned for his ascetic lifestyle, which included a strict adherence to Christian vegetarianism. Born in Buckinghamshire, Crab embarked on a conventional path as a soldier in the Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War. His service was marked by significant hardship, including a severe head wound and periods of imprisonment, which profoundly influenced his later life choices and beliefs.
After his military service, Crab transitioned to civilian life in Chesham, where he initially worked as a haberdasher. His spiritual journey deepened following the war, leading him to adopt a hermitic lifestyle, renounce all animal products, and eventually live on a minimal diet consisting of vegetables, bran, and turnips. This shift was influenced by his readings and interpretations of Christian scripture, particularly his view that consuming meat contributed to moral and spiritual corruption.
Crab’s religious convictions were notably radical. He was influenced by the Philadelphians, a group that emphasized the indwelling of God in every individual and the imminent second coming of Christ. These beliefs prompted him to live a life of extreme simplicity and self-denial, including wearing homemade sackcloth clothing as a protest against vanity and the exploitative nature of the clothing industry at the time. He also advocated for universal love, pacifism, and was critical of materialism, the established church, and societal norms, which he frequently discussed in his writings.
Crab authored several works, including “The English Hermite, or Wonder of This Age” and “Dagons-Downfall”, through which he expressed his unconventional views. His diet and lifestyle were not merely personal choices but were also framed as religious and ethical statements, reflecting his critique of violence and materialism. Despite facing opposition and several arrests for his beliefs and practices, such as Sabbath breaking, Crab remained committed to his ideals throughout his life.
He spent his later years in Bethnal Green, providing medical treatments based on herbal remedies, consistent with his holistic view of spirituality and health. Crab died in 1680 and was buried at Stepney Churchyard, leaving behind a legacy of religious and social dissent. His tombstone epitaph encapsulates his life’s philosophy, centered on kindness, non-violence, and a deep commitment to doing unto others as one would have done unto themselves. Historians, such as Christopher Hill, have noted that Crab’s eccentricities and radical lifestyle may have inspired fictional characters, including Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter, highlighting his lasting impact on cultural and religious narratives.
image via Wikimedia Commons
